Meridian Source - May 15,2025

Thursday, May 15, 2025

What’s inside

VOLUME 7 I ISSUE 47

MERIDIANSOURCE.CA

4010-50 Ave., #2, Lloydminster (780) 808-6363 WWW.THEPETPAD.NET

Gala garners $417K for LRHF

Govt. Hub funds fall through The city is looking at arena funding options.

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Stepp smiles over life member award

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Maidstone Kin Club honours newest life member.

Locals get nod in WHL draft

19-22

Lloyd-area hockey players hear their names called at major-junior draft.

Photo courtesy Noyce Photography TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

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A night of Greek splendour evolved into a $417,893 fundraising event for the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation (LRHF).

The LRHF’s 23rd annual gala, held April 25 at the Lloyd Ex’s WLS Convention Centre, featured fun, food, family and fundraising.

“We’re extremely grateful for the overwhelming success of the event and the generosity of our community, volunteers, sponsors and everybody who steps up to make this event what it is,” said LRHF CEO Stephanie Munro.

“The amount raised was overwhelming and it shows how healthcare is top-of-mind for so many people in the community.”

As always, funds raised go toward the foundation’s greatestneeds fund, which supported community seniors this year.

“The greatest needs fund allows us to act quickly and promptly when certain things arise in our commiunity,” said Munro.

“This year, we raised funds for a new ice machine, a blanket warmer and new air mattress beds for the Pioneer House and Pioneer Lodge.”

From new-born babies to 100-year-old retirees, Munro explained the LRHF does what it can to support all residents of the community.

“We are able to help members of the community thanks to the generous support of our donors who step up year after year to attend our gala,” she said.

“The event is a fundraising event, but it’s also an opportunity to say thank you to our donors who do so much for our community. It gives our donors a beautiful night out, an amazing meal, great entertainment and the ability to mingle and enjoy a sense of community.”

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Thursday, May 15, 2025

Local TV station signs off in Lloyd

CKSA-TV started offering television to the Lloydminster area back in 1960 after CKSA radio expanded. Colour programming was added in 1968 after the station spent a considerable amount of money to upgrade.

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This wasn’t a question of lack of value for us. It was simply a matter of harsh economic realities for small-market conventional TV.

PTLN broadcast screenshot MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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A local pillar of the Lloydminster community has been taken off the air after 65 years in the business.

A May 13 news release announced CITL-TV and CKSA-TV are going off air.

“It was an agonizing decision, to be honest,” said Steve Jones, president of Stingray Radio, via email.

“It was not what we wanted to do but we had exhausted all options. The TV stations had been losing money for years, and the losses kept mounting up with no end in sight. In fact, the future of

small-market TV only looks more perilous. We are not in the business of closing things down. Or giving up. This was one of the hardest decisions I’ve been part of my in my career.”

Jones explained the process had been underway for weeks and many potential buyers had been spoken with before the decision was made.

“We also spent several months prior trying to find a buyer or company to take over the stations,” he said. “We spoke to national and regional broadcasters. We spoke to specialty and Indigenous broadcasters. We really wanted to make this work.

But even at essentially free, no TV operator felt it was a viable business to inherit.”

Eventually, the second station, CITL-TV, a CTV affiliate, was added. The Lloydminster TV station has been providing local news content and keeping people informed since its inception, with many popular faces gracing its set.

Today, in a landscape of media uncertainty, it is even more difficult to fathom losing such a pillar in the community.

“We’re (Stingray), not a TV specialist, but the team in Lloydminster was an excellent team who knew what they were doing,” said Jones.

“Other experienced TV operators did not see value in owning the stations. This wasn’t a question of lack of value for us. It was simply a matter of harsh economic realities for small-market conventional TV.” We at the Meridian Source couldn’t imagine Lloydminster without local TV. Local media is more important now than ever and it’s important to support those who give back and help keep the public informed.

We offer our best wishes to the talented individuals who were impacted by this sudden decision.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

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Alberta arena funding falls through, city considers other options

Photo of the Cenovus Energy Hub as work took place over the winter. The facility is expected to open this fall. Photo courtesy City of Lloydminster CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER

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The City of Lloydminster expanded its borrowing bylaw for the new Cenovus Energy Hub arena.

The process is well underway as the Hub borrowing bylaw received first reading.

The bylaw looks to expand the maximum borrowing from the original $33 million up to $40,380,926.

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Of course, we’re going to try our best to explore all other funding opportunities and delay that borrowing as long as possible .

The new motion will add $7,380,926 to the total borrowing.

As the city waits for further potential funding from the province of Alberta, borrowing from the bylaw has also been delayed.

“We are currently deferring as much borrowing as possible to the end of the project,” said Adele Wakaruk, executive manager of corporate services.

“Currently, we’ve already borrowed $10 million to make sure we are keeping pace with the construction costs. We don’t plan to borrow an additional $23 million until probably Q3 of Q4, 2025.

Then we’ll look to borrow, if required, the additional, rounding up to $7.4 million until Q1 of 2026.”

The city continues to look at other avenues of funding.

“Of course, we’re going to try our best to explore all other funding opportunities and delay that borrowing as long as possible,” said Wakaruk.

City manager Dion Pollard said there are rules surrounding the borrowing and how to pay it off.

“There are rules around the borrowing. You can

pay it out, but you need another borrowing item, whether it’s another municipality or our own municipality to take on that borrowing debenture you’ve got at that current rate,” said Pollard.

“It’s very unlikely someone would do that, unless the rate is more favourable than the one on the table at the time.”

Coun. Justin Vance asked for a breakdown of the loan term.

“We look to borrow this $40 million over 30 years. We’re drawing small chunks at a time at this point to make sure we’re securing the lowest interest rate possible,” said Wakaruk. “Slightly less than 2.4 million (a year), all inclusive.”

“The scary numbers are when you do the $2.5 or $2.8 million over 30 years and you’re getting numbers like $80 million or $70 million to what we’re

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At $2.4 million a year over 30 years, the total payback comes to $72 million, almost double the borrowing through the bylaw.

Council voted to give first reading to the borrowing bylaw, with Vance opposing the motion.

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Thursday, May 15, 2025

Symposium discusses homeless issue

Panelists speak at last week’s Housing and Homelessness Symposium. Day Gray Meridian Source DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER

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Lloydminster’s recent Housing and Homelessness Symposium brought together key local leaders to discuss the growing issue of homelessness and the solutions needed to tackle it.

The event, held May 7 at the Nissan Hall, featured a mix of community members, local organization, and experts who shared insights into the struggles and potential ways forward.

City councillor Michael Diachuck shared his thoughts on the event, explaining its purpose and the goals that drove the discussions.

“We wanted to raise awareness about what causes homelessness, the gaps in our community, and the barriers keeping people stuck in homelessness,” said Diachuck. “It was important to look at solutions from other communities and see if we can adapt them to our situation here.”

The symposium revealed that one of the most pressing challenges in addressing homelessness is the lack of adequate transitional and supportive housing in the city. Tyler Lorenz, CEO of Resi-

dents in Recovery, pointed to this issue as a significant barrier to solving homelessness.

“The main challenge is the lack of transitional and supportive housing,” said Lorenz. “We have very limited capacity, and that is a primary barrier to getting people off the streets.”

Diachuck agreed, adding that systemic issues compound these challenges.

“Access to affordable housing is a significant problem,” he said.

“We need to create a system that ensures people can get the help they need to transition from homelessness.”

Lorenz and Diachuck stressed the urgent need for supportive housing, especially for individuals struggling with mental health challenges or addiction.

“It’s hard to keep people housed when mental health and addiction issues are not being addressed,” said Lorenz. “We have very little in the way of supportive housing for people dealing with these challenges. That’s a huge gap that we need to fill.”

Lorenz also discussed the role government funding plays in addressing the housing shortage.

“There are capital project initiatives funded by the federal government,” he explained. “But to access those grants, we need proposals that are shovel-ready. We need the city and other partners to work with us to make those proposals happen.”

Another topic of discussion was the municipal role.

“The city can support these efforts by providing property for development or offering incentives like tax exemptions,” said Diachuck, stressing it’s not just about one level of government working in isolation.

“It’s about all three levels of government coming together, federal, provincial, and municipal, to support these projects,” he said. “We need a coordinated approach to make it work.”

Lorenz expressed his optimism about the future, despite the challenges.

“We have several projects in the works,” he said. “Myself, Kagen (Kneen) at the men’s shelter, and Becky (Schille) at the Olive Tree, we all have proposals ready to go. If we can secure funding and support from all levels of government, we can make these projects a reality.”

One of the key takeaways from the symposium was the importance of community involvement.

Both Lorenz and Diachuck stressed that local businesses and residents have a crucial role to play.

“If we had the funding, we could start these projects right now. That’s where the community can make a real difference,” said Lorenz.

The symposium also gave attendees a chance to hear from experts and share ideas. Diachuck pointed to Kim’s talk as one of the highlights.

“Kim’s talk really opened my eyes,” he said.

“We are making progress with First Nations communities, but there’s always more work to do.”

Lorenz shared his appreciation for Chris Gormin’s insights into housing-first strategies.

“I’ve always believed in the housing-first approach,” said Lorenz. “But hearing Chris break it down really helped me see it from a new perspective.”

The event also highlighted the progress Lloydminster has made in addressing homelessness.

“We are ahead of many other communities,” said Lorenz. “The shelter here is one of five across Canada that’s part of a pilot project focused on housing. It’s already making a difference.”

Both Lorenz and Diachuck were hopeful that the symposium would lead to concrete action.

“The momentum from this has to keep going,” said Diachuck. “We can’t let these conversations die out.”

Diachuck also expressed gratitude for the city’s support. “ Wi th o u t th e i r su p port, this symposium wouldn’t have been possible,” he said.

Lorenz shared a similar sentiment, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration.

B o t h l e a d e r s expressed confidence that meaningful progress will follow when the right resources and partnerships align.

“We are well on our way to tackling this issue,” said Lorenz. “It’s not going to be easy, but we’re making strides.”

Diachuck expressed hope for the future.

“We’ve taken some important steps,” he said. “But there’s still a lot of work to be done.

This symposium has shown us what’s possible if we all work together.”

Community members should take action if they want to see changes. That is one of the main messages organizers share from the event.

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Michelle Stepp accepted her Life Membership Award from the Maidstone Kin Club at a May 10 event. Christian Apostolovski MERIDIAN SOURCE photos

Maidstone Kin Club honours newest Life Member CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER

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Michelle Stepp was all smiles as she accepted her Life Member Award from the Maidstone Kin Club.

