The Tofield Minor Hockey Association (TMHA) held their annual general meeting (AGM) on Sunday, Mar. 30 in the Tofield Arena meeting room to review the past season and come to a consensus on the future of the Association.
At last year’s AGM, held Monday, May 13, 2024, TMHA decided to join all levels of play with Strathcona Minor Hockey Association (SMHA) in a one-year pilot project, with parent and team feedback to be discussed following the trial season.
There were 71 members in attendance at the 2025 AGM, and only voting members were permitted to attend the meeting. The membership chose to fully dissolve the Association based on the challenges that TMHA has had and will face in the future.
“Almost our entire 2024-2025 executive board was up for renewal,” the Association’s official statement that was released the following day said, signed by
executive member Michael Murphy.
“President, Vice President (VP) on Ice, and Secretary positions were up for renewal on odd years and our VP off Ice had previously resigned. There was little appetite from the current executive to remain. When looking for a show of hands from the members present at the AGM to see who would step forward to become the new executive, four people raised their hands. A new executive would require six people to resume operations. In the event six people would not come forward, TMHA would not be able to operate in any capacity going forward and any assets that TMHA may have could be frozen,” the statement reads.
Other challenges that were discussed and taken into consideration during the AGM were that the Edmonton Federation Hockey League (EFHL) and Central Alberta Hockey League (CAHL) would not accept TMHA. EFHL has a multi-year freeze on taking any new associations and CAHL was not interested in
adding TMHA, as that would push their association further north.
“The Tofield Minor Hockey Association has had a lot of fun over the years. We honour our past, the history, and all the individuals who have helped us get to where we are today. We as a membership are leaving proud to be Titans. At our AGM we decided to keep all trophies in the hands of the Tofield Agricultural Society. We truly hope that they will be honoured proudly on display at the Tofield Arena for many years to come,” the statement says.
All remaining monetary assets will be donated to the Ag Society.
“This will happen after all remaining payments and liabilities are distributed; the previous TMHA executive will work with our legal counsel to progress,” the statement says.
“In the event any AGLC (Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis) funds are not permitted to be donated to the Ag Society, the members voted to donate evenly, if eligible, to the Tofield Soccer Association,
Tofield Minor Hockey Association dissolves
Tofield & District Minor Ball Association, Tofield Figure Skating Club, and Tofield Curling Club.”
Team jerseys sets will be donated to C.W. Sears Elementary School and Tofield School to share.
“We have a long-standing history of lending the schools our jerseys for taking children to ‘Hockey Hooky’ field trips for Oil Kings and Kodiak games. It allows the schools the ability to keep track of the children in a crowded arena,” the statement says.
As well, all hockey equipment will be donated to SMHA, including goalie equipment, hockey pucks, and hockey skills training equipment.
“We are proud that ‘we’ as a membership were able to come together to discuss and listen to each other’s concerns about what the future has in store for us. We are also proud of the decisions that we were able to make at our AGM for the betterment of our community and we are looking forward to seeing all the improvements come to fruition that the Tofield Agricultural Society has been planning for
our home arena.
“We look forward to the future successes of all our Tofield athletes and to following them on their journeys to whichever minor hockey team, pond hockey, or any other sporting avenue they may decide to take. We will be there to cheer each other on; we were Titans together,” the statement says.
Holden to consider replacing snow clearing policy
Bylaw would allow the Village to issue fines to vehicle owners
KARI JANZEN Staff Reporter
Holden Village Council moved to direct Administration to prepare a snow clearing bylaw at the last regular council meeting held Monday, Mar. 17.
The purpose of the order is to make snow removal within the village more efficient, and reduce flooding in resident homes caused by snow buildup left on streets.
“In an effort to ease the potential damage to properties during the thaw cycle, Administration is considering the need for Council to enact a Snow Clearing Bylaw, which will give Administration more authority to enforce penalties on owners who leave their vehicles on the street during the snow cleanup operations,”
states the Request for Decision (RFD) provided to council.
“Right now we have a snow clearing policy, which has no teeth,” Chief Administrative Officer Rosemary Offrey said.
“If we create a replacement bylaw, get rid of the policy, and put some teeth in that bylaw, then I can deal with people who leave their vehicles on the side of the street while the snow clearing is happening.”
The RFD says tickets would be issued to owners of vehicles that had not been removed from the street after notice had been given, by way of a sandwich board indicating the date and time their street would be cleared.
“The Snow Clearing
Bylaw would indicate when the grader would be completing the snow cleanup by posting sandwich boards at the intersections of streets, stating date and times to remove vehicles from the street for the cleanup operations.
If a vehicle is not removed from the street during the time of the cleanup operations, Administration will be authorized by Council Bylaw to issue a ticket to the vehicle owner.
If the vehicle owner does not voluntarily pay the ticket, the ticket will be charged to the property owner’s tax account at the end of the year that the ticket is issued,” the RFD says.
“This is not intended for the first plow. This is for the day after, to go
back and clean up the streets,” Offrey clarified.
The bylaw, if passed, would come into effect for next winter. Councillor John Markel asked about what would happen to those who work out of town and may be gone for a week or two and have no way to move their vehicle.
Offrey said she would suggest that they not leave their vehicle on the street, but Administrative Assistant Amber Kostyk said, in her case and not unlike others, she has nowhere to park other than the street.
“We're having a discussion now that we will be having once the bylaw comes to the table,” Offrey said. The RFD was set before Council to make a decision on whether to give Adminis-
tration the go-ahead to begin working on a bylaw, or to continue with the policy as is, or make changes to the policy.
“It is important to make note though,”
Mayor Tyler Beckett said remotely, via Zoom in response to Kostyk’s comment. “I think this needs to be a more in-depth conversation; we need to see the guts of what we're discussing before we can (implement it).”
“Not only that,” Offrey said,” but the bylaw will have to be shared with the residents before we actually do second and third reading. You'll get some feedback from the residents as well. Then Council will have to make a decision on how you want to move forward,” she said.
Beckett mentioned that
at the recent Chat with Council in Feb., residents in attendance “seemed to have a more or less positive view on it.”
“I think it's important that we make sure that the intent is not to be mean, but it's to efficiently use tax funds so that we're not doing a clean and then coming back and wasting Village money just to clean off a 20-foot section of the road,” he said.
“We can have a detailed discussion about the snow clearing bylaw at a later date,” Offrey said.
Deputy Mayor Shawn Cole moved that Council direct Administration to prepare a snow clearing bylaw based on the recommended action and discussion with Council, which was passed.
Tofield 4-H show and sale fast approaching
KARI JANZEN Staff Reporter
At the last meeting of the Tofield and District Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Mar. 5, Tofield 4-H Beef and Multi club registrar and poultry leader Kari Cameron attended to provide an update on the club and their upcoming events.
“There's been some changes in our District, and this year the Tofield club will be combining our club and district show. It will only be Tofield selling on Monday, April 28 and the Holden Beef club will have their show at the end of May,” Cameron said.
“Hopefully this is the one and only year for this, but we're going to see what happens,” she said.
The members will be showing and selling their animal projects from the year, which includes cattle, sheep, and poultry.
“We will have nine market steers, three market lambs, and four pens of three market broilers. My chicken kids just got their broilers yesterday, Mar. 4, so my heart's kind of full of love right now, to welcome 30 little puff balls in the mail,” she said.
The sale time has been changed from the usual time of 7 p.m. to 4 p.m., a switch the club made based on buyer feedback.
“That's a bit of a difference this year. Typically, the sale was at seven o'clock in the evening but what we heard from
Tofield 4-H Beef and Multi club registrar and poultry leader Kari Cameron attended the Tofield Chamber meeting to provide an update on the club and their upcoming events. KARI JANZEN PHOTO
our buyers was that that was already a full day of work, plus coming to the show and sale, so we tried to make it part of the work day. So, the show and sale will run from 9 a.m. until about 5 p.m., and we’re hoping to start the sale at 4 p.m.,” Cameron said.
Being separate from a district show and sale this year, Cameron said the Tofield club has made their programs to appear more in the format of a bull catalogue.
“We’re trying something different with catalogue printing. If you've ever seen a bull sale catalogue, that's what I've created with all their bios. We had this really great marketing presentation (by Greg Litwin) a little while ago that gave some tips and tricks of how the kids can go and sell themselves and their projects, so we're going to really engage and up that catalogue this year, being that it's just our club and not the whole district,” she said.
U9 tournament in Tofield a tribute to Sherwood Park man MINOR HOCKEY
KELSEY WITHAM Staff Reporter
The Tofield Arena hosted a sentimental U9 hockey tournament on the weekend of March 22-23, in memory of Conrad Wilgenbusch, a veterinarian from Sherwood Park.
Teams from Gibbons, Leduc, Edmonton, and the Strathcona Warriors took to the ice for the tournament.
The event was an opportunity for young athletes to showcase their skills, but it also served as a heartfelt fundraiser in memory of Wilgenbusch, a beloved community member and devoted father.
“The tournament was formatted a little differently; we also included a skills competition. It took place over two days; it
was a single-elimination knockout,” tournament organizer and head coach Steven Plamondon shared.
“The tournament was a huge success, and everyone had so much fun.”
Wilgenbusch, who was described as a kindhearted man in the community and a passionate supporter of youth hockey, was remembered throughout the tournament for his contributions to the community. His love for the game and unwavering support for local kids, both on and off the ice, made him a cherished figure. He passed away on January 20, 2025 after being diagnosed with mesothelioma in December 2022.
The Wilgenbusch family chose to donate the
funds raised, over $5,000, to KidSport, an organization dedicated to helping young athletes overcome financial barriers to participate in sports.
Funds were raised through a series of raffle baskets, which were generously donated by local businesses, and a 50/50 draw.
“The entry fees went towards the fundraising initiative; we also had awesome sponsors who helped by funding certain ticket items, a huge thank you to those sponsors who contributed so much.”
“I would like to thank the Strathcona Warriors Minor Hockey Association, as well as the teams who came out to participate in the tournament,” Plamondon said.
Tofield curling rink to be installed with LED lighting
Cassandra Lundbek Staff Reporter
The Tofield Curling Club is making a significant stride in energy efficiency, thanks to a $7,500 Save Energy Grant from Fortis Alberta.
The funding will enable the installation of LED lighting throughout the facility at an estimated cost of $10,000, with the club contributing the remaining funds.
In addition to the grant, Fortis Alberta presented the Tofield Curling Club with two commemorative plaques in recognition of the partnership.
Fortis Alberta’s Save Energy Grants are designed to assist municipalities, schools, and community organizations within the over 240 communities they serve by providing funds to implement energy-efficient projects.
Eligibility for the Save Energy Grants requires that projects demonstrate tangible energy savings, either through a direct reduction in energy consumption or measures that allow for better control over energy use.
Kayla Law, Stakeholder Relations Manager at Fortis Alberta, shared insight into how the decision was made to support the Tofield Curling Club.
“We look at all of the applications in our service areas, and what we look at is if anybody has applied before, what’s going on in the community, what we can do, what impact it has, and what impact it has for energy efficiency. There’s a number of calculated ways we look at it before we support it, and this was just a good fit for the community, and it worked out for us as
well,” she said.
The Tofield Curling Club’s LED lighting project is expected to reduce energy consumption by 55 per cent, resulting in both cost savings and environmental benefits.
Previously funded projects have included energy-efficient appliance upgrades, home energy evaluation kits, and window and door upgrades.
Dave Schultz, a director with the Tofield Curling Club, was the driving force behind the application for the grant. He found the opportunity on Fortis Alberta’s website and, in collaboration with a local electrician, designed the plan to upgrade the facility’s lighting system.
When asked about the importance of corporate sponsorship, Schultz emphasized, “as you can see on the walls of our curl-
ing rink, we have many sponsors, and without them, we would probably not be operating. They’re very important to our organization,” he said.
The LED lighting upgrade is just one of the many ways in which community partners like
Fortis Alberta help ensure the continued operation and success of local facilities.
The upcoming LED retrofit is expected to begin in the next few weeks. The 55 per cent reduction in the club’s energy consumption is a major boost, allowing
them to reinvest in ongoing operations and better serve the community. Law encourages other community groups interested in energy-efficient projects to explore Fortis Alberta grants on their website.
25041TG0
On Wednesday, Dave Schultz, left, and Doug Hardy, right, received a $7,500 cheque and plaques from Kayla Law of Fortis Alberta for the LED lighting upgrade project planned for the Tofield curling rink, set to begin within the next few weeks.
PHOTO CASSANDRA LUNDBEK
BRSD hosts voice for youth collaboration day
VANESSA POITRAS
Battle River School Division’s (BRSD) Student Advisory Voice for Youth (SAVY) committee met on Thursday, February 6 in a day of collaboration, leadership and learning.
