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Your City; Your Newspaper July 29, 2021

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VOLUME NO. 15 - ISSUE 29

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ABOVE: Construction is currently underway for the Martensville Pump Track. See story on Page 4. (Jocelyn Ottenbreit/MM)

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Page 2 - JULY 29, 2021 - MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER

COVID-19 Vaccinations and Living with COVID-19

Civic Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic What You Should Know!

While the public health order is lifted, COVID-19 will continue to circulate, particularly among unvaccinated populations. Being fully vaccinated is the best protection against COVID-19 and all residents will continue to be offered first and second doses through pharmacies and Saskatchewan Health Authority clinics.

City Hall is Open - Masks are no longer mandatory, but wearing a mask remains a reasonable precaution and individual choice.

There has been continued progression around the delivery of vaccines with the increase in number of vaccine clinics and eligibility for the public expanding as vaccine becomes administered and available.

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.

The North Ridge Centre opened as an available vaccination centre hosting walk-in or appointment clinics. Please watch announcements regarding upcoming clinic dates and eligibility.

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.

A comprehensive resource is available at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/COVID19-vaccine and includes information around vaccines as well as a gateway for online booking and what you should have ready prior to your vaccine.

Current Status of Public Facilities as of July 16th Martensville Athletic Pavilion - Operations completely resuming, including drop-in programs. Contact the MAP or Martensville.ca for information on upcoming programs or questions. Aquatic Centre - Open for the Season, capacity restrictions lifted, pre-registration no longer required or available. City Hall - Open North Ridge Centre - Re-Opened for Bookings Heritage Centre - Re-Opened for Bookings Sports Centre - Closed for the Season Wheatland Regional Library (located in the Civic Centre) - Open

Bookings for vaccination can also be accessed by calling 1-833-SASKVAX Please continue to watch for updates for vaccine clinics in the area and for when you may be eligible to sign-up.

Safe Fires for a Safe Summer

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) has issued a provincial fire ban for Crown lands, provincial parks and the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, effective immediately. Municipalities examine the risk in their own area and there is no Fire Ban within the City of Martensville.

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 summer, Martensville residents may partake and enjoy more outdoor activities in their backyards and patios. Martensville Fire Department would like to take this opportunity to take care and be mindful of the regulations for Residential Outdoor Fire Pits, Barbeques, Wood Piles and Fireworks to ensure the safety of themselves and others in our community.

Business Property Tax and Utility Update

Regulations include: - Fires must be contained within a non-combustible fire box constructed of material such as cement, brick or metal and covered with a heavy gauge screen and be at least 3m form combustible materials (fences, buildings etc) - The burning of rubbish, leaves or clippings is prohibited - Outdoor fires must be supervised - No permit is required for a private fireworks display but those fireworks must be set off in a manner that would not create danger or nuisance to neighbors - No person under the age of 18 shall set off fireworks - Ensure you have the civic address of your residence prominently displayed in the event of fire or emergency, this is to ensure responders can clearly identify your home For a complete list of regulations please visit martensville.ca or contact the Fire Department.

August Council Meeting Dates Please Note: With the commencement of Step 3, under the Provincial ‘Re-Opening Roadmap’ and ease of restrictions, upcoming Council Meetings are set to resume in person. Those still wishing to attend but would wish to do so virtually should contact the City Clerk. Committee of the Whole - August 10th Regular Council Meeting - August 17th 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.

After Hour Water and Sewer Emergencies- should still be directed through the Emergency line at City Hall, (306) 931-2166, ext.1. The City has re-implemented the suspension of interest on property taxes and utilies for commercial or industrial properties retroactive from November 2020 until July 31st, 2021. 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 (306-931-2166) or inquiry@martensville.ca OR the Martensville Athletic Pavilion (306-683-5576) or mapreception@martensville.ca

2021 is a Revaluation Year - What Do You Need To Know About Your Assessment and Taxes?

The City and the Province set tax mill rates which are applied to the property assessment values to determine the tax levy for city and education property tax. Detailed information about the 2021 Revaluation, Assessment, Taxes and the 2021 Budget can be found at Martensville.ca under, ‘Services for Residents, Property Tax and Assessment’. Property owners may also view their property report and assessment information online for at MySAMA & SAMAView. More Ways to Pay! - The City of Martensville is now accepting Ineterac e-Transfer as a payment option for your Property Taxes as well as utility bill, and licensing fees. E-Transfers can be providing using payments@martensville.ca , please reference your roll number or account number when making payment. Avoid Penalties and Interest Charges - Property Taxes for 2021 are due July 31st Questions about Taxation can be directed to City Hall at 931-2166.

