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Thin Ice Can Have Dangerous Consequences Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
Although when we look outside, it has the appearance of being full-blown winter, we have to remember that it is still early in the season. With that in mind, it is important to be cautious around open water and to stay off of our local ponds. “We haven’t been out to check the ice yet, and at this point, there really is no ice. It has been cold, but not cold enough for us to be going out and doing testing just yet, so we want to remind residents to stay off of the ice,” Deputy Fire Chief Dean Brooman explained. With the recent snowfall, Brooman added that the snow provides insulation, which makes it even harder for the ice to form any kind of thickness. In some areas, it can be deceiving; however, it is dangerous and can lead to a scary situation. BELOW: Reminders of thin ice are marked at Martensville’s Kinsmen Park. (Jocelyn Ottenbreit/MM)
On Monday, November 16th, Corman Park Police Service (CPPS) posted about an incident that occurred at Furdale Dog Park in Saskatoon. Police, Fire and EMS responded to 911 calls regarding a female that had fallen through the ice after trying to rescue her dog that had also fallen through. “The female floated down the river, and was rescued by a patron of the dog park,” CPPS stated via social media. CPPS, RCMP, Saskatoon Fire and EMS attended the scene and rescued the female via boat as she was unable to move under her own power. “Saskatoon Fire brought a boat from the city, and retrieved the female, and brought her to the Broadway boat launch. She was transferred into an ambulance and taken to hospital. The female is in stable condition. The dog was retrieved from the river and in good condition.” CPPS also added a reminder to the public to stay away from the river and stay off of the ice.
Chamber of Commerce Announces New Board of Directors
This year there were six (6) open positions on the Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. All six (6) positions are for a twoyear term. The following nominees submitted all required documentation and have been appointed to the Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors by acclamation: Carmen Baker, Laskowski & Wright LLP,
Bray Hudson, WOW Factor Media, Deven Johnson, Legends Pharmacy, Darla McLean, Discover Advertising, Jaycee Turtle, Lakeview Insurance, and Melissa Stevenson, Canalta Hotel Martensville. The following directors have one (1) year remaining in their term: Tamara Bell, Evermore Homes, Gord Dmytruk, Avatex, Josh Fedorowich, Studio 2.0
Interior Design & Photography, Jaime Holowaty, The Wireless Age, Darla Schwartz, Coldwell Banker Realty and Michael Wright, Bergerman Smith LLP. New members will officially be sworn in as your 2020/2021 Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors at the AGM on Wednesday, November 18th, 2020 on the Zoom platform.
ABOVE: On Monday, November 16th, a female fell through the ice into the river at Furdale Park in Saskatoon. Police are reminding people to stay off of the ice. (Corman Park Police Services)
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martensville messenger - NOVEMBER 19, 2020 - Page 3
Winter is Here and Snow Removal is Too – What You Need to Know
November & December Council Meeting Dates
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.
Please Note: The upcoming Council Schedule or location may be subject to change based around any potential new developments or ease of restrictions around the COVID-19 Pandemic. Anyone interested in attending is strongly encouraged to contact the City Clerk prior to planning to attend.
Our crews strive to deliver excellent services, 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 in a timely manner. There are ways you can help to ensure to keep streets clear and safe.
Regular Council Meeting - November 24th Committee of the Whole - December 8th Regular Council Meeting - December 15th
- Do not shovel, blow, or push snow from private property onto the street – this causes snow ridges on your driveway when our plow cleans your street.
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.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
The full Council and Committee of the Whole Schedule can be obtained at martensville.ca.
- 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.
Civic Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic- What You Should Know!
- 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. - 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.
