The Community
Press Telling Your Story
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Volume 114, Issue 39
$1 Including GST
Gas prices drop with new credit Leslie Cholowsky Editor
So far 2022 has brought Albertans some unwelcome changes at the gas pumps. From a province-wide average of $1.33 per litre at the start of the year, the first week of March saw gas prices peak at just under $1.70 per litre, then level off to around $1.65. Adding to that, the Federal Carbon tax was set to increase April 1, adding a further 2.2 cents per litre. In total, effective April 1, 11 cents of every litre of gasoline sold represents the federal carbon tax. As promised, the Alberta government responded to the rising gas prices and pending carbon tax increase by putting into play a plan to stop collecting the provincial gas tax April 1, lowering prices by 13 cents per litre, realizing a net drop of just over 10 cents per litre at the pumps.
In addition, Premier Jason Kenney announced this Monday, that it would be introducing the following motion into legislature: “Be it resolved that the Legislative Assembly call on the Government of Canada to stop its planned April 1, 2022 increase of the carbon tax to $50 per tonne, and further plan to quadruple the carbon tax to $170 a tonne, given that Canadian families are struggling with the highest inflation in 30 years.” The steep upswing in gas prices has been blamed on Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, which began Feb. 24. Calls to boycott the purchase of Russia-produced oil together with post-pandemic increased demand balanced against a lower than normal supply of oil for a surge in prices. Oil prices reached highs not seen since 2008 in recent weeks. Alberta’s Economic Dashboard
reports, “Western Canada Select (WCS), the price obtained for many Alberta producers of oil, averaged US $79.10 a barrel in February 2022, 75.3 per cent higher than it was a year earlier.” As announced in early March, Kenney said the credit will be tied to the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), on a sliding scale, where if prices slide to $90 or above per barrel, there will be no fuel tax, but if it drops below $80 per barrel, the full tax will again apply. It will be reset on a quarterly basis and applied if current pricing continues. As of Monday, April 4, WTI was trading above $103. The Province estimates that the gas tax rebate will save Albertans about $1.3 billion over the year, if oil prices stay high. The fuel tax normally applies to gasoline and diesel at 13 cents a litre, and marked gas and diesel at a rate of four cents per litre.
Killam Fire Department holds annual awards night to recognize and honour volunteer firefighters Leslie Cholowsky Editor
The Killam Fire Department traditionally holds an awards ceremony and dinner each year to honour its volunteer firefighters, but for the past two years, has been unable to hold the event due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This past Friday, April 1, Killam Chief Joe Knievel was finally able to schedule the event, at the Killam Legion. During the evening, Knievel distributed a number of years of service awards. As well, he announced the promotion of 10-year veteran Trevor Levitt to Captain. Knievel made a special presentation to Flagstaff Emergency Services Coordinator and former
Flagstaff Fire Chief Kim Cannady, to acknowledge his contributions to the Killam Fire Department and long service as a 36year volunteer firefighter, by making Cannady an honourary member of the Killam Department. Knievel also introduced Derek Homme, Flagstaff Regional Emergency Services Society (FRESS) Regional Manager and Fire Chief. Knievel made a fun presentation to Homme during the evening, presenting him with a deputy’s star. Firefighters receiving awards were as follows. Ten-year service pins: Troy Zieffle (as of 2020), Ian Strachan (as of 2021) and Trevor Levitt. Five year service pins: Cary Castagna (as of 2021) and Roger Obrigewitch. See FIREFIGHTERS P29
KIM CANNADY PHOTO
The Killam Fire Department held its annual volunteer firefighter appreciation night this past Friday, April 1, at the Killam Legion, where various firefighters also received awards for service. Above: back row, from left: Duncan Thompson, Jim Clark, Cary Castagna, Ian Strachan, Dylan Eskra, and Deputy Chief Rick Krys. Front row: Fire Chief Joe Knievel, Trevor Levitt, new firefighter Kyla Baranowski, and Troy Zieffle
Page 8 - The Community Press, Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Alliance neighbours report a great night of acquaintance Diane Dammann Alliance
who participated. Quite a few from Alliance attended the memorial service for
Margaret Spady at the United Church in Castor. Rev. Jope Langejans did the service and his wife
P. 780-879-3970 E. petendia@gmail.com
There were 20 of us in church on Sunday. Betty and the Boys performed the service (Betty Spady was on piano while Bill Bast, Dale Wickstrom, and Dale Jones did the service part) and special music was played by Bill and the Girls (Bill Bast, Betty Stoner, Laura Towers, and Donna Chalifoux). The members of the United Church were very pleased with the Meet Your Neighbour night, lots of new folks out, lots of visiting was done, and the lasagna supper was enjoyed by all; especially all the good desserts. The live and silent auction was lots of fun and profitable. Thank you to all
Notice of Annual General Meeting Battle River Railway NGC Inc. Thursday April 7 at 7pm Forestburg Train Station Agenda will include: • 2021 Financial Statements • Chairman’s Report • GM’s Report • Election of Directors by Members • Election of Director by Class D Shareholders • Resolution to amend Articles and Bylaws All BRR Shareholders are welcome to attend! Snacks and refreshments will be served afterwards.
