Meridian Source - May 22,2025

Thursday, May 22, 2025

What’s inside

MERIDIANSOURCE.CA

VOLUME 7 I ISSUE 48

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

KEY Club kids cook up kindness DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER

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Seniors push for Jubilee

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A letter-writing campaign makes case for a new Jubilee Home.

A decade of putting others first

9

BioClean Disaster Services celebrates 10 years of business.

Let’s play ball

13-14

Twins continue local legacy in NSRBL.

Students from Holy Rosary High School’s KEY Club are giving back to their community by donating soup to The Olive Tree Food Bank.

The group is part of the Kiwanis Educating Youth Club, or KEY Club, a service program that teaches leadership and giving back. On May 14, they brought over two dozen jars of handmade soup to The Olive Tree.

“We brought these soups for people in need,” said Peyton Klarenbach, a Grade 9 student and KEY Club member. “We feel the need to help the community. They need to know there’s always someone there for them.”

The donation helps The Olive Tree food bank serve more people in need.

“It gives them a chance to give back in a way they never thought possible,” said Rebecka Lett, the food bank’s co-ordinator. “The kids have a lot of fun with it.”

The Holy Rosary KEY Club donates soup to The Olive Tree on May 14.

Lett said donations from students make a big difference.

“Without that, we’d have to buy everything,” she said. “Having support like that makes it amazing.”

She said most donations go out the door quickly.

Day Gray Meridian Source

“It’s pretty much within the next day or the next week,” said Lett.

The Kiwanis Club of Lloydminster sponsors the KEY club. It helps students develop leadership skills while making a difference in the community.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Gunshot at substation causes $1.1M damage TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

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Monday’s power outage in Lloydminster is being treated as a criminal investigation after police discovered a gunshot was the cause.

Preliminary investigation estimates $1.1 million in damages and environmental cleanup.

At 4:40 a.m. on May 19, Lloydminster RCMP responded to a report of a power outage. RCMP now confirm it was a firearmsrelated incident.

The investigation determined the ATCO substation, located near 12th St. and 75th Ave., was deliberately targeted.

A firearm was discharged at the facility, intentionally striking

an oil tank. The damage resulted in a significant power outage and the release of about 20,000 litres of oil.

Lloydminster RCMP also stated it’s aware break ins occurred at several locations during the outage. Upon investigation, there is no evidence suggesting the incidents are directly related at this time.

Lloydminster RCMP is treating this incident as a criminal investigation and is seeking the public’s assistance in acquiring dashcam or other video footage that may have captured a suspect, or suspects, in the area.

If you have any information about this incident, please contact the Lloydminster RCMP at 780-808-8300.

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Thursday, May 22, 2025

Lloydminster RCMP reports decrease in files CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER

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The Lloydminster RCMP provided an update to council, highlighting a notable drop in files.

“Last year, we had a decrease in files from 2023, so we actually went from 18,933 to 18,517,” said Insp. Brian Nicholl.

Nicholl says they’re much more proactive, which reduces the file counts. Other file breakdowns were also provided, giving insight into crime in the border city.

Persons crimes saw an increase of one per cent.

Property crime increased five per cent last year.

Total criminal code files decreased in 7 per cent encompassing every criminal file.

Motor vehicle collisions also saw an increase.

“Total motor vehicle collisions have increased 18 per cent,” said Nicholl. “It really depends on our year. If we have a snow year like the year before, it wasn’t too bad for snow. When we have a snow year, there’s a bunch of accidents.”

He said at the end of the year, there were more snow issues leading to more accidents.

Drug files were also down, something Nicholl credits to proactive work.

“We’ve seen a decrease of 17 per cent. Drug files are generally equated to proactive work. Since we have an alert unit, we now have a CRT unit and a STRT unit in our detachment. That’s kind of their mandate,” explained Nicholl.

The Lloydminster detatchment has provincial units working out of it, such as the Crime Response Team (CRT), Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) and Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team (STRT).

Council also received data to show how many

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Insp. Brian Nicholl. Source file photo files each member was taking on.

“In 2024, our criminal code files per regular member was 146 and that’s based on the 58 members. In 2023, based on the 51 members it was 168,” said Nicholl.

Of the 58 that make up a full complement at the detachment, there are 11 hard vacancies, meaning there was no one named for the position and no one in it. There are also five soft vacancies due to a variety of reasons, which may include long-term maternity leave or medical leave.

Even with these vacancies, there’s some good news on the horizon.

“Coming forward, two of our positions have just gone to lateral advertisement through the province.

That closed last Wednesday. There’s seven applicants, for sure, and possibly more by now,” said Nicholl.

Two sergeant positions have also gone to promotions.

Nicholl detailed the No. 1 complaint he hears at community events.

“Traffic is still the No. 1 complaint I get from every community meeting that I’ve ever held in this

community,” he said. “Primarily what we’re seeing when we’re being spoken to is in the residential areas. We’re looking at speed within the residential areas, stop signs, cellphones, failing to stop.

Most recently, there has been some talk about the red lights in the commercial vehicles.”

Community relations continue to be a priority for RCMP. “As far as community relations, we’re incorporating foot patrols this year, more engagement with coffee with the cop, recruiting sessions,” said Nicholl.

Coun. Michael Diachuk asked who is committing crime, whether it is an unhoused issue or not.

“It isn’t all an unhoused issue. Are they an issue?

Yes, right now for an example in May, we’ve had 25 per cent of our calls, roughly, are dealing with unhoused individuals,” said Nicholl.

“The reality is, it isn’t all them (unhoused).”

Coun. David Lopez talked about the response he gets from RCMP after having to call them multiple times.

“I want to say you bring a sense of calm and safety when you do show up. If it’s someone with the unhoused or someone with drug issues or things like that, you don’t make a spectacle or a scene. It’s very calm and collected,” said Lopez.

Lopez also spoke about wanting to see the return of the cops on bikes program.

As conversation around the table continued, Coun. Michele Charles Gustafson took the opportunity to relay a message.

“I’m getting a sense of a general message, if you see something say something. Even if that is to a councillor, but that policing committee can serve a spot where they’re talking to their peers, which then it ripples up,” she said.

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“Kevin was known for his good grades,” said Brown. “He was a reliable source of help for writThe Kitscoty RCMP recently handed out two ten tests.”

The RCMP’s K Division fitness advisor, Kristin $1,000 scholarships to local students.

On May 5, Cooper Saville of Marwayne Jubilee Como, ran the fitness assessment at Kitscoty Jr/Sr School and Sarah Leighton of Kitscoty Jr/Sr High High School.

“The competition was extremely close,” said School received the awards.

Cashscholarship Payouts for Saville earnedBEST the fitness after win- Brown. “One second difference between the first ning a police fitness assessment (PFA) event. and second-place contestants.”

BEST Cash Payouts for The Buffalo Trail Public School Division helped Leighton won the academic award.

BESTthe Customer Service The RCMP named scholarships after Cadet select the academic winner, using Rutherford Kevin Audet, who died during his RCMP training Scholarship guidelines.

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“I am happy his memory Never has allowed twotopromany fees pay.

Brown said the project got strong support from ising students to receive a scholarship,” saidtoConst.

No obligation sell. local residents and businesses.

Daniel Brown.

“The of support we received was almost overwhelmBrown created the honour Audet,and privacy Let scholarship us come to visittoyou in the comfort your home ing,” he said. “I had to turn away offers to inflate a friend, and help local students.

Your satisfaction is #1 “Kevin was our first course senior,” said Brown. the scholarship.”

The County of Vermilion River and community “He was a natural leader.”

Audet had also served in the Canadian Armed partners donated. ATB financial hosted the funds Forces, holding fitness records and winning top and also donated. Brown thanked everyone for their help with the one-time-only scholarship. candidate and shot awards.

DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER

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Thursday, May 22, 2025

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Seniors push to get new Jubilee Home CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER

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A letter-writing campaign is at the forefront of an effort to expand and rebuild the aging Jubilee Home in Lloydminster.

Graham Brown, Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society president, presented to Lloyd council looking to garner support for the campaign. He was accompanied by a large group of seniors that packed council chambers.