City Hall is Open, however with some guidelines currently in place. Continue to utilize online and contactless options when possible. Please do not visit City Hall if you are feeling unwell, experiencing flu-like symptoms or have been in contact with someone who is presumptive or tested positive for COVID-19. Residents and Customers are encouraged to carry out transactions electronically such as online banking, preauthorized payments or TIPPS. Cheques may also be dropped off in the drop slot at City Hall. The City had implemented a number of measures to assist property owners and businesses during the pandemic, including extending the Property Tax deadline from July 31st to October 30th. Property Taxes are now due with interest charges on overdue accounts now accruing. Stay Informed! -The City of Martensville has created a dedicated webpage to provide information, updates, and additional resources around the COVID-19 pandemic. This page is accessible through the homepage at Martensville.ca. Please continue to follow us, media sources and information from the Province of Saskatchewan for the most current information around updates or new measures for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 Use of Masks are Mandatory in Saskatchewan - Effective Monday, November 16th, residents are required to wear non-medical masks in indoor public spaces to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This is a Public Health Order and is subject to enforcement and fines. This is in place for 28 days at this time. Health officials strongly recommend wearing a non-medical mask anywhere outside the home. Current Status of Public Facilities as of November 12th Martensville Athletic Pavilion- Drop in and Pick-up programs are cancelled in accordance to changes in the Saskatchewan Re-Open Plan City Hall- Open Aquatic Centre- Closed for the Season Northridge Centre- Open for Bookings with Provincial gathering guidelines Heritage Centre-Open for bookings with Provincial gathering guidelines Sports Centre-Open Wheatland Regional Library (located in the Civic Centre)- Open City Staff are available to work with the public via phone or email. Questions or inquiries can be directed to City Hall via phone (306-931-2166) or inquiry@martensville.ca during this time.
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Page 4 - NOVEMBER 19, 2020 - martensville messenger
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Amid Rise in COVID Cases, Martensville Residents Reminded to Limit Bubbles Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
It’s no secret that Martensville is seeing a rise in COVID cases recently and it is an important reminder to us all that we need to be extra careful these days and work together to keep everyone safe. “Our numbers had previously been slow and then all of a sudden, this past week, they just skyrocketed in a way we couldn’t predict and we didn’t see coming. We couldn’t warn anybody because we didn’t know it was here until it was here. We don’t want to scare people, but instead make them aware of what they can do and what power they have to control the world around them,” Dr. Allison Adamus of Martensville Collective Health and Wellness (MCHW) explained. Last week, MCHW closed their doors to the public and worked from home due to the team being exposed to a confirmed positive COVID case. Since then, as they complete contact tracing, staff is back to work and Dr. Adamus noted that they will continue to manage the majority of patients via virtual appointments and see only the patients that are required to be seen in person. Along with that, MCHW will continue to use protective measures such as masks and face shields to ensure the safety of themselves, along with their patients. Dr. Adamus explained that right now, the most important thing is to pay attention to who is in your ‘bubble’. “COVID is transmitted through direct face-to-face contact, so the more people over the course of time that you are in direct face to face contact with, the higher your risk is.” As cases take place in communities across the province, numbers are not being released as to how many cases are in each place. “The most important thing isn’t how many cases there are, it is what we are doing to try to prevent transmission. It is important to know that there are cases out there, and the transmission risk is high so we can modify our behaviors and adjust our risk,” Dr. Adamus said. “A person is considered contagious 48 hours prior to them developing symptoms. By the time they have symptoms, then get tested and get the results of the test; a significant amount of time has passed to allow transmission. If you do test positive, ideally, the people you have been in contact with should be a small number,” added Adamus. If you do come into contact with someone who has tested positive; Dr. Adamus stated that it is important to evaluate your interactions with that person. If you have spent more than a total of 15 cumulative minutes with that person, face to face, within a 6 foot radius, then you are considered a close contact and should self-isolate for 14 days from the time of your last contact. “COVID is tricky. It is super spreadable and sometimes the symptoms are so mild that it is easy to brush off. Let’s just control what we can control. So much of life we don’t have control over, but there are some things we can control, and if we can take advantage of that, we can do this knowing that we have done the best that we could,” Adamus stated.
