Moose Jaw Express, February 25, 2026

BUYING OR SELLING

MOOSE JAW’S HOMEGROWN NEWSPAPER

The sound of bells, whistles, and proud French-language voices will once again echo through Crescent Park as Moose Jaw’s Francophone community prepares to host its annual Tintamarre Fransaskois celebration on March 18.

Organized by the Association communautaire fransaskoise de Moose Jaw (ACFMJ), the parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the Crescent Park Amphitheatre and travel toward 450 Third Avenue Northwest. The morning event is expected to conclude around 11:20 a.m., followed by a short ceremony on-site.

Christian Poumeni, ACFMJ’s community development officer and one of the event organizers, said that Tintamarre remains an important demonstration of Francophone presence and pride in the city.

“The Tintamarre parade is a demonstration that the Francophone community lives here in Moose Jaw and that members of the community are proud to speak French,” Poumeni said. “They are proud to be in Moose Jaw and to speak French.”

More than 100 participants are expected this year, with organizers hoping to surpass last year’s turnout. Poumeni said the event is open to anyone who wishes to take part.

“Any member of the community can join in,” he said, adding that those interested can simply attend the parade without

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

“In Crescent Park, before the parade, we give students from our French schools, ?cole Ducharme and ?cole Monseigneur de Laval, time to speak and say bonjour to the participants,” he said.

The event will also feature Francophone music from a Saskatchewan-based artist, adding to the festive atmosphere as the parade winds through the city’s downtown.

registering in advance.

Tintamarre, which means “racket” or “uproar” in French, is a longstanding Acadian tradition that brings French speakers together in a joyful public celebration. In Moose Jaw, it has become a visible expression of bilingualism and cultural vitality, with students, families, and community leaders joining together to make noise and wave green and yellow colours associated with the Fransaskois flag.

This year’s celebration will follow a similar format to 2025 but will include several additions. Poumeni said students from ?cole Ducharme and other local French-language schools will have more time to speak and greet participants before the parade begins.

Following the march, participants will gather at ?cole Ducharme for a short ceremony. While all dignitaries had not yet confirmed attendance at the time of the interview, Poumeni said the president of the Assembl?e communautaire fransaskoise in Regina has confirmed participation.

Poumeni wished to extend thanks to the organization’s supporters.

“We want to thank our partners for their financial support over the years, and thank our schools in Moose Jaw and La Cit? universitaire francophone, Universit? de Regina for attending the event,” he said.

Participants from all backgrounds are welcome to join the parade along Stadacona Street East.

To learn more about ACFMJ and available French-language services, visit ACFMJ.ca or “ACF Moose Jaw — Communaut? francophone” on Facebook. You can also call 306-692-8112 or email ACFMooseJaw@gmail.com

Photo by: Aaron Walker

Town ‘N’ Country Mall rings in Chinese Lunar New Year with lion dance, community celebration

The steady beat of drums echoed through the Town ’N’ Country Mall on Feb. 21 as a brightly coloured lion wove its way through the crowd, pausing to blink, bow, and snap at heads of lettuce tossed its way.

For many families, it was the highlight of Moose Jaw’s Chinese Lunar New Year celebration — a lively afternoon of culture and vibrant colour that marked the beginning of the Year of the Horse.

Event organizer Gail Hoffos said the day offered both celebration and a learning experience.

“It was great. I learned a few things, so next year is going to be even bigger and better,” she said.

This year’s celebration featured a blend of returning traditions and new additions. A “wish wall” invited visitors to write down hopes and intentions for the year ahead. The display will remain in place until March 3, reflecting the traditional 15-day Lunar New Year period.

Educational posters were also placed throughout the mall, offering bite-sized facts about Chinese zodiac

NOTICE OF

2026

animals and traditions. Hoffos said the displays quickly caught the attention of younger visitors.

“There are some neat little facts about your zodiac sign (and other details pertaining to the Lunar New Year) throughout the mall so people can stop and read them,” she said.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Hoffos added that she’s already thinking ahead to next year, with plans to build on traditional elements such as red envelopes and expanded cultural details.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Golden Nugget

For the purpose of discussing the 2025 Audited Financial Statement, reports, election of directors and other matters that may come before it. To be eligible to vote, you will have to be a member in good standing as of December 12, 2025.

Please notify Moose Jaw Exhibition Company office if you plan on attending (306) 692-2723 or moosejawexh@sasktel.net

The afternoon’s performances were led by members of the Reginabased Canadian Hung Kuen Kung Fu School, who delivered a lion dance and martial arts demonstration in the mall’s centre court.

Curtis Kautzman, a kung fu teacher with the school, said Moose Jaw has become a regular stop during the group’s busy Lunar New Year schedule.

“We do Chinese New Year celebrations all over the place,” he said, adding that Moose Jaw remains a regular stop. “We love coming here. We do this every year.”

For Kautzman, the lion dance is more than spectacle — it is rooted in martial arts training and centuries-old tradition.

“An integral part of kung fu training is the lion dance,” he said. “All of the foot patterns and movements are derived from the kung fu system. It’s all interconnected — it’s really all one.”

He further explained that the noise, movement, and colour all carry meaning at this time of year.

“They’re welcoming in the new year, and the lion represents that new beginning,” he said. “All the sounds, the colours, and the movements are meant

to scare off evil and bless everyone. When you see the lettuce and it lands on people, that brings good luck. The same goes for the Choi Chang, which are the red envelopes.”

Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, follows the lunar calendar and typically falls between late January and mid-February. In 2026, celebrations began on Feb. 17 and continue through the 15-day festival period.

In the Chinese zodiac, the Horse is associated with energy, independence, and forward momentum. People born in a Horse year are often described as confident, hardworking and sociable, with a strong sense of adventure. The Year of the Horse is traditionally seen as a time of progress, movement and new opportunities, reflecting the animal’s symbolism of strength, speed, and determination.

To learn more about the Canadian Hung Kuen Kung Fu School, call 1-306551-2203 or visit FUHOK.com. For upcoming event details, visit “Town N Country Mall” on Facebook. The Town ‘N’ Country Mall is located at 1235 Main Street North.

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Members of the Regina-based Canadian Hung Kuen Kung Fu School following their lion dance and martial arts demonstration in the mall’s centre court on Feb. 21. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Chinese vendors set up displays during the Lunar New Year celebration at Town ’N’ Country Mall on Feb. 21, part of organizer Gail Hoffos’ effort to expand cultural participation and showcase Chinese businesses within the community. Photo by: Mikayla Swallow

Photo by: Mikayla Swallow

Photo by: Mikayla Swallow

Photo by: Mikayla Swallow

Editor’s Note

JOAN RITCHIEMoose Jaw Express EDITOR

I am sure many people across our country and beyond were glued to the tv the last couple of weeks watching the Olympics. Although I don’t watch all the sports going on, some are of particular interest such as curling and hockey. And despite the fact that all the teams did their utmost best to gain the gold, some fell short and apparently looked pretty disappointed. Ultimately in sports, there always needs to be a winner and a defeated team.

In the case of Canada’s curling teams and hockey teams, Canada fared good and got a medal in all instances. Congratulations to Brad Jacobs Men’s Curling team for winning the gold. And for all the others too that made our country proud winning medals and even those that have trained in their respective sports to find their way to the elite competition.

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

In reality for most people, sports matter. Not just for medals, not just for entertainment, but for shaping people. If you get down to the bare bones, sports builds discipline, resilience, teamwork and accountability faster than almost anything else you can do.

On a national level considering how every country measures their successes against other countries, sports seem to create identity and pride. When athletes compete at the Olympics, they are not just individuals; they represent the country. What I like best is how it seems to unite a nation, and my mind goes back to the Blue Jays final last year when the whole country was cheering on ‘our’ team.

Individually, the benefits are even more apparent. Kids who play sports learn time management because practices and games force kids to learn how to deal with pressure, how to lose, how to win without being arrogant, and how to show up even when they don’t feel like it. You don’t get that from sitting on a couch or getting constant praise for doing the bare minimum. What a kid learns from playing sports really translates into the future work ethics.

Life doesn’t hand out red ribbons just for participating. In business, jobs, sales, and opportunities go to the people who perform better. Shielding kids from that truth doesn’t do them any good. When everyone gets the same reward regardless of effort or outcome, the message is clear: effort and excellence don’t matter.

Losing is not a failure — it’s feedback and a fact of life, not everyone wins all the time at anything. Kids who lose in sport learn how to adjust, train harder, and improve. That is where growth actually happens.

Not everyone wins every time, and that’s exactly why sports are valuable. They learn a lot, teaching respect for opponents and the benefits of investing more hard work into making goals come true. Kids learn how to work within a team, accept coaching, handle criticism, and support others.

Sports should absolutely encourage effort, improvement, and sportsmanship — but they should not pretend outcomes don’t matter. Recognizing excellence does not make others look less-than; it gives everyone something to shoot for.

Community rallies behind Chey Craik during Feb. 20 fundraiser

A steady stream of residents filled Battle Creek Adventure Park on Feb. 20, as family, friends, and supporters gathered to show their support for Chey Craik and his ongoing battle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

The come-and-go fundraiser ran from 4 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m., with a lineup forming early and remaining consistent throughout the evening. Visitors shared a meal, took part in the silent auction and draws, and offered words of encouragement to the Craik family.

While Craik is known locally for his involvement in politics, the focus of the evening remained firmly on his role as a husband and father. He was present throughout the evening, spending time speaking with guests one-on-one and personally thanking many for their support, though no formal remarks were delivered.

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

His daughter, Taylor Craik, said that witnessing familiar faces walk through the doors and pausing to share hugs and encouragement carried a different emotional weight than tracking messages of support on paper. She said the visible show of support also exceeded what she had anticipated.

“It’s so encouraging to see the actual number (of supporters) come in, and just to see the building full is super encouraging,” she shared. “We’re excited to see what happens and to see what comes of this. I think we have the support that we need, and this has shown us that we have the support of people in the community. That’s super awesome.”

