Regional News-Optimist March 21, 2024

Businessman speaks out about North B’ford’s ‘dangerous’ reputation

By Miguel Fenrich Editor

For Chris Odishaw, a longtime businessman in the Battlefords who served two terms as the mayor of the Town of Battleford and who served as the chair of the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce in the early 2000s, the Crime Severity Index (CSI) means very little to him.

“For a council [to be] … getting together to hide those numbers is insanity. Numbers are numbers. We’re always asking for more numbers as businesses, as people,” Odishaw told the News-Optimist in an interview.

Whether in school, when assignments are marked, and students are graded, looking at ratios and the return on investment (ROI) in business, or when it comes to budgeting or even choosing financial institutions, he noted that numbers form the fabric of society.

“It’s all about numbers … so when you take a bad number and try to hide it instead of trying to fix it … we can’t say to the bank [as a business,] ‘well, just

hide that number.’” he said, noting that he’s one of the stakeholders at the Comfort Inn and Suites, and for the hotel numbers are one of its primary focuses.

“Somebody has to be the worst. But once you’re the worst, you can start working at fixing it,” Odishaw said, adding that there are communities across Canada dealing with the same issue.

“And they can give all the excuses they want … those are opportunities, the metrics that [people can use and that] have to be adjusted.”

Is enough being done to focus on crime and public safety?

Odishaw said that the community knows what needs to be fixed because of the high CSI in the Battlefords, recently taking heat from the City of North Battleford who argue that it helps to stigmatize a community often called the most dangerous in Canada. Rather than putting effort into fixing or removing the CSI, the community and the city should spend that energy trying to fix the numbers instead.

He adds that housing is

an issue, and boarded-up houses around North Battleford are the evidence. He would suggest raising the base tax (which is the same regardless of the property) rather than the mill rate (based on the value of your property) so that they can get more money out of houses and properties that aren’t doing anything.

“If people are getting into trouble, that means they need jobs; they need something to keep them occupied ... I feel that the people that aren’t represented by council have built this community,” he added.

Odishaw noted that a couple of weeks before his interview with the NewsOptimist, a friend of his needed some cash from an ATM but couldn’t because it was after 8 p.m.

“You realize there’s no ATM open at the City of North Battleford after 8 o’clock? They used to have security, and now they’ve closed it,” he said.

Odishaw voiced his concerns with Community Safety Officers (CSOs) he alleges were giving parking tickets to people during

Continued on Page 2

How to unravel the Crime Severity Index?

By Miguel Fenrich Editor

Is there any weight to the claims various municipalities alongside the City of North Battleford have made against the Crime Severity Index (CSI)? Tarah Hodgkinson, an assistant professor of criminology at Wilfried Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont. — who ran the City of North Battleford’s original perceptions of public safety survey — thinks so, to a degree.

Is population size a concern?

One concern that has been often cited by municipalities and the Province of Saskatchewan as they prepare to take their fight against the CSI to Ottawa, is that they claim the 10,000-population cap ‘pit’ smaller cities like North Battleford or Lloydminster against larger centers like

Continued on Page 3

Behind the Headlines

Businessman speaks out about NB’s reputation

Continued from Front the early March blizzard that shut down the highways surrounding the city.

“But as soon as it gets dark out, when all the crime stats are happening, where are the CSOs?”

The nature of the ‘dangerous’ reputation

Though he agreed, to a point, that North Battleford’s reputation as a dangerous place is bad press, there is a need to be honest about what’s happening in the community, he said.

“I know the media, you guys, the paper, they pick on you guys. I thank you … you are the tool. You are the heart and soul of the community. People need to know what’s going on.” he said.

“But all you have to do is come here and try to get money out of an automated teller at 8 p.m. or you go to a movie and come out and see how many people are asking for a couple bucks, and it makes you pretty uncomfortable.”

When asked when the stigma started in his perspective as a former mayor in the community, he said, “The numbers got worse,” adding that Lloydminster also struggles with similar issues of perception.

“[That] didn’t stop anybody from moving there

because there were jobs. And that’s my argument. What comes first the chicken or the egg?

“You can’t attract people without jobs, so you better get some big smokestacks to give people jobs ... If you think you’re going to get people to work at minimum wage jobs, in the service industry. Those days are over.

He noted that one of the city’s major reasons for fighting the CSI is because they are struggling to attract growth, as noted by the mayor himself. Odishaw noted that if the food bank is feeding up to 2000 people a year, there’s an opportunity for growth within the community first.

“In the city, they call it smokestacks. They don’t want smokestacks. Kramer-Caterpillar moved out and they came to Battleford. LMG Tank Manufacturing, that was a smokestack, they’re big tax bills,” he said, speaking to the difference between taxes in Battleford and North Battleford.

“Why did they come here (to Battleford) and why did we lose NorSASK [Redhead Powersports] … you tell me one investment that any oil company, Husky, or anybody has

made in the City of North Battleford. Zero. It’s all in the RM, and why? Because they look at the business case of it and the taxes are too high.”

Though he said he doesn’t want to create a wedge between the City of North Battleford and the Town of Battleford, he noted that while the mill rate stays down in Battleford, the Comfort Inn and Suites where he’s a shareholder, pays more taxes than any other hotel in Saskatchewan.

“But drive through and see the news houses in Battle Springs, in Battleford West. All north of $500,000.

“It’s the same CSI. We’re the Battlefords … we’re not differentiated, so the only difference is taxes.”

He says the city must do more to make the businesses that are here profitable before looking outwards.

The systemic issues: the burden facing nonprofits

Odishaw said that it’s up to municipal governments to make the Battlefords a great place, to live, work, and play the City of North Battleford frequently mention on the radio or in the paper. Should the government be building homeless

shelters, he asked. Probably not. But should they be supporting people to build one and make a place that is conducive to investment? Yes.

“One of my biggest pet peeves is the Pfifer Learning Centre [Battlefords Trade and Education Centre]. My friend, Pius Pfifer donated $1,000,000 to that organization. I donated money to that organization throughout my 37 years living here. They run a great program. They give people hope, jobs, a place to go.”

“They pay $90,000 a year in property taxes. When I brought that up to the city’s attention, the mayor in particular, he says, ‘Well, it’s all federally funded, it doesn’t matter.’”

But he says that’s another $90,000 out of their budget to do the things they should do.

“What would 90,000 more for an organization do?” he asked.

The Humane Society moved their new building to The RM of North Battleford. He argued that they moved out of town again, due to high taxes.

“They lost them out of the community. Is that because of the CSI? Not a chance in hell.”

“I had higher hopes that this mayor and council would identify these things. But, again, they’re doing what they can do, I truly believe that. It’s a tough place that we’re in. But it really is frustrating they’re having meetings …

to hide numbers.

“And they’re hanging their hat on, ‘once we get rid of that, our problems are going to be solved.’ But we’ll still have the problem we’re just not reporting the problem.”

And Odishaw noted that it’s not just North Battleford that deals with crime like people think. What other city would you want to walk downtown after dark, he asked.

‘Everybody’s trying to reconcile, but nobody’s dealing with the truth’

As for reconciliation in the community, Odishaw told the News-Optimist that he’s spent the last three years serving as a director on the Mosquito Grizzly Bear Heads’ Lean Man First Nation’s Economic Development Corporation board. Odishaw feels that another key is right in front of us.

“You have two tribal councils; you have seven First Nations. If that’s the only issue, and I’m not saying it is … First Nations truly are the opportunity in the Battlefords.”

Odishaw worries that if the city doesn’t look closely at taxation, local first nations like Red Pheasant — who recently broke ground on a new development on urban reserve land along Territorial Drive — will leave North Battleford behind.

“They’ve invested lots of money into Saskatoon ... finally, they’re coming around to home because the opportunity is there,”

AA Meetings

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he said.

“They’re trying to support the people that live here but they’re going to hit a brick wall on taxes because First Nations also pay taxes, they pay a fee equal to what taxes would be.”

But there also needs to be truth and reconciliation, he noted.

“Truth and reconciliation? There’s two words in there. Everybody’s trying to reconcile, but nobody’s dealing with the truth,” he said, citing the lack of awareness around Battlefords own residential school or the death of Indigenous children there.

“‘What would you have done?’” Odishaw asked his father once while discussing the residential schools.

“‘They took Henry Beaudry out of his house. They shaved him … and they put him into a school,’” Odishaw said, noting that 70 kids died at the Battlefords Industrial School.

‘“Nobody contacted their parents. Nobody knew who this kids were. And they got this little wooden cross that in a few years just disappeared. Like, I mean man. ‘What if I was one of those kids, dad?’

“‘You never knew what happened to me. You don’t know if I’m up at The Ridge buried, if I ran away, if I got raped, thrown in the river … there is traumabased around that.’

“We have to be a little bit more compassionate, a little bit more patient, we have to help them,” Odishaw said.

“I’m 58 years old, I have 42 years left,” he said, noting that his grandfather passed at 101 and that his father is still alive.

“He’s coming back to the community. My brother is here, his family is all here. There is lots of opportunity here, so my only thing is, stop chasing all the people who don’t live here … start supporting the people who are here to do more. Because that’s the secret.”

Unraveling the CSI Glacier Media sells SASKTODAY.ca to Harvard Media

By SASKTODAY.ca

Harvard Media has announced the acquisition of Saskatchewan’s fastestgrowing online news and sports properties, featuring its flagship online community, SaskToday. ca, from Glacier Media.

A release issued Thursday, March 14, states, “This strategic acquisition marks a significant expansion of Harvard Media’s business and underscores its commitment to delivering high-quality, local journalism across Saskatchewan.”

In addition to acquiring these online communities, Harvard Media also will now have a presence in 13 additional Saskatchewan markets including Weyburn, Estevan, the Battlefords, Humboldt, Assiniboia, Canora, Preeceville, Kamsack, Carlyle, Outlook and Unity/Wilkie as these online properties are included in the acquisition.

Harvard Media has also announced it has entered into a long-term partnership with Glacier

Media.

“This collaboration will leverage the strengths of both organizations to enhance content delivery, technological innovation, and advertising solutions, ensuring that the readers and listeners in the province of Saskatchewan will have exceptional local, provincial, national, and world news and information services,” states the release.

Harvard Media points out that while other media companies are reducing news, sports, agriculture, and local information, Harvard’s SaskToday. ca (www.sasktoday.ca) and other local properties (covering most cities in the province) will further enhance the already hyper-local news presence that Harvard prides itself on. The Glacier Media platforms are known for their comprehensive coverage of local news, sports, community events, and in-depth reporting. Under Harvard Media’s leadership, the SaskToday online communities will continue

BATC Backs SSFA 55+ Games

the commitment to journalistic integrity.

The partnership with Glacier Media represents a forward-looking approach to the media industry’s evolving challenges and opportunities. Together, Harvard Media and Glacier Media will explore innovative solutions to news dissemination, audience engagement, and digital advertising. This collaboration is poised to set new standards for success in the digital media space, benefiting readers and advertisers alike.

Harvard Media reaffirms its commitment to quality journalism and its role in fostering informed communities.