PROPERTY TAXES DUE A reminder that property tax payments are due July 31st. Interest penalties will begin to accrue on August 1st on overdue accounts so avoid those late fees! We offer a number of payment methods including Interac e-transfer. See our payment methods at https://www.martensville.ca/pages/property_tax_and_assessment.

MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER - JULY 29, 2021 - Page 3

Assistance Needed to Identify Persons Involved in Break Ins Warman RCMP need assistance to identify this male and female on the right for a break, enter & theft into a parking garage that occurred in the early morning hours of July 9, 2021 in Warman. Warman RCMP needs your assistance to identify two individuals (below) for a Break, Enter & Theft to a pharmacy in Langham that occurred at approximately 3:39am onMessenger July 14, Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville 2021. Numerous narcotics, cash and other items were stolen. If you can identify any of these individuals and/or have information regarding this crime, please click the 'Contact Us' button on our Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers Facebook page or call 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. For more unsolved crimes, wanted or missing persons, or saskcrimestoppers.com.

City Applies For Grant to Help With Pathway Revitilization Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

The City of Martensville will be putting in an application to take part in a national infrastructure program that is being offered to communities across the country by the Government of Canada. The Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) is designed to help communities financially when it comes to projects centered around community infrastructure. The $500 million program is open to municipalities, other public institutions, non-profit organizations and Indigenous communities. CCRF funding will be used towards projects that can help with reinventing outdoor spaces, creating green infrastructure and increasing accessibility of community spaces. Examples of projects that could receive funding under CCRF include: farmer’s markets, community and cultural centres, parks or community gardens, recreational trails and public outdoor sports facilities and multi-purpose centres. Projects that receive funding through CCRF will be required to be completed by March 31, 2023 and CCRF contributions can represent up to 75% of total eligible costs to a maximum of $750,000. Ted Schaeffer, Director of Recreation & Community Services, brought this information to Council at the July Committee of the Whole meeting, where he provided several potential options for the community which included the new multipurpose recreation facility, pathway repair and improvement and adding accessibility to playgrounds within the community. For the new multi-purpose facility, the deadline of March 31, 2023 was a concern and when it comes to improvements at local parks, the City of Martensville to donate, please visit our website at www. is currently in discussions regarding Lions Park and has plans for upgrades at Andrea Kaminskas Park scheduled for this year. The Kinsmen Park Committee had previously identified the need to develop new pathway connections and repair and widen existing pathways within the community. After much discussion, Council was in favour of the pathway repair and improvement project and this was approved at the July 20 Council meeting. “Pathway repairs in the community turned out to be a really good fit for this particular grant, so that is the submission that we made. The idea would be to possibly add additional pathways to create more north/south connectivity in Martensville, as well as revitalize and rebuild some of the pathways that have been around for quite awhile and are in need of some repairs,” Schaeffer said. If approved, work on this project would likely begin next year and would be included with the 2022 construction season. 21083GE0

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Page 4 - JULY 29, 2021 - MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER

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Keep the Community up-to-date on 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 Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger Drive North to be included in our Janine Hayward weeklyConstruction for the Martensville Pump Track. sports report.is currently underway

Pump Track a Community Driven Project

Messenger Velosolutions, the company in chargeMartensville of the project began earth work on July 12 and is anticipating completion some time next week. “We don’t have an exact date yet, but it will definitely be soon,” Ted Schaeffer, City of Martensville Director of Recreation & Community Services, said. The pump track will consist of an asphalt track and artificial turf within the inner area for minimal maintenance requirements and the outer area will be landscaped by the City of Martensville, which will be done at a later date. Once complete, the track will be open to the public, with plans to hold a grand opening ceremony at a later time. “This is one of those projects that Council is really excited about and to see this part of the Kinsmen Park Master Plan coming to fruition is something we are all looking forward to. It is an amenity that will really compliment the skate park and hopefully bring out a lot of users to enjoy it,” Schaeffer said. The Martensville Pump Track was a community-minded project, taking ideas provided by the public through an online engagement opportunity to be incorporated into the design. Velosolutions has also proven how much community means to them by hiring young workers from Martensville to help them with the earth work. “This has been a very community driven project right from the get-go,” Schaeffer added.

ABOVE: The U11AA2 Sluggers beat the A’s Sharks 5-0 on Wednesday, July 21 at the Chrome Dome in Martensville . Keaton Mora pitched a complete game shutout.

