January 13, 2022 Digital Issue

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Cold Front

Much of Saskatchewan saw extreme cold warnings to end 2021, and kick-off 2022.

Temperatures dipped from between -40 and -50 across the province with people looking for ways to keep warm; however, one family decided to brave the weather to capture the perfect shot to showcase just how cold it really was out there.

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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!

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Page 2 - JANUARY 13, 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!

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.

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.

Current Status of Public Facilities as of January 7th Masks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces as of September 17th.

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

January - February 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.

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 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.

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

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.

- 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).

Regular Council Meeting- January 18th Committee of the Whole Meeting- February 8th Regular Council Meeting- February 15th

- 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.

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.

Information on general program procedures and the City’s Priority Map is available online at Martensville.ca

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.

What’s Happening at the Martensville Fire Department?

The Martensville Fire Department took a moment this past week to honour one of their members. On Wednesday, January 5th, the MFD celebrated Captain Norm Hydamacka and his 20 years of service to our local fire department.

Congratulations Captain Hydamacka and thank you for all of your years of dedication to this community.

With the recent snowfall, the MFD also asked that residents within Martensville help keep hydrants clear of snow and debris. “ K e e p i n g hydrants clear is essential in case of an emergency.

Our firefighters need to access the water supply quickly when responding to calls in order to serve the community as efficiently as possible,” the MFD stated.

Help Keep The Area Around Your ‘Touchread Dial’ Clear This Winter…And Have A ‘Clear’ Water Bill

Higher than normal snow fall this season has made the touchread dial, ‘black box’ or ‘pucks’ in some areas difficult to access for water meter readers. This slows down the reading schedule and leads to homes not being read. You can help us by keeping areas around the black boxes free of snow or obstacles so meter readers can quickly and easily take a read and move to the next property.

If this is not possible, you can also submit your own meter read between the 20th and 24th of each month to ensure accurate billing. Information on how to read your meter on Martensville.ca. You can submit your reading by: - Contact City Hall by phone or in person, Utility Billing (306) 683-5556 - Email afast@martensville.ca - Utilize the ‘Submit Meter Read’ Button on Martensville.ca

M

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.

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

Editor/Ad Design: Jocelyn Ottenbreit

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Want to Share News?: news@martensvillemessenger.ca

martensville messenger - JANUARY 13, 2022 - Page 3

Seniors Globe Walk Provides Opportunity for Older Adults to Get More Active During Winter Months Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

Since 2015, the City of Martensville has offered the Senior’s Globe Walk within the community. This event takes place from January 1st to April 30th and is aimed at helping get older adults in and around Saskatoon out socializing within their communities and to increase physical activity during the winter months. This is offered through a partnership with Saskatoon Council on Aging Inc. (SCOA), which was created after community consultations showed that older adults had identified the need for more physical activity and social opportunities during the more frigid months of the year.

The Globe Walk is free to participate in for participants 50+ and is designed to be fun and motivational.

“There are too many benefits to list by staying active and social, but they dramatically contribute to a healthy lifestyle and a good quality of life,” City of Martensville Recreation Coordinator Jamie McCulloch said.

Each year, a fun new theme is chosen, with this year’s theme being ‘an exploration through the ages showcasing memorable events, dances, music and fitness trends’.

For anyone interested in participating in the Globe Walk, you are required to register, which can be done in-person at the Martensville Athletic Pavilion, or by calling the MAP at (306) 683-5576. It is free to join and once registered, you can walk free at the MAP on Tuesdays from 1pm-2pm until April 26th.

“Participants are asked to keep track of their activity every day and turn in their results at the end of every month,” McCulloch stated. Currently, there is over 50 people registered for the Globe Walk.

All forms of activity can be recorded and submitted. According to the SCOA Globe Walk website, 1300 steps equal one kilometre and a half hour of exercise equals two kilometres, which is the common accepted standard; however, all participants are required to do is record their steps, distance, or time, and the rest will be done for them. All forms of physical activity are eligible such as cleaning house, shoveling, walking, aerobics, etc. SCOA does encourage the use of fitness tracking devices, pedometers or cell phone apps to help track your efforts as well as motivate you to help accomplish your goals.

