April 9, 2024 Camrose Booster

For 26 straight years, clients of Centra Cam have benefitted significantly because of their single largest annual fundraiser –a full day bowlathon at Tabb Lanes in Camrose. With increasing costs to run the program, this year’s goal is not only necessary, but also lofty. $26,000 is the aim in order to increase client experiences for the coming year.

Imagine the excitement that is reverberating amongst Centra Cam’s clients with this day of buzz and fun nearing.

All 12 bowling lanes will be active with bowlers from morning through late afternoon. If you are willing to sponsor a bowler, pledge forms are available at several Camrose banks and credit union and at more than one dozen leading Camrose businesses. Call 780.672.9995 for a location list or additional information on how you can make a difference.

Photo by Ron Pilger

By Lori Larsen

With the first signs of spring comes a strong desire for horticulture enthusiasts to sharpen the pruning sheers, clean off the spades and get ready for another growing season.

The Camrose and District Horticulture Society (CDHS) not only offer members a variety of presentations to help them get the most out of their passion for gardening but also an opportunity to join likeminded others in sharing that passion and using it to do volunteer work throughout the community.

“Our club meets at the Camrose Railway Station the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m.”, said Camrose and District Horticulture Society president Janine Carroll. “We usually begin the evening with a program, break for a small snack supplied by members and then have a short business meeting.”

In an effort to provide members with the best experience, the CDHS arranges presentations on a fairly regular basis, which began with the presentation, Creating Healthy Soil and Growing Environments held during the April 4 meeting, presented by Janet Galenza, master gardener and CDHS member.

The May 2 meeting will feature several short presentations including: The Importance of Mulching and the pros and cons of various mulching materials, presented by Judy Wall; The Science Behind Companion Planting presented by Janine Carroll; and a presentation on the Timetable for Zone 3b Alberta (presenter to be announced.)

As the growing season gets into full swing, the June 6 CDHS meeting will feature the following presentation, Growing Roses presented by Anita Baier (the location for this meeting will be announced upon

Horticulture Society, busy season ahead

registration for the event).

In preparation for the upcoming Rose and Lily Show, the July 4 meeting will feature a presentation on Growing and Showing Lilies presented by Janine Carroll and Alison BarkerJevne.

On April 21 beginning at 2 p.m., the CDHS is hosting a Pruning and Grafting presentation for members only, presented by Ron Baier.

Other events include hosting an exhibit at the Camrose Regional Exhibition Garden and Acreage Show to be held April 13 and 14.

Continued on page 6

Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster

The Camrose and District Horticulture Society’s popular Rose and Lily Show and Tea will be held on July 18.

In praise of civility

The article title caught my attention. “A loss of civility goes straight to the bottom line.”

I grew up in a time when it was deemed important to be polite and courteous. It’s not just that we were taught to speak respectfully to grown-ups and to one another. Most grown-ups acted and spoke respectfully to one another and to us. Civility was the norm.

True, our dad considered insult humour to be appropriate, but that’s a whole other conversation. (Rudeness is not appropriate unless it gets a laugh? Hmm. And I can’t help laughing? Double hmm. But I digress…)

“Civil” is the root word of “civilize” and “civilization.” It is closely related to “citizen.” Those words relate to our ability to live together and function as a society. The meaning of “uncivil” is “rude, untrained, disregarding the duties of citizenship.”

As a child, I didn’t know the word “civil.” However, it’s fair to say that civility was expected and valued in our home, at school and in the community.

***

With that background, I found it interesting to read a column by Lola Rasminsky titled, “A loss of civility goes straight to the bottom line.” The article quoted from Mastering Civility: A Manifesto for the Workplace by Christine Porath. She surveyed more than 20,000 people over a 10-year period.

Porath says the effects of rudeness in the workplace “spread like a virus.” Some of the impacts of incivility were:

• Eighty per cent of workers lost work time worrying over an offending incident.

• Seventy-eight per cent said their commitment to their organization went down.

• Sixty-six per cent said their performance went down.

• Forty-eight percent who were treated rudely purposely decreased their work effort.

• Forty-seven per cent purposely decreased the time they spent at work.

Most telling of all: Eighty per cent of customers who saw rudeness among employees were not likely to return to the business.

So–rudeness in the workplace leads directly to lower productivity, lower employee commitment and fewer customers. Expensive!

***

The negative impact of incivility is also true in families and communities. Incivility is a power tactic. It flaunts disrespect. It’s a form of bullying. When being rude and disrespectful becomes okay, other forms of abuse become more likely. Incivility creates a climate of unsafety.

In that unsafe climate, people’s energies go to self-protection. They use forms of fight, flight or freeze. Their words and actions are all about surviving in a dangerous environment. Some may start toadying to power and saying what seems acceptable, whether it’s true or not. That means no accurate information on which to base decisions. Others may use passive resistance, open rebellion or sneaky sabotage to survive–and possibly get revenge.

Energy is not available to bring people closer, enable cooperation, or help the family or community or business to flourish.

***

Our strongest leaders have asked our best of us. Abraham Lincoln asked his countrymen to summon their better angels. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela preached non-violence. They asked us to act from love not hatred, even in the face of hatred from others. Mother Teresa preached compassion and kindness, especially towards those less fortunate.

We cannot change high-profile leaders who demonstrate incivility and lying. I suspect they are doing untold damage in subtle and not subtle ways that go far beyond what’s obvious. We can, however, not vote for them nor support their causes, nor buy things from their countries or their companies.

What each of us can do is be civil and respectful in our connections with others.

Rudeness, inconsideration and other forms of incivility are bad for families, bad for communities, bad for business, and therefore bad for countries. Courtesy, kindness and respect are good for families, good for communities, good for business and therefore good for countries.

If you can’t do it for love, do it for money! ***

I’d love to hear from you. If you have comments about this column or suggestions for future topics, send an email to Bonnie@BonnieHutchinson.com I’ll happily reply within two business days.

Sense of loss

I feel a sense of loss that Jaywalkers’ Jamboree is moving from a street festival to a multi-use space.

This proposal reminds me of one Thanksgiving many years ago: Our family decided to break its longstanding tradition of a homecooked feast at my in-laws to celebrate that holiday at our favourite restaurant.

Thanksgiving had always been a time when relatives and friends jammed in the family home until it almost burst at the seams.

It lasted hours, with lots of teasing and laughter. We all looked forward to such chaotic closeness! This new transition to a restaurant, with its promise of no prep nor clean up, did provide a savoury meal, but it lacked the traditional vibe of the holiday. It didn’t have that “at home” feel, like usual (not to mention, there were no leftovers to share later).

The proposed change is, for me, an echo of that Thanksgiving Day. With respect to keeping Jaywalkers’ downtown,

could some of the larger parking lots be rented for carnival rides? (The Brick? CityLights Church?)

Can additional side streets be closed to traffic to accommodate more rides?

The name says it all. Jaywalkers’ belongs on the crowded Main Street, where we can saunter close to our shared community, close to home, with shops to browse, where we can shop local–thus, continuing a very happy annual tradition.

Jacques Vaillancourt, Camrose

BRSD board approves capital plan

By Murray Green

The Battle River School Division (BRSD) board of trustees approved its 2025-28 capital plan.

The capital plan was submitted to Alberta Education prior to April 1 for consideration by the Government of Alberta. BRSD is required to submit a three-year capital plan annually.

BRSD’s 2025-28 capital plan report highlights requests for a replacement school, modernizations or renovations to two existing schools and a future new school.

Each year, BRSD assesses capital needs throughout its buildings and prioritizes projects based on drivers outlined in the School Capital Manual. Some of the drivers that are helpful in prioritizing capital project requests are building conditions, enrollment, programming and health/safety.

BRSD has prioritized four project

requests for its plan. These priorities include two construction projects. One of the projects is a replacement building for C.W. Sears School in Tofield. The other is a new middle school in Camrose, which will help balance enrollment and ease congestion at the current Camrose middle school, École Charlie Killam School (ÉCKS).

The plan also includes a priority request for modernization and partial replacement at ÉCKS. Hay Lakes School is another school in the rural area that has been included in the request for priority modernization.

Modernization strategies can be used to enhance entire buildings or part of a building to address aging building infrastructure and also to accommodate educational space and programming. Upgrades may be applied to sections of the original building construction and additions that would have occurred after the initial build.

EICS board updates capital plan

By Murray Green

A three-year capital plan was approved by the Elk Island Catholic Schools (EICS) board of trustees at its March meeting.

This represents a first step to plan for and gain feedback on future infrastructure projects.

The three-year plan was submitted to Alberta Education with a funding request to support the planning and design of a new school in Fort Saskatchewan as well as to finance stakeholder engagement in Sherwood Park and Vegreville over the next few years.

In creating the threeyear capital plan, the division’s long-term enrollment projections and facilities plan were analyzed, as were the economic diversity, growth potential, longrange regional plans and future development projects of each municipality where EICS has a school.

