Red Deer Advocate, February 04, 2016

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MONAHAN LEADS FLAMES TO WIN OVER ’CANES

LOOKING FOR A SIMPLER ROAD TO ELECTORAL REFORM

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Red Deer Advocate THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2016

www.reddeeradvocate.com

Your trusted local news authority

PM brings gift of cash TRUDEAU COMMITS TO FAST-TRACKING $700M IN BUILDING MONEY

SEXUAL ASSAULT TRIAL

Victim recounts battle for survival

BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau bends a pipe during a tour of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers training facility as Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, left, looks on in Edmonton on Wednesday.

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emerged from a meeting Wednesday with a formal commitment to fast-track $700 million in previously committed federal infrastructure money to the struggling province.

The federal government has been Oil workers call for saying it wants to exA3 pedite $13.1 billion action in existing, national infrastructure cash allocated by the previous Conservative government, but never spent. Of that sum, $704 million is earmarked for Alberta.

But there had been no formal announcement on the fate of those dollars. That came after the two leaders met at the legislature in Alberta. “The federal government is committed to fast-track infrastructure investments for Alberta and, indeed, all provinces and territories,� Trudeau said. “This will help promote jobs and

‘THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO FAST-TRACK INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS FOR ALBERTA AND, INDEED, ALL PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES. THIS WILL HELP PROMOTE JOBS AND GROWTH WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST.’ — PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU growth where they are needed most.�

There were still no specifics on what projects the money will fund, but Notley said she expects to see it start flowing in a matter of weeks to months. “There has been a very engaged conversation about what our projects should be, what the list should be and how we can get that money flowing faster and so we today we’re able to confirm that the federal government will start pushing it out the door as

soon as we’re ready to go,� she said.

Notley said she also pushed Trudeau to make changes to Employment Insurance that will broaden access for laid-off energy workers. “I asked the prime minister to consider ways to ensure employment rules make access to EI easier for Albertans and to consider the length the benefit is available,� Notley told reporters.

Trudeau didn’t make any commitments around EI, but noted that his party campaigned on easing access to the program in times of need. “I assured her that we are looking at this and working to move forward on it as rapidly as possible because indeed we do know that there are families that are looking at the coming weeks with a certain degree of trepidation and we are certainly endeavouring to be there for them,� he said.

After meeting with Notley in Edmonton, Trudeau heads to Calgary on Thursday to meet with leaders in the energy industry.

Alone, her jaw broken, lost in the woods and scared, a woman spent the next 12 days fighting to survive after escaping an attempted sexual assault.

The soft-spoken young woman took the stand, carefully responding to the questions posed to her. At 27, her visible scars told only part of her story of survival.

On July 14 2013, she ran away from her attacker and didn’t look back. By the time she stopped she didn’t know where she was. She wouldn’t know where she was for the next 12 days. “All I was worried about was how I was going to get out of the wilderness,� she said on the stand.

She had been off-roading with family and friends on the north end of the O’Chiese reserve. The truck they were in got stuck and four people went for help. She stayed behind as did her alleged attacker.

The woman, who can’t be named because of a court ordered publication ban protecting the identity of a sexual assault victim, was alone and lost in the woods with a newly broken jaw.

Minutes earlier she was sleeping in the back seat of her uncle’s quad-cab pickup truck. She was awoken to a man trying to pull off her track pants.

In court she identified her attacker as Kevin Roy Gladue. Gladue, 38, of the O’Chiese First Nation is on trial in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench. He is charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault.

The woman said she started to walk away, but Gladue followed her. She told him to stop, but he kept following her. She said Gladue then struck her with an object, she didn’t know what, but he struck her with the object on the left side of her jaw.

Please see SEXUAL ASSAULT on Page A2

Colleges team up with province on tourism training program

BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF

Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff

Minister of Culture and Tourism Ricardo Miranda heads out for a walk with Dr. Paulette Hanna, vice-president of academics at Red Deer College, during a visit to the college on Wednesday. Miranda joined staff and students at the school for Winter Walk Day, an annual event created to combat the idea that winter weather is a barrier to outdoor recreation.

WEATHER 30% flurries. High -4. Low -12.

FORECAST ON A2

INDEX Two sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business . . . . . B11-B12 Canada . . . . A5, A7-A8 Classified . . . . . . B8-B9 Comics . . . . . . . . . . .B10 Entertainment . . . . .A11 Sports . . . . . . . . . B1-B4

Olds College, Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association and the province have teamed up to create training videos for new tourism and hospitality programs available this fall.

On Wednesday, the province and hotel association each contributed $500,000 to develop the videos that will be accessible with a smart phone or tablet so they can be viewed anywhere, any time, to help front-line tourism workers further their education while working.

Students will be able to use the three-to-five minute online videos as part of Olds College’s three new hospitality-related programs — Accommodation Guest Services Certificate, Accommodation Management Certificate, and Tourism Business and Services Management.

The mobile videos will also be available as individual training modules for use by hotel association members across Alberta.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Ri-

cardo Miranda was at Pomeroy Inn & Suites at Olds College for the announcement before coming to Red Deer to participate in the Winter Walk Day event at Red Deer College at noon.

Miranda said the video initiative will be able to reach out to train people in every corner of the province in one of Alberta’s key industries. “Culture and tourism are recession-proof, almost, industries that generate a lot of revenue which is very important for us at any time, even at $120 a barrel. We have lots of beautiful places in the province that lots of people from all over the world want to see.

Of course, we want to share that with the world,� said Miranda at RDC. He said the province wants to diversify the industry and will be working on many campaigns. “There’s lot of dollars south of us and the exchange rate being very favourable to them, we’re going to be reaching out to them and making sure that we’re getting those tourists and tourists dollars to come up to Alberta,� the Calgary Cross MLA said.

Please see TOURISM on Page A2

Yoga, massage, dance under one roof The distinctive blue building in Woodlea is home to B1 and Pound It, where you can practise yoga or hip-hop dance moves.

Story on PAGE B11

PLEASE RECYCLE

A2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016

HEART MONTH

Airport a ‘game changer’: county

BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF Investing in Red Deer Airport will pay off believes Red Deer County Mayor Jim Wood.

Council approved an agreement to provide $235,000 annually to the airport on Tuesday.

Both the county and City of Red Deer have shown their faith in the airport’s potential by increasing their annual support from $180,000 in 2014.

“The fact is the airport is a game changer for our community,” said Wood. “I know there’s potential for some of the travel to come from Edmonton and Calgary to Red Deer.”

Wood said announced plans to extend the runway to allow for regional passenger jet service has caught the eye of airlines.

“I believe there are huge opportunities.”

A thriving airport will also pay dividends for the county. It could help ongoing efforts to diversify the local economy by luring aviation-related businesses to the airport, he said.

Coun. Connie Huelsman said, while there are ups and downs in the economy, the county must keep its eye on the future and the airport will play a role.

Also speaking in favour of the funding was Coun.

Christine Moore.

“I think that we need to play a part in setting (the airport) up for success,” said Moore.

Heather Gray-Surkan, county corporate services director, was asked if the county’s investment was likely to be offset by additional tax revenue as the airport grows.

“I do believe in the airport and I do believe in the potential for that area,” said Heather-Surkan, who is very familiar with the airport’s business plan having sat on its audit committee.

While investment carries some risk, the county is already seeing returns from residential growth.

County manager Curtis Herzberg said the airport has a plan that has mapped out what needs to happen for it to stay viable and to “stand on its own legs.”

The runway expansion was a critical step to that end.

Work is planned to determine how the area south of the airport could be developed.

Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff

Leanne Schenn of the Heart and Stroke Foundation joined Red Deer firemedics (from left) Kent Baumbach, Jason Venema, Marcel Leroux, John Duke, Shawn Drabyk, Sheldon Christensen and Everette Waddy Wednesday, donning some red heart touques to promote Heart Month. The Heart and Stroke Foundation is excited to have the Red Deer Emergency Services as a community partner who are committed to the race to save lives. Through the month of February, residents in Red Deer can expect to see volunteers going door-to-door collecting donations to help the Heart and Stroke Foundation to continue their support for survivors, families and caregivers.

Red Deerians invited to celebrate old rink’s legacy Red Deerians are invited to celebrate Red Deer Arena’s legacy on April 8.

The 1952-built arena is set to be demolished and a replacement area will be constructed later this year.

The old rink at 4725D 43 St. served as a community hub for Central Albertans for over 60 years and is an important piece of the city’s history.

“The city recognizes that the Red Deer Arena has significant importance for residents of Red Deer and Central Alberta, both past and present,” said Peter McGee, Special Events programmer. “This event will provide an opportunity for a suitable farewell to the iconic building, and will be an exciting and memora-

TOURISM: Minister appointed Tuesday

STORIES FROM PAGE A2

SEXUAL ASSAULT: Knew jaw was broken At that point, the woman didn’t look back.

She just ran into the bush. After the adrenaline wore off she started to feel pain. It was dark out when she felt her face with her hands and tried to close her mouth. She knew then her jaw was broken.

A few days into her survival she saw her reflection in a creek. That’s when she knew how bad her injuries were.

For the next 12 days she lived off of what she could find, foraging for berries and drinking rain water.

When she was found, 12 days after she went missing, her broken jaw was infected. Cpl. Robert Schultz drove out to see her, relieved she was found alive.

She was found close to 10 kms away from where she was last seen and had to cross the Baptiste River.

She was found by Michael Rempel, a battery operator out doing his inspection rounds that morning.

As he did every day, he drove around from one oil lease site to the next. He found the woman on a desolate oilfield road between two lease sites south of the Brazeau Dam, just off of Sunchild Road.

Schultz said her face was disfigured and the wound opened up when she tried to speak. A yellow/ green ooze came out of the wound.

According to the agreed statement of facts, the woman’s lower jaw was fractured in two places with bone breaking through skin and badly infected. She underwent several surgeries and treatment at both the Rocky Mountain House Medical Centre and the Red Deer Regional Hospital.

She also had blisters on her feet, a rash on her stomach and had lost a significant amount of weight.

When Schultz first saw the woman, he said he started off by expressing his gratitude that he had

LOTTERIES

ble event for guests of all ages to enjoy.”

The Red Deer Arena Commemorative Celebration is free to attend and will include facility tours, live entertainment, children’s games and activities, special guest appearances, a commemorative video, food and drink, and opportunities for one last skate.

It runs from 5 to 9 p.m.

Residents are invited to help capture the legacy of the Red Deer Arena by sharing stories, photos and memories of the facility.

To share your story, visit www.reddeer.ca/rdarena or call 403.309.8417. Submissions must be received prior to March 8 and may be included in promotional materials and historic records of the event.

Volunteers that would like to get involved can call 403-309-8417. More information on the event can be found at www.reddeer.ca/rdarena.

WEDNESDAY Lotto 649: 20, 23, 34, 38, 43, 47, Bonus 15

Illustration by MURRAY CRAWFORD/Advocate staff

Illustration shows approximate distance between where woman disappeared and where she was found. The body of water at the top of the photo is the Brazeau Dam, Lodgepole is about 40 minutes north. found her alive.

“I wasn’t going to be looking for a body,” he said.

The woman was dressed the same as she was when she was last seen on July 14, 2013. But 12 days later, she was very dirty, her hair was a rats’ nest and the smell described by Schultz was horrible. A mixture of extreme body odour and something putrid and rotting.

He was only able to take three or four photos of the injuries the woman suffered, before the smell overcame him.

When asked to look at the photos at the trial, the woman broke down in tears.

Crown Prosecutor Ann MacDonald closed her case on Wednesday. Defence counsel Jason Snider will open his case today. mcrawford@reddeeradvocate.com

Western 649: 7, 18, 19, 25, 40, 44, Bonus 4 Extra: 4469080

Pick 3: 436 Numbers are unofficial.

Miranda, who was just appointed as minister on Tuesday, said he looks forward to getting feedback from people with many years of experience in the department, but also wanted to get out to hear from people in communities.

In Red Deer on Wednesday, that involved a brisk 20-minute outdoor walk at RDC with about 24 other participants.

It was the first time Miranda took part in Winter Walk Day, an annual event created to combat the idea that winter weather is a barrier to outdoor active recreation.

“It’s a good way to get the blood flowing. I love the fact that we’re doing this.

“We tried to get as many cabinet ministers out there to do this. It’s important,” Miranda said.

Winter Walk Day started in 2007 through a partnership between Safe Healthy Active People Everywhere (SHAPE) and Be Fit For Life. Each year tens of thousands of Albertans participate in walks across the province.

“We had over 160,0000 people register for today’s walk around the province. So schools across Red Deer joined in, as well as Red Deer College, we offered a small walk as well,” said Joel Carroll, Be Fit For Life program co-ordinator in Red Deer.

“The big thing with Alberta, it’s so cold and the winters are so drawn out, that people feel the need to always stay inside. But we should embrace all the opportunities to be outside. Today wasn’t too bad.”

Be Fit For Life Centre operates out of RDC’s Continuing Education Department.

For more information visit www.rdc.ab.ca. szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

PIKE WHEATON

Weather TONIGHT

FRIDAY

HIGH -4

LOW -12

HIGH 1

HIGH 0

HIGH 2

30% chance of flurries.

Clearing.

Sunny.

A mix of sun and cloud. Low -10.

A mix of sun and cloud. Low -9.

REGIONAL OUTLOOK Calgary: today, 30% flurries. High 2. Low -3.

Olds, Sundre: today, 30% flurries. High 1.

Low -8.

Rocky, Nordegg: today, 30% flurries.

High -2. Low -12.

Banff: today, 60% flurries. High -2. Low -9.

Jasper: today, 60% flurries. High 1. Low

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

TONIGHT’S HIGHS/LOWS

-5.

Lethbridge: today, 30% flurries. High 2.

Low -3.

Edmonton: today, 30% flurries. High -7.

Low -12.

Grande Prairie: today, 60% flurries.

High -7. Low -8.

Fort McMurray: today, periods of snow.

High -14. Low -16.

WINDCHILL/SUNLIGHT

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EDMONTON

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LOCAL TODAY

ALBERTA

A3

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2016

Oil workers call for action

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Alberta on Wednesday with oil prices in the gutter, the province’s unemployment on the rise and many in the oilpatch concerned for their future.

Here is what some Albertans have to say as Trudeau visits the province: Chase Scoville, 19, of Red Deer, can’t find any apprenticeships to continue his studies as a heavy equipment technician. He’s been laid off from three jobs in the oil sector and wants Trudeau to pay more attention to what’s going on in the province.

“What I would like to see from him is to not forget about Alberta,” he said.

Scoville wants to see more help for young people studying, especially since companies aren’t helping out with tuition and job training as much.

And while he’s a big supporter of helping refugees, Scoville doesn’t think the timing is right to bring them to Canada.

“Help them where they are. Don’t bring them here when our own country is in a time of crisis and downturn,” he said. ★★★ Chad Miller, 35, a pipeline and facilities consultant from Red Deer, says he managed to find work only five months last year and hasn’t found any yet this year.

As an independent contractor he’s not eligible for employment insurance, but always made sure to keep six months of expenses saved. The father of three says those savings are now dwindling, adding that many others have been out of work for over a year and are already dipping into retirement savings.

“The banks don’t care if you’re working or not, they want your money,”

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley meet in Edmonton on Wednesday. said Miller.

He wants to see some kind of freeze on debt and mortgage payments to help out the unemployed who are struggling.

As the founder of a Facebook group called Oilfield Dads, he says many Albertans want more than platitudes from Trudeau, adding that he was disappointed to hear the prime minister tell an unemployed oilfield worker in a CBC interview to “hang in there.”

“There’s people that need help now, and when he said ‘just hang in there,’ what does that mean?” said Miller.

“There’s nothing to hang on to.”

★★★

★★★

Linnea Mudge, 30, of Grande Prairie, an emergency medical technician in the energy sector, wants to see more attention paid to unemployment benefits.

Mudge says her partner has struggled to get his employment insurance approved, while many others she knows have only been able to get 22 weeks of support.

“I’d like to see some acknowledgment that unemployment insurance (as it stands) isn’t really cutting it,” she said.

Jason Lawrence, 35, a pipe fitter from Calgary, wants to see more pressure from the federal government on getting pipelines built.

He said pipelines like Energy East are needed and was disappointed when the Liberal government voted down a Conservative motion this week supporting it.

“I just don’t understand why they’re looking this gift horse in the mouth,” said Lawrence. “Where is the holdup?

Why are we not moving ahead with this?”

Changes made to role of auxiliary Mounties after shootings

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON — Changes are being made to the role of auxiliary RCMP constables following the deadly shootings on Parliament Hill in 2014 and at a casino in St. Albert, Alta., last year.

Insp. Christopher Culhane with RCMP K-Division in Alberta says while more revisions to the role are on the way, two immediate changes mean auxiliary constables will no longer be allowed on ridealongs with Mounties.

The RCMP is also ending firearms familiarization training for auxiliary constables.

LOCAL

BRIEFS

Red Deer County embraces Alternative Land Use Services Red Deer County was one of three Alberta rural municipalities to first embrace a program aimed at preserving natural areas.

The Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS) program pays farmers to retain and reconstruct natural areas such as wetlands, grasslands, riparian areas and trees.

Since 2014, Red Deer County, Parkland County and the County of Vermillion River have been working to expand the program to other jurisdictions. Now, there are 10 municipalities involved and more are interested, Ken Lewis, Red Deer County conservation co-ordinator told council this week.

“The growth of ALUS is definitely happening in a big way,” said Lewis.

To help provide more funding to reflect growing interest in the program, Red Deer County was asked to support a Parkland County application for $160,000 in funding from Alberta Municipal Affairs.

Council unanimously endorsed the request.

Mayor Jim Wood said as an early participant, Red Deer County has helped lead the way on an innovative approach to environmental management.

The County of Vermillion was the first municipality to try the program in 2010. Red Deer County joined in 2013.

Priority Crimes Task Forces seizes stolen property Several people are facing charges after police seized a large amount of Central Alberta stolen property in two unrelated cases last week.

The Priority Crimes Task Force executed two search warrants on properties in Red Deer and the rural area, where they found stolen items and numerous firearms.

The first search warrant involved a property on 55th Avenue in West Park on Jan. 25.

Stolen items recovered included three ATVs, a snowmobile and two

Culhane says the conversation started after Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was shot and killed while he stood guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on Oct. 22, 2014.

Things accelerated after auxiliary Const. Derek Bond was wounded while investigating a call at the Apex Casino in St. Albert, just north of Edmonton, on Jan. 17, 2015.

Bond and Const. David Wynn were both shot when they got into an altercation with a suspect inside the casino Wynn died a few days later in hospital.

“This was done to enhance their safety,” says Culhane. “We extremely value their contributions and support

to the program, to the community and to Canadians. We’re looking at ensuring that we’re making every step possible to ensure that they’re volunteering with us in a safe environment.”

Auxiliary constables are volunteers who are often used as a second set of eyes alongside an RCMP member.

“They would do such things as traffic control, scene control if we were at a crime scene and had it cordoned off, they would assist with ensuring other people didn’t cross into the crime scene,” Culhane says.

“They’re the ultimate volunteer, I think, with the RCMP. They’re very passionate individuals.”

Auxiliary constables were sent a letter last week on behalf of Deputy Commissioner Janice Armstrong notifying them of the changes.

Neana Lintott, an auxiliary constable with the Strathcona County RCMP since 2008, says there are constables who are not happy with the changes and several have handed in their resignation letters.

“The emotions are raw. A lot of the auxiliaries are disappointed,” Lintott says.

“Taking away the general duty policing aspect and the ridealongs, which are considered secondary activities, is going to definitely impact our role.”

utility trailers. The items were traced back to thefts out of Three Hills, Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House. A number of smaller items seized were also traced back to thefts out of Penhold and the Rimbey area.

Charges are pending against a 35-year-old Red Deer man who rented the property.

In the second unrelated case, Blackfalds RCMP tracked a stolen snowmobile to a residence located in the area of Township Road 391 and Range Road 273 on Jan. 27.

The Priority Crimes Task Force executed a search warrant at that property later the same day, seizing stolen property that included five snowmobiles, an ATV, a dirt bike and three trailers, and several stolen passports, credit cards and pieces of identification. The stolen property has been linked to criminal activity in Red Deer, Blackfalds, Lacombe, Sylvan Lake and Bentley.

Police also seized nine rifles and nine shotguns, one of which was loaded, as well as ammunition and small amounts of drugs.

Robert Allan Brown, 30, of Blackfalds is charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000.

Brown made his first court appearance on Tuesday and will appear in Red Deer provincial court again for election and plea on March 1 at 9:30 am.

Charges are also pending against a 35-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man, both of Red Deer County.

If you have information regarding these criminal activities, please call the Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575.

If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com.

The Priority Crimes Task Force is made up of members from Red Deer RCMP General Investigative Section, Sylvan Lake, Innisfail and Blackfalds RCMP detachments.

She is CEO of Venture Communications and has been named Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100.

Dickinson has an established relationship already with the college, which is the title sponsor of her innovative accelerator, District Ventures.

The accelerator, located in Calgary, helps entrepreneurs in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry.

The Growing With Legacy Gala, on April 7, recognizes the support the college receives and the successes achieved beyond its campus.

Funds raised are used to support programming and student learning at Olds College.

Tickets — $250 each, or $2,000 for a table of eight — are available now online at oldscollege.ca/gala.

Dickinson keynote speaker at Olds College gala Well-known Canadian business leader and entrepreneur Arlene Dickinson will be the keynote speaker at the 14th annual Olds College gala.

Dickinson is a former member of the CBC series Dragons’ Den and The Big Decision. She has received multiple awards and is the author of two best-selling books, Persuasion and All In.

FUNHOUSE GALA Saturday, Feb 27, 2016 Sheraton Special Events Centre

ONLY 70 TICKETS LEFT

On sale at www.reddeerhospice.com or call 403-309-4344

COMMENT

A4 A simpler road to electoral reform

One sure-fire way to make sure no- the above.” The St. Lague method of body is happy with our government voting? The revised St. Lague method? is for the Liberal Party to keep its Who the heck is St. Lague?

I googled it and found he’s not the promise on electoral reform. Putting a patron saint of voters. Anstronger dose of democracy dre Sainte-Lague was a in the formation of our ParFrench mathematician who liament is pretty well the came up with a formula for most wished-for change we deciding proportional repcould see in Ottawa. Achievresentation in elections. ing that is a process that evHis formula says the Quoerybody hates. tient is equal to the numWe know that Canada ber of Votes, divided by two can do better than firsttimes the number of Seats past-the-post, which almost plus one. (Q=V over 2S+1). always gives us majority After the votes are talgovernments built on the lied, successive quotients strength of a minority of votare calculated. The party ers. But change the system?

GREG with the highest quotient Make a to-do list, and you’d NEIMAN gets a member, then formufind Canadians would rathla is run again for the next er everyone donate a kidOPINION seat … in today’s Parlianey. ment, 338 times.

That’s the reason reform Simple, right? Imagine watching TV referenda have failed in the past. The difficulty of explaining options for all election night waiting for that to change outweighs dislike for the cur- transpire.

One should be able to vote for the rent less-than-perfect voting system.

So how can we make Parliament candidates and policies of one’s choice more accurately reflect the diversity without needing a math degree. One of today’s Canada? And how can we should expect that everyone’s voice do that with a voting system simple should get a fair hearing in Parliament enough not to scare people away from without needing a system of charts and statistics. the ballot stations?

Mind if I suggest something easier?

When you look at the options that Let’s first have fewer ridings, but will be on the table for an all-party committee soon to be announced, you more members per riding. In today’s can be forgiven for saying “none of Canada, the major cities could each be

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2016

one riding, with multiple members per riding according to population. Outside the major cities, we can divide the provinces into a few ridings each, but with as many members to elect proportionally as the big cities get. That shouldn’t be hard.

Then, you get as many votes for as many MPs as there are in your riding.

For instance, Edmonton has eight MPs now, Red Deer has two. So, each party would be able to nominate that number of candidates, along with as many independents as can get themselves nominated.

Voters may really like one candidate from a particular party, but not another. You would be free to pick the Tory you like, plus a Liberal you like — or go totally Green. Or just vote for the few people you really know about in what could become a long list while ignoring the ones who couldn’t make an impression.

An Edmontonian who really hated one candidate could in effect cast eight votes for anyone but that candidate. Or, if you just totally love the person, mark one vote, and none for anyone else.

This is how we choose our City Council in Red Deer, and we get a pretty broad spectrum of views represented. They have to learn to work together, or nothing gets done, and voters will be mad at all of them. (As a reference, witness the deadlocked U.S.

Congress, linked to the rise of “outsider” presidential candidates such as Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders).

I know in my city of Red Deer, there were candidates in the last election I wished I could have voted for, but I was in the “wrong” riding. So enlarge the riding and increase voters’ access to representatives they want, regardless of party affiliation.

In places like Greater Toronto, people might argue that’s creating too large a ballot. Then divide some major cities to make it manageable.

This system rewards candidates who can appeal to a broad spectrum of voters and gives independents and minor parties a fair shot. It would tend to eliminate extremists who might be able now to rally enough votes to overcome the split votes of people who don’t want them. If an extreme candidate does win, he or she would just be one of several representing that riding.

Fewer ridings, more MPs per riding, in all likelihood from differing parties, representing a broad range of views. Without getting all mathematical about it, isn’t that what we really want in government?

You’re welcome. And no need to name the system after me. I’m no saint.

Follow Greg Neiman’s blog at Readersadvocate.blogspot.ca

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.

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NDP’s royalty retreat a lost opportunity

BY ROBERT MCGARVEY SPECIAL TO THE ADVOCATE One can only imagine the panic in the NDP backrooms as oil prices crumpled while the Alberta Royalty Review panel ground its way through the issues: “Guys, times are tough, is this really the hill we want to die on?”

Clearly the answer is no; the Review panel released its finding and — no surprise — the status quo wins again. Despite having campaigned on the principle that Alberta’s had one of the most unfair (and lowest) royalty regimes in the world, the Notley government conceded that — after all — Albertans are getting their fair share of value from the oil and gas development.

There is no doubt that economic uncertainty created by extraordinary volatility in oil pricing was compounded by the Spring election of the left-leaning NDP, with its stated ambitions of raising royalty rates.

Given the perilous state of the industry today, no one expected the government to make significant changes to the amounts collected. But it was reasonable to expect the NDP government to re-examine and re-set some of the basic principles of royalties so that when, not if, oil prices reverse course Albertans are not left standing on the curb as they have been in the past.

So, let’s examine a few key principles.

It would have been nice if the Alberta government had stood up to the principle of royalties being paid on ‘net profits.’ This idea sounds reasonable at

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

first glance; after all, industry takes the exploration and financial risk. And in order to attract the capital needed, the industry needs to recoup those costs.

But it’s not only industry that has associated costs to resource development. The government also has costs; it needs to invest upfront in building roads and other physical infrastructure, funding colleges and universities to train the industry’s workforce, providing legal and administrative foundations and a host other support services.

