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ABOVE: Wrench Fitness is kicking off another year of fitness by offering a bi/weekly membership rate of $20.21 if you sign up during the month of January. This rate is good for as long as your membership is active. (Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger)
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Page 2 - JANUARY 14, 2021 - martensville messenger
Recreation Program Update Winter Wonderland , Cross Country Skiing Workshops
Winter Wonderland is running from January 9th until March 13th and will feature a number of workshops, activities and events to enjoy. Watch for updates for what is coming up! January 9th-17th Snowshoe Rentals at the MAP, contact the MAP, jmcculloch@ martensville.ca for snowshoe availability and information. A Day in the Park! -Sledding Edition January 23rd at the Kinsmen Park Hill, 1-4PM for Sledding, Music and Family Fun
Snowmobiles In The Parks Are Not Permitted
The City of Martensville has received numerous complaints about snowmobiles being driven through city streets, parks, municipal reserves and drainage systems. The use of snowmobiles in parks is a safety concern as well as a maintenance issue due to the potential damage to trees, plantings and other landscaping. Snowmobiles operating in the parks are subject to fines under the Snowmobile Bylaw.
January and February Council Meeting Dates
Please Note: The upcoming Council Schedule or location may be subject to change based around any potential new developments or ease of restrictions around the COVID-19 Pandemic. Anyone interested in attending is strongly encouraged to contact the City Clerk prior to planning to attend. Regular Council Meeting- January 19th Committee of the Whole- February 9th Regular Council Meeting- February 16th 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 5PM. 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.
Civic Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic- What You Should Know!
City Hall is Open, however with some guidelines currently in place. Continue to utilize online and contactless options when possible. 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. Residents and Customers are encouraged to carry out transactions electronically such as online banking, preauthorized payments or TIPPS. Cheques may also be dropped off in the drop slot at City Hall. The City had implemented a number of measures to assist property owners and businesses during the pandemic, including extending the Property Tax deadline from July 31st to October 30th. Property Taxes are now due with interest charges on overdue accounts now accruing. Stay Informed! - The City of Martensville has created a dedicated webpage to provide information, updates, and additional resources around the COVID-19 pandemic. This page is accessible through the homepage at Martensville.ca. Please continue to follow us, media sources and information from the Province of Saskatchewan for the most current information around updates or new measures for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 Use of Masks are Mandatory in Saskatchewan - Residents are required to wear non-medical masks in indoor public spaces to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This is a Public Health Order and is subject to enforcement and fines. Health officials strongly recommend wearing a non-medical mask anywhere outside the home. Current Status of Public Facilities as of January 8th, 2021 Martensville Athletic Pavilion - Drop in and Pick-up programs are cancelled in accordance to changes in the Saskatchewan Re-Open Plan North Ridge Centre - Provincial gathering guidelines Heritage Centre - Provincial gathering guidelines Sports Centre - Open 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 during this time. After Hour Water and Sewer Emergencies - should still be directed through the Emergency line at City Hall, (306) 931-2166, ext.1. Protective Services - There are no changes in duty or status to Protective Services such as the RCMP, Martensville Fire Department, and Ambulance Service. Water and Sewer - These services remain unimpacted and unchanged, including water quality testing. Meter reading will continue to take place under the Read/Estimate schedule; however, staff will not be doing reads of meters located inside of homes or occupied buildings. In these cases, estimates will be taken or reads can be provided into City Hall. In respect to water and sewer emergencies, city staff may not be able to enter resident homes at this time and private contractors should be considered. Water Meter Read/Estimate Schedule - The Water Meter Read/Estimate schedule is in place continues to be extended into foreseeable future. Visit Martensville.ca, ‘Reading Your Water Meter’ for schedule information or watch Facebook for reminders about submitting your reading. Utility Accounts - Water service will not be discontinued due to non-payment or overdue account status. Garbage and Recycling - Services remain in place and on schedule with no anticipated service delays at this time. Organics collection has now closed for the season and will recommence in May 2021. Road Maintenance - will continue as required and is not expected to change at this time. Playgrounds, Parks and Sports Fields - Playgrounds are currently open. Sports Fields have reopened but users should continue to follow activity guidelines as may be provided under the Provincial Re-Open plan. Trails and passive park spaces remain open for use, but we continue to urge residents to incorporate safe practices.
