19,14

VOLUME 5.14

Bilal Hydrie

of Inclusive Energy An Alberta Success Story Co-op Gas Bars/Car Washes: Northlands Gas Bar/ Touchless Carwash 6 Northlands Way NE (403) 528-6627 Maple Avenue Gas Bar/ Touchless Carwash 540 Maple Avenue SE (403) 528-6625

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spotlightmagazine.ca Cover photo Joan Bateman / Gainsboro Studio

Happy Mother’s Day Page 30

Gainsboro Spotlight: Bilal Hydrie 6 Scott Cowan

Tumbleweeds

If Quebec Should Decide to Hold a Referendum 8

RESTAURANT

Lunch Monday to Friday 11:30am - 2:00pm

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Scott Cowan

Local Bedding Plants

Why do Lawyers Drag Things Out? 10-11 Scott Stenbeck

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Putin’s Impatience Over Cremia a Strategic Error 17 Fred McMahon

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There’s a Story Behind Every Smile! 13 Andrew Kershaw

How Insurance Works 17 Crystal Metz

ADDRESS 377 - 4 Street SE Medicine Hat, AB T1A 0K4

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Modern Art 12 Wendy Struck

Notes from N’Kenge 14-16 N’Kenge

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Disclaimer: No resplinsibility can be taken by Spotlight Magazine for any errors or omissions contained herein. Furthermore, responsibility for any losses, damages or distress resulting from adherence to any information made available through this magazine is not the responisbility of Spotlight Magazine. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Spotlight Magazine. Comments are welcome.

The Lifeblood of Canada 18 Lavar Payne

Private Function, Birthday or Special Event Today!

Get Your Will Up-To-Date 19 Dan Hein Our Adventures in the Maritimes 22-23 Patrick and Lynnette Schile

Problems Running Rampant 25 Drew Barnes Walleye Fishing Techniques 26 Patrick Schile

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Monthly Recipe 28 Mario Padilla No Time For Cancer 30-31 Roxanne Messina Captor What’s The Difference Between A Spousal RRSP And My Spouse’s TFSA? 32 Jackson Woodruff Local Connection To Nobel Peace Prize 34-35 Bobbi Jo Bradley

Crossword 36 Your Station in Life 38 Kim Johnston

Page 34 Page 3

Lee Marshall comes to Medicine Hat and the Nissan dealership after logging 23 years in the automobile business.

He wants to address the “elephant in the room.”

The previous management allowed the reputation of Sun Country Nissan to slip in the eyes of Medicine Hat. Lee was sent by the owners to regain the trust of the community.

The majority investor saw the problems and knew there was one man who could turn things around. Lee dove into the restoration of the business, but in the mean time he fell in love with Medicine Hat. As such he took ownership of the dealership, and is staying to make it the number one stop for auto purchasing.

The staff has been changed into a dedicated hard working team. Lee’s belief is that the most valuable asset of any company is the

employee attitudes projected to the buying public.

You may be one of the past customers who saw less than stellar sales and service. That has changed! Lee teaches that Nissan should take customer service to the extreme, winning one person back at a time. Every customer leaving Sun Country these days feels it is the best experience they can remember.

The original estimation was three years to turn around the business. After two years the sales figures speak for themselves, and they are boisterous. Sun Country Nissan is not just a player; they are dominating compared to many like style businesses.

Yes, the old company is gone. It is a completely different atmosphere walking into the show room. There is a relaxed friendly feeling, not like you are about to be attacked by predatory salesmen.

Lee isn’t the suit and tie kind of manager, he simply lays his cards on the table. I stopped by one day and he was outside washing cars. At Nissan you just don’t get the games you experience in other dealerships.

So the goals moving forward are to increase the base, and continue rebuilding Nissan’s reputation in the community.

Lee signed on because he believes Nissan is priced competitive and offers high quality products. He maintains that it is a myth to believe repair and service is anything but comparable to domestic competitors.

The hottest seller they have right now is the Pathfinder, registering an incredible 50% of their sales volume. Following close behind in sales is the Rouge. Gas mileage has significantly improved on new models.

Nissan’s real advantage is they carry a model for almost every buyer and budget. Nissan can sell you a new car for a smaller payment than many used vehicles.

A Spotlight Magazine customer with no credit, tight budget, and limited work history, drove away in a new vehicle and at a lower than bank rate of interest.

Nissan has the greatest “new buyer” program in the industry.

Others just don’t have access to the cheap dealer financing.

Or the desire to take a chance on new car buyers with limited credit and work history. Lots of Car Company’s offer financing, at rates comparable to the 30% old finance companies used to charge. Nissan offers an incredible 0% on some models, and up to 5% on others.

Watch for the new “Micra.” It is Nissan’s answer to many conservative buyers. This new vehicle will sell for an amazing $9,998.00 and can be financed over 84 months. I don’t even want to tell you how affordable it is…run to Sun Country Nissan!

Lee Marshall Owner / General Manager

Gainsboro Spotlight

T

Bilal Hydrie

his month’s Spotlight is proud to introduce Bilal Hydrie, a true Alberta success story. His Inclusive Energy Ltd. corporate offices are situated in Bankers Hall Calgary. He is under the umbrella of the world famous, Habib Group of companies.

Bilal was educated in Toronto, and right here in Calgary. He graduated from SAIT with a chemical engineering degree. He went to work in the oil patch, spending lots of time learning the business while accumulating research for the start-up of his own company.

In 2009 he invested just fifty thousand dollars, and opened Inclusive Energy Ltd. From those humble beginnings he parlayed his company into the forty million dollar giant it is today. They supply anything rig oriented in the oil and gas production business.

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hen I asked the secret to such success he answered simply, 100% customer service. He spoke of driving to far off and remote areas to examine for himself, problems with equipment. Customers were amazed to see him on site working to correct even the smallest issues. To this day, Bilal is a hand’s on executive unafraid to get his hands dirty. Hard to believe, looking at the new $320,000.00 Bentley in the driveway of a $3,000,000.00 Calgary home. Absent from our cover photo are two Ferrari sports cars.

I was surprised to learn, every company has different specs for the equipment they need. Right down to the colour of the paint used and logos applied. The secret he explained is to have any product needed, any time it is requested.

stored in yards in Red Deer, Llloyd Minster, and Nisku. These depots are strategically placed to allow the fastest delivery of what you need, when you need it, at fair prices. Inclusive goes beyond manufacturers warranty to make sure their customers are covered and protected. Quality control is a major concern. He truly believes in the old adage that, “the customer is always right.”

In all the planning Bilal’s primary concern is that of customer safety.

Equipment not made with the workers well being in mind, or cheaply produced; can destroy reputations in moments. Good will and trust that took years to build instantly evaporates.

H

e was proud to say he is the youngest employee in his company.

He hires people that have had years of experience in the business.

Oil men, who know more than he does about this industry they work in together.

Inclusive focuses significant company assets on their student program. Bilal is constantly seeking those who want to learn, and be a part of his expanding sponsorship program, as an adjunct to their education curriculum.

After many years of service in the Medicine Hat community, we feel confident that we can cater to your needs. We get the job done and we don’t just meet expectations; we exceed them.

Our customers keep coming back because we’re dependable, knowledgeable and pleasant to work with.

Our employees provide unmatched service, delivering top quality service for your business! Each is committed to personal service.

In keeping with this desire, we’re not satisfied with our work until you are.

Aside from our amazing staff, we take the time and care to make sure even the tiniest detail is managed, in every circumstance.

There, really, is no other way.

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s our cover shows, success is still available to those who work hard, deliver a good product, at competitive pricing.

Inclusive Energy Ltd. is an example to showcase what the entrepreneurial spirit unleashed in a free enterprise, capitalist economy, can accomplish. That potential for greatness resides in all those who dare impossible things.

“Inclusive,” as their name suggests, is a one stop shop experience.

They have on site engineers who can design exactly what customers require, at huge cost savings to the client. He has never had a request for product that was not in stock. When oil rig equipment is needed, it is usually wanted “right now.” Inclusive Energy delivers!

They also provide in house financing, or lease to own options.

Forget about the way lending institutions treat you, talk to Bilal.

How do they accomplish this in today’s markets? Inclusive not only builds, but purchases used equipment at fair prices. They recondition said equipment to maintain the massive inventory Page 6

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Opinions

If Quebec Should Decide to Hold a Referendum

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he Liberals landslide win in Quebec has shown the appetite for separation is waning. If Canada’s petulant child should ever decide to vote for leaving Canada, then the fun starts. What bothers me is the headline I read saying, “an independent country is set back another few years.”

As if it is inevitable that in the future enough votes will be in place to leave. This is how the leftists in Canada and the USA operate.

Keep bringing it to a vote until you win. Then act like it can never be changed or altered.

Example abortion, the majority is firmly in opposition. But according to Liberals it can never be revisited or discussed because it is the law. You’re against women to even suggest after decades the issue needs to be reexamined. How about capital punishment?

Statistics overwhelmingly support the action, but Prime Minister Harper trembles at the thought of bringing it to the Commons floor.

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owever, now that a stable government is in place in Quebec we can safely have a national discussion. Forget about the never ending blackmail threats Quebec uses about leaving Canada.

