Meridian Source - May 9, 2024

Red Dress marchers full of hope

Awareness is the takeaway message of hope from this year’s Red Dress Day march in Lloydminster.

About 200 people took part in the march from City Hall to the Native Friendship Centre on Friday carrying a banner in honour of Missing and Murdered

Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People.

“It’s sombre, but it’s also hopeful. We’re bringing awareness,” said Lori Harris, education coordinator at the friendship centre following a pipe ceremony attended by about 90 people.

“As soon as you bring awareness, it brings

hope for the families who do have someone missing or someone who has passed.”

That is certainly the case for some First Nations students from Holy Rosary High School who came with Cynthia Young, Indigenous program coordinator with the Lloydminster Catholic School Division.

“Lots of them have aunts that have been taken. Lots of them have a purpose to walk,” said Young.

“The more awareness we can provide for our community and society, the more attention there might be on this tragic thing.”

Grade 12 student Zoe Klarenbach has a sister who is a First Nation

student and she came to be more educated about Red Dress issues.

“I really want to learn more about the missing and murdered Indigenous women crisis to help better to support my sisters. It’s important to have solidarity among women,” said Klarenbach.

Red Dress Day, normally celebrated on May 5, is all about hope and healing for Chelsea Dieter from Peepeekisis First Nation in Saskatchewan on Treaty 4 territory.

“I’m here to support the families and the people that are impacted by the missing and murdered Indigenous women and also for myself,” said Dieter.

“I have a sister that passed on in 2013; she was killed and so our family did not get the justice we deserve. I walk with that every day, with that story on my back.”

Dieter marched wearing a red dress and talked about how empowering that is for Indigenous people.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Roughly 200 people took part in the Red Dress Day march from City Hall on Friday to honour missing, murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people. The event kicked off with a pipe ceremony at the Native Friendship Centre.

Hundreds show support on Red Dress Day

FROM PAGE 1

“The symbolism of the red dress is representing those missing and murdered Indigenous women, children,

two-spirited. We wear that in honour of them and to remember them and hope that our families find healing,” she explained.

In 2010, Metis artist Jaime Black did an art installation of red dresses to address the issue of murdered and missing Indigenous women and it “sort of took” according to Harris.

“On that day, you wear red. All the com -

munities around are supporting it by putting on an event so it just has really blossomed from there,” she said.

“Unfortunately, the issue isn’t going away.”

The website, Aboriginal Alert, posts a current list of 93 missing Indigenous people in Canada.

Harris says Red Dress Day is bringing a lot more awareness to the issue.

“That’s kind of what it’s all about,” she said.

Police began their search of the Saskatoon landfill last Wednesday as part of their investigation into the 2020 disappearance of Mackenzie Lee Trottier.

The search is scheduled to last as long as 33 days.

Harris says these landfill searches are controversial but she noted, “You can’t put a price on a life. We need to find these remains.

“I know if it was my loved one I would want it to happen.”

Lloydminster Metis,

Mayme Boyer who made her own red dress, thinks awareness is a big thing and says having a special day for it is very meaningful.

“It means a lot to know there are so many women out there who have been lost and displaced and abused and have no voice. So, as we participate in this, we try to be their voice,” said Boyer.

“This is my first walk and I’ve really been preparing for this because it’s just meant a lot.”

Boyer says she found her culture during COVID and found time to go on YouTube to learn to sew, make beads, and moccasins and find herself.

Red Dress Day is also a reflective time for Michael Collins, manager of Northwest Career Centres Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology who has had some of his family members go missing.

“It’s very near and

dear to my heart,” he said about the day and coping with the loss.

“I guess just like any other loss of a family; you’ve just got to deal with it, do your best, and take those breaths those people can’t.”

“It’s nice there is awareness now it is starting to hit the news and be part of the dayto-day.”

Collins runs a career centre in Lloyd and one in North Battleford where his job coach, Krista Fox is a big advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Her 14-year-old grandson was murdered in Saskatoon in 2020.

“She’s headed to Winnipeg next week for a red dress event there,” said Collins.

Fox plans to join dozens of protestors who have blocked the main road of a landfill north of Winnipeg where some believe the remains of some Indigenous women could be found.

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers was more than happy to show his support on Red Dress Day.

Local artist pens pet-inspired children’s book

Like many pet owners, Jaime Hoffman has a million nicknames for her dog, but instead of concealing them, Hoffman celebrates them, to the point of writing and self-publishing a children’s book she calls Million Name Munson.

Originally published in December of 2023, Million Name Munson takes readers on a rhyming journey through the many names of Edna, Hoffman’s very own nineyear-old Schnauzer.

The Source caught up with Hoffman at the LloydMall on Sunday afternoon during a book signing at Coles to learn more about the book’s inspiration and the author’s process.

“It all started with the number of nicknames I give my dog, which is a lot of them, and the Munson one is the most popular,” said Hoffman.

“I do think of the movie Kingpin when I think of that name, but in the story, I talk about how I started calling her Edna-Mode, like the little old lady from The Incredibles. Then I started saying Modeson, and my brain just went to Munson.”

The final product was a long time coming for Hoffman, who wrote and illustrated the entire book, a process she’s been working on for years.

“It just poured out of me, and I kept it on my phone for a really long time until I had the time to illustrate it. The fact

it’s all done is amazing,” she said.

“I always had the story in the back of my mind and always thought about doing it, but it’s a lot of work, so the fact it got off the ground is exciting.”

“The biggest thing for me is when kids like the story, they like the dog, and when someone tells me Million Name Munson is their child’s favourite book, it’s the best.

Professionally, the full-time artist goes by Uncletim Art, which she explained is an homage to her late uncle.

“Uncle Tim has always been my inspiration,” she said.

“I find when you like being creative and doing art, there’s not a lot of people who like that, and uncle Tim was that one person in my life who always encouraged me and was interested in my ideas and the stuff I could do.”

When it comes to why Hoffman decided on a children’s book, she noted she was heavily influenced by the stuff she read as a kid.

“I think I’m still a kid at heart. I love cartoons, I like bright colours; it’s still something that resonates with me,” she said.

“I still remember the children’s books I loved as a kid and the pictures

inside them, like Where The Wild Things Are. I love to draw, and a children’s book is the perfect pairing of story and illustration; it just fits for me.”

Hoffman also explained the community support since releasing the book has been nothing short of inspiring.

“The biggest thing for me is when kids like the story, they like the dog, and when someone tells me Million Name Munson is their child’s favourite book, it’s the best,” she said.

“I also love reading to schools and showing them examples of how I made all those names, which Edna can act out most of.”

Sunday’s book signing also allowed Hoffman to step out of her comfort zone and do a little selfpromotion.

“I’m trying to make a little more effort to step outside my comfort zone and expose my art to people I don’t know. I find it intimidating to self-promote; I find it embarrassing and have a hard time with it,” she said, adding this may be her one and only children’s book.

“I don’t think I’ll ever write one as special as this unless I keep writing about Edna. This was personal, and it’s a true story.”

Million Name Munson is available locally at Coles in the LloydMall as well as the cousin, Brad’s, 4th Meridian Brewing Company taproom, or online through Amazon and Indigo.

TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

Supplied Photo

Lloydminster artist Jaime Hoffman and her nine-year-old Schnauzer, Edna, were all smiles to get more eyes on Hoffman’s first children’s book, Million Name Munson, which Edna was the inspiration for.

Land acknowledgements losing power

Land acknowledgements regarding Indigenous Treaty territories are becoming meaningless statements about reconciliation without action.

That, in a nutshell sums up the theme of a talk by Tinisha Young, manager of Indigenous Support Services at Lakeland College, during the Rotary Club of Lloydminster’s Monday luncheon.

“Today at Rotary I’m going to talk about the power of being genuine and authentic and how to do a land acknowledgement from the heart,” said Young before stepping up to the podium.

She notes, however, some people truly believe they are doing a land acknowledgement.

“We’re just trying to

change what that looks like right now,” she said.

She told Rotary she’s been hearing the land acknowledgement conversation for two years.

“Elders are saying they shouldn’t be read anymore. You should just know whose land you’re on,” said Young.

She says at Lakeland College, they asked Indigenous students what reconciliation means to them, what could they be doing and what they heard is, reconciliation is trendy.

“There’s lots of corporate people jumping on this trend of reconciliation—it’s got no power behind it anymore,” said Young.

“It’s just something corporate people do to cross off that they’re doing the 94 Calls to Action because that’s one of them.”

Young told Rotary a lot of elders say the 94 Calls to Action is the absolute bare minimum organizations should be doing.

“

Elders are saying they shouldn’t be read anymore. You should just know whose land you’re on.

“If you’re only crossing off two or three, you’re not actively seeking reconciliation,” she said.

Young asked all Rotarians to stand up while she led them in a visual demonstration of what a land acknowledgement means to her.

She asked everyone to imagine what this

land looked like 100 years ago, 500 years ago and 1,000 years ago.

“Maybe you can see kookums (grandmothers in Cree) caring for their grandchildren, maybe you can see a teepee village and their caring for each other....” she asked as she led the group back to the present.

“What does it look like now? Can you still hear us laughing? Can you still hear our language ...”

The exercise ended with Young giving her own heartfelt land acknowledgement, having lived all of her life in Lloydminster with cultural ties to Treaty 5 people in Saskatchewan.

“I’m a Turtle Island (Earth) original and I acknowledge my urban upbringing and where my ancestors come from. My relations are from Cumberland House First Nation in Treaty 5 and I also acknowledge that I live and work in Treaty 6 and Metis Region 2,” said Young.

Young also read Lakeland’s land acknowledgement that was created by three members of the Indigenous Student Committee in 2022. She says there are currently 339 selfdeclared Indigenous students at Lakeland with support services for them in academics, wellness, resources and culture.

