Issuu

• Complete Automotive and Tire Service Centre • Journeyman Factory Trained Technicians • Easy Vehicle Repair & Accessory Financing Available FREE courtesy cars available Open 7:30-5:30 Monday - Friday

checkeredflagautomotive.ca

Receive 15% off your next service if you mention this ad!

109 Centennial Dr. No Martensville

Call: 306.975.2140

Message us on FB

Business as USUAL Located at BACK of building

MARTENSVILLE PHARMACY

Your City; Your Newspaper February 10, 2022

VOLUME NO. 16 - ISSUE 06

Monday-Friday 9-6 Saturday 10-3 Closed Sundays & Holidays

17 Centennial Drive North

306-931-2868

Re-roofs New Construction Residential Commercial

Over 9 Years Making Your Real Estate Dreams Come True!

306-931-2266

Bay 4 #1 - 4th St S Martensville

www.infinitysalonandspa.ca for online booking

Locally Owned and Operated Celebrating Fifteen Years of Community

306-934-4888 www.martenswarman.ca

306-242-7888 www.saskfunerals.ca

scottrooﬁngsask.com

306-384-(ROOF)7663 | 306-222-4093 scottlandru61@gmail.com

www.martensvillemessenger.ca

Get Ready to Duck and Dive

Because We Care

591 Centennial Drive North - Martensville

JUST THINK... Had this been your ad, people would have noticed it. Call the Martensville Messenger and ask about our affordable advertising

Ph: 306-668-1093

Prairie Dodgeball will be starting their first season in Martensville beginning March 7th. See more on page 3.

2021

M A R T E N S V I L L E

COMMUNITY

GUIDE MARTENSVILLE COMMUNITY GUIDE 2022 will be available once again in March

Reserve Your Advertising Spot Today Contact Jocelyn at (306) 668-1093 Love What’s or advertising@martensvillemessenger.ca Local! Full Business

Coming Together in 2020:

Page 2 - FEBRUARY 10, 2022 - martensville messenger Box 970 37 Centennial Dr. S. Martensville, SK SOK 2TO Phone:(306) 931-2166

Visit www.martensville.ca for more information

Civic Services Under the Lifting of the Public Health Order - What You Should Know!

Saskatchewan’s current public health orders will be extended to February 28, 2022. City Hall is Open - Masks are mandatory in indoor public spaces as of September 17th. Online and contactless payment options remain available for customer convenience, such as online banking, e-transfers, preauthorized payments or TIPPS. Cheques can also be dropped off after hours in the drop slot at City Hall.

Rapid Testing Kit Availability As a way to continue to monitor and prevent further spread of COVID-19 within the community and region, rapid testing kits are made available from various businesses or organizations. Test Kits are currently available from the Martensville Library, the Canalta Hotel and the Martensville Fire Department. Distribution is available while supplies last.

Snow Removal this Winter – What You Need to Know

Please do not visit City Hall if you are feeling unwell, experiencing flu-like symptoms or have been in contact with someone who is presumptive or tested positive for COVID-19.

The Snow removal program aims to reduce hazards in the community, ensure roadways for emergency vehicles, and provide access to goods and services in the community.

Current Status of Public Facilities as of February 4th

Our crews strive to deliver excellent service, however sometimes weather can be unpredictable, and snow and ice control activities may vary. Every reasonable effort will be made to remove snow and ice and create safe driving and walking conditions promptly. There are ways you can help to ensure to keep streets clear and safe

Martensville Athletic Pavilion - Operations completely resuming, including drop-in programs. Contact the MAP or Martensville.ca for information on upcoming programs or questions. City Hall - Open North Ridge Centre - Re-Opened for Bookings Heritage Centre - Re-Opened for Bookings Sports Centre - Open for the Season Wheatland Regional Library (located in the Civic Centre) - Open City Staff are available to work with the public via phone or email. Questions or inquiries can be directed to City Hall via phone (306-931-2166) or inquiry@martensville.ca After Hour Water and Sewer Emergencies- should still be directed through the Emergency line at City Hall, (306) 931-2166, ext.1. Questions about Facilities or Programs? City Staff are available to work with the public via phone or email. Questions or inquiries can be directed to City Hall via phone (306931-2166) or inquiry@martensville.ca OR the Martensville Athletic Pavilion (306-6835576) or mapreception@martensville.ca

City of Martensville City Hall

- Do not shovel, blow, or push snow from private property onto the street – this causes snow Hours of Operation: ridges on your driveway when our plow cleans our street.

