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Your City; Your Newspaper January 20, 2022

VOLUME NO. 16 - ISSUE 03

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

17 Centennial Drive North

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We’ve Got Spirit ABOVE: The Winter Knockout Championships were held at the Martensville Athletic Pavilion on Saturday, January 15. See story on Page 4. Jocelyn Ottenbreit/MM

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2021

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

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Coming Together in 2020:

Page 2 - JANUARY 20, 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.

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.

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.

Snow Removal this Winter – What You Need to Know

Current Status of Public Facilities as of January 7th

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.

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

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.

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. Committee of the Whole Meeting- February 8th Regular Council Meeting- February 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.

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- 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

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 is 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

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Guardian Angel Helps Bring Cat Home Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger

Q u i n n Avery said that her cat, Rey, had never gone further than her backyard or neighbors’ backyard before, when her cat went missing on October 9th. So after three days of Rey not coming home, Avery began to get worried. “I posted on multiple missing pets groups on Facebook and went out every day around Martensville looking for her with no luck. Months went by and there was still no sign of her, so I started to give up hope, but was still holding on to it a little bit,” said Avery. On the morning of Tuesday, ABOVE: Rey went missing on October 9th and came home on January 11th, Avery January 12th after a guardian angel gave her a temporary home decided to post until the owner clamed her thanks to social media. her missing cat on Facebook one more time expecting to be disappointed again. She received a message from a lady by the name Colleen Wozney who said she thought she may have her cat. “I knew instantly that the cat in the picture was my Rey. I immediately started crying and called her.” Wozney lives on a farm outside of Outlook and on October 31, 22 days after Rey went missing, she spotted a cat along the tree line outside her yard. She noticed the cat hopping on only three legs, picked her up and took her straight to the vet with a suspected broken leg. Weighing only four and a half pounds, the vet diagnosed her with a bad infection in her front leg. Although they don’t know for sure, the assumption is that someone took her out in the middle of nowhere and dumped her off. Avery is very grateful of her ‘guardian angel,’ who spotted her on the side of the road. Wozney took her in, gave her medical attention and the most amazing temporary home. “On January 12th, we took the trip to Outlook to make sure it was her and bring her home. When we got to the house, she hid under the bed, which I don't blame her because it had been three months. I knelt down beside the bed, called her name and she immediately came running to me. There were many happy tears, finally being reunited with the cat who's been there for me through many hard times. She's now back home with us and our house feels complete and full again.” “Colleen was truly our guardian angel. We talked and talked about how crazy and amazing it was that I had an intuition to post one more time, and she just happened to see it.” All vet costs were covered that Wozney paid for, and they plan to keep in contact with her with an open invitation to come visit Rey any time she wants, as they too have developed a bond to each other. “I can't express how grateful I will always be to her, and to all the people who shared my posts and encouraged me to never give up hope.”

martensville messenger - JANUARY 20, 2022 - Page 3

Martensville Fire Department Honours Members

ABOVE: Firefighter Dustin Hollman was recognized with five years of service on Wednesday, January 12th.

ABOVE: Captain Ryan Cross was recognized with 15 years of service on Wednesday, January 12th.

Saskatoon’s COVID-19 Mass Vaccine Clinic Reopens at Prairieland Park The mass vaccine clinic at Prairieland Park was reopened to booked appointments Tuesday, January 18 in Hall B. The clinic was previously located in Hall E and has been moved to the new location in Hall B. The new location will also start accepting walk-ins on Thursday, January 20. The Prairieland vaccine clinic offers Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, as well as influenza vaccines. All vaccination clinic details, including hours, dates and additional locations, can be found on the SHA website. The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has had a presence at Prairieland Park since early 2021 in order to vaccinate as many Saskatoon and area residents as possible, as efficiently as possible. The square footage of Hall B (40,000 sq ft) will allow the immunization team to meet the continued demand for COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, and flu shots. This website is updated regularly and is the main source of information for all vaccine clinics in the province. You can also book an appointment for a vaccination by visiting the online booking system or by calling 1-833-SASKVAX. The SHA would like to thank Prairieland Park for their continued partnership and support, which has allowed thousands of individuals to be vaccinated throughout the pandemic, as well as our other partners, including the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Police Service, Station 20 West, Confederation Park Mall, and Lawson Heights Mall, for providing additional space to maintain capacity for vaccine clinics while the move at Prairieland was completed. Protect Yourself Today! The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is strongly encouraging all Saskatchewan residents 5 years of age and older to be immunized with two doses. COVID -19 variants are continuing to develop and spread, and are more transmissible than the initial COVID-19 virus. Vaccines are proving to be effective in protecting individuals from serious illness against these variants, and high vaccination rates in our province will help curb the spread. View this Public Service Announcement on the Saskatchewan Health Authority website: https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/news-events/news/ saskatoons-covid-19-mass-vaccine-clinic-reopens-prairieland-park

