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Complete Automotive & Tire Service Centre/ ATV/UTV Parts & Repair • Journeyman Factory Trained Technicians • Easy Vehicle Repair & Accessory Financing Available
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Call: 306.975.2140
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Your City; Your Newspaper November 30, 2023
VOLUME NO. 17 - ISSUE 44
Monday-Friday 9-6 Saturday 10-3 Closed Sundays & Holidays
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MHS Students Relate to ‘Peanuts’ Characters
The MHS Choir performed ‘You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown’ from November 24-26 in the MHS Theatre. Those that attended were treated to a wonderful performance, as well as a delicious variety of desserts, prepared by the MHS Commercial Cooking 20 class. See more on page 5.
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Page 2 - NOVEMBER 30, 2023 - MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER
Snow Removal This Winter – What You Need To Know 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.
Our crews strive to deliver excellent service, however sometimes weather can be unpredictable, and snow and ice control activities may vary. Every reasonable effort will be made to promptly remove snow and ice and create safe driving and walking conditions. There are ways you can help to ensure to keep streets clear and safe - Do not shovel, blow, or push snow from private property onto the street – this causes snow ridges on your driveway when our plow cleans our street. - 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 emergencies.
December 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. December 12th- Committee of the Whole December 19th -Regular Council 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.
- 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.
Play n’ Skate with Santa Play & Skate with Santa will take place on Sun., Dec. 10th at the Sports Centre. It will be an afternoon full of fun activities for kids! You can go skating, take a picture with Santa, get a candy bag, go for a hayride, and warm up with a hot chocolate!
- 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
Thin Ice! Keep off Neighborhood Ponds
The Martensville Fire Department and City of Martensville are advising residents to stay off neighborhood ponds until further notice and to keep an eye on pets and children and keep them off ponds. Warm weather has led to some runoff, varying ice thickness and uncertain ice conditions on ponds. Ice thickness will be monitored and tested by the Fire Department, please watch for notifications when ponds are deemed safe for recreational use.
Let’s Take Care of Our Pets
The City of Martensville would like to remind residents that it is our responsibility to control and clean up after our pets even in off-leash areas such as the dog park. Here are some important reminders for pet owners as per the Animal Control Bylaw: • Do not allow your pet to be or become a nuisance by excessive barking, howling, or become threatening to other owners or pets; • Do not allow your pet to run at large; • Clean up defecation of your animal from private or public properties, other than the property occupied by the owner; Visit Martensville.ca to see the complete Animal Control Bylaw or City Hall with questions.
M
Recreation Program Update
This is a drop-in program and it is $5 per person! Book now for Twinkle Tours 2023 Get into the holiday spirit by hopping on the OK tire bus and enjoying a 45 minute bus tour through our magical City while taking in the light displays! This is a great activity for families, team windups, and group outings. Full bus rentals are available upon request! Registration opened on November 1, 2023. If you would like to book a full bus, make sure to call us to reserve your spot! Save the Date- Winter FunFest 2024 is February 18th Beat the Winter Blues with a day of winter-themed activities and fun for the entire family at the North Ridge Centre. More information will be provided in the new year on the day’s activities.
Reminder Property Taxes are Due! - Tax Notices were mailed out on April 28th. If anyone has not received their notice, they should contact City Hall. Ensure all contact information is up to date. - Starting on August 1st, interest penalties on outstanding amounts begin to accrue Ways to Pay - Taxes can be paid by cash, cheque, or debit at City Hall. - Taxes can also be paid online through Banking Bill Payments, or by etransfers; for payments: payments@martensville.ca. Please include address &/or roll number in the comment section along with an indication the payment is for taxes.
SANTA & HELPERS COMING TO MARTENSVILLE Martensville Heritage Center, 415 6th Ave South
ARTENSVILLE
ESSENGER
Your City; Your Newspaper Box 333, Martensville, SK S0K 2T0 Phone: 306-668-1093 advertising@martensvillemessenger.ca Deadline for submissions is MONDAY at NOON.
www.martensvillemessenger.ca
Editor/Office Manager: Shanine Sealey
Published Thursdays • 48 issues/year
Editor/Ad Design: Jocelyn Ottenbreit
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DECEMBER 9 2 - 5 PM
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$5 Minimum Donation for Pictures with Santa (BRING YOUR CAMERA)
“Name the Elf” Colouring Contest
Colouring sheets are available at Martensville Building & Home Supply and Martensville Pharmasave; or there will be a colouring station set up at the event. A toy prize has been donated by Martensville Pharmasave for the winner!