Public Sale of Land (Municipal Government Act) VILLAGE OF FORESTBURG Notice is hereby given that, under the provisions of the Municipal Government Act, the Village of Forestburg will offer for sale, by public auction, in the Village of Forestburg Council Chambers, 4902 – 50 Street, Forestburg, Alberta, on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., the following lands:
The parcel will be offered for sale, subject to a reserve bid and to the reservations and conditions contained in the existing certi icate of title. The Land is being offered for sale on an “as is, where is” basis, and Village of Forestburg makes no representation and gives no warranties whatsoever as to the adequacy of services, soil conditions, land use districting, building and development conditions, absence or presence of environmental contamination, or the development ability of the subject land for any intended use by the purchaser. No bid will be accepted where the bidder attempts to attach conditions precedent to the sale of the parcel. No terms and conditions will be considered other than those speci ied by the Village of Forestburg. Terms: Cash, Certi ied Cheque or Bank Draft. 10% non-refundable deposit on the day of the sale and balance due within 24 hours of the Public Auction. GST will apply if applicable. The Village of Forestburg may, after the public auction, become the owner of any parcel of land that is not sold at the public auction. Redemption may be affected by payment of all arrears of taxes and costs at any time prior to the sale. Dated at the Village of Forestburg, Alberta, February 18, 2022. Sharon Duncan Assistant Administrator
Karen accompanied him, so it was nice to have a little visit with them. Now that people are getting out and about a bit more it's nice to run into them. I had a chat with Flavie Boisvert in the post office the other day. Flavie is still busy painting. She's been living in Alliance for a year or so in the McFadden house, the green house
by the Sports grounds. I also ran into Patty Fuller at the grocery store in Castor, I haven't seen Patty for some time. She looks well. She was preparing for the kids to come home on the weekend. On Wednesday evening I joined my grandson and family at Castor for dinner. Bruce and Brenda Brown were visiting from Nova Sco-
tia, Bruce grew up in Alliance and he is now my grandson's father-in-law. I met my new neighbours to the West, Amy and Clay Fryer. They bought the place from Bordeleau. It used to be the Blumhagen's and, before that, the Brown’s. The Fryers came from Nanaimo. They attended Meet Your Neighbour Night in Alliance on Saturday.
Friends of the Battle River Railway invites you to an
OPEN HOUSE at the Station in Forestburg to tour the new addition
Friday, April 8 at 7:30pm Come socialize socialize, followed by a short program and an ribbon cutting ceremony. Complimentary light refreshments provided by Moore’s Shop Easy in Forestburg. Cash bar open.
The Community Press, Wednesday, April 6, 2022 - Page 9
Bumper to Bumper Your One-Stop Shop the Daysland Auto and Farmfor Supply 5108 50 Ave., Daysland
780-374-3786
just grew the business.” Besides STIHL and Milwaukee, Bumper to Bumper in Daysland also deals with companies such as Westward Parts, A&I Products and Michel’s Industries. “And I can keep going and going and going, because we’ve got lots of good suppliers,” Todd says. They also have attentive counter personnel committed to helping you find what you’re looking for. “At Bumper to Bumper, our counter people are more than willing to work with you on anything that you have, whatever project it might be,” Todd says. “It might be lighting or electrical for your shop. It could be a Michel's tarp. It could be working through automotive parts. It could be looking for some baler belts. It could be looking for a turbodrum for your combine. Call our counter people. They will help you out.” In addition to all of that, Bumper to Bumper in Daysland has been offering Flaman Rentals for the past three years, a venture that has proven popular, Todd says. “We are always trying to adapt to the environment, to our people, our customers, and just making sure that we can deliver,” Carrie notes, adding that they’ve strived to give back to the community. “We’re proud sponsors of many community events, and we always like to donate and support. It’s very important to us in the community that we are able to support and give back.” For more information, find Bumper to Bumper – Daysland Auto and Farm Supply on Facebook, be sure to watch the video on The Community Press website at www.thecommunitypress.com and also look for their ad in this week’s issue of The Community Press.