I think the rest of the country should have a vote to see if we want them to stay.

A friend sent me this list of what would immediately happen in the event of a separatist win. Or as I suggested, the federal government allowed the rest of us to say “adieu,” don’t let the door hit you in the derriere on the way out.

1. Aboriginals will refuse to give up their traditional territory.

2. The St. Lawrence Seaway is jointly owned by Canada and the United States. Quebec has no claim to the lands set aside for the Seaway.

3. Montreal is an island in the St. Lawrence and may not be part of a new Quebec.

4. All federal facilities (and English speaking employees) in Quebec would have to relocate.

5. Air Canada could not continue maintenance operations in a foreign nation.

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6. The Port of Montreal would wither as Canadian companies would have to find a Canadian location for imports and exports.

7. Airlines would cease landing in Quebec until they could negotiate landing rights with the new nation.

8. The Canada Space Agency could move from Saint-Hubert to Calgary.

9. Federally licensed financial institutions (all banks, for example) could no longer operate in Quebec.

10. Bilingual courts and a bilingual federal civil service would be history.

11. The Official Languages Act would be history.

12. Thousands of translators we now pay for would be out of work.

13. We would have 78 fewer Members of Parliament to pay for.

14. We would have 24 fewer Senators to pay for.

15. The NDP would lose 57 seats including Mulcair’s.

16. The Liberals would lose 8 seats including Trudeau’s.

17. The Conservative party’s majority would increase from 52% to 67%.

18. We would save about $20 billion annually in federal transfer payments - which could be used to pay down the federal debt.

19. We could save another $543 million in funds currently earmarked for bridges over the St. Lawrence and in and out of Montreal.

20. We would no longer support Bombardier.

21. All military aircraft work contracted by Canada would have to leave Quebec.

22. Goodbye to the CBC French language networks.

23. Quebec would be handed a bill for their per capita portion of Canada’s national debt before leaving.

I

f we were awarded the right to vote, make sure it is a clear simple question. Do you want to keep paying for the above, yes or no? The only thing I would miss is a few really good restaurants.

Even then most of the French cooking is too much sauce.

By: Scott Cowan

The Law

Why do Lawyers D r a gThings Out? A

question I hear a lot is why things seem to take so long in the Court system, and why lawyers seem to “drag cases out”.

I will admit that there are times that lawyers make the process take longer than it should. Lawyers are only one part of the problem.

If I had to group what causes delay, I would say it comes from three sources in combination: The lawyers, the clients, and delays inherent in the system.

I will talk about them in reverse order. In our court system, we try to strike a balance between procedural fairness on the one hand, which is the ability for everyone to have their say, calling all the relevant evidence they want to, versus speed on the other. Let me

the negotiating that gets done in a case in the dead time while waiting for procedural things to happen. So with the concurrent activity the delays are minimized.

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lients can sometimes create delay without wanting to, often unintentionally. Sometimes a person has to provide information required in their case. Often in divorce and family law this can be income and financial information. No one I know keeps a binder handy of all this stuff just in case they get divorced one day. So depending on how well someone organizes their records, there can be delays while things are requested from banks, Revenue Canada, or appraisals of assets are arranged. As well, most litigation, especially divorce and family matters, involve areas of great personal

“We need to know when to put settlement discussions on hold and how to advance matters through the court system when it is required.” give an absurd example. Probably the fastest way to resolve a dispute would be to just flip a coin. But I think most people would say that is not very procedurally fair. So, let’s say then that each party gets the right to talk to a lawyer and have a lawyer speak on their behalf if they so choose. That slows things down while people retain counsel. Then let’s say that maybe it isn’t fair if I have to show up in court and have no idea of what the other side is going to say. So I don’t know what witnesses or evidence to bring. Well, that slows it down more while we have disclosure requirements, and on and on. We then add in that often court dates can’t be obtained without several months advance notice. So we have delays that are just part of the court system we have in place. I know that in my family and divorce practice this can be particularly frustrating. I often tell people that we have an old litigation system that was designed when the divorce rate was more like one percent.

Rather than fifty like it is today, and the system is still catching up. I try to do any of

importance to people. While I move ahead quickly once my client instructs me, what direction to take based on a decision they have made. I have often had people take weeks or months to tell me what it is they want to do, because it takes that long for them to make the decision. The choice is a tough one. For example, a common situation is that someone is having a lot of difficulty getting their regular scheduled access to their children from their ex spouse. They contact me, I tell them that we need to make a court application to set exactly their access times and enforce their access. The client tells me that they are afraid to do so, because their ex will become even more uncooperative and difficult. We discuss what the court can and cannot do, and the risks and ups and downs of the application.

The client tells me that last weekend, they got their access and it wasn’t too bad, and that they want me to wait while they think it through. A month or two goes by, another access problem happens. I ask the client if they want me to make the application now.

Scott Stenbeck

They indicate they are going to think about it some more, and see how the next few weeks go. This kind of thing happens all the time and creates delay. As a lawyer I need my client’s go ahead to take action. Often the decision the client has to make is a difficult one that takes time, and rightfully so.

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think that lawyers create delay in two ways. The first is just not knowing what to do next. My personal belief is that legal education in the last ten to fifteen years has changed. From teaching core lawyering and litigation skills, to more the sociology of law, and alternative dispute resolution. Don’t get me wrong, I think mediation is great in the right circumstances, but we have to know as lawyers what to do next if it fails. When a settlement isn’t achieved, more letters and more meetings just create more delay. We need to know when to put settlement discussions on hold, and how to advance matters through the court system when it is required.

When I see a client the first time, I usually draw out a timeline with a plan of how we should proceed. If things settle along that timeline, which they usually do, then great. Being able to see the overview of how a case should progress is something that comes with time and experience. The second way things get drug out is a lawyer creating delay as a litigation tactic. I don’t agree with this practice. I think our professional obligation is to help clients get their case either settled, or to court for an adjudication, as quickly and cheaply as possible. However, we don’t get to pick when we start a case. If we have the stronger side of it or not. There are certainly lawyers that, when they perceive their case is weaker, argue procedure and create delay to hold off when it goes to court. In the hopes that the other side will get tired of delays and settle. That folds back into the first part of this paragraph. Which is that we need to know what to do next when the other side is not co-operative. How to getting a case to court to be dealt with on it’s merits.

40

Celebrating

Years!

A Story Behind Every Smile!

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ome of the above delays can be avoided, some can’t. If your case requires a Thursday afternoon special chambers date to deal with an interim order. Perhaps a date isn’t available for four months because they are all booked until then, it is what it is. What a person can do, though, is to choose experienced and well-rounded counsel.

Some one who does handle contentious matters before the courts regularly. Be sure to provide information requested as quickly as possible. The toughest part for a client to minimize delay, and sometimes this can’t be avoided, is to do the best they can to make the difficult choices in their case. Act decisively and instruct their lawyer in as timely a fashion as possible.

(403)526-0777 www.crestwooddental.ca 200 1899 Dunmore Rd SE Page 11

Art View

There’s a Story Behind Every Smile!

enjoy modern art; I have favourites and least favourites, but most modern art movements fascinate me in some way. I bask in the sunlit landscapes of the Impressionists, I am energized and moved by the fervor of the Abstract Expressionists, I feel a quiet reverence in the presence of large Minimalist sculpture, and I am comforted by the glow of a vast Colour Field painting.

But as an artist, even as a young child, I was drawn to mixing my media. I liked to cut, glue and assemble, layering magazine images, words, and drawings into one. In University studio classes I would use black and white photos, type writer ribbon and make paintings with hinged doors. The idea of repurposing and reinventing is appealing. It seems natural to use what is around me within the artwork I make. While I may obscure and reassign the materials, it pleases me to use discarded paper and objects that may otherwise find their way to the landfill.

The map, the recipe book, the small wooden drawer, these are pieces of contemporary life and I am drawn to the textures and layers they bring to an artwork.

be used for artistic expression. Together they worked in a large New York studio, sharing ideas and creating work that would pave the way for Pop Artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein who would heavily appropriate pop culture imagery. Self taught artist and known recluse Joseph Cornell, would eventually be claimed as a herald of Pop art and was known for his simple boxed assemblages.

The glass fronted boxes display a kind of surreal fantasy with surprising collections and juxtapositions of objects and photographs.

Cornell preferred collections of precious objects he considered beautiful as opposed to refuse and discarded materials.

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ollage is an artistic composition of materials and objects pasted over a surface, often with unifying lines and color. It began with the Cubists, Pablo Picasso and George Braques.

They were the first to use glue and everyday materials within a piece of fine art, eventually making even 3 dimensional collage. Today we call them assemblages, even sculpture. Back in 1912, the word assemblage didn’t exist and sculptures were grand pieces of marble or bronze. The use of common objects within a piece of art was new and untried.