POLICE

More information regarding the SCOA Globe Walk can be found by visiting www.scoaglobewalk.net.

Upcoming events are also listed, which include a Globe Walk Zoom event, taking place February 3rd at 1pm which will highlight fitness trends through the decades.

BEAT

Suspect Wanted in Martensville Theft

Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers is teaming up with the Warman RCMP to ask the public for help identifying a female suspect regarding a theft from a vehicle in Martensville that occurred between 2:30am and 4:30am on September 30, 2021.

Numerous bank and credit cards were stolen and then fraudulently used in Saskatoon to make several purchases at various businesses, as well as online purchases.

If you can identify the female in the photo to the right, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to leave an anonymous tip. If your tip leads to an arrest or charge, you may be eligible for a reward of up to $2000.

ABOVE: Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers are looking for the publics help in identifying the female in this photo.

Rosthern RCMP Actively Search for Missing Male

Rosthern RCMP continue to actively search for 48-year-old Leslie Peesker.

“The dangerously cold weather and snow fall that we have been experiencing over the past few weeks adds to our concern for Leslie,” says Sgt. Jacqueline Spence of the Rosthern RCMP. “Family members reported that Leslie may camp outdoors for periods of time, but it is out of character for him to not check in.”

Investigators ask residents that live along Highway 11 from Rosthern to Prince Albert to check their properties, particularly outbuildings, for any signs of Leslie and/or clothing or items that seem out of place.

Anyone who has information on Leslie’s whereabouts should call Rosthern RCMP at 306232-6400. Information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1‐800‐222‐TIPS (8477) or www. saskcrimestoppers.com.

Page 4 - JANUARY 13, 2022 - martensville messenger

Province Outlines Steps For Schools To Continue Safely

Province Takes Steps to Ensure all Students Continue to Have Access to In-class Learning

With in-class learning resuming across the province this week, schools will continue to provide notification of COVID-19 cases based on self-reporting from students and staff. With the announcement that asymptomatic, vaccinated individuals no longer require a confirmatory PCR test following a positive rapid antigen test, schools are updating their process for notifying close contacts of cases, with an aim to ensure that there continues to be timely notification.

"We know that in-class learning is critically important to students' overall mental and physical health and development," Education Minister Dustin Duncan said.

"That is why the Government of Saskatchewan is supporting all students and staff in finding ways to reduce risk while we learn to live with COVID in our everyday lives.

School staff have done a phenomenal job in ensuring our schools remain as safe as possible while continuing to ensure that parents have access to timely information about COVID in our communities."

Positive COVID-19 test results for school-based staff or students, from either rapid antigen or PCR tests, must be reported to the local school office. The school will then send a notification to parents/guardians of the class and/or bus cohort that may be considered close contacts.

Fully vaccinated students and staff who are close contacts will follow the current process of self-monitoring. They are able to attend school and other activities as long as they remain asymptomatic. Fully vaccinated students and staff who test positive are required to self-isolate for five days.

Students who are close contacts to cases in non-household settings (i.e. at school, daycare, public recreation activities) and not fully vaccinated are able to continue to attend school, take the bus and attend child care as long as they are asymptomatic. They are not permitted to attend any extra-curricular activities for the 10 days self-monitoring period. If the transmission occurred in the household setting, all unvaccinated students are required to isolate for 10 days, including not attending school or childcare. The below flow-chart fully maps out the scenarios for students.

Staff members (teachers, educational assistants, bus drivers, etc.) who are deemed a close contact and not fully vaccinated MUST self-isolate for 10 days following last exposure.

More information on close contacts can be found at saskatchewan.ca/ COVID-19.

A template communication is being provided to schools from public health to assist in the family notification process. Schools will also inform their local medical health officers of any suspected outbreaks to ensure that school outbreak information is updated on saskatchewan.ca here at www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-careadministration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emergingpublic-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/latest-updates/covid-19-cases-in-schools.

In the case of an outbreak in a school, which is defined as three or more cases in a class or cohort of students, public health will continue to investigate and may advise further mitigation measures for either the class or the entire school.