"BRSD school student leaders had the opportunity to reflect on personal experience at school and consider how student experiences align with school data.
“The students, ranging from Grades 4 to 12, also collaborated on school projects and activities that support BRSD’s Education Plan," BRSD’s March 3 media release stated.
"Overall, this day was a fantastic opportunity for students to share their voices and ideas, build
Throughout the day student to student presentations were held, annual education results reports were discussed, and conversations on ensuring student-led initiatives are making a noticeable impact were had.
leadership skills, and take action in their schools. BRSD SAVY school representatives are ready to share their experience from the day," the release said.
The school board was contacted for further information regarding Tofield SAVY students and their participation, but a response was not received by press time.
Government emphasizes education during Impaired Driving Prevention Week
VANESSA POITRAS
Staff Reporter
Sunday, March 16 to Saturday, March 22 marked National Impaired Driving Prevention Week, a week where the federal government and RCMP emphasized the importance of safe driving habits.
"The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of educating Canadians about the consequences of impaired driving due to alcohol, drugs, fatigue, or distraction which destroys the lives and health of thousands of Canadians," the Government of Canada website says.
coordination, and reaction time behind the wheel.
Plan ahead and ensure you have a designated driver or a safe ride home. Impaired driving is not just a legal issue— it’s a matter of life and death."
Fatigued driving as well as distracting driving, which includes texting, switching songs, and adjusting a GPS, present many dangers as well.
never operate a motorized vehicle while impaired, and you should do everything in your power to be alert behind the wheel.
An Alberta RCMP media release stated that "Impaired driving, whether by drugs or alcohol, continues to kill or injure more Canadians than any other crime.
Alcohol, drugs, cannabis, over-thecounter and/or prescription medications can impact your judgment,
It is suggested on the RCMP website to plan your route ahead of time, put your cellphone away, notify your passengers, avoid eating and drinking while driving, keep music at a reasonable volume, keep personal grooming for at home, and secure objects in vehicle.
"Impaired driving doesn’t just apply to cars – it also applies to motorcycles, boats, ATVs, snowmobiles, and other off-highway vehicles. No matter what, you should
“If you suspect someone is driving impaired, call 911,” Sgt. Darrin Turnbull, Alberta RCMP Traffic says.
Tofield RCMP was contacted for comment but a response was not received by press time.
Battle River School Division is accepting tenders to perform grass mowing services at any one or all of the following locations: C.W. Sears as well as Tofield School as one contract located in Tofield, AB, Round Hill School, Ryley School, Strome School and Viking School, in their respective communities. Please note that some of these contracts may also include Bus Barns.
Grass mowing is required for the 2025 season. Bidders are responsible to examine the site(s) before submitting a tender(s) to satisfy themselves as to the nature and location of the work to be performed. The Contractor is responsible for all permits, licenses, insurance and other fees to carry out the services specified.
Sealed tenders fully executed, dated and marked “BRSD Grass Mowing (specific location/s)” will be received by:
Battle River School Division 4724-41 st Street, Camrose, AB T4V 0Z6
Closing date: Thursday, April 10th at 2:00 PM
RFP documents available upon request.
For inquiries contact Jennifer Hauck at: 780-672-6131 ext. 5258 or jhauck@brsd.ab.ca The lowest, or any, proposal will not necessarily be accepted.
- Most widely grown CWRS variety in Western Canada for 5 years
CWRS - AAC Wheatland VB
-Wheat Midge tolerant
- Very good lodging resistance
CWSWS - AC Andrew - Great silage option
-In demand by milling and ethanol industries
Yellow Peas:
CDC Canary - Improved standability
-Early maturity
-Higher Yielding
Faba Beans:
CDC 219-16 - Zero Tannin
- Seed is smaller than Snowbird, larger than CDC Snowdrop
6-Row Feed Barley:
AB Advantage - Improved plump and bushel weight
- Smooth awned
-High grain and forage yield
2-Row Malt Barley:
CDC Copeland - Strong demand by malting companies
BRSD High School and Middle Years SAVY students gathered at Division Office for a day of collaboration, leadership and learning on Thursday, February 6.
PHOTO SUPPLIED
BY JOHN MATHER
The Liberal team hasn’t changed… just the captain JOHN’S RANT OPINION
It's a rare day when I find myself agreeing with Yves-Francois Blanchet, leader of the separatist Bloc Quebecois.
But while fighting what seems to be a losing seat battle in La Belle Province to the Liberals of Mark Carney, Blanchet has taken direct aim at the prime minister.
He alone, it seems, is willing to point out the BS of the Liberal strategy.
“Why do they just want to talk about Trump?” asks LeBlanc.
Why indeed?
Certainly, Trump has gotten the attention of Canadians with his threats and action on tariffs which will damage our economy.
Certainly, Trump has directly interfered in our federal election, with no help from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, when he’s stated he would prefer a Liberal prime minister.
So why has Trump taken this path?
Well let’s look at the past ten years of Liberal government under Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau was so quick to apologize for anything social left wingers said was wrong.
Trudeau imposed tanker bans on the west coast, emissions caps on Alberta’s oil and gas sector, one of the country’s most productive economies.
He bluntly told the German chancellor there was “no business case” for Canadian liquified natural gas when there certainly was.
Under the Liberals of the past ten years the Canadian economy has floundered.
Under the Liberals of the past ten years housing in the country has become unaffordable.
Under the Liberals of the past ten years business has fled the high tax regime for more welcoming jurisdictions.
Under the Liberals of the past ten years crime numbers and addictions have skyrocketed while the Liberals pat criminals on the head and say don’t do it again and release them back into so-
ciety.
Ten years of Liberal leadership and policy making under Justin Trudeau have been a disaster.
National unity has been fractured and it’s taken Trump to make the provincial leaders realize they need to work as one to put Canada back together.
That’s why four months ago the Conservatives under leader Pierre Poilievre were surging in the polls and appearing to head to a super majority if an election were held then.
They were stymied by a ridiculous NDP leader, Jagmeet Singh, who first created a supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals.
He promised to keep them in power while he argued against their every decision. Then when he said he had enough and tore up said agreement, he continued to prop the lame Liberal minority up.
Why?
Because he qualified for his MPs pension at the end of February. He’ll deny this but it’s patently obvious that’s the only reason an election wasn’t held last fall.
So the Americans elected Donald Trump, a New York bully, who everyone knew would be a bull in a china shop once he attained full power.
In a swirl of brash signatures on paper from day one, Trump made pronouncements cutting government waste, cutting ridiculous policies, and the he set his sites on tariffs worldwide.
And just for fun, while he was at it, he went on an expansionist binge.
He wants control of the Panama Canal; he renamed the Gulf of Mexico, (although I don’t know anyone who really calls it the Gulf of America).
He went on a tear stating the U.S. had to acquire Greenland for national security. That served to anger the Danes who do control Greenland and want to keep it that way.
And then Trump hosted Justin Trudeau at Mar A Largo.
He jokingly called him governor and said Canada would make a good 51st state.
Trudeau said tariffs on Canada would destroy our economy. Trump, the New York bully, spotted weakness and went on a tear.
He continually called Trudeau governor and carried on wherever he could arguing Canada should be the 51st state.
Just one problem…. Canadians don’t want that.
But Trump spied the weakness of Trudeau and the past ten years of Liberal ineptness.
He piled the contempt on.
The Liberals were forced to dump Trudeau and replace him with Mark Carney.
Now Carney had a meeting with Trump and promised to reopen trade negotiations after the elections.
And the only problem with that. As Blanchet rightly pointed out Carney might not be the prime minister.
Who is Carney to made decisions regarding the future of Canada in the middle of an election?
It has to be pointed out especially for the voters in Ontario who seem to admire Carney despite the fact he is unelected and has no political experience.
The Liberals only changed the team captain. They didn’t change the team playbook.
Electing another Liberal government will only prolong the disastrous economic policies and green stupidity of the past ten years.
Poilievre and his Conservatives are untried at running the country.
But a change is needed.
Trump will be around for four years.
A united Canada may only be around for another four weeks
The election could decide that.
Kerry Anderson Publisher Lisa Kuflay Manager
John Mather Reporter Jana Semeniuk Reporter
Kate Priestley Office Assistant
Michelle Anderson Payroll Administrator Crystal Moren Production
Kari Janzen Reporter
From Mar. 17 to Mar. 31, Tofield RCMP received 72 calls for service. Twenty complaints were related to traffic offences, three included collisions, and five were related to animal collisions.
Two violation tickets issued and court appearance for driving while disqualified were given.
Thirty-two calls were related to wellbeing checks, suspicious persons complaints, mental health calls, or assistance general public in some way.
On Mar. 17, a break and enter to a residence occurred in Beaver County in the area of Rge Rd 162 and Twp Rd 503. The male and female suspects were confronted but fled before police arrived. Video surveillance was obtained and some
How pathetic and measly can they get, penalizing disabled people the amount they will receive monthly from a federal subsidy to help their marginalized situation a little?
I would like to see our MLA Ms. Jackie Lovely
RCMP Report
evidence was seized from the scene. This file is still under investigation.
On Mar. 17, a report of a work van broken into and tools missing was made from the Ryley area. No suspects at this time.
On Mar. 18, a car alarm went off on a vehicle parked in the town of Tofield. No one seen around the area. Nothing missing but door was left slightly open.
deck on the back holding a red slip tank. The vehicle is still outstanding at this time.
On Mar. 20, a complaint of a stolen truck from Twp Rd 505 and Rge Rd 172 was reported. The truck was a two-ton blue and grey 2006 Chevrolet 3500 with a flat
On Mar. 31, a single vehicle rollover occurred on Hwy 834 between Twp Rd 514 and 515. The truck was carrying a flammable product. Fire was on scene and dealt with leaking substance. Rapid Response units were sent to clean up the mess shortly after the incident. No one was seriously injured. File is still under investigation.
On Mar. 31, a male reported his dark blue Land Rover was stolen
stand up in the Legislature, face the front and explain to Premier Danielle Smith and Jason Nixon (Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services) why this is wrong on so many levels. The subsidy is being sent directly to the AISH
Bondara Oilfield Services Ltd is looking for Oilfield Labourers Full-time, year-round work.
To apply for this position please submit a resume to the following email: bondara@telus.net
recipients and the UCP will then hold back that much and add it to government revenue.
Unbelievable!
Syl Bigney Tofield, AB
from 52 Street and 52 Avenue in Ryley. The vehicle is still outstanding at this time and the investigation is still active. There have been no witnesses or suspects identified at this time.
To report emergencies or serious crimes in progress call 911. To report incidents that require Tofield RCMP to investigate or assist, call the 24-hour complaint line, 780-662-3352.
Geographical names map
KELSEY WITHAM Staff Reporter
The new Alberta Geographical Names Web
Map launched on January 3 of this year. The new program is a digital, interactive map
that allows people to learn about the origins of the names of rivers, mountains, municipalities, and provincial parks across Alberta.
“We are proud of our history in rural Alberta. As I have gotten to know people in all areas of our Camrose Constituency, one of my treasures is hearing about the rich history,” Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely stated.
“One of my favourite tasks has been presenting the Century Farm and Ranch awards over the past couple of years. Gathering with the families, looking at old pictures and hearing about the early days has enriched my time serving as the local MLA.”
The web map is a great new resource for teachers, students, visitors, and residents learning about notable Albertans and provincial places, as well as history enthusiasts across the province and country. The Alberta Geographical Names Program maintains a database with information on almost 9,000 place names in the province.
Access to the database can be found at geospatial.alberta.ca.
Calvin Andringa
One last visit from Old Man Winter
With the heavy snowfall that started on Thursday, Mar. 27 and continued until late Friday, and, for some early Saturday morning, snow plows had a hard time keeping up. Friday morning commuters had to manoeuvre through some treacherous conditions. Below: In certain places the centre line on Hwy 14 was not visible, causing drivers to exercise caution so as to leave enough room for themselves and oncoming traffic. LESLEY ANDERSON PHOTO
of
showed up again in a big way last week,
in some areas.
Winter
covering the region in up to a foot
snow
Pictured here, large flakes descended upon the town of Tofield on Friday, Mar. 28. KARI JANZEN PHOTO
On Friday, March 28 Town of Tofield employees were busy with snow removal along main street due to the spring storm. LISA KUFLAY PHOTO
BEAVER COUNTY SEED CLEANING CO-OP For Sale: Common Seed Oats
BEAVER COUNTY SEED CLEANING CO-OP OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
BEAVER COUNTY SEED CLEANING CO-OP For Sale: Common Seed Oats, Pony Oats and Barley
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Serving all the farms, ranches, acreages and towns in Beaver County Bruce,
Phone 780-688-3917 • Holden, AB
Phone 780-688-3917 • Holden, AB
Phone 780-688-3917 • Holden, AB
Phone 780-688-3917 • Holden, AB November
The Beaver County Chronicle
Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Volume 18, Issue 13
Beaver County adds street lights in Kinsella for improved safety
Patricia Harcourt
Beaver County Council has agreed to add street lights in the Hamlet of Kinsella for safety reasons.