“This acquisition and partnership reflect our belief in the power of local news and the importance of access to reliable information,” said George Leith, Managing Partner of Harvard Media. “We are excited to welcome SaskToday.ca, MooseJawToday.com, and many other local sites into our growing media portfolio.”

the

Continued from Front Toronto or Montreal.

“I don’t know if it’s the 10,000 cap, as it is just the population denominator in general,” Hodkinson told the News-Optimist in a phone interview, explaining that there is going to be a difference when you measure crime statistics in a certain way.

“If you have a homicide in North Battleford — which hasn’t had a homicide in 10 years, just to be clear — if you take a homicide in Saskatoon, that homicide if you did the crime rate … would create a crime rate of 7.14 [in North Battleford] versus 0.372 [in Saskatoon,]” she explained.

She noted that crime rate statistics are calculated by dividing a crime — which is weighted by how ‘dangerous’ the crime is in the CSI — by the population.

“That’s literally just the math,” she said.

“Really anything that has a small population is going to have a problem,” she said, noting that concern around population size is more about smaller communities in general rather than the 10,000 cutoff.

Another concern that is raised by municipalities is fluctuating population sizes that aren’t included in the numbers accurately. Hodgkinson noted that the statistics do not look at all the areas around the Battlefords that are coming into the community.

“So somewhere like North Battleford that has, I think seven First Nations all around it … plus all kinds of other northern, and even Battleford, they’re not included in that,” she said.

Is the CSI racist?

Chief Lori Whitecalf of Sweetgrass First Nation had noted at the end of the CSI Conference in February, that there should be more discussion between Statistics Canada and Indigenous communities. She had felt that the CSI was racist and helped to perpetuate systemic racism in the Battlefords and area.

And is that true?

“That’s a really tough one … because indigenous

communities are largely smaller communities,” she said.

“So, most Indigenous communities in Canada are very small population centers, any crime rates, and crime severity indexes coming out of there are going to be subject to the same issues mathematically that any other small community would,” she said.

“I don’t think the numbers are [racist] because that’s just a reality of the population size and I think any other small community in Canada could say they’re being disadvantaged by that number,” she added.

The second piece she noted was that she thinks it’s less about the CSI because it’s standardized across the country, and more about how it gets reported.

“And that’s where I think we see real injustice and concerns,” she said.

She said that when they started looking deeper at the data with the City of North Battleford in 2016, asking why the CSI had been so high for ten years, there was an assumption that violent crime was driving the CSI. In actuality, Hodkinson says it was mischief driving the CSI in North Battleford.

“And so, there’s real concerns about that because mischief tends to be a catch-all [crime statistic]. It tends to over-police indigenous people. Or gets used as a way of over-policing Indigenous communities,” she said, noting that there’s a large Indigenous population that feeds into North Battleford.

She noted that there are real conversations to be had now about why Indigenous people are overrepresented in mischief — perhaps leading back to systemic issues, trauma, and racism — how it’s weighted in the CSI, and how it affects communities across Canada.

Hodgkinson did note, however, that she isn’t clear what Sweetgrass First Nation had meant regarding Statistics Canada’s use of ‘protected’ First Nation statistics, as noted in the March 7 edition of the

News-Optimist. Is stigma created by the media?

When Hodkinson worked with Battlefords for seven years, she said she remembered talking to North West College students. They asked her why anyone would even care about a place like ‘Crimetown.’

“But that kind of that kind of stigmatization is long-lasting and problematic,” she said.

“Macleans is the one that does the whole report on [North Battleford] every year. And basically, drags North Battleford through the mud, or a couple [of] years ago, Thompson, [Man.] And that reporting, I think, is problematic. That’s where I think there’s an issue,” she said, adding that there are of course issues with the CSI and a lot of crime statistics to some degree.

And what can the media do then?

“I think we can paint them in context, I think the fact that you’re calling me and asking for more details on how to calculate it … there are experts who are in this field, there are experts at Statistics Canada, that you can talk to you about how these things get measured,” she said.

“And I mean, I wrote an entire paper on basically how irresponsible it was that Maclean’s has continued to do this … it’s so unfair to those communities, and the ways in which they see themselves and how they can invest in prevention.”

What’s the next step?

And although she noted that the CSI was an improvement from the system that was used before, one issue with the current CSI that could be fixed is that the metric used to determine what crimes should be weighted more heavily, or ‘more dangerous’ are flawed.

Sentencing surveys — which are used to determine the weight of a crime, Hodgkinson noted — are not objective. If she’s charged with a homicide, she said, her criminal history if she has one is considered with that sentencing.

Battleford Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC) Community Development Corporation (CDC) has sponsored $30,000 for the Saskatchewan Senior Fitness Association (SSFA) 55+ Provincial Games. Pictured (left to right) are Mark Richardson, Friends of the Games chair, Tracy Benson, Manager of BATC CDC, Ames Leslie, director on the board of BATC CDC, and Al Gabert, chair of

SSFA 55+ Games. The SSFA take June 11 to 13 in North Battleford. |

Photo by Averil Hall / Freelance Photographer

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Email: newsoptimist.news@sasktel.net

The intricacies of genderaffirming care

By Gio Dolcecore / Mount Royal University

In late January, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith unveiled policies on gender-affirming care and parental rights. These policies want to change access to medical treatments, participation in athletics, and whether transgender children can use preferred pronouns and names in school.

Meanwhile, op-eds in newspapers have brought attention to how professionals are supporting transgender children and the long-term effects of medical interventions. And suggested that “adults can live with the consequences, but inexperienced children can’t”.

This suggests medical professionals are not assessing maturity and readiness in transgender children, and also that children should not be transitioning prior to adulthood.

As a registered clinical social worker and registered marriage and family therapist who works primarily with the 2SLGBTQIA+ population, I want to explain genderaffirming care and how professionals use it. I also want to discuss detransition, because too many people misunderstand and misuse the term.

There are several important assessments that must be considered prior to addressing maturity. For genderaffirming care, a child has to be assessed as a mature minor, which is a rigorous assessment completed by a professional such as a psychologist or social worker.

Gender-affirming care

According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, gender-affirming care assesses psychological, social, medical and surgical options for gender-diverse people. These assessments explore an individual’s personal, familial and environmental histories, as well as their mental health and physical health. Practitioners use this knowledge to best understand one’s functioning and strengths, and to give people the kind of support they need.

Although medical doctors may be the first point of contact for children exploring their gender identity, many other professions can provide gender-affirming care, such as psychologists, social workers, teachers, counsellors and recreational coaches.

Allowing children to express gender creatively is one of the first steps explored by mental health experts when working with transgender children, youth and their families. Gender creativity is a term used to identify the fluidity of gender; how one’s identity is not set in stone and can change as we learn more about ourselves.

Allowing a child to express independent thought and creativity with gender expression will not lead children to assume they are in need of medical interventions. On the contrary, as a professional, these interventions are used to support a child’s understanding of their options

through improving self confidence and self-esteem.

Methods can include social play, such as learning more about their own likes, forms of expression and ultimately exploring what makes them happy. The intention behind this is to help children build confidence and self worth, allowing them to engage in social settings authentically without fearing social consequence.

Importance of support

It is normal for us to compare ourselves to others, or to what we understand of social customs and rules. These social customs suggest our assigned sex at birth must match socially regulated forms of gender expression.

Transitioning begins the moment one confirms to themselves that their identity is different from these social rules. This doesn’t mean everyone who feels this way will go on to socially or medically transition.

Once a child can identify that they feel a certain way, it is vital for them to receive support from parents, caregivers, teachers and their broader community. Gender non-conforming young people are at risk for mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression, self-harm and attempted suicide.

One possible explanation for this could be minority stress, which is the distinct, chronic stressors minorities experience related to their identity, including victimization, prejudice and discrimination.

It is important to think critically about the social and political contexts that limit gender expression, because it impacts everyone, and can directly harm gender-diverse children. Considering this and minority stress, this is why it is important to allow children the space and freedom to freely express themselves, so that they can understand gender expression has more than two options: conform to social expectations or medically transition.

When children are provided gender-affirming care, mental health professionals support them in better understanding their emotions. This involves identifying feelings and learning how to emotionally regulate. This also includes addressing negative beliefs about their feelings, normalizing emotional responses and supporting children to become more self-compassionate.

Some believe mental health professionals focus on gender dysphoria when providing such care to children and youth. This is the feeling of uneasiness or distress because your gender identity does not match your assigned sex at birth.

However, children and youth are provided with various forms of support prior to medical interventions being used. Medical interventions are oftentimes the last method a child is provided, and when it is provided, some have described it as life-saving.

Practitioners use gender-affirming care to promote gender euphoria — the joy of aligning gender identity with gender expression. This is done by supporting children in finding confidence and self-worth by promoting their social and psychological well-being.

What is detransitioning?

Some gender-diverse children will need medical interventions but that doesn’t mean they have to persist for a lifetime. By providing children and youth access to medical interventions, professionals are addressing the severity of dysfunction caused by gender dysphoria

“Detransition” is a term used to describe those who have undergone medical and/or surgical interventions, and then reverted back. There is evidence showing people undergo corrective approaches after medical or surgical interventions due to discrimination, stigma and family pressure.

Continued on Page 5

Jayne

Miguel

Candace

Claude Paradis Prepress Manager

The Isthmus of Darien

By R.H. Wood North Battleford

An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger areas. Currently the Isthmus of Darien between Panama and Columbia is much in the news.

In 1694 William Paterson a most imaginative Scots trader who made his initial fortune in the Bahamas, founded the Bank of England. Spurred by this, he foresaw the importance and potential business possibilities of a trading post on the Isthmus of Darien which separates the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by about thirty miles. In 1698 five ships sailed to Darien followed

by eleven more all filled with Scots unaware of the disaster ahead. Paterson was aboard the first ship and returned to Scotland the next year. Some two thousand plus settlers died including his wife and child. The concept was ill planned, underfunded and the far too many settlers of New Edinburgh and Fort Andrew could not cope with hostile Spanish settlers, the inhospitable terrain, lack of resources and rampant tropical diseases.

The Pan-American highway runs from the Alaska without interruption to Argentina except for a sixty-mile segment in the Darien Isthmus. This is known as the Darien Gap where almost impenetrable

The

WoodPile

jungle and rugged terrain combine to make it one of the most inhospitable places on earth – as the early Scottish settlers found to their cost in 1698. The area is now controlled by lawless leaders of rapacious gangs and thugs who prey unmercifully on tens of thousands of illegal migrants on foot from southern countries seeking a new life in Mexico, the U.S. or Canada. Non-guaranteed safe passage can be purchased by the gullible.

Gender-affirming care

Continued from Page 4

It is crucial to understand that transgender individuals who use medical and surgical means for a period of time and stop, may not be detransitioning.

There are individuals who identify as non-binary who begin medical interventions, at a limited dose or for a duration of time, instead of committing life long. In my practice, I have seen many individuals begin hormone treatment and with the support of their doctor change the dosage as they continue to explore their gender identity.

There is a need for further research exploring detransition, especially in terms of how therapists can best support individuals who decide to stop or change

their medical intervention plans with their doctors.

