March 23, 2023 Digital Issue

ABOVE: The Martensville Embers (Girl Guides) visited the Martensville Free Pantry to learn more about what takes place to help provide food and hygeine items to local families in need of some extra help, and while there, the group also helped to restock the shelves with donations of non-perishable items. (Martensville Free Pantry)

City Council Discusses Addition of a Crosswalk on Centennial Drive North

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

At the March 21st City Council meeting, one of the final items on the agenda was a discussion on the addition of a mid-block pedestrian crosswalk on Centennial Drive North. The City has seen an increase in both vehicle and pedestrian traffic on this roadway, and due to safety concerns, engaged with a consultant to determine a location for a crosswalk on Centennial Drive North between Main Street and 3rd Street North that could best manage pedestrian movements, existing driveway locations and Transportation Association of Canada industry standards.

The proposed location was located between the Co-op Grocery Store and Checkered Flag Automotive and the design would include a pedestrian actuated flashing crosswalk beacon, road markings and a raised pedestrian refuge median, replacing the centre turning lane within this area.

The report to Council noted that the design would impact the three driveways closest to the crosswalk location, and therefore, if approved, these driveways would no longer permit left hand turns, and would be utilized as right in – right out only.

Information regarding this proposal was provided to businesses and property owners who would be affected by the crosswalk location and three responses were received, with one being in support of the proposal, and two having concerns about traffic and safety issues for both motorists and pedestrians, suggesting that the City instead look into installing an overhead pedestrian bridge.

The recommendation from City administration to Council was to install a temporary crosswalk at the location and reviewed after a year before making a permanent decision on the matter. This will be brought back to an upcoming Council meeting for further review and approval.

It's Coffee Time

Martensville Free Pantry Preparing Easter Dinner Hampers for Those in Need

The Martensville Free Pantry has become a staple within the community for local residents to receive food hampers and food items from within the Civic Centre. As Easter draws nearer, the MFP is reminding residents that they are available to help out with Easter Dinner Hampers. Those interested in receiving a hamper are required to contact the MFP by March 31st and inform them of how many adults and children are in their household. Pick up will take place on April 5th.

The Martensville Free Pantry is operated by a group of dedicated volunteers and receives donations from local residents and businesses in order to provide and distribute food hampers to families throughout Martensville and the surrounding area. For more information, or to request a hamper, contact the MFP at martensvillefreepantry@gmail.com, ‘Martensville Free Pantry’ Facebook Messenger, or text/call 306-280-1255.

RCMP Looks to Improve Community Relations with Detachment Action Plan

At the March 21st City of Martensville Council meeting, Council reviewed correspondence received from S/Sgt Jason Teniuk of the Warman/Martensville/Delisle/ Radisson RCMP detachments regarding a Detachment Action Plan (DAP). Teniuk noted in his letter to Council that RCMP across Canada typically use an Annual Performance Plan; however, recently, it was discovered that the APP had become more of a statistics calculator rather than a tool to address issues affecting communities.

Because of this, Teniuk noted that their detachment has now developed the DAP to help ensure a more personal engagement between the employees of the RCMP and the communities that they are serving. RCMP employees will be asked questions regarding their opinion on the current issues and challenges that are faced within the detachment coverage area and how these issues can be better resolved.

The local RCMP detachment wanted to reach out to City Council to learn more about what their opinion is on challenges facing the community when it comes to policing and crime and areas that they believe can be improved upon such as community engagement, community wellness, police visibility, police/community relations, school visits, youth engagement and more.

Once the information has been collected, an Action Plan will be created and a quarterly report will be provided with details on what steps have been taken to accommodate any concerns that exist.

Teniuk plans to assess the DAP further with elected officials within the communities the local detachment serves in the upcoming months.

Former Martensville Vice-Principal Appointed Director of Education at Prairie Spirit School Division

Tracey Young, former Vice-Principal at Venture Heights Elementary School has been appointed Prairie Spirit School Division’s Director of Education, effective July 1st, 2023. Young, who is currently the Deputy Director of Education, had formerly worked as the PSSD Learning Superintendent, a role she took on in August of 2015. Prior to that Young had worked as Principal of Hague Elementary School, Vice-Principal of Venture Heights Elementary School, as a Learning Support Facilitator for PSSD, and as a classroom teacher. “Tracey’s strong leadership skills and her commitment to excellence and learning will ensure her success in her role as Director,” Prairie Spirit School Division noted in their announcement of Young’s new role.