At council’s March 26 regular meeting, Dan Blackie gave his report stating the hamlet made a request last August “for the installation of additional street lights throughout the community.”
He explained that the community was prompted to make the request “due to a noticeable increase in crime,” he explained. He said that residents believed that an increase in street lighting “would help deter criminal activity and enhance overall safety.”
County administration had already been working on getting price quotes from Fortis on new street lights and had identified “key areas where new street lights would be beneficial,” said Blackie, general manager of infrastructure, and included two on the north side of Queen Street and two more on Third Avenue between Main and King Street.
“The locations were selected based on traffic flow, visibility concerns and community feedback,” he said.
This need for more lighting was an idea supported by the Viking RCMP Detachment with a letter sent to the county last October.
“RCMP expressed concerns about the safety of Kinsella residents and highlighted that the poor quality of security camera footage had often hindered their ability to resolve cases effectively,” said Blackie.
Fortis and the county met in late January to discuss the best locations for street lights with the spokesperson for the community.
Both Fortis and the spokesperson also identified a spot on main street for a fifth light to be placed.
Blackie explained that Fortis offered to
invest $17,000 in installation costs leaving the county to pay the remaining $21,200 of the total costs.
Fortis will charge an additional $29.24 per light per month for ongoing operational costs, or $46.40 for the total of five lights.
Although council eventually passed the recommendation to obtain the five new lights for the hamlet, there was a great deal of discussion ensued following Blackie’s report.
“Three were requested (initially) so residents should be happy with five lights,” commented Division 5 Councillor Dale Pederson.
Division 2 Councillor Lionel Williams asked if the yearly costs would be borne by the residents, but Blackie said the entire county would pay the monthly charges.
But Division 4 Councillor Barry Bruce felt this could “open up the floodgates” for such requests. Also, he said that current street lights do not illuminate or shed much light.
“Street lights are not much of a deterrent these days,” he said, suggesting placing an intense light on one of the existing poles might work better.
“It would shed more light,” he said.
But Blackie nixed the idea of using “giant lights,” saying administration would not be able to bargain with Fortis on a price.
With the new street lights, it was necessary to have two more added because “they don’t fan out like they used to,” he said.
“A petition in Kinsella with an RCMP letter started this,” said Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Kayleena Spiess. “This was a recommendation from the RCMP.”
A motion was made by Pederson for council to approve the installation of five new street lights in Kinsella for the costs cited in the report.
In his comments, Bruce added that he wanted to ask Fortis if placing extra lights on top of
existing lights for side lighting would be “a more cost effective and better method of lighting.”
Spiess said research on solar lighting had been done as well but was more expensive than regular lighting.
“And Fortis ate some of the price,” said Deputy Reeve Gene Hrabec, councillor for Division 3.
The motion to go along with the recommendation passed 4-1.
Submit your event/s, meetings and/or gatherings to the events calendar on the website! Just head to the website, under the Explore menu click on County Region Events Calendar We have partnered with Go East to share local events on our website!
Beaver County will be holding an in-person public hearing to give residents an opportunity to provide input on the proposed Repealing Bylaw The purpose of this Bylaw is to repeal bylaws that are either no longer relevant, the County no longer has jurisdiction over the matter, they need updating, they were not repealed when they were replaced, etc
The proposed bylaw and the bylaws which may be repealed can be viewed below or obtained at the Beaver County Office (5120 – 50 Street, Ryley) or on the County’s website under the News section at www beaver ab ca Repealing Bylaw (2025) #25-1168
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 10:15 a m Council Chambers, Beaver County Service Centre, 5120 – 50 Street, Ryley Meagan Walsh at 780-663-3730 ext 1023 or mwalsh@beaver ab ca
If you wish to attend in person and speak to or submit written comments regarding the proposed Repealing Bylaw, please register/submit to Kady McKinney (kmckinney@beaver ab ca) by no later than 4:30 pm, Wednesday, April 9, 2025 Written submissions will not be accepted during the public hearing
If you submit written comments regarding the proposed bylaw, the information you provide may be made public subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act ,
The applicant or any person who claims to be affected by this decision may appeal the decision to the Development Appeal Board The appeal shall be made in writing and shall be delivered either in person or by mail to the Secretary of the Development Appeal Board not later than 14 days after the date of Issue of Notice of Decision
The following Development Applications have been APPROVED (except where otherwise noted) by the Development Authority under the provisions of Land Use Bylaw No 98-801, subject to the right of appeal to the relevant appeal body - Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB) or Land and Property Rights Tribunal (LPRT)
APPEALDEADLINE
APPEAL DEADLINE APRIL 30, 2025 DEVELOPMENT PERMITS
Appeal Body
AppealBody ApplicationNo.
APRIL30,2025 SDAB
Application No
Applicant
Landowner
Location Development
020020-24-D0009 HeatherWheeliker
Heather Wheeliker
Lot 21, Block 2 Plan 190 TR in NE 35-51-20-W4 Discretionary Use – 288 ft2 Cabin (Temporary
Same Lot21,Block2Plan190TRinNE35-51-20-W4 DiscretionaryUse–288ft2Cabin(Temporary Accommodation)
Any person wishing to appeal an application may do so by serving written notice on the prescribed form (stating reasons for the appeal) to the relevant appeal body For information on how to appeal can be found our our website Services > Planning & Development > Appealing Planning Decisions
Anypersonwishingtoappealanapplicationmaydosoby servingwrittennoticeontheprescribedform(stating reasonsfortheappeal)totherelevantappealbody.For informationonhowtoappealcanbefoundourourwebsite under Services>Planning&Development>Appealing PlanningDecisions
Further information regarding the above decisions may be obtained from the County Office Ryley Alberta
Attention outdoor enthusiasts! Planning your next camping adventure? Why not try out Camp Lake or Black Nugget!
Access the online booking tool on our website under Explore menu
Attentionoutdoorenthusiasts!Planning yournextcampingadventure?Whynot tryoutCampLakeorBlackNugget! Accesstheonlinebooking toolonourwebsiteunder the Exploremenu
SPRINGDUSTCONTROLPROGRAM
SPRING DUST CONTROL PROGRAM
Residents looking to reduce dust on county roads near their property can now apply for spring dust control The deadline to submit your application is April 15!
Submit your completed form by email to infrastructure@beaver ab ca, mail it in, or drop it off in person at our office Act now to secure dust control for the upcoming season!
Actnowtosecuredustcontrolfortheupcomingseason!
MAKEYOURVOICEHEARD-REGISTERTOVOTE!
Did you know that registering to vote in advance makes election day easier and faster? By signing up ahead of time you ensure your name is on the list and avoid last-minute hassles Participating in elections is a vital way to have your say in the decisions that shape our community
Visit our website under: Government > Municipal Election 2025 or scan the QR code to view all Election information including key dates, the candidate information package, and nomination forms
We are seeking motivated and skilled individuals for a variety of positions to support our construction projects If you are looking for an opportunity to work in a dynamic team environment and contribute to County development, we want to hear from you!
Valid Class 1 Licence with a good driving record
Gravel hauling/spreading experience is an asset
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Ability to work in all weather conditions
Ability to perform physical tasks and operate heavy machinery safely
Interested applicants are requested to submit their resumes to: Human Resources, Beaver County, Box 140, Ryley, AB T0B 4A0 Or by e-mail to: careers@beaver ab ca
WE’RE ALSO LOOKING FOR...
Economic Development Coordinator - One Year Term
This role will drive business growth, tourism, and economic initiatives to shape the County’s future A great opportunity to make a lasting impact!
Beaver County is paving the way for fall general municipal elections.
Margaret Jones, Manager of Legislative Services, presented county council March 26 with several pieces of legislation to make the elections run smoothly.
Council approved establishing agreements with school boards for election services.
“Both the Battle River School Division and the Elk Island Catholic Separate School Division have electoral wards within the county,” stated Jones in her report to council.
“Both school boards have requested that Beaver County conduct their school trustee elections which in the case of BRSD will include the towns and villages” she said. “The towns and villages have agreed to partner with the county to conduct the election within their jurisdictions.”
The school boards have agreed to pay $1,350 per voting station if both municipal and school board elections are held.
Council also agreed to provide applications to vote by special ballot to be accepted in writing, by telephone, in person or by email between 12 p.m. on September 24 and 4:30 p.m. on October 17.
Voting hours were set by bylaw with three readings given. Voting stations will be kept open continuously on election day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.n.
A bylaw to establish multiple voting stations within the county was also passed, preparing the county legislatively to put the necessary mechanisms in place for the voting that will occur on election day.
Divisions 1, 2, and 5 will have two voting stations and Division 3 and 4 will have one voting station for a total of eight in all.
The municipal election will be held on Monday, October 20.
The school board elections would then be held in conjunction with the municipal election at the municipal voting stations. And even if no municipal elections are required, the election for boards of trustees would still be held, said Jones.
Tofield local creates art that evokes emotion
VANESSA POITRAS
Staff Reporter
Mags Lepine is a local traditional artist and maker who isn’t afraid to have works depict difficult things that people find uncomfortable.
“My pieces often cover topics, like stillbirth, that people don't talk about. Art allows us to share our pain and lighten the load.
“I'm by no means under the belief I am the best at what I do. However, I am the one willing to talk about awful things as we both cry looking at art. I'm never going to change the world but I can help lighten the load,” Lepine said.
Lepine was born in, and has lived in, Tofield most of (their) life.
"Ain't no place like home," Lepine, of DefiningDoodles, said about living in Tofield.
The business name is DefiningDoodles and they do most of their creating out of their own home.
"Dinos, melting girls, comics, and mental health. It’s traditional
Tofield's Mags Lepine, of DefiningDoodles, is pictured here with original art pieces, entitled "Portal to Childhood" and "Tea-Rex." PHOTO VANESSA POITRAS
pop-surrealism/low brow art," Lepine explained about the art that (they) create.
"From the time we're children we create. I consider the start of DefiningDoodles in 2019 when I attended my first market as a vendor. I had an amazing high school art program and teachers on Vancouver Island that taught me a lot more than the average.
“I also have a thirst for knowledge so I kept studying online videos
and books in my 20s, and when I rediscovered comics, I taught myself the basics of comic art,” Lepine said.
Lepine said they’ve experienced ups and downs throughout, but have learned a lot.
“My journey had some pause moments; I struggled with alcohol. When I drank, I didn't draw. When I'd stop drinking, I'd get new supplies and teach myself something new," Lepine said. Inspiration comes to
Lepine in ways of "frogs in a slough, a new book, my kiddo’s latest obsession, something a friend says, a lyric in a song, dinos, or mental health moments.”
Lepine started selling art when friends and other people would see (them) doodling and ask for copies. Lepine then started taking orders and doing markets, and hasn’t looked back since.
Lepine does most of (their) work solo but they (have) done some collaboration pieces as well. Art is more than creating for Lepine, (they) said it soothes (their) mind.
“It's important to me to not feel alone. I have struggled in a lot of ways alone; I don't want to anymore and I don't want others to."
Lepine’s art can be found at The Data Base in
Tofield including hand painted apparel, tote bags, prints, stickers, jewellry, and household goods, and stickers and prints at Harvest Moon Ink across the street.
Lepine is at most Alt After Dark markets in Edmonton as well, with originals and merchandise available to purchase. There is also have a website and pages on social media
Many Tofield area amenities for Get Outdoors Weekend
KELSEY WITHAM Staff Reporter
As the weather warms, it is a great time for Alberta’s 13th annual ‘Get Outdoors Weekend’ to commence.
This celebration takes place the second weekend of April, designated by the Province in 2011, and encourages the mental, physical, and environmental benefits of outdoor recreation.
It is also meant to inspire residents and visitors to embrace Alberta’s stunning natural land-
scapes through various outdoor activities, educational events, and community-based initiatives.
“There are several outdoor amenities in Tofield that can be enjoyed yearround. These vary from the walking trails, snow hill, several playgrounds, Francis viewpoint, and our nearby golf course,”
Jeff Edwards, Town of Tofield Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, stated.
“Physical activity and enjoying the outdoors promotes mental health
and wellbeing, as well as the health benefits provided through movement. Tofield has set up areas throughout the community to appeal to all age groups and interest levels,” Edwards went on to say.
Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary, Beaverhill Lake Heritage Rangeland Natural Area, Cooking Lake, and Blackfoot Staging Area all offer great resources to explore the area by foot, bike, or snowshoe.
Accepting delivery of consignments from Friday, Apr 11 to Friday, Apr 18 from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. ALREADY LISTED: 3 LARGE LATE MODEL FARM DISPERSALS! FARM CONSIGN TODAY TO BE PART OF THIS BIG AUCTION! Public Viewing: Monday, Apr 21st to Thursday Apr 24th from 8:00 am- 6:00 pm & Friday, Apr 25th from 8:00 am until NOON SHARP. At our yard: 2
Wild Rose
Phone: 780-288-7147
Email: admin@trinican.ca
Website: Trinican.ca
Members of the Ryley Hotel ladiesʼ basketball team, gold medal winners in the Northeast Alberta Winter Games in Vermilion were, back row, left to right, Tanya Nordby, Lee Gudmunson, Sheila Stensrud, Sheila Mizera, Fay Strilchuk, Val Gudmunson, and Floyd Taylor (coach). Front, left to right, are Janice Kirkland, Lorna Stauffer, Loralie Norton, Betty Boettger, and Marlene Magneson.
This photo appeared in the Tofield Mercury on April 12, 1979
CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS
COMING EVENTS
Killam Health Care Hospital Reunion for all Past and Present Employees
Saturday, May 24
From 2 to 5 p.m. at the Killam Catholic Church Basement Hall 5214-50 ave
Round Hill Easter Market
Monday, April 14 from 5 pm - 7 pm. For a table, text or call Terry 780-678-6131
EDMONTON COIN SHOW & SALEApril 12/13, 2025, 10 am - 4:30 pm, Sunday,10 am - 3:00 pm.. Lions Centre; 11113 - 113 Street, Edmonton. Free market evaluations. Dealers from across Canada * Auctions * Displays * WATCHES * Family friendly! www.edmontoncoinclub.com/shows.
Viking and Area Gymkhana Club ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Friday, April 4, 2025 at 7:30 pm at the Viking Rodeo Grounds Elections, fundraising, meets, etc will be discussed.
St. Paul's United Church in Hardisty Annual Spaghetti Supper and Silent and Live Auction Monday, April 7 Hardisty Town Hall Adults - $15 Children 6-12 - $10 Ages 5 & Under - FREE Supper Served 5 p.m. Silent Auction Starts at 5p.m. Live Auction Starts at 7 p.m. For more info call Fay Bronson 780888-3504 or Gail Kobitzsch 780-8882266. Auction items, with donor name attached, can be dropped off at Town Hall on April 7 @ the Town Hall after 10 a.m. to Ricci Matthews.
Thank you for your continued support
The Viking Historical Society is accepting bids for re-roofing of the Hafso house at the Viking Museum Grounds. Materials could be either metal or asphalt. All local contractors are encouraged to submit bids to Box 106, Viking, AB T0B 4N0
Not ready to let go of your freedom (but needing support)? I can help with that. Enjoy your home. Light cleaning/meals. Emotional/mental companionship. Games/Cards. Phone Jackie (780) 385-1019. 13p
Please join us for a bridal shower for Maegen Kuilboer in celebration of her upcoming marriage to Tyler Bendfeld.
Saturday, April 5 at 2 p.m. Killam Seniors' Centre Registry available at Guardian Drugs (Killam) and Killam Home Hardware.
Tofield Golden Club
Perogies, Sausage and Sweets
Thursday, April 3, 2025 11:00 am to 1:00 pm 5004 - 54 Ave, Tofield. $12 at the door Take-out and Gluten Free options available. All ages welcome!
Galahad Lions Club
50th Anniversary Celebration April 5, 2025 at the Galahad Agriplex Celebrating Fifty Years of Community Service Supper and Dance- $55.00 per person
Happy Hour 5:30 Supper 6:30
Dance to follow-Music by Bandit Tickets available by calling either Ernie Gamroth 780 385-1543 bralpaca@syban.net Allen Dietz 403 742- 9610 dietzallen8@gmail.com
The Viking Historical Society Annual General Meeting, followed by a regular meeting, will be held Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. at the Viking Legion. New members are welcome to attend!
FOR SALE
Anyone who is interested in any Raspberry Plants, Blueberries, Saskatoons - This is your last chance for Ordering. Deadline is April 30. They must be gone by June 1. Contact Brian at 780-678-0053 whether they need to be potted or bare root.
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 St Quad 4x4 Auto. Positive Air shut off, power chip, 6.7 Cummins Turbo Diesel. 329,000km - approx 23/mpg. Excellent condition. Call 780-888-1666 12/13p
BUILDINGS FOR SALE
INTEGRITY POST FRAME BUILDINGS since 2008 BUILT WITH CONCRETE POSTS. Barns, Shops, Riding Arenas, Machine Sheds and more, sales@integritybuilt.com 1-866-9747678 www.integritybuilt.com.
All Classified Ads booked in our paper will also be posted online at the new online Classifieds Section at no additional cost. THOUSANDS of page views online every month in addition to our THOUSANDS of weekly readers. Plus our site is Google SEO optimized. IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE WITH US!
LIVESTOCK FOR SALE
Registered Red & Black Angus bulls for sale. Call 780-986-9088
SEED FOR SALE
BARLEY – *NEW-AB Standswell* Smooth AWN, High Yielding, Grain and Forage Great Lodging Resistance. 1st NITROGEN USE EFFICIENT CEREAL IN CANADA. Attracting Japanese Interest. OTHER BARLEY: Cerveza, CDC Austenson, CDC Maverick, Sundre. WHEAT – Pintail, Forage or Grain. OATS – AC Juniper, AC Morgan, AC Mustang, Derby, CDC S01 Super Oat. PEAS – Very Early Yellow Peas, Forage Peas. ALSO AVAILABLE: Polish Canola & Spring Triticale. mastinseeds.com; 403-5562609.
13P
UA County Gold for sale. Treated or Untreated. Non-GMO. Good for Organic Market. call 780-336-6700 12/14C
FOR RENT
If anybody who likes country living and is looking for a place to rent, Brian has a basement available with two bedrooms. Would like a non-smoker. The rent would be $800 per month, plus a damage deposit equal to one month's rent. Located 4 miles east of Bawlf, off Highway 13 on Range Road 172, the second place on the east side of the road. No pets allowed.
If interested, call Brian at 780-6780053 for appointment to view. Available May 1. 12tfnc
FARMLAND FOR RENT
West ½ of SW Qtr Sec-27-Twp-56Rge-21-W4. Strathcona County. South Bank of North Saskatchewan River. 72 Acres. 60 cultivated for grain/hay. Phone landline: 780-434-0388 11/12p
HELP WANTED
The Viking Historical Society is looking for summer staff at the Viking Museum. Duties include yard maintenance, cleaning, directing tours, and cataloguing artifacts. Students and mature applications alike may apply with resume and cover letter to Box 106, Viking, AB T0B 4N0
HEALTH
HIP/KNEE REPLACEMENT. Other medical conditions causing TROUBLE WALKING or DRESSING? The Disability Tax Credit allows for $3,000 yearly tax credit and $30,000 lump sum refund. Take advantage of this offer. Apply NOW; quickest refund Nationwide: Expert help. 1-844-4535372.
SERVICES
PRIVATE MORTGAGE LENDER. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1866-405-1228; www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca.
Medical Taxi Service
Personal Taxi Service to Edmonton and Back -$175
•Office Hours Mon-Fri 9-5
•Absolutely NO Hidden Fees
•Escort to Reception/Waiting Room
•Pick up and Drop off at your door
•Top Notch Service!
•Includes up to 4 Hour Wait
•Locally Owned and Operated 587-987-7810
Drywall Taping/Ceiling Texturing
40 years experience on the job, from commercial buildings to new homes to home renovations. No job too small. Experienced Killam drywall taper/texturer here to help you with any job, big or small. Don't want to do it yourself?
- Give me a call!
Flagstaff Taping & Texturing
Murray Cholowsky Call or text at 780-385-1251
Roy's Handyman Services. Flooring, trim work, basement finishing, decks, fences, kitchen cabinet installs and carpentry work. Call 780-232-3097 tfnp
Painting
Quality Residential and Commercial Interior Painting. Betty Tkaczyk 780-632-8749 tfnp Does your club have an event planned? Advertise in the Classifieds
CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS
FOR RENT
If anybody who likes country living and is looking for a place to rent, Brian has a basement available with two bedrooms. Would like a nonsmoker. The rent would be $800 per month, plus a damage deposit equal to one month's rent. Located 4 miles east of Bawlf, off Highway 13 on Range Road 172, the second place on the east side of the road. No pets allowed.
If interested, call Brian at 780-6780053 for appointment to view. Available May 1.
FARMLAND FOR RENT
West ½ of SW Qtr Sec-27-Twp-56Rge-21-W4. Strathcona County. South Bank of North Saskatchewan River. 72 Acres. 60 cultivated for grain/hay. Phone landline: 780-434-0388
HELP WANTED
The Viking Historical Society is looking for summer staff at the Viking Museum. Duties include yard maintenance, cleaning, directing tours, and cataloguing artifacts. Students and mature applications alike may apply with resume and cover letter to Box 106, Viking, AB T0B 4N0
HEALTH
HIP/KNEE REPLACEMENT. Other medical conditions causing TROUBLE WALKING or DRESSING? The Disability Tax Credit allows for $3,000 yearly tax credit and $30,000 lump sum refund. Take advantage of this offer. Apply NOW; quickest refund Nationwide: Expert help. 1-844-4535372.
SERVICES
PRIVATE MORTGAGE LENDER. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1866-405-1228; www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca.
Medical Taxi Service
Personal Taxi Service to Edmonton and Back -$175
•Office Hours Mon-Fri 9-5
•Absolutely NO Hidden Fees
•Escort to Reception/Waiting Room
•Pick up and Drop off at your door
•Top Notch Service!
•Includes up to 4 Hour Wait
•Locally Owned and Operated 587-987-7810
CLUES ACROSS
SERVICES
Drywall Taping/Ceiling Texturing
40 years experience on the job, from commercial buildings to new homes to home renovations. No job too small. Experienced Killam drywall taper/texturer here to help you with any job, big or small. Don't want to do it yourself? - Give me a call!
Flagstaff Taping & Texturing
Murray Cholowsky Call or text at 780-385-1251
Roy's Handyman Services. Flooring, trim work, basement finishing, decks, fences, kitchen cabinet installs and carpentry work. Call 780-232-3097 tfnp
Painting
Quality Residential and Commercial Interior Painting. Betty Tkaczyk 780-632-8749
tfnp
1. McCarthy acolyte Roy
5. Ancient Korean chiefdoms 10. Not soft 14. Jai __, sport 15. Philosophy 16. Do what you’re told 17. Gaffe
18. Widely known and esteemed
19. Amusement park attraction
20. Popular comic strip Viking 22. Usually has a lid 23. American sportscaster 24. Lung fibrosis
27. General’s assistant (abbr.)
30. Pouch
31. Upset
32. Partner to hem
35. Astronomy unit of distance
37. Witch
38. Gradually disappear
39. Regions
40. Possesses
41. Body parts
42. A way to comprehend
CLUES DOWN
1. Currency
2. Ceramic jar
3. Reagan’s Secretary of State
4. God worshipped in Kanesh
5. One thousand cubic feet (abbr.)
6. Semitic
7. About blood
8. Benign tumors
9. Move one’s head
10. Hours (Spanish) 11. Hebrew calendar month
12. Advise someone 13. Colors clothes
21. The sun does it
23. Concealed
25. City of Angels hoops team
43. Defraud
44. Sandwich type
45. Expression of disappointment
46. Popular Dodge truck model
47. The 17th letter of the Greek alphabet
48. Soviet Socialist Republic
49. Songs to a beloved
52. Custom
55. Partner to cheese
56. West Indies trees
60. Member of a Semitic people
61. Plant that originated vegetatively
63. Squandered one’s money
64. Ethiopian river
65. Excessive fluid accumulation in tissues
66. Acquire by one’s efforts
67. Irish goddess
68. Hungarian village
69. Cereal grasses
32. Attaches to a wall
Capital of Ethiopia: __ Ababa
German river
Disappointed
Star Wars character Solo
Supervises flying
Nonsense
Hogshead (abbr.)
Fencing sword
Ali’s surname at birth
Stiff bristles
VCR button
KARI JANZEN Staff Reporter
Claystone Waste Communication and Public Relations Advisor Jackie Sargent was present at the regular Town of Tofield council meeting to provide an overview for council on the Town’s 2025 dividend on Monday, March 24.