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Geoff Lee Meridian Source Tinisha Young, manager of Indigenous support services at Lakeland College, spoke about the need for heartfelt, authentic land acknowledgements at the Rotary Club of Lloydminster’s Monday lunch.

Red Bicycle steers towards award

Red Bicycle Communications almost blew a tire over the excitement of being selected as a finalist for a top business award from the Alberta Chambers of Commerce.

The Lloydminster marketing firm was thrilled to learn it is in contention with two other firms for the 2024 Alberta Business Awards of Distinction in the Mentorship Award of Distinction category on Friday.

“This recognition by the Alberta Chambers of Commerce is a great honour for our organization,” said Red Bicycle owner and brand strategist, Jill Kelly in a statement.

As a finalist for the Mentorship Award of Distinction category, Red Bicycle is also eligible for the prestigious Alberta Best of Business Award of Distinction.

The award winners will be announced on June 20 at the Edmonton International Airport, but win or not, Kelly is grateful for the recognition.

Red Bicycle is the only Lloydminster business to be selected as a finalist.

“This acknowledgement underscores the significance of our commitment to mentorship, particularly in supporting women in busi -

ness,” said Kelly. “As a woman-owned and operated business ourselves, we understand the pivotal role that mentorship plays in breaking down barriers and fostering an inclusive entrepreneurial landscape.”

Red Bicycle earned the Small Business of the Year award from the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards in 2022.

Kelly’s company also sponsors the Business Woman of the Year award in keeping with its goal to empower women entrepreneurs.

“By providing mentorship opportunities and resources tailored to the unique challenges women face in the business world, we not only empower individual entrepreneurs but also fuel economic growth on a larger scale,” explained Kelly.

“When women succeed in business, they reinvest in their communities, create jobs, and drive innovation, ultimately benefiting society as a whole.”

In Canada, 98 per cent of all businesses are small businesses but only 17.7 per cent of those are womenowned in 2024, up from 16 per cent in 2021.

“Empowering women to become entrepreneurs not only helps women rise, but it helps

our local, provincial and national economy as well,” said Kelly.

“Red Bicycle is proud to be part of this journey, and we remain committed to championing women’s entrepreneurship and mentorship to build a stronger, more vibrant economy for all.”

Red Bicycle is launching an inaugural Women in Business event on June 4 at the Centennial Civic Centre highlighting existing women-owned businesses with networking opportunities.”

The event will run from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30

p.m. with tickets for just $57.31 per person or $292.14 for a corporate table of six, including taxes and fees.

There will also be a panel of former finalists and recipients of the Business Woman of the Year and three minipresentations with a keynote talk by Mindy Hawthorne from Brixton Shoes.

The event comes on the heels of Red Bicycle providing free marketing consultation services to any entrepreneurial-minded woman during International Women’s Day celebrations in March.

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Photo courtesy of Yellow Finch Images Jill Kelly, owner and brand strategist of Red Bicycle Communications, is thrilled her company is a finalist for Alberta’s Chamber of Commerce Mentorship Award, to be named on June 20.

Energy hub promotes PCL trades

PCL Construction, the builder of the Cenovus Energy Hub arena in Lloydminster, checked off two goals at this year’s Try-A-Trade Career Expo.

The event was an opportunity for PCL reps to promote trades

they employ to students at the Lloyd Ex on April 30 while providing a project update.

“We’re kind of showing them everything from engineers to electricians, ironworkers and carpenters,” said PCL’s on-site superintendent, Carl Doell.

He says carpenters

are the top need right now for PCL projects like the Energy Hub.

Doell sai d they currently have carpenters, electricians, plumbers as well as earthwork guys and civil underground guys working on the project.

PCL is building a main arena with seat -

ing lot done this year as well with available manpower.

“We were up to 60 plus folks; we’ve got it crewed down a little bit now, but as the subtrades come on, I’m anticipating 150 people on site,” said Doell.

He notes PCL is always looking for tradespeople and he had a message for students who dropped by the PCL trades booth.

“I think a lot of students don’t understand or maybe haven’t had the opportunity to know what is exactly involved in the trades, where they can start and how they can grow their careers,” said Doell.

ing for up to 2,500 people, a second fullsize ice surface with seating for 300 to 500 people, and a third ice surface outdoors, directly adjacent to the building.

The groundbreaking took place last August with an expected completion by the fall of 2025.

“It’s coming along. Right now, all the major concrete is almost done and we’re getting to stand up structural steel within about a week, so you’ll really see the building come to life in the next few days,” said Doell last Tuesday.

He says they also have civil underground work going on and hope to have the park -

“They don’t always have to be field orientated. They can move up the ladder to be superintendent and project manager and those types of things.”

Doell also says several women superintendents work with PCL.

“I ’ve worked with a number of them closely myself and we want everyone to try the trades,” he said.

Project coordinator, Kolby Rea, was on hand to show interested students a 3D model of how the project is completed and another model of how the building goes together with all the structural steel components.

Rea’s message to students is to just encourage them to explore all

the different paths in the trades.

“There’s a lot of different options as Carl mentioned from being in the field learning hands-on, or learning the other side of it too, like project management and estimating and putting those projects together that way as well,” he said.

As a project coordinator, Rea deals with a lot of the sub-trades, getting them signed up to some contracts and understanding their scope of work on the estimating side of things.

“So putting the budgets together and then going ahead with the owner on those budgets for approval,” he explained.

“We need more people like Kolby as well,” added Doell.

This is PCL’s second year at Try-A-Trade with some of their local contractors also taking part to interest students in the trades.

“We’re able to work with a lot of local folks—Precision (Contractors) over there— and we engage quite a bit with those people,” said Doell from his booth.

“When we came to the site we made a very strong effort to work with local contractors and the local vendors in Lloydminster, so that’s been a big focus of ours,” he said.

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Carl Doell, left superintendent of PCL Construction building the Cenovus Energy Hub, chats with a student about the trades during the Try-A-Trade Career Expo at Lloyd Ex on April 30. In the background is a video of the construction site in Lloydminster.

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

A lasting legacy at the crest of the hill

In the sprawling plains of Marwayne, Alta, where the land meets the sky with an unyielding embrace, there exists a testament to dedication, resilience, and the enduring spirit of family.

A t the crest of a hill, overlooking their domain from all directions, Marvin and Deb George have crafted a legacy that transcends mere farming and ranching; it is a story of passion, perseverance, and boundless love for the land.

The journey of Hillcrest Ranch Ltd. began in 1978 when Marvin and Deb embarked on their shared dream of ranching and farming. Their operation, aptly named for its geographic advantage, started with a blend of

cattle and farmland, with a vision to sustain their livelihood through hard work, determination, and a touch of pragmatism.

While Marvin tended to the cattle and horses, Deb, with her career as an x-ray technician, provided the essential support to keep their dream afloat.

The early years were marked by challenges, as is often the case with pioneering endeavours. Yet, armed with a thirst for knowledge and fueled by their collective experiences, the Georges weathered the storms of uncertainty and emerged stronger, wiser, and more resilient. As their family grew, so too did their aspirations.

Two sons, Garth and Blaine, became the

torchbearers of their parents’ legacy, each carving their path while staying true to the values instilled in them by Marvin and Deb.

Garth, the elder son, ventured beyond the confines of the ranch to pursue a career in flying. However, the call of the land proved

too strong to resist, and he soon found himself drawn back to the roots of his upbringing. Armed with new -

found knowledge and a fresh perspective, Garth embraced farming, breathing new life into the family legacy. Supplied Photo

Garth, Deb, Blaine and Marvin George pictured on the family farm. CONTINUED

Locals top Sask Ag scholarship list

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

On Monday, students in Saskatchewan pursuing post-secondary education in agriculture were awarded scholarships from the federal and provincial governments, including two students from the Border City.

Soon-to-be Holy Rosary High School graduate and recent Lions Club Jr. Citizen of the Year recipient,

Blaine, on the other hand, inherited his parents’ passion for cattle, seamlessly integrating himself into the fabric of second-generation ranching.

Together with his partner, Erika, he oversees the operations of a thriving commercial

Marleigh Mann, was awarded $6,000 toward her post-secondary studies as the grand prize recipient. Mann’s essay highlighted the future of sustainable agriculture, promoting innovation, adaptability and the overall vitality of the industry. Furthermore, it advocated for building public trust and transparency through educational opportunities such as farm tours and social

cow herd while venturing into the realm of purebred breeding—a testament to the Georges’ commitment to innovation and adaptation in an ever-evolving industry.

Indeed, the path of farming and ranching is fraught with challenges, from the capri -

media campaigns surrounding sustainable agricultural practices.

Mann sees the agriculture industry heading in a positive direction.

“I really believe agriculture is going to continue to thrive and I’ve already seen that in my own community,” she said. “We have a big world to feed and sustainable agriculture practices will keep getting better. The future certainly is bright.”

cious whims of weather to the relentless march of technological progress.

Yet, through it all, the Georges have remained steadfast in their resolve, finding solace and strength in the unwavering support of their family and community.

Clare Wever, who is also from the Border City, Katie Moyle from Hanley and Madalynn Anderson from Rosetown were all awarded

As they reflect on a lifetime spent in harmony with the land, the Georges offer sage advice to those who dare to follow in their footsteps: cherish the bonds of family, embrace the relentless pursuit of knowledge, and above all, never shy away from hard work. For it is through

Supplied

Photo

$3,000 as the runnersup. All of the recipients will be attending postsecondary at the University of Saskatchewan in the fall at the College of Agriculture and Bioresources. Their fields of study will range from animal health and welfare to agribusiness and agricultural sciences.

the crucible of adversity that true resilience is forged, and it is in the embrace of loved ones that life’s greatest joys are found.

In honouring Marvin George as our Cattleman of the Month, we pay tribute not only to his remarkable achievements but also to the enduring spirit of fam -

ily, community, and the timeless bond between mankind and the land “lending a hand, receiving a hand.”