“Elk Island Catholic was in need of a revitalized

capital plan,” said EICS superintendent Paul Corrigan. “In our project advocacy meetings with Alberta Education and Infrastructure, they informed us that our previous capital plans do not provide sufficient documentation nor solutions to warrant provincial funding.”

When proposing a funding request, school divisions must provide details regarding building conditions, functionality and programming, enrollment pressures, community renewal and other details.

School divisions are also expected to propose solutions to resolve their needs.

“Alberta Education has set a very high bar to obtain funding for pre-planning and planning–let alone construction dollars for school modernization or a new school,” Corrigan added. “Our new capital plan is designed to clear this first bar so we can begin planning wider consultation with

our communities. It clearly identifies our needs and provides consideration of what the potential solutions could be to best address the existing and future needs of our communities.”

“Input from our parents and staff are vital to our way forward in building a more sustainable future for Elk Island Catholic Schools in each of our communities,” said board chair Le-Ann Ewaskiw. “We know the future may hold difficult conversations with each of our communities, but these conversations are vital to the health of our division and our ability to provide the level of quality Catholic education that we are so well known for.”

The priorities laid out in the 10-year plan would follow completion of the first three priorities in the three-year plan identified.

The full capital plan is available at eics.ab.ca.

Continued from page 2

“We are excited to have a table for the third year, providing attendees with information about the club,” noted Carroll. “We’ll be helping with the Sunday, April 14 children’s tomato transplanting activity. We’ve grown the tomatoes and after the children have transplanted them into a larger container, they get to take them home.” Carroll said the tomato breed they have chosen for this initiative is the Red

Horticulture Society, busy season ahead

Robin because of its reputation for producing a hardy, compact dwarf plant that yields a lot of cherry tomatoes and is easy to grow in containers indoors or out.

On Saturday, May 25, the CDHS will once again be hosting the annual Spring Plant Sale to be held behind 5 Grandview Crescent, off the back alley.

“There will be a selection of annuals and perennials and houseplants all lovingly started or grown

by our members.”

The season of gardens would not be complete without the Camrose and District Horticulture Society’s annual Rose & Lily Show and Tea to be held on Thursday, July 18 at the Masonic Hall, from 2 until 5:30 p.m. when judging occurs.

Anyone is welcome to attend meetings (unless otherwise indicated) and the CDHS is happy to welcome new members on board.

through the pages of e Booster

• The Camrose Association For Community Living (CAFCL) completed a specialized training program on how to provide child care for special needs children. This training program was made possible by a generous grant from the Greater Camrose Community Foundation The program was designed to provide participants with the skills and knowledge needed to provide care for a special needs child. It is very difficult for families of special needs children to find temporary babysitting from someone they can trust to meet the needs of their child, even for a few hours, so having this resource can be a Godsend. Receiving certification for completing the specialized childcare course were: Carolyn Good, Chriss Akerstrom, Robyn Romano, Joy-Marie Rawson, Jill McDonald, Jessica Bettcher, Cole Vivier, Natalie Zuk, Shawna Hayworth, Erin Hamilton, Daniel Straathof and Alexandra Coumont.

• Gordon Porteous received the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies Award of Merit for contributions to quality of life in Camrose and rural Alberta, for his contributions to the betterment of fairs and agriculture across Canada and for helping this AAAS develop its goals and objectives to meet the challenges of change. Mr. Porteous is the General Manager of Camrose Regional Exhibition.

• Reverend Arnold Hagen, President of Canadian Lutheran Bible Institute turned the first sod to mark the beginning of construction of a $260,000 building to provide additional space for the institute, which had its beginnings approximately forty years previously. He was assisted by Pastor Allen Severson, Chairman of the CLBI Board of Trustees, Mayor Rudy Swanson, Alf Olsen of the Building Committee and Richard Hawkinson, Student President.

• Arrangements were completed between the City of Camrose and Homeco Industries of Kelowna for the construction of an 80,000 sq. ft. plant for the manufacture of double-wide mobile homes for the Western Canada Market. The $1 million plant will provide year round employment for up to 200 people and will turn out 500 double-wide mobile homes per year

• It takes no less than 52 referees and 40 coaches to operate the Minor Hockey Program in the City of Camrose. These 92 men and boys were treated to a feast and presented with Certificates of Appreciation at the Third Annual Hockey Appreciation Night, hosted by the Camrose Lions Club. At the conclusion of the function, Gordon Dennis, Club President, presented a $400 cheque to Wayne Powell, Director of the Regional Recreation Commission “for use in recreation for Camrose”. Chairman of the project was Lion L.G. Rhine.

By Lori Larsen

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Rotary Camrose, a remarkable milestone for a service club that, from March 24, 1924, when the club chartered, has served its members and community.

In celebration of the longevity of Rotary Camrose, the club is hosting a 100th Anniversary Gala Celebration to be held on Saturday, April 27 at the Days Inn and Conference Centre by Wyndham Camrose Norsemen, doors open at 5 p.m.

Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by a program with keynote speaker Rotary District Governor Brent Collingwood and a live auction at 7:30 p.m. Attendees can bid on a variety of items generously donated by local businesses and organizations.

Along with bringing Rotary members and members of the community together to honour the achievements of Rotary and Rotarians in the past century, the Rotary 100th Anniversary Celebration Gala is an opportunity to raise funds that allow Rotary Camrose to maintain projects that benefit all members of the community.

Such projects include: the Rotary Park and

Rotary Camrose celebrates 100 year anniversary with Gala

fountain; Rotary Four Seasons Park; Four Seasons Environmental Centre and Butterfly and Hummingbird Gardens; Rotary Peace Path and the Rotary Pavilion and Heritage Showcase, not to mention a specific focus on

youth programs including: the Rotary Youth Centre; Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library; Camrose Air Cadets and the Rotary Youth Exchange. For more information or ticket purchase for the Rotary 100th Anniversary Gala Celebration, contact Lou Henderson via email at lou.henderson.rotary@ gmail.com

The celebration of 100 years will continue with another community event, Family Fun Day Anniversary Celebration, planned

for June 15th at the Rotary Pavilion located at 5320-39 Avenue (Stoney Creek Park) from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Come out and enjoy some food, games and fun.

McKay -Mr. Mike s Steakhou se -O ld Prospe ctor Di st illing -O ve rt ime Tap Hous e -Pet Va lu -P ioneer Machine -P rinc es s Auto -R ay-A rc We lding -Roc ky Mountain Equipment -Royal LePage Real ty -Rus tic Be ar Knit s -S chielke Farms -S afeway -Sil ve r Creek Golf & RV Re sort -S ky way Re st aurant -S ly Baie r -S trebs Automotive -Real Canadian Supers tore -TeePe e Tr ade & RV C entre Ltd. -Terra Firma HDD -T he Fishing Hole -T he Sweeterie -T he Trendy Walr us -T iras Dair ie s -T ish’s Fashion -Tom Toma sz ewsk i -U FA Camros e -Water work s & Churchmice Player s -Weber Funeral Home -Wes tw ay Gardens Greenhouse -W ildbir d General Store

April 25 to 30 , 202 4

Appointments are required. Please call: 1-800-667-0604 (toll free) screeningforlife.ca

If you’re 45 to 74 years of age, have a mammogram every 2 years or as decided by you and your healthcare provider. No referral needed.

Listen to the classics at Bailey

By Murray Green

The Bailey Theatre has a great lineup of shows planned for this season. Here are some of the highlights.

Mourning Wood is one of Alberta’s most beloved rock cover bands. The band appeals to a vast and eclectic demographic. They will play on April 12 at 8 p.m.

The movie The Peanut Butter Solution will be shown on April 17 at 12:30 p.m. This is part of the National Canadian Film Day.

The movie Barney’s Version will be shown on April 17 at 7 p.m. This is part of the National Canadian Film Day.

Camrose band Godfrey Blaque returns to the Bailey on April 20 at 8 p.m. This five-piece group continues to rock the house with over 50 years of performance experience.

The movie The Pursuit of Happyness will be shown on April 22 at 7 p.m. This is part of the Camrose Arts Council movie series.

Carter and the Capitals will be playing high energy music at the Bailey on April 27 at 8 p.m. as part of the Rose City Roots Society series.

In 2019, the Capitals released their debut, selftitled album after working closely in Vancouver with JUNO award-winning producer Ben Kaplan.

The Bailey Buckaroos are back for a classic country music evening with special guests. The next show is on April 28 at 2 p.m.

The movie The Grand Budapest Hotel will be shown on May 1 at 7 p.m. Camrose Arts Council is presenting at no charge.

Motherhood The Musical will be performed by the Churchmice Players on May 10, 11 and 12. The Friday and Saturday shows

are at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday show begins at 2 p.m. The good, the bad, and the laundry–this musical comedy is for anyone who has ever been a mother and anyone who ever had a mother. It is a heartfelt celebration of the trials and triumphs of moms.