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Unique Opportunity Available for Youth Female Hockey Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

This February, female hockey players from Martensville and the surrounding area will have a unique opportunity to hone their skills. An all-new Barn Burner: Female Hockey Development Camp will take place February 22nd and 23rd in Martensville. This two-day event will be held in partnership with the Martensville Minor Hockey Association and will be geared towards female players and youth in U7 to U13 divisions. All skill levels from absolute beginner to experienced are welcome. Camp highlights include: - Passing, puck control & puck protection - Deception moves including dekes and fakes - Power skating with speed, agility & stickhandling - Battling, angling and body positioning instruction - Hockey conditioning dryland - Yoga stretching & fun More details will be released in the coming weeks and registration will open on January 30th. Follow the ‘Barn Burner: Female Hockey Development Camp’ page on Facebook for more information.

SPORTS Cheer Competition Back After Two Year Hiatus Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger

After two years of shutting the lights off at Warman Cheer Classic, Leslie Stevenson, Owner and Coach of Warman Ultimate Cheer, had no idea what the future would hold and what it would take to come back. Athletes and parents decided it was time to start taking steps to getting some normalcy back and decided to go ahead with the Winter Knockout Championship, which was the first competition in Western Canada in two years. There were around 900 athletes that staggered throughout the day, mainly from Moose Jaw, Regina and surrounding areas. The awards ceremony was removed to help with the flow of the audience and athletes, and not to confine them in one space. Stevenson said that as much as everyone wants to get back to normal, it will take steps to get there, and everyone’s steps may be different. “There truly are no words to describe what today felt like but it was definitely emotional. Today felt like it took forever to get to but once it actually happened it was like we never left the mat. It was nothing but positivity all around. Our community is strong and we will help each other get there no matter what it takes. Thank you for everyone’s trust today. We are back!”

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U21 Provincials Comes to Martensville in February Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger

The U21 Provincials will be hosted in Martensville starting February 24th. So far four men’s and four women’s teams have qualified to attend. Team Ede from Martensville is one of the teams that will be participating in this Provincial competition. Ly d i a Zukewich, a local Martensville curler, curls with Team Hoag who also qualified. There will be four more men’s and women’s teams to qualify which will be held in Moose Jaw at the end of January for a total of 8 men’s and 8 women’s teams ABOVE: Team Ede from the Martensville Curling Club will be competing. competing in Provincials at the end of February.

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martensville messenger - JANUARY 20, 2022 - Page 5

Sask eHealth Warns of Fraudulent Text

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

eHealth Saskatchewan is warning the public of a test message scam that is currently circulating regarding COVID-19 vaccines, stating “Don’t tap that link!”. The message poses as an online vaccination scheduling website that is contacting you regarding your third COVID-19 vaccine. The link included in the text contains malware which can infect your device and put you at risk for identity fraud by exposing your personal information, banking details and online account credentials.

A text similar to this one was identified by the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) in September 2021 and at that time, CAFC notified the public to beware of unsolicited text messages and emails from individuals or organizations asking you to click on a link or attachment, watch for spelling mistakes in unsolicited messages, or to verify the hyperlink behind the text or button by hovering over the text with your mouse. Do not tap/click on links or attachments in unsolicited messages as they can contain viruses or spyware, or contact the individual or organization directly to verify legitimacy.

Fraudulent activity can be reported to local police, or can be reported to the CAFC’s online reporting system at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or by phone at 1-888-495-8501.