ALL FUNDS DONATED TO TELEMIRACLE 48 Thank you to our Sponsors; Gold Sponsors - Freeway Delivery Service and Martensville Building & Home Supply; Silver Sponsors - Mortgages by Eboni, Ens Toyota, and Affinity Credit Union.
MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER - NOVEMBER 30, 2023 - Page 3
Martensville Youth Connection Continues to Serve Youth Thanks to Community Support and Looking For Donations for Christmas be posted in the December calendar on the ‘Martensville Youth Connection’ Facebook page. “We are most looking forward to getting to know everyone and forming positive relationships within MYC. Follow us on social media to stay in the loop with our activities,” said MYC Coordinator Katharine Carter. “MYC could not serve these youth without the generous support of community. As it is the Christmas season, we believe every youth deserves an opportunity to experience Christmas with their friends, peers, and community members. For this reason, we are planning to host a youth Christmas party, where there will be games, a gift exchange, ABOVE: Martensville Youth Connection held an evening of paint night, and pizza,” Christmas craft decorating at Chateau Villa last week. (MYC) Carter added. The event is expected to host up to 20 youth. MYC is requesting 20 donated gifts (or monetary contributions to purchase gifts) as well as sponsorship for the pizza & paint night. “Our goal is to create Christmas cheer with the youth, providing them with opportunities to participate in a gift exchange, as well as allow them to enjoy a pizza & paint night with their friends and peers.” If you wish to contribute or have any questions, contact myc@possibilitiesrecovery.ca or by phone at (306)370-2107. They will provide charitable receipts if you donate directly to Possibilities Recovery Center Inc. Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger “We greatly appreciate any and all contributions There is always an assortment of activities taking and support for our program, even if that’s simply spreading the word. Please share this information widely place at the Martensville Library, and this December is no different. Regular programming will be taking place and help us benefit the lives of the youth we serve!” until mid-December. Books ‘n’ Babies takes place Tuesday and Wednesday mornings until December 20th. This is a registered program for babies up to one year and their caregivers. New sessions for January are currently available for registration. Story Time is scheduled for Thursdays at 10:30am and is a drop-in program that is best-suited for ages 3-5; however, all are welcome. Story Time includes stories, songs and a craft, and the last program of the year will take place December 14th, resuming mid-January. Wiggles & Giggles Toddler Storytime is at 10:30am on Friday mornings and is for ages 1-3 and their caregivers. There is a short story, and a focus on songs and movement. The last program of the year will be on December 15th, resuming mid-January. The local library also offers Crafternoon, which takes place on Wednesday, December 6th at 1:30pm. This is a crafting session for adults where you can bring your projects to work on and socialize with others that enjoy crafting. The session usually begins with a quick craft demonstration by library staff. ABOVE: Members of the Martensville Fire Department were called to the scene of a semi-trailer For those that enjoy crafting, the library also has Take & Make Crafts truck fire on Highway 12 going south towards Saskatoon. The truck was fully engulfed in flames, that are available weekly for pickup while supplies last. which the firefighters quickly got under control. (Shanine Sealey/MM) There will be a variety of Christmas programming taking place at the Martensville Library as well, with the ever-popular Christmas Family Storytime on Saturday, December 16th from 9:30am-10:30am and 11:00am-12:00pm. This program requires registration to attend. “This program is a special Christmas themed Storytime with stories, songs and a craft. The program is for kids in Grade 2 and under and their caregivers,” Librarian Marla Skomar explained. There will also be a Celebrate the Season program taking place from December 11-23 where area residents are invited to stop by the library to play holiday themed games, I-Spy and make a craft during regular library hours. If you are looking for something to do during Christmas holidays, the Martensville Library will be offering a Winter Break Boredom Buster from December 27-January 6 where kids can come by to play Lego, Magformers, board games, Mouse Maze & Ozmo during library hours. The Martensville Library is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30am-6:00pm, Tuesday & Thursday from 9:30am-8:00pm, Saturday from 9:30am-2:00pm and closed on Sundays. Follow the Martensville Library on Facebook Instagram to keep up with the activities and events available. Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger
Martensville Youth Connection (MYC) strives to enhance the lives of the youth in our community by providing access to mental health education, resources, and life-enhancing recreational activities. This past month they have had many changes with two new and excited staff working with them. Their new Youth Support Worker Supervisor is Stacey and Youth Support Worker is Nikki. They look forward to getting to know everyone involved in MYC. So far, they taught the youth about consent, self-love, judgement, and boundaries. In addition, they discussed more challenging topics such as selfharm and triggers. This month’s fun activities included Bingo with the seniors, kindness-themed arts and crafts, Fear Factor, and learning to cook alongside the new staff at the Sunset Villa for the seniors. They played with the dogs and cats at Paws Republic Centre for Pets, and the kids state they love the quality time spent with the animals. One change they have begun is hosting teen (ages 14-18) specific days. This enables them to share the teen specific topics and activities with everyone who may benefit. Next month, they will teach about anger management, body image, self-care, overcoming fears and peer pressure/cliques. These topics will be delivered in an open discussion and will provide age-appropriate tools for kids to use in their everyday lives. They have many new, fun, and engaging activities coming up such as, celebrating MYC’s Christmas party, working out at Soul Athletics, Karaoke night, art night, movie and popcorn, and scavenger hunts. All events will
Martensville Library Offers Wide Variety of Activities
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Secure Firearms, Safer Communities - Safety Campaign Encourages Firearms Safety in Saskatchewan
The Government of Saskatchewan is promoting the importance of firearms safety and licensing through a new safety campaign that will be broadcast on radio, billboards and social media throughout the winter months. This year's campaign tagline is "Secure Firearms. Safe Communities." "This firearms safety campaign is an important step in educating Saskatchewan firearms owners on the importance of licensing, handling and storing firearms and ammunition properly," Corrections, Policing and Public Safety Minister Paul Merriman said. "By educating the public, we can help reduce accidents, mitigate thefts, and build on Saskatchewan's strong tradition of responsible firearms ownership." This year's firearms safety campaign will feature several well-known Saskatchewan residents who are acting as spokespeople for the campaign. Team Canada target shooting athlete and coach, Sasha and Cameron Krakowka; Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation President, David Yorke; Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities President, Ray Orb; and Elder and former Senator with the Prince Albert Grand Council and Federation of Saskatchewan Indigenous Nations, Nolan Henderson. "Firearms safety is everyone's responsibility," Chief Firearms Officer Robert Freberg said. "By ensuring firearms and ammunition are always properly stored and safety practices are followed, we can ensure the safety of firearms owners and users across the province. Thank you to all our outstanding spokespeople for helping to promote firearms safety in Saskatchewan." Firearms owners are encouraged to get and maintain their Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL/RPAL) and keep their loved ones and our communities safe by properly storing all firearms and ammunition. Other important safety tips that should be followed include: • learning how to safely load, handle and store every firearm you use; • never pointing a firearm at anyone or anything you don't want to shoot; • storing ammunition separately or locking it up; • using the correct ammunition for your firearm; • unloading all firearms before they are stored; • locking firearms in a cabinet or safe or attaching a secure locking device - such as a trigger or cable lock - to ensure the firearm cannot be fired; • ensuring unauthorized individuals do not have access to the keys or combination locks that are used to secure your firearm unless they are licensed and have your permission to use them; and • storing firearms safely when they are being transported. This year's firearms safety campaign messages will be featured on radio, billboards, print materials, and digital media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. The campaign begins November 27, 2023, and ends mid-March 2024. The full-length video advertisements can also be viewed at Saskatchewan.ca/firearms. 23121BM0
SPORTS ABOVE: Congratulations to the Martensville Marauder U13A Snipers on their A-Final win in the Moose Jaw Classic Tournament this past weekend. (Martensville Minor Hockey Association)
Martensville Curling Club Hosts Senior Bonspiel
From December 1-3, the Martensville Curling Club will be hosting a Senior Men’s and Women’s Bonspiel. Draw times will be from 1pm-7pm on December 1st, 10am-2pm on December 2nd and 9am-1pm on December 3rd. There will be a total of ten teams competing, consisting of five men’s teams and 5 women’s teams. If you stop by the local curling rink, be sure to swing by the Sheet 5 Lounge for great prices on beverages, as well as an opportunity to purchase tickets to win an 85” TV. The TV is on display on the wall, and tickets are $5 each, or 3 for $10. Proceeds from the ticket sales will be used to purchase new rocks for the Martensville Curling Club.
MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER - NOVEMBER 30, 2023 - Page 5
SCHOOL DAYS New Prairie Spirit Board Trustee
Kimberly MacLean has been acclaimed as the new Prairie Spirit Trustee for Subdivision 9 - City of Martensville. Her election by acclamation was announced by Prairie Spirit’s Returning Officer on November 10. MacLean joined the Prairie Spirit Board of Education on November 23 for her first meeting as a Trustee. “I am excited to join the Board of Education as a Trustee for the City of Martensville,” MacLean said. “As a parent of two young children, I am interested in supporting the education system to ensure our students have every opportunity to learn.” MacLean was a Non-Commissioned Member in the Canadian Navy for 16 years and has travelled extensively throughout the world with her work and also with her family. “On behalf of the Prairie Spirit Board of Education, I would like to congratulate Kimberly and welcome her to the Board,” said Bernie Howe, Board Chair. “We look forward to working together to serve the students and staff of Prairie Spirit School Division.” The former Trustee for the City of Martensville resigned at the end of August. A by-election had been scheduled for December 13, but is no longer required. The next general election for school boards across the province will be held next fall. Prairie Spirit Board Holds Organizational Meeting The Prairie Spirit Board of Education held its annual organizational meeting on November 23, and elected its Chair and Vice-Chair for the upcoming year. Bernie Howe will serve another year-long term as Chair, with Kate Kading continuing to serve as Vice-Chair. As part of the organizational meeting, all Prairie Spirit Trustees were assigned to a variety of roles on Board Commitees for 2023/24. Bernie Howe, Board Chair, has served as a Board of Education Trustee since 1991, representing Delisle, Vanscoy, Perdue, Pike Lake and Willow Park Huterite Colony in Subdivision 6. This is Bernie’s fourth consecutive term as Prairie Spirit Board Chair. “Our Board is unified in our focus on student learning and supports that encourage classroom success and overall well-being. Our strategic plan and vision for the future brings innovation in education and strong collaboration with families,” Howe said. Kate Kading, Board Vice-Chair, has served as a Trustee for Subdivision 2 since Board elections in 2020, representing Duck Lake, Hague and Rosthern. This is her third term as the Board’s Vice-Chair. “I’m honoured to again be working beside Bernie Howe and be part of a Board that keeps students at the centre of the decisions we make,” Kading said. “We’re going into this year strong and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead in education.” Provincial leadership Kimberly Greyeyes, Prairie Spirit Trustee representing Muskeg Lake Cree Nation (Subdivision 11), continues her term leading the Indigenous Constituency at the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA). In this role, she sits on the SSBA’s provincial executie and is the first Indigenous woman to be part of this leadership team. She was first elected to this position in 2019. “I look forward to continuing to lead and support the very important work underway to advance Truth and Reconciliation in education for the benefit of all Saskatchewan students,” Greyeyes said.
Following Government Announcement, Local School Provides Menstrual Products to Students in Need
On Tuesday, November 28th, Valley Manor Elementary School shared an update via social media that followed an announcement from the Government of Saskatchewan regarding their partnership with the Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health. Through this partnership, there will be a distribution of free menstrual products to support equitable access for transition homes, women’s shelters and schools over the next three years. “The intent of this program is to provide access to these products to support students in greatest need. School staff will make the products available in a manner that reduces stigma, includes gender sensitivity and cultural appropriateness, and facilitates easy access to products,” the VMS post stated. Students that are in Grades 5-8 will be informed where they can access products throughout the school day. Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact the VMS School office.
MHS Choir Performs ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
Students at Martensville High School took to the stage to perform ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ with three public performances that took place Friday, November 24th, Saturday, November 25th and Sunday, November 26th at the MHS Theatre. Prior to this, the cast also put on multiple performances for their fellow students, as well as grade 8 students from local elementary schools during the week. The production included a variety of comedy, incredible singing and amazing performances from a talented cast. Students enjoyed this opportunity, with many relating to their characters and building everlasting friendships through this experience. Approximately 20 people were involved in the production, which began taking place in September and included early morning practices and after-school rehearsals to ensure everything was perfect for opening night. The public performances were $13/ adult and $10/student and also included a wide array of delicious desserts that were prepared by the MHS Commercial Cooking 20 class and were available prior to the show beginning.