Monday to Friday - Do not plow or pile snow on streets or hydrants – this can block access to manholes, water valves, and access to water in case of fire. 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Excluding Statutory Holidays)

- Clear your driveways in advance of the city’s snow clearing operations - this helps our operators clear your street more efficiently as well as more clearly see driveways to avoid ridging. - Do not park your vehicle in an area where it could obstruct snow removal procedures this hinders our operations and could result in a snow ridge blocking your vehicle in place. - Do not leave large piles of snow at the corners of driveways – this snow can be caught by a raised snow-gate blade and topple over into your driveway or the street. - Prevent snow from piling up on the front of your driveway by moving it near your tree/lawn areas behind your walkway.

February - March 2022 Council Meeting Dates Please Note: Council Meetings may be attended in-person but guests must wear a mask and should practice social distancing within Council Chambers. Those still wishing to attend but would wish to do so virtually should contact the City Clerk or visit the online agenda for the link to attend. Regular Council Meeting- February 15th Regular Council Meeting – March 1st Committee of the Whole- March 8th Regular Council – March 15th The Regular Council Meetings are located at Martensville City Hall Council Chambers in Martensville City Hall at 37 Centennial Dr. S. All meetings commence at 5 PM. Those wishing to address or do a presentation to Council must be placed on the agenda. To be placed on the agenda please contact the City Clerk’s office at City Hall or visit the website for details. The full Council and Committee of the Whole Schedule can be obtained at martensville.ca.

Big Changes Coming for Water Meters

The City of Martensville is initiating a program where existing water meters will be replaced with new automated water meters. Neptune Technology Group will be installing the meters by area and will be contacting homeowners to make appointments for the change-out. This project will begin in late February and be completed city-wide by July. To learn more, please check the information piece with your water bill or visit martensville.ca

- Watch for posted areas for Snow Removal - In case of snow and snow removal, crews need to have roads cleared of all vehicles on posted streets. If you are going out of the City over the holidays, please have your vehicles off City streets. Vehicles left on the street per the traffic bylaw are ticketed and towed (to a non-posted area). - Stay Clear of Sanding Trucks - Crews apply a mixture of salt and sand on our streets and intersections to ensure safer driving conditions. If you are near or behind the sanding truck you are reminded to stay back 15m to allow the truck to disperse materials and to prevent materials from potentially hitting your vehicle. Information on general program procedures and the City’s Priority Map is available online at Martensville.ca

Winter FunFest is held on Family Day, February 21st at the North Ridge Community Center Join us for Sleigh Rides, Outdoor Fire and hotdog roast, curling, skating, pick-up hockey, kick sleds, snowshoeing, and indoor crafts hosted by the Martensville Library. We will also have bounce houses, giant games, and much more! The night will end with a bang with a fireworks show at 7pm. We guarantee great family fun and amazing memories made. If you would like to become a sponsor or volunteer for this event, please email jmcculloch@ martensville.ca. See more about this event on the City of Martensville Facebook Event Page.

ARTENSVILLE

ESSENGER

Your City; Your Newspaper Box 333, Martensville, SK S0K 2T0 Phone: 306-668-1093 advertising@martensvillemessenger.ca Deadline for submissions is MONDAY at NOON.

www.martensvillemessenger.ca Published Thursdays • 48 issues/year

Editor/Office Manager: Shanine Sealey ssealey@martensvillemessenger.ca

Editor/Ad Design: Jocelyn Ottenbreit

jottenbreit@martensvillemessenger.ca

To Contact Us About Advertising: advertising@martensvillemessenger.ca

Want to Share News?: news@martensvillemessenger.ca

SPORTS

Keep the Community up-to-date on martensville your team scores, events, photos messenger - FEBRUARY 10, 2022 - Page 3 and tournaments. Submit material to jhayward@sasktel.net or drop it off at the Martensville Messenger Office at Bay #7 - 301 Centennial Drive North to be included in our Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger Janine Hayward weekly sports report.