ABOVE: Tracey Young

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

Organics/Green Bin Program and Pick-ups

The City of Martensville offers a Green Bin program through Loraas Organics. This service is by subscription.

Pick up of the Green Bins has commenced with regular scheduled bi-weekly collection alternating between North/South Martensville and running from May until the end of October Pick-up take place on Tuesdays. The pick-up schedule can be viewed at Martensville.ca

For information or to sign up for this program contact the Utility Clerk at City Hall.

Join us for the Martensville Business Expo March 24th & 25th

Connect with the businesses and organizations in our community and learn more about products, services and opportunities in the community.

There will be delicious food, great drinks, interactive booths, sales and local entertainment all Expo long! Friday will feature a job fair and career sessions to assist and connect job seekers with local employers.

There will be a pancake breakfast on Saturday from 8-10 AM and it is by donation!

Admission to the Expo is $2. For a full list of events, visit Martensville.ca or visit ‘The City of Martensville’ on Facebook. .

Reminder to Clean-Up after Our Pets

Please be reminded to clean-up after our pets on the pathways and the off-leash dog park. The mess can be potentially harmful to other pets, exposing them to parvovirus and these public spaces are for everyone to enjoy. Remember to bring along a baggy or use one of the baggy stations located along the pathways and dispose of the mess properly.

POLICE BEAT

RCMP Remind Public on Risks of Impaired Driving

March 19 to 25, 2023 marks National Impaired Driving Prevention Week, when police, government and community organizations work to raise awareness about the risks and consequences of impaired driving.

“I wish we didn’t have to continue to warn the public about the dangers of impaired driving. We know it’s dangerous. We know its tragic consequences are 100% preventable,” says Supt. Grant St. Germaine, the officer in charge of Saskatchewan RCMP Traffic Services. “But we continue to find impaired drivers on Saskatchewan’s roads.”

In January and February 2023, Saskatchewan RCMP and Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan (CTSS) officers arrested 138 drivers who submitted breath samples over the legal limit and charged them under the Criminal Code. Some of these drivers were well over the legal limit of 80 mg% of alcohol in their blood, which is the threshold for a Criminal Code impaired driving charge: - 66 drivers provided samples at least twice the legal limit; - 12 drivers provided samples at least three times the legal limit; and - 2 drivers were at least four times the legal limit.

“We’re releasing these numbers to show you that people are continuing to get behind the wheel when it should be clear they shouldn’t be. These results demonstrate why events like National Impaired Driving Prevention Week need to continue,” Supt. Gt. Germaine says. “Everyone needs to take responsibility and ensure that they, and those around them, are not driving when they are impaired by alcohol or drugs.” Remember:

• If you will be consuming products which result in impairment, such as alcohol or cannabis, have a designated driver assigned or plan to take a cab or transit. If no safe ride is available, stay the night and drive only when sober.

• Don’t take a chance. If you question whether you’re “too impaired to drive or not”, you likely are.

• Don’t let friends or loved ones drive while impaired. If you have concerns about someone’s ability to drive safely, share them calmly and rationally and offer alternative options.

• If you see a suspected impaired driver, pull over and immediately call 911. Signs of a possible impaired driver include: lane drifting; driving too fast, slow or at an inconsistent speed; not using proper signals; making very wide turns; approaching and leaving intersections too slowly or quickly; and driving without headlights or leaving high beams or turn signals on.

Lane Usage During Spring Thaw

The City of Martensville encourages residents, for which their lane is a secondary means of access to their property, to limit their usage during the spring thaw period. Heavy or repetitive vehicle usage during spring thaw and wet conditions can cause further rutting and reduce drainage. This limits the ability of crews to conduct maintenance on the lanes in a timely manner and increases the amount of materials and time required to reshape lanes. For questions or further information please contact Pubic Works at 931-2166.