Supporting TeleMiracle Since the 70’s Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

Ray Kneeland is a familiar name and face to many residents within Martensville and the surrounding area. For years, Kneeland was the owner/operator of the OK Corral, located just north of Martensville. It was here that countless events were held to help raise money for TeleMiracle. Since the mid 70’s, Kneeland has raised approximately $460,000 for the annual fundraiser through a wide array of fundraisers such as trail rides, rodeos, gymkhanas, raffles and more. Kneeland currently lives in Saskatoon and had an exciting visit with a familiar face last week. On January 13, Beverley Mahood made the trip to Saskatoon to sit down with Ray and talk about all of his years of contribution to TeleMiracle. Beverley brought a cameraman with her and the interview will be televised on this year’s TeleMiracle, which takes place March 5-6 in Regina. Kneeland’s interview will be shown on Sunday, March 6th around 1pm. Due to COVID, the format of TeleMiracle has changed, so instead of live, on-air presentations, previously recorded interviews will be aired. For the past 25 years, Mahood has been a key part of TeleMiracle, and during that time, Kneeland and the country music singer/songwriter have formed a close friendship. “She is so down to earth and pleasant to visit with. I have told so many people that over the years and they have said the same thing just by watching her on stage with people. I had the chance to watch her perform at a fundraiser show years ago and it was priceless to watch her interact with the crowd while on stage,” Kneeland said. It was actually Mahood that helped Kneeland with stage fright when he began making live presentations at TeleMiracle. “When I was younger I didn’t like public speaking because I had such an awful time getting up in front of people to talk. The first time she was on, as we walked on, she turned and said ‘Hello’, and just the way she said it, it mesmerized me and I totally forgot about that crowd. That’s come to help me over the years to learn how to handle talking in front of crowds. That’s just how she is,” Kneeland stated. In all of the years that Kneeland has been raising money for TeleMiracle, the highest total brought in within one year was an incredible $47,000. Kneeland explained that his passion for the cause came after attending a mini TeleMiracle fundraiser in Martensville. Numerous people shared their stories of how their lives had been changed through TeleMiracle. “After hearing the stories, I just couldn’t resist the urge. There was something so worthwhile to it.” Kneeland surprised even himself at how successful his fundraising efforts turned out to be, noting that when he was younger, he never thought very highly of himself. “I felt like an underdog as a kid and had that feeling that I wasn’t enough. My dad played a big role in things for me though. He was a dairy farmer and I stayed at home on the farm for 22 years. In those years, I never saw him get mad or run anyone down, so I never grew mean in that way or thinking bad about anything or anyone – except I had a poor opinion of myself. I sort of followed my dads lead and just went about the thinks I needed to do and did it. That’s how I was with TeleMiracle. I came up with ideas, people got on board and it all came together. It was dynamic.” Although Kneeland was the driving force in the fundraising efforts over the years, he stated that without the help of others, he would not have been near as successful. Through fifteen years of hosting two high school rodeos a year, countless gymkhanas with dine and dances, week-long trail rides, silent auctions, fuel card raffles that raised $10,000 at times, selling chocolate almonds at Agribition in Regina each year and so many more events, Kneeland noted that none of it would have been possible without help from the people in his life supporting his passion for TeleMiracle. “People used to ask me how I was able to pay for things around my place if I kept giving all of the money away to TeleMiracle, but what started happening was as we were having our events, we started getting people asking us to host weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions and even grad parties. So the cash was coming in then. I was getting paid back,” Kneeland explained. Additionally, Kneeland added that as he was making upgrades to the event venues at his place, he would have people donate time and material to help with the projects because they heard about the work he did to raise money for TeleMiracle. Kneeland has seen the benefit that the TeleMiracle organization can have on people first-hand. Following hip surgery approximately two years ago, Kneeland has been in extreme pain, struggling to stand or walk. Over time, Kneeland progressed from a wheelchair to a walker, which TeleMiracle provided financial assistance for. Within the next month or two, Kneeland is anticipating another surgery to help get back to a more comfortable existence. “That’s why TeleMiracle came to mean so much to me. They help the people in this province that really need the help, whether it is big or small.” When asked about his favorite TeleMiracle memories over the years, Kneeland gave an answer that you can only expect to hear from a real cowboy. “Well shucks, I so enjoyed it all. I just had a real hayday with all of it.” After sharing a photo of himself with Beverley Mahood that was taken during their January 13th visit, Kneeland was blown away with the likes and comments the picture received. “So many people had such wonderful things to say. It’s a good thing I don’t wear a cowboy hat anymore because I don’t think I would be able to get it on,” Kneeland joked. People like Ray Kneeland are rare and we could all take a page out of his book to help do for others rather than ourselves. Kneeland has been an inspiration to many and through his hard work and dedication to TeleMiracle, he has made a difference in so many lives. Be sure to watch the interview with Ray on TeleMiracle on March 6th at approximately 1pm.