It’s clear — given the rapid capital cost inflation during the last boom and state of Alberta infrastructure — that the present royalty regime starves the government of the resources it needs to provide these services. And the industry suffers as a result.

Royalties are — by definition — payable on gross earnings to compensate the asset owner for monopoly access to a valuable resource. Dividends are different; they are calculated on net profits, but generally go to shareholders who are already earning an equity return on their share prices from higher corporate earnings.

Regardless of the actual royalty rates payable, a gross royalty increases transparency, reduces the opportunity (and temptation) for industry to fiddle the books and puts the onus to manage costs squarely on the business managers — where it belongs.

Regrettably, an opportunity was lost to set this principle in place.

But that’s not the only principle that needs review. There is the presumption that the government alone is responsible for creating a positive climate to attract the investment needed to build the future.

If we examine resource development from an

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asset perspective, it becomes a little clearer who should be responsible for what.

The people of Alberta (through their government) bring the resource asset to the table, providing monopoly access to a publically-owned resource to a privately-owned company. The company then provides other kinds of assets, particularly the organizational competencies and financial capital to see the project through. Many in the industry suggest that ‘without their expertise, there would be no oil business in Alberta.’ True, but the same could be said for the resource itself and it is doubly true for the financial capital needed to make it all work.

Each of these assets is vital to building and sustaining a successful oil and gas industry. As a result, when former Premier Peter Lougheed was in power in the ’70s Alberta earned a royalty that averaged about 30 per cent. The industry, of course, earned 70 per cent of gross revenues for bringing their human and financial capital to the table.

Regrettably, like the ‘net profit’ principle, the ‘investment climate’ principle also misplaces responsibility. It is the oil industry’s role and responsibility to provide a reasonable return for their investors; after all, it committed to that role and has the lion’s share of the gross revenues to work with.

Dave Mowat, chair of the royalty review panel summed up the deliberations this way: “Success doesn’t exist when one really wins and one really loses.” Regrettably, in Alberta, success is the industry winning and the people of Alberta losing, again.

Troy Media columnist Robert McGarvey is an economic historian and co-founder of the Genuine Wealth Institute.

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CANADA

A5

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2016

Time for frank energy talk

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — The controversial Energy East pipeline has now been endorsed by a provincial premier from each of Canada’s three main political parties, interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose said Wednesday in the House of Commons.

She was, of course, trying to score political points by depicting Justin Trudeau’s federal Liberal government as dragging its heels on TransCanada’s proposed $15.7-billion west-to-east energy project.

But the comment illustrates a much broader point, one echoed earlier this week at an energy conference in Ottawa: it’s time Canada’s environmental and energy proponents stopped talking past one another.

That theme was driven home by Michael Cleland, a former senior bureaucrat and energy industry leader who gave the keynote address Tuesday at an annual forum studying Canada’s energy landscape.

“Almost 30 years after the emergence of the climate debate, the public discussions on energy and climate continue as if they were being conducted on different planets,” Cleland told a room full of energy industry executives and diplomats.

His comments came as Trudeau was travelling west for two days of talks in Edmonton and Calgary with NDP Premier Rachel Notley and others to discuss Alberta’s foundering oilpatch.

And while much of the immediate political fracas is centred on pipelines, their approval process and market access for landlocked oil and gas in a sector devastated by $30-per-barrel oil, there are much bigger, longer-term forces at play.

Cleland, who parlayed senior positions with Finance and Natural Resources Canada into leading roles with the Canadian Electricity Association and the Canadian Gas Association, is now a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa. He says “real transformative change in energy is rather rare” and hasn’t happened in living memory — dating back to the widespread electrification of society and the development of the internal combustion engine.

Nonetheless, Cleland says the world appears to be on the cusp of another transformation.

While Canada’s carbon-intensive energy commodities are sure to be needed for the foreseeable future, he said, the long-term trend is in “one direction.”

As Cleland noted, the International Energy Agency’s base case forecast sees emissions of greenhouse

REMEMBERING THE DAY PARLIAMENT BURNED

gases climbing 16 per cent from 2013 to 2040. Yet in December in Paris, the same governments who are members of the IEA “cheerfully adopted” a goal to hold global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050, requiring a drastic reduction in global emissions.

Cleland called it “refreshing” to see provincial, territorial and federal environment ministers “connect some of the dots” last week after meeting in Ottawa, when they frankly acknowledged that Canada is not on track to meet its 2020 or 2030 emissions targets.

“What the environment ministers did not say was that to meet any of the 2030 national targets being bruited about implies a change in trajectory which is probably impossible under any circumstances,” he said.

“Are we willing to tell consumers that their energy costs need to go up by 50 to 100 per cent or more — pretty much starting tomorrow — in order to meet our 2030 greenhouse gas commitments?”

Those are the hard realities that governments of all stripes, industry, environmentalists and citizens at large need to digest and discuss.

“Reconciling our energy and climate aspirations will involve the biggest change in our energy systems in over 100 years.”

Bids for military search planes delivered in moving vans

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — At least two of the companies bidding to provide Canada’s long-delayed, new fixed-wing search planes had to rent moving vans to submit the tonnes of paperwork required by the bureaucrats evaluating the project.

Critics and analysts say it’s a sign of how “obscenely complicated” and risk-adverse military procurement has become, despite promises by both the Liberals and Conservatives to fix the system.

The bid from Alenia Aermacchi North America weighed some 2,700 kilograms, while Airbus Defence and Space used a U-Haul van to deliver 1,500 kilograms of documents to Public Services and Procurement Canada on Jan. 11.

It’s not known how big the pitch was from Embraer, the Brazilian aerospace firm that appeared to wait until the last minute to enter the race to join the $3.1-billion program.

In total, almost 100,000 pages were submitted for all of the bids.

The federal government was asking not only what kind of planes were available, but also solicited recommendations on how many planes were needed and where to station them, among other things.

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

IN

BRIEF Zika threat prompts blood donation ban TORONTO — The agency responsible for most of Canada’s blood supply says people who have travelled outside of Canada, the continental United States and Europe will be ineligible to give blood for 21 days after their return.

Canadian Blood Services says it is implementing the waiting period to mitigate the risk of the Zika virus entering the Canadian blood supply.

In a release Wednesday, Canadian Blood Services says the new waiting period is being implemented across the country and will take full effect in all of its clinics starting on Feb. 5.

Quebec’s blood operator, Hema-Quebec, will be implementing the same change as of this Sunday.

Canadian Blood Services says the 21-day period ensures enough time has passed for the virus to be eliminated from a person’s bloodstream, but it is asking people to postpone blood donation for at least a month after returning from travel outside the specified zones.

Safe Harbour

Thanks You

Through this Christmas season, so many of you offered your support to the people we serve, and you did that in a variety of ways.

Did you know . . . ?

• We have over 80 extraordinary staff.

• SHS has 5 houses - where we support people who are transitioning back into their community • We opened the Àrst Housing 1st program in Western Canada with 89% success rate

You gave your time, you organized sock drives, and you brought us scarves and mitts and toques.

• We have a 20 bed non-medical Detox

You donated boots, warm winter clothing and blankets.

You made quilts, you filled backpacks, you gave Tim cards, you adopted our programs and you donated money!

• 80% of the people using our shelters are from Central Alberta

In every one of those acts of kindness you also gave something you may not be aware of. The most important thing you did was to shine your light into this Safe Harbour. Christmas around the Harbour can be very difficult for people and darkness can settle in quickly.

• People’s Place sheltered 470 unique individuals last year and Mats sheltered 525

• We are still forced to turn people away from our shelters at night due to lack of space • The Seaville Family Foundation gave us $53,000 • We have hosted an Aboriginal Spring Feast for the past 8 years with an average of 200 people attending

Your lights helped to illuminate those dark corners. You let all of these people know that you cared about them, that you were thinking of them . . . that you wanted to help.

You touched their hearts and they join us in thanking you.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Back row, left to right: Heather Klein, Dallas Williams, Johnnie Bachusky, Cindy Jefferies and Buzz VanderVliet Front row, left to right: Rae Dittberner and Jennifer Cross Missing: Val Joa

7428023B4

Deputy Sergeant-AtArms Patrick McDonnell carries the wooden mace in the House of Commons at the start of business Wednesday in Ottawa. The wooden mace, created in 1917 to replace the mace destroyed in the Centre block fire, is used once a year to commemorate the anniversary of the fire which destroyed the parliament buildings.

We serve 6 types of people: mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters.

w w w. s a f e h a r b o u r s o c i e t y. o r g

LOCAL

A6

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2016

Levy coming for county landowners BYLAW DESIGNED TO RECOUP FUNDS FOR C&E TRAIL UPGRADES PASSES FIRST READING

BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF Those most benefitting from paving upgrades to the C&E Trail in Red Deer County will be asked to pick up half the cost.

Council gave first reading to an offsite levy bylaw designed to recoup half the estimated $11.7 million bill for an 11-km stretch of C&E Trail from Innisfail to Penhold.

To raise the $5.85 million, a $1,900-per-acre charge will be levied on properties where the levy applies.

That number is based on a formula that takes into account anticipated development growth and the projected 17-year lifespan of the paving.

Mayor Jim Wood said off-site levies are a good way to fairly spread the costs of new development.

“It is a way that we can sustain new development within our county and

“IT IS A WAY THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN NEW DEVELOPMENT WITHIN OUR COUNTY AND AFFORD TO BUILD ROADS AS NECESSARY AND SHARE (COSTS) AMONG THOSE WHO ARE TRULY BENEFITING.” JIM WOOD, COUNTY OF RED DEER MAYOR afford to build roads as necessary and share JIM WOOD (costs) among those who are truly benefiting,” said Wood, on Tuesday.

Council approved first reading of the bylaw introducing the levy, which according to provincial regulations must be calculated in consultation with landowners and developers.

Businesses and property owners potentially affected will have an opportunity to get more information at an open

house at Red Deer County Centre on Feb. 23. A public hearing will be held on March 22 before council considers second and third reading of the bylaw.

“We don’t want to see them all of a sudden get surprised when they want to go and do a new development,” said Wood.

Coun. Christine Moore supported the new approach to road funding.

“I think it’s a great idea and I’m interested in hearing from the public, and I’m sure we will,” said Moore.

Dave Dittrick, the county’s director of planning and development services,

A WINTER WALKING LAND

told council that the approach to these levies is “somewhat unique.”

Unlike levies charged earlier on other sections of the C&E Trail, discretionary uses such as gravel pits and major home businesses will not be exempt. For the first time, those subdividing a first parcel out of a subdivision must also pay the levy.

The levy does not apply to most permitted property uses. For instance, someone building a new home on their land, or a farmer building something for the farm, would not pay a levy.

It only applies to the portion of the land being used for development. For instance, if a three-acre parcel is subdivided out, the levy must be paid on the three acres. The levy on the remaining 157 acres would be deferred until it is developed.

Levies are only charged once to properties. pcowley@reddeeradvocate.com

HEALTH CARE

Whooping Cough outbreak over

BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF

Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff

Members of the Red Deer College staff and students headed out for a brisk walk over the lunch hour Wednesday to celebrate Winter Walk Day. Winter Walk Day is an Annual event created to combat the idea that winter weather is a barrier to outdoor active recreation. It was started in 2007 through a partnership between Safe Healthy Active People Everywhere (SHAPE) and Be Fit for Life and each year, tens of thousands of Albertans participate in events around the province. Last year more than 140,000 Albertans participated in Winter Walk Day.

Assisted living complex approved

BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF

ORIOLE PARK

A 230-unit assisted living complex is coming to the Oriole Park West neighbourhood.

The Municipal Planning Commission cleared the way for four buildings at 6845-66th Street, south of 67th Street between the Ramada and Best Western hotels on Wednesday.

The complex will be built in stages and will consist of a mix of bachelors, one-bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom rentals.

A brand family restaurant to serve building residents and members of the public in separate dining rooms, and four retail units on the ground floor

are part of the development.

“We’re looking at an aging in place facility where not everybody has to take those amenities that are offered,” said Toby Lampard, Santo Properties Management.

He said there will likely be a broad range of residents including the subset that need medical support or those who simply work in the area. Residents will have the option to opt in to the amenities on á la carte basis.

Some of the features include wider hallways for storage of mobility devices, low threshold shower design, wellness centre, tub room, respite suite,

LOCAL BRIEFS

Speed limits to drop on Pine Lake road The speed limits will be reduced on a risky stretch of road on the west side of Pine Lake.

Red Deer County council asked engineers to assess the safety of the 80 km/h speed limit on Range Road 251 and South Pine Lake Road.

Area roads are getting busier with both vehicles and pedestrians because of new housing in the area.

After reviewing the area, which includes a sharp curve, narrow bridge and a hill, engineers suggested lower speed limits be posted.

The maximum speed is now 60 km/h on Range Road 251 near the entrance of Rosewood Subdivision south to South Pine Lake Road to Range Road 245.

Habitat for Humanity meeting set for Bowden Habitat for Humanity Red Deer

Region is hosting a public information meeting in Bowden on Feb. 24.

The meeting is open to all Central Alberta families interested in applying for a Habitat home. Bowden town council will be on hand as special guests.

Information introducing the Habitat homeownership program and how it can help address the town’s need for low-income housing will be provided.

People attending will learn about the organization, its selection process, and applying for a home.

Some of the eligibility requirements for owning a Habitat home include an annual income of about $37,000 to $58,000; Canadian citizenship or landed immigrant with at least three years permanent residency; willing to contribute 500 hours of volunteer work to Habitat; and currently spending greater than 30 per cent of gross income on rent.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. with coffee and light snacks, and the presentation at 7 p.m. The location is 2133 18th Ave. in Bowden.

Families interested are asked to RSVP Janice Sibbeston at 403-3096080 Ext. 2, or email janice.sibbeston@ habitatreddeer.ca

Fax 403-341-6560 E-mail editorial@reddeeradvocate.com

home care office, food service and housekeeping.

In August 2008, the commission had approved a development permit for a condominium development targeted at seniors but construction did not proceed and the permit lapsed.

Lampard said the world basically fell apart financially in 2008.

“As it turned out, it’s one of those things we’re glad we didn’t do,” said Lampard. “When housing prices dropped, as they did in that time frame, it just destroyed our potential clientele.”

Lampard said he believes the timing is right for rentals and for the project. Over the next few months, the owners will organize focus groups. crhyno@reddeeradvocate.com

Show Us Your Heart ready to launch Global Pet Foods is hosting its annual Show Us Your Heart fundraiser, from Feb. 12 to 28, to raise money for Whisker Rescue.

People can show their support by visiting either Global Pet Foods locations in Red Deer, 11-3701 50th Ave. or 43-6320 50th Ave., to participate.

Global Pet Foods will match $1 donations and for each purchase of a $5 paper heart, Global Pet Foods will donate $1, plus give the buyer 10 Air Miles Bonus Miles.

All money raised will be donated to Whisker Rescue, a no-kill organization that relies on volunteers and foster families for cats until homes can be found. Money will go towards supplying cats in care with diabetes with the insulin, needles and special diet they require to manage their condition.

People can also enter the Show Us Your Pet Contest to win prizes by visiting www.globalpetfoods.com/showusyourheart2016.

Since its inception, Show Us Your Heart fundraiser has raised over $1 million to help care for thousands of homeless animals across Canada.

Whooping cough outbreaks in Central Alberta were declared over by Alberta Health Services on Wednesday.

AHS said the outbreaks in both the Central Zone and the North Zone were over effective immediately.

AHS will continue standard pertussis (whooping cough) surveillance across all zones.

Outbreaks were declared in December 2014 in the Central Zone and August 2015 in the North Zone.

Dr. Digby Horne, medical officer of health for AHS Central Zone, said cases in the zone jumped from 100 in 2013 to 139 cases in 2014, and back down to 87 in 2015.

Cases during the outbreak occurred primarily in the western “THE VACCINE IS and northern parts of the NOT 100 PER CENT zone, with SO WE DO GET few cases in the eastern CASES THAT OCCUR area.

IN PEOPLE WHO In 2015, children unARE IMMUNIZED der age 15 w e r e m o s t ... BUT IT’S ONE OF c o m m o n l y THE BEST THINGS affected, but THAT WE HAVE there were also some RIGHT NOW TO adult cases.

He said so PREVENT CASES.” DR. DIGBY HORNE, far in 2016, AHS CENTRAL ZONE MEDICAL OFFICE the zone had a few cases identified in January with onset in December, but no cases with onset in 2016.

Caused by a bacterial infection, the illness causes severe coughing that lasts for two to four weeks. Infants six months of age and younger are at greatest risk for serious complications, which include pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage and death.

No deaths were reported in the zone related to whooping cough.

Horne said if people have a prolonged cough that’s not going away, it doesn’t hurt to get assessed for pertussis.

“We’re hoping there will be fewer cases since the outbreak was declared.

But we will continue and expect to have sporadic cases, with maybe some local clusters,” Horne said.

Pertussis immunization is offered free of charge in Alberta. A series of doses is recommended starting at two months of age; again at four, six and 18 months; at four to six years; and again in Grade 9.

Albertans who have not received a dose of pertussis vaccine since turning 18 years of age are also eligible to receive a single additional dose in adulthood.

“The vaccine is not 100 per cent so we do get cases that occur in people who are immunized. We would certainly welcome a more effective vaccine, but it’s one of the best things that we have right now to prevent cases,” Horne said.

Albertans uncertain about their immunization history, or their child’s immunization history, are encouraged to contact their local public health office or Health Link at 811 to discuss immunization needs. szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM

RED DEER ADVOCATE Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 A7

U.S. scrutinizes refugee plans

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS WASHINGTON — Canada’s resettlement plan for Syrians came under scrutiny Wednesday in the U.S. Congress amid a hothouse election-year atmosphere — one where American politics is split over the welcoming of Muslim refugees.

It became apparent just moments into a hearing of the Senate’s Homeland Security committee that this conversation was as much between Americans as it was between countries.

In his opening remarks, the committee’s top Republican, Ron Johnson, said of the Trudeau plan to bring in 25,000 refugees: “That’s a pretty significant ramp-up. Will there be short-cuts taken?”

The top Democrat, Tom Carper, countered by quoting Pope Francis: “I think we should support our ally Canada in doing the right thing in the most secure manner possible,” he said.

The context for this meeting was unfolding elsewhere.

Up the highway in Baltimore, Barack Obama visited a mosque for the first time in his presidency and warned against anti-Muslim bigotry. His Republican opponents have hammered him for planning to bring in 10,000 refugees — some want zero some want only non-Muslims and Donald Trump wants a total freeze on Muslim travel to the U.S. The Canadian government was invited to participate in the hearing but declined, citing the historical precedent of avoiding that partisan chamber.

A veteran Washington lobbyist called that a wise move.

Former Canadian diplomat Paul Frazer said he hasn’t heard a single lawmaker raise Canada’s refugee plan as a serious concern. He said the Canadian government should keep on eye on the discussion, communicate with U.S. counterparts on security and stay out of the political fray.

“This is a particularly partisan year.

File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canadian Immigration Minister John McCallum, center, poses for a photograph with a Syrian family soon to be resettled in Canada at the UN refugee agency building in Amman, Jordan. American senators are looking at Canada’s plans to resettle Syrian refugees.

Canada has nothing to gain by jumping into the pool,” Frazer said.

“This is not really about Canada…

Senate and House hearings serve many purposes and often serve a variety of agendas. Hearings are often political theatre.”

One senator used the hearing to promote a bill she’s trying to pass.

At one point, two of the six senators

Feds seek new ways to meet refugees’ needs

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — Every time Ottawa’s refugee settlement community gets together, Syrians show up seeking help to get family members out of their home country or one of the countries nearby that are now home to over four million Syrian refugees, says a resettlement worker.

But many can’t afford private sponsorship, so a new program designed to connect them directly with people who can is welcome, said Donald Smith, who runs the refugee working group for the Anglican diocese of Ottawa.

“It’s huge,” he said of the demand.

“We get people walking in off the street, emails and phone calls every day of people saying, please help me sponsor my family.”

Since the program opened last week, 157 Syrian families have signed up, though only five sponsorship groups have joined. That’s an imbalance the government hopes to change and not just to capitalize on the outpouring of support from Canadians.

Research has shown that refugees with private sponsors generally get jobs and come off social assistance faster than those who come through the government-assisted program.

New data obtained by The Canadian Press gives some insight as to why: a preliminary review of government-assisted Syrian refugees who’ve landed in Canada since November show they have lower education levels and job skills and the vast majority speak neither English nor French when compared with those with private sponsors.

But that’s the whole point of the exercise, said Immigration Minister John McCallum.

“When we say we want to receive the most vulnerable, we don’t choose people with PhDs,” he said. “We choose the most vulnerable people who are given to us out of the UN lists, so naturally it will be little more diffi-

cult for them when they arrive here to integrate.”

The government-assisted refugee program sees the federal government cover the entire cost of a refugee’s first year in the country, with the settlement services they need handled by agencies with federal contracts. Refugees are chosen through the UN. Privately sponsored refugees, on the other hand, are greeted by a group of people who’ve signed an agreement to look after them, often choosing them personally through aid agencies.

The connection makes a difference, said Smith.

“In that first year, the private sponsorship group is going to take very good care of that family and provide many, many more person hours in working with that group and that has got to be a help,” he said.

But the government also has to do its share, he said.

That’s why the Liberals are increasing space in a program that sees the government share the refugee costs with a private group, with that group handling most of the resettlement needs.

Smith said sponsors like it, in part because the paperwork is simpler and refugees arrive faster — sometimes in a matter of weeks — while regular private sponsorship can take months and require mounds of documents.

The blended program started in 2013 and is growing fast. So far this year it has brought in 2,300 people, compared with 1,534 for all of 2015.

Its target for this year will be set in the upcoming immigration plan and McCallum called it the “wave of the future.”

Smith said that makes sense in part because the demand from Canadians to help Syrians doesn’t seem to be abating.

“I don’t think three or four months ago the government would have realized there is going to be this groundswell,” Smith said.

present were border state representatives who’ve co-sponsored a bipartisan bill calling for more resources and customs agents in their states.

A second witness, David Harris, was employed at Canada’s spy agency from 1988 to 1990 and has in subsequent decades been regularly quoted in U.S. media stories referring to the danger of terrorists from Canada.

Outside the hearings, he explained his broader goal: a massive reduction in immigration to Canada — from the current 250,000 annually to several tens of thousands.

“We have imposed upon ourselves a remarkable burden where security is concerned,” he said.

Students from La Loche out at least a month after shooting

were killed at the school and two brothers were shot to death at a home in the remote community.

It would also be the same day that a 17-year-old boy charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder is to appear again in court in Meadow Lake, Sask.

Ladouceur says decisions still need to be made as to how “learning will resume in La Loche.”

A parent says safety at the school is the main concern for him and other parents as they prepare their children to return to a building with such horrible memories.

LA LOCHE, Sask. — An official says there’s no firm date for when students will return to a northern Saskatchewan high school where two people were shot to death.

Ken Ladouceur, director of education with the Northern Lights School Division, says Feb. 22 is the earliest the La Loche school could reopen.

That would make it more than a month since a teacher and an aide

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A8 RED DEER ADVOCATE Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016

CANADA

BRIEFS

Move to proportional rep might require constitutional amendment: Senate expert OTTAWA — The federal Liberal government was warned Wednesday that its plans to overhaul Canada’s electoral system could wind up plunging the country into constitutional wrangling — a spectre Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has vowed to avoid.

Sen. Serge Joyal, an independent Liberal and acknowledged constitutional authority, said adopting some form of proportional representation could make majority governments less likely and require two or more parties to come together to form less stable minority or coalition governments.

That in turn could necessitate clarification of the Governor General’s prerogative to decide which party leader becomes prime minister and, if a coalition collapses, when to dissolve Parliament.

And, Joyal noted, any change to the Governor General’s powers would require a constitutional amendment approved by all 10 provinces.

“Anyone who will look into, seriously, to really implement proportional representation … we have to review those things, those powers, because otherwise we will discover suddenly that we have created a nightmare and we won’t know how to address it,” Joyal told an open caucus meeting held by independent Liberal senators to hear from experts on electoral reform.

Crash victim who crawled up snowbank to save daughter loses feet to frostbite WINNIPEG — An injured Manitoba woman who crawled up a snowbank to seek help after spending overnight in a frigid ditch trying to keep her young daughter warm has lost her feet to frostbite.

Kristen Hiebert and four-year-old Avery were going home last month when their car slid off a rural highway near a bridge and rolled down a steep slope.

They spent the night huddled together for 10 hours as temperatures dipped to -23 C. At dawn, Hiebert dragged herself up the snowbank despite a broken leg, broken neck and severe frostbite to her bare feet.

Her friend, Morgan Campbell, says Hiebert’s feet had to be amputated last week.

Campbell says on a GoFundMe page that Hiebert’s family is overwhelmed but buoyed by public support.

“Kristen is overcome with emotion by all of the love shown towards her and her family,” Campbell wrote.

“She sends her sincerest gratitude to everyone who has donated, sent kind thoughts, words and prayers.

“She is in awe of your compassion.

You have made their ability to recover achievable.”

Protest held after decorated war veteran kicked out of Winnipeg shopping mall WINNIPEG — Dozens of people have staged a protest at Winnipeg’s Portage Place shopping mall over the expulsion on the weekend of a decorated war veteran and respected elder.

Joseph Meconse said he and a friend sat down to tea in the mall’s food court on Saturday when a security guard approached him and told him he had half an hour before he would have to leave.

Meconse said he then went to get a plate of food and as he was eating, the guard returned and told him he had to leave immediately.

Meconse, 74, joined the military at

the age of 20 and served for a decade at posts in Germany and Cyprus.

When he eventually came home to work as a corrections officer, it was as a decorated soldier with a chest full of medals, and later he was made a member of the Order of Manitoba.

Officials with the mall said they had no comment on the incident.

“It felt like I was degraded,” Meconse said Wednesday. “All the things I’ve done for the public, for our people, been in the armed forces, but this little guy (the guard) has no respect for anybody.

“We’re not animals (but) sometimes we’re treated like it.”

Two of 14 confirmed cases of E. coli linked to pork sausage CALGARY — Alberta Health Services says there have been 14 confirmed cases of E. coli in the Calgary zone, but they have not all been traced to a single source.

However, recent testing has linked at least two of the cases to a specific pork sausage sold by a Calgary retailer.

The health agency is advising anyone who purchased Hungarian farmer’s sausage made by Paolini’s Sausage & Meats before Feb. 2 to cook it to an internal temperature of 71 C. Cooking to this temperature will destroy any potential E. coli bacteria.

The sausage, which does not come with appropriate cooking instructions, is not a ready-to-eat product.

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Woman accused in downtown Toronto stabbing now charged with 1st-degree murder TORONTO — A woman charged in an apparently unprovoked fatal stabbing in Toronto’s financial district late last year is now charged with first-degree murder.

