Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright MLA Garth Rowswell greets the Canada Day crowd at the Bud Miller All Seasons Park amphitheatre on July 1, along with dignitaries Colleen Young, Rosemarie Falk and Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers. Check next week’s edition of the Meridian Source for more Canada Day coverage. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
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Fifteen members of Lloydminster Fire Rescue swapped their local training tower for Calgary’s tallest skyscraper, raising nearly $19,000 for cancer support while conquering a gruelling physical challenge.
The firefighters participated in the annual Calgary Stairclimb Challenge at Brookfield Place, climbing 57 stories — a total of 1,370 steps — all while wearing modified duty gear on June 14.
The Lloydminster team raised $18,885 for Wellspring Alberta, a Calgary-based charitable organization that provides resources and activities for families battling cancer.
“I think everybody on the department here has somebody who’s been affected with cancer,” said Capt. Curtis Johnson, who completed the climb for his fourth time.
This year’s event carried a deeply personal weight for the local crew.
“It especially hits home this year for us as members, as one of our retirees has been diagnosed with cancer,” Johnson said, noting that firefighters face increased occupational rates of the disease. “This was an extremely special event for us as we walked and climbed in his name to keep him strong during his battle.”
Participants tackled the individual, timed event in modified gear, including coveralls, station boots, helmets and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) air packs.
While Calgary-based firefighters have
Members of Lloydminster Fire Rescue were all smiles after completing the Calgary Stairclimb Challenge on June 14.
Submitted photo
the luxury of training weekly at the Calgary Tower, the Lloydminster crew had to get creative to prepare for the massive elevation.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
“Our members do training in our training tower as well, but it’s only a few flights up, so it’s kind of a constant up and down,” explained Assistant Fire Chief Justine Loewen. “I think we have to do about 27 rounds up and down in our training tower to amount to that.”
Loewen, who completed the climb for her second consecutive year, said the stifling environment inside the skyscraper’s stairwell makes the event as much a mental battle as a physical one.
“That stairwell is hot, you’re in your gear, it’s warm ... it is a physically demanding and challenging thing to overcome,” Loewen said.
However, she noted that the struggle fostered a strong sense of camaraderie.
“It’s just being able to motivate them and remind them — as you’re passing people — just kind of giving them that motivation to keep going.”
Johnson agreed, describing the stairwell as a “grind” where firefighters push their bodies to the absolute limit, but noted it remains “awesome to walk alongside your brothers and sisters for one common goal.”
The event was entirely voluntary, with members participating on their own time. Both leaders expressed immense gratitude for the local financial backing that helped them achieve their fundraising total.
“I think it just speaks to our community and the support that we have, not just within our firefighter community, but just the city of Lloydminster and from our families as well,” Loewen said.
Johnson added that he is incredibly proud of the department’s culture of giving back, pointing to local involvement in other initiatives like the Terry Fox Run.
“The fire department, we’re here for the community. We’ve supported it in so many ways and we’ll continue to do that in the future.”
CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI
A new base is on the horizon for the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce as the group is set to move downtown.
In a social media post, the organization announced it has purchased a building downtown, marking a new chapter for the chamber.
The location will serve as a dedicated business resource centre designed to support entrepreneurs, small businesses and community partners.
“We’re excited that we’re moving back downtown and starting a new chapter for our organization and local business community,” said Teri-Lynn MacKie, chamber executive-director.
Additional details will be shared in the coming months as the move is currently planned for winter 2026.
2026 SUMMER GUIDE
REGISTRATION IS OPEN
COST AND AGE CATEGORIES VARY
Explore all of what Lloydminster has to offer with the Summer Guide, featuring events and programs taking place in July and August.
SUMMER FUN CAMPS
AGE GROUPS 2016-2021
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OUTDOOR POOL
JULY 16 • 1-8:30 PM
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Dive into summer fun at the Outdoor Pool Bash presented by Lloydminster & District Co-op! Enjoy an action-packed a ernoon of swimming, games, and family-friendly activities.
Activities and giveaways run from 1–3 p.m.
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JULY 18 • 10 AM-3:30 PM
Join Alberta Land Based Education for a hands-on buffalo hide tanning workshop. Learn traditional hide preservation methods through guided teachings, with Dr. Linda Manyguns sharing storytelling and cultural knowledge. Admission by donation.
A torrential downpour couldn’t wash out a century of history in the Village of Marwayne on Saturday.
Despite persistent rain that forced organizers to move outdoor events indoors, roughly 500 residents gathered to celebrate the momentous occasion of the village’s 100th anniversary on June 27. The day’s milestones also included the centennial of the Royal Canadian Legion.
The centennial celebration featured a 50-float parade, a community supper for nearly 400 people at the local hall and family activities — all salvageable thanks to a quick-thinking, deeply rooted volunteer network.
“To me, it’s impressive that this tiny little 500-person town can put all this together for a weekend,” said lifelong resident Brad Fox, who returned to the community 22 years ago. “Even with the poor weather today, the rain, all that kind of stuff, and the amount of people that showed up, everybody just makes it happen.”
Garth Rowswell, the MLA for
Marwayne Legion member Brad Fox proudly holds up a special Royal Canadian Legion 100-anniversary beer from the 4th Meridian Brewing Company as the village celebrated its centennial, as well as the Legion’s 100-year anniversary.
Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright, attended the festivities to represent the constituency and underscored the significance of a small municipality reaching its 100-year mark.
“Oh, that’s a big deal for the community,” Rowswell said. “They do such a good job. It’s a small community, but really well organized.”
Rowswell noted that surviving and thriving as an independent municipality for a century is no small feat for a community of Marwayne’s size.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
Happy Canada Day!
Canada Day offers us a chance to pause and appreciate the many things that connect us: our communities, our rich history, our shared experiences and the values that help shape this country.
In Lloydminster, we have a unique perspective on what it means to come together. As a border city, co-operation, resilience and community spirit are part of our everyday lives. We see neighbours helping neighbours, volunteers supporting local causes and people from diverse backgrounds working together to make our community stronger.
As we celebrate Canada Day, we can
take pride in the contributions people make every day to build welcoming, vibrant and caring communities. It is these efforts, both big and small, that help define who we are as Canadians.
Whether you are attending community events, spending time with family and friends, or simply enjoying the summer day, I hope you find time to reflect on the people and experiences that make Lloydminster and Canada such special places to call home.
On behalf of Lloydminster City Council and the City of Lloydminster, I wish you a safe, happy and memorable Canada Day.
Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers, City of Lloydminster
BY
He credited the village’s longevity and success to highly capable community organizations that consistently write strong applications to secure provincial grants.
The village’s centennial coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion. To honour the dual milestone, the local legion branch partnered with the 4th Meridian Brewing Company to produce special commemorative beer cans.
Rowswell praised Marwayne’s legion for its distinct traditions, which include travelling to local graveyards after formal events to offer a personal toast
to fallen veterans.
“That’s a really interesting thing they do. It’s always impressed me,” Rowswell said. “I brag about Marwayne all the time.”
Marwayne Mayor Chris Neureuter said the community’s agricultural society and local groups co-ordinated seamlessly to relocate outdoor events, like a petting zoo and face painting, into the local arena.
The indoor venue itself showcased recent upgrades, including brand-new boards and spectator stands.
Looking forward, Neureuter noted the village is positioning itself for economic sustainability, highlighting the autumn arrival of All in Ag Services on land recently purchased by the municipality.
The mayor also pointed to a promising demographic trend ensuring Marwayne’s next century remains bright.
“We’ve noticed now that a lot of the younger generation are buying houses in Marwayne,” Neureuter said. “So, they’re staying in the area, which is awesome.”
CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI
It’ll be the journey of a lifetime for a pair of friends from Kelowna, B.C.
Andrew Benoit and Jett Carey will hit the North Saskatchewan River for an overland trek of more than 800 kilometres across Alberta.
“We’ll be travelling by canoe across Alberta on the North Saskatchewan River,” Benoit said. “It’s about 850 kilometres from our put-in to our takeout. It should take between four and six weeks depending on weather and what the water’s doing.”
Benoit said he has lived in Kelowna for four years after graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic and working remotely.
“I grew up in Lloydminster, but Jett grew up in Vernon,” Benoit said, noting they met through mutual friends.
The plan to canoe across Alberta was born as his interest in the route grew.
“I just thought it would be really cool to canoe all the way across Alberta,” he said. “I was looking into it one summer and was, like, ‘Wow, this is something that’s kind of feasible.’ ”
From there, the idea to support a good cause came into play.
“We’re doing this all to raise money for two charities: the Terry Fox Foundation and Ecotrust Canada,” Benoit said. “We decided we could easily use this to do something good and raise money for charity.”
In choosing the organizations, he said they knew they wanted to support an environmental effort, while the cancer
charity hits close to home for Benoit.
“We knew we wanted to do something related to an environmental effort, which is Ecotrust Canada,” he said. “We also knew we wanted to do something cancer-related. My mother passed away from cancer a few years ago, so that was definitely something I wanted to do.”
He explained they have been planning the trip for a couple of months and are prepared to face the wilderness challenge head-on.
Thursday, July 2, 2026
MERIDIAN SOURCE
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Happy Canada Day, all!
How did you celebrate our nation’s birthday this year? Did you spend the day with Lloydminster and area residents at Bud Miller All Seasons Park? Or perhaps on the deck with friends for a barbecue? Whatever your plans entailed, I hope you had a great time marking Canada’s 159th birthday.
There’s been lots of celebrating around the Border City as of late. Last weekend, I spent time in the village of Marwayne as it celebrated its centennial, which is no small feat. The weekend also marked the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion. Despite the rain, the municipality was a flurry of activity and everyone I talked to had nothing but amazing things to say about the community they’re proud to call home.
Canada, specifically the West, may currently be filled with a sense of divide, but it’s times like these when I think we should all take a second to appreciate where we’re from and who we are. We are Canadian.
MARK WITZANEY
our community member of the month for June!
Mark received a $25 Gi Certificate from Canadian Tire!
To nominate your community member email jacie@meridiansource.ca
Brought to you by
Today’s column will be a little shorter, as I have some neat photos to show off. I often research historical pieces and I don’t have a lot of photos to show. Recently, however, I got a look at an old snow plane.
Walking into the building at Weaver Heritage Park, the mosquitos were certainly mean. History shined from the structure. Tons of vehicles filled the building and at the front was an old snow plane.
It was originally built in 1939 by Ken Wesson. He built the snow plane for his personal use but helped others during rough weather or blocked roads.