To prevent COVID-19 transmission and serious health outcomes, the Government of Saskatchewan encourages all eligible residents to get vaccinated, including receiving booster doses as soon as you are eligible. Increased cases in the community will result in an increase in cases in schools. However, with a layered approach to preventative measures including continued masking, access to rapid tests, increased sanitation, cohorting, and students and staff staying home when they are sick, schools are providing as safe a learning environment.

School staff continue to have access to disposable, medical grade surgical masks and more than 1.6 million rapid antigen tests have been distributed to families through elementary schools since the federal allocation began arriving in Saskatchewan.

Rapid tests will now also be available in high schools with an additional 250,000 rapid tests currently being distributed to schools across the province.

Rapid tests are available for free at over 500 locations throughout the province and a full list is available at saskatchewan.ca.

To further support students’ needs both this school year and going into next school year, the provincial interim education plan will be extended into next year. The interim plan focuses on supports for Kindergarten to Grade 5 reading, mental health and education needs.

We know that students have been affected by the pandemic, so schools will continue to provide supports for students to support both their learning and mental wellness.

ABOVE: The donation collection at Martensville High School spread over a wide area prior to pick-up. All donations went to help the Martensville Fire Department food hamper program.

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ABOVE: A collaboration between the Venture Heights Knights in Action and the Martensville Fire Department created an extremely successful food drive.

ABOVE: Thanks to generous donations from Lake Vista School families, a wide variety of non-perishable food items were donated to the Martensville Fire Department food hamper program to help local families over the holidays.

SPORTS ABOVE: The U18 Martensville Marauder Villains team is coached by Todd Steen, with the help of Lyle Shelley, Bruce Strueby, and Russ Misskey. They travelled to Macklin for their first tournament in over a year bringing home the A final trophy. They competed against Lloydminster, Sylvan Lake and Macklin, defeating all 3 teams in close matches.

Several Marauder U15 AA Players Move on to Sask First Top 80 Tournament Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger

In December, the Sask First High Performance Program opened up to all players in the U15 category to attend regional camps held in the province. These camps give all players the opportunity to compete with their peers and receive significant exposure as scouts from a variety of elite leagues attend the camps.

The Regional Sask First Selection Camp was held in Aberdeen. From there, the top players were invited to compete in the Top 160 Tournament held in Regina.

Marauder U15 AA players Carsen Adair, Kazden Mathies, Teigan Semchyshen, Kaden Shumay, Simon Garchinski, Cooper Flath, Evan Skoronski, and Clark Goebel, were all chosen to attend this camp.

Several Marauder players moved on from the Top 160 Tournament and will now compete in February featuring the top 80 players. The Marauders that are moving on are; Kazden Mathies, Carsen Adair, Teigan Semchyshen, Simon Garchinski and Kaden Shumay.

The top 25-30 are chosen from there to attend the upcoming summer camp.

The Sask First Program is a gateway to Hockey Canada’s High Performance Program which includes their National Teams such as the Canada Winter Games which will be held in Prince Edward Island in February of 2023.

Keep the Community up-to-date on messenger - JANUARY 13, 2022 - Page 5 martensville your team scores, events, photos 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 includedShanine in ourSealey, Martensville Messenger

Martensville Janine HaywardMaven Marlies U11 ‘B’ team hosted weekly sports report. Minor Hockey Association’s Martensville an all-female tournament from January 7-9 Messenger in Dalmeny. Seven teams competed, which included the Maven Marlies, Saskatoon Comet Warriors, Saskatoon Comet Force, Regina Rebels White, Western Prairie Thunder, Lake Diefenbaker Thunder, and Red Deer Sutter Fund White Chiefs.

The Maven Marlies went undefeated throughout the tournament and ended up bringing home the ‘A’ final win after a hard-fought battle against the Saskatoon Comet Warriors with a final score of 6-5.

The Maven team consists of players; Whitney Gaudreau, Ellie GrahamWuttunee, Brielle Materi, Jacee Oblander, Blake Turner, Ella Wagner, Ryann Edmonds, Harper Hamilton, Gracie Janzen, Maeve Schaab, Ella Wotherspoon, Zoey Coller, Harper Unser, and Hudsyn Wotherspoon. Head Coach Joel Wagner, along with Assistant Coaches Morgan Wotherspoon, Robin Sawatzky, Derek Gaudreau, and Brian Turner, couldn’t be more proud of the teamwork and sportsmanship that the girls have shown all season, especially this past weekend.