Ultimately, gender-affirming care is about providing people with the support they need. To help them see themselves in ways that promote joy, confidence and happiness. It is not about pathologizing gender expression.

Gender transition is not about fitting into preset ideals, but rather, finding joy in day to day experiences that is cultivated by our happiness, confidence and sense of belonging.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Find the story, with links to the original on SASKTODAY.ca

If you fall, become ill or even twist your ankle you will be left behind. Haiti of today, comes to mind.

Last week’s W5 program, “The Darien Gap”, was a disappointing catalogue of depressing depictions of ill prepared, ill-informed desperate migrants and the abandoned dead. There was no mention of the failed Darien scheme or illness spread by mosquitos which killed most of the Scottish settlers who had no understanding of how tropical diseases are spread.

For many years

Anglican England had been vying with France for domination and there was much fear that the Catholic Stewart family might regain control of Scotland with French support. To obviate this, some form of union between Scotland and England was often suggested. Mr. Paterson became involved in negotiations which in 1707 resulted in the Act of Parliamentary union. The conditions favoured Scotland which was financially weak following the Darien experiment and England’s withdrawal of

support which also left Mr. Paterson skint (penniless). Robert Burns described the Scottish negotiators as a “parcel of rogues in a nation” accusing them of accepting favours and bribes which I believe was the case.

Eventually knighted, Sir William Paterson (1658-1719) who led a most remarkable life is interred in the beautiful grounds of the equally remarkable ruins of Sweetheart Abbey seven miles from Dumfries in southern Scotland close to where his life began in humble surroundings.

Attempted murder charges

SASKTODAY.ca

Battlefords RCMP have laid charges including attempted murder against 42-year-old Travis Wuttunee from Red Pheasant Cree Nation as the result of an assault.

On March 17, at approximately 11:25 a.m., Battlefords RCMP received a report of a serious assault on Red Pheasant Cree Nation.

RCMP say that officers immediately responded and determined that an adult male approached an individual and seriously assaulted them. The victim was transported to hospital with injuries described as serious in nature.

An adult male, who initially gave a false name to police, was arrested at a residence on Red Pheasant

Cree Nation shortly after police responded to the incident.

As a result of continued investigation, Wuttunee is charged with: attempted murder; aggravated assault; possession

of a weapon for a dangerous purpose; and resist/obstruct peace officer.

Saskatchewan RCMP’s Forensic Identification Services and General Investigation Section assisted with this investigation.

April 5th | 7:30 pm

The Genius of the Gentle Giant: A Tribute to Don Williams | 7:30 pm

18 time Country Music Alberta nominated recording artist Trevor

Panczak's first songs learned on guitar, were of Don Williams. It came full circle when Trevor was given the opportunity to open up 5 shows on Don Williams’ final Canadian tour. At 6’ 5” and known in some circles as "Canada’s" gentle giant, Trevor and his band will share familiar renditions and new interpretations of the music of one of the most beloved artists of all time the original gentle giant, Don Williams. Trevor will take you through the decades of #1 hits with touching stories of the relationship to not only the songs but the man himself in a way that only Trevor can do.

Regular: $35 + tax Students: $29.75 +tax

For tickets: 306-445-7700

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HOME PHARMACY

12 essentials to have on hand for everyday boo-boos

Did you know the bathroom is the worst place to keep your first-aid kit? It’s the most humid room in the home, and humidity can harm the effectiveness of various medications. Keeping your first-aid kit in a cool, dry and dark place is best. Here are some essential items you should have in your home pharmacy to cover common emergencies:

1. A complete first-aid kit that includes a thermometer, scissors, tweezers, a tick remover, adhesive dressings, sterile gauze, hot and cold compresses and elastic bandages

2. Hydrocortisone cream to soothe insect bites and minor irritations

3. An analgesic, such as acetaminophen, to relieve headaches, fever and pain

4 An antacid to counteract gastric reflux

5. An antihistamine to combat seasonal allergies

6. Antibiotic ointment to prevent minor infections from cuts

7. An anti-nausea medication, particularly for travelling

8. An antidiarrheal and a rehydration solution to replenish lost fluids and mineral salts

9. A saline solution to relieve congestion and cleanse the sinuses

10. A topical analgesic to ease muscle aches and pains

11. An after-sun treatment, such as aloe vera

12. Eye drops

Your home pharmacy will be well stocked with these essentials. Clean yours out yearly and take expired medication to your local pharmacy for safe disposal.

FULL TIME REGISTERED PHARMACY TECHNICIANS

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Responsible for general housekeeping duties, and the general appearance of the pharmacy area.

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Deliver injections, dispensing medications, mixing of compounds, including methadone.

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To provide prompt, courteous, friendly, and caring service to customers. When required, to assist in the safekeeping of all cash handled in the department.

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Saskatchewan

For your health, consult your pharmacy professional

Pharmacy Appreciation

Month is celebrated every year in March throughout Canada. The Canadian Pharmacists Association organizes this initiative to recognize the work of pharmacy professionals and express gratitude for their contribution to the healthcare system. The event also serves as an opportunity to raise public awareness about the vital role these professionals play in promoting good health.

NEVER HESITATE TO ASK FOR ADVICE

As you know, pharmacists provide a wide range of services. They can help

Every year in March, Pharmacist Awareness Month helps educate Canadians about the contributions that pharmacists make to the delivery of health care. The theme for this event is Rethink Pharmacists. To help you better understand the duties and responsibili-

you renew your drug prescriptions, prescribe certain medications, monitor and adjust your treatment and administer vaccines. Pharmacists can also offer guidance when purchasing over-the-counter medicines and natural health products. Although many natural health products are available without a prescription, they could interact with the medications you’re taking or each other. That’s why it’s essential to get professional advice before buying them.

It’s also a good idea to always go to the same pharmacy. This ensures

ties of these professionals, here are a few things you should know.

PRIMARY ROLE

Your pharmacist’s main job is to dispense the medications prescribed to you. However, before giving you your treatment, they’ll

that the pharmacy team can access your complete medical history and provide appropriate advice. You’ll establish a rapport with them and feel more at ease when discussing your individual requirements. Remember that you should always consult with your doctor before stopping any medication. Even if you feel better or are experiencing unpleasant side effects, abruptly stopping treatment can be risky. Your pharmacist is dedicated to keeping you healthy.

To find out more about Pharmacy Appreciation Month, visit pharmacists.ca.

ensure that:

• The dose is appropriate

• The drug won’t interact with other medication you’re taking

• There’s no risk of an allergic reaction

• You’re not taking a medication you no longer need

Once your pharmacist has completed their checks, they’ll inform you about your treatment and explain how to take the medication so that it’s safe and effective.

OTHER DUTIES

Depending on your needs,

your pharmacist can provide other services, such as:

• Answering questions about your health

• Advising you about overthe-counter medications

• Administering vaccines

• Prescribing medications for simple health pro-

blems (eczema, seasonal allergies, etc.)

If you have a question about your health or a medication you’re taking, your pharmacist can help. You can reach out to them for advice either at the pharmacy or over the phone.

Behind the Headlines

‘What we need is truth’: former city councillor

By Miguel Fenrich Editor

When Ray Fox was young, every summer his father would hitch up a team of horses, drive throughout the country picking up his sisters, cousins, aunts, and other family members, and would drive them down to Little Sweetgrass near the river.

They would build a weir, or a fence, and in the middle, there would be a wooden crate. They would walk along the fence, driving fish into the basket. Afterwards, they would empty it on the shore and his aunties and cousins would clean and smoke the fish to preserve it.

“We’d stay there for a couple of days ... and on the way back, my dad would stop at all the people’s places that we knew and give them some fish.”

Fox — a former Sweetgrass First Nation and City of North Battleford councillor — explained that when they were preparing to leave for the weir each summer, his mother would cover the table with Bannock, lard, tea, and other food.

“[She’d] leave it on a table and cover it, and I’d say, ‘Mom, what are you doing that for? We’re not here.’ And she said, ‘Well, if somebody comes to visit us and they’re hungry [they’ll have something to

eat],’” Fox told the NewsOptimist in a recent interview.

“And I thought to myself, well, that’s kind of goofy. But she was right, “Fox said, explaining that sometimes they’d come home, and dishes would be used, food would be eaten, and maybe other food would be left instead.

“There was no lock on the door, it was never locked. And so, from there to here, where ‘thou shalt not steal’ ... and now we’re at this theft stage, and we’ve been modernized to not trust our neighbour anymore.

“And pretty soon we were we were being weaned off of our own religion, our own belief system, and integrated [into] what other people believe in.”

“So now, like, 100 years or so, later, we’ve been indoctrinated into, into their system, and now we’ve got us believing them God, the name of the Father, you know? Like Holy smokes. How did we get?”

Christianity vs cultural knowledge and teachings

“We had a belief system that was strictly ours because we were the only people here. The church came along, and civilization came along and said that things are wrong.

“And so a lot of the Bible got infused into the native belief system. To the

point now we’re over a few 100 years down the road. Now we’ve got things from the Bible that are all people are believing in ... they’re not compatible.”

Though he didn’t want to say that people who are religious are wrong, it’s fine if it works for them, he said. But as crazy as it sounds, he believes that Indigenous people, moreor-less, have a more direct relationship with their creator.

But it’s also a generational divide, Fox noted. He said that his granddaughter is 11 years old and in Grade 5.

“She comes to me and says, ‘there’s two-spirited people, right?’ Huh? It floored me. It’s something that’s being taught in grade five ... and we never knew that and now there’s a whole different system of belief that we have to fit ourselves into.

“And it was never a part of our concept ... there’s no such thing as a two spirited person for God’s sake,” he added.

These things must be revisited, he said. In a book he now plans to write over the summer months, he wants to chronicle Indigenous people across the province and explain historical teachings along with history on himself.

He wants to explain the differences between yellow cloth and blue cloth,

sweetgrass and sage, horse dances and sweat lodges, and why black cloth can’t be used for ceremony. He wants to talk about the importance of elders, the difference between male and female elders, in an effort to curb the ‘so-called elders popping up and confusing troubled youth sent to speak with them.

“And the elder tells them ‘Well, ‘you got to listen to your mama, you got to listen to your papa, don’t fight, don’t steal ... and the kid goes, ‘well, s**t, I knew that already.”

And the next elder tells him something different, Fox worries.

“So those things have to have to be revisited. And we haven’t reached the point where people are going to realize that there’s something wrong with the system. People are too afraid, I think to, to call question of the 10 commandments.”

The role of community

It was Fox who started the food bank when the Salvation Army folded in North Battleford, he told the News-Optimist. He explains there used to be long lines during summer or winter, rain or shine, snow or sleet.

He worked at the time at the Metis Friendship Centre, which he said didn’t have a good reputation. The group working to find support for a food bank

didn’t consider the center a viable option, Fox said. But he eventually managed to convince them to let him take it on.

“I took over the food bank ... in the summertime. And by the time it got the fall, and [The Empty Stocking Fund for the holiday season] was coming. And we had nothing,” he said, adding that the support that came out from everyone in the community shocked him.

