August 16 Lamont Leader

Lamont Farmer’s Market enjoying a successful first year

New local farmer balances teaching career with farm work

BY JANA SEMENIUK

Teacher Stewart Schwab is the proud owner of Lamont County’s Schwab Farms, fulfilling a childhood dream of farming by raising 150 Lohmann laying hens and bringing farm fresh eggs to the Lamont Farmers’ Market each week.

“They are fed oats, wheat and barley grown right on the farm,” he said.

“I’ve got a couple of steers out there too. As a kid, I (always) wanted to be on the land (but) life took me a different way.”

Schwab’s parents, who themselves were raised on a farm, brought up their two sons on the edge of the city of Edmonton and moved onto a farm once the brothers graduated high school.

“They felt it was important that if my brother and I wanted to go to university that they wanted us to have the access for that,” he said.

“And then once we made the decisions where we were going, they returned back to their love. They were not city people, they were agricultural people.”

After graduating high school in 1997 from J. Percy Page High School, Schwab decided to go into teaching, while his brother started Schwab Mechanical outside of Thorhild.

Schwab eventually moved to B.C. with his wife and two children, son Isaac and daughter Anna Lee.

Tragedy struck the family, however, when Schwab’s father passed away from dementia over a year ago and once again when his mother’s farm

house burned to the ground a few months later.

Schwab made the decision to move in with his mother to help rebuild her

home while working as a teacher for Aspen View and beginning Schwab Farms.

“My wife is finishing up a specialty degree in post-natal care (in B.C.) and COVID slowed those plans down a bit,” he said. “But the goal is to try and get things back (together).”

Today, Schwab said he sells his eggs regularly at the Lamont Farmer’s Market and also has a contract in Waskatenau.

Meanwhile, Lamont Farmer’s Market organizer Peggy Sawchuk said that for a first-year market Lamont is doing great.

“We are averaging 14-16 vendors per week and we are very lucky to have very few commercial tables,” she said, adding that vendor Jodie Derksen brings fresh fruit each week.

“We are lucky Jodie brings in fresh fruit from B.C. each week.”

Sawchuk said they are also lucky for the support they have received from the Town of Lamont.

“The town did a wonderful job putting up nice big signs for us,” she said. “We also have the advantage of being able to be inside or outside. Some of our vendors, like one lady who has linens, can’t be out in the dusty parking lot. It’s a different atmosphere being outside and seeing tents set up in the parking lot. It’s exciting.”

Sawchuk said the Lamont Farmer’s Market, which runs out of the Lamont Hall and parking lot, will operate each Wed. from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. with the last weekly market of the year scheduled for Sept. 27.

Teacher/Farmer Stewart Schwab, of Schwab Farms, holds up a carton of the fresh farm eggs, Aug. 2, that he brings to the Lamont Farmer's Market each week.

Photo: Jana Semeniuk

Sil updates County Council on Bruderheim operations

BY JOHN MATHER Sil Industrial Minerals

and Environment Manager,

Land

Laura Cline, appeared before Lamont County Council, Aug. 8, to defends her company’s operational practices following concerns raised by local landowners at a previous meeting.

“In regard o concerns about the pile height,” she said. “The neighbours provided a picture of a pile dated “September 5, 2022”.

“In September, this pile was higher than most of our other piles. However, we had stated in the fall of 2022 and early 2023 that it was our intent to reduce pile heights as a result of our ability to expand in to the south half of NW 4.

“Going forward, we now have more land space to ensure that piles can be maintained at a lower height.

“Additionally, the raw material we hauled in this winter was piled to a noticeably lower height than in previous years.”

She told council third party monitoring had been brought in to study air quality and dust dispersal in the area.

A neighbour had been concerned with sand build up along a fence line, and Cline told council the company had proposed a 50m setback from the east fence line.

She added the current sand piles are more than 100 m from the fence line and are lower in height.

She stated that some of the photos showing issues presented by the neighbours had been provided to the company in 2019, not 2022 as the neighbours had stated.

“In February/March of 2018, Sil experienced a stack cyclone failure, resulting in the release of sandy material on neighbouring properties,” stated Cline.