With the rising cases in the community, we have been seeing some recreation programs shut down temporarily, Martensville High School move to online learning temporarily, and some local businesses move to contactless service to help prevent the spread. Adamus also explained that COVID is spread by people and not by buildings, so people don’t need to be scared to support our local businesses during this time. “Our businesses are taking great precautions and just because a business has been listed as a potential exposure location, it doesn’t mean that it is a dangerous place to be. This is happening in our homes and within our bubbles when we get together.” Dillon Shewchuk, the Community Economic Development Manager for the City of Martensville, has been working alongside the Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce since early this year when COVID became a relevant threat to our economy. They have been working with local businesses to offer advice, information on available supports and more. “I encourage people to continue to support our local businesses. There are many contact-free ways that businesses are providing their services to the community and they are working hard to maintain a safe environment for the customers and staff. These businesses are the livelihood for many people in our community, so now is the time to help one another and continue to support them through this tough time,” Shewchuk said. Additionally, Shewchuk wanted to remind residents within Martensville to comply with rules and regulations that businesses have in place such as wearing a mask, sanitizing and following directions on the floors. As of November 19, the City of Martensville will be suspending all recreation programs and shutting down programming spaces which include the Martensville Sports Centre, Heritage Centre, North Ridge Community Centre and school spaces that were hosting civic programs. City Hall, the Civic Centre and the Library will remain open, along with the MAP track and Fitness area; however, gym areas are closed off with gym bookings and open gym times no longer available. These changes were announced following new directives from the Province on November 17th. It is expected that this will be in effect for 2 to 3 weeks and then be re-evaluated at that time. Martensville Mayor Kent Muench spoke regarding the rising COVID cases in the community and noted that this increase in transmission demonstrates the nature of COVID and how it can spread quickly and quietly. “Seeing these numbers is a reminder to go back to emphasizing those simple fundamentals that health authorities have been telling us to do all along – wash your hands frequently, physical distancing, wear a mask, avoid social gatherings because in the end, this is happening through our contacts generally. Our numbers were low for a really long time in Martensville and I really think it is just a matter of re-focusing and getting back to it. Let’s make bubbles small again and take the steps needed to bring those numbers back down again.”
Cause of Martensville Commercial Fire Under Investigation
The Martensville Fire Department responded to a commercial fire on Thursday November 12, 2020 at 11:19 p.m. located at 420 9th St N in Martensville. The business received severe damage. There were no injuries as a result of this fire. MFD responded with two pumper trucks and a water tanker along
with Rescue 5. First arriving crews found the business with heavy smoke and flames. The fire was called under control at 1:31 a.m. November 13, 2020. Martensville Fire remained on scene to do salvage on over hall of the structure and to make sure all hot spots were extinguished. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
ABOVE: A commercial fire that took place on Thursday, November 12 caused severe damage to a business on 9th Street North in Martensville. (Submitted by Don Miller) 20113bs0
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Expectation of Online Fundraiser Exceeds Local Resident’s Goal Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
Geoff Baker of Martensville hosted a “24-Hours for Brain Cancer Research” online fundraiser on November 13 in honour of his late motherin-law. All money raised through this event will go towards helping patients and their families through life-saving research, support services and other important work to help ensure fewer Canadians will be touched by the disease. Initially, Baker noted that if this event could raise even $100, he would be proud; however, the end result exceeded his wildest expectations. “Now that it has finished and I have reached $2,275, I am amazed. I honestly had an ugly ABOVE: Geoff Baker’s mother-in-law Sylvia cry after ending stream. The emotions and was the inspiration behind his recent 24exhaustion from the event and the memories of hour online fundraiser to raise money for my mother-in-law hit me all at ones and I just brain cancer research. (Submitted) let it fly,” Baker said. The event was held online through ‘Twitch’, where Baker had a live stream going of him playing video games and provided an outlet for others to discuss their personal experience of how their lives have been impacted by cancer, share stories and learn more about brain cancer. “There were points in the middle of the night where I was exhausted and needed sleep, but I powered through and kept on task for the entire stream,” added Baker. This fundraiser was an important way for Baker to remember his mother-in-law, who passed away approximately three years ago after a hard-fought battle with brain cancer. Having lost such an inspiration in his life, Baker decided to host this event as a way to raise money to hopefully help others have more time with their loved ones. “Cancer is a horrible disease that has impacted everyone in some way. We hope that this fundraiser can help with ongoing research to provide more time for others.”
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martensville messenger - NOVEMBER 19, 2020 - Page 5
MFD Continues Tradition in Different Way Due to COVID This Christmas Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger
Christmas is fast approaching and although things may feel a lot different with the uncertainty of being able to get together with families this year, because of the rising number of COVID cases in our province, people may still want to help out with giving to the less fortunate in our community. For the past 23 years, the Martensville Fire Department (MFD) has been organizing ‘Food Hampers’ to help families in our community in need of some extra help through the holiday season and to help make their Christmas a little brighter. Typically, every year, nonperishable food and other items are collected from schools, businesses, groups, and individuals from around the community. Organizer James Taylor said things will have to be a bit different this year and the exact details are still being sorted out. “Given the current circumstances of our world this year, we have had to adjust how this year’s hampers are going to look.”