At the meeting on May 12, he said they already had 867 letters signed. The plan with the letters, is to take them to the Saskatchewan legislature to draw attention to the issue.

Brown estimates they’ll have more than 1,000 letters signed by the time they take it to the Sask legislature.

The Jubilee Home, was originally constructed in 1985, and Lloydminster has seen some booms in population since then. In 1985, Lloyd had a population of 17,336 and in 2021, the time of the last census, there was a population of 31,582.

With Lloydminster being a border city, many of the residents of Saskatchewan want to stay in the province when they end up in long-term care, etc.

There are only 50 beds currently available in the Jubilee Home.

On the Alberta side, there’s a total of 214 long-term care beds.

When the Saskatchewan government visited previously, they didn’t want to invest in the aging building.

“A year ago, the Saskatchewan health minister came to Lloydminster, and after touring the jubilee home, stated they were not interested in spending any money on that old building,” said Brown.

That sentiment was the catalyst to start the new project.

“So, the replace and expand the Jubilee Home project was born,” said Brown.

Key features of the Jubilee Home replacement include, 20 specialty LTC spaces for patients with complex medical needs, 20 palliative care spaces, 20 respite care spaces, 20 transition spaces for patients moving from hospital to KEY CLUB FROM PAGE 1

“It warms my heart, to see them give back,” said Vera Gallant, a Kiwanis Club member and KEY club liaison. “This is why I love Kiwanis so much. I’m so passionate about it because I see what young people are doing. They are going to be the future of Canada.”

Gallant, said Kiwanis supports students from a young age. She loves helping the kids take part

long-term care and 50 LTC spaces including 25 dementia care spaces.

Brown is on a mission to garner support for the letter-writing campaign to get the new home built.

“We will be asking all mayors, reeves and councils to send a letter to Jeremy Cockrill, Saskatchewan minister of health, with copies going to Jim Reiter, Saskatchewan minister of finance, and Premier Scott Moe,” said Brown.

On top of the letters, petitions are being organized.

“We also will be organizing a number of petitions throughout the region for people to sign,” said Brown.

He hopes to make the home a priority.

“We need to demand that the Saskatchewan government make the Jubilee Home replace and expansion project a provincial priority now,” said Brown.

Coun. Justin Vance asked for some details surrounding the Jubilee Home project.

“Our proposal is for a whole different facility out on a new piece of land,” explained Brown.

Coun. Michele Charles Gustafson sees the potential to garner support from a younger generation.

“I know this is concerned seniors, but there is real potential in activating young people or youth who have parents or grandparents that are either needing the service, will need the service and they’re going to watch their grandparent leave Lloydminster,” she said. “There’s a real opportunity to engage that generation, that age group who will be afraid of those things happening.”

While the location of the new building is something Coun. David Lopez inquired about.

“What we’ve heard, is that there’s a parcel of land across from the front door of the hospital that Cenovus and Colleen Young have had discussions on,” said Brown.

Brown is out in the community getting letters signed and the next major event will be a barbecue on June 12 in front of Jubilee Home.

in the community like this.

“We teach kids service and leadership starting at Grade 1,” she said. “We go right through to college. No other organization does that.”

Holy Rosary is the only school in the city with a KEY Club. Gallant encouraged parents to reach out to the school to get their children involved.

According to Lett, the need for food in Lloyd-

minster is growing fast.

“We’ve hit probably every month with about 60 new clients,” said Lett. “Some months are higher, some are less, but that’s the average.”

The food bank now serves more than 800 people each month.

“It’s not just unhoused people,” said Lett. “It hits families, seniors, single parents, young kids on their own, everybody. It’s hit everyone.”

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MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Painted jersey barriers grace the community garden. Christian Apostolovski MERIDIAN SOURCE

No barriers holding back Mural Fest CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER

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The City of Lloydminster is showing its support for Mural Fest as the event draws near.

The item was brought before council for decision at the May 7 meeting.

The ask was to allocate $7,500 from the public art capital reserve to fund the purchase of six painted concrete barriers for Bud Miller All Seasons Park.

Local artist Brandi Hofer, along with various other artists, will be painting concrete barriers at this year’s Lloyd Ex Fair.

The concrete barriers will be placed around town and find homes through local business sponsorships.

Mayor Gerald Aalbers asked if there has been communications between the art society and the city about promoting where the painted barriers would be displayed.

“For the six that we’re acquiring, our communications and marketing team is currently working on art-walk literature to capture the city-owned public artwork,” said Natalie Clysdale, Lloydminster Museum and Archives manager.

Privately-sponsored barriers from Mural Fest would have their marketing done by those acquiring the other barriers.

TAX ENFORCEMENT LIST

Aalbers hopes the city could still boost the communication of where to find the pieces of art.

“I hope we have the ability to communicate and make sure that if they decide to go online, or we’re online, we can share that information as best as we can to get maximum exposure for the art pieces,” he said.

Council voted in favour of allocating the $7,500 for the purchase of the six barriers.

Source file photo

Downtown Streetfest helps kick off summer

VILLAGE OF WASECA PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN

CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI

Notice is hereby given under The Tax Enforcement Act that unless the arrears and costs appearing opposite the land and title number described in the following list are fully paid before July 22, 2025, an interest based on a tax lien will be registered against the land.

Downtown Streetfest is on the horizon as summer begins to set in in the Border City.

The 14th annual event promises to bring more fun to the downtown area.

“I encourage people to come down, see the local businesses and all the events that are going on,” said Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers.

The event brings food, entertainment and business to downtown.

“We’re excited again that it’s happening, working with the downtown

STAFF WRITER

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Note: A sum for costs in an amount required by subsection 4(3) of The Tax Enforcement Act is included in the amount shown against each parcel.

DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY

Title No.

Total Arrears* Costs

Total Arrears and Costs

LOT 13-BLK/PAR 2-PLAN B3287 EXT 0

158325790

$2,143.07 $434.00

$2,577.07

LOT 14-BLK/PAR 2-PLAN B3287 EXT 0

158325802

LOT 15-BLK/PAR 2-PLAN B3287 EXT 0

158325813

$602.44 $434.00

$1,036.44

LOT 24-BLK/PAR 3-PLAN B3287 EXT 0

144847615

$2,438.30 $490.00

$2,928.30

LOT 6-BLK/PAR 4-PLAN B3287 EXT 0

154550864

$803.45 $490.00

$1,293.45

LOT 7-BLK/PAR 4-PLAN B3287 EXT 0

142124015

LOT 4-BLK/PAR 6-PLAN BL833 EXT 0

151509416

$2,805.07 $490.00

$3,295.07

LOT 5-BLK/PAR 6-PLAN BL833 EXT 0

151509405

BLK/PAR S-PLAN 101758866 EXT 32

140891799

$1,535.47 $490.00

$2,025.47

LOT 4-BLK/PAR 11-PLAN 85B13135 EXT 0

119574276

$1,853.42 $434.00

$2,287.42

BLK/PAR F-PLAN 89B02157 EXT 4

119574399

$1,192.84 $434.00

$1,626.84

* Penalty is calculated to the date of the Notice and will continue to accrue as applicable.

Dated this 16th day of May, 2025 Stephanie Knorr, Administrator

businesses and continue to work the Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan and let people enjoy our community best as they can,” said Aalbers.

Streetfest has something for everyone and will include a farmers market, vendor fair, food fair, car show, art market, busking, kids’ zone, a pancake breakfast and more.

“It’s always a highlight of my summer,” said Aalbers.

The kids street hockey tournament is also back, with registration closing June 1.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 7.

Council prepares tax bylaw

Thursday, May 22, 2025

CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER

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Tax season is nearly upon the residents of Lloydminster, and the mill rate bylaw has been passed.

The city is looking to set its taxation for the upcoming year, and due to various factors the originally proposed tax increase has dropped.

“We went into a budget last fall with about a 4.5 per cent increase to meet the needs of the community based on the budget that we’re operating in today,” said Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers.

“After the assessment process was completed, we saw an increase in the value of assessments.”

The increase in the value of assessments was largely driven by inflation not growth.

