Red Deer Advocate, December 22, 2015

BEHIND THE WHEEL WITH SEINFELD A look behind the scenes at the next installment of comedian’s Web series

Big tax hike in county

PAGE A9

PAGE B1

Red Deer Advocate TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2015

www.reddeeradvocate.com

Your trusted local news authority

OD kit program grows

Warrant issued for man linked to Penhold drug house

BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF

BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF Naloxone kits to reverse opiod overdoses will be available across Central Alberta in January.

Since July, Central Alberta AIDS Network, which is changing its name to Turning Point, has so far only been able to distribute kits in Red Deer in response to the rise in fentanyl overdoses. In the first nine months of 2015, fentanyl-related deaths in Alberta stood at 213 and included 29 in Central Alberta.

Jennifer Vanderschaeghe, Turning Point executive director, said an increase in funding from the province will double the amount of time staff can dedicate to training people to use naloxone and distribute kits. Currently staff can only spent the equivalent of one day per week on the naloxone program.

“This means we’ll have a day in Red Deer and a day in the rural area from a staffing perspective,” said Vanderschaeghe on Monday.

Funding for travel will also be available for staff, she said.

Turning Point is one of eight agencies across Alberta distributing free naloxone kits as part of a one-year pilot program funded by Alberta Health.

As of early December, agencies had given out 707 kits, and 51 lives have been saved. As of Friday, 123 kits had been given out in Red Deer, with 30 lives saved.

Naloxone is injected intramuscularly and keeps people breathing until paramedics arrive. It’s possible for a person to lapse into an overdose again once naloxone wears off so medical attention is required.

Last week, the province announced it would boost naloxone availability by allowing registered nurses to prescribe, administer and distribute it.

Nurses could not prescribe the drug before. Paramedics, who could only administer naloxone, will be allowed to distribute it. Emergency medical technicians and emergency medical responders will also be able to administer and distribute naloxone.

Please see NALOXONE on Page A2

Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate staff

Jennifer Vanderschaeghe, executive director of the Central Alberta Aids Network Society (CAANS), shows off one of the naloxone kits for the drug fentanyl Monday evening at the Central Alberta Aids Network. To date, CAANS has distributed 125 kits, and have saved 31 lives with 30 kits.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of one man connected to a drug house in Penhold that was shut down by police earlier this month.

Derek Bergdal, 30, of Penhold was scheduled to appear in Red Deer provincial court on Dec. 17 to set a preliminary hearing date.

However, according to Alberta Justice, Bergdal missed the appearance and a warrant was issued for his arrest

by Judge Jim Hunter.

Bergdal faces drug and firearm charges from his arrest on Aug. 7 at 52 Heartland Cres. in Penhold. He was arrested with Darren Ray, 32, also of Penhold.

According to a land title search, Ray is the owner of the property located at 52 Heartland Cres. He purchased it in May of 2011.

Ray is also charged with drugs, firearms and stolen property offences in relation to the bust. Ray waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Nov. 26 in Red Deer provincial court. He will next appear in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Jan. 4 for his arraignment and the setting of a trial date.

Innisfail RCMP with the assistance of the Calgary Emergency Response Team, Blackfalds RCMP and Red Deer RCMP General Investigation Section executed a search warrant on the property on Aug. 7. They said they found cocaine, crystal meth, GHB, morphine, prescription pills, two firearms, cash and stolen property.

The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team’s Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods team closed the house at 52 Heartland Cres. on Dec. 14. They were granted a court order, known as a Community Safety Order, to close the house for a 90-day period.

During this time, the owner and all tenants are barred from entering or occupying the property. Locks have been changed, windows and doors have been boarded up and the property has been fenced.

Innisfail RCMP said they had been called to the property 24 separate times over an eight-month period.

Please see WARRANT on Page A2

No short-term fix for job losses: Mihychuk CALGARY — Canada’s employment minister says there is no short-term fix for Alberta’s growing unemployment rate.

MaryAnn Mihychuk met with Calgary business, municipal and economic leaders Monday to address economic difficulties facing the province.

She said there’s no magic wand the federal government can wave to undo the impact of low oil prices, which have led to 40,000 job losses in the en-

WEATHER Sun and cloud. High -14. Low -22.

FORECAST ON A2

ergy sector.

“We understand the crisis here in Alberta. It’s not only here. This is the most dramatic, but it’s also impacting Saskatchewan, Manitoba and B.C.,” Mihychuk said.

One of the first things the

INDEX Two sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business . . . . . . . A6-A7 Canada . . . . . . . . A5, B2 Classified . . . . . . B6-B7 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . B8 Entertainment . . . . . . A9 Sports . . . . . . . . . B3-B5

MARYANN MIHYCHUK

federal Liberal government intends to do is move ahead with cash for infrastructure projects and there is likely to be funding in the upcoming federal budget, she said.

“This is going to be able to move some people from one sector to another. We will work with the province to ensure some training happens if some people need to be remobilized.

“But did I come with a wallet full of cash? No.” Mihychuk said she sympathizes with those who are facing tough times and the efforts they are making to try to

carry on through the challenges.

But she warned things will probably get worse before they get better.

“Your unemployment numbers have gone up, which provided greater access to employment insurance. Is that going to be enough for this downturn?

I don’t think so.”

Federal Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose accused the Liberals of having no economic plan, other than to tax and spend, to respond to the collapse of oil prices.

Please see JOBS on Page A2

Teen shooting suspect already facing charges A 13-year-old cried as he appeared briefly in court to face first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of two clerks.

Story on PAGE A3

PLEASE RECYCLE

7349760L11-26

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS

A2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015

A CASTLE FIT FOR A PRINCESS

Transgender judge credits hard work for his appointment

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS WINNIPEG — Canada’s first known transgender judge credits his new position to lots of hard work and a determination to simply be himself.

Judge Kael McKenzie says when he learned of his appointment to Manitoba provincial court, he felt a surge of elation and pride that he quickly shared with his wife and two teenage sons.

They are as thrilled as he is, he says.

“I have been working really hard for my entire adult life in all kinds of areas and I have continually strived to improve myself,” McKenzie KAEL MCKENZIE said Monday.

“The appointment is much more than being a trans man.

I feel like my efforts have been rewarded.”

McKenzie, 44, made the transition from woman to man a few years ago.

What didn’t change was his drive to improve himself and contribute to the community.

He remembers joining Sea Cadets and playing lots of sports before coming out as a lesbian in his teens to people close to him.

Keeping his sexuality a secret, McKenzie joined the Canadian Forces and served six years in the navy as a communications and research analyst.

He worked as a campus police officer while studying at the University of Manitoba.

After practising family, commercial and civil law, he worked as a Manitoba Crown attorney for five years.

McKenzie, who is Metis, has volunteered for organizations that include the North American Indigenous Games, the Canadian Bar Association and Winnipeg’s Rainbow Resource Centre.

The trans community and others are holding him out as a role model. People he has never met before are sending messages of support.

“They are like, ‘Thank you. My son or daughter is transitioning and it means so much.’ People, just complete strangers, saying thank you. I have had a number of trans people who have said, ‘See, we can do anything — people are people,”’ he said.

“It is overwhelming to think that you can have this type of impact on someone’s life just from being yourself and working hard.”

Like anyone else, his life experiences are bound to affect how he does his job, he said. But he is emphatic that he is not a token.

McKenzie said he’s had only a few negative responses from anonymous people, who have posted remarks on websites.

STORIES FROM PAGE A2

NALOXONE: Might be available at pharmacy Health Canada is reported to be looking at making naloxone available at pharmacies without a prescription by mid-2016.

Vanderschaeghe said having naloxone available over the counter will help occasional or recreational users, but it won’t assist Turning Point clients.

Fentanyl is about 100 times stronger than morphine, heroin, or oxycodone. A very small amount can be deadly and fentanyl has been showing up unexpectedly in other street drugs.

She said the use of fentanyl to increase the potency of street drugs is not something that is going to stop.

“Now that we have so many people overdosing, to some degree those overdoses market fentanyl as being good,” she said.

Drew Barnes, Wildrose health critic, said the NDP has to follow through with its plans to expand the naloxone program by including more health care workers.

LOTTERIES

MONDAY Extra: 5020087 Pick 3: 557

Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate staff

Donnie White holds his daughter Minette White, 4, so she can get a good view of the top of the ice sculpture he built in their front yard at 25 Abel Close, Monday evening. It took White just a couple of days to create the miniature castle, using ice blocks taken from the Blindman River.

The province should also redirect more money towards detox and addiction services, and restore funding to the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT).

“Let’s combat the illegal fentanyl and let’s make sure the education around the prescribed fentanyl is as wide as possible. I understand in Alberta we prescribe 30 per cent more opiates than other provinces and the amount of fentanyl prescriptions has doubled in the last six years,” Barnes said.

Wildrose have proposed a patch for patch system for fentanyl, similar to legislation in Ontario, where those with a prescription must turn in old fentanyl patches to get new patches to curb abuse. szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

DRUG HOUSE: Source of frustration “This home has been a source of frustration for the neighbourhood with constant drug activity and related disturbances,” said Staff Sgt. Chris Matechuk, Innisfail RCMP. “RCMP values the role SCAN played in helping restore this community’s sense of safety by closing this home.” mcrawford@reddeeradvocate.com

JOBS: Tremendous strain on province “I am urging Prime Minister Trudeau to recognize the job crisis in Alberta and be clear about his plan to support Alberta growth and job creation, both in the short and long term,” Ambrose said in a statement.

Lost jobs in Alberta have put a tremendous strain on the province, she said.

“Across Alberta, thousands of families are facing the holidays without an income to cover basic needs.

“Food-bank use has skyrocketed and Albertans are increasingly battling emotional and mental-health issues because of their tough circumstances.”

Ambrose said any federal plan should include job training, infrastructure spending and innovation investments. She also suggested the government needs to find a way to get pipelines approved and built.

“Canada loses billions by not accessing world prices for oil and developing export markets in the massive and growing Pacific Rim economies.”

Numbers are unofficial.

Weather TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

HIGH -14

LOW -22

HIGH -15

HIGH -18

HIGH -17

A mix of sun and cloud.

Partly cloudy.

Sunny.

A mix of sun and cloud. Low -25

Sunny. Low -20.

REGIONAL OUTLOOK Calgary: today, clearing. High -9. Low -14.

Olds, Sundre: today, sun and cloud. High -7. Low -22.

Rocky, Nordegg: today, sun and cloud.

High -13. Low -22.

Banff: today, sun and cloud. High -6. Low -15.

Jasper: today, sun and cloud. High -9.

Low -17.

TONIGHT’S HIGHS/LOWS

Lethbridge: today, 30% flurries. High -4 Low -12.

FORT MCMURRAY

Edmonton: today, sun and cloud. High -10. Low -15.

Grande Prairie: today, 60% flurries.

High -16. Low -20.

Fort McMurray: today, 60% flurries.

High -13. Low -17.

WINDCHILL/SUNLIGHT

-13/-17 GRANDE PRAIRIE

-16/-22

-10/-15 JASPER

-9/-17

RED DEER

-14/-22 BANFF

-6/-15 Windchill/frostbite risk: Low to Moderate Low: Low risk Moderate: 30 minutes exposure High -5 to 10 minutes: High risk in 5 to 10 minutes High -2 to 5 minutes: High risk in 2 to 5 minutes Extreme: High risk in 2 minutes Sunset tonight: 4:25 p.m.

Sunrise Wednesday: 8:43 a.m.

EDMONTON 7361935L21-26

LOCAL TODAY

CALGARY

-9/-14

LETHBRIDGE

-4/-12

3110 GAETZ AVE., RED DEER

LOCAL 403-347-3301 TOLL FREE 1-800-661-0995

www.pikewheaton.com

ALBERTA

A3

TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2015

Shooting suspect already facing charges BOY ARRESTED IN DEADLY MAC’S HOLDUPS CRIES IN COURT AS MURDER CHARGES READ

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON — A 13-year-old cried as he appeared briefly in youth court Monday to face first-degree murder charges in the shooting deaths of two convenience store clerks.

The chubby-faced boy, who cannot be identified, covered his face with his hands, then wiped his wet eyes with an inmate-issued T-shirt.

One woman in the courtroom said “Love you” and another waved at the teen before a sheriff led him away.

The women and other people they were with refused to talk with reporters outside court. A defence lawyer had the case put over to Jan. 4.

Police allege the boy was one of three masked robbers behind deadly holdups at two different Mac’s stores in Edmonton early Friday. Two clerks working alone in the stores were shot dead within minutes of each other.

Officers responding to a panic alarm found Karanpal Singh Bhangu, 35, shot in the stomach. He died of his injuries in hospital. A delivery man called 911 from the second store. He had found a trail of blood leading to a storage room, where 41-year-old Ricky Cenabre was lying dead.

Court records show the 13-year-old, who can’t be named, was already facing charges from earlier this year.

In May, he was charged with weapons offences for allegedly carrying nunchuks and pruning shears. In October, he was arrested on other counts that included personal robberies and

IN

BRIEF Panel to review judge who asked woman why she couldn’t keep knees together OTTAWA — The Canadian Judicial Council has announced the next step in its review of a judge who asked a sexual assault complainant why she couldn’t keep her knees together.

The council says Justice Robin Camp’s decision of a case in 2014 will be referred to a review panel.

The panel will be made up of three members of the council, a judge and a lay person.

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Karanpal Singh Bhangu, 35, is shown with his son Royce and his wife Kiran in this image from the “GoFundMe” website. Edmonton’s police chief says the community should be outraged after two convenience store clerks, who were working alone and didn’t fight back when masked robbers walked into their stores early Friday, were shot dead for small amounts of cash. assault with a weapon — bear spray.

A judge released the boy on an undertaking on Nov. 20 and imposed conditions that included he live with his

grandmother.

Two men co-accused in the Mac’s slayings, 24-year-old Laylin Delorme and 27-year-old Colton Steinhauer, al-

Camp, who was an Alberta provincial court judge at the time, acquitted a man of the sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman after deciding that the accused man’s version of the events was more credible.

Three legal academics filed a complaint about Camp’s decision, saying he disregarded the law and the way he treated the complainant was appalling.

According to a court transcript of the case, Camp questioned the woman’s morals, suggested her attempts to fight off her attacker were feeble and described the woman as “the accused” throughout the trial.

Camp told the man after he found him not guilty that all men have to be more gentle and careful with women, and that he should pass the message onto his friends so they can “protect themselves” and not “get into trouble.”

The Federal Court initially ordered

Camp to no longer handle cases involving sexual issues, pending the council’s review. The court then expanded that decision to include all cases until further notice.

HoliDay Spa Specials Featured SCRUB OF THE MONTH

Vanilla Peppermint Pep P epp Scrub Scr

101, 5015 - 50 St.,Sylvan Lake www.sylvansteamandspa.ca

PRE-BOXING WEEK

Steam Washer & Steam Dryer

Dryer

Washer

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE Garbage and Recycling Collection If your garbage and recycling is normally picked up on Fridays, it will be impacted by Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.Temporarily, your garbage and recycling will be picked up on the following days:

Convection Gas Range

7318011L3-31

(403) 864.4901

EDMONTON — Alberta’s finance minister says low oil prices may force him to hit the brakes on millions of dollars in initiatives promised by the NDP government such as child-care benefits, school fee reductions, student hiring and environmental retrofits.

Joe Ceci said in a year-end inter-

view that some or all of a dozen programs set to begin in the 2016-17 fiscal year may be delayed.

“We’ve addressed a lot of (our commitments). We’ve done a lot of them,” Ceci said. “The ones that haven’t been started, they could potentially be delayed or reduced.”

The specifics haven’t been ironed out.

“I can’t point you to any one (program) here in terms of commitments, but I can tell you I’m comfortable recommending (to cabinet) slower phase-in and lower phase-in for some of these things,” said Ceci.

Ceci and his staff are crunching numbers for the next budget to be presented in February or March.

SPECIALS

Take a Holiday from stress with the season’s best spa specials.

Patrons can relax while enjoying a White or Regular Hot Chocolate or an Eggnog Latte & a free Specialty cupcake from SugarBelle!

Finance minister says low oil may delay programs

so appeared in court Monday on murder charges. Their cases were put over to Jan. 11.

Court records show they both have lengthy criminal records.

At the time of the convenience store killings, Steinhauer was wanted on warrants for failing to comply with a probation order.

In June, he pleaded guilty to uttering threats and was sentenced to three months in jail and 18 months of probation. He has several other convictions dating back to 2010, including assaults and obstructing a peace officer.

Delorme’s longest sentence — two years — came in 2011 for possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking. A year earlier, he was given a lifetime firearms prohibition after pleading guilty to assault with a weapon and theft.

He was last in court in October 2014, when he pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon and mischief. He was given six months in jail and one year of probation.

Friends said Bhangu had emigrated from India three months earlier, along with his six-year-old son, to reunite with his wife, a private school teacher.

Cenabre moved five years ago from the Philippines, where he had a wife and teenage son.

Police Chief Rod Knecht has said video footage from the stores showed the two workers co-operated with the robbers, who made off with small amounts of cash.

He called the killings “absolutely unnecessary, gratuitous — evil.”

• 7.5 cu.ft.

• 5.2 cu.ft.

TM • EcoDry function • PowerFoam technology improves • Steam dry gets rid of odours & wash quality wrinkles • VRT PlusTM technology reduces noise & vibration

1899

$

• FlexDuo technology lets you split the oven into two LIMITED • Five gas burners QUANTITY • Steam-clean oven

1299

$

Monday: Vanier and Lancaster, including Laredo Tuesday: Deer Park neighbourhoods south of 39th Street

French Door Refrigerator • 28.1 cu.ft.

After the holidays, the garbage and recycling collection schedule will return to normal.

• Twin Cooling Plus™ maintains high levels of humidity to keep fruits and vegetables fresher longer

If your pick-up day isn’t Friday, it won’t be affected by the holidays.

Remember, Gift Wrap And Styrofoam Are Not Recyclable

Contact us at

403-340-BLUE (2583) or visit www.reddeer.ca

Season’s Greetings from the management and staff of:

Holidayy Hours December 24 Closed December 25 Closed December 26 9am-5pm December 27 11am-5pm

1899

$

Products may not be exactly as shown.

Prices valid until December 23, 2015

557 Lantern Street Ph. 403.342.0900

FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR 41 YEARS! FAM

www.trail-appliances.com

7349785

Wednesday: Rosedale and Deer Park neighbourhoods north of 39th Street

COMMENT

A4 Year of change for Alberta, Quebec

With the high beams of Justin dynamics of the federation that stand Trudeau’s election victory glaring in to be altered and — with it — the relathe rear-view mirror, it is harder than tionship of every main national party to that province. usual to look back on the It will take some time to entire political year. get used to the notion that And yet it was not all Edmonton is technically federal politics in 2015. home to a provincial govParliament was hardly the ernment that is a) to the only scene of a dramatleft of most of its counteric changing of the guard. parts and b) as close to the A new NDP star was born same wavelength as the rest in Alberta and a wouldof the federation on issues be saviour took charge of such as climate change as it Quebec’s sovereignty movehas ever been. Some of that ment. big shift was in evidence in From the bubble of the the lead-up to the Paris clinational capital, the elecCHANAL mate conference. tion in May of Rachel NotHÉBERT The federal Conservaley’s NDP government in tives, who have for decades Alberta was initially seen OPINION been Alberta’s main voice through the narrow prism of on Parliament Hill, will the upcoming federal campaign. But the presence of an NDP gov- have to adjust to this awkward new ernment in Edmonton — after decades normal.

That is not to say that Alberta will of non-stop Tory rule — amounts to more than just an omen of debatable agree with Ontario and Quebec or the significance to pundits and strategists Trudeau government on every major looking to hedge their federal election issue. But the risks that Notley will be the odd premier out in the discussions bets.

With the NDP in Alberta’s chair at or that Alberta will be consigned to the federal-provincial table, it is the political isolation are lower than they

TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2015

would have been if Alberta’s Conservative dynasty were still at the helm.

To put it bluntly, if Trudeau’s Liberals can’t get along with a New Democrat government in Edmonton, then they probably could not get along with any Alberta government.

It is not just the federal Liberals who have an incentive to play nice with Notley and, by extension, with Alberta. Thomas Mulcair’s NDP has a big stake in the success of her government.

In the big picture, the New Democrats simply can’t afford to have Alberta become the scene of a repeat failed experiment along the lines of their single Ontario mandate in the early 1990s.

They will have to consider that reality as they ponder whether they should respond to Trudeau’s victory by tacking sharply to the left and risk, in the process, becoming estranged from the ruling Alberta New Democrats.

In Quebec, 2015 saw a very different changing of the guard.

For the fifth time since the 1995 referendum, the Parti Québécois chose a new leader. For the first time it cast its lot with a political neophyte with no track record in government and precious little experience in opposition.

So far, hopes that Pierre Karl Péladeau’s presence at the helm would translate into a Trudeau-style lift in support for the PQ and its sovereignty option have not materialized.

The federal election took place on what should have been the honeymoon phase of PKP’s leadership. The PQ leader was front and centre in the Bloc Québécois campaign. In the end, the federal party came out of the October vote with less support than at any other time in its history.

That will not deter the PQ from continuing to find some inspiration in the Trudeau saga. After all, it was not so long ago that the federal Liberals were widely considered a spent force and the new prime minister - like Péladeau today - dismissed as a leader who would drive the potentially final nail in the party’s coffin.

In 2016, by all means focus on Trudeau’s first full year in power. It promises to be a riveting show. But if you want to keep track of the health of the federation, keep an eye also on the political fortunes of Notley in Alberta and Péladeau in Quebec.

Chantal Hébert is a national affairs writer syndicated by the Toronto Star.

Advocate letters policy The Advocate welcomes letters on public issues from readers. Letters must be signed with the writer’s first and last name, plus address and phone number.

Pen names may not be used. Letters will be published with the writer’s name. Addresses and phone numbers won’t be published.

Letters should be brief and deal with a single topic; try to keep them under 300 words.

The Advocate will not interfere with the free expression of opinion on public issues submitted by readers, but reserves the right to refuse publication and to edit all letters for public interest, length, clarity, legality, personal abuse or good taste.