The snow plane was pretty cool to see up close. The large fan at the back propels the unit forward while the long “ski” feet at the front allow it to glide over the snow. Originally, it used a Ford Model A engine but
was later converted to a jeep engine. There’s not much more to say about the item, at least at this point, but I took plenty of photos and wanted to share a piece of history through these images.
TOP LEFT: The side view of the snow plane where the
are visibile. They helped the plane glide on snow. TOP RIGHT: A view from behind the plane with the large propellor. It would get the plane going and would take a good crank to get the engine going. ABOVE: Interior view of the snow plane, including the seat and the steering wheel.
Christian Apostolovski Meridian Source photos
Bingo is back at Moose Lodge every Monday and Wednesday evening. Doors open at 5 p.m. and play starts at 7 p.m. Must be 18 to play.
The Southridge Playschool and Kindergym Society has opened registration for the fall 2026-27 term for kids ages 3-5. One day a week is covered by a government affordability grant, and two days a week is $325 for the whole term. Contact Mrs. Shandy at southridgeplayschool@ gmail.com or message them on Facebook.
The Alcurve
Community Hall is hosting chair yoga every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Cost is $15 for drop-in or $50 per month. Call or text Deb at 780-808-0015 for more details.
The Legacy Centre is hosting an overnight trip to Regina on July 23 and 24 for the Roughriders/Elks CFL game. Limitied spots available! Call the Legacy office at 780-875-4584 for more details.
Von Bieker at the Vic Juba Theatre
The Government of Alberta, City of Lloydminster and
Vic Juba Community Theatre present Von Bieker on Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free, reserved seating only. Reserve tickets, Here.
The Hip Experience: Canada’s Premier Tribute to The Tragically Hip, returns to the Vic Juba Community Theatre on Sept. 23 for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $40.
Menopause the Musical
The Vic Juba Community Theatre presents the Dr. H.A. McDonald Season production of Menopause the Musical on Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $70.
Elton John Tribute at the Vic Juba Electric Elton, the music and legacy of Elton John, is at the Vic Juba Community Theatre on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $69.
Elvis and Dolly at the Vic Elvis and Dolly: Blue Suede and Rhinestones hits the stage at the Vic Juba Community Theatre on Oct. 8. Tickets are $60.25.
TAYLOR WEAVER
A local high school senior who nearly skipped school for a student tradition instead walked into a life-changing $5,000 surprise.
Eman Shahid, a graduating student from Lloydminster Comprehensive High School, is one of 12 Saskatchewan youth leaders selected to receive the 2026 Conexus Youth Leadership Award.
Conexus Credit Union distributed a total of $60,000 provincialwide this year, recognizing outstanding community contributions.
For Shahid, the award culminated in an unexpected confrontation.
A week prior, her school counsellor requested a mysterious Wednesday meeting. The timing conflicted with the school’s unofficial “senior skip day,” but Shahid ultimately decided to skip the tradition and show up.
“I go on Wednesday, and she’s standing with someone else, and I thought I was in trouble,” Shahid said.
“She opens her office door and they’re standing there with the cheque. I get so surprised, I thought this was a fever dream.”
Shahid won the award after her mother pushed her to apply. Her winning essay challenged traditional ideas of authority, arguing that true leadership doesn’t always require the spotlight.
“Leadership isn’t someone who just stands at the front of the room and tells me what to do,” Shahid explained. “There’s backseat leaders, as well. They contribute to what we’re doing. They make everyone feel included.”
The milestone is significant for Shahid’s family, who immigrated to Canada from Pakistan.
Eman Shahid was one of 15 recipients of the Conexus Credit Union youth leadership award, which comes with a $5,000 scholarship.
Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
PAGE 14
Thursday, July 2, 2026
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“We’re pretty used to multi-day, living-out-of-a-backpack trips,” Benoit said. “We’re both very used to being out there in the wilderness alone, so we’re pretty confident about our survival abilities.”
The first week will require extra attention as they first hit the water.
“The first week is going to be constant hyper-vigilance of water conditions,” he said. “It’s very close to the glacier — there’s a couple of glaciers that feed the river — but it’s very close to glaciers there. If we get a lot of hot weather in that area in the days leading up to our planned put-in date, then the rapids might be too intense for us to run.
“As we get further downriver, there are a lot of other obstacles, like rapids and logjams, that we might have to portage around.”
Their planned launch date is July 18, and they hope to be finished before Sept. 1. They have already been out on the water practising for the journey.
Each week, the pair will take a full rest day, with the goal of travelling 30 kilometres per day, camping along the way and stopping in major centres to resupply.
“We’ll have about seven to 12 days of food in the canoe,” Benoit said.
The pair have seen strong support already, raising $5,200 of their $8,500 goal. Benoit added they have also received gear donations from local Kelowna businesses. Those looking to donate can do so through their Charitable Impact page .
TAYLOR WEAVER
Unpredictable June weather could not stop the community from celebrating the fifth annual Filipino Festival, which successfully pivoted indoors to the Cenovus Energy Hub on Saturday.
The popular event, which showcases Filipino culture through traditional dances, songs, food and games, was nearly postponed due to heavy rain that rendered its usual outdoor park venue unfeasible.
