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Meridian Source - June 8, 2023

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Thursday, June 8, 2023

MERIDIANSOURCE.CA

VOLUME 5 I ISSUE 50

Rescue Squad upgrades ROV TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

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The Lloydminster Rescue Squad (LRS) will have a better chance of bringing closure to those missing loved ones in a timely manner with a major upgrade to its underwater exploration equipment. The squad is now the owner of a VideoRay Pro 5, which is manufactured in Pennsylvania and designed to handle missions with size, space, weight, and deployment speed constraints, such as infrastructure inspections beyond the reach of divers, search and recovery, exploring at depths of up to 305m, and various others. The ROV (remotelyoperated vehicle) features three thrusters, roughly 1,000 ft. of tether line, and a rotating manipulating jaw designed to retrieve items in confined or hazardous locations. The ROV’s camera can also be tilted down to focus on the jaw to provide a close view of the operation, an improvement over the squad’s ROV from the ‘90s. The new ROV cost

Seniors seek citywide exemption GEOFF LEE WRITER

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Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

Members of the Lloydminster Rescue Squad’s Sirens Sapphires Gala committee were pleased to unveil the squad’s new underwater ROV, paid for by last year’s gala, last Tuesday night at the Border Inn and Suites.

just shy of $140K and was purchased using funds raised through the squad’s 2022 Sirens and Sapphires Gala. Chief Norm Namur and deputy chief Ryan LeBlanc were like two kids on Christmas morning as they unveiled the new ROV to media on a recent Tuesday night at the Border Inn and Suites prior to a 2023 Sirens and Sapphires committee meeting. “It arrived in Lloyd last night and we’ve officially put it into service, meaning it’s ready for

deployment,” said LeBlanc. “It’s a remotely operated underwater vehicle, so in the event someone has an accident and drowns, or an article from underwater needs to be recovered, we have the capability to do that.” Aside from a major mechanical improvement with VideoRay’s manipulating jaw, LeBlanc explained the technology built into the new unit will be a night and day difference. “It’s an upgrade from what we had before. We

had a Pro 4 and this is a substantial upgrade,” he said. “We’re excited for the new technology, the maneuverability; everything this new one has to offer. With the new technology with the SONAR, camera capability and the manipulating arm it has, we’ll be able to latch on to things underwater.” Chief Namur said he’s very pleased with the new unit and is hoping to try it out in the water within the next week. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

The Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society has a new advocacy fight on its hands. They are seeking a border exemption for the entire city to prevent family stress and related costs when elder relatives are placed temporarily in long-term care spaces out of their community and province. “That’s a real problem having to change health care numbers (and other ID) when persons get placed out of the community in longterm care spaces temporarily,” said Seniors Care Society president Graham Brown. “They would need a change after 90 days and a change back again.” The seniors’ group is teaming up with Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young and newly reelected Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright MLA, Garth Rowswell to fight for change. “We’re trying to get an exemption where that wouldn’t happen

and they would stay a resident of the province they wish to be,” explained Brown. The issue will be noted at the group’s AGM on June 12 at the Legacy Centre. Young says she’s had families come to her who are concerned about placement in long-term care within our community and outside our community on temporary placements. “We know beds are in shortage and they are trying to move people that are ready to move out of acute care beds in the hospital to longterm care placements,” said Young. Young told a recent seniors’ meeting the issue at hand stems from Lloydminster not having enough beds on the Alberta and Saskatchewan side of the city, leading to seniors being placed temporarily out of their province of residence. Young says in some cases, they aren’t coming back as quickly as they should be because there is no bed available. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2


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