As the sun sets over the rolling hills of Hillcrest Ranch, one cannot help but marvel at the legacy that Marvin and Deb have built—a legacy that will endure for generations to come.

CATTLEMAN FROM PAGE 7

Try-A-Trade works as advertised

The annual bi-provincial Try-A-Trade Career Expo is not showing any signs of rust.

The 12th edition of the event, held on April 30, managed to attract more than 1,600 students from regional schools in Saskatchewan and Alberta as usual to take in the trades demos and exhibitors.

Try-A-Trade is also open to the general public and home-schooled youth.

“It’s still going great,” said lead organizer Dorothy Carson, executive director of the Lloydminster Construction Association.

“We have overwhelming support from the school divisions as well as employers. The trades are in more demand than ever and there are lots of employers who are looking for skilled trades.”

Stan Bugiera, an apprenticeship and industry training officer with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training, can attest to that.

“We have a responsibility to promote trades and assist apprentices,” he said.

“We do talks at schools and we go to industry and help the employers get apprentices going because we’re so short of trades right now.”

Bugiera says Try-ATrade is all about try -

E.S. Laird Middle School’s Samih Afgan tried out some virtual reality technology at Try-A-Trade on April 30 with help from Daniel Cronan, a marketing rep with the Regina Work Prep Centre.

ing to plant the seed in the minds of younger students to consider a career in the trades.

“Industry is just crying for tradespeople (including women),” he said.

“Basically, you can get a journeyman certificate for free with the grants and so forth as opposed to the student debt you get going to university.”

Trevor Malone, a pumping unit service field supervisor with Weatherford, was out to show how many different trades and openings exist with their artificial lift systems.

“When you come to work at Weatherford and artificial lifts, we have four different apprenticeship programs you could pursue,” he said.

Those are for apprenticeship millwrights, boom truck operators,

electricians and welders.

“We’re always looking for entry-level or experienced tradespeople. We need workers to satisfy customer demands,” said Malone.

To attract the eye of students, Weatherford set up a model of its Rotaflex long-stroke oil pumping unit and one pump jack at its booth.

Quick and simple was all about the hammer and nail demo using a wood beam provided by Lakeland College.

Carpentry instructor Curtis Cassibo thinks Try-A-Trade “opens your eyes on careers that are out there,” as he put it.

“With everything happening in technology today, we need lots of people with hands-on skills. It’s great for the kids to come out and see this.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Thursday, May 9, 2024

MERIDIAN SOURCE

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OP-ED: DO WHAT I SAY; NOT WHAT I DO

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Apparently, we live in an age where it is perfectly fine to judge other people’s actions, wave condescending fingers and virtue-signal when others do things we find objectionable or not in line with our view of what life should be. But heaven help us if anyone else should point out our own inconsistencies and call us out for actions we criticize in others.

and easily understood. It seems to boil down to a basic lack of respect for the inherent differences between the various regions in terms of heritage, culture and practice which are viewed as needing correction and direction by an all-knowing, superior “Eastern Elite.”

ter of municipal affairs

Ric McIver claim to know what is best for the dramatically diverse municipal circumstances and situations within the province, their proposed Bill 20 gives the UCP cabinet powers that are potentially draconian in their application to municipalities, such as ours.

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It’s bad enough when we do it on a personal level, but when governments make it a daily activity it’s time to draw a line.

I am in full support of provincial premiers calling out Ottawa’s overreach into provincial jurisdiction. Sections 91 and 92 of the Constitution are in clear and simple language

However, when our own provincial government decides to pull the same unilateral, uninvited, arbitrary intrusion into municipal affairs under the guise of protecting us from federal overreach it’s incredibly hard to swallow. Talk about changing lanes without signalling!

Sadly and unfortunately, they have the constitutional authority to do just that.

While Premier Danielle Smith and minis -

If one of our councillors were to have the temerity to criticize a government member, or potentially their own UCP MLA, the cabinet could potentially remove that councillor.

The rationale provided by Smith and McIver as reported in a number of news articles is convoluted at best. At a recent news conference, Smith was quoted as saying, “We want to make sure that

municipalities are not creeping into provincial jurisdiction, and that they are not enacting policy and then are upset with the kind of policies that we’re trying to implement at the provincial level. What we’ve observed is that the federal government is attempting to do a variety of workarounds to get their agenda passed, which may be in conflict with what it is that we want to do as a province.”

While I agree the feds are playing games with the strings they attach to their funding to municipal governments, and that needs to stop, my question is: If the province blocks grant funding from the feds, are they prepared to fund the shortfall?

- Darrell Dunn

Blaine Stephan, coowner of Guardian Plumbing and Heating had a whole bunch of demos going as usual and students eager to give them a try.

“We’ve got our soldering display and our ABS pipe gluing display,” said Stephan.

“We’ve got our sewer camera here teaching kids about the technology plumbing and heating has to offer, and maybe getting them excited about something they never knew about before.”

Stephan thinks the trades’ demos are really important and he’s been doing them every year.

“Most people don’t have a clue what we do and so this is a way for them to get their hands on and take some of the fear out of it,” he said.

Premier Danielle Smith.

Opinion

Leeway from Lloyd: Lloyd becomes magnetic

Lloydminster is poised for a string of economic booms starting with the maintenance turnaround of the Cenovus Upgrader on May 15.

This is a seven-week turnaround that will have around 4,000 contractors in town spending money on hotels, motels, room and house rentals, restaurants etc.

It will also mean more traffic in town, but honk and wave, since these out-of-town workers will drop a lot of coin in the city while increasing the efficiency of the Upgrader.

There are also a lot of construction projects taking place in the city

to keep the economic boost going throughout the rest of the year with the big ticket project being the Cenovus Energy Hub arena.

Should the proposed Costco warehouse project go ahead, there could be a lot more crews in the city for months on end.

H undreds of people will also pour into Lloyd for the upcoming Ribfest funder for Border City Connects transportation services from June 14-16 at the Lloyd Ex.

The 16th annual Just Kruzin Show ‘n Shine car show will also draw in loads of vehicle enthusiasts to the Servus Sports Centre on June 16. Good luck trying to find a parking spot for that event. There will also be a ton of local and

national visitors and music fans in Lloydminster for the upcoming Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards at Vic Juba Community Theatre on June 20-22.

As the host city of the Saskatchewan Summer Games from July 21-27 more than 2,000 athletes, coaches etc will be in Lloyd to fill up hotels and motels.

In September Lloydminster will also host the 2024 oil show at Lloyd Ex that will also draw a lot of national and international visitors to the city. It seems there are recreational and cultural events taking place just about every weekend in Lloydminster in 2024, which bodes well for the local economy.

The downside of

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Cards, games, food, meetings and live music

BINGO IS BACK!

Bingo is back at the Moose Lodge every Monday and Wednesday. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and play starts at 7 p.m. Must be 18 to play.

Rummage Craft Sale

A Rummage and Craft sale will be held at the Moose Hall on Friday May 10 from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturday May 11 from

ESTHETICS HOME

EYE CARE

8 a.m. until 3 p.m. There are multiple vendors selling their wares. Room is still available for anyone interested in renting a table. Contact Susan at 780-872-1871 for more information.

Supper/Dance

@ The Legacy

The Legacy Centre is hosting a supper and dance on May 10. Doors open and dancin’ at 5 p.m., supper served at 6 p.m., then dance the night away to the tunes of Memory Lane (Lloydminster). ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY! $25/ person; please purchase tickets by noon on May 9. All members and guests welcome! Call the Legacy office at 780-875-4584 for more.

Mastering Reels and TikTok

This two part Reel/ Tik Tok course gives you every tip and trick to grow your audience, and blow up on social media platforms. Day one is scheduled for May 16 from 6-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $64.17 plus tax and available through Eventbrite.

For more information, visit Eventbrite.com

Spades Tourney

The Legacy is hosting a Spades Tournament on May 16. Play begins at 10 a.m., cost is $10. Lunch is available for $12/person. Everyone welcome! Call the Legacy office at 780-8754584 for more.

Classified @ The Civic Canadian rapper and record producer Classified will be live at the Centennial Civic Centre on May 18. Tickets are $45 and available through Eventbrite.

Cribbage Doubles Tourney

The Legacy Centre is hosting a cribbage doubles tournament on May 23, bring a partner for some friendly competition around the table. Play begins at 10 a.m., cost is $10, lunch is available for $12. Everyone welcome! Call the Legacy office at 780-875-4584 for more.

Notorious Football Camp

Welcome to the

Notorious Youth Football Camp! Join us on May 25 for a day of intensive training and skill development led by experienced coaches and CFL alumni, including Shawn Gore, Junior Turner and Adrian Clarke. The cost is $81.21 plus tax and tickets are available through Eventbrite. The training day will take at Holy Rosary High School and will be moved indoors if the weather isn’t cooperating. For more information, check out the event’s Facebook page.

Border City Métis Society AGM

The Border City Métis Society’s annual general meeting is being held on June 2 at 2 p.m. in the auditorium at the Border City Aboriginal Head Start Program, 5009–48 Ave. Memberships are due; lunch will be served.

69th Annual Lea Park Rodeo

The 69th Annual Lea Park Rodeo will be held on June 7 at 6:30 p.m. and June 8-9 at 1 p.m. with the dance in the

Marwayne Arena to follow at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Win a 2024 Dodge 3/4 ton. Truck tickets are $100. Call 780205-9010 or 306-8216352 for more details.

Hotel California at The Vic Juba VaughnCo Entertainment is excited to bring the original Eagles tribute, Hotel California, to the Vic Juba Community Theatre on Sept. 20 for a 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $60 each and available online or at the theatre’s box office. Call 780-8727400 for more info.

Taylor Swift Tribute

The Vic Juba Community Theatre is excited to bring a Taylor Swift Tribute featuring Katy Ellis to the Border City on Wednesday, Nov. 13 for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $39 each and are available online or at the theatre’s box office. Call 780-8727400 for more info.

