Dale Aalbers puts hat in MLA ring
3
Lloydminster mayor’s son announces intent to run for the UCP nomination.
5 Rescue squad reinstated in R.M.
Council motion favours contract with first responders.
Golden girls advance to nationals
Women’s volleyball Rustlers take
It was a sunny February day at the Lloydminster Exhibition; the cold winds blew by as participants in the Cutter Rally for Cancer got their cutters and horses ready to go. Inside the WLS Convention Centre sat a couple who had
braved the cold trails for over two decades. They were getting ready to hit the trail again, this time with four generations of their family.
Claus Young and his wife Jean were getting ready to head out again in support of the fight against cancer.
Claus, 91, says he’s been in the cutter rally since it started.
pipelines or making sure we can get our resources to market.”
The race for the next Vermilion-LloydminsterWainwright United Conservative Party (UCP) candidate is on, and a face familiar to Lloyd is putting his name forward.
Dale Aalbers has officially announced his intention to run for the UCP nomination for the local Alberta riding.
He’s been active in politics for most of his life and currently works in the constituency office for Rosemarie Falk, MP for Battlefords-Lloydminster–Meadow Lake.
“I’ve worked with several different members of Parliament in Ottawa on Parliament Hill, fighting and advocating for the issues that matter to us as Albertans,” he said. “For our freedoms in particular, as well.”
Aalbers also explained he’s had the opportunity to work for various political campaigns in Canada and helped create an internship program for the UCP. He says he’s committed to service and has a love for the people in the Border City.
“Settling in Lloydminster and finding the importance of people,” he said, noting it was the people that drew him back to the Border City longterm.
“The people, definitely,” said Aalbers. “I’d been working in politics and then being drawn back home because it’s a good place to raise a family. It’s a beautiful community; people are so involved.”
Aalbers, who has lived in the Border City nearly his entire life, is raising a family and says one of the things important to him is parental rights.
“There’s a lot of good people fighting for the things that matter, in particular, parental rights. Choice in education was another big one,” he explained.
His choice to run for the UCP nomination aligns with the party’s provincial efforts.
“The UCP is committed to school choice and allowing parents to be able to choose,” “As a father, that is important to me, that we have school choice so we can help our children with whatever they need for their education. I believe that parents know best regarding their children.”
He says there’s a number of issues that he hopes to tackle.
“So many issues impact our families, seniors and our economy,” he said. “These include health care, education, infrastructure, social supports, reducing red tape, energy and agriculture.
“Definitely red-tape reduction. Continuing to look at ways we can reduce red tape. Creating trade opportunities, reducing barriers, building
As a life-long Conservative, he says the party’s values are important to him.
“It’s something that’s always been really important to me,” said Aalbers. “Hard work, perseverance, commitment to family, faith and freedom are all things that are often found within the conservative movement.
“That desire to make our communities better, that ‘less government rather than more’ is better, allowing freedom for people, freedom for economics, free enterprise.”
He says the heart of the Conservative moment is in Alberta.
“The heart of conservatism is in Alberta. Often, Alberta’s beaten on by the rest of the country because of the things it does,” he said. “I believe in a conservatism that’s common sense but also has compassion and cares about people. (The) government’s supposed to serve people. That’s what my desire is as an aspiring politician, to serve people.”
Aalbers’ love of politics has been growing over time, as he’s always had the opportunity to attend debates.
“Growing up, my dad (Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers) was always passionate about politics and that had rubbed off on me,” he said. Since moving back to Lloyd, he’s rekindled an old passion.
“I became really passionate about football,” he said. “I always wanted to play football. I was part of the inaugural Chargers team when the LMFA (Lloydminster Minor Football Association) started. Then, later playing for Holy Rosary High School.
“Now, being able to contribute to the game and refereeing (is great).”
He hopes to serve those in the VermilionLloydminster-Wainwright constituency as the UCP nomination vote is expected to happen this year.
“Continuing to be a voice for parents, for parental rights, for children as well.”
Garth Rowswell, United Conservative Party (UCP) MLA for VermilionLloydminster-Wainwright, will be retiring from his post at the end of this term.
Rowswell, who was first elected in 2019, says it was always his plan to serve a few terms before bowing out.
“My plan was maybe a couple of terms. I kind of knew what I wanted to do when I went in,” he said. “I’ve made progress on all those things, so I’m pretty content that I’ve accomplished most of what I’ve set in to do.”
He outlined three items he was focused on tackling as a provincial representative.
“I wanted a balanced budget, I wanted to reduce red tape and then push back on what I called the war on fossil fuels,” he explained.
Rowswell says as of now, they’ve reduced red tape. When it comes to balancing
Intent: The purpose of Bylaw No. 02-2026 is to redistrict Lot 4, Block 16, Plan 202 0044 within S.W. ¼ Sec.26-TWP.49-Rge.1-W4M from Transition (T) to Parks & Utility (PU) and Medium Density Residential (MDR).
How do I get more information?
For more information on the draft bylaw, please contact Legislative Services at 780-871-8328.
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Anyone wishing to make a presentation at the Public Hearing, either verbally or in writing, concerning this bylaw may do so during the City Council with or without notice at the meeting specified below. Please notify Legislative Services by 2 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2026, to provide a submission for the agenda. All submissions will become part of the permanent public record.
Monday March 23, 2026 2 p.m.
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the budget, Rowswell says the mind set is there.
“Sometimes, it’s hard to do, but the goal is to get there,” he said.
A new pressing issue of health care emerged during his first term with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As I went through my first term, health care became a really important thing,” said Rowswell.
He decided to run again after his first term, still aiming to help out with health care and deal with affordability.
“I think we’re making lots of changes in health care and I’ve been involved in a lot of that,” he said.
One notable accomplishment for Rowswell is the work he’s done with nurse practitioners.
“It’s getting nurse practitioners, so they can open their own clinics and not have to work under a doctor,” he said. “Now, we’ve got three, and a fourth one coming in Vermilion.”
He explained progress was made for the Border City, as regulations were put in place to enable information to flow from Alberta to Saskatchewan.
“We finally got Netcare to go across the border now,” said Rowswell. “Information from Alberta can come into Saskatchewan. We passed it in the fall of ’20 and we just got the regulations in place in 2025, this past fall.”
He’s also been working on getting permits for coal mines in the area.
“I’ve been a big advocate for coal. In the last two years here, I’ve been working really hard to get more coal mines going,” he said, noting it’s hard to get a permit for one. “Everything you do has a footprint, but if you can mitigate them or reduce them, then that shouldn’t stop you from trying to do it.”
With the next Alberta general election coming up in the fall of 2027, Rowswell says he couldn’t see himself retiring completely.
“I just can’t imagine going from how active you are as an MLA to nothing,” he said. “I wouldn’t mind helping. If a minister needs help on provincewide information gathering, I wouldn’t mind doing that.”
Reflecting on his time as an MLA, Rowswell says he’s lucky to have served in the area.
“I really enjoyed the job,” he said. “I always tell people it’s more than a fulltime job, but it doesn’t feel like work. You learn so much and I’m really, really happy I did it.”
“Got a team at home, so (we) bring them in here and see what they can do,” he explains.
“We’ve missed a couple of years, but most of the time we’ve been,” Jean, 84, added, explaining she’s the passenger while Claus drives.
Jean says it’s not just a chance to drive but also visit with others.
“We’ve always had a team to drive,” she said. “It’s a chance to come and drive and visit with the rest of the people and enjoy a good supper.”
The Feb. 28 day the couple faced was a cold one, something Claus says he doesn’t like.
“We dress for it,” Jean said.
This isn’t the only rally the pair attends, having missed the Onion Lake rally as it was cancelled due to the cold the previous weekend.
“We’ve been going to Dewberry for years,” Claus said.
Claus says they’ve always had a team having been raised on horses and used as the primary mode of transportation.
“I came to Lloyd when I was six years old, well five years old with my dad. It took us three days, day and a half to get in,” he said. “We were both raised when we still had horses. That’s the only way you travelled in the wintertime.”
When asked about if they think about all the money they’ve helped raise, they said it’s something you have to do.
“Everybody’s got somebody in the
family that’s got cancer and so it’s just something you do,” Jean said. “We get a treat (because) we get to drive our team as well as we get to participate and give some money to cancer.”
While they may not ride as much as they used to, they still get to do plenty of riding during the summer.
“We ride wagon trains in the summertime through Saskatoon to Lloydminster here,” Claus said.
While the couple has been attending the Cutter Rally for Cancer since its inception, they haven’t had any luck winning the big one.
“We’ve won door prizes, we’ve never won the cutter,” Jean said.
Following the chat inside, the family made their way out the trail and readied the horses. Jean and Claus would be joined by three other generations of their family as they rode along the Ron C. MacDonald trail.
CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER
The Lloydminster Rescue Squad will continue its work with the R.M. of Britannia following a Feb. 25 council motion. A pair of petitions were presented to council during the meeting. One pertained to holding public meeting to talk about the rescue squad and the other to call for a referendum vote on the June 11, 2025, decision to cancel the rescue squad’s services.
Council debated whether to keep the rescue squad contract and Reeve John Light explained they normally bring the information forward prior to making the motion.
“All we’ve done wrong here is sped the process up quite a bit,” he said.
He pointed to the discrepancy in the June 11, 2025, vote, leading to a close margin of passing.
“Instead of a four-to-three vote it would have been six to one or seven to zero. That makes a big difference,” said Light. “You got four to three, it looks like we’re not sure what we’re talking about.”
Coun. Joe Hufnagel says they voted with the information that was presented to them.
“I think the fact that all information that was given to us and provided to us from the government had us empowering our own fire department that we pay for to do it,” he said, noting this had a ripple effect in the community, leading to the two successful petitions.
While Coun. Elaine Newman says this is an opportunity to keep the rescue squad around with their decades of experience.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing to have the rescue squad within this area because we have all our
bases covered,” she said.
Council passed a motion regarding the first petition to hold a public meeting about the rescue squads’ contract, something Coun. Spenser McGowan wanted to see held before the vote on rescinding the original motion.
“We need to have the public meeting so everybody has the correct information and then it has to go to a vote once everybody has the proper information,” he said.
Despite his comments, council voted in favour, 4-3, to rescind the original motion. Negotiations will now begin between the R.M. and the Rescue Squad on a new three-year deal.
Norm Namur, Lloyd Rescue Squad Chief, who was at the meeting, was happy with the decision.
“Today was a great decision for the RM of Britannia,” he said. “I just have to go back to the board now and present that.
“We’re grateful for all those individuals that worked really hard to get to where we are today.”
Neil Geall, the force behind the referendum petition that led to the decision to rescind the previous motion, was also thrilled with the decision council made.
“I think they’ve made the right decision to move forward and reinstate the rescue squad,” he said.
Just after the meeting finished, he pointed out he received a lot of positive feedback while he was canvasing for signatures.
“I found nothing but favourable responses when I went,” he explained.
The public meeting concerning the rescue squad and proposed upcoming legislative changes surrounding fire services will take place on March 19 at the Memorial Hall in Hillmond at 6:30 p.m.
26: 5:15 - 6 p.m. May 3: 5:45 - 6:30 p.m.
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TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR
Saskatchewan’s annual TeleMiracle telethon marked its 50th year by setting a new fundraising record, topping $10.5 million as the 22-hour broadcast wrapped up.
A total of $10,521,072 was displayed on the video wall when the milestone edition of the fundraiser concluded at 5 p.m. on March 1. The event supports the Kinsmen Foundation, which provides Saskatchewan residents with medical travel assistance, mobility equipment and special needs support.
“Thank you for putting your trust in Saskatchewan’s show, TeleMiracle. Without your support, we could not have had the recordbreaking year we did,” TeleMiracle 50 chair Tammy Blackwell said in a news release. She added the event reflects Saskatchewan’s tradition of generosity and volunteerism and expressed hope it will continue for years to come.