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Taylor states that there are several dynamics of collecting, sorting, and delivering hampers and necessary precautions need to be taken. In order to prevent the spread of COVID, they have decided that, “Basically we are only accepting monetary donations this year in the form of gift cards, cash, or cheque. Any monetary donations will be used to purchase gift cards from local businesses for groceries, Christmas presents, etc.” Taylor also explained that all items purchased will be distributed amongst the identified families as per the usual protocols. If anyone wants to participate, they can write a cheque made payable to the ‘Martensville Firefighters Association’, or collections in the form of gift cards or cash can be dropped off at Martensville City Hall.
BELOW: In previous years, the Martensville Fire Department collected food donations leading up to Christmas and had various local service groups provide help packaging the donations into food hampers to be distributed to local families. martensville messenger - OCtOBer 1, 2020 - Page 5
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COVID Cases Confirmed in Martensville Schools Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger On Tuesday, November 17th, Prairie Spirit School Division (PSSD) released a statement regarding a positive case of COVID-19 in an individual at Venture Heights Elementary School in Martensville. “The school community has been informed. To protect privacy, we are not able to share details. We are working closely with Public Health staff to ensure necessary measures are in place to protect all students and staff,” the statement from PSSD noted. As a reminder to the public, PSSD stated that we all have a shared responsibility to decrease the risk of COVID-19 entering schools. “Our school plans contain many important measures, processes and protocols which add layers of protection for students and staff.” Students and families are reminded to be diligent in performing the daily health screening, stay home if ill, call HealthLine 811 if exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, practice proper hand hygiene, maintain physical distancing as much as possible, wear a mask when appropriate, and do everything we can to keep each other safe. Last week, it was announced that after multiple positive cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in individuals at Martensville High School (MHS), the school would be moving to remote learning under Level 4 of the Safe Schools Plan. MHS will remain in Level 4 until November 23, where they will then move to Level 3, which will continue until Christmas break and be reevaluated at that time.
Page 6 - NOVEMBER 19, 2020 - martensville messenger
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Martensville Minor Hockey on Hold Effective Immediately Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger
On Saturday, November 14, Martensville Minor Hockey Association (MMHA) announced new protocols and safety measures with the surge in COVID-19 cases in and around the community. With the rising numbers, the MMHA initially had decided to increase their safety measures, with changes made to the total number of spectators permitted within the facilities, mandatory masks for all spectators and for coaches and players when entering and exiting the rink, as well as while in the dressing rooms. Coaches were also required to wear a mask while on the bench, or on the ice. Other changes were also listed which allocated restrictions on when and how players and their parents arrived at the rink to reduce the amount of time spent in dressing rooms. This announcement followed a release from the Saskatchewan Health Authority about a possible COVID exposure at the Martensville Sports Centre on October 31, November 1 and November 6. Trevor Hanley, President of the MMHA, said that some of the measures shared this weekend were a reminder to their Association to continue to be diligent. “The more restrictive measures imposed over the weekend were our decision based on what we were seeing and hearing around
our community and in consultation with Public Health and the City of Martensville. We have received overwhelming support from our membership, our community, Sask Health and Sask Hockey with regards to these increased measures,” Hanley said. Although the MMHA had posted the announcement of further restrictions last week, as of Tuesday, November 17, they will officially be suspending all minor hockey sanctioned events (dryland training, practices, team building, and games). They stated that “with the cases of COVID-19 continuing to rise in our community, and in consultation with Health Care Professionals we have made the decision to press pause on our season effective immediately. Continuing is just too risky right now.” Their intention is to resume December 1, 2020 should the situation in Martensville allow that to happen. “We are an organization made up of people who care deeply for one another and want to see our community thrive, succeed and be well. COVID-19 has impacted all of those things so it impacts us all as people,” quoted Hanley. They asked for everyone to be safe and be diligent so that they can get their season back on track. You can watch for updates with information on the Martensville Minor Hockey Association Facebook page.