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n the mid-50’s, Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns would take up a similar cause, incorporating an array of new objects into artwork including tires, beds and brooms. Johns chose everyday subjects to force the viewer to re-examine the mundane, to rediscover the world around us. Rauschenberg was known to walk his neighbourhood in search of founds objects and scraps that could Page 12

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ecause of my own interest in mixing media, I have taught collage and assemblage to children (not yet to adults who are sometimes more suspicious of it). Given a vast array of materials children are invigorated to experiment with possibilities, to try different combinations, to create something new from things old, and even philosophize on their message behind the materials. In the age of recycling and environmentalism, they appreciate the re-use of everyday things. Joseph Cornell’s last major exhibition was arranged especially for children, with his boxes displayed at child height and with the opening party serving soft drinks and cake. Art is for everyone if we are open to it.

or a complete and satisfying modern art review, I recommend “What Are You Looking At? The surprising, shocking, and sometimes strange story of 150 years of Modern Art”, written by Will Gompertz.

It promises to make your next gallery visit a lot more interesting.

I have been married to my wife, Sharah, for the past 5 years. Sharah also grew up in Medicine Hat and has an active law practice at Stringam Denecky. She shares my belief in an active way of life and has somehow duped me into running a half-marathon with her in the near future. We enjoy travel and delving into local culture and cuisine. We both have a passion for good food and wine and this has lead us to visiting wineries and vineyards throughout North America.

Some people might say that the Kershaw family has dentistry in our blood. I was born and raised in Medicine Hat and my father has practiced at Crestwood Dental Clinic for over 30 years. I knew from an early age that I wanted to follow in his footsteps. In 2010, I graduated from dental school from the University of Alberta and joined my father at Crestwood. Our philosophy has always been to provide patient-centered care of the highest quality.

Believe it or not, teeth are not my only interest! I have always loved sports. Growing up, I played hockey, golf, roller hockey, baseball,

Growing up in Medicine Hat, we are surrounded by so many friends and family. This has provided me with a strong connection to the community. This carries over to my profession as well. Honesty, integrity and the patient’s best interest are vital to my dental practice.

Crestwood Celebrates 40 years of service in the community this year and I just want to say thank you to Medicine Hat for embracing my practice and I look forward to serving you as a next generation care giver. I am here to serve!

Andrew Kershaw TEAM Insurance & Financial Services

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Modern Art I

and softball. Much to my wife’s chagrin I played nearly 100 rounds of golf last summer. This past year, I took up squash and have begun to really enjoy the sport. I must admit that during the football season you can find me glued to the TV, watching the Pats!

A healthy lifestyle is also very important to me. This has lead me to a new passion - cooking! In the past few years, I’ve really taken to it and can be frequently found in the kitchen, whipping something up. I am famous for my braised short ribs!

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Spotlight Around the World - New

York

NOTES from

S

N’kenge

tudio 54 was an iconic nightclub in the 1970’s located in the heart of New York City. It was known internationally of being the most famous club of all time with its sophisticated groundbreaking multi-media and A-list crowd of celebrities it attracted. It had frequent performers like Donna Summers, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger and Frank Sinatra to name a few.

We now have the opportunity to relive that iconic experience through 54: The Musical. I had the greatest pleasure and experience to perform in a reading presentation of this Broadway bound musical. I sat down with Broadway producer Michael Rubenstein and writer of 54: The Musical Renee Bang Allen to talk about this fantastic project!

N’KENGE: You are a multi-talented Artist. What came first for you? Singing, acting or writing or did all these talents develop simultaneously?

RENEE: Definitely being a singer, actor and being in the choir. I know it sounds cliché, but it was something I loved and had to do.

N’KENGE: Did you grow up in New York?

RENNE: No, I’m from just outside the city, Connecticut. A very prosperous, uptight town but the one thing we had being so close, was great access to the city. My mom was Swedish; my dad was born in Denmark then moved here. I’m actually still Danish, but with a green card, but no chance of deportation unless I do something really bad. (Laughs) I can’t vote.

N’KENGE: You can get your US citizenship correct?

RENEE: I could, but I want to keep it for sentimental reasons. So long answer to your question: singing came first, and somewhere in high school, I realized pretty early on that I wanted to be an actress.

When I got into the city, I studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, kind of on purpose but I really wanted to just get in the marketplace, so I did for acting, and musical theatre was always something that I loved. I pretty much just wrote one-acts and very short pieces. 54 got eclipsed by another musical that came out around the same time called Swing. They were very different but with a similar concept. It was a really interactive piece, but we were supposed to be at swing 46 on 46th St. but we ended up not

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will be opening April 21st. I’ve been a producer on musicals such as Pippin, Rocky, Bullets over Broadway.

pushing through with it because of another show with a similar concept.

N’KENGE: Michael, what sparked your initial interest in the Arts and wanting to be a part of this entertainment world?

MICHAEL: It was my childhood. I was a New York city kid, near New York City, born in Brooklyn and the second half on long island, but my parents really made sure that we were exposed to theatre, sports and entertainment. I had seen many great shows in the 70s and early 80s. After marriage and children, I missed a couple of decades, then I came back around 2006. A friend introduced me to the drama desk awards, and I was instantly bit by the entertainment bug. After a year with the awards, I spent a couple years working on off-Broadway productions, and film. I had a friend who asked me to become involved with crowd-funding, and I used my LinkedIn profile and ended up using crowd-funding for a Broadway play.

RENEE: I remember that LinkedIn discussion MICHAEL: That LinkedIn discussion led to my conversation with my friend Sharleen who had taken Officer and A Gentleman Musical to Australia, to regionalize it. It was a unique concept, regionalizing a play. As Rocky now had been regionalized in Hamburg, Officer had been regionalized in Sydney. One morning I was having breakfast with Sharon Karp who was on a number of great producer/co-producer projects. I asked her what she was working on next, and she said Pippin and she had me at that. I told her it was one of my childhood favorites: Ben Vereen, who was terrific. She then turned to me and said: would you like to work on it as one of the producers? And I was all for it. The real estate on Broadway is very, very small and that’s why I like Broadway.

If you’re looking at television or film, it could be any place in the world, but when it comes to Broadway, the real estate is very defined and its right here and I like being hands-on.

N’KENGE: What a fantastic story. Do you have a preference between plays verses musicals?

MICHAEL: I have a business background in finance, and for me it’s the merit of the entertainment project. It’s a lot easier when all the aspects of a venue and the producers are in place. I’m doing my play which is Velocity of Autumn which has just started previews, and

N’KENGE: Renee, what inspired you to write an original story set in such an iconic setting as Studio 54, and were these characters inspired by a true story, or people you actually knew personally?

RENEE: Yes, to all of them. The songs that I chose really do tell stories on their own. In terms of storyline, a lot of it had to do with the white, uptight and proper middle class town I grew up in, being from Scandinavia people looked at us as exotic, my mother wanted to fit in so badly, she tried to join the country club and they turned us down. She got so upset about that, she felt like she had been judged because she wasn’t from the area and had an accent. I was too young to experience Studio 54 which was probably one of the reasons why I wrote about it. But not too young to experience all the questions I had for myself and why were all African-Americans put together as one small group and everyone else wasn’t. What was the dynamic of what was supposed to be a loving 70’s period where everyone was free and open and loving while there was a barrier between people still not being dealt with. That inspired the story a little bit. So 54 was written, literally in my car while I was parking. I took my laptop and was like: “Oh god, I’ve got 3 hours to kill, what am I going to do?” so I would sit there and just write, and bring the laptop back with me.

of those on Broadway. Are they going to return money to the investors? That’s the very key as a producer, because you want to be able to go back to a time when there was another production and say “This is Great” which unless someone is a true patron of the arts would be a hard sell. So that’s the basic criteria and again, do I like it? Like Rocky and 54: I just think it’s an iconic period of time with a great story that’s been done on television and in film. But the story, with the way Renee has laid it out, with music, people were jumping up and down with the music. And it’s just such a great storyline that really should be out there.

N’KENGE: After having a sold out performance at the Tada Theater. What is your next step for the show?

RENEE: Next step, I’m reworking the script a little bit this month, fine-tuning that. Along with seeing some new people, hopefully toward the end of the month. Then next would probably be going into workshop, hopefully somewhere locally. It depends on finding available space.

N’KENGE: For the aspiring writers and producers reading this column, can you give us a 5-step process on developing a new show?

RENEE: A: Find an inspiring idea B: Write it MICHAEL: Present it, put the cast together

RENEE: Get a creative team. This N'Kenge, Renee Bang Allen, Michael Rubenstein N’KENGE: How has been such a Photo: Irene Rogers remarkable. How great experience, long did it take you who you assemble to write your first draft? is critical. Chemistry and language are both important. You have to distinctively know what’s right or who’s right but so much of RENEE: It came pretty quickly. It was just a matter of a couple putting a good team together and putting a good show together is of months and I think I started penning it in 09, but then we when it’s right, what sounds right and what feels right. Our musical started doing informal readings, and it’s been such a big thing with director for instance, was referred by another person on our last changing team members, and changing personnel. The other thing I team : saying this kid is crazy, 20year old prodigy, who knows more was really blown away by was the whole disco sucks movement, like about music than ever even existed, you can’t discount that. We why did that happen? There’s an incredible parallel between funk were finishing each other’s musical sentences, we were talking to and disco. Where it came from. There are certain raw elements in a the band at band rehearsal and Mike and I would start doing the lot of disco songs instrumental phrases.