April Council Meeting Dates

Please Note: Council Meetings may be attended in-person, guests may wear a mask if desired within Council Chambers. Those still wishing to attend but would wish to do so virtually should contact the City Clerk or visit the online agenda for the link to attend.

Regular Council Meeting – April 4th

Committee of the Whole Meeting- April 11th

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.

Licensing Our Pets, Annual Renewals

By licensing your pet, your pet can be identified in the event it escapes or ends up ‘at large’. Our Bylaw officials and partners will be able to quickly identify the pet and contact the owner. License fees also help fund the housing cost of pets and animals that have been found ‘at large’.

Pet licenses must be purchased and renewed annually unless a lifetime license has been purchased.

Annual licenses expire Dec 31st and must be renewed by March 1st.

Annual license cost $20 per year

Lifetime licenses cost $30 (pet must be microchipped)

Licenses are sold at the following outlets; City Hall, Affinity Animal Hospital, Furrific Grooming & Boutique and Paws Republic.

Saskatchewan RCMP WEST Asks Public to Report Sightings of Anthony Maurice

The Saskatchewan RCMP Warrant Enforcement and Suppression Team (WEST) is asking for the public’s assistance with locating 26-year-old Anthony Maurice.

Anthony Maurice was last known to be living in Saskatoon and is wanted by Correctional Service of Canada/ Saskatoon Police Service for being unlawfully at large.

RCMP WEST is actively working to locate and arrest Anthony Maurice and is asking the public to report information on his whereabouts.

Anthony Maurice is described as approximately 6’1” and 200 lbs. He has black hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo that says “Maurice” on his right forearm and a tattoo that says “Ajay” on his left wrist. He may be in the Saskatoon or Meadow Lake areas, but his current whereabouts are unknown.

Anthony Maurice may be armed and should not be approached. Report sightings or information on his whereabouts to your local police service. You can reach your local RCMP detachment by dialing 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

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

Editor/Ad Design: Jocelyn Ottenbreit jottenbreit@martensvillemessenger.ca

ABOVE: Anthony Maurice

Youth 10 and Under Invited to Come to TRY Event

Hosted by the MMHA

Martensville Minor Hockey Association will be hosting their annual TRY Hockey event at 9am on Saturday, March 25th at the Martensville Sports Centre. This event is open to all players that are 10 and under who are looking to try out hockey without the pressure of signing up for an entire season. Skates and helmets are a requirement, and parents are invited to join, but must also have skates and a helmet in order to participate.

The second annual TRY goalie event will take place at 10am, and goalie equipment will be provided to participants. Register your goalie by contacting rnp994@ usask.ca.

Martensville Curling Club Looks to Replace Lighting

The Martensville Curling Club reached out to the City of Martensville for some help with the current lighting situation for the playing surface at the curling rink. The lighting that is currently in place has been having issues with lights not working, or flickering, causing dark spots in various areas of the playing surface.

In a letter to Council, the Curling Club noted that, “The City of Martensville has been diligent in ensuring all burnt out bulbs are replaced before the season starts, but for some reason, this year, the amount of bulbs not working, or currently flickering is quite high.”

The Curling Club contacted a local vendor and determined that the average of the current lighting is 79.5 fc, with a number of inconsistencies. They are now looking to replace the lighting with a high-bay, maintenance free LED fixture which would be adjustable from 24,000 lumens to 36,000 lumens and an average of 96.5 fc, significantly brightening the playing area.

The $9099.88 project would be completed with a 60/40 cost share, with the City’s portion being approximately $5500 + taxes.

The request came in following the approval for the 2023 budget, so there is currently no specific funding in place for the project, however, the Curling Club suggested deducting the City of Martensville’s share from a future utility bill, or the City could use reserve funding for the project.

Martensville’s Cole Duperreault Set to Play NCAA Hockey with Lindenwood University Lions

Cole Duperreault of Martensville is currently on his third season with the SJHL’s Flin Flon Bombers. During the 2021-2022 season, Cole put up 39 points (18 G, 21 A) in 56 regular season games.

Duperreault produced 64 points (37 G, 27 A) in just 44 regular season games.