“As a result of the 2018 release, Sil was subject to an Alberta Health Services Order of an Executive Officer with

requirements to submit monthly air monitoring reports, and implement necessary measures to contain emissions from the plant. As a result, Sil installed baghouses on our dry plants to prevent future release, and implemented an air quality monitoring system.”

She added Sil has continued to maintain voluntary air monitoring since then.

“Based on the air quality assessment completed in 2019, provided to the County as part of our pursuit of permits to expand in to the south half of NW to reduce our pile heights, and continued air quality monitoring on site, we feel we have provided more than adequate modelling, monitoring, and mitigation by way of committing to 50 m set-

OBITUARY Pewarchuk, Polly

On August 12, 2023, Polly Pewarchuk of Lamont passed away at the age of 100 years.

Polly is survived by daughters, Mae (Tom) Adamyk and Paulette (Ray) of British Columbia; grandchildren, Natalie, Timothy (Darlene), Matthew (Tara), and Teresa (David); greatgrandchildren, Madalyn, Xavier, Victoria, Christopher, Emily, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Sydney; as well as many dear and loving friends. Predeceased by husband, Walter; daughter, Barbara Ann; parents, Paul and Barbara Boyarchuk; and four siblings who died in infancy.

Family and friends may pay their respects Thursday, August 17 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Park Memorial

backs of our piles in the south half of NW 4, reducing of our raw pile heights, and continuing reduction of our semiprocessed pile further north,” Cline told council.

She further added a berm installed along the east side of the property originally in 2008, and expanded in 2015 to the south.

In 2020 the berm was set back three metres from the property line.

It was later determined the berm was encroached on the property line, following a land survey, so Cline said it was rebuilt and seeded in March.

She added it used a tiered design to prevent an erosion

Following her presentation County Reeve David Diduck opened

the meeting to questions from council.

Division four councillor Roy Anaka asked if noise monitoring went on 24-hours a day at the plant, located along the North Saskatchewan River, north of Bruderheim.

Cline confirmed it was.

Diduck asked about the hours of operation and Cline said the plant operated 24/7.

She said the wash plant runs normally from mid-May until October, which is their busy season and the dry plant was operated year round.

“We’ve found the wash plant contributes to more noice so we’ve focussed our efforts on it to mitigate noise,” she said.

Anaka asked if there were noise limits at the plant and Cline replied

there weren’t.

She said, at the most the plant sometimes could get as high as 50 to 60 decibels, but seemed to occur during high humidity situations.

“We do our best to mitigate the noise at the source.”

Anaka asked if the County had a noise bylaw and was told no, so he wondered why the

company worked to control the noise emitted at the plant.

“We’re trying to be a good neighbour,” replied Cline.

“In addition some other municipalities have noise guidelines which we try to follow.”

Diduck then thanked Cline for her presentation and council accepted it as information.

Chapel, 5208 – 50 Avenue, Lamont.

Funeral Service Friday, August 18 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church, Chipman, with Reverend Alexey Surayev officiating. Interment to follow in the Church Cemetery.

In lieu of other tributes, donations may be made to St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church or to Lamont Health Care Centre –Patient Comforts Fund.

Photos, memories, and condolences may be shared through www.parkmemorial.com

Park Memorial

Lamont 780-895-7325

Family Owned Funeral Home Crematorium, Reception Centre

Friday, August 18

Mundare Recrea on Centre

Noon - 4 pm Entries taken for Bench Exhibits

9 pm– Beach Bash at Corner Pub

Saturday, August 19

7:30-9:30am Mundare Fire Hall – Breakfast

8:00am– Ball Tournament & Concession at Ukraina Park

9:00am– Parade Assembly– MRC

10:30 am— Parade

11am-4pm—Mundare Recrea on Centre–Viewing of bench show exhibits

Main Street

(Main street from 51 avenue-52 Avenue will be blocked off)

11am-3pm– Bouncy houses, Street Market, Open mike, Local food Vendors, Back Yard Balloon Animals

12-4pm Pony rides/ Face Pain ng

12:30-2pm– Bean bag toss (Kids & Adults)

2:30-4 pm *Wrestling on main street* ( Back by popular demand)