The Advocate will not publish statements that indicate unlawful discrimination or intent to discriminate against a person or class of persons, or are likely to expose people to hatred or contempt because of race, colour, religious beliefs, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, source of income, marital status, family status or sexual orientation.

Due to the volume of letters we receive, some submissions may not be published.

Mail submissions or drop them off to Letters to the Editor, Red Deer Advocate, 2950 Bremner Ave., T4R 1M9; or e-mail to editorial@reddeeradvocate.com.

Not a Merry Christmas for Alberta Santa was a giving man but now cannot afford to take his reindeer on his famous ride. And why is that you ask? Insurance is now required on each working reindeer and on his vehicle. Does this sound familiar to all Albertans? Of course it does, as our new premier is going to implement all these new taxes like a “Scrooge” instead of giving Albertans a chance to get ahead. What with all the job losses, folks are having a hard time paying the household bills and still have food for the table. Take a look at the food banks, and it’s no wonder demands have increased tremendously.

Not only are gas and oil companies reducing workers but the premier is making it tough, even for those who are lucky enough to still have a job. Gas prices at the pump are outrageous, not to mention what this winter’s natural gas prices will be with these new added taxes. How do they expect the rural workers to keep their jobs — ride a horse and buggy?

As far as receiving refugees to our province, when did Albertans get a referendum on this choice? The federal screening is too fast and not as efficient as they make it out to be. We can’t afford this extra burden at the moment. Our medical system is already strained to the limit and doctors’ patient lists are overloaded. Try to get into an emergency room or,

CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER Published at 2950 Bremner Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, T4R 1M9

by The Red Deer Advocate Ltd. Canadian Publications Agreement #336602 Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation Mary Kemmis Publisher mkemmis@reddeeradvocate.com Josh Aldrich jaldrich@reddeeradvocate.com Managing editor

even forbid, get an operation. It has become a pathetic disaster.

Albertans are frustrated with our lack of good and efficient medical services, so what does our provincial government do? Add more strain on the system with little resources or improvements. If wellscreened refugees are sponsored coming in, then let the sponsors pay for all their needs. We have paid all our lives into the system to make this province what it is. It did not come free and we will be paying for all the unsponsored refugees living expenses at the worst possible time. We were previously a vibrant and prosperous province but I fear that we are giving too much away.

Oil boom and bust comes and gos, and probably always will, but the Alberta family farm is the mainstay of our economy. Now hard-working farmers are asked to pay for insurances on their family, relatives and friends who try to help them make ends meet. Accidents will always happen on the farm or elsewhere, so why not “educate instead of legislate” these people?

Our premier and MLA’s need to listen to Albertans on matters of this province. That’s why they were voted in, but remember, they can be voted out as well, if there’s a problem with their hearing.

To our premier and MLA’s, give Albertans a break. We are already down and the last thing we need is to be kicked.

Wendy Moore Advertising sales manager wmoore@reddeeradvocate.com Main switchboard 403-343-2400 News News tips 403-314-4333 Sports line 403-343-2244 News fax 403-341-6560 Email: editorial@reddeeradvocate. com Josh Aldrich, managing editor 403-314-4320 Greg Meachem, Sports editor 403-314-4363 Website: www.reddeeradvocate.com Advertising Main number: 403-314-4343 Fax: 403-342-4051 E-mail: advertising@reddeeradvo-

twitter.com/RedDeerAdvocate

cate.com Classified ads: 403-309-3300 Classified email: classifieds@reddeeradvocate.com Alberta Press Council member The Red Deer Advocate is a sponsoring member of the Alberta Press Council, an independent body that promotes and protects the established freedoms of the press and advocates freedom of information. The Alberta Press Council upholds the public’s right to full, fair and accurate news reporting by considering complaints, within 60 days of publication, regarding the publication of news and the accuracy of facts used to support opinion. The council is comprised of public members and representatives

Louise Paquin Eckville

NDP doing right by farmers with Bill 6 I grew up on a central Alberta family farm and still own and rent agricultural land in the area. I applaud the Government of Alberta, our Premier, Rachel Notley, and the NDP Party for continuing strong leadership in tabling and passing Bill 6.

Contrary to the narrow perception of the Wildrose Party; safety and protection of worker rights, regardless of the industry in which they are employed, is a significant and important social issue in our province. Alberta has abrogated its duty and has been out of step with other Canadian provinces in this regard for too many years. This appalling situation has finally been addressed.

I believe my conservative beliefs have been violated by the Wildrose Party; my expectation of constructive opposition designed to question and suggest improvements to legislation has been replaced with a despicable and reprehensible desire to fan the fires of mistrust in government.

I hope they find their way and show us that they are also capable of leadership.

Anita Thomas Red Deer

of member newspapers. The Press Council’s address: PO Box 2576, Medicine Hat, AB, T1A 8G8. Phone 403-580-4104. Email: abpress@telus. net. Website: www.albertapresscouncil.ca.

Publisher’s notice The Publisher reserves the right to edit or reject any advertising copy; to omit or discontinue any advertisement. The advertiser agrees that the Publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of error in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which the error occurs.

Circulation (403-314-4300) Single copy prices (Monday to Thurs-

day): $1.05 (GST included).

Single copy (Friday and Saturday): $1.31 (GST included).

Home delivery (GST included): • One-month subscription (six days a week, delivered, plus online access): $25 Online access only: $15 •Three-month subscription (six days a week, delivered, plus online access): $65 Online access only: $65 •Six-month subscription (six days a week, delivered, plus online access): $108 Online access only: $108 • One-year subscription (six days a week, delivered, plus online access): $185 • Online access only: $185

facebook.com/RDAdvocate

CANADA

A5

TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2015

Sajjan tours front lines TALKS REBOOTED TRAINING MISSION WITH IRAQIS-KURDS

F-35 still in the running as jet replacement

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — Canada’s defence minister has signalled that the F-35 will not be excluded from the forthcoming competition to replace the air force’s aging fleet of fighter jets.

One of the new Liberal government’s main campaign pledges was to buy a less expensive aircraft and plow the savings from the stealth fighter program into the navy.

But Harjit Sajjan says he is focused on finding the best aircraft to replace the country’s CF-18 jets before they reach the end of their useful service life.

Speaking on a conference call from Iraq, he was asked twice whether the F-35 is being excluded from the open competition the Liberals plan to run and in each case he ducked the question.

“My focus isn’t about F-35, or any other aircraft,” he said. “We will open it up to an open process.”

Sajjan did say that the military is reviewing the basic requirements for the fighter, a document that is steeped in controversy since a scathing auditor general’s report forced the Harper government to put the $44-billion program on hold.

Michael Ferguson’s 2012 investigation found that the statement of requirements, an important document that sets out what the military needs in a piece of equipment, was written after the Conservative government had signalled its intention to buy the F-35.

Since the fighter fleet will be with the air force for decades, Sajjan says they have to make sure they get the research right.

“Right now we are going through the process where you build the right requirements from that,” he said. “And from those requirements there will be a certain capability and we will open it up to an open process and from that, a decision will be made for a replacement of the F-18.”

Dave Perry, an analyst with the Global Affairs Institute, said an independent public works panel, which the Harper government struck to examine the replacement program, did an exhaustive study and produced volumes of research.

One of the things it didn’t do was examine — or question — the basic state of requirements, he said.

The panel looked at information from five rival aircraft makers: Lockheed Martin, the F-35’s manufacturer Boeing’s Super Hornet EADS Eurofighter, also known as the Typhoon Dassault’s French-built Rafale and the Saab-manufactured Gripen.

Perry said the minister’s comments suggest to him that National Defence is looking at coming up with a new set of specs “and once again crafting that document — prepping it new or potentially revising the existing one.”

Your Kitchen & Bathroom Makeover Experts

Christmas Offer

1500 On Your Renovation Project $

CASH BACK O G T Y

– Fast Installation of Countertops and Backsplashes in 3 Easy Steps –

2

3

7359074

1

As Seen On

SAVE

15%

ON IN-STOCK WINTER TIRES!*

UNTIL JANUARY 23, 2016. SEE IN-STORE FOR DETAILS. Only dedicated winter tires are eligible. All-season and all-weather tires that are winter rated are not eligible. See in-store for complete details and selection. * Excludes Eagle Ultra Grip GW2, Eagle Ultra Grip GW3, Eagle Ultra Grip GW3 ROF.

WIN 50,000 Miles YOU COULD

when you swipe your AIR MILES® card on qualifying purchases! *Complete rules at www.airmiles.ca/goodyearcontest

6195-67A Street Red Deer

403-343-9422

8104 Edgar Industrial Drive Store Address Truck Centre, Red Deer 000.000.0000

fountaintire.com 403-347-6565

Until January 23, 2016, save 15% on in-stock winter tires for your car, pickup, SUV or minivan. While inventory lasts. Inventory may vary by location. All applicable taxes (i.e.: GST, PST, HST and tire taxes) are extra. ®™ Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne Inc., and Goodyear Canada Inc. Fountain Tire is licensed by AMVIC in Alberta.

7357877L19-24

OTTAWA — Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan toured the front lines in the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on Monday, downplaying the significance of last week’s major offensive and managing expectations on what Canada’s rebooted training mission will look like.

He met with Kurdish military commanders and Canadian special forces who repelled last week’s major offensive west of Irbil.

The front line was ruptured in perhaps as many as five places as Islamic State units unleashed a torrent of artillery and massive, armoured suicide bomber trucks, which the Americans call Frankentrucks.

The assault was rolled back the next day with the HARJIT SAJJAN help of airpower — including Canada’s CF-18s — and U.S. coalition commanders estimate as many as 200 extremists were killed in the failed attempt to break the stalemate, which has gripped the line in northern Iraq since the summer of 2014.

Sajjan said the extremist offensive was not unexpected and the coalition is anticipating more.

“Our troops on the ground have worked very closely with the peshmerga to be able to prepare for eventualities like this, and their preparation and training paid off,” he said.

Some commentators in the international media have suggested the attack, involving hundreds of Islamic State fighters, signals a shift in strategy by the terror organization. Sajjan said conversations are taking place trying to anticipate what ISIL will do next.

But the issue of the Trudeau government’s plan to withdraw Canada’s waplanes hasn’t come up in conversations with either Iraqi officials in Baghdad, nor the Kurds, said Sajjan.

“The irony is, I haven’t had one discussion about the CF-18s or discussing our contribution from the humanitarian side of things,” he said in a conference call with reporters from Irbil.

Instead, Sajjan says they’ve talked how Canada can refocus its military commitment with a beefed up training mission, and he’s given some suggestions on contributions the country can make, including ideas he hadn’t previously considered.

“Getting a better understanding of what is happening on the ground allows us to think about what we can bring to the table,” said Sajjan, who later in the call referenced medical training and battlefield casualty clearing as a speciality that was in need.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged Canada will “do more than its part” in the military effort against ISIL, which implies a bigger contribution.

Sajjan tried to manage those expectations Monday, saying it was the type of equipment and expertise that was important.

“I just want to caution everybody. Number is not

a good metric to judge in terms of capability brought er at analysing and predicting where ISIL is likely to to the fight,” he said. rear its head, he said.

The former Harper government committed Canada to a combat mission, via parliamentary mandate, until the end of w March, but Sajjan suggested the Liberals would not be bound by that — meaning the airstrikes could end sooner, or carry longer depending on discussions with the U.S.-led coalition.

“The decision to end airstrikes is not based on that deadline. It’s about what future capabilities we’re bringing to the fight,” he said.

The end date to the bombing, which Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion keeps insisting is “weeks away,” will be predicated on the schedule of allies and not leaving them in a lurch.

Up “We are coming very To close to that understandUR IFT O OU ing and a decision will be coming not too far in the distant future,” Sajjan said. *Only valid on initial consultation. Expires 12/25/15. Minimum purchase required. Offer cannot be combined with other offers. See store for details.

Sajjan says he’s also had a lot of discussions about the sectarian divide in Iraq — the root cause of the violence — and he’s convinced that more needs to be done to address it.

He skated around the question of whether Canada would contribute to a possible British-led mission to take on the Islamic State, which has taken root in the chaos of Libya.

The international coalition, Sajjan confirmed, is already looking at widening its scope outside the principal battleground of Iraq and Syria to places where nascent extremist organizations • Quartz, Glass and Granite Surfaces are taking hold.

The Sinai Peninsula, • Mold, Mildew and Stain-Resistant Call today for a FREE in-home design consultation: between Egypt and Israel • Stain and Scratch-Resistant was one example he cited.

403-279-2600 • Fast, Easy, No-Mess Installation It also happens to be the 1655 32nd ave NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7S5 • No-Mess Installation place where ISIL claims Just east of Deerfoot on 32 avenue NE • No Demolition, Less Mess to have planted the bomb 587-797-1504 that brought down a Rus• Shower/Tub Surrounds and Vanity Tops Red Deer & Red Deer County sian airliner.

• Beautiful Glass Mosaic Tiles Now Offering Financing OAC* The international community needs to get sharp-

PLUS!

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS

BUSINESS

A6

TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2015

Dashing to the stores

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — With the holiday shopping season heading into the home stretch, data suggests most Canadians will be elbowing their way through crowded stores and malls to make last minute-buys.

An Angus Reid survey done for CIBC found that as of Dec. 15, 69 per cent of respondents still hadn’t finished their holiday shopping, and 15 per cent of those who answered hadn’t even started.

Canadians aged 18 to 34 were the most behind on their shopping, according to the poll, with three-quarters of that age group saying they still had some buying to do. Those who had done some shopping had spent an average of $601 last year’s poll found the average was $678.

The poll poll surveyed 1,519 people Dec. 14-15, and is considered accurate within 2.08 per cent 19 times out of 20.

Historically, Interac data has suggested Canadians typically wait until Dec. 23 to make key purchases, said Teri Murphy, Interac’s senior manager of communications.

Murphy said Canadians made $993 million worth of Interac purchases on Dec. 23, 2014. It also marked the busiest shopping day of the year with the highest number of in-store debit transactions: 19.7 million. More than onethird of money spent was devoted to grocery purchases — likely in preparation for a Christmas Day feast, Murphy said.

As a point of comparison, Interac registered around 16 million point-ofsale transactions totalling nearly $680 million this past Wednesday, Dec. 16.

While some may be putting off holiday buys until the 11th hour, another survey reveals many are still making the time get informed about potential purchases.

One in three Canadian consumers consult in-store and online resources

File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Last minute shoppers file through the Eaton Centre shopping centre in Toronto on Christmas Eve last year. A poll suggests most Canadians will be spending some time over the next few days elbowing their way through crowded stores to buy that last holiday gift. before purchasing a product or service, according to market and consumer information firm GfK. The company’s online poll of 1,000 respondents found 42 per cent of shoppers say they have checked a product on their mobile device and later went on to purchase the product in-store.

The polling industry’s professional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error as they are not a random sample and therefore are not necessarily representative of the whole population.

“We ask people about what are the top touchpoints that are influencing their store choice and what they buy, and really, previous experience with a retailer or brand is top,” said GfK Canada’s Juliann Ng. “But then just one level below that, coupons, store flyers, shop info, instore displays, a lot of the very tactical, traditional touchpoints are very important.”

Promotion and participation in Black Friday and Cyber Monday may be on the rise north of the border, but a report from the NPD Group finds

that many Canadians will be still on the hunt for post-Christmas deals.

An online survey of around 1,000 people found that 55 per cent of respondents still planned to shop during Boxing Week, said Sandy Silva, director of fashion and beauty at the NPD Group.

The survey also found 51 per cent of Canadians planned to do some or all of their shopping online — up six percentage points from 2014, Silva added.

Michael LeBlanc, senior vice-president of marketing and digital at the Retail Council of Canada, said the holiday shopping season is panning out as expected, calling it “mostly merry” from the perspective of their members.

LeBlanc said among the key drivers in Canadian consumer sales is the dent seen in cross-border shopping due to the low loonie. The only factor working against retailers in Canada is the weather, which has been unseasonably mild in parts of the country.

“Decades ago when there wasn’t a Black Friday event, retailers would wait for a bit of frost on the leaves or snow on the ground and that would kind of get people thinking about shopping for the holidays. (They) didn’t really have that motivation this year.

“If you’re a retailer that has commodities that are reliant on weather, you’re probably a little soft on those commodities. Snow shovels, ice removers, snowblowers and ski jackets — those categories are going to be a bit weak.”

LeBlanc said it used to be the case that in-store traffic and the number of people seen toting bags was an indicator of how the day was progressing.

That’s more challenging given the increased number of people shopping online and researching purchases ahead of time.

“There’s less browsing and more focused buying because the browsing has been done online before they swing the door on your store.”

New business service hopes to fulfill a need

BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Enbridge says its Line 9 pipeline was offline for about 90 minutes this morning after three activists locked themselves to a valve site east of Sarnia, Ont., Monday. Spokesman Graham White says the line was shut down remotely from Enbridge’s control centre as a safety precaution shortly after the protest began.

True North Express is hoping its new bus service to Fort McMurray will fill the need this holiday season.

With a stop in Red Deer, the new scheduled daily service from Calgary via Edmonton to Fort McMurray is now on the road.

Business manager Lalataksh Reddy said the timing is right to launch the bus service despite the downturn in the economy.

Reddy said many companies are not flying their staff home from Fort McMurray so that’s where the scheduled service comes in.

“Before people used to fly in and fly out,” said Reddy. “Now the companies want to cut down that and they want to minimize travel expenses. That’s where we come into play.”

Pension contributions only partly offset by lower RRSP savings

Protest at valve site disrupts operations on Line 9 pipeline ter the protest began.

The group phoned Enbridge from the scene and company representaSARNIA, Ont. — Enbridge Inc.’s tives and police arrived shortly thereLine 9 pipeline was offline for about after. Gray said the three were then 90 minutes on Monday taken into custody. morning after three A similar demon“THE FACT THAT LINE stration activists concerned disrupted Line about the line’s envi9 operations in Quebec 9 IS CURRENTLY IN ronmental impacts two weeks ago. locked themselves to OPERATION REALLY JUST Gray says First Naa valve site on the outADDS TO THE URGENCY tions along the route skirts of Sarnia, Ont. not properly conFOR PEOPLE TO ACT.” were The line, which sulted about the projruns from southwestect, which she says — STONE STEWART, PROTESTER poses environmental ern Ontario to Montreal, is back in service dangers. and crude deliveries Line 9 has been in have not been affected, said company operation for about four decades. It spokesman Graham White. originally flowed from west to east, Lindsay Gray, speaking on behalf but then in the late 1990s, its flow was of the trio of “land defenders” who reversed to bring imported oil inland. staged the protest, said it was easy to Enbridge (TSX:ENB) recently finget into the fenced-in valve site. ished up a controversial project to re“They had no security whatsoever. store Line 9 to its original configuraAnyone could have done this — any- tion and boost its capacity, enabling one,” said Gray, a member of the Aam- it to supply Alberta crude to Suncor jiwnaang First Nation, by the starting Energy’s (TSX:SU) Montreal refinery.

“The fact that line 9 is currently in point of the pipeline The activists sought to manually operation really just adds to the urgenshut off the pipeline by turning a big cy for people to act,” protester Stone blue wheel once they got into the site. Stewart said in a statement.

“I’m here because the negative White said the company shut off the flow remotely from Enbridge’s control impacts of the oil industry are taking room as a safety precaution shortly af- place right now, every day.”

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS

S&P / TSX 13,034.38 +10.08

▲

TSX:V 501.59 +0.29

▲

NASDAQ 4,968.92 +45.84

▲

It is also the season for travelling with the holidays, said Reddy.

The bus arrives in Red Deer from Calgary at 10:30 p.m. at the Ramada Inn (6853 66 St.) and arrives from Fort McMurray at 2:35 p.m. daily.

Check the company’s website for full schedule.

The company is offering ticket discounts for students, seniors and people working in the oil industry and sub contractors. There is on board entertainment, WiFi, GPS tracking and beverages for the 10-and-a-half hour trip.

Neighbourhood pick ups are an option in Edmonton and Calgary.

Reddy said the GPS tracking will allow people to ensure the bus arrives safely and on time.

Tickets are now on sale at www. truenorthexpress.com or by calling 1-844-743-386. crhyno@reddeeradvocate.com

OTTAWA — A new report by Statistics Canada says automatic increases in registered pension plans are most helpful to people who don’t save much in registered retirement savings plans.

The report noted that there is some reduction in RRSP investments when pension plan contributions are increased, but the automatic increases are a net benefit.

“Moreover, the response tends to be smaller for workers with weaker histories of saving in retirement accounts,” author Derek Messacar wrote in his report released Monday.

“Employer sponsorship and other forms of automatic saving may, therefore, matter a great deal in helping more vulnerable groups save for their retirement.”

The report found that for workers earning near the Canadian average, a $1 automatic increase in registered pension plan contributions resulted in an average reduction in registered retirement savings plan contributions of 55 cents.

But for workers who did not save much in an RRSP, the $1 automatic increase in registered pension contributions increased net savings by about 95 cents.

Meanwhile, for workers who save

DOW JONES 17,251.62 +123.07

▲

NYMEX CRUDE $35.81US -0.25

▼

regularly for retirement, the $1 automatic increase was largely offset by a similar reduction in RRSP contributions.

The Statistics Canada report looked at personal income tax data from 1991 to 2010 to see if increases in registered pension plans increased retirement savings or redirected savings that would have been made elsewhere.

However researchers were unable to assess how an automatic increase in registered pension contributions affected other forms of savings due to data limitations.

Saving for retirement and whether Canadians are putting aside enough has been a key policy discussion in recent years.

During the recent federal election campaign, the Liberals promised they would work to enhance the Canada Pension Plan, however just what that would look like is unclear.

Several provinces have raised concerns about the cost and what that could mean for the economy.

Ontario is moving ahead with its own pension plan that will be phased in starting in 2017 for companies that don’t offer a pension plan.

Critics of the plan have said it will increase the cost of hiring workers and hurt job creation.