Dowsan Antonio addresses a busy Cenovus Energy Hub to kick off the fifth annual Filipino Festival in Lloydminster. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
Organizer Dowsan Antonio, speaking on behalf of the United Filipino Canadians of Lloydminster and Area (UFCLA), praised the quick actions of the committee, which began monitoring the forecast early in the week and secured the arena.
“This festival is more than just a celebration. It is a protection of who we are as Filipinos,” Antonio said, highlighting the event’s role in sharing traditions with the wider community.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
CONEXUS SCHOLARSHIP FROM PAGE 13
As the oldest of four siblings, she faces high expectations from an extended family of doctors and engineers.
Shahid, who already works at the local Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy, is enrolled in the University Transfer Science program at Lakeland College. She plans to later transfer to either the University of Saskatchewan or the University of Alberta to complete her prerequisites and ultimately pursue a PhD in pharmacy.
Full story, HERE .
“As Filipino-Canadians, we are so blessed to enjoy the best of both worlds — keeping our Filipino identity while contributing to the growth and diversity of Canada, our second home.”
Antonio expressed deep gratitude to local volunteers, vendors and sponsors whose financial support allowed the organization to absorb the cost of moving to the new venue, including the staging and sound systems. He also gave a special mention to the Cenovus Energy Hub staff for accommodating the last-minute shift.
Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young commended the organizers for their seamless transition to the indoor facility and the surrounding parking lot. She also lauded the local Filipino community for its dedication to cultural preservation, comparing it to her own family’s history.
“One thing I really, really appreciate about the Filipino group here in Lloydminster: you are passing on your culture, your traditions, your food, and the family gatherings,” Young said. “Thank you for making Lloydminster your home.”
Young assured attendees that the celebration has become a permanent staple for the region, promising that the festival will return next year “come rain or shine.”
TAYLOR WEAVER
A small resort village’s annual tradition proved once again that community spirit doesn’t carry a price tag.
The Resort Village of KivimaaMoonlight Bay hosted its 13th annual Canada Day celebration on June 28, drawing both local residents and seasonal visitors for a day of entirely free family entertainment.
Started in 2013 as a simple idea for a park picnic suggested by the mayor’s wife, the event has grown into a massive community milestone. Over its 13-year run, the celebration has raised well over $400,000 through donations, raffles and silent auctions.
Mayor Steven Nasby said the funds are poured directly back into the community, covering infrastructure upgrades like playground equipment, swimming docks, a new stage, public washrooms with plumbing and a three-court pickleball facility that doubles for basketball and tennis.
“The funding goes towards whatever (we need) so then it doesn’t have to come out of our tax dollars,” Nasby said. “For such a small village, that’s pretty huge.”
The village has just 136 full-time residents, but its population swells significantly during the summer months with seasonal visitors, many arriving from nearby Lloydminster.
Despite the threat of less-thanperfect weather, attendees turned out for a packed schedule of events, including a golf cart parade, a live band, face painting, a magician and full-sized horse rides. A crowd favourite was the “money pit,” sponsored by Mitchell Brothers, which hid $500 for local children to dig up.
Village administrator Amanda Bischler emphasized that the entire event is designed to be accessible, open to everyone and completely free for young families.
“We try to get everything sponsored so that it is all free for young families, which we don’t find there’s a lot of events out there for (them) to come to that have free entertainment,” Bischler said.
Organizers credited local and regional businesses for keeping the tradition alive, noting that many corporate sponsors from Lloydminster step up year after year. Nasby encouraged attendees to return the favour by shopping locally.
“These events do not happen without local businesses,” Nasby said. “If we’re not supporting the local businesses, then these (events go away).”
Beyond the fundraising and infrastructure, Nasby noted the day is ultimately about bridging gaps within
the community, especially following years of pandemic-related isolation.
“It’s just to get everybody together in a community. That’s what we want it for,” Nasby said.
“It’s all about the kids, is what it is — the families. And our older residents, too. This is a big event for them to get out and actually talk to each other.”
Nasby and Bischler also had a hard time putting into words their appreciation for the various sponsors that help put on the event.
“Without them, this amazing day wouldn’t be possible,” he said.
CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI
Over a year into the current council term, Town of Vermilion Mayor Robert Snow said there’s been plenty on council’s radar so far.
In a June 25 interview with the Meridian Source , Snow reported the town is dealing with challenges such as housing.
“Like every municipality, housing is a challenge,” he said. “Last term, we looked at how we increase housing. We looked at our Brennan North area and a need for infrastructure. We need trunk lines and trunk mains to get there. We started that process last year.”
Work is already underway to help move housing along in the community.
“This term in our budget, we committed $2.25 million to extending that sewer trunk line to get it closer to Brennan North so we can get houses,” Snow said.
While work is underway, he said this is a long-term goal. On top of the work being done to attract residential developments, the town has also seen success filling some of its vacant lots.
“We have our Yellowhead East Industrial Park, it’s just about full,” he said. “If you drive over there, there’s buildings going up everywhere and it’s great to see that growth and development.”
The airport has also become a major focus for council.
“The other one is our airport — it’s a big one,” Snow said. “This term, we’ve really taken that to heart and said, ‘We need to get the airport so it’s maintained for the next 20 years.’ We’ve applied for funding with the province for support to resurface it.”
The town has already begun putting money away for the facility.
“Equally, we’ve started putting a reserve away,” he said. “This year, we’re doing surface repair, so, crack filling. The long-term goal is to resurface the whole runway.”