Organizers said several bequests, major gifts and memorial donations contributed to the historic total, including a $2.35-million bequest from Alice Tindall.
The show featured 70 performers from across the province, archival video segments spanning five decades and appearances by past TeleMiracle chairs.
“Thank you, Saskatchewan. The support you
Members of the local Kinsmen and Kinette clubs were overjoyed to present a cheque for more than $160,000 at this year’s Telemiracle telethon in Saskatoon. Submitted photo
have shown us is incredible. Your support will directly improve the quality of life for so many Saskatchewan residents,” said Danika Dinko, executive director of the Kinsmen Foundation.
The Lloydminster Kinsmen and Kinette clubs took the stage during the telethon to present a cheque for $161,433.98. Funds were raised through this year’s Geek on the Peak and Telemiracle Steak Night fundraisers.
With this year’s total, TeleMiracle has now raised more than $181 million over five decades. All proceeds remain in Saskatchewan.
Organizers said donors who made pledges during the broadcast can fulfil them by mailing contributions to TeleMiracle in Saskatoon.
The Kinsmen Foundation said it is preparing for TeleMiracle 51 next year as it continues its work supporting Saskatchewan residents.
Border City Connects’ president Otis Rusling accepts a $1,500 cheque from Dr. Jessica Lawrence, Dr. Danielle Guenet and Dr. Christy Mushtaller at Violet
on March 2. Funds were raised through the locally-owned business’ annual frame show and sale .
A locally owned optometry clinic is once again giving back to the community it serves.
Violet Eyes Optometry has donated $1,500 to Border City Connects following its annual fall frame show and sale.
Dr. Danielle Guenet, optometrist and one of three owners of the clinic, said the yearly event doubles as a customer appreciation day and an opportunity to support a local cause.
“Every year, when we have our annual frame show in the fall. It’s like our customer appreciation event. It’s a big, fun day and everyone partakes in it,” said Dr. Guenet, who owns the clinic with Dr. Jessica Lawrence and Dr. Christy Mushtaler. “We always want to give back to the community when we can.”
The business has been hosting the sale and subsequent donation since 2012. Previous recipients have included Lloydminster Sexual Assault Services, Holy Rosary High School’s Beba Project and Big Brothers Big Sisters Lloydminster, among others.
This year, the team chose Border City Connects, a non-profit organization that provides transportation for residents travelling to out-oftown medical appointments.
“We chose Border City Connects because a lot of our patients use their services to get to Saskatoon, Edmonton and North Battleford for medical appointments, surgeries, eye injections, which aren’t just vision saving, they can be life-altering,” said Dr. Guenet.
“We hear more and more every year how many of our patients use those services and we wanted to make sure the money went to a good cause in our community that our patients use.”
Dr. Guenet noted Border City Connects has long been on their radar as a potential recipient and said
it felt “amazing” to contribute $1,500 to the organization.
Dr. Lawrence added the donation wouldn’t be possible without community support.
“It’s because of the support of our community that we’re able to do this, and we’re very grateful for that,” she said.
Border City Connects interim executive director Mike Sidoryk said the organization was thrilled to be selected.
“We’re very honoured to even be considered to be their charity of choice for this project,” said Sidoryk. “It’s immensely gratifying.”
He says the services offered by the non-profit complement those provided by the optometry clinic.
“When they say it’s easier for their clients to get to out-of-town eye surgeries and medical appointments because of us, that’s very gratifying for us,” said Sidoryk. “That means what we do has meaning and has impact to this business as well as our community members.”
Border City Connects provides transportation to cities such as Saskatoon, Edmonton and North Battleford for medical services not available locally.
Sidoryk also explained the organization has been working to raise its profile in recent years.
“The board realized we need to be in the public more and show people what we’re doing,” he said. “Most of us non-profits are our own bestkept secret. It was about realizing we’re here
for the community and we want to make sure the community knows who we are and what we do to help them.
“Not that we weren’t active before, but it takes years to get people to be aware of programs and projects. It’s not a simple process.”
Sidoryk added he was unaware of Violet Eyes Optometry’s annual charitable initiative until recently.
“Up until a couple weeks ago, I didn’t even know Violet Eyes did this,” he said. “We were very honoured to be selected as a charity of choice.”
The $1,500 donation will help cover operational expenses.
“This will go a long way to help with our operational costs. We have to replace tires on the vans, the fuel costs, things like that,” said Sidoryk. “Our recommended donation to take the trips is very reasonably priced, but it barely covers fuel and repair maintenance.
“We also have to remember we rely 100 per cent on volunteer drivers. If it wasn’t for the volunteer drivers, there’s no way we could provide this service. We give so much thanks to our volunteer drivers who keep this going.”
“The idea was to get us all together and support the cancer cause.”
Co-organizer Mike Sidoryk said he’s proud of the work they’ve been putting in hosting the event.
Despite some freezing temperatures on the trail, the Cutter Rally for Cancer saw strong support in its 22nd year in Lloydminster.
“It started 22 years ago with the East West Chapter of the Alberta Carriage Association,” said Tammy Hampel, event co-organizer. “We had lost a member to cancer ourselves.”
The event took place at the Lloydminster Exhibition, Feb. 28, with riders hitting the Ron C MacDonald trail.
For organizers, the event is a chance for everyone to come together in support of a good cause.
“We wanted to pull together the driving world,” said Hampel. “We know there’s a lot of people that didn’t compete like we do at the driving club, but there’s still drivers out there.
“We’re pretty proud of the fact we’ve probably given a minimum of $240,000 to cancer care,” he said. “We’re very proud of the fact we’ve supported the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation and provided equipment for the cancer care ward.”
Sidoryk says they’ve provided equipment like chairs, vein finders and blanket warmers, among other items.
A portion of the funds are also given to the Haying in the 30s organization.
“Their goal is to give individual people the funds to get to the facility we are supporting,” said Hampel, noting a portion of the funds raised support a bursary and a scholarship.
When it comes to bringing the Cutter Rally for Cancer to life, Sidoryk says they partner with organizations such as the East West Chapter of the Alberta Carriage Driving Association and the Lloydminster Exhibition.
“We have formed our committee to work on behalf of both associations. We have the Baptist Church, who’s a partner as well, and they help us provide a lot of the volunteers,” he said.
During the event, participants go to different checkpoints and roll a dice with a chance at winning a cutter, a harness package, or $2,500.
“People go out on the trail on their horse and wagon, horse and buggy, horseback, some are even out there walking the whole trail, maybe not today with it being so cold,” said Sidoryk. “It’s a great opportunity for people to get out and mix and mingle and do what they enjoy with the horses and cutters.”
This year also included an event to honour a past committee member.
“We have one (event) called Pop One for Leo. We recognize one of our most recent past committee members, Leo Oestreicher,” he said. “We have 125 balloons that we sell. The winner of that pop wins a beautiful fire pit.”
Presales for the event looked good, with the day historically drawing 300 people.
“We probably had our largest, one of our largest, presales for tickets,” said Sidoryk. “We generally have about 300 people come to the banquet.”
He says without the support of the community and volunteers, the event wouldn’t be possible.
“We just want to thank our many participants, our many corporate donors and our many volunteers,” he said. “We have an amazing team, committee that put this whole event together and all the contribution needs to go to the committee members.”
CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER
Lloydminster residents braved a cold night to walk in support of a good cause.
Coldest Night of the Year drew a crowd of nearly 100 people walking in support of the Lloydminster Men’s Shelter.
“We’ve had lots of walkers and lots of new teams pop up,” said Kim Hurley, operations manager, Lloydminster Men’s Shelter. “We get good support from the community as well.”
According to Hurley, most donations and registrations happen ahead of time but they still accept both on the day of the event.
Money raised stays in the community, helping the men’s shelter.
“It is all across Canada and we are happy to be part of it, but what we raise here, stays here,” said Hurley.
The shelter is currently raising money to help deal with capacity issues they’ve been facing.
“We’ve been at capacity all winter,” said Michael Davison, president of the Lloydminster Men’s Shelter board.
“This year, we’re putting aside money to support some of our future goals towards increasing our capacity. The biggest issue we’re running into
This year’s Coldest Night of the Year raised $34,016 for the Lloydminster Men’s Shelter, with 13 teams walking.
right now is, demand is greater than the supply for people who need help and support.”
Hurley says they’ve had to turn people away when they come to the shelter.
“One night, we turned away nine individuals,
which is hard,” she said. “When it gets cold, we’re the only place.”
In total, this year’s Coldest Night of the Year raised $34,016 for the Lloydminster Men’s Shelter, with 13 teams walking.
Thursday, March 5, 2026
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So many events, so little time; a busy weekend lies ahead
EDITOR TAYLOR WEAVER
If you’re looking for fun, family-friendly activities in the Border City this weekend, you’re in luck.
On paper, it’s shaping up to be a 48-hour stretch chock-full of events. I’m working all weekend and looking forward to two days of fun.
The Lloydminster Bobcats play their final two regular-season home games Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Cenovus Energy Hub. The ’Cats host the Calgary Canucks on Friday and the Olds Grizzlys on Saturday, the final day of the ACAC men’s basketball championship at Lakeland College, which started today.
The annual Todd Gustavson Memorial Battle of the Badges charity hockey game between the Lloydminster RCMP and Lloydminster Fire Rescue begins at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hub. Admission is by donation or non-perishable food items. Proceeds and donations will benefit
Inclusion Lloydminster, The Olive Tree and The Salvation Army.
Over at the Lloyd Ex, the Border City Card Show is set to fill the WLS Convention Centre on Saturday, while the Prairie United Kennel Club Dog Show and the Progress Steer and Heifer Show take over the north side of the building.
If you’re a gym-goer, Supplement World is hosting a grand opening at its new Lloydminster location at 1804 50 Ave. this weekend. I’m looking forward to trying one of its 40 smoothie flavours.
The fifth annual Marshall Snow Kings sled rally is also scheduled for Saturday at the Marshall Three Links Hall.
My dad is also visiting from Camrose and is excited to tag along on everything I’m covering. When I was young, my dad was a photographer for the Windsor Star and used to take me to Detroit Red Wings games, among other events, when the schedule allowed. We may not be getting up close and personal with the likes of Steve Yzerman and Darren McCarty this weekend, but I’m excited to show him the Hub and how we do things in Lloydminster.
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
The devastating tragedy at Tumbler Ridge Elementary School in British Columbia on Feb. 10, which claimed the lives of nine people, has shattered the illusion that smalltown Canada is immune to such violence. This heartbreaking event must serve as a wake-up call to our own community. We must immediately prioritize physical safety within our two local school divisions.
While there is a significant focus on cybersecurity in our modern world, it is the physical protection of our most precious resources, our children and those that work in our schools that is most vital.
This event is a devastating reminder that the schools in our public and private school divisions must review and tighten the lockdown procedures and safety protocols that we need in place to protect our children, teachers and staff. True preparedness requires more than policy; it requires
visible, practical action.
To ensure this we must have:
Mandatory Lockdown Drills practised on a regular basis. Lockdown drills need to be a standard part of school safety protocols, just like fire drills. The goal is to prepare both students and staff to act quickly and instinctively in the event of an emergency. While the topic can be heavy, safety experts put a lot of thought into how to conduct these drills without causing unnecessary fear.
Controlled Entry Points: Implementing buzzers for entry into the building, along with secure key fobs that restrict unauthorized individuals from entering schools.
Simple Physical Upgrades: Installing blinds on all classroom windows and ensuring all door have functional internal locking mechanisms are life saving measures.
Safety Audits: This B.C. tragedy should be an urgent reminder that safety audits become regular occurrences in all our schools.
VILLAGE OF WASECA
NOTICE is hereby given that the assessment roll of the Village of Waseca for the year 2026 has been prepared and is open for inspection in the office of the Assessor from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following days.
Tuesday to Thursday-March 04, 2026, to April 14, 2026.
A bylaw pursuant to Section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.
Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment is required to file his or her notice of appeal accompanied by a $200.00 appeal fee which will be returned if the appeal is successful to: Mike Ligermoet, Secretary of the Board of Revision PO Box 459, Aberdeen, Sask S0K 0A0 by the 14th day of April 2026.
Dated this 4th day of March 2026.Stephanie Rhinehart Assessor
The victims at Tumbler Ridge - children as young as 11 and dedicated educators deserve to be remembered through our commitment to change. We cannot wait for a tragedy to strike Lloydminster before we act.
I encourage all parents to contact their divisions and request these actions be part of the standard protocol.
Sincerely, Harland Lesyk, Lloydminster
When you’re reading something, have you ever come across a single point that you cannot get out of your head? It could be something mundane or something extraordinary.
The subject of this week’s column, Mary “Molly” Fox, did just that for me. She was born in 1920, shortly after her Scottish-born parents Peter and Mary Sutherland settled in Canada.
The family homestead was located just west of Lloyd in Blackfoot. After finishing Grade 8, she would attend boarding school at Lakeland College in Vermilion. She took carpentry, learning to make 2x2 and 2x4s, a skill that would come in handy later.
A certain fox would catch her eye when he stopped to ask for directions while planting trees. That would be Jonathan Fox III, and the tree she planted grew to be strong and tall, a direct mirror of the pair’s life together.
The two would get married and move onto the Fox farm just outside of Lloydminster.
Her mom moved to the house and it became affectionately known as granny’s house. Molly kept busy feeding the people of the farm and managing a large yard and garden. Of note, keeping track of Jonathan could’ve been a full-time job for her. In 1941, they welcomed son Lyal into the world, followed by Charlie Bob. She raised some rambunctious boys.
It would be a big year for Molly and the farm in 1957, when they hosted their first production sale, aptly named Sale of the Year. It also served as an event in cattle fraternity, Molly and family organized a meet-and-greet party, complete with a live band and dancing.
She later recounted the comments made by a local shoemaker about how business jumped following the Justamere dance. Bobby Hull attended their dance, a polled Hereford breeder himself.
Tragedy would strike the family as Charlie Bob died in 1971. He was struck by another vehicle while changing a tire on a trailer. Jay, their youngest grandson, was also killed in a farming accident.
In the 1980s, Molly and Jonathan moved to Heffley Creek, B.C., to raise Morgan and Fjord horses, along with Norwegian Elkhounds. The younger generation had taken over management of Justamere farms, allowing the pair some time away. They wouldn’t stay away for long, eventually returning to Lloydminster to be with the family.
Jonathan died in 2008 at the age of 89 and Molly would live to be nearly 94. She died in 2014 at the Lloydminster hospital.
In her later years, Molly kept good watch over her grandchildren and great-grandchildren from granny’s house. She even kept up her love of sewing, making her signature hats. She said store-bought hats never fit as well as hers, so she always had to make her own.
This simple fact about hats captured my mind for the last two weeks since reading up on Molly.
Every time I put on my tuque, I think, ‘Oh, I have too much hair, that’s why this doesn’t fit nicely.’ I’m sure Molly’s hats would have fit me perfectly, just as they fit her, just the way she liked.
It was a special Monday night for local Special Olympics athletes at Lloyd Lanes Bowling Alley after a surprise visit from members of the Lloydminster Bobcats. The junior A team bowled before extending an invitation to this Friday’s home game against the Calgary Canucks. Photos courtesy of Chelsey Mader
The Meridian Source calendar of events is a free service provided for non-profit organizations located within our coverage area. All events are in chronological order, as space permits and at the editor’s discretion.
To place an event, email taylor@meridiansource.ca or fax 306-825-5147
Bingo at the Moose Lodge Bingo is back at the Moose Lodge! Bingo is every Monday and Wednesday evening. Doors open at 5 p.m. and play starts at 7 p.m. Must be 18 to play.
Southridge Playschool Registration is Open
The Southridge Playschool and Kindergym Society has opened registration for the fall 2026-2027 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.
Girl Guides Family Fun Night
Lloydminster Girl Guides will host a Family Fun Night Dessert Bingo on Saturday, March 7, at the Moose Hall - 5213 -57 St. from 6-9 p.m. Games start at 6:30 p.m. Bingo games to win desserts. Much more – silent auction, concession, 50/50, glitter tattoos. Admission by donation to fundraise for the 92nd Europe Independent Trip Unit. Everyone welcome.
Doubles Crib Tournament
The Lloydminster Moose Lodge is holding a doubles cribbage tournament on Sunday, March 8, at 10 a.m. Registration is from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and the cost is $20/person, 12 games guaranteed. Must register by Friday, March 6. Contact Bruce at 780-522-6972 for more.
Islay Doubles Crib Tournament
The Islay Community Association is hosting a doubles crib tournament on March 14 in the Islay Hall. Doors open at 9 a.m., registration cut-off is 10 am. Cost is $25 per person which includes noon lunch. Please pre-register by calling Linda at 780-581-0570.
Kaiser Tournament
The Lloydminster Moose Lodge is holding a kaiser tournament on Sunday, March 15, at 1 p.m. Cost is $20/person, eight games guaranteed and prizes awarded to top teams. Must register by Friday, March 13. Contact Arne at 306-821-7459 or Bruce at 780-522-6972 for more info.
Singles Crib Tournament
The Lloydminster Moose will be holding a singles cribbage tournament on Sunday, March 22, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $20/person, eight games guaranteed and prizes awarded to top finishers. Must register by Friday, March 20. Contact Bruce at 780-522-6972 for more info.
The City of Lloydminster will be supporting Border City Connects (BCC) to the tune of $50,000.
The funding agreement was struck at the Feb. 23 regular council meeting.
Administration explained a fare for a one-way trip is $8, with seniors 65 and older able to utilize the service for $6.50 with the city’s senior taxi program vouchers.
Border City Connects had a busy year of trips in 2025.
“In 2025, they did 24,347 trips, not including caravan trips,” said Patrick Lancaster, manager social programs and services, City of Lloydminster, noting the agreement outlines specific reporting requirements.
“Particularly to bring us in alignment with what we need to provide through that Saskatchewan Transportation for People with Disabilities grant,” he said. “There’s certain requirements to access those funds and transfer them over to Border City Connects.”
The agreement will also include in-kind support from the city for advertising and policy development and will return to council later this year to discuss the possibility of a multi-year deal.
Mayor Gerald Aalbers talked about the city’s contribution to Border City Connects’ work.
“I think that it outlines several different things; 25,000 trips, $50,000, the math is pretty simple. It equates to a $2 subsidy from the city to support what Border City Connects does,” he said. He also talked about the challenges Border City Connects is facing.
6 Minute Warning is a Canadian vocal group based out of Edmonton. The group consists of six members with extensive backgrounds in rock, pop, jazz, classical, and choralmusic. 6 Minute Warning is renowned for its exceptional singing, tight harmonies, seamless phrasing, thrilling lead solos, and intricate beatboxing.
“Border City Connects is facing the challenge that many non-profit organizations are facing. Continuously rising costs, operational costs, insurance, things like that,” said Aalbers. Coun. Michael Diachuk noted how important this service is to the community.
“The service is immense and unique. It touches a lot of people,” he said. “We’ve had requests for money from a lot of different organizations and I think this one in particular provides an essential service.”
He also asked what would happen if they were to not fund Border City Connects.
Dewberry Hall Upcoming Events
The Dewberry Community Hall is hosting Family Social and Music – The Relics on March 7, ATCO Movie Day – Zootopia 2 on March 8 and a hall meeting on March 10. They will also host the cutter rally on March 14 and the Dewberry Dinner Theatre –Is There a Doctor in the House? on March 27 and 28.
Crib Tournamant
The Hillmond Hall is hosting a crib tournament on Sunday, March 29, starting at 11 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon.
Their love for singing and their ability to create a soundscape with their voices continues to inspire audiences both young and old.
March 7, 2026 (Saturday)—7:30 pm
“It is costly to operate these vehicles. They’ve managed to stretch a lot of distance out of a lot of dollars over a long time,” said Lancaster.“If the funding was not available, we’d see a reduction in those services.”
Council voted in favour of a one-year, $50,000 agreement.
Startup Lloydminster has officially transitioned to become a program delivered through Community Futures (CF).
The item was first presented to Lloydminster council at the Feb. 9 Governance and Priorities committee before being brought to the Feb. 23 regular council meeting for a decision.
A shift in Startup’s revenue led to the need for alternative delivery.
“To ensure long‑term financial sustainability and maintain service levels to the community, an alternative delivery model has been proposed,” said Katlin Ducherer, City of Lloydminster economic development officer, noting the transition will allow them to finish the 2026 year.
The proposed funding amount is $97,500 and was included in the approved 2026 economic development operating budget.
Funding going beyond 2026 will have to return to council for further discussion.
Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers asked Ducherer if they’d seen anything similar to the proposed changes in other municipalities.
“Depending on the community, there’s models where this function exists under an existing Community Future with funding either from the municipality or other streams,” she explained.
As part of the change to Startup Lloydminster, the organization’s board made the decision to dissolve.
Coun. Michele Charles Gustafson, who previously sat on the Startup board, says there’s still an opportunity to be a part of the CF board.
“Corinne (McGirr), general manager of Community Futures, let us know there are spaces on the Community Futures’ board that are called members at large and that there would be the opportunity for interested parties from Startup to put their name forward for those open spaces,” she said.
Coun Jim Taylor, who also sits on the Community Futures’ board, welcomed anyone from the Startup board to join.
Border officers seized more than 111 kilograms of suspected cocaine from a commercial truck at the Blue Water Bridge earlier this month.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said the truck was referred for a secondary examination when it arrived at the Blue Water Bridge port of entry in Point Edward, Ont., from the United States on Feb. 19. During an inspection of the trailer, officers found and seized 111.4 kilograms of suspected cocaine.
The CBSA arrested Sarkaren Vir Singh, 29, of Dartmouth, N.S., and Chamkaur Singh, 25, of Belleville, Ont.
The agency said the drugs were seized under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The matter is before the Ontario Court of Justice in Sarnia, Ont., and the charges have yet to be validated by the court.
Since Jan. 1, 2025, border services officers in the CBSA’s Southern Ontario Region have seized 1,743 kilograms of cocaine coming from the United States, the agency said.
RCMP Supt. Dale Foote, officer in charge of Border Integrity for Federal Policing’s Central Region, said the Mounties will continue working with the CBSA and other law enforcement partners to prevent narcotics from reaching Ontario communities.
The federal government has said it is investing $1.3 billion to bolster border security and strengthen the immigration system.
The CBSA said its intelligence section plays a key role in identifying borderrelated risks and protecting Canadians.
“I would encourage if Coun. Charles Gustafson wants to be a member at large or other people that are currently on the board, it would be nice to have that local representation from Startup,” he said.
Council voted to redirect payment from Startup Lloydminster to Community Futures. They also voted to adjust the 2026 payment from $115K to $97.5K.
TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR
The Border City Card Show is set to return to Lloydminster this weekend for its biggest event yet.
The eighth edition of the popular collectibles show takes place Saturday, March 7, at the Lloyd Ex’s WLS Convention Centre from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for teenagers and free for young children. Organizers say all proceeds from the door and autograph donations will support I Love Alberta Boobs, a non-profit that raises funds for breast cancer initiatives. A formal presentation of the funds will take place at Rock for the Cure later this month.
“This is show eight,” said organizer Chris Brinklow. “I was pretty content hosting the event at the casino, but we just had such a long waiting list, show after show, that it only made sense to grow and expand.”
The move to the larger space at the Lloyd Ex comes as demand for vendor tables continues to climb. The show is sold out with 77 tables and roughly 40 vendors — the most in the event’s history.
“We are literally maxed out,” said Brinklow, noting some regular vendors are attending a competing show in Saskatoon this weekend. “But by word of mouth, this show has sold out again.”