The movie Women Talking will be shown on May 13 at 7 p.m. Camrose Arts Council is presenting at no charge.

to 10:00 p.m. Days Inn (Norsemen)

LUNCH & LEARN

By Murray Green

The Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre has a great lineup still to come this season.

The Camrose and District Music Festival will be holding its 40th Grand Concert on April 23 at 7 p.m.

The Camrose Veselka Ukrainian Dancers will be holding its annual Spring Concert on April 28 at 2 p.m.

Heartstrings and Honky Tonk will be celebrating 70 years of country music. The show will be held on May 1 and will include Clayton Bellamy, Dan Davidson, Duane Steel, Nice Horse and Tracy Millar.

The Country Divas will be having a show at the Lougheed Centre on May 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Celebrate country music’s most iconic female artists such as Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain and Faith Hill.

École Charlie Killam School will be holding its annual Spring Concert on May 29 at 7 p.m.

Join the Outlaw Country singers in a Tribute to Johnny Cash and Way-

Gender, Race and Respec tability in 1870s Manitoba Newspapers

Ronning Centre Post- doc Shelisa K lassen will discuss how 1870s English-language newspapers justified or encouraged violence against ndigenous women and men, often by appealing to Chr istian sentiments

Friday, April 19 | 12 noon

Mayer Family Community Hall, Lougheed Performing Ar ts Centre, Camrose, AB

Learn more at: uab.ca/augevents

lon Jennings on May 30 at 7:30 p.m. David James and Big River are one of the top Johnny Cash tribute bands in the world.

The Importance of Being Ernest is a play by Oscar Wilde that will be on stage performed by the Camrose Composite Playhouse on May 31 at 7 p.m. This is a one-night only show.

The 2024-25 season launch will occur on June 13 at 7 p.m.

The Lougheed Centre will unveil its 2024-25 season and is also celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Local country star Travis Dolter opens up the launch with a special 15to 20-minute performance, Nick will guide the audience through the shows and Paul Woida will close out the show with a 15to 20-minute performance. Both concerts are no charge during the launch.

By Murray Green

“I found this car in Parksville, BC. I was looking for a ’50s car and this car popped up. It was all in pieces, just a shell. I went and looked at it and fell in love with it. I took it home and restored it all myself,” said Dale.

“I did everything, the body work, and I had a friend who let me use his garage. I did all of the metal work and painted it right in his garage,” he added.

“I did all of the engine work, the mechanicals after taking the motor apart. I took the engine to a rebuild shop to build it 30 (21) over. Everything is brand new in it. The transmission is a three on the tree (in the steering column), which is a bit of a rarity for this car. I rebuilt the transmission and it has a new rear end,” said Dale.

“The only thing I didn’t do was the interior. I had a guy in Duncan, BC, do the interior for me. I’m originally from England and came here in 1981. I lived in Alberta, then moved to BC, and back to Alberta. I restored the car about 13 years ago,” he recalled.

The automotive section of Olds Super 88 brought back to life

Dale

“When I got the car, it did run, but had a 1956 motor in it, not the original motor. I did have the original motor and that is the SUPER

one that is back in it now. I replaced the motor and did the bodywork in the first year. Then in the next couple of years, I completed some mechanical work and had the interior finished,” continued Dale.

FUN FACTS

The 1954 Oldsmobiles were completely restyled with new longer and lower body shells on the GM B platform with new one piece wrap-around windshields and rear windows.

Wheelbases increased to 122 inches (3.1 m). Base models reverted to being simply called 88s after being designated as DeLuxe 88s for only one year and the Super 88 was once again the top series (beneath the larger 98). The Rocket V8 was enlarged from 303 to 324 cubic inches with 88s powered by a two-barrel, 170 horsepower, while Super 88s came with a 185 horsepower version with four-barrel carburetor. Also, a safety-padded dash became optional, at $17.

The 1955 models were heavily facelifted with new grillework, taillights and body-side chrome. Horsepower for the 324-cubic-inch Rocket V8 increased to 185 for 88s and 202 for Super 88s. At mid-year, Olds introduced the new pillarless four-door hardtop body, dubbed the Holiday sedan, in both the 88 and Super 88 series.

The four-door Oldsmobile 88 Holiday, along with the four-door 98 Holiday, Buick Century Riviera, and Special Riviera, were the first four-door hardtops ever produced. Air conditioning became an option. The 88 had full instrumentation.

“The motor is a 324 Rocket V8 engine, which is about 21 thousandth over-bored. It is a number matching motor and has a four-barrel with Holly 94 carbs (carburetor) on it. Everything is matching, no power steering, so you have to drive it,” laughed Dale.

“I love this car and I wish I could get out more to drive it and cruise around. Every three years, we get together with guys from California. I drive it down to Victoria, BC, for a car show and we get together, about 25 of us, and we go for a cruise down the sunshine coast. I really enjoy it,” Dale said.

“I like the car the way it is, I don’t have plans to do anything else. I don’t want to change the originality of it because it is period correct.

“The only thing is that it is not the original colour. It was a creamy white with green rear trim, I didn’t like that. This stands out a little bit better. I always wanted a black car, I don’t know why.

I wanted black, but maybe add a dusty rose colour to the back of it. The painter said don’t go with what someone has, go with something different. So, in about 15 minutes, I picked Sierra Sand to go with it. He asked if I wanted a sample and I said no, that is what I want. I get so many comments about it because it stands out,” shared Dale.

“I have the American racing big white wall tires on it, so the car looks good.”

ewise, if you own vintage automotive tools, old diagnostic equipment or other tools or techniques of the trade, please contact us We’re eager to write and repor t on these k inds of topics And, our readers want to see what interests you!

Dale Windsor owns a 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 two-door.

Murray Green, Camrose Booster

Windsor restored this 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 to its original grandeur. He kept it as original as possible, except for adding new paint colours to make it stand out as a one of a kind.

By Lori Larsen

During the City of Camrose Committee of the Whole Council meeting, Council discussed the feasibility of the City becoming actively involved in developing residential lots.

In his presentation to council regarding the matter, City of Camrose Planning and Development manager Aaron Leckie indicated that a presentation by a builder during the December 20, 2023, Municipal Planning Advisory Committee (MPAC) meeting, regarding the costs of development, community growth and availability of lots, resulted in a motion by MPAC for the City to explore the opportunity to develop City owned lands for residential development.

“Currently, builders have reported to City Administration that they perceive there being a lack of privately developed mid/high-end lots (for residential use) available in Camrose,” noted Leckie. “In addition, there are no applications or proposals that would serve the upper end of the lot market in the near future.”

Leckie further reported that there are approximately 25 undeveloped lots remaining in Southwest Meadows and 13 undeveloped lots remaining in West Park.

“Additional lots are being brought online, such as West Park phase 5 and Valleyview West phase 2A, but the type of lots available in these new areas may not meet the expectations of builders or potential clients.”

Leckie said that currently the City limits itself to selling lots that are City owned that may have been serviced or developed at a time when the City did develop residential/commercial and industrial areas. Some of those are still actively listed today.

“The City has not seriously considered residential development in quite some time and the last project that was developed was Valleyview phases 1 through 5, the last lot being sold in 2014. The question is being asked is if the City should take a more proactive approach in land development. Either developing and servicing lots itself and selling to builders or selling undeveloped raw land with certain conditions on that sale or perhaps a middle ground.”

Leckie said that two major challenges the City would face would be doing a proper fiscal impact analysis and trying to resource it, at this time.

“If the City were to get back into land development that would mean the City is also taking on additional risks that the private industry usually has at this time.”

Council discussion

Councillor Don Rosland asked if there is an actual number of how many people are looking for these types of lots?

Leckie responded that administration did not have a specific number but local builders have raised concerns and have provided numbers as to what they think the demand should be but he said that would be very difficult for the City to verify. “If the City did have lots available, how do we know if the price point would be acceptable to those parties? The building industry, at this point, simply wants us to know that they think that the lots that are being developed right now are not serving the target market that they think it should be.”

Councillor Joy-Anne Murphy asked what the current practice is, considering the City is not in the business of development of residential properties.

Leckie replied, “There is a lower inventory of the mid to high lots than there has been in the past. Builders are saying there is a demand for those lots.”

For clarity purposes, Leckie explained that there are developers that purchase land, develop lots and subdivide and service those lots and there are builders that build homes on those lots. “The builders have raised the concerns that there are not enough lots available of the size and type that they think their clients are requesting.”

Councillor Agnes Hoveland inquired, “Remind me, is the only residential land the City has available the Enevold quarter, is that the type of land that could be used for residential by a developer?”

Leckie replied that while that land could be used for residential, the question before council is whether the City wants to get into the business of developing land or continuing to sell it to a developer and they would develop and service those lands. “There would also be other locations that would be suitable to accommodate those mid to high end market lots including Valleyview phase 6. Those are really the primary two locations.”

City of Camrose Community Development general manager Patricia MacQuarrie further clarified that currently what is happening are developers are providing smaller sized lots for building, which is not what some builders desire. “That is where the disconnect is happening. The builders are saying they have to buy the lots at that size but they are too small for the $400,000 to $500,000 houses they want to build. It just becomes more expensive than what they think a person (homeowner) will pay for a

lot that size.