He noted a major benefit of the airport is the health-care opportunities it provides.
“We always focus on the health-care side of the airport,” he said. “Medevacs come in, and every time a medevac comes in, that means we get to keep an ambulance in our area.”
Snow said businesses are also utilizing the airport, pointing to a June 10 Bradley Airspray event aimed at raising awareness.
“But economic growth, we’ve seen a few businesses come into the airport and they’ve told us, ‘This airport has huge potential,’ ” he said. “W e understand the value and the size of our airport.”
Another project closely on his radar is the historic CN building located in the provincial park.
“A goal of mine is working with the province to get our CN building in our provincial park restored and open to the public,” Snow said. “With the years, it needs a lot of care.”
Moving to council chambers, Snow said the team has been solid so far.
“This council’s been really good at having good, healthy debates. We might disagree, but we’ll debate it and we’ll come to a consensus,” he said, adding there is value in seeing councillors vote differently depending on the item presented.
“We should see a variance in how people are voting because that shows we’re representing the concerns that we’re holding, that people elected us for,” he said.
The current council is composed of three returning members — Coun. Paul Conlon, Deputy Mayor Kevin Martin and Mayor Snow — who are joined by former mayor Bruce MacDuff and new councillors Sherry Martin and Kellen Snelgrove.
“I’d say we have a very diverse group
of people,” Snow said.
In addition to the new council, a new administrator is helping shape the future of the town with the arrival of CAO Shannon Harrower.
“One year in with us and she just shines, she’s been awesome,” he said. “Elected officials are elected to represent a voice; we don’t manage the town. Our CAO manages the town very well and we have a very strong relationship.”
He explained that his office hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays give him an opportunity to connect with administration to discuss challenges and opportunities.
Snow said moving from councillor to mayor this term has been a significant learning experience.
“The learning’s been like a rocket ship.”
CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI
It certainly was an adventure for Grade 12 student Alisha Miskie.
She found herself headed to Ottawa to learn about citizenship and other key topics as part of Adventures in Citizenship.
The program offers high school students an opportunity to spend four days experiencing tours, lectures, discussions and social events designed to enhance their understanding and appreciation of Canadian citizenship.
Miskie was selected for the trip by the Rotary Club of Lloydminster.
“I heard about it through my dance teacher. The Rotary club just posted on Facebook about applicants,” she said. “I had to send in a letter of why I wanted to do this, and then two reference letters with it. Then, I got selected.”
Altogether, she said 175 students took part in the trip.
Heading from Edmonton to Ottawa, Miskie’s first day was packed with events.
“One of the first ones was Mr. Gilbert Whiteduck,” she explained. He was an Indigenous leader who spoke about how Canada and Indigenous people interact, noting Canada is still not fully complete because reconciliation remains unfinished.
“Then we had Jake Sawatsky, he’s
Christian Apostolovski Meridian Source
one of Canada’s youngest MPs. He talked to us about the importance of having young people in the House of Commons as MPs to get our voices heard.”
His story resonated with Miskie, who has been uncertain about her own future.
“I don’t know what I want to do next year,” Miskie said. “It’s just cool to see that he had a totally different plan and he ended up as an MP and he really enjoys it.”
The group later hopped on a bus to tour Ottawa before sitting down for a traditional French-Canadian dinner. Their second day took them to Parliament Hill.
“We went to Parliament Hill, some pages from the House of Commons spoke and also the clerk and the speaker of the House of Commons spoke,” she said. “They had a presentation with us and we were able to ask them questions.”
Following lunch, the students participated in a meet-and-greet with MPs and an afternoon activity before wrapping up the evening with a talent show.
On their third day in Ottawa, the students had the opportunity to take an optional campus tour of the University of Ottawa, as well as a tour of a local church.
“Then we heard from speakers about advocacy and how important it is to advocate for things that you want and how youth have a voice and can be heard,” Miskie said. “We learned about strategies for sharing our issues, we learned about an elevator conversation where you have a two-minute presentation on a problem.
“Then we had an activism through art session. I was really confused at the beginning because we just drew to music, but it turned out looking really cool.”
The presentations continued into the evening with another prominent guest.
“We had a speaker, which was the judge for the citizenship ceremony that happened the next morning,” she said.
The following day, they took in a citizenship ceremony where 35 people became Canadian citizens.
Looking back on the trip, Miskie said
Jacie Borrebach and George Coles (centre), pictured with Peter Brown and Wendy Plandowski, were all smiles after officially becoming members of the Rotary Club of Lloydminster. Christian Apostolovski Meridian Source
it was an eye-opening experience.
“I learned about being more openminded and I learned about a lot of different problems in Canada and how people are trying to correct them,” she said. “It’s just interesting to see different people, mostly to go meet different people and learn their stories.”
She noted her favourite part of the trip was the chance to connect with her peers.
“My favourite memory would be meeting different people,” Miskie said. “Getting to talk to them about what they’re doing in their communities and different things they’re doing in their life.
“It inspired me to do more.”
She also thanked the Rotary Club of Lloydminster for making the trip possible.
“I’m really thankful to the Rotary club for sponsoring me,” she said.
The June 22 Rotary Club of Lloydminster meeting also featured the induction of two new members, George Coles and Jacie Borrebach.