More than 70 tables will feature hundreds of sports cards and collectibles, with interest in the hobby continuing to surge. Brinklow said everything from hockey cards to Pokémon has seen renewed demand.
“The hobby has grown,” he said. “Whether it’s hockey, Bedard, Celebrini — now it’s Pokémon. If anybody has cards from back in the day, this is the place to bring them because they’re top dollar right now.”
A special guest is expected to draw additional hockey fans. Ladislav Smid, an alumnus of the Edmonton Oilers, will be at the show from 1 to 3 p.m. signing cards. Organizers are asking for a $20 donation per autograph, with proceeds also going to I Love Alberta Boobs.
“That’s the asking donation, and I say donation because we’re not keeping any of it,” said Brinklow, adding Smid was eager to take part after learning more about the cause.
In addition to the card show, Border City Games will host a Magic: The Gathering tournament during the event, with proceeds also supporting the non-profit.
Whereas, on February 9, 2026, a petition requesting a Public Meeting “to hold a discussion regarding the defunding of the Lloydminster Rescue Squad” was received by the CAO of the Rural Municipality of Britannia No. 502; and Whereas the petition has been deemed by the CAO to be sufficient as per section 129 2.1(b) of The Municipalities Act;
Be it resolved that, as per section 129(2) of The Municipalities Act, the Council of the Rural Municipality of Britannia No. 502 call a Public Meeting “to hold a discussion regarding the defunding of the Lloydminster Rescue Squad…” (Portion of February 25, 2026 Resolution 113/26)
Please note: Following the receipt of the petition for a Public Meeting, the Council of the RM of Britannia No. 502 has adopted a resolution committing to future funding for Lloydminster Rescue Squad Inc.
The Council of the RM of Britannia No. 502 remains committed to holding this Public Meeting to facilitate a broader discussion of the current and future provision of emergency services within the municipality. If you have any questions about this meeting, please call the RM of Britannia Municipal Office at 306-825-2610.
This meeting is open to the public and may be attended in person or via Zoom. Those wishing to attend by Zoom must contact the RM of Britannia Municipal Office at 306-825-2610 to register for a meeting link no later than 4:30 p.m. (MDT) on March 17, 2026.
With multiple events happening at the Lloyd Ex this weekend, organizers are asking attendees to enter through the south entrance on the Civic Centre side of the building.
“The bigger you get, the more headaches come with it,” said Brinklow. “But we’re rolling with the punches, and we’re really excited for this weekend.”
Brinklow added organizers have stepped up security measures amid reports of theft at larger shows.
“With the cost of some of these cards, it’s easy for someone to slip something into a pocket,” he said. “We’ve spoken to vendors to make sure they’re aware and protecting their assets.”
Nov. 30. The change was made due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Bioclean Aquatic Centre will keep its name after a new 10-year naming rights deal was signed.
In April 2016, Bioclean Disaster Services entered into a 10-year agreement for the naming rights of the facility. The agreement was originally set to expire May 31, but an addendum was made in October 2020 to extend the expiration of the term to
The City of Lloydminster and Bioclean have been negotiating a new deal, which is set to begin Dec. 1. An increase of 37.5 per cent has been included, which will see Bioclean spend $27,500 per year.
“Administration feels the price is reasonable given the current economic climate,” said Joel Turcotte, director of recreation and cultural services, City of Lloydminster. Following the new 10-year deal, Bioclean will have an opportunity to decide if they want to sponsor the aquatic centre again.
“The agreement does have the first right of refusal again. So, again, we would work with Bioclean to see if we can increase it,” said Turcotte. “We would make sure we have a price that we believe is fair through research and go from there.”
According to city documents, there is cost-savings of not rebranding the facility in the range of $10K to $15K for internal and directional signage alone.
The Canadian judicial system is set up to allow second chances acknowledging that people can make poor decisions that leads them to interactions with law enforcement and then possibly attendance in court before a justice or judge.
Second chances may be no more prevalent than when we navigated our own youthful years making some poor decisions but were hopefully given a second chance. Most people appreciate and benefit from second chances; I know I do.
The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) has second chances written right into it. This act compels second chances as it requires lower-level criminal offences to be dealt with at the lowest appropriate level possible and this could be with the youth just receiving a warning. There are escalating consequences within the YCJA that police officers must consider before getting to the point of laying a charge.
Also, for adults, officers can sometimes work things out between people where a criminal offence had occurred but given the circumstances, a second chance may be an appropriate response. This could be as simple as a victim getting an apology from an offender versus being charged. Police can facilitate this as it may be the best way to address the incident as it solely involves the victim and accused who decide the outcome. However, if the accused has been involved in past incidents where charges were laid or could have been laid, it seems the accused already had their second chance but it didn’t have the intended effect. For traffic offences an officer may exercise discretion and not write a ticket. If a criminal charge was laid there are provisions to provide someone a second chance. This could be by the Crown Prosecutor staying a charge or a judge, in finding someone guilty, sentencing them with an absolute discharge. This is where an accused is found guilty without being convicted and no conditions are put on their release from the charge(s).
A couple of weeks ago I was in a local courtroom to see how some of my members were doing in presenting evidence in trials, and I saw second chances. The sitting judge this day gave second chances to some of the people that were there as they were facing criminal
charges. Not that they weren’t held accountable but rather that they received lighter sentences. The judge didn’t just stick to the details of the individual’s specific incidents but spoke to them about their personal circumstances. He asked them about caregivers/parents and children as a way of getting information about the supports and responsibilities they have in their individual situations as personal circumstances can be a positive influence.
He talked about the support they had from
their family circle and what their overall personal situation was. This included employment, childcare, schooling, etc. The discussion provided the judge information that allowed him to tailor the sentence to something best-suited for the accused in order to get them moving forward in a positive manner. A second chance.
Staff Sgt. Jerry Nutbown is the NCO in charge of the Lloydminster RCMP detachment’s General Investigation Section. Stay tuned for future columns from the Lloydminster RCMP.
Lloydminster RCMP say a routine traffic stop has led to the seizure of millions of dollars worth of illegal tobacco products and charges against a Calgary man.
Police say officers stopped a semi-truck and trailer Feb. 22 on 44 St. west of 50 Ave. in Lloydminster. The lone driver was unable to provide the required documentation for the load, prompting officers to inspect the trailer.
Investigators allege the trailer contained 24 pallets carrying about 48,000 cartons of contraband tobacco, or an estimated 7.2 million unstamped cigarettes.
The retail value of the seizure is estimated at more than $6 million, with more than $2 million in unpaid taxes.
The semi-truck, trailer and cargo were seized.
Mubarak Khan, 62, of Calgary, was arrested at the scene. He is charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and unlawful possession of tobacco products under the Excise Act.
Khan remains in custody and is scheduled to appear March 3 in Lloydminster provincial court.
“This seizure represents another significant disruption to illegal tobacco contraband,” said Sgt. Christopher Byford, operations NCO with
Saskatoon RCMP traffic services say officers seized more than nine kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl during a traffic stop east of Wynyard last week.
Police say the stop happened around 10:45 a.m. on Feb. 20 along Highway 16.
During the investigation, officers located a bag inside the vehicle containing 4.907 kilograms of methamphetamine and 4.219 kilograms of fentanyl. The drugs were seized and the vehicle’s two occupants were arrested at the scene. Pavitar Singh and Manan Kumar, both of Edmonton, are each charged with two counts of possession of a substance included in Schedule I for the purpose of trafficking under Section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The accused are scheduled to appear in Yorkton Provincial Court on Feb. 26. Saskatoon RCMP traffic services, with assistance from the Yorkton Saskatchewan trafficking response team, continue to investigate.
Thursday, March 5, 2026
JOHN MacNEIL SPORTS EDITOR
The Lakeland Rustlers cannot be denied.
The best women’s collegiate volleyball team in Canada overcame extenuating circumstances to win a fourth straight Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) championship Sunday in Camrose.
The Rustlers not only defeated the host Augustana Vikings in the final at a packed campus gym, but the Lloydminster school completed a mission that seemed improbable for much of this season.
When the Rustlers finally began their regularseason schedule in late November, they were already 0-8 in the standings because of disciplinary sanctions that the ACAC had issued against them.
Not to be denied, the three-time reigning Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association champions went right back to work, won all 11 of their remaining matches and qualified for the playoffs as the fourth seed from the North Division.
No team wanted to face Lakeland on championship weekend in Camrose, not even top-ranked Augustana, which went on to lose to the Rustlers 3-0 (25-22, 25-16 and 25-21) in the gold-medal showdown.
“Not a lot of teams, I don’t think, would have been able to overcome all the things that we needed to, to be able to achieve the accomplishment that we did,” said the Rustlers’ longtime coach, Austin Dyer.
“Our first league game was the end of November, and playoffs for us started then. We were basically in a win-or-go-home scenario right from our first opportunity to compete.
“But it’s also a veteran group that is battle-tested, so they understood the circumstances. They know how to put the work in, how to prepare, how to show up for competition. Also, there’s no quit. So, anytime things weren’t going our way, or we weren’t playing great, they always bounced back and made sure we’re going to give ourselves an opportunity to be successful.”
Another such opportunity awaits Lakeland next week at nationals in Niverville, Man., with all teams residing in Winnipeg during the event. Lakeland begins play Wednesday against the host team, the Providence University College Pilots.
The other schools in the Rustlers’ bracket are Humber Polytechnic of Toronto and the Atlantic champion Mount Allison Mounties of Sackville, N.B. Lakeland is going into that national championship tournament with confidence and history on its side.
“We’ve been the best team in the country, by a landslide, for the last four years now,” said Dyer, in his 18th year guiding the Rustlers program.
“There’s no other team that has achieved what we have, because yeah, we’re the three-time defending national champions. In post-secondary, with the turnover in rosters and what not, there isn’t anybody out there that has accomplished what we have.
“So, anybody that has to face that kind of experience and veteran prowess, it’s a great challenge for any team that has to come up against us, for sure. There definitely could be easier routes to try to get to the end than having to face us at the beginning.”
The Rustlers weathered a worthy challenge at the beginning of the ACAC championship tournament, needing a fifth set to finish off the Red Deer Queens, the top team in the South Division.
“Red Deer is coached very well,” Dyer said. “We won the first two sets quite easily and by a decent margin, and then just started to sputter a little bit. Yes, we were supposed to win and we pretty well had the game. All of a sudden, things started to go sideways. But, again, the veteran compete level that I have on my team, we battled in that fourth set and came up short. We were just more steady than them in the fifth
Lakeland defies this season’s odds, captures fourth straight ACAC title
set and we were able to move on.”
And no player was steadier than Avery Bates, one of three graduating Rustlers and the ACAC championship MVP.
“Avery was hands-down the most dominant player in the tournament,” Dyer reported. “That wasn’t even a question. She did everything she needed to do to help us win that first match against Red Deer, she was great against NAIT (in that 3-0 semifinal victory), and then she was all-world in the final against Augustana, to the point that we almost didn’t need to give anybody else the ball. She took over the match in the final and just took us straight to victory.
“The final performance by her was one of the best I’ve seen in my coaching career.”
Last weekend, relief and gratitude greeted the Rustlers, as did a strong contingent of supporters from Lloydminster and beyond.
“It’s been a pretty tough season,” Dyer said. “I’m just really happy for my athletes. To be able to perform the way that they did at the end here, it was a really good weekend for us.”
It typified the Rustlers’ magical run this winter. While a fourth ACAC title might not have seemed reasonably achievable just months or even weeks ago, the Lakeland women showed they don’t quit.
“Just the perseverance and resiliency of the group,” Dyer said. “A lot of teams would have folded and probably figured that they didn’t even have a chance, with the hurdle that we had to overcome to even qualify for playoffs, let alone get there and be able to perform at a level to be able to win.”
Another big event on Lakeland’s calendar is on tap this weekend as the Rustlers’ men’s basketball team hosts the eight-team ACAC championship tournament Thursday through Saturday.