ABOVE: Ray Kneeland had a chance to sit down with his longtime friend Beverley Mahood to discuss his years of dedication to TeleMiracle, which will be aired on March 6th.

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Saskatchewan Health Authority Omicron Surge Plan The Saskatchewan Health Authority has updated its COVID-19 surge plan based on the expected increase in demand and increase in staff absenteeism due to the Omicron variant. This plan includes five key strategies which will help ensure Saskatchewan patients continue to receive the best care possible:

Omicron Frustrations Getting to Everybody The longer this pandemic goes on, the more frustration grows … and, sadly, the more deeply divided we seem to be getting. One supposes this was inevitable. No one thought there would be two years of this. Nevertheless, the best way for all us to get through this is a thoughtful, reasoned approach. That’s something we’re not seeing right now. Some of the problem begins with those who now basically believes the pandemic is over … or at least, that is nearing the end and morphing into a fifth wave that sees Omicron variant producing a disturbing rise in cases but with cases producing less harmful outcomes. They point to a smaller number of hospitalizations than even the fourth wave, notwithstanding the reality that known cases have tripled and quadrupled. Premier Scott Moe and his Saskatchewan Party government has interpreted this to mean that there’s less reason to worry about the current high infection accompany Omicron variant. Some even take this one step further to mean now is a safe time to remove all restrictions in Saskatchewan, even though other provinces who were hit with the high infection rates slightly earlier than Saskatchewan saw a need to re-introducing measures to prevent transmissions through large gatherings. Many are even re-introducing the idea that Omicron is simply creating “herd immunity” in what they see as COVID-19 morphing into what amounts to a cold. This approach is frustrating and maybe even potentially dangerous. Sure, it would be nice if this was the case, but that’s not necessarily what we are being told by those who are knowledgeable. Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab has been rather blunt in his assessment that while the Omicron variant is not as devastating as the Delta variant, it remains rather dangerous. Shahab has repeated suggested people keep their own gatherings to a few people, notwithstanding the reluctance of the Sask. Party government to reinstitute crowd-size limits in public places or social-distancing requirements. Moreover, doctors explain that hospitalizations are what they call “lagging indicators”, meaning they come a few weeks after a surge in numbers of people who have contacted the virus. With the sheer volume of Omicron cases, more hospitalizations are inevitable. Also troubling is the higher percentage of people getting sick with Omicron applies equally to health care workers, which now puts further strain on a health system that is already facing a backlog of surgeries. All this has frustrated a growing number of critics of Moe and the Sask. Party government who fear that we are taking a huge gamble by not imposing similar restrictions like other provinces. At an update news conference Wednesday, Moe justified not adding restrictions by arguing they are not bringing down case rates elsewhere, but the biggest news out of the press conference was that maybe Saskatchewan has to start planning to increase its hospitalization surge capacity because Omicron is far more contagious. While the Premier is asking Saskatchewan people to “double-down” their efforts - later clarifying that that means more people getting vaccinated because the unvaccinated are still the bulk of problem - there were no added measures to encourage the unvaccinated to get vaccinated and certainly no added measures to stop the spread. The frustration of many is justifiable; however, what’s less justifiable is some people’s frustrated reactions. Some are now arguing that what needs to be done is something similar to what the Quebec government has proposed - taxing those who willfully aren’t getting the vaccines. A few have gone as far as suggesting they pay their own hospital bills. Wisely, Moe rejected such nonsense. It would defy the Canada Health Act and the public health premise of user-pay and would one legally enforce it? Right now, we all need to be reasonable - something admittedly hard to do in these frustrating times.