4:00 pm– pick up bench show exhibits

Bench Show Entries

Exhibitor tags & Booklets at the Town Office Street Market

For Market booking Phone

The Town of Mundare (tents available)

Parade Entries

Contact the Town Office (Inclement Weather-main street events will be moved to Arena)

Ques ons/concerns/ Parade entries:

(780) 764-3929 recep on@mundare.ca

2 - The Lamont Leader (Lamont, Alberta), Wednesday, August 16, 2023

“We’re trying to be a good neighbour,” - Land and Environment Mgr. Cline

Village of Andrew Interim CAO shares financials at council meeting “The village is not bankrupt”

BY JANA SEMENIUK

The Village of Andrew Interim Chief Administrative Officer, and current Chief Financial Officer, Sharman Donald gave her CAO report at the Aug. 9 council meeting, sharing positive financial information on the Village accounts.

Approximately seven residents also attended the meeting, sitting in the gallery.

Donald stepped into

the Interim CAO role after the termination of previous CAO Tim Melnyk July 26.

She began her council report addressing serious concerns from residents.

“We have had a lot of concerns from residents regarding the financial position that the Village is in due to no financial reports being presented.

“And I must say that I can put everyone's mind

at ease as the Village is not bankrupt and the accounts have not been drained,” she said.

Donald went on to list the Village’s eight bank accounts, and balances in each one, giving the Village a total balance of more than $1.2 million.

Donald finished her report by thanking the council for their support.

“I'd like to thank Council for trusting me to step into the role of

Interim CAO as this was a very hard decision that they knew was going to come with a lot of backlash,” she said.

“But I want to assure the residents and the Council of the Village of Andrew that I will be doing my very best and I've had various individuals reach out to me with the most amazing support.”

BY JOHN MATHER

Mundare’s newest and youngest councillor, Danika Brisson was sworn in on Aug. 8.

In the subsequent regular council meeting Chief Administrative Officer said council would have to appoint her to several new board and committee assignments.

But, he pointed out, council’s regular orientation meeting would be held in October and there aren’t many committees or boards meeting right now because of summer holidays.

Councillor Irene Talaga said the Alberta Municipalities Association annual meeting took place in September also.

“I think she’ll get her

feet wet at the convention and then we can appoint her in October,” said Talaga.

Council agreed and passed a motion to wait until the October organizational

meeting to update councillor assignments on committees and boards.

The Lamont Leader (Lamont, Alberta), Wednesday, August 16, 2023 -

Queen Street, Bruderheim, AB

Andrew Interim CAO Sharman Donald.

Photo: Jana Semeniuk

Mundare Councillor Danika Brisson

Renewables pause a good idea - to get it right

BY JOHN MATHER

The Smith government’s decision to put a moratorium on solar and wind developments in the province until next year, is actually a good idea.

It’s something the previous governments should have done before the oil and gas industry went all wild west with their creativity in putting oil and gas wells on any section they could lay their hands on; and then when they either sold out their business or went bankrupt, the mess was left for the taxpayer to clean up.

But there wasn’t as much attention paid to the environment and any messes that may have been left 80 years ago when the petrochemical industry began taking shape in Alberta and scientists (yes they were actual scientists, not witch doctors) started seeing the heavy oil leaching out of the Athabasca River naturally, near Fort McMurray.

We’ve advanced scientifically since then and  the government is acknowledging changes must be made to the way this new renewables industry develops.

Now the tree huggers and enthusiasts of solar and wind power are all claiming this moratorium will halt development and scare business away.

Nonsense.

It gives the bureaucrats time to develop some ground rules so the same issues that developed with oil and gas won’t happen all over again.

Well oil and gas contaminate the ground, say the woke people - solar and wind won’t do that.

Well, not so fast,

How much oil does it take to keep those wind mills freely spinning? Does any of that spill out to the ground?

And what are those windmills supported by?

They are attached to large poles which have to be embedded in quite a bit of concrete in the ground to hold them upright.

So when Willy’s Winds builds several windmills on a section of land, after getting a farmer to agree to a lease fee, who is responsible for any roads to be maintained for maintenance of the units? Who is responsible when Willy’s sells out to a huge multinational or goes bankrupt?

Those concrete pilings drilled into the ground to support the mills aren’t coming out by themselves.