NYMEX NGAS $1.94US +0.17

▲

CANADIAN DOLLAR ¢71.61US -0.10

▼

RED DEER ADVOCATE Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015 A7

MARKETS

D I L B E R T

COMPANIES OF LOCAL INTEREST Monday’s stock prices supplied by RBC Dominion Securities of Red Deer. For information call 341-8883.

Consumer Canadian Tire . . . . . . . . 119.00 Gamehost . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.97 Leon’s Furniture . . . . . . . 13.96 Loblaw Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . 65.48 Maple Leaf Foods. . . . . . 23.26 DOLLAR MARKETS TORONTO — North American markets posted a so-called Santa Claus rally on Monday despite another fall in the price of oil that dragged the loonie down to its lowest level since August 2003.

The Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX index rose 10.08 points to end the day to 13,034.38 after adding 14 points on Friday.

Craig Fehr, Canadian market strategist at Edward Jones in St. Louis, said the focus for investors now is on monetary policy in the wake of the interest rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve last week and how that could impact the price of oil.

He said the performance of the Toronto market could diverge from the returns on the New York markets over the next few weeks as investors weigh the impact of weak oil prices on the commodity-weighted Canadian index.

“I expect it will refocus back on earnings as we turn the page to next year,” he said.

The Dow Jones average of 30 stocks rose 123.07 points to close at 17,251.62, the broader S&P 500 index advanced 15.60 points to 2,021.15 and the Nasdaq gained 45.84 points to 4,968.92.

Fehr said the returns looked like a Santa Claus rally, the seasonal gain in stock prices usually observed in the last two weeks of the year that some credit to Christmas bonuses and taxloss selling and others to holiday goodwill along Bay and Wall Streets and vacation time for the most pessimistic Grinches on the trading desks.

Oil prices slid again, falling 25 cents to settle at US$35.81 per barrel. The price has plumbed 11-year lows since fall-

Rona Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.98 Wal-Mart . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59.55 WestJet Airlines . . . . . . . 20.56 Mining Barrick Gold . . . . . . . . . . 10.44 Cameco Corp. . . . . . . . . 16.80 First Quantum Minerals . . 4.81 Goldcorp Inc. . . . . . . . . . 16.51 Hudbay Minerals. . . . . . . . 5.03 Kinross Gold Corp. . . . . . . 2.64 Labrador. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.13 Potash Corp.. . . . . . . . . . 23.83 Sherritt Intl. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.690 Teck Resources . . . . . . . . 4.77 Energy Arc Resources . . . . . . . . 16.49 Badger Daylighting Ltd. . 24.08 Baker Hughes. . . . . . . . . 43.76 Bonavista . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.71 Bonterra Energy . . . . . . . 16.70 Cdn. Nat. Res. . . . . . . . . 28.80 Cdn. Oil Sands Ltd. . . . . . 8.35 Canyon Services Group. . 3.80 Cenovous Energy Inc. . . 17.19 CWC Well Services . . . 0.1100 Encana Corp. . . . . . . . . . . 6.88 Essential Energy. . . . . . . 0.560 Exxon Mobil . . . . . . . . . . 77.26 Halliburton Co. . . . . . . . . 33.40 ing from above US$41 earlier this month after OPEC said it would maintain its near-maximum production levels for the next six months even as a worldwide supply glut shows no signs of easing.

Oil has dropped from a high above US$110 in July 2014 as OPEC and other producers have pumped up supply while demand from big consumers such as China has sagged.

“Perhaps the path of least resistance for oil prices in the very near term is lower until we see a decisive shift in one or the other, that being supply or demand,” Fehr said.

The commodity-sensitive loonie fell 0.1 of a cent to 71.61 cents US, its lowest level since August 2003.

Fehr said there wasn’t clear direction for the Canadian dollar in the near term.

“The Canadian economy is going to continue to face a mixture of headwinds and tailwinds, while there are far more tailwinds for the U.S. economy,” he said.

In other commodities, the February gold contract rose $15.60 to US$1,080.60 per troy ounce, and the January contract for natural gas added 14.4 cents to end trading at US$1.911.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Highlights at the close Monday at world financial market trading.

Stocks: S&P/TSX Composite Index — 13,034.38, up 10.08 points Dow — 17,251.62, up 123.07 points S&P 500 — 2,021.15, up 15.60 points Nasdaq — 4,968.92, up 45.84 points Currencies: Cdn — 71.61 cents US, down 0.10 of a cent

BUSINESS

BRIEFS

Chinese investors to buy Calgary-based Long Run Exploration in $770M deal CALGARY — A group of Chinese investors has agreed to buy Calgary-based Long Run Exploration Ltd. in a deal worth about $770 million.

Long Run said Monday that Chinese investors would pay roughly $100 million in cash for the company plus assume all its outstanding debt.

The intermediate oil and gas producer has been struggling to service its debt and reported a net earnings loss of $305 million in the third quarter as low oil prices hit its bottom line.

The company said prices had worsened since it had reached a financing deal in November and so had cancelled the deal in favour of an outright sale of the company.

Long Run didn’t name the Chinese investors, saying only that they have extensive experience in global oil and gas operations and have recently made controlling investments in Canada’s oil and gas sector.

The buyers are paying 52 cents for each Long Run share, a 215 per cent premium to its closing price on Friday, and 75 cents on the dollar for Long Run’s unsecured convertible subordinated debt.

Long Run produced the equivalent of about 31,000 of barrels of oil a day in the third quarter from assets in the Peace River Montney, the Deep Basin, and the Redwater Viking.

High Arctic . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.26 Husky Energy . . . . . . . . . 14.40 Imperial Oil . . . . . . . . . . . 43.12 Pengrowth Energy . . . . . . 1.05 Penn West Energy . . . . . 1.290 Precision Drilling Corp . . . 5.20 Suncor Energy . . . . . . . . 35.84 Trican Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.560 Trinidad Energy . . . . . . . . 1.95 Vermilion Energy . . . . . . 36.63 Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.1000 Financials Bank of Montreal . . . . . . 78.71 Bank of N.S. . . . . . . . . . . 56.29 CIBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92.56 Cdn. Western . . . . . . . . . 23.57 Great West Life. . . . . . . . 34.41 IGM Financial . . . . . . . . . 35.29 Intact Financial Corp. . . . 88.32 Manulife Corp. . . . . . . . . 20.94 National Bank . . . . . . . . . 40.08 Rifco Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.33 Royal Bank . . . . . . . . . . . 74.55 Sun Life Fin. Inc.. . . . . . . 43.28 TD Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54.80 Pound — C$2.0783, down 0.23 of a cent Euro — C$1.5250, up 0.92 of a cent Euro — US$1.0920, up 0.50 of a cent Oil futures: US$35.81 per barrel, down 25 cents (February contract) Gold futures: US$1,080.60 per oz., up $15.60 (February contract) Canadian Fine Silver Handy and Harman: Closed for holidays Dec. 17: $19.728 oz., down 60.1 cents $634.26 kg., down $19.32 ICE FUTURES CANADA WINNIPEG — ICE Futures Canada closing prices: Canola: Jan. ‘16 $6.70 higher $481.50 March ‘16 $6.90 higher $491.30 May ‘16 $6.60 higher $497.90 July ‘16 $6.00 higher $502.30 Nov. ‘16 $3.50 higher $493.60 Jan. ‘17 $3.10 higher $497.10 March ‘17 $3.10 higher $497.10 May ‘17 $3.10 higher $497.10 July ‘17 $3.10 higher $497.10 Nov. ‘17 $3.10 higher $497.10 Jan. ‘18 $3.10 higher $497.10.

Barley (Western): March ‘16 unchanged $184.00 May ‘16 unchanged $190.00 July ‘16 unchanged $192.00 Oct. ‘16 unchanged $192.00 Dec. ‘16 unchanged $192.00 March ‘17 unchanged $192.00 May ‘17 unchanged $192.00 July ‘17 unchanged $192.00 Oct. ‘17 unchanged $192.00 Dec. ‘17 unchanged $192.00 March ‘18 unchanged $192.00.

Monday’s estimated volume of trade: 687,280 tonnes of canola 0 tonnes of barley (Western Barley). Total: 687,280.

certain claims about the protection provided by one of its hockey helmets and similar products under an agreement with the Competition Bureau.

The federal agency says it found that the company’s advertisements for its CCM Resistance hockey helmet used words, images and videos that implied it would protect players from head injuries such as concussions.

The hockey equipment manufacturer had conducted testing on the helmet, but the bureau says the testing was not sufficient to support such marketing claims.

The Competition Bureau says in a news release that according to current scientific research, it is unclear what role a hockey helmet can play in protecting players from concussions.Competition commissioner John Pecman says Reebok-CCM co-operated with the bureau’s investigation.

Reebok-CCM also agreed to donate $475,000 worth of sports equipment to a Canadian charity and to pay $30,000 towards the cost of the investigation.

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

David Payne, CEO of Invent Dev Inc., poses for a portrait in the sales centre in Toronto. Overseas investors looking to park their money in Canadian real estate could soon be donning headsets and touring upcoming condo developments in virtual reality, according to the founder of a Toronto-based technology firm.

Realtors, developers eye virtual reality AS A TOOL FOR ATTRACTING FOREIGN BUYERS

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — Overseas investors looking to park their money in Canadian real estate could soon be donning headsets and touring upcoming condo developments in virtual reality, according to the founder of a Toronto-based technology firm.

Invent Dev turns floor plans of new developments into 3D, immersive mockups that can be experienced in virtual reality, such as through the Oculus Rift system, or via the Samsung Gear VR headset.

David Payne, the company’s founder and CEO, says he’s been getting tremendous interest from the Chinese community.

“They are very excited about the potential,” he said, noting that in the past week alone he has received three media inquiries from Chinese news outlets.

The technology could help Canadian developers tap into global markets by allowing prospective buyers to tour a space without ever having to board a plane, he said.

“They can now, from the comfort of their own home, view any floor plan that they want, with the finishes they want, and feel like they’re actually inside that home,” says Payne.

The technology can benefit developers in other ways as well, says Payne.

Rather than building model suites, Lifestyle Custom Homes employed Invent Dev’s technology to create virtual reality mockups of its upcoming development in Toronto’s Leslieville neighbourhood — a significant cost saving for the company, says Payne.

While full-blown virtual reality — the kind that’s experienced through a headset — is relatively new in the Canadian real estate industry, a number of agents have been using other technologies to create immersive experiences of homes.

Cameras such as the Matterport Pro 3D can scan an existing home and create a three-dimensional rendering of it that can be viewed through a simple web browser. A number of Toronto-based brokers with

Newspapers IN EDUCATION

Competition Bureau reaches agreement with Reebok-CCM OTTAWA — Reebok-CCM will stop making

MEANINGFUL MEMORIALS

is proud to support the Advocate “Newspapers in Education” program by providing newspapers for classroom use at

Gateway Christian School

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, which works with a large proportion of overseas buyers, started using the technology earlier this year.

“Our clients love the fact that they’re able to experience an immersive model that they’re able to control and where they’re able to walk through a space in its entirety,” says Elaine Hung, the company’s vice-president of marketing.

“It’s a huge benefit for us, and for overseas buyers.”

Ara Mamourian says his brokerage, SpringRealty.ca, has been using online virtual tours for all of its listings since 2013. One of the things that prompted Mamourian to start offering the service was a high number of calls from overseas buyers.

Mamourian says some foreign investors are willing to purchase properties such as condos without visiting them in person first.

“They love this technology because they can essentially walk through the house and actually feel how big the rooms are, or how small the rooms are, without being fooled by that wide-angle lens,” he says.

While the appeal of immersive tours for foreign buyers is obvious, realtors note that the technology has benefits for local home buyers, as well.

For example, it can help a home-hunter narrow down his or her list of options, ultimately cutting down on the amount of time spent driving around town touring homes, says Hung.

“We have a new generation of home buyers … who expect and deserve to experience a product before they invest their time in walking through,” says Hung.

As virtual reality technology becomes more affordable and more widely adopted by consumers, its popularity in the real estate industry is likely to grow, she adds.

“Real estate is one of the leading industries to pioneer and adopt this technology in a significant way.”

PET OF THE WEEK

Bellows

His name is . I’m a little pistol and I am ready to keep you on your toes! Some might think I’m a bit of a man-diva, and I can’t argue with that. I often change my mind on a whim. This means that one minute I will be talking to you nonstop, begging for pets, and the next minute I’ll be telling you I’ve had enough. It’s at times like these that I’ll just want to curl up in my bed, flirt with you from afar, or keep an eye on my kingdom. Hopefully you’ll give me a great spot where I can survey my surroundings whenever I want. Looking to add a little spice to your life? I may be your guy!

If you are interested in adopting Bellows, please call Red Deer & District SPCA at 403-342-7722 Ext. 201 www.reddeerspca.com 2015 City of Red Deer Dog Licenses are available at SPCA! Support Red Deer & District SPCA at no additional cost: As a portion of all licenses sold at our facility will support animals in care, please visit the team at the Red Deer SPCA Reception and they will be happy to process them at the time.

Helping students gain skills for tomorrow.

VOLKSWAGEN MEANINGFUL MEMORIALS 587-876-4944

Gasoline Alley South EastSide Red Deer 403-348-8882 Gaetz Ave. North Red Deer 403-350-3000 Gasoline Alley South WestSide Red Deer 403-342-2923

Visit www.garymoe.com

“PROUD SPONSOR OF THE SPCA”

7260937L22

Diversified and Industrials Agrium Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 124.72 ATCO Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . 35.42 BCE Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.57 BlackBerry . . . . . . . . . . . 12.20 Bombardier . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.39 Brookfield . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.65 Cdn. National Railway . . 78.85 Cdn. Pacific Railway. . . 172.31 Cdn. Utilities . . . . . . . . . . 31.74 Capital Power Corp . . . . 17.35 Cervus Equipment Corp 12.86 Dow Chemical . . . . . . . . 50.97 Enbridge Inc. . . . . . . . . . 43.57 Finning Intl. Inc. . . . . . . . 18.22 Fortis Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 37.59 General Motors Co. . . . . 33.83 Parkland Fuel Corp. . . . . 22.72 Sirius XM . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.19 SNC Lavalin Group. . . . . 42.04 Stantec Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 34.89 Telus Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . 38.45 Transalta Corp.. . . . . . . . . 4.78 Transcanada. . . . . . . . . . 44.67

HEALTH

A8

TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2015

Breastfeeding on Santa’s lap NOMINATE an outstanding EXPERIENCE!

MOM DISAPPOINTED BY REACTION TO INCIDENT, PHOTO POSTED ON FACEBOOK ST. CATHARINES, Ont. — An Ontario woman behind the viral photograph of herself breastfeeding her child while sitting on Santa’s lap says she’s disappointed with the public reception she’s received.

Rebecca Dunbar says she had the picture taken mostly as a joke, but decided to post it in a bid to increase acceptance of the practice of nursing in public.

Dunbar says the reaction she’s received since she posted the picture to her Facebook page suggests that acceptance won’t come quickly.

She says about 75 per cent of the feedback she’s seen has been negative, with many posters complaining the picture is “trashy.”

Dunbar says the shot is less revealing than many pictures of scantily clad woman and laments the fact that public breastfeeding is frowned upon.

She says she resents the fact that women can be made to feel shame for pursuing an activity meant to promote the health of their children.

“I just want it to be so normal that it doesn’t even need a discussion,”

the 40-year-old mother of three said in a telephone interview.

“If people want to say, ‘oh, you look happy in that picture…’ that’s about as far as it needs to go.”

The snapshot came about spontaneously as Dunbar was standing at a local mall taking her kids to see Santa, she said.

One of her one-yearold twins became fussy as the family stood in line, so Dunbar began nursing him right then and there.

Dunbar then came up with the joking notion of capturing the moment while sitting on Santa’s lap to raise awareness.

A friend accompanying Dunbar and her kids also found the idea amusing and urged her to go through with it.

Dunbar found that other people were game, too.

“I asked the photographer if he’d be OK taking the picture and he said, ‘yeah, for sure, if it was OK with Santa,” she said.

“And Santa said ‘it’s been 40 years and never had a question like that, but why not.”’

Dunbar accordingly posed while nursing her second twin, then posted the photo to social media with the caption “All

I want for Christmas is a healthy, happy baby.”

She said her friends have responded enthusiastically on social media and media outlets have begun picking up the image, but said she’ll likely have to modify her Facebook settings to deal with negative blowback.

Dunbar said she has no regrets about taking the picture, however, adding she still wants to offer support to friends who have been asked to nurse their children in bathrooms or remote corners.

“It is quite disappointing that people are so negative about it when it’s not meant to be that way,” she said.

“Partly, it was just to be funny.”

NOMINATE an individual or business in...

• Accommodations • Events & Attractions

• Dining & Food • Tourism Services

VisitRedDeer.com

7358256L16-25

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS

Closing date December 31st

The cost of power

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON — Leading a country comes with extraordinary privileges but also, apparently, a price: new research suggests that heads of state age faster than normal and that the stress of the job may shave almost three years off their life expectancy.

Doctors analyzed how long presidents and prime ministers in 17 countries — including Britain, Canada, France, Germany and the U.S. — survived after leaving office, compared to the losing candidates.

They also observed the number of years that heads of state lived versus what was expected for someone of the same age and gender.

After considering the fates of 279 heads of state and 261 runner-ups, they concluded former leaders lived for almost three fewer years than expected. The study was published online Monday in the medical journal, The BMJ. “To lose a few years is significant,” said Dr. Anupam Jena of Harvard Medical School, the study’s senior author. “(Leaders) probably felt national priorJustin Trudeau ities were much more pressing than eating right and exercising,” he said, saying former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s admitted weakness for fast food may have resulted in “stress eating.”

“Maybe if there had been world peace, his lifestyle would have been different,” Jena said.

After leaving office, Clinton had bypass surgery he subsequently said he lost weight and became vegan to try to reverse his heart disease.

Other researchers have found that U.S. presidents actually live longer than their constituents.

“The stress (of leading a country) could accelerate the greying of hair and wrinkling of skin, but that doesn’t mean they’ll die earlier,” said S. Jay Olshansky, a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

His research on former commanders in chief found they had a longer-than-expected life expectancy, partly because they are part of the top 1 per cent of the population that are highly educated, wealthy and have better access to health care than most.

Still, even U.S. President Barack Obama recently joked with Canada’s new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — who is about a decade younger than Obama — about how a country’s top office can speed up aging. Obama advised Trudeau he should start dying his hair to avoid going grey.

Jena said Trudeau — who is a keen outdoorsman — might fare better than expected.

“Someone like him, who is fit, may be in a better starting position than others,” he said. “The years could be kinder to him.”

The new transit fare system that uses prepaid, reloadable cards has arrived!

A MyRide card is an electronic card, similar to a credit card, with a microchip. It can be used to pay your fare and can be loaded and reloaded with the many fare types that you use today (like monthly passes, 12 ride cards or even multiple months).

Get your MyRide card today at Transit Customer Service in Sorenson Station downtown.

Customer Service will offer limited extended hours to allow Transit users the opportunity to get their new cards before the end of the month.

Act now – get your MyRide card before February 12, 2016 and we waive the $5 card fee!

CUSTOMER SERVICE HOURS FOR DECEMBER ARE: Wednesday, December 16 – Friday, December 18: 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 19: 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Tuesday, December 29 – Thursday, December 31: 8 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.

Regular hours other than stated above are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Visit www.reddeer.ca/transit for more information.

7352790L15-24

PRESIDENTS, PRIME MINISTER MAY AGE QUICKER, DIE SOONER, NEW STUDY SAYS

ENTERTAINMENT

A9 Behind the wheel with Seinfeld

TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2015

BY DAN ZAK ADVOCATE NEWS SERVICES WASHINGTON — Jerry Seinfeld couldn’t shake off the previous night’s gig. Tough crowd at a casino, he explained: “Like stabbing a minotaur to death with a kitchen knife.” But now he was in Washington, slipping into the buttery Naugahyde of a 1963 Corvette Stingray, and rough edges blurred, and women on Constitution Avenue were yelling “Cool car!” at him instead of “Mulva?!”

“Ugh, what a car,” Seinfeld said, stepping out of it near the Capitol Reflecting Pool earlier this month.

“What. A. Car. It’s like having a hot dog on July Fourth with Scott Carpenter.”

Which is why he selected it to drive to the White House and pick up the president of the United States, an upcoming guest on his ongoing Web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.

As the title would suggest, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. is a bit of a detour for Seinfeld’s show, which last season featured the likes of Jim Carrey, Steve Harvey and his long-ago sitcom partner Julia Louis-Dreyfus rolling around on vintage wheels and trading wisecracks with the star.

But this kind of showbiz cameo — Barack Obama’s episode will debut online Dec. 30 — is business as usual for the president, who has collaborated with entertainers to tout his policies, burnish his public image or nudge a national conversation. In 2014, he appeared on Zach Galifianakis’s talkshow parody Between Two Ferns to talk up HealthCare.gov after its bungled rollout. This summer, he sat in Marc Maron’s garage in Los Angeles for a wide-ranging podcast interview that touched on race and racism. Just last week, he appeared on NBC’s Running Wild,” a nature-adventure show with British survivalist Bear Grylls, to voice his concerns over climate change.

After Obama cited Seinfeld as one of his favourite comedians on Maron’s podcast, Seinfeld jokingly suggested that his production team should reach out to the White House. The executive producer of Comedians in Cars did just that.

“This was an opportunity to pull back the curtain for Americans on life in the White House,” the president’s press office said in a statement. “The president and Jerry had a unique, candid conversation that focused largely

Photo by ADVOCATE news services

President Barack Obama and Jerry Seinfeld filming the episode on the grounds of the White House on Dec. 7. on the lighter side of the presidency.”

Seinfeld came to Washington a day ahead of his taping with Obama to capture scene-setting footage around town; unlike his usual guests, this one could not go freewheeling with him beyond the gates of the White House.

At the Capitol, tourists were beginning to notice Seinfeld, but only after they noticed the car, a shimmering mirage of silver-blue metallic in a small parking lot on the building’s west front. Its back window, split down the middle, sloped into a dorsal haunch resembling its marine namesake. It was on loan from some rich guy in Connecticut who had already called the crew to ask about his baby, which hadn’t been out of his sight in 32 years.