“What they are saying is for the City to act as the developer at a price point that still makes those houses affordable. The cost of land and the cost of development are going up and I think builders are feeling that pressure.

“We (the City) are out of the land development business because as soon as the City wades into that, it starts to effect the market and dissuades future developers from coming in because they don’t want to compete against the City.”

Mayor PJ Stasko noted, “I think it is safe to say that there isn’t capacity in the department right now to move forward with this at this point in time.”

City of Camrose manager Malcolm Boyd further explained, “I think what we are also seeing is that those lots that our builders have been building on over the last few years have now been exhausted. With Creekside and Valleyview, we have reached the end of those developments and are now looking at Southwest Meadows and the Cascades and those are smaller lots in different areas–lower prices. They are looking for something like Creekside or Valleyview.”

MacQuarrie added that the lots in Creekside and Valleyview were also serviced a few years ago and since then there has been a substantial increase in the cost to service lots.

Councillor Murphy commented, “If we have a specific goal that we want a certain amount of affordable housing or certain kind of housing development or neighbourhood development then that would be worth our while to get into. I don’t see the benefit at this point.”

Councillor David Francoeur said, “We see that there is a market for the medium to large lots. As a City should we be doing something about it? How can we facilitate this to get the development that we don’t want to turn away? What is the plan of attack?”

MacQuarrie replied, “Right now we have a chunk of land that is right on the lake in Valleyview that would be suitable for larger lot development. It is hampered by an ongoing contribution cost problem for when the road servicing came in. There are leaders that council could follow around that which would make that more affordable for builders to build on. The market is driving the condition of those lots. There is the potential that builders would build on large lots but they don’t want to necessarily pay at the price point of the cost of servicing those lots at this time.”

Boyd added there is a bit of a disagreement between the build-

Council discusses feasibility of City developing residential lots

ers and the developers in that the developers are developing smaller lots in order to make it more cost effective. “Otherwise you are spreading the cost of all that servicing over fewer lots and nobody wants to buy those lots. The development community is saying they need to make some money on the development, and the builders are saying these are smaller lots than they are used to building on and then what they think they can sell.

“I don’t know if there is an opportunity to bring builders and developers together and see if there is something we can do there. The alternative is for the City to get into the development business and the history would say that is not the best idea.”

Francoeur commented, “I have a problem with not being in the development business; however, I also have a problem with people saying there are only small lots in Camrose and (for example) they are going to look in Beaumont (for a lot instead). There must be something else we can do as a city to encourage a wide variety of lot sizes or different varieties of a house. How do we encourage this?”

In response, Boyd said, “We could work with developers to say there are builders that have identified a need for bigger lots. When you start blending the price of servicing in, the builder might say they need bigger lots but they can’t afford the price of bigger lots. The alternative is that the City starts developing lots but to make them affordable the City might be subsidizing the development of lots.”

Francoeur asked if Leduc and Beaumont do that.

Boyd replied that because of the cost of development and cost of housing, this is not unique to Camrose. “We have builders who have made their living for the last few decades building on certain sized lots. And that is changing.”

Stasko said that typically the municipality does not subsidize building or servicing lots.

Councillor DJ Ilg asked if there are any other developers looking at areas of expansion right now in Camrose and if not what can the City (Council) do to get those conversations started. “I am not saying we have to jump into the development game. We don’t want to be left with people choosing to build elsewhere because we have nothing to offer.”

Council discusses developing residential lots

Continued from page 13

Councillor Lucas Banack responded to Councillor Francoeur’s inquiry about other communities.

“If you look at the new developments in Leduc you are looking at 29-foot wide lots, unless they are doing an executive style most of the development in Leduc and I would say Beaumont as well, they are all skinnier lots. The focus is on density not executive style which I would consider to be 50 foot (wide) lots now.”

Councillor Hoveland expressed interest in knowing specifically the number of people requesting larger homes on larger lots in Camrose.

Leckie said that Administration can do some proactive outreach to local builders to determine what sort of interest they are seeing. “Might be difficult to get a true read. What I do know from speaking to the builders who have raised this concern is that right now there are no active development projects or even development proposals in the next year or two that we have received that would have anything larger than a 40-foot (wide) lot and what the builders are saying is that for the clients that they are potentially trying to get to build here in Camrose is that they are looking for greater than 40 feet, upwards of 50 feet, which is about the size of a traditional lot.”

Continued on page 15

Th e Ci ty of Camros e is seek in g an energetic an d re liable individual for th e full -t im e permanen t positio n of La bourer 3 in th e Pa rk s sectio n of Communit y Se rv ices This is a unionize d positio n unde r CUPE Lo ca l 1425 an d is inclusive of a 6- mont h probationa ry period as pe r th e Ar ti cl e 11.02 of th e Collecti ve Agre emen t. FU NCTIONS/DUTI ES (but no t limite d to):

• Communicat e ef fe ctivel y with member s of th e public , user s an d ot he r empl oyee s.

• Pe rfor m an d suppor t even t an d progra m se t- up an d te ar-d ow n in variou s facilities

• Wo rk in al l re la ted area s of th e Pa rk s operations wh ic h includes (but is not limite d to): mowing pruning, pest cont ro l, applying pesticide, landscaping, beauti fi cation managing an d handling urba n wildlife, an d snow removal.

• Main te nanc e an d operations of tu rf management , cemete ry, ho rt iculture an d arboriculture, urba n trails , an d outdoo r rinks.

• Sa fe ly operate an d maintain ligh t equipmen t such as rubber ti re d farm or industrial tracto rs wh ic h may includ e at ta chment s such as fron t en d loader plow s or sweeper, aerato r, self-p ro pelled ro ad packers, smal l self-p ro pelled machines such as sweepers , snowplow equipmen t, weed spraye rs , trailers , an d al l ty pe s of trucks up to an d includin g single axle trucks

• Pe rfor m basic manual labour using hand s or common labour tools, complex handheld an d af fi xe d powe r tool s an d machines ligh t main te nanc e to equipmen t an d ve hicles

• Assistance with ot he r Ci ty operatio n functions as necessar y an d assigned

QUALIFICAT IONS :

• High School Diplom a or GED equivalent

• Re liable with a st ro ng work ethi c with th e abilit y to work independentl y or in a team se tt ing.

• St ro ng writ ten an d ve rbal communicatio n skills with th e abilit y to communicat e with th e public an d contractor s in a profes sional manner

• Ab ilit y to exer t moderate physical activi ty, work at considerable heights, an d work outsid e in al l ty pe s of weathe r an d enviro nmental conditions ye ar round.

• Ba si c computer skills

• Va li d Clas s 5 driver ’s licenc e (a n ai r endorsement considered an asse t, bu t is not required).

HOUR S OF WO RK : Hour s of work are generall y 8: 00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. , Monday th ro ug h Fr iday Shif t work an d over time will also be necessar y to addres s operationa l requirements

HOUR LY WAGE : $25.33 pe r hour in accordance with CUPE 1425 Collecti ve Agre emen t.

: May 6, 2024

Time : 5: 00 p. m. Place: Camros e Ci ty Hall , 52 04-5 0 Avenue , Camrose, AB

Any person(s) wh o have an inte re st rega rd in g th e passing of Bylaw 3323 -24 are encouraged to at tend th e Public Hearin g in person to stat e their suppor t or objections

Any writ te n submission s to be considered by Ci ty Counci l are required to be submit ted no la ter than April 22 , 2024 , at 4: 00 pm by mail to: Malcol m Boyd , Ci ty Manage r, Ci ty of Camrose, 5204 -50 Avenue Camrose, AB T4V 0S 8 or by emai l to: mb oyd@camrose.ca

Notice is he re by gi ve n that Counci l may therea fter withou t fu rt he r notice procee d with fi na l a pproval of Bylaw 3323 -24 at th e re gula r Counci l Meetin g on May 6, 2024. For additional in fo rmation, cont ac t Fr ancisc a Fredericks Long Rang e Pl anne r, phon e 78 0- 672- 4428 or emai l to ff re dericks@cam ro se.c a. Project

Council discusses City developing residential lots

Continued from page 14

“Those are types of issues that will come out of that. But it would be worth while for us, especially in reporting our planning and development statistics to council, to get a better understanding of exactly what the demand is. Right

now we are going off of the perception and what we are hearing. That would help us better determine what the options are going forward,” noted Leckie. MacQuarrie said the first time this issue was brought to the City was during a roundtable held

in November 2023 where builders commented lots were too small and developers commented that the builders didn’t want to pay for the cost of developing larger lots. “From Administrative perspective, we don’t want to get into the development game. We

could bring a report back to council of the land that the City has available suitable for medium to larger lots. But I think the cost of that in the end is going to be more than the market can bear.”