N’KENGE: Michael, What triggered your interest in 54: The Musical and what do you look for in new projects before you come on board as a producer?

MICHAEL: My requirements are if I like it personally, then I take a step back and say: does it commercially make sense? Is it the type of production that says beautiful/gorgeous and we have a number

N’KENGE: And what’s great about Music Director Mike Greco, is he makes the music fresh. Songs that we have heard numerous times, he still managed to make it fresh and fresh to the ears, and it’s really important for a musical director to be able to do that.

CONTINUED-> Page 15

MICHAEL: Back to your question, to creatively, move to a certain part readings/showcases etc. all of which are looking to improve the story, the music, the actors, bring in other producers, finding a workshop that can really accelerate production, many productions end up being regionalized and if you look at the track record whether they are geared towards musicals or straight plays they go through regionalization with an organization that has a track record of coming to Broadway. It’s almost like being in the minor leagues of baseball and hoping to be called up. And in time, look at the list of Broadway shows that have dates yet to come at about half a list just waiting for theatres, it’s very very competitive and you really have to hone your craft and production to give it the best chance it possibly can.

N’KENGE: Do you see 54: The Musical being presented regionally and then coming to Broadway, or would you want to see it start off as an off-Broadway production?

Insure your life.

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Crystal Metz Ins Agcy Ltd Crystal Metz, Agent 2-1335 Trans Canada Way SE Medicine Hat, AB T1B 1J1 Bus: 403-526-1345

RENEE: It depends. I did a reading at the cutting room at the end of 2012. With their help, they’re going to secure us a venue somewhere in the metro area or somewhere just outside the city.

But as Michael was saying it obviously depends on what real estate is available. The cool thing about the show is since its set in a club, that’s why we’ve been looking at the various different types of venues. It also seems to be trending that the most interesting pieces are the ones that are in these very unusual venues, Natasha Pierre etc.

But that’s just the start.

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Annual replenishing Your insurance is an annual contract, so the pool operates for only one year at a time. Your premiums and the premiums of others are based on how much money the insurance companies think they will need to pay the coming year’s claims. Your premiums do not build up over the years – unlike the premiums for some types of life insurance.

Your Insurance Dollar Here is a breakdown of where your insurance premium dollars go. For every dollar of premiums gathered from policyholders, 53.1¢ go back to policyholders in the form of claims, 15.9¢ go back to communities in the form of various government taxes on insurance, 20.5¢ go to industry operating and regulatory costs and 10.5¢ go to industry profit. These percentages are based on a 7-year national average from 2004 to 2010.

IN THE LITTLE VILLAGE OF ANATEVKA, TEVYE, A POOR DAIRYMAN, TRIES TO INSTILL IN HIS FIVE DAUGHTERS THE TRADITIONS OF HIS TIGHTKNIT JEWISH COMMUNITY IN THE FACE OF CHANGING SOCIAL MORES AND THE GROWING ANTI-SEMITISM OF CZARIST RUSSIA.

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While it may seem complex, insurance is really quite simple: The payments (or premiums) of the many pay for the losses of a few.

Your premiums go into a large pool, if you will, at your insurance company. The claims of the few are paid from that pool. Because there are more people contributing to the pool than there are making claims, there is always enough to pay the claims – even large single claims like when someone is permanently disabled as a result of a car collision, or many smaller claims like those resulting from a natural disaster. (The 1998 ice storm that hit parts of Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick resulted in an estimated 700,000 claims for damage totalling $1.4 billion.)

Insurers take many factors into consideration to determine the likelihood that you will make a claim. A common misconception is that a policyholder who has never made a claim should pay less, little or nothing for insurance. While it is true that past claims history is important, a more reliable indicator of how likely a person or business is to make a claim is the statistical group to which he/she/it belongs.

N'Kenge is a Opera/Pop Singer and originated the role of Mary Wells in Motown: The Musical on Broadway

Photo: Chiun-Kai Shih

By Crystal Metz

How premiums are calculated Within reasonable limits, some of which are prescribed by law, your premium is calculated to reflect the probability that you will make a claim – that is, that you will draw funds from the insurance pool. Those who are unlikely to draw from the pool pay less than those who are more likely to draw from it.

State Farm International Life Insurance Company, Aurora, Ontario

MICHAEL: But also, in looking at successful, similar types of shows: things like In the Heights, Rock of Ages, they all started as off-Broadway productions and transferred to Broadway. I think it’s almost like a rocky-horror cult type feel to it that you will draw into 54 because there are so many people who have an image of that period of time.

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Insurance pays for …

Insurance pays for only those types of losses described in your contract. It is very important that you read your policy and/or talk to your insurance representative about what you are covered for and what you’re not. Insurance will not pay for every problem that you may encounter, nor is it a maintenance contract.

Insurance is generally intended – and priced accordingly – to help policyholders cope with the financial consequences of unpredictable events that are "sudden and accidental." If, for example, you live on a floodplain by a river, flooding of your property in the spring is not sudden or accidental; it is inevitable and, therefore, uninsurable.

Crimea a Strategic Error by: Fred McMahon

Napoleon famously cautioned against interfering with an enemy making a mistake. So why is the West interfering with Vladimir Putin’s massive mistake in Crimea?

Putin’s mistake? Some in the media are lionizing Putin as a strategic genius, running circles around the West. Yet, Putin could have gotten Crimea with a please-and-thank-you and looked like a humanitarian hero. Instead, he’s viewed as a threatening thug, with long-term negative consequences for Russia.

Crimea is about 60 per cent Russian; it is an historic part of Russia (given to the Ukraine only in 1954 by Nikita Khrushchev). Putin is popular in the Crimea, and Crimeans are eagerly anticipating Russian pensions and social payments, which are higher than the Ukraine’s.

Crimea had been semi-autonomous with a pro-Russian parliament.

Let’s say Putin did not invade. He could have maneuvered Crimea’s parliament into calling a credible referendum, which Russia would have won fairly, if not by the surrealistic margin of Putin’s stage-managed secession referendum of March 16. Presto, Crimea becomes part of Russia legitimately.

Instead, Putin pushed Ukraine firmly into the Western camp, lost any trust he had in the West, and alarmed eastern and central Europe into an even stronger anti-Russian stance. Sanctions and Putin’s unpredictable actions will scare off Russian investment and increase capital outflow. Most important, this could move Europe towards a sensible energy policy, including fracking, freeing Europe from energy blackmail and devastating Russia’s energy-dependent economy.

So why is the West interfering through sanctions, dropping Russia from the G8 (returning it to the G7), and firming its resolve to do more? The broader world is a more complicated place than leaving Putin to bungle on his own is lose-lose, threatening international order, damaging Europe’s fragile recovery, and creating the danger of much worse down the road.

Yet, Crimea is lost. With Russian annexation popular, the odds of Crimea rejoining Ukraine in the near future are zero.

The best the West can aim for is to legitimize the new reality, bring Russia back into the international order, warn off further bad behavior, and deal itself a stronger hand for the future.

Putin is willing to have the Russian people suffer more than democratic leaders could contemplate. Sanctions that rebound to hurt Europe are politically difficult, though to its credit, Europe is strengthening its response.

Energy independence decreases the pain of European action and intensifies Russian pain until the tipping point may shift, even for an undemocratic leader who does not care about his people but who does care about remaining in power and dampening the threat of popular and elite mutiny.

By applying pressure now, normalizing the situation, and building strength for the future, the West aims to warn off further Russian adventurism which could move the world from lose-lose to disaster-disaster.

Appeared in the Okanagan Saturday From Fraser Institute: www.fraserinstitute.org

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Politics

Finances

The Lifeblood of Canada

LAVAR PAYNE - MP, Medicine Hat, Alberta

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griculture is the life blood of Canada and the prairies produce some of the best crops in the world. We have seen farmers raise wheat, barley, canola, flax, oats, peas, beans, lentils, sugar beets, corn and many other crops to feed the world. Last fall we saw the largest harvest in Canadian history thanks to good farming techniques, delayed spring planting and a great summer with rain when needed.

Some farmers managed to sell and deliver their grain to the grain companies and get the world price for their products.

Starting in the late fall of 2013 we have seen that the two railways, Canadian National & Canadian Pacific (CN & CP), did not deliver the grain to ports in an efficient manner.

We know that over the last few years the railways have removed rolling stock from their systems.

Reducing the number of employees as well as removing rolling stock had an impact on the ability of the railways to deliver grain and other bulk commodities.

M

inisters Ritz and Raitt have met with stakeholders over the past few weeks, both railways – CN & CP and Grain companies and producers, to determine how we could resolve the various system problems: the backlog of grain, the lack

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of shipments by the Grain companies and the low level of grain movement by the railways.

As a result of these consultations an Order in Council was given for the railways to move one million tons of grain each week. Failure to comply would result in the rail companies facing fines of $100,000 per day. In addition, the Bill C 30 Grains Act and further changes to the Transportation Act were introduced to ensure the movement of grain to markets.

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ur Agriculture Committee opened meetings to hear witnesses speak on Bill C 30, amendments to the Canadian Grain Act and the Canada Transportation Act. All parties agreed to expedite the Act through Committee and to implement various aspects of the legislation to ensure the grains get to port. Our Committee held five meetings including 2 evening meetings to allow approximately 24 witnesses to testify and present their issues and concerns. We had the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Transport along with both of their Deputy Ministers put forward their recommendations before Committee at the first meeting.