Drop In Soccer Offered Every Sunday

Saskatchewan is opening back up and it’s time to get the kids back outside. Shaun Reschny, an experienced soccer coach, is offering FREE drop in sessions every Sunday morning starting. Boys and girls from ages 8 - 14 are invited to come out and kick the ball around. On facebook Reschny states that he will teach a couple new skills throughout the summer and have a lot of fun as well. Sessions start at 9 am behind Valley Manor School and will go until 10:30 am. 21075DA0

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MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER - JULY 29, 2021 - Page 5

WEEKEND WEATHER

High Low

29 14

High Low

29 15

High Low

30 16

Sum Theatre Comes to Martensville Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

On July 25, Sum Theatre came to Martensville to perform three shows in Lions Park. This opportunity was brought to the community thanks to JAG Plus, Bravo Dance Co. and the City of Martensville. This years Theatre in the Park production was titled ‘The Other Side of the River’ and focused on important world issues that are currently taking place such as Indigenous Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter and the international movement towards racial equality and anti-racism. The family-friendly rock opera was a free event for all ages to attend and was based on a story by Yvette Nolan, with all graphics designed by Taegan O'Bertos. Those that attended were treated to some fun and thought-provoking performances, catchy original music, colorful sets, props and costumes. ‘The Other Side of the River’ was devised by the Sum Theatre ensemble, with original music composition by Amanda Trapp. More information about Sum Theatre, and Theatre in the Park can be found by visiting https://sumtheatre.com, or by following them on social media.

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City of Martensville Taking Steps to Grow Martensville Free Pantry Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

Earlier this year, Shewchuk At the July 13 City of spoke with the MIVC and the Free Pantry Martensville Committee of the Whole to discuss joining forces, as well as the meeting, Dillon Shewchuk, Community City taking on a more active role in ways Economic Development Manager, of providing funding, organization, and spoke to Council regarding a plan to potentially bringing on a board member bring the Martensville Free Pantry back from City Council. to it’s original location within the Civic “We are all sort of taking the plunge Centre. and seeing if we can get this partnership to Since created in 2016, the work and hopefully take the Free Pantry from Martensville Free Pantry has been something that was located within the maybe a bit informal Civic Centre; however, into something that is once the COVID a little more organized pandemic hit, there and deliberate. We were concerns over have seen more people gathering points, touch utilizing the pantry points and sanitization, throughout the years and therefore was and I have learned that unable to continue there are families that operating within the Free Pantry is a this location. Deseri priority for, and others Adrian, a resident of ABOVE: Prior to COVID, the that need it from time Martensville, took Martensville Free Pantry was located to time just to get by,” it upon herself to within the hallway of the Civic Centre. Shewchuk said. continue operating the The City of Martensville included free pantry at her residence so people $20,000 in the budget for food bank within the community could still have initiatives, which will be used towards access to food items regularly. supplies, shelving, fridges, freezers, The City has supported this staffing and other areas needed to ensure initiative by providing space for the free food security within the community. pantry and has seen the growth and need Additionally, with the support from the within the community rise throughout City, Shewchuk hopes that it can further the years. “there has become a greater galvanize support for the Free Pantry from need to organize this service to ensure the community. that donated food and items can get to “In doing this, we hope that those that need it the most on a regular people will have a better understanding basis, as well as to manage donations and of what they are donating to, and create a collections of food and any monetary or better capacity for accepting more than just gift card donations,” Shewchuk said in food items as gift cards and cash which is his report to Council. tougher to accept under the old system. In the past, the Martensville We anticipate that we could potentially see Information & Visitor Centre (MIVC) more support coming from the business has had an informal role with the Free community as well.” Pantry and with plans to move the Free Currently, the logistics are still Pantry back to the Civic Centre, would being worked out and Shewchuk noted be taking on a larger role with could that this is something they do not plan on include items such as pantry activities, rushing into to help ensure that everyone donations and working with volunteers, is continued to be taken care of during the groups and local organizations around transition. donation or fundraising activities.