Fun Had by All at Ladies Bonspiel

Messenger The Martensville Curling Martensville Club the A event was the Junior team of hosted a Ladies Bonspiel that ran from Madison Kleiter. The B event winners February 4-6. Although it was small, fun were the Dawna Shand rink, with the was had by all that participated. C-event winners splitting the prize A total of eight teams entered between the Cara Zukewich & Jamie with cash prizes & “pay as you win”, so Starchuk teams. teams that did not win the big event still A supper banquet was had an opportunity to win some cash along provided with food catered by Desired the way. Baking by Desiree from Dalmeny. The theme for the event was Hot The Martensville Curling Club Holiday, and winners for best costume was will be hosting the Junior Provincials the Charity McLeod team. The winner of from February 24-28.

Maddogs Focus on Injury Prevention

Maddogs players had an opportunity to learn from the pros when Amber and Kara from Nova Physiotherapy came out to teach them all the proper techniques to stretches, warmups and cooldowns to help promote injury prevention and fundamental strengthening.

Community Showing Excitement Over New Dodgeball League Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

When was the last time you participated in a game of dodgeball? Thanks to Prairie Dodgeball, this is something that can become a regular occurrence starting March 7th. Prairie Dodgeball will be kicking off their first season in the community by offering both a youth and adult league and organizers Amber Anaka and Chama McIntyre are excited to bring this opportunity to Martensville. “I currently play in an adult dodgeball league in Saskatoon and Charma’s daughter had asked if there was something like that for kids. We looked into and found nothing, so we decided to create one ourselves,” Anaka explained. During the organizing of the youth league, the two women received requests from some of the parents regarding an adult league and decided to put out a survey to see what kind of interest there was. Based on the positive feedback from the community, they decided to expand and create an option for the adults. “We wanted to bring something new and exciting to the community that was different, but still known. Dodgeball is an all-around inclusive sport that reaches people from different skill levels, backgrounds and ages” Anaka said. The youth league will be held Mondays from 4:15pm to 5:15pm at the Martensville Athletic Pavilion and the adult league will be held Monday nights from 7:15pm to 8:15pm and 8:15pm to 9:15pm at the North Ridge Community Centre. The spring session will run from March 7th to May 16th. Teams will consist of 8 to 10 players and those interested can sign up as individual players, or as a whole team. Individual players can request to be placed on the same team as a friend. “People can expect to play a high intensity and competitive sport. We follow the international dodgeball rules and for our youth league, the first 15 minutes are dedicated to skill development and conditioning. We want people to see that this is a sport and not just a game we once played in Phys. Ed class. Our league is also a great way for community members to get out and meet new people, stay active all while having fun.,” Anaka added. Online registration for both the youth and adult spring sessions is currently open until February 21st and more information can be found on the Prairie Dodgeball Facebook and Instagram pages. “If anyone has questions about how things work, or is on the fence about joining the league, feel free to reach out to either myself or Charma via Facebook. We are happy to help,” Anaka said. “We are so humbled and grateful by the support of the community and are very excited to get started with our season.”

Service PLUS Flat Glass Services!!

Page 4 - FEBRUARY 10, 2022 - martensville messenger

“Bringing the Tools to You!!” Email JAGplus@sasktel.net

•Automotive Repair Specialists or call 361-4527Monday to Friday 7:30-5:30 801 Centennial Dr. North •Advanced technology & diagnostics facility Visit www.JAGplus.ca today!!

306-244-4950

Martensville, SK

Martensville SK 306-244-4950

KEEPING YOU SAFE & ON THE ROAD

Sask Parks Is The Place To Be This Family Week Free Programs And Winter Camping Discounts Available