Staff Sgt. JERRY NUTBROWN
On June 15, the federal government announced that opioid-related deaths across Canada significantly declined in 2025.
The government release noted that increased access to naloxone — a medication that reverses opioid overdoses — is a key factor attributed to this decline.
The release also stated that 78 per cent of the deaths occurred in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
In my career, I have seen two substances emerge that changed the street drug scene in indescribable ways: methamphetamine and fentanyl.
How does this relate to Lloydminster? First, police do not determine the cause and manner of death; this is the responsibility of medical examiners.
When investigating sudden deaths, police complete a number of tasks, including a full scene examination. RCMP officers can indicate a suspected cause of death based on evidence and past experience, but we do not definitively determine it. Each death investigation is conducted as suspicious until it is deemed nonsuspicious.
We have experienced overdose deaths in Lloydminster, but that number is nowhere near the amount of overdoses that resulted in immediate treatment and recovery.
In the past 12 months, Lloydminster has seen nine deaths attributed to drug toxicity and another six suspected deaths.
The six remain suspected because autopsy reports have not been received yet.
A history of drug use by the deceased and the presence of drugs or drug paraphernalia are factored into these suspected deaths.
Some deaths will have drugs as a contributing factor, even though the person may have actually died of other health-related issues.
Recently, a local individual was arrested with evidence that they were remixing suspected fentanyl.
Due to the nature of illicit drugs, the risk to users is extreme. Pharmaceutically produced substances are made under tight restrictions, but street drugs are made in conditions far from sanitary without any quality controls.
As people continue to struggle with addiction, law enforcement will continue to target drug dealers. Unfortunately, as long as there are users of street drugs, there will be people willing to deal them.
Staff Sgt. Jerry Nutbown is the NCO in charge of the Lloydminster RCMP detachment’s General Investigation Section. Stay tuned for future online columns from the Lloydminster RCMP.
JOHN MacNEIL
Playing lacrosse since he was four years old, Ryder Plamondon can appreciate just how much the spring/summer sport complements his wintertime passion of hockey.
“Yeah, it helps a ton, just the stamina and hand-eye co-ordination,” said Plamondon,
who turned 16 in April. “It keeps me in shape during the (hockey) off-season real good. I love it.”
On and off the court, Plamondon has been a leader with the U17 Lloydminster Border Brutes, who won the Wheatland Lacrosse Association league championship Sunday at home in the Hub.
In his third year with the team, he captained the Border Brutes, who defeated the Vermilion-Wainwright Roar-Wolfpack 14-3 in the final of the championship tournament.
Plamondon also won the league scoring title, garnering 21 goals and 40 points in just 10 games this season, including two goals and two assists in the championship game.
“Yeah, I’ve had a good year,” he said. “I’ve never really been a big goal-scorer, but I’ve found the back of the net a few times this year.”
Plamondon’s goal-scoring abilities run in the family. His older brother Jayden was a top scorer during a decorated junior B career with the Lloydminster Xtreme in lacrosse and the Lloydminster Bandits in hockey.
“He plays a lot like his brother, which was a good role model for him,” said the Plamondons’ father Jeremy, who coaches the U17 Border Brutes.
“I’ve always been hard on him to keep everybody (on the team) involved, so he’s not just that kid that shoots every time. He passes to everyone. If you look at his points, they’re almost even (21 goals and 19 assists), which is the sign of a good leader. He scores when he needs to and passes when he needs to, too.”
As an affiliated player, Ryder Plamondon has also been promoted to the Xtreme for four games this season, scoring four goals and 13 points in the process. It’s likely he’ll join the junior B club later this month for its playoff run, at least for practices, after the Border Brutes finish their provincials on the July 10-12 weekend in Medicine Hat.
Then, he’ll ramp up his preparation for the coming hockey season.
“I’m working out lots and skating a few times a week, along with lacrosse,” said Plamondon, six feet and about 165 pounds.
“(Hockey training) will definitely pick up after lacrosse is done.”
This past year with the U16 AA first-place Lloydminster Blazers, he was named an all-star defenceman in the North Rural conference of the Alberta Elite Hockey League, posting 42 points in 45 games.
Plamondon attended the junior A Lloydminster Bobcats’ prospects camp in mid-April. His immediate goal for the 2026-27 hockey season is to suit up with the Lloydminster Lancers at the U18 AAA or U17 AAA levels.
This summer, he’s skating among the top 40 prospects for the U18 AAA Lancers.
“I’ll see how long I stick around there for,” Plamondon said. “I think the overall goal is to try to make that. Then, if I don’t, I’ll shoot for the 17s.”
In September, he’s going into Grade 11 at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School.
After a decisive victory in their league final, the Lloydminster Border Brutes are headed to the Alberta U17 lacrosse championship on the July 10-12 weekend in Medicine Hat.
In their first season playing out of the new Cenovus Energy Hub’s Co-op Community Arena, the Border Brutes hosted the threeteam Wheatland Lacrosse Association championship tournament last weekend. In what proved to be the final game, they clipped the Vermilion-Wainwright Roar-Wolfpack 14-3 on Sunday, June 28.
Lloyd’s victory in that morning start negated the need for a second game later Sunday in the double-knockout tourney.
After experiencing growing pains early in the season, the Border Brutes found their winning formula.