“Because I go into a bank, you know, and that is teller come out from behind the counter and gives me a hug and says, ‘I got this turkey in my oven,’” Fox explained, tearing up.

“I remember the feeling. It’s like, I don’t know, I don’t even, I can’t even describe it. But the feeling was just overpowering. And it is like, talk about doing the right thing …it didn’t matter if you were white, brown, black, but you knew there were people who were hurting and suffering, and you wanted to be a part of the solution.”

That’s what needs to happen today, Fox said.

But we haven’t crossed those bridges yet, he added. People haven’t been able to have a frank discussion about who we are as people. We need to concentrate on what we’ve got in common. The parts that aren’t in common? Well, Fox said to toss them away.

“As tough it is to say this, there are still people with their attitude, that says, ‘I’m white you’re black. Therefore, I’m different.”

The older people especially, Fox says, remember a different time.

“But they remember the people that were being drunk downtown ... that were sleeping in their garage,” he said.

“Also, they began to steal because they have no money ... and it’s not that I’m giving them an excuse, but that’s what it was. And they were addicted to things, and they wanted to drink so bad they were willing to steal it from anybody.”

The issues facing Indigenous groups.

Those systemic issues that are often talked about are bigger than the community, Fox feels though. He noted at a meeting in Ottawa a week before this interview on March 1, that they were discussing how to help communities via food banks.

“One of the questions I had, was, ‘who dropped the ball on this thing?’

“As far as I know, we’re still paying taxes, we still have a government, right? They were elected to provide these things to people, to ... make sure people have food and make sure people have a place to live and so

Continued on Page 9

Behind the Headlines

‘What we need is truth’

Continued from Page 8 on. That’s what the government was doing. That’s what we’re giving them our taxes,” he said.

“All of a sudden, we’re the guys that are worried about feeding people. We’re the guys that are worried about finding homes for people. Why is that? Who decided that? We give you guys the authority, and the power, and the money to make a difference here.”

Fox added that he went ‘backwards’ compared to most people, serving on Sweetgrass First Nation band council years after he served as the first — and only — Indigenous city councillor for North Battleford.

“And when I got to the reserve it was tough,” he said.

“For two years I sat at a table with a bunch of other people trying to figure out what he was doing. And when the two years

came up. They wanted to switch the two-year term to a three-year term … I thought about it and I said ‘no, I can’t, I barely survived the two years.”

When asked about Chief Lori Whitecalf’s recent comments that suggesting Indigenous people are driving crime in the Battlefords is a racist comment, Fox said he hadn’t heard that yet.

“Not if it’s happening,” he added.

“There are no homeless people on the reserve ...because everybody has some place to sleep. Everybody has some things to eat.

“I was talking about my mother ... when we moved into town, there were times when I’d come home, late in the night, in the day, there’d be people sleeping in my bed, because my mother, let them spend the night.

“We look after each other, we take care of each other ... that’s, that’s the

kind of people we were [but] we’re not those people anymore, because some of us have been indoctrinated into some other understanding.”

Fox tells me about one of his friends and his wife who are now staying in Alberta because their granddaughter kicked them out of the house.

“You see 13-year-old kids, girls, walking down the road, stoned out of their f***ing minds. And they’re headed home. And they get to their home, and their grandmother or grandfather are home, they start kicking ass with their [grandparents,]” Fox said.

“But what do I do? Call the cops?”

Is reconciliation the answer? Fox isn’t sure.

“I only became familiar with the [term] when reconciliation was being talked about,” said Fox, when asked what reconciliation meant to him.

Though he respects the

Truth and Reconciliation Commission and thought they had the right idea, he feels the 94 calls to action are missing a lot. They’re trying to solve one issue, he says, but it’s more than that. It’s the whole thing.

“It just stops there, it kind of tells you ‘This could be fixed, that could

be fixed, but we all know that ... and they didn’t really have a lot of solutions.

“If that [coming together] ever happens, then I think we’d be well on our way. But I don’t know how to fix reconciliation in the city because people who are racist, people who aren’t prejudiced [are still

Chaos and (Dis)Order

going to be here] ... I think they have to sort of outgrow that somehow.

“As bad as it sounds … what we need is truth,” he said.

“You have to believe in what you’re doing. If you don’t believe in it, then get the hell out, let somebody else do it.”

The Chapel Gallery’s latest exhibition, Chaos and (Dis)Order by Heather Hochbaum runs until April 21 and features primarily quilts and quilted objects including two mixed media installations. A free art reception will be held Thursday, March 21 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with an artist talk at 7 p.m. |

Spring into Seeding

Photo by North Battleford Galleries

Art Notes

Enhancing Role of Nurse Practitioners

The Ministry of Health will work to pilot a new model for independently operated, publicly funded Nurse Practitioner clinics. These clinics will improve access to primary health care by providing a new avenue for patients to seek care. Our Health Human Resources Action Plan is showing success in a number of rural, regional and northern communities; we are grateful to the Nurse Practitioners who have been part of this success.

Dreaming of birds and flowers

By Vicki Angell Scheler Battlefords Art Club

Flowers and birds were the subject of conversation at Battlefords Art Club this week. What a fun project for beginners in watercolour and members shared their knowledge and ideas with great energy. Just take a look at some of the pictures of the resulting cards. Contact us if you would like to join in the fun at Battlefordsartclub@ gmail.com.

Power Hour

Falk slams Liberal red tape

By Miguel Fenrich Editor

MP Rosemarie Falk, has taken aim at the federal Liberal government in a recent chamber of commerce event in North Battleford aimed at hearing what locally elected officials thought about issues facing the community.

“I think honestly when we have red tape ... oh man, if I was given scissors? The red tape that I would cut in every department,” she said.

Areas she would like to see use more plain language include federal grant processes and the tax code.

“Making Canadians have the ability to access services easier ... disability benefits for example, the amount of paperwork, complicated language [and] complex processes that somebody with a per-

son has to go through in order to prove they have a disability. Why? Why?

“If I had my way, we would have everything rebuilt. Because it’s a mess,” she said, adding that now government is often doing Bandaid solutions to bigger issues.

But other officials, including Mayor Ames Leslie, took it a step further when he said he’d ditch the entire federal government if he had his way.

“I think we can get rid of the federal government,” he said.

“They say they’re fighting for the middle class and making things cheaper for Canadians but it has gotten more expensive for everybody in this country,” he added.

“My daughter is 19 years old and she’s heading to university and she’s just got a T-5 from the govern-

ment because she’s got to much god***m money in her bank account.”

He wonders how the youth of today can get better.

“We don’t need them ... let the provinces go back to running this country.”

“I disagree,” Falk said, quickly responding to Leslie’s concerns.

She said that there are things that require the federal government like border security, airspace, and controlling ports, but that the liberals are often overstepping into provincial jurisdiction.

“It is imperative that different levels of government stay in their lane,” she added.

“We have a federal government that is hellbent, fricking hellbent on making sure that they go into areas that really are the province’s areas.”

Festival Fanfare

2024-03-13 11:34:53 AM

Band students inspired by ‘booster’ session

By Kelly Waters Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival

The North Battleford Comprehensive High School (NBCHS) has a thriving band program led by teacher Jackie Kroczynski. Kroczynski, originally from Saskatoon, is a multi-talented artist known for her lifelong passion for music and storytelling. She has showcased her musical talents as both a performer and conductor in concert and jazz bands across Western Canada and Europe. She has a fondness for the New Orleans flavour of jazz and blues.

As part of the booster program opportunity being offered by the Kiwanis Battlefords Music Festival Committee, Kroczynski hosted clinician Dawn McLean Belyk to spend three hours working with school bands. Kroczynski reported, “The kids were left feeling energized and inspired.”

Students worked on skills such as air support, posture and tuning in conjunction with perfecting specific musical selections. Students spent time focusing on how to follow a conductor effectively. “It was a very positive experience for me. It’s always great to be able to observe another teacher,” Kroczynskisaud, “It’s really great to have another perspective in the room.”

Dawn McLean Belyk is a sessional lecturer for music at the University of Saskatchewan, specializing in low brass instruction. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1981 with a degree in music education. In 1987, McLean Belyk attended

Dawn McLean Belyk facilitated a band workshop for NBCHS students. | Photo submitted

Northwestern University where she completed her master’s degree in music specializing in bass trombone performance. She recently completed a 30-year career at St. Joseph High School as director of bands and is also bass trombonist with the Saskatoon Symphony, Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra, and the Saskatchewan Brass Quintet. In addition to now being an instructor at USask, in 2012 she started an all-city auditioned concert band, the Saskatoon Youth Wind Orchestra.

McLean Belyk has adjudicated bands in Alberta and Saskatchewan. She has been honoured with several prestigious awards. She received the Dwaine Nelson Award for Teaching Excellence at USask, the Saskatoon Preschool Foundation Champion of Children Award in 2009 and, in 2013, she received the Saskatchewan Band Association Distinguished Band Director Award. In 2014, she guest conducted the

Saskatoon Symphony Core Players, the University of Saskatchewan Wind Orchestra and the Saskatoon Brass Band. She also performed on Dean McNeill’s Prairie Fire CD, Neil Currie’s Urban Diversions CD and as a soloist with the Saskatoon Concert Band performing a commissioned work “Concertino by Howard Cable for Bass Trombone and Concert Band.”

With all entries submitted for the 2024 Kiwanis Battlefords Music Festival, the formal program is being organized with firm dates being set for each musical discipline. Band and instrumental classes are scheduled Monday, April 15 through Friday. April 19. Strings are scheduled for Wednesday, April 17. Vocal classes, which include singing, speech arts and musical theatre, are scheduled from Monday, April 22 through Wednesday, April 24. Piano classes are scheduled Wednesday, April 24 through Saturday, April 27.

For local folks wanting to show support for the festival, there are a variety of options. Businesses or individuals may wish to sponsor a session or award. Volunteer opportunities come in all sizes. For folks with more complicated schedules, volunteering might be in the form of making phone calls or running errands. For folks with less complicated schedules, volunteering might involve being a door greeter outside of sessions during the festival or being a secretary for the adjudicator. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and see where your time, skills, or resources might be of most help.

Does it sound like people are blending their words together or not saying things clearly?

Tired of asking people to repeat themselves?

It might be time to get your hearing checked!

Give us a call at (306) 445-5700 to book your appointment with our full time Audiologist!

#2

Hon. Scott Moe, Premier, MLA for Rosthern-Shellbrook scottmoe.mla@sasktel.net 306-747-3422

Hon. Jeremy Cockrill, MLA for The Battlefords office@jeremycockrill.ca 306-445-5195

20240314_News Optimist Ad_Nurse-Practitioners.indd 1

Signs for spring resulted from an art session devoted to birds and flowers. | Photo submitted

March snow

Near-normal runoff is expected in the Saskatoon area and west toward Biggar

SASKTODAY.ca

The Water Security Agency (WSA) has issued the Spring Runoff Forecast for 2024.

Near-normal runoff is expected in the Saskatoon area and west toward Biggar, as well as in the eastern portions of the grain belt along the Manitoba border. The remainder of the province is expected to experience below to well below normal runoff this spring.