Ward’s & Bud Haynes Firearms Auction, Saturday, December 12th, Edmonton, Alberta. Hundreds of Lots in all Classes. www. WardsAuctions.com. Call Brad 780-940-8378; Linda 403-5971095 to consign.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY *K’AWAT’SI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IS NOW HIRING* -Red Seal Carpenters -Third and fourth year apprentices -Experienced Carpenter’s helpers. If you are interested in this great career opportunity, please send your resume at hr@kedc.ca or call us at 250 230 5498 Heavy Duty Mechanics, Heavy Equipment Operators and 1A Drivers required: Late model, clean CAT, JD equip: winch, dump, gravel trucks and trailers. Both camp and shop locations; R & B provided. Wage negotiable. Clean drivers abstract a must. Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction Box 100, Arborfield, Sk. S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca
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Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
This year commemorates a milestone for a well-known member of the community. Kurtis Dyck, Martensville Fire Department Fire Chief recently received a medal for 30 years of service on the local fire department. Deputy Fire Chief Dean Brooman has been working alongside Dyck for 25 years, and stated that, “It has been an honour. He has been a great mentor, a great friend and it has been a pleasure to work with and for him. Kurt is a wealth of knowledge and has worked very hard for the City of Martensville.” This 30 year journey began in 1990 when Dyck, who has lived in Martensville his whole life, decided to be more involved in the community and joined the Martensville Fire Department. At the time Dyck was living next door to the current fire chief, which was part of the inspiration to put his name in at the fire department. “I worked at Martensville Service Centre, which was the gas station and mechanic shop here at the time. It was only a couple doors down from the fire hall and my employer let me leave work if a call came in, so I made a lot of calls for that first couple years. Especially during the day because I was available pretty much all of the time,” Dyck explained. Following that first year on the fire department, Dyck decided that this was what he wanted to do for a career and took the required courses through SIAST and began applying in Saskatoon ABOVE: Martensville where he was hired on in 1992; 28 years later, Dyck is a Captain Fire Chief Kurtis Dyck in Saskatoon. Over 30 years, there have been many changes to Martensville, which means changes to the Martensville Fire Department, including an increase in members. Currently, the MFD has approximately 30 members and will be adding more members in the coming weeks. In addition to growing in size, the MFD is also constantly working at upgrading their equipment to ensure that they can provide the best protection to Martensville and surrounding areas.
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Dyck, who became Fire Chief in December of 2012, explained that over the years, there have been highs and lows. “Sometimes it gets hard having to miss family events because there are lots of times that it pulls you away from different things.” When asked what keeps him going, despite the tough times, Dyck stated, “It’s kind of all I have known for 30 years. It is about making sure the community is protected.” “Thank you to the community for all of their support for the Fire Department over the years and thank you to the members for their commitment to the department. They are always willing to learn and grow. We have a great group of guys there and I am very proud of them. Thank you to Council for their support and thank you to my family for supporting me over the years as well,” Dyck said. Thank you to Kurtis Dyck for your dedication to the community and congratulations on 30 years of service on the Martensville Fire Department.
PLEASE NOTE: The Martensville Fire Department would like to ask residents that have a fire hydrant on their property to please clear the snow around it to ensure that it is clear and easy for them to get access to. Also, with the significant snowfall, they are reminding the public to check the vents and exhaust ports around their homes to ensure they are clear of snow and ice. In doing this, you can help ensure the safe operation of home appliances and keep from having a build-up of carbon monoxide in your home.
martensville messenger - NOVEMBER 19, 2020 - Page 7
Provincial Politics with
Murray Mandryk
Cabinet Must Reflect a Changing Province For about the last 40 years, politics in Saskatchewan has been framed as the transition from the social democratic governance to more conservative governance. It clearly has been all of that. This was evident the night of Oct. 26 that surely solidified that philosophical transfer. What the Sask. Party did three weeks ago was secure a rare fourth-term majority government — really, the only fourth-term “unaided” majority government this province has seen since the run of Tommy Douglas’s Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). The last NDP run under Roy Romanow and Lorne Calvert was added and abetted by Liberals in 1999. This, by no small coincidence, was the last time Liberals were elected to the Saskatchewan legislature. So what really happened on Oct. 26 is the transition of the Sask. Party to the status of Saskatchewan’s “natural governing party” — a title once bestowed upon the NDP in this province, but long lost. One might rightly argue that the NDP had lost that title before its 1991 to 2007 run that might be attributed to not having a trusted alternative in the take of Grant Devine Progressive Conservatives that drove the province deep into debt and faced criminal charges after. The more pertinent point is that what we witnessed in the past four decades is change. This is something that people in rural Saskatchewan likely recognize more so than most. For as often as rural life is seen from the outside as always being static, it just isn’t. For those that live on farms, it’s a reality expressed in how much further away your neighbours have gotten as farms become bigger and spread further apart. For those living in the villages, towns and smaller cities, it’s the reality of declining and changing communities, but maybe it’s about here where we need recognize that — if anything — we all can only expect more change in the future and that we must address that change each and every day.