They want to make sure that the grain is moved and indicated that both railways were capable of moving 5500 rail cars each per week of grain without impacting other shippers.

At the next meeting we had

CN and CP railway spokesmen represent their interests at Committee. CN provided a detailed deck of information to the committee while CP only made a verbal presentation.

Both railways indicated that the very cold winter did impact their ability to ship grain as the extremely cold weather requires them to shorten the length of their trains because of the air brake systems.

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had the opportunity to question both railways; however, I mainly concentrated on CP as they are the railway that services our Riding and the farmers in southeast Alberta. The Chief Operating Officer indicated that some of the grain cars were held up at the Port of Vancouver.

I know that over the years all shippers have complained to me about the poor service CP has provided to move their products to market. We also had the Alberta Barley Commission and the Prairie Oat Growers Association make presentations on a different panel at the same meeting.

At the third meeting we had The Alberta Wheat Commission, The Canadian Federation of Agriculture and The Canada Grains Council attend. We heard over and over that their difficulties with the poor service that was provided by the rail companies. Organizations want more regulations particularly on Service Level Agreements.

The fourth meeting, representatives were in attendance from the Freight Management Association of Canada, The Mining Association of Canada, Quorum Corporation, the Canadian Fertilizer Institute and the Port Metro Vancouver. Presentations were made by Quorum, who track grain rail cars for the Federal Government, and the Port Metro Vancouver, who both disputed the claim by Canadian Pacific that grain cars were held up in Vancouver. In addition we heard both railways indicate that, due to the grain shipment requirements, it would be likely other bulk shipments would be cut back as well.

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he fifth Committee meeting had the Department Officials from both the Transport and Agriculture Departments offer their positions on the issues.

In conclusion, Bill C 30 and the amendments which include an extension to “Inter switching” up to 160 kilometers, were passed and returned to the House of Commons for the 3rd and final reading before going to the Senate.

Much consultation and work by the Committee has gone into ensuring that Bill C 30 meets the increasing need for efficient transportation of products for the expanding agriculture industry across Canada.

Get Your Will Up-To-Date Estate Planning Series, Part 1 of 4

It is estimated that approximately 70% of Canadians die with an invalid Will or no Will at all. Many more have an inadequate or out-of-date Will because essential things have changed since the Will was drawn up.

Without a valid Will, we are said to die “intestate” and provincial law dictates who will receive the assets of our estate, as well as how and when they will be distributed.

Further delays occur if you die intestate and there are minor children or if there is a dispute among family members or others as to who should be appointed to administer your estate. Where there are minor children, the Public Trustee (or the Provincial Children’s Lawyer) will be involved. Once the estate is distributed, the share of a minor will be invested by the Public Trustee and paid in full to the child when he/she reaches the age of majority – whether the child is capable and prepared to manage the money or not.

MY STORY - In 1964, my father died suddenly. Dad’s passing and the aftermath faced by my mother and us kids is a powerful, real-life illustration of how intestacy can impose tremendous strain and difficulty on a family. I was two years old when my 39 year old father passed away unexpectedly. After seeing my 2 oldest siblings off to school, dad had gone across the farm yard to start the tractor to run a quick errand for a neighbor. My 27 year old mother heard the tractor start but realized that it had been idling for some time, and had not left the yard. She left my sister and I, her 2 preschoolers, in the house to slip out and see what the holdup was. That’s when she discovered my father had died while cranking the tractor to life. He was still standing with one hand on the hood and the other holding the crank.

Mom’s life, our life, would never be the same. In Mom’s words, “That was the day where the world changed.”

MY STORY - Because there was no formal Will, the portion of the money the Public Trustee decided would be held for the children was set aside until we each reached age 18 - my youngest sister, who was yet to be born would wait over 18 years. As one after the other of us turned 18, a small cheque was received. By this time, the hardest of times had passed and with hindsight, we can’t help but wonder whether our share would have lightened Mom’s burden.

If we die intestate, there is no executor to administer our estate and someone must apply to the court to get permission to administer our estate. The application to court is costly and time consuming. The person asking the court for permission to administer our estate (the Applicant) may have to post a bond equal to twice the value of the estate, as security. Distribution of our assets to our heirs cannot take place until the court grants authority to the Applicant. All legal fees will have to be paid by the estate, leaving fewer funds to be distributed to our heirs.

MY STORY - Our dairy cows and sheep were sold at auction within 2 weeks. Two of my uncles inventoried everything down to the last shovel for the farm auction, held April 29th. Despite everything being liquidated in under 60 days, the Public Trustee allowed us no access to money. It was decided we would move to nearby Castor, so our Uncle purchased a modest home and we moved in May 1st. Exactly one month later, my youngest sister was born. My uncles worked with Mom to ensure the financial needs of our family were met. It was a full 18 months before the Public Trustee allowed Mom a small monthly stipend, and the funds to settle up our “tab” with our Uncles. She had no say in how much the monthly stipend would be. In this time Mom supplemented our livelihood by accepting the challenges of local census-taker (1966 Alberta Census) and also opening a play school in our basement.

MY STORY - It was a cold March morning when my father passed away, leaving 4 children, his wife and another baby on the way. We had the farm, the dairy cows, the sheep, but no Will. No one plans to die, especially at 39, and no one wishes on their family the heavy load that was to be carried by my mother.

Mom had no driver’s license. Her brothers and brothers-inlaw stepped in to help make decisions and get the work done.

Neighbors helped milk cows. It was determined soon after my dad died, that the farm and all our assets would be sold.

With young children to care for, cows to be milked twice a day, cattle and sheep to be fed, we faced an enormous transition.

Our family would never again sleep in the farm house or play carefree in the yard. Mom and dad had never discussed an early death; there was no plan and no life insurance to buffer us. All the family assets were immediately frozen. When my mother cashed a $10.87 cream Cheque to buy an outfit for my oldest sister for the funeral and some groceries, she was forced to pay it back to the Public Trustee. Planning the immediate liquidation of the farm became the number one activity. The lack of a Will and the presence of underage children tied up a stipend for my mother for over a year.

The provincial formula for distribution on intestacy provides for a preferential share to a surviving spouse, and the balance to be divided between the surviving spouse and children whether they are minors or adults. Where there is no surviving spouse, no children or grandchildren, remote relatives may be entitled to a distribution.

If, after an exhaustive search, (paid for by your estate) no surviving blood relatives can be found, our estate will go to the government.

Having a Will can save our estate money and prevent much anguish and frustration for our heirs. The only way we can control who will administer our estate, the manner in which our estate will be distributed and to whom is to be sure our Will is in place.

MY STORY - When we lose someone, there is a lot to deal with – shock, grief, uncertainty, final arrangements - the last thing our loved ones need to deal with on top of it all is no Will. For our family, it meant everything must be sold – the farm, the livestock, and our family relocated to a strange new house. Everything changed. Our world went from being a quiet country life to a noisy town life with a house full of rambunctious play school kids from other families. Unfortunately, our story is not uncommon - I’ve heard many such a stories over the years, but it could have been so different. Had there been life insurance and a Will, a difficult situation could have been made easier to bear.

For more information, contact:

Dan Hein, BRE

Associate Investment Advisor BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. Medicine Hat, AB Tel.: 403-528-6771 Dan.Hein@nbpcd.com www.bmo.com/nesbittburns The comments included in this article are not intended to be a definitive analysis of tax applicability or trust and estate law. The comments contained herein are general in nature and professional advice regarding an individual’s particular tax position should be obtained in respect of any person’s specific circumstances. . All insurance products and advice are offered through BMO Nesbitt Burns Financial Services Inc. by licensed life insurance agents, and, in Quebec, by financial security advisors. ® “BMO (M-bar roundel symbol)” is a registered trade-mark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence. ® “Nesbitt Burns” is a registered trade-mark of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Montreal. Opinions are those of the author and may not reflect those of BMO Nesbitt Burns. The information and opinions contained herein have been compiled from sources believed reliable but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to their accuracy or completeness.

Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund and IIROC

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The Travelling Spotlight

Our Adventure in the Maritimes

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once told my husband that before we travelled anywhere else in the world, I wanted to see the entirety of our own country first. And that is exactly what we planned. Having already seen Vancouver and Victoria, we decided to explore the opposing coastline. So we planned an 11-day trip, booked our flights, and selected Halifax as our first stop. Our adventure to the Maritimes had begun! A personal friend had moved here a few years before and offered to be our tour guide for Halifax.

Upon our arrival, we rented a car to use as the primary mode of transport for our excursion. Immediately, we felt that it was the best idea ever to visit the Maritimes! We started out by walking the wharf and taking in the scenery. We found a fantastic restaurant along the pier, where my better half ordered himself a massive lobster for dinner. While I, personally, am not a fan of seafood, my husband was in heaven. He enjoyed it so much that he bit his own finger in his haste!