In its first game, Lakeland faces the Ambrose University Lions at 8 p.m. Thursday.
“The guys are definitely excited,” said Jordan Horobetz-Simpson, one of the Rustlers’ top players. “I know it’s something a lot of us wished for in the past, and it finally came to be.
“We’ll need as much support as possible. We want the whole city to pack the gym. The more energy, the better. We thrive off it.”
The Rustlers went 17-3 in the regular season to become the top seed from the North Division.
“We’ve struggled with consistently playing at that championship level,” Horobetz-Simpson said. “However, the past couple of weeks of practice have really inspired me personally. Now, it’s just time to execute.
“It will take everything we’ve got every game to win. Teams aren’t just going to come out and roll over. We’re going to get every team’s best game. Everybody is hunting for that ’chip.”
Also in the mix are defending-champion Briercrest College, Concordia University of Edmonton, Keyano College, Lethbridge Polytechnic, NAIT and SAIT.
On Saturday, the gold-medal game is set for 6 p.m., after the bronze-medal match at 3 p.m.
After rolling through the first round of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) women’s hockey playoffs, the pennant-winning and reigning-champion Lakeland Rustlers are poised for a tougher college assignment, beginning Friday.
The Rustlers are up against the second-seeded Red Deer Queens in the best-of-five ACAC final, which runs over the next two weekends.
Game 1 is set for 7:15 p.m. Friday at the Hub’s Co-op Community Arena in Lloydminster.
The eventual finalists met each other in the same rink last October in the historic first game on the Hub’s second ice surface, with Lakeland prevailing 2-1.
Even then, the Rustlers knew what they wanted out of this season.
“We’ve got a lot of depth with our team,” said the Rustlers’ recordsetting sniper, Keyra Buziak, the ACAC scoring champion with 28 goals and 46 points in 22 games.
“It’s been our No. 1 goal right from the start, is to be back-to-back champions. We do have home-ice advantage, so that’s going to help us so much.
“We’re looking forward to winning and hoisting that Cup again for the second year in a row.”
To do so, Lakeland (23-2 in regular-season play) must outduel a Red Deer team (17-8) that is playofftested after posting two low-scoring, one-goal victories over the NAIT Ooks (14-11) last weekend to sweep that best-of-three semifinal.
Notably, the Ooks were the only team to beat Lakeland this season, and they did so twice.
Last weekend in Lloydminster, it was business as usual for the Rustlers as they scored two convincing wins — 6-1 on Friday and 8-1 on Saturday — over the fourth-seeded Medicine Hat Rattlers (10-15). If a third game had been necessary Sunday, it would also have been played in the Border City.
Those are the rewards from the Rustlers’ dominant regular season. The final is being played in Lloyd and Red Deer, but the Rustlers are home for potentially three of the five scheduled games.
Game 2 goes 5 p.m. Saturday in Red Deer. The series resumes the following weekend (March 13-15), with evening games slated for Lloydminster on Friday, Red Deer on Saturday and Lloyd on Sunday.
Assistant captain Olivia Mann said the Rustlers have earned their stripes this season, from early-morning practices and a commitment to winning on the ice, in the classroom and throughout the community.
In the process, they’ve learned to handle success and life at the top of the standings all season long.
“It’s something we’ve been able to do for two years now, being in first,” said Mann, a 22-year-old education student from Lloydminster and daughter of Rustlers’ head coach Morgan Mann.
“Definitely, we have to put in a lot of work through the week of practising. Me and the other leaders carry a role of being positive and bringing everyone up on the bench.
“It’s been so great, because everyone is so awesome to be a part of the group. There is zero drama. Everyone wants to be here. Positive attitudes. It’s just been unreal.”
That positivity extends beyond the team. Young girls, minor hockey players or otherwise, follow the Rustlers’ every move from the ice to the dressing room. Even the rink attendants often wear Lakeland colours to show support on game nights.
“They hype us up and they wear Rustlers gear,” said Olivia Mann, sporting No. 4 on defence. “They’re an awesome crew.
“With the new rink being built (in Lloydminster), and the chance we get to play here, I feel it’s a great opportunity, especially with all the little kids that come into our dressing room in between periods. They get a chance to see us up close and a chance to maybe be a Rustler one day.”
‘IT’S A GOOD RELATIONSHIP’
In becoming a Rustler, Mann skates with her father’s team, just as she did for parts of her minor hockey years when she was a teammate of her younger brother, George, every other season out of the Hillmond system.
“Having dad as a coach is definitely good and bad — I get both ends of it — but I respect him as a coach,” said Mann, whose fellow assistant captains Kylie Perry and Asha Petrie complete the captaincy group.
“He knows what he’s doing. When I get to the rink, it’s player mentality, not daughter, so it’s a good relationship.”
From a hockey perspective, coach Mann and his daughter downplay their familial connections, but their long association has proved to be beneficial for the Rustlers. Morgan has coached the likes of Olivia, as well as teammate Petrie, for many years through minor hockey and into their college careers.
“It sure gave us a start with the (Lakeland) program, having a group of players right from Lloyd here that I knew and trusted,” Morgan said. “So, having had the opportunity to coach them for a number of years growing up, we had a nucleus there.”
Separating hockey and family at the rink, coach Mann said he’s simply happy to see Olivia playing the game she loves and contributing to the team.
“All I ever ask for as a coach is that you have a good effort and that you’re good to your teammates, and I think she does that, so it’s worked out OK.”
Family ties are familiar for Olivia, as she not only plays under her father in their hometown, but her Rustlers teammates include first cousin Marleigh Mann. Olivia previously played with Marleigh’s older sister, Madelyn.
“Yeah, definitely, being surrounded by family is a feeling like no other,” Olivia said. “I feel really supported, and getting to play with my cousin is awesome. I played with my other cousin, Madelyn, two years ago, and now to get a chance to play with Marleigh, I never thought I’d get to play with them.”
The Rustlers were united like a family last weekend as they not only matched Medicine Hat physically, but most significantly, outdid the Rattlers on the scoreboard in decisive back-to-back games.
RUSTLERS 6, RATTLERS 1: Picking up where she left off in an outstanding regular season, Buziak was buzzing with a four-goal performance that included a power-play marker. Marly Dumanski scored a goal and assisted on two others. Claudia Lammers had the other Lakeland goal, while Kyla Benjamin added two assists.
Aivry Thomas, on a power play, scored the lone Medicine Hat goal against Schay Camphaug, the league’s top goaltender.
Lakeland fired a combined 52 shots on Anna Stewart and Sarah Shields.
RUSTLERS 8, RATTLERS 1: Perry and Alyssa Shaw each tallied twice in the series-clinching victory. Buziak and hometown rookie Ryann Rekimowich each contributed a goal and two assists. It was a four-point weekend for Rekimowich.
Mannville native Ashlyn Hinton, who was also Rekimowich’s teammate last season with the U18 AAA Lloydminster Steelers, collected a goal and an assist. Dumanski netted the other Lakeland goal.
Gracie Soderstrom, with a power-play tally, broke Camphaug’s shutout bid with 1:13 left in the third period.
Camphaug faced just 13 shots on the night, while her fellow Rustlers ripped 42 shots on Shields and Stewart.
QUEENS 2, OOKS 1: In the series-opener at Red Deer, the Queens rallied from a 1-0 deficit with two unanswered goals in the second period.
Hayley Kolosky netted the winner with 3:10 remaining in the second and just a couple of minutes after, she assisted on Natalie Tychkowsky’s first ACAC playoff goal.
Tychkowsky is a graduate of last season’s U18 AAA Steelers, now going up against familiar faces in her return to Lloydminster for the conference final.
Alyssa Tremblay-Houle tallied for NAIT.
The Queens’ Tora Ward and the Ooks’ Ella Howard each registered 27 stops.
QUEENS 3, OOKS 2: In Edmonton on Saturday, Rylee Mepham scored the tying and winning goals in the final three minutes to lift Red Deer into the ACAC championship series against Lakeland.
Jailyn Bablitz also scored for the Queens. Alyson McGregor, with two points, and Maria Ayre answered for the Ooks.
Ward made 31 saves for Red Deer. Jorja Imrie blocked 25 shots for NAIT.
Ryann Rekimowich, a Rustlers’ rookie from Lloyd, scored a goal and two assists last Saturday in Lakeland’s series-clinching 8-1 win over the Medicine Hat Rattlers.
Exactly six full months from the end of their training camp, the Lloydminster Lancers were in the thick of things last Saturday before bowing out of the playoffs in the U18 AAA team’s breakthrough season.
No one was leaving the Hub early as the Lancers pushed against the mighty St. Albert Raiders, who won 3-1 to sweep the best-of-three Alberta Elite Hockey League divisional quarter-final.
“Yeah, the growth from August is unbelievable,” said Chris King, the Lancers’ first-year coach and the former Lakeland College women’s basketball coach.
“I took this job because I wanted the hardest challenge possible, and it was that. Fantastic growth. We took a young group. We knew it was going to be a struggle early. Credit to these guys. (In the media), they’re quoting trusting the process and resiliency, so I think our message definitely got through to them.
“Today sucks — two bad mistakes ended up in our net. Other than that, it’s a 1-1 game. But that’s a very good (St. Albert) hockey club that we struggled with. We made mistakes and they didn’t really make too many mistakes.”
The North Division’s third-place Raiders won 5-0 at home in the series-opener Wednesday, Feb. 25. That was just three nights after the sixth-seeded Lancers punched their playoff ticket with a 4-1 victory over the fourth-place Sherwood Park Kings on the road on the final day of the regular season.
St. Albert won all four regularseason games against Lloydminster, though two of those contests were decided in overtime.
For their Lloydminster visit last weekend, Raiders fans decorated the Hub glass and stands with posters and cutouts in support of their players. The Lancers’ loyal base of family and friends was on board as usual, but it was considered an alltoo-small home crowd for high-level hockey involving some of Lloyd’s brightest young prospects.
Not to mention promising St. Albert talents like captain Nolan Bisson, a signed Spokane Chiefs’ WHL prospect who began this season with the junior A Lloydminster Bobcats but no longer is part of the AJHL franchise.
The Raiders didn’t show any road weariness in the first period, outshooting the Lancers 18-6 and going up 1-0 on a Lucah Lamb goal. Lloyd regrouped but gave up goals to Jadon Fischer and Bisson, just 1:10 apart, during the breakdown in the final five minutes of the second.
Seattle Thunderbirds’ prospect Tripp Fischer, with assists from Gavin Pratt and graduating captain Rhett Romanchuk, scored a powerplay goal 1:38 into the final frame to give Lloydminster the organization’s first playoff tally in three years.
The Lancers had last appeared in the U18 AAA playoffs in 2023, when the Raiders also posted a first-round sweep. Jake Giacobbo, son of current St. Albert coach Geoff Giacobbo, played with the Raiders at that time.
Another one of Geoff’s three children, Julianna, is a senior member of the Lakeland Rustlers, now finalists in the ACAC women’s playoffs. Before her game Saturday at the adjoining Co-op Community Arena, she watched the final part of the Raiders-Lancers afternoon showdown at the Hub.
Afterward, she chatted with her dad, who saw Lakeland defeat the Medicine Hat Rattlers on Friday and Saturday nights to sweep that college semifinal and qualify for the conference final.
In their U18 AAA divisional semifinal, the Raiders are up against the North’s second-place Fort Saskatchewan Rangers, while the pennant-winning Edmonton Junior Oilers Blue face Sherwood Park in the other North semi. The Kings swept Edmonton Junior Oilers Orange in that divisional quarter-final.
Before coach Giacobbo watched — on his phone — his son Jake in action with the Manitoba junior A league’s Swan Valley Stampeders, and his daughter skate live with the Rustlers, the St. Albert mentor witnessed a strong push from the Lancers.
“I don’t take anything away from Lloyd,” Giacobbo said. “They’re a good, young team that obviously did really well to get into the playoffs.