“Claystone has evolved from a regional waste commission and has become not only a provider of waste management services, but it's an investment that contributes to the success of the five shareholder communities, including the Town of Tofield,” she said.
Claystone Waste is a municipally controlled corporation (MCC), consisting of the Town of Tofield, Village of Ryley, Village of Holden, Town of Viking, and Beaver County.
“As you may recall, last year Claystone increased the dividend to the shareholder municipalities by $150,000 and that brought it up to $3.15 million. Prior to that it was $3 million for a couple of years. Last year the Town of Tofield received $651,796.55,” Sargent said.
Sargent added that 2024 was an exceptional year for Claystone and that shareholder dividends have increased once again.
“Thanks to our continued growth from the transportation network as well as the composting program, the board of directors at their meeting on February 27 decided that we're going to bump up the dividend this year again, by another $150,000 bringing it to $3.3 million total.
“This means the Town of Tofield will be receiving a dividend this year in the sum of $682,834.48 from Claystone Waste, which is an increase of $31,037.93 over last year,” she said.
Sargent said she would have welcomed a photo opportunity with a cheque presentation, noting the Tofield Mercury’s presence, but told council the funds had already been direct deposited.
“I would say, for myself particularly,” Mayor Deb Dueck said, “that it was a long road to get to an MCC, and I was on that committee for seven years, but in saying that, it is wonderful that they can give back to our community so well, and that they diversified and continue to grow those profits and investments.”
“As a member of PAC (Public Advisory Committee),” Deputy Mayor Harold Conquest said, “I get to see progress there quarterly, to see what's new and how they are developing, and it's just wonderful. How can you not enjoy those meetings, seeing how well things are handled and where we're going? Thank you to all involved,” he said.
“I think it's exciting for everybody, too, knowing that there's more to come,” Dueck added.
In a Claystone media release, Dueck said the Town is grateful for the significant financial con-
tribution from Claystone and said the funds will be reinvested into the community to benefit the residents.
“These funds allow us to invest in infrastructure, support recreational programs and structures, and enhance municipal services,” Dueck said in the release.
“Claystone really ap-
We are currently looking to hire person/persons for Auction Coordinators/Setup Personnel for online auction sales. Work to be conducted at our auction site 2 miles north of Camrose on Hwy 833. Must have knowledge of farm equipment and related items. Some lifting required.
Job duties include accurately list and lot items for online auctions. Preference given to experienced auction staff with setup experience.
Starting wage $25-$30/hour. Criminal record check required.
Position required for 2 weeks in April, June, August and October.
For more information contact Jody Lindstrand at 780-679-8101 or submit resume to jody19661@live.com
preciates this opportunity for us to come and talk to councils about the dividends,” Sargent said.
“We think it's really important that our shareholders have that touch point. We're invested in the community. We want
to demonstrate that we are looking at the longterm sustainability of the communities that surround us and really appreciate the support that we've seen, so thank you very much,” Sargent said.
Claystone Waste Communication and Public Relations Advisor Jackie Sargent was present at the last regular Town of Tofield council meeting to provide an overview for council on the Town’s 2025 dividend on Monday, March 24.
KARI JANZEN PHOTO
Some early birds who made the trek back up north from their winter getaways down south were in for a rude surprise with the recent spring storm. Pictured here on Monday, Mar. 24 a pair of geese explore the still ice-covered
Alberta not alien to UFO sightings
VANESSA POITRAS
Staff Reporter
Thursday March 20
was National Alien Abduction Day, and as reported by CTV News, "Albertans are the second most likely province or territory to be most likely abducted by aliens, according to data from Casino.ca.”
"This translates to one in 700 Albertans reporting a sighting of an unidentified flying object (UFO), according to the National UFO Reporting Centre (NUFORC)," the article said.
Ontario is the first, with 1 per 677 people in the province, and Newfoundland the least likely, with 1 UFO for every 8,692 people, casino.ca says.
"While Ontario ranks the highest, Alberta is no stranger to welcoming out-of-this-world life forms.
The world’s first UFO Landing Pad was opened in 1967 in St. Paul. There have been 729 reported
Newspapers by the Numbers
Each week, more than
Daily newspapers account for 15 million copies distributed weekly (the majority are paid).
sightings in Alberta dating back to 1930 with five so far in 2025, according to NUFORC," CTV News said.
Many people question whether there is life out in the great unknown, something Sarah Rugheimer, astrobiologist professor at York University, says there is no data proving it.
“We’ve not found evidence of microbial life on another planet. We’ve not found signs of intelligent life on another planet.
The only life we know, simple or complex, is on Earth,” Rugheimer said.
The most recent sighting reported, as found on the NUFORC website, was Monday, March 24, in Red Deer, at 11:24 p.m.
“Triangle shape appearance with the three points of the object each with a faint white light,” the entry reads.
UFO sightings can be reported on the National UFO Reporting Center’s website; nuforc.org/reportform.
different ways2:
Community newspapers account for more than 13 million copies weekly (the majority are free). read newspaper content weekly on any platform.2 all FOUR platforms measured: print, website, tablet, phone.2 Almost all readers access news digitally (96%). More than half of all readers (58%) are reading the printed product, including e-papers. Canadians trust newspaper content2: Six out of ten Canadians trust editorial content in newspapers (print/digital). Half of Canadians trust the printed advertisements in newspapers.
Holden Gazebo Park pond.
KARI JANZEN PHOTO
Agriculture Section Agriculture Section 2025
An annual supplement to your local papers saluting the important businesses and people keeping our ag industry strong
Grapes among common household items that may be poisonous for your pet
Cassandra Lundbek Staff Reporter
March was the month recognized as Pet Poison Prevention Month, dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers that common household and environmental toxins pose to our animals. With nine out of ten pet poisonings occurring within the home, and incidents increasing around festive seasons like Easter, Halloween, and Christmas, it’s vital to understand which substances can be harmful to your pets, whether they’re dogs, cats, or horses. Recognizing these risks is key to safeguarding your pets.
Unfortunately, pet poisoning is frequently an emergency, often caused by every day items that owners may not recognize as dangerous. West Wind Veterinary Hospital recommends taking the following steps for prevention: take an hour to assess risks and pet-proof your home and barn, ask a veterinarian before giving any medications, store all medications and potential toxins safely, and ensure everything your animals might be able to eat is safe.
“Poisons are best treated by prevention of exposure. If accidental exposure occurs, treatment should be started before any symptoms are noticed,” warns Dr. Deborah Carroll of West Wind Veterinary Hospital.
For dogs and cats, over-the-counter and prescription medications are
among the leading causes of poisoning. Human medications such as pain relievers, antidepressants, and even vitamins can have toxic effects on pets. Xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in many sugar-free items and some peanut butter brands, is highly toxic to dogs and can cause severe hypoglycemia and liver failure. Foods like chocolate, grapes, onions, garlic, and raisins can be deadly, leading to kidney failure, anemia, or neurological issues. Household products such as antifreeze, rodenticides, and cleaning agents also pose serious risks.
With gardening season just around the corner, it’s important to research any plants you plan to bring into your home or garden. Ingesting plants like aloe, daffodils, azaleas, and English ivy can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or more severe symptoms in pets. Some plants, like lilies, are highly toxic to cats and can cause fatal kidney failure. For horse owners, toxic plants and environmental hazards are a significant concern.
“All pastures should be inspected for weeds and other hazards before use. All feed changes should be gradual,” Dr. Carroll advises.
Alsike clover, while not native to Canada, was introduced in the 1800s and can be found in pastures, along roadsides, and in ditches throughout Alberta. It can cause photosensitivity
and liver damage in horses. Maple and Box Elder trees also pose a risk, as wilted leaves can lead to severe anemia in horses. Even black walnut shavings, sometimes used in bedding, can induce laminitis.
It is important to consider the placement and use of pesticides and rodenticides around barns and homes, as they can be fatal if ingested by pets. Additionally, contaminated feed, such as hay containing botulinum toxins from decaying organic matter, can lead to severe neurological damage in horses. Symptoms of poisoning in horses vary widely but may include colic, muscle tremors, incoordination, or sudden behavioral changes.
As we move into the warmer months, concerns about blue-green algae become more prevalent. This toxic algae can bloom in stagnant or slow-moving water, such as dugouts, ponds, and lakes, posing a significant health threat to dogs, cats, and horses. Dogs are especially vulnerable due to their tendency to swim and drink from natural water sources. Horses can be exposed when drinking from contaminated troughs or bodies of water.
Blue-green algae produce toxins that affect multiple organ systems, causing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea,
muscle tremors, seizures, liver failure, and even sudden death. If exposure is suspected, immediate veterinary attention is crucial.
“The most common error is waiting too long before seeking veterinary advice,” says Dr. Carroll.
Quick action can mean the difference between life and death. If poisoning is suspected, owners should immediately contact their veterinarian or an emergency poison control hotline, such as the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Centre or the Pet Poison Helpline, both available 24/7. Note that consultation fees may apply.
Prevention is the best defense against poisoning. Pet owners should store all medications, chemicals, and toxic foods safely out of reach. Regularly inspecting pastures for harmful plants, securing feed and supplements, and avoiding exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and toxic algae can help protect horses. Being mindful of potential hazards around the home, barn, and farm can go a long way in ensuring the health and safety of all animals.
This spring, take the time to assess your environment and make any necessary changes to keep your pets and livestock safe from harm.
community
Mayor Dueck and Council
• 4712 51 St Lamont 5,800 sq ft shop with office and sales space. Shop was used for agricultural machinery repair. Price: $450,000
LAMONT COUNTY
• HWY 834 between HWY 16 and TWP RD 530 Lamont County 19.48 acres with power and a holding tank. Nice building site. Price: $215,000.00
• 5317-50 Ave Andrew. An 18,000 sq. ft. manufacturing shop with office and storage space on 2.3 acres of land Price: $1,700,000
STRATHCONA COUNTY
• Parts of SW and SE-7-53-22-W4 located at Highway 21 and Lakeland drive 63.62 acres of development land with Highway 21exposure. The property is within the Bremner and local Employment Area ACP with expected future use of industrial. Price: $5,100,000 We’re Always Looking For New Farm Listings!! Give us a Call, We’d Love To Sell Your Property!
Leslie Cholowsky
Alberta Agriculture reports that the period between the melting of snow and the emergence of fresh grass and leaves creates the highest risk for spring wildfires.
Last year Alberta’s Agricultural Service Boards released a shelter in place tool meant for municipalities as they prepared for an upcoming fire season.
The document had good advice for making a plan to shelter livestock in place in case of emergency, but also includes advice based on basic FireSmart principles to be applied to every building found on a farm or acreage.
One of the first things to do this spring is to assess your property and outbuildings. Storing items like piles of firewood, construction materials (or deconstruction materials), patio furniture, and other combustibles against or near a building can be a major fire hazard, according to FireSmart Canada.
Combustible mulch can ignite, producing embers that could ignite other combustible materials in your yard, increasing the chance of flames spreading to outbuildings or your home.
FireSmart guidelines recommend that evergreen trees, with cones and needles, not be within 10 m of a home or outbuilding.
FireSmart suggests you plan a 1.5 metre area around your outbuildings that is a non-combustible surface, to reduce the chance of wind-borne embers starting a fire.
Materials like gravel, brick, or concrete fit the bill perfectly, while woody shrubs, trees, and tree branches should be avoided. Well-mown grass is also suitable for this zone. A mown lawn is a fireresistant lawn, according to FireSmart guidelines. Grass shorter than 10 cm (around 4”) is less likely to burn.
Plant only fire-resistant plants and shrubs within a 10 m radius, and avoid using bark or pine needle mulches within 10 m of a building. Gravel mulch and decorative crushed rock can significantly reduce your risk of fire.
Regularly clean up accu-
mulations of fallen branches, dry grass, and pine needles from the ground to eliminate surface fuels. Remove all branches to a height of two metres from the ground on evergreens within 30 metres of your buildings.
FireSmart guidelines say that reducing the risk of a surface fire on your farmland includes managing
vegetation around fence lines, corral lines, and ditches. A buildup of grass, weeds, and brush make excellent fuel for wildfires.
Reducing vegetation around buildings lowers the risk of wildfire, same as old corrals and unused corners of the yard.
FireSmart rules around feed storage say that dry bales are a magnet for
sparks and embers. Once ignited, they cause fires that can quickly spread and be difficult to put out. Store bales a good distance away from outbuildings. Clean up old hay and straw from broken bales.
Being prepared for a wildfire may help decrease the chances of a grass or wildland fire causing damages to your buildings.