“The lines,” Seinfeld gushed, as if describing the Ark of the Covenant.

He pointed out the spatial intimacy between the body of the car and the wheels — tight but not too tight. Then he gestured to a nearby Chevy Suburban, a brute hunk of black metal, one of the production vehicles.

“See how much space is between the wheel and the body? That’s why it’s

depressing. What’s really missing from the world are cars you can just stare at,” he said, hands on the waist of his dad jeans, flaring back his navy blazer.

“We’ve decided it’s more important to stay alive than look cool.”

Jerry Seinfeld adores comedy and cars — he values the pursuit of precision and mechanical perfection — and a few years ago he combined them with his love of coffee and launched this series, which features short videos of wealthy funny people motoring around in classics that only they could afford. He picked up Ricky Gervais in an ice-blue 1967 Austin Healey 3000.

He picked up Tina Fey in a candy-apple red 1967 Volvo 1800S. And in less than 24 hours he would pick up Barack Obama in the Stingray.

He was nervous.

“You learn over the years how to handle yourself when you’re taken out of your box and put into a situation that has different stakes and different jeopardy,” Seinfeld said. But the anticipation of being with POTUS for 60 to 90 minutes was different. “I don’t talk to anybody about tomorrow. I don’t

wanna talk about it. I kind of like to pace around backstage a couple minutes before I go on, so I’ve been doing that for about five days now.”

The crew was also nervous, because the White House seemed nervous. The Comedians in Cars shoot was arranged over the summer, but now the San Bernardino, California, shooting was still fresh; while Seinfeld taped B-roll, the president was preparing for a primetime address to the nation.

Seinfeld follows politics, but it has no place in his act. Political jokes rot on the vine. He likes his bits to be evergreen. Still, he considers the highlight of his career to be performing in the East Room in front of Obama and Paul McCartney in 2010, and he can’t think of another U.S. president who would be as good on Comedians in Cars as the 44th.

“He’s done some really good work as a monologist at those correspondents dinners — that’s how he qualifies to be on the show,” Seinfeld said, referring to the annual black-tie gathering of White House reporters.

Nashville duo speak out after being dropped from tour

BY EMILY YAHR ADVOCATE NEWS SERVICES

Photo by ADVOCATE news services

Jill Pickering and Kate Rapier. sentative for Adkins had no comment.)

Though changing up background vocalists isn’t unusual, it was hard not to note the timing. A major cultural conversation of 2015 focused on the particular challenges women have in the male-dominated music and entertainment industry. Jill and Kate’s takeaway from this year is more than just promoting a body-positive message —

NEW YEAR’S EVE FAMILY CELEBRATION

ROLL IN THE NEW YEARR AT

Heritage Lanes Food and Beverage Specials

Only

$69.00 ne

per la

Have you renewed your 2016 Membership?

SUPE R DEAL !

Per lane price includes ONE HOUR BOWLING for up to 6 people, free use of bowling shoes!

FAMILY CELEBRATION from 4 pm to 1 am

Still time to do so!

Join the Red Deer Legion today!

INCLUDES ... up to 6 people • One Hour Glow Bowling, shoes • One Pizza and Wings (18) • Great Music • Glow in the Dark Party Favors • Noise Makers & Hats

You Don’t have to be a Veteran to join and show your support.

Reserve Your Favorite Lanes for Your Group Today!

#8 6200 67A Street Red Deer, Alberta www.heritagelanes.com

Red Deer

403-309-6387

7325509L30

Heritage Lanes

to them, it’s also the danger of women being afraid they’ll be deemed “troublemakers” if they speak out.

“We aren’t trying to badmouth anyone. We aren’t trying to start trouble,” they recently wrote, re-posting Kate’s original blog and going public for the first time about being dropped from the tour. “This is not a post to bash men, it is simply to stand up as women,

2810 Bremner Ave.

403-342-0035

7354967L14-30

This spring, Nashville duo Jill and Kate were on tour as back-up singers for a male country artist when a friend snapped a goofy picture of Kate and texted it to a group. It was all in good fun until one tour crew member (who was unaware Kate was on the text chain) sent back a message calling her a “#huge” singer.

Kate immediately recognized it was a jab at how she looked in the photo; naturally, she was upset. Kate posted a blog entry about the incident on the duo’s website, using it as a jumping-off point to slam the all-too-common concept of “body-shaming.”

A couple days later, Jill and Kate were asked to delete the post because it could “reflect poorly” on the artist with whom they were touring. Though they hadn’t named names, Jill and Kate removed the post. The following week, they say, they were let go from the tour.

The official reasoning? Jill and Kate were told the tour no longer needed female singers. But shortly after their departure, a new female back-up singer was hired. (While Jill and Kate declined to confirm who they were touring with, their original blog post was written in spring 2015 when they were back-up singers for longtime country singer Trace Adkins. A repre-

with women and for women to not let fear silence us from telling our stories, so that all of us together can make a change.”

In an interview, Jill Pickering and Kate Rapier say they have no desire to call anyone out. Rather, they feel compelled to let their fans to know why they kept so quiet this year. They also want to use their platform to raise awareness about the negative effects of weight-shaming, and hope they can empower other women when they encounter similar tough situations.

“If we have a mission out of all of this, it’s to share this experience and encourage other women to be strong and brave and share their experiences, too,” Kate said. “That’s the way that these types of issues will be brought to light, and people will have courage to stand up when they need to.”

Jill and Kate met in 2003 during a music program in college and soon became a songwriting and performing duo. They moved to Los Angeles after graduation, eventually becoming back-up singers for pop star Kelly Clarkson. After working with Clarkson for six years, they decided to focus on their own career in Nashville. In summer 2014, they landed a gig as back-up singers for Adkins, whose hits include You’re Gonna Miss This, Hillbilly Bone and Honky Tonk Badonkadonk ; he also hosts a weekly SiriusXM country radio show.

A10 RED DEER ADVOCATE Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015

Happy Holidays

998 1098 1298 1898 1898 3498 750 mL

750 mL

750 mL

750 mL

750 mL

750 mL

Catena Alamos Malbec

Oyster Bay Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc

1884 Reservado Malbec

J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon

Caymus Conundrum Red or White blend

Zenato Amarone

20189166

20099129/ 20334682

20354432

20112451

20007301/ 20649424

20061218

BONUS 50 mL

BONUS 50 mL

with purchase while quantities last

with purchase while quantities last

1898

LARGE 1.14 L BONUS 50 mL

2298

750 mL

LARGE 1.14 L BONUS 50 mL

with purchase while quantities last

3198

750 mL

LARGE 1.14 L

with purchase while quantities last

1.14 L

3198

1998

1.14 L

1.14 L

Smirnoff vodka

Crown Royal rye

Baileys Irish cream

Captain Morgan Spiced rum

Kings Cross® Irish cream

20012767

20153891

20032382

20047194

20834312

or 12.99 each

4198 3897 5598 1898 2098 2598 24 bottles

Heineken beer 20108309

24 cans

Kokanee beer 24 x 330 mL

20044322

36 cans

Budweiser beer 8 x 355 mL

20327333

8 cans

Guinness draught 36 x 355 mL

20047495

each

Meiomi Pinot Noir 8 x 440 mL

20515088

750 mL

each

Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 20065508

750 mL

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE G.S.T. OR DEPOSIT

We reserve the right to limit quantities. While stock lasts. Prices subject to change. No rainchecks, no substitutions.

Please drink responsibly and designate a driver. Don’t Drink & Drive!

We accept MasterCard or Visa

7363502L22

Prices effective Tuesday, December 22 to Thursday, December 24, 2015 at #5 Clearview Market Way, Red Deer.

LOCAL

B1 Big tax hike for Lacombe County

TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2015

RESIDENTIAL RATES GOING UP 3.5 PER CENT, NON-RESIDENTIAL RATES UP 6.4 PER CENT

BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF Lacombe County council has raised tax rates partly to compensate for falling tax revenue from the Joffre petrochemical complex.

Council approved a $46-million operating and $12.9-million capital budgets last Friday that calls for a 3.5 per cent rate increase for residential and farm properties and 6.4 per cent for non-residential, which includes commercial businesses and industries such as the Joffre and Prentiss petrochemical plants.

The increase is higher than the last two years. In 2015, council approved a two per cent increase and one per cent was approved the prior year.

County commissioner Terry Hager said the drop in tax revenue is due to changes in the assessed value of the petrochemical plants, which shows up in the county budget. Joffre’s plants were assessed at $2.6 billion this year, but that number goes down about $55 million next year. The drop has to do with depreciation on the industrial assets based on a complicated formula set by the province.

“This isn’t a once-only for Lacombe County. This is something we’re going to have to deal with over the next number of years,” said Hager.

The machinery and equipment tax, which covers most of the county’s major industrial assessments, provided $12.5 million to the county last year.

A major expansion is underway at

BUDGET

“THIS ISN’T A ONCE-ONLY FOR LACOMBE COUNTY. THIS IS SOMETHING WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH OVER THE NEXT NUMBER OF YEARS.” TERRY HAGER, COUNTY COMMISSIONER

File photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff

A major expansion is underway at one of Joffre’s polyethylene plants and will yield about $1 million more in tax revenues for the county, but not until 2017 or 2018.

Joffre that will yield about $1 million more in tax revenues for the county.

Depending on when the $1-billion expansion of one of the site’s polyethylene plants is fully operational, the county won’t see the additional revenue until 2017 or 2018.

Commercial assessments have also dropped 3.89 per cent, a symptom of

lower property values.

Despite the higher-than-usual increase, the county’s tax rates stack up well against 16 other counties, said Hager. Residential rates are 24 per cent below the average and non-residential rates 45 per cent.

“We still have some of the lowest taxes in the province.”

Six charged in Rocky drug bust

BY ADVOCATE STAFF

RCMP

Five adults and one youth are facing drug related charges after police executed a search warrant related to a drug investigation on Dec. 16.

Police seized 21 grams of cocaine, 18 grams of methamphetamine, numerous pills, drug paraphernalia and a prohibited weapon during the sweep of the property.

Children were found in the residence. Children and Family Services Intake Workers assisted police during the raid to ensure the safety of the children involved.

In total, RCMP have charged five adults and one youth with possession of a controlled substance for the pur-

pose of trafficking.

The minor cannot be identified due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act but has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription drugs, and possessing a prohibited weapon.

John Boisvert, 32, of Red Deer is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription drugs, and for possessing a prohibited weapon.

Sarah Gordon, 21, of Rocky Mountain House has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking

cocaine and methamphetamine.

Lora Mackinaw, 35, of Rocky Mountain House has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine.

Brent Miller, 43, of Rocky Mountain House has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, and three counts of breaching an undertaking.

Wyatt Mackinaw, 21, of Rocky Mountain House is charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of proceeds of crime, and possession of a controlled substance.

RCMP are reminding people that they can report any suspected drug activity to Rocky Mountain House at 403845-2881 or through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

AFTERNOON GRAZE

Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate Staff

A horse grazes at Heritage Ranch on a sunny Monday afternoon. Temperatures warmed up to -6C during the afternoon and dropped below -20 overnight.

LOCAL

BRIEFS

Cops nab nine impaired drives Nine impaired drivers were nabbed in Red Deer over the weekend.

Police arrested and charged five of the drivers during revolving check stops at five spots in the city on Dec. 18 and 19.

Another four impaired drivers were charged including two that were reported by citizens and two were a result of traffic stops conducted by police on patrol.

Police checked 450 vehicles and administered 29 roadside screening tests and two physical coordination tests on the weekend.

“Red Deer RCMP thank the numerous concerned citizens who continue to report impaired drivers,” says Sgt. Al Nickolson.

“Impaired driving is an entirely preventable cause of death and injury and has devastating impacts on Canadian families and their communities.”

RCMP will continue to target highrisk driving behaviours all month with revolving check stops and other traffic campaigns. Report suspected

impaired drivers by calling 911 with the vehicle description, licence plate, direction of travel and a description of the driver.

Police also issued two 72-hour licence suspensions and seizure of vehicle for three days, four 24-hour suspensions for drugs and 22 other violation tickets.

Hoar frost leads to carbon monoxide scare at Rocky pool Two people had to be treated after unhealthy carbon monoxide levels built up at the Rocky Mountain House Aquatics Centre on Saturday afternoon.

About a dozen people were inside the facility when high carbon monoxide levels were detected that created “distress” for several patrons around 3 p.m.

The facility was evacuated and Emergency Medical Services treated two people.

Clearwater Regional Fire Department and ATCO also responded. The problem was traced to some mechanical equipment.

Town chief administrative officer Todd Becker said the problem was traced to hoar frost building up in a fresh air intake and rooftop air handling unit.

The Aquatics Centre was

declared safe and open for regular programming on Sunday.

Compliance team hands out warnings to bars Only warnings were issued when the Red Deer Public Safety Compliance Team paid unannounced visits to 13 watering holes on Friday.

The team checked the drinking establishments to ensure they met all licensing and safety requirements.

The team checks for violations such as over-serving of alcohol, serving of underage patrons, health and fire code violations, and to ensure establishments aren’t exceeding their occupancy limits.

This time only a few warnings were issued related to fire and health code violations. No tickets were issued.

The compliance team was formed in 2013 to address concerns related to drinking establishments in Red Deer.

It is a partnership between Red Deer RCMP, Red Deer Emergency Services, Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission Red Deer branch, City of Red Deer Inspections and Licensing and Alberta Health Services.

The team conducts unannounced inspections of Red Deer drinking establishments on a regular basis.

Lacombe County has benefitted from the petrochemical plants at Joffre and Prentiss, but also significant residential growth around Sylvan and Gull Lakes and, until recently, steady property value increases.

Among the significant projects going ahead next year is the construction of a 15-km trail between Lacombe and Ponoka at a cost of $905,370. The county is also spending $750,000 on a project to improve wireless coverage in the southeast area of the municipality.

Other plans include: ● $4.6 million for reconstruction of 18 km of local roads. ● $2.7 million for bridge repairs and replacement. ● $1.5 million to complete construction of remote public works shops in the east and west ends of the county. ● $812,000 for public works equipment purchases. ● $250,000 to buy a rapid response unit for Bentley Fire Department. pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com

COURT

Trial set for armed robbery case

BY ADVOCATE STAFF Trial dates have been set for March of next year for a man accused of robbing a downtown bar at gunpoint.

Devyn Michael Hendrikson, 19, of Red Deer faces eight charges from the Nov. 23 armed robbery at the Bell Fever Lounge in downtown Red Deer.

A trial has been scheduled for March 21, 2016 in Red Deer provincial court. On the charges, which include robbery with a firearm, using a firearm while committing an offence, two counts of pointing a firearm, being disguised with the intent of committing an offence, possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and possession of stolen property under $5,000.

Hendrikson was arrested on Nov. 24 by Red Deer RCMP following a suspicious vehicle on 30th Avenue near Ellenwood Drive.

Police confirmed the vehicle had been stolen out of Calgary on Nov. 22 and initiated a traffic stop. The driver and the passenger were arrested without incident.

According to police, two masked men entered the lounge carrying long barrel firearms and demanded cash.

No one was injured in the robbery.

Danny Ivan Bergeson, 26, was also arrested at the vehicle stop and charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000. A third suspect is wanted in connection with the incident. Police believe Lyndon William Grant Olsen, 33, of Red Deer drove the truck the suspects fled in. He is wanted on an Alberta-wide warrant and Mounties said he is armed and dangerous and warn people not to approach him.

Anyone with knowledge of Olsen’s whereabouts are asked to contact the Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com

Cooling to stand trial for murder of Smith

BY ADVOCATE STAFF A man accused of stabbing his friend has been ordered to stand trial.

Neil Cooling, 43, of Rocky Mountain House had a preliminary hearing run last week in provincial court. The hearing was held to test the strength of the Crown’s case before heading to trial.

Cooling is charged with second degree murder for the stabbing death of Harley Smith, 57, also of Rocky Mountain House. Smith died on Oct. 1, 2014.

Rocky Mountain House RCMP were called to a residence that evening and Smith had to be airlifted to the University of Alberta hospital in Edmonton.

He died of his injuries. An autopsy on Oct. 6, 2014 determined his death to be as a result of a homicide.

Cooling will appear on Jan. 4, in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench for his arraignment, a trial date will be set at that time.

B2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015

CANADA

BRIEFS

Top court to hold hearing as it mulls extension on doctor-assisted death

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Police and emergency crews respond to the scene after a car drove up onto a sidewalk along Las Vegas Boulevard, Sunday in Las Vegas. A woman intentionally swerved her car onto the busy sidewalk two or three times Sunday and mowed down people outside a Las Vegas casino.

At least two Canadians hospitalized after driver hits pedestrians in Las Vegas and that’s it,” Carmen Forino told the station.

She said she suffered head trauma and was taken to hospital with her sister and two other people, including Anthony Hamel, her nephew.

“Why? Why us? Why did this happen?” Hamel told Las Vegas TV station KTNV. “Why did this girl run over the sidewalk and injure a lot of people? She won’t be able to feel the pain that she gave to a lot of people.”

Lombardo said Holloway is from around Portland, Ore., and had been living in her car in Las Vegas for about one week prior to the attack.

She was arrested a few blocks further away after stopping her vehicle “and was very stoic at the time,” Lombardo said.

“She didn’t appear to be distressed about her actions,” he added.

Her three-year-old daughter was in the car but was not injured.

Soldier implicated in murder-suicide

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — A Canadian soldier who served two tours in Afghanistan is believed to have repeatedly stabbed his pregnant wife before they both fell to their deaths from an apartment building, Toronto police said Monday.

The bodies of Robert Giblin, 43, and Precious Charbonneau, 33, were found Sunday night outside the highrise in central Toronto where they lived together.

Police said Charbonneau, who was thought to be nine weeks pregnant, was stabbed multiple times before her fall.

“Investigators believe Robert Giblin was responsible for the homicide of Precious Charbonneau and are not pursuing any more suspects in this matter,” police said Monday

evening.

“The cause of death was multiple impact injuries consistent with fall from height.”

Police said the couple were recently married.

According to Giblin’s Facebook

page, he and Charbonneau were married in mid-November. A photo from their wedding day shows Giblin in his military regalia holding hands with Charbonneau.

Search over for wandering cheetah, B.C. authorities question person of interest VANCOUVER — Conservation officers have called off the search for a cheetah roaming a highway in British Columbia’s Interior late last week.

Insp. Joe Caravetta of the Conservation Officer Service said Monday that there have been no reported sightings of the stray cat since it was originally spotted in the Kootenay region last Thursday.

“We haven’t found the cheetah.

Whether it’s at large or not, we can’t confirm,” he said.

“At this point in time we don’t feel there’s a present, immediate safety risk to the public.”

RCMP sent out a release Thursday evening that the big cat had been seen wandering along Highway 3 near Crawford Bay, about 50 kilometres northeast of Nelson in the Kootenay region.

The witness who happened upon the cheetah took several pictures of it walking along the gravel shoulder between the highway and a snow-covered field. The witness said the animal was wearing an orange coloured cloth collar.

Officials have spoken to one person of interest since the investigation began.

BOXING OXING D DAY AY

403.588.2445

Sale

Come see our marvelous quilts

DECEMB DECEMBER 26 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

by the talented Dara Tomasson

CLOSED Dec. 20 to Jan. 6, except for our Boxing Day Sale.

25% off EVERYTHING in the store!

For Map and to Shop online www.nutsforboltsetc.com CCheck our Facebook page for upcoming classes

7323394L22

LAS VEGAS — Two Canadians remained in a Las Vegas hospital with critical head wounds on Monday after a woman struck them and more than 30 other people with her vehicle on a busy sidewalk along the city’s famous casino strip.

Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo said “pretty detailed” video footage shows a car mounting the sidewalk and striking pedestrians “in an intentional act.”

One person died and about 35 people were injured after Sunday evening’s incident, which Lombardo does not believe was an act of terrorism.

Danita Cohen of the University Medical Centre of Southern Nevada told The Canadian Press that, as of Monday evening, three people were still in hospital in critical condition — including two Canadians who were

not identified — while two others had serious injuries.

Lombardo said those in critical condition suffered head wounds.

Initial reports indicated at least five Canadians were among the injured, with Cohen saying at least two of them were from Montreal.

District attorney Steve Wolfson said Lakeisha Holloway, 24, will be charged with one count of murder with the use of a deadly weapon and that other charges will likely follow including multiple counts of attempted murder with a deadly weapon.

“We intend to file charges immediately,” Wolfson said, adding Holloway could appear in court as early as Tuesday morning.

CTV Montreal reported that members of a Montreal-area family were among those injured.

“I see the car come on the sidewalk and I said to my husband, ‘What are you doing?’ and after he bumped me

Santa’s Cars 2012 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS 14,755 KM

2015 Chevrolet Camaro LT

STK#15431A

STK#15-008

30,900

$

12,990 KM

30,900

$

403-843-2244 • www.buistmotors.com Corner of Hwy 20 & Hwy 53 in Rimbey

7365289L22-31

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada is set to hold an oral hearing next month as it considers whether to green-light the federal government’s request for an extension in response to its landmark ruling on doctor-assisted death.

The federal government will have half an hour to make its argument on Jan. 11 and the appellants will have the same time to make their case.

The clock is ticking as the court prepares to hear from both sides — in February, Canada’s Criminal Code provisions prohibiting doctor-assisted death will cease to exist after being deemed unconstitutional by the court last winter.

When it issued its ruling, the court opted to suspend its decision for a year to allow for Parliament and provincial legislatures to respond, should they choose, by ushering in legislation consistent with the constitutional parameters set out by the court.

“The appropriate remedy is … to issue a declaration of invalidity and to suspend it for 12 months,” the court said in its decision.

“The Charter rights of patients and physicians will need to be reconciled in any legislative and regulatory response to this judgment.”

But the federal government is now asking for an additional six months to explore all possible responses to the decision.

SPORTS

B3

TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2015

Oilers go into break on a high TAKE DOWN JETS TO WIN SEVENTH STRAIGHT AT HOME

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS Oilers 3 Jets 1 EDMONTON — Cam Talbot looks to have found his game again.