A Toronto police spokeswoman says the charge against 40-year-old Rohinie Bisesar was upgraded from second-degree murder in court on Wednesday.

Const. Jenifferjit Sidhu says Bisesar is to return to court on Feb. 29.

Rosemarie Junor, 28, died several days after being stabbed at a Shoppers Drug Mart in Toronto’s popular underground PATH network of shops and restaurants on Dec. 11.

Security images taken at the time of the stabbing showed a well-dressed, long-haired woman making a hasty retreat from the drugstore.

Junor, a newlywed medical technician who worked nearby, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and died five days after the attack.

Nunavut family wants inquiry into baby’s death CAPE DORSET, Nunavut — The parents of a baby who died under questionable circumstances in a Nunavut community say they want a coroner’s inquest into their son’s death.

An inquest — which the territory has promised to call if the parents ask — could reveal more details about a health system already heavily criticized in a previous review into the 2012 death of three-month-old Makibi Timilak.

“It still needs to be done,” said Neevee Akesuk, 21, the baby’s mother. “I just want to get the truth.”

On the night of April 4, 2012, Akesuk called the health centre in Cape Dorset on the southern tip of Baffin Island to say her baby wouldn’t settle and go to sleep. She was advised to bathe Makibi and bring him in the next morning.

Akesuk did so and Makibi appeared to fall peacefully asleep. Several hours later he was rushed unconscious to the health centre and could not be revived.

Makibi’s death was ultimately ruled sudden infant death syndrome.

But questions were raised about the death and the Nunavut government eventually called an external review.

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HEALTH

A9

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2016

Not enough being done for heart issues REPORT SAYS HEALTH CARE NOT DOING ENOUGH TO HELP CANADIANS WHO HAVE DAMAGED HEARTS

600,000 Canadians affected: Heart failure and its symptoms Some facts and figures about heart failure from a new report by the Heart and Stroke Foundation: Heart failure is when the heart muscle has been damaged or weakened by disease or heart attacks and can’t pump blood efficiently through the body. ● Heart failure affects more than 600,000 Canadians. There are 50,000 new cases each year. ● There is no cure and many patients die within five to 10 years. ● Symptoms include shortness of breath, exhaustion and swelling in the legs, ankles and feet. ● The most common causes are heart attacks and high blood pressure. ● Patients have long, frequent hospital stays and the condition costs the economy more than $2.8 billion per year.

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS A new report says more needs to be done to help a growing number of Canadians who are living with damaged hearts.

About 600,000 people are living with heart failure — an incurable, long-term condition where the heart is not pumping enough blood due to damage from heart attacks and disease, says the Heart and Stroke Foundation study.

That growing number is putting a strain on patients, their families and the economy, says David Sculthorpe, CEO of the foundation.

“There is so much we need to do as more Canadians develop this chronic, incurable condition — from earlier diagnosis to better end-of-life care and, ultimately, finding ways to help heal these damaged hearts.”

Depending on the severity of symptoms, about half of heart-failure patients die within five years and most will die within 10 years, the report says.

Even with excellent care, heart-failure patients face tough challenges.

Marc Bains was a fit 23-year-old when he was diagnosed in 2008 after a cold virus attacked his heart and reduced its function to only 10 per cent. He was put on a heart transplant list and had a tiny defibrillator implanted in his chest.

Bains’s health improved with treatment, exercise and an improved diet to the point where he was taken off the transplant list, but over the years he has had three cardiac arrests.

In 2014, he collapsed on a squash court after his defibrillator failed. He spent five days in an induced coma in hospital and two weeks in intensive care.

“You don’t get used to heart failure, but in a sense it becomes part of your life,” Bains said from Van-

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Marc Bains, shown in a handout photo, was a fit 23-year-old when he was diagnosed in 2008 after a cold virus attacked his heart, reducing its function to only 10 per cent. The health-care system needs to do more to help the growing number of Canadians who are living with damaged hearts, says a new report. couver recently.

He estimates that since his diagnosis, he has met with his cardiologist about 60 times.

“It is almost a state of mind. Something could happen, but you have to be optimistic that the care you are receiving is going to pull through for you.”

The report says health care is difficult to navigate for heart-failure patients and there are gaps in care across the country. There is a shortage of specialists, treatment clinics and home-care support.

Dr. Justin Ezekowitz, director of the University of

Alberta’s heart function clinic, said early diagnosis and better treatment are key.

“This is a complex disease syndrome and these patients need a lot of care from a lot of different individuals,” he said. “Figuring out their risk is really critical.”

Heart-failure patients are admitted to hospitals more often and for longer periods of time, the report says. Visits have gone up 13 per cent over the last six years, which has put an increased burden on the health system.

Hospitalization and emergency room visits due to the condition cost the economy more than $2.8 billion each year.

The report calls on governments to improve, expand and better co-ordinate services for diagnosis, treatment, disease management and palliative care.

One obstacle is a lack of understanding about heart failure, it says. Many Canadians mistakenly believe the condition is curable or is a normal part of aging.

Study hints at biology of schizophrenia MAY AID TREATMENT

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

File photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

This image provided by John Abbott via New York University shows NYU senior research co-ordinator Nora Henderson collecting samples of bacteria from twin boys at their Mamaroneck, N.Y., home. We share our bodies with microbes that help keep us healthy, and the babies are part of research at NYU Langone Medical Center that gives infants born by C-section a dose of bacteria from mom’s birth canal to see if it influences development of their own so-called microbiome.

Study tries to give C-section babies mom’s germs they missed translates to better health years later. For example, previous studies have suggested babies born by C-section have a higher risk of developing asthma, WASHINGTON — Sharing bacteria in the operat- allergies and certain other health conditions, and no ing room normally is a no-no but in a novel experi- one knows why. ment, researchers are giving babies born by C-secDominguez-Bello began the pilot study at the tion a dose of presumably protective germs from University of Puerto Rico but now has expanded it mom’s birth canal. at NYU, with 84 babies enrolled so far whose microWe share our bodies with microbes — on the skin, biomes are being tested for a year. Already, she has in the mouth, in the gut — that help keep us healthy, 13,000 samples waiting to be analyzed if she can find a community, or microbiome, that starts forming at the funding. birth. Usually, a vaginal birth marks babies’ first “That rationale does make sense,” said Gregor massive exposure to the bacteria. But babies born Reid, a microbiology professor at Canada’s Univerby C-section miss out on those particular bugs, some- sity of Western Ontario, who wasn’t involved with the thing many scientists suspect could have conse- study and wants to see more such research. quences later in life.

“The first few years of life are when we are proMonday, researchers reported the first hint that grammed for long-term health. What this study is it’s possible to at least partialtrying to say is, ‘I wonder how ly restore mom’s missing micritical the vaginal microbiome ‘THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF LIFE crobes to babies born surgicalis to this whole programming ly, simply by swabbing those ARE WHEN WE ARE PROGRAMMED concept?”’ infants with their mother’s vagmicrobiome specialFOR LONG-TERM HEALTH. WHAT ist One inal fluid within two minutes of didn’t wait for the science.

THIS STUDY IS TRYING TO SAY IS, When his own daughter was birth.

“What we are going to show by emergency C-section ‘I WONDER HOW CRITICAL THE born is how babies assemble their four years ago, Rob Knight of microbiome,” said microbi- VAGINAL MICROBIOME IS TO THIS the University of California, ologist Maria Gloria DominSan Diego, made sure to try the guez-Bello of New York Uni- WHOLE PROGRAMMING CONCEPT?’ swabbing technique. versity, who led the pilot study Knight’s partner was on —GREGOR REID, A MICROBIOLOGY PROFESSOR published in the journal Naboard but the couple waited AT UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO ture Medicine. “Do C-section until the doctors and nurses babies ever catch up?” left the room to avoid explainFar more research is needed to prove if the tech- ing what likely would have been viewed as, well, nique really works — or makes a difference in ba- unorthodox. bies’ health.

“As an evolutionary biologist and microbiologist, This first-step attempt to manipulate birth mi- it just made complete sense that we’d want to maxicrobes was very small, comparing seven babies born mize her ability to get the natural microbes,” Knight vaginally with 11 born by scheduled C-section, four said. of whom got that dose of mom’s bacteria. Over the “We’re talking about something so natural, just next month, researchers took more than 1,500 sam- restoring the microbes that every mammal has been ples of different body sites to see how the infants’ exposed to for tens of millions of years.”

There’s no way to tell whether that made any difown microbiomes were developing.

The specially exposed C-section babies developed ference for Knight’s own daughter, one reason he microbial neighbourhoods that were more similar joined Dominguez-Bello as a co-author of the new reto vaginally born infants than to the other tots born search to study whether manipulating microbiomes surgically, Dominguez-Bello reported. In particular, is feasible.

Other specialists cautioned against a do-it-yourthe swabbed babies harboured more of two bacteria species — Lactobacillus and Bacteroides — that are self approach. Mothers-to-be are supposed to be testthought to play a role in training the immune system, ed for pathogens, such as Group B strep, that could and that were nearly absent in the untreated C-sec- spread during labour — and those in the study were closely scrutinized — but very little is known about tion babies.

The bigger question is not just how the bugs affect the complex mix of vaginal microbes and which are early microbiome development but whether that most important.

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Scientists pursuing the biological roots of schizophrenia have zeroed in on a potential factor — a normal brain process that gets kicked into overdrive. The finding could someday lead to ways to treat the disease or even prevent it.

The result — accomplished by analysis of genetics, autopsy brain tissue and laboratory mice — is “going to be a game-changer” in terms of understanding schizophrenia and offering routes for treatment and potential for prevention, said Bruce Cuthbert, acting deputy director of the National Institute of Mental Health, which helped fund the research.

An expert unconnected to the research said the study’s conclusion was not yet proven, but plausible.

Almost one per cent of the general population will have schizophrenia at some point in their lives.

They may hear voices or hallucinate, talk about strange ideas, and believe others are reading their minds or plotting against them.

Nobody knows what causes the disorder, so the new result offers a possible peek into a black box.

The work is reported in a paper released Wednesday by the journal Nature.

The finding might pertain to “a very substantial fraction of cases, maybe most cases, even,” said senior author Steven McCarroll, of Harvard Medical School and the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The result links schizophrenia risk to a problem with a normal process that happens in adolescence and early adulthood, when disease symptoms often appear. That age range is when the brain trims back the number of specialized places on brain cells where the cells signal each other, called synapses.

The new work suggests a connection to schizophrenia when this process gets out of hand, deleting too many synapses.

“It’s like you have a gardener who was supposed to prune the bushes and just got overactive,” Cuthbert observed. “You end up with bushes that are pruned way too much.”

The result doesn’t mean over-pruning causes schizophrenia on its own. It could promote the disease in combination with other factors in the brain, McCarroll said.

The work began with a genetic investigation. Previous analysis of the human DNA indicates over 100 places that influence the risk of getting schizophrenia, but detailed biological explanations for those influences are very rare. The new work identified a risk gene and found evidence for the over-pruning idea.

Drawing on DNA data from 28,799 people with schizophrenia and 35,986 people without it, the researchers found that a gene called C4 can raise a person’s risk by about 30 per cent over that of the general population.

The gene comes in several forms, and researchers examining brain tissue found evidence that the forms that pose the most risk of schizophrenia were also the most active in the brain. In lab mice, they found that the gene plays a key role in pruning synapses.

The study doesn’t directly demonstrate that excessive pruning of synapses plays a role in schizophrenia, but the idea makes sense, McCarroll said. It ties together previous observations, among them that schizophrenia most often develops during youth and that patients’ brains show unusually few synapses, he said.

Dr. Kenneth Kendler, a schizophrenia genetics expert at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond who didn’t participate in the project, said the work presents an impressive array of results.

The evidence that C4 can raise schizophrenia risk is strong, he said. The proposal that it does so through excessive pruning of synapses is “plausible and interesting, but not yet fully convincing,” he said.

“We don’t yet know (whether) their hypothesis is completely true,” Kendler said, but the work is still “a pretty big deal.”

LIFESTYLE

A10

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2016

Friend gets treated like third wheel Dear Annie: I live in the same town some, these two mostly talk to each as two friends from high school. other about their children and grandOne of these friends children and I am left out of married right out of high the conversation. Changing school and starting having the subject doesn’t work, and children. My other friend I don’t enjoy feeling like the and I both went to college third wheel. together, and then she also Any suggestions on how to married and started her deal with this touchy matter family. Neither of these would be appreciated. — Left women had a career outOut side the home. I, however, Dear Left Out: You’ve worked in a professional known these women for decapacity until retirement, cades. It’s OK to be frank, as and I did not have chillong as it is done in a lightdren. hearted way.

MITCHELL We are now in our 60s.

The next time you get to& SUGAR I love both these ladies gether, say with a smile, and am glad we live in the “Laurie and Louise, you ANNIE same town. have five minutes to discuss Here’s the problem: your kids. I’m happy to know When I am with either friend individ- what’s going on with your families, and ually, they will talk about a variety of I’ll even look at the latest pictures of topics with me, which I enjoy. Howev- the grandchildren. er, when we get together as a threeBut more than that leaves me out Thursday, Feb. 4 CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DATE: Jenette Goldstein, 56; Alice Cooper, 67; Natalie Imbruglia, 40 THOUGHT OF THE DAY: The more focused you are, the smoother the day will run.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Lively and entertaining, you have a wonderful way with words. 2016 is the year to listen and learn from a special teacher, mentor or friend.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Friendships are favoured today, as JOANNE MADELINE you enjoy each other’s company.

MOORE But you must think things through HOROSCOPE before you speak Rams. Your first thought isn’t necessarily the best one!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The more organized you are, the better the day will be. Which suits dependable Bulls perfectly! When it comes to a frustrating personal issue, itís time to revise, review and then reboot.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You’re at your busy best as you enjoy productive one-to-one relationships. It’s also a good time to travel, study or make a speech. But resist the urge to be the neighbourhood nosey-parker!

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Surround yourself with people who boost your confidence and encourage your dreams.

But avoid getting drawn into discussions over money or politics, as misunderstandings are likely.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): It’s time to make positive connections, as you communicate with a wide range of people.

Stimulating conversation and careful research are the keys to a pleasantly productive day.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Versatile Virgo — expect a busy day, when your multi-tasking talents will be called on frequently. It’s a good time to consult with work colleagues and then make sound professional decisions.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): All types of study and research are favoured, as you utilize your knowledgeable Libran mind.

A child, teenager or friend has something to say, so make sure you are really listening.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Slow and steady wins the race today Scorpio. Spending quality time with family and close friends will help stabilize relationships and sort out potential problems before they begin.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’re keen to get your point across Sagittarius but, if you don’t communicate clearly, then you’ll be misunderstood. Resist the urge to promise more than you can realistically deliver.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Whatever you do, you’re in for the long run. But, if something isn’t working out, don’t be afraid to change horses midstream. Mercury encourages you to be flexible and adaptable.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t jump to conclusions — make sure you have all the facts and figures before you make a decision. When it comes to a problem at work, be more proactive about finding a solution.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): The Sun and Saturn encourage you to communicate your ideas in straight-forward ways.

Others will be impatient if you procrastinate Pisces, so just say what you’ve got to say!

Joanne Madeline Moore is an internationally syndicated astrologer and columnist. Her column appears daily in the Advocate.

Student says he’s in trouble for renting dorm room on Airbnb

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BOSTON — A student at Emerson College in Boston says he’s facing disciplinary action after renting out his dorm room on Airbnb.

Jack Worth tells The Boston Globe he rented the room in early January to three guests on three separate nights.

The 19-year-old sophomore says the listing was online for two weeks before school officials asked him to remove it. Worth wouldn’t say how much he charged for the room.

Worth says the school’s punishment would mar his time at the liberal arts school.

Emerson officials wouldn’t say whether Worth rented out his room on Airbnb, citing privacy concerns.

But school officials say an attempt to sublet a dorm room would violate the school’s housing policies.

An Airbnb spokesman says all hosts are asked to follow local regulations when renting a room.

of the conversation. We have so many other things to talk about. OK?” Dear Annie: This is in reply to the letter from “Nervous Nellie,” whose fiance never stops looking at other women.

Twenty five years ago, I was in the same situation. After seeing my fiance make eye contact with and smile at other women numerous times, I had enough. Up until then, I had never said a word about it, knowing that he would turn it around and tell me I was insecure.

One day we were in a large supermarket aisle, when, as I turned to speak to him, I saw that he was ogling a woman in the checkout line. And she was returning his smile. I went up close to him and whispered in his ear, “If you EVER do that again, I will yell as loudly as I can that you are impotent and unemployed, and that she can have you if she wants. (Part of that was true.)

He knew by the fire in my eyes that I meant it and the disrespectful behavior ceased immediately.

Nonetheless, within months I decided that I didn’t need this loser and broke our engagement. But that incident is still a sweet memory. — Empowered Myself Dear Empowered: We love it. Especially the part where you broke off the engagement.

If this man required a major warning in order to treat you with respect, he wasn’t worth your time and you figured it out before you married him.

Good for you.

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.

PERFECT PERCH

Photo by RICK TALLAS/Freelance

A rough-legged hawk scopes out the surrounding from his perch in a tree along Mckenzie trails.

Winter is the time to see this large, open-country hawk where it may be perched on a pole or hovering over a marsh or pasture on the hunt for small rodents. Found globally across northern latitudes, this species appears in both light and dark forms.

Growing number of people suffering burns from smoking while on oxygen

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON — The raw, red burn scars on Al Pombert’s face are a warning of what can happen to someone who smokes while on oxygen therapy.

Pombert said he didn’t think twice last November about lighting up, even though he was on oxygen for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema.

The resulting explosive fire could have killed him.

“I was actually crying. That is how much pain I was in,” Pombert, 70, recalled Tuesday. “For two or three days I was in excruciating pain.”

Pombert said the pain was even worse during healing when nurses had to shave scabs of burned flesh from his face.

Health officials say a growing number of people, mainly seniors, are suffering serious burns from smoking while on long-term home oxygen therapy.

Dr. Edward Tredget, a burn treatment expert at the University of Alberta Hospital, said injuries can include blistered skin and burns to the face, airways, hands and body.

In some cases, people die from their burns or are so injured they require skin grafts and long stays in hospital.

Tredget said it’s actually illegal for someone on oxygen therapy to smoke, but some do anyway because they are hooked on tobacco.

Family and caregivers are sometimes part of the problem.

“In some ways it is difficult to ask somebody who has smoked all of their life to stop suddenly,” he said.

“Many of the patients who are living in nursing

check your

homes are having cigarettes provided for them by their loved ones and, in some cases, by members of the hospital where they are staying.

A study published in the United States last year estimated that more than one in five home oxygen therapy patients smoke. Alberta estimates that more than 35 people have been treated for such burns in the past 10 years. There were no national figures available.

Electronic cigarettes have also been cited in such fires. Health Canada said there was a case in Quebec in November 2014 involving a person using an e-cigarette. The agency said there have been similar cases in other countries.

“Health Canada is warning consumers of potential risks of using electronic cigarettes while undergoing oxygen therapy,” the department notes on its website.

“Electronic cigarettes include heating elements and power source.”

Tredget said some people just don’t understand that oxygen in a bottle is not like breathing regular air. Bottled oxygen is pure and acts as an accelerant that makes a fire burn hotter.

Health officials hope that raising awareness and getting people to quit smoking will reduce the problem.

In New Zealand, people who are caught smoking while on oxygen therapy are banned from using the bottles, Tredget said.

He added that people who smoke while on oxygen also pose a threat, because a fire could hurt others and damage where they live.

Pombert, who had smoked since he was nine, said there is nothing like the pain of being burned to drive home the danger. He hopes people will learn from his mistake.

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ENTERTAINMENT

A11

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2016

Gearing up for war MARVEL’S TOP EDITOR SKETCHES OUT THE DETAILS FOR ITS NEXT BIG EVENT

BY DAVID BETANCOURT ADVOCATE NEWS SERVICES Axel Alonso, as Marvel Comics’ editor in chief, was in a meeting with senior editors and his publisher when the question was posed to him: What would he do if the Marvel Universe had another Civil War? It was served up as a hypothetical, but the discussion kept getting bigger — to the point that one of Marvel’s top writers, Brian Michael Bendis, was brought into the discussion. And as more people became a part of the conversation, the publisher, Dan Buckley, turned to Alonso and said: “You know what you’ve got here? You’ve got Civil War II.” And with that, Marvel had its next big event after Secret Wars. One of the biggest hurdles, though, was time; this conversation occurred not years ago, but mere months. The length of preparation typically required for a major comic-book event was not an option.

“This was not like (the first) Civil War or Secret Wars, where we planned for a couple of years,” Alonso told The Washington Post. “We’ve been planning this for maybe three or four months.”

Alonso said that though such a quick turnaround is rare, the chance to have a jump-on point for potential new readers — following the debut of this May’s Captain America: Civil War film — was an opportunity that couldn’t be missed.

Civil War II, which will debut in June, will be written by Bendis, who Alonso said was a part of initial discussions because he is now writing Invincible Iron Man for Marvel. Alonso said that the Civil War sequel was Bendis’s job to turn down, and that he’s pleased that one of his most popular writers accepted another major Marvel event.

“Having been involved in the initial architecture of the story, and given Tony Stark’s involvement in the story, it made perfect sense for (Bendis) to write it,” Alonso said.

As with the original Marvel Civil War, Iron Man will again be front and center — but this time, his main opposition will come from Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel.

“There’s a reason that Carol is a part of the opposition forces. It not only speaks to her character, but her new role in the Marvel universe,” Alonso said of one of Marvel’s most popular female characters. “She’s the leader of Alpha Flight, which is Earth’s first line of defense from all incursions. As of today, she is a very powerful authoritative figure in the Marvel universe.”

While aligning the release of Civil War II with the forthcoming Captain

IN

BRIEF Fahmy memoir to be developed as feature film, publisher says LONDON — The publisher of Mohamed Fahmy’s upcoming memoir says a British company will develop the book as a feature film.

Penguin Random House Canada says Fahmy’s memoir “The Marriott Cell” MOHAMED FAHMY will tell the story of how he and two

Illustration by MARVEL COMICS

‘Civil War II’ debuts this June from Marvel Comics.

America movie is intentional, Alonso said, he bears in mind that new readers will dive into a Marvel universe that doesn’t mirror the movies, given recent changes to the mantles of some of Marvel’s top heroes.

“The way we look at it, we’re telling a movie that may come out in 10, 15 or 20 years. We’re telling the best stories we can,” Alonso said. “We’ve got

an unlimited special-effects budget.

We have tons of latitude creatively to bend, break and have fun and get people talking at the comic-book stores and beyond. We don’t feel that pressure (to match the movies). We’re just having fun telling great stories.”

Part of the new Marvel comic-book universe is a world that strives for diversity, including a black Captain

colleagues of Al Jazeera English were imprisoned in Egypt, and their battle for freedom.

The book is described as a political thriller that covers the arrest, trial and incarceration of bureau chief Fahmy, Australian correspondent Peter Greste and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed in 2013.

Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were pardoned last September. Greste had previously been deported.

Fahmy’s memoir is to be published in October and the publisher says The Development Partnership will turn it into a film.

Writer/producer/director Michael Bronner will write the adaptation of the memoir, and Egyptian actor/ producer Amr Waked is also working on the project.

“A feature is going to allow us to relive and dramatically portray what no news reel grasped one’s inner voice caught in an emotional struggle between lawlessness, failed corporate decisions, and bureaucratic red tape that left us in a vicious Kafkaesque black hole fighting for our lives and that bigger cause of press freedom,” said Fahmy in a statement.

Def Leppard postpones tour due to illness

Judge finalizes Hilary Duff’s divorce from ex-NHL player

NASHVILLE — The British rock band Def Leppard is postponing the remainder of its winter tour due to an unspecified illness.

A statement on the group’s website said a concert scheduled for Tuesday in San Antonio and all concerts going forward through Feb. 17 will be rescheduled. That includes shows scheduled in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Brooklyn, New York.

A publicist for the band did not respond to an email message seeking details.

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles judge has finalized Hilary Duff’s divorce from former NHL player Mike Comrie.

The judgment, which was first reported Tuesday by celebrity website TMZ, was finalized on Thursday.

The 28-year-old singer and actress starred in the Lizzie McGuire television series and film and stars on the TV Land series Younger. Comrie played professional hockey between 2000 and 2011, ending his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

From the cobblestone streets of the French Riviera and the rolling hills of Italy’s Piedmont region to Portugal’s lively Lisbon and Spain’s Catalonia to the spicy streets of India all the way down under to the wine soaked regions of Australia, Chef Emmenuel David take your taste buds on a culinary adventure around the world.

Bring your appetite. Leave your passport.

INDIA – NOSH ON NAWABI – JAN. 24, 2016 ITALY – PIEDMONT PERFECTION – FEB. 28, 2016 AUSTRALIA – DISCOVER DOWNUNDER – MAR. 27, 2016 PORTUGAL – LIVE IT UP IN LISBON – MAY 22, 2016 SPAIN – CATALAN CUISINE – JUN. 26,2016

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America, a female Thor and a Hulk who is Asian. That, however, hasn’t come without controversy. Marvel has been criticized in media and social media for the lack of creative diversity behind its recent popular hip-hop covers. (Note: Marvel is quick to say that it already had diverse hires planned when the controversy occurred.) Alonso has heard the criticism and said that even before such complaints went viral, Marvel was working to diversify both the content within its pages and its roster of creative talent.

“You’re always going to get complaints, but the key thing is, we’re looking for great writers,” Alonso said.

“I’m extremely excited about our lineup.”

“We’re always mindful of finding diverse talent,” Alonso noted. “If you take a look at our recent announcements (Black Panther, Totally Awesome Hulk), which were underway more than a year ago, we were conscious of this and working towards this long before anybody had any complaints.”

As for the years-in-the-making event that preceded Civil War II — and which recently concluded after delays — Alonso said that he was proud of the highly anticipated finish of Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Wars.

“I think Jonathan not only stuck the landing for (Secret Wars), but also for our larger goals to transform the Marvel universe,” Alonso said. “Ultimately it comes down to Reed Richards and Doctor Doom, two of the original Marvel characters, and Reed Richards’s saving the day, and I think that’s beautiful. And it was intended.”

Alonso emphasized that Marvel’s core titles, such as Iron Man and The Amazing Spider-Man, have never been stronger, and that he is excited for the new influx of talent entering Marvel’s doors.

“It’s not every day you get a National Book Award-winning writer as energized as you do in Ta-Nehisi Coates,” Alonso said. Black Panther “is going to be a game-changing book, as T’Challa prepares to become a household (name). We’re going to have an amazing comic book on the stands (simultaneous to Black Panther’s Marvel Cinematic Universe debut) by an incredibly talented and passionate writer.”

And Alonso underscored that whether Marvel is brainstorming about its big events or monthly titles, a key to success is the willingness to experiment.

“There is nothing meat-and-potatoes about what we do,” the editor said. “We don’t believe in one formula.