A steady crowd fills Battle Creek Adventure Park on Feb. 20 during a fundraiser for Chey Craik, second from left, who spent the evening visiting one-on-one with residents supporting his MS journey. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Throughout the evening, attendees stopped to visit with the family, many offering personal messages of encouragement. The atmosphere reflected both the seriousness of the situation and the strength of commu- nity ties. As Taylor noted earlier, “This treatment he’s going to is pretty well one of the last options we have.”

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

Publisher: Robert Ritchie - rob@mjvexpress.com

Editor: Joan Ritchie -joan@moosejawexpress.com

Sales: Wanda Hallborg - mjexpress7@sasktel.net

David Klatt - david@moosejawexpress.com

Kevin Ogle - kevin@saskpromo.com

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

Aaron Walker, Moose Jaw Reporter

Regular Contributors:

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.

The Moose Jaw Express specifically disclaims all and any liability to advertisers and readers of any kind for loss or damage of any nature what-so-ever and however arising, whether due to inaccuracy, error, omission or any other cause.

All users are advised to check ad and message details carefully before entering into any agreement of any kind and before disclosing personal information. If in doubt, please take legal advice.

The fundraiser is part of a broader effort to help Craik pursue further MS treatment. As previously reported, the family has booked a May 25 appointment in Mexico, with payment due March 24.

For those who were unable to attend, support can still be offered through the family’s GoFundMe campaign, titled “Help Chey Fight MS: Fund Life-Changing Treatment.” The family indicated that e-transfers continue to be accepted.

Taylor said the evening offered something beyond financial support.

“It’s so encouraging,” she said. “This just gives us some hope.”

As the family looks ahead to the next stage of treatment, the Feb. 20 gathering stood as a clear reminder that they are not facing the journey alone.

Moose Jaw Film Festival set for Feb. 28 at the Mae Wilson Theatre

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

The inaugural Moose Jaw Film Festival will bring a full day of Saskatchewan-made film, television, and new media to the Mae Wilson Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 28.

The one-day event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with daytime screenings and professional development sessions, followed by an evening awards ceremony from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Organizers say the festival is focused exclusively on projects completed and released in Saskatchewan after February 2024, positioning it as a province-wide showcase for local creators.

More than 70 submissions, representing roughly 25 hours of Saskatchewan-made content, were received. Juried awards will recognize excellence in categories including feature films, documentaries, music videos, commer-

cials, and student productions. Screenings are open to the public.

Among the highlights is the screening of the first episode of Building Nations, a new three-part documentary series by Moose Jawraised filmmaker Peter Kolopenuk of One Five Five Films.

All programming will take place at the theatre, located at 217 Main Street North. Tickets are $25 for a full-day pass including the awards show, or $15 for individual passes, available through the Moose Jaw Centre for Arts & Culture at MooseJawCulture.ca. A full schedule is available at MooseJawFilmFestival.com.

For further information, see Page A10 of the Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, edition of the Moose Jaw Express.

TUESDAY, MARCH 03 rd

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

th TUESDAY, MARCH 10

~ Rodo’s Pizza Event 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)

~ 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, MARCH 17

~ Rodo’s Pizza Event Room

9 t h A ve nu

6:30pm (from the menu)

By Patricia Hanbidge For Moose

The Gingko – The Fossil You Can Grow

It is interesting to think of growing something that has been around for 150 million years. I can’t even begin to imagine what a time frame of that nature actually means. The fossil tree better known as the ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) or maidenhair tree is a survivor from ancient times. In fact, 150 million years ago, huge forests of ginkgo covered a good part of North America and Asia. Ginkgo was native to SE China but became extinct centuries ago. The only ginkgos to survive were those enclosed in gardens within the temple walls where they were grown for their edible seeds. Now, the ginkgo is a prized addition to

the landscape in many parts of the world growing upwards of 30 m and spreading. In our local landscapes the ginkgo will survive but will not likely ever become a towering tree.

The leaves on a ginkgo are perhaps one of the most interesting characteristics. Growing a tree with such a unique leaf shape is for sure a draw to cultivate this tree. They have a distinctive lovely fan shape and grow to about 3 inches in size. The name biloba obviously is a descriptive word that describes the leaf itself as the centre of the fan-shaped leaf is notched dividing the leaf into two lobes. The veins in the leaf radiate out from the petiole or leaf stem. What a perfectly lovely leaf!

The ginkgo is a dioecious tree meaning that male and female parts are contained on different trees. The male trees have drooping catkins while the female trees have drooping flowers. Both trees will flower in March/April depending upon the climate in which they are growing. It is preferable to grow the male trees as the female fruit which appears in autumn is very smelly! The fruit ferments creating quantities of butyric acid which is reminiscent of smelly old Billy

goats! In spite of the terrible smell, the fruit is consumed in Asia and commonly referred to as Japanese Silver Apricots.

If you are growing a ginkgo tree and have no idea the gender, then it is advisable to plant it far away from other ginkgos in order to avoid the very smelly fruit. They do take a long time to grow from seed but they really are a lovely landscape specimen. They flutter beautifully in a breeze bringing a lovely sound to your garden you will be sure to enjoy.

The ginkgo is also very tolerant to a host of rather adverse conditions. They grow beautifully in soils with salt, pH and even in highly polluted areas. They are deep-rooted and are fabulous when used not on the beach but definitely close to it as salt spray does not affect them. They are not tolerant to soggy soil conditions. They are what you might call - the

ideal tree as they are considered hardy from Zone 3 to 8, require very little maintenance, and are not susceptible to many pest or disease problems.

To grow an attractive tree, prune it early to encourage one central leader. This will ensure a beautiful landscape specimen in the future. Seeds are available for purchase in shops specializing in Asian food. They are actually quite tasty. Extracts are made from the seeds that are utilized to help with a host of medical conditions including senility, poor circulation and to enhance mental performance.

So, perhaps you gardeners who strive to grow something different…… might like to try growing the fossil tree in your garden and trip back to the time of the dinosaurs!

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…

Atria Mulberry Estates earns two national awards for performance in 2025

Atria Mulberry Estates is celebrating a strong start to the year after earning two awards recognizing its quality of service and resident satisfaction during the 2025 calendar year.

The local retirement residence recently received a Best of Senior Living Award, determined by reviews submitted through “A Place for Mom,” as well as a Scores Reward for 2025 through Atria Retirement Canada. Both awards were presented in February.

The Best of Senior Living Award is driven entirely by reviews from residents and their families.

“That award is based off of a program called ‘A Place for Mom.’ It’s where people can click on a link and learn about senior living communities. It’s also based on people going online and doing a review about our community,” said Tricia Oblander, marketing manager at Atria Mulberry Estates. “Whether it’s potential residents, current residents, or their families, they go on there and answer a series of questions.”

A Place for Mom is a North American senior living referral service that connects families with retirement and care communities, using resident and family reviews as part of its rating and award system. The platform claims to include information on more than 20,000 senior housing and home care providers across Canada and the United States.

The award indicates that Atria Mulberry Estates is standing out on the international stage.

“We were actually one of two Canadian buildings that have won through Atria Retirement Canada,” she added.

The second honour, the Scores Reward for 2025, is based on internal customer satisfaction surveys and a formal quality evaluation process.

“We do customer satisfaction surveys for our residents a couple of times throughout the year. They can write comments, evaluate their experience, and submit it all in private,” she explained. “We are not told what their answers are, but we do check to see where we’re at with our residents.”

The Quality Enhancement component includes an in-person evaluation conducted by a representative from head office, who assesses safety, cleanliness,

customer service and overall compliance with Atria’s policies and regulations. The residence is then scored based on those findings.

“Last year, we received 95 per cent on our Scores Reward, which was up from the previous year. We’ve also received our Quality Enhancement Award for several years running,” Oblander said.

Reflecting on what the recognition means for staff, Oblander pointed to the culture within the residence.

“We have a really great bunch of employees and management here right now, and we all work really well together. That makes things easy,” she said. “We have a family environment here, where residents and the staff all get together regularly, have a good time, and get everything done.”

She added that the sense of family extends beyond those who live and work at the residence.

“It’s not just the residents who become part of our family. Their grandkids and young kids come in here, and everybody is welcome,” she said. “So, it’s not just the residents and the staff — it’s their families as well. We’re just happy to be here.”

Atria Mulberry Estates is located at 220 Mulberry Lane. For more information or to book a tour, call 306694-5020 or visit AtriaRetirement.ca.

To learn more about A Place for Mom, visit APlaceForMom.com.

Jaw Express

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Staff at Atria Mulberry Estates gather for a group photo as the residence celebrates earning two awards recognizing its 2025 performance in resident satisfaction and quality standards. Photo by: Atria Mulberry Estates

February Specials

February Specials

Internationally acclaimed Greek mixedmedia artist Antonis Tzanidakis is set to return to Moose Jaw this spring, bringing with him a brand-new collection and five immersive workshops for local art enthusiasts.

Antonis Tzanidakis returning to Moose Jaw with new workshops in May

Tzanidakis will teach at the Moose Jaw Union Centre from May 22 to 24. The weekend will feature one workshop on Friday evening and two sessions on both Saturday and Sunday, each running between four and six hours.

All five classes are stand-alone, allowing participants to register for individual sessions rather than committing to the full weekend.

“He reached out and asked if I would want to host him in the spring, and I thought, yeah, I can do it for another year,” said local artist, hairdresser, and host Denise Helland.

This visit will spotlight a recently released collection titled “Furry Friends,” known for its vibrant depictions of cats and dogs. Participants in that session can customize their project to feature either a cat or a dog, with materials prepared accordingly in advance. Another featured workshop from that line, titled “Your Happy Place,” has already drawn significant interest.

In addition to the “Furry Friends” line, Tzanidakis will debut a brand-new, as-yet-unrevealed collection during a special Friday night “mystery class.”

“I personally don’t even get a sneak peek or anything, even though I’m organizing it until the end of March,” Helland noted.

Despite the surprise element, Helland said the response has been enthusiastic.

“Women who I’ve never heard of have registered for the class because

they said they don’t care what it is — they know these collections are always awesome, so they’ve just bought,” Helland said, noting that one participant from Regina signed up for the Friday session without knowing the project details.