“Our growth is quite low in 2024. That growth helps pay for growth and because our growth was low, we didn’t quite pick up those changes we would normally see, offset the mill rate a little,” said Scott Pretty, director of assessment and taxation.

The total taxable assessment for the 2025 tax year is $5.055 billion, which is a 4.87 per cent overall increase from 2024.

Coun. David Lopez says the inflation is a worry for him as they attempt to attract businesses into Lloyd.

“I look at the numbers and it scares me that some company that wants to come in (thinks) they’re going, ‘Well, they’re just growing their tax base through inflation,’ ” said Lopez. “We’re not creating enough industrial properties as well. It just scares me that we could be not attracting some people because of our inflation instead of our growth.”

The increase through inflation is one of the reasons administration was okay with dropping the tax rate from 4.5 per cent to 2.47 per cent.

“It was also one of the reasons why we were, as administration, comfortable recommending a lower tax rate,” said city manager Dion Pollard.

“The growth rate was because of inflation, not because of actual growth. If it was actual growth we would have been okay leaving it at 4.5 per cent.”

He says since the assessment went up due to inflation. They lowered the tax rate to compensate not wanting homeowners to get hit with inflation and a high tax increase.

The education levy is another piece of taxation the city is forced to undertake.

“The education levy is calculated by the province

Stock photo of Alberta. They set a mill rate. They send us a bill and say this is what you have to levy, here’s your residential portion and your non-residential portion,” said Pretty.

The money is collected and distributed to the school boards. On the other hand, Lloydminster’s own seamless education levy dropped 2.46 per cent.

For residential owners in Lloyd, they will see a 3.07 per cent overall increase, including the new infrastructure levy for this year’s taxation.

Next steps item will return May 20 for second and third reading and property taxes are due upon mailing on June 6. July 25 means penalties begin after this date.

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Thursday, May 22, 2025

A look at long-term care placement DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER

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Long-term care has been a hot-button topic in Lloydminster as residents advocate for a replacement to the Jubliee Home.

SHA system flow director Deborah Winge and director of continuing care NW Leonard Wegner answered concerns and explained the LTC process.

“Once they’re in an acute care bed and deemed medically stable, home care generally will get involved,” said Winge, explaining assessors from both provinces co-ordinate from the Lloydminster Hospital.

“

We do not treat Saskatchewan or Alberta residents any differently.

Your postal code, your actual physical address ... does not come into play as far as waitlisting or placement.

“They would determine, after some discussions with physicians, the client and potentially family members, which direction they would go.”

Depending on the individual’s needs, this may mean home care support, supportive living, or LTC. Assessors complete an evaluation when LTC becomes necessary. The evaluation is then sent to the Systems Flow teams in both provinces.

“That assessment is then screened using a list of designated definitions,” said Winge. “They’re looking for their care needs ... then determining whether or not they qualify.”

Two key factors for matching qualified individuals with beds in the community are the individuals’ care needs and the date they qualified.

“Bed matching occurs utilizing that specific waitlist and that date,” explained Winge. “But we also have to bed match in the sense of what their care needs are.”

For example, smaller facilities may not be able to support an individual who needs dialysis and specialized lifts.

Meanwhile, facility capabilities and availability are also factors in the placement process.

According to Winge, seven people were in Lloydminster’s acute care beds awaiting LTC as of May 8.

“Of those seven, two files have gone out to specific facilities for review and potential admission,” said Winge.

That number does fluctuate from day to day and week to week.

Cross-border movement is a pressing concern in Lloydminster. Some residents end up in homes outside of the city or the province in

Stock photo which they reside.

“We do not treat Saskatchewan or Alberta residents any differently,” she said. “Your postal code, your actual physical address ... does not come into play as far as waitlisting or placement.”

When looking for LTC, people provide a list of three preferred homes to SHA representatives.

“We definitely try to utilize those second and third choices for the first available bed when it is required,” Winge added.

However, preferences for larger centres like Lloydminster or Battleford create bottlenecks.

“Those are where the biggest challenges are,” said Winge. “If people are only going to give us the facilities that are in that one city, we are asking them for alternate choices.”

Some residents have ended up in places like Loon Lake, despite choosing Lloydminster facilities. This happens when demand for certain homes exceeds supply.

“If you choose LCC (Lloydminster Continuing Care) as your first choice ... the length of time to get in there is going to be longer,” said Wegner.

SHA sometimes uses the “first available bed” policy to prevent acute care bed backlogs.

“Once someone is in a first available bed, they remain on the wait list still with that initial date qualified,” said Winge. They then continue waiting for a bed at one of their chosen homes.

She emphasized this is necessary to free up acute care beds. “Having those people waiting in an acute care bed affects their capacity and ability to manage acute care patients,” she said.

Residents have concerns people are going to homes further away than necessary.

“Our current distance max for us would be 150 kilometres. We will not move people more than 150 kilometres away from their designated site of what is designated as home location.”

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Being on the border, provincial residents ending up in the opposite province is a growing concern.

“We don’t really see Saskatchewan residents getting placed on the Alberta side,” said Winge. “We do see some Alberta residents going into the first available bed on the Saskatchewan side just based on bed availability.”

Misinterpretation happens sometimes with these cases, according to Wegner. “When people move into Lloydminster from Saskatchewan into a personal home, they a lot of times move into ... the Alberta side of Lloydminster,” he said.

“So, they may have been Saskatchewan residents all their lives, but they’re based out of Alberta now.”

Residency also affects funding and system access.

“If you move to Alberta, if you take a placement in Alberta, after three months, you do need to become an Alberta resident,” explained Wegner.

“If you are an Alberta resident and choose to come to Saskatchewan ... you don’t have to become a Saskatchewan resident.”

In Saskatchewan, a temporary health card allows placement and assessment without permanent residency status, helping maintain continuity of care.

Winge said she has spoken with many Lloydminster families.

“Generally, I find they want someone to listen and they’re seeking information,” she said.

The SHA says it faces the same LTC pressures throughout the north. Lloydminster is not unique.

“Your placement is based on need, availability and timing, not your address,” said Winge.

The message from SHA is clear: LTC placement is a structured process that prioritizes fairness, need and timely support.

For families concerned about timelines, the best path is to stay informed, keep flexible options open, and understand the system’s demands.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Pecha Kucha provides youth a platform

Students spoke up in a big way at Lloydminster’s Pecha Kucha Night.

Courtesy Lloydminster Catholic School Division DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER

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Brave young voices filled the Vic Juba Community Theatre on May 15 for Pecha Kucha Night.

Holy Rosary and Lloydminster Comprehensive High School (LCHS) students spent three months preparing for the event and each delivered fastpaced six-minute speeches on one topic.

Pecha Kucha is a Japanese phrase that means chit-chat or the sound of conversation.

Victoria Oldershaw, a teacher at Lloyd Comp, said the event helps students grow.

She shared what she tells students when head-

ing into the competition.

“This is scary, and they can do it. Most adults can’t even do this,” she said. “The skills they’re gaining now will make them much stronger for their future.”

She works with students and teaches English literature and ESL and said the night helps the community see youth in a new way.

“This is a moment where our students get to share their voice, often in a world where they’re not always seen in the most positive light,” she said.

Holy Rosary student Christina Smiley opened

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the event with a speech on the five stages of public-speaking.

“It’s all always rewarding,” she said. “There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Smiley said her biggest challenge was procrastinating. Now, however, she says she loves the speech she created.

“I love it so much,” she said. “Just go in and put yourself out there. Even if you’re scared, give it your best, you can do it.”

She hopes it inspires students who are unsure about the process.

“If you’re scared out of your mind, fake it,” she said. “You’re already up there with a microphone and standing before an audience.”

Raneil DeLecruz, a Grade 11 student from LCHS, spoke about facing life’s hardships.

“No matter how difficult or how treacherous life may seem at times, life can also be very beautiful in the end,” he said.

His biggest hurdle was opening up.

“Definitely being able to just open up and be honest with myself,” said DeLecruz, noting he hopes to connect with others through the shared experience.

“I hope there’s a group out there that can maybe relate,” he said. “Maybe that’ll inspire them to be better.”

Oldershaw encourages young students to participate in future years and hopes the crowd left feeling inspired.