“There’s so much parity in our league, it’s ridiculous. Our team has been to overtime 20 times this year, twice with Lloyd, and that includes tournaments.
“I’m really happy with our team. We played really well over 200 feet. I don’t think we gave up a lot. But it was a good series. It was right down to the last minutes.”
In the dying minutes of Saturday’s game, the Lancers pulled goaltender Asher Ammann in favour of an extra skater with 2:20 remaining and called a timeout 10 seconds later. They proceeded to take three faceoffs in the St. Albert zone but couldn’t close the two-goal gap.
Ammann stopped 34 shots in his final game at the U18 AAA level.
St. Albert’s Kai Zurowski — also born in 2008 — made 29 saves as both teams went with different goalies from Game 1.
Graduating from the U18 AAA Lloydminster Lancers are Rhett Romanchuk, Denton Setzer, Ty Domshy, Logan Flewell, Kelton Doolaege, Carson Mazzei, Ace Brewer and Asher Ammann. Each was an integral part of the Lancers’ turnaround season, which included the team’s first playoff berth in three years. John MacNeil Meridian Source
Hits-to-the-head penalties were called five times Saturday, and three of those went to Lloyd. But the relatively tight finish kept any other shenanigans at bay.
“I thought we were pretty undisciplined to start the year,” King said of his Lancers. “We took a lot of penalties (then). But if you look at November on, we were the least penalized team. We didn’t think that was going to happen.”
He said the series-opener wasn’t as one-sided as the 5-0 score might indicate, noting miscues cost Lloyd, especially at the end of periods.
“Once again, (the Raiders) have talented WHL, AJHL kids that have been playing a lot of games, and they buried those chances on us.”
Brandon Wheat Kings’ prospect Carson Ralph returned from the injury list and scored a goal and an assist in Game 1. Ethan Classen, with two, Kingsley MacLellan and Bisson, on the power play, netted the other St. Albert goals. Kyle Denis had a pair of assists. Seth Badry recorded a 41-save shutout and added an assist. Stran Edge made 31 saves in the Lancers’ net.
DOMSHY ON SIDELINES FOR PLAYOFF SERIES
Lloydminster was missing one of its top players in assistant captain Ty Domshy, a 17-year-old forward from St. Albert. He suffered another concussion in the final regular-season game at Sherwood Park and couldn’t dress for the first-round playoff series.
“A blindside hit … caught him,” King said Saturday. “It should have been a penalty, but (the officials) didn’t see it. It was his second concussion this year, so we had to be super careful. It was nice to see Ty around the boys today, but of course, playing against his former team, he would like to have been out there and would have battled.
“If you look at Domshy, kind of the heartbeat of our team, (had he been playing) these last couple of games, that’s a third-year guy that’s really gritty and can make some plays. But everyone gets injuries. That’s part of sport, and especially part of hockey.”
The Raiders also were dealing with injuries down the stretch that carried into the playoffs. Three forwards — Kai Richards, Asher Halliday and Jayden Pawluk — were sidelined for Saturday’s game. Young defenceman Owen Archer was earlier lost to season-ending labrum surgery.
From his perspective behind the St. Albert bench, Giacobbo sees much promise in the youthful Lloydminster lineup.
“I guess the challenge in this league is, if you do a really good job and you develop your young guys, then you lose them and you’ve got to find some more,” he said. “Lloyd has some excellent 2010s. They’ll be really fortunate
to get all those guys back. If they do, they’re going to be a real good hockey team.”
Brody Sunderland, winning key faceoffs in the late going, was one of those Lancers’ rookies that impressed Giacobbo. Another was the high-scoring and solidly built Kael Scott.
“I’m a big fan of Brody Sunderland,” said the Raiders’ coach. “I coached him last year in St. Albert (with the U15 AAA team). He’s a real strong player. I think his game has steadily improved in the last two years.
“Obviously, Scott is a big, strong kid, and has a nose for the net. He’s a good player, too.
“I think Lloyd plays a good team game. Romanchuk, on the back end, he logs a lot of minutes. He’s an impact player.”
Romanchuk is part of an eight-man Lloydminster graduating class that includes fellow defencemen Ace Brewer and Denton Setzer, goaltender Ammann and forwards Domshy, Kelton Doolaege, Logan Flewell and Carson Mazzei. Each played an integral role in the turnaround season.
Some of those graduates, along with eligible returning players, are continuing this season with call-ups to junior B and junior A teams in the area.
The R.M. of Senlac No. 411 is accepting applications for a seasonal Operator/Labourer, May to October. Duties will include but are not limited to the operation of a grader as well as other equipment, maintenance of the municipality and road repair and any duties assigned by the Foreman. Must have a valid driver license, a Class 1A or Class 3A driver’s license would be an asset.
The R.M. of Senlac offers competitive wages with an extensive benefits package.
Please forward resume stating experience and references by March 10th, 2026.
For further information please contact:
We thank all applicants, however, only those individuals with interviews will be contacted.
As happy as he was to visit with family and see his dogs at home in Calgary, injured Lloydminster Bobcats goaltender Ty Matonovich remained focused on returning to action, with playoffs just around the corner.
Matonovich sported some of the best goaltending statistics in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) when he suffered a knee injury that forced him out of a Feb. 22 game in Lloydminster.
Navigating on crutches, he watched the next game in Lloyd on Feb. 25, as the Bobcats came from behind to defeat the Devon Xtreme 6-5 in overtime. He said it took extra time just to pull on his suit before attending that Hub matchup.
Matonovich went home a day later as the Bobcats departed on a circuitous road trip that included three games in as many days. It was a chance for him to rest and recuperate and to gain a definitive diagnosis from Calgary doctors.
“It’s looking pretty good so far,” Matonovich said last Friday from Calgary. “I had an appointment today. I’m getting some good news.
“It’s a strained MCL (medial collateral ligament). My ACL and LCL kind of flipped, when it popped out, so we had to get those back in (place).”
He was scheduled for further imaging evaluation Monday and planned to return to Lloydminster that night.
Matonovich couldn’t walk, let alone skate, after his knee injury in the second period of the Bobcats’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Canmore Eagles.
“It was just kind of an awkward little fall,” he said. “Just the way that (the opponent) came in and the way that I fell, because I wasn’t looking at him. I didn’t really see him. So, it was one of those weird ones, I’d say.”
There wasn’t a penalty called on the play, though Matonovich believed there should have been.
“I thought, for sure, that it was at least a penalty,” he said. “Especially after I talked to the refs in the first period (when) there were guys in the crease, so I just said, ‘Hey ref, can you watch it?’
“He said, ‘Yeah, for sure, goalie safety is always No. 1.’ Then, that happened in the second and they never called it.”
After a brief stoppage, Matonovich tried to play through the pain, but he couldn’t move properly on the next Canmore goal and was forced to leave
the net in favour of newcomer Trent Peterson, who made a hasty AJHL debut.
“It was just an instant, super sharp pain,” he said. “Then, I was thinking, ‘I could probably play through it. Maybe it’ll go away.’ And it just never went away. That last goal there was kind of the breaking point of (realizing), ‘OK, it’s probably a bit worse than I thought.’ I was pretty much stuck (when I tried to move across the crease).”
Matonovich and Jaiden Sharma had been rotating between the Lloydminster pipes before Sharma suddenly returned to the BCHL two weeks into February, so Matonovich’s role with the Bobcats immediately became that much more significant for the former SJHL goaltender.
He hopes the most rewarding part of his final junior hockey season is still to come.
The Bobcats clinched a playoff berth last weekend. They have four games remaining in the regular season, including two home dates this weekend with the Calgary Canucks on Friday and the Olds Grizzlys on Saturday.
“It’s just bad timing,” Matonovich said about his injury. “But, hopefully, I can come back quick and help the team out and just pick up where I left off.”
Since joining the Bobcats in mid-November, he has fashioned an 11-7-3 record, with a 2.51 goalsagainst average and a .912 save percentage.
“We’ve still got a few (regular-season) games left, so it would be nice if I could get in for a few of those, for sure, before playoffs start,” he said. “But, if not, it’s not the end of the world. I’ll be in for playoffs.
“I think I’m going to try to skate (this week). We’ll see how it goes. I’ve got to go get a knee brace today.”
Earlier in the day, he assessed the damage and tried to regain moderate movement, with the guidance of a physiotherapist.
“I haven’t been able to walk the past few days, so it’s more just about getting my body going, and trying to get some movement,” Matonovich said.
“There was a decent amount (of swelling) when it first happened, but it’s gone down quite a bit. There’s just a lot of scar tissue in there.”
For precautionary reasons, further imaging was scheduled for Monday, he reported.
“I think it should be fine.”
In the meantime, the Bobcats’ goaltending chores
have been in the hands of Peterson, a 20-year-old Wisconsin native who had been in the USHL. He played every minute as Lloydminster gained three wins, an overtimes loss and seven of a possible eight points during a busy stretch.
The six-foot-four, 205-pound Peterson was backed up by another big boy in the six-footthree, 215-pound Owen Prasek, a call-up from the U18 AAA Leduc Oil Kings.
With their roster short in numbers recently, the Bobcats have tried to regroup after the departures of Sharma and third-year forward Matthew Hikida to the BCHL last month.
“I think we’ve got a pretty good team on our hands here,” said Matonovich, noting that forwards Kael Screpnek and Jadon Iyogun and defencemen Jaxan Hopko and Dylan Deets have been especially impactful of late.
“Those four have really stepped up since our team went through a lot when Matty left and Sharms left. Screps is at 40 points now, which is crazy. He’s pretty impressive with what he’s been able to do.”
The only thing that has stopped Screpnek lately is an injury, which kept him out of the lineup last weekend as the Bobcats played three games in as many days.
Of course, the injured Calgarians — Matonovich and Screpnek — would like nothing more than to return to action for this Friday’s home game against their native Canucks.
Sharma, one of the six goalies who have played games with the Bobcats this season, went back to the BCHL after just a couple of months in Lloydminster. Matonovich was also approached to leave town for the independent BCHL, but he told his suitors he wasn’t interested.
“For me, personally, I just didn’t see a point in it,” he said. “I’ve already started something in Lloyd, so I might as well finish it. There were a couple of calls that were made, but I just told (those B.C. teams) I wasn’t interested in leaving, so it kind of died down.”
Now, he’s counting on a comeback and a playoff run with the Bobcats.
Before then, Matonovich welcomed a few days at home in Calgary to spend with his parents, his older brother — a university student — and their two dogs. At the same time, his King Corso Boxer was particularly happy to see Matonovich.
“Oh yeah, he was super pumped.”
His two other AJHL goals came last season while playing with Drayton Valley.
It was a week of firsts for the Lloydminster Bobcats.
First and foremost, just a few hours before March 1, the Bobcats clinched an Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) playoff position during their stretch of four games — and three wins — in five days.
In the process, three Lloydminster defencemen scored their first AJHL career goals, as Brady Gamble, Xavier Normand and Oakley McIlwain each dented the twine in Bobcats’ victories.
McIlwain, the 20-year-old who landed with his hometown junior A team in a January trade with the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos, tallied in the third period of Lloyd’s 6-2 victory over the host Drayton Valley Thunder on Sunday.
The night before at Olds, the 18-year-old rookie Normand got the Bobcats started with his first-period goal in a 6-1 win over the Grizzlys. Saturday’s match was his 40th AJHL game.
Gamble, also an 18-year-old freshman, netted his inaugural AJHL goal last Wednesday at home in Lloyd during the Bobcats’ 6-5 last-second overtime victory over the Devon Xtreme. It was the 45th game of the season for Gamble, who last year captained the U18 AAA Lloydminster Lancers.
The only loss for the Bobcats during their hectic week was a 6-5 overtime setback against the North Division’s second-place Grande Prairie Storm, the primary team that Lloydminster is trying to catch in the final two weeks of the regular season.