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fter lunch, we toured Alexander Keith’s Brewery and ate at the world famous Split Crow Pub for dinner. There was so much to see and do along the wharf alone. It was incredible! It just so happened

have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. As an added bonus, there was a great winery next to the Magnetic Hill that makes some of the best wines I have ever tasted.

that the weekend we arrived on was the date of the annual Halifax festival. A “Bluenose 2” ship was anchored in the wharf and available for visitors to take a tour of. On the pier, fishing guides for hire were everywhere, bands played music, and the incredible little food stands sold fish and chips, lobster sandwiches, and clams.

There is a thriving nightlife in Halifax, as they have more pubs per capita than anywhere else in Canada. This makes sense, as there are two universities in the city center. When the sun goes down, the streets come alive and are filled with people young and old.

After enjoying our time at the pier, we decided to look into the more historical aspects of Halifax, starting by spending a rainy afternoon at The Citadel, a historic British fort unlike many other old military outposts (as it was dug into the hill overlooking the harbour and city). The fort was completed in 1856. The Halifax explosion, which took place nearby, occurred in 1917 when 2 ships, one of which was carrying explosives, collided in the narrows of the harbour. This collision devastated the city of Halifax. A local church not far from the wharf had all of its windows blown out, except for one that the minister happened to be standing in front of. To this day, that is the only window in the church that has never been replaced, and you can still make out the outline of the minister who stood in front of it during the blast.

From Halifax, it’s a short day trip to Peggy’s cove. This small community is a fishing village that looks like something from a postcard with houses next to the water, fishing boats moored in front of every yard, and, of course, a lighthouse on the rocks. It was like a landscape out of a photographers dream. However, despite it's beauty, locals warn tourists and residents not to climb on the rocks, as rogue waves have been known to come up and sweep people away.

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rom here, we drove to New Brunswick in order to see Moncton and the famous Magnetic Hill, a natural marvel that creates an optical illusion. When you sit in your car at the base of what looks like a hill it appears looks as though you are being pulled up the slope, when, in reality, you are rolling down the hill. I would never

As we drove towards Prince Edward Island, we got to see the world’s largest lobster before crossing the famous Confederation Bridge, which is an engineering marvel. The first town you enter after crossing the bridge is beautiful Summerside. We stayed the night at a hotel on an old air force base and ate on the patio of a beautiful little restaurant overlooking the ocean. On the next day, we drove up the island, visited the homes of both Anne of Green Gables and Stompin’ Tom Connors. While beautiful, it is not a surprise that this island got the nickname “The Big Red Mud”, as there is nothing but red soil everywhere you look. We had to be extra careful not to stain our clothes.

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ur next stop was in Charlottetown, the birthplace of the confederation of Canada. It’s a beautiful city filled with striking architecture and delicious places to eat. After leaving Charlottetown and driving to catch the ferry back to Nova Scotia, we took a trip up to Cape Breton Island, but that’s a whole other story for next month’s Traveling Spotlight.

by Patrick and Lynnette Schile

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o trip to Halifax would be complete without going to Pier 21, the spot where all the immigrants that came to Canada had to enter before they boarded trains and settled across the country. Nowadays, Pier 21 is an amazing museum filled with information on the rich history of these people. Many see it as Canada’s very own Ellis Island.

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hat same day, we visited the Fairview Cemetery, where the deceased passengers from the Titanic were buried. The headstone inscribed with the name Jack (from the movie) is, not surprisingly, the one touched most often. While there, we learned an interesting story. There was a young woman buried in the Fairview cemetery with a couple of her children, though she had others whose bodies were never found. Through the science of DNA testing, made possible in the last few years, investigators determined that a baby buried in the cemetery belonged with this young woman and her other children. Surprisingly, when the graves were first dug, the mortician had unknowingly buried the baby next to its mother. We found this story extremely endearing!

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Politics

DREW BARNES MLA Cypress - Medicine Hat Southern Alberta's Largest Hotel & Convention Centre

Problems Running Rampant

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he last few months in the Legislature have been a testament to just how many problems are running rampant in provincial government affairs. Of course, these problems make great news stories, and I feel Albertans are paying attention to the corruption, incompetence, and arrogance of the PC government now more than ever.

huge problems with transparency that have crumbled public trust.

One great example is the Federal Building renovation in Edmonton that is being used for PC MLA offices, which started out at an announced cost of over $200 million. But with cost overruns and project add-ons, the total assessment to taxpayers is now $400 million.

It can all be attributed to the personnel and the people we currently have running our province. But in addition, there are often deeper, structural issues we need to look at that would address ongoing problems of tax dollar abuse, government waste, and entitled behaviour.

s bad as that was, the real kicker is that the government cabinet and the former premier approved a multimillion-dollar project we’re calling the “Sky Palace”: it was complete with a luxury suite for the premier, a private elevator, and a PC MLA alumni lounge. The Minister of Infrastructure and the previous one are still trying to get their story straight about what happened! It’s an egregious breach

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“We are on track to be over $20 billion in debt by 2016, and that means we’re also flushing almost $1 billion down the drain each year on debt-servicing.”

The legislative session began with the introduction of Budget 2014.

Since then, we’ve been doing ongoing budget estimates where each ministry is broken down and their numbers are examined individually. The underpinning theme of this year’s budget and every one in recent memory is that the size of the government has just become too large.

of trust and ethics, but it should be stated that we’ve got a deeper structural problem where we’ve gotten to a point where government members and senior political staff can make decisions like that in the first place. A project like this can often just go unnoticed because proper transparency means aren’t in place right now for opposition MLAs and private citizens.

inistry after ministry have seen massive increases in expenditures, and yet the government still claims to be living within its means. Holding the budget increases to the rate of inflation might be seen as reasonable in some circumstances or ministries, but both capital and operational expenses have well exceeded that.

Increasing the size and scope of government only creates more opportunities for waste and the abuse of public money.

Keeping all this in mind then, as a Wildrose MLA, it’s not as central as you’d think to merely change the people we put into office, because new faces will always come and go from public positions and agencies. More importantly, as someone elected to the Legislature to represent you, it’s more about changing the entire culture, size, and mechanisms of our provincial government; it’s about having an impact that will last for years beyond our own.

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n addition to the ever-intrusive size of public budgets, we’ve seen

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We are on track to be over $20 billion in debt by 2016, and that means we’re also flushing almost $1 billion down the drain each year on debt-servicing. That’s $1 billion that could be cut from the budget and the taxation rate of Albertans, or maybe put towards investments for the future in the Heritage Savings Fund, or even re-allocated to the front lines in healthcare or education. No matter what, I think any Albertan outside the PC family could think of better ways to use that money besides servicing debt on incompetent decisions.

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Man Cave

Walleye Fishing Techniques

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et’s look at the most popular fishing techniques for walleye. The first most favoured method of fishing for walleye is jigging.

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igging can be done in many ways. I like to use a 6’6” rod that is very sensitive with 6lb fire line. I try and use the lightest jig I can, while still being able to feel the bottom. The rattle jigs are still my favourite, as they seem to attract fish with the vibration in the water.

You can use live leeches or worms as well as frozen minnows. I have had great luck with the Berkley gulp baits. The best thing about these, you don’t seem to lose them to the fish as easily as the other baits.

You can cast a jig from shore or in a boat which makes it a very popular method of fishing. Jigging from a boat can be done in many ways. First is casting and working it in slowly. Second, is the straight up and down method, which you can do from being anchored,

ye Soup e l l a W t o Crockp pot add In a crock cken broth 2 cans chi water 2 cans of ed carrots c i 1/2 lb d toes diced 2 med pota aste epper to t salt and p a medium pan saute a n I . h ig elery in Turn on h nd some c a n o i n o d Leave size dice crockpot. o t d d A . arrots margarine s until c r u o h + 4 or before on high f ne. 20min o d e r a s oe ed into and potat lleye cub a w r u o y dd redded serving a cup of sh a d n a s re ill turn 1 in squa walleye w e h T . e s e he . Always cheddar c will flake d n a e e t i wh ed and th nice and are skinn s t t a e h l T l fi out. make sure s pulled i " te e i n h i w l d u snow center "m eft is a l e ft v e a l h f u o stuf way all y No brown h t i w h s fi you piece of rich soup y v a e h a like it also. on. If you crean to r o k l i m can add

or drifting to cover more area. This is a very effective technique for inactive fish as it is a very slow presentation. Another effective technique for inactive fish is using a slip bobber. Again, you can fish this method from shore or in a boat. I like to use a 7’ stiff fishing rod with a spinning reel. Light line and pinch weights, with a single hook.

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f you are fishing active fish I like to either cast crank baits or troll them. This technique covers more ground when fish are not schooled together. The nice thing about casting crank baits is you can fish this way from shore. Trolling crank baits are a great way to find fish who are hard to locate. You are covering a lot of territory and can fish at different depths. When running crank baits there are many different sizes and types. I have my favourites like the Rapalas and Cotton Cordell Wally divers are great. They have a rattle in them attracting fish. When you want to run the crank baits away from the boat to catch more fish, run them on planer boards. When you use planer boards, you are getting the crank baits out from the boat. So you don’t spook the fish from the sound and motion of the motor. Remember to use a 7’ or better stiff crank bait rod and reel, spooled with braided or fire line.