“We can take you, and we will train you up. By the end, you feel confident,” she said, hoping students inspired the crowd.

“You’d be amazed at what our youth have to say.”

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MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, May 22, 2025

To the sky: honouring a fallen friend

Garth George poses with his brand new freshly-decalled 502XP Air Tractor at the Lloydminster Municipal Airport, ahead of Bradley Airspray Ltd’s June 18 grand opening.

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

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Bradley Wright was a pilot, aviation mechanic and flying farmer with a dream of operating a cropdusting business. The beloved husband, father, son, brother and uncle passed on Aug. 21, 2024, doing what he loved, flying planes.

In honour of his long time friend and business partner, Marwayne-area farmer and pilot Garth George turned Wright’s dream into a reality with Bradley Airspray Ltd. Based out of the Lloydminster Municipal Airport, Bradley Airspray is excited to open the doors and welcome the community to the official grand opening.

“We’re an aerial application service providing for Lloydminster, Wainright, Vermilion and the Maidstone area,” said George, who owns and operates the

business with his wife, Courtney. “Courtney’s other job is with AgTek 360, which is full application and fertilizer.”

“We do full things, too, but that aspect of AgTek 360 fits really well with Bradley Air because we can put our products through the airplane,” added Courtney, who’s also an agronomist.

As a farmer, George, who’s been flying for most of his life, explained he saw a need for aerial application in the field due to things like wheel tracks.

“My friend Brad Wright started the business. It kept growing, which is when he came to me and said, ‘You need to start flying.’ I started flying and it was going really good. Then, we had that unfortunate wreck last year,” he said of Wright’s passing.

After the crash, George kept Wright’s business, Bright Aviation, going to fill the void and keep up with existing clientele.

“Brad’s wife, Chesney, is working with us on Bradley Airspray and supports what we’re doing,” echoed the couple, noting the business is now a fully certified operation.

“Before this, we were what you call ‘flying farmers,’ doing little areas here and there, helping neighbours out,” said George. “Now, we’re fully licensed commercial applicators and can provide service anywhere we’d like through Transport Canada.”

For the Georges, aerial application makes sense for several reasons.

“We have one gentleman in Paradise Valley who explained sprayers are so expensive to buy and maintain, so he likes using us half the time to make his equipment last longer,” said George. “The cost of equipment is one thing, but wheel tracks are another thing to consider. If you’re losing one to two per cent due to wheel tracks, that could be a bushel of canola.

“It’s less intrusive and there’s less tracks. Guys also say their combine heads, which are so big these days, don’t have to adjust when there’s no wheel tracks.

It’s just a smooth field the whole way.”

The couple also noted the warm welcome they received from the City of Lloydminster as a commercial operator at the airport.

“They’ve rolled out the red carpet for us. The city, the mayor, Wade Frasz, the airport manager, they’ve been awesome,” said George. “Starting this would have been tough in a city that was working against you. Everyone’s been great.”

Bradley Airspray’s official public grand opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 18. The Georges ask those planning to attend to text 780-205-7767 ahead of time so they know how much food they need.

“Please come check it out and see what we’re about. Our two other pilots will be here to answer any questions. We want the community to know who we are and what we’re doing,” said George, noting there’s a stigma around yellow airplanes.

“People are scared of the planes and think we’re spraying dangerous chemicals that will hurt them,” he said. “We’re an open door and have invested a lot of time and energy into making sure we have the right tools to do things properly and safely.”

Bradley Airspray’s hangar is located on the northwest corner of the airport.

25054JJ0

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.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

MERIDIAN SOURCE

9

Jody Herbus, centre, was all smiles at BioClean’s 10-year anniversary barbecue with the origanal five, Brendan and Sharon Herbus, Christine Sorenson and Jason Amon.

Taylor Weaver MERIDIAN SOURCE

BioClean celebrates decade of business, giving back TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

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

For Jody Herbus, being a business owner has always been about putting the customer and employees first.

After years as a disaster services subtrader, Herbus, with a little convincing from his wife, Sharon, decided to start his own business, as his morals and values didn’t always align with those he worked for.

“I don’t want to hear about profits all the time. I wanted to make sure workers are taken care of, and I want to make sure customers are taken care of,” said Herbus, noting he didn’t give himself a salary for the first two years in business.

“As a subtrade, I had a small team of three and my specialty was taking on tasks no one else wanted to do. I think I was the first person in Lloydminster properly trained on cleaning up after human remains or anything where there’s a large amount of bodily fluids at a property,” he said.

BioClean Disaster Services was born on May 1, 2015. Herbus had zero equipment. He did, however, have a want to help people in Lloydminster and surrounding area.

“I was originally thinking more specifically of cleaning as there were several other disaster services companies in Lloydminster at the time,” he said. “I didn’t have a mission statement at the time, but I had a different vision.

“The vision was about making sure the customer was taken care of and giving back to the community. So, I took a chance.”

Now, the company employs 20 hard-working, dedicated individuals who share Herbus’ original vision to put the customer and their needs first.

Looking back at a humble beginning, Herbus couldn’t help but thank the countless individuals who helped him get things going from Day One. “Our first day, I got an early call. ‘Jody, there’s a flood in Lloydminster, can you help?’ I didn’t have equipment because I was just getting going, but I had money to buy equipment,” he said. “Then I got another call about a flood in Vermilion. I drove to Edmonton with a trailer and started co-ordinating my crews and told them, ‘I’ll be back from Edmonton with equipment by noon.’ ” In 2019, Herbus “buckled down” with Sharon’s help and came up with a mission statement, which hasn’t changed since 2019.

“The mission is to restore property and provide reassurance using clear, positive communication and customer-focused solutions, helping people get their

lives back,” he said. “We want to drive that last part home. Our mission is to help a client get their life back.”

Hiring the “right staff” has also always been a focus for Herbus.

“If your spirits ever left this building, do us a favour and take your body with it,” said Herbus. “That isn’t my saying, but it’s one I tell everyone on their first day working here.

“Helping someone get their life back starts with us as staff. If we take care of ourselves emotionally and physically, we can do our job to help others.”

BioClean celebrated a decade in business on May 1 with a barbecue. Having started the businesses to give back to the community, proceeds were donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters. According to BioClean’s summer student, Maddie, the barbecue raised $371.

“I think she said $571, there’s $200 missing from that total,” said Herbus, who donated $200.

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

PAGE 10 Thursday, May 22, 2025 MERIDIAN SOURCE

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.

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

Viewpoint I

Letter to the editor ...

am saddened and disappointed in the decision made to shut down our two iconic television stations – CITL and CKSA – in Lloydminster.

Losing 19 local employees is a significant loss to our community. We will miss you.

The two television stations, CITL for 50 years and CKSA for 65 years, and the many broadcasters and employees who have worked there over those years, have continuously sought to bring us all the good, exciting, bad and sad news that is part of what its community members expect and count on.

Many of the surrounding rural communities and homes may only have had one or two channels and relied on these news stations to keep them informed. A number of the local broadcasters started here in Lloydminster, got their feet wet in the industry, developed the skills and abilities to grow and become professionals, and have gone on

Tenants ‘thankful’ for Lloyd firefighters DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER

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

Staff Writer Christian Apostolovski christian@meridiansource.ca

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

to bigger and better opportunities in other major cities.

Sadly, the Stingray Digital Group doesn’t care about rural folks or Western Canada, at all!

This is a federally-regulated industry and they do what they want and when they want. The Stingray Digital Group provided no forewarning or consultation when it came down to what is important and how it should be handled at a provincial or local level.

Over the 39 years I have lived in Lloydminster, and during my time serving on numerous boards, committees, and in my political career, I always appreciated the respect, cordiality and opportunities the local TV and radio folks afforded me in doing interviews with them. Thank you for all the work you did to bring everyday news to the community and surrounding area.

- Colleen L. Young, MLA Lloydminster

An early-evening fire on May 15 has local tenants in the southern part of the city thanking the Lloydminster Fire Department for its response.

“At 3:48 p.m., the Lloydminster Fire Department was dispatched to a reported kitchen fire,” said the City of Lloydminster in a news release.

