Moose Jaw Express, February 11, 2026

MOOSE JAW’S HOMEGROWN NEWSPAPER

Local audiences will soon have a chance to tumble down the rabbit hole with Harmony Arts Program’s latest youth musical production, Alice in Wonderland Jr., set to hit the stage next month at the Mae Wilson Theatre.

The show will feature 27 student performers ranging from Grade 2 to Grade 8, with three public performances scheduled for Friday, March 6 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

In addition to the public showings, Harmony Arts Program will also present two school matinees on Thursday, March 5, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., with discounted tickets available for school and day care groups. The half-price matinee offer is being sponsored by Tunnels of Moose Jaw and Cypress Paving Ltd.

Director Jan Denbigh described Alice in Wonderland Jr. as a lively adaptation inspired primarily by Disney’s 1952 animated film, while also including references to Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland

She said the production balances whimsical comedy with a slightly darker dreamlike tone — something the young cast has embraced as they build their characters and comedic timing.

“It is whimsical, eccentric, a little bit (dreamlike),” Denbigh said. “It’s eccentric and it’s humorous, so there’s a lot of humor in the script. Our students are having a lot of fun discovering how to create that comedy.”

One moment she is particularly excited for the community to see is a fast-paced

scene involving the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit.

“I’m super excited for the community to see what we call the ‘surgery scene,’ where the Mad Hatter performs surgery on the White Rabbit’s pocket watch,” Denbigh said.

The production also features elaborate staging, set to transform the space as Alice falls into Wonderland and navigates the story’s most iconic moments.

“We have created some beautiful sets and pieces that go up and down and we’ve got lots of flies that we’re moving in and out,” she said, crediting behind-the-scenes support from parents and community members who value youth performing arts.

Denbigh said Harmony Arts Program’s set-building team is largely made up of parents of students, working from her designs and helping bring ambitious concepts to life.

She said the parent-led set-building

team has also created interactive elements, including a tabletop mounted on an axle that spins to transition quickly between scenes.

Harmony Arts Program, a local nonprofit founded in 2020, typically produces three shows per year and also does outreach work with Prairie South School Division to support student musicals and performing arts programming.

Denbigh said the program’s supportive atmosphere has become a major reason young performers keep coming back. She noted Harmony Arts recently added a Saturday rehearsal to its existing Tuesday and Thursday schedule, and while she initially worried the additional time might be tiring for students, she said the cast has embraced it with enthusiasm.

“They love it,” she said. “They aren’t tired. They love rehearsals, but they most of all love to be with each other (on the stage).”

Looking ahead, Denbigh said the next planned production after Alice in Wonderland Jr. will be Shrek: The Musical, which will be supported through a Saskatchewan Arts grant. Further details are expected later this summer.

Tickets for Alice in Wonderland Jr. are available through the Moose Jaw Centre for Arts and Culture box office or online at SaskTix.ca. The Mae Wilson Theatre is located at 217 Main Street North.

For more information, or to inquire about volunteer opportunities or matinee bookings, email HarmonyArtsProgram@ outlook.com

Moose Jaw climbs again in Globe and Mail’s most livable cities ranking

Moose Jaw continues to climb the national livability ladder, earning a spot as the fifth most livable city on the Prairies and 57th overall in Canada, according to the Globe and Mail’s latest ranking of Canada’s Most Livable Cities.

The third annual report, released Jan. 29, evaluated 454 cities using 58 variables across 10 categories relevant to people considering relocation. Those categories include economy, housing, demographics, health care, safety, education, community, amenities, transportation and climate.

Moose Jaw’s 2026 placement marks a 21-spot improvement from last year, when the city ranked 78th overall. The steady rise follows a significant leap in the previous edition of the report, when Moose Jaw jumped 50 spots nationally between 2023 and 2024.

In addition to its overall ranking, Moose Jaw received several notable subcategory distinctions in this year’s report. The city ranked fourth most livable in Saskatchewan, fifth most livable on the Prairies, and 14th most livable medium-sized city in Canada among communities with populations between

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

30,000 and 99,000.

The report also named Moose Jaw the top-ranked city in Saskatchewan for housing affordability and the fourth best city on the Prairies for raising children, placing 18th overall in Canada in that category.

Mayor James Murdock said the results reinforce what many residents already experience in daily life.

“This year’s Globe & Mail ranking helps validate what Moose Javians

already know — our quality of life is exceptional in Moose Jaw,” Murdock said in a statement. “In Moose Jaw you get more house for less money, get anywhere in five to 15 minutes, get access to first-class health care, recreation and education, and you get a city with unmatched community spirit.”

The Globe and Mail launched its livability rankings in 2023 to help readers identify communities where they are most likely to thrive, with each annual edition refining its methodology based on data availability and reader feedback. In recent years, the report has expanded its analysis to include factors such as climate impacts and access to cultural amenities.

According to the City of Moose Jaw, the city’s continued upward movement reflects a combination of affordability, access to services, and community-focused amenities, factors that have consistently contributed to improved scores across multiple categories.

The full report is available for paid Globe and Mail subscribers at TheGlobeAndMail.com.

Temple Gardens Centre named PACNet ‘Event of the Year’ finalist

Moose Jaw’s Temple Gardens Centre has earned international recognition after being named a finalist for “Spotlight Event of the Year” at the 2026 PACNet Star Awards, an honour tied to the venue’s role in hosting the BKT World Men’s Curling Championships in early 2025.

Public voting was open until Feb. 3, with winners set to be announced Feb. 24 during the PACNet ’26 Star Awards

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

ceremony at its four-day conference in Huntington Beach, CA, USA.

The nomination recognizes ticketing achievements tied to the April 2025 championship, which brought elite curling teams and fans from around the world to Moose Jaw. The PACNet Star Awards celebrate excellence in ticketing, marketing, and fundraising across the PACIOLAN ticketing community in

Sunday, February 15th from 2 pm - 4 pm

North America, according to the organization’s website. Temple Gardens Centre stood out as the only Canadian venue shortlisted in the Spotlight Event of the Year category.

In a statement shared by the venue, Temple Gardens Centre staff highlighted the broader significance of the nomination for the community.

“We’re thrilled to share that Temple Gardens Centre is a finalist for ‘Spotlight Event of the Year’ at PACNet 2026, in recognition of the ticketing accomplishments at the World Men’s Curling Championships this past April in Moose Jaw,” the statement read.

The nomination reflects a collective effort that extended beyond the arena walls.

“This nomination celebrates the passion, teamwork, and love every department poured into hosting an event

that brought people from all over the world together to celebrate this amazing sport,” the Temple Gardens Centre statement continued. “It’s a win for Temple Gardens Centre, SaskTix, the City of Moose Jaw, local businesses, and everyone who made our event so unforgettable!”

The World Men’s Curling Championships were among the most significant international sporting events hosted in Moose Jaw in recent years, generating increased activity for local hotels, restaurants, and retailers while showcasing the city to an international audience.

“Thank you for your support, your encouragement, and for helping us showcase what makes this community truly special,” the centre’s statement read.

For more information, visit Pacnet. Paciolan.com.

A view of Crescent Park in downtown Moose Jaw — one of the community spaces that contributes to the city’s quality of life. Moose Jaw was recently named the fifth most livable city on the Prairies in the Globe and Mail’s latest national ranking. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Community fundraiser set to support Chey Craik’s MS treatment journey

A local family is inviting residents to share a meal and show their support for Chey Craik, a father, husband, and political figure who has been living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for years.

A come-and-go fundraiser is planned for Friday, Feb. 20 at Battle Creek Adventure Park, running from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The gathering will feature tacos, potatoes, and pulled pork, along with a silent auction, 50/50 draw, and a penny parade. No major presentation is planned, and organizers say the focus is simply on bringing the community together.

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Taylor said her father’s symptoms were first flagged in 2021, after a CT scan showed lesions that likely indicated MS. Looking back, she believes he may have been experiencing symptoms as far back as 2014.

At the time, she said, it was easy for him to dismiss early signs as normal aging — but the disease gradually became harder to ignore, especially as the family was building their home.

“Things that were easy when we were modifying and redoing our old home got significantly harder for him, and his stamina just wasn’t the same,” she said.

Taylor said one of the most frightening aspects of the disease has been seeing the day-to-day progression at home, especially in the way her father’s mobility and speech can change.

“In the morning, he’s fine, but he’s wobbly and can’t walk in a straight line,” she said. “By five o’clock, after a full day, his speech is way slower. He has to fight to get words out.”

Taylor said her father plans to attend the Feb. 20 fundraiser.

booked his May 25 appointment in Mexico in full faith they can reach the goal, with payment due by March 24. She said the family is currently nearing a third of the way to that goal.

“This treatment he’s going to is pretty well one of the last options we have,” she said.

Tickets for the fundraiser are $25 per person. To purchase a ticket, contact Darci at 306-681-4569 or Taylor by email at Taylor.D.Craik@gmail.com. E-

transfers will be accepted.

Battle Creek Adventure Park is located just east of Moose Jaw along the Trans-Canada Highway and can be reached at 306-807-7700 or BattleCreekAdventures.ca.

For those unable to attend the Feb. 20 fundraiser, a GoFundMe campaign titled “Help Chey Fight MS: Fund LifeChanging Treatment” has also been launched to support Craik’s treatment and related costs.

“We’re just trying to get the community together — not necessarily for anything other than seeing everybody we haven’t seen for a while, and thanking them for the support they’ve given us so far,” said Taylor Craik, Chey Craik’s daughter.

While Craik is widely known in the community through his work in politics, Taylor said her father’s MS journey has largely been a private one, making the recent wave of support especially meaningful for the family.

“He does his best to keep it to himself and not let other people know that he’s struggling,” she said. “So it’s really been a shock for a lot of people.”

“He will definitely be there,” she said. “It will be toward the end of the day, so he’s not going to do a speech or anything. He just won’t be able to.”

She added that, for her father, the fundraiser represents a moment of vulnerability.

“It’s hard to see somebody who’s so prideful in who he is and what he knows all of a sudden needing help, having to reach out, and being in a very vulnerable situation where he has to accept that help,” she said.

The fundraiser is part of a broader effort to help Craik pursue further MS treatment, as his current treatment costs are only covered in Saskatchewan as long as he remains out of a wheelchair. The family says Craik has already

Chey Craik, pictured with his family, will be the focus of a community fundraiser planned for Friday, Feb. 20 at Battle Creek Adventure Park in support of his MS treatment journey. Photo by: GoFundMe.com

Editor’s Note

JOAN RITCHIEMoose Jaw Express EDITOR

There’s always so much talk and hoopla about love, especially this week when cupid has his bow caulked and ready to fling at the next innocent victim who is visibly the bullseye of its target. Sort of a cute rendition but so misguided knowing that love is a little more than happenstance but something that requires work and commitment almost everyday of a life together.

If you have been fortunate enough to find your forever partner, then you will certainly know that everyday is not made up of sunshine and lollipops. You don’t always hear the birds chirping a love song or stars appearing when she bats her eyelashes or he

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.

flashes those pearly whites at you. You don’t always wake up to the epitome of your dreams each and everyday; sometimes your dreamboat looks like a shipwreck. Sometimes her/his hair is uniquely styled by ‘bedhead the morning after’ and that morning kiss can sometimes curl your nostrils inside out until the teeth are brushed and the breath get a good workout with mouthwash.

But the good news is, there is nothing greater than finding the love of your life and someone to share the ups and downs with through the good and the bad, the thick and the thin, for better or for worse. Whatever the world throws your way, it seems easier to deal with having a sidekick alongside rather than as a bone on your own.

It always feels great having someone in your corner to support you through the game of life, someone to share your thoughts with and someone

to have your back when the rubber meets the road. Even when thoughts turn to conversations that gets gnarly and distasteful and you may have to go to your own corners to cool off, there’s always the upside of knowing when to agree to disagree and get on with the program of a happy life. Love is about building a life together and caring deeply enough for someone that you find a way to forgive and forget when the going gets tough.

Life isn’t always easy or fair but with lots of love, a deep faith, hope, commitment and endurance, we can get through each and everyday and year marking another milestone on a foundation of love and a promise ‘until death do us part’ with the one you love.

“‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s 1850 poem *In Memoriam A.H.H.*.

Heartland Hospice invites community to The Mad Greek rib night fundraiser Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw is inviting residents to enjoy a meal out for a good cause later this month as it hosts its annual “Heartland Hospice Rib Night” fundraiser at The Mad Greek restaurant.

The fundraiser will run for two days — Wednesday, Feb. 25 and Thursday, Feb. 26 — with tickets valid all day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and include 12 oz. of boneless Greek ribs, Caesar salad, and garlic toast. Both dine-in and takeout options will be available.

The fundraiser is the first of two upcoming Heartland Hospice events, and will take place ahead of the larger “Legends” dinner theatre planned for April 11 at the Cosmo Centre.

“We also have another (upcoming) fundraiser,” said Michaela Sykora, chair of Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw’s public engagement and fundraising committee. “We’re doing our annual Mad Greek rib night

fundraiser. It will be our fifth one in support of Heartland Hospice.”

Sykora said the charitable meal is open to “as many people as possible,” but noted that ticket availability is limited.

“John (Iatridis) has quite a few tickets available, but once we get closer to the tickets selling out we’ll let everyone know,” she added.

Proceeds from the meal will support Heartland Hospice’s ongoing fundraising needs related to its recent expansion at Pioneer Lodge, including three hospice care rooms, the Serenity Garden, and a new sacred space scheduled to open later this year. The organization’s goal is to ensure residents have access to compassionate end-of-life care when they need it.

Although Heartland Hospice’s capital campaign has now closed, Sykora said fundraising remains necessary to close the remaining gap on its $1.3 million

Send your letters to the editor to: joan@moosejawexpress.com

Hospice Rib Night fundraiser will help close the funding gap for this and other projects at the residence. Photo by: Aaron Walker

target. To date, the organization has raised $925,000 of this total.

Publisher: Robert Ritchie - rob@mjvexpress.com

Editor: Joan Ritchie -joan@moosejawexpress.com

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Thank you to all the contributing writers, without your time and support, the paper would not look the same. Send your stories, events and pictures to: joan@moosejawexpress.com

Editor: Joan Ritchie

Reporters:

Aaron Walker

Regular Contributors: Jason Antonio

Randy Palmer

Joyce Walter

Ron Walter John Kreutzwieser Patricia Hanbidge MLA North Tim McLeod

Richard Dowson Nick Kossovan

All columns, letters to the editor and editorials are solely the personal opinions of the writers themselves and not necessarily the opinions of The Moose Jaw Express. The contents of this publication are the property of the Moose Jaw Express. Reproduction of any of the contents of this publication, including, but without limiting the generality of the following: photographs, artwork and graphic designs, is strictly prohibited.

There shall be no reproduction without the express written consent of the publisher. All ads in the Moose Jaw Express are published in good faith without verification.

The Moose Jaw Express reserves the right to refuse, classify, revise or censor any ads for any reason in its sole discretion. This paper may include inaccuracies or errors.

The Moose Jaw Express does not under any circumstances accept responsibility for the accuracy or otherwise of any ads or messages in any of the publications editions.

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Ticket sales are already underway, with a few residents purchasing theirs early during the Chuck-a-Puck fundraiser held at the Temple Gardens Centre on Jan. 27.

To purchase tickets, email Fundraiser@HHMJ.ca or send a direct message on the “Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw” Facebook page.

Tickets can be picked up in person at The Mad Greek restaurant during the fundraiser between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on both days. Ticket delivery can also be arranged in advance by contacting Heartland Hospice. For more information, visit HeartlandHospiceMJ. ca or call 306-690-8699.

A look inside one of the hospice care rooms at Pioneer Lodge that opened in 2025. The upcoming Heartland

Chamber calls for nominations as MJBEX awards gala set to return in 2026

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Moose Jaw Business Excellence Awards (MJBEX), with the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce encouraging residents to take a few minutes to recognize the businesses they believe are making a difference in the community.

This year’s awards gala is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, at the Temple Gardens Centre.

The annual awards program recognizes excellence across 11 categories, ranging from customer service and innovation to community involvement and agricultural leadership. The Chamber’s nomination page encourages community members to “tell them what makes them shine and why they deserve to be nominated in the category.”

Categories open for nominations include:

• Agricultural & Agri-Business Excellence Award

• Business Innovation Award

• Community Involvement Award

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award

• “Hell Yeah” Award

• Impact Award (non-profit)

• Marketing Award

• New Business Venture Award

• Pillar of the Community Award

• Service Excellence Award

• Young Entrepreneur Award

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Each category includes specific criteria that nominators can consider when submitting a name. The Service Excellence Award, for example, recognizes a business that “exemplifies exceptional service standards that consistently exceed customer or guest expectations,” while the Pillar of the Community Award is intended to honour long-standing business leaders whose work has contributed to Moose Jaw’s economic well-being, with nominees required to have operated continuously for at least 15 years.

please join us for this 90 minute seminar over a free meal

~ i nv i te a f ri end o r f a mil y member as we l l ~

people make it a priority to look after their own arrangements. Find out how to control costs, provide peace of mind to your family and executor, and fund costs in advance (with a monthly payment or lump sum). Purple Shield Plans are customized to your wishes.

Si nce a comp l im e nt a r y m ea l will be provid e d, w e woul d

r e qu e st h ea ri ng o f your pl an s to a tt en d b y ca lli n g Moos e Ja w Fu ne r a l H om e 30 6 . 69 3.455 0 Michael

The Young Entrepreneur Award is open to entrepreneurs aged 35 or under as of Dec. 31, 2025, who established or expanded a business on or before that same date.

The Chamber has also highlighted a number of returning award sponsors in recent weeks, including the City of Moose Jaw, Farm Credit Canada, MNP, South Central Community Futures, Blue Whale Financial Solutions Inc., and the Moose Jaw Co-op.

Nominations can be submitted by customers, community members, or business owners themselves. All nominators are asked to provide a brief explanation, in 250 words or less, describing why their candidate is worthy of the award. To submit a nomination, residents must enter basic information about the nominee and select a category, along with their own contact information as the nominator.

For more information about the MJBEX awards program, call the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce at 306-692-6414, email Darby@MJChamber.com, or stop by in person at 88 Saskatchewan Street East.