Someone will win $100 wort h of groceries from one of the stores shown here . Congratulations to the winner for April 8, Marg Gibson of Camrose, drawn at Wild Rose Co-op.

Delane Joseph Balog

Delane Joseph Balog passed away on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at the age of 78 years, at the Bethany Care Centre in Calgary, Alberta.

He was born in Lethbridge, AB, to Joseph and Stella Balog. The family lived on a farm in Milk River, AB, before moving to farms in Killam, AB, and Holden, AB.

Delane was predeceased by his parents, Joseph Leslie Balog of Camrose, AB, and Stella Mary Balog of Edmonton, AB. He is survived by three brothers and one sisterin-law, Clifford and Mark Balog, both of Edmonton, AB, and Brian (Heather) Balog of Sherwood Park, AB; as well as five sisters and four brothers-in-law, Elaine (Dwayne) of Camrose, AB, Beverly (Wayne, deceased) of St. Albert, AB, Rosemary (James) of Edmonton, AB, Yvonne (Edward) of Edmonton, AB, and Rhonda (Lynn) of Camrose, AB. Delane is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

As a young child, Delane spent a lot of time with his sister Elaine, often staying over at Grandpa and Grandma Balog’s home in Milk River. The bond between them was strong, and they also spent time at their Uncle Steve and Aunt Helen’s home.

Throughout his life, Delane enjoyed several hobbies, including a passion for collecting comics, carefully preserved in plastic covers in a large trunk. He was fascinated with the beauty of marbles, and had a large tin container of them, now held by his brother Brian.

Delane possessed a keen aptitude for mathematics, demonstrating remarkable skill in mental arithmetic. He relished the challenge of numbers and excelled in his academic pursuits.

Following his high school education, Delane relocated to Calgary, where he found tranquility in a family home environment with a caregiver. In 2019, Delane experienced a stroke, leading to his residence at the Bethany Care Centre in Calgary, AB, and was later transferred to the palliative care unit due to personal medical needs.

Don Weiss

Don Weiss of Fort McMurray, Alberta, passed away on March 31, 2024, at the age of 90 years.

He is survived by son Faron (Collette); brother Phil (Ardith); sisters Judy (Johnny) Pekcec and Gail Weiss; grandchildren Candace (Justin) Shackel and Dustin Weiss; great-grandchildren Emma Shackel, Arabella Shackel and Gracie Shackel; numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Don was predeceased by his parents Manuel and Edith Mae; brother Ray; grandchild Megan Toma (Weiss).

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or to the SIDS Foundation.

Jennie “Doreen” Walline

April 20, 1934 ~ February 6, 2024

Jennie Doreen Walline of Camrose AB, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2024, at the age of 89 years, in the company of loved ones.

She is survived by her husband Robert Walline; brother Dennis Streberg (Muriel); and sister-in-law Marlene Streberg.

Remembering their mother with love are Doreen’s Kuntz sons Doyle (Laura), Tom (Melanie), James (Romonda), Norman (Sofie), and Raymond (Helene); and Bob’s children Barry Walline, Kathy McMullin (Doug), Ric Walline (Ted), Nancy Walline and Margaret Walline (David); a multitude of friends around the world who called Doreen “Mom”, many of whom were international students or athletes who lived in her home over the years; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, who can look to Grandma’s life as an example of unconditional love, compassion, common sense, voice of reason, tolerance, determination and profound charity.

Doreen was predeceased by her parents Seth Alphonse and Anna Irene Streberg, originally of Meeting Creek; her brother Gerald and Sheila Streberg; her brother Otto Streberg; her sister June and Bob Agrey; her sister-in-law Irene Streberg; and her beloved first husband Harry Kuntz.

The family wishes to acknowledge the wonderful care of the staff of St. Mary’s Hospital, Camrose, and Daysland Health Centre.

A celebration of life will be held 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2024, at CityLights Church, 4920-48 Street, Camrose, officiated by Alan Richards. The service will be livestreamed, recorded, and the link accessible @ www.burgarfuneralhome.com

A recording will be accessible a few days following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Battle River Community Foundation for the Robert and Doreen Walline Fund, the Harry M. Kuntz Memorial Fund, S. Alfonse and A. Streberg Family Fund, or charity of your choice.

To send condolences, please visit www.burgarfuneralhome.com

Phone 780-672-2121

“Dedicated

John “Johnny” Selmer Olson

January 4, 1928 ~ March 27, 2024

Sadly, John Selmer Olson passed away on March 27, 2024, in his 96th year.

John was born on January 4, 1928, to John and Martha Olson in Dinant, Camrose County, Alberta. He was the fifth of 10 children.

John loved playing, coaching and watching sports. He worked many years in construction as an operator or supervisor while building roads around Alberta.

John met and married his wife, Julie, in 1995, settling in the Pigeon Lake and Mulhurst areas for several years before moving to Wetaskiwin, and finally to Camrose. John enjoyed renovating and remodelling each residence to his standards.

Our family feels very fortunate to have been able to listen to his stories, jokes and wishes, right up to his passing.

Forever loved and remembered by his wife Julie; his sons Larry (Louise), John (Tracey) and Dale (Dee); seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and siblings Marvin and Ervin (Diane). John was predeceased by his sisters Claris, Ethel, Selma, Doris and Edna; and brothers Herbert and Oliver.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the Masonic Hall, 5021-48 Street, Camrose.

To send condolences, please visit www.burgarfuneralhome.com

Phone 780-672-2121

“Dedicated service since 1906”

Caroline Catherine Volk

September 5, 1939 ~ April 1, 2024

Caroline Catherine Volk of Daysland, AB, formerly of Heisler, AB, passed away on Monday, April 1, 2024, at the age of 84 years.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Robert (Val) Volk and Noreen (Kelly) Zimmer; daughter-in-law Jackie Volk; ten grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Caroline was predeceased by her husband Wilfred; son Douglas; brothers Lloyd (Eileen) Wolbeck and Melvin (Kay) Wolbeck; and sister Doreen (Roger) Weller.

A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the St. Martin Roman Catholic Church, 313 Manning Avenue, Heisler, celebrated by Fr. Danial DSouza.

If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions in Caroline’s memory may be made to Providence Place Daysland, Killam and District Health Care Foundation, or S.T.A.R.S. Air Ambulance.

To send condolences, please visit www.burgarfuneralhome.com

Jean Rose Twitchell

July 17, 1926 ~ March 27, 2024

Jean Rose Twitchell of Daysland, Alberta, passed away on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at the age of 97 years.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 12, 2024, from the Our Lady of the Prairies Roman Catholic Church, 5202-59 Street, Daysland, celebrated by Father Danial DSouza.

To send condolences, please visit www.burgarfuneralhome.com

Alice Margaret Smith

November 20, 1928 ~ March 30, 2024

Alice Margaret Smith of East Bittern Lake was born to John and Kathereen Fleck on November 20, 1928. She passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the age of 95 years.

Alice had many loves, but her first was for her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as sibling gatherings which she often organized. Quilting was one of her pastimes and she took great pride in matching colours for the special quilt she made for each child, grandchild and great-grandchild. They also received her embroidery work. She loved gardening vegetables, flowers and sharing fruit. At the end of your visit, you might go home with some apples, raspberries, sweet peas or carrots. She always planted an extra row of potatoes “just in case those boys didn’t have enough” and an extra row of carrots for the grandchildren.

Her love of travel didn’t have to take her very far for satisfaction, just touring the Duhamel, Bittern Lake, Verdun and Camrose areas was enough, and the tours often began at the cemetery. While touring “the block”, she could check on the fences and crops for David and Donald. She loved walking in the river hills and knew where to find the crocuses for the Easter table. In the last few years, she took a few trips to northern BC with her girls.

Alice loved God and her church. Sundays meant saying the rosary with her family on the way to mass. Covid was hard on her because she couldn’t get to mass. When she became agitated after her stroke, saying the rosary could usually settle her. On Good Friday this year, she had the privilege of receiving the beautiful Last Sacrament from Fr. Kris in the Rosehaven Chapel, adorned with flowers and mementos, surrounded by relatives and all her children, who also said the rosary with her – she was so peaceful.

She was a very strong woman, not only in stature, but in character and mind, with strong morals and ideas. She was never one to complain even after her stroke and was grateful for everything people did for her.

Alice loved well and was well loved.

Left to cherish her memory are her children Charlotte (Garry) Korba, Sharon (Harvey) Haun, Annette (Vernon) Haun, Anita (Gary) Olson, Jeannette (Rob) Johnson, Donald (Charlotte) Smith, Joe Smith and David (Deborah) Smith; sixteen grandchildren; thirty-nine great-grandchildren; and sister Anna Rood.

Alice was predeceased by her husband Pat Smith; brothers Edward Fleck and Jack Fleck; sister Joyce Bussard; and greatgrandson Jessie Haun.

Prayers were held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at the St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church. A funeral mass was held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, with Fr. Kris Schmidt as celebrant.