As

4,

tral Saskatchewan, which has improved runoff potential for the province.

“Although the recent snowfall will help our situation and our producers this spring, we as a government, will still be prepared to help those areas with dry conditions,” said David Marit, the minister responsible for the Water Security Agency.

“More moisture will be needed as temperatures continue to stay above zero. WSA will still be taking as many proactive measures as possible to prepare for changing conditions.”

This runoff forecast report updates the preliminary report issued in February 2024, with the in-

clusion of data from snowpack surveys.

Grant Devine Lake was at 561.1 metres, as of March 1, and has a forecasted peak spring level of 561.8 metres. Its full supply level is 562 metres and its normal summer operating level is 561.5 metres.

Boundary Dam was at 559.9 metres, as of March 1, and its projected peak spring level is 560.8 metres. Full supply level is 560.83 metres and the normal summer level is 506.5 metres.

Rafferty Dam’s depth was at 549.5 metres, and the expected peak spring level is 549.6 metres. Full supply level is 550.5 metres and the normal summer op-

erating level is 550 metres.

In the Souris River basin, freeze-up conditions were near normal in 2023. The runoff potential is currently projected to range from near normal in the Moose Mountain Creek basin to below normal in the Long Creek basin.

“The March snow brought five to 30 centimetres of snow to the basin, which improved conditions; however, runoff is still projected to be below normal. With the drier conditions, no additional releases will be required,” the WSA wrote.

As of March 1, only Boundary Reservoir has the potential of filling this spring, the WSA said. Any

excess water from Boundary would be diverted to Rafferty. Currently, both Rafferty Reservoir and Grant Devine Lake are expected to be in the normal operating range following the snowmelt runoff.

Detailed forecasts for the Souris River Basin are developed on or near the first and 15th of each month, beginning in February, up until the snowmelt runoff event.

Over the winter, the WSA took action with conservative operating plans focused on retaining water supplies that has helped keep water levels at most major reservoirs at or above normal levels for this time of year.

The spring runoff is dependent on fall soil moisture, snowpack water content, and how quickly the snowpack melts.

The WSA continues to work internally and across other government agencies to identify opportunities and programming to support communities and producers who may be facing challenges from dry conditions.

It continues to monitor moisture conditions and forecasted weather patterns in preparation for the spring runoff and will issue updates to the runoff report throughout the runoff period.

See Spring Runoff Potential Map on Page 12

Winter watering systems

Making sure water sources are available

By Dwayne Summach, PAg Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist

Providing water to livestock in the freezing temperatures of the Canadian Prairies is accomplished in several ways. The most common method for watering livestock is a heated water bowl. The water level is controlled by a float valve on a pressurized pipe with a heating element powered by electricity to prevent freezing.

Finding ways to reduce power consumption or to provide winter watering options in locations where power isn’t conveniently available has resulted in many different approaches. Large-diameter holes to access ground heat can help keep valves and lines

frost free. This approach works when the foundation around the bowl is sealed well and insulation below the foundation prevents frost from penetrating the ground.

Another strategy is to use the heat from the water itself to keep the valves ice free and operational. It may be a large-diameter trough insulated with spray foam and an insulated cover with drinking tubes installed, or it may be a dedicated appliance installed directly in the ground to take advantage of ground heat and water volume. The limitation with these waterers is they need to be in continuous use to stay ice free. Additional items installed with these types of waters include curb stop valves and

installing a water heater that can be powered by a portable generator just in case something goes wrong.

Small huts built with lots of insulative capacity that use a drinking window to house a standard trough. Upgrades to these units often include an exterior door and a portable propane heater. Another producer uses a series of tire troughs with an artesian well flowing through them with an overflow to the natural low-lying area outside of the livestock pen. There are systems with sensor eyes and drain back bowls into wet wells, frost free nose pumps, and numerous iterations of float switched pumps powered by solar or wind charged battery banks filling insulated troughs. Trail cameras can be used to monitor watering sites year-round for additional peace of mind.

For assistance identifying a winter watering appliance that fits for your operation best, contact your local livestock and feed extension specialist or call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

Shelterbelt benefits Key factor in livestock wintering sites

By Laine Radwell Agri-Environmental Specialist

Thanks to the adoption of soil conservation practices such as minimal tillage and direct seeding, shelterbelts on the Saskatchewan landscape are not nearly as common as they once were but they can still provide environmental and economic advantages to producer operations.

Shelterbelts provide many environmental benefits, including improving water infiltration, reducing soil erosion and providing wildlife habitat. Tree rows can provide refuge for game animals, birds of prey, tree-nesting birds, pollinators and crop-pest predators. Providing habitat for pollinators can aid pollination and seed set of insect-pollinated crops such canola. Similarly, tree rows provide refuge for crop-pest predators and birds of prey, which can also benefit crop production, as they help to control pests. Shelterbelts can also restrict weed seed movement and buffer pesticide drift. Some tree and shrub species produce edible fruit and nuts, while other species provide beneficial functions such as nitrogen fixation.

Additionally, to protect soil from erosion, shelterbelts can aid in crop production. By reducing wind speeds, they help minimize evaporation, leaving more moisture for crop growth. In the winter, these protective barriers capture snow, creating banks that gradually release moisture as spring

arrives. The root systems of the trees and shrubs within shelterbelts can help with moisture management. During dry periods, these deep roots draw up the water table, making it available for crop uptake. Conversely, in wet conditions, the same root systems can make use of excessive moisture, lowering the water table.

Shelterbelts also provide benefits to livestock production by reducing wind speeds and by providing shade. By acting as a windbreak, they can reduce the windchill experienced by animals throughout Saskatchewan winters which improves animal health and welfare, reducing feed requirements and improving weight gain. When used in livestock wintering sites, shelterbelts can mitigate nutrient runoff by improving moisture infiltration, slowing runoff, and acting as a buffer to absorb excess nutrients and preventing pathogens from entering waterways. As such, shelterbelts can be a useful tool to incorporate into an extensive wintering site.

Under the Resilient Agriculture Landscapes Program, the Extensive Winter Sit Management BMP provides funding to assist livestock producers to improve their management of extensive livestock wintering sites, including the use of shelterbelts for livestock shelter and nutrient runoff mitigation.

To learn more about the program, visit our website or call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

G3 supports ag safety

SASKTODAY.ca

More firefighters will receive training and more rescue services will receive life-saving equipment this year thanks to G3’s ongoing support of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association’s (CASA) BeGrainSafe program.

Grain entrapment is a potentially deadly risk for farmers and others who work around large volumes of grain, and specialized training and equipment are needed to safely extract a victim.

Since 2016, G3’s annual support of BeGrainSafe has trained hundreds of professional and volunteer firefighters and equipped dozens of rural fire departments that protect farm-

ing communities on the Prairies, in Ontario and in Quebec.

“Thank you to G3 for sponsoring this training and to CASA for providing the training trailer, says Dan Marsellus,” Fire Chief in Kneehill County, Alberta that hosted one of the first training sessions of 2024. “We had 35 firefighters from 9 fire departments attend this training! They all really enjoyed the training as well as came away with a new view on responder safety.”

“Support for BeGrainSafe is one of the pillars of our commitment to safety and the communities we serve,” says G3 CEO Don Chapman. “We’re proud to continue this commitment

in 2024.”

“Sponsors like G3 are essential to the success of the BeGrainSafe program,” says Andrea Lear, CASA’s Chief Executive Officer. “Their support is vital in delivering live-saving information and providing essential equipment to farming communities. This ensures that fire departments are well-equipped and prepared in the case of a grain entrapment incident.”

G3 is a CASA ‘Safety Partner’ in 2024, contributing $40,000 to BeGrainSafe.

G3’s BeGrainSafe funding has supported training and equipment for fire departments across the Prairies, Ontario and Quebec.

— File photo

Monitor wintering feeding sites for invasive weeds

By Alanna Jonson, PAg Agri-Environmental Specialist

An important part of your winter-feeding plan is monitoring your wintering sites for weeds to prevent the establishment of undesirable plants. As with any feeding system, the risk of introducing weeds increases when feed is being imported from an offsite location. Weed monitoring plans can be tailored to the needs of your operation. This includes recognizing invasive species, evaluating your winter site selection and considering the forage

sources you have available. Monitoring does not need to be extremely timeconsuming, but when completed regularly can be a useful tool to help reduce future costs of potential weed management. It is easier to eradicate weeds when first identified and lower in number compared to a population that is well established. It is important to keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. Early detection involves the ability to recognize the species outlined in the Invasive Plant Species Identification Guide or and the Problem Weeds - A Cattlemen’s

Guide.

Careful winter site selection reduces the risk of weed establishment. Considering topography, soil texture and proximity to water are all important components of site selection. These factors can impact the nutrient distribution on a site and your weed management plans. When using feed sources with contaminants such as weed seeds it is important to select areas that can be easily monitored, avoiding environmentally sensitive areas such as riparian zones. These areas can be easily disturbed resulting

in bare soil which offers an ideal opportunity for weeds to establish, displacing the desirable vegetation. With spring run-off, nutrients from manure or feed waste and weed seeds can be transported into water courses and over long distances, making monitoring and management more difficult.

During dry conditions, sourcing weed-free feed or bedding may be a challenge. If you are feeding forages from unknown sources such as bales from ditches or hauling feed from off property, consider storing and feeding these

bales in areas that can be isolated and can be easily returned to for multiple years to monitor. Healthy annual cropland and perennial forage stands can provide competition for weeds and help to prevent the establishment of invasive species. Stockpiled or local feeds from known sources may be less of a risk for introducing weeds and will likely require less monitoring and management in the spring. As weed seeds can be resistant to digestion, switching cattle to a known feed source prior to turning them out on pasture can help reduce the risk of

weeds being transported to other locations in their manure. Monitoring your winterfeeding site even after the herd has moved is an important component of your site management plan. Under the Resilient Agricultural Landscapes Program (RALP), the Extensive Wintering Site Management BMP provides funding to assist livestock producers to improve their management of extensive livestock wintering sites. To learn more about the program, visit our website or call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre.

Quality Grain Marketing a big part of the Prairies

Stephanie Zoer Freelance Reporter/ SASKTODAY.CA

Quality Grain Marketing is a full-service cash grain brokerage where they shop for their customers’ grain with a multitude of buyers across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The company doesn’t buy from the farmers but rather matches them with a buyer, working in a similar manner to an insurance broker. They issue a broker contract and help producers navigate any issues that may arise such as

concerns, movement, discounts or disagreements. Their network of buyers is a hand-picked list of processors, feedlots, feed mills and resellers that they trust and enjoy working with.

Quality Grain Marketing was formed in 2002 by Doug Chambers, based in Calgary. Around 2014, when Richard Chambers took over the business the company moved to Brandon. In 2019 when Reed McDonald, who grew up on a small grain farm in southern Alberta, bought the business, Quality Grain

The Hafford Co-operative Association Limited

Marketing moved back to Alberta.

His early years gave McDonald the experience and sparked a lifelong curiosity about everything agriculture related.

When he went to the University of Lethbridge, his parents rented the farm to a neighbour, and he lost that active connection and engagement with agriculture for 10 years. But then suddenly it came knocking on his door.