The same goes for solar panels. They are perched on concrete pads which have to be removed when the panel is obsolete.

I talked to some oil patch experts recently and they agreed that the government should establish a fund which is built up at the start of a project by the wind or solar outfits.

They have to provide funding for reclamation before the first phase of

their project is completed. And this fund can’t be used to fund other government projects.

That way the reclamation fund will be there when the company is no longer.

Now the Canadian Renewable Energy Association is calling the government decision “a huge mistake.”

Of course they would.

Much like a salesman, everything they are doing is absolutely gold until the sale is made, the deed is done, and then it isn’t their problem anymore.

When solar panels get blasted by winter hail and ice, who is going to

traipse over farmers fields to make the unit useful again?

I find it quite ironic when the lefty’s, who have accused the government of being negligent about oil and gas operations, stamp their feet when the government recognizes that mistakes where made and before going full speed ahead with solar and wind, they do want to put some regulations in place to safeguard the public and the taxpayers when small companies which installed these windmills and solar fields are no longer around to clean them up at the end of their useful lives.

By Hazel Anaka

There really isn’t a species alive with more arrogance than us as humans. We believe we have the intellect, moral authority, faultless intentions, and God-given right to do what we do the way we do it when we want to do it. We believe we are so much smarter than our fellow earthy inhabitants, animals. We have the IQ, the education, hell, the opposable thumbs to confirm this belief. Largely, this is all the truth.

Except when it isn’t. Right now, Roy is bedeviled by whatever creature is chewing the plastic casing off the extension cords in the yard. Be clear, it’s not the occasional delicate nibble on one cord. It’s multiple extension cords, you know, the long expensive, heavy-duty exterior cords that all farmers need. It’s also the cord on the battery charger/s.

FROM WHERE I SIT: Outsmart and Outmuscle

It’s yards and yards of damage, right down to the wires. If some of them had been plugged into an outlet maybe the swift justice of the death penalty by electrocution would have happened by now.

Our number one suspect is a squirrel or a maybe a gang of delinquent squirrels running amok and creating havoc after dark. There are definitely squirrels in the yard. I caught one trying to raid my strawberry patch. We hear their distinctive squeaky squawky annoying taunt. They may be ticked off with us for touching the spruce tree windbreak recently as we prep for the garden shed delivery.

But the biggest clue is past criminal behaviour. A few years ago, we couldn’t seem to keep anti-freeze in one of the combines. Through a process of elimination and many lost gallons of antifreeze the case was solved. A squirrel and his peeps were chewing through hoses and causing the leak which in turn was causing the combine to run hot. During the visit from a mechanic to replace all the ruined hoses a squir-

rel dared to run up a tire and sit on the platform near the door. Between the lost antifreeze, the new hoses, and a service call, we were out a couple thousand dollars. Roy eventually caught the varmint with peanut butter and a trap.

I thought this time he should poison some peanut butter and put it up high on a tree limb out of reach of the dozen or so cats in the yard. I think his plan is to cut off a section of damaged cord and bait a trap with it. Whatever the plan, this needs immediate attention before the losses add up any further.

Non-farmers or animal-loving innocents may be horrified by the need to exterminate these pests. Farmers are used to having to defend their land, livestock, and property from would-be predators and pests. And yes, cute little squirrels rank right up there with the coyote trying to snatch a newborn calf.

We don’t think we have raccoons though a neighbour a mile over trapped eleven or twelve at his place. We see the odd porcupine but they don’t seem agile or fast enough to do as much additional damage as

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we’ve seen occur over a single night.

This battle of wits and will is not limited to squirrels and coyotes. It reminds me of the days we used to chase a cow around and around a bale feeder before finally

getting her to go where we, not she, wanted her to go. Or aiming a .22 at a nuisance bird like a woodpecker around and around a tree trunk as he methodically kills established trees by boring row upon row of holes

into the trunk. And what about pigeons and magpies? Mice, moles, voles. In these instances, our needs supersede those of the animal in question. In these instances, we need to outsmart and outmuscle the critters, from where I sit.