Saturday’s confirmed sessions will include “Victorian Tea Cups” in the morning and “Your Happy Place” in the afternoon. Sunday’s workshops are titled “Sky Bound Secrets” and “The Last Bloom,” the latter focusing on crafting flowers from stone paper.

All classes are priced at $125, except for “Your Happy Place,” which is $130. Participants will receive a small supply list in advance, including basic tools such as paintbrushes.

Helland said Tzanidakis creates an inclusive atmosphere in the classroom, making his workshops accessible to those with no prior experience as well as seasoned mixed-media artists looking to expand their skills.

“The experience is almost addictive, because you just want to keep doing more,” she said.

She added that his philosophy focuses on creating a supportive, judgment-free environment where participants feel confident exploring their own ideas.

“His theory on teaching is that there’s already too much negativity in the world, so you don’t bring it into mixed media — whatever you create simply becomes your own,” she said.

Tzanidakis, who is widely known in the mixed-media community as “Sir Vagabond,” continues to travel extensively. Since his last Moose Jaw visit, he has taught in Brazil, Colombia, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, and Budapest. He is currently in New Zealand and will head to Mexico City following his Canadian stop.

To register for any upcoming classes, contact Helland at 306-691-0238.

To learn more, visit “Handmade Fantasy” on Facebook or view Tzanidakis’ collection at StamperiaB2B.com/ shop-by-category.

The Moose Jaw Union Centre is located at 1402 Caribou Street West.

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Greek mixed-media artist Antonis Tzanidakis, left, is shown with his Moose Jaw host, Denise Helland, right, during a previous workshop. Tzanidakis will return May 22 to 24 to lead a new series of mixed-media classes at the Moose Jaw Union Centre. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Reaper Wrestling to bring pro international talent back to Moose Jaw

Reaper Wrestling will return to Moose Jaw this spring with its first live show of 2026, bringing a roster of internationally recognized professional talent to Hustle

RESORT

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Culture Fitness Club.

The show, All Killer No Filler, is set for April 24, with doors opening at 6 p.m. and first bell at 7 p.m.

PUBLIC NOTICE

VILLAGE OF SUN VALLEY

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ADOPT BYLAW NO. 2-2026

Public notice is hereby given that the Council of the Resort Village of Sun Valley intends to adopt a bylaw, under The Planning and Development Act, 2007, to amend Bylaw No. 04-2017, known as the Zoning Bylaw.

INTENT:

The proposed bylaw will rezone the Zoning District Maps:

1. Part of LSD 10, 4-20-26-W2M, from FUD Future Urban Development to R-Residential District to accommodate a proposed plan of subdivision. as shown on the following map.

REASON:

The reason for the bylaw amendment is to accommodate a proposed subdivision for residential development.

PUBLIC INSPECTION:

Any person may inspect the bylaw at the Resort Village of Sun Valley O ce between 9:00 am and 3:30 pm on Thursdays and Fridays excluding statutory holidays. Copies are available at cost at the Municipal O ce.

PUBLIC HEARING:

Council will hold a public hearing to receive submissions on the proposed bylaw on 20th day of March, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the Regional Municipal Plaza, Municipal O ce Boardroom. Council will also consider written submissions received at the hearing or delivered to the undersigned at the municipal o ce before the hearing. For further information, please contact the municipal o ce at 306-694-0055.

Issued at the Resort Village of Sun Valley this 13th day of February, 2026.

Signed Melinda Huebner, Administrator

Reaper Wrestling owner Aaron York said the promotion has grown quickly over the past year, drawing both strong local crowds and an even wider audience through its online presence.

“It’s a live event here in Moose Jaw … (and) we air the shows on YouTube, usually two weeks after,” York said. “We have over 10,000 subscribers on YouTube now.”

York said Reaper Wrestling has set itself apart by flying in high-level talent with current or recent ties to major televised promotions, aiming to give fans a live experience similar to what they’d see on TV.

“We fly in talent from Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling, All Elite (AEW) Wrestling, and some former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) stars — basically the best of the best on the circuit right now,” he said. “It is one of the shows they look forward to, because we’re very professional. We always have a packed house, and we treat them well. This is something they really enjoy coming to.”

Among the featured names York highlighted are Frankie Kazarian, Ace Austin, Tommy Billington, Cody Deaner, and Jody Threat. He also noted the company has hired former TNA performer Crazzy Steve as its creative director.

Reaper Wrestling held four shows in Moose Jaw last year, each drawing close to the venue’s roughly 286-spectator capacity, and expects this year’s return to follow a similar trend. York described the format as a full professional card, with multiple matches and an event atmosphere built specifically for the space.

“A lot of people don’t get to see these individuals around here, so we’re giving them the chance to see and meet (them),” York said. “They will all have tables set up … where people can meet them and buy merchandise.”

Reaper Wrestling is operated by Reaper Fitness Group Inc., a Moose Jaw-based business owned by York. The promotion runs live professional wrestling events at Hustle Culture Fitness Club, bringing in talent from across North America and airing its shows on YouTube following each event. In addition to hosting live cards throughout the year, the business also operates a wrestling school at the venue, offering training sessions twice a week for aspiring wrestlers.

“It’s basically like something you would see on TV,” he said. “There’s usually six or seven matches and it lasts a couple of hours.”

He added that fans can also meet performers in person during intermission and after the show.

Reaper Wrestling is planning six shows this year, including at least two outside Moose Jaw. The promotion’s season will be structured around continuing storylines that build from show to show.

To purchase tickets, visit ReaperWrestling.com or visit Hustle Culture Fitness Club in person at 754 Fairford Street West. For more information, visit HustleCulture.ca or call 306-988-1763.

Moose Jaw city council ratified a new collective agreement with transit employees represented by Unifor Local 101R on Feb. 19, securing a three-year deal that includes wage increases and retirement enhancements.

A tentative agreement was reached Jan. 29, followed by a ratification vote from Unifor members on Feb. 3. City council approved the agreement later that same day. The previous contract had expired Dec. 31, 2025.

In addition to enhancements to employee retirement provisions, the agreement includes wage increases of three per cent effective Jan. 1, a further three per cent on Jan. 1, 2027, and 2.5 per cent on Jan. 1, 2028.

“Our transit operators provide a key service to the citizens of Moose Jaw, so we are pleased to be able to get this deal signed,” said TJ Karwandy, director of human resource services with the city. “How quickly we were able to come

less process” in reaching resolutions.

According to Wiens, that clarity on both sides has helped produce agreements that offer stability not only for employees who report to work each day, but also for the municipality, which remains accountable to taxpayers.

Unifor is Canada’s largest private-sector union, representing more than 320,000 workers across a wide range of industries, including transportation,

to this agreement is a reflection of both sides working collaboratively throughout the process.”

Unifor Local 101R Lodge

204 Chair Jim Wiens said the agreement builds on a working relationship that has continued to improve over the years.

“This agreement reflects the hard work of both sides to reach a fair and balanced out-

come,” Wiens said. “It provides stability for transit workers and ensures reliable service for the Moose Jaw community moving forward. We’re pleased to have reached a deal that respects our members and supports the future of public transit.”

Wiens said this signing marked his fourth round of negotiations with the city since 2015, noting that the process has grown smoother each time.

“Each time, it seems a little smoother than the one before,” he said, adding that both sides have become clearer about “what we want (and) what we need, both as employees and as an employer.”

He described the discussions with the city as “very straightforward,” pointing to what he called a “pretty seam-

manufacturing, telecommunications, media, forestry, energy and public services. Unifor Local 101R currently represents 16 City of Moose Jaw transit employees in the operations department.

“So (now) we move forward to three more years of stability with the two groups, and I think that everything’s going to continue on the way it has,” said Wiens.

To learn more about the union, visit Unifor.org.

ASSESSMENT NOTICE VILLAGE OF TUXFORD

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Village of Tuxford for the year 2026 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the o ce of the assessor from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., on the following days: Monday to Thursday, February 25 to March 30, 2026, by appointment.

A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.

Any person who wishes to appeal against their assessment is required to le their notice of appeal in writing, accompanied by a $200 fee for each assessment being appealed with the Assessor, Village of Tuxford, 5- 1410 Caribou St W Moose Jaw SK, S6H 7S9, by the 30th day of March 2025 at 4:00 p.m. Please also send the appeal to the: Secretary to the Board of Revision, Nicolle Hoskins, Western Municipal Consulting Ltd. Box 149, Meota, SK S0M 1X0 before the 30th day of March, 2026.

Dated this 25th day of February 2026

Raena Wilk-Morhart Assessor

From left: Director of human resources TJ Karwandy, city transit driver Corrine Gibbs, union representative Jim Wiens, and Mayor James Murdock gather following the Feb. 19 document signing. Photo by: Aaron Walker

City Clerk Tracy Wittke, left, signs a document as Jim Wiens, right, prepares to sign on behalf of the union, with Mayor James Murdock looking on during the Feb. 19 signing ceremony. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Do

you use “Dr. Google’’ for medical information?

The specialist doctor was upset.

She had just researched a possible side effect from one of my medications. finally asking where I had obtained the misinformation.

“I found it on Google.’’

“Dr. Google isn’t always right,’’ she admonished me to stop googling for health information on the internet.

I didn’t stop googling but my prime source of online medical information is the mayoclinic.com.

The clinic has a solid longterm reputation, extending to the Great Depression of the 1930s when the Mayo Clinic

was regarded as the place where medical care was the best.

Health Canada remains a top source of online medical information.

The issue of people trying to diagnose their symptoms online has made headlines lately. Medical experts find people are going down rabbit holes of misinformation, ending in poor personal outcomes.

The development of artificial intelligence systems with seemingly easy answers bears partial responsibility for this trend along with social media like Tik Tok.