Saskatchewan's provincial parks are offering up activities, programs and Family Week specials to make it easier than ever to embrace winter here at home. "Winter in Sask Parks continues to grow bigger and better each year," Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross said. "We want everyone to bring their families to our provincial parks for winter staycations that not only include a number of activities for the whole family, but a variety of options for overnight stays as well." With Family Week coming up this month, Sask Parks is offering a Buy One, Get One (BOGO) promotion, where campers can book one night of winter camping and get the second night free. This offer is an inexpensive way for people to try camping in a whole new season. It is valid for stays between February 18 and 27 in electric and non-electric campsites at Buffalo Pound, Cypress Hills, Duck Mountain, Echo Valley, Great Blue Heron, Moose Mountain and Pike Lake Provincial Parks. To use the code, customers can enter "SNOWBOGO" on the Order Details Page when booking their campsite at http://parks. saskatchewan.ca. There are also a variety of fun, interactive guided programs led by park staff that will be available throughout Family Week so visitors can take in the full winter Sask Parks experience. These guided programs are available for those who may be new to winter activities or just want to try something different. Families are encouraged to check out the Family Week calendar and plan their camping trips around what's happening in the park. Programs are free with valid park entry and participants can reserve their spot online in advance at http://parks.saskatchewan.ca. Interpreter-led programs will continue to be offered on all weekends until March 6, 2022. For those who prefer to venture on their own, several self-guided activities are also available, including tobogganing, skating, ice-fishing, snowshoeing (rentals available), campfires and more. For more details on winter camping and programming, visit http://parks. saskatchewan.ca or follow Sask Parks on Facebook.

Welcome to Kindergarten in Martensville! If your child will be 5 years old by December 31, 2022 (born in 2017), it’s time to register for Kindergarten! Lake Vista Public School

1501 Parr Hill Drive 306-683-4300 lakevista@spiritsd.ca

Valley Manor Elementary School

200 - 8th Avenue South 306-931-2233 vms@spiritsd.ca

Venture Heights Elementary School

801 - 6th Street North 306-934-2185 vhs@spiritsd.ca

Our schools offer a warm, welcoming and supportive Kindergarten program.

POLICE

BEAT

Police Charge Several Motorists During Driver Focus Near Warman

On the night of February 5th, Corman Park Police Service focused on commuter traffic south of Warman. During this time, one driver was charged with impaired driving/over .08. Four other motorists faced roadside suspensions for alcohol and cannabis, including a 60-day suspension for being a new driver testing positive for THC.

just THINK...

Had this been your ad, people would have noticed it.

Call the Martensville Messenger and ask about our affordable advertising

Ph: 306-668-1093

Our goal is to have healthy enrolments at our elementary schools in Martensville, providing the space for all students to learn and grow. School capacity, home address and other factors will have an impact on Kindergarten placement. Please plan to register by February 28. Open houses will be held at each school later this spring.

To register, contact the school or go to: www.spiritsd.ca/register

martensville messenger - FEBRUARY 10, 2022 - Page 5

Council Discusses Utility Rate Increase Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

The February 8th Martensville Committee of the Whole meeting began with a public hearing regarding a Request for Decision on a home-based business for pet grooming. The City of Martensville received an application from a property owner on Reimer Road that is looking to open a pet grooming business out of their home. In the application, it was stated that and the owner, who has many years of experience with pet grooming, would be accommodating two pets at a time. Animals would be kept indoors and there would be no overnight boarding. Council will be bringing the discussion back and making a decision at next week’s regular council meeting. City Council also discussed a Request for Direction regarding 2022 water and wastewater rates and administration bylaw amendments. This is based off of a

22022DA0

decision made in December of 2021 by Council to have water meters in the community replaced. With this change taking place, the City of Martensville reviewed their current bylaws to be amended to better suit the upgrades. Additionally, Council discussed an increase in water and wastewater rates, which are as follows: - An increase in water flat rate from $12.00 per month to $12.50 - An increase in wastewater/sewer flat rate from $27.50 per month to $29.00 - Introducing a Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Replacement Fee of $2.00 per month, which would see funds transferred annually to the ‘Infrastructure Replacement Reserve – Utilities’ to replenish funds used for the meter replacement project and ensure the City is rebuilding reserves for future infrastructure needs in the water & wastewater area. According to the report provided by Leah Bloomquist, Director of Corporate Services, this is the first increase to the monthly flat rates since 2006 and this increase will assist in offsetting rising operational expenses to balance the budget. Bloomquist added that the total impact on monthly utility bills will be an increase of $4.00 per month per account. The next Martensville City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 25th at 5pm in Council Chambers at City Hall.