- Have something you’d like listed in our community calendar? Email it to taylor@ meridiansource.ca

Kindersley RCMP lay charges after fatal

On April 27 at roughly 5 a.m., Kindersley RCMP received a report of a collision on Railway Avenue in Kindersley.

Officers responded and located an injured cyclist, who was declared deceased by EMS at the scene. He

has been identified as a 21-year-old from Kindersley. His family has been notified and victim services made available to them.

The driver of the involved vehicle did not remain at the scene. He was located and arrested at a residence in Kindersley approximately an

hour later.

As a result of investigation, 20-year-old William Jones of Kindersley is charged with:

- one count, operation of a conveyance while impaired causing death, Section 320.14(3), Criminal Code;

- one count, operation of a conveyance with a

collision

blood alcohol concentration equal to or exceeding 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood causing death, Section 320.13(3), Criminal Code; and - one count, failure to stop for a collision causing death, Section 320.15(3), Criminal Code. He is scheduled to appear in court May 21.

TODAY’S WOMAN 2024

From local business owners to community volunteers, CEOs, and beyond, these remarkable women make us proud to call Lloydminster home.

Lisa Spence Page 10

Karla Whiting Page 15

Patricia Brockhoff Page 9

Olivia Amber Blyan Page 14

Carrie Pollard Page 8

Pam Beznoska Page 13

Cynthia Young Page 7

Lola Palik Page 12

Deanna Wandler Page 5

Krista Holden Page 11

A career in community under a new umbrella

This lovely lady needs absolutely zero introduction.

Perhaps it’s because she’s always been known as “Gail and Jim Hohne’s daughter,” or maybe it’s due to the fact she’s worked at and been the face of community newspapers in the Border City for over 25 years, whatever the reason, people like Deanna Wandler are pillars in the community, something the world needs more of.

Born and raised in the Border City, “Dee” got her start in the newspaper industry when the Meridian Booster’s then-owner, Byron Keebaugh, sought her out for a job in graphic design, which quickly turned into a sales position, and the rest is history.

With dreams of becoming an interior designer, Wandler took a year off after high school, but being a homebody, post-secondary education in Vancouver wasn’t in the cards at the time.

“I worked at our local IGA grocery store after high school and that’s where I heard about available positions for a graphic designer and reporter at the paper,”

she said.

“That’s where the work in the newspaper industry began, and I believe that was in 1994. The Source’s current publisher, Reid Keebaugh, his dad, Byron, owned the paper then and helped me get started.”

Byron sold the Booster to the Sun Media Network in 1995 but Wandler stayed on board for a decade selling newspapers, it was through these 10 years of selling that she really became a part of the community.

“Reid phoned me in 2005 asking if I wanted to come work with him and his team on this new paper they were thinking of starting,” she said.

“I wasn’t a huge fan of the corporate newspaper world as there were more restrictions on things like sponsorships, etc., and I loved the idea of being a locally owned community newspaper.”

Wandler started working with Keebaugh and the team at the Lloydminster Source in June 2005, with the first issue printing on Sept. 1, 2005.

“It was a great experience starting with something new,” she said.

“I kept selling newspapers and then Reid asked to me manage the sales team, and I was invited to become a shareholder in the company not long after that.”

Wandler also played an integral role in building up the client base for Reid and Wright Advertising, another one of Keebaugh’s businesses.

“I got as involved in the community as I could through those years,” she said. “I love the community. It’s my passion.”

During her years with the Lloydminster Source and Meridian Source , Wandler brought fresh ideas to the table, including the publication’s Today’s Women feature, something we at the Source are proud to continue in her absence.

Speaking of community, through her connections, Wandler was one of the founders of Lloyd’s annual Here Comes Santa Claus Day, she currently sits on the Lloydminster Rescue Squad’s Sirens and Sapphires Gala board, and has been heavily involved in the Lori Craven Memorial Ball Tournament since its inception.

After 28 years in the busi -

ness, Wandler decided it was time for a change, with Nov. 30, 2023, marking her last day with the publication.

“I needed a bit of a change. Losing both of my parents made me realize life is short. I was really nervous to look at something different because I love the community and the people I worked with, but it was time for a change.”

Photo courtesy of Sierrah Bennett Media

Being as actively involved as possible

Wandler lost her mom on March 9, 2016, with her dad passing on April 26, 2023.

“I truly believe newsprint is still a valuable asset, and I love watching businesses succeed, so I think that’s where the marketing thing came in,” she said.

“I always had a passion for helping businesses thrive, which is how Umbrella Marketing was born.”

Through Umbrella Marketing, Wandler still gets to fill her cup via community involvement while being her own boss. She’s also got her

sisters, Ashley Miazga and Carmen Brown, on board with the business.

“Ashley came on board and is carrying a lot of her own clients in helping them out.

She’s a part of the umbrella team,” she said.

“Carmen knows the administrative world and does my invoicing and stuff outside of her regular day job.”

With family always playing a major role in her life, Wandler explained running her own business which involved her siblings has been a long time coming.

“That was always my

dream. My family comes first, and we have such a great connection between all my siblings, and involving my family as much as I can means so much,” she said.

“My kids even help me with the business, so you might see them out this summer taking pictures and things like that. It’s a real family affair.”

When she’s not helping local businesses grow their client base, Wandler is active in the community, getting involved in as many events as possible.

“I’ve always been passion -

ate when it came to fundraisers and events,” she said.

“I love designing, I love planning, and I get all of that from my mother; she was a great planner and loved putting on events and parties.

“That’s another aspect of Umbrella Marketing, it’s not just marketing; we’re also going to play a role in local fundraising.”

Whether it was the Moose Lodge, or the local bowling world, Wandler feels fortunate to have grown up as an active member of the community, something she credits her parents for.

“Mom and dad were a big part of the community growing up. I know people have to spread their wings and grow, but Lloyd will always be home for me,” she said, noting the community support she’s received since starting her own business has been immense.

“People come to me and ask what I’m doing now because they want to support me, which is amazing.”

As a mom, Wandler raised her two daughters and two stepkids, who she considers her own, and stays very busy

through their various sports and extracurricular activities.

“My oldest daughter is going to England in November to teach for a year and my second oldest has a year left in Saskatoon for addictions counselling and she’ll be working at Residents in Recovery this summer helping with programming,” she said. Wandler will certainly be missed within the walls of the Source.

“As you embark on a new chapter after 20 incredible years of service, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude,” said publisher Reid Keebaugh.

“Your dedication, expertise, and friendship have been invaluable, not only in managing our sales but in every interaction we’ve shared over the years. Your professionalism and unwavering support have made a lasting impact, and I’m truly grateful for the guidance and friendship you’ve provided. Here’s to celebrating your remarkable achievements and looking forward to watching your next chapter unfold. Thank you for everything.”

Photo courtesy of Sierrah Bennett Media

Indigenous coordinator dedicated to truth

Cynthia Young is truly passionate about her culture and her job, which tie together perfectly.

As the Lloydminster Catholic School Division’s Indigenous Coordinator, Young provides Indigenous education to students at six schools in Lloyd.

When she’s not in the classroom sharing her teachings, she’s out on the land.

“I’m totally an outdoors person. I love to be on the land. I’m a gatherer, so I gather my food still.

“Ducks, geese, and moose are my main staple foods from the land,” said Young, adding she also enjoys fishing.

She and her husband, Michael, have been married for 28 years, and have two grown children and two grandchildren.

“They’re both very strong in their culture. We raised them that way, from when they were little. Same with our grandkids,” said Young.

“Our grandkids come with us all the time when we’re hunting, fishing, gathering.”

She has been with the Catholic school division for 22 years, and teaching about her Cree culture is always

something she’s been enthusiastic about.

“I had a dream I would teach Cree from pre-K to grade 12. And it wasn’t that long ago that dream came true; when I taught Pre-Ks how to count to 10, in Cree,” said Young.

“I love that I can teach people the best things about my culture.”

She said working with children is amazing because of their curiosity and openminded nature. She often brings in hides, furs, and many other hands-on learning tools to help them truly understand Indigenous teachings.

“I love their eagerness to learn, and I love that they’re so wanting to experience the world, and they’re so open.

“Children of today are way more open than we were allowed to be when we were young.”

She said they aren’t afraid to ask questions and speak what’s on their mind, which can sometimes be very interesting.

“Funny moments? I had furs in a clear bag and a young pre-K said to me ‘Mrs. Young, there’s something

wrong with your cats!’” she laughed.

Young is dedicated to ensuring she speaks the truth in teaching about Indigenous culture, and kids can always come to her with questions or just to talk.

“I always say Father, Creator pray for me because I’m guiding all these kids,” adding there are six schools with no less than 400 students attending each one.

“All these kids are coming to me for the answers for Indigenousness. So I make sure I’m telling the truth, and I stand by the truth.”

She says one of the best memories of her time as an Indigenous coordinator was when they were honoured with the Eagle Staff.

“Whenever we have the drums, those are the times when I’m just—like this is what we needed,” said Young.

“This is what needs to be taught in every school so people understand the Indigenous history. Just an understanding of where we’ve come from, because we have two gaps. There’s two generations where we missed the teachings.”

She said her children and

grandchildren are helping keep those teachings going as well. Growing up, they were often with their mom so they learned the teachings from a young age.

“My children went to the school as well. So it made it very nice for them to have a grounding, and to be able to start teaching their own teachings as well,

“Now they’re the knowledge carriers, carrying on our traditions, and soon my granddaughter will be the same way. She is a jingle dress dancer.”

Young says it’s very important for children to learn about where they came from,

in order to move forward.

“We always talk about that center tree, where our roots are and where we’ve come from, and how we grow.

That’s an important part.

“That’s the biggest thing for kids. They need to know who they are, where they’ve come from, and what it means to be who they are.”