The awards portal includes a brief description of each category and offers the chance to vote online at MJCC.Awardify.io/public-nominations.

Public nominations are open until the March 15 deadline.

th TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17

~ Rodo’s Pizza Events Room

9 t h A ve nu e S ou th & Gran d v i e w St r ee t , M oo se Ja w 6:30pm (from the menu)

~ Rodo’s Pizza Events Room 9 t h A ve nu e S ou th & Gran d v i e w St r ee t , M oo se Ja w 6:30pm (from the menu)

TUESDAY, MARCH 03 rd

~ Houston Pizza 117 M ain St r e e t No r th, M o ose Ja w 6:30pm (from the menu) th TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24

Honey Pot Distilleries was recognized with the New Business Venture Award during the 2025 Moose Jaw Business Excellence Awards. Nominations for the 2026 awards are now open. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Reflective Moments

By Joyce Walter - for Moose Jaw Express

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the

author,

and do not necessarily reflect the position of this

publication.

So many questions, so few reliable answers

There are many puzzling events in one’s lifetime, puzzles that result in numerous unanswered questions.

Here are some of the puzzling events I’ve pondered over the years:

• Many friends and acquain-

tances have confirmed that this particular problem is not unique to our household which means there are many orphan socks out there, possibly looking for a forever foot.

There are 10 socks accounted for when the laun-

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Have a Voice in Your Community

Moose Jaw City Council is seeking residents-at-large for the Community Services Advisory Committee, an advisory body that supports Council by providing diverse perspectives on:

• Parks and Recreation.

• Public Art and Cultural Programming.

• Accessibility and Inclusion.

• Heritage Conservation.

Who should apply?

• Moose Jaw Residents who are:

• 16+ years old.

• A Canadian citizen.

• A full-time resident of Moose Jaw.

• Committed to providing informed recommendations that help guide the City’s future.

• Interested in topics like recreation, public art, heritage conservation, or accessibility.

• Collaborative and community minded. We welcome people of diverse ages, backgrounds and experiences, and we encourage Indigenous community members to apply.

Your perspective matters. Join us in shaping community services that re ect everyone. Orientation and onboarding provided.

Term: 2 years

Meeting Frequency: Quarterly, with additional meetings as required.

To learn more and apply: moosejaw.ca/boards

Questions: Contact the O ce of the City Clerk at cclerk@moosejaw.ca or 306-694-4424.

dry begins. When the laundry ends, only nine socks remain. Searches of the interior of the dryer come up empty and that includes checking out the lint capture device.

What to do? Wait for the next laundry day and hope the missing sock appears, or worse, that the dryer will eat another sock, hopefully to match the existing orphan.

Yes, ’tis a puzzle.

• That brings me to paper clips, mostly the smaller ones that are more commonly used in office situations. How, pray tell, do paper clips manage to attach themselves so neatly to each other in a necklace design while left alone in a box on the desk?

One day I reached into the box for one clip and came out with several, all attached and looking not the least bit guilty for whatever was taking place in the box, with the lid closed.

When this happened during my office-working days, it was usually someone in the sports

department who wanted to see my reaction. Even hiding the clips didn’t stop the jokesters.

But at home, there’s only Housemate, and I don’t think he knows where the paper clips are kept, so that lets him off the hook.

Yes, ’tis a puzzle.

• Back to the laundry room:

I have been taught to turn my white tops and sweaters inside out — just in case there is a leak or other substance lurking in the washing machine. The inside-out-tops are then put into the dryer. When they come out of the dryer, those tops are no longer inside-out but outsideout. How and why does that happen?

Yes, ’tis a puzzle.

• I do it all the time, and so does nearly everyone I know. We greet people with the question: “How are you?”

The responses might range from: “Very well, thanks for asking,” to “Not so good right

now,” to “My dog died, the cat ran away looking for him and the kids are fighting over who gets the dog’s toys.”

The question then becomes: do we really want to hear the answers to “how are you?”

Yes, ’tis a puzzle.

• And finally, some other puzzles: Why do people carry their cellphones into the bathroom then complain when the phone falls into the toilet bowl? When did wings become the most popular piece of the chicken? Why are potatoes the main ingredient in most clam chowders? Why do many people think squirrels are cute, rather than rodents who could cause damage in the neighbourhood? Why do some drivers drive with their handicap sign on their rearview mirror when right on the sign it says not to do that?

Yes, there are many puzzles. But so few answers. Pity. Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Senior ‘Book Talk’ returns with classics-themed session Feb. 12

Older adults are invited to connect over reading and conversation when “Book Talk” returns with a classics-themed session on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Offered through Age-Friendly Moose Jaw in partnership with the Moose Jaw Public Library and the Moose Jaw and District Senior Citizens Association, the free program runs from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Timothy Eaton Centre lounge. No registration is required to attend.

The monthly gathering is open to anyone aged 55 and older and follows a relaxed, comeand-go format with free coffee, snacks, and casual discussion. Participants are encouraged to bring any classic book they enjoy and share recommendations with others.

For more information, visit AgeFriendlySK.ca or call program co-ordinator Sky Klein at 306-690-4048.

The Timothy Eaton Centre is located at 510 Main Street North.

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Huehn thanks supporters after quarterfinal finish in Greatest Baker Challenge

While he didn’t take home the top prize, The Travelling Bakery owner Michael Huehn is walking away from the Greatest Baker Challenge with something he said may be more valuable in the long term: new skills, new menu items, and a renewed sense of confidence as a selftaught baker.

Huehn, who lives near Avonlea and operates The Travelling Bakery with his wife Nicole, recently concluded his run in the international online competition tied to Bake from Scratch magazine. The contest, which was decided by public voting, drew thousands of entrants from across Canada and the United States.

In the end, Huehn walked away with an achievement he was proud of, even without a trophy.

“We finished fourth in the quarterfinals for our group, which puts us in the top one percent of everyone who entered. There must have been thousands of people involved, so I think that’s a pretty good achievement,” Huehn said.

Although the competition’s organizers did not disclose exact vote totals or regional breakdowns, Huehn said he was pleased to have advanced as far as he did.

Looking back, Huehn said the contest delivered exactly what he had hoped for: a push to try techniques and products he normally wouldn’t have had time to explore while juggling his pop-up bakery and seasonal work.

“It was great because it got me out of a box,” he said. “You get into a habit of doing the same things. Even though it’s not the same at every pop-up bakery because you rotate items, your whole repertoire is (typically) still the same.”

Huehn said the experience helped

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As the series of weekly voting rounds concluded, Huehn said he and Nicole mainly want to thank those who followed along and voted across the province, including residents in Moose Jaw, Avonlea, Pangman, and Munster.

“I just want to thank everybody that

supported us in this endeavor,” he said. “It was very, very much appreciated … We really want to thank everybody that supported us with words of encouragement and their votes.”

For more information, visit the “Travelling Bakery” Facebook page.

him expand beyond familiar staples, and he expects several of those new creations to become regular offerings moving forward.

Among the permanent additions, Huehn confirmed pavlovas will be one of the items carried forward, along with new cakes and cookies.

“Pavlova is definitely going to be one of them,” he said. “There are a couple of different kinds of cakes we’re going to be adding that we’ve never done before.”

Huehn said he hopes to host one more pop-up bakery before the season resumes at Long Creek Golf and Country Club near Avonlea.

“If I’m feeling up to it, we’re going to do one more pop-up bakery before we go back to Long Creek this season,” he said, adding the next event is expected to take place in Pangman in late March or early April.

For now, he said he is not accepting online orders, but expects to resume later in the season.

Michael Huehn shares a photo of his flapper pie — a classic Prairie dessert — as one of his final submissions in the Greatest Baker Challenge, with the entry photographed by his wife, Nicole. Photo by: Nicole Huehn

Square One marks first year of supportive housing in Moose Jaw

Square One Community Inc. marked a major milestone last week, celebrating its first full year of operations — a year that saw the program exceed its initial housing target and expand services for residents experiencing homelessness.

The organization, which operates in Moose Jaw’s downtown core, said its first year of full operations included rapid growth in staffing and programming, supported by federal Reaching Home funding.

Max Eckstein, general manager of Square One Community, said the milestone reflects both the strength of the program’s model and the experience of its staff.

“In one year’s time, (the program) has really grown and expanded,” Eckstein said. “(We’ve had) 40 individuals housed and receiving wraparound supports. We’re seeing a lot of graduation and independence, and it’s really incredible that we’ve been able to do this (all in our) first year.”

Eckstein said the work has also been recognized at the federal level, with Reaching Home expanding its funding support to increase program capacity.

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“What’s really exciting about this is that Reaching Home has taken notice of the work that’s been done this year and expanded that funding so we can increase the capacity of the program,” he said. “So we’re hoping in the coming year, 60 individuals will be housed and receive programming with Square One.”

In addition to supportive housing, Eckstein said the organization launched a pilot tenancy stabilization program aimed at preventing eviction for residents at risk of losing housing, along with rapid rehousing support for people who have recently slipped into homelessness.

Square One said stable housing has served as a gateway to improved outcomes for participants, including reduced reliance on emergency services, increased engagement in recovery supports, and renewed progress toward education and employment.

The organization reported a “93 per cent reduction in interactions with emergency services,” along with “more than 50 per cent of program participants already voluntarily participating in some form of addictions recovery programming or processes.”

Eckstein said those numbers reflect the impact of providing stability, alongside intensive case management.

“More than 50 per cent of our program participants are participating in addiction cessation programming,” he said. “So that’s either they’re signing up to attend treatment or detox, they’re attending addictions groups, they’re attending meetings, and they’re working on programming with their intensive case managers.”

Eckstein also highlighted reconnection with family as one of the year’s most meaningful outcomes.

“We’ve also seen more than 50 per cent of our existing program participants reconnect with family that they haven’t talked to in many years since experiencing homelessness,” he said.

The organization also reported progress in education and employment, with several participants enrolled in upgrading or post-secondary programs, and others beginning to re-enter the workforce.

“We have had some individuals return to work, which is very exciting to see,” Eckstein said.

He added that Square One has also created local employment, with nine skilled jobs based in the downtown.

Looking ahead, Eckstein said the program is expected to see more participants transition into independent living as they move through Square One’s phased model of support. He said five participants have already reached what the organization calls Step Four. This next step is focused on participants living independently within the community.

Square One Community president Della Ferguson said the organization’s first year has been shaped by shared effort across the community.

“We are deeply grateful for a successful first year of operations at Square One Community Supportive Housing,” Ferguson said. “Thanks to the collective efforts and shared commitment to community well-being demonstrated by our incredible Square One staff, board, partners, Reaching Home funding and community members, a strong foundation has been built — one rooted in stability, dignity, and hope for the residents we serve.”

The organization said more than 50 additional people have already been assessed and are currently on its waiting list.

To learn more, call 306-631-9340, visit SquareOneHousingMooseJaw. com, follow “Square One Community Inc. Moose Jaw” on Facebook, or email CommunitySquareOne@gmail.com.

Aaron

The Square One Community Inc. team gathers to celebrate the organization’s first full year of operations in Moose Jaw.

Photo by: Square One Community Inc.

Local makers featured at Tourism Moose Jaw’s Feb. 7 market

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Tourism Moose Jaw’s visitor centre was home to a local vendor market on Feb. 7, offering handmade goods and a chance for shoppers to support local businesses.

Executive director Donna Fritzke said the event was created as a way to invite more people into the visitor centre, while also highlighting the local vendors and makers whose products help represent Moose Jaw.

“The whole idea of having the market is to invite our community to be able to come to the visitor centre,” Fritzke said.

She said nine vendors took part in the Feb. 7 market, alongside the permanent visitor centre’s gift shop, which features a range of locally made items for sale.

“We also have a lot of items in our gift shop for sale,” she said. “So we wanted to focus on our community and support local in that way.”

Fritzke said Tourism Moose Jaw has been working to make its gift shop feel more unique and creative by offering handmade products from local vendors, and the market was a natural extension of that effort.

“We have an amazing gift shop with local, handmade items that we want to showcase,” she said.

She added that the market also served as a way to introduce residents to the visitor centre itself, noting that many

people still have never visited the space.

“We were very steady all day,” she said, adding that she had spoken with most vendors and “they’ve all had a really good day.”

The market series is a new idea introduced by Fritzke since she took over as executive director. The Feb. 7 event marked the third one held so far. Tourism Moose Jaw plans to continue hosting similar markets in the coming months, including another in April and a larger outdoor version in the summer.

Tourism Moose Jaw is located at 450 Diefenbaker Drive and can be reached at 306-693-8097. For more information, find “Tourism Moose Jaw” on Facebook or visit TourismMooseJaw. com.

Look for more details, including a few vendor interviews, in the next edition of the Moose Jaw Express.

‘Almost, Maine’ brings romance to the public library theatre on Feb. 13, 14

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Moose Jaw Community Players will offer audiences a Valentine’s week outing with Almost, Maine, running Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 14 at 4 p.m. at the Performing Arts Theatre next to the Moose Jaw Public Library.

The romantic, vignette-style production features a series of interconnected “love journeys” set in the fictional town of Almost, ME, USA, all

unfolding on the same night beneath the Northern Lights.

Tickets are $25 apiece and are available at Wells Camera and Sound (cash only) or online through a link on the “Moose Jaw Community Players” Facebook page. The theatre is located at 461 Langdon Crescent.

For more information, see Page A20 of the Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, edition of the Moose Jaw Express.

Prairie Bloom Co. was among the vendors featured during Tourism Moose Jaw’s Valentine’s Day Market at the visitor centre on Feb. 7. Photo by: Tourism Moose Jaw

Moose Jaw-led CPC policy calls for stronger support for Saskatchewan producers

Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan’s Conservative MP says a policy resolution brought forward by the riding’s local party association received strong support at the national level during the Conservative Party of Canada convention last week.

In a press release issued Feb. 6, MP Fraser Tolmie said the riding association helped pass a policy aimed at protecting Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers by improving market access and pushing back against proposed CFIA traceability rules.

“I’m so proud of our local team for developing such a common-sense policy that champions our world-class agriculture producers,” Tolmie said. “We are very committed to telling Saskatchewan’s story at the national level of our party and beyond, and helping Canadians from other regions better appreciate the incredible professionalism and capability of our producers.”

Tolmie’s statement comes as producers across Saskatchewan continue to face economic uncertainty tied to international trade and market access, including disruptions involving major export partners such as China.

“Farmers and ranchers have been hit with significant challenges over the past year, several of which have been a result of market access issues with countries like China,” the release said.

Tolmie said the policy resolution is meant to keep Saskatchewan agriculture at the forefront of national decision-making, particularly given the industry’s direct impact on communities such as Moose Jaw.

“Our policy is all about laying out priorities, and Saskatchewan farmers must be a priority,” he said.

“Here in Moose Jaw, much of our economic activity is a result of the agriculture industry. Agriculture supports tourism, small businesses, banks, and so much more.”

Tolmie said advocating for agriculture-related market access benefits all residents in the riding.

“Standing up for our farmers and fighting for market access benefits all of us in this riding, whether or not you are connected to the industry directly,” he said.

The release also points to ongoing concerns from local ranchers regarding proposed Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) traceability regulations, which Tolmie said were originally expected to roll out earlier this year but have since been paused.

The proposed regulations are aimed at strengthening how cattle are tracked as they move between farms, auction marts, feedlots and other locations. The CFIA has said improved traceability can help Canada respond more quickly to disease outbreaks and protect export markets. However, many ranchers have raised concerns the proposed rules could add new reporting requirements, increase paperwork and costs, and create added pressure for producers.

The CFIA has confirmed that the proposed traceability amendments are not finalized and are not currently in place. In a recent statement, the agency said it is pausing publication of the regulations while it continues consultations and works to ensure the proposed changes are better understood and producer concerns are taken into account.

Tolmie said he has been speaking with ranchers who are worried the regulations were developed without adequate consultation with those who would be most affected.

“Unfortunately, we are dealing with a situation where Ottawa bureaucrats are making decisions without properly engaging with the ranchers these changes will impact the most,” he said.

Tolmie emphasized that ranchers are not opposed to traceability measures in principle, but want a system that reflects the realities of day-to-day cattle operations.

“Every rancher I’ve spoken with wants to protect their herds from disease and maximize our global market access,” he said. “But CFIA needs to start working much more closely with producers, to come up with solutions that understand the day-to-day reality of raising cattle, as opposed to a top-down approach.”

Tolmie said he intends to continue advocating for producers and working with federal agencies, regardless of whether his party forms government.

“I’m committed to working with CFIA, Global Affairs, and any other government agency to get results for our farmers and our communities,” he said. “My party may not be in government, but that’s not going to stop me from fighting for local producers and our interests at the federal level.”

To view the current Health of Animals Regulations, visit the Justice Laws Website at Laws-Lois. Justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations and search for “Health of Animals Regulations (Part XV: Traceability).”

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Fraser Tolmie, Conservative MP for Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan, speaks with constituents in Moose Jaw recently. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Multicultural Council highlights February programs supporting newcomers in Moose Jaw

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

The Moose Jaw Multicultural Council (MJMC) is continuing its work to support newcomers settling into the community through a full slate of February programming focused on immigration pathways, employment readiness, credential recognition, and social connection.

Most programming is offered through the Newcomer Welcome Centre at 432 Main Street North, with many sessions available both in person and online to improve accessibility for participants.

Immigration information

One of February’s key offerings is an Immigration Information Session aimed at temporary residents who are exploring pathways to permanent residency in Canada. The session will take place Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 3:30 p.m., with participants able to attend in person at 432 Main Street North or virtually through Zoom.

The session will be presented by Hatem Abdo, a regulated Canadian immigration consultant, and will provide up-to-date information directly from a licensed professional. Topics will focus on current immigration options, eligibility considerations, and practical next steps for those navigating the federal immigration system.

Advance registration is required, and participants are encouraged to register online or contact the MJMC at 306-693-4677 for further details.

Employment readiness

Employment-related programming continues with a Foreign Credential Assessment information session scheduled for Monday, Feb. 23, at 3:30 p.m., hosted at the Newcomer Welcome Centre.