Stepp received her Life Member Award at a May 10 event honouring her service to the club.

“She’s put in a lot of time, and it’s a lot of time away from the family, she more than deserves this,” said Chris Zerr, Maidstone Kin Club president. “For Kin Canada it represents a huge achievement of dedication to the club and all the things she’s done for Kin Canada.”

The award for Stepp, who was joined by friends and family at the Border Inn and Suites on May 10, was something she didn’t expect.

“It’s kind of just surreal,” she said. “It’s very humbling to receive my life membership. It’s not something a lot of people in Kin (Club) have received.”

Stepp is no stranger to receiving awards, a display of her awards was available for all to see, including her Queen Elizabeth Platinum Jubilee award, which she received in 2022.

Her time volunteering is a way for her to give back to her community.

“It means so much, just being able to go into the community and doing good things,” said Stepp. “A lot of the things I talked about in my speech, going and cleaning parks and going Christmas caroling with the seniors, I spent lots of time playing board games with the seniors. It’s just a way to give back.”

Her work expands also to Telemiracle.

“Now with Telemiracle and the Kinsmen Foundation, it just means so much more,” said Stepp.

“I will be the vice-chair of the Kinsmen Foundation next year and then the chair after that.”

She’s been involved with the Kin Club for years, first starting out in Lloydminster.

“I spent 10 years there and then moved to the Maidstone Kin Club, so I’ve been there for two years now,” said Stepp. “I’ve been on the District

3 executive for nine years. I’ve been on four different TeleMiracle committees and I already spent four years on the Kinsmen foundation board,” The Kin Club is always looking for new members.

“Come out, find a club and come in and see us.

We’re all approachable people,” said Zerr.

You can find a local club by visiting Kin Canada’s website at KinCanada.ca.

MERIDIAN SOURCE

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MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, May 15, 2025

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Cenovus Energy Rush Lake 2 thermal facility.

Video screenshot

Cenovus responds to uncontrolled release at Rush Lake DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER

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Cenovus Energy is currently responding to what they call a well release at the Rush Lake 2 thermal site, about 80 kilometres southeast of Lloydminster.

According to the company, crews are injecting water into the well to help control the release. Berms are in place to contain the spill.

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Out of an abundance of caution, a 1.6-kilometre emergency zone is now in place.

Three roadblocks are up to keep the area safe.

Some roads north of the site are closed.

Cenovus says the release is mostly water vapour. However, videos shared with the Meridian Source, which are found on our website, show oil and water shooting into the air. Oil is also visible coming up from the ground.

Cenovus says the release caused strong smells, loud noises and a visible vapour cloud. It says air quality is being checked to protect public health.

The company says one family has been evacuated from their home and it is working closely with all nearby farmers. They have not addressed if farmers will be able to use their land this growing season.

“Out of an abundance of caution, a 1.6-kilometre emergency zone is now in place. Three roadblocks are up to keep the area safe. Some roads north of the site are closed,” read an email from Cenovus media relations.

Members of the media who approached the site were told in no uncertain terms that they must leave quickly.

They state there is no sign of harm to water or wildlife. The report says all proper agencies and towns have been informed, including the Ministry of Energy and Resources.

Updates are being provided to people who live within five kilometres of the site. Cenovus’s main goals are safety and protecting the environment.

Crews remain on-site, and the cause of the release is still unknown. No information has been shared about how much oil escaped.

The company says it will investigate the cause once the site is safe, and use those lessons to improve future work.

Government agencies had not replied to requests for comment at the time of press.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

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Groundbreaking run draws large support CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER

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The inaugural Synergy Sunrise Run was a roaring success.

The run took place May 10 and featured a 5 km run or walk. There were 350 registered participants for the run, which held its starting line at Holy Rosary High School.

The event aims to support mental health initiatives in the community.

“We know the correlation between physical activity, running and just getting out and being with your community and mental health,” said Stephanie Munro, CEO of the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation.

Munro says the proceeds raised from the event go directly into mental health initiatives in Lloydminster.

“We have project sunrise which is a mental health initiative,” she said.

The turnout saw a sea of blue shirts gather at the starting line to either run or walk.

“Seeing these hundreds of people that are coming here to join in on a movement that is so much bigger than just one person is really inspiring,” said Munro. “This is the first, inaugural year and I foresee it to continue to grow and grow over the next few years.”

The title sponsor, Synergy Credit Union, sees the need for mental health support in the community.

“We as an organization see the growing need,” said Trevor Beaton, Synergy Credit Union CEO. The aim for Synergy was to help get the initiative going.

“Synergy’s always had a bit of a history of can we help start something,” said Beaton. “We made a three-year commitment of $50,000 a year to this run to really get it going.”

Get it going they did as the event reached its $5,000 goal days before the run took place. Synergy committed to being the naming sponsor over the next three years.

“It’s what amazes me constantly about the Lloydminster community and area is how individuals and businesses step up time after time,” said Beaton.

Those looking to support can still donate.

“You can go to lrhf.ca/donate and you can actually choose the sunrise run to donate directly to or to project sunrise,” said Munro.

The inaugural sunrise run was a roaring success in Lloydminster as residents showed up to support mental health initiatives in the community.

Christian Apostolovski Meridian Source

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Thursday, May 15, 2025

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Women’s event gives hope to youth

The Elevate women’s event packed the WLS Convention Centre May 10 as speakers shared stories inspiring young women in the community. Christian Apostolovski MERIDIAN SOURCE CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER

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The first year for an event aiming to empower young women between the ages of 12 and 18 had a successful kickoff.

The WLS Convention Centre at the Lloyd Ex was filled on May 10 as speakers took to the stage aiming to educate young women on a variety of topics.

“Youth especially are the most impacted by these events,” said Jess Tetu, Elevate’s keynote speaker and owner of five Just For You Day Spas in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

The event, put on by Umbrella Marketing and Design, featured an array of speakers.

“We have amazing panelists that we have handpicked to be a part of our day to share their everyday struggles and journeys,” said Ashley Miazga, co-organizer.

Speakers ranged from a mental health advocate, nutritionist, a coach, life skills, dietician and a constable from the RCMP. Tetu, the keynote speaker, has travelled telling her story.

“I travel all over Canada and North America talking about my success through adversity,” she said.

She said she grew up in a home with addictions and domestic abuse

spending time in women’s shelters.

“Then became a single mom and all the things stacked again me, pulling myself out of that direction,” said Tetu. “(I) started working in a business, bought the business, then found success through that business by giving back to philanthropic efforts.”

She spent time going back to shelters, doing community support for domestic abuse victims.

She said the youth are at an age where things can be difficult.

“I know those years are really hard,” she said. “Those are really difficult ages, you think that that’s what your life is going to be like, when in fact, you have your whole life ahead of you.”

Tetu aims to inspire women and give them hope for the future.

“I always think if I could reach that little Jess that’s in that crowd, like me when I was that age, what it would have done to show me there is hope,” she said.

The future for the event looks bright.

“We would love to do this again,” said Miazga. “We don’t want to just mak e i t a d ay . We a r e mak i ng a movement.”

“I think it’s just the beginning of an incredible future for this event,” said Tetu.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

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Rotary educated on remote school project DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER

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The Rotary Club of Lloydminster got an update on its school project in the Philippines from Rotarian and past Rotary president in the Philippines Sydney Palmer during the May 5 meeting.

The club supported a two-room classroom build in a remote mountain area, with a budget of $60,000 US. The project was in partnership with a Rotary club in the Philippines.

“When we started, we did our homework. The school unit and teacher of the school unit figured 75 would be lots,” said Palmer. “But when the school opened, it served 125 children.”

Palmer explained parents in the community donated labour to help with construction.

“If you come to work at the school that day, we feed you well,” he said.

Palmer also shared how the school became more than just a classroom, noting it’s different then most schools in North America.

“A school is a community facility. They might have a wedding there, they might have a funeral there, they might have school,” he said.

Reaching the site was not easy.

“The last three and half kilometres, you have to go by motorbike,” said Palmer. “All the supplies had to be carried manually.”

The school also faced natural challenges after a nearby volcano forced the school to temporarily close.

“It was shut down for health reasons, but the dust is now settled. Children are back in school,” said Palmer.

The project included more than just a building as Rotary fully equipped the school for the first

Sydney Palmer recently updated the Rotary Club of Lloydminster on a school project in the Philippines, a project the local club supported with a $60,000 US budget.

Day Gray Meridian Source

round of students.

They expect the school to keep that going. When they get the new Grade 1 students, the school has to provide them with essential school supplies.

Palmer also talked about the impact on the students.

“These kids stood back and couldn’t believe it because they never had one,” he said when talking about handing out backpacks as well as supplies.

The Rotary Club also installed computers and internet at the school.

“We had enough left over to buy a computer sys-

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tem, so we put in four computers,” said Palmer.

“Internet was there … they got the satellites.”

Palmer also plans to help reward students.

“We’re gonna donate 1,000 pesos, which is only $25, so each school would get 4,000 pesos and we’re gonna pay for four students,” he said.

Palmer closed by thanking the Lloydminster club.

“I just wanted to thank you. It’s in transition and I think you guys are doing a great job supporting the schools,” he said. “We just need to put a fiveyear plan in place going forward for what’s next.”

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PAGE 10 Thursday, May 15, 2025 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Viewpoint Leave it to Weaver:

5921-50 Avenue, Lloydminster, SK S9V 2A4 Phone: 306-825-5111 | Fax: 306-825-5147 meridiansource.ca Mail: Box 2454, Lloydminster, SK S9V 1W5 Hours: 8AM to 5PM Monday to Friday The MERIDIAN SOURCE is published once a week, on Thursday.

Local media needs support now more than ever

All material printed in the Meridian Source is copyright and may not be copied or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. The Meridian Source reserves the right to refuse publication of any advertising or editorial material at its discretion.

Columns and letters are the expressed view of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Meridian Source.

Editor Taylor Weaver taylor@meridiansource.ca

Sports Editor John MacNeil sports@meridiansource.ca

Staff Writer Christian Apostolovski christian@meridiansource.ca

I was all smiles at the ripe age of 24 while posing for a photo with former Lloydminster Source reporter, Chris Brown, (left), Olympic cyclist and speed skater Clara Hughes, and former Newcap News sports reporter Moses Woldu (right).

This was my second day on the job with the Booster.