It has been a busy season for the Maven Marlies. In late November, the girls attended a one-day jamboree in Holdfast, SK, where they went undefeated. Additionally, the team attended the Regina Female Challenge from December 10-12, where they were undefeated throughout round robin play, losing to the Saskatoon Comet Warriors in the ‘A’ final by a score of 3-1.

“The team set a goal early last week to take home their own tournament this past weekend. Each and every one of the girls stepped it up to a new level and played their butts off going undefeated in round robin play. They faced the same Saskatoon Comet Warrior team in the 'A' final of their home tournament for a chance at some redemption and rose to the challenge, giving their fans an exciting 'A' final matchup, capturing the Gold Medal Final defeating the Warriors by a score of 6-5,” proud mom Trish Wagner stated.

The next big item on the schedule for the team is the Moose Jaw Maverick Classic All Female Tournament, which will take place at the end of January, followed by the Warman Female Tournament in February. Their final tournament will take place in March when they attend the Saskatoon Female U11B March Ice at the Canlan Ice Sports Jemini.

Maven Marlies Victorious in Home Tournament

ABOVE: The Martensville Maven Marlies U11 ‘B’ team hosted a tournament from January 7-9 in Dalmeny and after a hard fought battle, brought home the ‘A’ final championship.

(Photo submitted by Trish Wagner)

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martensville messenger - JANUARY 13, 2022 - Page 7

MLA Terry Jenson’s Report from the Legislature Improving Mental Health Services Across Saskatchewan

Latest COVID-19 Wave Brings Old Risks

Well, we clearly aren’t avoiding the fifth wave of this Omicron variant of the COVID-19 pandemic, but while it is producing a staggering number of cases here in Saskatchewan and everywhere else, it doesn’t quite seem to be producing the same percentage of hospitalizations … or at least, the same number of critical ICU cases.

Unfortunately, the sheer volume of Omicron cases means that it’s quite possible more people will be hospitalized, anyway - especially, given that Omicron seems to affecting even those who have been double and now triple vaccinated.

More fortunately, those who have been vaccinated who do contact Omicron are far, far more likely to have good outcomes. The mantra for 2022 will again be: Get vaccinated if you are not vaccinated; get your booster shot if you are, and get rapid testing if you have the slightest symptoms.

By the way: Happy New Year. It would be great if we could talk about something else in 2022. One gets that we are all just sick and tired of this. This fifth wave seems to already be draining the spirit and resolve from everyone, but until COVID-19 reaches the point where it’s no longer affecting every aspect of our lives, we will continue to have to follow the best practices we can and keep a careful eye on the numbers. Right now, those numbers are rather depressing most everywhere.

Here in Saskatchewan, we are now seeing a record average more than 500 cases a day although - thankfully, so far - seeing only a minimal increase in hospitalizations and ICU admissions. This means we are either seeing:

1. A more contagious but milder strain that will, as the government hopes, pass through us quickly leaving behind minimal damage to the population or the health system, or;

2.

The front end of what will be a massive problem to come in which sheer numbers of infected people (even if the percentage of serious infections is lower) will crush our health system through high hospital admissions down the road.

We all hope it will be the latter and nobody is hoping this more than the Saskatchewan Party government that may again be ignoring warning and not taking enough preventative measures - what it said wouldn’t do after the fourth wave.

What’s at stake for Premier Scott Moe goes well beyond the health and well-being of Saskatchewan’s citizenry. To guess wrong about this fifth wave will have consequences for a Premier and a government that already took a substantial 18-percentage point hit in the polls after guessing wrong about the fourth wave and removing too many restrictions too quickly, but Moe and his government may not be the only ones unsure about the best course of action. A lot of people are struggling including parents with kids going back to school.

As of the writing of this, we await a plan for schools from Education Minister Dustin Duncan and Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab.

Saskatchewan and the Yukon are the only jurisdictions now holding in-class learning during this Omicron wave - surely, a gamble for this government if things go awry and we see rapid spread among children.