The very future of this province requires us to take on change and the problems they bring as they occur. This takes us to last week’s cabinet shuffle and how it did — in one very real way — remind us that this is a changing province where our problems are changing as well. It is interesting to note that many of the rural ministers in portfolios that most effect rural life didn’t change. Donna Harpauer is still Finance Minister (albeit, with added title of deputy premier), David Marit is still Agriculture Minister, Bronwyn Eyre is still Energy Minister and Jeremy Harrison is still minster responsible for the economy. Yorkton’s Greg Ottenbreit was dropped from cabinet altogether, Jim Reiter was moved from health and Weyburn-Big Muddy’s Dustin Duncan was moved into education, but the biggest change might have been the rural and remote health portfolio that was given to Swift Current newcomer Everett Hindley, who has been given the added and specific responsibilities of mental health and addictions. That the Sask. Party held on to all 29 of it’s rural seats and pretty much held on to a 60-per-cent popular vote total from the last general election four years ago might suggest it’s steady as she goes for the Sask. Party government; however, it can never be business-as-usual for any government running this province. We do have important issues in local hospitals and rural health care delivery will remain a major issue for some time, but addressing mental health is long overdue. The same can be said for drug addiction that’s hardly just a problem in rural Saskatchewan. In fact, the economic downturn and its accompanying job losses/ mental stress reveals it’s an issue everywhere. It’s essential that governments adjust to a changing province with changing problems. That begins with cabinet. That’s just the reality for whomever governs us.
Saskatchewan Announces Further Restrictions to Help Reduce Risk of COVID Transmission The expansion of mandatory masking in indoor public spaces and a curfew on alcohol sales in licensed establishments was in effect as of Monday, November 16 for 28 days, then subject to review by Saskatchewan’s chief medical health officer. “New measures announced this week and those to be considered in the weeks to come will still be based on the fundamentals of physical distancing, staying home when you are sick and masking to protect yourself and others,” Health Minister Paul Merriman said. “Now is the time for all residents, businesses and organizations to get back to basics. Re-commit to proven public health measures and return to the standards shown to work in the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan.” The following measures are in effect as of 12:01am Thursday, November 19, 2020. They, and all other public health measures, will be in effect until December 17 and then subject to review by the provincial Chief Medical Health Officer. Mandatory Masking Province-wide While the province continues to recommend wearing masks whenever you are outside the home, wearing a nonmedical mask will now be required in all indoor public spaces in Saskatchewan. Information on masks and their use and what qualifies as an indoor public space is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/masks. • The list of indoor spaces may be amended for clarity; however, if you unsure if a location qualifies as an “indoor public space”, defer to wearing the mask – choose the option that promotes public safety. • Masking in school settings is described in the back to school plans as set out by the respective school divisions. • Masking guidance for childcare centres and daycares is described in the Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan. • Mandatory masking posters to assist businesses and organizations to inform their customers are available at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19-posters. Protecting Residents of Long-Term and Personal Care Homes Visitation to all long-term care facilities and personal care homes will be suspended, with the exception of compassionate reasons as per the current family visitation policy at www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-careadministration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019novel-coronavirus/public-health-measures/mass-gatherings#compassionate-care-visitor-restrictions-at-sha-facilities. • This measure is in addition to long-standing protections that have been in place, including mandatory masking of all staff, staff cohorting and symptom screening prior to shift. Private Indoor Gathering Sizes Reduced Indoor private gathering sizes are being reduced. The maximum allowable gathering size for private gatherings in the home setting will decrease to five, down from 10. This includes in the home or in buildings located on private property (eg. garages, sheds). If your immediate family is five or greater, you cannot have additional visitors. Gatherings of any size beyond your immediate household are strongly discouraged at this time. • Support personnel (ie. therapists, nursing staff) and tradespersons (ie. housekeeper, plumber) are permitted though they should maintain two metre distancing and be masked during service provision. Health care workers not able to maintain physical distancing when providing home care services must wear appropriate PPE. • Any private gathering of more than five people/your immediate household must occur in a public venue (ie. restaurant, community hall), abiding by all applicable guidelines of physical distancing, food service, masking, etc. • Outdoor private gatherings remain at 30 people maximum and only if physical distancing of two metres can be maintained at all times. Work from Home COVID-19 transmission continues in workplaces