Martensville Summer Market Preparing for 2023 Season

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

The Martensville Summer Market is getting ready for another season of providing a variety of local shopping options to the community. The first day of the market will take place on Saturday, June 24th from 10am-2pm in the parking lot of the Martensville Corner Store, located at 301 Centennial Drive North (across from Canadian Tire).

There are currently approximately ten vendors signed up for each week, who will have items such as baking, breads, vegetables, jewelry, crochet, sewing, spices, clothing and more.

There is still room for more vendors, specifically someone that would be able to provide fruit, meat, eggs, plants and anything else that is family-friendly. Vendors are required to provide their own table/shelter and are recommended to have liability insurance. The vendor vehicles can be parked right in their stall, so there is no need to carry products and stall materials.

“The location is high traffic and very visible for the public. Martensville has a strong regular customer base, but they appreciate it if the same vendors are there every time,” Market Coordinator Marjan Petter said.

This year the market saw a name change from the Martensville Farmer’s Market to the Martensville Summer

Market. “We chose to change the name because the market is not only strictly a farmers market. It becomes more difficult to have vendors who are selling farm products and homemade products and with the name change, this year, we are allowing vendors with a home based business like Norwex, etc.,” Petter explained.

There are plans to host a Children’s Day this season, which will be free of charge for children to sell products on that day; however, no date has been set at this time.

For more information about the Martensville Summer Market, contact Martensvillemarket@gmail. com, or visit them on Facebook at ‘Martensville Summer Market’.

Martensville Food Pantry Continues to Find New Ways to Support Area Residents

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

The Martensville Food Pantry, previously known as the Martensville Free Pantry has undergone more than just a name change recently. In addition to this, they have also become incorporated and are currently in the process of obtaining a Registered Charitable status. With the incorporation, there is now five board members from the 15 volunteers involved within various roles in the MFP.

According to Linda Ward, MFP Coordinator/ Treasurer, the reason for the name change was to help them become more visible in the area as a food bank. “In talking with people in various settings, we found that many did not know there was a food pantry here,” Ward said.

Hampers are provided to area residents every two weeks, with approximately 15 hampers going out each time serving around 50 adults and children, as well as numerous pets that are supplied food by the SPCA. Throughout the holidays, such as Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving, these numbers increase, with this past Easter seeing a total of 37 hampers provided, supporting 62 children and 69 adults. A group of volunteers gets together to package hampers on Wednesdays, which are available for pick-up between 11am and 1pm.

Each hamper include a variety of products including meat, vegetables, pasta and sauce, soup, crackers, cereal, children’s snacks, dairy and eggs when available. All items are provided based on donations, so available products can vary.

Relying on donations means that items can run low at times and currently, the MFP is in need of donations of items such as spaghetti, crushed tomatoes, canned vegetables and fruit, rice, instant potatoes, pork and beans, soda crackers, cereal and other non-perishable items.

In addition to the food hampers, there is also an area within the hallway of the Martensville Civic Centre that has free food available for pick-up. If you or someone you know is in need of a food hamper, call/text (306) 280-1255, email martensvillefoodpantry@gmail. com, or message them via Facebook at ‘Martensville Food Pantry’.

Future plans for the MFP include support for seniors and a pet food drive with the SPCA. “It has come to our attention that a number of seniors have a need for food security; however, they have no transportation. In the fall we will start-up a delivery service for seniors on a temporary basis,” Ward added.

On the same page.

ABOVE: Staff and students at Martensville High School donned their formal attire to celebrate the MHS Film Festival. (Twitter)

BELOW: Students at Venture Heights Elementary School enjoyed Forest Friday as a way to honour the nature that surrounds the school. Classes from 2B, 3BP, 7A and 7/8T came together to celebrate the beautiful weather. (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

Residential Fire Related Regulations

Martensville Fire Department would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to take care and be mindful of the regulations for Residential Outdoor Fire Pits, Barbeques, and Fireworks to ensure the safety of themselves and others in our community

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 and should be extinguished when finished

- Keep a garden hose, pails of water or a source to extinguish a fire nearby

- No permit is required for 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.

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 will have regular scheduled bi-weekly collection alternating between North/South Martensville and commenced in May and runs until the end of October Pick-up takes 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.

Saskatoon Police Warn of Ongoing Scam

Members of the Saskatoon Police Service Economic Crime Section are alerting the public to a recent series of fraudulent activity in the community that has resulted in the arrest of an Ontario man.

On May 15, 2023, police received a report of victimization through the Family/Grandparent Emergency Scam; the suspect attended to the victim’s residence and defrauded them of several thousand dollars. Investigators from the SPS’ Economic Crime Section quickly identified a person of interest and following a tip from the public, a 20-year-old man from Ontario was arrested at a hotel in the 400 block of 20th Street East; he is charged with fraud over $5,000. As a result of evidence seized upon his arrest and a subsequent search warrant executed at the hotel, investigators believe there may be additional victims both locally and in other communities that have not yet reported to police.

This investigation is ongoing and it is possible that additional charges may be laid. If you have received a suspicious call and suspect fraud but have not been victimized, contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre; if you have become the victim of fraud, contact your local police or report it to the Saskatoon Police Service online or by calling 306-975-8300.