Why anyone would listen

NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF 2026 ASSESSMENT ROLL

VILLAGE OF CHAPLIN

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Village of Chaplin for the year 2026 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the o ce of the assessor from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on the following days: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from

February 19 – March 20, 2026

Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment is required to le his or her notice of appeal with

The Secretary of the Board of Revision Nicolle Hoskins, which can be sent electronically to: secretary@westernmunicipal.ca

Or via post/mail to Village of Chaplin P.O. Box 210 Chaplin, SK S0H 0V0 And forwarded to the Secretary of the Board of Revision All fees must be submitted to the local assessor at the Village of Chaplin

By the 20th day of March, 2026

Dated this 18th day of February, 2026

Raegan Mini e, Assessor

OPINION EDITORIAL:

TRADING THOUGHTS

By Ron WalterFor Moose Jaw Express

to someone on Tik Tok, Facebook or any other social media about health matters is hard to understand. What qualifications do the influencers have as no one knows?

Most of these social media people seem to peddle witch doctor medication, have no medical experience, and are well-paid for their online time. Another reason self treatment online should be avoided is the whole range of symptoms.

If you’ve ever gone online for this information the most noticeable feature is the same or similar symptoms for so many ailments. Only a trained professional can assess them and determine what is really wrong.

In this period of doctor shortages , many feel online diagnosis and treatment is their best recourse.

A recent article in the Ca-

nadian Medical Association Journal highlighted an issue leading to more online hunts.

The number of people with no family doctor has reached 18 per cent, up from 16 per cent in 2015.

Those with no family doctor and difficulty of seeing their doctor rose to 31 per cent from 25 per cent.

Saskatchewan leads in people with no family doctors at 22 per cent and 41 per cent have difficulty seeing their doctor.

This happened even with more doctors per capita in every province except Alberta. Seventy-one per cent say they are dissatisfied with health care.

Across Canada five per cent have given up looking for a doctor and five per cent have been searching longer than one year for a doctor.

In Saskatchewan nine per

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

cent have given up looking for a doctor while five per cent have been looking for longer than one year.

How did we get to this worsening situation in 10 years?

Population increased, population aged into more complex needs and infrastructure wasn’t expanded.

Long waits in ER sections and assembly line procedures in walk-in clinics are one consequence.

Doctor retirements are a factor with 14,000 of 48,000 doctors graduating more than 30 years ago. Canada estimates a 20,000 doctor shortage by 2031.

Fewer new doctors are entering family practice. Less than one-third of graduates choose family medicine where 40 per cent did in 2015.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

TeleMiracle 50 returns Feb. 28 with expanded 22-hour broadcast

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

TeleMiracle will celebrate its 50th anniversary later this month with an expanded 22-hour live broadcast on CTV, raising funds for the Kinsmen Foundation’s support programs for Saskatchewan residents.

The telethon begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28 and will run until 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 1.

Moose Jaw resident Shailynn Taylor is returning for her second year as part of the TeleMiracle cast, assisting with behind-thescenes interviews through the Backstage

Lounge livestream.

Residents can support the fundraiser by tuning in from home or attending in person at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon at 503 Ruth Street West. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. on Feb. 28 and 6:45 a.m. on March 1.

For more information or to donate, visit TeleMiracle.com.

\Look for further details on Page A3 of the Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, edition of the Moose Jaw Express.

HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL DIVISION

Holy Trinity Catholic School Division plans to spend nearly $3 million over the next three years upgrading school buildings, although it faces budget constraints because of one ongoing project.

Division administration presented the three-year facilities maintenance plan during a recent board meeting, with trustees unanimously accepting the document.

The report shows that the division plans to spend $2,875,828 during the next three years, including $532,125 this year, $835,203 in 2026-27 and $1,508,500 in 2027-28.

Of that three-year total, administration expects to have roughly $1.875 million in preventative maintenance and renewal (PMR) funding for those projects. Further, it expects to have $1.285 million in operational funding for minor renovations and contracted maintenance that it could use to support parts of the plan.

The division has allocated $666,000 for upgrades at St. Michael School in 2026-27 and 2027-28, but it could eliminate that amount from the plan — or defer it — if the province approves the organization’s minor capital project application, the document said.

While the division office has scheduled upgrade projects for the next three years, any emergency expenses that arise would supersede those initiatives, the document added.

Project funds

Spending at schools over the next three years includes:

• Sacred Heart and St. Mary: Both schools have closed now that Our Lady of Hope (OLOH) Elementary School is open. However, the division will still address repairs, maintenance and emergent issues to maintain the buildings’ safety; the organization will spend $7,000 this year at Sacred Heart for pest control

• Meanwhile, Holy Trinity has moved furniture and equipment to the respective gyms and will eventually

Holy Trinity school division to spend $3M on renos in next 3 years

Jason G. Antonio - For the Moose Jaw Express

distribute the materials to other locations, the report said. After that, the organization will sell or dispose of the remaining stock.

• The report added that staff make daily checks at the two schools since the heat and power continue to function, although water for toilets and sinks is turned off.

• St. Agnes: $30,000 this year for refreshing classrooms and relocating the sand pit; $260,000 next year to upgrade the student washrooms, refresh the classrooms and relocate the administration office to the lower level

• St. Margaret: $150,000 in 202728 to pave the staff parking lot; meanwhile, the $7.4-million minor capital renovation project should be completed this year

• St. Michael: $690,000 in total, including $32,000 this year to install a digital sign and rejuvenate classrooms; $175,000 next year to restore the exterior concrete blocks and upgrade classrooms; and $491,000 in 2027-28 to renovate the southeast student washrooms, repave the staff parking lot, upgrade the exterior grading and catch basins and rejuvenate classrooms

• St. Michael is experiencing many of the same issues that Holy Trinity is addressing at École St. Margaret through the minor capital program project, while the division has applied to the province for years for funding for a new West Park-based school, the report said.

• Continuing, the division said it plans to file a minor capital program application with the province for St. Michael. Meanwhile, department staff have been working with the Ministry of Education to improve the application and its chances of success; division officials estimate that it will cost $8.5 million to renovate the school.

• Vanier Collegiate: $1,197,578 in

total, including $258,125 this year to replace the library carpet, refresh the classrooms and replace a rooftop unit; $349,453 next year to repave the bottom of Henleaze Avenue, refresh classrooms, replace a roof section and replace a rooftop unit; $590,000 in 2027-28 to re-point the bricks and concrete and restore the exterior wall, make the washrooms gender neutral, improve the Home Ec room, upgrade the main entrance, replace the Zion Hall floor, replace three rooftop units and replace roof sections

• Phoenix Academy: $4,750 to relocate a shed and install new signs

• Christ the King, Shaunavon: $220,000 to replace windows, stage lights and shingles; upgrade and

paint the building’s exterior; replace two exterior doors and upgrade the asphalt

• All Saints, Swift Current: $220,000 to re-grade the playing field and design a new irrigation system, and annual field maintenance

• Division office: $63,500 to update a newly installed portable, replace the floor, renovate the IT office’s shipping and receiving area and landscape the front ditch

The report added that the effect of the province’s Accessible Saskatchewan Act legislation on the facilities department’s budget is not yet known, but staff will review the short- and long-term implications of implementing accessibility improvements later this year.

THIS WEEKS FLYERS

HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL DIVISION

THE NEXT HOLY TRINITY BOARD MEETING IS MON. MAR. 16, 2026.

A recent conference about artificial intelligence (AI) is giving Catholic division administrators some ideas about how staff and students can safely use the technology while ensuring they “don’t lose (their) humanity.”

Several division office staff from Holy Trinity Catholic School Division attended the Saskatchewan Leadership Summit in Saskatoon in late January, with the event focusing on preparing for an AI-enabled future.

Ward Strueby, director of education, told trustees during their February board meeting that the conference was “really cool,” while the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division worked with the online-based Saskatchewan Distance Learning Corporation (DLC) to host it.

Continuing, he said there were many great speakers, including Tom D’Amico, a former education director in Ottawa who is now the president of AI Leadership Consulting. D’Amico led one of the breakout sessions about AI and the Cath-

Religious ‘revival’

More students in Holy Trinity Catholic School Division are now interested in volunteering with their schools’ ministry teams or at their churches, which, to the division chaplain, is surprising but also exciting.

“Our faith is very visible. I don’t know whether it’s (a religious) revival or what … ,” Lisa Busta told trustees during their February board meeting while providing her monthly faith update.

For example, the chaplain noted that there were 13 altar servers during the Christmas Eve service at St. Joseph’s Parish, with many of those youths from the division. To her, that was “a really, really beautiful thing.”

Furthermore, Vanier Collegiate’s ministry team is “on fire” in its activities, with 10 team members dedicated to the cause, Busta said. Some members want to attend a conference in Regina, while the ministry team in Swift Current is also interested in going; a bus from the southwest will likely pick up the Moose Jaw students.

Catholic division staff learn about protecting their humanity while using AI tools

Jason G. Antonio - For the Moose Jaw Express

olic Church and included quotes from Pope Leo XIV in his presentation.

While session participants discussed priests using AI to write their sermons, one of D’Amico’s main points was that the technology could eliminate relationships and interactions with people and negatively affect humanity.

“That’s not a good thing. … our faith wouldn’t do that,” said Strueby, noting that the session also reviewed how a church in Europe is using AI to hear confessions. “So (confession-based AI is) probably not a very good use and something we wouldn’t appreciate.”

Overall, the conference gave Holy Trinity staff plenty of useful information, he continued, noting that he contacted the Saskatchewan Catholic School Boards Association afterward to say it would be good for all eight Catholic divisions to hear the presentation and identify when it is proper to use AI.

Another artificial intelligence-based tool the group learned about was “Mag-

isterium,” which focuses on the Catholic faith and contains credible information about church teachings, Strueby said. He noted that he used that AI tool to write the opening prayer for the board meeting.

“It would be a great place for our teachers to look for information as well, because we know … (Magisterium is) being fed by our Catholic faith,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Strueby praised the work of Mark Selinger, the division’s supervisor of learning and technology, for creating an administrative procedure (AP) to guide the division’s use of AI and to protect sensitive data, reduce privacy breaches and keep kids safe.

Since public AI tools like ChatGPT are not private and steal data, the division will use the AI that’s included with Microsoft products since it will allow Holy Trinity to control its data, he stated.