throughout the province. Break the chain of transmission; it is highly recommended that you work from home as much as possible, if your occupation allows. If you are already working at home, you should continue to do so. Reviewing Hospitality Industry Guidelines The Ministry of Health will be consulting with the hospitality industry (restaurants, bars, casinos, etc.), on continuing to mitigate the risk of transmission in their sectors. The ministry will consult with the hospitality industry to determine how the guidelines, taken seriously by many, can be enhanced to ensure that the necessary measures are being taken to reduce COVID-19 transmission. Reviewing Athletic Organization and Recreation Guidelines The Ministry of Health will be consulting with athletic organizations and gyms on continuing to mitigate the risk of transmission in their sectors. The ministry will consult with athletic organizations and gyms to determine how the guidelines, taken seriously by many, can be enhanced to ensure that the necessary measures are being taken to reduce COVID-19 transmission. Reviewing Worship Guidelines The Ministry of Health will be consulting with faith leaders and communities on improving current guidelines for worship services to continue to mitigate the risk of transmission in these settings and how the guidelines, taken seriously by many, can be enhanced to ensure that the necessary measures are being taken to reduce COVID-19 transmission. Update to Re-Open Saskatchewan for Entertainment Transportation Entertainment transportation (ie. party buses, group limousines and recreational vehicles) are no longer permitted. Information on the Re-Open Saskatchewan guidelines is available at www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-careadministration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019novel-coronavirus/re-open-saskatchewan-plan. General COVID-19 Information
Letter to the Editor
The Martensville Messenger welcomes letters to the editor for publication. Letters must be signed and a phone number and/or email address included so the writer’s identity can be verified. ALL letters are the opinion of the writer and NOT the Martensville Messenger. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity or compliance with the current standards of public taste. Submit your letter to news@ martensvillemessenger.ca or mail to Box 333 - Martensville, SK S0K 2T0.
Page 8 - NOVEMBER 19, 2020 - martensville messenger
City Square Officially Renamed Veterans Square on 75th Anniversary of the End of WWII Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
This Remembrance Day commemorated 75 years since the ending of World War II and it seemed like a fitting day for the dedication of Veterans Square in Martensville. This past June, a proposal was submitted to the City of Martensville by Martensville Fire Department’s Deputy Fire Chief Dean Brooman regarding the renaming of the area that was formally known as City Square, in front of City Hall, to Veteran’s Square. Within his submission to Council, Brooman stated that he would like to create a space within the community to acknowledge those who have fought, died and served for the freedom of our country. On November 11, a small COVID friendly ceremony was held to officially acknowledge the renaming of City Square to Veterans Square. In attendance at the ceremony was Mayor Kent Muench, MLA Terry Jenson, Member of Parliament Kelly Block, Sergeant Curtis Little of the Martensville RCMP, a representative from the Duck Lake Legion, representatives from the 574 Dakota Air Cadets, Deputy Fire Chief Dean Brooman, and others. Dillon Shewchuk, Community and Economic Development Manager for the City of Martensville, opened up the presentation by welcoming all of those in attendance and noted that this renaming would acknowledge all past, current and future contributions and sacrifices of those that made them for our country. Mayor Kent Muench spoke about how Martensville was different from many other Saskatchewan communities that started around a grain elevator on train tracks. In comparison to
other communities, Martensville is quite new and with this in mind, “all things built need to be thought out and planned for.” Muench added that, “Veterans Square is very important for our community. It is a place where recognition of veterans is visible and has the daily reminder of the great sacrifice that they gave to our community and our country.” Recently elected MLA for the Martensville-Warman Constituency, Terry Jenson, spoke about how important projects such as this are for a community and how they can bring people together. “It’s a reminder every day of the sacrifices that our men and women made. This is something that will live on in the history of Martensville,” Jenson said. Member of Parliament for Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek, Kelly Block noted that, “On this day, it is so meaningful, this square in your City will always serve as a reminder for us to take up the torch, keep the faith and always remember those who made such a tremendous sacrifice.” Dean Brooman, who was the brain child behind this commemorative space spoke about how important this renaming was for him as the grandson of a World War I veteran and the son of a World War II veteran. “Our goal was to create an area in Martensville that will allow people to stop and reflect on those who served so that we can enjoy the freedom that we have today,” Brooman stated. Initially the ceremony was scheduled to take place in the newly named Veterans Square; however, due to weather, it was instead held within City Hall. At the end of the ceremony, a presentation was made that revealed the plaque design that would be installed within Veterans Square.