If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions in Alice’s memory may be made to Rosenroll Cemetery (c/o Bittern Lake Village Office, Box 5, Bittern Lake, AB T0C 0L0) or the St. Francis Xavier Church Building Fund.

To send condolences, please visit www.burgarfuneralhome.com

Phone 780-672-2121

“Dedicated service since 1906”

Douglas “Doug” Len Neuman

May 2, 1958 ~ April 2, 2024

Douglas “Doug” Len Neuman of Camrose, Alberta, formerly of Hay Lakes, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at the age of 65 years.

A Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024, from the Burgar Memorial Chapel, 4817-51 Avenue, Camrose officiated by Rev. Brian Hunter.

To send condolences, please visit www.burgarfuneralhome.com

Phone 780-672-2121

“Dedicated service since 1906”

Lawrence “Sid” Sidney Blondheim

January 12, 1940 ~ March 20, 2024

Lawrence “Sid” Sidney Blondheim of Camrose, Alberta, passed away on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at the age of 84 years.

Left to cherish his memory are his son Alan Blondheim; granddaughter Quinn; and nephew Chris (Jane) Lizotte.

Sid was predeceased by his parents Louis and Lenor; and sisters Gwen Lizotte and Gerisine White.

A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, April 12, from the Burgar Memorial Chapel, 4817-51 Avenue, Camrose, officiated by Rev. Brian Hunter.

If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions in Sid’s memory may be made to the Battle River Community Foundation.

To send condolences, please visit www.burgarfuneralhome.com

Phone 780-672-2121

“Dedicated service since 1906”

Linda Anne Weinkauf

October 6, 1950 ~ March 30, 2024

Linda Anne Weinkauf of Camrose, AB, formerly of Provost, AB, passed away on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the age of 73 years.

A private family service will be held.

To send condolences, please visit www.burgarfuneralhome.com

Phone 780-672-2121

“Dedicated service since 1906”

Foundation of Faith, Prayer Breakfast County serves Camrose Region

By Damien C. Kurek, MP, Battle River-Crowfoot

The Dominion of Canada denoted the dominion that God would have over the vast new nation of Canada, “A Mari Usque Ad Mare”, our national motto, is the Latin translation of Psalm 72:8, which translates to “from Sea to Sea.” “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill to men”–Parliament Hill has Christian Symbols such as Luke 2:14 carved on the bell inside the Peace Tower.

From early missionaries and country churches to grand cathedrals and national leaders, the legacy of faith has shaped much of our nation, and it continues to be a significant factor. It built the foundation for modern pluralism and democracy. Today, there are many debates about this history, because of many who haven’t always represented the Gospel well. However, in our increasingly divided country, I want to share one of the ways Christianity still brings people together in Canada.

There has been an organized weekly Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast meeting for many decades. This weekly gathering of Parliamentarians is open to all MPs and Senators to study God’s Word, pray for each other, and pray for our nation. This is a non-partisan gathering, where we don’t share who does or doesn’t attend. For me, this plays an important role in my week representing you in our nation’s capital. An extension to this weekly gathering is the National Prayer Breakfast, a large-scale event often seeing as many as 1,000 people gather together to pray for our country, this year, for the 59th time.

The National Prayer Breakfast invites Canadians from all backgrounds, including Members of Parliament, Senators, Canadian and international religious leaders, ambassadors and business leaders. The event’s mission is to gather in the Spirit of Jesus to pray for our nation. Along with the breakfast, there is a Leaders’ Dinner which is held the evening before, and a Young Leaders’ Summit that welcomes young Christian leaders aged 18 to 30 who will join MPs, faith leaders and others to explore how they can make a difference in our communities, in Parliament and in our nation. This year’s Prayer Breakfast theme is Bridge Over Troubled Waters and it will address important issues such as how to remain hopeful as we face challenges and what political leadership looks like as followers of Christ in a troubled world.

As a Member of Parliament, one is tasked with representing constituents, addressing big political issues and many other important duties. However, being a part of the Parliamentary Prayer Gathering and an organizing committee member for the National Prayer Breakfast is a constant reminder of how important my faith is to my role as an MP. This gathering also shows how the Christian faith still plays an important role in Canada. And it reminds me of the hope for the future of our nation, no matter how bleak the political situation can appear.

Due to the interest of constituents, local churches and faith leaders, as well as others who wonder about the history of events like the Prayer Breakfast, I believe that this was an important message to share in my bi-weekly news column. If you are curious to hear more about the National Prayer Breakfast, the associated events and the weekly gathering, or if you would be interested in learning more about my colleague, MP Richard Bragdon, who chairs both the breakfast and leads the organizing committee, please feel free to connect with us. Further, if you are interested in following or attending the event, you can visit www.nationalprayerbreakfast.ca and follow the Prayer Breakfast on social media.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this column, you are encouraged to write Damien at 4945-50 Street, Camrose, Alberta T4V 1P9, call 780-608-4600, text 403-575-5625, or email damien.kurek@parl.gc.ca. You can also stay up to date with Damien by following him on social media @dckurek. If you are in need of assistance regarding a federal government program, or need assistance and don’t know where to turn, feel free to reach out to MP Kurek’s office.

By Murray Green

Camrose County Reeve Cindy Trautman brought the Chamber of Commerce members up to date on the state of the surrounding rural region on April 3.

The way the County receives funding has changed. Instead of receiving Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding, they now receive it under LGFF (Local Government Fiscal Funding).

“The formula is partially based on population and also depends on provincial revenues. It is based on three years previous, so we can budget. The 2025 budget will be based on 2022 revenues. This gives us more stability because before we were waiting to know what we received prior to our budgeting process,” explained Reeve Trautman.

“Starting in 2020, we began paying for provincial police funding. This year, we will pay $685,000 and we are told that amount will continue in 2025. We have two RCMP detachments, one in Wetaskiwin-Camrose and the other in Bashaw. This year, we will have a Camrose commander to replace the corporal who retired,” shared Reeve Trautman.

“Viability Reviews are a hot topic in Alberta and every province. Currently, Bittern Lake is going through a review. The Village of Bittern Lake petitioned the province for a review to see if they should remain a village or go back to being a hamlet. If residents vote to be a hamlet, then they would fall under Camrose County. The County doesn’t have any say in the review. We do whatever is best for the residents. The vote will be in late summer or early fall. A local improvement tax could be added to pay for a shortfall in infrastructure. That is not for sure,” explained Reeve Trautman.

“We are proud of our economic development. We started with a committee of

council with help from Anjah Howard, our planning manager. Council wanted to put more money and importance into economic development, so we hired a full-time staff member,” she shared.

“We have a Choose Camrose Region campaign, not just City or County, but the entire region. We strongly believe Camrose is a region, what is good for one is good for the other. She has completed 25 business videos within Camrose County, as well as subdivision videos. We promote the hamlets, villages and the Town of Bashaw. We are stronger if we work together as a region than if we were individual entities,” stated Reeve Trautman.

She pointed out that a study was done to see what businesses they were missing, or businesses that needed more support.

“We want to improve tourism. We want to attract more tourism and part of that is rebranding our logo and slogan,” she added.

“We want people to have a sense of community. We are going to add minigolf at Pelican Point. We are going to improve the area with more vehicle parking and boat parking spots beside it,” Reeve Trautman said about improvement projects.

She talked about adding solar farms to the landscape.

“Every two years, we celebrate Century Farms. We usually have that celebration in the fall. If you know of someone who should be nominated, be sure to do that,” she said.

“We approved the City and County agreements. It is a revenue-sharing agreement with the Cargill area and we will be signing that later this month. We also signed a recreation agreement. We have removed the old seed cleaning plant and that property will be sold.”

Vimy Ridge day honoured

By Murray Green

Vimy Ridge Day is a commemorative day in Canada that honours the Canadian soldiers who fought in the Battle of Vimy Ridge during the First World War. The battle took place from April 9 to April 12, 1917, in the Nord-Pas-deCalais region of France. It was a significant military engagement, as it was the first time all four divisions

of the Canadian Expeditionary Force fought together as a cohesive unit. The battle resulted in a major victory for the Allied forces, particularly for Canada, but it came at a high cost with thousands of casualties. Vimy Ridge is often seen as a defining moment in Canadian history and national identity, symbolizing bravery, sacrifice and unity.

Vimy Ridge Day is observed annually on April 9 in Canada, with ceremonies, memorials and educational activities held across the country to honour the soldiers who fought and died during the battle. It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by Canadian troops during the First World War and the importance of remembrance in preserving their legacy.

Murray Green, Camrose Booster Camrose County Reeve Cindy Trautman shares an update from the rural areas to the Camrose & District Chamber of Commerce members on April 3. The County is working on promoting economic development within the local region.

often won’t call again.

Don’t hesitate to call us with any questions or problems you may have regarding advertising. Our professionally trained sales staff know the ropes, and would be happy to pass their know-how on to you. That’s why we’re here to help you get the results you deserve.