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MLA praised as Bruderheim gets over $3 million provincial grant to upgrade water reservoir

BY JANA SEMENIUK

Fort SaskatchewanVegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk was highly praised by Bruderheim Mayor Karl Hauch and Director of Public Works Dennis Tomuschat for assisting the Town in receiving a significant grant totalling more than $3 million. It allows them to upgrade the Town’s water reservoir system.

Tomuschat said the Town was at a standstill communicating with the provincial government on the grant.

“We just weren’t getting anywhere with letters and requests,” he said, adding the issue of upgrading the reservoir became apparent after a fire two years ago that robbed residents of water.

“Two years ago. It was

a fire up in Brookside. We pulled on two hydrants and of course nobody in Brookside had water,” he said.

“(Now) we’re adding a 2,400 cubic meter tank. We’re basing this on the premise of fire water protection and (growth of the town). We're redoing the pumps, extending the tank, and (upgrading the) instrumentation. We're bring-

ing everything up to date.”

Tomuschat said he and Hauch met with Armstrong-Homeniuk in March and 10 days later they were notified of their approval for the Alberta Municipal Wastewater Partnership grant which was then awarded in April.

“It’s worth talking to the MLA’s face to face,” he said.

Mayor Hauch echoed Tomuschat’s statement.

“We cannot take for granted the mighty efforts of our MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk to always be there advocating for our community,” he said.

Armstrong-Homeniuk said the provincial government works hard to support rural Alberta.

“I heard and I was aware of the need for

Bruderheim. (They) applied for a grant and I advocated to the minister for Bruderheim,” she said. “This is another example of our governments’ support of rural communities and, in fact, all communities in Alberta.”

Tomuschat said the work on the two-year project has gone out to tender and closes Sept. 1.

Bruderheim Community Hall gets $130,000 in upgrades

BY JANA SEMENIUK

The Bruderheim Memorial Community Hall, first built in 1953, is in the midst of a major $130,000 renovation that will include brand new siding on the stuccoed building and energy efficient windows for the very first time.

Director of public works, Dennis Tomuschat, said the upgrades were a long time coming and will help ensure the facility’s future.

“Council just wants to ensure that it's there for many years to come,” he said. “It's getting to be very old on the outside. So, we said let’s side it and make it last another 50 years. So that's exactly what we're doing now.”

Tomuschat said the idea was first brought to the town council last fall

who supported the vision and the entire $130,000 price tag was covered by an MSI grant from the provincial government.

He added that the work extends beyond the windows and siding and will include appliance replacement.

“We are taking all the

windows above and (going) down to one big window. When we take out all the windows, we also have to re-do all the walls in the inside of the

building, so there’s drywall work to do in there.

To the best of my knowledge, those windows in there now are original.” he said. “We’re

(also) going to put in a new stove that’s energy efficient.”

Bruderheim mayor Karl Hauch said the upgrades build a solid foundation for the future of the Community Hall.

“The Community Hall has been a very important part of our town’s infrastructure in the past and this upgrade will allow it to be an important part of our town’s infrastructure going into the future,” he said by text.

“The new windows and siding will save money as the building becomes more energy efficient.”

Tomushcat said the Community Hall upgrades should be complete by mid Sept.

Work began in early Aug. on a $130,000 renovation to the Bruderheim Memorial Community Hall. The stuccoed building will be covered in new siding with energy-efficient windows.

Photo: Jana Semeniuk

Lamont Health Care Centre CEO explains hospital procedures during internet outage

BY JANA SEMENIUK

Despite conflicting reports of patients being turned away at Lamont Health Care Centre during the Aug. 7 all-day internet outage, LHCC Chief Executive Officer

Shahad Bharmal maintained that patient care was not disrupted dur-

ing the outage.

“Everyone who came to the hospital was triaged and was provided care accordingly. If they decided to go to Fort Hospital it was on their own accord. No patient care was disrupted,” he said by email.

Bharmal further

explained that access to the hospital’s online patient management system, Connect Care, has no bearing on whether or not a patient can be treated during an internet outage.

“Downtime procures kick in and staff know what to do. This was in

ONLINE TIMED HARVEST

place before (Connect Care) was implemented in 2019,” he said.

“Patients can be treated in the hospital, and then their information will be entered later on after the system comes back up again.”