Young said her husband Michael has also been a huge supporter of her work.

“I’m very fortunate that my husband is very supportive.

“Culturally, in anything we do—he’s right beside me. We live our culture every day, practise our culture every day.”

Pollard says positivity is key

Lloydminster Legacy Centre administrator Carrie Pollard loves to see people smile.

For nearly 17 years she and her team have been providing a fun, social experience for local seniors.

“They’re just so fun to be around, and of course, this place is where they come to have fun, right? Seniors are very into socializing, just

sitting and visiting,” adding that she has learned a lot from them over the years.

“It’s an awesome job. Every day there’s a different thing going on and people are always here to have fun and it’s a very upbeat place to work, for sure.”

Pollard was born and raised in Lloydminster and raised her two kids here as well. She says Lloyd is a

great place to call home.

“I know so many people, and there’s lots to do in Lloydminster.

“Doesn’t matter where you go, you run into somebody you know. It’s a great place to live.”

When she’s not at work she enjoys hanging out with friends and going to the lake, but she does spend a fair bit of time at the Centre because

there’s always something going on there.

“All the events that we have are stuff they like to do and we always have coffee and cookies and all that kind of stuff,” said Pollard.

“The social aspect is really important, especially since the pandemic. It took a long time for them to all come out but now they’re just out there.”

She says she has witnessed a lot of changes in the way seniors do things, over the years.

“I’ve seen a big change because they’re seniors that come here mostly and so they pass on and the younger seniors coming up are much more open to change.

“When I first started here, change was something that people did not like. And as I get older, I don’t like change either,” she laughed.

She said although many seniors are quite proficient in using a certain degree of the new technology there are still some who need a bit of help.

“The older ones, they don’t have the technology, a lot of them. And information and stuff is so hard for them to get now because everything is online,” she said.

One of the most important things that Pollard strives to do in her work is to keep things positive.

“Stay positive and upbeat and enjoy life. Don’t get down on everything that’s going on in the world. I try to keep everybody positive, I guess, is the big thing,” she said.

Helping deliver smiles around the clock

Not many people can say they’ve held down the same job for 25 years, Lloydminster’s Patricia Brockhoff, however, can say just that.

Born and raised in the Border City, Brockhoff has been the office manager at Wayside Dental for 25 years, a position she has loved since the very beginning.

“The best part of my day is helping people, and of course, that’s everybody’s lame answer, but I mean it,” she said.

“That includes everybody at Wayside, our staff, our patients. I love making sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

“At the end of the day, knowing I did my best to help others do their best fills my cup.”

When she’s not steering the ship in the right direction at Wayside, she’s an active member of the community through various nonprofits and charitable organizations, as well as being a mom to Olivia, who’s nearing the end of post-secondary studies in Saskatoon.

“I lucked out when I got Liv. She’s is an amazing

human being,” she said.

“I’m a big believer in setting your kids up with life skills, and I’m not just talking about how to make a grilled cheese and do their laundry. Although she did do her laundry from Grade 2 on because I thought, if you can work an iPad, you can work a washing machine,” she added with a laugh.

Brockhoff has always tried to be the best role model she could for Liv, something she learned from her mom and grandmother growing up.

“My mom is amazing, my grandma is amazing. I come from a long line of very strong, independent women,” she said.

“There’s nothing my mom can’t do. She loves strong and firmly. And my grandma, same, a strong, independent woman. She’s 96 years old and still lives on the farm.”

Over the years, Brockhoff has learned a lot through community involvement, namely, you get out what you put in.

“I think the more time you spend putting your heart and soul into your community, the more it comes back

to you, the more people you know, the more you get a feel for the people that you live and work beside. It puts life into the community,” she said.

Looking at her volunteerism CV, Brockhoff has been involved with the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation committee, Special Olympics, the Bike For Breakfast fundraisers, and Lloyd’s Connecting Parents Supporting Families, to name a few.

“Connecting Parents is a non-profit about making connections and building fellowship within our community,” she said.

“We do a lot of outreach and put on events for the groups of people that don’t normally attend things. We invite people from Residents in Recovery or places like that to attend or have information nights where we talk about mental health, or support your kids while they struggle with certain things, anxiety, ADHD, things like that.” Brockhoff’s non-profit work has spanned the Globe through various well projects in countries like Nicaragua and Guatemala, which are

also often paired with international dental aid missions.

“We would raise enough money to drill water wells in these countries. It’s amazing to see what the community is capable of in a short period of time,” she said.

On top of everything she already does, Brockhoff also works seasonal gigs wrapping Christmas presents in the winter and deadheading flowers in the summer with local businesses such as Home Hardware.

Spence leaves lasting impression

“ Always be kind, put a smile on.”

there for a chat as well.

“The kids. I always call them my kids. I like to hear about their day, I like to hear about what they’re doing outside of school,” said Spence.

“I mean, of course, we have some tough conversations, but usually we have some very open and honest conversations. A lot of kids need that.”

She also looks after some of the elite hockey players from outside of Saskatchewan who billet in Lloyd, making sure they have the proper credits for when they return to their home schools.

“This year we had probably 25 kids who billeted. With that brings its own challenges,” she said, adding she’s very familiar with the billeting process, as her daughter Alex billeted while playing elite hockey for three years.

as well.”

She and her husband Bill have always supported their two children, throughout their athletic journeys.

“It’s funny, we reflect on that now, as we get older. My kids are 25 and 22. I mean, life has gotten less busy but I still follow both my kids in their sports, so I’m still busy that way.

“But now I think I probably put more into my kids at school, and I like to go to watch their sports as well— especially hockey.”

Being active is a very important part of Spence’s life as well.

“My outings, when I need a break, is I like to run and go to the gym. My husband golfs, I tell him I’d rather go for a run,” she said.

Another thing Spence makes time for is to go help out on her parents’ farm, where she grew up—north of Alcurve.

rewarding parts of her job is when students come back to say hi after moving on from LCHS.

“When a student comes back and says, ‘you know Mrs. Spence, I really enjoyed talking with you, or you helped me get through. Or if it wasn’t for you I wasn’t graduating,’” said Spence.

“I get lots of little rewards too, with my hockey kids, when they leave and when they come back the next year, about how much they miss the school and they miss our atmosphere.”

When challenges arise, Spence says she can always count on her co-workers at the school and her family at home.

Primarily, she helps ensure Grade 12 students have what they need for credits to graduate and attend post-secondary schools, but she’s always

Those are the words of Lisa Spence, who has been working as a career guidance counsellor at the Lloydminster Comprehensive High School for 12 years and counting.

“So I truly appreciate the teachers that took the time with her. So I kind of become their mom, I mean not only do we talk school, we talk life, and we do some social-emotional counselling

“My parents are getting older, so it’s time to be out there. They’re still quite active on the farm, I just feel I should be there more,” said

“My working relationship with my co-workers is very good. In the school setting, our Grade 12 team is very strong, so I have no issues going to them if something is needed. We can definitely work through it,” she said.

“In my home situation, it’s my husband that I talk to. We’re very open, and we’re very open with our own kids.

The healing powers of sharing one’s story

Krista Holden has worn many hats throughout her career, but the common denominator throughout has been they’ve all revolved around wellness and the betterment of others.

“My mom has said, even from a little girl, I’ve always just wanted to help,” she said.

“I’m the oldest of four kids, so I was very involved in helping with my siblings, and my mom was a single parent. So I think it was something that came naturally to me.

“One of the things I think I’ve always loved about the work I’ve done is, I might have a tiny impact on someone’s life. But if I can

make it a little bit better, that’s amazing. Right?”

Most recently, she’s been the crisis interventionist at Lloydminster Sexual Assault Services, a role she’s held since last August, but she’s about to take a step in a different direction as Integra Engineering Ltd.’s new human resource business partner, a post she’s greatly looking forward to.

“I’ve spent my entire career working in human services and supporting families and individuals and lots of complex needs,” she said. “It’s been so rewarding, but there comes a time where you kind of have to press pause a little bit

because it does have an impact on us.”

Holden first got involved in human services through Midwest Family Connections, an organization she holds near and dear to her heart. Holden has also worked at the Thorpe Recovery Centre as a development coordinator and at Lakeland College as a wellness advisor, to name a few.

Through her own mental health journey, and with the love and support of her husband of 13 years, Christian, Holden founded the Lloydminster Maternity Mental Health Committee in 2015 to help mothers experiencing postpartum depression.

“My first experience as a mom, my baby didn’t get to come home, he was very sick and subsequently died. Aedan would have been 16 this month and he’s an important part of our lives as a family,” she said.

“Life after loss isn’t easy to navigate, however, I will forever be grateful to Aedan for making me a mom, and Elliott, a little brother.”

Before giving birth to Elliott, who’s now 11, Holden explained she suspected she may be susceptible to postpartum depression given her experience with Aedan.

“Postpartum depression doesn’t discriminate,” she said.

“I was really good at putting on the mask like lots of women are, because we are embar -

rassed and we feel shameful that we aren’t enjoying this time and a lot of us aren’t sleeping and eating. We’re not talking to anybody about what’s going on.

“I did. I was honest, for the most part. My husband knew, but I don’t think he knew to what extent because I think we just thought, ‘Maybe we have to get into a rhythm like lots of new families?’”

It wasn’t until Holden returned from maternity leave while working for the City of Lloydminster that reality really set in.

“I was sitting at an early years coalition meeting in a professional capacity,” she said.

“We were talking about different assets in our community that families would access and someone said, ‘Hey, Krista, you just got back from maternity leave. What assets did you guys access, you might have some really great insight.

And I remember at that moment thinking, do I let them in on my dirty little secret? Do I tell this roomful of professionals that I am really struggling? And so I did. I shared and it was really emotional.”

With the Lloydminster Maternity Mental Health Committee, Holden helps mothers access resources they may not have even known existed while making sure no one gets left behind.