Call 780-672-3142 4925-48 Street, Camrose ads@camrosebooster.com

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE DR. “MAC” SMITH

MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND for post-graduate education in nursing is accepting memorials. To donate or for applications and information, please write to AARN Education Trust Fund. 11620-168 St., Edmonton, AB T5M 4A6.

UKRAINIAN NIGHT –Round Hill Community Centre, Saturday, April 20. Doors open 5:30 p.m. Supper 6:30 p.m.

Sponsored by Round Hill Ag Society. ADVANCE TICKETS

ONLY. Adults $30, Youth 6 to 12 $15, 5 and under free. After April 13, tickets are $35. Tickets call 780-672-7583 or 780-608-0828.

BIG HAY LAKES DRAINAGE DISTRICT

Annual General Meeting

Monday, April 29, 2024 7:00 p.m.

Hay Lakes Agriplex

ATTENTION TOY COLLECTORS – Many John Deere tractors and other machinery to be sold at Lindstrand’s Online

Auction Sale, Monday, April 22 to Friday, April 26. Camrose. Check it out!

PERSONAL

SINGLE, RETIRED GENT

– wishes to meet single lady for coffee/friendship. 780-226-5623.

LOST THAT LOVING

FEELING? Find it with a personal ad in The Camrose Booster classifieds. Ph. 780-672-3142.

HELP WANTED

HOUSE CLEANER

WANTED IN BEAVER COUNTY – Kingsway Drive. 15 minutes south of Tofield. 30 minutes north of Camrose. $26/hr. plus travel one way. TEXT 780-222-1664.

SUPPORT/RESPITE WORKER – for adult male in wheelchair. Part-time. Will be between 20 - 28 hours per week. Home is in the Round Hill area. Valid driver’s licence. Will train. Wage to be discussed. Send resumé to broblin.br@gmail.com or text 604-793-3756.

EMPLOYMENT WANTED

2ND BEST PAINTER IN TOWN – 30 years’ experience for all your painting needs. Call Rick the Painter, 780-672-0391.

SERVICES

SELF-INKING STAMPS –Every shape, size, and colour. We deliver, right to your office. Camrose Booster Ltd., 4925-48 St., Camrose. Call us at 780-672-3142.

KLM ADVANCED MEDICAL FOOT CARE

CLINIC & MOBILE CLINIC

• Assessment of lower legs, feet and nails for circulation, sensation and motor function

• Diabetic foot risk assessment and risk assessment for nondiabetics

• Toenails trimmed and filed

• Reduction of callouses, corns and thickened toenails

• Foot massage

• Treatment of fungal toenails with TOEFX

• Education on maintaining foot health and prevention of foot and nail problems

• Prevention and correction of ingrown toenails using OnlyFix NailCorrection System

Direct billing to

Alberta Blue Cross

Please check with your benefit plan to see what they cover for medical foot care.

To book an appointment, call 780-781-6423

J.D.’s SMALL ENGINE REPAIR, SALES & SERVICE

– Ph. 780-672-7649.

LaCRIA TRUCKING

Potable Water Hauling

Residential, Commercial, Oilfield

Gerald and Marla Steinwand, Owners

PHONE 780-679-9134

DSS CONSTRUCTION

Don’t put off those projects any longer! Give me a call and we can plan together. Devin Meakins, Ph. 780-853-1080

McTAVISH DELIVERIES (2023) LTD.

Local and long distance moving Storage

Insured and bonded

Where your business is appreciated 780- 672-5242, Camrose

THE SHIRT OFF MY BACK

TAILORING in Camrose

Tues. - Fri., 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Thurs. Evening and Sat.: By Appointment

Closed: Sun., Mon. and Holidays

Please call 780- 672-4793

BOOKING NOW FOR

2024 SPRING/SUMMER

* Lawn sprinkler systems

* Full landscaping service

* Season mowing saves 15% off when pre-paid

15 years of satisfying clients

Andrew Chamberlain

Infinity Irrigation & Hardscaping

780-878-5242

FOR RENT

FOR RENT ADS

NOW UPLOADED TO The Camrose Booster Website DAILY!

PRIME DOWNTOWN

SPACE – 4917-50 Street. Second floor with reception area, lunch room and two private rooms. Elevator. $900/mo. includes utilities. 780-679-5085.

MAIN STREET RETAIL

SPACE – located in high traffic, southerly area of Main Street, Camrose. Generous 1,664 sq. ft. of prime space at 4868-50 Street. Nicely decorated, air conditioned. $2160/mo., triple net. Clean, dry storage space in basement also available. Available immediately. Call Blain or Don at 780-6723142, the fairest, most reasonable people in the business.

2-BEDROOM APART-

MENT – In excellent condition!

Perfect for seniors. The suite has stove, fridge, dishwasher, washer and dryer, blinds and one parking stall. Heat, water, garbage pick up, Telus TV and internet included. Building has an elevator and social room. No smoking building. Call 780-233-0224 for more info or to set up a viewing.

ESPECIALLY NICE OFFICE SUITE

Generous 794 sq. ft. suite, suitable for three or more staff. Includes two private offices. Ground floor, easily accessible. Modern building in downtown Camrose. Bright, quiet, air conditioned. $1206.22/mo., plus share of operating expenses. Call Blain Fowler or Don Hutchinson, 780-672-3142 days, two of the fairest, most reasonable fellows in the business.

ROOMS FOR RENT in the Scotney and Jacqueline character homes. Both are 2.5 blocks from university in Camrose. Clean, quiet and bright. Rent is $495 - $600 monthly plus DD and includes WiFi, utilities, recycle pick-up, yard care and snow removal. Partially furnished w/ shared laundry. (Some rooms are fully furnished for international students.) This is an affordable, quality accommodation that fills quickly. (Some rooms still available.) No partiers, smokers or pets allowed. Reduced rate over the summer for students. Please call Dave P., 780678-6163.

CHOOSE YOUR NEW OFFICE

Selection of very nice street level offices in newer airconditioned building in Downtown Camrose

* Single offices from $224.08 per month

* Quiet, considerate neighbours

* Easy access

* Lots of parking for customers

* Energized parking for tenants

* Immediate occupancy

* Come and have a look! Call Blain Fowler or Don Hutchinson, 780-672-3142 days, the fairest, most reasonable fellows in the business!

2-BEDROOM APARTMENT – with balcony. Includes heat, water, fridge, stove, dishwasher, powered parking space. Free laundry in building. Augustana area. No pets, no smoking/ vaping. $1100/mo. One year lease. 780-672-9531.

COMFORTABLE HOME

FOR RENT – (near school and firehall). 4-bedrooms (2+2), 2 baths, 5 appliances, laundry, freezer. Available parking, large back deck. Suitable for 4th year U of A student. No pets, no smoking, no partiers. $1800 + utilities. Available June 1. 780679-8249.

LIVESTOCK

RED AND BLACK ANGUS BULLS – for sale, registered. Call 780-986-9088.

HOUSEHOLD

BATHTUB – used, white, 3-piece acrylic, right hand.

Flagsta Count y is recruiting for the full -time position o f

Asset Management Program and management of the County’s GIS database and information system. The individual will work collaboratively with the depar tments and business units to support the implementation of the asset management ac tivities and processes as outlined in the County’s Asset Management Polic y and Roadmap. As the GIS Coordinator, the individual will work closely with the County’s GIS ser vice provider to maintain the County’s GIS database system and improve its accuracy. This position will also be responsible for overseeing records management operations and developing records management procedures in accordance with applicable laws and regulator y requirements

Key Responsibilities:

1. Implement and manage the Asset Management Program: Coordinate with stakeholders to establish processes aligned with the County’s Asset Management Polic y, evaluate and maintain records of asset management documents, train depar tment sta on asset management processes, and attend asset management events and repor t progress to the Corporate Ser vices Direc tor.

2. Manage GIS database: Ensure database processes meet County’s GIS needs and Asset Management objectives, suppor t depar tments with GIS needs and information access, collaborate with GIS service provider to maintain and update the database, and address internal and external GIS information requests

3. Records management: Coordinate with Laser che provider for ling practices and records management systems, oversee records retention and disposal according to schedule, ensure compliance with policies and legislation, and provide training and troubleshooting for records management. Ensure compliance with County policies, health and safet y program, and HR guidelines

Quali cations:

• Post Secondar y diploma in a relevant discipline (GIS and database management, engineering technology, asset management, or other related disciplines).