Strueby added that using AI to generate a newsletter about the board’s work

could be positive since it would save time, while the technology could also help school administrators learn about other APs.

Selinger noted that the main message he took away from the conference is that artificial intelligence exists, while it’s Holy Trinity’s responsibility to teach students how to use it. This includes helping pupils understand it, determine whether content is real or fake and think critically when reading online.

“I think that’s the important part,” he noted.

The division plans to work with stakeholders on how to proceed with using AI, while it plans to refresh its digital citizenship lessons to include information from the conference to help students think more critically, said Selinger.

“But I think it’s really important that we don’t lose the humanity. I think that’s important,” he added. “So, we just need to be mindful of that.”

among Catholic students growing throughout the region

Jason G. Antonio - For the Moose Jaw Express

Meanwhile, Vanier’s faith leader is interested in reviving a student fast for Lent, a period in the church calendar of about 40 days before Easter, the chaplain continued. Normally, the fast is for 18 to 24 hours, but the teacher is considering a 12-hour event to ensure the youths can complete it.

Busta said she was unsure whether the fast would be overnight, noting humorously that “those young ’uns” don’t usually sleep. This is based on her experience of leading past events as Vanier’s chaplain.

Another thing Vanier’s ministry team wants to do is host a retreat for elementary school-based ministry teams across the division, she continued. This can also help with recruiting new members to the high school’s ministry team, since, as the past chaplain, she usually had to find new students annually.

Vanier’s ministry team is comprised of students from grades 9 to 12, which is positive since having students from just one grade may mean having to restart the

group in September, Busta added.

Ward Strueby, director of education, said more elementary students are coming to Vanier because of its ministry team. This, he noted, is an unexpected — but exciting — spinoff of having such teams for younger grades.

“You can hear the momentum that’s building in our division and the work that’s being done,” he added. “We want to continue that.”

Meanwhile, Busta said she has been helping schools set up spaces for prayer, including at St. Agnes and Our Lady of Hope (OLOH). At the former, the school has a “calming room” where staff and students can spend 10 minutes meeting with Jesus.

“It’s very still, it’s very quiet. It’s going to have a lamp (and) a rocking chair … ,” the division chaplain continued, noting she donated a “big and beautiful” cross that she acquired while visiting the Holy Land.

“It’s a beautiful space. It’s going to be wonderful,” she added.

At Our Lady of Hope, Busta said she spent time there in September organizing its chapel and supplying it with worship materials. Furthermore, she wants to train the principal and another teacher to be music ministers to lead singing in the space.

The division chaplain also noted that a relative of an employee hand-carved the altar at OLOH, while the archbishop of Regina blessed several crosses for classrooms.

Meanwhile, Busta said she helped Phoenix Academy choose a patron saint since every other school has one. The school selected St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Aboriginal person from North America to be canonized, since the principal usually teaches a unit about the woman and places a heavy emphasis on First Nation content.

Busta added that she created a slide show to educate the students about the saint, while they will celebrate St. Kateri’s feast day on her death date of April 17, since the actual day is in the summer.

HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL DIVISION

Holy Trinity Catholic School Division is celebrating the fact that it has more employees than ever working in its student services department who are helping address the needs of more youths.

Division administration presented a student support services accountability report during the board of education’s February meeting. The document summarized the training that staff receive, the various programs and students in them, and the challenges and celebratory areas.

Sarah Phipps, superintendent of learning, said even with the many complexities the division faces in supporting students, Holy Trinity has “done a superb job” with increasing the number of positions in the department, such as student services support teachers (SSSTs) and class complexity teachers (CCTs).

Continuing, she expressed doubt that other school divisions had such full teams of administrators, SSSTs, CCTs and classroom teachers as Holy Trinity, since that was “not the norm” in the province.

“And we … have phenomenal people in those roles … ,” Phipps said. “And I think we should be really proud that we were able to increase staffing in those areas, because it affects our most vulnerable students.”

She added that these additional employees — who are also supporting students who may have been overlooked — and services are helping the organization become better.

Meanwhile, Phipps highlighted how support staff such as educational assistants, occupational therapists and Eng-

More Catholic students receiving extra support this year than last year: report

lish as an Additional Language (EAL) experts are receiving more professional development opportunities.

Furthermore, she celebrated how important specialized classrooms and sensory spaces have been at Our Lady of Hope Elementary School, since other schools are looking to install similar spaces; four schools already have sensory swings and one has a vibrating sensory plate.

“And then (we have) spaces where kids, if they’re overstimulated or they just need a break, … can go, take a 10-minute break, regulate themselves and get back to learning,” Phipps said.

The superintendent pointed out that without these spaces, some kids will have tantrums or meltdowns. She recalled a past instance where a young man destroyed a classroom because he had no other way to expend his energy.

The report showed that there are 111 students this year on an intervention and inclusion plan to address their learning or behaviour needs. This is an increase of 16 students, or 4.6 per cent more, compared to 2024-25. Conversely, in 2018-19, there were 69 students on such plans.

The data also showed that 407 students are receiving EAL support this year, an increase of 26 students — or 16.8-per-cent more — over last year.

Phipps also said she was “really, really relieved” that two nurse therapists were now working at St. Michael School. The previous nurse therapist retired in December 2024 after 15 years in the role, which concerned the division office since there are “some incredibly

medically fragile kiddos” at the school.

However, after four months, two Moose Jaw moms with nursing experience applied, with Holy Trinity hiring them both, she continued. Administration recruited both because a large cohort of special needs students at St. Michael required support, while more such students were expected to arrive soon.

“So the need is not going away. And if we choose to branch out, where we might have two schools with medically fragile kids, we’ve got these two nurses who have a very good experience under their belt,” Phipps added. “So (we’re) very excited about that.”

Meanwhile, one major challenge the department faces is having adequate staffing levels, especially since the Ministry of Education may provide another specialized classroom, the superintendent said.

This will require Holy Trinity to determine whether it can take on extra

programs and services, hire and train sufficient numbers of staff, and balance everything while ensuring it supports students, she continued.

Another issue is that Moose Jaw’s autism diagnosis program has a long waitlist, mainly because of high staff turnover over the past five years, Phipps noted. This created a long wait for kids, which is concerning since they must be diagnosed by a certain age.

She added that, to overcome the backlog, Holy Trinity has paid other health-care professionals to diagnose students, since it is in students’ best interests.

Meanwhile, Lois Saunders, a department co-ordinator, is retiring in June at age 70 after 50 years in education, Phipps added. This means the division will revamp student services’ leadership roles and review the supports that schools can offer in-house to match classroom complexity.

PRAIRIE SOUTH SCHOOL DIVISION

THE NEXT PSSD BOARD MEETING IS TUESDAY, TUES, MAR 3, 2026

Prairie South School Division hired 21 new bus drivers during the 2024-25 year, while it was successful in recruiting several spare drivers to address hard-to-fill routes in rural areas.

The division employed 158 total bus operators last year, including 106 regular drivers and 52 casual operators, according to a 2024-25 transportation accountability report presented during the February board meeting.

Todd Johnson, transportation manager, said one important highlight last year was that SGI changed its recertification process for S endorsement licences. The Crown corporation now requires bus drivers to obtain a medical clearance to renew their S endorsement, whereas they were required to retest every five years.

This retesting every five years frustrated some drivers and caused some to quit, he noted.

“That was a real fantastic thing for us. It’s a real stressful situation for the

21 new bus drivers joined Prairie South last year, report says

Jason G. Antonio - For the Moose

drivers, but also, it’s real tough to get into SGI,” Johnson said. “So, it was fantastic for us to keep our training up on that.”

With recruiting rural drivers, Johnson said the department had “great luck” approaching school community councils (SCCs), asking for support, while dozens of rural residents said they want to be spare drivers.

“And before it was lots in Moose Jaw, but now it’s all the communities that seem to be affected that are now jumping in … ,” he added. “It’s still ongoing, and I would say it’s one of our biggest challenges, is finding bus drivers (who) want to be spares and then take on a route after.”

Prairie South transported 2,836 students last year, including 941 urban pupils and 1,895 rural youths, the transportation report said. The average ride time for urban students was 15 minutes, while for rural youths it was 40 minutes.

Jaw Express

The report noted that the longest ride time was 98 minutes for students in Rockglen, followed by 96 minutes for youths attending Lindale and Central Butte.

Johnson said the division’s goal is to keep most rural rides to 90 minutes, and while it has been successful in some areas, it still has work to do in others.

Meanwhile, schools submitted 2,238 charter transportation requests last year, including 1,887 for curriculum-based trips, 351 for sports trips, and seven for Holy Trinity activities, the report said. In comparison, during the 2023-24 year, there were 1,798 total charter trips.

Johnson pointed out that many sports teams want buses for transportation instead of multi-passenger vans since the former are safer.

Continuing, the transportation manager said the division has 155 total units, with 50 vehicles older than 10 years old. However, he noted that the

board has supported the department’s efforts to purchase new buses annually, with the division buying 10 units last year and 75 vehicles since 2020.

The report noted that Prairie South spent $1,868,474 last year to purchase the 10 new buses; overall department expenses were $7.6 million.

The report also noted that the transportation department conducted 1,030 inspections and repairs on vehicles last year, since school buses in Saskatchewan must undergo a comprehensive safety inspection every 12 months.

Meanwhile, Prairie South recorded 14 vehicle accidents last year — compared to 21 in 2023-24 — that amounted to $11,781.76 in repairs, the report added. Eleven accidents led to minimal damage, so the division did not report them to SGI. Also, division mechanics fixed minor damages during regular maintenance, while there were zero total-loss bus accidents.

PSSD wants $10M for school upgrades; signs new CUPE agreement

Two public high schools in Moose Jaw require major upgrades to their HVAC systems that could cost roughly $10 million, money that the school division hopes the province will provide.

Also, the organization has signed a new three-year agreement with the union that represents its support staff.

Administration with Prairie South School Division (PSSD) presented a report during the February board meeting with the organization’s proposed applications for major and minor capital program funding for the 2027-28 year.