“We were able to do some research within our own community to find out what the care pathways were and how we make ensure families don’t fall through the cracks and get the support that they need,” she said.

A recent event Holden thinks should be on everyone’s radar is Flora’s Walk, which took place in Bud Miller All Seasons Park on May 2.

“Flora was a young woman in Toronto, she was single, and she

wanted to have a family. She went through fertility for years before she got pregnant. She did get pregnant and had a beautiful baby girl, I believe, and four months later, she lost her life. She fell through the cracks and should have been diagnosed with psychosis,” she said.

“It’s heartbreaking to think a baby is coming up in this world without a mom. Right? And because she was a single parent, there isn’t a dad either.”

For Holden, working through postpartum depression starts with a conversation.

“I think we make this assumption it only happens to certain people. I think when we come forward and talk about it, it’s not about ‘oh woe is me,’ it’s about ‘it can happen to anybody.’ And I think it’s important that we do get curious.”

Palik celebrates 30 years at Southridge

Kids learning through play. That’s been a goal of playschool teacher Lola Palik in her 30 years at Southridge.

remember I had a couple of little kids who needed extra help and the psychologist said, when they start school we’ll help them,” she said, adding that now it’s recommended children attend playschool.

“Playschool is such a stepping stone for socialization and kindergarten readiness. Learning through play. I am not a strong believer in working in workbooks, I don’t think it’s necessary—not at 3-5 (years old),” said Palik.

Before she began working at Southridge Playschool, Palik was a welder at Universal Industries (now Foremost), but when she had children and her husband left it put her at a crossroads.

“So I looked at my options. I could have lots of money, but never be home for my kids. Or I could be home for my kids and have no money,” said Palik.

the job at the playschool, and she took evening classes to get her early childhood certificate. But she wasn’t sure she’d do it long-term.

“I had a five-year plan, I was going to do it for five years, and then I thought no, I’ll wait until my youngest graduates.

“And then she went off to hairdressing school and I’m going, um…ok what am I going to do? I like my job, and now here I am. You could not do this job if you didn’t like it,” said Palik, whose students call her Mrs. P, adding she teaches 97 kids this year, 19 to a class.

Over the years she has definitely seen and heard some interesting things from her students. One that still sticks out in her mind was during the first year.

brother.

“She said her brother, an RCMP officer, had come into town, totally in uniform. He had never seen his uncle dressed up … he’s only four, right?

“Uncle thought it was a big joke to put handcuffs on dad and they went out together. The little boy got up in the morning, dad’s not there, because they went out celebrating,” Palik laughed.

“What I regret the most is not keeping a journal of all the things that kids have said to me.”

Palik says one of the best things about teaching kids that age is seeing their growth throughout the year.

“You just see all these personalities and the growth. We’ve got some kids who have special needs, and just watching them mimic the other kids and learning from the other kids.

Things looked a little different when she set out on her career in 1993.

“I think the biggest thing was playschool wasn’t recognized as early education when we first started. I

“I have four kids. They all went to playschool, and I always volunteered on the board and I subbed for Southridge, and then they asked me if I was interested in a job.”

She was happy to accept

A little boy came to her and told her ‘My dad got arrested’ and then he just walked away. So at pickup, she went to the mom and said, ‘I just thought I’d let you know he was telling me that your husband got arrested. She was quite embarrassed, and not too happy with her husband and

“Or kids who don’t speak English who all of a sudden learn. They learn so fast.”

The playschool board is helping Palik celebrate her 30th year on May 11 by hosting a come-and-go tea at the Legacy Centre from 1-5.

All in the family at Northern Factory

Alot has changed at Northern Factory Workwear since Pam Beznoska began working there in 1993.

She started as a manager when the doors opened that year and bought the business out with her husband, Neal, in 1999. They have since expanded with locations in Saskatoon in 2004 as well as a dedicated Red Wing Shoe Store there in 2013, Red Deer in 2017 and Kelowna in 2019.

With four grown children, Amanda, Kyle, Matthew and Tara-Lynn, nine grandchildren and a 10th on the way, Pam knows the business she has cherished for over 30 years will be in good hands when they eventually hang up the reigns.

Until then, she’s trying to get back to her roots.

“The best part of my day is probably talking to and helping customers,” she said.

“I don’t get to be on the floor as much as I used to because of other responsibilities, but when I’m able to be on the floor and actually interact with the customers and help them, and they leave happy and with what they’re looking for, that’s

what makes me happy.”

Pam explained her kids all went off and pursued their own careers before ending up back in the family business, with all four currently in management training to be future owners/operators.

“They all worked through the stores when they were in high school, went off and did their own careers, had opportunities to come back and decided that’s what they wanted to do,” she said.

Tara-Lynn, who currently manages the Lloydminster location, explained she grew up watching her mom ‘see people for who they are, as well as their potential’ without judgement, which often resulted in new hires at the store.

“Everybody should have equal opportunity to make a living and be the best they can be,” said Pam.

“It doesn’t matter if you have a disability or are not as fortunate as others to be able to have ‘things.’ Everybody needs to have an opportunity to be involved in the experience of work. Everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves.”

This character trait is one

of many Tara-Lynn feels blessed to have inherited.

“I’m a lot like my mom in I like helping people, and I can help people through employing them,” she said.

“You get to give people opportunities, and you get to grow as a person, so I think being similar and wanting to help people, this is the best place to be.

Tara-Lynn explained she and her siblings were always taught not to judge a person for where they are in life because you don’t know

what that person has been through.

“People who don’t have much are often looked down on because they don’t have more, but we were taught not everyone gets the same opportunity, and that’s important to remember,” she said.

Being a part of the community has also always been important to Pam, which is evident when looking at the long list of charitable work over the years.

“We were a part of the

community through schools and activities and had the store going at the same time,” she said. “There was a lot of community support to get us going, so we always wanted to be able to give back to the community and have done so through volunteering, sponsorships, sock drives, different levels of hockey, baseball, soccer, we have scholarships at Lakeland College. We’ve also supported the women’s and men’s shelter as well as the Native Friendship Centre,” said Pam.

A younger Pam Beznoska during her managment days at Northern Factory Workwear. Supplied Photo

Animal lover makes a difference

Olivia Amber Blyan has always loved animals.

She began by providing a roof for strays, and her love of pets only grew. “It all started when I wanted a dog, but wasn’t in a position to be able to afford one,” said Blyan. “So I started out fostering for Furbabies, and then I met Lonnie (Boothman) and started rescuing with

her, and it just kind of lit a fire under my butt.”

When Furbabies closed down last summer she decided she still wanted to help animals in need, this time using social media to get the job done.

“Somebody needed help with a dog with porcupine quills, and I just started making posts on Facebook, asking for donations to help out this dog,” said Blyan.

“The average person doesn’t have that kind of money—especially in today’s economy, to be able to afford something like that, so I just thought, you know, even if a bunch of people donated five or 10 dollars, that would add up quick. It just kind of took off from there.”

Blyan, who works in the human services field, said the most she’s raised to help pets and owners in need so far is about $3,500.

“Lonnie Boothman

taught me a lot. The animal lover community in Lloydminster and surrounding areas is amazing.

“One of my posts even made it out as far as B.C. and a lady from B.C. donated.”

People can either send money directly to the vet or e-transfer.

“I’m pretty transparent. I keep track of it.”

Blyan is also working with a rescue team to help control the number of animals in need through their spay/ neuter program, Zoe’s Animal Rescue, based out of Edmonton.

“An owner will come forward or I’ll find someone that needs a dog that needs to be spayed or neutered and then Zoe’s pays for it … to try and help ease the stray population, unwanted litters,” she said.

“Some of those dogs out there are having litters, back to back to back.”

She said some people

think that if you spay or neuter your animal it will make them less protective, which is not generally the case.

“Somebody found a dog yesterday and he’s at Weir’s right now, apparently fighting for his life. They think he has distemper,” said Blyan.

“Thank God somebody found him, and at least he’ll know the love of the person who picked him up and the love of the vet staff.”

This time of year can be when a lot of diseases surface too, as the weather warms up.

“Parvo lives on forever, like you need to specially treat your house and your yard— parvo is really bad, it takes a lot of puppies out there and it’s so painful for them.”

If people want to donate, they can get in touch with Blyan, or put money on her account at Weir’s Veterinary Clinic, under her name.

Olivia Amber Blyan spends time in the park with her dog Aries.

Ensuring equality for all walks of life

Born and raised in the Border City, Karla Whiting is another perfect example of a community calling one home.

“I moved to Vermilion to take Interior Design Technology at Lakeland College, then south of Toronto for a bit to see what that was all about, and I spent some time outside of Saskatoon, but I always made my way back home,” said Whiting.

Many in the community may know her through the various boards and organizations she volunteers with, but by day, she’s the fund development team lead with Inclusion Lloydminster, something she’s quite passionate about.

“I’m also the employment coordinator for Saskatchewan youth within our community,” she said, explaining the job opportunity came about through friends as well as her now husband, Jason Whiting, but more on that later.

“I look after the Inclusion Lloydminster breakfast, connecting with donors and things like that, and I absolutely fell in love with the work. I already knew I loved the organization, but working with them and the clients is a

very rewarding job.

“It doesn’t really feel like a job.”

Inclusion Lloydminster is a family-based non-profit association that advocates on behalf of children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Their annual fundraising breakfast took place two weeks ago at the WLS Convention Centre with over 400 people in attendance, a sight that took Whiting’s breath away.

“The fundraising breakfast was beyond any words I could put together,” she said. “I’m still trying to process having that many amazing volunteers in one space to hear what we’ve been up to, and the outcome that came from it is exciting.”

Before her work with Inclusion, Whiting owned and operated her own interior design company, while keeping active in the community through service clubs like the Border City Rotary Club, which she’s been a member of since 2011, with a small break when she had her son, Emmett in 2015.

“I love being able to give back to the community that’s been so good to myself, our

family and friends,” she said.