EDITOR TAYLOR WEAVER

Staff Writer Dan Gray dan.gray@meridiansource.ca

Marketing Consultant Bailey Keebaugh bailey@meridiansource.ca

Marketing Consultant Steph Hablado steph@meridiansource.ca Publisher: Reid Keebaugh Production Manager: Amanda Richard Distribution: distribution@meridiansource.ca CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING bailey@meridiansource.ca NEWSPAPER DELIVERY If you’ve missed a paper, to start or stop delivery, or for carrier applications, please call 306-825-5111 for information.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We welcome letters to the editor. Letters should be 500 words or less. A name and daytime phone number is required for verification.

Priority will be given to letters exclusively written for the Meridian Source. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, brevity, spelling, grammar, punctuation and libel. Unsigned letters will not be published. Use of pseudonyms will only be allowed in special circumstances, at the discretion of the editor and the publisher, and only if the author’s identity is known to the editor. Publication of a letter does not imply endorsement by the Meridian Source. Send to taylor@meridiansource.ca

2017

Tuesday was a dark day for media in Lloydminster with the announcement the local TV station will cease to exist. CKSA and CITL television are no more.

Although the station’s owners and staff have changed many times over the years, one thing has remained a constant. It’s served as a jumping-off point for countless broadcast journalists currently located throughout the country, many I remain friends with today.

I’ve been a working journalist in Lloydminster for 11 years and feel fortunate to continue the (usually) thankless work we do. I moved to Lloyd to fill the role as the Meridian Booster’s sports editor in June 2014 after a 14-month stint with the High River Times.

When I moved to Lloyd, there were two newspapers and a TV station. Each paper had at least five journalists. The television station, however, had at least four (it might have been more) sports journalists, a weather person, an agriculture reporter, a handful of anchors, plus management and control-room operators and production staff.

Although considered “the competition,” there was a time when staff from both papers and the station would meet for wing Wednesdays and spend weekends partying together. Of course, there was competition when it came to the work we produced, the camaraderie was second to none and it was clear we were in the industry because we loved the work we did.

When the Booster was bought by The Source in 2016, I was nervous. I wasn’t sure what my future in the industry looked like in Lloyd and was scared losing that “big corporate” backing would mean the end of my career here. Boy was I wrong.

Working for a locally owned and operated publication turned out to be a godsend. Nine years later, almost all the regional publications I once worked with have either gone to strictly online or shut down completely.

Turns out, the locally owned publications have

the passion and care to keep the community informed. They’re also willing to take risks when it comes to investing in the business to keep it going … because they care. Ours is, anyways.

Local media needs support now more than ever.

Sure, you, the reader, may not agree with everything you read week after week, but know us journalists do the job because we love it. We’re not in it for the money, or lack thereof in most cases.

As former Booster editor Dana Smith said when I asked about salary before being hired, “We’re not lighting cigars with $100 bills.”

The list of broadcast journalists who got their start in the Border City is long. The ones I remain in contact with are proud to call it a first job and probably wouldn’t be where they are today without the opportunities they got in Lloyd.

Whether it’s CTV Global Calgary or Edmonton, TSN and Olympic Games coverage all over the world, these hard-working journalists all got their start in the small market of Lloydminster.

Claire Hanna got her start in Lloydminster before moving on to TSN and has great memories of her time here.

“I can honestly say that working at CKSA was a career highlight. I had so much creative freedom with my storytelling, I got to cover a wide range of sports and I loved travelling to places like Bonnyville and Marshall, connecting with the community. Our weekend news team had this great bond of wanting to contribute to strong journalism and sink our teeth into the industry,” she said.

“I’ll never forget the day I received an email from news director Stacy Commer saying there was a sports reporter position opening at the station and that I should apply.”

I reached out to several other former CKSA staff but unfortunately didn’t hear back before our print deadline. This column will be posted online over the weekend with any additional responses that come in.

For those who lost their jobs this week, especially those just starting out in the business, hold your heads high. You’re a talented and passionate group who fell victim to the corporate world. Be proud of everything you accomplished while you were here.

PAGE 11 Thursday, May 15, 2025 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Opinion

Gray Matters: Trades - building toward the future Over the past few weeks, we’ve addressed the tradesperson shortage and some of the industry’s solutions to fixing it.

When discussing building millions of homes, we are not just talking about lumber and blueprints.

We are talking about people, and right now, there simply are not enough skilled tradespeople to do the job.

While national policies often grab headlines, the work happening in our own community offers real solutions. One example is Lakeland College.

Lakeland is not just offering trades programs; it is filling them. In speaking with individuals familiar with the college, they gave me some statistics.

With a 94.48 per cent enrolment rate in 908 funded seats for the 2024-25 year, they are well above the provincial average.

That number shows that students are interested.

The challenge is space. The school could support up to 1,500 apprentices, however, budget restraints for the Government of Alberta limit the seats to

Chris’ A-Z: Sometimes, it’s a lack of perspective The message following last week’s Town of Vermilion council meeting was clear: If you don’t have money, don’t move here.

Unfortunately, this appears to be a harsh reality set out by the soon out going mayor-less Vermilion council.

A pair of items were presented to council, which both drew heavy scrutiny. The first on the docket featured the continued reduction in sale price for industrial lots.

The lots themselves were priced at $130,000 and though economic development expressed there was interest at that price, council postponed the decision.

Due to the motion not being extended, prices were going back to the original $380,000 to $420,000 per acre.

Comments made seemed to indicate the price, regardless of what it was, wouldn’t deter someone from buying if they really were interested.

The lots, at the time of writing, remain unpurchased.

The second item was a potential housing development for the town.

A housing gap analysis from months ago identified the need for more available housing in the town. About 105 more “doors,” as they say, were needed.

A letter of intent was signed with the Impact Affordable Housing Corporation as a means to bring an affordable housing project in the next four to five years.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

980 for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This is not just Lakeland’s problem. It is a provincial issue that needs attention.

Despite limited funding, Lakeland is doing more than its fair share.

Attending events like Skills Alberta and local trya-trade expos, thousands of students get to explore different trades. Programs like CTS apprenticeship pathways and dual credit courses allow high school students to gain real experience and even earn apprenticeship hours before they graduate.

This shows there is at least some smart planning for the future.

Lakeland is also making strides in reaching underrepresented groups. Exposure programs for Indigenous students and an increase in women joining fields like automotive are helping change old per-

ceptions. These students are discovering rewarding careers they may not have considered before.

But training is only one part of the equation.

Industry needs to step up as well. With about 73,000 registered apprentices in Alberta as of May 1, the question is whether enough journeypersons and businesses are willing to train them. Without that commitment, progress stalls.

We need to stop thinking of trades as a backup plan. These are high-demand, high-skill jobs that deserve respect and investment.

Lakeland College is showing what is possible.

Now it is time for government, industry and communities to support that effort.

There is work to do, and there are people ready to do it. We just need to give them the tools and the opportunity.

12

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, May 15, 2025

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 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.

Passport to YLL To place an event, email taylor@meridiansource.ca or fax 306-825-5147

Cards, games, food, meetings, live music Intro to Square Dancing Modern square dancing lessons are being offered every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at 5115 - 49 Ave. Walk to the beat of music by following simple instructions from the caller. Come alone or bring a friend. Wear whatever is comfortable. First evening is FREE. For more info, contact 780-872-2493 or visit SquareDanceLloydArea.com Bingo at the Moose Lodge Bingo will be held every Monday and Wednesday, except holidays, at Moose Lodge 5213 57 St., Lloydminster. Doors open at 5 p.m. with games starting at 7 p.m. Must be at least 18 to play.

Spades Tournament The Legacy Centre is hosting a spades tournament on May 15 starting at 10 a.m. Cost is $10 to play and $12 for lunch. Everyone welcome! Call the

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Also buying all Silver & Gold, Jewelry, Coins, Bullion, Nuggets, Gold Dust, Ingots, Bars, Dental Gold, Jewelers Scrap, Sterling Silver & Silverware!

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Church Directory GRACE UNITED CHURCH

Sunday, May 18 at 10:00am Rev. Cathy Kinsman and Rev. George Mafuleka Nursery and Sunday School

FAMILY FUN FEST Weaver Park May 31, 2025 at 10 AM - 4PM Multi-generational games, hotdogs, All Are Welcome! ice cream & much more! #GodsHandsAndHeartAlways ~ Bring a lawn chair ~

4708 - 50 Avenue T9V 0W4 780-875-8959 graceunitedchurch.ca

Legacy office at 780-875-4584 for details.

eer extraordinaire Danny Hooper.

Cribbage Doubles Tournament The Legacy Centre is hosting a cribbage doubles tournament on May 22 starting at 10 a.m. Cost is $10 to play and $12 for lunch. Everyone welcome!

Call the Legacy office at 780-875-4584 for details.

Spring Fling Tea and Plant Sale The Manitou Pioneers Museum in Neilburg is hosting a spring fling tea and plant sale on May 24.

The plant sale starts at 2 p.m., beverage and dessert served at 3 p.m., entry is $5/person. Come out for a fun afternoon of draws, garden related information and visiting. The Village Green Thrift Shop will be open from 1 - 3 p.m.

Pubnight at the Legacy Centre The Legacy Centre is hosting pubnight on May 22. Doors and dancin’ at 5 p.m., supper served at 6 p.m., then dance the night away. Cost is $20/person at the door. All members and guests welcome. Call the Legacy Centre at 780-875-4584 for more details.

Holy Rosary High School Farmers Market Holy Rosary High School is hosting its 3rd Annual Farmers Market on May 22 from 3:30-7 p.m. Come out and support student entrepreneurs at over 2o different booths. The event will also feature live enterainment and a supper option.

Everyone is welcome, bring a friend!

City of Lloydminster Spring Cleanup Garage Sale The City of Lloydminster is hosting a community garage sale on May 24 at the Servus Sports Centre.

Vendors will be open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and you never know what you’ll find.

Legacy Centre Par 3 Tourney The Legacy Centre is still looking for golfers for its 4th Annual Par 3 gold tournament at Rolling Green Fairways on June 11. Call the Legacy office at 780-875-4584 for details.