He also explained that lab tests and x-rays can still be ordered using paper if Connect Care is down, in addition to the use of Downtime computers.

“Downtime computers are in place in each unit to retrieve any info that the staff need,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents took to social media to express their frustration with Shaw internet service over the disruption

Aug. 7 that lasted from early in the morning until just after midnight, including reports of being turned away from LHCC’s emergency department.

A phone call to the LHCC the evening of the outage confirmed the reports, however a statement from Bharmal and Alberta Health Services denied the claim.

Tracy Kennedy, Communications Advisor with AHS stated by email that no patients were turned away from any AHS site during the outage.

“Patient care was not impacted at any of the AHS sites that experienced an internet outage on Monday, August 7, in

Central and North zones.

“The outage was resolved at 1 a.m. Tuesday. By mid-afternoon on Monday, affected sites had internet services restored, either through backup internet systems or portable internet gateways,” she said.

“Sites including Lamont and Tofield were still able to access needed medical information from other unaffected sites to provide continuity of care.

The Lamont Health Care Centre triaged 10 patients who were stable and who opted to travel to nearby sites on their own as a precautionary measure.”

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will pave road to Whitetail

BY JOHN MATHER

Mundare council has agreed to proceed with the road paving project which will see 50 St. paved from Highway 15 to the Whitetail subdivision.

At their regular Aug. 8, meeting council was told by Chief Administrative Officer Colin Zyla said tenders had come in on several projects the Town was interested in moving forward with.

The Town received six tenders for the projects which Zyla said was a good thing.

The Town had budgeted $275,000 for the 50 St. project and the winning bid from Alberta Asphalt Enterprises came in at $180,400.

The second project which would be a rebuild of 50 Avenue from the main street to 52 St. was budgeted at $350,000 but the tender came in at $478,870.

The problem with the 50 Avenue costing was that the road would have to be dug right down and have the entire base replaced.

“I think that’s way out of line,” said Councillor Irene Talaga. She suggested the Town look at some alternatives to putting pavement down such as grinding the existing asphalt and repacking it.

“That wouldn’t work,” suggested Councillor Rick Patrie. “Because the base is no good, so regardless of what you do to the top, the road will still break up.”

Zyla said council could consider grinding the top and the County was looking at a new method of dust control which also might help.

Councillor Glen Rozumniak asked what the cost of the grinding would be because he agreed the base was the problem and there was no point throwing

money at it if it didn’t work.

“If we rebuild this road it will be there for many, many years.” said Rozumniak.

“If we didn’t have to do the base work the cost would be cheap,” added Zyla.

Patrie suggested council just keep filling the potholes until they could afford to do a complete job at the site.

“There’s no point in just grinding up the surface,” he said. “That can be packed, but if it’s not solid underneath it will

just break up again as soon as if gets cold out.”

He said the Town could keep adding gravel to maintain the road for the present.

Zyla said the Town had Municipal Sustainability Initiative Funding for this year and next in the amount of $758,049. When asked, he further added without doing the 50 Avenue project there would be a lot of money for some other projects.

The 50 Avenue project would pretty much drain all MSI funding.

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Closing date: August 18, 2023

Council approved the 50 St. surface improvements and awarded the tender to Alberta Asphalt Enterprises.

A second motion was to not proceed with the 50 Avenue improvements because of budgetary reasons.

Zyla said the 50 St work would be done in the fall.

He further told council he would have the Town engineers look at some other smaller projects that could be done in the town this year and report back to council.

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View of Whitetail subdivision from the golf course.

Historic 120-year-old Chomiak log building to come down this fall

BY JANA SEMENIUK

For over 120 years a log building has sat on John Chomiak’s farm, just eight miles south of Mundare.

It’s testament to his grandparents’, Motivi and Salomea’s, grit and determination in travelling to the area in 1901 from the western Ukrainian village of Klakotiv with two small children to start a new life.

Chomiak, 83, said the log building, which was home to his grandparent’s growing family, was built in phases with the eastern end carved by hand with an ax in 1903 and the western end with a machine around 1909, as evidenced by their square shape.

This fall, due to deterioration, the building will come down.