McDonald worked away from home in the oil and gas industry and was getting tired of being on the

Invitation to Tender

60' x 40' Wooden Arch Rib Storage Building

Sealed Tenders marked "Hafford Co-op Building Tender", will be received at the Hafford Co-op up to 5:00 pm on Friday, April 5th, 2024.

Successful Applicant will be responsible for cost of moving the building off site, and the associated clean up.

A deposit of 10% is required with submission of Tender. Building must be removed by August 31, 2024.

The highest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted.

The prices tendered will not be the only consideration in evaluating whether to accept the tender.

Tenders to be received at:

Hafford Co-op

110 HWY40

Hafford, SK

SOJ lAO

road 2/3 of the year when a suggestion came to call Chambers to inquire about his grain brokerage.

Having no previous experience in buying or marketing grain, he gave it a shot to get a feel of the business.

It only took a few short months for McDonald to go full force into the business and purchase the company.

McDonald said Chambers still works for Quality Grain Marketing, but he is happy to be able to travel more with his wife and focus on marketing grain for

his customers. McDonald works out of his home and has nine brokers working full to parttime across the three Prairie provinces. The brokers are situated in Champion and Okotoks in Alberta, Moose Jaw and Yorkton in Saskatchewan, as well as Brandon and Winkler in Manitoba.

With the locations spread apart, they do not need to have a home base, and McDonald looks after the bookkeeping, contracting, customer service, administration work and anything else that comes along

AAC CONNECT MALT BARLEYBetter than Metcalfe or Copeland and now on the Recommended Malt Barley list.

AC ANDREW CPSA soft white spring wheat. Best yield and brewers first choice.

AAC WHEATLAND VBHard to better, this top performing CWRS yields in dry or wet years. Great standability too!

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CDC SPECTRUM YPProtein premium and field performance.

CDC LIMERICK GPHighest protein, best bleach resistance.

SNOWBIRD FABADo try Faba. Excellent pulse rotation.

FLAX CDC GLASProven Performance.

PLEASE CALL

Vicki Dutton 1.306.441.6699

for the business.

The small business has grown over the years and offers other services by providing access to mills and dairies, and to products for supplemental protein primarily in Manitoba. Organizing and co-ordinating freight for customers, buyers and sellers alike, if they need grain moved.

McDonald said it is their mission to get the producers the best price on their grain.

Doing their due diligence, McDonald’s nopressure sales team does the calling and talking to take the pressure off the busy producers with price recovery. This takes 75 percent of their time.

While feed grains are their specialty, they do deal with every commodity that producers grow.

They deal with barley, wheat, oats, rye, corn, triticale, yellow and green peas, faba beans, chickpeas, lentils, mustard, canary seed, soybeans, flax and canola.

They also test and work with different grades of product.

Whatever the need may be, McDonald and his team are happy to assist.

WE SELL SEED • WE BUY PULSES

Quilt Patch

Member’s work featured at Chapel Gallery

By Corinne J Nedelec

Rivers’

Edge Quilt Guild

We have had a couple of meetings without a newspaper report. Sorry about that. Life does move along.

We’ve had a few new ladies join our guild from the Meota area. Always nice to have new members, along with new ideas and creativity. Welcome, ladies.

Heather Hochbaum, a member of our guild, has a show at the Chapel Gallery called “Chaos and (Dis) Order” on until April 21, featuring quilts and quilted objects. Be sure to check it out.

Our February retreat was well attended with Darlene and Irene winning the strip poker on Wednesday and Thursday. There was also a rummage giveaway fabric and knickknack sale.

Every month we have a chance to win a bundle of fat quarters that members bring and a name is drawn. Corinne was the winner in February and Audrey won in March. At the next meeting, the fat quarter will be pastel Easter colours.

Our executive for the 2024-25 year has been decided, thanks to the ladies

Show and tell sessions give members an opporunity to share their completed projects. | Photos submitted

who stepped up to volunteer. Other individuals have stayed on doing the other committee jobs. It takes a dedicated group of ladies to keep it all going. A decision was made to do a quilt show in 2025 at the Chapel Gallery.

Classes this month include bags, a tool bag and a table runner with many op-

portunities to sew during the week. Other possible quilt classes are coming up, one being Carol’s jellyroll race, possible picture quilting and others.

Share the Warmth money received from SaskEnergy was discussed. Shirley volunteered to check out prices and products and to make purchases.

Our next meeting is April 5 at 1 p.m. at the Don Ross Center, middle door and down the stairs. All

interested are welcome to check us out and sit in on a meeting. Hope to see you there.

“Our friendship is stitched with love and laughter, just like this quilt.”

Skating carnival season

By Elaine Woloshyn Correspondent

As of this week, spring will officially arrive. Aren’t we fortunate to have endured those few terrible blizzards that happened only in March? Yes, March sure came in like a roaring lion. Keeping our fingers crossed that it doesn’t end like the beginning.

There still might be enough snow left on Saskatchewan Snowmobile’s Association Trails which boasts 6,875 miles well groomed by volunteers. If there is adequate snow, the trails are open from the end of November until early April going through frozen lakes and other water bodies, forest and prairie land. There are 233 warmup shelters along the way that house wood-burning stoves with fire-making materials supplied. The local trail near Rabbit Lake and area was meticulously groomed by an elderly man Doug Lamb who is training younger ones to take over this volunteer position.

Faye and Keith Liebaert of Mayfair were fortunate to see their 15-year-old granddaughter play hockey in the Western U18 finals in Penticton, B.C. last week. Bailey Schwartz from Flin Fon, Man. is one of the goalies for “The Rink” in Winnipeg. She is the daughter of Michele and Chad Schwartz. Their team lost but gained extra experience. They had a chance to visit Keith’s niece Sybil (Rene’s daughter) who resides in Penticton and a relative of Faye’s in Edmonton en route home. They noticed many homeless in the streets and back alleys in Penticton, It is the time of the year for figure skating clubs to showcase skaters. The

Battlefords club is hosting its annual ice carnival this Saturday, March 23 at 2 p.m. at Access Communications Centre in North Battleford. Spiritwood’s carnival was last Sunday the theme being “Kaleidoscope of Colours.” Sherryl Britton Krause, the skating instructor, has been their head coach for many years. Many intermediate and senior skaters are program assistants. A large crowd filled Spiritwood’s arena to see the wonderful exciting program.

Medstead hosted its annual ice carnival at the end of February. Medstead and Spiritwood combined for a synchronized team that displayed their talent at Medstead’s carnival. Carnivals are always a joy to watch as spectators enjoy the skills of the wee ones right up to the more advanced talented skaters. Every act on the program has vibrant costumes to go with the theme. Figure skating is, unfortunately, still a female-dominated sport in smaller towns. It is great entertainment watching how agile, flexible and flamboyant many skaters are. They put their whole heart and soul into this sport.

Kids at the tender age of five years old apparently can learn how to curl with wooden curling rocks. This Saturday in Spiritwood the Lions Club is hosting a cordwood curling bonspiel for kindergarten to Grade 6 children. Kids are invited to come out and enjoy curling with these lightweight wood rocks. There is a pancake breakfast to start the morning off which is free for the registered curlers. For others, admission is adults - $5, students $3 and one year and under $1. The breakfast is sponsored by

Scotia Bank. For more information please call Marg Pretli at 306-883-9497. In past years the registration has been more than 100 kids. That rink will be hustling and bustling with much laughter and excitement.

Thickwood Hills Wildlife Federation’s annual fish fry March 30 at Mayfair Hall brings people from great distances. The evening features raffle tickets and a 50/50 draw. The cost is $20 for adult and kids 12 and under are free. Advanced tickets only. For tickets please call Martin Toews at 306-4414137.

Hafford Goldenaires Club is having pie and coffee in the senior hall on Match. 22.

The snow is quickly melting but I’m sure there still will be a blanket of white somewhere on the prairies. Most people hate to see it disappear too fast as there can be flooding problems.

Moose encounters have become a common experience for those driving in the country.

An entertaining number by a group of figure skaters at the Spiritwood carnival last Sunday. | Photos by Elaine Woloshyn

An all too familiar scene this time of the year. One should always be a defensive driver no matter what the season.

DRURY: Darcy Wayne Drury was born December 28, 1950 in Lloydminster, AB, Darcy Wayne Drury was born December 28, 1950, in Lloydminster, AB, son of Grace and Lee Drury, father to Shawn (m. Melissa c. Baden, Colleena, Lilyanne, and Bremen), Evan (m. Candace c. Reiya and Russ), Laura; and was brother to Wanda (c. Will and Bede), Kemp (Gwen), and Donna. Survived by former wife Rose. All his life, Darcy greatly enjoyed the outdoors. From a very young age, he and his devoted four-footed pal Yeller would trek across fields to the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, where he built a hut into one of the banks. Years later, he and Rose built a family dream home on a hillside high above that same river. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, as well as a skilled mechanic - in the late 60s inside the backyard garage, he completely restored a little vintage Thames Van ice cream truck into a purple hot rod recognized all around town. In his many projects, and especially his beautiful woodworking, he was inventive, creative, perfectionist, and determined. Throughout the working years, he worked with his dad and brother in Drury’s Plaster and Stucco. In the later years Darcy chose a solitary life, with the constant company of a loyal dog, and his kids and grandkids popping in to pester him as often as possible. His house was made full again in recent years with Evan and family moving into that same house overlooking the river. Darcy was able to live out his final years with joy in seeing, “the old house alive again,” which renewed his own ambitions and goals for travel and adventure. He passed away peacefully and appropriately at his home, the place where he was the most happy. As per Darcy’s wishes no service will be held. Arrangements have been entrusted to Eternal Memories Funeral Service and Crematorium – Vanessa Macnab Funeral Director.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE ESTATE of JOYCE CHMELNYK, late of 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 22nd day of April, 2024.

Matrix Law Group 1421 - 101st Street North Battleford Saskatchewan S9A 1A1

Lawyers for the Executor

Attention: Clifford A. Holm

NOTICETOCREDITORS INTHEESTATEOFGORDON FITZ-GERALDYARDE, LATEOFBATTLEFORD, INTHEPROVINCEOF

SASKATCHEWAN,DECEASED. Allclaimsagainsttheabove estate,dulyverifiedbystatutory declarationandwithparticulars andvaluationofsecurityheld,if any,mustbesenttothe undersignedbeforethe5thdayof April,2024,toExecutor,Donald Zehner,172298thSt.,North Battleford,SK,S9A0N1.

FARMLAND WANTED

I am currently PURCHASING single to large blocks of land.

NO FEES OR COMMISSIONS

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Doug Rue, for further information 306-716-2671 saskfarms@shaw.ca www.sellyourfarm land.com

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Come Join

MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS

That uplift & create unity among people of all Faiths or other beliefs.

A new topic each week with quotes from Baha’i teachings. Offered by the Baha’i Community of the Battlefords This Week

“IS THERE A CURE FOR RACISM”

NB Public Library Board Room

Monday, March 25th, 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Battlefords Right to Life Annual General Meeting

April 2nd 7:30 p.m.