Saskatchewan school divisions must submit their funding requests to the Ministry of Education by mid-February, with the government to then consider whether to fund the initiatives for the next fiscal year. The ministry would consider school divisions’ requests this year for the 2027-28 provincial budget.

Jason G. Antonio - For the Moose Jaw Express

For the minor funding requests, which are for initiatives under $10 million, the division plans to ask the Ministry of Education to fund HVAC upgrades at Central Collegiate and an HVAC modernization project and boiler replacement at Riverview Collegiate, the report said.

For the major funding requests, which are for initiatives over $10 million, Prairie South wants to upgrade Bengough School by either constructing a new building or renovating the existing structure, upgrade Eyebrow School with a comprehensive modernization of the existing venue, and apply for a new school in Moose Jaw because of major development in the city.

Asked about constructing a jointuse school with Holy Trinity, Trevor Payne, the buildings department manager, told the board that every school division must submit its own projects.

Therefore, Prairie South and Holy Trinity will submit their respective requests for a new school in northwest Moose Jaw, even though a joint-use venue would be the likely outcome.

Trustee Shawn Davidson pointed out that the most important projects for Prairie South are its minor capital submissions. He acknowledged that while Bengough and Eyebrow schools require upgrades, the last operating steam boiler in the division is at Riverview and is expensive to maintain and operate.

Continuing, Davidson said the ministry only approves four minor capital projects across the entire province during its annual budgets, along with seven major projects, like new schools or major upgrades.

New agreement

During the meeting, the board unanimously ratified the CUPE 5512

agreement, which is retroactive to Sept. 1, 2025, and runs until Aug. 31, 2028. Trustees also directed the negotiating team to sign the agreement for the board and then post the document to the website.

A report said that the parties “engaged in a respectful exchange of common interests,” while through a collaborative process, the parties reached an agreement that included nine items of modified agreement language, terms, and monetary settlement, along with two “minor housekeeping items.”

Financially, from Sept. 1, 2025, to Aug. 31, 2026, support staff will receive an increase of $1 per hour. From Sept. 1, 2026, to Aug. 31, 2027, employees will receive an increase of 81 cents per hour, while from Sept. 1, 2027, to Aug. 31, 2028, staff will receive an increase of 77 cents per hour.

PRAIRIE SOUTH SCHOOL DIVISION

THE NEXT PSSD BOARD MEETING IS TUESDAY, TUES, MAR 3, 2026

An attendance campaign that Prairie South School Division launched in November 2024 is leading to more students being in school and other school divisions asking for information about the program.

The #YourPresenceMatters campaign aims to communicate that Prairie South cares about its youths and wants them to be in school daily since attendance is good for academic achievement, wellbeing, and health. The board of education has also made regular school attendance a priority in its 202428 strategic plan.

Division administration provided an update about the campaign during the February board meeting.

Data showed that Prairie South had an overall attendance rate of 89.4 per cent in 2023-24, which rose to 92 per cent in 2024-25, the first full year of the program. Meanwhile, in January, that rate was 92.6 per cent.

Ryan Boughen, director of education, said PSSD’s campaign was the focus of a recent provincial education meeting since the initiative aligns with the Ministry of Education’s goals.

“We all should be very proud of the work … that’s going on in our school division,” he remarked.

Boughen noted that nine education directors contacted him afterward to discuss the positive effect PSSD’s presentation had on them. One director even said that “it was the most applicable learning” she had received during the meetings.

“We are doing really leading work in the province in this regard … ,” Boughen added. “It’s a great example of excellent teamwork … .”

Amanda Olson, superintendent of learning, said if students are in school, the division can support their academic achievement and well-being. That is why Prairie South focuses on reaching chronically absent students; chronically absent means missing 10 per cent of the year, or about 18 days.

Research shows that poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by Grade 4, while by Grade 6, chronic absences indicate that a student will drop out of high school, she continued.

“When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating,” Olson remarked.

Continuing, Olson said Prairie South — and other school divisions — is still seeing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, since one in four students is considered chronically absent. Moreover, research suggests the pandemic has had a lasting effect on students’ attitudes toward attendance.

PSSD’s attendance campaign receiving positive provincial attention

Jason G. Antonio - For Moose Jaw Express

To address chronic absenteeism in high schools, in September 2023, Prairie South launched Pathways School, a non-traditional storefront school — at 109 Ominica Street West, adjacent to the Sherwin-Williams paint store — for youths who cannot achieve success in a traditional school setting, she continued.

“Pathways has been a huge intervention success … ,” Olson noted, adding that three students graduated from there in 2024 and five graduated in 2025.

Jennifer Prokopetz, superintendent of school operations, said PSSD has shared the #YourPresenceMatters campaign message everywhere, with many communities wholeheartedly embracing it.

For example, two rural communities pasted campaign stickers onto their Zamboni machines, Moose Jaw’s city council wore the red campaign T-shirts during a meeting, and even members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders promoted the initiative.

“It has been a message that has really transcended the borders of different roles and different responsibilities … ,” Prokopetz added.

Based on research, Prairie South has shifted how it communicates its attendance concerns, who is involved in addressing attendance issues and how often it meets with caregivers, said Prokopetz.

Research shows that caregivers are aware of and generally agree with the benefits and importance of in-person learning, but view education holistically — personally, socially and emotionally — with academics only a piece of their child’s growth, she continued.

Furthermore, data show that caregivers — including those with children who are regularly absent — regularly track their kids’ grades, performance and attendance, but believe most absences are acceptable. Also, in a post-pandemic world, messaging that criticizes caregivers or communicates the consequences of missing school no longer works.

Instead, the research showed that caregivers most trust their kids’ teacher and want to hear attendance-related messaging from them.

Prokopetz noted that Prairie South now takes a more positive tone, which includes communicating the opportunities associated with in-person learning and not the consequences of missing school.

Moreover, the division focuses on how schools develop children holistically and suggests realistic goals for caregivers to

work toward so their children are not chronically absent, she continued. Also, the division avoids shaming caregivers by telling them what’s acceptable or not.

Prokopetz added that PSSD now celebrates increases in attendance overall in schools and doesn’t focus solely on a percentage number.

NOTICE OF CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that nominations of candidates for the o ce of:

COUNCILLOR: Village of Marquis

Will be received by the undersigned on the 18th day of March, 2026, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Municipal O ce at 13 Main Street Marquis, SK, and during regular business hours on Wednesday, February 25th, 2026 to March 17th, 2026, at the Municipal O ce at 13 Main Street Marquis, SK.

Nomination forms may be obtained from the Municipal O ce during regular business hours.

Dated this 25th day of February, 2026.

Madison Gardner Returning O cer

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.

Some servers too anxious to offer take-out containers

If there were a medal offered for speed-eating, I would be at the very rear end of the competition, having been out-chewed by everyone capable of handling a knife and fork.

In my growing-up years, the lesson taught was to eat slowly so as to avoid indigestion. The health guide from school ordered children of that

era to chew each mouthful of soft food from five to 10 times before swallowing. Foodstuffs such as meat and dense vegetables should be chewed at least 30 times.

And bites were to be mouth-sized, thus my small mouth would only accommodate smaller bites but even those smaller bites would require the

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE ESTATE OF DOMENIC VARRENTI, late of the city of Moose Jaw, in the Province of Saskatchewan, deceased.

ALL claims against the above estate, duly veri ed by Statutory Declaration with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, may be sent to the undersigned before the 11th day of March, 2026

CHOW MCLEOD

Barristers and Solicitors

48 High Street West Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan S6H 1S3

Attention: Mr. Parker A. Chow

Solicitor for the Executrix

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE ESTATE OF DONALD EDWARD BONNETT, late of the city of Moose Jaw, in the Province of Saskatchewan, deceased.

ALL claims against the above estate, duly veri ed by Statutory Declaration with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, may be sent to the undersigned before the 11th day of March, 2026

CHOW MCLEOD

Barristers and Solicitors

48 High Street West Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan S6H 1S3

Attention: Mr. Parker A. Chow

Solicitor for the Executors

same amount of chewing.

That, by way of explanation, is why to this very day, I am a slow eater, chewing carefully and swallowing what has been chewed, followed by sips of water or other available beverages.

Friends are resigned to the fact that I will still be eating long after they have finished their meals and have studied the dessert menu or have even calculated the cost of the meal and have their cash or credit cards ready for the bill.

Now if only servers in some restaurants would learn that some customers are slower than others and cannot, or definitely should not, be rushed out of the establishment. And how rude of them to offer a take-out container when one hasn’t been requested.

I recall an out-of-city trip a few years ago: I was enjoying a prime rib buffet dinner, complete with salad and dessert bar and long lines of eager eaters. I gathered my food ahead

of Housemate who saved our table, then I began eating while he went to the line. Even by starting last, he finished first, salad, main courses and dessert. I was still enjoying my prime rib and the chicken when the server came to take Housemate’s plate. Then she came to my side of the table and put her hand on my plate. I grabbed it away before she could steal the remainder of my meal. “I’m not finished,” I told her, talking with my mouth full, which I know is bad manners but short of stabbing her hand with my fork, how was I to stop her?

She apologized profusely and even offered a shoulder hug, which I endured as my prime rib got cold. Housemate, of course, was amused. I was not.

The next night we were seated at a favourite restaurant chain that did not exist then in Saskatchewan. We ordered our food, received our soup and salad and bread sticks, and then the main course. The food was

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE ESTATE OF GERALD JOSEPH MILLER, late of the city of Moose Jaw, in the Province of Saskatchewan, deceased.

ALL claims against the above estate, duly veri ed by Statutory Declaration with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, may be sent to the undersigned before the 11th day of March, 2026

CHOW MCLEOD

Barristers and Solicitors

48 High Street West Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan S6H 1S3

Attention: Mr. Parker A. Chow

Solicitor for the Proposed Administrator

as good as I remembered from a previous visit.

Housemate had finished his soup, part of my salad, several bread sticks and his entree plus a refill of his beverage while I carefully chewed my way through my chicken and angel hair pasta served in a special sauce. Chew, chew, chew, then swallow. A tiny portion of the plate became visible.