Cole’s 37 goals was 3rd among all SJHL players and his 1.45 points-per-game average was 4th. In his SJHL career, Cole produced 103 points (55 G, 48 A) in 102 regular season games.

ABOVE: Martensville’s Cole Duperreault will be playing NCAA Hockey for the Lindenwood University Lions for the 2023/24 season. (Flin Flon Bombers)

Recently, Duperreault committed to play NCAA Division I hockey with the Lindenwood University Lions for the 2023/24 season. He was also nominated for the SJHL’s RBC Player of the Year awards and is the Bombers recipient for the SJHL’s Community Ambassador award.

Duperreault will be joining fellow Bomber Jaeden Mercier and former Bomber Drew Kuzma at Lindenwood next fall.

Martensville’s MacPherson Receives SMU18AAAHL Top Goalie Award

John MacPherson of Martensville is currently playing for the Regina Pat Canadians for the 2022/2023 season and will be graduating from the team, moving on to play with the Canmore Eagles for the 2023/2024 season in the AJHL.

MacPherson was awarded the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League SMU18AAAHL Top Goalie Award, having a record GAA 1.75 Save % .923.

In addition to that, MacPherson was also named to the SMU18AAAHL First Team All Star Selections.

RIGHT: John MacPherson received the SMU18AAAHL Top Goalie Award. (Regina Pat Canadians)

ABOVE: Martensville Volleyball League has started their play-offs after a 20-week season. Participants were able to compete in Competitive Spiking, Non-Spiking and Recreational Spiking this year.

Royals

Hosting Registration Night as They Prepare for First Year as a 12-Aside Team

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

The Martensville High School Royals Football Club will be hosting a registration night on Thursday, March 30th at 6:30pm in the Martensville High School theatre.

The upcoming season will make the change from a 9-aside team to a 12-aside football team and Coach Tyler Munday noted that with this change, they are hopeful there will be a big turnout for the registration night.

“We are entering into a co-op with Warman High School, so kids at Warman can play for MHS as well,” Munday stated. More information about this change in format for the MHS Royals Football team can be found in next week’s issue of the Martensville Messenger.

Basketball Season Comes to an End in Martensville

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

Approximately six years ago, the City of Martensville began offering more opportunities for youth interested in playing basketball and since then, there has been tremendous growth in the sport locally.

This year, Martensville had a total of 14 teams competing in the SMBA league, as well as two teams in the Mini-Dunkers program. This was the first time that Martensville had teams participating in every level available through SMBA, including Spuds, Mini, Bantam, Junior and Senior levels. This year also marked the first time Martensville had a girls team competing in three different divisions.

“We have never had this many teams or players participate in basketball locally before and we were up four teams this year compared to last year,” City of Martensville Recreation Program Coordinator Angela Reddekopp stated.

The SMBA season runs October to March, and wrapped up this past weekend with 5 out of 11 eligible teams out of Martensville competing for a medal. In the end, the Martensville teams brought home one gold medal, three silver medals and one fourth place finish.

Now that the season is finished, Reddekopp explained that the City of Martensville is looking to expand options available to basketball players in the community, so this year, they are creating a Club Team for the 13U age division to participate in the SMBA 3-on-3 Development Program that is available through the spring. Graham Reddekopp, Brad McGowan and Lance Roberts will be the coaches for Martensville Thunder Spring Basketball team.

“This is something new this year, and in the future, we would look at possibly expanding into other age groups, but this year, we wanted to try it out and see what kind of response we would get, and so far, it has been great. There are a lot of kids in this community that have a passion for the game and want to keep playing, so this is just an opportunity for them to continue enhancing their skills,” Reddekopp explained.

Paralyzed Humboldt Bronco Player Ryan Straschnitzki Going For Gold With Paralympic Dreams

Cutting-edge developments in spinal cord injury treatments are giving people a new lease of life - even getting back to the sports they loved before their injury.

Ryan Straschnitzki, a 24-year-old Airdronian, was paralysed from the chest down in 2018 as a result of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, which claimed the lives of 16 people and injured 13 others in rural Saskatchewan.