Talbot made 44 saves and Teddy Purcell had two goals and an assist as the Edmonton Oilers won their seventh consecutive home game, defeating the Winnipeg Jets 3-1 on Monday.

“Some nights you have it and some nights you don’t and tonight I had it,” said Talbot, who had taken a back seat to fellow netminder Anders Nilsson for much of the month.

“It started in Boston. I had a couple of weeks off to work on some things and when I got my chance I wanted to make sure I was ready for it. I feel that I did that, I put in a lot of extra work over those two weeks and I feel like it’s starting to pay off and hopefully I can continue to carry it through after the Christmas break.”

Justin Schultz also scored for the Oilers (15-18-2), who snapped a threegame losing skid.

Despite the win, Oilers head coach Todd McLellan was less than thrilled with the overall performance.

“I’m disappointed,” he said. “It’s great that we got the points in the bank and we went into the break feeling good, but I think we’re such a better team than we just performed tonight.

“We got away with one tonight.”

Bryan Little replied for the Jets (1516-2), who have lost three of their last four games.

“It’s tough to lose on any night, but with the way we were taking it to them, it might hurt a little more,” said Jets defenceman Tyler Myers. “I feel like we deserved to win, but you have to give their goalie credit. He made a lot of point-blank saves and they capitalized on their chances. It was one of those games that you just have to forget quickly.”

The Oilers started off the scoring 11 minutes into the first period as a Purcell shot ticked off a Winnipeg de-

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, covers the net as Edmonton Oilers’ Taylor Hall controls the puck during first period NHL action in Edmonton, on Monday. fender and past rookie goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who was making his fifth consecutive start. Taylor Hall picked up his 300th career point with an assist.

Purcell scored his second of the game and eighth goal of the season a couple of minutes later, taking a long pass from Leon Draisaitl before rifling a one-timer into the net to make it 2-0 Edmonton.

Edmonton extended its lead eight minutes into the second frame as Purcell made a perfect feed from the corner to a pinching Schultz, who scored his first of the season. Michael Hutchinson came in to replace Helle-

buyck, who allowed three goals on 14 shots.

Winnipeg made it 3-1 with eight minutes left in the second, as a point shot came off the glass to Little in front, and he batted it out of the air and past Talbot.

The Jets had the bulk of the chances in the scoreless third period, but Talbot stood on his head stopping 16 shots in the final 20 minutes. Edmonton registered just three shots in the third.

“We threw everything we had at him,” Little said. “Their goalie played great.”

Winnipeg plays the Flames in Calgary Tuesday. The Oilers don’t return

to action until Saturday in Vancouver.

Notes: Winnipeg swept the threegame series with Edmonton last season. … the Oilers remain an injury-riddled squad, missing defencemen Brandon Davidson (upper body), Oscar Klefbom (finger) and Andrew Ference (undisclosed), as well as forwards Connor McDavid (collarbone), Rob Klinkhammer (ankle) and Nail Yakupov (ankle). … Injured for Winnipeg were defenceman Grant Clitsome (back) and goalie Ondrej Pavelec (knee). … Jets defenceman Mark Stuart played in his 600th NHL game.

FIFA bans Blatter, Platini for eight years

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ZURICH — Banished from soccer’s ruling body for eight years for unethical conduct, Sepp Blatter won’t give up the presidency of his beloved FIFA without a fight.

“I will fight. I will fight until the end,” Blatter said Monday at a news conference that started 90 minutes after he and former protege Michel Platini were each banned by FIFA’s ethics committee.

It was a stunning removal of world soccer’s most powerful leaders over a $2 million payment by FIFA to Platini, the president of European soccer’s ruling body UEFA. The payment is also the subject of a criminal investigation in Switzerland.

“I’m sad. It can’t go on this way.

It’s not possible,” said the 79-yearold Blatter, who has spent more than half his life working for soccer’s scandal-hit governing body. “After 40 years, it can’t happen this way. I’m fighting to restore my rights.”

Already serving a provisional ban, the elected FIFA president and his long-time likely successor were kicked out of the sport just two months before 209 member federations elect a new leader.

Platini, a FIFA vice-president whose bid to succeed Blatter on Feb. 26 now looks over, described the proceedings as a “true mockery.”

Their offences were judged to be conflict of interest and disloyalty to FIFA. They avoided life bans because corruption was not proven.

Platini’s lawyer, Thibaud d’Ales, told The Associated Press it came as

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this 2012 photo, Confederation of African Football, CAF, President Issa Hayatou, left, FIFA President Joseph Blatter, center, and UEFA President Michel Platini talk during the second day session of the 62nd FIFA Congress in Budapest, Hungary. Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been banned for 8 years, the FIFA ethics committee said Monday. no surprise that the corruption charge had been dropped.

“They used it with the sole purpose of dirtying Michel Platini, although they knew from the start it was an untenable argument,” D’Ales said.

Guilty verdicts were expected. So were the subsequent denials of wrongdoing and promises of urgent appeals

to FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Blatter’s defiant display was a bonus for international media summoned to FIFA’s former headquarters, just hundreds of meters (yards) from the new building where he spent eight hours with four ethics judges last Thursday.

The choice of venue hinted at a vintage Blatter show. He did not disappoint.

Blatter invoked Nelson Mandela within a minute, pointing to the spot where the iconic South African leader had lifted the World Cup trophy 11 years ago, when his country was chosen as the host nation for the 2010 tournament.

Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech, the Nobel organization and the United Nations were also referenced in a spirited 52-minute performance as he held court with more than 100 journalists.

His last words were “I’ll be back, thank you.”

Blatter’s trademark fighting talk was delivered while still sporting a strip of surgical tape on his right cheek after a minor medical procedure five days earlier.

Blatter made it clear he regretted his current position but declared he was innocent of any wrongdoing.

“I am not ashamed,” he said. “I am sorry that I am a punching ball. I am sorry for football. … I am now suspended eight years, suspended eight years.

Suspended eight years for what?”

Platini was also dismissive of the ethics commission’s work.

He said its proceedings, which included a hearing earlier this month that he did not attend, had been “orchestrated… by governing bodies that I know well” to tarnish him.

“I’m convinced that my fate was sealed before the Dec. 18 hearing and that this decision is just a pathetic manoeuvr to hide a true will of taking me out of the football world,” the Frenchman said.

Canadian coach Herdman encouraged as Olympic qualifying nears WOMEN’S SOCCER

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS John Herdman doesn’t want his players to forget their World Cup pain.

The Canadian women’s national team was left bitterly disappointed this summer after crashing out of a tournament the hosts felt was there for the taking, losing 2-1 to England in a heartbreaking quarter-final.

Six months later and with preparations already well underway for 2016 Olympic qualifying, Canada’s head coach hasn’t sensed a World Cup hangover, but rather a renewed belief.

“I don’t think you move past something like that,” said Herdman. “You have to move through those things.

You have to reframe. You have to

look at the things that worked well for us that we were really happy about.

And you have to look at other aspects where we need to grow.”

With that in mind, Canada just wrapped up a four-team event over the weekend in Brazil that saw the squad finish second after losing the final 3-1 to the hosts.

Herdman brought a mixture of youth and experience to South America following a training camp in Vancouver, with teenagers Kennedy Faulknor (16), Deanne Rose (16), Gabrielle Carle (17) and Marie Levasseur (18) all making their full international debuts.

“What stood out was the performances of the team in some of the games where you really did get to see the quality that we could have moving forward,” Herdman said. “The senior players have cultivated a culture where these kids can come in and really play in all phases.”

Greg Meachem, Sports Editor, 403-314-4363 E-mail gmeachem@reddeeradvocate.com

As has been the case for some time, speed and scoring were among the areas where Canada was lacking at the World Cup. Herdman is hopeful that some of the new blood will help.

“I think the team is comfortable that we’ve got strategy and structure down,” he said. “It’s now bringing that alive — that winning mindset and just leaving everything out on the pitch every time.”

Canadian captain Christine Sinclair was among the veterans who made the trip to Brazil and said it was encouraging to see some of the younger players fulfil roles with another camp set for next month ahead of CONCACAF Olympic qualifying in February.

“Qualifying is always a stressful time, not going to lie,” said Sinclair. “It always comes down to one game. You win, you’re in. You lose, you’re out.

Football’s a funny game sometimes.

I’ve been on both sides of those games.

>>>>

You can’t take any team lightly.”

Ranked 11th in the world by FIFA, Canada is in Group B along with No. 48 Trinidad and Tobago, No. 76 Guatemala and No. 89 Guyana. The United States (No. 1), Mexico (No. 26), Costa Rica (No. 34) and Puerto Rico (No. 108) make up Group A, with tournament’s top two teams advancing to next summer’s Rio Olympics as representatives for the region that covers North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Canada won bronze at the 2012 Games in London, beating France 1-0 in a third-place game that came on the heels of a controversial extra-time loss to the U.S. that vaulted the team into the limelight back home.

Like the World Cup disappointment, it’s a memory the players refuse to push aside.

“For a lot of us it was a childhood dream to win an Olympic medal. You don’t forget about that,” said Sinclair.

SEE MORE ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM

SCOREBOARD Local Sports

Saturday • Midget AAA hockey: Calgary Macs tournament — Red Deer Optimist Chiefs vs. Tisdale Trojans, 12:45 p.m., Flames Community Arena Blue.

Sunday • Midget AAA hockey: Calgary Macs tournament — Red Deer Optimist Chiefs vs. Austrian U18 national team, 11:45 a.m., Max Bell Centre.

• Peewee AA hockey: Red Deer TBS at Central Alberta Selects, 3:45 p.m., Blackfalds.

• WHL: Edmonton Oil Kings at Red Deer Rebels, 5 p.m., Centrium.

Basketball National Basketball Association EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto 17 12 .586 — Boston 15 13 .536 1 1/2 New York 14 15 .483 3 Brooklyn 8 20 .286 8 1/2 Philadelphia 1 28 .034 16 Southeast Division W L Pct 16 10 .615 18 12 .600 16 12 .571 15 12 .556 12 14 .462

GB — — 1 1 1/2 4

Central Division W L Pct 18 7 .720 16 11 .593 15 11 .577 16 12 .571 11 18 .379

GB — 3 3 1/2 3 1/2 9

Oklahoma Utah Denver Minnesota Portland

Golden State

GB .667 5 7 7 8

Pacific Division W L Pct 26 1 .963

GB —

16 12 11 4

12 18 17 23

.571 .400 .393 .148

10 1/2 15 1/2 15 1/2 22

Sunday’s Games Miami 116, Portland 109 Minnesota 100, Brooklyn 85 Cleveland 108, Philadelphia 86 Milwaukee 101, Phoenix 95 Sacramento 104, Toronto 94 Atlanta 103, Orlando 100 New Orleans 130, Denver 125

— 1/2 1/2 1/2

Wednesday’s Games New York at Cleveland, 5 p.m.

Sacramento at Indiana, 5 p.m.

Houston at Orlando, 5 p.m.

Memphis at Washington, 5 p.m.

Boston at Charlotte, 5 p.m.

Dallas at Brooklyn, 5:30 p.m.

San Antonio at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

Portland at New Orleans, 6 p.m.

Philadelphia at Milwaukee, 6 p.m.

Detroit at Atlanta, 6 p.m.

Denver at Phoenix, 7 p.m.

Utah at Golden State, 8:30 p.m.

Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers, 8:30 p.m.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct Washington 7 7 0 .500 Philadelphia 6 8 0 .429 N.Y. Giants 6 8 0 .429 Dallas 4 10 0 .286 South W L T Pct y-Carolina 14 0 0 1.000 Atlanta 7 7 0 .500 Tampa Bay 6 8 0 .429 New Orleans 5 9 0 .357 North W L T Pct x-Green Bay 10 4 0 .714 Minnesota 9 5 0 .643 Detroit 5 9 0 .357 Chicago 5 9 0 .357 West W L T Pct

PF 435 344 341 278

PA 269 272 336 361

PF 275 285 343 269

PA 301 372 380 359

PF 378 378 292 253

PA 243 287 360 387

PF 308 365 319 280

PA 259 257 356 348

PF 316 318 373 246

PA 332 362 358 324

PF 449 302 311 350

PA 278 312 353 432

PF 347 296 302 289

PA 265 272 363 352

PF

PA

y-Arizona 12 2 x-Seattle 9 5 St. Louis 6 8 San Francisco 4 10 x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division

0 0 0 0

.857 .643 .429 .286

445 370 241 202

269 248 294 339

Sunday’s Games Minnesota 38, Chicago 17 Atlanta 23, Jacksonville 17 Houston 16, Indianapolis 10 Carolina 38, N.Y. Giants 35 New England 33, Tennessee 16 Washington 35, Buffalo 25 Kansas City 34, Baltimore 14 Seattle 30, Cleveland 13 Green Bay 30, Oakland 20 San Diego 30, Miami 14 Cincinnati 24, San Francisco 14 Pittsburgh 34, Denver 27 Arizona 40, Philadelphia 17 Monday’s Game Detroit 35, New Orleans 27 Thursday, Dec. 24 San Diego at Oakland, 8:25 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 26 Washington at Philadelphia, 8:25 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 27 Houston at Tennessee, 11 a.m.

Cleveland at Kansas City, 11 a.m.

New England at N.Y. Jets, 11 a.m.

Indianapolis at Miami, 11 a.m.

San Francisco at Detroit, 11 a.m.

Dallas at Buffalo, 11 a.m.

Chicago at Tampa Bay, 11 a.m.

Carolina at Atlanta, 11 a.m.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 11 a.m.

Jacksonville at New Orleans, 2:05 p.m.

St. Louis at Seattle, 2:25 p.m.

Green Bay at Arizona, 2:25 p.m.

N.Y. Giants at Minnesota, 6:30 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 28 Cincinnati at Denver, 6:30 p.m.

Bowling Heritage Lanes High scores Dec. 14-19 Monday club 55+ 1 p.m.: Vale Hunter, 326 high single; Bill Dunlop, 782 high triple.

Monday 7 p.m. mixed: Rodger Reid, 267; Brian Battensby, 658.

Tuesday 7 p.m. mixed: Tony Zirk, 314; Zirk, 770.

Wednesday club 55+ 1 p.m.: Bill Black, 289; Jan Grant. 685.

Pt 45 43 39 35 29 24

CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF 35 24 11 0 0 148 35 23 12 0 0 127 37 22 13 1 1 123 36 14 19 3 0 99 34 12 19 2 1 108 36 6 28 2 0 70

GA 105 104 115 118 134 154

Pt 48 46 46 31 27 14

WESTERN CONFERENCE B.C. DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF Kelowna 35 25 9 1 0 133 Prince George 34 21 11 1 1 118 Victoria 35 21 12 1 1 117 Kamloops 32 17 11 3 1 117 Vancouver 36 12 19 3 2 102

GA 101 95 85 101 127

Pt 51 44 44 38 29

U.S. DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF 33 19 11 3 0 113 32 19 11 0 2 89 34 17 13 3 1 114 33 16 16 1 0 113 34 14 19 1 0 105

GA 99 70 117 108 130

Pt 41 40 38 33 29

Lethbridge Red Deer Calgary Edmonton Medicine Hat Kootenay

Sunday, December 27 Everett at Vancouver, 3 p.m.

Regina at Brandon, 3 p.m.

Moose Jaw at Swift Current, 3 p.m.

Calgary at Kootenay, 4 p.m.

Edmonton at Red Deer, 5 p.m.

Lethbridge at Medicine Hat, 6 p.m.

Saskatoon at Prince Albert, 6 p.m.

Tri-City at Portland, 6 p.m.

Seattle at Spokane, 6:05 p.m.

Kelowna at Kamloops, 7 p.m.

Prince George at Victoria, 8:05 p.m.

Monday’s Games Washington 113, Sacramento 99 Boston 113, Minnesota 99 Orlando 107, New York 99 Brooklyn 105, Chicago 102 Houston 102, Charlotte 95 Atlanta 106, Portland 97 San Antonio 106, Indiana 92 Utah 110, Phoenix 89 Oklahoma City at L.A. Clippers, late

Football National Football League AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct y-New England 12 2 0 .857 N.Y. Jets 9 5 0 .643 Buffalo 6 8 0 .429 Miami 5 9 0 .357 South W L T Pct Houston 7 7 0 .500 Indianapolis 6 8 0 .429 Jacksonville 5 9 0 .357 Tennessee 3 11 0 .214 North W L T Pct x-Cincinnati 11 3 0 .786 Pittsburgh 9 5 0 .643 Baltimore 4 10 0 .286 Cleveland 3 11 0 .214 West W L T Pct Denver 10 4 0 .714 Kansas City 9 5 0 .643 Oakland 6 8 0 .429 San Diego 4 10 0 .286

GA 99 102 107 121 138 109

Seattle Everett Spokane Portland Tri-City

Tuesday’s Games Memphis at Philadelphia, 5 p.m.

Dallas at Toronto, 5:30 p.m.

Detroit at Miami, 5:30 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at Denver, 7 p.m.

WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB San Antonio 24 5 .828 — Dallas 15 12 .556 8 Memphis 15 14 .517 9 Houston 15 14 .517 9 New Orleans 8 19 .296 15 Northwest Division W L Pct City 18 9 12 14 .462 11 16 .407 11 17 .393 11 19 .367

L.A. Clippers Phoenix Sacramento L.A. Lakers

WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF Brandon 35 21 11 1 2 131 Prince Albert 34 20 11 2 1 108 Moose Jaw 34 17 12 4 1 117 Regina 35 15 15 3 2 107 Saskatoon 33 13 17 3 0 102 Swift Current 34 10 20 3 1 78

Wednesday 7 p.m. mixed: Don Lattery, 302; Lattery, 675.

Thursday morning ladies: Glenda Regnier, 25; Regnier, 675.

Thursday Special Olympics mixed: Dan Critchley, 250; Chris Maloney, 438.

Thursday 7 p.m. mixed: John Vanderleek, 353; Vanderleek, 850.

Monday scratch league: Karie Kreutz, 376; Gene Ziebarth, 1,106 (four games).

MEN’S BASKETBALL Taylor Armstrong and Darryl Hemstreet each drained 20 points for Carstar in a 91-89 Central Alberta Senior Men’s Basketball Association win over the Axemen Sunday.

In another game, Ray Teskey poured in 34 points and Chris Karambamuchero netted 23 as the Chillabongs Orangemen downed the Washed Up Warriors 88-79.

Joel Carroll scored 25 points in a losing cause, while teammate Clint Unsworth dropped in 23.

RINGETTE Sydney Cherniak and Brenna Parent each netted two goals to lead the Central Alberta U19AA Sting past the St. Albert U19AA Mission 6-3 in weekend ringette action.

Gillian Dreger and Ashlynn Morrison also scored for the winners, while Grace Romansky and Baylee Schulhauser shared goaltending duties.

• The U14AA Sting, with Carly Cherniak sniping two goals and Tory Towers adding another, nipped the Calgary U14AA White 3-2. Madison Kohut was the winning goaltender.

All Central Alberta Sting teams will compete in the Esso Golden Ring Tournament Jan. 15-17 at Calgary.

Red Deer Rebels Scoring GP Nikolishin 35 Spacek 30 Bobyk 35 Bleackley 33 W.Johnson 35 Hagel 36 Musil 35 Pederson 35 Fleury 24 Polei 29 Kopeck 34 Pawlenchuk 35 de Wit 35 Nogier 33 Pratt 26 Doetzel 21 Strand 35 Purtill 14 R.Johnson 21 Pouliot 14 Mahura 2 Adamson 3 Martin 15 Toth 29 Shmoorkoff 31 Goaltending MP Toth 1541 Martin 552

G 19 10 10 8 9 6 11 6 7 12 5 11 4 1 4 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

A Pts PIM 24 43 10 20 30 6 15 25 45 16 24 23 14 23 29 17 23 6 11 22 27 15 21 19 13 20 27 6 18 45 13 18 19 6 17 10 9 13 17 8 9 28 2 6 7 5 5 27 5 5 35 1 2 2 1 2 18 2 2 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8

GA 74 27

SO 2 0

GAA 2.88 2.94

+/4 3 5 3 1 9 12 12 6 13 0 0 5 9 2 9 2 1 -3 2 1 -2 — — 7 Sv% .904 .894

WHL Scoring Leaders Tyson Baillie, Kel Brayden Burke, Let Adam Brooks, Reg Devante Stephens, Spo Reid Gardiner, P.A. Parker Bowles, TC Dryden Hunt, MJ Egor Babenko, Let Ivan Nikolishin, RD Brayden Point, MJ Alex Forsberg, Vic Mathew Barzal, Sea Radel Fazleev, CAL CollinShirley, Kam Justin Gutierrez, Let Nolan Patrick, Bra

G 23 9 17 14 20 19 20 19 19 18 12 9 14 21 17 10

A 35 41 31 34 26 27 25 25 24 25 31 34 28 19 23 30

Pts 58 50 48 48 46 46 45 44 43 43 43 43 42 40 40 40

Jonathon Martin, SC Tyler Wong, Let Keegan Kolesar, Sea Giorgio Estephan, Let Cameron Hebig, Sas Brett Pollock, Edm Jesse Gabrielle, PG Matthew Phillips, Vic Dominic Turgeon, Por Ethan Bear, Sea Andrew Nielsen, Let Remi Laurencelle, Eve

23 22 16 14 16 13 20 18 17 11 9 19

16 17 23 25 22 24 16 18 19 25 27 16

39 39 39 39 38 37 36 36 36 36 36 35

2016 Canadian World Junior Championship roster CALGARY — Finalized roster for the 2016 IIHF world junior championship as announced Sunday

by Hockey Canada (with name, hometown, current club and league, plus NHL draft with year, round and overall selection in parentheses tournament begins Dec. 26 in Helsinki, Finland): Goaltenders Mackenzie Blackwood, Thunder Bay, Ont., Barrie (OHL), New Jersey (2015 second round, 42nd overall) Mason McDonald, Halifax, Charlottetown (QMJHL), Calgary (2014 2, 34) Samuel Montembeault, Becancour, Que., Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL), Florida (2015, 3, 77).