Martensville Prepares for Winter FunFest Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger

It’s time for Winter Funfest 2022! The annual winter event put on by the City of Martensville is a great opportunity for everyone to get outside and enjoy some fun winter activities! This year the Winter Funfest will be held on Family Day, February 21st at the North Ridge Community Centre, with activities starting at 1:00pm and ending with a fireworks show at 7:00pm. There will be a full line up of winter themed activities planned such as; sleigh rides, outdoor fire and hotdog roast, curling, skating, pick up hockey, kick sleds, and snowshoeing. A variety of indoor activities will be available inside the North Ridge Community Centre with crafts hosted by the Martensville Library, bounce houses, giant games, and much more!

The cost is $5 a person or $15 a family for indoor activities which include inflatables, soap carving, library activities and crafts, and ice carving. All proceeds will go to Kidsport. Outdoor activities are free for everyone. Jamie McCulloch, Recreation Program Coordinator II for the city Of Martensville is looking forward to the event and excited for the festivities to begin. “We guarantee great family fun and amazing memories will be made,” said McCulloch. Masks will be required for indoor activities. If you would like to become a sponsor or volunteer for this event, please email jmcculloch@martensville.ca. Be sure to check out all the fun Monday, February 21st!

Page 6 - FEBRUARY 10, 2022 - martensville messenger

martensville messenger - FEBRUARY 10, 2022 - Page 7

MLA Terry Jenson’s Report from the Legislature Vaccination Still Best Way to End Pandemic There is less of a fight over the desire to remove all restrictions than Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and others would have us believe. Surely, getting back to the way things were before the COVID-19 pandemic began almost two years ago is what everyone wants. Why wouldn’t it be? We’re all sick and tired of having our lives disrupted. The real question, however, remains: How do we keep people safe? It still comes down to getting vaccinated. Vaccines were the marker Moe relied on when his Saskatchewan Party government made the decision on July 11th to remove all restrictions by virtue of 70 per cent of the adult population 18 years and over having received at least one dose. Yes, that 70 per cent was an arbitrary number at a time when children under 18 were not yet eligible. And it didn’t take into account that we always needed two shots to best prevent serious illness. Yet we accepted it because we recognized that vaccination rates were the best marker available when it came to determining how safe we were. As critical as hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths have been as measures of the battle against COVID-19, you don’t want to use these as a marker for the obvious reason: You want to avoid milestones like ICUs and deaths — not use them as markers. Moreover, using vaccination rates as the marker was a great way to encourage more people to get vaccinated, which we all agreed was the best way out of the pandemic. It all makes more sense, so why wouldn’t we do something that just made sense. It’s important to understand our vaccination rates … and perhaps why Moe and his government have suddenly decided they are supposedly no longer significant in government decision-making of removing restrictions. Where we all can surely agree with the Saskatchewan Premier is that it’s been exceedingly difficult to get a small portion of adamant vaccine resisters to agree to finally get vaccinated. While about 80 per cent of this province’s total population are vaccinated (when you take into account little children under five years still not eligible) that remains among the lowest rates in the country along with Alberta and the territories and convincing the unvaccinated has surely become harder instead of easier. By the end of January, Saskatchewan only recorded 20,765 receiving their first dose, bringing the total number of people in the province with at least one dose to 963,399 people. This is the worst monthly total in quite some time compared with 38,799 first doses doled in December, 32,272 in November, 48,047 in October and 41,948 in September. Of those 20,765 Saskatchewan first dose recipients, 10,944 were recently eligible children five to 11 years old and another 2,190 were children between 12 and 17. When it comes to adults, January saw only about an average of 246 first doses a day — a fraction of the 1,000 or so a day average in November and December. The problem is that what Moe is now saying and what his government is doing is becoming their own selffulfilling prophecy. It’s surely worth noting that surge in new vaccine recipients we saw in September and October came after government implemented vaccine passports. Now Moe is saying that he doubts he can make many more get vaccinated, that Omicron is responsible for Omicron, that vaccines aren’t stopping the spread of Omicron and that the vast majority of people just want things re-opened. Moe’s notion that vaccines don’t stop Omicron spread has outraged doctors. Others question whether this is more about the Premier looking for justifications to avoid doing what he admits is very hard. Yes, it’s hard to get the remaining people vaccinated. But vaccines have been and still are the way out this pandemic.