martensville messenger - JANUARY 14, 2021 - Page 3
Dog Waste Creates Unappealing Mess on Local Trails Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
A conversation that has been popping up on local social media pages recently centres around the amount of dog waste that is being left on the ground around Martensville parks and pathways. According to Ted Schaeffer, City of Martensville Director of Recreation & Community Services, there is a bylaw in the community regarding this, and can be enforced by Martensville Bylaw; however, this can be challenging because someone would have to be caught in the act of not picking up their dog’s waste, which is a difficult task. “We rely on people’s good nature to be responsible pet owners and pick up dog waste,” Schaeffer said. Pet Waste Stations can be found throughout our local parks and pathways, and Schaeffer noted that if there is an area where people are seeing quite a bit of dog waste and no dog bag station there, let the City of Martensville know so they can look into having one installed in the area. City employees try to maintain areas with dog waste left on the ground as much as possible; however, they aren’t always able to see it all. “It is a bit of a challenge, because a few people that aren’t as responsible ruin it for others. I am pretty confident that the majority of dog owners are responsible and pick up there dog waste, but ABOVE: Pet waste stations there are always those that don’t,” Schaeffer added. can be found throughout Unfortunately, this is not a new issue and is Martensville’s parks and something that often has to be reminded each year. pathways. Schaeffer added, “When I go walk my dog, rarely do I see anyone with a dog that doesn’t pick up waste, so it is hard to catch someone in the act. If I do see someone, I will give them a dog bag, or educate them about it. It is important for us all to respect our shared space.” So let’s all try to be respectful and pick up after our pets before the spring thaw makes the situation that much worse.
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Prairie Spirit School Announces Changes to Bus Service During Extreme Cold Weather This year, Prairie Spirit School Division (PSSD) announced changes made to their bus schedule once the extreme cold weather hits the province. Previously, if a bus route was cancelled due to extreme cold in the morning, it would automatically be cancelled for the entire day. New changes implemented now mean that if a bus is cancelled in the morning due to extreme cold, it could potentially run in the afternoon if conditions have improved. “Bus routes cancelled at 6am due to cold weather will operate on their regular routes at the end of the school day, provided that temperatures reported at 12 noon are warmer than -40 degrees Celsius (combined temperature/windchill,)” PSSD stated in a notice to the public. Families will receive updates on the bus schedule and cancellations through the Versatrans My Stop app, and updates will also be posted on the PSSD website and phone hotline at 306-683-2805 by 1pm. For more information about PSSD Bus Procedures and Bus Service Cancellation Due to Inclement Weather, visit www.spiritsd.ca.
Positive COVID Case Confirmed at Martensville Elementary School
On January 10, officials from the Saskatchewan Health Authority informed Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools (GSCS) of a positive COVID-19 case in an individual at École Holy Mary Catholic School in Martensville. According to a media release, they are working with Public Health to notify parents and caregivers. Risk of exposure for anyone not considered a close contact remains low. The affected class switch to online instruction starting January 11. To protect privacy of individuals, no further details will be discussed or shared. “We hope all who are ill or affected by COVID-19 in any way are doing well. As a community of faith, we continue to support each other and pray for all members of our school communities who are ill,” the media release stated. GSCS continued to state that it is important that we all continue to follow health measures to decrease both the spread of COVID-19 in our communities and the risk of it entering schools. Multiple layers of important safety precautions are in place, and students and families are reminded to: • be diligent in performing the daily health screening; • stay home if you are ill; • call HealthLine 811 if you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms; • practice proper hand hygiene; • maintain physical distancing as much as possible; • wear a mask when inside public places; and • do all we can to keep each other safe.
Learn. Play. Grow. We have what you're looking for. Discover what Catholic education has to offer. Kindergarten registration for fall 2021 is open. We are not able to host visitors at this time. You can register online or call us with questions.