Defencemen Thomas Chabot, Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce, Que., Saint John (QMJHL), Ottawa (2015 1, 18) Travis Dermott, Newmarket, Ont., Erie (OHL), Toronto (2015 2, 34) Haydn Fleury, Carlyle, Sask., Red Deer (WHL), Carolina (2014 1, 7) Joe Hicketts, Kamloops, B.C., Victoria (WHL), Detroit (2014 free agent) Brandon Hickey, Leduc, Alta., Boston University (NCAA), Calgary (2014 3, 64) Roland McKeown, Listowel, Ont., Kingston (OHL), Carolina from Los Angeles (2014 2, 50) Travis Sanheim, Elkhorn, Man., Calgary (WHL), Philadelphia (2014 1, 17).

Forwards Mathew Barzal, Coquitlam, B.C., Seattle (WHL), N.Y. Islanders (2015 1, 16) Anthony Beauvillier, Sorel, Que., Shawinigan (QMJHL), N.Y. Islanders (2015 1, 28) Rourke Chartier, Saskatoon, Kelowna (WHL), San Jose (2014 5, 149) Lawson Crouse, Mount Brydges, Ont., Kingston (OHL), Florida (2015 1, 11) Julien Gauthier, Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que., Val-d’Or (QMJHL), eligible for 2016 Travis Konecny, Clachan, Ont., Ottawa (OHL), Philadelphia (2015 1, 24) Mitchell Marner, Thornhill, Ont., London (OHL), Toronto (2015, 1, 4) Brendan Perlini, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., Niagara (OHL), Arizona (2014 1, 12) Brayden Point, Calgary, Moose Jaw (WHL), Tampa Bay (2014 3, 79) John Quenneville, Edmonton, Brandon (WHL), New Jersey (2014 1, 30).

Mitchell Stephens, Peterborough, Ont., Saginaw (OHL), Tampa Bay (2015 2, 33) Dylan Strome, Mississauga, Ont., Erie (OHL), Arizona (2015 1, 3) Jake Virtanen, Abbotsford, B.C., Vancouver (NHL).

Staff Head Coach — Dave Lowry, Ottawa, Victoria (WHL).

Assistant Coaches — Dominique Ducharme, Joliette, Que., Halifax (QMJHL) Kelly McCrimmon, Plenty, Sask., Brandon (WHL) Trevor Letowski, Thunder Bay, Ont., Windsor (OHL).

Goaltending Consultant — Fred Brathwaite, Ottawa, Hockey Canada.

Equipment Managers — Chris MacDonald, Halifax, Halifax (QMJHL) Matt Auerbach, Vernon, B.C., Victoria (WHL).

Team Physician — Dr. Roy Diklich, Windsor, Ont., Hockey Canada.

Athletic Therapists — Joey Garland, Carbonear, N.L., Windsor (OHL) Brian Cheeseman, Mount Pearl, N.L., Edmonton (WHL).

2016 IIHF World Junior Championship schedule At Helsinki, Finland PRELIMINARY ROUND Group A Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and United States Group B Belarus, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Slovakia Saturday, Dec. 26 Russia vs. Czech Republic, 5 a.m.

Sweden vs. Switzerland,. 7 a.m.

Belarus vs. Finland, 9 a.m.

Canada vs. United States, noon Sunday, Dec. 27 Slovakia vs. Belarus, 9 a.m.

Switzerland vs. Denmark, 11 a.m.

Monday, Dec. 28 Czech Republic vs. Slovakia, 5 a.m.

United States vs. Sweden, 7 a.m.

Finland vs. Russia, 9 a.m.

Denmark vs. Canada, 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 29

Russia VS. Belarus, 9 a.m.

Canada vs. Switzerland, 11 a.m.

National Hockey League EASTERN CONFERENCE GP W L OT Pts Washington 33 25 6 2 52 Montreal 35 20 12 3 43 N.Y. Islanders 35 19 11 5 43 Boston 32 19 9 4 42 N.Y. Rangers 35 19 12 4 42 Detroit 33 17 9 7 41 Florida 34 18 12 4 40 Ottawa 34 17 12 5 39 Tampa Bay 34 17 14 3 37 New Jersey 34 16 13 5 37 Philadelphia 34 15 12 7 37 Pittsburgh 33 16 14 3 35 Buffalo 34 14 16 4 32 Toronto 32 12 13 7 31 Carolina 34 13 16 5 31 Columbus 36 13 20 3 29

GF 105 104 96 104 101 86 93 104 86 79 74 76 79 84 80 88

GA 71 87 82 83 91 85 80 102 80 84 92 84 89 90 101 112

WESTERN CONFERENCE GP W L OT Pts GF GA Dallas 34 25 7 2 52 120 88 Los Angeles 32 20 10 2 42 81 71 Chicago 35 20 11 4 44 96 83 San Jose 33 16 15 2 34 88 91 St. Louis 35 20 11 4 44 90 85 Vancouver 35 12 14 9 33 89 102 Minnesota 32 17 9 6 40 89 79 Nashville 34 17 11 6 40 90 86 Colorado 35 17 17 1 35 99 97 Arizona 32 15 15 2 32 87 102 Winnipeg 33 15 16 2 32 91 100 Calgary 33 15 16 2 32 87 112 Edmonton 35 15 18 2 32 91 106 Anaheim 32 12 15 5 29 60 82 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Sunday’s Games Florida 5, Vancouver 4, SO Boston 2, New Jersey 1, SO Tampa Bay 5, Ottawa 2 Detroit 4, Calgary 2 Washington 7, N.Y. Rangers 3 Chicago 4, San Jose 3, OT Monday’s Games N.Y. Islanders 5, Anaheim 2 Philadelphia 4, St. Louis 3 Pittsburgh 5, Columbus 2 Washington 2, Carolina 1 Nashville 5, Montreal 1 Dallas 6, Minnesota 3 Toronto 7, Colorado 4 Edmonton 3, Winnipeg 1 Tuesday’s Games St. Louis at Boston, 5 p.m.

Anaheim at N.Y. Rangers, 5 p.m.

New Jersey at Detroit, 5:30 p.m.

Vancouver at Tampa Bay, 5:30 p.m.

Ottawa at Florida, 5:30 p.m.

Montreal at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

Chicago at Dallas, 6:30 p.m.

Winnipeg at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Arizona, 7 p.m.

San Jose at Los Angeles, 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s Games No games scheduled Monday’s summary Oilers 3, Jets 1 First Period 1. Edmonton, Purcell 7 (Hall, Draisaitl) 11:15.

2. Edmonton, Purcell 8 (Draisaitl, Hall) 12:59.

Penalties — Thorburn Wpg (slashing) 1:51, Nikitin Edm (interference) 7:24.

Second Period 3. Edmonton, Schultz 1 (Purcell, Hall) 7:44.

4. Winnipeg, Little 13 (Wheeler, Myers) 12:27.

Penalties — Hall Edm (hooking) 10:26, Nikitin Edm (hooking) 16:01, Scheifele Wpg (unsportsmanlike conduct) 16:01, Edm Bench (too many men) 16:39.

Third Period No Scoring.

Penalties — Ladd Wpg (goaltender interference) 1:05, Lander Edm (hooking) 3:58, Purcell Edm (hooking) 13:54, Scheifele Wpg (high-sticking) 20:00, Nurse Edm (roughing) 20:00.

Shots on goal Winnipeg 12 17 16 — 45 Edmonton 11 7 3 — 21 Goal — Winnipeg: Hellebuyck (L, 5-3-0) Edmonton: Talbot (W, 5-9-1).

Power plays (goal-chances) — Winnipeg: 0-5 Edmonton: 0-2.

Transactions Monday’s Sports Transactions BASEBALL American League CLEVELAND INDIANS — Agreed to terms with LHP Tom Gorzelanny and LHP Joe Thatcher on minor league contracts.

SEATTLE MARINERS — Named Tyrus Bowman, Amanda Hopkins, Jackson Laumann, Taylor Terrasas, Stephen Tromblee and Ross Vecchio area scouts. Promoted area scouts Ben Collman, Chris Pelekoudas and Mike Moriarty to regional supervisory scouting positions.

TEXAS RANGERS — Agreed to terms with RHP A.J. Griffin on a minor league contract.

National League COLORADO ROCKIES — Agreed to terms with RHP Adam Ottavino on a three-year contract.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Named Bill Haselman manager of Oklahoma City (PCL), Ryan Garko manager of Tulsa (Texas), Drew Saylor manager of Rancho Cucamonga (Cal), Gil Velazquez of Great Lakes (MWL), Shaun Larkin manager of Ogden (Pioneer) and John Shoemaker manager of the Arizona League Dodgers.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Acquired LHP Kyle Lobstein from Detroit for cash considerations.

SAN DIEGO PADRES — Agreed to terms with LHP Buddy Baumann on a one-year contract. Designated C Josmil Pinto for assignment.

Frontier League

FLORENCE FREEDOM — Signed RHP Cody Gray, OF Josh Henderson, LHP Pat McGrath and LHP Zach Wendorf to contract extensions. Signed 1B William Beckwith, RHP Kaddidy Gaines, 1B Eric Kalbfleisch, 1B Zach Mathieu and catcher Matt Rubino.

LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS — Signed RHP Fernando Gallegos and OF Connor Oliver.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MINERS — Sold the contract of RHP Adam Lopez to San Diego (NL).

FOOTBALL National Football League NFL — Suspended New York Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. one game for his conduct during a Dec. 28 game against Carolina.

ATLANTA FALCONS — Reached an injury settlement with G Jon Asamoah.

GREEN BAY PACKERS — Activated TE Andrew Quarless from injured reserve-return. Placed WR Ty Montgomery on injured reserve.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Placed WR Griff Whalen and DT Billy Winn on injured reserve. Waived RB Zurlon Tipton. Signed DE Earl Okine and DT Kelcy Quarles from the practice squad and RB Trey Williams from Miami’s practice squad.

OAKLAND RAIDERS — S Charles Woodson announced his retirement, effective at the end of this season.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS — Placed WR Andre Roberts on injured reserve. Signed WR Colin Lockett to the practice squad. Placed TE Ray Hamilton

Red Deer’s Thompson joins Cape Motorsports for 2016 racing season Red Deer’s young racing phenom has joined with Cape Motorsports to take a run at the Cooper Tires 2016 USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda title.

Parker Thompson, 17, will enter his second season on the tour, fresh off a successful rookie campaign. He had seven topfive finishes during his first year on the tour, good enough to be the second ranked rookie.

“I am extremely pleased to be named a Cape Motorsports driver for the 2016 in the USF2000,” said Thompson, in a release.

“In the past, they have been a dominant force in the Mazda Road to Indy program, and I look forward to carrying that reputation into the 2016 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.

“The Cape boys know what they are doing, but what sets them apart is their will to win. Their work ethic off the track is what has granted them so much success on the track.”

Cape Motorsports has produced the last five series champions from 2011 to 2015.

“Parker is a great addition to the team,” said team owners Dominic and Nicholas Cape. “He had a great rookie season and we know he can win races in 2016. We are excited to have him on the team.”

on the practice squad injured list.

HOCKEY National Hockey League NHL — Suspended Boston F Max Talbot two games for interference against New Jersey F Jiri Tlusty during a Dec. 20 game.

CAROLINA HURRICANES — Recalled D Michal Jordan from Charlotte (AHL).

MINNESOTA WILD — Signed D Jared Spurgeon to a four-year contract extension.

American Hockey League AHL — Suspended Binghamton D Mark Fraser two games for his actions during an altercation in a Dec. 18 game at Syracuse and Rockford C Marko Dano one game for slew-footing in a Dec. 19 game at Chicago.

CHARLOTTE CHECKERS — Released F Drayson Bowman from his professional tryout contract.

SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE — Signed F Nick Drazenovic to a professional tryout contract.

SOCCER Major League Soccer NEW YORK RED BULLS — Signed M Derrick Etienne and F Brandon Allen.

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC — Signed F Andy Craven and G Tyler Miller to one-year contracts.

North American Soccer League JACKSONVILLE ARMADA FC — Signed M Pekka Lagerblom.

MIAMI FC — Signed F Dario Cvitanich.

NHL suspends Bruins’ Talbot two games for Tlusty hit The NHL has suspended Boston Bruins forward Maxime Talbot two games without pay for interference for his check to the head of New Jersey’s Jiri Tlusty.

The check occurred at 14:30 of the second period of Boston’s 2-1 win over the Devils on Sunday. After Tlusty cycled the puck into the Bruins corner, Talbot delivered a late hit that made contact with the Devils forward’s head.

No penalty was called on the play, and Tlusty remained in the game.

Talbot will forfeit US$ 19,354.84 in salary. He will miss Boston’s home games Tuesday against St. Louis and Saturday against Buffalo, and will be eligible to return Sunday at Ottawa.

Forward your resume to us at: 7322213L26

• Major bantam hockey: Calgary Bisons at Red Deer Rebels, 6:30 p.m., Arena.

• Heritage junior B hockey: Blackfalds Wranglers at Stettler Lightning, 8:15 p.m.

Cleveland Indiana Chicago Detroit Milwaukee

TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2015

Hockey

Today

Miami Atlanta Orlando Charlotte Washington

B4

RED DEER ADVOCATE Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015 B5

Stafford leads Lions over Saints

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Lions 35 Saints 27 NEW ORLEANS — Matthew Stafford’s accuracy and poise sparked the Detroit Lions to a big lead and helped prevent them from squandering it, too.

Stafford passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns, and the Lions held off a late surge by New Orleans to defeat the Saints 35-27 on Monday night.

Detroit (5-9) raced to a 28-3 lead, but Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes — one shortly after a Lions fumble — to help New Orleans (5-9) pull to 28-20 with about 10 minutes left.

Brees passed for 341 yards and three touchdowns, becoming only the fourth quarterback to surpass 60,000 yards in a career while also eclipsing the 4,000-yard mark for the 10th straight season. Brandin Cooks caught 10 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown.

But New Orleans’ loss guaranteed consecutive losing seasons for the first time since Sean Payton became coach in 2006.

Golden Tate caught two touchdown passes for Detroit.

The Lions’ last-ranked running game accounted for 150 yards and two TDs against New Orleans’ last-ranked run defence.

Stafford played nearly mistake-free, completing 22 of 25 passes without turning the ball over.

Still, both teams took turns making the kinds of mistakes that losing teams do, producing a close game after it initially looked as if Detroit would run away with it.

The Lions led 28-3 when Ameer Abdullah scored on a 15-yard run around the left end early in the third quarter.

New Orleans responded with Brees’ 27-yard touchdown pass to Cooks and closed the gap a little more on Kai Forbath’s short field goal after the Lions made a clutch stop on a third-and-goal from the 4.

But Abdullah fumbled on Detroit’s

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) passes in the first half of an NFL game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Monday. The Lions won the game 35-27. next play from scrimmage, and the Saints capitalized on Brees’ 11-yard scoring strike to Marques Colston.

Yet, when Detroit looked ripe to self-destruct, the Lions put together a clutch scoring drive that included Abdullah’s 27-yard run and Joique Bell’s short rushing TD. Brees’ late touchdown to Ben Watson closed the gap with 1:55 left, but New Orleans’ onside kick was recovered by Detroit star Calvin Johnson, and the Lions marched deep into Saints territory before Matt Prater missed a field goal with 9 seconds left.

The Lions led 21-3 by halftime on Tate’s touchdown catches of 1 and 5 yards and fullback Michael Burton’s first career touchdown from 4 yards out on his fourth catch this season.

The Saints thought they had found the end zone three times on their final drive of the first half but came away with no points.

First, Cooks made a spectacular one-handed catch of Brees’ 28-yard pass and was initially ruled to have scored as he was tackled near the goal line, but the call was changed after a video review, marking Cooks down at

the 1.

Soon after, running back Tim Hightower found the end zone with a second-effort run, but New Orleans was flagged for illegal formation, with officials saying lineman Senio Kelemete failed to report as an eligible tight end.

After two short runs, the Saints kept the offence on the field on fourth down and Brees connected with Marques Colston in the end zone, but New Orleans was flagged for an illegal man downfield, and the required 10-second runoff ended the half.

Final world ranking Raiders’ Charles Woodson announces adds 15 players to retirement after 18 seasons in NFL Masters field

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Lee Westwood did his part in Thailand. The math took care of the rest, and he’s going to the Masters.

Westwood, who tied for second two weeks ago in the Thailand Golf Championship, will move up one spot to No. 50 next week in the final world ranking of the year, assuring him a place in the field at Augusta National in April.

Westwood is No. 51 this week, but with gradual reductions in points, he will go back to no. 50 in the last ranking of 2015. Chris Kirk, who will fall to No. 51, already is in the Masters from winning Colonial.

Among the 12 criteria for pros to qualify, Augusta National takes the top 50 in the world at the end of the year, and again one week before the Masters.

The addition of 15 players from the top 50 brings the number of active players to 89 going into the new year. The Masters has the smallest field of the four majors and prefers it to be under 100. It has not exceeded 100 players since 1966.

A year ago, 90 players had qualified at the end of the year.

Still to be determined before April is if the field will include four-time champion Tiger Woods, who has not played since Aug. 23 and has gone through two procedures in the same spot in his back since then. Woods said earlier this month he can only walk and has received no indication when the nerve damage will heal.

The only way for players to qualify for the Masters is to win a PGA Tour event (except for the Puerto Rico Open). There are 13 chances, starting with Hyundai Tournament of Championship in Kapalua.

Five players in the winners-only field are not in Augusta National because they won before last year’s Masters or won opposite-field events, which do not count toward an invitation — James Hahn, Padraig Harrington, Alex Cejka, Matt Every and J.J. Henry.

Of the 15 who qualified through the top 50, Sergio Garcia and Billy Horschel were the only ones to play a full PGA Tour schedule last year.

Australian Open winner Matt Jones (No. 54) and Ryan Palmer (No. 58) will end the year outside the top 50. Palmer, who father died in a traffic accident in West Texas in August, was No. 40 when he played his final event in Las Vegas in October.

Among those who will be playing the Masters for the first time are Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger and Emiliano Grillo from the high school class of 2011, along with HSBC Champions winner Russell Knox and Kevin Kisner, who had four runner-up finishes before winning the RSM Classic at Sea Island in final PGA Tour event of the year.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Charles Woodson’s return to Oakland began with hundreds of fans gathering at the team’s facility urging him to come back.

The second stint will come to an end following an emotional farewell at the Oakland Coliseum.

Woodson announced Monday he will retire following his 18th NFL season, ending a career that included a Heisman Trophy, a Super Bowl title and numerous other honours.

Woodson said he realized late last month that he couldn’t play another season and wanted to announce his decision before playing his final home game Thursday night against San Diego. “I felt it was only right that Raiders fans, my fans, fans that have watched me play for a long time, I’d let them all know that this Thursday night would be the last time in the Coliseum I would be able to run out there in front of our fans at home,� Woodson said at a news conference.

Woodson is one of the most accomplished defensive backs to play the game, ranking fifth all-time with 65 interceptions and tied for first with Rod Woodson and Darren Sharper with 13 defensive touchdowns.

He won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 1998, AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and is a three-time, first-team All Pro selection. “Charles Woodson is one of those players that comes along and reminds you why you love the game,� general manager Reggie McKenzie said. “He is truly a one of a kind player that goes above and beyond his Heisman Trophy and future gold jacket. It has been an honour to have worked alongside Charles for so many years and have the confidence to call him what he truly is: the G.O.A.T. He is, without a doubt, the embodiment of what it means to be a Raider.�

Woodson is still playing at a high level at age 39, despite dealing with a shoulder injury he sustained in the season opener and forced him out for a few plays Sunday after a hard hit on former teammate Randall Cobb.

Woodson has played 965 defensive snaps this season and has five interceptions and three fumble recoveries, ranking second in the NFL with eight takeaways. “There are so many players who play this sport and other sports who would like to go out that way, playing well, doing what they love to do,� he said. “I feel very good about the way I performed not only this year but my whole career.�

Despite dealing with several injuries early in his career, Woodson has played the second-most games of any defensive back in NFL history with 252.

Only Hall of Famer Darrell Green has more with 295 and Woodson will join Green in the Hall in Canton, Ohio, soon.

Woodson said he told owner Mark Davis, McKenzie and coach Jack Del Rio of his decision earlier Monday. He then told his teammates in an emotional meeting that he was retiring. “Honestly, I think physically I could do it,� he said. “My body has responded. But mentally, it’s not there. It’s not going to happen.�

Those emotions will only be stronger Thursday night when Woodson takes the field at the Oakland Coliseum for the final time. The game might also be the final NFL contest in the Coliseum as the Raiders could move to the Los Angeles area after the season. “Coming back here and playing for the second time we were able to rekindle something that we had years ago,� Woodson said. “It was really fun coming back here and playing. It will be a pretty emotional day.�

Woodson burst onto the football scene as a college star at Michigan when he won the Heisman Trophy and helped the Wolverines win a share of the national championship in 1997.

He was then picked fourth overall by the Raiders and immediately made an impact, winning the defensive rookie of the year. He helped revive the Raiders and lead them to three straight playoff berths capped by an AFC championship in the 2002 season.

one a Wishing ever y

s a m t s i r h C y Mer r and r a e Y w e N y p p Ha at from the team

<RXU &HQWUDO $OEHUWD &KHY 'HDOHUVKLS IRU \HDUV

54978L17-30

nd T he Denture are.

Implant Cent

MASTER TECHNICIANS

5

FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE NEEDS @weidnermotors www.weidnermotors.ca

Licensed

GREAT PRE-OWNED IN STOCK

403-782-3626

Hwy 2A, Lacombe

7365274L22-30

WHERE SERVICE IS A LONG TIME TRADITION

#100, 4918 - 46 Street, Red Deer 403.343.7266 | thedenturecentre.net

Scan this

403-309-3300 classifieds@reddeeradvocate.com Office/Phone Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Mon - Fri Fax: 403-341-4772

CLASSIFIEDS

2950 Bremner Ave. Red Deer, AB T4R 1M9 Circulation 403-314-4300 DEADLINE IS 5 P.M. FOR NEXT DAY’S PAPER

JOHNSTON Lionard Joseph (Len) It is with great sadness the family of Len announces his passing after a courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at the age of 61 years. Len grew up on the family farm south of Cereal, AB. He loved horses and had remarkable skill in handling them. His family and friends will remember him for his gentle and loving nature. He is survived by his brother, Robert, and four sisters: Margaret, Carrole, Ann, and Vallery. Len was predeceased by his son, Bradley; parents: Wes and Elphege Johnston; as well as his sister, Rita; and six brothers: Raymond, Allan, John, Gordon, Wayne, and Kenneth. In the spring, there will be a graveside service at Sunnydale Cemetery on a date to be determined.