We believe in creative voodoo to mold these characters, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do.”

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A12 RED DEER ADVOCATE Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016

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SPORTS

B1

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2016

Flames burn up Hurricanes

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS Calgary’s Sean Monahan broke out of a slump in a big way on Wednesday.

The Flames centre had a goal and three assists for his first career fourpoint game to lead Calgary to a 4-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

“It can get frustrating when you’re getting chances and they’re not going in,” said Monahan, who had just three points in his previous 14 games. “But I try to focus on the little things and when I’m playing my best, I’m winning faceoffs, playing well in my own zone and that’s when you generate the most offence.”

Calgary broke a 1-1 tie midway through the second period when Monahan set-up goals 38 seconds apart by all-stars Mark Giordano and Johnny Gaudreau.

Giordano’s winner at 11:32 on a snapshot over Eddie Lack’s shoulder came after he was set up in open ice by a slick cross-ice feed from Monahan.

“Mony, it felt like he had that poise with the puck, that patience,” said Giordano. “He’s played well for us all season. Sometimes numbers lie and don’t tell the whole story of a guy who plays over 20 minutes night-in and night-out. It’s nice to see him get rewarded.”

Monahan capped off the scoring 2:47 into the third period, steering in a centring pass from Gaudreau for his 15th goal of the season.

“After that tough road trip we had where we don’t succeed and produce like we want to, you get that (all-star) break and you refresh your mind and you refresh your legs and you just put

it behind you and get going again,” Monahan said.

Dougie Hamilton also scored for Calgary (22-24-3).

The Flames snap a three-game losing streak and climb to within six points of the third place Anaheim Ducks in the Pacific Division.

Elias Lindholm had the lone goal for Carolina (23-21-8).

“We had too many guys not good enough, too many passengers tonight,” said Carolina coach Bill Peters, whose club had entered the game on a 7-2-1 roll.

Included was a 5-2 win over the Flames in Raleigh 10 days ago.

“We’re not going to make any excuses. We came here a couple of days early to make sure we were ready to go but obviously we didn’t have the game we wanted and we have to be better next game, everybody,” said Carolina captain Eric Staal.

The Hurricanes three-game road trip continues Friday in Winnipeg.

“I didn’t think we came out very good in the first. I feel like we gave them a lot of chances on plays that we normally don’t make,” said Lack.

“We came out for the second and we were playing better and better but they were taking advantage of their chances.”

The Flames’ 30th ranked power play went 2 for 4. Mired in an 0-for15 skid, its first attempt of the night needed just 34 seconds to connect with Hamilton earning his seventh goal.

But Lindholm tied it 18 seconds later.

Karri Ramo had 28 saves to improve to 17-17-1 while Lack had 20 stops to fall to 9-10-3.

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Carolina Hurricanes’ Chris Terry, centre, crashes over Calgary Flames goalie Karri Ramo, right, as Mark Giordano looks to get past during first period NHL action in Calgary, Wednesday.

One concern for the Flames was the exit of defenceman TJ Brodie early in the second period after a Justin Faulk slapshot hit him in the vicinity of his knee. After slowly hobbling off the ice, he tried to play another shift but couldn’t.

Hartley said they didn’t know the

extent of the injury but that they probably would know more on Thursday.

Notes: Giordano collected his 200th NHL assist… Calgary’s healthy scratches included C Markus Granlund and D Jakub Nakladal, who was recalled earlier in the day from Stockton to replace Wideman on the roster.

Wideman gets 20 games for hit to linesman

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY -- Even if Dennis Wideman was concussed, the NHL says the Calgary Flames defenceman deserves his 20-game suspension for knocking down an official.

Wideman had not been fined or suspended in his 755 games in the NHL. The first of his career handed down Wednesday were lengthy and expensive.

Wideman is eligible to return to the lineup March 14. The 32-year-old from Kitchener, Ont., will also forfeit US$564,516 in salary to the players’ emergency assistance fund.

The NHL Players’ Association appealed the suspension and the Flames disagreed with its severity.

“From our point of view, it’s a little harsh obviously. Well, a lot harsh from our point of view,” Flames captain Mark Giordano. “You talk to Wides and he’s not that type of guy.”

During the second period of the Flames’ 2-1 loss to Nashville on Jan. 27, Wideman was checked hard into the boards by Predators winger Miikka Salomaki.

Wideman banged his stick on the ice as he skated towards the players’ benches and then shoved his stick into the back of linesman Don Henderson.

The linesman went down in front of the Predators’ bench, but got to his feet and was able to finish the game.

Wideman’s post-game explanation was he was in pain and was trying to get off the ice, adding that he couldn’t avoid Henderson.

“Throughout my career and I’ve been around for a few years, I think I’ve treated every official with the utmost respect and I would never intentionally try to hit a linesman or a ref or anything like that,” Wideman said.

No penalty was called on the play.

Wideman apologized to Henderson after the incident, but the NHL suspended him indefinitely the following day.

Wideman attended a hearing with the league Tuesday in Toronto.

“Instead of stopping and otherwise

Photo THE CANADIAN PRESS

Nashville Predators’ players look over the bench at linesman Don Henderson after he was hit by Calgary Flames’ Dennis Wideman during second period NHL action in Calgary, Jan. 27. Wideman has been suspended for 20 games by the NHL for checking linesman Don Henderson from behind and knocking him down. taking steps to avoid the collision, Wideman raises his stick and proceeds to aggressively cross-check a vulnerable and unsuspecting Henderson in the upper back, causing the linesman to fall to the ice,” the NHL said Wednesday in its video explanation of the suspension.

“Wideman is hit hard by the Salamaki check and it is accepted for the purposes of this decision that he was later diagnosed as having suffered a concussion. That fact, even accepted as true, cannot excuse Wideman’s subsequent actions.

“Although he appears to get up slowly from being checked, Wideman skates steadily and purposefully to his bench, taking a half-dozen strides to

get there. Wideman also demonstrates his continued awareness of his circumstances and surroundings when upon approaching the Calgary blue-line, he raises his stick and then taps it on the ice to alert his teammates he is coming off for a line change.

“By his own admission, Wideman repeatedly refused immediate medical attention and remained in the game.

“But even assuming the player’s claim that he was disoriented as a result of the Salamaki check, Wideman still cannot be excused from the nature and severity of the offence he committed on the ice. He delivered a forceful blow that was no accident.”

Flames head coach Bob Hartley would not comment after Wednesday’s

4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on whether Wideman was concussed or not. He instead referred to a statement from hockey operations president Brian Burke earlier in the day.

Burke maintained Wideman’s collision with the linesman was “unintentional and accidental.”

“We agree that our officials’ safety and well-being is of extreme importance in order to allow them to perform their duties,” Burke said in the statement.

“They perform an invaluable but underappreciated role in our game.

We support sanctions against players who make deliberate contact with any official. However, unintentional and accidental contact does occur at times in our game.”

The NHL rulebook states “any player who deliberately strikes an official and causes injury or who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an official with intent to injure, or who in any manner attempts to injure an official shall be automatically suspended for not less than 20 games.

“For the purpose of the rule, ‘intent to injure’ shall mean any physical force which a player knew or should have known could reasonably be expected to cause injury.”

The Players’ Association also contends Wideman did not intend to make contact with Henderson.

“Dennis has played in 11 NHL seasons and almost 800 games without incident,” the players’ union said in a statement. “The facts, including the medical evidence presented at the hearing, clearly demonstrate that Dennis had no intention to make contact with the linesman.”

The Flames (22-24-3) were six points out of a playoff berth in the Pacific Division and nine back of a conference wild-card berth Wednesday.

Wideman has two goals and 17 assists and is minus-9 in 48 games this season. The six-foot, 202-pound defenceman has averaged 21 minutes per game this season and ranks third on the team in blocked shots with 74.

Eskimos star QB Reilly impressed with new coaching staff

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Edmonton Eskimos’ quarterback Mike Reilly holds the MVP award after defeating the Ottawa Redblacks to win the 103rd Grey Cup in Winnipeg, Man., Nov. 29, 2015. Reilly is excited about the new coaching staff with the Eskimos after former Chris Jones bolted for Saskatchewan in the offseason.

EDMONTON — After Edmonton defeated Ottawa 2620 in the 2015 Grey Cup, game MVP Mike Reilly said the Eskimos were built to win multiple championships.

That was before Chris Jones and the entire coaching staff left, leaving former quarterback Jason Maas in charge as a rookie head coach.

But after his first meeting this week with the Eskimos’ new coaching staff, the star quarterback promptly declared he’s even more confident that last season’s Grey Cup title will not be the last.

“I feel just as, if not stronger, that we’re build to win multiple Grey Cups,” he said Wednesday.

“We have the core group of players we need. Losing your entire staff is not a good situation but the staff we have replaced them with I’m extreme-

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

ly excited about.”

Reilly, who missed the first half of last season after tearing up his left knee in the season-opener, said the best part of the new staff is that they weren’t part of last season’s Grey Cup team.

“Because they weren’t part of that winning team, they bring probably more fire. I guarantee our staff is not going to let us get complacent.

They didn’t get to taste that Grey Cup championship last year and they want that so they’re going to push us hard.”

After spending time with his family back in Seattle, Reilly is spending four days in Edmonton to meet with the new staff to “talk through what we’re going to do offensively and get to know the personalities and make sure when we get to training camp we hit the ground running, and we’re not wasting time trying to knock the rust off or getting familiar with each other.”

>>>>

He’s excited to work with Maas, a former quarterback with three Grey Cup rings — two as a player with Edmonton and one as a coach with Toronto — who brings as much passion and fire to the game as Reilly. That he and Maas have similar personalities isn’t going to be an issue, he said.

“I’m a grown man who can take criticism,” Reilly said. “I prefer a coach to tell me what I’m doing wrong and to try to correct it so I can be a better player. He’s not going to be shy to tell me what I’m screwing up, but that’s during practice. Once game day hits that type of stuff is not helpful and we all understand that.

“From what I’ve seen with him on the sidelines during his career he’s a great quarterback coach to have, he’s a great offensive co-ordinator and I know he’s going to be a great head coach.”

SEE MORE ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM

B2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016

Babcock constantly thinking ahead THE CHASE FOR MORE IS WHAT DRIVES THE FORMER RED DEER COLLEGE KINGS COACH AS HE APPROACHES AN NHL MILESTONE

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — The fire by Emma Lake crackled as a jubilant Mike Babcock sipped a drink alongside his father.

It was the summer of 2010 and Babcock was back in Saskatchewan, revelling for a moment in his recent success, which included his first Olympic gold medal at the Vancouver Games and a Stanley Cup championship in 2008.

“You know Dad, things are going pretty good,” Babcock recalled telling Mike Babcock Sr., who died last March at the age of 78.

The father reminded his son that the success was already in the past.

The message was clear: it was time to move on.

“It was over with,” Babcock said Wednesday, reflecting on that day nearly six years ago.

The chase for more is what drives Babcock, who will become the 25th man in NHL history to coach 1,000 games when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night.

It’s all about what’s next for the 52-year-old from Saskatoon, who owns victories at the world junior championship, the world hockey championship, and Canadian university circuit to go along with two Olympic golds and one Stanley Cup. Reminded that he never won a Memorial Cup, Babcock quickly listed a second Stanley Cup and World Cup crown as other feats he still had yet to reach.

“There’s lots of things I haven’t won,” Babcock said.

The Maple Leafs head coach says he wants to be the best coach of his generation — though he’s quick to note that Chicago’s Joel Quenneville and Los Angeles’s Darryl Sutter are making that difficult. He’s won just about everything a coach could dream of, but that dream seemed far-fetched when he was last fired and seeking a new job more than 20 years ago.

It was 1993 when a then-30-year-old Babcock first interviewed for the Spokane Chiefs head coaching job. Tim Speltz, who is still the Chiefs’ general manager today, knew he saw some-

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock watches play during an NHL game against the Boston Bruins in Boston, Tuesday.

Babcock is poised to his a significant milestone in his NHL career when he coaches his 1,000th game Thursday night. thing in Babcock, recently fired by the Moose Jaw Warriors.

Even he couldn’t predict the success that would soon come Babcock’s way.

He met Babcock for an interview at a Calgary hotel and was immediately impressed. He recalled a confident, intelligent, “take-charge guy”, a strong thinker who not only answered Speltz’s questions, but asked some of his own.

“He was exactly what we were looking for,” Speltz said.

When the head coaching job in Spokane didn’t materialize, Babcock ended up behind the bench of the University of Lethbridge and guided the Pronghorns to their first and only CIS University Cup. He eventually took over in Spokane the following year.

The Chiefs were beat up with injuries and trading their present for a better future, a preview in many ways of the task Babcock would face when he joined the Leafs on a rich eightyear deal last May.

Veteran linebacker Shea Emry announces retirement

Babcock, Speltz said, wasn’t rattled during a stretch that saw everything seemingly go wrong.

“He was 100 per cent with the plan.

He stuck with the plan as we had it,” Speltz said.

The Chiefs won 50 games the next year before losing in the Western Hockey League final. They would return to the final under his leadership four years later.

“He’s not easily satisfied,” Speltz said of Babcock.

“He’s always pushing forward, which I think is another great quality, not only as a coach but as a teacher as well.”

Colleagues pinpoint Babcock’s meticulous preparation, direct approach in communication and an ability to adapt as keys to success that few in the game can rival.

Bill Peters, the Carolina Hurricanes head coach and an assistant to Babcock in his final season with the Chiefs, thinks that drive to learn is key.

“There’s not many things going on

Hockey player awarded $8 million after being paralyzed

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS Shea Emry’s body feels as good now as it did eight years ago when he was rookie with the Montreal Alouettes.

It’s his mind he worries about.

The 29-year-old veteran linebacker is so concerned about the toll “upwards of 10 concussions” have taken that he has decided to retire in the prime of his career.

The Richmond, B.C., native announced his decision Wednesday after he missed most of last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders due to a head injury.

With his second Shea Emry child due in May, Emry isn’t taking any more chances.

“That (concussion concerns) is a big reason why I am stepping away,” Emry told The Canadian Press. “My body feels like I’m a 20-year-old newly drafted Montreal Alouette.

“I don’t feel like the football world took a toll on my skeletal body but on my mental state, for sure, and that’s what I was most concerned about. Having a young family and really wanting to be able to be around and cognizant and engaged for the length of their lives, I made a decision for myself but mostly for my family.”

Emry is the latest player to leave football amid health concerns. Earlier this month Western Mustangs quarter-

back Will Finch retired after missing time in 2014 and ‘15 with head injuries.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland retired prior to the 2015 campaign after one NFL season because of concerns about repetitive head trauma.

The six-foot, 228-pound Emry was Montreal’s first-round pick in the 2008 CFL draft and quickly became its starting middle linebacker. He spent six seasons with the Als — winning two Grey Cups and collecting 261 tackles, 13 sacks and four interceptions — before signing as a free agent with the Toronto Argonauts in 2014.

Emry played in all 18 regular-season games with Toronto, registering 72 tackles before being dealt to Saskatchewan for defensive end Ricky Foley.

But he suffered his season-ending concussion in the Riders’ season opener.

“For me to continue going out there and putting myself through that, I just didn’t think was a good idea,” Emry said.

Emry achieved football success despite a long, secret battle with depression. In a 2014 interview with The Canadian Press, Emry admitted he had contemplated suicide.

After enjoying Grey Cup success with Montreal in 2009 and ‘10, Emry missed half of the next season with a concussion and again struggled with depression.

“In 2011 … I didn’t think I was going to be able to go back and play football,” he said. “That was a very scary time for me and I knew I had to dive into some personal development and figure out who I was and I realized I was a little bit lost and needed to do some work.”

in the sport that he’s not aware of,” said Peters, who would later coach alongside Babcock with the Detroit Red Wings. “If he’s not guy inventing it on the cutting edge, he’s the second or third copy. He’s not coming to the party late and being the guy who figures it out 20th, 21st.”

Babcock was the second-fastest coach in NHL history to reach 500 wins, trailing only all-time wins leader Scotty Bowman. He’s coached in the NHL in each of the past 13 seasons and stands as the Red Wings all-time wins leader.

Babcock said recently that the key to longevity was hard work and an ability to “reinvent yourself” in time.

Good players helped too, he added.

“What I’ve found as a coach and just in life in general is if you embrace lifelong learning and you try to get better each and every day you end up having a choice to stay where you are a little bit longer,” said Babcock.

“That part of it is fantastic. I’d like to win tomorrow night.”

MONTREAL — A Montreal-area hockey player who was 16 when he became quadriplegic after a bodycheck from behind propelled him into the boards has been awarded $8 million.

One of Andrew Zaccardo’s lawyers said the amount handed down in a judge’s ruling this week might be a record in such a case in any sport.

Stuart Kugler said the decision is also important for other reasons.

“It is a reminder to all hockey players and coaches that checks from behind are not acceptable and are strictly prohibited because they can cause catastrophic injuries such as those suffered by Andrew Zaccardo,” Kugler said in an interview Wednesday.

Zaccardo has been unable to walk and has had to use a wheelchair since being hit by Ludovic GauvreauBeaupre in 2010. He also has limited use of his hands.

Quebec Superior Court Justice Daniel W. Payette concluded in his judgment that the rule of law still applies on the ice.

Payette, who was able to watch the bodycheck because a parent had filmed the incident, dismissed Gauvreau-Beaupre’s argument he did not mean to hit Zaccardo and that he wasn’t able to stop before contact was made.

“There was nothing accidental in

the gesture,” Payette wrote, adding that Gauvreau-Beaupre’s version of events was “neither credible nor reliable.”

The judge pointed out that Gauvreau-Beaupre didn’t brake, try to change direction or minimize contact but rather used his arm to slam his opponent into the boards and even jumped in the process.

Gauvreau-Beaupre, who was sanctioned for a similar incident two years earlier, argued bodychecks are part of hockey and that there is an inherent risk when taking to the ice.

“He is wrong,” Payette ruled.

“I hope, and the (Zaccardo) family also hope this judgment, as well as a reminder that players should not hit from behind, will result in no other cases of people playing hockey for fun and then having to spend the rest of their lives in a wheelchair.”

Gauvreau-Beaupre and the insurance company involved have 30 days to appeal the ruling.

The Montreal Gazette quoted Zaccardo’s mother, Anna Marzella, as saying the family is happy with the ruling but still devastated by what happened.

“We truly hope that this judgment reminds all hockey players to never check from behind, and that this judgment helps prevent other hockey players from getting severely injured like my son Andrew did,” she said in a statement to the newspaper.

BONE CREEPERS

The Bone-ster Bone Creeper 6031

Red Deer’s Madill named academic All-Canadian for second-straight year Red Deer native Luke Madill has been recognized as a Canadian Interuniversity Sport Academic All-Canadian for the second year in succession.

Madill, 23, is the captain of the Halifax-based Dalhousie University Tigers men’s hockey team and credits his leadership and team-building style to his time at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High due to its welcoming and inclusive environment.

“I am driven to be the best scholar and player I can be. In order to succeed, I have built and drawn on a vast support network of coaches, teammates, classmates, faculty and staff at Dal,” said Madill, in a press release.

Madill spends his free time volunteering as a reading mentor with the Ronald McDonald’s reading program and facilitating special Tigers Day

events.

“Volunteering is a way for me to give back to my community,” he said.

“I have been fortunate to have opportunities like playing hockey and studying at Dal. Giving back to the community keeps me grounded and is my way of expressing gratitude for these opportunities.”

Madill, who played four seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Olds Grizzlys and Drayton Valley Thunder, is pursuing a degree in business with a major in commerce.

He hopes to pursue a career in finance upon graduation.

In order to be eligible for Academic All Canadian honours, athlete students must maintain an overage of A-minus or better.

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RED DEER ADVOCATE Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 B3

Hard road leads Cirkunov to UFC LIGHT HEAVYWIEGHT LOOKS TO KEEP RUN OF FIRST-ROUND WINS GOING SATURDAY

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — The punching bag at the Xtreme Couture gym has seen better days. Suspended by a chain, it looks like a giant leather Timbit held together — unsuccessfully in places — by layers of tape.

Drenched in sweat, a ripped Misha Cirkunov batters the bag one punch at a time — a muscular metronome moving with malice. The Toronto light-heavyweight will be looking to do the same Saturday to UFC newcomer Alex (The Spartan) Nicholson in Las Vegas.

Cirkunov (10-2-0) needed just four minutes 45 seconds in his UFC debut to dispatch Daniel (The Werewolf of Texas) Jolly last August in Saskatoon.

It was Cirkunov’s fifth straight firstround win, a run that has seen the sixfoot-three 205 pounder fight a grand total of 12 minutes 40 seconds.

With five first-round finishes in his six wins, the six-foot-four Nicholson (6-1-0) is no slouch himself. Still the 28-year-old Cirkunov is a 9-1 favourite with some oddsmakers to win.

Cirkunov’s ties to Xtreme Couture are strong, given he was one of its first employees. But now that he’s in the UFC, he has cut back on teaching.

“Now it’s very very serious,” he said.

“I take my training on a different level now. I’m in 10 times better shape than I was in my debut in the UFC. I’m just very excited and I want to see how far I can go in the sport. And I’m just enjoying the journey.”

Saturday’s card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena was originally slated to be UFC 196, a pay-per-view event. But it was turned into a televised Fight Night card when both headliners — heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum, and former title-holder Cain Velasquez — pulled out due to injury.

The main event now features former welterweight champion Johny (Bigg Rigg) Hendricks, currently ranked second among 170-pound contenders, against No. 8 Stephen (Wonderboy) Thompson.

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Light-heavyweight Misha Cirkunov stops to pose for a photo during training at the Xtreme Couture gym in Toronto on Jan. 28 Cirkunov fights Alex (The Spartan) Nicholson on Saturday in a televised UFC Fight Night card in Las Vegas.

Cirkunov, a black belt in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, says the fight being on television just means more people get to watch him.

Cirkunov has come a long way to get to the UFC. Growing up in Riga, Latvia, Cirkunov got into judo via a friend. Big for his age, he was pitted against older kids. It made for a rough beginning but, rather than sulking, he dedicated himself to getting better.

He found exercising was addictive. To this day, he goes for a workout

when he feels down. “And after that I feel like a million bucks.”

Sports remained a welcome tonic when his family came to Canada. As a 12-year-old, he didn’t speak the language and knew no one. “I had nothing and I was really depressed,” he recalled.

But he met a fellow student who spoke Russian and was into judo.

Cirkunov was introduced to a judo club at a YMCA whose facilties left him in awe.

“Once I saw it, I couldn’t believe it. I

just wanted to live there.”

Cirkunov won a junior national judo title but his progress was stalled by lack of citizenship. Money was also tight, so he couldn’t afford to go to tournaments.

A new door opened when he switched high schools and met Mitch Chuvalo, son of former boxing star George Chuvalo and a teacher at Western Tech, who introduced him to wrestling.

Cirkunov excelled, winning national freestyle and Greco-Roman junior titles — and got to go to the world junior championships after getting his citizenship. After high school, he moved to Las Vegas to train and was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

“And that was it,” he said.

In 2008 he won the Pan Jiu-Jitsu NoGi Championship at the black-belt level, defeating Andre Gusmao.

“Literally three months later he went three rounds with (future UFC light-heavyweight champion) Jon Jones,” said Cirkunov. “At that time I knew if he was able to do that and I was able to choke him out, that I do have a future (in MMA).”

More struggles lay ahead. He overextended himself by opening his own gym. It lasted two years. “We almost made it.” he said.

On the plus side, Cirkunov had plenty of time to work on his striking with Leo Bondar, a friend and talented boxer.

Still his dream was slow to come.

When a fight did happen, he sometimes only made $500. And while he usually won, he often took his lumps on social media.

“You dedicate your whole life to it (MMA) and people just laugh at you,” he recalled.

His ticket into the UFC proved to be a first-round KO via head kick of former UFC fighter Rodney Wallace in January 2015.

“That fight really opened up my eyes and really kind of gave me that light at the end of the tunnel. I could gauge myself and compare myself to the other guys in the UFC. And I think I can compare pretty good.”

Watson not a fan of TPC Scottsdale PGA TOUR

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Bubba Watson took a big swing at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course — with his mouth, not his driver.

“I don’t like it,” Watson said Wednesday, a day before the start of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

“I’m not going to PC it. I don’t like it at all.”

The long-hitting Watson has played well on the course, tying for second the last two seasons.

“Obviously, I’m here because of my sponsors and everything,” Watson said.

“I love coming here. It’s always great weather. Used to have a house here.

It’s always beautiful coming here and playing here.”

He reiterated that he’s only playing the tournament out of loyalty to Phoenix-based Karsten Manufacturing, the maker of his Ping equipment, and sponsors Oakley and Stance Socks.

“I just mentioned why I’m here,” Watson said. “I’ve got three beautiful sponsors that love it here.”

Tom Weiskopf renovated the course in 2014, updating the layout he teamed with Jay Morrish to design.

“I didn’t see any reason to change it,” Watson said. “Again, they didn’t ask me. It’s just my own opinion. I didn’t see any reason to change it.

“But then you have 14, I think 490 (yards) uphill. (For) big hitters, it gets tight down there. No. 8, you’ve got the slope from right to left right in the bunkers, bunkers start at roughly 280, go to about 320. I don’t see that you need to tighten it up. So just to me it just seems like all they did is just tightened it up. Scores didn’t change. It just makes it goofier and tougher.”

The two-time Masters champion does like the par-3 16th, the tournament’s signature stadium hole.

“I think the hole is great,” Watson said. “It’s one time a year. If it was multiple times a year, it wouldn’t be fun. But to do what they have done to create what they have created, it’s a beautiful thing.”

He also praised the condition of the course.

ROYAL LEGACY CONTINUES THE

“This is the best shape I have ever seen it,” Watson said. “The greens are running so quick right now. You’re going to make a lot of putts. That’s what I need to do.”

Phil Mickelson is playing for the third straight week after taking a long off-season break. The 45-year-old former Arizona State player missed the cut last week at Torrey Pines after tying for third in La Quinta. He won at TPC Scottsdale in 1996, 2005 and 2013.

“I love coming back here,” Mickelson said. “It’s a special place for me.

I lived here for 12 years. The people here have been so nice to me and my family. … I love competing in this tournament.”

Winless in 48 events since the 2013 British Open, he’s working with swing coach Andrew Getson after splitting with Butch Harmon in early November.

“It’s been a long time since my swing is on plane and it’s on plane now,” Mickelson said. “It feels really good, feels really easy. … I just need to be a little bit patient with it, but it’s coming.”

Rickie Fowler is the top-ranked player in the field, at No. 4 a spot ahead of Watson. Fowler missed the cut at Torrey Pines after winning two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi.

“It’s always a week I look forward to,” Fowler said. “Last week was a little hiccup along the way, but looking forward to picking back up where we left off in Abu Dhabi.”