St. Joseph Calasanctious Church

1942 - 98th Street, North Battleford SK Everyone Welcome

battlefords humane society

Hi! I’m Rufus!

I’m a two year old Shepherd cross that just loves to cuddle! If you want a loyal and handsome man in your life, then look no further! He has been in the shelter for 120 days!

PUBLIC NOTICE

Glaslyn Métis Local #75 Members

General Assembly/Election

Sunday, March 24 2024

Glaslyn Community Hall @ 3pm

Positions: President Vice President

Hi I’m Joshua!

2 years 11 months Male. He has spent 275 days at the shelter! I am a staff favourite and I love to please people. I am a happy and loving dog, who is always excited to greet people, and just want some love.

SPONSORED BY CHERRY INSURANCE & REGIONAL NEWS-OPTIMIST

battlefordshumanesociety.com

Public Notice for Discretionary Use

Public notice is hereby given that, pursuant to section 55 of The Planning and Development Act, 2007, that the RM of Meota No. 468 has received an application for a discretionary use. The application is to set up a centralized Rig Camp with up to 8 sleeping units to reduce movement of camp structure each time a rig is moved, the camp will be set up within Parcel B, Plan 101565693, NW 10-46-17-W3M as represented in the attached map

Council will consider this application at the regular scheduled Council meeting on April 3, 2024 at 1:30 pm in the RM of Meota office. If you wish to comment on these proposals, please do so in writing prior to 1:30 pm

Monday April 1, 2024 to the RM of Meota No. 468, PO Box 80, Meota, SK, S0M 1X0 or via email to development@rmmeota468.ca. For additional information please contact the Development Officer at (306 892-2061) or at development@rmmeota468.ca.

Tina Schaefer Development Officer

March 21, 2024

R.M. OF NORTH BATTLEFORD NO. 437

NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the R.M. of North Battleford No. 437 for the year 2024 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following days:

Monday to Friday

March 22, 2024 to April 22, 2024

(Excluding statutory holidays)

A bylaw pursuant to Section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.

Any person who wishes to appeal against their assessment is required to file their notice of appeal with:

ADR Institute of Saskatchewan Inc.

Centralized Board of Revision Secretary to the Board of Revision Box 328

Nokomis, SK S0G 3R0

Email: cbor@adrsaskatchewan.ca

The required appeal fee of $200.00 per property shall be addressed to the RM of North Battleford Box 187 North Battleford, SK S9A 2Y1.

Dated in North Battleford, SK this 21st day of March 2024.

Nicole Collins Assessor

NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL VILLAGE OF MEOTA

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Village of Meota for the year 2024 has been prepared and is open for inspection at the office of the Assessor of the municipality from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on the following days: Tuesday to Friday, March 21, 2024 to April 23, 2024.

A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required. Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment is required to file a Notice of Appea! accompanied by a $100.00 appeal fee for each assessment being appealed with The Secretary of the Board of Revision, Marlene Hassard, Western Municipal Consulting Ltd. Box 149, Meota, SK SOM 1X0 by the 23rd day of April, 2024. Dated this 21st day of March, 2024.

Kim Frolek

Assessor

FOR SALE - MISCELLANEOUS

TAX ENFORCEMENT

FORM C [Section 2.3]

NOTICE

(The Tax Enforcement Act)

TAKE NOTICE that the Town of Cut Knife intends to be registered as owner under the above Act of the land described at the foot of this document.

The Municipality claims title to the land by virtue of an interest based on the Tax Lien registered against the existing title to the land in the Land Titles Registry as Interest Number 140798526 and Interest Number 190899679 and you are required to TAKE NOTICE that unless you contest the claim of the Municipality or redeem the land pursuant to the provisions of the above Act within six months from the service of this notice on you and, subject to the further provisions of The Tax Enforcement Act, a title will be issued to the applicant and you will thereafter be forever estopped and debarred from setting up any claim to, or in respect of, the land.

The amount required to redeem the land may be ascertained on application to the Clerk, Treasurer or Administrator of the Municipality. Dated this 15 day of February, 2023.

TOWN OF CUT KNIFE

Per:

Deborah Schaefer, Administrator

Jeffrey Edmund Brunet

Name of Assessed Owner

LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF LANDS:

Lot 32 Blk/Par 7 Plan No H376 Extension 0

Title Number: 134816968

Borden and District News

Fundraiser supports community centre flooring

By Lorraine Olinyk Correspondent

The Borden Community Centre Preservation

Committee held a successful stew and soup luncheon Friday, March 15, in the centre with proceeds going for new flooring. Door

prizes were won by Martha Rempel, Brenda Tumbach, Kim Anderson, Stew Walton, Jesse Wensley and Ella McGlaughlin with a

basket of goodies raffle won by Bev Hrynuik. On the committee are Karen Kerr, Gloria Derbowka, Marcia Parker, Sylvia

THIRD AVENUE UNITED CHURCH requires a Part-time OFFICE CO-ORDINATOR

approximately 20 hours per week

• The successful applicant will be a mature individual with good communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills

• Experience in word processing and accounting procedures is required

• Responsibilities will include secretarial and financial functions, as well as coordinating the rental of church facilities

• Position to commence at a date mutually determined with successful candidate

Please send resume with references to: Ministry and Personnel Committee

Third Avenue United Church 1301 – 102nd St. North Battleford, SK S9A 1G4

For further information you may call 306-445-8539

Town of Cut Knife Summer Student Employment 2024

The Town of Cut Knife is looking for two Summer Student Employees (aged 16 – 30 years) who will report directly to the Town Foreman or Administrator. The successful candidate is ideally available full time (40 hours) and to start beginning of May 2024 until the end of August. The start and end date can be mutual agreed on (availability of student and weather).

R.M. OF CUT KNIFE NO. 439 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The R.M. of Cut Knife No. 439 is currently seeking applications for a full-time seasonal Equipment Operator/Labourer.

Duties may include, but may not be limited to, operation of a backhoe, tractor & mower, rock picker, tandem truck & trailer. Previous experience with the operation of these pieces of equipment will be an asset to placement as will a Class 1A license.

The successful applicant will enjoy a health and dental benefits plan and employer matched pension plan.

Interested applicants may apply by sending a resume and hourly wage expected to:

R.M. of Cut Knife No. 439

Box 70

Cut Knife, Sask. S0M 0N0

Phone # (306) 398-2353

E-mail - rm439@sasktel.net

Fax # (306) 398-3016

Deadline for applications – April 8th, 2024

Position 1)

Skills

• Self-motivated and positive attitude

• able to work in a team and independently

• Mechanical understanding and ability to operate small equipment

• Oral and written communication

Duties

• Mainly grass cutting and trimming

• General Maintenance work

• other duties as assigned by the Foreman

Position 2)

Skills

• Self-motivated and positive attitude

• able to work in a team and independently

• oral and written communication

• familiar with using computers and MS-Office (word, excel)

Duties

• tracking and registering Town assets with a GPS device

• filing and archiving at the Town Office

• General Maintenance work

• grass cutting and trimming where needed

• other duties as assigned by the Foreman or Administrator

Position 1) and 2)

Requirements

• Valid class 5 Driver’s License. Drivers Abstract. Safety foot wear.

• Ability to lift more then 25 lbs regularly and work eight (8) hour shifts outside. Wages is $15 per hour

For more information or to submit your resume please contact:

Town of Cut Knife

Administrator Deborah Schaefer

Phone: 1 (306) 398-2363

• Email: townofcutknife@sasktel.net

Mail: Box 130 Cut Knife, SK S0M 0N0

Please submit a Resume by April 5, 2024.

The Position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.

Only those candidates selected to be interviewed will be contacted.

Larsen, Dianne Rawlyk and Bev Hrynuik and helping out on Friday were Carrie Harkness and Diane Tracksell. Celtic Country with Bob Wardhaugh on keyboard, Perry Nicol with drums and castanets, Ed Neufeld playing guitar and Archie Wainwright singing along with the group, played many Irish tunes while everyone was enjoying their lunch.

The Borden Lions members and guests enjoyed a turkey dinner March 14 at the Roadside Inn along with special guests District Governor Bernie Kramchynsky and his wife Marianne from Rosthern and Borden Mayor Jamie Brandrick and his wife Kandis. President Tom Redhead welcomed everyone and introduced the special guests, Rev. Sheldon Carr gave the blessing and then everyone was served a delicious meal with all the extras and some great desserts. After the meal, Tom gave a brief history of the Borden Lions who started in 1981, recognized two of the founding members still active – Archie Wainwright and Bob Wardhaugh — and named and thanked all the members who are chairpersons of the various committees: Carly Hess – fundraising, Chase the Ace, outdoor flea market and grants, Jan Sparks – catering, Remembrance Day service – Sandi Long, carol festival – Perry Nicol, wagon rides – Ed Neufeld, news and media Continued on Page 21

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

TAX ENFORCEMENT

Kendall Redhead sponsoring new Borden Lions Club member Brittany Ketzel with District Governor Bernie Kramchynsky presenting pins and certificates. | Photos by Lorraine Olinyk

Borden Lion Jan Sparks receiving her 10year certificate from District Governor Bernie Kramchynsky.

More Borden and District News

Continued from Page 20 L. Olinyk, dog guides –Bob Wardhaugh, CNIB –Mel Wasylyshyn, emergency response – Bev Assman, scholarships and donations – Sharon Assman and details of this evening – Kendall Redhead.

Tom introduced the Borden Lions’ executive –himself as president, vicepresident Cody Bradshaw, treasurer Justin Bisson and secretary Brittany Ketsel, who is putting all the Borden Lions do online.

DG Bernie, who belongs to the Rosthern Lions Club, has been a Lion for 45 years and has held all offices except secretary. He joined Alvena Lions in 1979 then Rosthern in 1998. He has been on the Rosthern Co-op board for

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

MEOTA REGIONAL PARK IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2024 SEASON FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:

Concession Lease

From May 13th to September 15th 2024. Please send your written application with intended hours of operations, experience, references & proposed lease expectations to Meota Regional Park. Email applications to: meotapark@ sasktel.net. Deadline for applications is March 28th, 2024. For more information call: 306-441-3994.

Park Manager - Full-Time

The Park Manager will oversee all matters related to the maintenance and operation of a 100site campground. Position would include overseeing the day-to-day operations of the park during its operations season, including the start up and shut down of the Park. This would also include supervision of the Assistant Manager and the Park Maintenance staff, scheduling park staff, ensuring staff keep the grounds maintained and working with seasonal and non-seasonal campers to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the park. Candidates must have a valid driver’s license and driving abstract, be knowledgeable of Saskatchewan Workers Compensation regulations, WHIMIS and other Provincial requirements. This contract is an ongoing contract that will be renewed on a yearly basis. Wages are negotiable. Must be available to work most weekends and some evenings. The term of employment will start May 1st and would work until approximately September 30th .

Assistant Park Manager - Full -Time

The Assistant Park Manager works under the direction of the Park Manager and must have the ability to undertake the Park Manager’s responsibilities as required. The responsibilities will include supervision of Park Maintenance Staff. The successful individual will be a self-starter, possess organization skills, have previous supervision and general maintenance experience, possess a valid Saskatchewan Driver’s License and will be available to work weekends and some evenings. The term of employment will start May 1st and would work until approximately September 30th .