The last way to find active fish, and cover lots of ground can only be done in a boat. Try bottom bouncing. Use a 6’6 or 7’ medium action rod, with monofilament line and spinner rigs in a worm harness, or a leech/minnow harness. I try to use as light of a bottom bouncer as I can. Remember the blades, you use can spin at different speeds as to their size and shape. The three most popular blades are a Colorado, Indiana, and Willow Leaf. The Hatchet Blade and the Smiley Blades also work very well. All blades can be gotten in many colors and patterns. When you get a good roll on the blade and the right color pattern, this is a deadly technique. I have caught many walleye with this set-up. I like to stress when fishing for walleye, I like to use as sensitive a rod and fishing line as I can find.

Walleye are not general hard hitters. They like to suck there food in and hold in their mouth. So whenever I feel the slightest pressure I like to move my rod towards them. This gives some slack, slowly reel it up till you have a little tension, then set the hook. When walleye feel too much tension right away, they have a habit of spitting out the hook and bait.

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he nice thing about the artificial bait is they don’t seem to get it off the hook like real bait. By keeping your hook in the water longer you catch more fish. I hope these tips and techniques catch you more fish. Happy Fishing!

by: Patrick Schile

Page 27

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First whisk 4 eggs in a bowl adding around 1oz of water to increase fluffiness. Making sure you have an oiled pan, pour the eggs in the pan, while you wait for the first part of the omelette to get cooked, chop half a banana and around 100 grams of fresh pineapple or canned pineapple will do (4 slices will be enough) when the surface starts to get a little bit dry around the corners that indicates you should flip your omelette. Once it's fully cooked place your eggs on a plate, take half of a banana and around 100 grams of pineapple finely chopped. Once you got these fillings on your omelette add the mixed berries and creamy filling and fold the egg in half as it's shown in the picture below.

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Page 28

A professional portfolio will be shot by Gainsboro Studio.

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Training and portfolio fee applies.

Please apply to info@spotlightmagazine.ca or call Lynnette 403-581-8075 cell for more details and dates.

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hen one is an A, A+ personality, multitalented, multitasker, perfectionist, creative, internalize all your feelings and emotions and no matter what you accomplish you feel unfulfilled…YOU are the perfect candidate for CANCER!! My 1.0 cm, infiltrating ductal carcinoma, low grade, returned a year and a half later as ductal carcinoma in situ, intermediate grade, involving skin. Now most of this means nothing to any of us lay people. So here are the facts. My tumor did not show up on a mammogram. Something I did religiously as my preventive medicine. My tumor presented itself, as a cyst on the inside of my right breast.

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fter my gynecologist performed the needle test on the cyst, and no fluid came out, he got that look doctors get when they are sure they have bad news but do not want to believe it till they do more tests. The needle test puts a very long needle into your breast and then pulls out. It is an experience a sadistic would love. My gyno sent me to a surgeon. First we did an ultra sound, which did show growth in the breast. After we dealt with the insurance, an issue for many other articles, the surgeon scheduled the biopsy. I have now found out that I have dense tissue breasts and a mammogram does not show what is in the tissue.

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n Halloween 1997, my first biopsy was done. The nurse was dressed in a Halloween costume. The biopsy uses a local anesthesia.

A drape is put by your head so you cannot see the incision being made. Just the sound of the snip of tissue to be examined.

Two days latter I was in the surgeons office with my husband.

Again that doctor look. Head down he mumbled it is CANCER! Then he went into a litany of tests and procedures I needed to do ASAP. He wanted to operate in a week. I do not think I heard him.

He was talking about someone else. After all I was a busy woman. I did not have Time For Cancer. I had sold a series to ABC that I was writing and a television movie going into production.

I stormed out of his office screaming “I do not have time for cancer. Are you crazy?! I do not have time for all these tests and procedures.” As I pushed the elevator buttons frantically trying to get away from this whole scene, my husband cornered me at the elevator quietly saying I needed to do as the doctor ordered…it was cancer.

As the days went by, my producer instincts went into full-blown force. I was sure the specimen was NOT mine. I did not see Page 30

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the nurse put my name on the specimen. After all she was in a Halloween costume! I got second, third and fourth opinions. I spent every night with the internet. I called every group imaginable.

I went to the Wellness Center. Met some amazing women there that really set me straight. “This doctor will keep you waiting hours.”

“This one is great but has no personality.” There is a theory that aggressive career women get breast cancer in their right breast and the more nurturing caring motherly types get it in their left breast.

I do not think there is medical evidence to this effect.

All of this, tests, interviewing doctors while I was trying to do my job and NOT LET ANYONE KNOW! I was sure if anyone found out in the entertainment industry, I would be done for. They would think I could not fulfill my job. It was if I had the big red C on my chest. In truth as my illness did gradually come out, I got exceptional support from my friends in the entertainment industry.

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inally I met though my matron of honor, a cancer nurse, doctor John Link. I call him the savior. He gave me my second opinion. He agreed with the course of treatment. Lumpectomy, and radiation. Confident with his call, I continued with the HMO doctor. December of 1997 was the surgery. Successful, clean margins…means the doctor cuts enough beyond the tumor to make sure there is no cancer lurking around.

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ow radiation. I could not figure out why I would want to put into my body what killed people in Hiroshima. Oh it is not a problem, I was told. 10 minutes a day for weeks and one goes on with their lives during treatment. Ummm. I was tired, felt like I had the flu. But what the hell it was not the dreaded Chemo. So I was now a survivor.

A couple of months latter I went to a group session with the National Cancer Society. Very good day, till a woman enters the room like Medea. After five years her cancer had returned. She was hysterical and I was following in her hysteria. Oh my God…it could come back…but how? I have been diagnosis with clean margins, radiation like Hiroshima victims, and I was now on a very excellent homeopathic, acupuncture and organic food regime.

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ut to: September 1999. That pesky little cyst arrives back. Same place, same station. First we try antibiotics for one week. Then biopsy. Surgeon calls me at 3pm on a Friday. I can hear the voice….

Deep, quiet. Did my oncologist call me? NO! Well ugh. “It is cancer,” I say. Well he says “Here is my home phone, my cell, call me anytime. I thought the oncologist called you.” NO! Again I go into producer mode. I am told by the oncologist’s receptionist that they can not get me in for three weeks…NO…I have cancer again in less than two years, I will be there at 9am Monday morning. Oh no…not for three weeks. I scream at her, as I did many times with insurance companies etc., I will find a real doctor and you can tell him I am reporting him to the American Medical Association. Slam!!!

With in a few hours I was in front of Dr. John Link. Because it returned so quickly, he wanted to do chemotherapy first then mastectomy and he suggested reconstruction. You want to wake up with a breast. He said he was worried that my original biopsy came out fragmented. This can cause microscopic cells to invade the body and the cancer can return. Link was hoping it would not happen in my case.

had large breasts. I never had children so they were never used for natures needs. What caused fear of mastectomy was the horror stories from past women’s histories. Being cut from one end to the other and remaining concave on a side. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ANYMORE! The breast surgeons are very adept at removing the tissue without destroying one’s body.

Actually the process at Breastlink is so caring that my fellow chemo patients and I called us the pink girls club. Our chairs were pink.

We got chemo on Weds and then on Friday’s saline solutions to flush the system. I did acupuncture every day. The pink girls club argued about wigs, planned trips, and oddly enough ate enormous amounts right after the chemo session. Probably because the next day one did not want to do, eat or talk about anything.

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ohn encouraged reconstruction, and lined up my surgeon for the mastectomy, and the plastic surgeon for reconstruction. I chose the free tram flap. A relatively new procedure, where tissue, muscle, blood vessels are taken from one’s stomach, put on ice and then used to make the new breast. Dr. Jay Orringer performed the free tram flap, and Dr. Armando Giuliano of St. John’s Hospital Santa Monica performed the mastectomy. Jay is an expert in free tram, and again a master at his work and a caring, kind and loving human being. This is a long surgery and process. Eight hours the first surgery…4-5 hours for the second, and then an hour to tattoo the aural. I made it clear to Jay that I wanted Santa Monica tits, No Beverly Hills tits.

The day before the surgery, my girlfriend gave me the gift of a healer. While I was on the table I saw two angels that told me I was healed. That was all I needed. I called all the doctors to tell them I was healed and did not need the surgery. They all calmly said that it was great and they knew the surgery would be a success as now I had a positive attitude about the surgery.

The surgery was a great success. No lymph nodes were involved although they did take 8 out the first time and another 7 the second time. Weeks of physical therapy. I am a seven-year survivor… thankful for such great doctors and caring people. I had the support of husband, friends and family. That is the most important thing in tackling this disease and the treatments.

BTW: My hair grew back thick and curly. I never had that before.

Again I needed other opinions. Which he encouraged. I went to a homeopathic MD. I went back to Link with a basket of homeopathic remedies. I think I will not go western this time.

John, one of the kindest, most professional, and caring human beings calmly said he would do a plan of acupuncture and homeopathic as well as chemo and surgery.

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ll the fears of chemo and mastectomy come to the forefront.