ABOVE: The ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ cast (From L to R) Linus (Nico Duero), Lucy (Max Teskey), Sally (Kayleigh Weekusk), Schroeder (Emma Hanley), Charlie Brown (Riley Coller), Giada Sapinoso (Linus), Chorus (Zoe Elias, Kaden Scott) and Snoopy (Rylan Shutra). (Missing chorus: Emma Hurley, Angely Cifuentes)
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MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER - NOVEMBER 30, 2023 - Page 7
MLA Terry Jenson’s Report from the Legislature
Federal Regulations a Big Problem for SaskPower
SaskPower Dustin Duncan outlined a serious dilemma facing this flat, sparsely populated province that has long-struggled to make sure the lights are on everywhere in this province. At a press conference last week, Duncan and senior SaskPower officials presented their case for Ottawa delaying implementation its new clean energy regulations and for extending the timeline in which Saskatchewan should be expected to reach net-zero emissions to 2050 instead of 2030. The legislature has been the background of a lot of fights between Ottawa and the province of late, many of them, little more than thinly veiled politics; however, this fight is different because the issue here does go beyond the usual. The federal Clean Energy Regulation (CER), introduced in draft form in August, hammers all fossil fuel electrical generation. It does so, unfairly. Interestingly, Duncan said last week that the province share Ottawa’s netzero emission goals but called the 2035 date “unattainable”. “We’re not disagreeing with net-zero, it’s really just the timelines.” Duncan told reporters. “We don’t see a path forward in how we can do that.” In the immediate future, meeting this 2035 goal would “jeopardize the reliability of Saskatchewan’s power grid” and make your power bill unaffordable, the minister said. Duncan has written to federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault on the new regulations, asking the federal government to “acknowledge and accept” Saskatchewan’s provincial plan to reach net-zero by 2050 instead of the 2035 CER timeline. “Our government will not risk the affordability and reliability of Saskatchewan’s power grid to attempt the impossible based on arbitrary federal emissions targets and timelines,” Duncan wrote. Perhaps the latter sounds a bit like the old fedbashing, but; at least in this case; there are solid reasons behind the province’s concerns. While some might criticize SaskPower for not investing enough in traditional renewables like wind and solar power, the issue still comes down to finding reliable baseload power source to replace the phasing out of coal. (And let us be clear that the call to phase out coal burning electrical generation; initiated by former prime minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government; is something everyone supports.) The reality is that small modular nuclear reactors; arguably, the best option for this province; is still in the development stage and cannot be achieved by 2035. After receiving $72 million from the feds, the province is giving itself until 2029 to agree to go ahead with the SMRs. Hydro electrical generation is both expensive and not readily available here. There is potential to buy hydro from B.C. or Manitoba, but SaskPower maintains Manitoba does not have the excess power to sell. In fact, Manitoba, currently selling hydro electrical power to the U.S., has intention within a decade of pulling back 290 megawatts it now provides to Saskatchewan, said SaskPower President Rupen Pandya. That pretty much leaves natural gas that currently accounts for about 40 per cent of the total 5,400 megawatts currently available. (Coal still accounts for 25 per cent of power generation source.) However, investing in massively cost natural gas electrical generation plants becomes questionable if those plants also have to be shuttered by 2035 or even 2050 to meet net-zero emission goals. “If we commissioned, for example, in 2027 or 2028 a brand new 350-megawatt natural gas plant, we could not run that unabated beyond 2035,” Duncan said at the press conference. “We’re essentially making a billion-dollar decision on an asset we could only run for seven or eight years, which means we wouldn’t make that decision.” Carbon sequestration for natural gas? Well, that technology is also years away and, unfortunately, we might have wasted limited resources on the $1.5-billion investment in carbon sequestration of coal. Maybe some bad choices have been made. But the problem right now is the federal government timeline is leaving little time to make good choices.