Brooks Koepka won last year for his first PGA Tour title. He beat Watson, Hideki Matsuyama and Ryan Palmer by a stroke.

“Obviously, got a lot of positive memories,” Koepka said. “I have a lot of positive thoughts going into this week. I feel good about where my game is at. I don’t think I have ever felt better.”

Brandt Snedeker is coming off a victory at Torrey Pines. He closed with a 3-under 69 in wind and rain Sunday and ended up beating K.J. Choi by a stroke Monday.

“I’m obviously playing some good golf,” Snedeker said. “Fatigue is something I worry about after a week like last week. So, yesterday, I took almost completely off. I feel better today, feel more well-rested.”

GAMES THIS WEEK!

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Toronto FC’s Doneil Henry, left, and Vancouver Whitecaps’ Bryce Alderson vie for the ball during a Canadian Championship soccer game in Vancouver, B.C., in 2014. Canadian international Henry finally healthy and ready to resume action after an injury-plagued year.

Henry hoping for better things upon his return to England

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS After an injury-plagued year in England, Canadian international defender Doneil Henry is looking for a fresh start in 2016.

The 22-year-old from Brampton, Ont., hopes a good January camp with Canada will help lead to better things upon his return to West Ham United.

“Finally I feel like I’m fit (and) I can cope with anything physically,” Henry told a media conference call from California where Canada is preparing for a friendly Friday with the U.S. “Mentally I’m a lot stronger than last season after dealing with the two surgeries that I had.”

The former Toronto FC defender has not played for Canada since a 0-0 tie in Panama in November 2014.

Acquired by West Ham in the January 2015 transfer window, Henry was loaned out to Blackburn Rovers only to injure his hamstring in his third outing in the second-tier Sky Bet Championship.

“The hamstring injury was really, really serious,” he said. “To be fair, maybe I came back a little too early.”

After surgery, Henry returned to Blackburn in November but only made one appearance as a substitute. His hamstring and surgery for a sports her-

nia derailed him again.

Restored to health, he believes another loan spell will benefit him, “to continue to get games and build my body up to what I used to be like.”

“I feel like I’m definitely over everything,” he added.

“I feel good.”

There were plenty of tough days, but he says they will only make him stronger. As has being forced to deal with a new environment.

“Basically Toronto’s my home, Toronto FC is all I knew,” he said. “Being at West Ham has taken me out of my comfort zone.”

That, he adds, is a good thing.

“I wish I could have gone earlier, so I could have even developed through the youth system there. I feel like the structure is a lot better organized as the club has so many years of history with players excelling through the ranks.”

West Ham’s academy is renowned for such graduates as Jermain Defoe, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard.

Henry, six foot one and 194 pounds, became the first Toronto FC graduate to make the first team when he signed a pro contract in August 2010. He went on to make 70 regular-season appearances for TFC, with 19 starts in each of the 2013 and 2014 campaigns.

Red Deer Minor Hockey Commission

Thank You for Supporting the Red Deer Minor Hockey

$55,000 Raffle Final Draws to be held February 6 The following tickets were lost and will NOT form part of the draw: 46-60, 134, 506, 507, 1863-1869, 4553-4564, 1545-1549, 1685-1689, 2061-2070, 4071-4080 For further information contact our office at 403-347-9960 License number is #413499

SCOREBOARD Local Sports • Curling: Red Deer Farmers/Farmerettes Bonspiel, first draw at noon, last draw at 8:30p.m., Pidherney Centre.

• College women’s hockey: SAIT at RDC, 7 p.m., Arena.

Friday • Curling: Red Deer Farmers/Farmerettes Bonspiel, first draw at noon, last draw at 7:30p.m., Pidherney Centre.

• Senior high basketball: Lindsay Thurber girls/boys tournament, first games at 3:30 p.m.

• Grade 9 basketball: Hunting Hills tournament.

• College volleyball: Lethbridge at RDC, women at 6 p.m., men to follow.

• Bantam AA hockey: West Central at Central Alberta, 6 p.m., Lacombe; • WHL: Red Deer at Kootenay, 7 p.m. (The Drive).

• AJHL: Okotoks at Olds, 7 p.m.

• Heritage junior B hockey: Three Hills at Stettler, 7:30 p.m.

• Minor midget AAA hockey: Red Deer Strata Energy at Red Deer North Star, 8 p.m., Arena.

• Midget AA hockey: Foothills at Sylvan Lake, 8 p.m.; Bow Valley at Central Alberta, 8:30 p.m., Lacombe.

• Chinook senior AAA hockey: Fort Saskatchewan at Innisfail, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday • Senior high basketball: Lindsay Thurber girls/boys tournament, first games at 8:30 a.m., finals at 7 and 8:45 p.m.

• Curling: Red Deer Farmers/Farmerettes Bonspiel; Farmerettes event finals at 10 a.m., Farmers event finals at 1 p.m., Pidherney Centre.

• Grade 9 basketball: Hunting Hills

tournament.

• College volleyball: Lethbridge at RDC, women at 1 p.m., men to follow.

• Peewee AA hockey: Bow Valley at Central Alberta, 1:45 p.m., Lacombe.

• Midget AA hockey: Lethbridge at Red Deer Indy Graphics, 2 p.m., Arena; Airdrie at Red Deer Elks, 4:45 p.m., Arena; Calgary Blazers at Central Alberta, 5:45 p.m., Lacombe.

• Bantam AA hockey: West Central at Red Deer Ramada, 2:30 p.m., Kinex; Airdrie at Central Alberta, 8:15 p.m., Lacombe.

• Major bantam girls hockey: Southeast at Red Deer, 4:45 p.m., Collicutt Centre.

• WHL: Moose Jaw at Red Deer, 7 p.m., Centrium.

• College men’s hockey: SAIT at RDC, 7 p.m., Penhold Regional Multiplex.

• AJHL: Canmore at Olds, 7 p.m.

• Heritage junior B hockey: Airdrie at Stettler, 7:30 p.m.; Ponoka at Red Deer, 8 p.m., Arena; Coaldale at Three Hills, 8 p.m.

Sunday • Major bantam girls hockey: Southeast at Red Deer, 10 a.m., Collicutt Centre.

• Minor midget AAA hockey: Lloydminster at Red Deer Strata Energy, 11:30 a.m., Arena; Calgary Bruins at Red Deer North Star, 2:15 p.m., Arena.

• Peewee AA hockey: Red Deer Parkland at Central Alberta, 1:45 p.m., Stettler; Airdrie at West Central, 2:45 p.m., Sylvan Lake.

• Major midget girls hockey: Sherwood Park at Red Deer, 2:15 p.m., Collicutt Centre.

• Midget AA hockey: Airdrie at West Central, 3:15 p.m., Rocky Mountain House; Oktoks Green at Central Alberta, 4:30 p.m., Lacombe; Olds at Red Deer Elks, 5 p.m., Arena.

Football Conference Championships Sunday, Jan. 24 AFC Denver 20, New England 18 NFC Carolina 49, Arizona 15

National Basketball Association EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto 33 16 .673 — Boston 29 22 .569 5 New York 23 28 .451 11 Brooklyn 12 38 .240 21 1/2 Philadelphia 7 42 .143 26 Southeast Division W L Pct 29 22 .569 28 22 .560 24 25 .490 21 26 .447 21 27 .438

GB — 1/2 4 6 6 1/2

Central Division W L Pct 35 13 .729 26 21 .553 26 23 .531 26 24 .520 20 31 .392

GB — 8 1/2 9 1/2 10 16 1/2

WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB San Antonio 41 8 .837 — Memphis 29 20 .592 12 Dallas 28 24 .538 14 1/2 Houston 26 25 .510 16 New Orleans 18 30 .375 22 1/2 Northwest Division W L Pct Oklahoma City 38 13 .745 Portland 24 26 .480 Utah 23 25 .479 Denver 19 31 .380 Minnesota 14 36 .280

GB — 13 1/2 13 1/2 18 1/2 23 1/2

Pacific Division W L Pct 45 4 .918 32 16 .667 21 27 .438 14 36 .280 10 41 .196

GB — 12 1/2 23 1/2 31 1/2 36

Tuesday’s Games Boston 97, New York 89 Houston 115, Miami 102 Toronto 104, Phoenix 97 Portland 107, Milwaukee 95 L.A. Lakers 119, Minnesota 115

Atlanta 124, Philadelphia 86 Charlotte 106, Cleveland 97 Indiana 114, Brooklyn 100 Boston 102, Detroit 95 Oklahoma City 117, Orlando 114 Golden State 134, Washington 121 San Antonio 110, New Orleans 97 Miami 93, Dallas 90 Utah 85, Denver 81 Chicago at Sacramento, late Minnesota at L.A. Clippers, late Thursday’s Games New York at Detroit, 5 p.m.

Houston at Phoenix, 7 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at New Orleans, 7:30 p.m.

Toronto at Portland, 8 p.m.

GA 144 145 161 161 208 225

Pt 72 67 62 51 44 20

WESTERN CONFERENCE B.C. DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF Kelowna 51 35 13 3 0 182 Victoria 52 32 15 2 3 183 Prince George 53 31 19 2 1 193 Kamloops 51 23 20 5 3 168 Vancouver 53 20 28 3 2 154

GA 142 122 159 167 191

Pt 73 69 65 54 45

U.S. DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF 50 30 16 2 2 131 50 28 19 3 0 154 50 25 20 3 2 171 51 25 24 2 0 165 50 23 25 2 0 166

GA 108 140 172 162 185

Pt 64 59 55 52 48

Everett Seattle Spokane Portland Tri-City

Wednesday’s results Prince Albert 3 Prince George 1 Spokane 6 Vancouver 2 Everett 3 Portland 2 Seattle 3 Kamloops 1 Victoria 4 Calgary 1 Tuesday’s results Brandon 6 Moose Jaw 2 Prince George 7 Saskatoon 0 Edmonton 6 Kootenay 3 Swift Current 2 Medicine Hat 1 Kelowna 2 Lethbridge 1 Tri-City 5 Kamloops 3

G 46 51 43 39 46 50 43 48 49 41

Curry, GOL Harden, HOU Durant, OKC Cousins, SAC James, CLE Westbrook, OKC Lillard, POR George, IND DeRozan, TOR Davis, NOR

FG 448 418 400 356 434 425 354 353 385 357

FT 234 445 272 295 229 290 198 277 339 203

PTS 1351 1421 1170 1052 1145 1198 1030 1115 1138 938

AVG 29.4 27.9 27.2 27.0 24.9 24.0 24.0 23.2 23.2 22.9

FG Percentage FG 198 211 209 235 214

Jordan, LAC Whiteside, MIA Howard, HOU Kanter, OKC Faried, DEN G 49 46 40 39 41

Drummond, DET Jordan, LAC Howard, HOU Cousins, SAC Whiteside, MIA

National Lacrosse League East Division GP W L Pct. GF New England 4 3 1 .750 51 Georgia 5 3 2 .600 66 Rochester 4 2 2 .500 47 Buffalo 4 2 2 .500 47 Toronto 5 0 5 .000 42 GF 71

GA GB 33 — 60 .5 41 1 45 1 68 3.5 GA GB 60 —

Saskatchewan Calgary Vancouver

2015-16 Canadian Hockey League Top Ten Poll 1. (1) Erie Otters (OHL, 39-7-1-0) 2. (2) Val-d’Or Foreurs (QMJHL, 38-9-2-1) 3. (4) Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL, 37-8-3-1) 4. (5) Kitchener Rangers (OHL, 34-9-4-0) 5. (3) London Knights (OHL, 34-10-2-1) 6. (7) Kelowna Rockets (WHL, 35-13-3-0) 7. (6) Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL, 36-15-0-0) 8. (8) Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL, 32-13-3-0) 9. (9) Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL, 32-15-2-2) 10. (NR) Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL, 31-13-4-0) Honourable Mention Victoria Royals (WHL, 31-15-2-3) Red Deer Rebels (WHL, 32-16-1-2) Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL, 33-15-2-1).

National Hockey League EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts Florida 50 30 15 5 65 Tampa Bay 50 28 18 4 60 Detroit 50 25 17 8 58 Boston 50 26 18 6 58 Ottawa 51 23 22 6 52 Montreal 52 24 24 4 52 Buffalo 51 21 26 4 46 Toronto 49 18 22 9 45

GF 140 133 123 150 144 140 118 118

GA 110 118 127 135 161 142 138 137

Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts 48 35 9 4 74 50 27 18 5 59 48 26 16 6 58 49 25 17 7 57 51 26 20 5 57 52 23 21 8 54 48 22 18 8 52 52 19 28 5 43

GF 160 144 135 127 117 124 113 134

GA 109 132 121 125 120 139 129 168

WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts Chicago 54 34 16 4 72 Dallas 51 32 14 5 69 St. Louis 53 29 16 8 66 Colorado 53 27 23 3 57 Nashville 51 24 19 8 56 Minnesota 50 23 18 9 55 Winnipeg 50 22 25 3 47

GF 149 167 130 144 129 124 129

GA 123 136 128 144 132 120 145

Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts 50 31 16 3 65 49 26 19 4 56 48 23 18 7 53 50 24 21 5 53 50 20 19 11 51 49 22 24 3 47

GF 135 144 104 133 122 130

GA 115 132 113 152 139 147

Washington N.Y. Rangers N.Y. Islanders Pittsburgh New Jersey Carolina Philadelphia Columbus

Thursday’s games No Games Scheduled.

Friday’s games Swift Current at Prince Albert, 6 p.m.

Medicine Hat at Regina, 6 p.m.

Prince George at Brandon, 6:30 p.m.

Red Deer at Kootenay, 7 p.m.

Moose Jaw at Lethbridge, 7 p.m.

Seattle at Portland, 8 p.m.

Spokane at Kelowna, 8:05 p.m.

Victoria at Tri-City, 8:05 p.m.

Calgary at Vancouver, 8:30 p.m.

Kamloops at Everett, 8:35 p.m.

Los Angeles San Jose Anaheim Arizona Vancouver Calgary

and Jarell Martin from Iowa (NBADL).

Women’s National Basketball Association ATLANTA DREAM — Re-signed G Tiffany Hayes to a multiyear contract. Acquired F/C Elizabeth Williams from the Connecticut Sun for the rights to the No. 4 pick in the 2016 WNBA draft.

FOOTBALL National Football League BUFFALO BILLS — Signed CB Javier Arenas to a reserve/future contract.

CINCINNATI BENGALS — Signed TE John Peters to a reserve/future contract.

NEW YORK JETS — Named Brant Boyer special teams co-ordinator. Signed RB/KR Dri Archer to a reserve/future contract.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS — Signed DL Ziggy Hood to a reserve/future contract.

Canadian Football League WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS — Reassigned running backs coach Buck Pierce to quarterbacks coach.

HOCKEY National Hockey League NHL — Suspended Calgary D Dennis Wideman 20 games for physical abuse of an official.

ARIZONA COYOTES — Recalled F Steve Downie from Springfield (AHL).

CALGARY FLAMES — Assigned F Mason Raymond to Stockton (AHL). Recalled D Jakub Nakladal from Stockton.

MONTREAL CANADIENS — Recalled F Tim Bozon

LPGA

NBA Leaders Scoring

FGA 277 344 344 424 395

PCT .715 .613 .608 .554 .542

OFF 257 168 141 95 128

DEF 481 467 329 346 331

TOT 738 635 470 441 459

AVG 15.1 13.8 11.8 11.3 11.2

Lacrosse

West Division W L Pct. 4 1 .800

CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF 51 36 15 0 0 211 51 32 16 1 2 191 51 30 19 1 1 171 52 22 23 6 1 145 52 20 28 3 1 165 51 8 39 4 0 107

Lethbridge Red Deer Calgary Edmonton Medicine Hat Kootenay

Sunday’s games No Games Scheduled.

3 4 4

2 2 1

1 2 3

Tuesday’s Games Toronto 4, Boston 3, OT New Jersey 3, N.Y. Rangers 2 N.Y. Islanders 5, Minnesota 3 Philadelphia 4, Montreal 2 Pittsburgh 6, Ottawa 5 Florida 5, Washington 2 St. Louis 1, Nashville 0 Dallas 5, Winnipeg 3 Chicago 2, Colorado 1 Edmonton 5, Columbus 1 Los Angeles 6, Arizona 2 Anaheim 3, San Jose 2 Wednesday’s Games Buffalo 4, Montreal 2 Tampa Bay 3, Detroit 1 Calgary 4, Carolina 1 Thursday’s Games Boston at Buffalo, 5 p.m.

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

N.Y. Islanders at Washington, 5:30 p.m.

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

Edmonton at Ottawa, 5:30 p.m.

Detroit at Florida, 5:30 p.m.

San Jose at St. Louis, 6 p.m.

Philadelphia at Nashville, 6 p.m.

Dallas at Colorado, 7 p.m.

Chicago at Arizona, 7 p.m.

Columbus at Vancouver, 8 p.m.

Anaheim at Los Angeles, 8 p.m.

Friday’s Games Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, 5:30 p.m.

Carolina at Winnipeg, 6 p.m.

Columbus at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Arizona at Anaheim, 8 p.m.

Wednesday’s summary Flames 4 Hurricanes 1 First Period 1, Calgary, D.Hamilton 7 (Monahan, Giordano), 10:26 (pp). 2, Carolina, Lindholm 8 (Skinner, Rask), 10:44.

Penalties—Hainsey, Car (cross-checking), 9:52 McClement, Car (tripping), 14:32 D.Hamilton, Cal (holding), 17:29.

Second Period 3, Calgary, Giordano 12 (Monahan, D.Hamilton), 11:32 (pp). 4, Calgary, Gaudreau 21 (Monahan, Hudler), 12:10.

Penalties—Stajan, Cal (hooking), 5:04 Bennett, Cal (slashing), 8:07 Di Giuseppe, Car (hooking), 10:21 Stajan, Cal (slashing), 19:53.

Third Period 5, Calgary, Monahan 15 (Gaudreau, Hudler), 2:47.

Penalties—Nash, Car (slashing), 11:00 Stajan, Cal (interference), 16:17.

Shots on Goal Carolina 8-6-15—29.

Calgary 11-9-4—24.

Power-play—Carolina 0 of 5 Calgary 2 of 4.

Goalies—Carolina, Lack 9-10-3 (24 shots-20 saves). Calgary, Ramo 17-17-1 (29-28).

.667 .500 .250

and D Dalton Thrower from Brampton (ECHL) to St. John’s (AHL).

NEW YORK RANGERS — Recalled F Jayson Megna from Hartford (AHL).

ST. LOUIS BLUES — Reassigned F Ryan Tesink from Quad City (AHL) to Alaska (ECHL).

American Hockey League HARTFORD WOLF PACK — Returned D Kodie Curran to Greenville (ECHL).

ST. JOHN’S ICECAPS — Recalled Fs Brandon McNally and Angelo Miceli from Brampton (ECHL).

ECHL ELMIRA JACKALS — Released F Blake Hietala.

Traded D Zach Tolkinen to Missouri to complete an earlier trade.

INDY FUEL — Sent F Kyle Stroh to Elmira.

MISSOURI MAVERICKS — Sent F Zach Cohen to Elmira.

NORFOLK ADMIRALS — Loaned F Alexandre Ranger to St. John’s (AHL).

READING ROYALS — Released G Nick Niedert.

UTAH GRIZZLIES — Loaned G Mark Owuya to Lake Erie (AHL).

SOCCER Major League Soccer COLUMBUS CREW — Acquired D Amro Tarek on loan from Real Betis (Liga BBVA-Spain).

LA GALAXY — Signed M Nigel de Jong.

United Soccer League SAN ANTONIO — Signed D Stephen McCarthy.

Lydia Ko opens season four shots back of lead in Ocala

Friday’s Games L.A. Clippers at Orlando, 5 p.m.

Philadelphia at Washington, 5 p.m.

Miami at Charlotte, 5 p.m.

Indiana at Atlanta, 5 p.m.

Boston at Cleveland, 5:30 p.m.

Sacramento at Brooklyn, 5:30 p.m.

Memphis at New York, 5:30 p.m.

Chicago at Denver, 7 p.m.

Milwaukee at Utah, 7 p.m.

San Antonio at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

Rebounds

Wednesday’s Games

GP 5

Pt 68 62 57 49 41 40

Wednesday’s Sports Transactions BASEBALL American League LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Agreed to terms with OF Andrew Brown on a minor league contract.

SEATTLE MARINERS — Agreed to terms with 1B Dae-Ho Lee and C Steve Lerud on minor league contracts.

National League NEW YORK METS — Agreed to terms with RHP Jeurys Familia on a one-year contract.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Traded LHP Jesse Biddle to Pittsburgh for RHP Yoervis Medina.

American Association FARGO-MOORHEAD REDHAWKS — Signed INF Richard Lucas and RHP Richie Mirowski.

KANSAS CITY T-BONES — Signed C Alejandro Segovia.

LINCOLN SALTDOGS — Signed OF Alexi Colon.

SIOUX FALLS CANARIES — Signed INF Ozney Guillen.

TEXAS AIR HOGS — Signed RHP Sam Martin.

WINNIPEG GOLDEYES — Signed LHPs Trevor Lubking and Steven Gruver.

BASKETBALL National Basketball Association CHICAGO BULLS — Recalled F Mike Dunleavy from Santa Cruz (NBADL).

HOUSTON ROCKETS — Assigned F/C Donatas Motiejunas to Rio Grande Valley (NBADL).

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES — Recalled Fs James Ennis

Basketball

Colorado

GA 145 159 169 180 165 212

Edmonton 51 20 26 5 45 127 150 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.

Medicine Hat at Brandon, 6:30 P.m.

Lethbridge at Kootenay, 7 p.m.

Moose Jaw at Red Deer, 7 p.m.

Victoria at Portland, 8 p.m.

Everett at Seattle, 8:05 p.m.

Spokane at Tri-City, 8:05 p.m.

Calgary at Kelowna, 8:05 p.m.

Transactions

Pro Bowl Sunday, Jan. 31 At Honolulu Team Irvin 49, Team Rice 27 Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7 At Santa Clara, Calif.

Denver vs. Carolina, 4:30 p.m.

Divisional Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 16 New England 27, Kansas City 20 Arizona 26, Green Bay 20, OT Sunday, Jan. 17 Carolina 31, Seattle 24 Denver 23, Pittsburgh 16

Golden State L.A. Clippers Sacramento Phoenix L.A. Lakers

WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF Brandon 51 32 15 2 2 194 Prince Albert 51 28 17 5 1 164 Moose Jaw 52 25 20 6 1 177 Regina 50 21 22 3 4 157 Swift Current 50 18 27 4 1 126 Saskatoon 51 18 29 4 0 147

Saturday’s games Edmonton at Kamloops, 5 p.m.

Prince George at Regina, 6 p.m.

Swift Current at Saskatoon, 6:05 p.m.

NFL Playoffs Wild-card Playoffs Saturday, Jan. 9 Kansas City 30, Houston 0 Pittsburgh 18, Cincinnati 16 Sunday, Jan. 10 Seattle 10, Minnesota 9 Green Bay 35, Washington 18

Cleveland Chicago Indiana Detroit Milwaukee

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2016

Hockey

Today

Atlanta Miami Charlotte Washington Orlando

B4

33 41 38

31 1 41 1.5 57 2.5

WEEK SIX Friday, Feb. 5 Calgary at Saskatchewan, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 6 New England at Buffalo, 5:30 p.m.

Georgia at Calgary, 7 p.m.

Colorado at Vancouver, 8 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL The host Raiders girls and boys teams open the Lindsay Thurber senior high basketball tournament Friday at 3:30 p.m.

The Raiders girls face Sherwood Park Salisbury in the BAM gym and the boys take on Calgary Bishop Carroll in the main gym.

The Hunting Hills Lightning girls face Bishop Carroll at 5:15 p.m. and the Lightning boys clash with Grande Prairie Comp at 8:45 p.m.

Also competing on the girls side are Leduc, Charles Spencer of Grande Prairie, Edmonton W.P. Wagner and Lethbridge Catholic Central. The boys division also includes Salisbury, Charles Spencer, W.P. Wagner and the Sylvan Lake H.J. Cody Lakers, who face Wagner at 5:15 p.m. Friday.

The tournament resumes Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and concludes with the girls and boys championship finals at 7 and 8:45 p.m.

• The senior girls Raiders traveled to Wetaskiwin Tuesday and came away with an 85-52 victory over the Sabres.

Kelsey Lalor paced the winners with 23 points, while Lizzy Morneault and Jenna Hawkes each netted 12.

• Meanwhile, the Notre Dame Cougars rolled over the visiting Rocky Mountain House Rebels 84-39 in senior boys action.

Josh Ballantyne led the way with 19 points and added eight rebounds. Franz Credo scored 12 points for the Cougars.

The Rebels were led by Dalin Wade with 15 points and Anders Eklund with eight.

The Notre Dame senior boys and girls squads will compete in the Edmonton St. Joe’s Father Troy tournament this weekend.

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS OCALA, Fla. — Top-ranked Lydia Ko shot a 3-under 69 on Wednesday in the Coates Golf Championship in her first round of the season, leaving her four strokes behind leader Ha Na Jang.

The 18-year-old Ko closed with a birdie on the par-5 18th, her fourth birdie on the back nine on the Golden Ocala course that features some tributes to holes at Augusta National, St. Andrews and others.

Ko tied for second last year in Ocala to reach No. 1 in the world ranking, and went on to win five times, and sweep the points-based player of the year award, Race to the CME Globe and the money title.

“First nine holes were pretty rusty, but almost felt like our whole group as we made the turn, we started making birdies,” Ko said. “On 10 it was my first birdie of the season, so it was great.

“Obviously, starting to get back into playing competitively and think more target-oriented.

It’s definitely different than hitting the ball on the range. It’s a pretty solid start. I’m happy with the way I finished today and definitely the back nine, hitting a few wedges close.”

She is learning how to drive — a car.

“I got my learner’s permit, so whoever is around Orlando or around ChampionsGate, I would recommend not being on the road when I am,” Ko said. “Everybody said it’s the same as a cart, but it’s nothing like a cart. It goes so much faster.”

Jang made an 18-foot birdie putt on 18 for a bogey-free 65 and a three-stroke lead over six players. Winless on the LPGA Tour, the South Korean player also tied for second last year behind Na Yeon Choi.

“It’s perfect, no bogeys,” Jang said. “I just keep going just simple, simple, simple.”

Jang had the first hole-in-one on a par 4 in LPGA Tour history last week in the season-opening event in the Bahamas. She used a 3-wood for the albatross on the 218-yard hole.

“I got my new dog, named it Albatross,” Jang said. “I have three dogs — Birdie, Eagle and Albatross. I need one more dog, Hole-in-one.”

U.S. Women’s Open champion In Gee Chun had a 68 in her first start as an LPGA Tour member. Sei Young Kim, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Kim Kaufman, Candie Kung and Kelly Tan also shot 68.

Lexi Thompson was in the group at 69. She had only three pars on the first 14 holes, making seven birdies and four bogeys.