Todd and Carrie Carriere, the husband-and-wife owners of Bumper to Bumper in Daysland, pride themselves in running a one-stop shop that’s extensively stocked with a vast array of necessary and musthave products. Looking for automotive parts, truck accessories, agricultural parts and supplies, or welding supplies? How about pumps, pressure washers, or generators? Or a power tool manufactured by STIHL or Milwaukee? Chances are good they have it. And if they don’t have it in store, they can get it for you in a day or so. “You guys should come and check us out because there’s so much stuff in here, I can't even word half of the things that are in here,” Todd says. “But I can show you. Just come on in and take a look.” They also carry a line of popular hardware parts, including plumbing, electrical, heating, and ducting. Currently, they’re stocked with gardening seeds and starter kits, as well as smokers, lighting, trailer hitches, and skid steer tracks – and so much more. “It's really important to understand that we’re not just an automotive store. We’re not just an industrial store. We’re not just an ag store,” Todd says. “Our business is, overall, a one-stop shop. And I really can say that because, realistically, you can pretty much purchase anything here.” It is for those reasons, that the entrepreneurial couple implores people to visit their store first, before heading west to the city. “As a business owner in Flagstaff, my goal is to always make sure that our customers are taken care of,” Carrie adds. “If we can't get EMERGENCY AFTER-HOURS SERVICE something for you, we will work hard get it for you. We have CALLto780-226-7278 (226-PART) ($25 Charge) many suppliers and we have many contacts. We always want our customers to feel like they can get what they need and would come to us first.” Carrie grew up on a farm in the Lougheed area. Todd was born in Edmonton and spent most of his childhood and young adult years in Calgary, before moving back to Edmonton. Together, about seven years ago, they moved to the Flagstaff Region to become business owners after living in Edmonton, and took over ownership of the store in 2015. “It’s been one of the best moves we ever did,” Carrie says. “We love this region. We love the small-town living.” Todd adds: “It was really good, actually, because it was a smaller community. So to have our kids grow up in a smaller community was important, as well as going to the school system, and enjoying hockey, and everything that small towns have.” In 2015, when the Carrieres took over the store, located just off Main Street, it was a NAPA Auto Parts location that had built up a loyal customer base over the previous few decades. “We decided to change it to Bumper to Bumper,” Todd notes. “We revamped it in the last seven years and added a lot of inventory, and
780-374-3786
The Community Press, Wednesday, April 6, 2022 - Page 19
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MEET THE LEADER ALBERTA PARTY CAMROSE CONSTITUENCY ASSOCIATION
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20
BARRY MORISHITA, ALBERTA PARTY LEADER MEETING OPPORTUNITIES
10-11:30 AM: Coffee at Killam Senior’s Centre 2-4 PM: Meet and Greet/Round Table at Camrose Norseman Inn Odin Room 7-9 PM: Meet and Greet at Camrose Norseman Inn Gravity Lounge
RR1 Daysland
Page 20 - The Community Press, Wednesday, April 6, 2022
FLAGSTAFF FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES Creating a caring community helping people through education and support
reel Highlight APRIL 2022
REFERRAL SERVICES
FIRST, in partnership with Inter-Pipeline Ltd
LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE
SENIORS FIRST
Are you struggling with mental health and mental health issues? Then contact FFCS at 780-385-3976 We will put you in touch with a psychologist. Cost can be covered by FIRST or your EAP program
April 2022
~INTERAGENCY MEETING April 5th @ NOON ~FIRST MEETING - April 4th @ 6 PM ~FFCS MEETING - April 13th @ 6 PM
Damien Kurek
General Information Forestburg: Brochures Wednesday April 6th Daysland: Counselling Wednesday April 6th Trained Financial Killam: Literacy Services Thursday April 7th HARNARAYAN SINGH Low German Lougheed: “Of Punjabi Hockey Night in Canada” Mennonite Program Thursday April 7th APRIL 25 @ 5:30 PM, 2022 YESS Program Alliance: VIRTUAL PRESENTATION Healthy Families Speaking on diversity and chasing your Wednesday April 6th dreams! Email to register for the link FIRST TWICE NICE AND director@flagstafffcs.ca Flagstaff Family JUMPSTART FUNDING Day Home Society AVAILABLE FOR Flagstaff Adult Learning is planning a SPORTS WOMEN’S CONFERENCE APRIL 21 Interagency CALL FFCS FOR “Rise Above” Harm Reduction Trade Fair, Cracker Barrel Presentations, MORE INFORMATION Care-A-Van Amazing Food And Lots Of Door Prizes! Camrose & District FLAGSTAFF RURAL Tickets @ 780-385-3712 CRIME WATCH Hospice Society
CONTACT US:
Flagstaff Family & Community Services Box 450 4809 – 49th Ave Killam, AB T0B 2L0 Ph: 780-385-3976 Fax: 780-385-3667
TURNING POINT
Increased supports for people actively in their addictions. Call: 403-346-8858
CARE-A-VAN
Transportation to assist you with travel to medical appointments! Call 780-385-3976
MP for Battle River-Crowfoot
TOWN HALL MEETING
MONDAY, APRIL 11 CALL FFCS TO REGISTER