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martensville messenger - JANUARY 14, 2021 - Page 5
Martensville Doctors Receive First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Due to Work With Seniors Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
As of January 12, a total of 9,880 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Saskatchewan. Another Pfizer shipment of 6,825 doses was expected to arrive in Saskatoon on the 12th, and from there, vaccinations will continue among priority long term care and personal care home residents and staff. The next Moderna shipment of 5,400 doses is expected to arrive within the province on January 14, with 500 doses set to be distributed to the Far North East zone to continue the first doses in the priority sequencing. The remaining doses will be distributed as first doses to priority long term and personal care home staff and residents and health care workers in the South East and Central East zones. Locally, doctors at Martensville Collective Health and Wellness (MCHW) received their first dose of the vaccine due to their work within long term and personal care homes within the region. “When I first got the call, I was overwhelmed and excited, but as the time came closer, I began to feel sadness that I was receiving it before so many others. We were identified as a priority group because of our work with seniors. Through this pandemic, there have been times when we haven’t been able to provide care to the personal and long term care homes because the risk for going in for a low acuity issue was too high with the risk of us bringing in something that we didn’t know we were bringing,” Dr. Adamus of MCHW explained. After receiving the first dose of the vaccine, Dr. Adamus noted that herself, along with the other doctors at MCHW that received the vaccine, did not have any severe reactions in the days that followed. They will all be receiving their second dose of the vaccine near the end of this month; however, being vaccinated will not change any of the precautions that are currently in place. Within the coming weeks, Dr. Adamus noted that long term care and personal care home residents will be vaccinated; however, she reminds the public that there are still many high-risk individuals that will not be receiving the vaccine for some time, so it is important to remain vigilant and follow the current guidelines that are in place.
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“I believe that this is the light at the end of the tunnel that we have been waiting for, but it is not the time to get lax just because this is coming. We still have to protect each other. I know that it can be frustrating and feel like we are not getting anywhere, but we are gaining some ground and we will get there. It all counts on everyone holding the fort down and staying vigilant with these precautions. We know that when we pull together, we can make this work and slow that spread,” Dr. Adamus said. Prior to receiving the vaccine, Dr. Adamus did quite a bit of research and talked to people within the field in order to educate herself about it. “I did that work ahead of time, so when the call came and my turn was up, I felt comfortable with it. It is so important to educate yourself on these things and ensure that you are receiving your information from a valid source.” Adamus added that there is much to learn about these types of vaccines, and although they are new to us, they are not new to science. “They have been working on these types of vaccines for a very long time. The technology was there, but it was just about adapting it to this particular virus, which was part of the reason it could get done so quickly. This is also proof of what can be done when the world comes together with everything from supply chains, information, technology and bureaucratic red tape. When all of that is working together worldwide, incredible things happen.” On Tuesday, January 12, it was announced that the public health order issued on December 17, 2020 will remain in effect until January 29 and at that time will be received by the provincial Chief Medical Health Officer. For complete information on the current public health measures or to see the Public Health Order, visit http://www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-measures. That same day, there was a total of 248 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to date to 18,770 cases. “People are feeling discouraged because our numbers are so high, but I have been reminding my patients that the numbers are not really any higher than they were before Christmas. They are higher than we would like them to be, but not necessarily getting any worse, which means we are staying the course. This virus has exponential growth, so it seems we are staying steady, rather than seeing those massive jumps in numbers. I would certainly like to see the numbers drop; however, I am not discouraged because they are not any higher.”
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The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) issued an alert due to a significant risk of increased exposure at Crackers Restaurant/Bar on Pinehouse Drive in Saskatoon between December 23 and January 4 due to persons attending while infectious. An outbreak has been declared at Crackers as of January 8 and is being described as a potential superspreader event. Currently, 16 positive cases have been identified and SHA noted that there is a significant risk for potential second generation spread. SHA added that individuals that attended this location between the above dates must immediately self-isolate for 14 days following the date of exposure and to contact Healthline 811, their physician or nurse practitioner, if they develop symptoms from two to 14 days following exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. Additionally, people that were potentially exposed to COVID are being asked to notify those that they were in close contact with during the 14 day period following exposure at this location, noting that a close contact can include someone that you live with or had close, prolonged contact with (within two metres), had 4:20:31 PM direct contact with the body fluids (ex: coughed or sneezed on) or shared personal items with such as drinking cups or utensils.