Province says it’s investing $330M over
to improve rural health
Anna Smith
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Budget 2025s new Rural Hospital Enhancement Program would invest about $330 million over three years to support health capital projects in communities across the province.
If passed, Budget 2025 will provide $15 million to support project planning in rural communities, which includes conducting facility and functional assessments of rural hospitals to determine what capital planning solutions and services are required to maximize each facilitys potential, said the province.
Rural Albertans should be able to access the health-care services they need close to home.
The new Rural Hospital Enhancement Program will ensure we are continuing to make data-driven decisions, and that resources are
being appropriately deployed to address the areas with the greatest need, said Minister of Health Adriana Lagrange.
Once project plans for each facility are developed, they will be used to inform future capital planning discussions and funding decisions for new projects, expediting the time between planning and construction.
Alberta’s government is also supporting existing capital programs and projects that will maximize the potential of rural health-care facilities.
The province says these investments aim to ensure that rural patients can receive care in the communities where they reside, reducing the need for long-distance travel to urban centres for essential medical services, reducing the pressure on major centres and support the wellbeing of
rural Albertans.
”As an MLA from rural Alberta, I know first-hand how important it is to have access to high-quality health care facilities close to home,” said Minister of Infrastructure Martin Long in a statement.
“This investment in projects in rural communities across Alberta will enhance care and strengthen our communities. I cannot wait to get to work on these critical projects.”
Support for Ag needed over China tariffs
George Lee Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A reignited trade war the one with China has made federal action essential to protect Alberta farmers and agrifood industries, UCP members and ministers said last week.
On March 20 China imposed 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil, canola meal and peas from Canada, along with 25 per cent tariffs on fish, other aquatic products and pork. The move followed Canadas tariffs launched last October of 100 per cent on Chinas electric cars and 25 per cent on its aluminum and steel.
But Chinese allegations and actions affecting Canadian canola go back at least to 2019. Thats when the worlds most populous country restricted Canadian canola for three years, claiming pests were found in the major Prairies product.
We are pressing Ottawa for urgent support, including compensation, market diversification efforts and a stronger focus on trade negotiations, Agriculture and Irrigation Minister R.J. Sigurdson told the legislature.
It’s very clear that due to the scope and scale of the impacts of this trade war (with China), the only institution that can compensate our farmers enough is the federal government. We need them to come to the table, and we need them to deal with this and support our farmers right now, said the minister.
A trade restriction blocked canola shipped by two major Canadian players between March 2019 and May 2022, with China alleging pests were detected in shipments.
Pundits speculated, however, that the restriction was a reaction to Canadas arrest of the chief financial officer of Chinese tech giant Huawei. Detained in Vancouver over U.S. charges of bank and wire fraud that were eventually dismissed, Meng Wanzhou returned to
China in 2021 after she was released from house arrest.
Then came Canadian tariffs announced last year on electric cars, steel and aluminum from China, and the trade war was on again. Almost immediately, in September, China announced an antidumping investigation against Canada. This year years tariffs of canola, peas, pork and aquatic food followed.
Matt Jones, the minister of jobs, economy and trade, said: “The uncertainty these tariffs create for business disrupts supply chains and reduces market confidence, but were committed to working with federal and international partners to protect our economy, diversify trade and maintain global market access.”
“A $30-billion industry in Canada, canola supports thousands of goodpaying jobs,” Jones said.
Alberta Treasury Branch reporting says that in 2024 Alberta exported over $408 million
in canola oil and meal and over $138 million in dried peas to China.
Alberta government data pegs the value of all 2020 exports to China at $4.5 billion. That number had grown by nearly half to $6.7 billion by 2024.
Said Jones, “the member for Calgary-South East, We need to ensure that these new tariffs dont slow down our momentum.”
Canada followed the lead of the U.S. under Joe Biden last year in instituting an electric car tariff to protect the North American industry from the communist superpowers subsidies.
The earlier dispute had already cost the canola industry between $1.54 billion and $2.35 billion in lost sales and lower prices between March 2019 and August 2020, reported the Canola Council of Canada.
China is Canadas largest canola seed destination, with more than 4.5 million tonnes worth $3.8 billion exported in
Continued on Ag Page 22
Viking Meats
Southern Alberta irrigation: the deep expense of expansion
Cal Braid
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Historically, the productivity coming out of an irrigated parcel of land is significantly higher than dry land. It also has the security of having a productive crop year over year because it’s not completely weather dependent on rainfall. However, there’s a catch: It ain’t cheap.
As general manager of Canada’s largest irrigation district, David Westwood knows the business of supplying water to thirsty farmland. Westwood’s St. Mary River Irrigation District has upwards of 500,000 acres under irrigation after amalgamating with the Taber Irrigation District in 2022.
While irrigation is a more surefire ticket to crop success than dry land, Westwood said it involves a lot more than buying pivots for one’s land. The overall cost includes the pump, power source, pipeline, controls, and in-
stallation fees, and that’s just the hardware for a functional system. A quarter section pivot could cost $160K to $175K factoring in the components and setup.
“It’s a significant capital investment, and it’s not just putting in the pivots,” Westwood said. “For example, if that land now becomes a potato crop, you’re going to be looking at having to then build storage to be able to handle the potatoes, because based on your contracts, they ship all year round. You’ve got to store them in the off-season when it’s not growing season, all those kinds of things. It’s almost always much more than just the investment in the actual irrigation infrastructure of the pivot; it’s all the ancillary things of what you need to do on your farm to be able to grow that product, store that product, and then ship that product.”
Fuel and truck costs are an added consideration, too. Farmers require trucks
or in some cases, a fleet of trucks and drivers to haul loads of crops to elevators or processing facilities.
In 2022, SMRID increased its expansion limit acres. The District’s modeling indicated that between the pipeline modernization project savings plus the extra storage from the planned Chin Reservoir expansion, it would be able to service up to 80,000 more acres.
“We had a lottery for the first 15,000 acres and we’re doing these in very di-
gestible (increments) over many, many years. Those now have been fully subscribed for and by this irrigation season coming up, those new 15,000 acres are now potentially coming into production.”
Some farmers will be irrigating on previously held dry land, and some are expanding upon preexisting irrigation.
“Some are just putting irrigation acres on a parcel of land that did not have irrigation acres on it before, but a part of that par-
cel did so,” Westwood explained. “A classic example would be they had enough irrigation acres under the circle pivot, but in the past had never chosen to have irrigation acres in the four dry corners of a circle pivot. But now they’ve chosen to put irrigation acres on all those corners, and it gives them
the flexibility they may want to do a corner arm system, or they just may want the water that comes along with those acres.”
Building a progressive and productive farming business is no cinch, but modern advancements have turned agriculture into a huge business–if you can afford the buy-in.
What’s different about PowerRich Fertilizer
When you compare the PowerRich fertilizer program with traditional fertilizer you’ll notice 3 big differences and they are:
PowerRich, along with your present nitrogen program, provides a total fertilizer. In addition to phosphorus and potassium PowerRich also provides all of the other nutrients that are either absent from your soil or in a form unavailable to your crops.
PowerRich fertilizer uses nutrients that are all compatible with one another. PowerRich uses primary, secondary and micronutrients which are compatible and are readily available to your crop.
The third main difference with the PowerRich fertilizer program and traditional fertilizer, is that rather than applying the fertilizer all in one shot, the PowerRich program is a 3 part program that is tailored to the different requirements of your crop as it grows.
Warnings from prairie farmers about carbon capture risks
Poitras Staff Reporter
In a recent release from National Farmers Union (NFU), the organization explains that prairie farmers are expressing their concerns about the dangers of carbon capture and storage (CCS).
“CCS projects pose a number of risks to human, animal, and environmental health.
Pipeline ruptures pose asphyxiation risks from CO2, as well as contamination risks from toxic chemicals such as hydrogen sulfide, which is carried alongside CO2. Concerns also have been raised about CCS storage facilities leaking and leading to dissolution of CO2 into groundwater. The dissolution of CO2 in water creates carbonic acid, which is unsafe for both humans and livestock” NFU says.
The goal of CCS is to cut carbon emissions to
limit the rise of global temperatures. As defined on the Shell Canada website, “carbon capture and storage is a combination of technologies that capture and release carbon dioxide (CO2) deep underground, preventing its release into the atmosphere.”
“At Shell, we believe that CCS will be essential for helping society to achieve net-zero emissions,” Shell Canada’s website says.
In a meeting on the carbon capture project held in October of last year in Viking, concerns were raised about the usage of good farmland during the process of CCS.
“We are not looking for areas where there is good farmland (to use). The work is mainly underground,” geophysicist Alexa Tomlinson explained.
However, NFU board member Glenn Norman, of Red Deer County, says CCS is not the answer.
“Geological carbon cap-
ture and so-called ‘storage’ is no solution at all to climate change. Nearly all attempts to date have failed and leaked to the surface, contaminating both ground and surface water,” Norman said.
“The NFU, in collaboration with other groups, is focusing its attention on the Cold Lake CCS Project,” NFU says.
“Carbon Capture aids and abets the priorities of the oil and gas sector, which prioritizes unsustainable extraction and exploitation. In solidarity with farmers and the Indigenous peoples affected by the Cold Lake CCS Project we must understand that is not in their interests. When we make connections to what Albertans have endured: the droughts, the wildfires, the smoke and poor yields, to the risks of CCS, it is clear that the Cold Lake Project does not benefit us,” NFU youth president Adama
Bundu, of Edmonton, said.
There is currently a running facility, Quest CCS, operated by Shell Canada on behalf of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project located at the Scotford Upgrader northeast of Edmonton.
“Shell opened the refinery and styrene plant at Scotford in 1984. A monoethylene glycol plant was added in 2000. The Shelloperated Scotford Upgrader opened in 2003 and it was expanded in 2011. The Shell-operated Quest CCS facility was added to capture CO2 from the three hydrogen manufacturing units within the upgrader in 2015,” Shell’s website says.
In June 2024 Shell announced the Final Investment Decision for Polaris, the carbon capture project at Scotford, as well as the Atlas Carbon Storage Hub in partnership with ATCO EnPower.
“The Atlas Carbon Storage Hub from Shell
and ATCO EnPower intends to store CO2 emissions generated in the Alberta Industrial Heartland region. The first phase of Atlas will store CO2 emissions captured by Shell’s Polaris carbon capture project. CO2 emissions captured by Polaris will be sent to the Atlas Carbon Storage Hub via an approximately 22-kilometre pipelineto two storage wells located in Strathcona County. CO2 will be stored approximately two kilometres underground in the Basal Cambrian Sands, the same formation used to successfully store CO2 from the Quest CCS facil-
ity currently operating at Shell Scotford,” Shell Canada Community Relations Advisor Janine King said in a previous interview with the Tofield Mercury.
“Polaris and Atlas will build on the success of the Quest carbon capture and storage facility at Scotford, which has safely captured and stored more than nine million tonnes of CO2 from the Scotford upgrader since 2015 that would otherwise have been released into the atmosphere. Both projects are expected to begin operations toward the end of 2028,” she said.
Vanessa
By Sylvain Charlebois (Troy Media)
Canada has started a trade war with China, yet few in Ottawa seem willing to acknowledge the consequences.
Unlike the United States, which often imposes tariffs as a bargaining chip only to later negotiate, China takes a far more calculated and punitive approach. When Beijing retaliates, it targets industries with both economic and symbolic significance, ensuring maximum pressure on its adversary.
In Canada’s case, that means agricultural exports—particularly canola, known globally as “Canada oil,” and Atlantic lobster, both of which have now become collateral damage in this escalating dispute.
The fallout is already being felt. Starting March 20, Canadian grain farmers, hog producers and seafood harvesters face 100 per cent tariffs when exporting to China, a critical market for these sectors.
Canola, which generated $3.72 billion in exports in recent years, is now under anti-dumping investigations, while rapeseed oil—a major processed product—is being hit with prohibitive tariffs. Pork exports, once thriving, have dwindled as China tightens import restrictions, and the billion-dol-
lar seafood industry, led by lobster and crab, is now facing similar uncertainty.
This crisis was set in motion by Ottawa’s decision last October to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and batteries, mirroring a move by the United States. Then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sought to align with U.S. President Joe Biden, aiming to shield North American manufacturing from an influx of cheap Chinese imports.
But now, with both leaders gone, Prime Minister Mark Carney has made it clear he has no intention of reversing course.
China’s retaliation follows a familiar pattern. When Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Vancouver in 2018 at the request of the U.S., Beijing didn’t retaliate against Washington—it went after Canadian farmers, restricting key agricultural exports.
The same playbook is being used now, yet Ottawa appears either oblivious or unwilling to acknowledge how much damage this is causing to its own producers.