The session is designed for newcomers with international education or work experience and will cover the foreign credential assessment process, professional associations, and networking opportunities. It will be presented by Robyn Watson, an employment readiness facilitator, and will be available both in person and online.

In addition, the MJMC is offering its “Are You Ready to

Work?” workshop series at the Newcomer Welcome Centre every Thursday in February at 3:30 p.m. The series is tailored specifically to newcomers entering the Canadian workforce and focuses on building both practical skills and workplace confidence.

The February workshops continue with sessions on job search strategies and transferable skills on Feb. 12, financial literacy on Feb. 19, and Canadian workplace culture on Feb. 26.

Workshops are available in person at the Newcomer Welcome Centre or virtually through Zoom.

Community connection Alongside formal information sessions, the MJMC continues to emphasize social connection as a key part of successful settlement.

This month’s Community

Caf? will be held on Thursday, Feb. 19, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Newcomer Welcome Centre. Held every third Thursday, the caf? offers a relaxed, welcoming space for newcomers and community members to connect, practice conversation in English, and build relationships in a casual setting. There is no cost to attend, and all are welcome.

Earlier in the month, the Healthy Living Project hosted a hands-on macram? keychain activity for newcomer women and girls on Feb. 6. While that event has already taken place, similar wellness-focused programming continues to be part of the council’s approach to newcomer support.

Family literacy and community support

In January, the MJMC also recognized Family Literacy Day on Jan. 27, highlighting the

importance of daily reading and learning activities within the home. Suggested activities included visiting the Moose Jaw Public Library, preparing meals together using shared recipes, and engaging in hands-on projects as a family.

The council continues to seek community support through its ongoing hygiene donation drive for newly arrived families, with donations accepted at its mall office at 1235 Main Street North and at 432 Main Street North, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, contact the MJMC at 306-6934677 or visit MJMCInc.ca; the Newcomer Welcome Centre at 306-692-6892 or MJNWC.ca; or the Prairie Skies Integration Network at 306-690-2324 or PSINetwork.ca.

The Newcomer Welcome Centre, located at 432 Main Street North, serves as a hub for newcomer programs and services in Moose Jaw. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Pothole season will be back before we know it

The groundhog didn’t see his shadow and we have mild weather ahead — or so the tale goes.

Bad weather or not, residents will soon be frustrated by the spring breakup and the pothole season.

Potholes are never ending in this freeze-thaw climate which heaves spots in the asphalt.

One pothole repair situation confuses and irritates drivers.

It’s the frequent situation where three or four potholes appear in one spot. The city crew comes along and fixes the worst one or two holes, leaving the others to become worse until repairs are made.

Chinese

OPINION EDITORIAL:

TRADING THOUGHTS

By Ron WalterFor Moose Jaw Express

Why can’t they do all the potholes in a spot at once? Is it a matter of budget, lack of crews or what?

The city usually catches up with the pothole repairs by September. Drivers experience maybe one month of good driving surface before snow and ice cover the roads.

Sure would be nice if the city could get the potholes caught up by August.

Determining which spots have potholes that need repair has been left to city crews in regular work and to a telephone hotline for drivers.

The City of Thunder Bay, Ontario

plans to adopt a new technology to better find potholes needing repair.

Last year the Ontario city copied other Ontario cities by requesting proposals for more convenient finding and fixing potholes. Several large Ontario cities have been using this system.

The system uses cameras acquiring a system of cameras mounted on city vehicles, or sensors.

The cameras, using artificial intelligence, automatically identify and analyze issues, sending the information back to the city to consider for review. The system can create work orders for city crews.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.

While the system isn’t expected to result in huge cost savings, it replaces pen, paper and ink used by city employees.

The cameras actually catalogue and take photos of cracks and deficiencies in the asphalt.

Thunder Bay planned installing cameras on two vehicles assigned to road patrol.

Might be a good technology for the City of Moose Jaw to pursue.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net

Lunar New Year celebration returns to Town ’N’ Country Mall Feb. 21

Residents will have a chance to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at the Town ’N’ Country Mall later this month, with lion dancing, kung fu demonstrations, crafts, and a new community “wish wall” planned for the afternoon festival.

The free, all-ages celebration will take place at the mall’s centre court starting at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, and will mark the Year of the Horse.

“We have lion dancing coming, and the kung fu performers will be the main attraction,” said mall events coordinator Gail Hoffos. This live enter-

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tainment will once again be provided by the Regina-based Canadian Hung Kuen Association.

Along with the performances, Hoffos said she wants guests to be able to jump in and participate, with crafts and interactive activities planned throughout the event.

“There will also be crafts, including an activity where guests can paint Chinese symbols,” she said.

The Lunar New Year follows the Chinese zodiac, a 12-year cycle in which each year is represented by an animal. The horse is often associated with energy, confidence, and forward momentum, and is commonly seen as a symbol of determination and strength. Many families mark the holiday by gathering with loved ones, sharing meals, and taking part in cultural traditions meant to welcome good fortune in the year ahead.

One of the biggest additions this year will be a wish wall — an interactive display inspired by the tradition of wish trees and wish walls commonly seen

during Lunar New Year celebrations.

“We’re doing a wish wall because Chinese New Year traditions are really big on wishes, like wish walls and wish trees,” Hoffos said. “I’m making paper leaves, and starting Feb. 17 people can write their wishes down and tack them to the wall. If you have a big wish, you can use a bigger leaf and tape it up — I want to fill the wall.”

Hoffos said last year’s inaugural Lunar New Year celebration was met with strong community interest, and she has been hearing from shoppers who

hoped the mall would bring it back.

“This year I’m hoping to have at least the same excitement as last year, because people were asking me if I was doing it again,” Hoffos said.

She added that interest in community programming at the mall has been growing.

“Yeah, there’s definitely more interest,” Hoffos said. “People love the different things that are always happening here. Hopefully I can keep it going.”

Another change this year will be the addition of Chinese vendors, offering guests an opportunity to shop and celebrate Moose Jaw’s Chinese community. Hoffos said she would prefer local vendors but is open to anyone from the region who fits the event’s focus.

Interested vendors can contact her by email at Gail@ptccyvr.com, with a deadline of Feb. 20.

“Just like always, everyone is more than welcome to come to the mall and check this out,” Hoffos said. “It’s such an exciting event — come and enjoy.”

To learn more about the Canadian Hung Kuen Association, call 1-306-5512203 or visit FUHOK.com.

The Town ‘N’ Country Mall is located at 1235 Main Street North.

A Chinese Lunar New Year celebration filled the Town ’N’ Country Mall with colour and live performances in 2025. The event returns Saturday, Feb. 21, starting at 1:30 p.m.

Photo by: Aaron Walker

Construction on Highway 2 overpass project set to resume this spring Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Construction on Moose Jaw’s Highway 2 overpass is set to resume this spring, as the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways continues bridge work across the province through the winter and into early 2026.

The $33.7-million project to raise Highway 2 over the Trans-Canada Highway began on March 17, 2025, and reached a major milestone last fall, when the new northbound bridge opened to traffic on Oct. 10, 2025. The project was originally launched after numerous transport vehicles had struck the bridge over time, prompting the Ministry to raise its height for improved safety.

According to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways, contractors are expected to return to the site around April to begin construction on a new southbound bridge. Traffic restrictions will resume at that time, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

The Moose Jaw overpass was highlighted as part of a provincial update released Jan. 29, outlining more than $78 million in bridge projects across Saskatchewan.

Although most major highway construction pauses during winter months, bridge work often continues year-round, Highways Minister Kim Gartner said during a recent media event in Regina.

“Although the major road construction season runs from about spring to fall, bridge work continues as we move into and through winter,” Gartner said. “Motorists are reminded to be alert, obey all signage, and check the Highway Hotline before heading out.”

Frederick Willis, a senior bridge

project manager with the Ministry of Highways, said preparations are already underway to restart construction on the southbound bridge.

“Tomorrow (Jan. 30) we’re meeting with the contractor to go over some plans, and (to find out) when we’re going to get started on that one,” Willis said, emphasizing that all timelines remain subject to weather conditions.

“The plan is (to get going on it by) late March (or) early April, with completion to be in October.”

He added that bridge construction differs from other types of highway work, allowing projects to continue during colder months and, in some cases, overnight during the summer.

“The concrete is unfortunately affected by the weather at both extremes, with the cold in the winter and, in the

times see on our major structures, such as at Moose Jaw, the crews are working at night,” Willis said, adding that this ability to work with bridges throughout the winter can help speed up road construction during the summer months.

“We have the luxury of building bridges year-round,” Willis said. “The bridges that you see in the wintertime are generally smaller span modular bridges, where we use precast components that we can fabricate in advance, and then we assemble them on site, like a LEGO set.”

Beyond Moose Jaw, the ministry’s winter bridge program includes repairs and replacements across Saskatchewan, with projects completed last year near Prince Albert, La Ronge, Green Lake, Beauval, and other communities.

The Government of Saskatchewan says it has invested more than $13 billion in transportation infrastructure since 2008, improving more than 20,700 kilometres of highways across the province.

Motorists are reminded to check the Highway Hotline at Hotline.gov.sk.ca

MJMAG makes major changes to its First Nations-focused display

The Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery (MJMAG) established its permanent First Nations display in 2000, and 26 years later, the organization is making major changes to better honour those peoples.

Jennifer McRorie, the organization’s curator and executive director, explained that she has wanted to change the indigenous exhibit for a while, but didn’t have a First Nation curator to lead the enhancements.

One of the first steps McRorie took to overhaul the display — which a nonAboriginal company from Regina installed — was to establish an indigenous advisory committee. This was followed by hosting the 2023 exhibition Wakšúpi: Lakota Beadwork, which looked at items in the permanent collection through a Lakota perspective.

Then, last year, the organization hired Sadie-Rose Vaxvick as the indigenous curator-in-residence for nine months, McRorie said.

Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com

Vaxvick, of Nêhiyaw and Saulteaux background, is no stranger to the gallery, as her public art installation outside the MJMAG has become a local landmark.

Working in the studio and in a curatorial capacity, she has been collaborating with elders and traditional knowledge keepers to review the indigenous collection, identify items for repatriation, and support indigenous-led programming in schools and throughout the community.

McRorie added that Vaxvick also consulted Dr. Claire Thomson about the proposed changes.

Thomson is a field historian with Parks Canada, the volunteer secretary for the Wood Mountain Historical Society, and recently earned her doctoral degree in Lakota history in southwest Saskatchewan.

“Môso-Tâpiskan: Indigenous Living Heritage” is the result of Vaxvick’s months-long efforts to transform the heritage gallery. The MJMAG is holding an opening reception on Friday, Feb. 6, at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate this change, which is phase 1 of a two-phase process.

One change visitors notice walking into the heritage gallery is a large map showing the province and its treaties, along with a “welcome” sign in several Aboriginal languages, Vaxvick said.

Furthermore, the exhibit features pottery sherds, projectile points, rock hatchets, embroidered silk moccasins, bone tools and beadwork, she continued.

She noted that she worked with an elder from the Kahkewistahaw First Nation to erect a teepee in the gallery using Nêhiyaw Plains Cree tradition. One teaching she learned was that it was women’s responsibility to set up the teepee and promote the home-fire teachings.

“It’s been just a very drastic change (in the heritage gallery),” Vaxvick said. “And I’m honoured and thankful that Jen has chosen me to be part of this and has seen my vision and has made it happen (in) the spirit of reconciliation.

“And there’s a lot more that is happening behind the scenes, like repatriation that isn’t shown like a gallery exhibit.”

Phase 2 will feature a display of a winter camp and an explanation of how First Nations lived in pre-contact Moose

Jaw. However, Vaxvick noted that more funding is required to make those changes, while Lakota historians, elders and knowledge keepers must provide guidance to finish the display “in the right way.”

These changes are “definitely overdue,” considering one recommendation from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission urged museums to embrace the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), said Vaxvick. This included curating and showing exhibits through an indigenous lens.

Continuing, the indigenous curatorin-residence said that in keeping with the “spirit of reconciliation,” the MJMAG has brought in more indigenous artists, scholars, knowledge keepers and elders to provide information to better address the call to action.

Vaxvick is an abstract artist, so one of her favourite parts about transforming the heritage gallery has been adding her artistic perspective. This has included “adding a pop of colour” to the walls and showcasing colourful beadwork tribes used in ceremonies and everyday clothing.

For more information, visit mjmag. ca.

Sadie-Rose Vaxvick, the indigenous curator-in-residence with the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery, poses in front of a display case with artifacts. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

An example of beadwork. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

The heritage gallery includes a teepee

From The Kitchen

By Joyce Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

Whether the plan is to stay home and prepare a special meal, or try the offerings at local restaurants, something sweet will be on the menu for the celebration of Valentine’s Day.

Making heart-shaped cookies is a wonderful way to spend time together as a family. Just remember to have a full container of red food colouring on hand. A drop or two splashed into a butter icing recipe will set the tone for hearts. And flowers of icing sugar can be piped onto the cookies for the whole effect of hearts and flowers.

This week’s recipes are for favourites used over the years to ensure one’s sweet tooth is satisfied.

FROZEN BANANA SPLIT DESSERT

2 cups Graham wafer crumbs

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine

3 bananas

1/2 gallon vanilla or mint ice cream, softened slightly

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup butter

Cool and sweet desserts salute Valentine’s Day

2 cups icing sugar

1 1/2 cups evaporated milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup whipping cream

Mix crumbs with salt and sugar and cut in the butter. Pat crumb mixture into a 9x13 inch pan, reserving 1/2 cup.

Slice bananas over the crust. Spread softened ice cream over the bananas. Freeze.

Melt chocolate and butter. Add sugar and milk and cook until smooth and thick.

Stir in vanilla and cool the mixture. Pour over ice cream and return to freezer.

Whip the cream and spread over the chocolate layer. Sprinkle the reserved crumbs over the whipped cream. Freeze again.

Remove from freezer a few minutes before serving. Yields 24 servings. Leftovers may be covered with foil and returned to freezer.

PINEAPPLE DESSERT

1 1/4 cups Graham wafer crumbs

1/4 cup melted butter

2 eggs

1/2 cup soft butter

1 1/2 cups sifted icing sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups drained, crushed pineapple

1/2 pint whipping cream

Combine crumbs and melted butter. Remove 1/4 cup of the mixture and set aside. Press remaining crumbs into a buttered 9 inch pan.

Beat eggs well. Add 1/2 cup soft butter, icing sugar and vanilla and beat until well blended and fluffy.

Spread over crumbs.

Whip the cream and fold in the drained and dried pineapple. Spread over butter layer and then sprinkle with remaining crumbs. Chill until time to serve. Makes 8 slices.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Mayor proclaims ‘Wear Red Canada Day’ to raise awareness of women’s heart health

The City of Moose Jaw will join communities across the country in recognizing women’s cardiovascular health this month, following a formal proclamation from Mayor James Murdock declaring Feb. 13 as “Wear Red Canada Day.”

Issued on behalf of the city, the proclamation underscores the importance of education, prevention, and awareness related to heart disease among women — a health issue that continues to be misunderstood and widely overlooked.

In the proclamation, Murdock stated that the city “proudly supports initiatives that promote the well-being of residents and recognizes the importance of education and prevention regarding women’s cardiovascular health.”

The document further notes that “cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of premature death for women in Canada, and continues to be widely under-recognized, under-diagnosed, and under-researched.”

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Health organizations involved in the campaign say those gaps are reflected in national and global data, noting that cardiovascular disease affects one in three women worldwide and remains the number one killer of women globally. They also point to research showing that heart attack symptoms are not recognized in more than 50 per cent of women, in part because women are more likely to experience multiple symptoms beyond chest pain, contributing to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Observed annually on Feb. 13, Wear Red Canada Day encourages Canadians to wear red as a visible sign of support while drawing attention to the ways heart disease can affect women differently than men. The campaign also aims to promote early detection and informed conversations around women’s heart health.

At the national level, the campaign is supported by the Canadian Women’s

Heart Health Alliance, a network of clinicians, scientists, allied health professionals, and patient partners focused on advancing research, clinical care, and public policy related to women’s cardiovascular health.

According to the proclamation, Wear Red Canada Day “encourages Canadians to learn about women’s heart health, share life-saving information, and support ongoing education and research,” while emphasizing the role communities play in improving health outcomes.

In practice, the campaign calls on women and their families to be proactive about heart health by becoming familiar with the signs and symptoms of heart disease, addressing modifiable risk factors, and seeking regular medical checkups. All residents are encouraged to take part by wearing red on Feb. 13, sharing credible information with friends, family, and colleagues, and engaging in conversations that support earlier detection and healthier lives.

For more information, visit the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance at CWHHA.ca.

Local artist brings ‘Mac and Cheese’ to life in new colouring book

A familiar pair of local “celebrities” is getting a new kind of spotlight this year, thanks to Moose Jaw artist Shelby Yee.

Yee, owner and operator of The Makers Corner, has recently launched a new “Mac and Cheese” colouring and activity book, now available for purchase at the Tourism Moose Jaw gift shop.

The book features illustrations of Mac the Moose, Moose Jaw’s iconic landmark, alongside Cheese, the friendly cat who has become an unexpected star at the tourism kiosk.

“This is actually the first colouring book I’ve ever made, so it’s great. I’m really proud of it,” Yee said.

The project grew naturally from her existing work as a local workshop host and creator. She operates her shop as a small, one-person business, offering a range of services that include regular workshops for residents at Atria Mulberry Estates.

“My business is The Makers Corner,” she said. “I host paint workshops at least once a month, and I do private workshops for the community.”

Yee said her connection with Tourism Moose Jaw began when she first added her handmade items in the artisans’ shop inside the tourism kiosk, which carries work from Moose Jaw and area artists.

“I only started stocking my stuff around May or June last year. That’s around the time that I first saw her,” she said, referring to Cheese.

After meeting the cat and seeing how popular she was with visitors, the idea began to take shape.

“I met Cheese, and I was like, ‘She is amazing; she is literally amazing. She’s so cute,’” Yee recalled. “I just thought, ‘Oh, I could draw her, and it could be adorable because people love her.’ … And then, I was

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

like, ‘You know what? I want to make a colouring book. I think this would be adorable.’”