• A minimum of 3 years of related experience in the municipal service deliver y eld with at least 1 year of related experience in the GIS and database management applications

• Knowledge of ArcGIS, GeoMedia Professional, GPS data collection, and Microsoft o ce applications. Proven knowledge of records and information management standards processes, and terminology

• Ability to develop clear and concise repor ts, correspondence, or other written materials

Strong organizational, prioritization, and time management skills

• Ability to communicate and interact well with stakeholders with di erent levels of technical expertise. Excellent interpersonal skills that support building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders

• Experience in the use of the Laser che program and knowledge of local government procedures and municipal ser vice deliver y is an asset

Position Type: Permanent Full-time

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday, 7 hrs/day – 35 hrs/wk

S alar y Range: $76,426.02 to $93,994.35 annually

Closing Date: Until a suitable candidate is selected

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their resumé along with a cover letter by email to:

Contac t: Human Resource Depar tment

Email: Human.Resources@ agsta .ab.ca

Direc t: 780-384-4100

For the full job description please visit: www. agsta .ab.ca

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HE ARING

BYLAW NO. 15 46

Pursuant to Section 606 of th e Municipa l Gove rnment Ac t, th e Council of Camrose County gi ve s notice that it ha s gi ve n Firs t Re ading to Bylaw No 1546 to amend La nd Use Bylaw No 1541

Th e purpos e of this Bylaw is to redistrict Pt RL-1646 -21- 4 from A – Genera l Ag ricultural District to CR-2 La rge Lot Countr y Residentia l District Th e intent is to subdivid e a pa rcel that is separa ted from th e re st of th e pa rcel by th e Stingr ay Towe rs Th e redistrictin g is a pprox imatel y 21 acre s.

Anyone af fected by this Amendment may ma ke writ te n submission s befo re 12:0 0 noon , Tuesday, April 16 , 2024 Th e Public Hearin g for Bylaw No 1546 will be held on Tuesday, April 23 , 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in th e County Council Ch ambers , 3755 -4 3 Avenue Camrose, Al be rt a T4V 3S 8. Wr it te n submission s will be heard fi rs t, oral submission s will be heard as time permit s.

Copies of th e proposed Bylaw a re available online at www.count y.camrose. ab.ca.

GGC WESTERN AGRO GROUP LTD. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Keys to good oral health

By Murray Green

A person’s smile has an important link to overall well-being and health. Oral health impacts our speech, the enjoyment of food and the way we express feelings and emotions. Good oral health gives us confidence to live, work and play.

April is Oral Health Month in Canada. According to Alberta Health Services, there’s no better time to shine a light on different ways to prevent oral diseases.

Good oral health means more than having a nice smile. Your mouth can tell you a lot about the health of your body.

Oral health and general health have a two-way relationship. Oral diseases can cause poor general health, which can lead to oral health problems. For example, diabetes increases the risk of gum disease and gum disease can make diabetes harder to manage.

Tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer are chronic oral diseases. A chronic disease is a health condition that lasts a long time and can affect people of all ages. Most chronic diseases can be prevented, but they are still the leading cause of poor health, including poor oral health.

Through good oral habits and consistency, you can ensure your beautiful smile lasts a lifetime.

DEATHS

Delane Joseph Balog, of Calgary, formerly of Killam and Holden, on March 6, at 78 years of age.

John “Johnny” Selmer Olson, of Camrose, on March 27, at 96 years of age.

Jean Rose Twitchell, of Daysland, on March 27, at 97 years of age.

Kelly Lynn Snell, of Strome, on March 27, at 60 years of age.

Linda Anne Weinkauf, of Camrose, formerly of Provost, on March 30, at 73 years of age.

Alice Margaret Smith, of East Bittern Lake, on March 30, at 95 years of age.

Don Weiss, of Fort McMurray, formerly of Del Bonita, on March 31, at 90 years of age.

Caroline Catherine Volk, of Daysland, formerly of Heisler, on April 1, at 84 years of age.

Douglas “Doug” Len Neuman, of Camrose, formerly of Hay Lakes, on April 2, at 65 years of age.

James Daniel Rickards, of New Norway, on April 3, at 58 years of age.

of Farnham West Stolee Kambeit z LLP, Barristers and Solicitors at 5016-52 Street, Camrose, AB T4V 1V7.

If you do not f ile by the date above, the estate proper ty can law fully

Doreen Anne Geislinger, of Camrose, formerly of Fort Saskatchewan, on April 4, at 78 years of age.

City photo contest

By Lori Larsen

The City of Camrose is in the process of updating the Municipal Development Plan, Our Camrose Shaping the Future, and in doing so have put out an invitation for photos that can be used to help showcase all that Camrose has to offer.

The City of Camrose is hosting a photo contest, What Makes Camrose Great?, encouraging anyone to send in photos of what they feel makes Camrose great to www.ourcamrose. ca/we-love-camrose/brainstormers/capture-camrose2024-photo-contest

Contest rules

• The contest is open to anyone, however, the contestant must also be the photographer who took the photo. In certain cases, minors under the age of majority will be permitted to enter the contest and be eligible to win the prize(s). In no case, however, will a minor be declared a winner without the prior written consent and release of liability of the minor’s parent or legal guardian.

• All submissions must

be original, high resolution photographs, with minimal editing, taken of or within the City of Camrose.

• Contestants can submit multiple photos.

• Photos can be from anytime within the last five years.

• By entering into the contest, the contestant grants the City of Camrose the unrestricted and exclusive rights to use the photograph(s) for any purpose. This includes, but is not limited to, publishing your photograph(s) in print or electronic form for City of Camrose purposes without further compensation or photo crediting. (The City of Camrose will never sell the photo.)

• Any entry that contains illegal, sexually explicit, violent, discriminatory, profane, or defamatory content will be deleted and the contestant will be disqualified from any other submissions. Any files over 5 MB may take a little while to upload, depending on internet connection.

Selecting winners:

• Anyone can vote for their favourite photos. Make sure you share your entries and get your friends and family to vote for you.

• The top three photos with the most likes will be considered the winners and will each earn a $50 gift certificate to a locally owned, Camrosebased business of their choice.

• In the event of a tie for the top three photos with the most votes, the City will randomly draw three winners to break the tie.

• Winners will be contacted via email.

The contest ends at midnight on May 31.

Our Camrose Shaping the Future is a visionary plan that will set the City course toward ensuring a healthy, inclusive, prosperous and resilient city for ourselves and future generations.

For more information about the MDP Project, visit www.ourcamrose.ca/ mdp or contact Francisca Fredericks, Long Range Planner, at ffredericks@ camrose.ca.

Spring Cleaning Edition

I can' t belie ve it's already time to put o my spring cleaning until next year

"Hope we didn' t need that."

–Me, vacuuming

Spring cleaning never killed anyone , but why take that chance?

How to keep your home clean:

1. Get your family ou t of the house

2 Clean

3. Never let your family back into the house again.

I tried the Japanese method of declu ttering when you hold ever y object that you own, and if it does not bring you joy, you throw it away. So far, I have thrown out all of the vegetables , the electric bill, the scale , a mirror and my treadmill

Me : "I could use some help cleaning the house."

Also Me: "No, not like that! Never mind, I' ll do it!"

My husband cleaned the kitchen for the first time in years. He's in the living room, dressed in a suit, waiting for the award ceremony to commence. You come from dust , you will return to dust.

That 's why I don' t dust. It could be someone I know.

What if Snow White just pretended to be asleep so she didn' t have to clean up after little people anymore?

Because I totally get that.

It 's amazing how much you can accomplish around the house under the threat of someone coming over. My toxic trait is not letting anyone else clean, because it's not clean unless I clean i t.

Then getting mad when no one helps me clean

I thought about cleaning the house. But then I thought, "What's the house done for me lately ?"

Parenting E xper t : "Children model behaviour they see."

Me : "False. They see me clean, bu t they do not clean."

There are two levels of clean in my house.

1. Not clean

2. Better than it was

My neighbour just stopped by unannounced Of course , the house is a mess . So, thinking quickly, I grabbed my mop and opened the door and explained I was just in the middle of cleaning. She left and I went back to watching my murder mystery.

Follow me for more cleaning tips.

I hate having a messy house. Not enough to actually clean it , but enough to give it a really disgusted stare while sitting on the couch.

Life lessons are ver y impor tant. L ike when your wife is vacuuming, don' t watch her and tell her she missed a spot.

I put some boxes of s tu to donate in my car this morning and then dropped them o on the ver y same day instead of having them ride around with me for a month. Please applaud.

Wife : "I need to clean."

Me : "I can clean, let me do it."

Wife: "No, I want this place actually clean, not fake clean."

Don' t be worried abou t your smartphone and smart T V spying on you. Your vacuum cleaner has been gathering dirt on you for years

Man Tip: No woman has ever started an argument with a man while he was dusting, vacuuming or washing dishes.

Don' t wear headphones while vacuuming

I just finished the whole house before realizing the vacuum wasn' t even plugged in

My son cleaning: " Spilled smoothie? No worries! Just put a pillow over top of it and go play basketball!"

My wife said she expects the house to be clean by the time she walks in the door, so I changed all of the locks. The secret to a clean kitchen is simple. Don' t cook , ever.

I su er from ADCD (Attention Deficit Cleaning Disorder). It 's when you start to clean one thing, but get distracted by another. That causes you to bounce from one job to another, only to end up doing a lot of work with nothing to show for it!

Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster

The trail system, including Mirror Lake loop, is perfect for some great photo opportunities.

Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster Camrose offers plenty of backdrops to highlight your What makes Camrose Great? photos.