At the core of this conflict is Canada’s high-stakes bet on electric vehicles and battery manufacturing. The federal government has commit-
ted nearly $50 billion to develop the sector, funding projects like Stellantis and LG’s battery plant in Windsor, Volkswagen’s gigafactory in St. Thomas, Ont., and Northvolt’s facility in Quebec—despite Northvolt’s financial struggles and reports that its parent company is on the verge of bankruptcy.
Additional billions have gone to Ford and other automakers as part of
Canada’s strategy to become a global battery hub. While these subsidies are intended to create jobs and secure supply chains, they come with immense financial and economic risks. There is no guarantee that Canada’s EV industry will be globally competitive or that these government-backed projects will deliver on their promised returns.
Continued on Page
BULLARAMA
Alberta organization seeks to improve farm mental health services
Kari Janzen Staff Reporter
AgKnow, providing an Alberta approach to farm mental health, seeks to provide better access and use of the mental health services currently available, and works to ensure those services align with the needs of farmers.
“The work that resulted in AgKnow began in 2021 when the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation responded to a resolution from the Agricultural Service Boards asking for farm specific mental health resources and services,” AgKnow program director Linda Hunt said.
“The initial ask was for Agriculture Research and Extension Council of Alberta (ARECA) to adapt some mental health resources for agriculture industry. To do that we needed to know which resources and who needed them, which resulted in the project becoming a needs assessment, and then a quest to answer the question, What does a made for Alberta Farm Mental Health program need to be?” Hunt said.
AgKnow is working to increase the capacity of mental health providers in the agriculture industry to address to growing concerns about farmer mental health.
“Research in Canada is showing that farmers have higher rates of suicidal ideation, anxiety, and depression than the general public, and in the US they found farmers are twice as likely to die by suicide than the general public. But what should or can be done about it? There are programs asking this question across Canada, and some exciting new supports that are becoming available.
“But what would work for farmers here? We discovered that there are places in the province that mental health services are underutilized and the providers are unsure what is preventing farmers from accessing them. In other places the services either don’t exist or are overburdened with demand. So, since 2021 AgKnow has been connecting with farmers, farm associations, and professionals that work in agriculture, health care programs, and researchers to work out how to increase the capacity of our health and mental health providers and our agriculture industry to support farmers, their families, and veterinarians,” Hunt said.
AgKnow is undergoing many projects and initiatives, including funding research, pilot programs, working with industry groups, attending events to speak with farmers, providing online webinars, and conducting surveys.
“We seed funded research in Alberta so we can get a good handle on what is happening now, and continue to con-
nect and encourage new projects that make discoveries or validate methods of outreach. We pilot programs like our farm informed counselling network, and workshops on resiliency, suicide prevention, and mental health literacy.
“We work with industry groups to incorporate mental health content into publications where farmers are already engaged, like the calving resources at the Beef Cattle Research Council (www.beefresearch.ca/blog/how-to-prepareyourself-and-your-beef-operation-for-calving-season/).
“We also attend events with farmers and talk about the struggles on farm for their feedback and insights. We provide online webinars designed to encourage deeper understanding of topics that farmers have identified as important. We conduct surveys and take the results to program and service providers in hopes we can encourage the development of services that meet the needs of farm families. It is important to us that we are meeting the needs of farmers and a benefit to their farming operation,” Hunt said.
In order to operate, AgKnow applies for grant funding, but that does not cover all costs associated with running the organization.
“Funding has been a big challenge for us. Even though the province has been very supportive, project grants do not cover all of our costs, so we need to leverage the grant investment with nongrant funds. Last year our one-year grant finished and the four-year grant application was delayed so we ended up working with our stakeholders to keep things moving. The support from industry has rolled in in small bits and has been keeping us afloat but not providing the stability required to keep employees.
“These are the growing pains that many worthwhile initiatives go through and the outpouring of support from rural municipalities, farmers, and farm associations gives me optimism that things can get better,” Hunt said.
If individuals or businesses are interested, AgKnow has a donation link on their website and Hunt said they are always open for sponsorship conversations.
“We are working on an agreement that will give us charitable status so we can issue charitable receipts, and in the meantime a number of partners have provided funding to keep things moving. I am very grateful to ATB, Results Driven Ag Research, PorchLight society, rural municipalities, and individual donors that have contributed financially and with in-kind support.
Continued to page Continued on Ag Page 18
Ottawa has essentially chosen to apply a supply management-style approach to an emerging sector—limiting competition, inflating costs and betting taxpayer money on an industry that is far from proven. As history has shown, when markets are heavily managed, consumers end up with higher prices, lower quality and fewer choices.
In prioritizing Ontario and Quebec’s manufacturing jobs, Ottawa has knowingly sacrificed the interests of Canadian farmers and seafood harvesters. Yet, rather than acknowledging this trade-off or offering support, the federal government has remained largely silent.
The absence of a response from new Agriculture Minister Kody Blois is particularly troubling. With farmers already struggling due to rising costs and declining margins, the imposition of 100 per cent tariffs on critical exports
is a major blow.
If Minister Blois does not act swiftly to defend Canada’s agricultural sector, farmers and seafood harvesters will be left to bear the full weight of Ottawa’s geopolitical gamble.
Canada’s handling of this trade war has been reckless. Instead of mitigating risks, the government has gone all in on an industry that remains untested while turning its back on agricultural sectors that have long been pillars of the Canadian economy.
If Minister Blois and the government fail to intervene, the economic consequences for Canadian farmers and seafood producers will be severe. Ottawa may have been willing to make this gamble, but it’s the agricultural sector that will ultimately pay the price.
What a mess.
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Canadian professor and researcher in food distribution and policy. He is senior director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor Podcast. He is frequently cited in the media for his insights on food prices, agricultural trends, and the global food supply chain.
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This has been the hardest and yet most rewarding project I have every worked on,” she said.
When asked what questions people usually have in relation to AgKnow, Hunt said most ask how they can help.
“It’s not a hard sell, as the last few years have been very difficult for the health care system in Alberta, and for rural residents it has felt like a centralization of services in the urban areas. So much change in how or if services are available,
and at the same time some new services being rolled out that blanket the province, like Counselling Alberta which offers no wait time, long and short-term counselling services, virtually everywhere in the province, and, in some places, in person, on a sliding scale thanks to funding from the new Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions.
We are excited to be partnering with them and increasing the number of farm informed counsellors in their network so
that every farm family has affordable access,” she said.
Hunt said that AgKnow has been funded as a discovery project, but with the huge need, they are working with the ARECA board to work out how to move from a short-term discovery project to a long-term initiative.
“We have an updated report with recommendations that is being published on our website right now as well as some videos from our stakeholder engagement ses-
sions that anyone interested can watch and provide feedback through an online form. It’s really helpful to us to hear from farmers from all types of farms, and all areas of Alberta so we can really speak with their voice when advocating for services and ensure the services will actually meet real needs in the industry,” she said.
Hunt said the best way for people to stay in touch and find out what the organization is up to, is through the website, AgKnow.ca and by sub-
scribing to their newsletter.
“Getting farmers to participate in our surveys and engagements helps us stay on track to make a real difference for the community. Right now, we have a survey about farm transition that is helping us dive deeper into the “farm family dynamics” that are a main driver of farm families to reach out for counselling support,” she said.
Battle River Railway a Central Alberta success story
Leslie Cholowsky
The Battle River Railway New Generation Co-op (BRR NGC) was started in 2010 with local investors, many of whom were farmers, to purchase a shortline railway that serviced the communities of Kelsey, Rosalind, Forestburg, Heisler, Galahad, and Alliance.
The Co-op has different types of shares
In all, it’s 52 miles of straight railway, the longest straight section of railway in Alberta, they say.
BRR General Manager Matt Enright says the original model for the railway was under the single-desk model, and was a sure-fire way to get producer cars to clients/shareholders in an age of big crops and small rail capacity.
A lot has changed since then.
BRR has experienced a lot of growth, and now has multiple revenue streams. That includes rail freight, shipping grain, fertilizer, and fly ash. Enright says a new contract will soon also bring bentonite clay hauling. BRR is also now doing grain merchandising.
Revenue also comes from rail car storage and switching, transloading, and even tourism, although the latter is a break-even at best.
In 2020, BRR purchased existing grain elevators in Rosalind, Heisler, and Alliance, and added transloading to its revenue streams.
In about 2021, BRR added some track at Forestburg to substantially reduce the amount of switching required, also reducing the impact of operating across public crossings.
In 2024 BRR got rid of three 70-yearold timber bridges on the line, replacing them with concrete ‘box culverts.’ Not only was this time efficient, with less than a week per bridge, it was also cost efficient, with an expected lifespan of 100 years. The new culverts are also able to handle flood runoff more efficiently and safely.
Enright says this project was funded by the federal Rail Safety Improvement Program with a grant for $2.9 million.
In 2022, BRR applied for grant funding under the National Trade Corridors Fund, part of that was meant to cover the bridge upgrades, and part to extend a spur line into the Forestburg Industrial Park that is currently under development.
After two years, news of that grant’s approval came, after the Rail Safety Improvement Grant had been received; luckily the two were stackable.
This grant was for $5.7 million but a lot had changed since the application went in. With this additional funding, instead of bridge improvements, BRR was able to do bridge replacement, with most of that cost covered by the two grants.
A revised project list for the NTCF grant has been approved, which includes building the track out in Alliance this year, as well as adding five times the existing storage capabilities, with five 900-tonne bins and also adding a
third track. This will provide the ability to load 100 cars.
“That represents a lot of growth and room to grow a grain business. We feel like there is a lot of potential in Alliance, they are close to a lot of acres.”
Enright says in Forestburg the plan for construction season 2027 is hopefully to put a rail spur in as well. “We would like to see a tenant in place by then.”
Enright says all projects under the Continued on Ag Page 32
The Battle River Railway New Gen Co-op owns the shortline raiway that runs from just east of Highway 53 to Alliance, and is based out of Forestburg, shown here. At the bottom of the photo is the two-track locomotive house. The upper right corner shows a corner of the new industrial park in Forestburg where a rail spur could be built to accomodate an industrial tenant needing rail access.
Municipalities want end to oil and gas property tax loopholes
Brett McKay Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) says its members are facing an unpaid oil and gas property tax burden of $253.9 million. As new arrears are added each year, the chance of recovering these unpaid millions is shrinking, and municipalities are calling on the province fix well-known loopholes that let debtor companies off the hook.
In 2024, the unpaid oil and gas property taxes owed to rural municipalities grew by $67.8 million, more than 50 per cent higher than the outstanding taxes owed in 2023, according to a survey of RMA members.
The portion of this debt owed by insolvent companies is now over 60 per cent, leaving municipalities with little
choice but to accept their losses and write off the debt.
“When these companies are put up for sale or transferred, there is no opportunity for municipalities to attach that unpaid property tax portion to the resale or to try and get any of the value back,” said RMA President Kara Westerlund.
“There is no mechanism, whether legislation or within the (Alberta Energy Regulator), that allows us to be a creditor.”
The fact that municipalities are powerless to compel tax payment is well known within the oil and gas industry, Westerlund said.
The recent spike in the number of insolvent companies suggests several non-viable companies continued operating, and not paying taxes, in 2023 before going under last year,
according to RMA.
The growing issue of insolvency highlights the need for the AER to “adopt a more effective approach to ensure that the oil and gas industry meets its tax obligations to municipalities while still operating,” the RMA said in a its 2024 report on unpaid oil and gas taxes.
Rural municipalities are owed over $100 million by operational companies. Though hundreds of oil and gas companies currently have unpaid property taxes, a handful of bad actors are responsible for a huge portion of the debt. The ten worst offenders owe a combined $67 million, and a single company owes over $27 million to 19 municipalities.
“The attempts in the last several years to put
a stop to this type of behaviour in the industry are not working. RMA is willing to work through the solutions.
Westerlund said RMA is hoping to meet with officials from Municipal Affairs and Energy and Minerals to create a
“We're willing to come to the table. But enough is enough,” Westerlund said.
bility strategy and implement solutions to strengthen enforcement and eliminate the unpaid property tax problem.
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2023, the federal government published in a September statement.
The UCPs Glenn van Dijken, the member for Athabasca-BarrheadWestlock, said last week: “Alongside the energy sector, Alberta’s economy rests on the health and prosperity of our agricultural sector. It supports thousands of jobs and contributes billions to our provinces economy.
“Canadian farmers and food producers now face serious economic uncertainty thanks to China and their retaliative tariffs on Canadian agricultural products.”
Grant Hunter, the UCP member for TaberWarner, said: “This escalation in trade tensions has already significantly impacted bilateral trade and will continue to do so while these tariffs remain in place.”
Sigurdson, the Agriculture Minister, called the situation ”very complex” and said its full impact remains unknown.