The Mac and Cheese concept has become a recognizable part of Tourism Moose Jaw’s branding under executive director Donna Fritzke. Yee said the collaboration evolved casually from that idea.

“It kind of just happened, which is really nice. The ladies there are lovely,” she said.

The book includes a mix of colouring pages and simple activities, with many scenes inspired by Moose Jaw’s landmarks and experiences, including Mac and Cheese visiting Temple Gardens, sitting beneath the Northern Lights, and appearing alongside the Snow-

birds.

“My husband works out at (15 Wing Moose Jaw). He’s a contractor there, and I always go to see the Snowbirds,” she said. “I thought it would be really cool if I could incorporate stuff from there and downtown Moose Jaw, and just have it connected for people to really experience Moose Jaw (through) Mac and Cheese.”

The book also includes interactive pages such as a word search and a maze.

Yee initially delivered 24 copies of the book, stating that she was uncertain how popular the idea would be. Since then, she’s already received positive feedback from Tourism Moose Jaw staff and community members who follow her work.

“They were like, ‘This is amazing,’” she said.

Yee is open to creating a follow-up edition, and would also be interested in collaborating with other local attractions and organizations on similar themed colouring books. Her books are printed in Moose Jaw through SaskPromo.com.

“If this goes well, maybe in a year’s time or something we could do a (version) 2.0.

There’s definitely so much more material that I could add to it,” she said. Residents interested in collaborating with Yee can reach her at TheMakersCornerMJ@ gmail.com.

The Tourism Moose Jaw kiosk is located at 450 Diefenbaker Drive.

NOTICE OF ABANDONMENT OF POLL VILLAGE OF MARQUIS

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that:

Whereas a poll is not required pursuant to The Local Government Election Act for the o ce(s) of:

Mayor: Village of Marquis

I hereby give public notice that no voting for the said o ce(s) will take place and the following persons are elected by acclamation:

Mayor – Lorne Froehlich

Dated at Marquis this 2nd day of February, 2026

Madison Gardner Returning O cer

PUBLIC NOTICE

DISCRETIONARY USE APPLICATION

The City of Moose Jaw, pursuant to Zoning Bylaw No. 5346 is considering an application to allow for a proposed “Retail Store” on Lots 19-26, Block 18, Plan S1896, Ext 0, civically known as 530 Caribou Street East, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, which is a discretionary use within the M1 –Light Industrial District. Additional information regarding the application may be found on the “City News” page at www.moosejaw.ca. The report, application, and any representations, will be considered by City Council on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 228 Main Street North.

Written submissions must be received by Planning & Development, 3rd Floor, 228 Main Street North, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 3J8, by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, in person or by email at planning@moosejaw.ca.

Dated at the City of Moose Jaw, in the Province of Saskatchewan, this 2nd day of February, 2026.

Tracy Wittke City Clerk

Shelby Yee, owner of The Makers Corner, holds up her newly released Mac and Cheese colouring and activity book, now available at the Tourism Moose Jaw gift shop. Photo by: Shelby Yee

Cheese, the cat at Tourism Moose Jaw who is featured in the new colouring book, has become a familiar face for visitors at the kiosk. Photo by: Aaron Walker

By Patricia Hanbidge

Flowers for Valentine’s Day

As we get closer to February 14th, floral shops become very busy, and the price of purchasing flowers increases. When I am doing floral classes, I never schedule them for right around Valentine’s Day as the product price is too expensive. I often wonder how trends develop over time, so I thought a bit of history surrounding this special day would be interesting.

Valentine’s Day originated from a mix of Roman, Christian and romantic traditions and evolved to include gifting flowers. I get that gifting flowers

is a beautiful gesture as who doesn’t smile when presented with a beautiful arrangement – or even a single stem of something bright and beautiful? For me, my life is enhanced because throughout the year I buy flowers for myself and don’t even need a special occasion. This all began in the 18th century.

If we go back even further, the origins of this special day was linked to the Roman festival of Lupercalia which was a celebration of fertility. This day is named after a 3rd-century Christian martyr – St. Valentine and Pope Gelasius I declared February 14th as St. Valentine’s Day around 496 AD. Geoffrey Chaucer linked the day to romance in the 14th century, associating it with spring and courtship.

King Charles II of Sweden introduced the Persian tradition of Floriography or the language of flowers to Europe. Specific blooms and colours of flowers conveyed secret messages. Victorian people used flowers to express their emotion and had specialized dictionaries to help people to understand the sentimental meanings of bouquets.

Floriography was popularized in the 19th century as it allowed people to convey sentiments that were deemed improper to express verbally. How the flowers were arranged and even how the ribbon was tied held specific meaning. Talking bouquets or tussy-mussies were used to communicate complex emotions. Today, floriography continues to influence floral design, wedding planning and the symbolic giving of flowers, adding deeper and more thoughtful meanings to arrangements.

Red roses are closely tied to Greek and Roman mythology as the flower that symbolizes love, passion and beauty. It was believed that the red rose was the favourite flower of Venus/Aphrodite who are the goddesses of love, beauty and fertility. Roses continue to be the top choice for people today to purchase

and to express love. Some common colours of Valentine’s flowers have special meanings. The red rose expresses deep love, passion and romance. Pink flowers convey admiration, joy and gratitude and yellow flowers convey friendship and new beginnings. White flowers, not surprisingly, convey purity and innocence.

Specific flowers also have meanings. The orange blossom conveys innocence and forget-me-nots remembrance. Delphiniums are considered haughty and hydrangeas heartless. Cabbage/kale depicts profit or wealth and sunflowers convey adoration, loyalty and happiness. What an interesting way to build an arrangement!

Hanbidge is the Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at www.orchidhort.com; by email at growyourfuture@gmail.com on facebook @orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort.

Tune into GROW Live on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ orchidhort or check out the Youtube channel GROW…

Heartland Hospice to host ‘Legends’ dinner theatre fundraiser April 11

Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw is inviting residents to an evening of music, dinner, and fundraising this spring as it hosts “Legends,” a dinner theatre event featuring Devra Straker and Friends.

The fundraiser will take place Saturday, April 11 at the Cosmo Centre, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and a happy hour running from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Supper begins at 6:30 p.m., with the show scheduled to follow.

This year, Heartland Hospice is switching up the format for its annual fundraising event.

“It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we changed it up this year. We usually do bands, but we thought Moose Jaw would enjoy a dinner theatre this year to try something new,” said Michaela Sykora, chair of Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw’s public engagement and fundraising committee.

“This group has performed lots together. They’re very, very talented, and they bring a lot of energy and laughter. They have beautiful vocal talent and an engaging stage presence,” she added.

Sykora said the performance will

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

feature songs made famous by a range of well-known artists across multiple genres.

“The evening will feature songs by legends of country and rock and roll.

The stage will be graced with favourites such as Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Sonny and Cher and many more,” Sykora said. “There will also be a silent auction, making it a full night of music and fun.”

While the fundraiser is designed to be an entertaining night out for guests, the larger goal is to continue raising funds tied to Heartland Hospice’s recent facility expansion at Pioneer Lodge.

This includes three hospice care bedrooms, the Serenity Garden, and a new sacred space currently under construction.

“The proceeds from our fundraisers go toward much-needed funds to pay off the existing expansion of our facility at Pioneer Lodge, and the sacred space is currently under construction and is projected to be opening soon,” Sykora said.

Although the hospice’s capital campaign has technically closed, Sykora said fundraising remains necessary to close

the remaining gap. To date, she said Heartland Hospice has raised $925,000 of its $1.3 million target.

As with all of Heartland Hospice’s fundraising efforts, the broader message is about ensuring local residents have access to compassionate end-of-life care when they need it.

“Generally, hospice care isn’t

thought about until you’re in need,” she said. “We just want to support the journey we’ve developed for the hospice in Moose Jaw, so people can seek it out when they need it.”

Although the fundraising goal is rooted in end-of-life care, Sykora said the night is meant to be celebratory and fun.

“It’s going to be a very fun event,” she said. “You’ll be singing along and dancing in your seat for a good cause.”

Tickets are already on sale through SaskTix.ca or in person at the Temple Gardens Centre box office, located at 110 First Avenue Northwest. Individual tickets are $90, while a table of eight is $680.

With limited seating at the Cosmo Centre, Sykora said ticket availability is capped.

“There are 200 tickets available, and they’re going fast,” she noted.

For more information, visit HeartlandHospiceMJ.ca or call 306-6908699. The Cosmo Centre is located at 235 Third Avenue Northeast.

For Moose Jaw Express

Love in 2026

This year, saying “I love you” is about deepening connection, focusing on shared adventures, and finding personalized, intimate moments. Express it through meaningful, modern, and direct phrases that emphasize lasting commitment, such as “Here’s to loving you through every sunrise of 2026” or “You are my favorite person”.

HERE ARE TOP WAYS TO SAY “I LOVE YOU” IN 2026:

Romantic & Deep

• “You’re not just part of my story—you are my story”.

• “I’ll never stop choosing you, again and again, in every new year”.

• “You feel like home”.

• “My heart is forever yours”.

• “Loved you yesterday, love you still, always have, always will”.

Modern & Playful

• “You give me the Friday feeling every day”.

• “You make my heart do little happy dances”.

• “You’re my favorite person to annoy forever”.

• “You + Me = Forever Love”.

Future-Focused (2026 Themes)

• “Here’s to a year of growing together through joy, tears, and endless love”.

• “I’m yours and you are mine; I love you forever and always”.

• “Time can change everything, but not the way I feel for you”.

Actions to Accompany the Words

• Be Present: Put away the phone and give undivided attention.

• Support Passion: Actively support their goals, dreams, and personal growth.

• Small Gestures: Send unexpected daily texts, share an umbrella, or bring them coffee.

https://www.google.com/search?q=How+to+say+I+love+you+in+2026&rlz=1C1UEAD_enCA1102CA1102&oq=How+to+say+I+love+you+in+2026&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yDQgCEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyDQgDEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyCggEEAAYgAQYogQyCggFEAAYogQYiQUyBwgGEAAY7wUyBwgHEAAY7wUyCggIEAAYgAQYogTSAQkxODA0NGowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

17

High St. W. Moose Jaw, SK

Contact: Tina Couzens

P: 306-692-1881

E: evansflorist@sasktel.net

Store Hours: 8.30am-5.30pm(Mon-Fri), 9am-5pm(Sat)

Love Beyond Limits: Budget-Friendly Valentine’s Day Celebrations for Parents and Kids

On Valentine’s Day, why not extend love to the whole family? Parents can turn this heartfelt holiday into a joyous celebration with their little ones. Crafting, baking, and creating memories together can be a delightful way to spend quality time without breaking the bank. Here are some budget-friendly ways for parents to celebrate Valentine’s Day with their children, from easy crafts to delightful baking activities and other creative ideas.

Valentine’s Day Crafts Heartfelt Cards
Encourage your kids to express their love through handmade cards. For this craft, you will need: coloured paper or card stock, scissors, markers, crayons, or coloured pencils, stickers, glitter, and glue.

Prepare the Paper: Select colored paper or card stock and fold it in half to create a card shape.

Cut Out Hearts: Cut out heart shapes from different colored papers. These can vary in size

and color.

· Decorate: Let your kids decorate the hearts with markers, stickers, and glitter. Encourage them to write messages or draw on the cards.

Love Trees

For this craft, you will need: brown construction paper, coloured paper (for hearts), scissors, glue, and a marker or pen.

· Create the Tree: Cut out a tree trunk and branches from brown construction paper.

· Craft the Hearts: Have your children cut out heart shapes from coloured paper. On each heart, they can write messages of love or things they appreciate about each other.

Decorate the Tree: Glue the hearts onto the tree branches, filling the tree with these “leaves of love.”

Display: Hang your Love Tree in a common area to remind everyone of your family’s love and appreciation.

DIY Heart Garland

For this craft, you will need: coloured paper or card stock, scissors, string or yarn, and a hole punch.

· Cut Out Hearts: Cut heart shapes out of colored paper or card stock.

· Punch Holes: Use a hole punch to make two holes in each heart (at the top, on either side of the center dip).

· String the Hearts: Thread the string or yarn through the holes in each heart, spacing them evenly apart.

· Hang Your Garland: Once all hearts are strung, hang your garland across a room or window to add a festive touch.

Handprint Art

Capture the essence of growing love with handprint art. For this craft, you will need: paint (various colors), paper or canvas, brushes or sponges, and markers. Prepare the Paint: Pour paint colors into shallow dishes.

· Create Handprints: Have each family member coat their hand in paint and press it onto the paper or canvas to make a handprint. You can arrange these prints in the shape of a heart or any other desired pattern.

Add Details: Once the paint dries, use markers to add details or write names, dates, or messages around the handprints.

Display: Frame your handprint art or hang it as is to commemorate your family’s love and unity.

Baking Up Sweet Memories

1. Heart-Shaped Cookies/DIY Chocolate Dipped Treats/Lovethemed Cupcakes

2. Valentine’s Day Breakfast: Start the day with heart-shaped pancakes or toast. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to add a charming touch to breakfast, creating a festive atmosphere right from the morning. Other Creative Celebrations

1. Family Movie Night: Pick heartwarming movies suitable for all ages, grab some blankets and pillows, and create a cozy family movie night at home. Don’t forget the popcorn and snacks!

2. Love Coupons: Create homemade love coupons that your kids can redeem for special treats, such as an extra story at bedtime, a movie night of their choice, or a day where they get to pick the family activity.

3. Scavenger Hunt: Plan a Valentine’s Day scavenger hunt around the house or in the backyard. Use heart-shaped clues or little love notes to guide your children to small surprises or treats.

4. Family Photo Session: Capture the love within your family with a DIY photo session. Dress in coordinating colours, use props like heart-shaped balloons or banners, and take pictures to commemorate the day.

https://www.bumpandbabymatters. com/blog/love-beyond-limits-budgetfriendly-valentines-day-celebrationsfor-parents-and-kids

401

Classic Pickup Lines

1. Are you a parking ticket? Cause you’ve got fine written all over you.

2. Are you from Tennessee? Because you’re the only 10 I see.

3. Are you sure you’re not tired? You’ve been running through my mind all day.

4. I’m not a photographer, but I can picture me and you together.

5. I’m lost. Can you give me directions to your heart?

6. Did it hurt? When you fell from heaven?

7. If I could rearrange the alphabet, I’d put “U” and “I” together.

8. Well, here I am. What are your other two wishes?

9. It’s a good thing I have my library card, because I am totally checking you out.

10. Do you have a map? I think I just got lost in your eyes.

11. Are you a broom? Because you’ve swept me off my feet.

12. Are you salt? Because you’re sodium fine.

Creative Pickup Lines

1. On a scale of one to 10, you’re a nine, and I’m the one you need.

2. Are you Siri? Because you autocomplete me.

3. If you and I were socks, we’d make a great pair.

4. You remind me of a magnet because you sure are attracting me over here.

5. Are your parents bakers? Because you’re a cutie pie.

6. Are you a loan? Because you’ve got my interest.

7. Is your dad a boxer? Because you’re a knockout!

8. If you were a vegetable, you’d be a cutecumber.

9. I’m studying to be a historian, and I’m especially interested in finding a date.

10. Are you the sun? Because you’re definitely lighting up my night.

11. Are you a meteor? Because you’re rocking my world.

12. Are you a triangle? Because you’re acute one.

Cheesy Pickup Lines

1. Is your name Netflix? Because I could watch you for hours.

2. Are you a camera? Because every time I look at you, I smile.

3. Do you have a name? Or can I call you mine?

4. I hope you know CPR because you are taking my breath away.

5. Are you a time traveler? Because I see you in my future.

6. If you were words on a page you’d be the fine print.

7. You must be a magician. Because any time I look at you, everyone else disappears.

8. Your hand looks heavy. Can I hold it for you?

9. I’m not currently an organ donor, but I’d love to give you my heart.

10. I’m not sure how this works, are we married now?

11. I wasn’t planning on flirting today, but you’re making it very difficult.

Sneha Sharma &

Merissa Goudy

Chanse Wiens

Miriam Iverson & Noah Horsnall

Edmonton Oil Kings turn in impressive offensive showing on way to lopsided win over Moose Jaw Warriors

Carter Sothern has five-point outing as Oil Kings roll to 11-4 victory in Edmonton

It was one of those games for the Moose Jaw Warriors on a Friday night, February 6th in Western Hockey League action.

The Edmonton Oil Kings scored early and then just kept on keeping on when it came to their offence, scoring four in the first period, three more in the second and another four in the third to take an 11-4 victory at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Red

Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com

Moose Jaw falls to 19-25-4-2 and remain four points up on the Red Deer Rebels in seventh place in the Eastern Conference, Edmonton improves to 3411-3-2 and are now three points back of Medicine Hat for second place in the Conference.

Sotheran capped his night with five points, while Lukas Sawchyn added three assists and only three Edmonton players finished without a point.

McFadden had a three-point night, Brown also picked up an assist.

Kyle Jones went the distance in goal for Moose Jaw and faced 50 shots, the Warriors had 20 on Edmonton’s Parker Snell.

The Warriors are right back in action on Saturday night when they travel to Red Deer to face the Rebels, with puck drop at 7 p.m.

Deer Rebels close ground in playoff race with win over Moose Jaw Warriors

Rebels build four-goal lead before taking 5-2 win in Red Deer, now two points back of Moose Jaw for seventh place Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com

A quick start and a dominant second period led the Red Deer Rebels to a win over the Moose Jaw Warriors on Saturday night February 7, and now things are starting to get very interesting in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference.

The Rebels took a 2-0 lead out of the first period and ran their edge to four goals before Moose Jaw made things close late, but there would be no comeback in the cards as Red Deer went on to a 5-2 victory.

Moose Jaw falls to 19-26-4-2 with their second-straight loss and are now only two points up on the 19-27-2-2 Rebels for seventh place in the Confer-

ence. The Regina Pats are also lurking around the eighth and final playoff spot and are currently four points back of Red Deer.

The Rebels got things going quickly, as Aleksey Chichkin opened scoring at the 4:24 mark and Talon Brigley made it a two-goal lead when he found the back of the net with 8:29 gone. The Warriors would get a handful of scoring chances in the frame but would be unable to beat Rebels netminder Matthew Kondro.