Ryan said: “In the first moments, it’s disorientating. The first days were difficult; I went from being a high-level athlete my entire life to being bedridden and trying to decide what to do next. It was important for me to always look forward.”

After visiting a physiotherapy group in Calgary, Ryan met a doctor who had recently received an innovative spinal treatment for a similar injury. After doing some research, Ryan packed his bags and set off for a surgery that would change his life.

In 2019, Ryan flew to Bangkok, Thailand, for his surgery at the Verita Neuro clinic, which spearheaded the successful development and implementation of Epidural Stimulation.

Verita Neuro has since opened a clinic much closer to Canada in Mexico. The new hospital also performs Epidural Stimulation Surgery and has its own Stem Cell lab and state-ofthe-art rehab facility.

“The surgery itself was really quick. Literally, the next day, we were programming the device and moving limbs; it was incredible. One of the staff came in, and we had my leg up to my chest. My dad posted a video, and it went absolutely viral. It was a huge moment. After the first week, I saw improvement in leg mass and recovery. It was a huge change.”

While still in his hospital bed, Ryan watched Canada lose to the USA in Para Ice Hockey. Nearly five years have gone by since the bus accident that changed

Ryan's life, and now he has set his sights on assisting Canada to win Paralympic Gold.

Talking about his treatment so far, Ryan said: “This surgery is the best thing out there. Obviously, it’s not a cure, but it is the best thing out there right now. It’s such a massive stepping stone, adding to your arsenal and tools that you have to aid recovery alongside physiotherapy. Without this device, I don’t think I’d be where I am today. With this device, I’m able to increase my productivity and do more.

“I use the device every day for rehab, hockey or spasms. It’s been huge for me to get back into sledge hockey. I’ve got back into all sports, back to being an athlete. I’ve tried mountain biking and golf. I use the program for stability, and it benefits how I produce out there. If I need to do something out in town and my spasms are bad, I’ve got a program to help with that.”

Chief Growth Officer and Director of Patient Services, Hanna Charles, said: “Ryan’s story is a testament to the work our clinical teams do on a daily basis. Epidural Stimulation surgery is just one of a series of industry-leading treatments Verita Neuro provide, including the stem cell treatments that Ryan also received.“We’re proud to support people with lifechanging injuries and to help open doors to possibilities they never knew existed.”

Ryan’s positive attitude and focus on his future have led to his desire to complete a course on accessibility architecture. “Having lived it, there’s a lot of things out there that aren’t as accessible as they should be, and I want to help people so they don’t have to go through this with a disability alone.”

Recently, Ryan has established the Straz Strong Foundation, which aims to provide access to adaptive sports, education on physical and mental disabilities, and inspire people to work together to improve all qualities of life.

Reddekopp also noted that she has seen an increase in interest within all age groups as people come to the Martensville Athletic Pavilion to play and work on their skills regularly. The Saskatchewan Rattlers held a Basketball Youth Camp at Lake Vista on March 19th, and Basketball Saskatchewan will be hosting a BSI Supercamp at the MAP on April 1st and 2nd.

“You can see basketball growing in the community with the increase in local interest, but also with different events being hosted here. We are so proud of all of the athletes taking part in the available options and we are so excited for the growth and potential of where this opportunity can continue to grow in the future.”

ABOVE: The Martensville Thunder Mini-Boys B played EACCA in the gold medal final for the SMBA Basketball Playoffs. The team played hard and ended their season with a silver medal.

(Angie Reddekopp)

ABOVE: The Martensville Storm Jr Boys B were gold medal winners after competing in playoffs this past weekend. (Angie Reddekopp)

(Jocelyn Ottenbreit)

Government Needs to Keep its Budget Focus

If only our politicians could be more focused on the matters at hand. One supposes one could write that at virtually a time in the history of the Saskatchewan politics, or politics anywhere. It’s a business in which it’s easy to lose focus - a problem that’s both natural and of politicians’ own making.

Consider the distractions leading up to this week’s 2023-24 provincial budget that should have been the focus of the Saskatchewan Party government for weeks and months now. There was the obvious distraction of what to do about the pending 6.8-per-cent raise; a problem clearly of their own making because, years ago, their predecessor MLAs agreed to give themselves annual cost-of-living increase that the rest of us don’t get.