The fire was isolated to the kitchen due to tenants quickly reporting the fire through a working smoke alarm and activation of 911.

According to tenant Greg Baldwin, the fire had “basically

burned itself out.” He and his wife, Jenny Good, couldn’t say enough good things about the department.

“They told us we were extremely lucky, this is as close as it gets,” said Baldwin. “I’m extremely thankful for their qu ick r esponse a nd a c ti o ns, which helped prevent any further damage.”

The City also stated there were no injuries in the incident and all of the pets in the home were safe and accounted for.

The Lloydminster Fire Department reminds citizens that working smoke alarms save lives.

“Please report any fire or

Supplied photo

smoke as early as possible.

Lastly, call 911 quickly; it allows firefighters to arrive promptly and prevents small fires from becoming destructive,” said the department.

For more information on fire prevention, contact your local fire department.

PAGE 11 Thursday, May 22, 2025 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Opinion

Chris’ A-Z: Hope for the future of Lloyd While this may be hard to believe, I am a fan of the soon-to-open Cenovus Energy Hub and the idea of expanding sports and entertainment in Lloyd.

It’s a truly controversial take in our current climate, I know.

It’s tough to grasp the things we can only imagine, like the benefit of the new arena. We don’t have definitive numbers of how many people will go daily or weekly, or how many events we’ll get.

The assumption is, build it and they will come.

What we can hold onto right now is the funding side of it, something that’s drawn heavy scrutiny. People get a real idea of how much money the city is spending on it and how it’s being paid for, a benefit of an open forum like a regular council meeting.

My excitement in the new arena is the new beginnings it offers the Border City.

I do still have some gripes with some of the proposed ideas, but I trust they’ll

be sorted out in due time.

The new arena offers a new beginning for events and hockey in Lloydminster.

I think the current intangibles will become very real soon enough.

Bigger and better events will be held at the new arena, and Lloydminster will be packed.

Thinking back, even as recently as the Esso Cup, the town was booming.

Parking lots were full and my morning Tims’ runs were slower as the lines were much longer. Packed with competitors and families alike.

I can’t wait to take photos in the new arena. We’re promised a more mediafriendly facility, better lighting and a media booth.

The hope is to develop that area with a hotel and some commercial properties nearby, making it an entertainment district.

The real benefit, for me, is the fact I live about a minute from the property by car.

While it’s appropriate to hold the city accountable for their spending, I think it’s also appropriate to have some faith in a decision made by professionals looking at the bigger picture.

What will come of the new arena? Only time will tell. I am hopeful, and I believe this is a step in the right direction.

Gray Matters: Profits before communities their work and buy from their advertisers.

Let them know their efforts matter. Tell businesses you saw their ad in local media. It may seem small, but every bit helps.

Whether publicly traded or independent, all It’s frustrating when shareholder interests override community needs, especially regarding local news.

In the summer 2023, while on vacation from my job at a community-focused station in North Bay, Ont., I received a 5:30 a.m. email: HR call at 8. Just like that, I was let go. One of over a dozen cuts to local newsrooms, with no warning or explanation.

Driving home from Southern Ontario, I was shocked, angry and disheartened by what’s become a familiar story in Canadian journalism.

The hard truth, media companies are beholden to shareholders. I’ve sat through meetings and emails repeating the same mantra: revenues must rise, or costs must fall. When advertising and sponsorships dip, cuts follow. And now, those cuts have reached Lloydminster.

Stingray Group (TSX: RAY.A), which owns many local news stations, slashed its two local TV operations. Their president cited a 50 per cent decline in local revenue over six years. To preserve the share price, they cut their losses — and in doing so, cut deep into communities they served for decades.

This isn’t unique to Lloydminster. CTV, CBC, and Global have all gutted local newsrooms. In Sault Ste. Marie, I saw what was once a full news team whittled down to two reporters working from home, sending stories hours away just for a shot at airtime.

So, where do we go from here?

Thankfully, not all is lost. Although some individuals think local news is dead, it’s far from it.

We still have outlets like the Weekly Bean, Live With Kurt Price, New Country 95.9, 106.1 The GOAT, and our team at the Meridian Source. If you value local news, support these platforms.

Click their stories, watch their videos, share

media outlets balance revenue and expenses. If we want to keep local journalism alive, we need to show up for it, because when we don’t, we lose more than just jobs. We lose the stories that connect our community.

12

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, May 22, 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

Church Directory GRACE UNITED CHURCH Sunday, May 25 at 10:00am Rev. Cathy Kinsman and Rev. George Mafuleka Nursery and Sunday School

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.

lost loved ones and those struggling with mental health. There is also a fundraising supper and show on May 23. Supper is at 5:30 p.m., the show is at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 and available at Kim’s Service, Brown Bag Liquor Store, Ace Hardware and Grahams Foods. The show features singer, songwriter, recording artist, author and auctioneer extraordinaire Danny Hooper.

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.

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.

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

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.

GOLD

Pub night at the Legacy Centre The Legacy Centre is hosting pub night 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.

Youth Confirmation Sunday!

#GodsHandsAndHeartAlways All Are Welcome!

Unused or unwanted Chains, Rings, Bangles, Coins SENIORS’ SPECIAL 10% more April & May

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Canadian Prairie Pickers Pays Cash!

Bonded since 1967

Doing business in Alberta since 1986

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.

GOLD

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 details.

Unused or unwanted Chains, Rings, Bangles,forCoins Holy Rosary High School Farmers Market Holy Rosary High School isSENIORS’ hosting its 3rd SPECIALParadise Hill Summer Bash featuring annual Farmers Market on May 22 from 3:30-7 p.m.

Jade Eagleson 10% more April Come out and support student entrepreneurs at & May The Paradise Hill Summer Bash returns to the over 2o different booths. The event will also fea- Paradise Hill Arena on Aug. 9 from 5-11 p.m. Supture live enterainment and a supper option. Every- per is from 5-7 p.m. at the Paradise Hill Commuone is welcome, bring a friend! nity Centre before the arena opens at 7 p.m. Drew Coins, Royal CanadianGregory Mint sets plays at 8:15 p.m. and Jade Eagleson plays Canadian 1968 and older 10, 25, 50 & siIver Walk for Mental Health at 9:10 p.m.dollars Tickets are $75.88 or $27.96 for supper St. Walburg’s annual Walk for Mental Tickets at Eventbrite.ca US 1964 and earlierHealth 10, 25, 50 only. & silver dollars is on May 24 at the Catholic Parish Centre. The - Have something you’d like listed in our calendar? walk starts at 10 a.m. and supports the memory of Email it to taylor@meridiansource.ca

SILVER

We come to the privacy of your home, no fees!

call Joy or Ted 825-966-4373 Lloyd Please RCMP responds to weapons call

Canadian Prairie Pickers

a bag, as they were walking near businesses and on the street. Units responded and arrested the Lloydminster RCMP responded to the 5900 suspect,” stated public information officer Cpl. Mathew Howell. business Alberta since 1986 block of 44 St. shortly before on May 15 for in Bonded since 1967 noonDoing “The weapon turned out to be a BB gun. The reports of an individual with a weapon.

“Someone (was) seen matter remains under investigation.”

Police took one person into custody. There was pulling a weapon, possibly a handgun, out of no word on whether charges would be laid.

DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER

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Go to stewartauctions.com for full details.

Don Stewart 780-853-7172 | Hugh Stewart 780-581-8608

Photo courtesy Randy Marsh

PAGE 13 Thursday, May 22, 2025 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Sports

Twins eye big picture as season opens JOHN MacNEIL SPORTS EDITOR

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Although they came out on the short end of the bat in their opening two games, the Lloydminster Twins made gains just the same during Week 1 action in the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League (NSRBL).

In their home-opener May 14, the Twins rallied from an 11-0 deficit and trailed 11-9 in the fifth inning when darkness halted the game prematurely and clinched a victory for the North Battleford Beavers.

Two nights earlier on the road, Lloydminster lost 5-4 to the Unity Cardinals.