The second period was all Red Deer, as they had steady pressure on Warriors goaltender Chase Wutzke and would be rewarded for it.

Tyson Yaremko made it a three-goal edge with a power play goal at the 6:24 mark and Beckett Hamilton scored with 2:36 left in the frame for a 4-0 Rebels lead.

It would have been a lot more lopsided if not for a solid showing from Wutzke, as the Rebels poured 25 shots on net in the period while holding the Warriors to only five.

Moose Jaw would make one of those shots count, though, as Pavel McKenzie put a shot from the slot top shelf with 31 seconds left in the frame to get the Warriors on the board.

Moose Jaw had some pushback in the third period and made things inter-

esting late, thanks to McKenzie taking a pass from behind the net from Ethan Semeniuk and rifling his 16th of the season home with 5:13 remaining in regulation. That’s as close as they’d get, though, with Landon MacSwain scoring an empty netter for Red Deer two minutes later.

Wutzke finished with 43 saves on the night and was named the game’s second star, Kondro had 28 saves for the Rebels.

The Warriors are back in action on Tuesday night when they host the Brandon Wheat Kings, with puck drop at 7 p.m at Temple Gardens Centre.

Warriors logo

WINMAR AAA Warriors raise $9,000 for Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan

WINMAR Moose Jaw AAA Warriors’ “Hockey vs. Cancer” weekend is already showing signs of becoming a meaningful annual tradition in the community, raising more than $9,000 this year in support of the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan.

The two-day fundraiser took place Jan. 24 and 25 at the Temple Gardens Centre during a pair of regular-season games against the Prince Albert Mintos. The Warriors capped the weekend with a pair of wins, defeating the Mintos 11–2 on Saturday and 9–2 on Sunday.

The weekend marked the second year the club hosted the event, which was first created in memory of Evan McKechnie. McKechnie was the father of former Warriors goaltender Luke McKechnie and current Warriors forward Layne McKechnie.

“He passed away with cancer, not this past summer, but the summer before that,” said Jay-D Haughton, general manager of the WINMAR Moose Jaw AAA Warriors. “I wanted to do something in his memory and this program has never held, to my knowledge, a ‘hockey fights cancer’ type of weekend event.”

In its inaugural year, the Warriors partnered with the Canadian Cancer Society and raised funds through a specialty jersey auction and donations collected at the door.

“We raised just about $7,000 last year for the event,” Haughton said.

This year, the club shifted its partnership to the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan, a decision Haughton said was motivated by a desire to keep the

initiative within the province.

“I wanted to do the same thing (this year), but obviously keep it in the province,” he said.

Haughton said the Warriors secured 23 sponsors for the team’s specialty jerseys this year, including local businesses and companies from communities across Saskatchewan where players are from. He said the sponsorships helped cover the cost of the jerseys, while also directing funds to the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan.

The weekend also included ceremonial elements recognizing those affected by cancer, with Prince Albert joining the Warriors for a pre-game group photo featuring players from both teams holding “I fight for” posters to honour family members, friends, and others impacted by the disease.

“They could put on there who they’re fighting for — if it’s a fam ily member, a cousin, or maybe just all those who are affected by cancer,” Haughton said.

Representatives from the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan, includ ing Jakki Crowe, Misty Selinger, and Danielle Langston, were also on hand for both games to collect donations at the door.

ing as a chance for players to learn the importance of giving back to the community.

“To see so many people come out and (show their) support, it is truly

amazing,” he said. “I think it’s really important to show them what giving back looks like, and the importance of that as well.”

Although planning for next year is still in the early stages, the team is already considering how to expand the fundraiser moving forward. Haughton also expressed appreciation for the sponsors, supporters, and community members who helped make the weekend possible.

“We just want to say thank you to them, and thank you to the community of Moose Jaw,” he said.

For more information, visit AAAWarriors.ca or email ManagerAAAWarriors@gmail.com. To learn more about the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan, visit CancerFoundationSask.ca.

Haughton said the event remains especially meaningful for the Warriors and the McKechnie family, while also serv-

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Photo by: Midnight Sun Notary and Photographics

Photo by: Midnight Sun Notary and Photographics

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Gymnastics Calico Invitational Humboldt Jan 30th – Feb

Submitted

Moose Jaw sent 26 gymnasts to the first competition of the year. We are extremely proud of all these gymnasts. Below are results:

Women’s Artistic Gymnastics

Xcel Silver (Ages 8.1 – 10.1 years old)

Lennon Oonincx

Vault: 13th, Bars: 9th, Beam: 15th, Floor: 9th All Around: 9th

Josette Cochet

Vault: 14th, Bars: 28th, Beam: 23rd, Floor: 24th All Around: 24th

Xcel Silver (Ages 10.2 – 11 years old)

Charlotte Laic

Vault: 8th, Bars: 8th, Beam: 8th TIED, Floor: 4th TIED, All Around: 6th

Lily Hayes

Vault: 4th TIED, Bars: 17th, Beam: 5th, Floor: 10th All Around: 11th

Xcel Silver (Ages 12.4 – 13.6 years old)

Peyten Galenzoski

Vault: 3rd, Bars: 2nd, Beam: 6th, Floor: 4th TIED, All Around: 2nd

Sawyer De Graauw

Vault: 5th TIED, Bars: 4th, Beam: 4th, Floor: 2nd, All Around: 3rd

Evenlyn Charbonneau

Vault: 4th, Bars: 7th, Beam: 3rd, Floor:

6th, All Around: 5th

Braelynn Patterson

Vault: 2nd, Bars: 3rd, Beam: 7th, Floor: 7th, All Around: 6th

Xcel Gold (Ages 8.7 – 11.3 years old)

Langley Buchanan

Vault: 11th TIED, Bars: 16th, Beam: 10th, Floor: 7th TIED All Around: 11th

Xcel GOLD (Ages 11.4 – 12.7 years old)

Madelyn Smith

Vault: 11th, Bars: 13th, Beam: 10th, Floor: 18th, All Around: 10th TIED

Xcel GOLD (Ages 12.7 – 16.8 years old)

Grace Forrest

Vault: 1st, Bars: 2nd, Beam: 11th TIED, Floor: 2nd, All Around: 1st

Brinley Smith

Vault: 2nd, Bars: 9th, Beam: 15th, Floor: 3rd, All Around: 6th

Eliana Magnus

Vault: 3rd, Bars: 4th TIED, Beam: 17th, Floor: 1st, All Around: 7th

Xcel Platinum

Olivia Cameron

Vault: 2nd, Bars: 4th, Beam: 6th, Floor: 1st, All Around: 2nd

CCP 1 Interclub

Myla Willems

Vault: Red, Bars: Red, Beam: Red, Floor: Red All Around: Gold

Alivia Crocker

Vault: Red, Bars: Blue, Beam: Red, Floor: Red All Around: Gold

CCP 2 Interclub

Athena Rossler

Vault: Red, Bars: Blue, Beam: Red, Floor: Red All Around: Gold

CCP 3 Interclub

Emilia Kyslytsya

Vault: Red, Bars: Blue, Beam: Red, Floor: White All Around: Silver

Emma Dougherty

Vault: Red, Bars: White, Beam: Blue,

1st,

2026

Floor: White All Around: Bronze

Iris Hayes

Vault: Red, Bars: White, Beam: Blue, Floor: White All Around: Bronze

Gabriella Dick

Vault: Blue, Bars: White, Beam: Blue, Floor: White All Around: Bronze

CCP 4 Interclub

Hailey Flegel

Vault: Blue, Bars: White, Beam: Red, Floor: Blue All Around: Silver

Aubrey Cameron

Vault: White, Bars: White, Beam: Blue, Floor: White All Around: Bronze

Colbie Gebkenjans

Vault: White, Bars: White, Beam: White, Floor: Blue All Around: Bronze Teagan Gebkenjans

Vault: White, Bars: White, Beam: Blue, Floor: White All Around: Bronze

Summer Olmstead

Vault: White, Bars: White, Beam: White, Floor: Blue All Around: Bronze

The Moose Jaw annual Stick It Invitational competition will be held April 11th and 12th at Vanier high School.

New Backboard Sees Vikings Rebound

It has been almost a month and a half since the backboard at the Vanier gymnasium shattered due to a maintenance error.

But on Wednesday evening February 4, the Vikings junior boys basketball team got more than a friendly bounce as they rebounded to a 96 - 47 victory over top of Peacock Junior boys Orange team.

The victory is likely the Vikings best outing so far this season.

“Oh man, it’s been a while. Practices have been tough doing just half court. It’s been nice. I’m excited for tomorrow’s practice to finally have our full gym,” Bevan said.

He said the backboard repaired will have a 100 percent impact on the team.

“We haven’t been able to practice sets

By Robert Thomas

for about a month and a half now. So it’s been hard working on our press and our press break and things like that,” he said.

Despite the gym space being restricted due to the broken backboard Bevan said it didn’t really set the Vikings back.

“I wouldn’t say it set us back. We definitely worked on different things in practice. So we improved in other areas which was nice to do. So, yes we’re a little bit behind on our press and our press break.”

The score allowed the Vikings to play the bench more than they usually do.

“We were able to get a lot of playing time for a lot of players who never usually get to see the floor. To get them some game time is always nice to see,” he said.

The Vikings have been missing a pair

of players due to injuries but on Wednesday evening one player returned to the court.

https://www.mjindependent.com/ sports/2026/2/4/new-backboard-seesvikings-rebound

In the late 1970’s the TV show “Eight Is Enough” was highly popular.

It was a show where the family patriarch handled the pressure of raising eight children. Trying to make life work out.

For the Vanier Spirits senior girls basketball team injuries and another player who left the team the short bench of 10 players is now down to eight for the remainder of the season.

It’s likely not to be a comedy as the bench is nursed for every ounce of effort.

Will it difficult? Yes.

The Spirits found out how difficult on Tuesday evening last week as they lost 88 - 41 against the visiting Swift Current Ardens.

“Tonight I’m really proud of the girls. They battled hard like through the whole game. We were down here and there but they kept on going. They kept on going. I’m proud of them,” Vanier Spirits head coach Miguel Cruz said in the post game interview.

The Spirits - who have spent the season with a short 10 player bench -

Short Bench Blues Haunts Spirits

By Robert Thomas

were playing with an even shorter bench of only eight players against the very fast and tough Ardens. Something Cruz is happy with how the Spirits dealt with it.

Three pointers set the immediate tone of the game as the Ardens’ Bree P came out and wired three field goals and a basket within the first minute and

Cyclones Easily Squeeze Toilers

By Robert Thomas

The Central Cyclones Junior boys basketball team had an easy 83 - 27 victory over the Peacock Toilers Green team on Wednesday evening February 4.

Led by Lex Mohle’s 19 points the Cyclones never looked back from the 27 - 4 lead they held after the first quarter.

The second quarter saw the Cyclones increase the lead to 45 - 13.

The third quarter was once again another quarter in the Cyclones’ favour with a lead of 75 - 18.

The final score was 83 - 27 for the Cyclones.

Dylan Ward also scored 13 points for the Cyclones.

Top scorer for the Peacock Toilers was Griffin with eight points including two three pointers.

https://www.mjindependent.com/ sports/2026/2/4/fjos11b738pld6lq1835sqn0cyyvot

a half of the game.

Cruz said he hadn’t watched the Ardens warmup who had a four-minute rapid drill on three pointers making six in a row just before tipoff.

He said the three pointers did not have the Spirits ready to call it a game.

“It hurts but they’re a great shooting team. They can all shoot threes.”

Swift Current’s identifying and reducing the efficacy of Vanier’s traps was a major move in the game. During a time out the Arden’s’ coach spoke to her team about breaking the Spirits trap.

“That’s the way it goes. It’s like a chess match. We do one thing. They do another thing. We tried some new things and had some success,” Cruz said, adding “I think the girls had some fun with that.”

The effect the now even shorter bench is going to have on the road to the city championship and to Hoopla, the coach said it doesn’t make things easier.

As far as the Spirits strategy, anchored in tough defence, he said the short bench may have an effect causing minor changes but it’s a wait and see kind of thing.

Top Scorers

Ardens

Bree P - 29 points

Dani G - 21 points

Naomi R - 12 points

Spirits

Madeline Cruz - 15 points

Kallie N - 8 points

https://www.mjindependent.com/ sports/2026/2/3/ivtrkfgofw0z7bbhglmorpega52mpr

Colts Gallop Away With Win

By Robert Thomas

The Vanier Vikings senior boys basketball team lost 98 - 60 against the visiting Swift Current Colts last week.

Played at Riverview Collegiate, due to the backboard at Vanier’s gym still broken, the change of surroundings

didn’t bring any magic for the Vikings.

Conditioning seemed to be important as the Colts continued galloping throughout most of the game.

The first quarter saw the Vikings trailing 26 - 14.

The second quarter saw the Colts move to a 17-point lead. The score at the end of the half was 31 - 48 in the Colts favour.

At one point in the quarter the Norsemen were within eight points of the Colts.

The third quarter saw the Colts move to a 71 - 43 lead as the Colts burst out even further.

The fourth quarter saw the Colts love to 98 points and the Vikings move to 60 points.

Top Scorers

Vanier Vikings

Van Nagel - 16 points

Swift Current Colts

Ken - 11 points

https://www.mjindependent.com/ sports/2026/2/3/e22ux4wq7pvxazskgidd7lduewl6lg

Nancy Martin, Steve Laycock join forces to claim Curl Sask Mixed Doubles provincial championship

Veteran duo take 9-6 win over Melissa Remeshylp and Dylan Derksen in championship final, Moose Jaw’s Shelby and Grady Lamontagne reach semifinal

It stands to reason that if two of the most successful curlers in Saskatchewan in recent history were to join forces for the Mixed Doubles provincial championship, things would go pretty well for them and that’s exactly what they did.

The Saskatoon Nutana duo of Nancy Martin and Steve Laycock won eight of their 10 games at provincials in Nipawin over the weekend, going on to a 9-6 victory over Martensville’s Melissa Remeshylp and Dylan Derksen in the championship final on Sunday afternoon.

The new provincial champs need little introduction to curling fans in province -- Martin led her foursome to a women’s provincial championship in 2025, while Laycock has seven Tankard men’s titles under his belt, including three in a row from 2014 through 2016.

The duo put together a solid round robin, finishing tied for first place with a 6-1 record, with their only loss coming at the hands of Remeshylo and Derksen, who also capped the preliminary round with a 6-1 mark.

That sent the two teams into the Page Playoff 1-2 game, where the Martensville crew would find the win

Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com

column again, blowing open a 3-3 tie with four in the fifth and then stalling a Martin / Laycock comeback with three in the eighth for a 10-6 victory.

The Page 3-4 game saw Moose Jaw’s Shelby and

Grady Lamontagne (5-2 in the round robin) take on Langenberg’s defending champions Jessica and Matthew Lang (3-4), with a four spot in the fourth leading the Lamontanges to a 7-3 victory.

That set them into the semifinal against Martin / Laycock, and that would end up as a close contest. After exchanging deuces, the Lamontanges would steal points in back-to-back ends and then get the force in the fifth to hold a 4-3 edge at the break. Martin/Laycock stole two in the sixth to take the lead, though, and the teams would exchange single points the next two ends to see the Nutana duo take a 6-5 win and advance to the final.

Martin and Laycock would put the hammer to good use in the deciding end and claim the provincial title. It’s the first mixed doubles provincial championship for both players.

Martin and Laycock will now represent Saskatchewan at the Canadian Mixed Doubles championship Mar. 21-27 at the Cloverdale Curling Club in Surrey, B.C.

Holy Trinity Hosts Invitational

By Submitted

Holy Trinity Catholic School Division held their annual elementary invitational basketball tournament on Friday and Saturday with 16 teams competing.

Our Lady of Hope hosted the boys and St. Michael School the girls and both draws featured a mix of Holy Trinity and Prairie South schools.

Overall the level of play was fairly well balanced treating fans to some great action and in the end both draws had near identical match ups in the different finals.

Congratulations to the Palliser Huskies as they took “A” final top honours in both draws defeating the Guardians from All Saints (Swift Current).

St. Agnes Spartans also swept the “B” finals as they knocked off the St. Michael Knights in both the boys and girls draws.

A Side Standings

BOYS: A- Palliser, B- St. Agnes, C- King George, D- Coteau Hills

GIRLS: A- Palliser, B- St. Agnes, C- Caronport, D- St. Margaret

https://www.mjindependent.com/ sports/2026/2/8/holy-trinity-holds-invitational

Nancy Martin and Steve Laycock won the Curl Sask Mixed Doubles provincial championship in Nipawin on Sunday afternoon. Curl Sask

Pense Memorial Rink packed as regional figure skating competition hits the ice

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

A small-town rink was running at full tilt last weekend as the Pense Skate Club hosted a major Skate Saskatchewan regional figure skating competition, drawing nearly 200 skaters and a steady flow of families and spectators through the doors.

The Skate Saskatchewan Regional 2–5 event took over the Pense Memorial Rink on Feb. 7 and 8, bringing skaters from 28 clubs across Regions 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Vanessa Chastko, president of the Pense Skate Club, said the first half of the event had gone smoothly, crediting the effort of officials, volunteers, and months of planning behind the scenes.

“Everything has been going wonderful,” she said. “So far, from what we’ve heard from the parents, everything has been organized and on time — we’ve actually been early — and our officials have been great to work with. Our tech directors have been wonderful to work with, too.”

While the Pense Memorial Rink is no stranger to hockey games and tournaments, Chastko said the scale of this weekend’s event was something the club didn’t take lightly, especially with a limited board of directors.

“Well, because we do have a small board — there’s just four ladies on the board here in Pense — it was certainly a divide-and-conquer situation,” she said.

The club began preparing in early December as the details began to stack up.

“We’ve been planning this since early December,” Chastko said. “That’s when we started getting down to the details, like the medals and the ribbons, the d?cor, the volunteer schedules and all of that kind of stuff.”

The competition brought close to 200 skaters to Pense. Even with a few last-minute withdrawals due to illness and injury, the weekend still delivered a full rink and a steady stream of visitors.

Events were divided by skill level rather than age, with competitors skating from Skate Canada’s Star 1 categories through Gold. That structure meant younger and older skaters could compete in the same group if they were assessed at similar levels.