“Our province, of course, has a long history of standing up for its economic interests, and thats exactly what were doing,” added Sig-
urdson, the member for Highwood.
The legislatures discussion of trade with China takes place as the Trump effect continues shaking the foundation of geopolitics and geoeconomics.
Since his inauguration in January, President
Donald Trump has posted and postured about using tariffs in a way he claims will amp up homeland industries and create a golden age in the U.S.
The levels and broad brush of his U.S. tariffs are unprecedented in post-Second World War
trade, and most economists say they wont achieve what Trump says they will.
Although Trumps tariffs against Canada have been on-again, offagain, some level of implementation supposedly happens this week.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Canada will have to adapt to a new era of its trade relationship with the U.S. A federal election in
Canada on April 28 further complicates matters, as leaders for the three major parties crisscross the country on the campaign trail.
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Organic Alberta holds conference to equip farmers with information
Kelsey Witham Staff Reporter
Established in 2004 and originally named Going Organic Network of Alberta, Organic Alberta represents over 660 organic producers and processors in Alberta, along with over 100 businesses across the organic community with the mission to represent, support, and grow Alberta’s entire organic industry. The organization holds training and informational workshops regularly across the province.
A recent conference was held in Nisku, running from Friday, February 28 to Sunday,
March 2.
“Organic Alberta has hosted this Annual Conference and Tradeshow since 2015. It brings together over 200 attendees, including farmers and ranchers, industry professionals, organic experts, and key stakeholders in the organic sector,” Small Farm Canada’s website said in promotion of the event.
“In 2025, we are delighted to collaborate with the Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association to launch the Agri-tourism 2035 Growth Strategy. With over 25 speakers and multiple break-out sessions, the annual Organic
Alberta conference offers a fantastic opportunity to equip farmers, producers, U-pick berry growers and agritourism operations with the information they need to succeed while fostering valuable connections within the industry,” the website said.
The conference included Member of Parliamentfor the Edmonton Riverbend riding, Matt Jeneroux, who spoke on mental health awareness, along with the impact of tariffs, counter-tariffs and a team Alberta approach presented by Bianca Parsons, the Executive Director of the Alberta Food Processors Association.
Both Organic Alberta and Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association held their AGM during the Nisku conference, covering topics to be explored in the upcoming year. Currently, less than 25 per cent of domestic demand for organic vegetables at retail is filled by Canadian producers. With the growing desire for organic products, more than 20 million Canadians are buying organic products weekly, Organic Alberta’s website says. There are nearly 5,000 certified organic farms in Canada and the number is rising as there is an increase in research and funding that is being distrib-
uted to the organic sector.
To help encourage new farmers to enter organic farming, Organic Alberta launched the program ‘Young Agrarians’ in 2015, funded by Peavey Mart’s Agricultural Community Grant. The program has been a successful initiative that helps grow the next generation of ecological farmers in Alberta who are looking to gain skills and knowledge by helping them navigate the opportunities and challenges of starting a farm. Farmer-to-farmer relationships begin to develop by networking at workshops and farm tours put on by the Young Agrarian program.
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Mundare farming family legacy honoured with provincial award
Mundare farming family legacy honoured with award
BY JANA SEMENIUK
Michael Zeleny was in his 20s when he first immigrated to Canada in search of a new life during the early 1900s.
After first arriving in Vancouver, he eventually purchased 160 acres of land near Mundare for $3,700 in 1920. Soon after, he met and married his bride, Eva.
Little did he realize that over 100 years later, his descendants would not only still be working the land and calling it home, but the Zeleny name would be forever chiseled into history with an Alberta Century Farm and Ranch Award from the provincial government.
Last month Zeleny’s son, Clarence, 88, along with his wife Norma and their family were presented with the Alberta Century Farm and Ranch award at their home by Fort SaskatchewanVegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk.
The award recognizes farms whose families have owned and operated the same land for 100 years or more.
Robb Zeleny, Clarence’s son, said he’s very proud of his family’s farming history being recognized with the award.
“It’s a proud feeling. Not too many farms can farm on the same quarter for that many years and live there too. Grandpa lived there, dad lived there, that’s (huge),” he said. “I think (dad) was happy about it. He didn't show too much emotion, but I'm sure he was proud of it.”
Zeleny said his grandfather was one of the first in the area to have power installed, and he farmed until 1961 when Zeleny’s father Clarence took over. Zeleny said his father introduced cattle to the farm in 1963 which had, up until then, been raising pigs, chickens and grain.
He said over time, the farm which had once encompassed 160 acres, grew at it’s peak to over 3,400 acres.
Zeleny’s memories of growing up on the farm with his two sisters Arlette and Shauna, include having egg fights with old eggs found forgotten in the barn, spending time with the family dog Rex, and feeding newborn cattle.
“Living on the farm was truly the best life a person could ever ask for,” wrote Zeleny’s sister Shauna in a letter.
“There are so many memories we had growing up that made us who we are today.”
Shauna shared a heartwarming memory in her letter of the special care she gave to the many cats who lived on the farm.
“One of my jobs was to pick eggs from the chicken coop after school, but we also had probably 20 cats on the farm which I loved.
There were days when there weren’t enough leftovers to feed those cats, so I decided they couldn’t go hungry. I made a decision to take the profit from the eggs and feed a few dozen a day to the cats,” she said.
“Dad couldn’t figure out why the chickens stopped producing, but I think he knows now.”
Zeleny’s other sister Arlette described how her parents encouraged each of the three children to raise a calf of their own and once it was time to sell, put the
money into their bank accounts. She said her parents also passed
down the life lessons to their grandchildren.
“Dad and mom
looked after all nine grandchildren. All of them were instilled with life long learning lessons which we are all grateful for,” she said.
Meanwhile, Zeleny credits his son, Kyler, for the award happening at all.
“Kyler, my son, did all the paperwork. He's the one that got all the wheels going, did paperwork, phoned the city, phoned Jackie and got the wheels going,” he said.“
Continued on Page
Robb Zeleny tosses some grain into the air for a fun photo with his father, Clarence, standing nearby in 2014. The image was captured by Zeleny's son, photographer Kyler Zeleny.
RCMP arrest teenager with $15K in drugs
On March 19, the Red Deer RCMP Crime Reduction Team executed a search warrant on a residence in the Rosedale neighbourhood of Red Deer. As a result of the search warrant, police have seized approximately 800 grams of cocaine, packing materials, a digital scale and approximately $14,495 of Canadian currency.
A youth, aged 16, was arrested on scene and was found in possession of 16 pre-packaged bags of cocaine and two spitballs of cocaine.
The youth, who cannot be named under Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been charged with the following offences:
• Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking
• Proceeds of crime over $5,000
• Illegal possession of government documents
The youth was taken before a Justice of the Peace and was released on a Release Order with conditions.
They are scheduled to appear in court on April 3, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Red Deer.
“This arrest is part of our ongoing efforts to disrupt street level drug trafficking within Red Deer. Drug trafficking poses a threat to the safety and well-being of everyone, and we are committed to holding those involved responsible,” said Sgt. Robert Daisley. "We encourage anyone who sees suspicious activity to report it. If you see something, say something”
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two quarters of dad’s,” he said adding there is still interest in farming from his sister’s families.
Continued from
Continued from Page 24
“He wanted it for Christmas, but Jackie just couldn't get there in time, so we gave it to (mom and dad) just a few weeks ago. I really appreciate Kyler doing this, because if it wasn't for him, we would have never have had this award.”
Kyler, a photographer and story-teller, has published three books so far on his small-town rural observations, and last Aug., Maclean’s magazine wrote an article on Kyler’s 2023 anthology ‘Bury Me in the Back Forty’.
The book chronicles small-town Mundare through photos taken by Kyler over a nine-year period.
Today, Zeleny said his dad was still farming with him up until last year. He said his father, who by nature is a gogetter, is starting to slow down.
“Dad was farming with me as of last year, no problem, 88 years old, and then all sudden, his knee (gave out) and he can't move around. It's bothering him, because he's a type of person that's got to go out and feed the cats and get the mail and whatnot, and he can't do that,” he said.
As far as the future of the Zeleny farm goes, Zeleny said his part may end when he retires.
“At peak time, we were farming 3,400 acres, and we had 300 animals in the yard, but we don't do that now, because we're slowing down. Dad sold his cattle, I sold my cattle, and now I am farming 1500 acres with
“It’s a proud feeling. I mean you’ve got three generations of Zelenys farming on the same quarter. I have a son, but his interests are not in the farm so it’s probably going to stop when I retire. It was a pleasure farming with my dad all of these years.”
The farm’s original owners, Mike and Eva Zeleny, both passed away months apart in 1972; Eva first at the age of 77 on Feb. 4 and Mike on May 19 at the age of 82.
According to the province’s website, the Century Farm and Family Award program began in 1992 and more than 1960 family farms have been recognized since its inception over 30 years ago.
The Zeleny children, Robb, Shauna (red pants) and Arlette with their father Clarence enjoying time with a newborn calf and the family dog, Rex, in 1974
Photo: Robb Zeleny
Clarence and Norma Zeleny sit proudly at their home with their Alberta Century Farm and Ranch award last month. Photo: Robb Zeleny
Bees
Joe Konecny Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Government of Canada’s 2023 Statistical Overview of the Canadian Honey and Bee Industry illustrates the size and impact of bee farming.
“Beekeeping is an important agricultural industry in Canada, producing honey and other hive products, and delivering valuable pollination services to farmers of orchard fruits, many berries, vegetables, forage, and the production of hybrid canola seed,” according to the report.
In 2021, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) estimated that the total annual economic contribution of honeybee
pollination was about $3.18 billion. When honeybee pollination of hybrid canola seed is also considered, the total estimated contribution is $7 billion per year.
The number of hives across the country increased in 2023 to 794,341, about 3.6 percent more than the previous year, consistent with the previous four years.
The volume of honey produced in Canada in 2023 increased 23.4 percent from a year earlier to 91.8 million pounds. The total value of the national harvest increased 8.2 percent over the previous year to $277 million, about 22 percent higher than the average of the previous four years.
About 64 percent of Canadian honeybee
colonies are in the Prairie provinces – Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta – however the majority (59 percent) of beekeepers with one or more honeybee colonies operate in Ontario and British Columbia.
Ontario and B.C. beekeepers manage 23 percent of colonies in Canada, however, the Prairie beekeepers accounted for 81 percent of national honey production in 2023, totaling 74,222 thousand pounds. Nationwide, 91,807 pounds were produced.
NTCF grant funding must by completed by March 2028 for reporting.
“Our main goal in Forestburg is to have the site development-ready,” Enright says, adding that the Village is a great partner in that by providing road access.
“We’ve got two years to market that development. Different clients have different needs, and might want a different configuration for a rail line. We are optimistic about rail accessibility bringing customers to the Forestburg development.
“We are on that stage of growth where we can be seen as a safe place to invest with successful partners.”
Enright says BRR’s expansion of services really follows the Federated Coop model, where diversification enhances profit for shareholders. “We are owned by our members, so our profit goes back primarily to those who invested in the short line, and those who use it.
“The shortline industry has passed the ‘prove it’ stage into established business and growth stage.”
That’s where BRR has an advantage over other shortlines, in that the rail quality in this shortline is superior to many other branch lines.
And growth has been very important to BRR and its members, he says. “In 2015 we started moving oil and grain, then oil stopped and there was a poor grain crop. Trying to reduce costs and manage through that was a lot less fun than figuring out how to grow and bring on new employees and new customers.
“We’ve had very committed shareholders. The vast majority of money put in were through investment shares. But we have committed shareholders, who feel proud to receive dividends and support a local business.”
vest locally.
“To have an avenue here where locals can invest locally turns into people who today are very proud to be shareholders.”
Overall, Enright says,
“The sooner the grain is on rail, the better it is for road authorities throughout the province,” he says.
“The Province spends a whole lot of money building and maintaining roads and almost zero money supporting rail.”
Enright says agreements with the Province put the entire cost of maintaining crossings on BRR’s shoulders. That includes four lighted crossings on Secondary Highway 855, and Highways 36 and 53, and the old 36 near Galahad, along with 53 uncontrolled crossings.
He says the Province’s Locomotive Fuel Tax went up March 1, some-
thing that hits a shortline harder than the big players.
BRR also supports the Friends of the Battle River Railway, who own a passenger car and open air car and run different tourism excursions throughout the year.
At Christmas, BRR partners with them to run local excursions by donation which they then donate to the local Food Banks. “We see that as a positive local interaction.”
P.O. Box 123, Lougheed, AB T0B 2V0 Manager: Jeremy Simpson Phone: 780-386-3771