Today’s MLAs could have and should have fixed this years ago, but why would they when, until this time when their raises embarrassingly skyrocketed out of proportion to what everyone else is getting, would they change something that was very much to their advantage?

Then there are those issues that legitimately sideswipe politicians, like the recent news that the federal government is clawing back about $750,000 in precious health funding dollars from Saskatchewan over the issues of people here being allowed to jump the queue and privately pay for MRIs.

In fairness, the book is still out whether the Saskatchewan solution will allow those who can afford to pay for a private MRI to jump the public queue in exchange for also paying for another MRI on the public queue. Sadly, the diagnostic list still grows, but what is a certainty is the government is at least trying something here. And what also seems a certainty is the federal government started this political fight for their own political reasons.

There again, the Sask. Party government has also become pretty renown for going around looking for distracting political fights. We saw that in Justice Minister Bronwyn Eyre’s explanation of why her government is intervening in federal legislation deeming singleuse plastics as toxic; what she describes as massive federal overreach. The problem, however, is cities like Regina with massive landfill cost problems want single-use plastics eliminated. For that matter, so does the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) that passed a resolution against single-use plastics seven years ago.

That said; few seem to be all that bothered that a government might be wasting precious time and energy on things that mostly seem political, as seems to be the case with the Saskatchewan First Act that no one believes will accomplish very much.

Again, politicians often seem as if they are in the business of being distracted and losing focus. Let us hope that when it comes to the pending 2023-24 budget; what may well be a critical one, that not too much of this precious focus has been lost.

All budgets are critical, but this year’s comes at a rather interesting crossroad for the province. Emerging from three years of COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing significant health challenges including mental health issues that need dollar support.

Social services see similar post-pandemic struggles with growing numbers of homeless and others left behind after the pandemic. Some of these struggles are directly tied to mental health.

Both K-12 and post-secondary education institute also say they have fallen behind. In the case of elementary high schools, it’s case of dealing with declining enrolment in the country and burgeoning enrolment in the cities.

The good news is that we are still a growing province and that this could be a balanced budget on the strength of last year’s farm cash receipts and the success of oil and potash, but its how we spend the money that’s crucial. Now is not a good time for government to be distracted. Let’s hope it has kept its focus.

MLA Terry Jenson’s Report from the Legislature

Municipal Revenue Sharing Reaches Record $297 Million

The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) held its annual convention March 14-16. Premier Scott Moe and the Government of Saskatchewan Cabinet Ministers, along with several of our government’s Members of the Legislative Assembly, were present at the convention to answer questions and make announcements about support for rural municipalities. Our government values its partnerships with SARM and rural communities and is investing in several programs and initiatives to support their growth.

At the SARM convention, Premier Scott Moe announced the Municipal Revenue Sharing Program will reach a record $297 million in the 2023-24 provincial budget. This represents a 13 per cent increase over last year’s budget and a 134 per cent increase since 2007-08. Our province’s nation-leading Municipal Revenue Sharing program benefits Saskatchewan’s municipalities by supporting local priorities.

Increase to Rural Physician Incentive Program

To improve rural healthcare, Premier Moe also announced the Rural Physician Incentive Program has been increased to $200,000 for a five-year return of service agreement. Eligibility is also expanding beyond new graduates and will now include physicians practicing in rural and northern communities who have been assessed through the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA). This incentive program will help to ensure Saskatchewan patients can access healthcare closer to home and support medical professionals who want to build successful careers in one of our province’s rural communities.

Centralized Online Learning Option for K-12 Students

To improve access to education, the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Corporation (SDLC) will offer free centralized online learning to any Saskatchewan student who chooses to study online. The SDLC will offer 180 online courses for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students beginning in the 2023-24 school year. SDLC has chosen ten communities to be regional campuses for online students to connect and receive instruction from local teachers in addition to connecting virtually. This program will give students new opportunities for flexible learning, regardless of where in the province they live, while ensuring consistent, quality education.