“Should I bring you a take-out container?” the server asked.

“No thank you, I don’t want a container. I’m enjoying my meal right here,” I responded as she looked at me as though I were taking up valuable space that could be used for another customer. Again Housemate thought it was a hoot. I was not hooting, I was chewing and savouring.

It was at least another 20 minutes before my brain registered that my stomach was full and I could stop chewing. It was a wonderful meal and I enjoyed every bite.

The server was delighted when we said we would take our dessert to go — in one of her prized take-out containers.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice. -- Ben Jonson --

Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 59 honours students in annual literacy and poster contest

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 59 has announced the winners of its 2025 School Poster, Essay and Poetry Contest, recognizing students from Moose Jaw and district schools, along with Avonlea School, for their efforts in literacy and remembrance-themed writing and artwork.

The annual contest encourages youth to reflect on themes of remembrance through creative expression, with categories spanning posters, essays, and poetry.

Among the winners from Moose Jaw and district schools were Paisley Fischer, Khrystyna Sviderska, Zea Calilao, Madeleine Beaudin Dawe, and Cassidy Mullin. Also recognized were Quinn Fradette, Bailey Seida, Jinge Tian, Cloey Evangelista, Edie Houston, Chloe Whitfield, and Camryn Michener.

Additional award recipients included Mason Salva, Harvey Durie, Leo St. Laurent, and Violet Marshall. Students Noah Epp, Katelyn Dyck, Grace Aghamelu, and Jace Gabel were also named among the winners.

At Avonlea School, students Ty Hubbard, Wyatt Gravelle, Jett Nelson, and Colby Duncan were honoured, along with Samuel Phillips, Emily Blatz, Gabrielle Bermudez, Isabella Diewold, and Vance Petruic.

Other Avonlea student winners included Elsa Petruic, GloriaMae Skoczyla, Jennifer Blatz, Annie Dombowsky, and Quinn Miller.

Legion representatives and volunteers were also present in Avonlea to mark the occasion, including Branch 59 president Christine Simpson, Honours and Awards committee member Corrine Cobbe, Sgt.-at-Arms Steve Richardson, public relations representative Norma Richardson, UN NATO veteran Don McDonald, Poppy chair Sue Knox, and Honours and Awards chair Joyce Walter.

The School Poster, Essay and Poetry Contest is part of the Legion’s broader youth and remem-

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Winners of the 2025 Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 59 School Poster, Essay and Poetry Contest from Moose Jaw and district schools gather for a group photo following this year’s presentation. Photo by: Supplied

brance programming, aimed at fostering an understanding of Canada’s military

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

history and the importance of honouring veterans.

Through writing and visual art, students are invited each year to explore the meaning of remembrance in their own words and imagery — a tradition that continues to draw participation from schools across the region.

Students from Avonlea School pose with Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 59 representatives after being recognized as winners in the 2025 School Poster, Essay and Poetry Contest. Photo by: Supplied

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 59 extended its congratulations to all participants and winners for their thoughtful submissions and commitment to the con-

IN THE ESTATE OF RONALD WAYNE FUHR, late of the city of Moose Jaw, in the Province of Saskatchewan, deceased.

ALL claims against the above estate, duly veri ed by Statutory Declaration with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, may be sent to the undersigned before the 11th day of March, 2026

CHOW MCLEOD

Barristers and Solicitors

48 High Street West

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan S6H 1S3

Attention: Mr. Parker A. Chow

Solicitor for the Executor

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE ESTATE OF ANN MARIE SMYTH, late of the city of Moose Jaw, in the Province of Saskatchewan, deceased.

ALL claims against the above estate, duly veri ed by Statutory Declaration with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, may be sent to the undersigned before the 11th day of March, 2026

CHOW MCLEOD

Barristers and Solicitors

48 High Street West

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan S6H 1S3

Attention: Mr. Parker A. Chow

Solicitor for the Executor

test’s themes.

Branch No. 59 is located at 693 Fairford Street West and can be reached at 306-692-5453.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE ESTATE OF ELIZABETH JEAN GIBSON, late of the City of Moose Jaw, in the Province of Saskatchewan, deceased.

ALL claims against the above estate, duly veri ed by Statutory Declaration with the particulars and valuation of security held, if any, may be sent to the undersigned before the 18th day of March, 2026.

Advocate Law Firm

Barristers and Solicitors

Suite 125-361 Main Street North Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan S6H 0W2

Attention: Estes B. Fonkalsrud Solicitors for the Executor

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

In the Estate of MARY DONISON, late of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, deceased.

All claims against the above estate, duly veri ed by statutory declaration and with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before the 15th day of April, 2026.

SUZANNE G. YOUNG LAW

#218 – 53 Stadacona Street West

Moose Jaw, SK S6H 1Z2

Phone: (306) 631-1952

Fax: (306) 988-5123

Email: mail@sylegal.ca

PROVINCIAL COURT REPORT

Warrants cancelled for businessmen who breached immigration laws

Bench warrants that a provincial court judge had issued for the arrest of three businessmen accused of abusing foreign workers have been cancelled, after the men appeared in person.

Kartikkumar Prakashkumar Patel, Rutvik Hasmukhbhai Patel and Piyushkumar Mafatbhai Patel are each charged with three offences under Sections 22 and 23 of The Foreign Worker Recruitment and Im-

•

•

•

• Sat, Mar 14

• Mon, Mar 16

- Regular Saturday Morning Sale

- LaBatte / East Poplar Simmental Bull Sale

- Regular Saturday Morning Sale

- Regular Saturday Morning Sale

- South Sask Simmental & Angus Bull Sale

Jason G. Antonio - For the Moose Jaw Express

migration Services Act, 2013 (FWRISA). The alleged offences took place between August 2023 and February 2024 at Guac Mexi Grill in Moose Jaw.

The co-accused are charged with:

• Taking action against, or threatening action against, a foreign worker for participating in an investigation or proceeding by any government or law enforcement agency or for making a complaint to any government or law enforcement agency

• Taking unfair advantage of a foreign national’s trust or exploiting a foreign national’s fear or lack of experience or knowledge

•

• Being an employer who charged a foreign worker a fee or expense for employment

All three Patels appeared in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on Feb. 19, either in person or by phone from India, with defence lawyer Bhavandeep Jaggi representing them.

Judge Brian Hendrickson said that a Crown prosecutor had asked the court to issue warrants for the arrest of the businessmen during a previous hearing since they failed to show. However, he agreed to cancel those warrants since the businessmen were appearing as required.

Crown prosecutor Monique Paquin agreed with the decision, while she said the Moose Jaw office did not have the files for this case, nor was it handling the situation in the long term. Instead, she would fol-

low up with a prosecutor in Saskatoon and inform her about the most recent developments.

Jaggi said he also needed to speak with the new prosecutor from Saskatoon, considering this situation was “complex and a new area of law;” Saskatchewan proclaimed The Immigration Services Act, 2024 (ISA) on July 1, 2024, which replaced FWRISA.

The ISA is the most comprehensive program integrity framework in the nation, including the highest fines for violations in the country, the province said. As these offences occurred before the implementation of the ISA, charges were laid under the former Act.

Continuing, the defence lawyer said the Moose Jaw courthouse emailed him recently, saying Judge David Chow may have a conflict with the case. This meant another judge might have to handle situations such as case management conferences (CMCs) or trials.

In response, Judge Hendrickson said he would leave it to his brother judge to determine whether he had a conflict. He noted that Judge Chow could handle regular procedural matters, but not CMCs or trials. Judge Hendrickson added that he would allow Jaggi to speak with the new Crown prosecutor in Saskatoon, since a previous prosecutor had suggested there was a “voluminous” amount of paperwork and disclosure to review.

The Patels’ next court appearance is on Tuesday, March 10.

Motorist’s ‘extraordinarily high’ alcohol levels net him major fine

Jason G. Antonio - For the Moose Jaw Express

Boyd Peakman will spend the next year catching rides from friends and family after losing his licence because he drove intoxicated and had three times the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

Peakman, 51, appeared in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on Feb. 19, where he pleaded guilty to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) equal to or greater than the allowed 0.8 grams per litre of blood.

As part of a joint submission, the Moose Jaw resident will lose his licence for 12 months, while he must pay an elevated fine of $2,500. However, because he must also pay a $300 victim fund surcharge, his total penalty is $2,800; he has until May 15 to pay.

Peakman told Judge Brian Hendrickson that at the time of the incident, he had just learned he had liver failure — he’s now on a transplant waiting list — and was given roughly a year to live. Furthermore, he

was experiencing other major health issues and was mourning the collapse of his marriage.

Peakman acknowledged that he put the community in danger with his driving, while also wasting the time of the police and the court. However, he noted that he was receiving help from a local detoxification centre, an addiction counsellor and treatment programs to address his “bad alcohol problem.”

Judge Hendrickson accepted the joint submission, saying the two BAC readings were “extraordinarily high.” Moreover, he noted that Peakman posed “a real risk” to himself and other road users when he drove drunk. However, he was pleased that the man accepted responsibility for his actions and agreed to plead guilty.

The Crown later stayed a charge of impaired driving.

BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS REPORT

Board of Police Commissioners: Police board hears how MJPS’ K9 unit trains for real-world calls

Moose Jaw’s police commissioners got a closer look at the training, teamwork, and operational role of the Moose Jaw Police Service’s (MJPS) K9 unit during a presentation at the board’s Feb. 18 public meeting.

Const. Curtis Amiot, who oversees the unit, discussed how police service dogs are trained for patrol work and why K9 teams regularly seek new environments to maintain realistic standards.

“We have eight jackets with seven or eight patrol dogs, (and) we have two dogs per patrol team,” Amiot said. “We train with them both here and in Regina as well, just to share knowledge, share venues, (and) share quarries (trained decoys).”

Amiot explained that changing training locations is important so dogs don’t become overly familiar with the same venues. The unit trains with multiple agencies across Saskatchewan, including the Ministry of Environment, which operates its own police dogs.