“We wanted to come away with a win in one of those two games, but it’s early season and it’s about getting reps and things like that,” said Twins playing coach Trent Kusch. “With only eight teams, everyone makes playoffs. Obviously, you want to win, but I’m not pushing at it. I’m more (concerned with) getting guys out, getting guys reps, kind of adapt to change, and then hit mid-season form when we roll into June.”

Amid those lessons, the Twins had the wouldbe tying run on third base against Unity, and they regrouped in a big way against a perennially strong Battleford club.

“I told them that it’s been a while since we’ve travelled to Unity and played close, competitive games,” Kusch said. “Because it’s usually tough getting boys (to make the trip) out there. We had the tying run on third in the top of the seventh.

“Even against Battleford, we usually have tough games against them. We were down big, but we fought and clawed our way back and lost by two.

It sucks to lose, but those (comebacks) don’t happen in the past years. Those are positive signs that we’re a growing team.”

FACE PITCHING ACE On a night when it appeared threatening rain might have stopped the game, that wasn’t the case, and it was darkness that ended action at the Legion field in Lloyd. The Twins described it as a moral victory.

“Unfortunately, we ran out of daylight, or (otherwise) I think we might have been able to squeak out a win in that game,” Kusch said about the twohour contest.

The Twins had begun to solve what was left of the Beavers’ pitching. For most of the night, Lloyd

Trent Kusch, at bat during the Lloydminster Twins’ home-opener May 14, has been the playing coach of the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League team for five years.

John MacNeil Meridian Source

struggled to muster any offence against Gavin Nolin, the league’s top pitcher last season.

“Gavin is usually one of the top players in the league,” Kusch said. “Pitching, he’s probably the best one. But even offensively, he’s grown more and more. Probably going to be the league MVP this year.”

Quincy Winkler, a veteran from Meadow Lake, started for Lloyd before giving way to Josh Davidson.

Winkler played back home in Meadow Lake before the demise of its NSRBL team two years ago.

Now he’s battling an injury, but the Twins hope he regains his form this spring.

“Quincy is getting up there in age and he loves baseball, and he wants to keep playing, but sometimes your body doesn’t let you,” Kusch reported.

“He hurt his calf (muscle) a little bit, but I’m hoping that, give it a month or so, he’ll be able to pitch again. But he just wants to keep working at it and trying and see what he can do.

“He’s played ball and lots of other sports a lot of his life, so it takes a little more toll on your body.

We’ll see how it goes.”

Roster turnover is a way of life for intermediate and senior-calibre ball teams in the NSRBL, especially for places like Lloyd, where workers come and go depending on where their employment takes them.

Most notably, the Twins lost their team MVP from last season in hometown pitcher and top hitter Dray Souchotte, who has signed with the senior AAA Edmonton Cubs.

“He was a big loss,” Kusch said of Souchotte. “In his line of work, his job could take him wherever.”

The Twins’ fifth-year player-coach has seen Lloyd impacted at both ends of the work spectrum, as the Twins have gained or lost players whose careers might take them to or from the Border City.

“We have a couple of new guys this year that lived in Calgary, now their work has brought them to Lloyd, so it’s kind of a mishmash,” Kusch said. “I don’t put too much stock in it. Each year, guys let me know what’s happening with work and where things are taking them, and it goes from there.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

14

MERIDIAN SOURCE

SPORTS

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Family baseball legacy fuels NSRBL’s Twins

LLOYDMINSTER PROUD Kusch, a 26-year-old teacher at Holy Rosary High School, recognizes a resurgence in the Twins as a youth movement has given them a boost.

“Over the last few years, it’s slowly built back up,” he said. “Knowing guys that played minor ball in Lloyd, we just reached out and got them back and are working with them.

“Our age group right now, everyone is kind of under the age of 28, except for our pitcher Quincy (Winkler).”

Kusch mentioned the likes of Brenden Pollard, Ellis King and collegiate players Konnor Hennigar and Ethan Wildeman as some of the young guns now representing the Twins at the NSRBL level.

“Brenden Pollard has been a well-known minor ball player in Lloyd,” Kusch said. “Ellis King is a Lloyd boy whose family used to play and run the Twins a while back, so it’s a kind of a legacy thing there.”

Kusch himself is also entrenched in the local baseball legacy. His father Kevin spent 10 years as the president of the Lloydminster Minor Baseball Association and received Baseball Saskatchewan’s lifetime achievement award.

Trent Kusch has been coaching since he was 17. Along with the senior Twins, he coaches Lloyd’s 13U AA Pirates. Pollard and Hennigar are part of Gage Haygarth’s coaching staff with the 15U AA Pirates.

Pollard’s teammates with the Twins include three of his cousins, Jack Bygrove, Eric Noble and Brayden Rekimowich.

Brayden Rekimowich caught for the Lloydminster Twins’ during their North Saskatchewan River Baseball League home-opener, an 11-9 loss to the North Battleford Beavers on May 14.

John MacNeil Meridian Source TWINS FROM PAGE 13

On the incoming side, the Twins have regained the services of another hometown product in shortstop Kelton Hanley, who was Lloyd’s leadoff hitter in the early going.

“He started off the year pretty strong with the bat,” Kusch said of Hanley, who had a couple of hits against Battleford and one versus Unity.

“He didn’t play last year because he was gone, and now he’s back playing in Lloyd.”

CHAMPIONS

AROUND THE LEAGUE The youthful Oil City Ducks of Lloydminster are playing their second NSRBL season. They were 1-1 in the opening week, defeating the host Mervin Flyers 12-2 on May 15, two nights after falling 14-4 to the visiting Standard Hill Lakers.

The NSRBL’s eight-team complement is one less than last year, as Wlikie has dropped out of the league. Along with the two Lloyd teams, the other clubs are North Battleford, Unity, Mervin, Standard Hill and the Glaslyn Orioles and Lashburn Cardinals.

The Twins and Ducks face each other in an all-Lloyd matchup at 6:30 p.m. next Wednesday (May 28).

More at meridiansource.ca

A generous $1.5 million investment from Cenovus Energy will support the creation of, and programming for, the Cenovus Energy Makerspace in the soon-to-be-constructed Engineering Design Hub at the USask College of Engineering.

This new space will provide opportunities to collaborate, exchange ideas, and boost students’ capacity to solve complex engineering problems facing our world today.

Together, Cenovus and USask will inspire and prepare the next generation of highly skilled engineers.

Visit give.usask.ca to learn more.

SPORTS

Thursday, May 22, 2025

MERIDIAN SOURCE

15

WHL Hitmen welcome Scott’s size, speed, shot JOHN MacNEIL SPORTS EDITOR

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

Albeit a springtime tournament, Kael Scott was playing hockey — fittingly enough — on the May morning that the Calgary Hitmen selected the Lloydminster forward in the WHL prospects draft.

Scott was in Saskatoon, driving back to his lodge with his Métis teammates after a practice, when the Hitmen called his name in the third round with the 64th-overall pick.

“It sounds great,” said Scott, who played U15 prep with OHA Edmonton this past season.

“I saw my name pop up and I didn’t know what to say after that. I was super excited. I’ve heard nothing but great things about Calgary.

“I was happy for myself when I got drafted, but it’s another thing making the team. There’s a lot of work to be done to actually make it.”

Scott, 15, played in Indigenous tournaments on back-to-back weekends before and after the May 8 draft. The six-foot, 190-pound centre had already made his case in front of WHL scouts, powering his way to a 22-goal, 51-point season in 36 games with OHA Edmonton.

“Kael has good size, he can skate and he has a really good release on his shot,” said Gary Michalick, the Hitmen’s director of scouting. “When you watch him, he can be (effective) in tight. Like, he doesn’t score his goals from dipsy-doodling and going around guys. He goes to the dirty areas, like in the front of the net. And when he gets the puck, he can snap it. He can really shoot it.”

REDDEN HISTORY The Winnipeg-based Michalick has decades of experience as a junior hockey scout. He worked with the Brandon Wheat Kings in the 1990s when they brought in Hillmond defenceman Wade Redden, who went on to become an NHL all-star.

Michalick estimated that he saw Scott and his prep team play 30 times this past season.

“Plus, with our northern Alberta scouts watching OHA Edmonton quite a bit, we really liked Kael,” he said. “He fits what we’re looking for, certainly with the size and his ability to score. And he can skate, too. We’re excited about him.”