It will be especially bad for this government who basically took a two-week hiatus during the Christmas break instead of developing a plan for schools and how to better handle the Omicron wave in general.

The thing is, it’s just not a simple slam-dunk to close schools - a decision that’s created a massive backlash in other jurisdictions like Ontario where working parents were caught off guard and are now scrambling.

Even Saskatchewan NDP leader Ryan Meili - who has advocated schools be closed another week - admitted in-home learning isn’t popular and didn’t propose many other alternatives. Dealing with such COVID-19 issues will remain difficult for some time yet.

A bold, confident Saskatchewan that can also offer hope and opportunity will allow us all to meet the challenges before us. The last two years have certainly presented new challenges, and we have answered them with perseverance, courage, faith and compassion.

Lending a helping hand to those who need it is a Saskatchewan trait, and our government is pleased to see new services coming. Our investment of $6 million in annual funding has provided for 77 new mental health treatment beds in four communities, two more beds than first announced. So far, 67 beds are now serving residents in Saskatoon, Regina and North Battleford, with ten additional spaces opening in Prince Albert this March.

Residential mental health beds offer client-centred services for people who have severe and persistent mental health needs. These beds help people live more successfully in the community while reducing the pressures on emergency rooms, police cells and homeless shelters. The initiative allows for a better focus on recovery by providing a supportive living environment and understanding the challenges clients face each day.

The 77 beds move us towards our promise of adding another 150 treatment spaces over the next three years. We will continue to partner with charitable organizations and third-party providers to achieve that goal. Those relationships will support individuals as they focus on recovery goals, maintain optimal living conditions and work through stability barriers.

Investing in Water Planning & Development

Following an extremely difficult year of drought, the Water Security Agency (WSA) is helping producers prepare for the future. Free online workshops are being offered through April of this year, focused on innovative techniques to best manage water on their land. Managing water effectively has made significant contributions to our province and can be an important economic tool for farmers and ranchers. Facing increased challenges due to climate change, the WSA wants to assist in planning for agriculture drainage projects that are adapted and resilient to weather extremes, such as floods or drought, while increasing productivity.

We are also investing in water development across the province. We have tripled funding through the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure program to improve and build dugouts, wells and pipelines. This year, a $2.5 million commitment will build on existing irrigation development to increase the number of irrigable acres.

The Lake Diefenbaker project is a major initiative that will transform agriculture in the province. When complete, the project will increase irrigation opportunities, help diversify crop production, attract value-added processing and improve water security for communities in the area. It has the potential to boost Saskatchewan’s gross domestic product by as much as $80 billion over the next 50 years.

Water planning aside, there was some good news in the 2021 Conditions at Freeze-Up Report. Weather modelling data for December through March indicates parts of Central and Northern Saskatchewan could see wetter than normal conditions. The modelling is also predicting near-normal precipitation for the rest of Saskatchewan. While constantly changing, this data indicates some relief could be on the way following drier conditions last year.

Our government is committed to making sure Saskatchewan is ready for the future. We see a Saskatchewan that has thriving vibrant communities, more people, more jobs and more opportunities. To accomplish these goals and more, we will work towards better access to health care, a stronger economy, safer communities, better education, and a more independent province that will lead the nation for years to come.

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Page 8 - JANUARY 13, 2022 - martensville messenger

City of Martensville Continues Work Towards Joint Water/Waste Water Project With Saskatoon Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

Since 2014, the City of Martensville has been collaborating with Saskatoon on a project that would see the larger city provide water and wastewater services directly to Martensville.

Currently, Martensville gets its water from the City of Saskatoon through SaskWater and our wastewater travels through various lift stations in the community before being treated by a system of cells at the lagoon before traveling underground to the South Saskatchewan River. In the winter, the treated water (effluent) is held within the lagoon until the ground thaws in the spring.

The population of Martensville has grown in size, which means the current process is no longer viable and therefore, the City of Martensville began looking into a solution. The partnership with Saskatoon will allow for continued population growth.

In December, at the Committee of the Whole meeting, Martensville City Manager Scott Blevins spoke to Council regarding this project, noting that the two municipalities have been working on an agreement and are in the final stages. Blevins also explained that as part of this agreement, there would be a monthly fee that would be paid to SaskWater of

$19,542 for the next ten years. This is something that the City of Saskatoon Council has already agreed to.