• Establishment of "Go Teams" of medical professionals that can quickly mobilize and deploy to help maintain continuity of key services across the province; • Optimize acute care capacity and emergency department flow; • Maintain enhancements to Emergency Medical Services that have been put in place to manage additional demand through previous COVID case surges; • Implement key provincial human resource strategies like cross training staff to meet multiple system needs and utilizing Supplemental Workforce Teams; and • Time-limited, targeted service slowdowns when/where required. This proactive plan would be implemented in the event the province was to experience a significant increase in acute care patients at hospitals, or if the health care system faced potential staffing shortages in a situation where large numbers of health care providers were required to self-isolate due to COVID. The plan would ensure human resources are available to step up capacity in phases as demand escalates. This will ensure any impacts to services are as short and targeted as possible. "As we scale up to meet the increased demand due to Omicron, we know it will impact our health care teams," Interim Chief Operating Officer, and lead for SHA's emergency response Derek Miller said. "These strategies will help protect our ability to deliver essential lifesaving supports for those most in need, ensure any effects on services are as temporary as possible and position us to rapidly and safely return services to normal as pressures subside." Additional updates will be provided on any service changes that may be required as demand increases.

Public Health Orders Extended to February 28 Saskatchewan's current public health orders will be extended to February 28, 2022. Under the current public health orders, masking is mandatory in all indoor public spaces including schools; mandatory selfisolation is required for all cases and non or partially vaccinated close contacts who are symptom-free; and proof of vaccination or negative test requirements are in place for public access to a list of establishments, businesses and event venues. The current public health orders are available at saskatchewan.ca/covid-19. Municipalities, businesses, workplaces and event organizers may also require proof of vaccination or negative testing beyond those places that are described in the public health order. Anyone requiring a proof of negative COVID-19 test must acquire their results through a private provider offering testing services. The issuer will provide a verified, negative test certificate, including your name, birth date, type of test, date and time of sample collection, test result and will be signed by the test operator which is required to satisfy the negative test requirement. The public health orders will be reassessed at the end of February. First, Second and Booster Doses Help Prevent COVID-19's Serious Outcomes Omicron is transmitting in every zone in the province and vaccination remains the best tool to prevent the most serious COVID-19 illnesses. • All Saskatchewan residents five years and older are eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. • Every resident 18 years and older is eligible to receive their booster dose three months after their second dose or two months after receiving the Janssen vaccine. • The interval between second and third/fourth doses may be less than three months. For more information on boosters, see saskatchewan.ca/covid-19. There are currently more than 43,000 vaccination appointments available through Saskatchewan Health Authority clinics with pharmacies throughout the province administering immunizations. Book your appointment today or watch for walk-in clinics near you. Preserving PCR Testing Capacity There is increased pressure on Saskatchewan Health Authority PCR testing capacity and all residents are asked to preserve these resources for those at highest risk. If you are experiencing mild cold-like symptoms including cough, sore throat, sneezing without fever, it is recommended that you stay home, use rapid antigen testing and self-isolate based on those results. Free rapid antigen tests are available at approximately 600 locations around the province at this time, with Indigenous Services Canada supplying First Nations communities. If you are experiencing significant or worsening cold or flu-like symptoms including fever or are considered at-risk due to chronic/underlying health conditions, contact HealthLine 811 who will advise if you should receive a PCR test. PCR testing continues to be available to those identified by a medical health officer as part of an outbreak investigation, those who require a transfer or admission to acute and congregate settings, and immunocompromised patients (including chemotherapy, hemodialysis) who require surveillance testing. Whether you have received a positive test result through a rapid antigen test or a PCR test, all residents are required to self-isolate and notify their contacts as part of COVID-19 case management protocols. The duration of your self-isolation depends on your vaccination status and symptoms.

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.

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High Schools Move to Online Learning Due to COVID Cases Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

Both Martensville and Warman High Schools have decided to move to online learning as of Thursday, January 20th due to a high number of positive COVID cases. The Prairie Spirit School Division provided a letter to parents and students informing them that this decision was put in place to help reduce the risk of high school students missing the scheduled final assessments that will be taking place later this month. Online learning will be in place from January 20th to January 25th inclusive, within in-person learning resuming on Wednesday, January 26th. The letter states that by moving to online learning, it will minimize the chance that students will be exposed to COVID-19 and have their final assessments interrupted, as well as support teachers to be available for final assessments with their students without disruption due to illness or self-isolation. Staff will continue to work in schools during this time, and both schools will remain open. “Teachers will be communicating with students to share details for learning from home and preparing for final assessments,” the letter explained. Extra-curricular activities for both schools will be paused until Tuesday, February 1st.

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