Park Office Staff

The Meota Regional Park Authority is accepting applications for Park Office Staff. One Full time and two Part-time positions are available. Preference will be given to individuals with office experience and must be knowledgeable of Microsoft Excel. Duties will include operation of the campsite on-line reservations system, answering telephones, checking in of campground patrons, relaying requests and issues to maintenance staff, collection of fees and recording of daily revenues. The successful applicants will be available to work weekends and evenings and be willing to work with the Park Manager in other duties within the Regional Park. Park Office staff report to the Office Administrator and provide support for all office duties. Regular cleaning of the park office and cleaning for season close will be expected of the park office staff. The term of employment for the Park Office staff will be mid-May 2024 to mid-September 2024.

Park Maintenance Staff

The Meota Regional Park Authority is accepting applications for several Park Maintenance Staff positions for the Spring and Summer of 2024. Reporting to the Park Manager, the Park Maintenance Staff will perform general grounds maintenance, lawn-mowing, painting, cleaning of facilities and garbage collection among other duties as assigned by either the Park Manager or their Assistant. Successful applicants will be self-motivated, reliable and able to work weekends as well as possess a valid Saskatchewan Driver’s License and will be able to operate most lawn/garden care equipment. The term of employment will begin mid-May and end September long weekend. Students are welcome to apply.

For All Positions Listed:

All placements will be considered probationary for no less than 90 days and will require weekend and evening shifts. Actual hours and employment dates can be weather dependent and may be allotted in regards to individual suitability. Clean and appropriate apparel, while on duty, is expected of all staff. Strong communication skills, hospitable nature and ability to work well with others will be definite assets to placement.

Please email resumes to meotapark@sasktel.net on or before 5:00 pm Thursday March 28, 2024. Please identify on your cover letter the employment position you are seeking

over 30 years, was Rosthern Citizen of the Year and is a Sask. Hall of Fame recipient.

He told those attending there are 1.4 million Lions members in 200 countries and 48,000 Lions Clubs worldwide. He talked about the Lions dog guides program in Ontario that is erecting a larger building at a cost of more than $50 million of which $40 million has been raised.

He spoke of other programs Lions are involved with – diabetes, seeing eye and diabetic detector dogs, diabetic camp in Saskatchewan and the Lions Eye Ban. He said the Saskatchewan Lions Foundation supports STARS and vision and diabetic centres, Quest in schools, River Valley Retreat for firefighters, EMS and first

responders) and Wilderness Camp. Lions collect eyeglasses and hearing aids for Third World countries. Lions Club International has raised over $ 325 million in 2023 to fund causes and in 2024 is aiding Ukraine.

Bernie spoke of the Multi-District No. 5 convention in Minot, N.D. for Lions clubs in North and South Dakota. The convention is in Saskatchewan in 2025 at Dakota Dunes.

New member Brittany Ketzel was installed as a member and she and her sponsor Kendall Redhead were given pins and certificates and all the members present repeated the Lions pledge. DG Bernie presented a 10-year certificate to Jan Sparks and a 40-year certificate to Mel Wasylyshyn, a pin to Tom

Sweeping Into Spring

and anyone who wanted a DG pin could pick one up. Tom Redhead then presented a cheque for $200 from the Borden club to DG Bernie for LCIF.

Saturday, March 23 there is a bowling tournament at Action Bowl in the basement of the Borden Community Centre and during the lunch hour, Little Sprouts will be serving hamburgers and hotdogs along with beverages outside the Community Centre.

Welcome to the new pastor of the Riverbend Fellowship Church, Doug Hacking and his wife Gwen. The church holds services every Sunday at 10:50 a.m. with adult Bible study before that at 10 a.m. in the Friendship Club Room in the Borden Community Centre.

Bring a natural balance to nutrition

Submitted

Battlefords Early Childhood Community Planning Network

The Battlefords Early Childhood Community Planning Network (BECCPN) would like you to join us in celebrating Nutrition Month 2024.

“Bring a Natural Balance to Your Nutrition” is the theme.

There are many ways to achieve balance in meals and snacks. Start by aiming for a variety of foods

that fit into the three food groups: vegetables and fruits, whole grains and protein foods. Balance your portions of food by aiming for half of your plate to be vegetables and fruits, and keeping the whole grain and protein foods to a quarter each. Create excitement with your meals by ensuring you have a variety of colours, textures and flavours that can make eating from home exciting. Remember to create balance in your food choices and include

some treat foods that may not perfectly align with Canada’s Food Guide –balance is key.

The BECCPN committee members work together in the Battlefords to support healthy growth and development. We believe that everyone has the right to a healthy diet, so they can have the energy and vitality to be the best versions of themselves. For more information regarding this network, please call 306-446 4545 or 306446 6443.

Borden Lions president Tom Redhead presenting a cheque for $200 to District Governor Bernie Kramchynsky. | Photo by Lorraine Olinyk

Meota Curling Club hosted their annual Spring Open Bonspiel March 8 and 9. The winning team was Pat Mohr, Huguette Johnson, Dale Johnson and Bob Bartkewich. The Mohr rink defeated Larry McDaid in the A final. | Photo courtesy Derek Welford

Meota

and

By Eric Callbeck Meota

Oh to be young and full of adventure and life. I think we can all think back to our carefree days when the tops of rubber boots were only a minor challenge. The Northcott and St. Amante girls, the youngest of the three being camera shy, found challenging water in a ditch at the Meota Municipal office this week. I hope you girls enjoyed your outing as much as we enjoyed reminiscing with you.

The Meota Do Drop In was the site of a lively fun-filled day of shuffleboard and cards. After six hours of friendly but serious competition, the win-

ners for the day were determined. Winners were: first - Astor Fransoo and Vern Iverson; secondKaren Kelly and Gordon Klein, third - David Ottas and Bev McCrimmon. A scrumptious potluck lunch was highlighted by Linda Ard’s home-brewed beefbarley soup. Everyone went home winners after a great day of socializing playing pool, tile rummy (which I managed to win) and cards and hanging out with friends.

Word of the return of Gerry and Louise Goodheart is scheduled for the near future. The warm weather has brought out a swarm of winter fun seekers. Their high-pitched engine screams can be heard

by many in town as they take advantage of the remaining snow near the end of the season. It’s great to be out with the guys and girls as we enjoy our toys. No better way to take in the wilds and fresh air.

A sure sign of spring was the snow clearing from around the construction site on 2nd Street West. The metre of snow was cleared out to provide access to the excavated basement site.

Activities for the week included Tuesday bridge.

Winners of the Do Drop In shuffleboard tournament were Astor Fransoo, Vern Iverson, Karen Kelly, Gordon Klein, David Ottas and Bev McCrimmon. | Phot submitted

and Fraser Glen were first. Second were Barb Mitchell and Vern Iverson and third were Catriona Winterholt and Donna Scherman. First in “B” were Gerry Raif

and Mary Phelps.

Friday canasta winners were: HF - first Albert Huys and Eric Callbeck; second Judy Schmidt and Gail Hilderman. HKF ca-

nasta first went to Stela Rendle and Gen Lacerte.

In second were Vern Iverson and Dave Sayers. Third were Linda Ard and Lillian S.

Maidstone and District News

Villains take to the ice for skating carnival

and everyone enjoyed her performance. Thank you, Olivia, for coming and to Intercore. Appreciation also goes to all who supported our club and those who attended the carnival. We hope to see you next year for more fun. (from information submitted by Vickie Bailey)

and all who support the auxiliary’s endeavours to enhance health care in our community.

The next event is a Strawberry Tea and Bake Sale at the Seniors’ Drop-In Centre Thursday, May 9. (from information submitted by Jill Churn)

The 75th Maidstone Skating Carnival themed “Villains” took place last weekend with performances Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Carnival queen winner was Evelyn Telenga, first runner-up was Sway Krepps and second runner-up was Gwen Fritz. All skaters put on an excellent show. With sponsorship from Intercore, a guest skater, Olivia Hardy, was brought in. She is a fantastic skater

Maidstone Museum Board held the first meeting of 2024 March 18 with six members present. The new Town of Maidstone administrator, Amanda Flasch, was welcomed to the meeting. Reports from winter events were given. Spring preparations, fundraising and future events were discussed. Volunteerism is the backbone of the museum – we need help. Anyone interested in assisting with documentation of artifacts, displays, building and yard maintenance or events, please call the museum at 306893-2890 and leave a message or talk to any board member: president Danielle Hollingshead, vicepresident John Anderson, treasurer Bill McGilvery,

secretary Kathy Utri, members-at-large Eileen Anderson, Georgina Bahr, Christine Carlson, Helaynea Croke and Trina Tuplin. Next meeting will be Monday, April 15 (7 p.m.) at the museum.

Chair yoga classes began Tuesday, March 19 at Pine Island Health & Wellness Centre. All subsequent classes will be at Maidstone Seniors’ DropIn Centre (406 Main St.) on Tuesdays from 2 to 3 p.m. A yoga mat is required to prevent chair slippage – you will not be on the floor. Classes are free and no registration is required. For more information don’t hesitate to call Shannon at 306-893-2551.

This year Grace Community Church is doing something a bit different. On Thursday, March 28 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the church, there will be an Easter egg hunt. It will be a fun time of watching kids hunt, have fun and enjoy fellowship together. Age for the hunt is Grade 6 and younger – youth are not permitted to participate

or help younger siblings. The number of treats each child goes home with will depend on the number participating. Please let Melanie know if your children are coming by texting 306716-6682 with their names and ages before March 25. Registration is a must so there are enough treats.

The deadline for Maidstone Communities in Bloom Mother’s Day fundraiser through Boser’s Greenhouse is April 1. Hanging baskets, planters and gift certificates can be ordered by calling Joanne 306-893-7966, Jackie 306893-7827, Lisa 780-8083522 or Megan 306-8958557 (evening). Boser’s is well known around our area for their quality products. Communities in Bloom does a fantastic job of beautifying our town every year and need your support, so get those orders in. They will also be ordering Equinox planters again this year. The online catalogue can be seen at www. desertplanters.com and the deadline for those orders is April 14. Visit them at the

Maidstone’s Skating Carnival “Villains” took place March 16 and 17. The carnival queen was crowned March 17. In the photo are: second runner-up Gwen Fritz, queen Evelyn Telenga and first runner-up Sway Krepps.| Photos courtesy Kathy Utri

Spring Market (see information below).

Reminders:

Saturday, March 23 -

Texas Hold ‘Em at Maidstone Legion Club Room – registration 1 p.m.; starts at 2 p.m.

Sunday, March 24Spring Market at Maidstone Legion Hall 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, March 28Maidstone Kin Club’s Easter Family Dance at Legion Hall 7 p.m.

Good Friday, March 29 - Last in the Ecumenical Lenten Series – service and lunch at Grace Community Church (212 – 4th Ave. E.) at 11 a.m.

Sunday, March 31- Happy Easter everyone!