Condolences may be forwarded to the family by visiting www.eventidefuneralchapels.com.

Arrangements entrusted to EVENTIDE FUNERAL CHAPEL 4820 - 45 Street, Red Deer.

Phone (403) 347-2222

wegotservices

wegotstuff

CLASSIFICATIONS 700-920

CLASSIFICATIONS 1000-1430

CLASSIFICATIONS 1500-1940

wegotrentals

wegothomes

wegotwheels

CLASSIFICATIONS 3000-3390

CLASSIFICATIONS 4000-4310

CLASSIFICATIONS 5000-5240

Card Of Thanks

Obituaries WALLACE (nee Kopec) Edna Virginia Edna passed away in Red Deer on December 16, 2015 as a result of a stroke she sustained on December 10, 2015. She was predeceased by her husband Ken in January 1998, her parents as well as her sister Wanda, brother Stan and infant brother Ed. She was Mom to Blair Wallace of Innisfail, Gary Wallace (Colleen) of Red Deer, and Karen Wallace-Fraser (Brent) of Calgary.

She was the beloved Nana to Calon Rogan, Brandon Rogan and Aidan Fraser. She is also survived by her dear sister and best friend whom she’d call every night, Kae McLellan of New Westminster, B.C. and her brother Leo Kopec (Rose) of Weyburn, SK., many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was a dear friend to her Golden Girls for which they claim they know way to much about each other. Mom had the kindest neighbors past and present of her residential close where she lived independently until her passing in part to their generosity and helpful hand.

She will be missed by her bingo friends (her job as she jokingly referred to bingo) and her collection of “adopted” daughters. Mom loved sports especially golf, both playing and watching.

Born in Weyburn, SK., this Saskie gal enjoyed “watching” Roughrider football games on the phone with her sister, Kae. In her last days she received passionate care from the staff on Unit 33 and Unit 22 and we the family extend our deepest thanks to them. The family will hold a Celebration of Life at a later date to be announced. If friends so desire, Memorial Tributes may be directed to The Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation or a charity of your choice.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

CLASSIFICATIONS

THE FILLINGER FAMILY Would like to extend a heartfelt and much appreciated Thank you to all the family, friends and neighbours for all their generosity and support during our time of sorrow. A very special Thank you to Marlon and Shelia of the Ponoka Funeral home for all their hard work and contribution in putting together a wonderful service; Bob and Deb Hepp and staff for all the work they did in putting together a very nice lunch; and the Ponoka RCMP and Ambulance service for their assistance and support.

Lorna, Ron, Jason, Steve and families PATRICIA WOIT Our thanks go out to our many, many friends and relatives who have helped us through our loss. Thanks to Drs. Atchison, El-Gehani and Thain plus all the staff on Ward 32 and the home care nurses who did their very best to lessen Patricia’s suffering. Thanks also to Eventide Funeral Chapel, Stems Floral Design, Red Deer Golf & Country Club, Canadian Red Cross in helping us through our time of sorrow. A thank you also to those of you who made donations to Sunnybrook Farms and the Canadian Cancer Society on Patricia’s behalf and to my special friends - ‘Boys O’ the Black’.

Thank you so much for the many cards, flowers and food that were bestowed upon us.

Ivan, Jeff and Lisa and Families

From a cute little girl

820

Restaurant/ Hotel

50-70

56

Found

MEN’S Bifocal prescription sunglasses in case. Found near St. Elizabeth Seton School. Owner can claim by identifying case.

Message at 403-392-5842 PRESCRIPTION glasses found near downtown TD Bank 403-343-3495

60

Personals

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 403-347-8650 COCAINE ANONYMOUS 403-396-8298 OVEREATERS Anonymous Contact Phyl @ 347-4188

wegot

jobs CLASSIFICATIONS

Legal

780

NOTICE Notice to JOHN THOMPSON who worked for IPSCO INC and/or EVRAZ NA from July 2004 to February 2010.

Please contact Helen Brock @ 403 346-7717 or at Box 593 Red Deer, AB. T4N 5G6 before January 15, 2016.

880

Help

wegot

stuff CLASSIFICATIONS 1500-1990

Clothing

1590

WINTER COAT, 3/4 length, with detachable hood, brand new.

Size 16.5 plus. Asking $75. 403-347-5648

CLASSIFIEDS Christmas & New Years Hours & Deadlines Office & Phones CLOSED Friday, December 25, 2015 Friday, January 1, 2016 Office Hours Thursday, December 24, 2015 8:30 - 2 pm Monday, December 28, 2015 8:30 - 2 pm Tuesday & Wednesday December 29 & 30 Regular Office Hours, 8:30 - 5 Thursday, December 31, 2015 8:30 - 2 pm RED DEER ADVOCATE

Love Mom, Dad, Steven and Stuart

Wonderful Things Come in Small Packages A Birth Announcement lets all your friends know she’s arrived...

309-3300

1630

Heavy

Classifieds 309-3300

HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY SHAYE-LYNN

1605

Blue Grass Sod Farms Ltd. Electronics Box 11, site 2, RR1 Red Deer, AB PS2 with 10 games, $60; Req’s Farm labourers for 403-782-3847 2016 season (April-Nov) PSP WITH 12 games, In Red Deer. Duties $130. 403-782-3847 include sod farming and tree nursery. Tree Nursery X-BOX, with 14 games, will involve pruning, plant$60; ing and digging trees.

DREAM CAST with 3 Will train/exp an asset. games, $50. 403-782-3847 Wage $11.20 hr 48 hrs weekly. Email resume to Equipments.richardson@bg-rd.com

Daily

Does it Best!

1590

870

Announcements

To a beautiful young lady

Clothing

Carl’s Jr. Red Deer is JOSEPH Ribkoff faux opening Jan 2016 and leather top/dress jacket. needs team members!

Ladies’ Size 8. Zippered75 years of big juicy front, buttery soft black burgers! Full time, or part faux leather with black and time positions available white overstitching. Mint with opportunities to condition, only worn twice. $30 (firm). Call 403-342-7908. advance! Join Carl’s Jr. today, email resume to LADIES London Fog, reg. jedenterprises2015@ 10 size, cranberry pea coat hotmail.com Length $50. 403-227-2976 LADIES size 4 1/2 Italian Business chocolate leather knee high boots, soft fits like a Opportunities glove, $200 403-227-2976 FURNACE duct cleaning Vintage (circa 1950’s) business. Selling due to ladies’ muskrat fur coat family illness. Includes in MINT condition. Rich 2003 1 ton van and vacu- brown color. Waist length, um compressor, etc. Paid slightly flared, size $25,000 2 yrs. ago, asking Medium. $75 (firm). $10,000. Equipment in Call (403) 342-7908. great shape. Great opporWINTER COAT, full tunity. 403-350-8977 length, size M, zipper & buttons, New! Aksing $80.

403-347-5648 Misc.

700-920

A Classified Wedding Announcement

309-3300

wegotads.ca

wegotjobs

Celebrations

Let Your News Ring Ou t

B6

Red Deer Advocate

announcements Obituaries

Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015

Publication Dates: Saturday, December 26, 2015 Monday, December 28 , 2015 Deadline is: Thursday Dec. 24, 2015 @ 12 noon Publication Date: Tuesday, December 29, 2014 Deadline is: Monday, December 28, 2015 @ 12 noon Publication Dates: Saturday, January 2, 2016 Monday, January 4, 2016 Deadline is: Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 @ 12 noon CENTRAL ALBERTA LIFE Publication Date: Thursday December 24, 2015 Deadline is: Friday, December 18 @ 5 pm Publication Date: Thursday December 31, 2015 Deadline is: Thursday, December 24, 2015 12 noon CALL CLASSIFIEDS 403-309-3300 classifieds@reddeeradvocate.com

TRAILERS for sale or rent Job site, office, well site or storage. Skidded or wheeled. Call 347-7721.

Firewood

1660

TO ORDER HOME DELIVERY OF THE ADVOCATE CALL OUR CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 403-314-4300 ADULT or YOUTH CARRIERS NEEDED For delivery of Flyers, Wednesday and Friday ONLY 2 DAYS A WEEK CLEARVIEW RIDGE CLEARVIEW TIMBERSTONE LANCASTER VANIER WOODLEA/ WASKASOO DEER PARK GRANDVIEW EASTVIEW MICHENER MOUNTVIEW ROSEDALE GARDEN HEIGHTS MORRISROE Call Prodie at 403-314-4301

AFFORDABLE

Homestead Firewood

Spruce, Pine, Aspen - Split.

Avail. 7 days/wk. 403-304-6472 B.C. Birch, Aspen, Spruce/Pine. Delivery avail.

PH. Lyle 403-783-2275 FIREWOOD. Pine, Spruce, Can deliver 1-4 cords. 403-844-0227 FIREWOOD: Spruce & Pine - Split. 403-346-7178 LOGS Semi loads of pine, spruce, tamarack, poplar, birch.

Price depends on location of delivery. Lil Mule Logging 403-318-4346

Household Furnishings

1720

HIDE A BED exc. cond. $380 403-346-3086

WANTED

Antiques, furniture and estates. 342-2514

Stereos TV's, VCRs

1730

40 “ + TOSHIBA color tv; and older tv to give away 587-727-3377

Misc. for Sale

1760

100 VHS movies, $75.

For All 403-885-5020 2 NEW folding alum. saw horses $20/ea, new in box 30 pc. wall mounted storage bins $35, new elec. rotisserie and BBQ oven $35, Stringer wet/dry vacumn cleaner $20, Skil 3/8 variable speed drill $12, B & D jig saw $12 403-358-5568 LP RECORDS, 117 in mint cond. $100 for all or $1. each. 403-346-6539 MAKEUP, from New York, red hot crocodile bag, 12 eye shadows, 2 blush, 1 nail polish, 1 lip gloss.

NEW!!

Valued at $195.

Asking $50. 403-227-2976 PICTURE framing supplies.

587-447-3641 for info POLAR bar fridge $50, 2 Canadian Club (Texas Mickey) 133 1/3 oz. whiskey bottles w/pumps, $50 ea. 403-358-5568 WATER cooler $50.

403-885-5020

Office Supplies

1800

2 DRAWER metal filing cabinet $10 403-885-5020

Sporting Goods

1860

PROFORM 400S treadmill, never been out of box $800 587-447-3641

ADULT or YOUTH CARRIERS NEEDED For delivery of Flyers, Wednesday and Friday ONLY 2 DAYS A WEEK ANDERS BOWER HIGHLAND GREEN INGLEWOOD JOHNSTONE KENTWOOD RIVERSIDE MEADOWS PINES SUNNYBROOK SOUTHBROOKE WEST LAKE WEST PARK Call Sandra at 403-314-4306

ADULT CARRIERS NEEDED For early morning delivery by 6:30 am Mon. - Sat. VANIER CLEARVIEW Call Joanne at 403- 314-4308

CARRIERS NEEDED For CENTRAL ALBERTA LIFE 1 day a week INNISFAIL PENHOLD LACOMBE SYLVAN LAKE OLDS BLACKFALDS PONOKA Call Rick at 403- 314-4303

7119052tfn

TO PLACE AN AD

Earn Extra Money

¯ ROUTES AVAILABLE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Red Deer Ponoka

Sylvan Lake Lacombe

call: 403-314-4394 or email:

carriers@reddeeradvocate.com

7119078TFN

For that new computer, a dream vacation or a new car

RED DEER ADVOCATE Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015 B7

1900

Travel Packages

TRAVEL ALBERTA Alberta offers SOMETHING for everyone.

Make your travel plans now.

SWEET WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

3090

Rooms For Rent

2 ROOMS $500./mo. each DD $200 each. 403-352-7417 BLACKFALDS rooms for rent $600 fully furnished, all included 403-358-1614 FULLY furn. bdrm. for rent, $500/mth - $250 DD. Call 403-396-2468

wegot

rentals CLASSIFICATIONS

RENO’D room, clean, bright, quiet, male preferred, n/s, share kitchen/bath/laundry, parking, $500/mo. inclds. utils. 403-318-7980

FOR RENT • 3000-3200 WANTED • 3250-3390 Mobile Lot

3190

3020

Houses/ Duplexes

PADS $450/mo.

Brand new park in Lacombe.

Spec Mobiles. 3 Bdrm., SOUTH SIDE 2 storey 2 bath. As Low as $75,000.

Down payment $4000. Call house w/huge fenced yard, mature trees, on quiet at anytime. 403-588-8820 close, 3 bdrms, 2 full baths, wood burning Àreplace, 6 appls, avail. immed. well behaved pet ok, ref’s req’d, $1400 rent $1400 DD 403-346-2511 or 403-392-9321

wegot

homes

SYLVAN Lake, fully furn. rental, inclds. all utils, $1200 Details 403-880-0210

3030

Condos/ Townhouses

CLASSIFICATIONS 4000-4190

Realtors & Services

4010

New Blackfalds Condo. 2 Bdrm/2 Bath. Main Áoor & 2nd Áoor options avail. 2 powered parking stalls.

Rent $1,400. Pets negotiable. Ask about rent incentives. 403-396-1688.

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEIBEL PROPERTY

6 locations in Red Deer, well-maintained townhouses, lrg, 3 bdrm, 11/2 bath, 4 + 5 appls.

Westpark, Kentwood, Highland Green, Riverside Meadows. Rent starting at $1100. For more info, phone 403-304-7576 or 403-347-7545 SOUTHWOOD PARK 3110-47TH Avenue, 2 & 3 bdrm. townhouses, generously sized, 1 1/2 baths, fenced yards, full bsmts. 403-347-7473, Sorry no pets. www.greatapartments.ca

3050

4 Plexes/ 6 Plexes

ACROSS from park, 2 bdrm. 4-plex, 1 1/2 bath, 4 appls. Rent $925/mo. d.d. $650. Avail. now or Jan. 1. 403-304-5337

LIMITED TIME OFFER:

One free year of Telus internet & cable AND 50% off Àrst month’s rent! 1 & 2 Bedroom suites available.

Renovated suites in central location. Cat friendly. leasing@rentmidwest.com 1(888) 784-9274

3060

Suites

1 BDRM., 3 appls., 50+, no pets, $840 rent, $600 SD. 403-318-0751 ADULT 2 BDRM. spacious suites 3 appls., heat/water incld., ADULT ONLY BLDG, no pets, Oriole Park. 403-986-6889 AVAIL. IMMED. large 2 bdrm. in clean quiet adult building, near downtown Co-Op, no pets, 403-348-7445

An Afghan laborer produces sugar cane juice in a traditional juice factory in Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Monday.

HERE TO HELP & HERE TO SERVE Call GORD ING at RE/MAX real estate central alberta 403-341-9995 gord.ing@remax.net

TIM MCRAE The “Wrapping” Realtor Maxwell Real Estate Solutions, Red Deer, AB. Appearing “LIVE” from 1`-3 pm. Dec. 22 @ OLD NAVY #200, 5001-19 St. Red Deer, AB. Wrapping for the Heart & Stroke Foundation #202, 5913-50 Ave. Red Deer, AB. Merry Christmas to All!

4020

Houses For Sale

HUGE REDUCTION!

#2, 6220 Orr Drive, $249,900, 2 bdrm., huge dbl. closet master, 2 bth., ofÀce, in-Áoor heat, updated appl., new cond., single garage, imm. poss., Margaret Comeau RE/MAX 403.391.3399

Condos/ Townhouses

4040

Clean, quiet, newly reno’d adult building. Rent $925 S.D. $800. Avail. immed. and Jan. 1. Near hospital.

No pets.403-318-3679

Need to Downsize? Brand New Valley Crossing Condos in Blackfalds. Main Áoor is 1,119 SQ FT 2 Bdrm/2Bath. Imm. Poss.

Start at $219,900. Call 403-396-1688.

LARGE, 1 & 2 BDRM. SUITES. 25+, adults only n/s, no pets 403-346-7111

Classifieds Your place to SELL Your place to BUY

CITY VIEW APTS.

MORRISROE MANOR 1 & 2 bdrm., Adult bldg. only, N/S, No pets. 403-596-2444

4090

Manufactured Homes

NEW Glendale reno’d 1 & 2 bdrm. apartments, 1st month free, no pets, 100 Gilchrist Crescent, avail. immed, rent starting @ $775. 403-596-6000

THE NORDIC

1 & 2 bdrm. adult building, N/S. No pets.

403-596-2444

34 Parkland Drive $185,000 3 Beds/1 Bath 1212 sq ft Mobile Home On its own lot. Fully Fenced Back yard. Contact Margaret Comeau RE/MAX 403.391.3399

wegot

services CLASSIFICATIONS 1000-1430 To Advertise Your Business or Service Here

Call Classifieds 403-309-3300

classifieds@reddeeradvocate.com

1010

Accounting

INDIVIDUAL & BUSINESS Accounting, 30 yrs. of exp. with oilÀeld service companies, other small businesses and individuals RW Smith, 346-9351

Contractors

1100

BRIDGER CONST. LTD. We do it all! 403-302-8550

Handyman Services

1200

MULTI-SKILLED HANDYMAN For Hire Call Derek 403-848-3266

Massage Therapy

1280

FANTASY SPA

Elite Retreat, Finest in VIP Treatment.

COUNTERTOP replacement.

Kitchen reno’s.

Wes 403-302-1648

10 - 2am Private back entry

DALE’S Home Reno’s Free estimates for all your reno needs. 403-506-4301

Misc.

Services

1160

Entertainment

DANCE DJ SERVICES 587-679-8606

Handyman Services

1200

BOOK NOW! For help on your home projects such as bathroom, main Áoor, and bsmt. renovations. Also painting and Áooring.

Call James 403-341-0617

403-341-4445

1290

5* JUNK REMOVAL

Property clean up 505-4777 Something for Everyone Everyday in Classifieds

GARAGE Doors Serviced 50% off. 403-358-1614

Seniors’ Services

1372

HELPING HANDS Home Supports for Seniors.

Cooking, cleaning, companionship. At home or facility. 403-346-7777

U.S. troops killed in suicide attack TALIBAN OVERRUN KEY SOUTHERN AFGHAN DISTRICT

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AFGHANISTAN

KABUL — A suicide attacker rammed an explosives-laden motorcycle into a joint NATO-Afghan patrol Monday, killing six American troops in the deadliest attack on international forces since August. Two U.S. troops and an Afghan were wounded.

The attack happened as Taliban fighters overran a strategic district in southern Helmand province, the scene of some of the deadliest fighting between the Taliban and international combat forces prior to the 2014 withdrawal, adding weight to Pentagon predictions that the insurgency is gaining strength.

The soldiers were targeted as they moved through a village near Bagram Airfield, the largest U.S. military facility in Afghanistan, NATO and Afghan officials said. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

A U.S. official confirmed that six American troops were killed and two wounded. An Afghan was also wound-

ed. The official was not authorized to discuss the incident publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity.

“Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families and friends of those affected in this tragic incident, especially during this holiday season,” U.S. Army Brig. Gen. William Shoffner, head of public affairs at NATO’s Resolute Support base in the Afghan capital Kabul, said in a statement.

It was the deadliest attack on foreign troops in four months. On Aug. 22, three American contractors with the RS base were killed in a suicide attack in Kabul. On Aug. 7 and 8, Kabul was the scene of three insurgent attacks within 24 hours that left at least 35 people dead. One of the attacks, on a U.S. special operations forces base outside Kabul, killed one U.S soldier and eight Afghan civilian contractors.

In the year since the international drawdown, the Taliban insurgency

has intensified. Although the combat mission ended last year, around 9,800 U.S. troops and almost 4,000 NATO forces remain in Afghanistan. They have a mandate to “train, assist and advise” their Afghan counterparts, who are now effectively fighting a battle-hardened Taliban alone.

Monday’s attack came as Taliban fighters and government forces battled for control of a strategic district in the southern province of Helmand after it was overrun by insurgents, delivering a serious blow to the government’s thinly spread and exhausted forces.

Mohammad Jan Rasulyar, Helmand’s deputy governor, said insurgents took control of Sangin district late Sunday.

Rasulyar had taken the unusual step of alerting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to the dire security situation and requesting urgent reinforcements through an open letter posted on Facebook on Sunday, saying that he had not been able to make contact through other means.

ISIL can’t destroy U.S.: Obama

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HONOLULU — President Barack Obama says criticism of his strategy to combat the Islamic State group is legitimate and failure to keep the public informed has contributed to fears that not enough is being done.

In a year-end interview with NPR News, Obama says the most damage the group can do to the U.S. is to force Americans to change how they live or what they believe in.

“I think that there is a legitimate criticism of what I’ve been doing and our administration has been doing in the sense that we haven’t, you know, on a regular basis I think described all the work that we’ve been doing for more than a year now to defeat ISIL,” the president said in the interview released Monday, referring to IS by one of its acronyms.

Obama says that if people don’t know about the thousands of airstrikes that have been launched against IS targets since August 2014, or aren’t aware that towns in Iraq

once controlled by the group have been retaken, “then they might feel as if there’s not enough of a response.”

“And so part of our goal here is to make sure that people are informed about all the actions that we’re taking,” he said.

To that end, Obama outlined the strategy against IS in a nationally televised address from the Oval Office on Dec. 6, days after a radicalized married couple who had pledged allegiance to an IS leader opened fire on the husband’s co-workers in San Bernardino, California, killing 14 and heightening people’s fears about home-grown extremism.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a series of attacks that killed 130 people in Paris about two weeks before the California shooting.