Newly Elected Martensville City Council Sworn In Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
Following Election Day, held on Monday, November 9th, the City of Martensville held the swearing in ceremony of the newly elected City Council on Tuesday, November 17. Elected officials consisted of incumbent candidate Darren MacDonald, Tyson Chillog, Debbie McGuire, Jamie Martens and Michael Cox. The sixth spot on Council will be filled with newly elected candidate Spencer Nikkel. “I am honoured by the support of the Martensville citizens. The last two terms have been an incredible and enlightening experience. I take my position and this responsibility seriously and look forward to serving another four years,” Jamie Martens stated. Darren MacDonald is currently entering his third term as a City of Martensville Councillor and noted, “I believe in the Councils I have been a part of and I believe we are working hard to make the community a better place, but these elections are where the community uses their voice to let us know.” Tyson Chillog acknowledged the difficulty that voters faced this year in regard to the snowstorm that hit Martensville the day prior to Election Day. You all have assembled a team of positive and progressive people and for that you should be proud. I am excited and honoured to be a part of this team. I have been humbled and challenged during this election campaign and because of it, I have a renewed vigour. I have made it my objective to make Martensville a better place, one issue, on discussion at a time. If something concerns you about our city please let me know, if something excites you about our city I would also like to know. Thank you once again for entrusting me as one of the elected to be your voice,” Chillog stated. Heading into his second term on City Council, Michael Cox said, “I would like to take this opportunity to say a big
thank you to the residents and business owners in Martensville for all their support this election. I am very humbled and honoured that so many of you chose me as a person they would like to see on our next council. I will continue to work hard to represent all of you in this next term as we continue to move Martensville forward.” Cox also added a congratulations to the other elected candidates, as well as Mayor Kent Muench, who was elected through acclamation for his third term as Mayor. “I also look forward to working with you, under your leadership as we all work to continue to make Martensville a great place to live, work and play.” Debbie McGuire was elected for her second term as a City Councillor and has a main focus on more affordable senior housing in Martensville. “That is my goal and my hope for my second term on Council. I would love to create housing for seniors so they don’t have to leave their own community as they age.” McGuire also added how happy she was to see two female Councillors voted in to Council once again and encouraged other women within the community to consider voicing their opinions in the next election, which will take place in 2024. Those that were elected each took time to commend the other candidates that ran in this year’s election. “For those that ran this year and didn’t get on, I hope they don’t give up on their dream of representing the community. There will be another election in four years from now, and if they truly want to be a member of Council, I hope they put their names in again. It was a great run for each of them,” Debbie McGuire stated. MacDonald also added, “To the other candidates who ran, thank you for letting your name stand. It can be a daunting task to run in an election and you all ran for the purpose of making this community better which is what we are all striving for.”
City Plans to Flood Outdoor Rink Following Snow Removal of Roadways Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
ABOVE: Deputy Fire Chief Dean Brooman (LEFT), along with Veteran and member of the Martensville Fire Department Brendon Clancy reveal the sign that will be used in the newly named Veterans Square. (Shanine Sealey/MM)
Winter is here and residents are looking for ways to keep entertained during these difficult times. One source of entertainment that will soon be available is the Outdoor Rink at the Martensville Sports Centre. Typically, the rink is flooded closer to ABOVE: Construction of the warm-up shack by the Martensville Sports December to ensure the Centre Outdoor Rink was moving rapidly prior to the snowstorm last weather will be cold enough weekend. Although construction will see some delays due to weather, residents will still be able to enjoy the new addition this winter. to keep the ice surface in (Jocelyn Ottenbreit/MM) proper condition for users. “We are keeping an eye on the weather, and if it looks like it is going to hold up and be cold consistently, we will likely start flooding the outdoor rink once we are caught up on snow removal – assuming we don’t get another dump of snow,” City of Martensville Director of Recreation & Community Services, Ted Schaeffer, stated. The City of Martensville approved the construction of a warming shack at the Outdoor Rink this year and construction is currently underway. Initially, the tentative date for completion was November 30; however, due to weather, Schaeffer noted that they will likely be a little behind now. The warming shack will be built to accommodate 15-20 people, although that number will be cut down to 6 to 7 people due to COVID physical distancing restrictions. Those utilizing the warming shack, once it is complete, will be required to wear a mask while inside, as it is considered a public indoor space. The second part of the building will be utilized to store the City of Martensville’s back-up Zamboni, which is currently being stored at a secondary location, which creates a turnaround time if something happens to the primary Zamboni. “With the back-up Zamboni being stored in the new building, not only can we use it to flood the outdoor rink, but if something happens to our primary one, we can essentially carry on with minimal impact on service,” Schaeffer explained.