“You can have a six-year-old in Star 2, and you can also have an 18-year-old in Star 2,” she said. “So it’s just different levels and different types of skaters that all get to come together.”

While the weekend was a competition with official judging and placements, the format also gives skaters a chance to test their progress against others at the same skill level.

Chastko said the club was grateful for mild winter conditions, with skaters travelling in from communities across the region, including Regina, Pilot Butte, Assiniboia, Willow Bunch, Coronach, and Clavet.

She also credited the club’s coach,

Jenna Betcher, for helping guide the planning process and bringing experi ence from other competitions.

“She’s really been the one who sat us down and said, ‘Here’s this opportu nity, guys,’ so she’s been a huge help as well,” Chastko said.

Chastko said the broader skating community also stepped up, with vol unteers from other clubs helping fill

positions. The skating community, she noted, resembles a close-knit family.

“When we put the call out, we sent emails to the Regina and Moose Jaw clubs, and within five minutes they said, ‘Send us the link and we’ll sign up,’” she said.

With a full rink and positive feedback, Chastko said the long hours were already paying off.

Photos by: Aaron Walker

Thunder Creek Volleyball Club builds momentum heading into second Sask. Cup

Aaron

Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Thunder Creek Volleyball Club (TCVC) athletes are taking what they learned from their first Sask. Cup experience into their next major test, as they prepare to return to the provincial volleyball circuit later this month.

The club, led by administrators and co-coaches Krysta Caplette and Haylee Bevan, has expanded to seven teams this season ranging from 13U to 18U, including two 15U teams.

“TCVC is a not-for-profit organization centred on building a positive and competitive atmosphere for young females in volleyball,” Caplette said.

Alongside its competitive teams, the club also runs developmental and smashball programs for younger athletes from kindergarten to Grade 8, which wrapped up sessions last week.

“Our goal is to increase the love of the sport, while also making our teams accessible financially for all families,” said Bevan.

Lauren McMullin of the 16U team said that supportive environment helped set the stage for a new level of competition at Sask. Cup 1 in Regina from Jan. 23 to 25.

“Some of my first thoughts were to try and do my best and apply everything I’ve done in practice,” McMullin said of walking into the gym for her first Sask. Cup. “I wanted to take everything I improved on over the summer and put it into my gameplay and help my team the best that I could through those skills.

“The biggest difference for me is that it’s every

team in the province and everyone has a chance to be the best,” she continued.

“It’s a tournament where performance matters not only for you but for your club.”

McMullin said one of the most memorable moments came when her team faced a top-ranked opponent and kept the score close.

“Knowing that we have a chance to be that good really got me amped up about the sport and pushes me to train even harder in practice and outside of it,” she said.

McMullin’s 16U team finished first in its pool at Sask. Cup 1 in Regina, then fell to the Huskies in the crossover match and Ascend in the quarterfinals. The team rebounded with wins in its semifinal and final matches to finish 13th overall in the province.

As her team prepares for Sask. Cup 2 in Regina from Feb. 20 to 22, McMullin hopes to build con-

fidence and play more aggressively.

“I’m hoping to improve my confidence and start to really trust myself and my skills,” she said.

Taya Molde, who plays with Thunder Creek’s 18U team, said Sask. Cup has long been one of her favourite events of the season. Her team’s first Sask. Cup was held in Regina from Jan. 16 to 18, with Sask. Cup 2 in Saskatoon from Feb. 6 to 8.

“I was super excited. Sask. Cups are always my favourite tournaments out of the season, just the atmosphere itself is so amazing to be in,” Molde said. “At other tournaments you’re playing teams of every skill level and you don’t know what to expect, but at Sask. Cups it’s teams with the same skill level as yours so it’s always a challenging game.”

Molde added that her team’s first Sask. Cup helped solidify its identity. “My entire team really developed into one working group by the end of Sask. Cup 1 and I feel like we will be a strong team going into Sask. Cup 2.”

Annyssa Davis, who plays for Thunder Creek Volleyball Club’s 17U team, said her first impression at Sask. Cup in Regina from Jan. 16 to 18 was clear: “Wow, there sure are a lot of teams in one building!”

Ahead of Sask. Cup 2, Davis said

she was focused on improving her individual skills, including “passing, hitting, and serving.”

“No matter how hard you train or how much you want it, there’s always someone out there who may want it even more — this is what makes volleyball fun,” she said.

Caplette and Bevan said that attitude reflects what Thunder Creek aims to build through the sport.

“We promote building meaningful relationships, both with peers and positive role models,” they said. “In fact, many of our athletes love the sport so much, they volunteer coach our younger teams and we are very proud of them for giving back to our community.”

For more information, visit “Thunder Creek Volleyball Club” on Facebook, “tcvc_volleyball” on Instagram, or email ThunderCreekVC@gmail.com.

U13 team following their first Sask. Cup tournament of the season, where they earned wins over TCV Wildfire, CVVC Aces, and TVC Phoenix. They pushed CVVC to three sets, losing 15–13 in the deciding set.

Members of Thunder Creek Volleyball Club’s 14UW team win gold at their first Sask. Cup tournament of the season in Regina, going undefeated in Division 2, Tier 4 playoffs.

Photo by: Thunder Creek Volleyball Club

Members of Thunder Creek Volleyball Club’s

Photo by: Thunder Creek Volleyball Club

Photo by: Rob Hoskins Photography

Photo by: Rob Hoskins Photography

Photo by: Rob Hoskins Photography

In photos: ‘Best of the West’ Cheer Competition livens up the Temple Gardens Centre

The Temple Gardens Centre was filled with music, movement and team spirit on Feb. 6 and 7 as the Best of the West Cheer and Dance Championships returned for a two-day competition.

The event brought hundreds of athletes, coaches and families into the downtown arena for a packed schedule of performances spanning cheer and dance divisions, from youth specialty routines to high-level all-star teams.

Shauna Fritzler, general manager of the Temple Gardens Centre, said the weekend was one the venue looked forward to each year.

“The building is full. It’s busy. The music, the sound — it’s great. The routines that the teams do are just phenomenal,” she said.

From a tourism perspective, the championships were expected to bring strong foot traffic to the downtown core,

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express, Photos by: Aaron Walker

with an estimated 1,600 athletes competing throughout the weekend.

“We’re very excited to be welcoming so many athletes and their coaches and families to the city,” said Everley Reid on behalf of Tourism Moose Jaw.

The championships were held at the Temple Gardens Centre, located at 110 First Avenue Northwest. For more information, including a full event schedule, visit BestOfTheWestCheer.com.

GAX returns to Moose Jaw with tournaments, vendors and community gaming

Moose Jaw’s gaming community filled the Moose Jaw Centre for Arts and Culture with board games, card tournaments, tabletop role-playing campaigns and retro video game challenges over the weekend, as the annual GAX convention returned Feb. 6 to 8.

Hosted by Moose Jaw Gamers, the three-day event drew steady crowds throughout Friday and Saturday, with organizers saying early numbers suggested this year may be one of the strongest turnouts yet.

“It’s a big gaming convention. We’re filling up the Moose Jaw Centre for Arts and Culture,” said Nathaniel Suwala, acting vice-president with the association. “We’ve actually got a big crowd out there today.”

GAX featured a “board game library” where attendees could borrow games and play on-site, along with a packed schedule of tournaments and drop-in activities designed to appeal to casual players, families and longtime hobbyists.

He said the board game selection was made possible through the generosity of local members, including Janice

Suwala, middle, acting vicepresident with Moose Jaw Gamers, presents a thank-you trophy to Talon Regent, right, on Feb. 7. Suwala said Regent previously served as vice-president with the group for many years and has continued to provide legal support, while his law firm remains a major sponsor of the event. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Lamb and her husband, who brought in a collection for public use over the weekend.

A major feature of this year’s event was a provincial qualifying tournament for Settlers of Catan, which Suwala said was “pretty well received,” and served as a national qualifier for players looking to advance to higher-level competition.

The convention also included a

dedicated “CardCade” space for trading card games such as Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Pok?mon, which was run by a volunteer named Travis.

“He’s been running systems for them so people can have a nice time playing,” Suwala said.

Beyond tabletop games, the event included video game stations, including Super Smash Bros. and retro gaming supported in part through an ongoing relationship with Saskatchewan Retro Game Con.

“We have done stuff with them in the past,” Suwala said, adding the

groups have attended and supported each other’s events.

While the weekend offered a wide range of gaming activities, it also served as a fundraiser, with proceeds supporting Creative Kids Saskatchewan, a charity that helps children access creative opportunities in art, music and other programs.

GAX also featured tournament programming sponsored in part by Saskatchewan Retro Game Con, including a Donkey Kong relay race, along with a vendor area featuring four local businesses: 3D Creators Collective, Apothecary Station, Kurtz Gaming Accessories and Samurai Sam 3D.

Suwala said the weekend remains the association’s largest annual event, but the group stays active year-round through monthly meetings and smaller community activities when feasible.

“This is our big event for the year,” he said. “We tend to host monthly meetings. Anyone is welcome to join in on those.”

To learn more, visit MJGA.ca or “Moose Jaw Gamers” on Facebook.

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Nathaniel

Samurai Sam 3D was among the vendors at GAX 2026, held Feb. 6 to 8 at the Moose Jaw Centre for Arts and Culture. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Nationally recognized clinicians named for 2026 Band and Choral Festival

The Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival has announced its adjudicators for 2026, bringing together experienced music educators, conductors, and composers from across Western Canada to work with student ensembles this spring.

The four-day festival runs May 11 to 14, with performances and adjudication taking place at the Mae Wilson The-

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Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

atre, Peacock Centennial Auditorium, and Hillcrest Apostolic Church. Choirs will perform at Zion United Church, while jazz bands are scheduled for St. Aidan Anglican Church.

Donny Kennedy

LAND FOR SALE BY TENDER

Jazz adjudication will include Regina-based saxophonist and educator Donny Kennedy, who returned to Saskatchewan in 2022 after a 27year career in Montreal. He teaches band and jazz with the Regina Catholic School Division and Jazz History and Appreciation at the University of Regina. Kennedy has led the Donny Kennedy Sextet on international tours and recordings and co-leads the Kennedy/ McLeod Quartet. He spent 22 years teaching at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, receiving both the Schulich Teaching Award and McGill University’s Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2021.

24 NE 08-09-10 W3 Ext 0 Blk A, Plan No. 101630270, Ext 60 Blk C, Plan No. 101630270, Ext 61 Blk B, Plan No. 101630270, Ext 62

25 SE 18-08-10 W3, Ext 0 160

26 SW 20-08-20 W3, Ext 0 160 348,800.00

27 Blk A, Plan No. 101691626, Ext 2 111 80,000.00

Particulars:

• All acreages are approximate.

• The land is for sale by owner: Dustin Fredrick Hawkins and Twila Laurette Hawkins

• The owner makes no representations or warranties regarding the suitability and fitness of the land and property for any purpose. All lands, buildings, and other miscellanea are sold in “as is, where is” condition.

Conditions:

• All Bids must be submitted to Kanuka Thuringer LLP in accordance with the Land Tender Information Package, along with a Deposit of 3% of the Total Bid Price, and must be received on or before 12:00PM on February 18, 2026.

• The highest or any Bid will not necessarily be accepted.

• Bids must be for individual parcels only, subject to the tied parcels Bidders may submit a Bid on any number of individual parcels.

• No Bid subject to financing or any other conditions will be accepted.

• Bidders must rely on their own research and inspection of the property, confirming acres, assessments, and all particulars. The land is for sale “as is,” with no warranties or representations by the owner, express or implied.

• All Bids and bidders are subject to the terms and conditions of the Land Tender Information Package.

If you are interested in submitting a bid, please contact Kanuka Thuringer LLP to request a Land Tender Information Package at: Kanuka Thuringer LLP

Attention: Lindsay A. Gates 522-350 Cheadle St. W. Swift Current, SK S9H 4G3

(306) 773-4800

Email: lgates@kanuka.ca

ceived provincial awards recognizing artistic excellence. She currently co-directs SonoLux Choir and continues working with choirs following her recent retirement from teaching.

Kenley Kristofferson

A student ensemble from Vanier Collegiate performs during the 2025 Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival. Organizers have announced the adjudicators for this year’s festival, which will return May 11 to 14. Photo by: Aaron Walker

for more than 35 years. Though now retired, she remains active as a guest conductor and adjudicator and currently serves as musical director for the Westwinds Wind Orchestra and the Calgary Women’s Jazz Orchestra. She is also a co-organizer of Girls in Jazz, an Alberta initiative launched in 2023 to encourage women pursuing jazz studies.

Michelle Styles

André Wickenheiser

Joining the jazz panel from Calgary is André Wickenheiser, an educator, composer, arranger, and freelance musician. He completed advanced jazz performance studies at Mount Royal University and McGill University and currently teaches at Ambrose University, the Mount Royal Conservatory, and the University of Calgary. His performance credits include work with Laila Biali, Jens Lindemann, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks, and the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra.

Kathie Van Lare

Concert band adjudication will feature Calgary-based educator Kathie Van Lare, who taught music in the Calgary area

From Winnipeg, Michelle Styles will serve as a concert band adjudicator. Styles teaches music at the University of Winnipeg and UW Collegiate, directing bands and choirs while also teaching Music Appreciation at the undergraduate level. Prior to relocating to Manitoba in 2017, she taught in both rural and urban schools across Saskatchewan. She holds a master’s degree in wind conducting from the University of Manitoba and is active as a clinician across the Prairies.

Dorothy Dyck

Choral adjudication will include Dorothy Dyck, a Manitoba-based educator who spent 27 years developing the Maples Collegiate Choral Program in Winnipeg. Dyck has directed several regional youth choirs, worked as a choral clinician across Western Canada, and re-

Additional concert band adjudication will include Winnipeg-based composer and educator Kenley Kristofferson, whose works have received national recognition and international performances. He has written music commercially for video game franchises including Betty Boop, Disney’s DuckTales, KRE-O, and Warhammer 40,000, and his score for the short film “Star Stuff” on the early life of astronomer Carl Sagan was nominated for Best Original Score in the 2016 International Sound and Film Music Festival in Croatia.

Chad Huel

Regina educator Chad Huel will also serve as a concert band adjudicator. Huel is director of bands at LeBoldus Catholic High School and has taught music in Regina for more than two decades. A long-time clinician throughout Saskatchewan, his ensembles have consistently received strong festival results across the Prairie provinces.

Darrin Oehlerking

Rounding out the adjudication team is Darrin Oehlerking, associate dean of student affairs and professor of music at the University of Saskatchewan. Oehlerking has served as president of both the Canadian Band Association and the Saskatchewan Band Association and has conducted and adjudicated ensembles across Canada and internationally.

For more information, including schedules and festival resources, visit MJBandAndChoral.org.

BIZWORLD

By Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

A new entry in the potash mining industry plans a potash mine in the Disley district about an hour drive northwest of Moose Jaw.

Buffalo Potash Corp. acquired potash leases near the K + S mine north of Moose Jaw.

Three of the Buffalo Potash principals have previous mine experience in this part of Saskatchewan: one staking the Potash One clams that became K + S, one with the Gensource Potash project near Tugaske and one with building of the gigantic Jansen Mine near Saskatoon by global miner BHP.

The Disley project is a solution mine like Mosaic and K + S with a large difference.

Most solution mines operate by drilling vertical wells and injecting water to be returned with a potash slurry for processing.

The Disley project has adapted horizontal drilling from the oil and gas

Another potential potash mine for Moose Jaw region

sector to something called horizontal light drilling.

The company claims that three horizontal wells will be sufficient thus eliminating the need for 30 to 40 vertical wells and reducing capital costs significantly.

Horizontal drilling requires very little water and eliminates the need to locate close to major water sources.

Six wells by Buffalo have outlined a batch of potash reserves to work on developing.

The recovered potash solution will be sent to a company plant in Estevan for processing in a facility that was started in 2022 to separate potash and salt from a well near that city.

The company plans a showcase mine producing 125,000 tonnes of potash annually, going to 250,000 tonnes and then 500,000 tonnes.

For 2026 an ambitious program includes confirming two wells on the site,

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.

seismic work, core sampling, preparing an NI 43-101 report on reserves and a preliminary economic assessment to figure out costs to build and operate a mine.

Trading on the TMX Venture exchange since early January, Buffalo Potash shares, recently traded at 35 cents, have been as low as 25 cents and as high as 60 cents.

The Disley mine would be the second small mine to locate in this region.

Gensource Potash has been working on development of a 250,000 tonne module mine near Tugaske for more than 10 years. The site has potential for 11 modules.

The company found a European partner HelmAG to buy the production from one module, received commitment for a $280 million loan to build the mine and recently added another buyer to aid development — a distributor.

Gensource says it has signed up a southeast Asian fertilizer distributor to work on sales of product.

A several year old assessment puts Gensource cost of production a $159 Canadian a tonne. Recent potash sales have been at $742 US a tonne.

Gensource also has interesting potash properties near Craik and Vanguard.

The shares have languished between eight and 10 cents for several years as the company struggled to put all the pieces in place for mine building.

CAUTION: Remember when investing, consult your adviser and do your homework before buying any security. Bizworld does not recommend investments.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Royal Kiddies Rental Limited brings party fun closer to home for Moose Jaw families

A new business is aiming to make children’s parties and family events a little easier — and a lot more colourful — by offering local rentals that previously required families to look outside the community.

Royal Kiddies Rental Limited, owned by Tolulope Rotimi Oluwadare, is a small, family-run business in Moose Jaw that provides inflatable bounce castles and party equipment for children’s events, including a popcorn machine, cotton candy maker, and a 360-degree photo booth.

Oluwadare said the business officially launched in 2025, but the idea took shape the year before while he was helping plan a community event and noticed how limited local options were for family-friendly rentals.

“The idea came in 2024 when I was on a panel and we were planning to have a family fun day,” he said. “Part of what we needed was a bounce house for our

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

kids … something to get our kids engaged.”

It was in that moment that Oluwadare noticed an opportunity.

“I noticed there was a market in that segment, because not many people were doing it,” he said.

For parents in the city, that gap can mean extra stress and extra travel — especially during peak summer months when demand for inflatables rises.