Before leaving Washington for his annual Christmas vacation in Hawaii, Obama tried to soothe the public’s anxieties about similar attacks on the U.S. through a series of public appearances with members of his national security team following sep-

arate briefings on the Islamic State and on potential threats to the U.S. homeland.

After one of those briefings, Obama said publicly that officials had no specific, credible information suggesting a potential attack against the U.S. He urged people to be vigilant during the holidays.

In the interview, Obama also urged keeping the situation in perspective, saying that IS “is not an organization that can destroy the United States.”

“But they can hurt us, and they can hurt our people and our families. And so I understand why people are worried,” he said. “The most damage they can do, though, is if they start changing how we live and what our values are, and part of my message over the next 14 months or 13 months that I remain in office is to just make sure that we remember who we are and make sure that our resilience, our values, our unity are maintained.,” “If we do that then ISIL will be defeated,” Obama said.

African lions receive greater protection from trophy hunters

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — The U.S. will protect lions in Africa under the Endangered Species Act, the Obama administration announced Monday, a move that would make it harder for American big-game hunters to bring a lion head or hide into the country.

The effort by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service comes five months after the killing of “Cecil,” a lion in Zimbabwe, by Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer caused an international uproar and shed a spotlight on trophy hunting. The agency had been working on the new rules long before the incident, and officials said that classifying the two breeds of African lions as threatened or endangered will encourage African countries to improve conversation efforts.

Cecil was a major tourist attraction in Hwange National Park and was being monitored as part of an Oxford University study. Palmer said he shot the big cat outside the park’s borders,

File photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cecil the lion rests in Hwange National Park, in Hwange, Zimbabwe. but it didn’t die immediately and was tracked down the next day.

Palmer said he would not have shot the animal if anybody in the hunting party has known of the lion’s status.

Zimbabwe officials cleared Palmer of wrongdoing in October, saying he

didn’t break the country’s hunting laws.

Dan Ashe, director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, said the approval of any imports will be conditioned on proof that hunting is part of a science-based conservation strategy that enhances the species in the wild. Currently, sport hunters don’t need a permit from the U.S. to bring in a trophy lion.

“I believe the American hunter can be an integral part of a vibrant conservation strategy, but the burden will be on the hunter, not the hunted,” Ashe said.

The Humane Society of the United States projects that American trophy hunters imported 5,647 lions in the past decade. The group was among those that petitioned the Fish and Wildlife Service to list the lion as endangered.

“Today’s announcement is, without question, a turning point for the future of the lions now roaming Africa,” said Wayne Pacelle, the group’s president and CEO.

B8 RED DEER ADVOCATE Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015 FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

HI & LOIS

PEANUTS

BLONDIE

HAGAR

BETTY

PICKLES

GARFIELD

LUANN

Dec. 22 2000 — Stockwell Day settles a lawsuit brought against him by Alberta lawyer Lorne Goddard; Goddard alleged that Day tarnished his reputation by publicly criticizing him, in writing a letter to the Advocate, for defending a man accused of possessing child pornography.

1967 — Justice Minister Pierre Trudeau, in presenting his Omnibus Bill reforming the

Criminal Code, tells the House of Commons that “There is no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation.”

1959 — New York Rangers goalie Marcel Paille wears a customized face mask during a game.

1952 — Government announces plans to build the National Library of Canada; today part of Library and Archives Canada.

1869 — Newfoundland Assembly, led by new Premier Charles Fox Bennett, votes against joining Confederation.

ARGYLE SWEATER

RUBES

TODAY IN HISTORY

TUNDRA

SUDOKU Complete the grid so that every row, every column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 through 9.

6+(50$1·6 /$*221

Solution

FAMILY

B9

TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2015

Gifts that were never received, but remembered The little girl in the Sears Christ- little girl is a mom with three small mas catalogue had long curly blonde boys of her own.

And do any of them want a fur coat? hair, an angelic smile and wore a perHardly! They are rough and fect white fur coat. tumble boys who love superHer little hands were heroes and mud puddles and snug and warm inside a hitting things really, really matching fur muff. hard. Fur coats do not exist on “I wanted that coat for their wish lists.

Christmas so badly when But apparently a ride-em I was about seven,” my jeep complete with all the daughter confessed to me bells and whistles has caught while we were on a rethe oldest boy’s eye. And, yes, cent shopping trip. you guessed it; this is what he “You did?” I replied, has his heart set on this year about 30 years of guilt for his big Christmas gift. immediately settling in Is it going to happen? around my heart region.

TREENA Nope! No ride-em jeep “I did,” she replied.

MIELKE for him. Apparently the $500 I wracked my brains LIFE price tag was a little too rich trying really hard to refor even the most benevolent member the coat and/or of Santas. the request. I could not.

The conversation between my “You didn’t get it, did you?” I said morosely. “Nope,” she replied cheer- daughter and me sparked lots of other conversations and remember when’s fully. “I did not.”

And now so many years later that about the ghosts of Christmases past.

What did you want? What did you get?

What did you not get that you really wanted?

I listen and in my own mind go back, way back to when Moby Dick was a minnow and I was a child.

I honestly can’t remember much about presents. But, I remember Christmas. I remember the way it smelled. Fragrant, like someone had lugged the forest into the living room.

And I remember the magic.

The bubble lights on the tree. If memory served me correctly, we only had about three that actually bubbled, but they sure did bubble well, those lights. And I remember the star that my brother and me created out of tinfoil and cardboard. It truly was a work of art. Never, to this day, have I seen such a perfect star as the simple tinfoil star created by him and I one magic Christmas so many years ago.

Many of the people from my Christmases past have now left this earth.

And every year as Christmas shows

its bright and shiny face, I remember them and the way we were and I feel the whisperings of a quiet sadness brush over my heart.

Oh, to go back there, to simple Christmases complete with brothers who loved me, protected me against the world and assured me, every year, that Santa was real.

One wish. Give me back one moment in time to be with those gone on before. Only one moment.

Every year I ask and every year I get the same thing. Memories. Lots of memories. And, for that, I will be forever grateful.

Merry Christmas! And may each and every one of you be granted your own special wish and your own special memories!

Treena Mielke lives in Sylvan Lake and is the editor of the Rimbey Review.

She has been a journalist and columnist for more than 25 years. Treena is married to Peter and they have three children and six grandchildren.

What was once resented at Christmas concerts Okay okay I take it all back! I take back everything I have ever said about children’s Christmas concerts. Last year around this time I wrote an article about the horror that is the elementary school Christmas concert.

If you missed it, it was all about the formidable performances, bad lighting and overzealous parents who I’ve come to call “concert parents”.

You know the ones; they run out into the aisles while the show is on to get pictures of their kids while blocking your view.

They laugh a little too hard at the ten year olds joke on stage. They basically ruin the entire experience because they are just so damn happy to be there.

Well my friends I admit to you here and now that I, Lindsay Brown, by some sick and twisted turn of events had managed to transform into this person at this years concert.

We arrived at the gymnasium early and were surprised to find almost-front row seats waiting for us. “Well this is one good thing” I thought to myself. In all honesty I had been brooding over having to endure this forty five minute undertaking all morning. I wasn’t trying to be Grinchy—it was simply the truth.

These types of things just aren’t my

bag or at least I thought they weren’t.

As the kids walked onto the stage I found myself elated at how well I was going to be able to see them during the performance. Their smiles shone with excitement LINDSAY and pride. It litBROWN erally brought ME PLUS THREE a tear to my eye which I nondescriptly shoved away. I can’t have my hardcore reputation falling to the wayside over one delightful Christmas concert.

They began signing and for a moment I was sure that the children must have been lip syncing. The angelic sound that resonated through that gymnasium surely couldn’t be coming from the hundred or so kids propped up on the stage.

It was as though the spirit of Christmas itself floated gingerly through the air kissing the ears of every patron in the place.

A feeling of warmth and joy bub-

bled in my gut and it was then that I knew that the magic of this elementary school concert had me in its grasp.

Soon I would become something that I’ve only ever relentlessly made fun of.

Sophie was placed on the far end and even with our superb spots it was still a little difficult to see her.

So what did I do to remedy this? I got up and pushed my way through the throng of mobbing parents so I could get a glimpse of my darling little lady.

I could feel the glare of non-concert loving parents on the back of my head but I didn’t care.

My mom and I are usually quite similar in our anxieties about crowded places and claustrophobic situations.

To be honest it surprised me that she even wanted to attend this event, but she did and the strangest thing happened.

She too somehow was transformed into a “concert parent” a “concert grandparent” if you will. She was standing up waving and yelling the kids’ names in an attempt to get their attention. She was even commenting on the adorableness of the other children.

It was bizarre! In the 30 years I’ve known my mother I’ve never known her to get that excitable about these types of soirées.

It was like the entire experience was something fresh out of an afterschool special. Something that in normal circumstances would make me feel ill at ease and itchy.

I’m pretty sure it was almost the exact same production as it was last year.

What could have changed so drastically that I was literally ready to start waving a lighter in the air and asking for an encore?

The seats! It had to have been our amazing seats that we snagged. We were able to see the faces of the kids up close and personal. I thumbs-upped Lars on more than one occasion and the way it made him smile filled me with a happiness that I cannot even explain.

When Sophie saw me nearly climbing over her classmates parents to get a better look her eyes lit up and she began singing louder than anyone out there.

So once again, I take all of the Christmas concert smack-talk back. I officially have been admitted into the crazed concert parent gang and do not feel bad at all about it.

I guess there is only one thing left to do; start counting down until next year’s production.

Lindsay Brown is a mother of two and freelance columnist.

Guilt can work as a self-check system to help us grow “Guilt: the gift that keeps on giving.”

Erma Bombeck, American humorist and author

Guilt is a useful though uncomfortable emotion. In most cases, guilt involves regret for past acts that harmed or deprived others, and com“I don’t know why he monly acts that went unpunindulged that kid,” said ished or for which there was Bob. “The trouble he no compensation. Left unrecaused.” solved, we can suffer greatly “Guilt makes you do under its yoke. crazy things,” replied As a father, I can certainJoe. “It messes with your ly understand the enormous head.” guilt that would arise if my “Guilt?” Bob stared poor choice(s) resulted in at his friend. “Guilt over harm to one of my children. I what?” can also acknowledge, howBob and Joe were ever, the further harm that talking about a farm famicould result if I allowed exMURRAY ly they knew and the firstcessive guilt to drive my deFUHRER born son who brought his cision-making. I’m sure the family nothing but grief. father in the abovementioned EXTREME ESTEEM Despite the boy’s ongostory did not start out to neing run-ins with the poglect his other children nor lice and angry encounters damage his relationships – he with the neighbours, the young man’s just wanted to make things right and father always stepped in to intervene, demonstrate his regret. However, guilt often to the detriment of his relation- prompted him to overcompensate and ship with friends and especially with make allowances where none were his other children. necessary. The end result (undoubted“It was before you moved into the ly) was an even greater level of guilt area but there was a farm accident and anguish for all concerned. involving the boy. The old man blamed Guilt is a learned state of mind dehimself for the kid getting hurt. It veloped during childhood. It’s a potent wasn’t really his fault, though. The boy ingredient of our early programming was told better but hadn’t listened. It typically initiated by our parents. Guilt was like he was always trying to make exists to alert us that we’ve done someit up to the kid. Of course, over time thing wrong, to help us develop a sense the kid got wise – started playing on of what is right and appropriate and his old man’s guilt.” to adjust our behaviour accordingly. If

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from

Bowmont Denture Clinic

“Best of the season to all of our past, present and future customers!”

Trudy, Graham, Shelby

#5, 4929 Ross Street 403-346-5845 (in the Towne Centre Mall) just east of Royal Bank on Ross Street

we feel guilty, we’re unlikely to make the same mistake twice. We all experience varying degrees of guilt throughout life. Excessive guilt can be tremendously damaging to our self-esteem.

Left unresolved, such guilt can lead us to believe that we repeatedly fail, disappoint or hurt others, and this may lead to self-criticism and disapproval.

Even more damaging, excessive guilt is often expressed in anger, depression and self-loathing. Guilt is a powerful tool of manipulation and control. I’m sure we’ve all been sent on the occasional guilt trip by one or more of our family members. Sadly, in many families, guilt is the primary means of communication and coercion. Guilt trips produce strong feelings of remorse but equally strong feelings of bitterness, anger and resentment toward the manipulator.

Guilt is useful if it prevents a regrettable act from occurring or prompts us to make amends for previous actions and choices. Guilt can work as a self-check system that helps us grow and mature and alerts us when our behaviour has been offensive, inappropriate or hurtful to others. For example, if we’re neglecting our family by working excessively long hours or if we’re in the habit of gambling and placing our family’s financial future in jeopardy, guilt can help to redirect our moral and behavioural compass.

Guilt can also stop us from reaching for that unhealthy snack, indulging in

unhealthy excesses or skipping our daily workout. By developing a healthy level of self-esteem, we can begin to recognize the type of guilt we’re experiencing and its purpose. Healthy guilt keeps us on track and prevents us from making choices we may regret later. I remember a friend feeling tremendously guilty when she returned to work and placed her young son in daycare. Unhealthy guilt serves no rational purpose. She had no option but to return and, ultimately, her child survived daycare unscathed.

If your guilt is specific, rational and healthy, listen to it and adjust your behaviour. Apologize, make amends if you can and commit yourself to making better, more well-considered choices.

In other words, learn so that you don’t make the same mistake twice. OK, you did something wrong. Own it, learn the lesson and then let go of the guilt. The time has come to move on. If you’re suffering from on-going guilt, it’s a good idea to ask yourself why. Sometimes – if we’re feeling unworthy and undeserving – we’ll hang onto guilt and use it as a club to beat ourselves with each day, to remind ourselves of the fact that we’re imperfect and therefore deserve to be punished.

Murray Fuhrer is a self-esteem expert and facilitator. His new book is entitled Extreme Esteem: The Four Factors. For more information on self-esteem, check the Extreme Esteem website at www.extremeesteem.ca

LIFESTYLE

B10

TUESDAY, DEC. 22, 2015

Tread lightly with flighty daughter-in-law Dear Annie: Please help us with an upcoming dilemma. Our son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren all live in another state. We spend Christmas with them every other year.

In October, our daughter-in-law told our son she was leaving him, but would wait until after Christmas to tell the children so as not to upset them during the holidays. She has decided that she would rather run around with her single girlfriends from work, but right now, she still remains in the home they own. She has already said she does not want to take the kids and is leaving them with our son. She did the same thing five years ago, but then decided to return and our son let her back into their lives.

Our daughter-in-law knows that we are aware of their situation. How can we possibly give the same very generous Christmas gift to someone we know is walking out the door on Jan. 1? — Stuck in the Middle

Dear Stuck: You do not have to give your daughter-in-law the same gift you have in the past. You don’t, in fact, have to be generous to anyone, and can decide only to give presents to the children.

However, since KATHY MITCHELL Ms. Flighty has AND MARCY SUGAR left before and ANNIE’S MAILBOX returned, there is a good possibility she will do the same thing again. If so, will your stingier gift create a problem at that time?

We suggest you talk to your son about this. Ask him how he would like you to handle the situation, and then

follow accordingly. Your daughter-inlaw sounds immature and selfish. Be grateful that she prefers to leave the children with their more stable father.

Dear Annie: Two months ago, I became a grandmother for the first time.

But I’m not allowed to see my grandchild nor is anyone in my family. Yet my son’s father, who has not been in his life for more than 20 years, is apparently welcome to visit the baby any time.

This is causing a lot of fighting in my family. My other children are worried that I did something to upset my son and his wife. But believe me, I have done nothing to cause either of them to act this way. I am incredibly hurt and don’t know what to do. — Looking for Answers in Pennsylvania Dear Pennsylvania: These sad circumstances are only too common. We wish we had a magic potion to make family relationships smoother, more loving and more rational, but we

PANDA BACK RUBS

Flu season later, and experts say could be milder

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bei Bei, the National Zoo’s newest panda and offspring of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, yawns while being presented for members of the media at the National Zoo in Washington. The youngest giant panda cub at the National Zoo is ready for his close-up. Bei Bei will make his public debut on Jan. 16. During an audience with a small news media contingent Monday, he was so relaxed that he fell asleep and drooled on an examination table. At nearly 4 months old, Bei Bei weighs more than 17 pounds and is gaining about a pound a week. He’s bigger than his older siblings were at the same age.

HOROSCOPES Tuesday, Dec. 22 CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DATE: Diane Sawyer, 69; Vanessa Paradis, 42; Ralph Fiennes, 52 THOUGHT OF THE DATE: It’s time to celebrate the Solstice in your own special way!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: You are self-assured but you can also be very stubborn. 2016 is the year to be much more flexible — both mentally and physically ARIES (March 21-April 19): Positive aspects make for a fun day, full of social interactions and adventurous escapades. If you’re feeling restless, do something exciting that you haven’t done before!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s a good day to power through work projects in a positive and productive way — plus play sport; express yourself creatively; or have fun with a special child or teenager in your life.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Have you got itchy feet? Jupiter is in your do-

mestic zone until September so you’re restless and keen to travel, move house or renovate. A troubled family relationship is set to improve.

C A N C E R (June 21-July 22): CommunicaJOANNE MADELINE tion is the key to a wonderful day MOORE for Crabs. Focus SUN SIGNS on serious conversations and deep emotional connections, as you get to the bottom of what’s really going on.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Have you been having problems with a family member? It’s time to drop the righteous attitude, and instead hold out the olive branch of peace. Try to see

Tiffany’s STEAK HOUSE S OUS & LOUNGE OU NG OUN G

our Y k o Bo

ty Now! as Par m t s i Chr

don’t. There could be old hurts that you are unaware of. Your son may be looking to include his father now that he is a father himself. Your ex-husband could be poisoning your son’s mind with tales about you, or he could demand that you be excluded. Your daughter-in-law may simply not like you or someone else in the family. Unless you can speak to your son, you will not know. Please try to contact him, without judging or being angry, and ask what you can do to fix this. You might also enlist the help of any friend or family member still in their good graces to get to the bottom of it.

Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailbox@ creators.com, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. You can also find Annie on Facebook at Facebook.com/AskAnnies.

NEW YORK — This year’s flu season seems like old times.

There’s not much flu going around so far — unlike the last three seasons when doctors’ offices were filled with patients before Christmas and illnesses peaked by late December.

“It really is off to sort of a slow start” compared to that recent history, said Lynnette Brammer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC released its weekly flu count Friday. Only South Carolina is showing significant flu-related traffic at doctor’s offices and clinics.

Traditionally, most flu seasons don’t really get going until around Christmas — possibly triggered by holiday gatherings that bring together people and viruses. Infected kids then go back to school, mingle with classmates, and flu season takes off.

Using mathematical modeling, scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory this week predicted there’s a 57 per cent chance this flu season will peak in February, and a 67 per cent chance it will be mild.

Experts are still puzzling about why flu became epidemic so early the last few years. Factors might include the weather and what kind of flu bug was spreading the most, said Dr. John Treanor, a flu vaccine researcher at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. The CDC’s Brammer said so far this year there’s a mix of flu viruses making people sick. In bad seasons, one nasty strain dominates. And last year, the flu vaccine didn’t work very well for the bug that caused most of the illnesses. This year’s version was changed.

The delayed season means there’s more time for people to get vaccinated, Brammer said.

things from both sides.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Mercury and Jupiter boost your confidence and morale today Virgo. You’re in the mood to roll up your sleeves and power through projects — but with less stress and worry than usual.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Spend quality time with a favourite family member. They will appreciate your balanced and laid-back Libran approach, as you help them sort out their priorities for the year ahead.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’re not in the mood for superficial encounters, as the Moon and Pluto intensify your feelings. You want to get to the bottom of things, and connect with others in a deeply satisfying way.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarians often attract good fortune from far away. If you nurture your international contacts, you’ll reap the rewards in the future. But donít promise

Sale in Effect

more than you are prepared to deliver.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’ll feel comfortable today Capricorn, as the Moon moves through fellow earth sign Taurus. Itís also the perfect time to nurture an international friendship that has been neglected.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The stars encourage you to balance being social with some quiet solo time reflecting on your hopes, dreams and wishes for 2016. For restless Aquarians, variety is the spice of life.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Being adaptable is what’s needed today — and that’s your specialty. When challenges crop up, change your approach accordingly. Plus listen closely to what a wise loved one has to say.

Joanne Madeline Moore is an internationally syndicated astrologer and columnist. Her column appears daily in the Advocate.

Dec. 26th - 31st, 2015

BOXING DAY SALE CHRISTMAS DECOR ACCESSORIES Ready made napkins, table runners, holiday cushion covers

CHRISTMAS FABRICS - Select stock

HOLIDAY APPLIQUES - Reg $6.98ea to $10.98ea CHRISTMAS RIBBON SPOOLS - All stock

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY MESH & TULLE SPOOLS - Reg $5.98ea to $25.98ea FAUX FUR TRIMS - All stock BELLS--Shiny Shiny&&Matte MatteReg Reg$15.98ea $15.98ea INGLE BELLS JJUNGLE

SPARKLE WIRED BURLAP - Reg $15.98ea

VALUE PACK (6.5m) DOUBLE FOLD EXTRA WIDE BIAS TAPE Reg $6.90ea

65

% Off Reg Price

50 4.50

CHRISTMAS SPARKLE $ DECOR Reg $13.98 per roll

%

Off Reg Price

ea

(exclusions apply to Promotional, Clearance, “Special Purchase”, Signature Styles & Yarn)

For Reservations: 403.341.3366 • 3515 Gaetz Avenue, Red Deer, AB

2119 Ave –RED RED DEER Unit #1 5239, 53rd Avenue 2119 Gaetz Ave DEER NEW Gaetz 2119 Gaetz Ave ––ofRED DEER 2119 Gaetz Ave –Superstore RED DEER North LOCATION

403-343-1277 403-343-1277 403-343-1277 403-343-1277

STORE HOURS Mon-Fri: 10AM - 9PM Sat: 9:30AM - 5:30PM Sun: 12PM - 5PM Fabricland Sewing Club Members Value Hotline 1.866.R.Fabric 1.866.732.2742 www.fabriclandwest.com

7361911L22

1st in Fabric Selection Quality & Value