Could I dye my hair again after it grows back? Because if I cannot dye my hair I am not doing chemo. I cut my hair very short but was not prepared for the clumps to fall out in the shower. I was hysterical. Having been a former professional Ballerina, I was never very attached to my breasts. Like most dancers I never really

Roxanne Messina Captor Filmaker/Founder and Motivational Speaker 2x Breast Cancer Survivor Page 31

Finances

What’s The Difference Between

A Spousal RRSP And M y S p o u s e ’s T F SA ?

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hile an RRSP and TFSA both allow you to save money and reduce taxes now or in the future, each has unique features to consider when contributing and withdrawing money.

The chief advantage driving contributions to a spousal registered Retirement Savings Plan (Spousal RRSP) is to minimize taxes owing down the road when you each retire by splitting potential taxable income when you withdrawal the money.. Ideally, the smaller amounts withdrawn from each spouse’s registered savings vehicles will result in lower taxes compared with one large withdrawal each year from a single account.

CRA allows you to contribute to your spouse’s RRSP, but those contributions count towards your annual contribution limit.

The contributing spouse (you, for example) then deducts the contribution from your taxable income. Your spouse is not able to use this tax deduction.

“If a withdrawal is made within three calendar years of a contribution, some or all of the withdrawal will likely be taxed in the hands of the contributing spouse.”

I

t’s important to know that Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) recognizes common-law partners as spouses (including same-sex partners). A spousal RRSP is one owned and held only by your spouse, not by you.

2B-40 Strachan Court S.E. Medicine Hat, AB Bus: 403-504-0550 Fax: 877-335-9404 jackson.woodruff@edwardjones.com www.edwardjones.com

It’s also worth noting that if you are beyond the age to contribute to your own RRSP, you can still contribute to your spouse's RRSP until the end of the year he or she turns 71.

It’s also good to know you cannot simply transfer from your own RRSP to your spouse’s.

A

s might be expected, withdrawals from a spousal RRSP are handled differently. If a withdrawal is made within three calendar years of a contribution, some or all of the withdrawal will likely be taxed in the hands of the contributing spouse. Otherwise subsequent withdrawals from a spousal plan are taxed in the hands of the account owner (your spouse).

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here is no such thing as a spousal TFSA. Unlike a spousal RRSP, it is your spouse’s available TFSA contribution room that limits how much money they can contribute to the account. As with any TFSA contribution, there is no tax credit to be claimed by the contributor, but the money grows tax-free and can be withdrawn at any time, tax-exempt. Also, any money withdrawn from the TFSA can be contributed the following calendar year in addition to your allowable contribution limit, unlike an RRSP or spousal RRSP.

C

onsult with your advisor to determine the best uses for and RRSP, Spousal RRSP and/or TFSA based on your situation, goals and finances.

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

Page 32

Why Us?

eneral

entist

“This is a remarkable accomplishment for the OPCW and Mr. Cairns. It is quite something to think that he walked these hallways and then went on to make such an important impact,” “This is a remarkable accomplishment for the OPCW and Mr. Cairns. It is quite something to think that he walked these hallways and then went on to make such an important impact,” remarks Dr. Scott Duncan, Section Head, Chemical/Biological Assessment and Protection Section, Suffield Research Centre.

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LOCAL CONNECTION TO NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

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s the Canadian leading a UN Weapons Inspection team into Syria, Scott Cairns found himself front and centre on the world stage when his team confirmed that chemical weapons had been used in an August 21st attack which killed 1,400 civilians. For this work Mr. Cairns’ organization, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. The award was presented by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee in Oslo this past December to the OPCW for “its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons”.

The UN report authored by OPCW confirmed the use of sarin gas in Syria and is cited as aiding the advancement of diplomatic efforts to avert a US military strike in retaliation against the Syrian regime by instead seeking an agreement to destroy the country’s existing chemical weapons capacity. The OPCW's activities however have only just begun as Mr. Cairns and his colleagues have the enormous task of accounting for and destroying Syria’s considerable chemical weapons stockpile by no later than June 30, 2014.

Scott Cairns was employed at the Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) - Suffield Research Centre from 2002 to 2007 where he worked with what was then called the Chemical and Biological Defence Section. In a December interview with the CBC, Mr. Cairns credited his time at the Suffield Research Centre stating, “It ultimately got me the position I hold now”.

Co-located at Canadian Forces Base Suffield, the research centre employs 195 people and is one of eight military research centres located across Canada. Dr. Scott Duncan heads the research program Mr. Cairns once worked with.

Page 34

s a DRDC chemist Mr. Cairns provided chemical expertise and advice to military and government departments/agencies regarding chemical warfare agents and the nature of threat these pose. Mr. Cairns also planned and delivered training to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel, first responders, and foreign military personnel. This training included the sampling, identification, and safe handling of toxic materials, especially chemical warfare agents.

His contributions were inclusive of designing training scenarios, acting as a Chemical Safety Officer and serving as a subject matter expert to trainees. Mr. Cairns' job responsibilities also included ensuring DRDC research activities at Suffield respected the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and he prepared the appropriate documentation required by the OPCW. “Whether we are advising the military how to protect against chemical agents or training specialized responders, as Mr. Cairns

did, science advances both Canada and our allied partners’ understanding of chemical warfare agents so they can best identify, protect, and mitigate against their devastating consequences,” explains Dr. Duncan.

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efence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is the national leader in defence and security science and technology. As an agency of Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND), DRDC provides DND, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and other government departments as well as the public safety and national security communities the knowledge and technological advantage needed to defend and protect Canada’s interests at home and abroad.

By: Bobbi Jo Bradley, DRDC - Suffield Research Centre

Photo: Mike Franz.

Scott Cairns is pictured here in 2007 at the Suffield Research Centre during one of his last CBRN training exercises as a DRDC chemist. Photo: Ted Ostrowski, Suffield Research Centre.

Page 35

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PUZZLE Across 1- Sheer fabric 6- Building additions 10- Metallica drummer Ulrich 14- President Garfield’s middle name 15- Gather, harvest 16- Tons 17- Paris “thanks” 18- River to the Ubangi 19- Garment of ancient Rome 20- End for Siam 21- Shameful 24- Reigning 26- Indonesian cigarette 27- Corroded 28- Met highlights 30- “Goodnight” girl 33- Imitating 34- NFL scores 37- Asta’s mistress 38- As a companion 39- When said three times, a 1970 war movie 40- Isr. neighbor 41- Fire starter 42- Like most movies 43- Recreation 44- Sprinted 45- Severe experience 48- Droopy Page 36

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Down 1- Circus employee 2- Corpulent 3- Like some vbs.

4- Fond du ___ 5- Kuwait, e.g.

6- Blow one’s top 7- Sly look 8- “Le Roi d’Ys” composer 9- Talking 10- Workshop machinery 11- Up in the air 12- Scoundrel 13- Stem 22- Vane dir.

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Crossword puzzles provided by BestCrosswords.com (http:/www.bestcrosswords.com).

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28- Nautical direction 29- Skating area 30- Connections 31- Siegfried’s partner 32- Go astray 33- Chemical used on trees 34- Little one 35- Dr. of rap 36- Melancholic

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our Station in Life

wise man once said “Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” Was it my grandfather? Was it Confucius? I guess it doesn’t even matter. But as I mark my 25th year in the radio industry, join me as I take a step back and reflect on two-and-a-half decades of the media industry in Western Canada. There are three key pivotal moments that have set me on this path.

Pivotal moment # 1: My childhood. One of the most commonly asked questions I get is: ‘When/How did you decide upon radio’?

And my answer to that is, ‘I didn’t decide.

Radio chose me’. And it really did! My very first radio at age 4 was a Charlie Brown & Snoopy AM thing. My parents were constantly changing the 9-volt battery. I’m pretty sure I wore out the dial on that thing flipping between Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Saskatoon, and Medicine Hat stations. I intently listened to the on-air personalities, mimicking their words, and developing my own style that I would someday use on my own radio show. Notice I said “would”, not “might”. It was a direction that simply was meant to be, and no actual decision had to even be made.

Pivotal moment #2: Fast forward ten years to high school. Imagine my excitement to learn that there was actually a RADIO CLUB at school and students could apply to play music on the speaker system before class, and at noon? Are you kidding me? Best school ever! Except one thing…

I missed the cut, and wasn’t selected to join the club. Probably because I was the quietist kid in class, and rarely spoke a word, let alone allowed Page 38

my creative or comedic side to show through. Clearly I needed to allow my personality an outlet to shine… and not being selected for the school radio club was another defining moment! I must prove the leaders of that club wrong!

Pivotal moment #3: My first big break! After finishing my broadcast education, I know that only a select few grads would even land a job in the media. It became clear that IF this was going to work, I needed to make the most of any opportunity that came my way. And when the call came saying the overnight announcer at my local radio station was sick and couldn’t make his show due to illness, I knew that a second chance may never come! I prepped, I practiced, I treated that overnight show like it was a morning drive show in New York City (even though the audience was probably paltry to say the least).

But I must have impressed management because from there, an overnight show became an evening show. Then the afternoon show, and soon stations in other markets would come calling. And it’s been an incredible ride ever since!

So take it from me… no matter what your calling, make the most of any opportunities that come your way. And never be afraid to allow your personality to shine through!

Kim Johnston MY96 Mornings

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