During that game, 17-year-old defenceman Tafari Chingwaru scored his first goal — and fifth point — in 15 games since joining Lloyd in December.
After Grande Prairie’s 2-0 loss to the first-place Whitecourt Wolverines this Tuesday, Lloydminster (30-14-7) sat three points behind the Storm (34-14-2) and eight back of Whitecourt (36-12-3).
Below them, the Bobcats distanced themselves from the fourth-place Fort McMurray Oil Barons (28-17-6), who fell five points behind Lloyd after losing two of three consecutive games against the No. 5 Bonnyville Pontiacs (25-22-4).
Eight points separated the Oil Barons and Pontiacs after Fort Mac’s 3-2 overtime victory at home Sunday. Those teams go against each other yet again next Wednesday (March 11) in Fort Mac.
Devon, long out of the playoff race, sat in last place in the six-team North with a 16-27-6 record.
Lloydminster has just four games left in the regular season, while Grande Prairie now has five contests remaining.
In their final two home games on the schedule, the Bobcats host the Calgary Canucks (23-23-3) this Friday night and Olds (16-31-4) on Saturday evening. Lloyd finishes the regular season with games at Bonnyville on March 13 and Fort McMurray on March 14.
In their busiest week of the season, the Bobcats played all four games without first-string goaltender Ty Matonovich and the three road dates without one of their most effective forwards, Kael Screpnek. Both suffered injuries during recent home games — Screpnek on Feb. 25 versus Devon and Matonovich on Feb. 22 in a loss to the Southleading Canmore Eagles.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
Vermilion native Will Reiniger didn’t look like a freshman in this past Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) volleyball season.
Accordingly, the Medicine Hat Rattlers’ standout left-side hitter has been recognized as the rookie of the year in the ACAC’s South Division.
Reiniger, who turned 19 in February, was honoured last week during the ACAC men’s volleyball banquet, which preceded the conference championship tournament in Red Deer.
The Rattlers didn’t qualify for the playoffs, but Reiniger made an indelible impact just the same during his debut season at Medicine Hat College.
“Yeah, it feels good,” he said Friday from the Hat. “I pretty much started every set throughout the season.
“Right off the start, before (regularseason) games started, it was a battle between me and the other rightside (Cade Harrison) for the starting spot, and I felt I performed better at practice and in exhibition games, and I earned that starting spot on the right side.”
Later moved to the outside position, Reiniger didn’t look back the rest of the season, and his efforts took him all the way to the conference awards night. He and Rattlers coach Trever Turner made the four-hour drive Wednesday (Feb. 25) for the banquet in Red Deer.
every game this season.”
It appears the Reiniger reunion will extend to another season of collegiate volleyball, with Landon planning to return to Medicine Hat for a fifth and final year of ACAC eligibility.
With encouragement from his family, Landon has committed to one more season with the Rattlers, Will reported.
“Even mom was planting little seeds in his ear, telling him to come back, and saying how in 10 years he’d look back and say, ‘Oh man, I should have played my fifth year.’
“Brett and I are both coming back here again, and I convinced Landon to come back for his fifth and final year, so we’ll finish off his career playing all on the same team.”
The Reinigers’ volleyball lineage includes youngest brother Ethan, a Grade 10 student at St. Jerome and now in his club season with the 16U Gold Rustlers. The up-and-comer is back on the court, wearing an ankle brace, as he recovers from an injury in the high school season.
“He says it’s feeling good,” Will said about Ethan. “He’s had that (volleyball interest) for the last couple of years now. Only recently, he became super-serious about the sport. He definitely has that potential. He’s already six-feet-tall at 16 years old and still growing. He’s in the weight room and putting in the work, on and off the court. He definitely has a bright future.”
Box 69, 4912-50 Ave. Kitscoty, AB T0B 2P0 PH: (780) 846-2244
Bylaw 26-01, being a bylaw to amend the text of the County of Vermilion River Land Use Bylaw (Bylaw 19-02) to amend the minimum parcel size requirement for the Country Residential – Singlelot (CR-S) district and amend the definition of “Farmstead” to remove the requirement to be situated on an unsubdivided quarter section in connection with farming or an agricultural operation.
DATE: March 24, 2026
Bylaw 26-01, being a bylaw to amend the text of the County of Vermilion River Land Use Bylaw (Bylaw 19-02) to amend the minimum parcel size requirement for the Country Residential – Singlelot (CR-S) district and amend the definition of “Farmstead” to remove the requirement to be situated on an unsubdivided quarter section in connection with farming or an agricultural operation.
TIME: 9:05 AM
DATE: March 24, 2026
LOCATION: County of Vermilion River Council Chambers, 4912-50 Ave. Kitscoty, AB
TIME: 9:05 AM
LOCATION: County of Vermilion River Council Chambers, 4912-50 Ave. Kitscoty, AB
All Public Hearings are held during Regular Meetings of Council and are open to the public with attendance either inperson or via ZOOM Webinar. Written and verbal presentations may be given during the Public Hearing.
All Public Hearings are held during Regular Meetings of Council and are open to the public with attendance either inperson or via ZOOM Webinar. Written and verbal presentations may be given during the Public Hearing.
PURPOSE:
PURPOSE:
The County of Vermilion River is proposing an amendment to the Land Use Bylaw (Bylaw 19-02) to amend the minimum parcel size requirement for the Country Residential – Single-lot (CR-S) District and amend the definition of “Farmstead” to remove the requirement to be situated on an unsubdivided quarter section in relation to Farming or an Agricultural Operation.
The County of Vermilion River is proposing an amendment to the Land Use Bylaw (Bylaw 19-02) to amend the minimum parcel size requirement for the Country Residential – Single-lot (CR-S) District and amend the definition of “Farmstead” to remove the requirement to be situated on an unsubdivided quarter section in relation to Farming or an Agricultural Operation.
A copy of Bylaw 26-01, being a bylaw to amend the County of Vermilion River Land Use Bylaw (Bylaw 19-02) can be viewed at the County of Vermilion River Office during regular business hours (Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 4:30PM) at 4912-50 Ave. Kitscoty by emailing planning@county24.com or on the County of Vermilion River Website here: https://www.vermilion-river.com/services/development/development-noticespublic-hearings
A copy of Bylaw 26-01, being a bylaw to amend the County of Vermilion River Land Use Bylaw (Bylaw 19-02) can be viewed at the County of Vermilion River Office during regular business hours (Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 4:30PM) at 4912-50 Ave. Kitscoty by emailing planning@county24.com or on the County of Vermilion River Website here: https://www.vermilion-river.com/services/development/development-noticespublic-hearings
Should you wish to provide oral or written presentation to Council on this matter, please take note of the following requirements:
Should you wish to provide oral or written presentation to Council on this matter, please take note of the following requirements:
Any person claiming to be affected by the proposed Bylaw 26-01, being a bylaw to amend the County of Vermilion River Land Use Bylaw (Bylaw 19-02) may attend the Public Hearing either in-person or virtually via ZOOM Webinar and provide their input during the Public Hearing.
“It was super cool seeing all the top athletes in the ACAC all in one room for a big ceremony,” said Reiniger, a 2025 graduate of St. Jerome High School in Vermilion and the Rustlers’ club volleyball program in Lloydminster.
Reiniger is in elite company, too, with a Rattlers team that includes his twin brother Brett and their older brother Landon. The hat trick of sibling teammates is unique in sport, let alone in the ACAC.
“I don’t think anybody looked too far into it, but I know it’s pretty, pretty rare just to have two brothers on the same team, let alone three,” said Reiniger, who represented Saskatchewan in the Canada Summer Games at St. John’s, N.L., last August.
“It took about a week, not even, just to get used to seeing older brother every day. But it was special to share a moment on the court with him
Likewise for Will, who was back in the classroom last Thursday on the same day he drove back to Medicine Hat, and back in the weight room Friday during his Meridian Source interview. He’s excited about the prospects for next season’s Rattlers, who were on track for a playoff berth this year but fell out of contention with losses in their final five regularseason matches.
“Oh, we’ll be much better,” said the six-foot-three, 175-pound Reiniger. “We have pretty well all of our guys coming back, and we’ve got some pretty solid recruits coming on the way, too.”
Similarly, he expects the Lakeland Rustlers will be a formidable opponent in the 2026-27 season. The Rustlers narrowly missed the playoffs this year, and next season they welcome the return of red-shirting veterans.
To attend the Public Hearing virtually, you must register prior to the Public Hearing here: https://www.vermilion-river.com/your-county/meeting-agendas-and-minutes
Any person claiming to be affected by the proposed Bylaw 26-01, being a bylaw to amend the County of Vermilion River Land Use Bylaw (Bylaw 19-02) may attend the Public Hearing either in-person or virtually via ZOOM Webinar and provide their input during the Public Hearing.
Written submissions should be submitted by emailing planning@county24.com, or by mail to Box 69 Kitscoty, AB T0B 2P0 no later than March 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM to be included as part of the Agenda Package for the March 24, 2026 Regular Meeting of Council and must be related to the topic of the Public Hearing.
To attend the Public Hearing virtually, you must register prior to the Public Hearing here: https://www.vermilion-river.com/your-county/meeting-agendas-and-minutes
Written submissions should be submitted by emailing planning@county24.com, or by mail to Box 69 Kitscoty, AB T0B 2P0 no later than March 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM to be included as part of the Agenda Package for the March 24, 2026 Regular Meeting of Council and must be related to the topic of the Public Hearing.
Presentations may be limited to five (5) minutes in length.
Presentations may be limited to five (5) minutes in length.
The names of those who wish to speak, or have submitted written presentation will be recorded in the minutes of the March 24. 2026 Regular Meeting of Council and will be published on the County of Vermilion River website. (Personal information is protected by the privacy provisions of the Access to Information Act and the Protection of Privacy Act)
The names of those who wish to speak, or have submitted written presentation will be recorded in the minutes of the March 24. 2026 Regular Meeting of Council and will be published on the County of Vermilion River website. (Personal information is protected by the privacy provisions of the Access to Information Act and the Protection of Privacy Act)
For additional information related to the Public Hearing , please contact the Planning and Community Services Department: Phone: (780) 846-2244 | Email: planning@county24.com
En route to receiving rookie-of-the-year honours in ACAC men’s volleyball, Will Reiniger adjusted to a new position with his new team, the Medicine Hat Rattlers.
“Will had an outstanding season,” Rattlers coach Trever Turner said about the freshman from Vermilion. “He came into the program having played middle for his club team and we moved him to the outside, as we felt he had the tools to be a dynamic player, and he didn’t disappoint. It was exciting to watch Will grow as a player this year with his work ethic and leadership qualities both on and off the court.”
All Public Hearings are advertised in accordance with the regulations outlined in the Municipal Government Act (MGA) and County of Vermilion River Advertising Bylaw
For additional information related to the Public Hearing , please contact the Planning and Community Services Department: Phone: (780) 846-2244 | Email: planning@county24.com
In a news release, Turner commended Reiniger for his contributions offensively and defensively. The left-side hitter ranked sixth in multiple ACAC statistical categories.
From his local roots and Rustlers club volleyball background, Reiniger knows multiple Lakeland players on a personal level. So, he did a doubletake in January when the Rustlers and Rattlers faced each other on the court during a 3-0 Lakeland victory.
“It was strange, seeing some of the guys that I used to compete against when we were growing up,” he said. “They’d come and practise with us in club. Playing in ACAC, it was weird to see familiar faces across the net.”
Reiniger saw more familiar faces two weeks ago when he returned to Vermilion during the college reading week. While driving back to Medicine Hat, he received word that he’d been chosen as the South’s rookie of the year. The North rookie honours went to Arthur Silveira of the Keyano Huskies, who went on to lose 3-1 to the host Red Deer Kings in the ACAC final last Saturday.
Reiniger is a kinesiology student at Medicine Hat College, where he and brother Brett live with two of their teammates in relatively spacious quarters
with four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The Reiniger boys have family living in nearby Redcliff, easing their adjustment to college life and Medicine Hat.