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Page 6 - JANUARY 14, 2021 - martensville messenger
martensville messenger - JANUARY 7, 2021 - Page 7
Provincial Politics with
Murray Mandryk
We Haven’t Prepared for COVID-19
The good news is that the light at the end of tunnel in the COVID-19 fight might be something other than the proverbial train. As of Jan. 5, Saskatchewan had received 13,675 COVID-19 vaccines in total, including 8,775 from Pfizer/ BioNTech and 4,900 from Moderna that the province aims to distribute in the north. As of the writing of this column, the province had issued 4,254 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. This is far below the pace needed to meet the stated goal of vaccinating 10,725 people each and every week. Clearly, things aren’t going as well as hoped and it’s largely because only a fraction of the doses allotted to Saskatchewan have made their way into people’s arms. That translates into only 31.1 per cent of the vaccines actually administered, leaving 68.9 per cent to languish in the freezers. There is some progress being made as the Moderna vaccine doesn’t require minus-80-degree storage to the north. But with only 150 to maybe 240 vaccines being administered each day, it is going to take a ridiculously long time to immunize an entire province of nearly 1.2 million people. As a result, many more are likely to get sick or even die as we await this to happen. That the Saskatchewan Party government was making some headway last week at getting the vaccines to northerners and frontline health care workers is obviously a positive. It’s critical to first address those most at risk. And the one thing this virus has surely taught us by now is those most at risk are those who come into close contacts and those clustered together in remote, small communities. But by now, it should have also taught us to be both more prepared and more vigilant than we have been. It’s here where Premier Scott Moe’s government has been falling short. The Saskatchewan Premier and other Premiers across the country do have a right to be frustrated by the federal Liberal government’s inability to get the vaccines in the hands of the province quicker. That Prime Minister Justin Trudeau complains about also being “frustrated” by the vaccine rollout largely points the reality that no one properly prepared for what we faced. Really, there was no particular reason why we didn’t have a better distribution plan in place — especially given that we had months to devise one as we awaited the arrival of an effective vaccine. But preparedness has never been exactly the strength of governments. This pandemic has surely reminded us of that. For example, where a vast disproportion of deaths have occurred is in personal care homes — something that many chalk up to the reality of housing elderly people with underlying health conditions. But unless you’re, sadly, of the mind that we shouldn’t be doing our utmost to protect the elderly and vulnerable, what this COVID-19 has done is underscore our past failings. For a decade now, we’ve been all too aware that crowded senior homes were recipe for disaster for our most vulnerable. But especially when it comes to the city, private nursing homes, we haven’t done our utmost. We did what seemed most cost-efficient and affordable and we now may be paying a price for it. At the best of times, governments tend to get distracted — sometimes simply by their own rules they choose not to follow. This was the case in the recent rash of resignations across the country — including that of former highways minister Joe Hargrave — for flouting strong government recommendations that advised everyone else to stay home at Christmas. Good governance is all about focussing on what needs to be done. Moe’s Sask. Party government needs to get back to that.
MLA Report with Terry Jenson Making Life More Affordable for Saskatchewan People
Happy new year to all my friends and neighbours in Martensville-Warman! Though the year has just begun, your Saskatchewan Party government is already at work to make life more affordable for Saskatchewan people. This year, a series of new and returning provincial income tax and other taxreducing initiatives will keep more money in your pocket. All Saskatchewan income tax brackets and tax credit amounts will be indexed in 2021, saving taxpayers an estimated $15 million. ABOVE: Terry Jenson We know how important it is to support active children in our province, therefore we are reinstating the Active Families Benefit. The benefit is a non-refundable tax credit of $150 per year, per child to eligible families. Families of children with a disability will receive an additional $50, for a total tax credit of $200 per year, per child. In the 2021 tax year, families will be able to claim this benefit to reduce the overall cost of children’s activities. Last year, our government made a commitment to introduce the Saskatchewan Home Renovation Tax Credit, which is now in place. Under this non-refundable tax credit, Saskatchewan homeowners may save up to $1,155 in provincial income tax in 2021 by claiming a 10.5 per cent tax credit on up to $11,000 on the cost of permits, contractor labour and professional services, building materials, fixtures, and equipment rental expenses incurred between October 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021. A further $945 in savings may be claimed in 2022 in respect of eligible expenses incurred between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022. Community rinks are an important part of the fabric of Saskatchewan that offer a place to gather, stay healthy and have fun. The Community Rink Affordability Grant program is accepting applications until March 12, 2021 for grants of up to $2,500 a year per indoor ice surface to help cover costs. The grant may be used to offset the cost of operations, minor capital upgrades or to outfit the facility with COVID-19-related expenditures. It is expected that more than 600 ice surfaces in nearly 400 communities will be eligible to receive this support. I encourage you to contact my constituency office for more information on any of the above programs or initiatives.