Chomiak held a gettogether at his farm Aug. 12 as a way for his family to say goodbye to a piece of their history. He said he felt disappointed that he was not able to maintain the building as he intended.

“It will be the last

opportunity to see the building and go through a bit of history that there may be. There's a lot of stories behind those

Cathy raised three daughters while he spent a large part of his life as the Chief Executive Officer for Hemisphere

100. Chomiak shared some of his memories of growing up around the big log house.

“We used to sleep in

kind of a recipient of junk. I’ll have to take a lot of that to the dump before I start tearing down the walls.”

Although the building is slated to be torn down, Chomiak said he will preserve what he can as relics from the past for future generations to enjoy.

“I plan to take it down in a cautious manner. I’m going to rebuild the Chomiak Pioneer Garden, with a lot of those logs,” he said, adding the Chomiak Pioneer Garden sits at the front of his property filled with Saskatoon trees and wild roses planted by his late grandparents.

“(I’m going to) retain some logs and I plan to slice two-inch logs and get them branded and pass them on to whoever wants them in the family as a keepsake.”

According to the family’s documented history, Motivi and Salomea eventually had nine children, with the last child, Mary Kubin, passing away in 2001 at the age of 91.

In addition to building the family home, Chomiak’s grandfather Motivi also helped to build the Moscow Hall in 1921 which sits across the road from the Chomiak farm.

walls,” he said.

“I'm feeling disappointment on my part because 40 years ago, I had my mind made up to restore it. But being in two careers, the time element played a factor, and wood doesn't last forever.”

Chomiak and his wife

Engineering, retiring in 2020, in addition to raising purebred registered Charolais cattle beginning in 1985, with a herd that grew to more than

there as kids in the summertime. It was nice and cool behind the logs,” he said.

“Later on, it became a granary, and now it’s

John Chomiak, 83, stands near the last historic structure on his family farm in Lamont County; a 120-year-old log building constructed by his grandfather Motivi in 1903. The former home is slated to be torn down this fall as it has now deteriorated beyond repair. Photo: Jana Semeniuk

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I see other successful businesses advertising in The Leader. Great minds think alike!

Chipman resident spreads joy with houseplants

BY JANA SEMENIUK

Longtime Chipman

resident Leah Strickland

was inspired by social media and her mom’s spider plants to help bring the community together through the initiative ‘Take A Plant Leave A Plant’.

Much like local libraries who have a free outdoor box for people to donate used books and take books they like, Strickland decided to model the idea using household plants and set up a plant-stand near the local post office on July 29.

Strickland said that despite neither she or her mother being ‘green thumbs’, they have managed to care for a spider plant for the past 23 years which in turn pro-

duced several other spider plants.

“It started out as this one huge spider plant with so many little babies growing off of it. And over the years, she's been pruning it and we had over 50 spider plants in the house of all shapes and sizes,” she said.

“I started giving them to friends and family and then I (thought) I should just donate them to the whole community because it's so nice to have a piece of nature in your house. It changes the atmosphere of the home in a good way.”

Strickland joined forces with her neighbour Tina Cowan and together they combined extra plants they had to populate the Take A Plant space. Strickland said

residents have been using it as several plants disappeared in the first few days while new ones appeared.

Meanwhile, Strickland said acquiring new plants can get expensive and she sees the Take A Plant space as a way to ‘spread the wealth’.

“I know many other, mostly women, in this village that have lots of plants (who) I've exchanged with, so it gives other people an opportunity to spread the wealth as well because to buy a spider plant (it can be around) $40,” she said.

“I (thought) I have so many let's give them away for free and put them in the most frequented place in town which is the post office.”

MLA AT FARMER’S MARKET

Chipman resident Leah Strickland stands near the Take-A-Plant Leave-A-Plant stand at the Chipman Post Office holding one of her many spider plants. Strickland and her neighbour Tina Cowen set up the stand on July 29 as a way for residents to exchange different houseplants.

Photo: Jana Semeniuk

Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk poses with Lamont business owner Deb Fountain of Trendy Petals during the weekly Lamont Farmer's Market in May. Armstrong-Homeniuk was highly praised by Bruderheim town officials recently for helping the Town acquire a water reservoir grant for over $3 million.

Photo: Jana Semeniuk

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