WANTED COIN COLLECTIONS

Walk for Mental Health Paradise Hill Summer Bash featuring St. Walburg’s annual Walk for Mental Health Jade Eagleson is on May 24 at the Catholic Parish Centre. The The Paradise Hill Summer Bash returns to the PAYING CASH!theBUYING walk starts at 10 a.m. and supports memory ENTIRE Paradise Hill Arena on Aug. 9 from 5-11 p.m. Supof lost loved ones and those struggling menper is from 5-7 p.m. at the Paradise Hill CommuCOLLECTIONS – INwith ALL OF ALBERTA! tal health. There is also a fundraising supper and nity Centre before the arena opens at 7 p.m. Drew I MAKE HOUSE CALLS! show on May 23. Supper is at 5:30 p.m., the show Gregory plays at 8:15 p.m. and Jade Eagleson plays For $30 Coinand Collections &at Accumulations Ofp.m.

Coins! is at 7 p.m. Looking Tickets are available Kim’s at 9:10 Tickets are $75.88 or $27.96 for supper Buying Royal Canadian Coins, Coin Sets, Coinsat Eventbrite.ca Service, Brown Bag Liquor Store, Mint Ace Hardware only.Old Tickets & Paper Money, Numismatics, Raresomething Coins, and Grahams Foods.

The show featuresOlympic singer, Coins, - Have you’d like listed in our calendar? & Gold Coins, Platinum Us & Email Cdn Silver songwriter,Silver recording artist, author and Coins, auctionit to taylor@meridiansource.ca

Dollars, Carson City Silver Dollars, All Pre 1969 Silver Coins, Old Rolls, Bags & Boxes Of Coins, Franklin Mint Coins And Ingot Sets!

CHRIS A-Z FROM PAGE 11

would’ve benefited greatly from it.

Also buying all Silver & Gold,housing, Jewelry, but Coins, Council chose to receive the item as informamessage Bullion, Nuggets, GoldThe Dust, Ingots, that’s sent to the wider Alberta is, tion leaving the decision to a future council. move here unless you have money. OwnBars, DentalFor Gold, don’t Jewelers Scrap, me, it was the comments that got underSterling my skinSilver ing&aSilverware! property also helps the city as that individand why I’m writing this today. ual pays’ property tax. Of course, an apartment Comments seemingly degraded affordable ALL buildingODD is subject to property tax. housing as negative to the public image and sayIt was a point of conversation that the subsiing they don’t need a slumlord in the town. The dized housing wouldn’t pay property tax. comments were made as the belief is the buildYou won’t attract young working professionals ing would get worse over time, eventually getting without affordable housing. People don’t always dumped on the town to deal with. know they want to make your community home.

I do want to point out that attainable housing If you have those options available those would be great, however, owning a home is not a young individuals would see your community, reality for everyone. It’s expensive to own a home afford to live there in the short-term and maybe and not everyone wants to be a homeowner. stay long-term.

For a lot of industries, affordable housing I always believe councillors in any municipalwould be crucial to getting people to move into ity want the best for the community. How that your community. I started in journalism at just happens is different based on perspective and if above minimum wage. I didn’t have affordable nothing more I hope to get a conversation going.

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13

New Lloyd assistant fire chief ‘living her dream’ Thursday, May 15, 2025

MERIDIAN SOURCE

DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER

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Lloydminster Fire Department’s new assistant fire chief brings experience, passion and a love for the job to her new role.

Justine Loewen has called Lloydminster home for almost her entire life. Her family moved to the city when she was just a few months old. Outside of leaving briefly for school, she has been here ever since.

Today, Loewen is the department’s assistant fire chief of operations, a job she describes as her “dream.”

“My current role is assistant fire chief of operations … that involves different things like daily operations, training with the members, things like that,” explains Loewen. “Honestly, it’s been a dream job of mine since 2014 when I first got into the rural volunteer fire service. I can’t really imagine doing anything else. I’m pretty happy to say that I’m getting to live my dream right now.”

Loewen’s path to leadership was not always straightforward.

“I always kind of knew that I wanted a career where I could help people, but I didn’t have a super clear idea of what that looked like,” she recalled.

It was not until joining the Britannia Wilton Fire Department in 2014 that she found her passion. Meanwhile, in 2016, she earned her primary care paramedic certification. She worked as both a paramedic and volunteer firefighter through 2020.

“At the time, there was no real opportunity for full-time fire in the area, and I knew I wanted to stay around Lloyd,” she said.

That year she took on her first formal leadership role as a Captain with Legacy Regional Protective Services, and in 2021, she joined the Lloydminster Department as a paid on-call firefighter. Each step of the way, she has prioritized learning as a critical part of her job. Last year, she completed a Bachelor of Business Emergency Services at Lakeland College.

“I’m just a huge believer in lifelong learning,” she said. “Even the youngest, most junior member of the department can teach something to the most senior members.”

The best part of Loewen’s day is seeing the passion for the job in others in the department.

“Just seeing members within the department excel,” she shared. “The other day, I was talking to a member about the calls they’d been on, and just watching their face light up when they were talking about it, getting to be involved in that kind of career development is awesome.”

As the assistant fire chief, Loewen is also passionate about fire safety.

“Fire prevention is key. Make sure that families are practising fire safety within their homes, talking to their children about it, and just being prepared for an emergency.”

As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, Loewen acknowledges the challenges but encourages others to go for it.

“If emergency services is your passion, go all in. Embrace the challenges that are going to come with a career … make sure you prioritize building and maintaining both your physical and your mental health,” she said. “Finding a mentor within the industry that you can look to and ask for advice, I think that’s huge. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without the mentors that I’ve had along the way.”

On that note, Loewen hopes to set a positive example for other women and

Fire Chief Bill Heesing (left) assistant Fire Chief Justine Loewen (right).

Photo courtesy Lloydminster Fire Department

advocate for inclusion in the fire service.

“I just kind of hope to be a positive example within the service and help other women looking to get into the career see that this is something they can do and advance in their career.”

What does she love most about Lloydminster? It’s the people.

“There are lots of really good groups within the city that promote a lot of different great causes and promote growth and inclusion,” she said. “I think that’s a great thing to see.”

It’s time to share your voice!

We all create trash but do we know where it goes? The City of Lloydminster is developing a Solid Waste Master Plan which will guide waste diversion initiatives and the future roadmap for the Lloydminster Landfill.

Whether you are a resident or business owner, your input matters!

We are gathering feedback on curbside collection and disposal in our community.

SHARE YOUR VOICE VIA THE ONLINE SURVEY AT YOURVOICELLOYD.CA/SWMP BEFORE MAY 28

Paper surveys are available at City Hall, Operations Centre and the landfill.

14

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Anxiety ‘not something to be defined by’

Presenter Telisa Clarke.

Christian Apostolovski MERIDIAN SOURCE

Riley Gilroyed with a sign outlining Beyond Borders Circle of Change’s mission.

Christian Apostolovski MERIDIAN SOURCE CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER

..................................

“Anxiety is part of our lives, but it’s not something we have to be defined by.”

As Riley Gilroyed alluded to, anxiety has a major impact on Canadians.

A Beyond Border Circle of Change event at the Lloyd Ex on May 5 and 6 aimed to bring some light to the issue.

“We’re able to put funds towards profes-

sional development workshops such as the one that’s taking place yesterday and today,” said Gilroyed, chair of Beyond Border Circle of Change.

Topics covered by presenter Telisa Clarke of the Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute included anxiety and its natural purpose, the nature of stress, fear and anxiety, among others.

The sold-out event was packed with community members learning how to assist youth dealing with anxiety.

“These are practical strategies,” said Gilroyed.

“The Canadian Trauma Resource Institute is able to come down, present to local profession-

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als and parents and provide tools to assist the kids or youth in their life or place of work.

“With kids and youth these days, they have so much going on. Whether it’s social media or expectations, it’s a lot different for youth and children now-a-days.”

He says the information gained through the presentation will help support those suffering from anxiety.

“We want to be able to best support them as much as possible,” said Gilroyed.

Though the focus was on children, Gilroyed says anxiety can affect anyone.

“Anxiety is not something exclusive to children and youth. It ranges from all ages, everybody can experience it,” he said. “There’s always an opportunity to better manage anxiety and perhaps put ourselves in better situations.”

Gilroyed’s words to those suffering from anxiety were simple. “It doesn’t define you.”

“Anxiety is part of our lives, but it’s not something we have to be defined by,” he said.

Without the community support, Gilroyed said the event would not be possible.

“Also, our local sponsors, Lloydminster Region Health Foundation, Synergy Credit Union, Gold Horse Casino through SIGA, as well as Co-op,” said Gilroyed.

Wanted: Whole items or bits & pieces, watc As the event wrapped up, he said there are necklaces, chains, ways to deal with anxiety. bracelets etc, sterling sil dust, “ThereJewelers/Miner’s are strategies andgold there are nuggets, different wafer ways in bars, whichingots we can & better dental manage gold. it,” said Gilroyed. “Maybe it’ is’s manageable to the TURN IN YOUR CUPBOARDS, D point where it’s WHAT’S undetectable.”

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Thursday, May 15, 2025

MERIDIAN SOURCE

15

LPSD pursues athletes with new school DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER

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The Lloydminster Public School Division (LPSD) strives to recruit elite student-athletes with the May 5 launch of The Pursuit School of Sport.

The new school is located at the old Avery School on 48 Ave. Principal Doug Smith said the school offers athletes a flexible schedule. Programming runs Monday through Thursday to help athletes focus on sports and schoolwork. However, the school is focused on elite or near-elite athletes from grades 6 to 12.

“It’s an incredible opportunity that allows flexibility,” said Smith. “Our athletes will be able to, number one, compete and not miss academics.”

He said some students will also get the chance to go home early as well as come in early. They have taken the word “no” out of the vocabulary when it comes to working with student schedules.

“We pride ourselves on flexibility,” said Smith.

“Whatever the student needs, it will dictate their schedule.”

The school serves kids in dance, gymnastics, hockey and various other sports. Additionally, the staff, who have strong sports backgrounds them-

Source shines with string of provincial awards

Adobe Stock Photo MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

..................................

The Meridian Source is still celebrating after shining at the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association’s (SWNA) awards.

The SWNA’s annual Better Newspaper Competition, held virtually on May 8, saw the Source pick up hardware in various categories.

Most notably, graphic designer Brent Michalenko was a three-peat winner in the Best Advertisement category. Michalenko won first, second and third for ads he designed for the Meridian Source throughout 2024.

Designer Yujin Chae also won the top prize in the Best Series of Advertisements category for her Source it! house ad.

Editor Taylor Weaver took home second place in the Best Sports Story category for his story about the Lakeland College Rustlers women’s basketball team, “Rustlers win national gold at home.”

Weaver also took second place for Best News Story of the Year for his coverage on the firing of former Rustlers’ women’s basketball coach Chris King.