Michalick and his Hitmen scouting staff contrasted Scott’s robust style of play with his relatively mild-mannered personality away from the rink.

“He’s got a different demeanour on the ice,” Michalick said. “When you talk to him off the ice, he’s very quiet, very reserved, but when you watch him play, he certainly plays with some emotion and plays hard. He plays both centre and wing, which we really like as well.”

Scott tries to emulate powerful and skilled NHL forwards like Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers, who happen to be Scott’s favourite team.

“MacKinnon plays more of a physical game,” he said. “He’s a big guy. I think we kind of play a similar game, as well as Draisaitl.”

Growing up, Scott has “always been one of the bigger kids, which has definitely helped me,” he said.

“My strongest suit, playing with my body is a big one. Whether that’s laying hits or using it to protect the puck, or separate the puck from other people, I think I do a great job at that.

“I’d say I have a really good shot and my playmaking is pretty good. So, I think that’ll definitely help on the future teams that I play on.”

Scott’s well-rounded game made him a force with an OHA Edmonton team that had six players drafted this year. That group included Macklin defenceman Anderson Reschny (second round, Prince George), Lloydminster forward Josh

Kael Scott, a 15-year-old centre from Lloydminster, was selected by the Calgary Hitmen in the third round (64th overall) of the Western Hockey League prospects draft.

John MacNeil Meridian Source

Frazer (sixth round, Spokane) and Edmonton forward Brayden Tucker, the Hitmen’s seventh-round choice.

Scott was the second of 11 picks for Calgary, which didn’t have a first-round selection. The Hitmen chose St. Albert U15 AAA forward Walker Flewich in the second round, 35th overall. Flewich scored 45 goals and 85 points in 34 regular-season games, plus 18 points in nine playoff games.

The Hitmen believe that Flewich and Scott are poised to become a solid one-two punch when they reach the WHL. “We like the two of them together,” Michalick said. “We think we got two players that’ll complement each other and be really good Hitmen one day.

“Kael, playing in a deeper league (than the provincial U15 AAA circuit in which Flewich played),

was productive as well. Not afraid to get involved physically. We just think the sky is the limit for Kael as far as development is concerned.”

Scott spent most of his childhood in Bonnyville.

His family moved to Lloydminster a couple of years ago, just as he was going into Grade 8 and suiting up with the Junior Prospects Hockey League’s Lloyd Athletics for the 2023-24 season.

A year later, he was on the road again, moving in with Edmonton billets last fall to play with OHA for his WHL draft year.

“A little different, but I adapted to it and really enjoyed it,” said Scott, speaking with a maturity that exceeds his youth.

He had his own room downstairs as he resided with the family of OHA teammate Owen Amyotte, a goaltender.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

25054LL0

16

SPORTS

Thursday, May 22, 2025

MERIDIAN SOURCE

The The Lloydminster Lloydminster Xtreme Xtreme gave gave their their moms moms another another victory victory for for Mother’s Mother’s Day. Day. Submitted Submitted photo photo

Xtreme expectations for junior B front-runners JOHN MacNEIL SPORTS EDITOR

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

It’s shaping up to be another extremely strong lacrosse season for the junior B Lloydminster Xtreme.

Reflective of their winning pedigree, the Xtreme are off to a 6-0 start in the North Division of the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League’s junior B Tier 2 category.

“I don’t expect us to lose many games, if any at all,” said coach Graham Murray, whose club has been riding a medal streak in recent Alberta provincial championships.

A crane operator by day, Murray has a good read on how big a lift it might be for the 21-and-under Lloyd contingent to go all the way this summer.

“We lost by a goal last year in the provincial final,” he said. “Won bronze the year before that, and silver before that. We’re kind of gearing up for gold this year.

“I absolutely think we do (have the personnel to prevail). I mean, we only lost three players from last year’s team, and we’ve added some great rookies.”

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posted two victories on Mother’s Day weekend. They topped the Red Deer Renegades 6-1 on May 11, the day after defeating the Sylvan Lake Yetti 15-2 in Lloyd’s home-opener.

“In my opinion, Sylvan Lake is the second-best team in our division,” said Murray, the Xtreme coach for 12 years. “I think it’s going to be us and them come the championship for the North. We put up 15 on them (in one) of the best efforts and games that we’ve had all year. Just a total team effort where we just dominated them from start to finish. It was awesome to see and to be a part of.

“We maybe regressed a little bit on the Sunday against Red Deer but still came out with the victory. It’s great.”

PLAMONDON RIGHT ON Just as he does on the ice with the Lloydminster Bandits junior B hockey team, Xtreme veteran Jayden Plamondon provides plenty of offence for his lacrosse team. Already in this young season, Plamondon has 15 goals and 32 points in six games and sits one point behind North leader Brandon McNalley of the St. Albert-based Crude.

“Jayden has been one of the top scorers in the league the last three years,” Murray said of Plamondon, one of the Xtreme’s assistant captains. “He’s a great leader for us, and with the junior B Bandits as well.

“He’s off to a tremendous start and I doubt he’ll slow down throughout. I would say he’s going to be one of the top guys in the league come the end, for point totals. He’s had success throughout (his junior B career). He’s a goalscorer in hockey as well, and he’s scored even more for us. Goals and assists, he’s getting it all over.”

Owen Hill is the Xtreme captain, and his assistants are Plamondon, Jace Gunderson and Brady Gamble.

“Owen is just a leader on and off the floor,” Murray said about Hill, an assistant last year. “He says what needs to be said, but again, leads by example.”

Gunderson is one of Plamondon’s teammates with the Bandits, too, and has played with the Xtreme for multiple seasons, all the way back to his days as an affiliated player.

Gamble is the youngest member of the captaincy group. This past winter, he captained his hockey team, the U18 AAA Lloydminster Lancers. After signing with the junior A Bobcats, he hopes to graduate to the AJHL team on a full-time basis for the coming season.

“A phenomenal lacrosse player and a phenomenal kid,” Murray said of the 18-year-old Gamble. “I don’t have a bad thing to say about him.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

SPORTS

Thursday, May 22, 2025

MERIDIAN SOURCE

17

Baron girls gain historic berth in rugby 7s provincials JOHN MacNEIL SPORTS EDITOR

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

In decisive fashion, the Lloydminster Comprehensive Barons punched the high school’s first ticket to the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (ASAA) provincial girls’ rugby 7s championship.

Playing at home May 15 in the Northeast region qualifier, the Barons made the most of the new provincial rules governing high school rugby in the province.

“We are typically a 15s team, but the rules have changed to allow players to do both this year,” said Barons girls’ rugby coach Mark Grillandini.

“So, we’re excited about the opportunity to try a different version of rugby.”

Under cool temperatures, Lloyd Comp swept its two games in the three-team, tier-less regional qualifying tournament. The Barons defeated Cold Lake 24-5 and Holy Rosary 39-0 to earn a berth in the provincial championship, set for May 23 and 24 in Edmonton.

“It’s a quick turnaround,” Grillandini said.

“We’ve got three practices and away we go. Looking forward to it.”

The Comp girls didn’t look back as they got the job done in front of an appreciative home audience that braved brisk weather conditions. Their experience from high school and provincial-level rugby showed on the field.

“The kids played very well today,” said Grillandini, an LCHS teacher for about a dozen years.

“They passed the ball well, they tackled extremely well, and they were just all over the ball, stealing the ball and controlling the game. It’s always good to be on the front foot on offence, versus being on defence.”

The Northeast region has a limited number of

The Lloyd Comp Barons posted victories over Cold Lake and Holy Rosary on May 15 to qualify for the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association girls’ rugby 7s championship.

John MacNeil Meridian Source

rugby teams, so the participating schools opted for a tier-less zone championship to enable more games and a variety of competition.

Lloyd Comp and Cold Lake competed for the local provincial berth for schools with an enrolment of 800-plus students, while Holy Rosary emerged as the provincial qualifier for smallersized schools.

“Holy Rosary gets to go to provincials because their school size is below 800,” Grillandini said.