Manufacturing Week in Saskatchewan November 19 to 25 is Manufacturing Week in Saskatchewan, a week dedicated to recognizing the province’s nearly 2,000 manufacturers for their significant contributions to our economy. Their hard work and dedication help create opportunities for people who call our province home, employing more than 31,000 Saskatchewan workers. Manufacturing businesses create sustainable products that are exported around the world. Strong Building Construction Numbers Saskatchewan continues to receive good news on its economy. Investment in building construction was up 18.5 per cent from September 2023 over August 2023. Numbers were also up 7.6 per cent in September 2023 compared to September 2022. These changes place our province third and second highest among the provinces. Investment in building construction is an indicator of growth for Saskatchewan's economy, showing that businesses and families are choosing our great province to live, work and build a family. Response to Federal Clean Electricity Regulations Our government continues to work to build and protect our economy. Recently, our government responded to the federal government's proposed Clean Electricity Regulations. The proposed regulations impose a net-zero electricity grid across Canada by 2035, which will leave Saskatchewan families paying more than double to keep the power on. We call on the federal government to recognize our government’s plan to achieve net zero by 2050 while maintaining an energy mix that ensures reliable baseload power and affordable rates for generations to come. Our government will not risk the affordability and reliability of Saskatchewan's power grid to attempt the impossible based on an arbitrary federal emissions target and timeline. Holocaust Education Our growing economy allows our government to continue to invest in our youth. Our government recently announced Holocaust education will be a compulsory component of the renewed Social Studies 10 curriculum – a provincial graduation requirement. The renewed curriculum will be introduced to high school students for the 2025-26 school year. It is important for our youth to learn about the atrocities committed during the Holocaust to reduce hate and discrimination within Saskatchewan and beyond. Our government will work with the Jewish community for their input into the content as well as involve teachers and other content experts in the process of the curriculum renewal and implementation. Child Support Calculation Service Our government continues to invest in programs and services that matter to the people of Saskatchewan. A Child Support Service will be launched to assist parents experiencing separation and divorce and to calculate initial child support without having to go through a family court process that can be costly and complex. This will reduce some of the financial burden and allow parents to focus on the well-being of their children. Rapid Access Counselling for Suicide Loss Our government also continues to ensure that families and friends can access support in difficult situations. Family Service Saskatchewan has been recently selected to provide a new provincial suicide loss program. The program will support the immediate psychological needs of people affected by the loss of someone who died by suicide or survived with significant injury or trauma. The Rapid Access Counselling for Suicide Loss Program will be available in early 2024. Recognizing Holodomor Day As we approach International Holodomor Day, recognized on the fourth Saturday of November and, this year landing on November 25, a special service was recently held at the Legislative Building to commemorate Holodomor. Our government was joined by the local Ukrainian community to commemorate the millions who died during the 1932-33 famine in Ukraine. We join our Saskatchewan citizens of Ukrainian heritage to remember this dark time and honour those lost. A memorial candle was lit to represent unity with those around the world marking the Holodomor genocide. As we continue to move forward with the Fall session, your questions and concerns help me represent your best interests in the legislature. I look forward to hearing from you! Feel free to reach out to me through my constituency office at office@terryjenson.ca or 306-242-2111.
Martensville New Horizon’s Senior Centre Turkey Bingo Come out and enjoy a night of Bingo on Thursday, December 14th at 7:00pm at 106 4th Avenue N.
Cash prizes - 50/50 - Concession. Children accompanied by adults are welcome to attend. 6-Up and 9-Up Packages Available! Regular program to be played with 14 turkeys to win just in time for the holidays!
Letter to the Editor
The Martensville Messenger welcomes letters to the editor for publication. Letters must be signed and a phone number and/or email address included so the writer’s identity can be verified. ALL letters are the opinion of the writer and NOT the Martensville Messenger. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity or compliance with the current standards of public taste. Submit your letter to news@martensvillemessenger.ca or mail to Box 333 - Martensville, SK S0K 2T0.
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Page 8 - NOVEMBER 30, 2023 - MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER
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Local Fire Department Prepares for Annual Food Hamper Program Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger
It’s that time of year again when the Martensville Fire Department is preparing for the annual Martensville Christmas Hamper Program. Nominations for individuals and families that may need a little extra help this holiday season can be made by contacting City Hall at (306) 931-2166. All that is required to start the process is a name and a phone number. There will be a collection set up at City Hall to collect non-perishable food items and hygiene products, and monetary donations can also be made by sending an E-transfer to mfd@martensville.ca. Monetary donations are used towards purchasing fresh items and local gift cards to the hampers. MFD Captain James Taylor, one of the members organizing the program, stated that the MFD will be collecting donations from several local businesses as well as local schools, and deliveries are expected to take place December 20th. The deadline for collection will be December 15th. This program has been taking place within the community for over 25 years and plays an integral part in providing local families with a food hamper filled with a variety of items to help them over the holidays. The MFD provided a list of items that are some of the most needed on their Facebook page, which include canned fruit & vegetables, packaged soup, dry pasta and sauce, pancake syrup & mix, toilet paper, juice boxes, stuffing mix and more. See the full list below. Be sure to check expiry dates before donating any food items.