These monthly fees would be in place to compensate SaskWater a portion of the loss that would occur after the project between the two communities is completed.

Martensville is currently in the phase of detailed engineering of the pipelines between Martensville and Saskatoon. “Once engineering is completed, we will be able to finalize a construction schedule. Both the City of Martensville and the City of Saskatoon are continuing to work together closely on this project and are excited about the final outcomes,” Director of Infrastructure and Planning, Matt Gruza, explained.

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SGI Reminds Residents to Be Mindful of Ice Damming

SGI wants homeowners to be aware that the freeze-thaw cycle creates ideal conditions for condensation and ice damming. Both will cause a lot of damage to the walls, ceiling and insulation of your home.

They may even lead to mould.

The ideal conditions for ice damming look like this: freeze – thaw – freeze – thaw

SGI CANADA put together some information to help you stop condensation and ice damming. Fortunately, both problems can often be spotted and hopefully prevented by removing as much snow as possible off your roof, along with a few other tips.

What's condensation and ice damming? These problems are caused by freeze-thaw weather cycles. The snow becomes a layer of insulation on your roof, which warms up the air in your attic. If you have poor attic ventilation, the warm air can lead to condensation. This also causes the snow to melt and roll down to the edge of the roof and the soffits. Unless the melted snow can drain properly, it’ll freeze and build up over time, creating ice dams.

Throughout the winter, if the ice dams spread up the roof, water will work its way under your shingles and get into your attic. The water can seep into your insulation, roof and walls. Warm air from your home will rise into your attic, making the ice dam grow. Over time, wet surfaces attract mold, which causes breathing problems and makes repairs much more expensive.

Ice damming is a vicious cycle! If you don't take care of it right away, it's going to get worse.

Five tips to prevent ice damming:

1. Get the snow off your roof - You should always keep the snow load on your roof to a minimum to prevent it from causing an ice dam. We don't recommend climbing on the roof yourself. Use a roof rake or hire a professional to clear away excess snow. Read our tips for using a roof rake.

2. Try and find the vent on your roof - When you find the vent, make sure to clear the snow and ice out of it – not just the snow on top of it.

3. Clear your gutters and downspouts - Melting snow and icy water need somewhere to go. Clean leaves out of your downspouts and gutters in the fall and try to get rid of as much ice, snow and gunk as possible throughout the winter. Break off any icicles that build up around the roof of your home.

4. Keep the air moving in your attic - Your attic needs good insulation and ventilation. Without it, the heat inside your home will leak into the attic and cause the snow on the roof to melt. We recommend bringing in a roofing contractor to make sure the airflow is working properly.

5. Make sure fans and venting are sealed Many homes have exhaust fans, air ducts, chimneys, attic hatches and pipes - and many of these are vented into the attic. They're designed to move air flow properly, but if they aren't sealed, extra air can escape around them.

We recommend going into your attic and checking the seals. If they’re leaky, you can fix them yourself or hire a professional to take care of it for you. Good seals will save you money by keeping your house warmer and preventing your furnace from working harder to heat it.

Know the signs of an ice dam:

1. Icicles on your roof - This is one of the 1st signs that you have an ice dam. Icicles building up indicate that your gutters are full and the melting water has nowhere to go.

2. Dark-coloured icicles - The colour is usually caused by dirt from inside your house and means you probably have an ice dam. Discoloured icicles are caused by water coming into your attic, picking up dirt and taking it back outside.

3. New water-stains on your ceilings - If you see stains on your ceiling during the winter, you probably have an ice dam. Water stains can appear on every floor of your home. It can also run down the inside of your walls and pour into your basement. This is a pretty good indication of a dam.

4. Melted snow on your roof - Take a look at your roof and those of your neighbours. Is your melting the same or different? Are there places on the roof where the snow has melted more than others? More at the top or more at the bottom? If you have different types of melting, you might have ice damming.

5. Dams - Lastly, are there hills or mounds of ice running along the bottom edge of your roof? That's a good sign that you have ice damming.