“It’s definitely challenging,” Thompson said.

“You have to keep it in the fairway with it being tree-lined. The rough is only about an inch deep, but you’re going to get some gnarly lies and some fliers, so you’ve got to keep it in the fairway.”

U.S. Solheim Cup captain Juli Inkster, at 55 the oldest player in the field, also had a 69.

Michelle Wie birdied three of the last six holes for a 70. She missed the cut last week in the Bahamas after a bee stung her on the palm of her right hand.

Hyo Joo Kim, the Bahamas winner last week, opened with a 71.

Stacy Lewis had a 74, making a double bogey on par-4 ninth after driving left into the trees. She tied for second in the Bahamas for her ninth runner-up finish in a 40-event victory drought that dates to June 2014. The 11-time tour winner has 22 career second-place finishes. Lewis played alongside Suzann Pettersen and Alison Lee, the two central figures in a Solheim Cup controversy last season in Germany.

Pettersen infuriated the Americans by insisting that Lee be penalized for picking up her ball when she thought her short second putt had been conceded in a fourballs match.

Blue Jays to install regulation dirt infield ahead of 2016 season

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays’ infield is getting an upgrade.

The team announced Wednesday they’ll begin installing a regulation dirt infield at Rogers Centre next week that will be ready for the 2016 regular season.

The work will involve excavation of the cement floor at the stadium in the base path and infield areas to a depth of 30.48 centimetres and will impact an area of approximately 1,115

square metres. Layers of gravel, sand and clay will be inlayed in the excavated areas to ensure proper moisture content and conditions suitable to a major league playing surface.

“We are very excited to proceed with this project,” senior vice president Stephen Brooks said in a release. “This will both improve the surface for the players and also enhance the atmosphere of the stadium for our fans.”

The team says the excavation will not interfere with events being held at Rogers Centre in the coming weeks.

OUTDOORS

B5

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2016

Enviro minister missing chance at immortality Tuesday is column day, when the final draft and the selected pictures must be emailed to the paper. That must be accomplished early every fifth or sixth Tuesday, as in last week, when I have an BOB early afternoon SCAMMELL appointment OUTDOORS with Dr. Bozdech for a sharp shot in each eye, after which I’ll not see well for a day or three.

The phone must be at hand; Tuesday is phone, email, even drop - in day for many people.

Last Tuesday, column sent, I was about to email the press secretary of the Minister of Environment, Sustainable Resource Development, and Parks for an advance copy of the minister’s speech to the delegates at the Annual Conference of the Alberta Fish and Game Association just prior to the Minister’s Luncheon in Edmonton on Friday, Feb. 19.

But that task was rendered useless by the incoming email from one of this column’s highly - informed Field Associates: after weeks of dithering, the minister will not attend, but a deputy minister might.

What an egregious, gratuitous insult to Alberta’s largest and most geographically diverse conservation organization, with more than 20,000 members in more than 100 affiliated clubs all over the province!

From hoping for the best at first, I’m beginning to suspect this minister is one of those people for whom the position and its perks are everything and the job is nothing.

Her Royal Highness, Princess Shannon Phillips tripped the light fantastic to Paris in December to assure the world that Alberta, cross her heart, truly believes in climate change and a carbon tax.

But she has no time for staying over briefly on a Friday in Edmonton to tell the AFGA Conference delegates what she and her departments plan to do about the seven decades of oil, gas, and forestry environmental destruction in Alberta and the resulting near –

FROM HOPING FOR THE BEST AT FIRST, I’M BEGINNING TO SUSPECT THIS MINISTER IS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE FOR WHOM THE POSITION AND ITS PERKS ARE EVERYTHING AND THE JOB IS NOTHING.

Photo s by BOB SCAMMELL

More studies will not save our provincial fish, the bull trout, from extinction.

Money, manpower, and hard work are needed to repair and restore its habitat.

Hon. Shannon Phillips Minister Environment, Sustainable Resource Development, and Parks. extinction of so many of our native fish and wildlife species.

Giving the answers to those crucial questions is the big job of Ms. Phillip’s too – many cabinet portfolios and is what so many of Alberta’s pipeline opponents in the rest of Canada and the U.S. really want to hear.

But I suspect, sadly, that the minister knows little of those problems, has less interest in them, and nothing to say about them.

It is hard not to be reminded of the AFGA conference in Red Deer two years ago which then minister, Hon. Diane McQueen, did not attend because she “had” to accompany premier Redford on one of her useless Washington lobbying junkets.

By not attending and speaking at the AFGA annual conference, this minister is blowing a no–brainer, no– risk chance at immortality. She has already served in her position longer than her half dozen predecessors, she is aware of the Auditor General’s scathing condemnation of Cowboy Welfare, the paying of millions of dollars of oil and gas surface disturbance payments to a very few very wealthy public land grazing leaseholders, and, as a career financial analyst, Ms. Phillips knows it is wrong and has to be stopped.

With no political risk (the fat cats of big ranching may believe in socialism for themselves and private enterprise for the rest of us, but they do not vote NDP). Ms. Phillips could have attended the AFGA conference and announced that Bill 31, which would have ended Cowboy Welfare in 1999, passed by the legislature that year, but mysteriously never proclaimed, was either going to be proclaimed now, if possible, or, if not, reintroduced into the Legislature, passed and proclaimed by this majority government.

What is more, the minister could have gone on to say that the at least $50 million saved annually would go into a public land stewardship program and create jobs to repair our land and help the decimated fish and wildlife recovery programs, which is what the PCs planned to do with the proceeds

of Bill 31.

But no speech, no opportunity seized, no courage, no announcement, no endless standing ovation, just nothing.

Maybe there’s still time for the AFGA to invite Brian Jean, leader of the opposition, to come to the conference and tell the delegates what the Wildrose would do about Alberta’s environmental problems … and opportunities.

So, just after noon, Comfort Keeper’s Denise and I are transported by an Associated Cab’s wheelchair van down to see and be seen by Dr, Bozdech.

After the tests, drops, and interior eyeball photography by staff and technicians, Dr. B gets to look at the results and at me, then injects the appropriate drug into each eye.

I am embarrassed that I did not notice that the doctor’s scalp had been punctured by the talons of a great horned owl while he was cross–country skiing the night before.

Back in the waiting room, Denise phones Associated to come and get me, but instead gets Eventide Funeral Home, which mightily cheers up the many other mature patients who hadn’t had their shots yet.

And no, I won’t go, not until Cowboy Welfare does….

Bob Scammell is an award-winning columnist who lives in Red Deer. He can be reached at bscam@telusplanet.net.

The best new plants are improvements on old varieties Spring will come and with the melt- all signs of frost are past. The good ing of the snow is the desire to garden. news is that these white pumpkins proGlossy seed catalogues started arriv- duce flowers early giving the fruit time ing in the mail in Novemto mature between frosts. ber as did the on-line cataGiven optimum conditions logues. Each seed house has that fruit can reach 50 a selection of new or new pounds. to them seeds to tempt the Looking for a new variety consumer. of radish? Try Sweet Baby.

To find what is truly new This is a purple radish, inlook at the All American side and out with the outSelections for 2016. These er layer being solid purple plants have undergone exwhile the inner vegetable is tensive trial in many differa molted white and purple. ent parts of North America, The fruit matures in about including Alberta. Chosen 40-45 days making it great plants must be an improvefor succession planting. The LINDA ment on an old variety or taste is reported to be crisp TOMLINSON be completely new to be alwith a bit of a bite. lowed into the trials. Only Strawberry Delizz was GARDENING the best of the best are sefound to be easy to start lected. from seed or bedding plant.

This year, the All AmeriThe plants will thrive in a can Selection winners are mostly vege- sunny window or garden. At trial the tables, nine as opposed to three flowers.

Japanese Mustard Red Kingdom is a purple mustard plant that adds spice to dishes. This particular strain does not bolt in hot weather. The plant is purple and attractive enough to add to any planting, vegetable or ornamental.

The bunching onion, Warrior, is a new fast growing onion that produces uniform onions that are easy to harvest and peal. Great for salads, grilling or cooking.

Pepper Cornito Giallo is an early maturing yellow pepper that should produce an abundance of peppers in 75 days. The yellow peppers are medium sized. They are sweet enough to be enjoyed raw or cooked.

The second pepper chosen, Pepper Escamillo is also yellow. It requires a couple more days to mature but produces larger fruits. It is good eaten UP TO raw, grilled or cooked.

Pumpkin Super Moon Offer expires February 14, 2016 requires 90 days to mature meaning that it needs to be started indoors or grown under cover until

average plant produced 40 1.5 inch (3.5 cm) come shaped fruit.

Candyland tomato is a currant tomato meaning that it is smaller than the regular cherry tomato. Start these plants early or purchase as bedding plants as this variety takes 95 days from seed to harvest. Each plant produces a prolific amount of sweet fruit.

Chef’s Choice green tomato will raise a few eyebrows around the salad bowl. While called a green tomato it is green with yellow stripes that helps underscore the slightly citrus flavor.

Seeds must be planted in advance as it will take 90 days to mature.

This year’s winning flowers are an improvement of old favorites.

Geranium Brocade Fire was chosen for its bi-color leaves and nonstop red flowers. A must for any geranium lover as it will add color all season.

The second geranium on the list Brocade Cherry Night has bronze

leaves with a green rim. This plat also flowers continuously throughout the growing season.

It is a toss up whether to purchase these plants for their foliage or flowers. Great flowers and foliage or their flowers. Both are attractive.

Salvia Summer Jewel Lavender follows in the path of other Summer Jewel Salvia.

In this case it adds the forth colour to this series. This medium sized plant will bloom throughout the season attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to its tubular flowers.

It can be difficult to purchase seed or plants that are the current year’s All American Selections but be assured they will be on the shelves next season.

Linda Tomlinson is a horticulturalist that lives near Rocky Mountain House.

She can be reached at your_garden@hotmail.com

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Mass Appeal Directed by Lori Lane

A play by Bill C. Davis

at the Scott Block Theatre, on Little Gaetz, Feb.5 to 20

Tickets $25 or $17.50 on Thursdays

February 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20 at 8 pm Valentines Day Matinée Feb. 14 at 2 pm

www.reddeerplayers.com or Sunworks 4924 50 Street

WHAT’S HAPPENING

7419654A28-B11

Red Deer Players Presents

B6

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2016

Fax 403-341-6560 editorial@reddeeradvocate.com

WITH THIS RING BRIDAL GALA

File photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate staff

Eve Norman models a red wedding dress from Bridal Couture at the 2015 edition of the With This Ring Bridal Gala fashion show. Dresses from Bridal Couture, Your Wedding Place, New Beginning Wedding and Formal Wear were all on display for brides to be take a look at. The show is Central Alberta’s largest bridal gala and takes place at the Westerner again this weekend. The one-day show runs Sunday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Westerner Park in Red Deer.

CALENDAR THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS

FRIDAY, FEB. 5

● Widow and Widower Support Network meets on the first Friday of every month at ABC Country Restaurant at 6 p.m. for food and fellowship, and on the third Friday of each month at 7 p.m. at the First Christian Reformed Church, 16 McVicar St. The group provides a safe place for men and women who have lost their spouse through death, to interact and support each other. Upcoming dates are Feb. 5 and 19. Email to widowedsupportnetwork@gmail.com, or call 403-7550977. ● Red Deer Legion presents Randy Hillman on Feb. 5 and 6 from 8 p.m. to midnight for their weekend dance. Phone 403342-0035. Legion members are required to show their valid membership card. Non-members cover charge is $5. ● First Friday’s lineup on Feb. 5 includes: Urban Moves by Arto Djerdjerian from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kiwanis Gallery at Red Deer Public Library Downtown Branch with special First Friday Red Deer Concert with local duo Andrew Ludtke and Jeremy Doody in the Snell Auditorium from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. and from 7 to 7:30 p.m., Cracks and Crevasses by Ruth Moore from 4 to 6 p.m. in Marjorie Wood Gallery at Kerry Wood Nature Centre, We Have Our Inheritance by Vanessa Mastronardi from 6 to 8 p.m. at Harris Warke Gallery, Gotham in Red Deer by Mike Villasana at The Hub on Ross Gallery from 4 to 6 p.m., The Edge of Reflection by Susan Woolgar from 6 to 9 p.m. at the white gallery on Sunworks main floor, Martha by Vivian Bennett from 6 to 9 p.m. at Coconut Room at Sunworks, Crocky Rocky, Prairie Fairy: Prints and Drawings by Jim Westergard from 5 to 7 p.m. at Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery. ● Red Deer Public Library branches have many drop in programs for preschool children and their parents and caregivers.

See www.rdpl.org, or contact your local branch. ● Forshee Community Hall old-time family dance nights are the first Friday of each month from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Admission is $10 per adult, children 17 years and under are free. Evening lunch is included. Live old time music with Country Gold North Band.

Next dance is Feb. 5 with Country Gems band. For more information, call 403-7483378.

SATURDAY, FEB. 6

● Norwegian Laft Hus Society offers lessons in rosemaling painting with Karen Westly on Feb. 6 for $45. Paint and plate supplied. To register, contact norwegianlafthus@gmail.com or phone 403-3472055. ● Love Notes Valentine’s Dessert Concert ’20s Style offers musical entertainment by ihana, Soliloquy choirs and guest, delicious desserts, ’20s themed music, silent auction and more on Feb. 6, 7 p.m. at First Christian Reformed Church. Support choral music in Central Alberta. Tickets cost $30 each from Marla at 403-3352-9650 or Love Notes Dessert Concert Facebook page. See www.csusreddeer.com ● Nature Games Day at Kerry Wood Nature Centre will be featured on Feb. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drop-in games of all shapes and sizes, all with a nature theme. Admission by suggested donation of $3 per person or $10 per family. Phone 403-346-2010. ● Lego Builders Saturdays meet at Dawe Branch of Red Deer Public Library from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Feb. 6. Children ages six and up are invited to participate in a free Lego build activity. Children under six may attend with an adult. ● Sierra of Taylor Drive Music Jam is held the first Saturday of every month from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Everyone welcome to play an instrument, dance or simply listen to the music. Next jam session is Feb. 6. Each session $2. Phone Ivy at 403-346-5691 or Joan at 403-986-2008. ● MAGnificent Saturdays offer free art making with a professional artist from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery in downtown Red Deer. The Feb. 6 session is called Shadowy Silhouettes. All materials supplied. Families welcome. Phone 403-309-8405. Free with admission.

SUNDAY, FEB. 7

● Family Planetarium is offered at Kerry Wood Nature Centre on Feb. 7. Join an interpreter for a tour of the winter sky starting at 1 p.m. The cost is $3 per person, or $10 per family at the door. Phone 403-346-2010.

MONDAY, FEB. 8

● Cover 2 Cover Book Club will meet on

Feb. 8 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Dawe Branch of Red Deer Public Library. The theme will be blind date with a banned book. Visit www. rdpl.org/programs/book-clubs/cover2cover.

New members always welcome. Phone 403341-3822. ● Monday Mezz Madness: Mockingjay Part II will be offered on Feb. 8 from 3:45 to 5:15 p.m. in Waskasoo Kiwanis Meeting Room at Red Deer Public Library Downtown Branch. Teens invited to watch Katniss Everdeen fight for survival on the big screen. ● Any Book Book Club meets on the second Monday of the month (unless it’s a holiday), from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Timberlands Branch of the Red Deer Public Library. On Feb. 8 share your thoughts on any recently read book or get new recommendations. Refreshments provided. New members always welcome. ● Ladies Auxiliary of Red Deer Royal Canadian Legion Branch #35 holds general meetings the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. Next meeting will be on Feb. 8. Meat draw every Friday at 5 p.m.

TUESDAY, FEB. 9

● Central Music Festival annual general meeting will take place on Feb. 9, 7 p.m. at the Rlks lodge, 6315 Horn Street. ● CrossRoads Church Seniors Gems are holding a Valentine Luncheon on Feb. 9 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Chapel featuring The Maritime Music Aires. All seniors invited.

The cost is $8 at the door. Phone 403-3476425. ● The Central Alberta Mopar Association (CAMA) Car Club meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at Humpty’s Classic Restaurant in Gasoline Alley, next on Feb. 9. Admirers and owners of Chrysler family vehicles are welcome. Yearly membership is $20 for new members and $15 for current members. For more information contact Glen at 403-318-8388 or visit centralalbertamopar.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10

● Art and More at Dawe Branch of Red Deer Public Library goes Feb. 10 and 24 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. for children ages seven and up. ● Daytime Documentaries will be held on the second Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. in the Snell Auditorium at Red Deer Public Library Downtown Branch. The documentary film Babies (2010) will be shown on Feb. 10, followed by a library staff facilitated discussion. Take a look at one year in the life of four babies from around the world, from Mongolia, Namibia, San Francisco and Tokyo. Free. Light refreshments served. Those planning to bring groups, or for more information, phone Donna Stewart or Priscilla at

403-346-2100. ● Not Just For the Kids offers “big kids” the chance to relive childhood activities at Timberlands Branch of Red Deer Public Library. Supplies will be provided. Adult Cartoon Jam goes Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.

Adult Lego Party will be Feb. 22. ● Powered by Breathing Lung Support Group meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 4 to 5 p.m. at Peak Pulmonary, next Feb. 10 and 24. Those with lung disorders are invited to learn tips on having a better life with a chronic lung disorder at this Lung Association affiliated support group.

Contact Ted at 403-309-3487, or Mac at 403347-2191. ● Boomtown Trail Cowboy Church meets the second and last Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Elnora Drop In Centre. Cowboy boots and hats welcome.

Upcoming dates are Feb. 10 and 24. For more information, call 403-773-3600. ● Red Deer Legion Old-Time Dance with Three’s a Crowd is on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.

Cost is $7, or $13.95 with buffet starting at 5 p.m. Phone 403-342-0035. ● Heart Month national campaign in support of Heart and Stroke Foundation has several local events. Dress Less Stressed Day will be held on Feb. 10. Businesses are invited to get involved and invite employees to dress in casual attire for $20 or more each.

Rebels Game Night on Feb. 27 features the HSF at Telus Community Corner selling tuques and raffle tickets. Bridging Hearts on Feb. 29 is offering sales of paper hearts for $5 to stretch across the Red Deer River bridge. Paper hearts are available at Go Auto locations, Uncle Ben’s RV, Big 105 FM, and HSF office. At least 455 hearts are needed to reach across the entire bridge. Throughout the month of Feb. businesses and individuals are invited to be creative and put on events.

Door to door canvassers are needed also.

Please register events at heartandstroke.ca/ help or call 403-342-4435.

THURSDAY, FEB. 11

● Ecole Secondaire Notre Dame High School presents Mary Poppins theatre production, Feb. 11 to 13 with shows at 7 p.m., and matinee on Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $20 each from Notre Dame office, or from cast and crew members. Preview night will be offered on Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. with admission by donation. ● Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre Valentine dance, Thursday, Feb. 11, 7 to 10 p.m. at the seniors’ centre. Dance to the music of Allsorts Band. Admission is $7.

Phone 403-347-6165, 403-342-2875, or 403346-3896.

Listings open to cultural/non-profit groups. Fax: 341-6560; phone: 314-4325; e-mail: editorial@reddeeradvocate.com by noon Tuesday for insertion following Thursday.

RED DEER ADVOCATE Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 B7

Peace talks take ‘temporary pause’

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS GENEVA — The peace talks in the Syrian civil war are taking a break.

The fighting is not.

U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura announced Wednesday there would be a “temporary pause” in the indirect peace talks between the government and opposition, saying the process will resume Feb. 25.

In a statement later in the day, de Mistura’s office said the talks would take a “recess” by the end of Friday and would resume “no later than 25 February, and possibly much earlier.”

The delay reflects the rocky start of the talks Monday in which neither the government nor the opposition even acknowledged that the negotiations had officially begun.

“It is not the end, and it is not the failure of the talks,” de Mistura told reporters after a meeting with opposition leaders.

Both sides remain “interested in having the political process started,” he added.

The conflict that began in March 2011 has killed at least 250,000 people, displaced 11 million and given an opening for the Islamic State group to seize large parts of the country from forces loyal to President Bashar Assad.

“I’m not frustrated I’m not disappointed,” de Mistura said of the pause.

“When you have a five year war and had so many difficult moments you have to be determined, but also realistic.”

The last round of talks broke down in 2014.

The Saudi-backed opposition, known as the High Negotiations Committee, had been reluctant to come to the talks, saying the government should first end the bombardment of civilians, allow aid into besieged rebel-held areas, and release thousands of detainees.

On Wednesday, delegation head Riad Hajib said the Assad government had not met those demands.

“The HNC delegation will leave tomorrow and will not return (to Geneva) until we see positive steps on humanitarian issues,” he said.

“This regime that ruined the Geneva negotiations in 2014 is doing it again during this political process,” Hijab added. “We came to Geneva to prove to the world that this regime does not believe in a political solution.”

The head of the Syrian delegation, Bashar Ja’afari, said the opposition “had orders from its masters to ruin the talks.”

“Yes, there is a failure. It is a failure of everybody except the govern-

SYRIA

Photo by EPA

Syrian opposition chief Riad Hijab speaks during a press conference after Syrian peace talks at the President Wilson hotel in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

The UN special envoy for Syria announced a temporary break in the peace talk process aimed at ending the civil war, until Feb. 25. ment of the Syrian Arab Republic,” Ja’afari said. “Those who have the responsibility of this failure are the Sau-

dis, the Turks and the Qataris. They are the real handlers and the masters of the Riyadh group.”

REGISTRATIONS LOCAL EVENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS presents The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconcilliation Commission of Canada, on March 30, 7:30 p.m. at Red Deer College Arts Centre, Mainstage. Tickets, $20, are available from Black Knight Inn Ticket Centre, www.bkticketcentre.ca, 403-755-6626 or toll free 1-800661-8793. ● Central Alberta Community Legal Clinic will hold a photo identification clinic on Feb. 18 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at 301, 5008 Ross St. The clinic offers free affidavits of identification that are notarized by a lawyer.

This ID does not replace government issued ID but is intended to help people access basic services while replacing their proper ID. To book an appointment, phone 430-3149129, see www.communitylegalclinic.net, or email to info@communitylegalclinic.net. ● Lacombe Seniors music jams go from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at Kozy Korner take place every second Sunday for Feb., March and April.

Call Carol at 403-885-4493for information. ● Singing Valentines by Wild Rose Harmonizers are available to serenade your loved one and say, “I love you,” on Feb. 12 and 13 in gentle harmony. The Harmonizers have quartets bearing a red rose, and take a photo with the recipient at home or work and perform two tender love songs. The cost is $40 in Red Deer and $45 outside Red Deer.

For bookings, contact Fran at 403-347-0436, or Ralph at 403-347-9852. Book early as limited spaced are available. The deadline is Feb. 10. For more information visit www. harmonizers.ca. ● Jazz at the Lake presents a concert and dance with The Alberta Big Rocks Band on Feb. 20 at the Sylvan Lake Community Centre. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.jazzatthelake.com ● Family Leave No Trace Workshop is a hands-on workshop offered at Kerry Wood Nature Centre on Feb. 13 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Survive and thrive in the great outdoors with this certification course geared towards all ages. Cost is $35 per family. Find out more and pre-register at 403-346-2010 by Feb. 11. ● Teachers’ Convention Day Camp will take place Feb. 18 and 19 at Kerry Wood Nature Centre from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. School aged children may join an interpreter for two fun filled days of nature exploration. Cost for both days is $85 per child. Preregistration is required at 403-346-2010. ● Red Deer Public Library Outreach to Children’s Groups is booking library staff visits to preschools, daycares and other agencies and community groups to talk about resources and services the library offers to children and families. Call 403-346-4688 for information or to book a visit. ● Hockey GURLZ Market will take place at the Innisfail Arena on March 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in conjunction with the Hockey Alberta Provincial Female Atom Championship. Local vendors will have unique items especially for girls, families, athletes and hockey lovers of all ages. Find out more on Facebook, Hocky GURLZ Market. ● Perogie supper will be held on Feb. 25, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Parish Hall. Tickets available at the door. Adults, $13 and $6 for children 10 and under. For more information call 403-3472335. No advance tickets available. ● Honk — a new twist on the traditional tale of the Ugly Duckling — will be presented by Cornerstone Youth Theatre. Scheduled performances are 7 p.m. on Feb. 26, 27, March 4 and 5. Matinees at 3 p.m. go on Feb. 27 and March 5. Tickets are $14 at the door or in advance by calling 403-986-2981. ● Heritage Recognition Award nominations are now being accepted until June 20. These awards recognize individuals and groups who make an impact in preserving the heritage of Red Deer and area. For more information contact Paul at 403-986-4967 or Janet at 403-309-6270. ● Habitat for Humanity Red Deer Region Society Public Information Session will be held on Fe. 24, 6:30 p.m. at the Bowden Friendship Centre, 2133 18 Ave, Bowden. Eligible families interested in attending the information session are asked to register at janice.sibbeston@habitatreddeer. ca, or 403-309-6080 ext. 2. ● Cronquist House upcoming events include a Valentine’s Sweetheart Dinner on Feb. 14 featuring a six course meal for $150 per couple, Family Day Open House from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 with tours and chili lunches, Feb. 26 a St. David’s Day Tea from 2 to 4 p.m. featuring a traditions Welsh tea for $12, March 17 a St. Patrick’s Day Tea with tours from 1 to 4 p.m. and April 23 a St.

Georges Day Tea goes from 2 to 4 p.m for a cost of $12. For more information call 403346-0055. ● Celebrate the importance and heritage of the Red Deer Arena on April 8 from 5 to 9 p.m. The arena is scheduled for demolition and redevelopment in 2016. Residents are invited to capture the legacy of the arena since 1952 by sharing stories, photos and memories before March 8 at www.reddeer. ca/rdarena. Call 403-309-8417 for more informationor volunteer opportunities. ● Alberta Health Services provides free public education sessions on insulin pumps.

Upcoming workshops include Pumping Insulin, Feb. 18 or March 17, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. On Feb. 24 or March 23, the session Pick Your Pump will be offered from 5:45 to 8 p.m. Register by calling 1-877-314-6997. ● Family Day Friday Dance will be held on Feb. 12, 7 p.m. at Festival Hall. Based on community dances of days gone by, the event features live country music and Metis fiddling by Trent Agecoutay and the Uncle Brothers as well as a variety of DJ tunes for the whole family, dance lessons to learn a Metis jig, enjoy homemade pie, bannock and jam and other refreshments, door prizes, children’s activities and more for the whole family. Country Pride Dance Club, Red Deer Arts Council, Red Deer Cultural Heritage Society, City of Red Deer, and Peavey Mart have joined with Red Deer Native Friendship Society in support of Asooahum Crossing. Tickets available at Peavey Mart, Red Deer Native Friendship Centre, at the door, or online at www.countrypridedanceclub.ca and cost $20 per family of four, $10 per adult, $5 per youth, and free for children three years and under. ● Red Deer Arts Council now accepting applications for emerging artists. See https:// reddeerartscouncil.wordpress.com under Scholarship and Awards for criteria and more.