Increased Funding for Policing

To protect the safety of residents, especially in rural areas, we are investing in police services. In addition to expansions of the Crime Reduction Team (CRT) and Warrant Enforcement Suppression Team (WEST), our government has introduced the new Saskatchewan Marshalls Service (SMS). The SMS will consist of approximately 70 officers who will provide additional law enforcement presence across the province, conduct proactive investigations and support RCMP and municipal police operations. These initiatives represent over $23 million in increased funding to enhance and expand law enforcement across our province.

Supporting Agriculture

For our agricultural producers, this year’s Saskatchewan Crop Insurance program is stronger than ever, with this year’s average coverage reaching a record $446 per acre. Enhancements to this year’s program include new individual premiums, increased coverage for unseeded acres and increased AgriStability coverage. The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) is there for producers when they need it, mitigating risk with its full suite of programs. In addition to Crop Insurance and AgriStability, SCIC offers Livestock Price Insurance and the Wildlife Damage and Prevention Program. March 31 is the deadline to apply, reinstate, cancel or make changes to Crop Insurance contracts. You can learn more at www.SCIC.ca.

To build awareness and support for the agriculture industry, March is Agriculture Literacy Month in Saskatchewan. Throughout the month, industry volunteers from all levels of food production will join classrooms to share presentations and personal experiences to help students learn more about agriculture. Connecting our youth to agriculture is an important part of growing the sector.

Also this month, March 12-18 is Agricultural Safety Week in Saskatchewan. With long days during busy seasons like calving, seeding and harvest, Agriculture Safety Week is a reminder that the business of farming is dependent upon healthy people who prioritize safety year-round. Learning to spot hazards on the farm can prevent serious injuries and fatalities. More information about farm safety and the Farm Safety Guide is available at www.Saskatchewan.ca/farmsafety.

Saskatchewan’s rural communities are so important to the province’s growth and our government is committed to supporting them. Our government values its relationship with SARM and looks forward to continued growth in rural areas across the province.

Letter to the Editor

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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.

Smoke Detectors Notified Residents to Escape Weekend House Fire on 2nd Avenue North

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

The Martensville Fire Department (MFD) responded to a structure fire at approximately 10:30am on Sunday, March 19th at a residence on 2nd Avenue North in Martensville.

According to a press release from the MFD, the fire originated in a basement furnace room which caused extensive damage throughout the entire house; however, all occupants were able to escape thanks to smoke detectors alerting them of the fire.

“MFD responded with two engine companies, rescue, and a water tanker. First arriving crews reported smoke showing. Crews entered the house and encountered heavy smoke and heat. They were able to make there way to the basement to find the seat of the fire. Crews remained on scene to do salvage and overhaul of the structure and crews did have to return for a small flare up,” MFD Fire Chief Kurt Dyck stated in the press release.

Although they know that the fire originated in the basement furnace room, the MFD stated that the exact cause of the fire is undetermined at this time. Following the fire, a fundraiser had been created to help the young couple that lost all of their belongings, as well as their family dog in the fire. The couple, Ashton Riemer and Starla Krawczyk, created the page to help them get back on their feet following the tragic incident.

“It would mean a lot to both of us being 19 years old to get a little help instead of us panicking and not knowing what to do. This would be very important to us, just so we don’t end up homeless and the extra cash would help us buy some plates and a bed so we can sleep on. Putting a first month’s rent and a damage deposit on a place with this money would truly make us thankful of everything we had and everything that’s happened to us in the start of 2023,” the fundraising page stated. Local residents have also come together to help support the couple by collecting food, clothing, unused hygiene items and gift cards from those that wish to contribute. As of March 20th, a community member stepped up to provide a place for the couple to stay.

More information on how you can help can be found at https://gofund. me/7e4c3d54, or on the ‘Martensville Head’s Up Community Board’ Facebook page. Martensville Deputy Fire Chief reminds the community to check their smoke detectors regularly to ensure there are working properly because, “Smoke detectors really do save lives.”

ABOVE: The Martensville Fire Department was on scene at a house fire on 2nd Avenue North in Martensville for much of Sunday, March 19th, even returning to extinguish a small flare-up. (Shanine Sealey/MM)