“Because our zone doesn’t have a lot of rugby teams, we decided to do a tier-less competition, just so we can get (more) games. And we’re just doing a single zone champion, not a tiered championship.”

In similar thinking, the provincial governing

body wanted to broaden its participation tent. Regulations were changed this year to enable students to compete in both rugby 7s and 15s provincials.

“For the ASAA, they were just trying to grow the sport,” Grillandini said. “To get as many teams as possible in, so the sport can grow and keep people interested.”

The veteran coach knows that, for as well as they’ve done, the Lloyd Comp girls are stepping into a deep talent pool at the 7s provincials this weekend.

“They are going against schools from Edmonton and Calgary that play in a full 7s league, so they’re much more experienced this year,” he said.

“Whereas we do both. We go between 7s and 15s. Whatever is coming up on our tournament schedule is what we practise the week before, and away we go.”

The Barons’ busy spring turns back to 15s play for that zone championship May 28 at LCHS. “It’s actually a big rugby day in Lloyd,” Grillandini said. “We’re going to have the middle school students open things up, and then we’re going to have our big zone qualifier game, and then we’ve got the mini rugby happening afterward. Then the (senior) Reapers are practising afterward, so it’s a big rugby celebration on May 28 here in Lloyd.”

The ASAA rugby 15s provincials are scheduled for June 6 and 7 in Lethbridge.

CANADA GAMES WATCH This has been a banner spring for Lloyd Comp’s rugby girls. Along with their high school achievements, multiple members of the Barons are candidates for the Saskatchewan entry in the Canada Summer Games. The provincial team is expected to be chosen in early June, with the Canada Games scheduled for St. John’s, N.L., in August.

18

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, May 22, 2025

SPORTS

Barons power their way into boys’ rugby provincials

After scoring back-to-back wins over Cold Lake in the Northeast zone qualifying series, the Lloydminster Comprehensive Barons earned a berth in the provincial high school boys’ rugby 7s championship this week in St. Albert.

John MacNeil Meridian Source JOHN MacNEIL SPORTS EDITOR

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

Before they settled into the May long weekend, the Lloydminster Comprehensive Barons did their homework and earned a berth in the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association provincial boys’ rugby 7s championship.

In the Northeast zone championship May 15, the host Barons won both games, 34-0 and 10-7, in a two-game, total-point series with Cold Lake.

“We’re excited to move on to provincials,” said Lloyd Comp coach Jason Prokop. “I think it’ll be really good.”

Although his Barons posted a decisive victory overall, Prokop credited Cold Lake for a worthy performance in the championship series.

“Cold Lake definitely brought their boys out to play,” he said. “They

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played hard in both games.”

The 16-team provincial championship is scheduled for May 23 and 24 in St. Albert, where the competition is expected to be intense.

“We’ll have some stiff competition, come provincials,” Prokop said. “I think it’ll be good competition for the boys moving forward. We will have a lot to learn, as we do every year, but the boys have a really good shot at placing in the top six.

“There is a lot of stiff competition — a lot of high school teams that do end up playing club rugby as well.”

Conversely, the Barons play strictly high school rugby and many of them are in their first year in the sport, even as Grade 12 athletes.

“It’s a very young team,” Prokop said. “A lot of the boys are from football.

We’re thankful they came out and gave us a season for rugby, but for a lot of them, it is their first year of rugby.”

Prokop, a 14-year teacher at Lloyd Comp and also the school’s wrestling coach, hopes more student-athletes from other sports might consider joining rugby next season and beyond.

“We’re trying to encourage more cross-athletics,” he said. “Try and get more guys out from football, wrestling and even basketball. That’s what we’re trying to build on for the next few years, for the (rugby) team.”

Prokop has been coaching rugby for about 10 years and previously coached the girls’ team at LCHS. He said he has a couple of valuable assistant coaches, including a familiar face in Keyanna Bannerman.

“She plays rugby and has quite the history in the sport,” Prokop said of Bannerman. “She started at the Comp, playing rugby. This is her first year with the boys and we’re excited to have her on, along with Ben (McMahon) as the community coach. He does a great job, too. His background is lots of rugby.”

Bannerman and McMahon are also part of the senior Reapers community rugby program.

While the girls’ division had three teams involved in their Northeast zone qualifier last week, the boys’ category had just Lloyd Comp and Cold Lake.

After the 7s provincials, the boys and girls are back in action May 28 for the Northeast zone 15s qualifier, as part of a daylong celebration of rugby in the Border City.

Mark Grillandini, who coaches the provincial-bound Baron girls’ team, said the Holy Rosary boys were unable to take part in the rugby 7s playdowns.

“They had too many injuries to participate.”

SPORTS XTREME FROM PAGE 16

“Brady is an assistant captain on our team and he’s one of the younger guys. He brings it every single night. I never have to talk to him about his effort. His effort level is through the roof. It’s not hard to see why he succeeds in almost everything he does.”

For the Xtreme, the competitiveness begins during their Tuesday night practices, with an abundant roster of players jockeying for a berth in the next gameday lineup.

“In years past, we’ve had issues with commitment, but so far (this season) we’re actually carrying a roster of 24 guys, so every game we’ve got to scratch four guys,” Murray said. “It raises everybody’s effort level. Every game is essentially a tryout for when the games really matter. It’s going to be those 20 guys that get to play come playoffs and in the championship round.”

HILLMOND HOME The Xtreme finish their 16-game regular season on the second weekend of July. Provincials are set for Calgary on the August long weekend.

As mandated by the league, no games were scheduled for the May long weekend. The next action for the Xtreme is a two-game homestand this weekend in Hillmond. They face St. Albert at 3 p.m. Saturday and the Sherwood Park Titans at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Hillmond is most familiar territory for Murray, who has just retired from playing senior AA hockey with the Hillmond Hitmen. He grew up in Ontario, where he played junior B lacrosse before moving to Western Canada.

He said the Hillmond community has embraced the Xtreme for three years. Most of the players are from Lloydminster, along with three from Wainwright, two from Vermilion and one from Maidstone.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

MERIDIAN SOURCE

19

Scott committed to Lancers FROM PAGE 15

This coming season, Scott is returning home to play with the Lancers in the Alberta Elite Hockey League, most likely at the U18 AAA level. He won’t be eligible to play with the Hitmen full-time until he’s 16. While with the Lancers during the 202526 season, he could be called up to Calgary for as many as 10 WHL games.

Regardless of the timelines, the Hitmen clearly see him as a prospect who can step up to the WHL within a few years.

“We’re looking forward to seeing him at (training) camp,” Michalick said. “I know he’s going back to Lloyd to play U18, which I think is a great idea.

“He got great coaching last year at OHA Edmonton. You could see Kael get better and better throughout the year.”

He’ll try to continue to improve this summer with a mix of workouts that begins with his home gym and a shooting pad in his garage.

Just last week, Scott ran home from his high school — Lloydminster Comprehensive — with a knapsack on his back, running about 2.5 kilometres.

Although he figures he doesn’t necessarily come from a traditional hockey family, Scott’s early adaptation to the game was almost magical.

“No one in my family really played hockey — maybe my uncle — so my parents put me in hockey and the first moment I touched the ice, I loved it,” he said. “I’ve wanted to be the best player I can, and it’s brought me here so far.”

For the coming hockey season, he’s looking forward to playing in Lloyd again, likely with fellow 2025 WHL draft choices and U16 Team Alberta

Calgary Hitmen draft choice Kael Scott of Lloydminster scored 22 goals and 51 points in 36 games with the U15 prep OHA Edmonton this past season. Submitted photo

candidates Tripp Fischer (third round, Prince Albert), Brody Sunderland (fourth round, Spokane) and Frazer (sixth round, Spokane).

“It’ll be good, just to get back together,” Scott said. “We’ve built great friendships between the four of us, and everybody else who’s on the team with us. I’m really excited to see what happens (with the Lancers). I think we’ll have a pretty good team. And being at home will be nice.”

25054TA1

PAGE 20 Thursday, May 22, 2025 MERIDIAN SOURCE

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Sandy Hardy Realtor®

3812 - 51 Avenue, Lloydminster, AB | 780-875-3343

www.coldwellbankercitysiderealty.com

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