Learning to Live With COVID-19 There have been many discussions lately on how we, as a community and as a province, learn to live with COVID-19. While this view might seem radical to some, it is important to remember that the Public Health Measures the government put in place two years ago to slow the spread of COVID-19 were never meant to be permanent restrictions. We understand that eradicating COVID-19 is not a realistic goal and that achieving zero COVID-19 in our communities will not happen. This does not mean we stop the precautions that have become so natural, like washing our hands, using a rapid antigen test from time to time, staying home if you are sick, or getting vaccinated. These are the steps that will allow us to normalize the reality of living with COVID-19. The perpetual state of crisis is having harmful impacts on everyone. People who did everything right and took precautions feel guilty for getting the Omicron variant. To be clear, if you get COVID-19, you did nothing wrong; it is impossible to eliminate all risks. Thankfully, those who are vaccinated are not getting very sick. It is possible we may see COVID-19 morph into different variants and forms in the coming months and years. Over the past two years, we have come to understand COVID-19 better; we can now assess our personal risks and move to a more normal way of life. In Saskatchewan, there is widespread access to vaccinations and booster doses, as well as free, at-home rapid testing. Vaccinations, including the third/ booster dose, have dramatically decreased the risk of severe outcomes for most residents. At-home rapid testing has enabled individuals to self-manage, given the frequency of asymptomatic or mild illness for the majority of those who contract Omicron. The province of Saskatchewan has requested more than four million rapid antigen tests from the federal government for each of February and March to ensure a secure supply. Residents now have reasonable self-management tools to navigate day-to-day activities safely. In the coming days and weeks, the Government of Saskatchewan will take steps to manage COVID-19 in the same manner as other communicable diseases or seasonal viruses we deal with every year. Based on information from all jurisdictions, public health will be working to realign resources to manage the current variant while providing other essential public health programs and services and support throughout of the health care system. This transition is necessary as Saskatchewan prepares to manage COVID-19 in the long-term. Necessary COVID-19 surveillance and public health planning will continue, particularly as potential new variants may emerge. The current Public Health Orders remain in place for now but are subject to review. This includes mandatory masking in all indoor public spaces, including schools; mandatory self-isolation for all confirmed cases; and proof of vaccination or negative test requirements for public access to a list of establishments, businesses and event venues. I want to thank you for the sacrifices you’ve made over these past two years. I know the people of Saskatchewan are ready for these next steps, and you will be hearing more in the days ahead.

22022JJ0

Letter to the Editor The Martensville Messenger welcomes letters to the editor for publication. Letters must be signed and a phone number and/or email address included so the writer’s identity can be verified. ALL letters are the opinion of the writer and NOT the Martensville Messenger. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity or compliance with the current standards of public taste. Submit your letter to news@martensvillemessenger.ca or mail to Box 333 Martensville, SK S0K 2T0.

Page 8 -FEBRUARY 10, 2022 - martensville messenger

Saskatchewan Ending Proof Of Vaccination Requirement

The provincial requirement to provide proof of vaccination or negative tests in Saskatchewan businesses, workplaces and other public venues will end this Monday, February 14 at 12:01am. eHealth Saskatchewan will continue to make proof of vaccination records and QR codes available to Saskatchewan residents for use where needed including for travel or in other jurisdictions. The remaining public health orders requiring masking in indoor public spaces will remain in effect until the end of February. Premier Scott Moe said it's time to take the next step in living with Covid-19 and getting our lives back to normal.

"Proof of vaccination has been an effective policy, but its effectiveness has run its course," Moe said. "The benefits no longer outweigh the costs. It's time to heal the divisions over vaccination in our families, in our communities and in our province. It's time for proof of vaccination requirements to end." Moe said vaccines and rapid test kits will continue to be widely accessible throughout the province. "As we shift to living with COVID-19, there is a continuing need for personal responsibility for self-monitoring, self-testing and self-management," Moe said. "It will be important for individuals to assess their own risk and comfort levels, and to take appropriate action if they are unwell."

Business & Professional

CALL 306-668-1093