“The first couple of weeks were a little interesting to get used to, trying to cook for yourself and get yourself up in the morning for class,” Will said. “But living with my twin brother made it pretty easy. Then, after those two weeks, I figured out how the city was laid out and all that. My grandparents live 10 minutes away, and auntie and uncle live 10 minutes away, so if I was ever feeling homesick, I’d just stop in there and say, ‘Hey, what’s up?’ ”
Up nex t for Reiniger and fellow students is the home stretch of the school year. In the meantime, he and the Rattlers are practising a couple of times each week before breaking for summer training and employment.
“I’ve applied for jobs both down here in Medicine Hat and in Vermilion,” he said. “Just play it by ear and see which one sparks my interest the most.”
Last summer, Reiniger was extra busy with his Team Saskatchewan duties, including the Canada Cup and the Canada Summer Games.
While the four semifinalists continued to battle in the playoffs, the Northeastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League presented five more individual awards last weekend, and all those regular-season honours went to the Vermilion Tigers.
Tigers’ kingpin Cade Meiklejohn picked up two awards, as the top goalscorer and the most valuable player. The 20-year-old forward scored 40 goals and 66 points in 36 regular-season games. He finished just three points behind league scoring champion Quinn Szpak of the St. Paul Canadiens.
The league’s top-scoring defenceman, Ean Cooke of Vermilion, was recognized as the best D-man. The second-year Tiger from Marwayne collected 16 goals and 52 points in 35 games.
Vermilion goaltender Aiden Fox, also of Marwayne, earned the top-goalie award for his league-best numbers — a 1.66 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.
Coach-of-the-year honours went to the Tigers’ Danny Haygarth, who is from Lloydminster. He guided Vermilion to a 28-5-3 record that was second only to the pennant-winning Lloydminster Bandits (30-6).
A week earlier, the league announced two other regular-season awards. St. Paul’s Szpak was honoured as the scoring champion and the Killam Wheat Kings’ Ethan Allen received rookie-of-the-year recognition.
On the ice, all four teams involved in best-of-seven semifinals were scheduled to return to action Wednesday night. The Bandits were up 2-0 in their series with the Wheat Kings as those clubs faced off in Killam, where they’ll also meet for Game 4 at 8 p.m. Friday.
With the other semifinal tied 1-1, the Tigers and Wainwright Bisons resumed action Wednesday night in Provost. Game 4 goes 8 p.m. Friday at Wainwright, and the fifth game is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Vermilion.
After losing the opening game 4-0, the Tigers came back with a 4-2 victory on Sunday.
At the Hub in Lloydminster, the Bandits posted 7-2 and 9-5 wins Friday and Sunday, respectively, to gain the upper hand on fourth-seeded Killam.
BISONS 4, TIGERS 0: Lochlan Jenner stopped all 29 shots he faced to post the shutout.
Ryker Singer, with two goals, and Cole Kubinchak each connected on the power play. Lucas McClennon also scored as Wainwright took a 3-0 lead in the opening period.
Vermilion’s Fox made 19 stops.
TIGERS 4, BISONS 2: Vermilion returned the favour and built up a 3-0 lead halfway through the game.
Meiklejohn, with a pair, Dannon Pavka and Gage Haygarth netted the Tigers’ goals. It was a three-point game for Pavka.
Kael Scott, the top scorer this season with the U18 AAA Lloydminster Lancers, picked up an assist on Haygarth’s goal. Scott and defenceman Rhett Romanchuk joined the Tigers after the Lancers’ playoff series ended Saturday.
Singer and Jesse Tkach scored for Wainwright.
Fox, with 20 saves, earned the win. Jenner blocked 29 shots for the Bisons.
BANDITS 7, WHEAT KINGS 2: The Bandits broke open a 1-1 game with three unanswered goals in the second period. Bronson Parker, with a goal and two assists, and Aidan Martens each had three-point nights.
Adryan Bugiera potted two goals, while Colton Parker and Tyson Ziegler each added a goal and an assist. Corvan Stewart and Cash Parkin also scored for Lloydminster. Cayden Wildeman set up two goals.
Dylan Kruchten, with two points, and Jordan Gagnon replied for Killam. Wheat Kings goaltender Ethan Edwards stopped 35 shots. Shae Stewart made 17 saves for the Bandits.
BANDITS 9, WHEAT KINGS 5: Trailing 5-4 after two periods, Lloyd rallied with all five third-period goals to gain a two-game edge in the series.
Bandits’ veteran Jayden Plamondon led the way with a goal and three assists. Martens and Ziegler each added a goal and two helpers. Bugiera, Wildeman and captain Joel Webb had one of each.
Bronson Parker, Kade Dennett and Jake Redden rounded out the Lloyd scoring. Parkin assisted on two goals.
Gagnon collected a hat trick for Killam. Tanner Sheets, with two points, and Cade Schatschneider also scored. Allen, the league’s rookie winner, picked up a couple of assists.
The Wheat Kings’ Edwards and the Bandits’ Stewart faced 41 and 31 shots, respectively.
If Game 5 is needed, it would be played in Lloyd at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Trent Peterson, the 20-year-old U.S. goaltender who just joined the Bobcats in mid-February, has tended Lloyd’s net for every minute since Matonovich was sidelined with his knee injury. Backing up Peterson for the past four games was 18-year-old Owen Prasek, who hopped on the Bobcats’ bench soon after his U18 AAA Leduc Oil Kings narrowly missed the Alberta Elite Hockey League playoffs, losing the last spot to Lloydminster on the final day of the regular season.
BOBCATS 6, THUNDER 2 : Kade Fendelet scored two of Lloyd’s three power-play goals, and Tucker Robertson potted the other. Jadon Iyogun got things started with his short-handed goal and the Bobcats opened a 3-0 lead in the first period.
Raphael Messier assisted on three Lloydminster goals, which also came from McIlwain and Alex Levasseur. Iyogun, McIlwain and Jaxan Hopko each posted two points.
In the past five games, Iyogun has four goals and eight points, giving the 20-year-old forward 23 goals and 40 points in 44 games overall.
Taynton Lavender and Jack Sears netted power-play goals for Drayton Valley, last in the 12-team league with a 14-35-1 record.
Peterson made 24 saves in the Bobcats’ net. Kaden Clegg stopped 37 shots for the Thunder, whose coach and general manager is former Western Hockey League coaching veteran Jeff Truitt. It marked Drayton Valley’s fourth loss in as many games, all in a six-day span.
BOBCATS 6, GRIZZLYS 1 : With three assists, Messier recorded the first of his back-toback three-point games. Fendelet, with a short-handed goal, Iyogun and Dylan Deets each contributed two points. The other Lloydminster goals came from Normand, Robertson, Hopko, Ethan Elefante and Gus El-Tahhan.
Jordin St. Louis, a 16-year-old prospect of the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, scored the lone Olds goal. It was his 18th goal and 42nd point in 45 games.
Peterson made 25 saves for Lloyd, which fired 33 shots at Grizzlys goalie Corbin Sanderman. It was the third straight loss for Olds, which also lost 5-2 to host Canmore this Tuesday before visiting Bonnyville on Friday and Lloyd on Saturday.
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STORM 6, BOBCATS 5 (OT) :
In front of 1,288 fans at Grande Prairie, latest University of Alberta commit Colin Doherty cashed in with the winning goal at 3:39 of overtime. It was the hat-trick goal for Doherty, the Storm captain. Braeden Veldhuizen supplied two goals and an assist, while Zachary Wilson had one of each and defenceman Connor Frost added two assists.
Levasseur and Luke Dooley each scored a goal and an assist for Lloyd, which trailed 4-1 in the first minute of the second period.
The Bobcats’ other goals came off the sticks of Chingwaru, Hopko and Quinn Smith. Robertson, with two assists in that game, has eight points in the past six outings.
The 19-year-old Hopko’s 10th goal of the season came with 1:36 left in regulation time, setting the stage for the overtime period.
With points in 12 games in a row, Hopko has five goals and 17 points during that stretch and 11 goals and 38 points after 50 games overall.
Lloyd’s Peterson and GP’s Leland Gill made 25 and 24 saves, respectively.
The game was still young when two unlikely combatants, the Bobcats’ Messier and the Storm’s Max Leduc, fought each other after Messier hit Ethan Kronewitt. Messier and Leduc, both skilled players, were teammates with silver-medal-winning Canada West at the World Junior A Hockey Challenge this past December.
BOBCATS 6, XTREME 5 (OT): Iyogun’s hat-trick goal beat the buzzer at the expiration of overtime, giving Lloyd its first lead of the night — and the victory.
The Bobcats had trailed 3-1 after the first period, 4-2 at the midway mark and 5-3 following 40 minutes. Third-period goals from Gamble and Iyogun just 21 seconds apart pushed the midweek game into overtime.
El-Tahhan’s two goals included a power-play marker. Three Bobcats — Chingwaru, Fendelet and Hopko — each collected two assists. Devon rookie defenceman Darius Hordal scored a goal and two assists, while Grayson Niehaus had one of each. The other Xtreme scorers were Lincoln Martin, Kasey Russell Jr and Ashton Lee. Cash Ganske counted two assists.
Devon’s first-year goaltender, Tyler Swanson, had a solid 37-save performance. Peterson blocked 29 shots for his first win as a Bobcat.
In the estate of CONNIE E. BORN, who died on 2025/12/20
If you have a claim against this estate, you must file your claim by April 11, 2026 with: Susan Blythe at: Box 10675 Lloydminster, AB T9V 3A7
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ESTATE OF PATRICIA FAYE COONES, who died on September 20, 2025
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If you have a claim against this estate, you must file your claim by April 06, 2026 and provide details of your claim with: ARMSTRONG HITTINGER MOSKAL PO Box 1680 3801A – 51 Avenue (Southridge Commons) Lloydminster SK S9V 1K6
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Nursery and Sunday
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February 24 2026, in Loon Lake, SK surrounded by his family.
Larry is survived by: his loving wife, Gisele of 45 years; their daughter, Dana and son-in-law, Brandon; two grandsons, Andrew and Benjamin; brothers and sisters, Garry (Ruth),
Barbara (Frank), Glen (Karen), Ruth and Blake (Corleen); brothers and sisters-in-law: Michel (Debbie), Paul (Holly) and Jocelyn (Daryle); numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Larry was predeceased by: his parents Delvin and Ella; parents-in-law, Claude and Beatrice; and sister-in-law, Caroline.
In keeping with Larry's wishes, there will be no funeral service. A private family gathering will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Brightsand Lake Regional Park.
McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. CARD OF THANKS
The Bannerman family would like to thank all those who showed their support.
ster, AB on January 29, 2026 at the age of 76 years.
Joyce is survived by: her loving husband, Ron; daughters, Brenda Gislason (Terry Murray), Carrie (Shaun) Payne and Liza (Dean) Carswell; grandchildren, Kristopher Gislason (Alex), Kyra McNeil (Leif Kennedy), Ryley McNeil (Kiana Scarf), Mason DeVos-Payne (Kaitlyn Norberg), Ashley Musselman (Matt), Taylor Carswell (Carissa), Scout Carswell (Louis Schaefer), Matthew
Schultz; niece, Lori Malo; grandson, Dawson Carswell; parents-in-law, Albert and Florence Pinske; sister-in-law, Alaine Pinske; and brothers-in-law, Dennis Pinske and Merv Tetz.
The Funeral Service for Joyce was held at Salvation Army Church, Lloydminster, AB on February 7, 2026. The interment followed at Marwayne Cemetery. If you are unable to attend, you may view the recording of the service posted on McCaw Funeral Service website under Joyce’s obituary.
Joyce loved to cook. The bigger the gathering, the happier she was. She hosted many Christmas functions at her house and catered for many family weddings. It was a challenge for her to learn to cook for the two of them after their children left home. She had three daughters, but she was
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