The deadline is March 4, 2016. ● Igloos for Insulin, a fund-raising event for the Canadian Diabetes Association will be held on March 18, 2 p.m. at Parkland Mall parking lot. Teams must contribute $500 to enter and any additional funds earns the team extra snow for the building of their igloo.

To register you team, contact Shalene at 403638-6573 or Jackie at 403-346-4631. ● Art of Friendship is a program for those who feel lonely or isolated and need to brush up on their friendship skills. The course will be offered by the Canadian Mental Health Association for eight weeks starting March 16 and runs weekly on Wednesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Canadian Mental Health

Office, 5017 50 Ave. T. There is a $25 cost for materials; financial assistance may be available. For information see www.reddeer. cmha.ca Participants must speak with staff prior to enrollment at 403-342-2266. ● The Leadership Centre of Central Alberta presents Diamonds and Denim with co-host Spinal Cord Injury Alberta on Feb. 12 at Sheraton Hotel Red Deer Tuscany Room. Cocktails at 6 p.m. Dinner at 7 p.m. with dance with live band, diamond pendant raffle, live and silent auction to follow. Seating limited to 350. For information and tickets, or sponsorship opportunities, contact Linda at 403-340-0324 or Doug at 403-341-5060. ● Canadian Blood Services has appointments available to donate blood on Feb. 11 to 13 at the clinic at #5-5020 68 Street.

There is an urgent need for new blood donors particularly for new O-negative donors. Visit www.blood.ca or call 1-888-2-DONATE (1888-236-6283) to make an appointment, or for eligibility information. ● Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) is an eight-week course to help participants explore personal recovery goals and develop strategies to promote a better quality of life. The course will be offered on Thursdays, Feb. 18 through to April 7 from 5:30 to 8:15 p.m., or from 5:30 to 8 p.m., March 3 to April 21 at Timberlands Branch of Red Deer Public Library, and is designed for adults and teens aged 14 plus who live together and consider themselves a family. There is a $25 materials charge. Financial assistance may be available. Presented by Canadian Mental Health and the Public Library. Contact CMHA at 403-342-2266 to arrange an interview. ● Newcomers Reading Club is now taking registrations for Levels 1 to 4 ESL. Classes start Feb. 22 and are usually held at Waskasoo Kiwanis Meeting Room at Red Deer Public Library Downtown Branch. To register, contact Central Alberta Refugee Effort at 403346-8818, jackie.ammeter@care2centre.ca. ● Lacombe Legion Breakfast is offered on the third Sunday of each month, next Fe. 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Coffee hour is held every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Phone 403-782-6441. ● Operation Welcome to Canada is a local group putting together shoe boxes for Syrian immigrant children. To contribute, cheques may be deposited to Servus Credit Union account 12942710, or contributing shoe boxes filled with items for children or donating items for children at Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools. Contact opwelcome2can@gmail.com.

DO YOU WANT TO BE MORE ACTIVE? • Join the Red Deer Primary Care Network’s 1 Month Trek around the virtual location of the Hawaiian Islands!

• Join by yourself or rally a team of friends.

The TREK will be launched by City Counsellors with a 30 minute walk from City Hall (west steps) at NOON on

Thursday, February 11th.

Limited supply of pedometers will be given out.

Come & join the fun and learn more about it!

FITBIT compatible Go to:

www.reddeerpcn.com

Call the Red Deer Primary Care Network to register a TEAM or if you have any questions!

403.343.9100 7413612B26

● Alberta Health Services is offering the free workshop Eating Well with Diabetes — Carb Smart — for people working to manage pre-diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes on Feb. 11 on March 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and on Feb. 22 and March 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Red Deer Diabetes Education Centre, 4755 49 St. Bay C. See www. albertahealthservices.ca/assets/programs/pscdm-central-calendar-2016-winter.pdf or call 1-877-314-6997. ● Benefit concert in support of a clean water initiative in Bolivia, will be held on Feb. 13, 7 .m. at Burman University Administration Building in Lacombe. Free will offering will be in support of A Better World Bolivia Projects. For more information contact Patti at r.p.vaillant@gmail.com ● The Vancouver Chamber Choir will perform with the Red Deer College Chamber Choir on Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. at the Mainstage Arts Centre. Tickets available online at www. blackknightinn.ca ● Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter will hold a gala and benefit saluting James Bond on March 11 at the Sheraton Red Deer. Black tie is encouraged for this glamorous event but not required. Tickets include a martini, five course gourmet dinner, live music, Vegas themed fun money casino and more. Doors to The Tuscany Ballroom open at 6 p.m.. Tickets are $200 or $1,600 for a tale of eight. Charitable receipt is available.

To buy tickets go to www.cawes.com ● Red Deer River Watershed Alliance Ambassador Breakfast will be held on Feb. 19, 8 to 9 a.m. at RDRWA office at 4918 59 St. In addition to creating an Integrated Watershed Management Plan, The RDRWA decided to bring watershed management to life by engaging in a Social Lab — Project AWESOME ( A Watershed Environmental System Of Municipal Excellence) — one of the prototype teams engaged in Project Blue Thumb, and they will be speaking about their project. Their goal is to enable change so that municipalities have the capacity to protect and restore watershed features (e.g. wetlands/riparian areas) in order to improve or maintain surface and groundwater quality.

RSVP to info@rdrwa.ca or call Kelly at 403340-7379 by noon on Feb. 17. ● Heart and Stroke Foundation volunteers will be canvassing neighbourhoods in February for Heart Month. Phone 587-9517104. ● Stettler Ranch Rodeo Competition will be held on Feb. 14 starting at 11 a.m. for various events including branding, sorting, penning, trailer loading, doctoring. Teams of four welcome. Must have at least one female per team. Entry fee is $400 per team.

A deposit of $100 is needed to hold a spot.

Register at Stettler Agricultural Office, 403742-6288. First 14 teams accepted. Free to watch. Food bank donations encouraged.

Family Day sleigh rides will be offered if weather permits from 1 to 4 p.m. at Stettler Agriculture Society Grounds. Coffee, hot chocolate, and more provided. Food bank donations encouraged for sleigh rides. ● Sheraton Celebrity Dance Off 2016 now accepting applications from local charities for sponsorship. Applications are available at www.celebritydanceoff.ca. All applications must be received at celebritydanceoff@ gmail.com by 4 p.m. on June 19. ● Coldest Night of the Year National Charity Walk will be held in Red Deer on Feb. 20, starting at 4 p.m. from Loaves and Fishes. Walk two, five or 10 km and raise funds and awareness for homelessness, and poverty. Teams, individuals and volunteers are needed. To sign up and find out information see coldestnightoftheyear.org. Youth who raise $75 and adults who raise $150 will receive an official CNOY tuque and scarf. ● Canadian Firearms Courses are offered at Cottonwood-Gordon Hall. Non-restricted: Feb. 13 starting at 8 a.m.; Restricted: Feb. 14 at 9 a.m. Pre-register by Feb. 6. For more information call 403-224-2881 or firearmscourses@gmail.com. ● Parkinson Alberta Education and Support Groups are available for persons with Parkinson Disease, family members, and caregivers in Red Deer, Lacombe, Innisfail, Three Hills, Olds and Castor. See www.parkinsonalberta.ca, or phone 403-346-4463. ● Red Deer Aboriginal Employment Services provides assistance to Aboriginal people including resumes, cover letters, research, and job postings. For more information call 403-358-7734 or drop in to #202, 4909 48 Street, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed noon to 1 p.m. or see www.rdaes.com ● Perspectives: Canada in the World

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announcements Obituaries

BURKINSHAW Earl Arthur Nov. 19, 1932 - Jan. 30, 2016 Earl was born in Czar, Alberta to John Burkinshaw and Lillian Peters. He grew up in a family of six boys Keith (deceased), Alex, Bill (deceased), Howard (deceased) Earl (deceased) and Walter and one girl Clara. After moving to Red Deer, Earl drove taxi while waiting to be hired by Alpha Milk. Through his taxi driving, Earl met Marion Fisher and on September 4, 1954, they were married. Together they had six children: Phillip married Lois and have Rob (Naomi) and Tracy (Joe); Deb has Killa and Erin (Brook); Dan (deceased) married Darleen and have Michael; David; Laura married Ed and have Nicole, Victoria and Alexandra; Michelle married Wade and have Kaitlyn and Steven.

He also has five greatgrandchildren: Parker, Spenser, Fiarra, Pheonix and Key. Earl started at Alpha Milk delivering milk by horse and carriage. Through his 43 years at Alpha Milk, Earl delivered milk and other dairy treats to many of Red Deer residents and restaurants.

He was also responsible for safe transportation of many students during his 30 years of driving for Prairie Bus Lines. Earl managed to find time to be an active volunteer. He was a Cub Leader, President of the Community Band Society, Executive of the Burns Club, Director of Central Alberta Pioneer Old Timers, member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Scottish Country Dance, a member of the Silver Blade Skaters, a member of the Golden Circle Singers and a member of the Sacred Heart Parish. Earl enjoyed gardening and fixing things. He was also bitten by a travel bug. Earl has driven from coast to coast across Canada and through several states. Additionally, he has visited England, Scotland and Australia.

Cruises include the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, South America and several ports in the U.S. Earl passed away at the Palliative Care Unit at the Red Deer Regional Hospital.

The family wants to thank Dr. Thain and Dr. Odendaal, the staff in emergency, the staff of the Palliative Care Unit and the staff at Villa Marie. A Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Parish, 5508 48A Avenue, Red Deer on Friday, February 5, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Parkinson’s Alberta, Palliative Care or to the charity of your choice.

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

Obituaries

Obituaries

CHIPLEY LaVerne Winnifred Nov. 7, 1938 - Jan. 29, 2016 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mrs. LaVerne Chipley of Sylvan Lake, Alberta on Friday January 29, 2016 at the Red Deer Regional Hospital at the age of 77. At her passing, she was surrounded by her loving family. LaVerne was born in Odessa, SK. on November 7, 1938 and married the love of her life Elmer Chipley, on July 8, 1955. LaVerne enjoyed crafts, sewing and was a fantastic cook and baker.

She was affectionately known as Bubba. Most of all, she loved her family with all her heart. LaVerne leaves to mourn her loving husband of 60 years Elmer, daughter Debra Sveinson-Flynn (Mike) of Grande Prairie, sons Daryle (Joy) of Calgary and Darren (Tracy) of Sylvan Lake, grandchildren Erika Sveinson, Kristin Ouellette (Gannon) and Kerri-Ann Gillett (Drew) of Grande Prairie, Myana and Tynan Chipley of Calgary and Jeffrey and Joseph Chipley of Sylvan Lake, great grandchildren Tyler-Ann, Ryder, Colton, Beau, Oakley and Emberleigh of Grande Prairie, brother Cliff Lennie of Red Deer and sister Trena Hamilton of Saskatoon, SK. Cousin Ernie Gerry (Sandra) of Creelman, SK. and numerous nieces and nephews.

LaVerne was predeceased by baby sister Fay, brother, Ron Gerry and parents William & Pearl Gerry. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at the Sylvan Lake Legion between 2 and 5 p.m. A funeral and burial will be held in Creelman, Saskatchewan at a later date. Cremation entrusted to Rocky Mountain Crematorium, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations can be made in LaVerne’s name to the Canadian Cancer Society. Condolences may be forwarded to www.sylvanlakefuneralhome.ca SYLVAN LAKE AND ROCKY FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORIUM, your Golden Rule Funeral Homes, entrusted with the arrangements.

403-845-2626

Obituaries

RUBRECHT Günter ‘Opa’ Erich Bruno 1929 - 2016 Our Opa passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 28, 2016. He was predeceased by his parents, Adolf and Gertrud Rubrecht, parents-in-law, Kurt and Elsbeth Schuller, and son, Andrew in infancy. Opa was born in Brunswick, Germany on August 19, 1929. He served in the second world war at age 15. In July 1956, he immigrated to Canada and established a foundation for a new life before he brought his wife and young son over to join him. Opa worked hard to build a good life for himself and his ever growing family. Now his 21 descendants and in-laws greatly respect and admire him. Opa settled in Calgary.

Job requirements saw him move to Medicine Hat and eventually to Red Deer. He was an avid sports fan all his life, with the Toronto Maple Leafs; as well as the Calgary Flames and many German soccer teams being amongst his favourites. Above all, he was the ultimate Calgary Stampeders fan. But his family always came first and he was totally devoted to them. He will be lovingly remembered by Hanne-Lore, his wife of 64 years; son, Eckhard (Darlene) Rubrecht, daughters, Margaret (Robert) Stroh and Marlis (Bob Belzerowski) Rose; grandchildren, Matthew (Terra) Stroh, Kristine (Joel Douglas) Rubrecht, Richard (Whitney) Rubrecht, Erin (Kelly) Eresman, Tyler (Chelsea) Rose, Janice (Lee) Worrall, Jennifer Stroh, Brooklyn Belzerowski, Vanessa Belzerowski, and Katrina Belzerowski; as well as eight great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Opa’s Life will be held at Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium, 6287 - 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer, Alberta on Friday, February 5, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com Arrangements in care of PARKLAND FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORIUM 6287 - 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer.

403.340.4040.

In Memoriam

CHOWN Margaret Freda (nee Montgomery) June 25, 1928 - Jan. 27, 2016 Margaret Chown, beloved aunt, cousin, friend, and longtime Red Deer resident, passed away at the Red Deer Regional Hospital on Wednesday, January 27th, 2016 at the age of 87 years.

Margaret was born in Elk Point, Alberta to parents William and Annie Montgomery. The family’s road construction company and Lacombe farm provided Margaret with her earliest experiences and a deep understanding of the rewards of hard work and a solid business sense. She went on to pursue her love of business at Henderson’s Business College in Calgary and upon graduation worked for several prominent companies in the province. Margaret met her soul mate Clinton (Kink) Chown, a Canadian airforce pilot, and they married on May 26th, 1952. His career took them across the country from Winnipeg, to Summerside PEI, and finally to Comox on Vancouver Island, a place she visited often with her husband, mother, and sister, and treasured throughout her life. She and her husband loved fishing, hunting, gardening, their precious shelties Jezebel, and the numerous cats they had over the years. After leaving the airforce and settling in Red Deer the couple purchased the Pinky Laundry and Margaret continued to successfully run it long after her husband’s devastating passing in 1980. She was also active in the Ladies Auxiliary of the Canadian Legion for over 40 years and was president in the early 1990s. Margaret’s devotion to family was always evident.

She cared for her aging mother and was always there for her younger sister. She also connected with her cousins in Northern Ireland, the birthplace of her father, and built an extremely strong and caring relationship with them. She travelled with her nieces and nephews to visit her cousins twice and longed to go back a third time. Margaret was an amazing storyteller with a head for details, dates, and names and loved to share the family history and her many adventures with others. She was considered the family matriarch by her nieces and nephews and she constantly inspired them with her fearless determination and fierce independence even when faced with significant health challenges. She did it her way, living independently in her own home until being admitted to the hospital at the end of November. We will miss Aunt Margaret and all she was!!

She will be lovingly remembered by her cousins, numerous nieces, nephews, friends, and extended relatives and loved ones in Northern Ireland. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her brothers Edward (Eddie) and John (Jack) Montgomery, and her sister Jean (Jeannie) Warren.

Those who wished to pay their respects did so on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Eventide Funeral Chapel, 4820-45th Street, Red Deer. A service will be held on Thursday, February 4th, 2016 at 1 pm at Gaetz United Church, 4758 Ross Street, Red Deer, Alberta, with time to pay your respects prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Margaret’s honour may be made directly to the Kidney Foundation of Canada Southern Alberta, 6007 1A Street SW, Calgary, AB T2H 0G5. 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

TEAGAN LEE KLEIN Sept. 6, 1985 - Feb. 4, 2009 You can remember her only that she is gone, or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind be empty and turn your back Or you can do what she’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Teagan you are so loved and we miss you every day, until we meet again.

Love, Mom, Dad, sister Taylor, your loving son Brayden, and all of your family.

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Afghan insurgents kill young local hero

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS KABUL — A 10-year-old Afghan boy who was declared a hero after fighting the Taliban has been shot dead by insurgents while on his way to school, officials said Wednesday.

Wasil Ahmad, who had fought the Taliban alongside his uncle on many occasions, was killed Monday near his home in Tirin Kot, the capital of the southern Uruzgan province, said deputy police chief Rahimullah Khan.

The 10-year-old boy had been a local celebrity of sorts, with widely circulated photographs on social media showing him holding an automatic weapon and wearing a uniform and helmet.

Ahmad’s uncle was a former Taliban commander who changed allegiance to the government and was appointed local police commander in Khas Uruzgan district, Khan said.

The use of child soldiers is illegal in Afghanistan, but the charity Child Soldiers International said both government forces and insurgents have been recruiting minors for years.

The organization’s policy and advocacy director Charu Lata Hogg told The Associated Press that the Afghan government, despite pledging to stop the recruitment and use of children by the Afghan security forces, was making “slow and tardy progress.”

“There is a lack of political will to address this issue, and while it’s within the framework of overall human

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TURKEY SUPPER SPECIAL HUBIES “1955” diner in Westpark. Sun. Feb. 7 3 - 7 pm. 403-340-3795

BOWER DENTAL CENTER req’s a full time Registered Dental Assistant who is a motivated, committed and passionate individual. We run a high paced practice where experience is an asset, but new grads are welcome. Must be avail. on evenings and one Sat. per month. Very rewarding position. Please send resume to: ebakleh@yahoo.com or apply within ofÀce.

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Call Prodie at 403-314-4301

CLASSIFICATIONS

ADULT or YOUTH CARRIERS NEEDED

700-920

Caregivers/ Aides

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

LIVE IN CAREGIVER / COMPANION for 50 yr old memory challenged female. Excellent living conditions. 403-346-3179 Live-in caregiver required.

Duties will include: Launder & mend clothing, household linens; Perform light housekeeping & cleaning duties; Plan therapeutic diets & prepare meals; Shop for food and household supplies; Drive to various appointments & outings; Help with pet care; Assume full responsibility for household (in absence of householder). Criminal background check & drivers’ abstract to be provided. Optional accommodation available at no charge on a live-in basis.

Note: This is NOT a condition of employment.

40-44 hours per week at 11.20 per hour. Please submit resume to kaedynmw@gmail.com

Coming Events

ADULT CARRIERS NEEDED

710

needed for Northern and Local Projects. Must Produce: OSSA Orientation/BSO, H2S Alive, CSTS, OSSA ConÀned Space Entry, OSSA Fall Protection, Current Drivers Abstract.

Must be able to pass an A&D Test. Please Submit Resumes to careers@bula.ca Start your career!

See Help Wanted

1605

Misc.

Help

880

ACADEMIC Express ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Winter/Spring Start GED Preparation

Morning, afternoon , evening classes in Red Deer and Central Alberta Gov’t of Alberta Funding may be available.

403-340-1930 www.academicexpress.ca PEST CONTROL TECHS REQ’D. cpest@shaw.ca Call 403-373-6182 You can sell your guitar for a song... or put it in CLASSIFIEDS and we’ll sell it for you!

52

Respite Care

For early morning delivery by 6:30 am Mon. - Sat. KENTWOOD SPRINGBROOK Call Joanne at 403- 314-4308

Adult Day Program in a Rural Setting.

Care services for adults with Dementia, Alzheimers, Social Isolation, etc.

Contact Michelle Ph: 403-886-5411 Email: countrysidehaven@gmail.com

CARRIERS NEEDED

CLASSIFIEDS - FAMILY DAY Hours & Deadlines

Call Terri at 403- 314-4303

7119052tfn

For CENTRAL ALBERTA LIFE 1 day a week INNISFAIL PENHOLD LACOMBE SYLVAN LAKE OLDS BLACKFALDS PONOKA STETTLER

OfÀce & Phones CLOSED Monday February 15 Non Publishing Day

RED DEER ADVOCATE

Publication Dates: Tuesday, February 16, Deadline is: Friday, February 12 @ 5 PM CENTRAL ALBERTA LIFE Publication Dates: Thursday, February 18, Deadline is: Friday, February 12 @ 2 PM CALL CLASSIFIEDS 403-309-3300 classifieds@reddeeradvocate.com

Veho. Connect with any electronic device, 1800 ma, rechargeable battery, built-in microphone with auto music interrupt, $100. 403-352-8811

EquipmentHeavy

1630

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

Firewood

1660

AFFORDABLE

utils. $900 s.d. Avail.

March 1. 403-304-5337

3030

LUXURY Condo in Aspen Ridge (Easthill) for B.C. Birch, Aspen, mature/retired adults, 2 Spruce/Pine. Delivery avail. bdrms, 2 baths, 6 appls., PH. Lyle 403-783-2275 a/c. Heat incld., n/s, no pets, underground heated parking, LOGS Semi loads of pine, spruce, $1500/mo. 403-343-7485 tamarack, poplar, birch.

New Blackfalds Condo. 2 Price depends on location Bdrm/2 Bath. Main Áoor & of delivery. Lil Mule 2nd Áoor options avail. 2 Logging 403-318-4346 powered parking stalls.

Rent $1,400. Pets negotiable. Ask about rent Household incentives. 403-396-1688.

WANTED

Antiques, furniture and estates. 342-2514

Misc. for Sale

1760

100 VHS movies, $75.

For All 403-885-5020 GREAT Valentine’s gift!

Makeup, from New York, red hot crocodile bag, 12 eye shadows, 2 blush, 1 nail polish, 1 lip gloss.

NEW!! Valued at $195.

Asking $50.587-876-2914

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

3040

1800

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

Pets & Supplies

1810

TIMBER Gray Wolf/ Alaskan Malamute/PittBull Pups. $400. 403-742-7872

Travel Packages

1900

TRAVEL ALBERTA Alberta offers SOMETHING for everyone.

Make your travel plans now.

2 BDRM. N/S, no pets. $875 rent/d.d.

403-346-1458 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

wegot

homes CLASSIFICATIONS 4000-4190

Realtors & Services

4010

CITY VIEW APTS.

Clean, quiet, newly reno’d adult building. Rent $925 S.D. $800. Avail. immed.& Mar.1 Near hospital. No pets. 403-318-3679 DELUXE Innisfail 2 bdrm. n/pets, balcony, inclds. water $860 + utils. 403-348-6594

NEW Glendale reno’d 1 & 2 bdrm. apartments, rent $750, last month of lease free, immed. occupancy.

403-596-6000

6 Plexes

3050

1 BDRM., no pets, $850 mo. 403-343-6609 3 BDRM., no pets, $1000 mo. 403-343-6609

CLEARVIEW

2 bdrm. 4-Plex, 4 appls.

Rent $925. incl. sewer, water and garbage. D.D. $650. Avail. March 1.

403-304-5337

CLEARVIEW

3 bdrm. 4-Plex, 4 appls., 1 1/2 baths, Rent $975. incl. sewer, water and garbage. D.D. $650. Avail. now or March 1 403-304-5337

GLENDALE

3 Bdrm. 4-plex, 4 appls., $975. incl. sewer, water & garbage. D.D. $650, Avail.

March 1 403-304-5337

4040

wegot

wheels CLASSIFICATIONS 5000-5300

Tires, Parts Acces.

5180

4 SUMMER TIRES, from Honda CRV, 205-70R15 with Alessio sports rims , plus 1 brand new spare tire w/rim. Rims could also be put on winter tires. $200 for all 403-346-4263 TOW straps, light, medium and heavy. Call Martin 403-323-7702

Misc.

Automotive

5240

WANTED: Driver’s side glass headlight for ‘93 Buick LeSabre. 403-347-0524

DO YOU WANT YOUR AD TO BE READ BY 100,000 Potential Buyers???

TRY

Central Alberta LIFE SERVING CENTRAL ALBERTA RURAL REGION

CALL 309-3300

+40 Villa For Sale Michener Hill $489,900 403-318-5665

wegot

services

SEIBEL PROPERTY

SMALL Curio cabinet w/approx. 22 assorted Manufactured small Holland brass $65, Homes 50 peacock feathers, some white, for home decor or Áy Àshing hooks $1/ea, large WELL-MAINT. 2 & 3 bdrm.

Currier & Ives cookie cans mobile homes close to Joffre $825 & $850 inclds. water, $1.50/ea. 403-346-2231 5 appl. 403-348-6594 WATER cooler $50.

403-885-5020 4 Plexes/

Office Supplies

1 BDRM. N/S, no pets. $790 rent/d.d.

403-346-1458

PADS $450/mo.

Brand new park in Lacombe.

Spec Mobiles. 3 Bdrm., 2 bath. As Low as $75,000.

Down payment $4000. Call at anytime. 403-588-8820

MORRISROE MANOR

Spruce, Pine, Aspen - Split.

Avail. 7 days/wk. 403-304-6472

1720

3060

3190

EASTVIEW, 1 bdrm. bsmt. suite, fully furnished, n/s, no HERE TO HELP STETTLER older 3 bdrm. pets, $800/mo., for single & HERE TO SERVE 2 storey, 4912-53 St. large $875 for dbl. Utils. incld. fenced yard, single car Call GORD ING at Avail. immed. garage, 1 blk. from school, 403-782-9357 or 352-1964 RE/MAX real estate 3 blks. from main street, central alberta 403-341-9995 LARGE, 1 & 2 BDRM. $1000/mo. + utils. $500 SUITES. 25+, adults only Classifieds...costs so little DD avail. immed. Call Saves you so much! n/s, no pets 403-346-7111 Corrinne to see 403-742-1344, call Don 403-742-9615 to rent.

Condos/ SYLVAN Lake, 3 fully furn.

Townhouses rentals, garage, inclds.

1 & 2 bdrm., all utils., $1100 - $1600.

Adult bldg. only, N/S, + Private room. $550/ mo.

No pets. 403-596-2444 “w/cable” 403-880-0210 Celebrate your life with a Classified Condos/ ANNOUNCEMENT

Homestead Firewood Townhouses

Furnishings

3090

Mobile Lot

1590

850

Rooms For Rent

wegot

Suites

4040

Need to Downsize? Brand New Valley Crossing Condos in Blackfalds. Main 1 & 2 bdrm. adult building, Áoor is 1,119 SQ FT 2 Bdrm/2Bath. Imm. Poss.

N/S. No pets.

Start at $219,900. Call 403-596-2444 403-396-1688.

SYLVAN LAKE, 3 bdrm.

4-plex, 4 appl., no pets, n/s, $825 mo. Avail. Feb. 1.