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MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER - JULY 29, 2021 - Page 7

Provincial Politics with

Murray Mandryk

Moe, Sask. Party Surviving Pandemic

Four years ago, things were looking as bad for the Saskatchewan Party as they have looked since it took power in 2007. This requires a bit of perspective. This party is on an amazing historical amazing run. By the end of this term, the Sask. Party will have enjoyed the third longest streak of consecutive years in office in provincial governance history. They have become Saskatchewan’s natural governing party, and not even a sizeable dip in popularity in 2017 seriously threatened that. In 2017, the then leaderless NDP pulled somewhat close to the Sask. Party in the province opinion polls — largely because it actually pulled ahead of the Sask. Party in cities like Regina. However, the Sask. Party’s substantial rural base would have likely meant another majority, had an election been called then. What 2017 tells us, however, is that governments facing harsh circumstances are governments that are politically vulnerable. This is clearly the case in Alberta and Manitoba where Premiers Jason Kenney’s and Brian Pallister’s respective conservative-minded administrations could quite fall to the NDP. What it doesn’t really explain is why Sask. Party Premier Scott Moe continues to do phenomenally well and not only compared with other conservative premiers on the Prairies. Arguably, Saskatchewan faces worse circumstances now than it did in 2017. In 2017, the province faced what was approaching a billion-dollar deficit and an economy slowed by a decline in oil prices. The political situation was made even more severe when then-premier Brad Wall — the most successful premier on election-day and the most popular premier since the invention of modern-day polling — announced he was stepping down. At that time, there was no obvious successor to the charismatic Wall. Flash forward to 2021 and compare that political situation with the situation that Scott Moe now finds himself in. Moe is still staring down a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Notwithstanding substantial progress in reducing case numbers, Saskatchewan still has more active cases per 100,000 people than any other jurisdiction outside the Yukon and Manitoba. And we have the highest percentage of unvaccinated people in the country. Moreover, Saskatchewan lost 6,500 jobs from May to June — a time of a year when the number of working people in this province usually skyrockets. Reopening in July will certainly encourage job hiring, but the economy remains a big problem. Notwithstanding a recovery in oil prices, a drought should have us all worried about the economic problems that lie ahead. After all, bad economic news quickly translates into bad budget news. Last year’s 2020-21 rivalled the 2016-17 budget when it came to the size of the deficit and this year’s 2021-22 deficit is nearly double last year’s deficit. This has not been lost on the bond rating agencies. Moody’s of New York has already lowered Saskatchewan’s credit score. DBRS Morningstar kept Saskatchewan at its current rating and even offered optimism that the Sask. Party government was "laying the groundwork for a strong recovery once the pandemic subsides." That said, the bond-rating agency also observed that adding $3.1 billion in public debt in the last two years was equivalent to 3.7 per cent of the province’s entire GDP. Yet through all this, Moe remains among the most popular premiers in Canada, and there is little to indicate that his Sask. Party has lost much popularity since the October election. It might partly have something to do with current NDP leader Ryan Meili’s struggles to connect with most Saskatchewan people. The contrast with Moe as clearly favoured the Sask. Party. It also has something to do with Wall making tough, unpopular decisions in 2017 by increasing taxes and reducing services – decisions that Moe has so far avoided. But the simple reality is, Moe is surviving the COVID-19 pandemic — the worse situation his government has faced — better than most.

Stick It To COVID: Vaccination Roll-Out Transitioning To Outreach As Of August 8

Since Friday, July 23rd, more than 14,000 COVID-19 vaccinations were delivered in the province. With 74 per cent of Saskatchewan residents 12+ with their first dose and 62 per cent fully vaccinated, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is shifting their vaccination focus from mass vaccination to focused outreach, targeting those in the province who are under and unvaccinated. As of August 8, the SHA will discontinue drive-thru and appointments booked through their online system and 1-833-SASKVAX, shifting to walkin clinics in public venues throughout the province including planned summer events, post-secondary campuses, retail locations including grocery stores, pow wows, provincial parks and recreations areas, community centres and more. "Achieving the highest possible vaccination rate is the best way to prevent COVID-19 transmission," Saskatchewan Health Minister Paul Merriman said. "This focused outreach is to further drive first and second dose uptake, meeting residents where they live, work and play and support individuals in their decision to make our province as safe as possible." "The provincial vaccination program will not stop," Merriman continued. "But all residents are

strongly encouraged to take advantage of the readily available and convenient clinic options available now through August 8. First or second dose, now is the time to stick it to COVID." Participating Saskatchewan pharmacies will continue to provide COVID-19 vaccinations by appointment. "The Saskatchewan Health Authority continues to encourage all residents to be immunized with both doses as soon as they are eligible," Saskatchewan Health Authority, Emergency Operation Centre Vaccine Chief Sheila Anderson said. "As much progress as we've made toward immunizing the province we want to remind people that COVID-19 is still here and we will see cases throughout the summer, especially for unvaccinated individuals." Saskatchewan residents should take the opportunity to be vaccinated even as they head out on summer holidays with their family and friends before they go on vacation or should check out local clinics where they are vacationing in Saskatchewan. Details on clinic locations and times is listed on the SHA website https://www.saskhealthauthority. ca/. Please note, these vaccine clinics are subject to change based on demand. Any changes to clinic hours and location will be updated online.