Oluwadare said his goal is to keep that convenience local, while also offering a growing range of add-ons families can book for birthday parties, school and church events, and community festivals.

Royal Kiddies offers full delivery and setup, removing another logistical barrier for families.

“I do delivery and I do setup,” he said, adding, “deliveries are on us.”

While the business is currently focused on rentals, Oluwadare said he’s open to expanding based on what local

Tolulope Rotimi Oluwadare, left, and his wife, Omotoyosi Oluwadare, right, recently launched Royal Kiddies Rental Limited, a Moose Jaw-based party rental business offering inflatable bounce castles and other children’s event equipment. Photo by: Submitted

families want most.

“We’re not in the business for ourselves, right? We’re in it for our customers,” he said. “So whatever suggestion comes up … of course, we’ll work with that.”

He said customers are encouraged to book in advance to help avoid scheduling conflicts, particularly as the summer season approaches. At this time, pricing is available by inquiry, and rentals are offered on a per-day basis.

“When you book ahead, all you need

to do is put down a deposit and we can lock in that date for you,” he added.

The business operates year-round, with certain inflatables sized to fit smaller indoor spaces during the winter months. Royal Kiddies currently offers five inflatable models, including one designed for toddlers under five.

The venture is also a family effort, with Oluwadare’s wife, Omotoyosi Oluwadare, playing a key role.

“My wife is also a part of it,” he said with a smile. “She’s a think tank. She does more of the communication while I handle the heavy lifting.”

Oluwadare is also related to Dee Afolayan, the owner of DeeBesties Nigerian Restaurant in downtown Moose Jaw. He said the two businesses can pair naturally for families planning a child’s party, combining party rentals with food and catering. Located at 20 Main Street North, the former home of the National Cafe, DeeBesties offers Jollof rice and other international menu options.

Looking ahead, Oluwadare said Royal Kiddies is open to partnerships and is already in talks to be involved with community events this summer, including Sidewalk Days.

For more information, call 306-5108930 or email RoyalKiddiesRental@ gmail.com.

One of five currently available inflatable castles available through Moose Jaw-based Royal Kiddies Rental Limited. Photo by: Tolulope Oluwadare/Submitted

SCRAPS to host free Family Day

afternoon at the mall on Feb. 16

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Families looking for something to do on Family Day can stop by the Town ’N’ Country Mall for a free, cat-themed activity day hosted by the Band City Stray Cat Rescue and Protection Society (SCRAPS) on Monday, Feb. 16.

The come-and-go event runs from noon to 4 p.m. throughout the mall, with activities including crafts, games, cookie decorating, a scavenger hunt, photo booth, and educational stations focused on pet care and common cat myths.

Admission is free, with optional donations of cat food, treats, or monetary contributions accepted.

The mall will also host a piñata pull at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., and completed activity passports will be entered into a draw for a familythemed prize basket.

For more information, visit ScrapsMooseJaw.com or see the cover of the Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, edition of the Moose Jaw Express.

Why Pothole Season Is the Worst Time for Wheel Bearings in Moose Jaw. Every spring, drivers face the same problem: potholes As snow melts and freeze–thaw cycles weaken pavement, roads across the city become rougher and your vehicle’s wheel bearings often take the biggest hit.

If you’ve noticed humming noises, vibrations, or uneven tire wear after winter, pothole season may be accelerating wheel bearing failure. Understanding why this happens can help you prevent costly repairs and stay safe on the road.

Sudoku #5 - Challenging

2 9 8 7 8 4 5 6 9 1 4 6 3 7 6 1 4 2 7 6 5 6 9 8 2

ACROSS

49. Buffoon

11. Permit

Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.

ALLY, ANSWER, BREEZE, CONGLOMERATE, CRASH, CURVE, DEPTH, EASIER, ENIGMA, ESTABLISH, FEDERAL, FOLLOW, FORWARD, GUESS, HAPPEN, HIGHLY, INSIDE, LONGER, MONTH, NUMBER, OFFICE, RETAIL, RIPPLE, ROUTE, SHELF, SHRUG, STORY, TEENS, VEHICLES, WHOLESALE, WIRE, WISH

Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9.

1. Manila hemp

6. A bushy hairdo

50. Slipped

51. Artist’s workroom

12. Fixed gaze

13. Castle component

10. Speedy

14. Hardship

15. Backwards “Boon”

16. Countertenor

54. “Smallest” particle

If you use logic you can solve the puzzle without guesswork.

56. Not short

57. Airships

63. Oriental grain

21. Music disc

25. Kilogram

Need a little help? The hints page shows a logical order to solve the puzzle. Use it to identify the next square you should solve. Or use the answers page if you really get stuck.

17. Fatuous

18. “Oh dear!”

19. Shredded cabbage

20. Epinephrine

22. Ripped

23. Seaweed

24. Kabob stick

26. Pitcher

30. Plead

31. Transgression

32. Scarce

33. Utiliser

35. Metric unit of capacity

39. Japanese folding art

41. Hard rubber

43. Primitive weapon

44. Capable

46. Adhesive

47. A strong drink

64. Poi source

65. A clearing

66. Anagram of “Sage”

67. Observed

68. Row of shrubs

69. Armed conflicts

70. Seafarers

71. Thick woolen fabric

DOWN

1. Diva’s solo

2. Tie up

3. Food thickener

4. Funnel shape

5. Sporting venue

6. Painlessness

7. Greenery

8. Horse color

9. Preoccupy

10. Restraints

26. Greek god of love

27. Distort

28. A Great Lake

29. Irrespective

34. Kin

36. Cash drawer

37. Decorative case

38. Marsh plant

40. African sheep

42. Confuse

45. Lodger

48. Humble

51. Grain stubble

52. Coniferous forest

53. Gastric woe

55. Strength

58. Notion

59. Exhaled hard

60. Stow, as cargo

61. Border

62. Sow

205 WANTED

Looking To Rent - Garage/warehouse/ or unused semi-trailer unit. Prefer downtown area. Will consider other options. Can be reached at 306-313-3439.

Local buyer looking for sport card collections, retro video games, and systems, toys from the 80’s, 90’s and earlier. Basement estate and clean outs welcome. Cash paid. Call or text 306-527-7786.

Looking for a local handyman to help with small projects around the house. Please call 306-972-8855.

210 SERVICES

Moving jobs done reasonably: appliances, furniture, dump runs. Call to do it all. $45.00 a load. 306630-2268

Need work done? Contact Bill at 306-630-2268 . Interior/exterior, renovations, formwork, framing, finishing, tiling, painting and all construction, roofing/siding- no job too big or small. Reasonable rates, 30 years experience.

Will pick up, move, haul, and deliver any appliances, tvs, furniture, or anything large in and around Moose Jaw, $45 and up. Junk to the dump $60/load. 45-gallon plastic barrels, great for rainwater, $25 each. 1000 Litre plastic totes - $50. 45-gallon metal barrels, $15 each. 306-681-8749

Seniors ... need help with cleaning,

decluttering, organizing, or small chores? Reasonable rates. Please call 306-313-8122.

188 HEALTH & BEAUTY SUPPLIES

Mobility Scooter for Sale: The Express Element – Range 50 km, tubeless tires, LED lights, horn, speed up to 25/km, rear basket, under seat storage, and bag hook.

BRAND NEW

$3995.00. Call 306694-1322 for more information.

200 LOST & FOUND

FOUND: Ladies watch in Princess

Building takes jump up in January

Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

Moose Jaw construction got off to a good start in January with almost $2.7 million in building permits issued by city hall.

That compares with $1.4 million construction planned last January.

Commercial permits accounted for just over $2 million last month.

Major permits included $500,000 for renovations to the Grant Hall Hotel at 401 Main Street North and $175,000 for a retail/wholesale outlet at 103 Marfil Drive on the former Valley View Centre site.

A $350,000 permit was issued for motel renovations to the Flying J Travel Plaza at 370 North Service

Puzzle Solutions

Road, north of the Trans-Canada Highway.

A $150,000 permit was issued for cannabis retailer One Plant at 412 Lillooet Street East, just across the Fourth Avenue Bridge.

Renovations worth $300,000 will be done at the Casino Moose Jaw site, 21 Fairford Street East.

A clinic took a permit for $300,000 to renovate property at 1400 Lakeview Drive, site of a former east end motel.

No residential building permits were issued in January and none in the first month of 2025.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Crescent area. Please call 306630-2242 with a description to claim.

145 REAL ESTATE

1500 Square foot condo, located at 149 Hoch. St. W. Single attached garage, large deck at rear and off master bedroom, HEATED OUTDOOR POOL, new steel exterior wall, new roofing on flat roof, new white vinyl fence, newer A/C, large tub in master. Please call 306-6310525.

Rev. Dr. John Kreutzwieser is a retired pastor from Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Moose Jaw, SK. He graduated with a doctorate degree in 2006 from the Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Florida.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.

Foist

I find it interesting that streaming services have developed into something akin to the way TV networks operated in the past. When we first started watching streaming services, you could binge watch a whole season or series of a show. Now many shows release episodes on a weekly basis. And commercials have now been foisted upon us, unless you ante up an inflated fee for a commercial free stream. Some things never change. Foist means to introduce or insert surreptitiously or without warrant. One must be diligent when shopping

TRINITY UNITED CHURCH

Next Service: Feb 15th, 2026 10:30am Rev. Walter Engel

277 Iroquois St W Moose Jaw, SK Please contact us for more information Moose Jaw Health Foundation 55 Diefenbaker Drive Moose Jaw, SK S6J 0C2 Phone (306) 694-0373

for groceries by paying attention to price and quantity. Shrinkflation is increasing at an alarming rate. Packaged items often remain at the same price but the food manufacturers and stores have foisted a reduction in size or weight, often slight but significant if it happens repeatedly.

In the 16th century foist entered the English language to imply sleight of hand, a cleverly executed trick or deception. Originally foist was used in gambling situations with dice and palming. An unscrupulous player would conceal a loaded die in the palm of their hand. When introduced stealthily into play, the loaded die would give them a predictable win thanks to internal weights. Foisting was a way of winning via deception.

Foist is believed to have come into English from the Dutch word vuisten, meaning to take into one’s hand. Vuyst was the Middle Dutch word for fist, somewhat related to the Old English word for fist, fyst

By the end of the 1500s, foist was being used to suggest inserting anything underhandedly. The official was concerned that his overlord was trying to foist serious failings of management upon him to escape the king’s wrath.

Sometimes foist can mean to pass off as genuine or worthy. Too many great deals online foist costly and valueless products on buyers. A large amount of inferior waxy chocolate in Easter bunnies has been foisted on an unsuspecting public by companies producing cheap product.

Eventually foist came to imply forcing another to accept, especially by stealth or deceit. When it became clear that the mismanagement of the city finances was known to the whole council they foisted additional rates on the taxpayers to correct the situation, hoping to avoid public awareness of the actual financial situation.

Synonyms for foist include impose, inflict, and palm off.

Impose means to compel someone to take on something. The king imposed his will on the populace despite much opposition.

Inflict implies to cause something unpleasant to be endured. The preacher was not very good due to lack of preparation yet he inflicted his sermons upon the congregation each week.

Palm off suggests to dispose of something, usually by trickery or guile. She attempted to palm off her bad investments to other business associates.

Foist is commonly used as “foist on,” “foist upon,” or “foist off.” He foisted on his neighbour any old furniture whenever he upgraded his furnishings. She foists upon her family members all her unwanted baking tins and cooking utensils. His older sister tried to foist off her chores on her younger brother every time she wanted to sneak out of the house after dark.

As Valentine’s Day approaches I wonder if the card giving, chocolate buying, and special dinner reservations are really just foisted upon us by a consumer driven social construct rather than love. Or am I being too cynical? St. Valentine (3rd century Roman clergyman) was arrested for his Christian beliefs and killed on February 14th Although, as a wise man once said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

So love one another in word and deed, which could include cards, chocolate, and special meals. Do it in love, for love, not by obligation as something foisted upon you.

Columnist John Kreutzwieser loves to research words and writes this weekly Word Wisdom column for Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com. He has an interest in the usage, origin, and relevance of words for society today. Greek and Latin form the basis of many words, with ancient Hebrew shedding light on word usage.

John would like to know if anyone has a sincere interest in a relevant word that he could possibly research for an upcoming column. If so, please send your requests to wordwisdom2021@gmail.com . Words will be selected according to relevance and research criteria. We cannot confirm that all words will be used.

What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, For all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.

~ Helen Keller

In The Footsteps of Fur-Traders Mackenzie and Kelsey

By Richard Dowson

Getting hooked on Canadian history means looking for the trails early explorers travelled.

As a kid in Ontario, I mapped out Champlain’s trip up the Ottawa, Mattawa, across Lake Nipissing and down the French River, where some of his men drowned.

While living in Northern B.C. I got hooked on the travels of fur trader Alexander Mackenzie. I bought a copy of his Journal describing his 1793 trip from Alexandria B.C., (between Soda Creek and Quesnel) overland to the Ocean at Bella Coola. I visited eastern parts of the trail; then drove to Bella Coola; yes, descended the ‘Black Beast’ hill and camped. Next day I found Mackenzie’s trail down the Black Beast and into the upper Bella Coola river valley.

Using his journal, I climbed the

There are other history nuts. Years ago, I bought a 1955 book, “First in the West”, by James W. Whillans. It’s about Henry Kelsey’s 1691 travels to the prairies. Kelsey was the first ‘white-man’ to see what would become Saskatchewan and see herds of buffalo; at a time before the horse.

Kelsey was a Hudson Bay Company fur-trader. In 1690, at age 20, he travelled out from Fort York on the Hudson Bay, to about where Wilkie is today. He returned east and spent the winter at The Pas. Next spring, 1691, supplied with trade goods, he headed west again. His mission was to get Indigenous people to trap beaver and bring the furs down to Fort York.

FLORENTINE BARAN

Author Whillans visited The Pas, comparing locations to Kelsey’s Journal. He picked up Kelsey’s 1691 overland

With deep sadness the family announces the peaceful passing of Florence Baran on January 25, 2026, at the age of 98. Florence was raised in Fox Valley, SK and in 1951 made Moose Jaw home. She married Peter Baran in 1955 and together they built a loving family welcoming their two daughters Colleen and Rita. Many memories were made camping and spending time with family which she loved. She worked for many years in Moose Jaw mostly at Osborne Cleaners. After Pete passed away in 1994, she especially cherished her bus trips to Medicine Hat to visit her sister. Florence also found joy in playing Bingo, card games, trying her luck at the casino and tending to her potted flowers. At the age of 90 she moved into the Mulberry Retirement Community and spent the last year at Chateau St Michael Personal Care Home.

Florence was predeceased by her parents Frank and Elizabeth Geiger, her beloved husband Peter, her eleven siblings; Aplonia, Jacob, Barbara, John, Matthew, Ralph, Anna, Rose, Pius, Frank, and Tony; and her son-in-law Alan. She will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her daughters Colleen (Mark) Carnduff and Rita Baran (Aaron); her grandchildren, Stephanie (fiancé Spencer), Michael, Christine (Kevin) and their children Cyric and Drea; sister-inlaw Julie, numerous nieces and nephews and special friend Carolyn.

Florence’s long life was one of quiet strength, devotion to family and simple joys – a legacy that will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

KENNETH LYLE ROBINSON

October 24th, 1955 – January 29th, 2026

With broken hearts we announce the passing of Ken after his battle with cancer.

Ken is from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, formerly from Minnedosa, Manitoba.

Ken was the beloved husband to Debra for 49 years. Precious father to Curtis (Louise), Shane (Kariann), Braden (Kathy), and Kyla (Jerrad); and fantastic grandfather to Isabella, Sklyer, and Sophia; Marcus; Hailee, Declan, and Alice; Damian, Ciara, and Lynden. He is survived by his mother Doreen, sister Patricia, and brother Shawn, predeceased by his father Lenwood, and brother Blair. Ken will forever be in our hearts and will be loved always and forever. A private service will be held to honour Ken. Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Michelle Ellis, Funeral Director www.moosejawfuneralhome.com

I want to get old gracefully. I want to have good posture, I want to be healthy and be an example to my children. -- Sting

UPCOMING EVENTS IN MOOSE JAW

If you would like your notice or event added to this list, contact us at: joan@moosejawexpress.com

Town ‘N Country Mall

50+ coffee club Meet & Greet every Monday @2pm at Engage Cafe

Thursday Feb 12 Galentines at Maurices 4pm - 7pm

Monday Feb 16 SCRAPS will be hosting a Family Fun Day from 12pm to 4pm with Pinata Pull at 1:30pm and 3:00pm. Tuesday Feb 17 Tupperware Bingo @7pm Doors open @6:30 Bring in a mall receipt from this day and receive a free card.

Saturday Feb 21 Chinese New Year celebration hosted at the mall to feature Kung Fu performers along with Lion Dance demonstrations and will be a great family-friendly cultural experience for the community @ 1:30 until 2:30 for Lion Dance and Kung Du Demos

Moose Jaw Town and Country Singles Dance will be held o Saturday February 14, 2026 at Church of Our Lady Community Center 566 Vaughan St. W. from 2:00 - 5:00 PM. Band is Len Gadica. Come on out for an afternoon of fun! Married couples are welcome! Cost is $15pp. For more information contact Marion at 306-630-1492.

Bridge Lessons Feb 26 – April 23 for 9 wks. – Every Thursday from 7 pm to 9 pm. Cost $40/person at the Cosmo Centre, 235 3rd Ave NE. More info: Anita – 306-630-1256 anitadunkz@gmail.com or Gail – 306-630-9430

Moose Jaw Motorcycle Swap Meet will be held Saturday, March 14 from 12:00 – 5:00 pm at the Convention Centre South Exhibition Grounds. Admission - $5. All tables are booked in advance. For info and booking phone: 306-693-6834 or 306-693-0159 after 5 pm. Sponsored by the Moose Jaw Cycle Assoc. MOOSE JAW LAWN BOWLING on the turf at Yara Centre welcomes everyone to come try this sport for all ages and abilities. Tues and Thurs @10 am, only Yara walking track fee for the equipment and instruction also provided. For more information text 306-630-8160. Scottish Country Dancing has resumed at 7 pm on Thursdays @ Timothy Eaton’s Centre, 510 Main St. N. No partner required. Ages 8 and up including grandparents. Contact: Val, 306-630-5790 White Heather Youth Pipe Band in Moose Jaw looking for new players ages eight and older. New players will have the opportunity to try out drum sticks on pads and practice chanters with the instructors and will be introduced to some of the children already members of the band. Contact Michelle Carline at <mcarline@ hotmail.com>

The Prairie Hearts Quilters Guild is held 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 pm. At Zion church from Sept to May.