In the photography categories, Weaver took third for Best Wildlife Photo and third for Photographer of the Year.

In the general excellence categories, the Source won third for Best Editorial Page for newspapers with a circulation over 6,500.

As a locally-owned and operated newspaper, everyone at the Source wishes to thank the community for the continued support.

selves, understand students can be very busy.

“The staff here totally understand what these kids and families need academically, and timewise,” Smith said. “Our gymnastics kids and dance kids are six days a week, sometimes seven days a week.”

Smith said he could also see the school help students balance training and schoolwork. They have already recruited more than 20 sports partners.

“There’s so much interest,” said Smith. “They see a huge benefit for athletes and programs.”

The school has plenty of room in the building to grow in the future and Smith hopes they will maximize the space over time. The school charges a fee to cover clothing, sports psychologists and NCAA recruiters.

Smith said the school would also offer students peace of mind and a family feel.

“We’re gonna help you with the academics and figure the rest out,” said Smith.

“We’re gonna be a smaller school, a real family culture.”

Information about the school can be found on the LPSD website dedicated to the school.

Dan Gray MERIDIAN SOURCE

16

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Thursday, May 15, 2025

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thank You To Our Sponsors

Together We Raised

$417,893

Mikey Dubz & Heather Muller

To Our Silent Auction Donors BECAUSE OF YOU, OUR AMAZING COMMUNITY, WE CONTINUE TO ENHANCE HEALTHCARE TOGETHER.

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Mach 1 Diesel Repair Chopsticks (Legion) Marianne Stelmaschuk CJ Jansen Van Vuuren Prof. Corp.

Tooth Suite Dentistry College Park Dental Mark's Revitalizing Therapy Corner Boutique May Cinema 6 Daysville Designs Medicare Lloydminster Dermae Skin Laser Clinic Michelle Lake East Market Noodlehouse Mr. Bills Everything Tastes Better Homemade Munro Family Exhaust Masters Original Joe's Flavours and Rolls Pet Pad Inc. Garth Rowswell, MLA Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright Pet Planet Prairie Lily Coffee Great Canadian Oil Change Roberge Trucking Herle's Truck & Auto Rolling Green Fairways Just For You Day Spa Safeway Ladybug Scrapbook Sellers RV Lakeside Pharmacy Servus Credit Union Live 2 Thrive Pilates Silver Mannequin Lloydminster Animal Hospital

Sobeys Spiro's Sprucewood Pharmacy & Homecare Swift Oilfield The Cheesiry The Flour Garden The Proper The Village Eyecare Three Trees Tap & Kitchen Tranont Health and Wellness Transition Health and Wellness Travelodge and Longbranch Steakhouse Untangled Inc. V2 Concepts VeeTee Feeders Violet Eyes Optometry Vivid Hair & Esthetics Wayside Dental Centre Western Financial Group Wickham Nurseryland Willow Creek Clothing and Collectibles Windsor Plywood

And To All Our Volunteers and Attendees

17

United Church of Canada Centennial Celebration – Let the Bells Ring Out!

18

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, May 15, 2025

ALICE ROBINSON

SPECIAL TO THE SOURCE

..................................

The Grace United Church (GUC) Centennial Committee is thrilled to announce the carillon bells that have been out of order for many years have been repaired and will start bringing the delicate sound of invitation and welcome to church services on Sunday mornings. The bells will ring for 20 to 30 minutes before the start of services at 10 a.m.

The first bells were originally donated and dedicated to GUC in January 1956 by Annie Carter & family and Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Boyd in memory of Flight Sgt. Lorne Graham Boyd, Robert William Carter and Mr. and Mrs. James Hetherington.

The article below, taken from the Lloydminster Times, was published in April 1956, and explains the history and what the bells represent.

“The Whys and Wherefores of the United Church Carillon Bells” “ The tone and volume equivalent of forty tons of cast bells has been heard across Lloydminster at short intervals during the past nine months. There is still speculation in some minds as to the exact methods used in what has sincerely hoped to have been ‘a concord of sweet sounds,’ as well as some incentive to introspection and following inspiration: and be it said at the outset, therefore, that the object has not been merely to titillate one’s musical perception. These broadcasts have come via the four large speakers atop the tower of Grace United Church.

“Forty tons! But thanks to specially designed electronic equipment, fully comparable tone and volume results can now be obtained from the 430 pounds of equipment which also comprises the 25-bell metal generators struck by metal hammers. The almost inaudible bell vibrations are then amplified to produce true bell music with all the depth and richness of traditional cast bells of massive proportions.

“Selector switches permit the bells to heard within the church alone, from the church tower or from both together.

“The Carillon Bells are a memorial gift to the church. They can be said to bring benefit by widening church awareness; inspire new character in many; stir daily religious thoughts; increase attendance, comfort the sick and shut-ins; create a cultural atmosphere.

“With this short outline and clarification, the contributor closes with some words of Tennyson: ‘Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land! Ring in the Christ that is to be!’”

An updated version of the carillon bells was donated in 1983 by Amy G. Stevens in memory of Henry John Stevens. These are the bells that you hear today – we are so happy that we can have the bells sound the invitation and welcome to services again – although they may compete a bit with the cheerful sounds of the birds nesting in the spaces on the south wall.

Everyone is welcome to join us as we recognize the 100 years since the United Church of Canada at the centennial church service on June 1 at 10 a.m. at Grace United Church.

The original Grace United Church in Lloydminster. Photo courtesy Grace United Church

Celebrating 100 years of the United Church of Canada: Daring Justice ALICE ROBINSON SPECIAL TO THE SOURCE

..................................

ROUND UP FOR

MENTAL HEALTH JOIN THE CAUSE, SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES! Nutters is proud to be partnering with the CMHA again this year for our annual Round Up for Mental Health! Throughout the month of May, you can choose to round up your purchase to the nearest dollar (or more, if you wish!) and your donated dollars and cents will help fund local supports offered by the Canadian Mental Health Association in our Nutters communities.

As mentioned in our last submission, there are three broad UCC defining characteristics, deep spirituality, bold discipleship and daring justice. Some highlights showing how the church lives these concepts will follow in three parts. (Definitions and comments in quotations taken from articles published by United Church News).

Daring justice is defined as: What shapes our world. When we respond to the world in faith, not out of fear.

But how do we translate these fine-sounding words into practical actions?

Below is information from the United Church News.

“As a church, we are committed to living out our faith by working towards a more just and equitable world. This means addressing historical and ongoing injustices, both within our own institution and in society at large … reaffirming our dedication to social, economic and ecological justice … striving to be a truly inclusive and anti-racist community. Since at least 1979, United Church congregations have welcomed refugees from conflict zones to help them establish a new life here.

Recently, many congregations have

been supporting Ukrainian families seeking safety from the battleground their homeland has become.

The church continues to prioritize the sponsorship of vulnerable groups, such as LGBTQIA+ refugees.”

United for Peace Campaign is launched in 2007 with a focus on education, advocacy and peace-building initiatives in Israel and Palestine, as well as supporting peace projects proposed by the church’s partners in Canada and around the world.

Grace United Church is an affirming church and as such we work collaboratively with marginalized and vulnerable groups to fully live out our faith in God’s love. We welcome people from the 2SLGBTQ+ community and offer opportunities for awareness and learning, providing a safe place for worship.

The United Church of Canada (UCC) will be celebrating its centennial anniversary on June 10. Grace United Church in Lloydminster marks this special event over two days – a family fun fest/church picnic on Saturday May 31 at Weaver Heritage Park. Welcome to one and all. This will be followed by a centennial church service on Sunday, June 1.

Submitted by Alice Robinson, chair of the GUC Centennial Planning Committee.

PAGE 19 Thursday, May 15, 2025 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Sports

Tripp to Prince Albert in store for talented Fischer JOHN MacNEIL SPORTS EDITOR

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Tripp Fischer not only has a noteworthy hockey name, but size, skill and smarts that stand out, too.

The Prince Albert Raiders selected the wellrounded centre from Lloydminster in the third round of the Western Hockey League prospects draft May 8, a week after his 15th birthday.

Fischer was chosen 52nd overall and led a strong contingent of Lloydminster players picked in the early rounds of this year’s draft.

In March, he captained Delta (B.C.) Hockey Academy to the U15 prep Division 1 Western championship in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.

He’s returning home this coming season to play with the U18 AAA Lloydminster Lancers in the Alberta Elite Hockey League, before hopefully making the jump to the WHL at age 16 about three hours up the road in Prince Albert.

“Their team is going to be pretty good down the road,” Fischer said of the Raiders. “They’ve had lots of high picks these last few drafts.”

Watching the live draft proceedings from his home with his mother, Fischer received a congratulatory phone call from Prince Albert general manager Curtis Hunt just a couple of minutes after seeing his name pop up on the screen.

“He just told me that they had picked me and that he really liked the way I play and that he heard from other people that I was a tough guy to play against,” said the solidly built Fischer, five-foot-11 and 175 pounds.

“It felt pretty good.”

It was a range of emotions for Fischer, who was considered a first-round candidate in some predraft rankings.

‘NERVOUS AND EXCITED’ The opening round was conducted on the evening of May 7 as Fischer and his father Cole — a Memorial Cup champion during his WHL career — returned from a Philadelphia trip where Tripp and other top prospects had participated in an international tournament.

“We just got back from Philly last night, so we

Tripp Fischer, a 15-year-old forward from Lloydminster, went to the Prince Albert Raiders in the third round of the WHL prospects draft (52nd overall) on May 8.

John MacNeil Meridian Source

were driving for a little bit, and then once I got home here, we were sitting around and watching,” said Fischer, knowing he had a shot at a first-round selection.

“I was nervous and excited, and then I was a little let down after last night, but then I was relieved after this morning.”

Now, he’s part of a storied Prince Albert franchise that counts the likes of Mike Modano and Leon Draisaitl among its notable alumni.

Fischer has had no shortage of hockey role models, beginning with his father, a defenceman who

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made three appearances in the Memorial Cup championship and won the CHL title in 2002 as part of the Kootenay Ice. The older Fischer, who’s also an Allan Cup national senior champion with the Lloydminster Border Kings, went on to coach junior A and minor hockey teams for years.

Tripp attributes his father’s coaching and guidance for developing him into a two-way player who can provide that complementary blend of offence and physicality.

“It’s a little bit of both,” he said of his playing style. “A lot of guys don’t do it anymore. It’s a twoway style of play and it’s why, I think, the Raiders picked me.