June Traffic Spotlight Shines Light On A Sad Fact: Too Many People Don’t Buckle Up

In June, police across Saskatchewan wrote a total of 490 tickets for people not using or wearing seatbelts or small passengers who were not properly restrained. • • • •

313 tickets for a driver failing to properly use or wear a seatbelt; 51 tickets to a passenger failing to properly use or wear a seatbelt; 43 tickets for driving with a passenger (under 7 years old) not properly restrained; 83 other tickets related to seatbelts and child restraints.

It is unbelievable that police caught this many people not using or wearing a seatbelt or wearing one improperly in a single month. The evidence is clear: Seatbelts save lives. Not wearing one makes you more likely to die or be seriously injured in a vehicle collision. Vehicles have a protective cage around the occupants to protect them in the event of a serious collision, directing the violent forces around the passenger compartment and away from the people inside. Skipping the seatbelt means you could have a violent trip through a windshield and onto the pavement beyond. You’re three times more likely to be killed if you are ejected from a vehicle and 17 times more likely to be ejected if you’re not wearing a seatbelt. Anyone who thinks they have a good reason to not wear a seatbelt is almost certainly wrong. It is not only against the law, but it is also dangerous for yourself and other people in the vehicle. So every time you are in a vehicle, #BuckleUp. Police also reported in June: • 6,458 tickets for speeding or aggressive driving offences; • 974 distracted driving tickets including 847 for using a mobile device while driving; • 447 impaired driving offences with 329 of those charges being Criminal Code offences. This month, the traffic safety focus is on work zones and driving safe when passing workers on the side of the road. Keep your eye on SGI’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for tips and highlights throughout July.

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.

e, e,

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. o o so

Page 8 - JULY 29, 2021 - MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER

Wildfires Continue to Burn in Northern Sask Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

On Sunday, July 25, there was a total of 166 wildfires burning within Saskatchewan and by Monday, July 26, that number dropped to 143. To date, we have seen 467 fires this year, which is significantly higher than the five-year average of 230. According to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s website, as of July 26, there are 11 fires currently uncontained and expected to grow; a number much lower than the 29 uncontained fires that were listed as of July 18. Crews are continuing suppression action on the 11 uncontained fires, as well as working hard to protect cabins and infrastructure from another 18 fires. There are a total of 100 fires being monitored regularly to assess risk to values in the area and another 14 that have been contained and not expected to grow any larger in size. There are currently no fires in the southern part of Saskatchewan, with all active fires located north of Prince Albert. Numerous highways in Saskatchewan have been affected due to the ongoing wildfire situations, so it recommended that travelers check the Highway Hotline prior to embarking on their summer holidays. Additionally, water bombers have been playing an active role in the fight against these fires. For anyone out on the water in an area where water bombers are active, be sure to move quickly and safely towards the shore to give crews room to work. This past weekend, Martensville resident Paula Johnson witnessed firsthand the incredible work that water bombers do while camping at Narrow Hills Provincial Park, located off Highway 106 north of Smeaton, where the Harding Fire has burned nearly 54,000 hectares. (Pictures provided by Paula Johnson).

City of Martensville Hosts Hazardous Household Waste Collection Day Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger

On August 14, 2021, the City of Martensville is holding a Hazardous Household Waste (HHW) Collection Day from 9:30am to 3:30pm at the Martensville Sports Centre parking lot. Residents of Martensville will be able to dispose of a variety of hazardous household waste and chemicals that are not allowed to be disposed of during regular garbage and recycling collection days. When disposed improperly, the environment within the City can become contaminated, including waterways and greenspaces. Collection points will be set up in the parking lot Sports Centre. Residents will be asked what type of waste they have and will then be directed to the appropriate collections points. The City is asking that all materials are brought in containers that will not spill or leak. All materials should be clearly labelled, and if possible, should be brought in the original packaging. Unidentified materials will not be accepted. Please note that this is only for household hazardous waste, no commercial, industrial, or farm chemicals/waste will be accepted. For used motor oil, no container larger than 20L will be accepted to a maximum of 60L per resident. List of Materials Accepted at Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day

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