403-350-4230

rentals

Condos/ Townhouses

THE NORDIC

BLACKFALDS rooms for rent $600 fully furnished, all included 403-358-1614

3020

820

ORIOLE PARK

3060

Suites

SMALL square hay bales. $6 each. 403-396-8008

For delivery of Flyers, Wednesday and Friday stuff Classifieds Your place to SELL Houses/ ONLY 2 DAYS A WEEK Your place to BUY CLEARVIEW RIDGE CLASSIFICATIONS Duplexes CLEARVIEW 1500-1990 1178 SQ.FT 3 bdrm. main Restaurant/ Lost Áoor of house, c/w 5 TIMBERSTONE Hotel appls, dble. att. heated LANCASTER garage, Lacombe, July BIG REWARD OFFERED EAST 40TH PUB 1st, n/s, $1350/mo. inclds.

Clothing 2 Headed Gold Panther VANIER all utils. 403-782-2007 Ring. Please call REQ’S EXP’D 403-307-3880 if found.

WOODLEA/ P/T COOK 4 BDRMS, 2 1/2 baths, LADIES London Fog, reg.

With Food Safe 10 size, cranberry pea coat single car garage, 5 appls, WASKASOO Apply in person with resume Length $50. 587-876-2914 $1695/mo. in Red Deer.

DEER PARK 3811 40th Ave. 403-782-7156 Personals LADIES size 4 1/2 Italian 403-357-7465 GRANDVIEW Looking for a place chocolate leather knee to live?

LACOMBE 2 bdrm. house high boots, soft À ts like a ALCOHOLICS EASTVIEW Take a tour through the glove, $200 587-876-2914 w/1 bdrm. bsmt. suite, sinANONYMOUS 403-347-8650 gle car garage CLASSIFIEDS MICHENER $1395 403-782-7156 COCAINE ANONYMOUS MOUNTVIEW 403-357-7465 403-396-8298 Electronics ROSEDALE MOUNTVIEW Trades upper level 3 bdrm. house, GARDEN HEIGHTS WIRELESS 360 degree 5 appls., fenced yard, large M6 mode speaker from JOURNEYMAN Millwrights MORRISROE deck, rent $1,300 incl. all wegot

54

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

vention on the Rights of the Child in 1994, committing the country to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers.

The Child Soldiers International report says that in the troubled Kunar, Logar and Zabul provinces “10 per cent of law enforcement officials are suspected to be underage.” Although statistics are not available, recruitment is believed to be highest where the insurgency is strongest, notably the provinces bordering Pakistan.

2 bdrm., 1-1/2 bath, $925 rent, s.d. $650, incl water sewer and garbage. Avail.

March 1. 403-304-5337

CLASSIFICATIONS

wegot

3050

4 Plexes/ 6 Plexes

CLASSIFICATIONS

Industries #1 Choice!

50-70

that local police had hailed the boy as a hero after he battled a Taliban siege following the death of his father in fighting.

“Possibly he took up arms to take revenge for his father’s death, but it was illegal for the police to declare him a hero and reveal his identity, especially to the insurgents,” Baidar said. “One side made him famous and the other side killed him — both sides ignored the law and acted illegally.”

Afghanistan ratified the U.N. Con-

AGRICULTURAL

OILFIELD TICKETS

CLASSIFICATIONS

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Relatives attend the funeral of an Afghan boy in Uruzgan province, of Afghanistan, Wednesday. A 10-year-old Afghan boy who was declared a hero after fighting the Taliban has been shot dead by insurgents while on his way to school.

900

SAFETY

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Annual Horn Measuring Contest Enter: Horns, Fish, Birds & Photos.

Sat., Feb. 6 at 1 p.m.

QUALITY INN formally North Hill Inn DOOR PRIZES

ADULT or YOUTH CARRIERS NEEDED

740

278950A5

TO ORDER HOME DELIVERY OF THE ADVOCATE CALL OUR CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 403-314-4300

rights violations, there is a specific commitment by the government to clean it up but sufficient measures are not being taken,” she said.

In a June 2015 report presented to the U.N. Security Council’s working group on children and armed conflict, the London-based charity said children were recruited by the Afghan National Police and the Afghan Local Police. It said the recruitment was mainly driven by poverty, but also filial duty, patriotism and honour.

The ALP, set up with U.S. and British funding to provide security at a district level, has been widely criticized for a range of abuses, including extortion, as in many places it operates much like an independent militia. The government has been urged to disband the force but relies on it to supplement the over-stretched army and police.

The report said that in May of last year the charity found that half of national police checkpoints in Tirin Kot “were staffed with visibly younger officers,” who all acknowledged they were under 18 years old.

“They had been performing all responsibilities of a police officer, which included securing checkpoints and engaging in combat for the last few years,” the report said.

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission laid blame for the boy’s death with his family, the government and the Taliban, a militant group that has been fighting a 15-year insurgency.

Spokesman Rafiullah Baidar said

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

Cleaning

1070

Flooring

1180

NEED FLOORING DONE? Don’t pay the shops more.

Over 20 yrs. exp.

Call Jon 403-848-0393

Handyman Services

1200

Misc.

Services

1290

5* JUNK REMOVAL

Property clean up 505-4777 GARAGE Doors Serviced 50% off. 403-358-1614

Moving & Storage

1300

BOOK NOW! MOVING? Boxes? Appls.

For help on your home DUST BUNNIES BE GONE! projects such as bathroom, removal. 403-986-1315 CLEANING SERVICE. main Áoor, and bsmt. $10 discount for seniors. renovations. Also painting Plumbing Bondable, fast, efÀcient & and Áooring. affordable cleaning.

Call James 403-341-0617 & Heating Environmentally & pet friendly products. Call us CALL NOW! JOURNEYMAN PLUMBER today for your free quote! D & J HANDYMAN SERVICES Exc. @ Reno’s, Plumb Pro (403) 307-7792 (No job too big or too small) Geary 403-588-2619 ~ interior and exterior work HOUSE CLEANING Provided for Seniors. Many ~ painting and repairs Seniors’ ~ free estimates ~ yrs. exp. 403-782-4312 Services guaranteed work ~ quality work at fair prices Call Dennis HELPING HANDS Home (403) 342-3846 Red Deer Contractors Supports for Seniors.

Cooking, cleaning, companionship.

At home Massage BRIDGER CONST. LTD. or facility. 403-346-7777 We do it all! 403-302-8550 Therapy DALE’S Home Reno’s Yard Free estimates for all your Care reno needs. 403-506-4301

1330 1372

1100

1280

1160

Entertainment

DANCE DJ SERVICES 587-679-8606

FANTASY SPA

Elite Retreat, Finest in VIP Treatment.

10 - 2am Private back entry

403-341-4445

1430

TREE / JUNK / SNOW removal. Contracts welcome. 403-358-1614 Something for Everyone Everyday in Classifieds

B10 RED DEER ADVOCATE Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

HI & LOIS

PEANUTS

BLONDIE

HAGAR

BETTY

PICKLES

GARFIELD

LUANN

February 4 2013 — Canada’s penny withdrawn from circulation following the lead of Australia and New Zealand. The last one is produced by the Royal Canadian Mint on May 4, 2012.

2002 — PanCanadian Energy and Alberta Energy merge to create Encana Corp., today one of Canada’s largest companies. That deal creates North America’s largest natural gas producer and brings together two of the

premiere in situ (produced by drilling rather than digging) oil sands holdings; along with conventional oil holdings in the Gulf of Mexico, North Sea, South America and the Middle East.

1975 — Ottawa, Alberta and Ontario agree to invest $600 million in Syncrude Canada, to develop the Athabasca tar sands.

1924 — End of what is regarded as the First Winter Olympic games in Chamonix, France. It is a gathering of 16 national teams at the International Winter Sports Week where the Toronto Granites hockey team brings home the Gold Medal for Canada.

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.

SHERMAN‛S LAGOON

Solution

BUSINESS

B11

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2016

Lowe’s to buy Rona

MONTREAL — Quotes on Lowe’s offer to buy Quebec-based Rona for $3.2 billion:

BLOCKBUSTER DEAL EXPECTED TO SHAKE UP HOME IMPROVEMENT SECTOR

“We’re facing the situation where we’re going to lose another head office and this is certainly not good for Quebec. We’ve been losing head offices one after another. Remember Bell Astra? Remember Rio Tinto Alcan?

Remember Provigo?. At the end of the day, what’s going on? — Parti Quebecois Leader Leader Pierre Karl Peladeau, who wants Premier Philippe Couillard to do whatever he can to block the deal

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS MONTREAL — U.S. giant Lowe’s has proposed to buy Rona in a $3.2-billion friendly deal that would shake up Canada’s home improvement industry.

For Lowe’s, Rona is a way to quickly become Canada’s leading home improvement retailer. The acquisition would mark the company’s foray into Quebec, where Rona was founded in 1939.

Rona said the agreement would allow it to tap into the strength of a multinational company while preserving its brand, business relationships and most of its current operations.

“This transaction is a win-win combination for Rona and Lowe’s as well as all stakeholders involved,” Rona CEO Robert Sawyer said in a conference call Wednesday.

“It is the intention to capitalize on this strong leadership position to transform the Canadian industry and offer more value to Canadian consumers.”

Lowe’s chairman and CEO Robert Niblock said the Canadian home improvement market is worth more than $45 billion and growing. The North Carolina-based company estimates a compounded average growth rate of 3.9 per cent between 2014 and 2018.

“We also like the market because of its long-term fundamentals, with its high level of home ownership and well-developed distribution infrastructure,” he said in a separate conference call.

Niblock and other Lowe’s execu-

TORONTO — U.S. chain Lowe’s is proposing to buy Quebec-based Rona in a $3.2-billion deal that is poised to change the landscape of Canada’s home improvement market. Here’s a look at some of the biggest players in the industry:

Rona

Founded in Boucherville, Que. as a hardware-buying co-op in 1939.

“We are losing our capacity to take decisions and to control our economy.”

— Peladeau “What really matters to us as a government is to really make sure the jobs are maintained in Quebec. Not only maintained but that there is a possibility of growth for those jobs.” — Quebec Economy Minister Dominique Anglade

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Rona Chairman Robert Chevrier, right, and Lowes International president Richard Maltsbarger shake hands at a news conferernce in Montreal, Wednesday. U.S. giant Lowe’s has proposed to buy Rona in a $3.2-billion friendly deal that would shake up Canada’s home improvement industry. tives also said that Rona has made a number of improvements since the two companies came close to a similar takeover agreement four years ago.

That attempt failed in the face of op-

position from the Quebec government and a number of Rona’s independent dealers.

Founded in Toronto in 1922. 495 stores across the country, not including its gas bars and other brands.

58,000 employees across Canadian Tire, Mark’s and FGL Sports.

full-time employees.

Home Depot

Lowe’s

Founded in North Carolina in 1946. More than 1,840 stores across North America, including 42 in Canada. Approximately 265,000 part- and

Founded in Atlanta in 1978. 2,273 stores across North America. More than 370,000 employees.

Home Hardware

Founded in St. Jacobs, Ont. in 1964. 1,100 locations. Roughly 18,000 staff.

BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF

S&P / TSX 12,593.02 +150.76

▲

TSX:V 500.20 +5.21

Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff

Yoga instructor and massage therapist Tara Dolphin-Russell and street dance instructor Rico Martinez are happy to be in a new building. Located at 4419-55 St in Red Deer, B1 and Pound It operates in the former Traptow Photographics building. development permit for the business to extend its hours to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday to Friday. Over the last eight months, the studio was operating various hours from Monday to Friday. The commission also granted approval to add a sign on the west-facing side of the building.

The approval came amidst some complaints from neighbours over operating the business outside of approved

▲

NASDAQ 4,504.24 -12.71

▼

“Managers at Lowe’s need to know that we’ll be very vigilant regarding the more than 2,000 Teamster jobs at Rona.” — Serge Berube, president of local 1999

Canadian Tire

QUICK FACTS Roughly 500 stores across Canada.

Nearly 24,000 employees.

“I only heard this morning that it had happened, that it was a friendly acquisition and that I think also the company Lowe is pledging to keep their Canadian headquarters in Boucherville, where Rona was based. It seems to have gone well.” — Marc Garneau, a longtime Quebec-based MP who is currently federal transport minister

Please see LOWE’S on Page B12

Yoga, massage and dance under one roof It has been a funeral home, a church and a photography business.

Now the distinctive blue building at 4419-55th Street in Woodlea is home base to a place where you practise yoga on a six-foot bamboo board or tweak your hip-hop dance moves.

The new addition to the Woodlea neighbourhood — B1 and Pound It — opened in June 2015.

The co-owners are Rico Martinez who operates the hip-hop side of things, while Tara Russell runs the massage therapy and yoga studio.

Russell, a 15-year massage therapist veteran, teaches Indo yoga, regular yoga and catered yoga for those who have special needs.

“Indo yoga simulates being on a paddle board,” said Russell. “It is an advanced style of yoga. The board is just an accessory. You would use it with a yoga block. It creates an uneven and unbalanced posture.”

But you do not have to be an advanced yogi to take your practice to the board.

She said participants will start with very short basic such as downward facing dog and plank postures to get used to being on the board.

Indo Yoga is for everyone, including those paddle board enthusiasts who want to maintain strength and balance in the winter months and those new to ygoa, said Russell.

“The benefits are that it gives you an extra core workout,” said Russell.

“In three sessions you will notice that your posture has changed and that your physique starts to change.”

The partners decided to go into business together last year after successfully exchanging services — steam stress work on dance costumes for studio space.

Mexican-born Martinez immigrated to Canada in 2005. The dance teacher and choreographer has performed internationally and has danced with artists such as Nelly Furtado. He teaches all styles of dance including salsa.

“I’ve learned that to get anywhere in the world, it is impossible to do it on your own,” said Russell.

On Wednesday, the Municipal Planning Commission approved a one-year

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

hours, parking and outdoor events.

Conditions were attached to the development permit including the requirement to implement noise abatement inside the building and a ban on outdoor gatherings on the site.

Call 403-896-0412 or visit B1 Yoga and Sup on Facebook for schedule information. crhyno@reddeeradvocate.com

DOW JONES 16,336.66 +183.12

▲

NYMEX CRUDE $32.28US +2.40

▲

Getting back to basics as RRSP deadline nears

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — As Canadians review their year-end investment statements and prepare to meet with their financial advisers ahead of the RRSP deadline, stock markets are taking a rocky ride.

Amid the market turmoil, portfolio manager Adrian Mastracci of KCM Wealth says it is back to basics this year. That means having a strong financial plan that lays out clear goals and how they will be met.

“Here’s what I ask people coming in for the first time: Where are you going?

Why are you going there? What is important to you? What is your time horizon? How long do you think you have?

What can you save?” Mastracci says.

“That’s what people have to do.

That’s how you become an informed investor because what matters most is how the portfolio fares, not the market outcome.”

Mastracci says it’s important to understand that markets can’t be controlled, but Canadians can manage their investments.

“How much risk do you take? How often do I invest? What do I invest in?” he says. “These are the things that matter most.”

The deadline for making contributions to an RRSP to be able to deduct the amount on a 2015 income tax return is Feb. 29. While people don’t have to immediately decide how they want to invest the money, it has to be in their account by the deadline.

Last year was a difficult one for the Toronto market as the plunging price of oil and other commodities took their toll. The bad news spilled over into the Canadian banking sector this year as it took its share of lumps amid worries about bad loans to the energy sector.

Investment strategist Jurrien Timmer, director of global macro at Fidelity Investments, points to a divergence of U.S. and Chinese monetary policy as a key driver of the volatility on global markets.

The U.S. Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate late last year while Chinese policy-makers have been looking to revive the slowing growth.

“We have sort of a tug of war if you will between Chinese monetary policy, especially as it relates to the currency — the yuan — and U.S. monetary policy,” he said.

Please see RRSP on Page B12

NYMEX NGAS $2.035US -0.003

▼

CANADIAN DOLLAR ¢72.61US +1.32

▲

B12 RED DEER ADVOCATE Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016

MARKETS COMPANIES

D I L B E R T

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

Consumer Canadian Tire . . . . . . . . 115.58 Gamehost . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.47 Leon’s Furniture . . . . . . . 13.59 Loblaw Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . 65.47 Maple Leaf Foods. . . . . . 22.56 MARKETS CLOSE TORONTO — The Canadian dollar soared to its biggest one-day gain in nearly four years Wednesday as volatile oil prices turned sharply higher and the Toronto stock market posted a triple-digit gain.

The loonie ended the day up 1.32 U.S. cents at 72.61 cents US. The increase was the most for the currency since rising 1.4 cents against the greenback in June 2012, according to a search of the Bank of Canada’s website.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Stock Exchange’s S&P/TSX composite index rose 150.76 points to close at 12,593.02, after losing 380 points or almost three per cent of its value over the two previous sessions.

Gareth Watson, director of investment management and research at Richardson GMP, said a bounce in commodity prices helped drive the TSX higher.

The March contract for benchmark crude oil shot up $2.40 to settle at US$32.28 a barrel, after falling $3.74 over the two previous days.

Oil prices have been on a roller-coaster of volatility since falling below US$30 earlier this month.

The price of crude has fallen from a high above $105 in June 2014 as oil producers including Russia and the OPEC cartel have kept their pumps wide open despite an increasing supply glut that shows little sign of easing.

Rona Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.30 Wal-Mart . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66.27 WestJet Airlines . . . . . . . 16.37 Mining Barrick Gold . . . . . . . . . . 14.77 Cameco Corp. . . . . . . . . 16.83 First Quantum Minerals . . 3.02 Goldcorp Inc. . . . . . . . . . 17.12 Hudbay Minerals. . . . . . . . 2.78 Kinross Gold Corp. . . . . . . 2.50 Labrador. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.18 Potash Corp.. . . . . . . . . . 22.19 Sherritt Intl. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.710 Energy Arc Resources . . . . . . . . 18.10 Badger Daylighting Ltd. . 24.02 Baker Hughes. . . . . . . . . 44.41 Bonavista . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.83 Bonterra Energy . . . . . . . 15.88 Cdn. Nat. Res. . . . . . . . . 29.94 Cdn. Oil Sands Ltd. . . . . . 8.83 Canyon Services Group. . 3.96 Cenovous Energy Inc. . . 16.59 CWC Well Services . . . . 0.110 Encana Corp. . . . . . . . . . . 6.24 Essential Energy. . . . . . . 0.590 Exxon Mobil . . . . . . . . . . 78.48 Halliburton Co. . . . . . . . . 31.96 Watson said recent reports of a potential deal between OPEC and Russia leading to both parties cutting production and boosting prices are difficult to believe.

“It’s just going to take some time for these commodity markets to settle out, and in the meantime you’re going to get these wild swings without rational reasons beyond speculation,” he said.

Although traders react to short-term indicators, demand for oil continues to grow, he noted.

“We’ve talked prices down below $30 a barrel, and now a lot of analysts are on the same page at around $20, $25 a barrel,” he said.

“Usually when analysts all start saying the same thing they’re all wrong.”

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

Stocks: S&P/TSX Composite Index — 12,593.02, up 150.76 points Dow — 16,336.66, up 183.12 points S&P 500 — 1,912.53, up 9.50 points Nasdaq — 4,504.24, down 12.71 points Currencies: Cdn — 72.61 cents US, up 1.32 cents Pound — C$2.0113, down 1.08 cents Euro — C$1.5308, un-

FROM PAGE B11

LOWE’S: Rona banner to stay Rona chairman Robert Chevrier said Lowe’s has made commitments to the Canadian company’s employees, suppliers and independent dealers, including the preservation of Rona banners.

Nonetheless, the announcement drew reaction from a union that represents workers at Rona. Teamsters Canada Local Union 1999 said the sale of a Quebec “economic showpiece” to American interests is raising concerns, even if Lowe’s is promising to maintain the majority of Rona jobs.

“Managers at Lowe’s need to know that we’ll be very vigilant regarding the more than 2,000 Teamster jobs at Rona,” union local president Serge Berube in a statement.

Quebec’s Caisse de depot, which owns about 17 per cent of Rona, said it supports the deal.

“Overall, la Caisse believes the transaction will result in equal or

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Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

John Soini, president, Energy East pipeline project, listens as Nathalie Pilon, President and CEO, ABB Canada, speaks at a news conference in Montreal on Wednesday following the signing of a major supply agreement. changed Euro — US$1.1114, up 2.01 cents Oil futures: US$32.28 per barrel, up $2.40 (March contract) Gold futures: US$1,141.30 per oz., up $14.10 (April contract) ICE FUTURES CANADA WINNIPEG — ICE Futures Canada closing prices: Canola: March ‘16 $1.90 lower $471.90 May ‘16 $2.00 lower $481.30 July ‘16 $1.80 lower $487.30 Nov. ‘16 $1.50 lower $488.30 Jan. ‘17 $0.80 lower $490.80 March ‘17 $0.80 lower $491.00 May ‘17 $0.80 lower $489.70 July ‘17 $0.80 lower $489.70 Nov. ‘17 $0.80 lower $489.70 Jan. ‘18 $0.80 lower $489.70 March ‘18 $0.80 lower $489.70.

Barley (Western): March ‘16 unchanged $190.00 May ‘16 unchanged $194.00 July ‘16 unchanged $196.00 Oct. ‘16 unchanged $196.00 Dec. ‘16 unchanged $196.00 March ‘17 unchanged $196.00 May ‘17 unchanged $196.00 July ‘17 unchanged $196.00 Oct. ‘17 unchanged $196.00 Dec. ‘17 unchanged $196.00 March ‘18 unchanged $196.00.

Wednesday’s estimated volume of trade: 378,520 tonnes of canola 0 tonnes of barley (Western Barley). Total: 378,520.

superior economic activity generated by the Rona banners in Quebec,” the Montreal-based pension fund manager said.

For Rona shareholders, Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW) is offering $24 cash per common share (TSX:RON) — about double what the stock was worth at the end of trading on Tuesday before the announcement.

The publicly traded shares soared Wednesday to just below the offer price, with nearly nine million traded in less than an hour after the market opened. The offer is about $10 above the $14.50 per share that was rejected in 2012.

Lowe’s said it has identified more than $1 billion in opportunities, including adding appliances to Rona stores, extending its private label and e-commerce capabilities and leveraging its supplier relationships and enhanced scale.

Rona has nearly 500 stores across Canada, including independent affiliated dealers.

With its network of 42 stores, Lowe’s trails Rona and Home Depot in Canada. But in the U.S, Lowe’s has the second-most stores in the home improvement sector after Home Depot.

Lowe’s Canada president Sylvain Prud’homme would head the merged

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High Arctic . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.33 Husky Energy . . . . . . . . . 13.55 Imperial Oil . . . . . . . . . . . 42.33 Pengrowth Energy . . . . . 1.070 Penn West Energy . . . . . 1.060 Precision Drilling Corp . . 04.32 Suncor Energy . . . . . . . . 31.55 Trican Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . 1.640 Trinidad Energy . . . . . . . . 1.73 Vermilion Energy . . . . . . 36.86 Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.090

TransCanada tries to win over Quebec with promise of jobs

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS MONTREAL — The company behind the proposed Energy East Pipeline ramped up its Quebec charm offensive on Wednesday, announcing a deal to create more than 120 jobs if the project proceeds.

TransCanada (TSX:TRP) is hoping it can woo Quebecers to get on side with the multibillion-dollar pipeline after it signed an agreement with power equipment manufacturer ABB Canada to build 22 electrical houses in the Montreal region.

But Energy East will be a tough sell in Quebec. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre along with more than 80 other municipal leaders recently rejected the pipeline over environmental concerns, accusing TransCanada of arrogance.

John Soini, the new president of Energy East, made sure to deliver the majority of his announcement in French, despite difficulty speaking the language.

His presence Wednesday was part of what the company calls its “new approach” towards convincing Quebecers that the $15.7-billion pipeline project is in the province’s best economic interests and that TransCanada cares about citizens’ concerns.

“For me, it’s all about listening,” Soini said, adding that Quebecers should operations from Rona’s headquarters in Boucherville, Que. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter after receiving regulatory approvals and the support of Rona shareholders by April 8.

RRSP: Rocky markets continue “When you combine a slowing economy in China with a now overvalued currency, it creates some strains. People in China want to take their money out of the country because the growth is less and the currency by some measures is 15 to 20 per cent overvalued.”

Going forward, Timmer expects the rocky markets to continue until U.S. and Chinese monetary policy stop working against each other.

The market gyrations have left many investors sitting on their cash instead of exposing it to risk.

A report by CIBC suggests that some $75 billion in excess cash that would typically be invested is being kept on the sidelines and people are accumulating cash at a rate not seen in more than four years.

CIBC noted that it isn’t the first time

expect to see him more often. “It’s all about being in the community. I’m happy to be here and to spend time here.

I’m not a big-city guy. I’m not a stuffed suit.”

TransCanada plans to build a pipeline from Alberta’s oilsands that would wind its way through Montreal and ending in Saint John, N.B. The project would ship 1.1 million barrels of oil a day and allow Alberta’s crude — which is currently landlocked — to be exported to international markets other than the United States.

While Coderre has voiced his concerns with Energy East, he has also signalled he is open to changing his mind if TransCanada “does its homework.”

Soini said the agreement announced Wednesday, which would create 120 temporary jobs, is contingent on Energy East getting sanctioned. The deal with ABB Canada — a division of ABB Group in Switzerland — is also expected to create another 90 spinoff jobs outside of the Montreal area, TransCanada said.

The electrical houses that would be built under the deal are prefabricated structures that contain electrical and automation equipment for powering pump stations along the pipeline.

Getting the green light for Energy East will likely take more than promises of temporary jobs, however. that investors have increased cash holdings during a downturn in the market, but in the past they have also maintained those positions after markets rebounded.

Timmer predicted that 2016 will be a V-shaped year for markets like 2009 was in the wake of the financial crisis.

“We’re obviously right now on the downward sloping part of the V,” he said.

But the question remains: When will the markets hit bottom and start heading back up?

“If you are a typical long-term investor with a long horizon, you don’t need to draw on the cash tomorrow, you’re best off just sticking with whatever plan it is that you have and not overreacting to these movements,” he said.

Mastracci says it is important to keep an eye on the big picture and stick to a financial plan.

He says he learned a long time ago to simply forget the noise.

“I read the papers. I see the headlines, but I don’t dwell on it because you can’t do anything about that,” he says.

“What you can do something about is how your portfolio fares. … You have to expect that some things will go up and down.”

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Diversified and Industrials Agrium Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 118.54 ATCO Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . 39.11 BCE Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56.74 BlackBerry . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.87 Brookfield . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.85 Cdn. National Railway . . 73.44 Cdn. Pacific Railway. . . 159.03 Cdn. Utilities . . . . . . . . . . 35.91 Capital Power Corp . . . . 18.68 Cervus Equipment Corp 12.31 Dow Chemical . . . . . . . . 46.74 Enbridge Inc. . . . . . . . . . 47.87 Finning Intl. Inc. . . . . . . . 16.73 Fortis Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.96 General Motors Co. . . . . 28.92 Parkland Fuel Corp. . . . . 22.12 Sirius XM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.95 SNC Lavalin Group. . . . . 39.11 Stantec Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 32.39 Telus Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . 39.71 Transalta Corp.. . . . . . . . . 5.17 Transcanada. . . . . . . . . . 48.05