“We went to a couple of tournaments to sort of gauge how we’d do,” recounted Lloydminster coach Jeremy Plamondon. “We did OK in one tournament and in the other tournament we only won one game. We regrouped after that tournament and we made a few changes.”
ABOVE: The U17 Lloydminster Border Brutes come together in jubilation after captain Ryder Plamondon accepted the Wheatland league championship trophy Sunday at the Hub. BELOW: Ryssan Thiessen (right) and Hunter Deck (No. 12) celebrate one of Deck’s two third-period goals during Lloydminster’s gold-medal-winning 14-3 victory over the Vermilion-Wainwright Roar-Wolfpack.
John
MacNeil Meridian Source photos
FROM PAGE 27
In their Saturday matchup in the Wheatland league playoffs, the Border Brutes built an early 6-1 lead and staved off the Lakeland Heat 8-7.
Lakeland — the same organization that won the provincial title last year — was involved in three one-goal games during this year’s Wheatland playoffs, losing 5-4 to Vermilion-Wainwright on Saturday after winning 2-1 over the Roar-Wolfpack in Friday’s opener.
While the Border Brutes placed six players among the league’s top eight scorers, the Lloyd roster is all about variety.
“We’ve got a very diverse group,” Plamondon said Sunday. “We’ve got firstyear-ever-to-lacrosse players, we’ve got four girls, we’ve got kids that are just learning lacrosse, and then we’ve got our core group that’s been there for a long time.
“Every year, I can kind of recruit a kid or two to play, and that’s what happened with our goalie (Zayne Yushchyshyn) that played yesterday’s game. He had never played it before (this season) and he did fantastic. He’s a big reason that we got here.
“And we had also talked to our other goalie, (Rocklin Schwenk), who quit two years ago. He came back — he was our goalie today and he played tremendously.”
Lloydminster Border Brutes U17 goaltenders Rocklin Schwenk (middle) and Zayne Yushchyshyn (No. 30, right) earned praise from their coach, Jeremy Plamondon, for their efforts this season, especially during the Wheatland Lacrosse Association playoffs.
LACROSSE FROM PAGE 28
John MacNeil Meridian Source
In that Sunday finale, Lloydminster broke open a 2-2 game, outscoring VermilionWainwright 8-1 in the second period.
Isaiah Wiens scored three goals and four assists to lead the Border Brutes’ offence, while Ryssan Thiessen collected three of each. Carson Bergerud added three goals and an assist.
League scoring champion Ryder Plamondon — Jeremy’s son — contributed two goals and four points.
The other multiple-point players for the Broder Brutes were Hunter Deck, with two goals, Reeve Hawthorne, with a goal and an assist, and Kale Pierce, with three assists. Levi Brown, Emmerson McLaughlin and Ayden McMullen tallied for VermilionWainwright.
In Lloyd’s one-goal victory Saturday, Plamondon scored two goals, including the winner, as part of his five-point game. Wiens, the league’s second-leading scorer, potted four points, including a hat trick. Hawthorne and Thiessen each supplied a goal and an assist. Deck also scored and Jase Beriault added two assists.
The top scorers for Lakeland in that game were Carson Van Happen, with five points (2-3), and Liam Bordeleau, with a hat trick.
We’re growing again!
our newest partner, Laura
Deegan Smith, with three points, and Kael Cardinal also scored for the Heat.
A little rain, or even a lot of rain, wasn’t about to faze Gordon Cook.
The 80-year-old member of Onion Lake Cree Nation stuck to his grandstand seat during heavy rain and occasional sunny periods Sunday, still early in the five-day Onion Lake Sports Days program.
“The sun comes up for a while, and then the showers come hard,” said Cook, sporting denim attire in keeping with the western-themed occasion.
“Oh yeah, I’m here every day. There’s lots of people from all over the place. With this grandstand here, you don’t really get wet.”
Albeit a smaller venue, Onion Lake’s Heritage Park grandstand is modelled after the Calgary Stampede grandstand design, with back access to the concession booths.
“It’s a pretty nice setup,” said Cook, who has been attending rodeos and the like since he was a child, spanning 75 years. “Sitting out in the rain, you’re still under cover.”
Back in the day, he was in the thick of the action at home in Onion Lake.
“I used to have a cross-country horse, and it was good for six years or so,” he said. “Then, somebody was cutting the wire on fences, and I lost him, or maybe he was stolen. I couldn’t find him.
“For about six years, he won first place. It used to be (a prize of) $1,000 a race.”
Cook still has fond memories of that championship horse, and he also shares stories with his grandchildren about the horse-and-buggy days from his childhood.
As a spectator this year, he was disappointed that Sunday’s weather postponed one of the cross-country races, but he was happy to hear that it had been rescheduled for Monday.
Organizers worked around the weather all weekend, and competitors persevered through muddy track conditions. Saturday’s heavy rain wiped out the CPCA chuckwagon races that night, but they were in the lineup for Sunday through Wednesday, July 1.