The Moose Jaw Stamp Club has resumed meeting the second and fourth Wednesday nights of the month at 7:00pm at the Lindale School staff room. For information call 306-693-5705. Moose Jaw Parkinsons Support Group meet at 1:30 p.m. on the last Monday of the following months: January, February, March, April and May. Meetings are held at Hillcrest Apostolic Church, Moose Jaw. Call or text 306 756 2819

Moose Jaw Town N Country Square Dance Assoc. 20252026 Program on Monday nights from 7-9 pm at St. Margaret’s School, 449 5Th Ave NE. Dance in square with family and friends. For information contact Valerie Wright at 306.691.0579. Beginners, singles, or doubles welcome!

Nature Moose Jaw will hold their meetings on a once-a-month status to take place on the third Friday of each month Church of Our Lady Bingo takes place at the Church of Our Lady Community Centre, 566 Vaughan Street on Tuesday evenings. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Bingo begins at 7:00 p.m. Are you struggling with addictions? Do you know someone who is? Or do you want to learn more about overcoming addiction to help others? Pastor Cory Havanka and his wife Brenda will be offering an in-person, small-group, course that will explore how to overcome addiction that is based on Biblical foundations. For questions - Call or text Cory at 306-684-1464 or email firmfoundationministries.inc@ gmail.com Firm Foundation Ministries provides other services as well: -Bible study - Monday evenings at 630 p.m/Prayer meetings - Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m/Pastoral counselling. Check Facebook or Instagram for updates on services, events, bible study notes and words from the Lord.

Nar-Anon Meetings every Monday 7—8pm (Moose Jaw Nar-Anon Family Group) is a twelve-step program for relatives and friends affected by someone else’s drug use and is in-person at Moose Jaw Alliance Church, 14 Neslia Place. Come in Main Doors – Meeting Rm 103. Your anonymity and what you say at meetings will be carefully guarded.

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Weight Loss Support Group Meets at the Cosmo Senior Citizen’s Centre, 235 – 3rd Ave. N.E. The group meets every Wednesday morning. Weigh ins are 8-8:45

am. Meeting to follow. . scale weighs up to 350 pounds. Join for friendship and support on your weight loss journey. For more information go to www.tops.org

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) offers meetings every Wednesday evening too in the Alliance Church located at the corner of 9th Ave NE and Thatcher Dr. Use the West side entrance and you’ll find us down the hall in room 107. Weigh ins are 6:30-7 followed by a half hour meeting. Scale weighs up to 500lbs. Join us as we support each other on our weight loss journeys. Visit www. tops.org for more information.

The Moose Jaw Public Library is located at 461 Langdon Crescent and can be reached at MooseJawLibrary.ca, by calling 306-692-2787, or by emailing Ask@MJLibrary.ca. Check the library’s Facebook page for updates, as programs may be cancelled or rescheduled.

The Moose Jaw Public Library (MJPL) is marking Saskatchewan Indigenous Storytelling Month in February with programs that invite the community to engage with Indigenous voices, traditions, and storytelling through both family-friendly and adult-focused events.

Movie Club: Love & Basketball: Love & Basketball is a romantic sports drama that follows two childhood friends whose shared love of basketball shapes their relationship as they pursue their athletic dreams. Show date: Tuesday, Feb. 17

Documentary Night each month starting at 6 p.m. in the library’s theatre. Banned Together: Banned Together tells the story of teenagers fighting to restore dozens of books banned from school libraries, set alongside broader anti-censorship and civil rights efforts defending the freedom to read. Show date: Thursday, Feb. 26

Movie Matinee will be screened for audiences of all ages in the library’s theatre starting at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free, and everyone’s welcome. The Hate U Give: The Hate U Give follows a teenage girl who witnesses her childhood friend’s death during a police encounter and must find her voice amid community pressure to stand up for justice. Show date: Saturday, Feb. 21 (rated PG)

Maker Nights dedicated to learning and creating with others. Register by calling 306-692-2787. The program runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Herb Taylor Room for ages 13 and up.

Maker Saturdays: Guests will make a potted mandrake on Feb. 14, and needle felting cats on Feb. 28, both starting at 2 p.m. Advance registration is required.

Children’s programming

LEGO Weekends: Are open for ages four and up during the library’s regular business hours on Saturdays and Sundays. In this selfguided activity in the Children’s Department, children can have fun building wild LEGO creations that they’re invited to put on display.

Children’s Storytime programs run on separate days in the Children’s Program Room starting at 10:30 a.m. Here, young readers can enjoy a short story, rhymes, and songs as caregivers learn ways to improve early childhood literacy.

Preschool Storytime: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 18, and 25

Daycare Storytime: Monday, Feb. 23

Standalone events

Paper Moon Writing Collective: Paper Moon is a monthly gathering for writers and creatives of all levels, offering guided prompts, quiet writing time, and optional sharing in a supportive, judgmentfree space. Each session is led by Kara and explores a different theme on the first Tuesday of each month. For more information, email PaperMoonWritingCollective@gmail.com

Come and Go Play: Enjoy a story, sensory activities, play, and meet new people in the Children’s Program Room from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays. The free event is a drop-in program and you can come and go as you please.

Age-Friendly Book Chat is hosting its Book Chat program for residents over the age of 55 in the lounge area at the Timothy Eaton Centre at 510 Main Street North from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12. This month’s theme is “Classics.” For more information, call 306-692-2787.

School’s out, the library is in: Families are invited to the library during the February break on Tuesday, Feb. 17, for a full day of self-guided activities for children. This includes pop-up storytimes, games, crafts, and more.

Pipe cleaner people: Join Miss A to make “some cute, bendy, pipe cleaner people” on Saturday, Feb. 21. This event is intended for guests ages four and up and will take place in the Children’s Program Room. Advance registration is required.

Rabbit and Bear Paws Puppet Show: As part of Saskatchewan Indigenous Storytelling Month, the library will host Rabbit and Bear Paws, a humorous and interactive storytelling presentation focused on sustainability and sharing. Designed for children ages six to 14, the program takes place in the library’s Performing Arts Theatre on Monday, Feb. 23, from 10 to 11 a.m.

Make Together: Guests are invited to attend “an evening dedicated to creating with others” on Monday, Feb. 23. Guests can bring any creative project to work on with others and are welcome to share ideas, techniques, and new media with each other. The drop-in program will be held in the South Meeting Room and is open to anyone over the age of 18.

Storytelling with Debbie Sykora: As part of Saskatchewan Indigenous Storytelling Month, the library will host an evening of storytelling with Debbie Sykora, who will share stories rooted in her Métis heritage and her mother’s life. This drop-in program, intended for adults, takes place in the South Meeting Room on Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 7 to 8 p.m.

Youth programming Teen Anime+ Club meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to watch anime, read manga, draw, chat, and eat Asian snacks. Anyone ages 12 to 19 is welcome to attend in the library’s theatre, and yes — cosplay is welcome. Next Anime+ meeting: Featuring “Kaiju No. 8” on Wednesday, Feb. 25

Teen Arts and Crafts program takes place on the third Wednesday of each month for youth ages 12 to 19 and runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Herb Taylor Room. The program features art, crafts, snacks, and the chance to meet new friends. Rainbow suncatchers: Wednesday, Feb. 18

The Rook Room: The public library concluded its partnership with the Moose Jaw Chess Club, replacing it with a staff-led program called “The Rook Room.” The program is held in the Reading Room and is free to attend on a drop-in basis. Next ‘Rook Room’ meeting: Saturday, Feb. 14, 21, and 28

Magic: The Gathering (MTG): The public library has concluded its MTG program, citing an overall decline in attendance. Former participants can reach out to Sanctuary Games at 11 River Street West by calling 306-691-2025 for an alternative venue.

Tech Time: Tech Time offers one-on-one instruction with modern electronic devices. Call the library to book a session.

French-language programs: L’heure du conte is a Frenchlanguage program for ages five and under with their caregivers. The program is held in the Children’s Program Room starting at 10:30 a.m. L’heure du conte: Saturday, Feb. 14

Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 59 Moose Jaw, 693 Fairford St W. Contact: 306-692-5453

Facebook @ ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION-Branch 59 Moose Jaw

OFFICE HOURS: Monday – Friday 9:30am-4:00pm

LOUNGE HOURS: Sunday 11:00am – 3:00pm (when there’s Curling); Monday 12:00pm – 9:00pm; Tuesday 12:00pm – 5:00pm; Wednesday 12:00pm – 10:00pm; Thursday 10:00am – 10:00pm; Friday 12:00pm – 10:00pm; and Saturday 12:00pm – 6:00pm

VETERANS MORNING COFFEE – Thursday @ 10am

BINGO – Monday @ 6pm – Paper goes on sale @ 5pm

CRIBBAGE – Tuesday @ 1:30pm

LEGION DARTS – Thursday @ 7pm

DROP IN SHUFFLEBOARD – Friday @ 7pm

MEAT DRAW & CHASE THE ACE - Saturday @ 3pm - Everyone welcome

LEGION CURLING – Sunday @ 10am @ Temple Gardens Curling Centre – Always looking for spares.

The main (accessible) door to the lounge and parking lot is located at the rear of the building off 7th Avenue NW Moose Jaw & District Seniors Assoc. Inc. Website –moosejawseniors.ca

For more information Call: 306-694-4223 or Email: mjsenior@ shaw.ca . The centre is now open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8am – 8pm and Tuesday, Friday 8am – 4pm

Fitness Level & Indoor Walking Track open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesday & Friday’s 8am4pm

Wood working area – Monday to Friday 8 am – 4 pm

Timothy Eaton Cafe open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Cinnamon Buns are on Thursday’s. Tuesday is pie day. Everyone is welcomed.

Billiards open daily from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. as well as Monday, Wednesday & Thursday evenings from 4:30 – 8 p.m.

Pickle Ball – Monday Thursday mornings @ 9 a.m./Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday afternoons @ 1pm.- Monday & Thursday evenings @ 7 pm

Skills & Drills – Tuesday @ 6pm

Fitness- Chair/Low Impact Fitness Tuesdays 11:30 & Thursdays @ 1:00 p.m.

Cribbage – Wednesdays @ 1 p.m.

Hand & Foot Card Game for Beginners – Thursday @9:30 am.

Mah Jong – Wednesday @1 p.m. Beginners is Monday @1pm

Tai Chi – Starting November 25 @9am every Tuesday

Line Dancing – Wednesday @ 11 a.m.

Art & Crafts – Monday, Tuesdays & Wednesdays @ 1 p.m.

Floor Shuffleboard – Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 1 p.m. Paper Tole – Tuesdays @ 1 p.m. Nickle Bingo – Fridays @ 1 p.m.

Quilting – Every Tuesday & Friday 9am to 4pm, Lounge – Friday’s 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

N.E.

306.692.6072 or email cosmo@sasktel.net Check them out on Facebook.

Coffee Shoppe - open daily from 9:00am - 3:00pm
Lunch special $10/person, Tuesdays 11:30am Pie and CoffeeThursdays Fitness Room - 8:15am - 3:00pm
Indoor WalkingMonday and Wednesday - 11:45 to 12:30, Tuesday and Thursday - 8:15am to 1:00pm, Friday - 10:45am - 1:00pm
Beginner Line Dance - Monday at 10:45am
Line Dance - Thursday at 10:00am
Floor Shuffleboard - Monday and Wednesday1:00pm
Pickleball - 13 different time slots (call Cosmo for info)
Jam Session - Tuesday 9:30am - 11:30am
Fitness Class - Wednesday 10:45am
Euchre - Thursdays 10:30pm
Canasta - Thursday 1:30pm
Cornhole - Friday 10:45am
Crib - Friday 1:00pm Moose Jaw ANAVETS: Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit #252 – 279 High St. W, Moose Jaw. 306.692.4412 or anaf252@ sasktel.net

• Every Monday and Tuesday 1 – 6:30 pm

• Wednesday 12 – 6:30 pm/Smear starts at 12:30 pm

• Thursday 12 – 6:30 pm/Crib starts at 1:30 pm. Bring a friend or sign up for spare

• Friday 1 – 10:00 pm/Shuffleboard starts at 1 pm. Bring a friend and join in!/Pool and darts start at 7 pm.

• Saturday 1 – 6:30 pm/Drop in pool in afternoon. Meat draws start at 4:30 pm - 10 draws, 4 free draws, drink tickets, gift card, 50/50. Everyone Welcome!

FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES #3395

EVERY THURSDAY: Ladies Auxiliary “Meat Draw” – ticket sales start at 5:30 pm, draws start at 6:00 pm – Meat Draw, 50/50, “Chase the Ace”

EVERY SUNDAY: Aerie “Meat Draw” – ticket sales start at 2:30 pm – Meat Draw, 50/50, Mystery Draw, “Chase the Ace” MONDAY THRU SATURDAY – DROP IN POOL – 1:00 pm to 1:30 start time. Singles and Doubles. Partners draw from those attending to play.

FIRST AND THIRD SUNDAY – Aerie meeting – 11:30 am FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY – Ladies Auxiliary meeting - 7:00 pm Western Development Museum; 50 Diefenbaker Drive, Moose Jaw. For more information, visit the museum’s website at WDM.ca/ Moose-Jaw. Call 306-693-5989 or email ajones@wdm.ca Community Heritage Day: Guests are invited to the museum to celebrate the history of Moose Jaw and Saskatchewan at the upcoming Community Heritage Day, set for Feb. 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the WDM. The event will feature historical information, heritage demonstrations, and family-friendly activities. Regular museum admission applies and there is no charge to take part in the activities in the lobby area and Sask Hall. The event is sponsored by the Saskatchewan Festival of Words, Moose Jaw Public Library, Prairie Hearts Quilters’ Guild, New Southern Plains Métis Local No. 160, and the Association communautaire fransaskoise de Moose Jaw Treaty Timeline: The treaty timeline exhibit has now moved from Moose Jaw to the North Battleford branch of the WDM and will remain on view until April 10. Seek and Find

The museum regularly holds Seek and Find events to encourage interactive learning. The program includes an activity sheet, and visitors search the galleries for clues on interpretive signs or display cases. Check the museum’s website for updates.

Porter caps Seek and Find: In recognition of African Canadian Black History Month, the WDM is offering a self-guided Seek and Find activity to highlight the history of sleeping car porters in Saskatchewan. Visitors can search the galleries for images of porter caps while learning about the important role Black railway porters played from the 1880s to the 1960s. This Seek and Find event will run until Feb. 28.

306-694-4747

324 Main Street N. Moose Jaw, SK

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Kolopenuk to premiere new documentary series at Moose Jaw Film Festival

When the inaugural Moose Jaw Film Festival lights up the Mae Wilson Theatre later this month, audiences will get a rare chance to see a new Saskatchewanmade documentary before it reaches the wider public — and to meet a producer who believes the province’s film industry is still very much alive.

Moose Jaw-raised filmmaker and producer Peter Kolopenuk, whose company One Five Five Films specializes in Indigenous documentary storytelling, will be at the Feb. 28 festival to screen the first episode of Building Nations, a new three-part series about the Peter Chapman Band. The project explores the band’s effort to gain independence from the James Smith Cree Nation.

“They were originally from Cumberland House First Nation, but they’ve been working to break off from James Smith Cree Nation. They won a court case, and then they ended up getting a

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

$50 million settlement. So then they started building their own subdivision — building their own houses and roads — trying to separate from James Smith and start their own thing.”

The documentary began as a single short project but has since expanded into a three-part series, with only the first episode set to screen at the Moose Jaw Film Festival. The remaining two parts are still in production and will dig deeper into the Band’s claims process and government involvement, as the community works toward independence.

“It’s kind of a premiere, in a way,” he said. “We’ve only ever done one showing so far, and it was with the Nation out in James Smith.”

The Moose Jaw screening will include members of the Peter Chapman Band travelling to Moose Jaw to see their story on the big screen alongside the public.

“They’re bringing a bus and a bunch of people from the Nation,” he said. “So there’ll be a lot of people there to watch it, which should be pretty exciting.”

Kolopenuk’s participation adds another layer of local connection for the festival, which is positioning itself as a province-wide showcase for Saskatchewan-made film and media. He said he be-

came involved after being contacted by organizers, including Moose Jaw-based cinematographer Jeremy Ratzlaff and Nick Lamb.

While organizers have spoken publicly about rebuilding Saskatchewan’s film industry after a downturn in provincial funding more than a decade ago, Kolopenuk said his own work has been shaped by operating outside traditional funding structures and having to rely on private funding.

“It is harder in Saskatchewan — in the prairie provinces in particular — to get into film, there’s no question about it,” he said. “We’re not making Hollywood movies here, but you can still do it.”

He said the province’s strength lies in the stories that exist here, many of which remain unfamiliar to audiences elsewhere, and in a growing base of skilled creators, especially younger filmmakers.

“We have such a diverse economy

and groups of people that have amazing stories,” he said.

Kolopenuk also pointed to the rapid improvement in production quality across the province.

“The product quality has just skyrocketed in the last five to 10 years compared to what it used to be,” he said.

As for what he’s looking forward to most on festival day, Kolopenuk said it comes down to the moment every filmmaker knows well: watching the audience react and hoping all the effort pays off.

All festival programming will take place at the Mae Wilson Theatre, located at 217 Main Street North. Ticket options include a full-day pass with awards show for $25, or individual passes for $15, available through the Moose Jaw Centre for Arts & Culture’s ticketing service at MooseJawCulture.ca.

For more information, including a full schedule, visit MooseJawFilmFestival.com.

A teaser image from part one of filmmaker Peter Kolopenuk’s new documentary series on the Peter Chapman Band, which will screen at the Moose Jaw Film Festival on Feb. 28.

Photo by: One Five Five Films