The rewarding aspects of a greater community really hit home when Whiting became a mother, and although she feels fortunate she never experienced postpartum depression, the journey to motherhood was a long and emotionally draining one.

“My journey to having my son was a tough one. There were a few years of fertility treatments at the Edmonton clinic and then in Calgary. There were a few failed attempts, and those pieces can really break a person down. I call Emmett our miracle baby,” she said, explaining she also experienced a placenta bleed early on in the pregnancy and was put on extreme bed rest.

“My options were given to me, and they were both bleak. There was no promise I’d be able to bring my baby home even if I went on bed rest. I took care of myself and was able to welcome my son into the world in February of 2015, and he’s the best gift any can ever ask for. Emmett is nine now.”

Through sharing her experience, Whiting learned she wasn’t alone in her journey,

which created a network of support and understanding.

“Having someone walk alongside you, experiencing something similar is life-saving,” she said.

Karla wasn’t always a Whiting, but after getting to know each other better and discovering there was something there, Karla Furman became a Whiting in October, (her second marriage) and the rest, as they say, is history.

“Jason’s older than I am, so he was done school well before I was, and our paths really didn’t cross until our adult years,” she said. “We were both involved in the

Rotary group, both volunteering for a lot of the same events and services projects and then our friend circles just started to cross throughout the last three or four years.”

These days, the couple pushes the envelope for community involvement together, trying to outdo the other for the greater good.

“You don’t see a lot of young people volunteering, so having a younger perspective and different resources are great assets to have. With us, if one’s volunteering, the other is being voluntold they’re helping.”

HRHS stoked for second student market

TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

Save the date! Holy Rosary High School (HRHS) is excited to welcome the public once again to its Raiders’ farmer’s market.

Now in its second year, the cash-only market will take place from 3:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, and feature 26 vendors offering products ranging from stickers, necklaces, henna tattoos, tomatoes, spider plants, crochet items, and much more.

The idea behind the event is to shop local while also showcasing and supporting the many talented entrepreneurs within the halls of the school.

“We know we have so many great things

going on and so many talented students at our school, so it’s nice to be able to showcase different skills we have, different artists, musicians, so they can showcase their talents as well as build a few entrepreneurial skills like learning how to create a business and make a little money on the side,” said HRHS phys-ed teacher and market organizer Becky Grassl, noting some new vendors this year.

“We have a few different vendors this year including some Filipino desserts as well as plants through our botany project. Our environmental class has a botany project, so they have a whole bunch of plants they’re going to be selling, including

tomatoes and peppers.”

The market is being organized by HRHS’ Student Leadership Council (SLC) something Grade 10 student, Cooper Leckie, is looking forward to.

“I’m very excited and it’s a great way to get the school together to support our studentowned businesses,” said Leckie, while thinking about which vendor she’s most looking forward to.

“I’m always excited for the food; they always make really good food,” she said. “Some of the crafts are also really good. Everyone who’s entered a booth is very talented.”

Grade 8 student Eden Moffat is excited to showcase her business, Simply Soothing.

“I crochet, I do macramé, I can knit, but for this market, I’ll be mainly doing macramé, which is my main passion,” said Moffat, explaining she made the

sweater she was wearing during the interview.

“I joined the market because it seemed like a school opportunity, and I wanted to represent my school as

an artist. I really find it cool that I’m younger and starting this; it’s nice to show people I’m capable of doing the business while I’m in school.”

24052CC1

HRHS’ second-annual student market will be held on May 30. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

Cenovus celebrates TMX pipeline start-up

ference call on May 1.

The start-up of the Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX) put Cenovus Energy in a celebratory mood reporting its firstquarter results.

“This is a great day for Canada, to get this pipeline up and running,” said Cenovus CEO Jon McKenzie during a quarterly con -

“T he people of Canada are going to see the benefit for a long period of time in terms of increased taxes and royalties and the like.”

The expansion increases the Trans Mountain system’s shipping capacity from 300,000 barrels per day to 890,000 barrels per day and will help open

up new export markets for Canadian oil.

“With this critical piece of infrastructure now complete, we anticipate lightheavy differentials will remain narrow for years, while excess egress capacity exists,” added McKenzie.

The company reports it has tankers ready set to ship Cenovus oil

from the TMX in May and expects to make record sales in the second quarter.

“T here’s a pretty vast market out there, which is exciting,” said Drew Zieglgansberger, Cenovus’ executive vicepresident strategy and corporate development.

TMX took 13 years to build at a cost of $34 billion and could be the last major oil pipeline to be built in Canada according to McKenzie.

“It is increasingly difficult to build pipelines in this country, and it wouldn’t surprise me if this was the last pipeline,” said McKenzie.

“But the reality is, we have a tremendous resource here in Canada and we produce our oil in my view, more sustainably than probably anywhere else in the world. And if we were in a position where as a nation, we decided to take that to market, we should be building more pipelines.”

Cenovus reported upstream production

in the quarter averaged 800,900 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boep/d), up from 779,000 a year earlier, while downstream throughput averaged 655,200 barrels per day, up from 457,900 in the same quarter last year.

Production in the conventional oil segment was 120,700 boep/d in the first quarter, in line with the fourth quarter.

Lloyd thermal production increased in the quarter to over 114,00 barrels per day from 106,000 bbls/d in the prior quarter reflecting higher operating efficiency and improved downhole pump reliability.

It was the highest quarterly average in the history of the asset, generating a question about how sustainable that is.

“I t’s currently producing at a rate that would be higher than where we would have budgeted this year, but

it’s been there for some period of time,” replied McKenzie.

“And the subsurface people, together with the operating people just continue to find opportunities to debottleneck to drill wells differently to operate the reservoirs differently, and it continues just kind of to surprise to the upside.”

McKenzie says he can’t guarantee the Lloyd thermals will continue to outperform the way they have over the last few quarters.

“But what I would say is we just continue to find opportunities here that provide that kind of upside for us,” he said.

In the meantime, a major seven-week turnaround is set to start at the Lloydminster Upgrader that will impact throughput in second quarter by about 45,000 bbls/d.

This has already been reflected in the company’s corporate guidance for the year.

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

CTF names ‘worst government waste’ for awards

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation presented its 26th annual Teddy Waste Awards to CBC president Catherine Tait for handing out millions in bonuses while announcing hundreds of layoffs; the Mission Cultural fund for its sex-themed artistic performances; and the city of Regina for its Experience Regina rebrand fiasco.

“Because it spent buckets of taxpayer cash funding birthday parties and photo exhibits for celebrities, and making things awkward for countries around the world with sex-themed artistic performances, the Mission Cultural Fund earned the Lifetime Achievement award for waste,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF federal director.

“Tait is winning a Teddy Award because she handed out millions in bonuses despite announcing hundreds

of layoffs just before Christmas, only to turn around and beg for more taxpayer cash.

“The Alberta Foundation for the Arts spent tens of thousands flying an artist to New York, Estonia and South Korea so she could flop around on a futon for a couple of minutes and showcase a painting that can best be described as ants on a pop tart.

“The city of Regina came up with snappy slogans like, ‘Show us your Regina,’ and ‘Regina: the city that rhymes with fun.’ After spending $30,000 and facing backlash, the city ditched the entire rebrand so it won a Teddy Waste Award.”

The Teddy, a pigshaped trophy the CTF annually awards to governments’ worst waste offenders, is named after Ted Weatherill, a former federal appointee who was fired in 1999 for submitting a raft of dubious expense

claims, including a $700 lunch for two.

This year’s winners include:

Municipal Teddy winner: The city of Regina Regina spent $30,000 rebranding Tourism Regina to Experience Regina. But after facing backlash, the city scrapped the rebrand. And Regina taxpayers are out $30,000.

Provincial Teddy winner: Alberta Foundation for the Arts

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts spent $30,000 flying an artist around the world to produce art few taxpayers would ever willingly buy or pay to see.

Federal Teddy winner: CBC President Catherine Tait

Tait handed out $15 million in bonuses to CBC brass in 2023 as she announced hundreds of layoffs weeks before Christmas and lobbied the government for more money. Bonuses at the CBC total

$114 million since 2015. Lifetime Teddy winner: The Mission Cultural Fund

The Mission Cultural Fund spent $10,000 on a birthday party for Margaret Atwood in New York, $52,000 for a photo exhibit for rockstar Bryan Adams, $8,800 on a sex toy show in Germany and $12,000 for senior citizens to talk about their sex lives in front of live audiences.

MERIDIAN

The Legislative building in Regina. File Photo

Sask RCMP sharing “Stories not Statistics”

Last week, in recognition of the 11th annual Missing Persons Week, which was from April 28 to May 4, Saskatch ewan RCMP is honour ing the thousands of people who go miss ing in the province each year.

year’s commemo rative week is “Sto ries not Statistics” and aims to share the stories behind those people who go missing and the inves tigations that take place to help bring them home.

individuals were

reported missing to detachments in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction. No two missing persons cases are the

same and each investigation that takes place is treated as uniquely as the missing person themselves. Though all investigations have their owncome remains theing persons home to their families. Of the 550 missing males, 450 missing females and 1150 youths reported missing inof Buffalo River Byron of Maple Creek William “Michael” of Canora remain missing. To learn

more about them and Saskatchewan’s longterm missing persons click here.

Once an initial report is made, Saskatchewan RCMP investigators can bring in several highlytrained resources to assist as necessary. This includes police dog services, remotely piloted aerial vehicles, the search and rescue unit and more.

“There are many dif -

ferent circumstances that can lead to a missing persons report being made,” said Const. Brendan Sanford, Saskatchewan RCMP missing persons coordinator.

“Those circumstances decide which of the Saskatchewan RCMP’s internal and partner resources are activated. However, the goal always remains the same, to bring Saskatchewan’s missing home.”