“I take pride in playing both ends of the ice. I create turnovers really well and I can put the puck in the net, too. I probably got (that persistence) from my dad. He was a pretty tough guy. Dad really pushed me to be a complete player. Ever since I started, he wanted me to play the full end of the ice and do everything.”

Tripp Fischer also has deep hockey lineage on his mother Jill’s side of the family. Her first cousin is Montreal Canadiens veteran forward Brendan Gallagher, the captain of the Vancouver Giants during his WHL days. Gallagher’s father Ian is the president of Delta Hockey Academy, which made young Tripp feel that much more comfortable playing in British Columbia the past year.

While it was a big move at the time, Fischer shook off any early homesickness and proceeded to score 29 goals and 56 points in 35 games in the CSSHL. He kept it up in the playoffs to lead Delta to gold. Scouts took note that he stepped up when the stakes were highest, firing five goals and nine points in six games at Westerns.

“I’ve always kind of been like that,” said Fischer, previously part of the Lloydminster Athletics prep program. “I’ve always played better in bigger games and against better teams.”

He takes a page from Edmonton Oilers forward Connor Brown’s playbook.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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SPORTS

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Spokane scores versatile Sunderland JOHN MacNEIL SPORTS EDITOR

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Brody Sunderland, a forward from Kitscoty, was drafted to the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs after a strong playoff performance with the U15 AAA St. Albert Raiders Sabres.

John MacNeil Meridian Source

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Grade 9 leadership class never seemed as fun as it was May 8 for Brody Sunderland, a student at Kitscoty High School.

It was his WHL draft day, of course, and the emerging six-foot-two forward from the U15 AAA St. Albert Raiders Sabres got to share the moment back in his hometown with his childhood buddies from Kitscoty.

“Yeah, my parents wanted me to go to school,” Sunderland said with a chuckle. “I ended up getting notice of the draft while in class, so it was pretty cool with my friends.

“I asked my teachers if I could have my Chromebook out during all the classes, just in case. They let me, so I was just following the draft, and I had an assignment on my desk.”

Sunderland now has a special hockey assignment to add to his to-do list. The Spokane Chiefs selected him in the fourth round with the 75th overall pick in the two-day WHL prospects draft.

“I was the first guy to see my name pop up,” he said. “I looked at my friends and they kind of knew what happened.

“It was, like, ‘Yeah, where did you go?’ I’m, like, ‘Spokane.’ It was just a really great moment with all my friends.

“When some of my other friends from different classes found out, they came over and congratulated me. It was pretty loud.”

Sunderland might not be the loudest guy off the ice, but he made his presence felt on the ice this past winter as he overcame injuries, weathered a growth spurt and flourished with the Raiders, providing clutch playoff performances as they earned bronze in the Alberta U15 AAA championship.

He spent the hockey season living in St. Albert, making the move with his mom, Sara, after receiving an invitation from the Raiders organization.

Now, he’s “leaning toward” playing back home this coming season with the U18 AAA Lloydminster Lancers, who have already attracted multiple local players from the 2025 draft class to return to the area and suit up with their hometown team.

One of those is Josh Frazer, a forward from Lloyd who was also drafted to Spokane, just two rounds after Sunderland’s selection. Frazer, fresh off a strong season with the OHA Edmonton prep program, went to the Chiefs in the sixth round, 135th overall.

“The last couple of years, we’ve played in lots of tournaments together and we’ve been on planes together, so it’s just really cool that we could be on the same (WHL) team for camps and maybe in the future,” Sunderland said of his familiarity with Frazer.

They weren’t far away from each

other this winter in the Edmonton area, with Frazer part of the Devonbased OHA program and Sunderland playing in St. Albert.

“It was pretty crazy,” Sunderland said of residing in the Edmonton suburb. “Just out of nowhere, I got the invitation to the team to go try out. It all happened so fast.

“It’s similar to the feel of Kitscoty, though. St. Albert is kind of a smaller city, so it was nice. It was a good adjustment.”

The smooth-skating Sunderland made big strides as he scored 18 goals and 37 points in 34 regular-season games and added 10 points in nine playoff games.

“I feel like I had a really strong year up in St. Albert,” he said. “I really progressed throughout the season and I think that’s what got me drafted.

“I definitely turned it up for playoffs and provincials. I had an injury at the start of the year, but … I overcame it pretty early and I started getting better every single day.”

That progression wasn’t lost on Spokane scouts. They kept a close eye on Sunderland all season and recognized how effective he was, especially down the stretch in meaningful games.

“We loved Brody’s season,” said George Ross, the Chiefs’ director of player personnel. “We thought he got better and better each time we watched him play this season, which we felt was important to us.

“We see a big, athletic, speedy and powerful forward that has some scoring ability, some play-making ability, and really brings an element of power and toughness with heart and skill. We think he’s got quite a bit of untapped potential and upside for his game to grow these next few years.”

Ross was interviewed from Medicine Hat, where the Chiefs and Tigers opened the WHL final just one day after the draft.

In speaking with the well-spoken Sunderland before and after the draft, the Chiefs sensed his character traits, which were a decisive factor in drafting him.

“It’s not hard to tell he’s a very grounded individual from a strong family,” said Ross, projecting Sunderland as one of those prospects “you can win with down the line.”

In the past year and a half, Sunderland has grown almost 10 inches.

He’s now six-foot-two and about 150 pounds.

“I need to fill out my frame still,” he said. “But, growing to six-two from five-10 at the start of the year, I’ve definitely been able to use my body a lot more during the season. It’s given me an advantage on the ice.”

Sunderland, who doesn’t turn 15 until June, likens his game to that of St. Louis Blues forward Dylan Holloway, formerly of the Edmonton Oilers.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

SPORTS

Thursday, May 15, 2025

MERIDIAN SOURCE

21

Chiefs select ‘speedy, tenacious’ Frazer JOHN MacNEIL SPORTS EDITOR

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Josh Frazer woke up, took a shower, brushed his teeth and settled in with his OHA Edmonton buddies to watch Day 2 of the Western Hockey League prospects draft.

Midway through the televised proceedings May 8, the 15-year-old forward from Lloydminster saw his name on the draft board as the Spokane Chiefs selected him in the sixth round, 135th overall.

“Oh, I was pretty excited, especially that Spokane chose me,” Frazer said a couple of hours later. “They have a pretty good program and a pretty nice rink.

I heard people love playing there and it’s just a nice city, too.”

Frazer is an electrifying talent who scored more than a point per game this past season with OHA’s U15 prep team in Edmonton. With his relentless and determined style of play, he collected 17 goals and 38 points in 35 games in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.

Frazer’s energy is through the roof, especially considering he measures in at about five-foot-nine and 140 pounds. His sister Abby, 17, is a competitive gymnast.

“Yeah, that’s a good way to put it — Josh is a speedy, tenacious winger that gets in hard on the forecheck, is real good around the net and plays a detailed 200-foot game,” said George Ross, the Chiefs’ director of player personnel.

“And that can be tougher to find for skilled players at this age. A lot of them want to just play an offensive game over time, but Josh brings a real strong, detailed defensive game, which is what we’re looking for.”

Frazer credits his father Vince for instilling in him that any job worth doing is a job worth doing well. Even if that meant a few stray pucks, or the odd broken window, when shooting in their backyard, which doubled as a rink during Frazer’s formative years.

“It definitely came a lot from my dad,” Frazer said of his high compete level on the ice. “He just pushes me hard to do a lot of things. Like, if I don’t want to do things or I’m not going to do something 100 per cent, then I shouldn’t do it at all. He’d just make sure I work hard all the time.”

The Chiefs, now immersed in the WHL championship series against the Medicine Hat Tigers, took time out from their playoff run to choose two Lloydminster-area forwards. Brody Sunderland, the Kitscoty kid who played U15 AAA with St. Albert this winter, was selected in the fourth round, 75th overall.

Frazer and Sunderland know each other well and have been teammates in previous years with prep programs like the Lloydminster Athletics and Wave Hockey Academy, along with travel teams for spring/summer hockey.

“It’s definitely good for me that we’re going to the same team,” Frazer said.

“Brody is somebody that I know and that I’ve played with. We get along really well. It’s really good for both of us to have someone there that we know and can count on to not only be a good friend, but to be a good hockey player, too.”

It’s possible they might be teammates again as early as this coming season with the U18 AAA Lloydminster Lancers. Fraser plans to join the Lancers and Sunderland is considering playing with Lloyd as well.

Earlier last week, they were named as top-80 finalists for the Alberta U16 team, along with fellow Lloydminster forwards Tripp Fischer of Delta Hockey Academy and Kael Scott of OHA Edmonton. Fischer (52nd overall) and Scott (64th) were drafted by the Prince Albert Raiders and Calgary Hitmen, respectively, in the third round. Both are committed to the Lancers for the 2025-26 season.

REGIONAL CONNECTIONS The WHL draft’s first-round selections on May 7 included Consort native Will Kelts, the Northern Alberta Xtreme defenceman whom the Kelowna Rockets netted 20th overall. In the second round, the Prince George Cougars chose Macklin blue-liner Anderson Reschny (OHA Edmonton) 40th overall.

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After scoring more than a point per game with OHA Edmonton’s U15 prep team this seaon, 15-year-old forward Josh Frazer of Lloydminster was drafted to the Spokane Chiefs in the sixth round of the WHL prospects draft May 8. John MacNeil Meridian Source

A day after the draft, Frazer moved back home and transferred to Lloydminster Comprehensive High School this week. While in Edmonton for most of this school year, he billeted with teammate Liam McFadden’s family. Also residing with them was goaltender Gavin Steeves, who previously billeted with Frazer’s family while playing with the Athletics.

McFadden, a defenceman, went to Lethbridge Hurricanes in third round, 54th overall. He was among six players from OHA Edmonton’s U15 prep team drafted this year.

Frazer believes the prep program in the capital city set him up well in his draft year, on and off the ice.

“I think it helped quite a bit,” he said. “Because, obviously, the U15 AAA Lloyd team struggled a bit this year. I think OHA has a lot of connections.

“Living away from home, it made me realize what I have to do to grow up and stuff like that,” he said. “My dad said I matured a little bit more. He could definitely tell.”

LIKE OILERS’ HYMAN Coaches and scouts could tell how much Frazer improved as a player deemed worthy of WHL draft selection.

He has successfully tried to play like Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman, who also happens to wear Frazer’s traditional jersey No. 18.

“I think maybe Hyman would be a good comparison,” Frazer said. “He gets to the dirty areas of the ice, he can score a lot of goals and just works hard overall.