The show must go on, and Onion Lake Cree Nation stepped up in a big way during the past five days to stage another edition of Onion Lake Sports Days, despite heavy rainfall on multiple days. After Saturday’s downpour wiped out the scheduled opening round of the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association races, they were back up and running Sunday, much to the delight of fans like Torren Littlewolfe and Kaleigh Thomas (right photo), sitting atop the bleachers as the sun came out Sunday evening. John MacNeil Meridian Source photos
Cantankerous at the best of times, the bulls took it to another level in mud and water Sunday night at Onion Lake Sports Days. John MacNeil Meridian Source
July 2026
Join the County for the 7 annual photo contest! This year our calendar theme is “In Our Community”. To enter the contest, email photos along with the photo permission form on our website to photocontest@county24.com. Winning photos will be featured in the 2027 “In Our Community” calendar. Contest ends August 24, 2026.
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Notices were sent on June 15 - please monitor your mail. Tax payment deadline is October 1, 2026. If you are interested in joining the Pre-Authorized Payment Plan for Taxes, please visit our website for more information.
This guide showcases local businesses, communities, attractions, events and experiences from across the County. Pick up your copy of the guide at the County of Vermilion River adminisitration office, locations around the County or on our website.
An agreement is required to hay County roadsides and all haying must be completed (hay cut, baled and bales removed) by July 15 to allow for mowing. CVR has started spraying weeds and brush along road allowances with a focus on the western part of the County. Noxious weeds and brush throughout the County will also be sprayed.
Back home for the summer, Onion Lake hockey-playing cousins Grier Pahtayken (left) and Lare Pahtayken catch up with friends and family Sunday during the annual Onion Lake Sports Days. Grier, 17, plays AAA with the Lloydminster Lancers, while 22-year-old Lare is a third-year pro bound for the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays next season. John MacNeil Meridian Source
Chuckwagon races and all other events weathered rainy periods from June 27 to July 1, but it was still another memorable edition of Onion Lake Sports Days. While mud was prominent and covered competitors and animals alike, it didn’t mask the pride of the hometown show. Helping to make it all happen were security workers like (bottom, from left) Dion Wolfe, Roddy Cooke and Nathanial Stanley. John MacNeil Meridian Source photos
JOHN MacNEIL
Five students from Holy Rosary reached the podium at the School Sport Alberta provincial track and field championships in June at Foothills Athletic Park in Calgary.
Those medallists were among 14 athletes from the Lloydminster Catholic school to qualify for the senior high school provincials. Overall, the Raiders placed third among 3A schools, behind champion St. Paul and runner-up Beaverlodge Regional.
From the Holy Rosary contingent, Alex Giesbrecht and Kalli Kuntz each earned silver medals, while Moyo Akinloye, Mfonma Idiong and Logan Weninger each took home bronze medals.
All of them were in Grade 11 this past school year, except for Giesbrecht, who was a Grade 10 student.
In the junior boys’ 800-metre race, Giesbrecht (2:01.24) was second only to Medicine Hat’s Zaide Kolody (1:59.37). Third place went to Ryan Sharpe (2:01.67) of St. Francis in Calgary.
Giesbrecht also showed well in longer races, placing fourth in the 1,500 metres (4:15.36) and seventh in the 3,000 (9:38.23).
The other silver-medallist from Holy Rosary was Kuntz. Her best throw in the intermediate girls’ javelin was 39.39 metres. The gold-medallist in that event was Ryann Markham (40.12) of Beaumont Composite. Calgary Christian’s Haley Deklerk (33.46) finished third.
In the intermediate girls’ shot put, the Raiders’ Idiong nabbed bronze with a toss of 11.58 metres. Ella Cooper (11.93) of Calgary’s Edge School won the event. The runner-up was Ylaina Ubell (11.76) of Edmonton’s Jasper Place.
In the intermediate boys’ 200 metres, Holy Rosary’s Akinloye showed some of his football speed in placing third in 23.10 seconds. The top two finishers were from Edmonton schools — Benny Allangba (22.02) of J.H. Picard and Liam Nelson (22.81) of Dr. Anne Anderson.
Rounding out the Raiders’ medallists was volleyball player Weninger, who reached 1.80 metres to land bronze in the intermediate boys’ high jump. The winner was Eli Steed (2.00) of Magrath and the runner-up was Japhet Mofeng (1.85) of Edmonton’s McNally.
The abundant crop of intermediate athletes from Holy Rosary included Lloydminster Lancers U18 AAA hockey defenceman Graydon Kvill, who finished in seventh spot to place in the top half of his 800-metre race. His time was 2:13.98.
Kvill was also a member of the Northeast zone 4x100 relay team that came in seventh in the intermediate boys’ division. His relay teammates were fellow Raiders Akinloye and Luc Lehmond and St. Paul’s Liam Nolan. Along with Kvill, among other Lloydminster elite hockey players participating in the Alberta track provincials were Lloyd Athletics 18U captain and Holy Rosary graduate Rhys Horon (senior boys’ shot put) and the U15 AAA Lancers’ Easton Holte (junior boys’ triple jump).
Holte, who spent most of the year at Lloyd’s Pursuit School of Sport, placed seventh while representing his hometown Hughenden school. He jumped 11.45 metres. TRACK AND FIELD FROM PAGE 34
It’s been successfully operating in Canada for years.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is in use around the world, and several projects have been safely operating in Canada for years. To date, millions of tonnes of CO2 have been permanently stored in geological formations in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Building the proposed Pathways Project will generate significant benefits to the local economy while creating thousands of jobs in Northeastern Alberta during construction. Once operational, the Pathways Project will enable further reductions in emissions intensity (emissions per barrel) from oil sands production and unlock oil sands growth. This helps move our industry forward.