Feds Pocketing Carbon Taxes
While this government is working to make life more affordable in Saskatchewan, the Trudeau Liberals continue to impose a carbon tax on our communities. During a year where every family, community and industry experienced economic hardship, the federal government has still deemed it necessary to collect and increase this ineffective tax. A recent Environment Canada report shows that in Saskatchewan $270 million in carbon taxes were collected, with households only receiving $244.6 million back. The tax is not revenue neutral as the Trudeau Liberals have claimed; the only thing being reduced is our quality of life. From its introduction, our government has led the battle against the Trudeau carbon tax. We have taken our concern to the Supreme Court which is expected to decide on the legality of this tax later this year. As we await this decision, we will continue to defend the rights of the people we serve, while we work to improve our environmental stewardship. To that end, Innovation Saskatchewan has entered into a partnership to establish a world-class cleantech accelerator program in Saskatchewan.
Vaccine Rollout
Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 vaccine delivery plan is currently being rolled out. The first doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been administered to health care workers in both Regina and Saskatoon, marking the completion of the pilot project for our delivery plan. The second rounds of the Pfizer vaccine have already begun to be delivered to health care workers, making those who have received the vaccine fully immune. Also underway are Pfizer vaccines in Prince Albert and the first Moderna vaccinations heading to communities in the Far North Zone and Far North Central zones. As per the COVID-19 immunization prioritization, eligible health care staff as well as long term and personal care home residents will receive these vaccines. During this pilot program of the vaccine rollout, the manufacturer and the Public Health Agency of Canada required us to hold back the second shot of the vaccine but, going forward, we will not be required to do that. Saskatchewan is ready to deliver vaccines as quickly and as safely as possible as soon as we receive more doses. The federal government is now telling us to expect only 30,000 doses by the end of January. This is not nearly enough and is considerably less than what they had estimated last month. Our government will continue to voice our concern. As we continue to administer more vaccines each day, we ask that you please remain disciplined and continue to abide by public health orders. Wear your mask and stay home if you are feeling unwell. The finish line is close, but we will not reach it as a province if we do not continue to do our due diligence.
Members of the Martensville/Warman RCMP Detachment responded to 253 complaints between December 20, 2020 and January 4, 2021. 19 Criminal Code charges and 44 Provincial traffic charges were laid. There were 3 assaults reported with 5 charges laid, 2 robbery/extortion/threats reported with 1 charge laid, 1 break and enter charge and 1 theft of a motor vehicle. The Provincial traffic charges were as follows; 33 speeding reports and 22 charges, 25 moving vehicles reported with 7 charges, 22 non-moving vehicles reported with 8 charges, 11 intersection reports with 4 charges, 1 fail to remain at accident scene and 2 written warnings. There were 8 reported impaired drivers with 7 being charged, 1 driving while disqualified charge and 2 dangerous driving charges.
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 - JANUARY 14, 2021 - martensville messenger Keep the Community up-to-date on
SPORTS
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 included in our weekly sports report.
Former Martensville Marauder Becomes a North Star
Janine Hayward Martensville Messenger
Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger
Holden Doell, a 17 year old phenomenon from Martensville, has a bright hockey future ahead. The Martensville resident started making his mark with the Martensville Marauders U15 AA in their 2017-2018 season achieving 24 goals and 14 assists. He joined Beardy’s Blackhawks U18 AAA for the 2018-2019 season and racked up 11 goals and 8 assists in his first season with them. He then went on to become the leading scorer with the Blackhawks in his second year there with 26 goals and 51 assists for a total of 77 points in 42 games.
He had a brief stint at the Junior A level with the Battleford North Stars that same year earning 3 assists in 3 games. Known for his speed and great shot, in the short season with just two games with the Saskatoon Blazers U18 AAA team, Doell has two goals and five points. On Tuesday, December 15, 2020, the Battlefords North Stars announced the 2018 first round pick, Doell to join the SJHL league for the 2021-22 season. Good luck to Holden Doell in the upcoming year.
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Crossword Corner
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