“I usually wear No. 18, too, so I definitely watched him and studied him a little bit more than a lot of the other players.

“I think I’m a 200-foot player, I get in the dirty areas a lot of the time, I can play physically, and I can put the puck in the net when I need to.”

All those attributes made Frazer an attractive pick for Spokane, regardless of his physical stature.

“Size is something that’s not as important to us as other elements that we look for, whether it be speed, hockey sense, skill and compete level,” Ross said.

“We feel Josh checks a lot of those boxes. If he were six-two, obviously that would be great, but we feel that he doesn’t need to be the biggest player on the ice to make the biggest impact.

“We felt that’s what he was able to do, a lot of the nights, just watching him this year.”

Chris King, the new coach of the Lancers, had a similar reaction after scouting Frazer during the U18 team’s identification camp on the first weekend of May. He gave him high praise for his compete level all weekend.

Frazer gave a modest account of his performance at the Lancers’ 110-man CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 camp.

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SPORTS

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Tripp’s hockey journey includes Team Alberta

FISCHER FROM PAGE 19

“He’s a guy that always plays better in the playoffs and he always works his ass off,” said Fischer, who has become an Oilers fan.

“I was a Habs fan growing up, because my cousin Brendan Gallagher is on the Habs, so I was a little bit forced into that. And then, I’ve been an Oilers fan two or three years now.”

Of course, he still cheers for Gallagher, too, and embraces his spunky play.

“Yeah, he’s a tough guy and he’s not that big, either,” Fischer said.

Speaking of family, Fischer is a twin. His sister Sawyer is a competitive softball player in Lloydminster. Her team went all the way to nationals last year.

NAME GAME Tripp doesn’t believe his first name derives from hockey terminology, but more so a TV character from back in the day. “I think mom wanted to do something creative. She pitched a couple of names that dad didn’t like.”

In any event, he agrees his unique name often generates a double take.

“If I order something at Tim Hortons or somewhere, I usually say my name is Cole so that I don’t have to repeat (Tripp) a couple of times,” said Fischer, whose middle name is indeed Cole.

Even some of his friends trip up the spelling of Tripp in text messages.

“I got a couple today that said, ‘Congrats, Trip,’ with one P.”

Lloydminster’s Tripp Fischer (left) captained Delta Hockey Academy to the CSSHL’s U15 prep Western Division 1 championship.

Submitted Photo

This Tripp is on a hockey journey that takes him to the next round of Team Alberta U16 tryouts in July, before August training camps with the Lancers and Raiders.

His father will direct summertime training for Tripp and some of his hockey buddies.

“I think he might help out a little bit, too, behind the scenes (with the Lancers), as their skills coach,” said Tripp, who has been back home since his Delta

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hockey season ended.

On summer weekends, he’ll head to the lake with his family for surf-boating and such fun, but it’s otherwise all business for at least five days a week of training.

“It’s hard on your muscles and stuff, but once you’re done, it actually feels good,” he said about his off-season workouts. “You feel like you’ve accomplished something for the day, rather than just sitting around.”

His recent trip to Philly gave him a glimpse of what he hopes his hockey future entails.

“They had teams from Finland, Czechia, Sweden (and elsewhere), so to play against kids from all over the world was fun and I’d like to keep doing that,” said Fischer, whose elite-prospect club was mostly from Western Canada.

In a trade with the Spokane Chiefs, Prince Albert acquired the draft pick the Raiders used to choose Fischer.

Spokane, which was Cole Fischer’s original WHL team, was one of the many clubs that scouted Tripp closely in major tournaments. In the second round, the Chiefs drafted one of his Delta teammates, defenceman Ryker Doka.

“Tripp is a really solid, 200-foot player who competes hard every shift and really has strong hockey sense,” said George Ross, Spokane’s director of player personnel. “I think he’s got a ton of leadership ability. He’s the kind of player who’s going to wear a letter — I can see — in P.A. sooner rather than later.”

Kitscoty kid rewarded SUNDERLAND FROM PAGE 20

“He might not be the biggest guy, and not resemble my frame too much, but I love the way he plays,” said Sunderland. “He’s a 200-foot guy, he loves to score, he’s a skilled guy and he’s also really fast.”

Team-wise, Sunderland’s NHL favourite remains the Oilers. Nowadays, he’s watching Edmonton in the Stanley Cup playoffs and Spokane in the WHL final.

Still finalizing his plans for next season, Sunderland is considering the U18 AAA Lancers as one of his prime options.

“That’s what I’m leaning toward right now, with all my buddies coming back (to Lloyd).”

He couldn’t participate in the Lancers’ recent identification camp, because of a shoulder injury that shortened his Alberta Cup participation the previous weekend.

Regardless, he was among the 80 players who advanced to the next round of Team Alberta U16 tryouts, with a weeklong camp set for July in Red Deer.

As he rehabs his shoulder, Sunderland can draw on earlier success in recovering from injury. This time last year, he suffered an avulsion fracture in his left hip. His four-month layoff ended just as his St. Albert season began, and he didn’t miss a beat.

He was rewarded on draft day.

“It feels great,” said Sunderland, whose most popular nickname is B-Sunds.

“All the hard work I put in through the years, it’s paying off.

“I had a couple of teams that had a lot more interest in me than other teams, so I was definitely watching their picks a lot more closely than other teams’ choices.”

Spokane acted on its pre-draft interest in Sunderland, who had previous knowledge of the Washington State city.

“I used to have an uncle who lived down there, but he has since moved,” he said. “That was pretty much the only connection I had (with Spokane). He lived pretty close to the rink.”

While living and playing in the Edmonton area this winter, Sunderland attended an NHL game and also watched WHL games involving the Edmonton Oil Kings.

“It was fun to go with my teammates,” he said. “It was a good experience.”

Within a few years, Sunderland hopes to experience WHL action firsthand, wearing a Chiefs jersey.

His athletic family includes older sister Aubree, an elite volleyball player headed to University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, B.C., in two years.

Their older brothers, twins Luke and Owen, are students at University of Alberta, Augustana Campus, in Camrose.

SPORTS

Thursday, May 15, 2025

MERIDIAN SOURCE

23

Bobcats welcome hard-working winger from Halifax JOHN MacNEIL SPORTS EDITOR

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The Lloydminster Bobcats were scouting the mid-season Circle K Classic tournament in Calgary when they circled the name of Halifax McDonald’s forward Luke Dooley.

The junior A Bobcats clearly liked what they saw in the 17-year-old co-captain of the Macs, as the McDonald’s are commonly known in Atlantic Canada.

Dooley, the latest signing of the Alberta Junior Hockey League team, stepped up at the most opportune time during the prestigious Circle K Classic, which for decades was known as the Macs tournament.

“I think I got player of the game that game, so it was a good game for the Bobcats to come watch, for sure,” said Dooley, a key component of the Macs’ back-to-back championships in the Nova Scotia U18 Major Hockey League.

An initial chat with Lloydminster scouting staff intrigued Dooley, who already had some familiarity with Alberta from visiting with his uncles in Sylvan Lake and Medicine Hat. “The Bobcats were really interested with how I played up in Calgary,” he said from his Sackville, N.S., home. “I wanted to play out in Alberta, close to my uncles, and I know that the hockey is really good out there. So, when I got the opportunity, I was ready to pounce on it. “(Moving across Canada), it’s going to be a big change, but I’m ready for the move. I’m really excited.”

The Bobcats sound equally enthused about adding a solid two-way player known for his leadership qualities on and off the ice.

“Our assistant general manager, Andrew Gilbert, dug deep into the portfolio of Luke,” said Bobcats general manager Nigel Dube. “All reports that came back was how great of a person he was, which is a big thing, and how much he cares about the community, which is huge in Lloydminster.

“When you’re a good person like that, it translates directly on the ice, where you have success, which he’s had. And we’d expect him to do the same with the Bobcats.”

Dooley scored 17 goals and 56 points in 37 regular-season games with Halifax during his third and final year in the Nova Scotia U18 major league. He

Halifax McDonald’s U18 major co-captain Luke Dooley (foreground), a 17-year-old forward, has signed with the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL. Submitted photo

shared the Macs’ captaincy with his longtime friend and teammate, defenceman Connor Foston, who was awarded a scholarship at the Circle K Classic.

During the past year, Dooley also played three Maritime Hockey League games as an affiliated player with the junior A Yarmouth Mariners, one of the flagship franchises in Atlantic Canada. The Mariners were also in the hunt for Dooley’s services for the coming year.

“Yeah, they were all over him,” Dube said. “A few different teams were, too. It was … more of a marathon than a sprint to get him here, working with Luke and his family and his adviser as well. A lot of time went into it, but we’re willing to put the work in for those kinds of people, to get them in our organization.

“I know everybody has their learning curve the first year of junior, but he’s dynamic, he’s effective, and I think he’ll be maybe quicker than we expect to contribute offensively. We’re excited about that.

We want to be dynamic and he’s going to bring that edge for us.”

Dooley, who turns 18 in December, described his opportunity in Lloyd as a life and hockey experience that he couldn’t refuse.

“I know they’re getting a new rink,” he said of the Bobcats’ imminent move into the state-of-the-art Cenovus Energy Hub. “They were really pushing that (feature) when they were talking to me.

“I know the city is on the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan — that’s pretty cool — and they

always told me that Lloydminster hockey is the big thing in town. Like, the Bobcats, they’re the thing.

That’s what I like.”

Dooley was volunteering with fellow Macs last week in Halifax on the same day he interviewed with the Meridian Source.

“I like to have a big part in the community, talking to people and being a good role model for kids,” he said. “The Bobcats told me a lot about the volunteering stuff they do and just having a big part in the community. I think that was a big part of why I picked Lloyd.

“I know the hockey in Alberta is the top around Canada, especially out west. It’s really good hockey.

It’s a really cool experience that I’ll have for a lifetime. An opportunity like this doesn’t come every day.”

The five-foot-11, 170-pound left-winger is going to pack his work boots, along with his skates, before making the move to Lloyd.

“A big part of my game is just working hard,” said Dooley, whose parents are both natives of Newfoundland and Labrador and whose sister plays competitive volleyball. “I’m going to work as hard as I can every time I’m on the ice, whether it’s the defensive zone or the offensive zone. I can create offence from working hard below the net and making good passes in front of the net. When I get in tight, I’m able to use my hands to score goals.”

Dooley, who graduates from Millwood High School in June, wasn’t sure whether his exam schedule would allow him to attend the Bobcats’ development camp, set for June 6-8. Either way, he’s gung-ho about coming to Lloyd’s main camp, which begins on Labour Day weekend.