If you think you may know something, say something. Even if you think it may be insignificant, any piece of information may be what leads investigators to find the answers they need to locate someone. You can report information to your local police or information anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Graham Brown, president of Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society, looks on as guest speaker Mayor Gerald Aalbers shared his thoughts on several issues at Tuesday’s meeting, including the replacement of the Jubilee Home, seniors housing and policing. Aalbers also fielded questions from seniors. The seniors group will hold its AGM on June 10 at the Legacy Centre at 10:30 a.m.

Local girls bowling hearts out for Sask

TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

Two local bowlers are on their way to a medal while representing Team Saskatchewan in Ottawa, Ont. and Gatineau, Que. in Youth Bowling Canada (YBC) five-pin Junior Girls doubles nationals.

E.S. Laird’s Danielle Binetruy, 15 and Ava Atkinson, 13, a resident of Marwayne, who both bowl out of Lloyd Lanes under the direction of coach Donald Spencer, left for Ottawa last Saturday for three days of competition with the finals taking place yesterday before press time.

Competing at YBC nationals will be a first-time experience for both girls, and they’re hoping to make life-long friends and lasting memories.

“I’m excited for all of the people; there are so many kids going, so it’ll be great to meet everyone,” said Atkinson.

“W e’re going to be playing 21 games, so anything can happen.”

Binetruy explained she’s most looking forward to the overall experience.

“I’ve never been and I think it’s going to be really good,” she said.

Nationals consist of three days of competition with athletes bowling five games on day one, seven on day two, and nine on day three.

Both athletes were also looking forward to the travel as they’d never been to Ontario or Quebec.

Binetruy and Atkin -

son had a proper sendoff last Friday night as local bowlers showed support through a fundraising tournament with proceeds helping cover the costs involved in travel.

“We have 16 people playing against each other to win tonight,” said Binetruy.

“All proceeds from tonight’s 50/50 will be going to us,” added Atkinson.

“It’s awesome to have this community support and see all of these people out here tonight.”

For coach Spencer, the sense of pride he has for these two athletes can be heard through the way he speaks about them.

“They’re phenomenal bowlers, and it takes a lot of hard work to get to nationals,” he said, noting Binetruy

and Atkinson make up Team Saskatchewan in its entirety.

“I’ve been coaching these girls for a long time and I think they have what it takes to succeed at nationals,” he said, noting the importance of the mental game.

“They’re bowling 21 games, so they’re going to have bad games, they’re going to have bad frames, but you

can’t let that get in your head, and that’s hard to do. These two young ladies are very competitive and want to be bowling well all the time. Ninety per cent of bowling is mental.”

Lashburn’s Aryck Lapierre is also currently doing very well in bantam boys singles. Be sur e to check out next week’s Source for updates on our local athletes.

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

Ava Atkinson, coach Donald Spencer and Danielle Binetruy are currently on their way to a medal in Ottawa, Ont. and Gatineau, Que. for Youth Bowling Canada nationals. Atkinson and Binetruy are representing Team Saskatchewan in junior girls’ doubles five-pin.

Play it Forward charity game generates big bucks

residents who utilize the services they provide.

Ask any of the 50 skaters who laced them up for Border City Connects’ third annual Play it Forward 12-hour charity hockey game and they’ll tell you it was a blast, but the real winners were the

The game took place at the Servus Sports Centre on April 19, and having met the $75,000 fundraising goal, Border City Connects’ executive director, Glenn Fagnan, couldn’t be happier.

“It’s amazing to think

we raised $75,000 through 12 hours of hockey,” he said.

“The attitude of our players and how truly amazing they are to step up and assist our community members is truly incredible and I can’t thank those players enough.”

Fagnan also thanked the countless businesses and community sponsors for their support over the years.

“We wouldn’t be able to do this without their support,” he said, noting the game was the brainchild of Aaron Buckingham and has brought in over $200K over three years.

“ We also had a lot of community members come down to the rink to donate cheques on behalf of the players ... it’s a great fundraiser, and the best part is,

the guys have fun, and that’s been the key.”

Border City Connects provides transportation for residents with special needs or mobility issues, with funds from this year’s event supporting the purchase of new vehicles.

“We’re in desperate need right now. We have two vehicles that need to be replaced this year,” he said. “One is the Care-A-Van, which we use for out-of-town medical appointments for community members, and the other is

the Border City Express, one of our large paratransit busses that has w heelchair accessibility. We need well over $200K to purchase those so that $75K raised this year will help with that.”

Fagnan estimated Border City Connects helps 300-400 people annually with the CareA-Van and another 20,000 annually with the para-transit buses.

“The freedom this transportation offers goes a long way for those who use it,” he said.

TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source Photos

It’s a neighbourly thing

We were recently invited to celebrate a neighbour’s special birthday.

The timing was great as it came between seasons for the younger folks (and of course, us grandparents as well) running after children for ball, hockey, and other sports.

Ma ny of the young adults there, men and women, had been friends of my sons since

elementary school, so we had seen them grow up as well.

It struck me though, that way too many of their parents were no longer living or were currently struggling with health issues; people my wife and I had known for years.

It can’t he lp but remind you of the precious limitations of time and the undeniable fact we are on a one-way track as well!

I can’t say how proud I am of this group. Some have rebounded

from troubled relationships or struggling businesses to not only survive, but thrive. Dur ing the evening, I was able to catch up on what was happening in their lives and listen to their plans for the next coming years.

I think our family was the only one there that was involved in twogeneration enterprises, so naturally that led to a discussion about how the “old bull, young bull” relationships were going.

All in g ood fun; they

Sask spotlights economic growth

The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed May 6 to 10 as Economic Development Week.

This week highlights the various ways in which provincial businesses and organizations are creating economic opportunities for Saskatchewan people.

Economic Development Week is supported by the Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance (SEDA).

“Our province is growing at rates not seen for more than a century, and our economy continues to accelerate with record private capital investment and GDP,” said trade and export development minister Jeremy Harrison.

“This economic growth doesn’t just happen; it is the result of continuous work being

undertaken to attract investment and create new opportunities in our communities across the province. There has never been a better time to invest in Saskatchewan.”

Economic Development Week kicked off yesterday with Indigenous Economic Development Day, which is supported by SIEDN.

The day has been set aside to reflect on the ongoing work to support Indigenous economic involvement while celebrating the milestones that have already been achieved in creating opportunities for the province’s

probably had already asked my sons the same question and knew their answer!

T hese folk are hardworking, technologically adept, street savvy, and focused.

I se e them making good decisions about building a future for their family while living in the present.

T heir knowledge, skill, and determina -

tion are impressive. Far better than when I was their age, I’m sure.

This is the energy communities need to tap into.

If only our government leadership would take the time to listen to what this generation has to say.

If they could see what I see, the “pioneer” spirit, which built western Canada, is still pres-

ent in this generation. I can’t speak for your neighbourhood but ours is alive and well.

Ver n McClelland is an associate broker with RE/MAX of Lloydminster and an active partner in his family’s livestock operation. Comments on this article are welcome either by emailing vernmcclelland@remax.net or calling 306-821-0611.

Indigenous population.

“The annual Economic Development Week serves as a platform for sharing innovative ideas and best practices at a local level as well as reinforcing partnerships among key stakeholders in the economic development sector,” said SEDA chief engagement officer Verona Thibault.

“The long-standing partnership between SEDA and the Saskatchewan Indigenous Economic Development Network (SIEDN) is an example of organizations committed to economic reconciliation on a province-wide basis.”

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

File Photo

Thursday, May 9, 2024

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Co-op returns $5.6M to members

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

The Lloydminster and District Co-op celebrated its 110th annual general meeting (AGM) on Monday in the WLS Convention Centre.

The Co-op’s opera -

tional results for the year consisted of revenue over $184.3 million and a record savings after tax of $11.3 million.

Strong earnings assisted with the Co-op returning a

record patronage allocation to members of $5.6 million.

This year’s AGM included a dinner component served by the Lloydminster Exhibition Association, with all proceeds

from the $10 ticket sales benefiting the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation.

The event included the introduction of newly elected board members Chantelle Lefevbre, Peter Sander-

cock, Alan Lorenz, and Stacy Cadzow.

The Servus Credit Union acted as the scrutineer for the election held from April 22-26 and chose to waive their fee in lieu of a donation to The Olive Tree charity.

“With the generous contributions from attendees and partners, the Co-op continues to uphold its values of community engagement and support for worthy

causes like the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation and the Olive Tree Lloydminster,” said the Co-op in a statement.

The meeting concluded with CEO Peter Brown’s presentation of donations and a question-and-answer session.

PAGE 37

Thursday, May 9, 2024

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FIREARMS WANTED FOR OUR 2024 AUCTION PROGRAM: Rifles, Shotguns, Handguns, Antiques, Militaria, Collections, Estates, Single Items. For Auction, or Possible Purchase: TollFree 1-800-694-2609, Email Us at sales@ switzersauction.com or Visit Us @ www.switzersauction.com.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS

Motor scrapers, dozers, excavators, rock trucks, packers; wide range of machines.

Lots of work all season. Camp/R & B provided. Competitive wages. Valid drivers license req’d. Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction and Transport Co. Inc. Box 100, Arborfield, SK S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844

Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca

GET YOUR MESSAGE SEEN ACROSS Alberta. The Blanket Classifieds or Value Ads reach over 600,000 Alberta readers weekly. Two options starting at $269 or $799 to get your message out! Business changes, hiring, items for sale, cancellations, tenders, etc. People are increasingly staying home and rely on their local newspapers for information. KEEP people in the loop with our 80 Weekly Community Newspapers. Call THIS NEWSPAPER now or email classifieds@ awna.com for details. 1-800-282-6903, 780434-8746 X225. www. awna.com.

Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness, or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www. swna.com.

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Gilbert Broker (AB)

Sandy Hardy Realtor® Judy Bexson Realtor®

Gilbert Broker (SK)