Background:The Family/Grandparent Emergency Scam involves a potential victim, often an older adult, receiving a phone call from someone claiming to be a family member in an emergency and requiring money for various purposes. The fraudsters may also work in tandem and connect the victim to a second person claiming to be a police officer, lawyer, doctor, or other authority. The payment is often requested as cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. This is a scam! Any legitimate authority would never make such requests.

If you receive a suspicious phone call, ask important questions of the caller to verify their identity but refrain from offering additional details yourself. Alternatively, hang up and call that family member directly to verify their location and well-being and/or connect with other relatives to fact check the call. If the caller is claiming to be law enforcement or hospital staff, hang up and call that authority directly to verify the information. Fraudsters leverage urgency and panic to coerce the victim into complying with their request. Always use extreme caution, especially when being asked to send a form of currency.

Buster Days 2023, June 9th, 10th and 11th

Activities include a Slo-pitch Tournament, Beer Gardens, Inflatables, Fireworks, Parade, Pancake Breakfast, Strongman Provincial Qualifier Competition, Corgi Races, and so much more!

Consider helping out as a volunteer and be part of Martensville’s main annual community event.

Visit busterdays.com for more information and schedule of the weekend’s events. Thank you to all volunteers and sponsors!

Nuisance Abatement Bylaw Information

The Nuisance Abatement Bylaw controls ‘nuisances’ on properties within the City of Martensville in order to improve the safety, health, enjoyment and welfare for residents in the Martensville. Nuisances include dilapidated buildings, land overgrown with grass and weeds, untidy or unsightly property as well as junked vehicles or open excavations. Owners are responsible for their property’s appearance and maintenance in order to keep Martensville a clean and healthy community for all residents.

For further information on this bylaw, please visit Martensville.ca or contact City Hall.

June 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.

June 6th - Regular Council Meeting

June 13th - Committee of the Whole Meeting

June 20th - Regular Council Meeting

All Meetings are located at Martensville City Hall Council Chambers. Martensville City Hall

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

THANKS THE

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

Williams Family

The fundraising continues!

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MCRP.CA/DONATE

“Communities like Martensville thrive when everyone can work together for a common goal.”

Thank you for over 8 years of support!

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Moe is Right - Net-Zero Impossible for SaskPower

Not all Premier Scott Moe’s fights with the federal Liberal government have been completely necessary, or even all that productive. Of course, there are dyed-in-the-wool supporters of Moe and his Saskatchewan Party who would take umbrage with this and there are many more casual political observers in this province who have their own valid reasons to oppose most everything Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has done. There are reasons why the Liberals and the name Trudeau are not popular here.

As such, it’s been good politics for Moe to simply oppose most everything Trudeau does; whether it’s the carbon tax that Liberals do keep raising because they believe it’s somehow good for them or opposing single-use plastics that local rural and urban municipalities support because they are clogging up landfills, but while politicians know the value of telling people what they think they want to hear, the collective wisdom out there is usually wise enough to figure out what does make sense and is in their interests.

Maybe Moe and his Sask. Party ministers haven’t exactly been known to pick their spots, but there are times when the battle it chooses with Ottawa is the right one. Last week’s opposition to federal government's goal of requiring electrical grids to be net-zero by 2035; something Moe described as "impossible and unaffordable"; is clearly the fight to pick.

To make his case (or perhaps to clearly distinguish this fight from the usual political fights) Moe let SaskPower President Rupen Pandya do the initial talking. Pandya explained SaskPower now generates 65 per cent of its current 5,437 megawatt current generating capacity from non-revenue fossil fuels.

Only 25 per cent from coal, but a perhaps surprising 40 per cent from natural gas that contribute less to greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). The remainder comes from the following sources: 16 per cent come through hydro; 11 per cent through wind; five per cent power agreements like buying hydroelectric power from Manitoba, and; three per cent from solar and other sources like net-metering.

While we could buy a little more green power from Manitoba, Pandya noted that province only has 100- to 200more megwatts sell before it reaches its capacity. Pandya further noted renewables are also exceedingly expensive and less reliability on calm, cloudy and cold days when SaskPower must still maintain 80 per cent of its baseload power from more reliable sources.

Moreover, that baseline continues to grow and Pandya suggests which Saskatchewan will need more than 7,000 megawatts by 2035, given its current population and economic growth.

To simply replace that 65 per cent of power generated from fossil fuels (net-zero by 2035) SaskPower would require $46 billion in capital spending; something that would hike your power bills by 107 per cent.

That is, of course, if SaskPower could do things like build small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in that short 12-year period, which Pandya said is an impossibility.

Hearing the word “impossibility” from Pandya carried more weight than hearing it from Moe, who generally sounded more reasoned last week. “We will not risk plunging our homes, our schools, our hospitals, our special care homes, our businesses into the cold and darkness because of the ideological whims of others,” Moe said.

Well, maybe there was a little political taint. Old habits are hard to break, but Moe is surely not wrong to call the yet-to-be-released clean electricity standards "unrealistic".

As an alternative, Moe released a "Saskatchewan's plan" calling net-zero at SaskPower to achieve net zero by 2050, with Ottawa covering 75 per cent of the cost of Saskatchewan's first small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) and 50 per cent of any further new low-emission renewable power. That does sound reasonable. And in this era where politics is defined by sometimes-less-rational fights, it was a welcomed approach.