In joining the Bobcats, he follows a Lloyd path taken a decade ago by fellow Nova Scotians like Noah Bauld, Morgan Messenger and Nick Quillan.

Gus El-Tahhan, a forward from New Brunswick, represented the Atlantic region with the latest edition of the Bobcats.

IT’S A BOY Dube and his fiancé Amy celebrated the birth of son Brooks on May 8.

“Maybe (we’ll) keep him away from hockey,” the GM joked about the newest member of the Bobcats’ family.

“I say that now and he’ll be skating next year.”

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MERIDIAN SOURCE

SPORTS

Thursday, May 15, 2025

‘Ah, you love it,’ says rising bull-rider Hillis JOHN MacNEIL SPORTS EDITOR

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Hometown boy Colt Hillis was in the spotlight — and the sunlight — during the ever-popular bullriding competition in the Bordertown high school rodeo on the first weekend of May in Lloydminster.

With temperatures pushing 30 C on Saturday, May 3, it was a long, hot day of waiting for the senior high bull-riders who stepped into the primetime evening show at the Lloyd exhibition grounds.

“Especially at these high school rodeos, you’re waiting all day, and you want to get it out of the way, kind of,” said Hillis, a Grade 12 student at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School. “You’ve got to sit around all day.

“At all those bull-riding events (outside of the school season), it’s just strictly bull-riding, so you just go there and you do your thing.”

The senior bull-riders entertained the Lloyd crowd in the final hour of a 12-hour program Saturday, and they did likewise again Sunday.

A day after his 18th birthday, Hillis was bucked off a testy bull without reaching a requisite eightsecond ride Saturday evening.

“Not good today, but we’ll get ’em tomorrow,” he said. “There’s always tomorrow, and there’s always another rodeo.”

Sunday didn’t go as well as he had hoped, but Hillis planned to bounce right back the following weekend with Bull Riders Canada (BRC) semi-professional events in Cold Lake and Penhold.

The third annual Bordertown high school rodeo added another element for the small number of Lloydminster-area rodeo athletes. They’re used to travelling out of town and long distances to compete within the Saskatchewan High School Rodeo Association, so performing at home was an eventful

Hillmond-area bull-rider Colt Hillis.

John MacNeil MERIDIAN SOURCE

experience on multiple fronts.

“It puts a little bit more pressure on you to do better,” Hillis said. “Everybody knows you and everybody is watching you, and you want to do the best you can.”

These are exciting times for Hillis, who comes from a rodeo family residing near Hillmond and about 15 minutes from Lloyd.

Next school year, he’s off to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to join the Laramie County Community College rodeo team. His brother Gage is in his sophomore year as a student — and bull-rider — at the same National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) school.

Colt Hillis signed with Laramie County shortly before Christmas 2024.

“I went down and toured the school,” he said. “It was cool.

“My brother went there the last two years now,

and he kind of got me in there.”

In college, Hillis plans to study welding and continue his promising bull-riding career.

He has been riding bulls for about four years, after starting out on steers when he was eight years old — a decade ago.

Hillis hopes to finish his final high school season with a bang and qualify for the national championships. The provincial finals are May 22-25 in Maple Creek, Sask.

His spring/summer plans include multiple BRC semi-pro events.

“I might hit a couple of pro rodeos, too,” he said.

“I’ll enter a couple of pro rodeos, now that I’m 18, and we’ll see how that goes.”

Hillis has weathered more than his share of injuries on the rodeo circuit, but he believes it’s all par for the course, especially for bull-riders.

“I had to get my left shoulder redone, so not the riding one,” he said. “I got surgery done there. I broke my arm about four times. Knocked out.

“I haven’t been too bad, but there’s been a couple (of major injuries). Whereas my brother lacerated his pancreas, punctured a lung and broke some ribs.”

But, there’s no quit in cowboys.

“Ah, you love it,” Hillis said of what keeps bullriders coming back for more.

“You always want to do better than the last event.”

Just as he has looked up to his older brother, Hillis has been a role model to his younger sister, Allie. She’s in Grade 7 and competes in junior high rodeo, but she’s currently sidelined with an injury.

“She used to ride a little bit of steers, and she likes barrel racing and goat tying, all that good stuff,” Hillis said.

PROPERTY ASSESSMENT INSPECTIONS The City of Lloydminster is currently conducting property assessment inspections.

Residential property inspections will occur in the Central Business District and East Lloydminster neighbourhoods, north of Highway 16 (44 Street), throughout the summer.

Non-residential property inspections will take place in the Hill Industrial Park area.

For more information, visit Lloydminster.ca/Assessments

SPORTS

Thursday, May 15, 2025

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Bedwell right at home in Lloyd rodeo

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JOHN MacNEIL SPORTS EDITOR

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Used to travelling on the high school rodeo circuit, Heidi Bedwell welcomed an opportunity to compete at home on the May 3-4 weekend in Lloydminster.

“It’s really nice,” Bedwell said on a sunny Saturday during the Bordertown high school rodeo at the Lloyd exhibition grounds.

“I just live 20 minutes away, so I don’t even have to keep my horses here overnight. They can go back home and stay there.

“And with a home crowd, it’s always nice to have friends and family come out to support you.”

A small-but-dedicated parent group organized the Bordertown rodeo — now in its third year — to promote the sport in Lloydminster and try to encourage more local students to participate in the Saskatchewan High School Rodeo Association.

“It’s usually the Lloyd people going south,” said Bedwell, a multi-talented Grade 12 student at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School.

“There’s a few from Lloyd — about five — in events here today. But there’s definitely more people from the south who come up.”

Bedwell, who resides on an acreage in the Streamstown area, was a busy athlete on the weekend as she competed in barrel racing, breakaway roping and pole bending.

“It’s been pretty good,” she said, patting her horse, Red Light. “My horse is solid. She’s always good to me.”

Of course, Bedwell’s athletic achievements go beyond the rodeo circuit.

She helped the Lloyd Comp girls’ rugby team place second in a high school tournament at home, just one day before the Bordertown show.

She’s also a candidate to play with Saskatchewan’s rugby entry in the Canada Summer Games this August in St. John’s, N.L. More accolades came Bedwell’s way this week as the LCHS student was named April’s female athlete of the month in the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association.

As she caps her high school rodeo career, Bedwell reflects on her unique start in the sport.

“Our family kind of got into it a little later,” she said. “My parents didn’t rodeo when they were younger. But my oldest sister (Halle) really wanted to get into it. When I was about five (years old), I was riding horses. Then, in Grade 6, I started high school rodeoing.”

At the senior high school level, she’s been involved in rodeo “a little less” than previously, because she’s heavily committed to rugby, both with the Barons high school team and at the provincial level.

“In grades 10, 11 and 12, I’ve made as many rodeos as I can,” she said. “But rugby is my main sport.”

Bedwell’s rugby schedule often entails weekend events that conflict with rodeos. But she wasn’t about to miss her hometown rodeo, which was wellreceived by local and visiting competitors alike.

“The weather is really nice,” she said. “I think people like Lloyd. It’s a good spot in town. Some of the Saskatoon people who usually have to go south (for school rodeos), they also like having one that’s a bit closer, too.”

Bedwell’s father, Marty, is a co-chair of the Bordertown rodeo, which he reports has grown appreciably in just three years.

“The Lloyd Ex grounds have been absolutely excellent to deal with,” he said. “We have probably the best facilities, right here in Lloydminster, when it comes to all the Saskatchewan rodeo associations.

“We’re just trying to expand the product, which is high school rodeo and rodeo in general, and horsemanship and everything that goes with it.”

One of the primary objectives is to involve more students from Lloydminster and area.

“That’s the goal — to try to get more kids into rodeo,” Marty Bedwell said.

“It’s great camaraderie. You’ve got horsemanship with local people. There are scholarships available for kids that are in high school rodeo.

“It’s just a great event and we’re looking to expand to what we call the north here. Obviously, being in the border city gives us a lot of options with Saskatchewan and Alberta.”

About 150 students participate in junior and senior high school rodeos across Saskatchewan, and many of them were in Lloyd on the weekend.

The summer weather Saturday contrasted with the Bordertown rodeo’s debut in 2023, when three feet of snow threatened the event before it even got off the ground.

“As a committee, we were pretty worried, because we still had snow going about two weeks before the rodeo,” said organizer Mikey Hillis, whose son and daughter compete in high school rodeo. “We weren’t even sure we could get into the arena.

“But it all melted, and it worked out.”

Likewise, this year’s rodeo provided worthy competition and popular entertainment.

“The turnout has been great and the weather has been great,” Hillis said.

“Our third year is going quite a bit smoother.”

Bordertown high school rodeo co-chair Marty Bedwell and his daughter, multi-event competitor Heidi Bedwell, flank her horse, Red Light, on May 3 at the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Grounds.

John MacNeil Meridian Source

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MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, May 15, 2025

SPORTS

‘He’s relentless in all areas’

FRAZER FROM PAGE 21

Josh Frazer.

John MacNeil MERIDIAN SOURCE

“I thought I struggled a little bit,” he said. “I was pretty tired from Alberta Cup (the previous weekend). But I think, overall, I did pretty good.”

Frazer’s eventful off-season continues later this month when he and Mannville defenceman Cobin Garnett, the captain of the U15 AAA Lancers this year, travel to Minnesota to play in an international tournament.

Scott — Frazer’s Lloyd teammate at OHA Edmonton — had a firsthand account of Frazer’s progress this winter.

“He’s relentless in all areas of the ice,” Scott said. “He’s never giving up on a puck. He’s got a wicked shot and he’s a great skater as well.”

Along with Frazer, Scott, McFadden and Reschny, Brayden Tucker (Calgary) and Chayse Fedoriuk (Prince Albert) were drafted from the

same OHA Edmonton team. This is the second consecutive year that Spokane has dipped into the Lloyd region on draft day.

Last year, the Chiefs selected forward Connor Nickle in the 10th round. The Cold Lake product spent the past season with the U18 AAA Lancers.

“His game is taking steps and maturing,” Ross said of Nickle.

“I think he’s doing the right things. We’re looking forward to seeing him back in training camp in the fall and seeing what his game looks like after another productive summer and see how he might fit in with our group, whether that’s (now or) in years to come.”

For a feature on Calgary Hitmen prospect Kael Scott, formerly of Bonnyville and now of Lloydminster, see meridiansource.ca and next week’s edition.

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