The presentation followed an earlier police board update in July 2025, when commissioners were introduced to PSD Draco, a Canadian-born Belgian Ma-

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

G. Antonio

linois acquired to become the service’s newest patrol dog.

The discussion also touched on the K9 unit’s role during high-risk vehicle stops, including training related to vehicle extractions. Boyle raised the question with a good-natured hypothetical involving the mayor, who chairs the board, asking whether a police dog could pull a suspect from a vehicle during a high-risk stop.

“If the mayor broke a law, and he

was in his car with the windows open, could Draco grab him on the arm and pull him out of there? Is that a real thing?” Boyle asked.

“Yup. That would be one of the things we train (for), high-risk vehicle stops, and that usually involves some sort of vehicle extraction,” Amiot replied.

Commissioners also inquired about the nature of police dog bites.

“They’re not designed to injure; they’re designed to hold,” Amiot explained. “If there are injuries, it’s usually punctures and not ripping or tearing or anything like that ….”

The presentation also addressed the challenge of finding training venues during business hours and the value of having access to different buildings throughout the year.

“Now that they’ve shut down those three schools, we’ve gone into Sacred Heart a couple of times already, just as a brand new venue with different looks and rooms,” Amiot said. He added that the unit has also trained at the school board office and the former John Chisholm Alternate School, and he would like to access St. Mary and Empire schools as

additional options.

Amiot has previously told commissioners that having two canine partners gives him “the luxury” to choose the best dog for a given situation — with Argo, an experienced German Shepherd, and Draco, a younger Belgian Malinois — and that he could also train Draco for drug work, which would make him the first drug-focused MJPS canine in more than 10 years.

The Moose Jaw Police Service Canine Unit was established in 2009 with two dogs and two handlers and has since expanded to four police service dogs and four dedicated handlers. Each handler works exclusively with their own dog, with canine teams assigned across patrol shifts and available 24 hours a day to respond to in-progress crimes and assist at high-risk scenes. The unit’s generalpurpose dogs are trained in tracking, area searches, evidence detection and criminal apprehension, and are also used for school visits and community demonstrations.

For more information, visit MJPolice.ca/about/departments.

Moose Jaw Police saw calls for service rise more than 30% since 2021

Calls for service to the Moose Jaw Police Service have increased by more than 30 per cent over the past five years, according to statistics presented to the Board of Police Commissioners during its Feb. 18 public meeting.

Chief Robert Davis presented a monthly calls-for-service report spanning 2021 through 2025, which was requested by Commissioner Patrick Boyle at the board’s previous meeting on Jan. 21.

The report showed annual calls rising from 16,048 in 2021 to 20,892 in 2025 — an increase of 4,844 calls over that period. Calls for service can include both criminal and non-criminal incidents.

Davis said the year-to-year totals “tells a pretty significant story,” pointing

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

to the steady rise in calls over the fiveyear period.

The report follows discussion at the board’s January meeting, when police officials reported overall declines in crimes against the person and property in 2025 compared to 2024, while calls for service still increased year over year.

The board’s February package also included a statistical extract for January, showing calls for service down compared to the same month last year. The extract listed 1,381 calls for service in January, compared to 1,681 in January 2025.

The extract also showed year-overyear declines in several categories, including total crimes against the person, which fell to 23 incidents in January

from 34 in January 2025. Total crimes against property dropped to 67 incidents in January from 99 the year before.

Boyle said the five-year calls-forservice data supported a key point he was trying to illustrate: that even if certain crime categories appear to decline in other reporting, the demand for police response has risen steadily. The year-toyear totals showed calls rising to 19,143 in 2022, 19,813 in 2023, and 20,522 in 2024 before reaching 20,892 in 2025.

Boyle said the increase could reflect multiple factors, including greater willingness among residents to call police.

“People can be more comfortable calling the police when they’re having an issue, which in that case is a good thing, because we do want them to call,” he said.

However, he also said the increase raises concerns around staffing and workload.

“If you have a 30 per cent increase over five years in any other profession … that is a workload problem, right?” Boyle said.

Boyle also referenced recent staffing additions approved for the service.

“This makes the case for … that increase in funding and increase in police service members,” he said, referring in part to the province’s recent announcement of $714,000 in recruitment and retention funding, the eight positions the service is working to fill, and the time it will take to get those hires through police college and into active duty.

The board later voted unanimously to receive and file the report.

PSD Draco, shown in this 2025 file photo, is a patrol dog with the Moose Jaw Police Service’s K9 unit and attended the Feb. 18 police board meeting. Photo by: Jason

‘Nature

belongs to everyone’: New tour company seeks deeper connection to local wild places

When Jenn Smith Nelson speaks about viewing birds and wild places on her guided tours, it’s less about launching a new business and more about inviting people to slow down and immerse themselves in the natural world many overlook in their day-to-day lives.

“It is my aim to create a company that is a little bit more holistic in nature, so it’s not your typical guided tour business,” she said.

Nelson, a Moose Jaw-based travel writer, photographer, and naturalist, officially launched her new company, The Wild View, on Feb. 9. Operating under the handle “Wild View Tours,” the business is now booking guided experiences across central and southern Saskatchewan, with programming that blends birding, wildlife viewing, and wellnessbased elements.

“I definitely want to slow down the pace a bit and have people really pay attention,” she said. “There are ways you can … really immerse yourself in the landscape, and I will be introducing some of those elements.”

Programming takes place across prairie, wetland, and woodland environments, including Last Mountain

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Lake, Grasslands National Park, Buffalo Pound Provincial Park, and urban birding locations in Moose Jaw and Regina. The company features full-day and halfday tours, multi-day trips and retreats, family experiences, youth workshops, and custom private bookings, welcoming both seasoned birders and those who are simply curious, with options tailored to “more hardcore birders” as well as a “more naturalist type of tour.”

Nelson said she’s intentionally casting a wide net early on.

“In all fairness, I’m trying to see what sticks for people and what resonates locally,” she said.

Her style moves beyond the quick “spot-and-go” approach that can define some wildlife outings.

“It’s not just seeing the birds that makes the experience,” she said. “It’s creating an experience. It’s about teaching people.”

That instruction includes helping the group see what an experienced birder might spot instinctively.

One upcoming retreat, scheduled for June 5 to June 7 at Camp Wolf Willow near Outlook, Sask., is titled “Flightpath to Stillness.”

TAX ENFORCEMENT LIST TOWN OF PENSE PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN

Notice is hereby given under The Tax Enforcement Act that unless the arrears and costs appearing opposite the land and title number described in the following list are fully paid before the 21st day of April 2026, an interest based on a tax lien will be registered against the land.

Note: A sum for costs in an amount required by subsection 4(3) of The Tax Enforcement Act is included in the amount shown against each parcel.

Dated this 20th day of February, 2026

Jennifer Lendvay

Treasurer

“It’s about resetting in the spring and connecting with yourself, with the land, and with wildlife, in ways that refuel you as a person,” Nelson shared.

Some tours are being developed in collaboration with local experts and operators to strengthen programming, support other Saskatchewan-based businesses, and bring additional expertise into the field. Those partnerships include working with flora expert Emily Soveran on select Buffalo Pound tours and collaborating with Kyla Bouvier of Back2Nature Wellness.

A cornerstone of her business model is a donation-based initiative called Community Days, designed to reduce barriers for seniors and people facing affordability or accessibility challenges.

“I really think it’s important to take care of groups that, really, I don’t think are targeted within tourism in this province,” Nelson said, describing her belief that “Nature belongs to everyone” and that

the tours are “about creating space for shared learning and meaningful time outside, especially for those who may not see themselves reflected in traditional outdoor tourism.”

For those seeking a private or customized experience, the business is also open to building tours around specific goals, destinations, or group occasions.

Nelson wants ethics and reciprocity to be the foundations of her operating baseline. As part of this approach, she has committed to donate three per cent of profits back to conservation groups for select tours, supporting Nature Saskatchewan and Prairie Wind & Silver Sage – Friends of Grasslands Inc.

In the meantime, Nelson is still preparing for her first round of tours, with the first, “an urban wildlife tour,” set for April 4 in Regina. Her urban series will include offerings there and also in Moose Jaw.

As she looks toward spring, Nelson hopes people leave her tours with more than just a few photos.

“I have always connected the outdoors to personal wellness and mental well-being. Once you (see others make this connection), you know the joy on their faces to just be able to see it with their own eyes,” she said. “That’s why I do this, and that’s what gives me purpose — sharing that with others.”

For more information, visit TheWildView.ca or contact Nelson at WildViewToursSK@gmail.com. The company is also on Facebook at “Wild View Tours” and Instagram under “wildviewtours.”

Jenn Smith Nelson, founder of The Wild View. Photo by: Jennifer Nelson/Supplied

Spring and fall migration mark one of the peak viewing seasons featured in The Wild View’s guided nature tours. Photo by: Jennifer Nelson/Supplied

Against the Grain dancers invited to perform at Disneyland through ‘Dance the Magic’

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Four dancers from Against the Grain Studios will head to California this spring after being selected to perform at Disneyland through the “Dance the Magic” program.

The local studio has been accepted to attend the event from April 10 to April 12 in Anaheim, Calif., where participants will train with Disney professionals and perform inside the park. The program is application-based and includes required video evaluations.

“Dance the Magic is a company that brings dancers together at various parks and resorts and gives them the opportunity to work with experienced performers, choreographers, and show directors from Disney,” said Alana Rempel of Against the Grain Studios.

Students Mackenzie Ash-Aikman, Myia Christie, Kennedy Diacon, and Temperance Wiebe will represent the studio. They are scheduled to perform in the Main Street parade inside Disneyland and will also take part in workshops led by Disney teaching artists.

“On this trip, our dancers will be attending workshops with skilled performers and professionals. In addition to this, our students will be dancing in the parade and they’ll have the opportunity to explore the park as well during their downtime,” Rempel said.

“This trip means a great deal to the dancers personally as it gives them the opportunity to improve their technique and build more self-esteem with Disney teaching artists. This trip will also allow our dancers and their families to bond as a team and make connections with dancers from other studios, fostering a sense of community,” she said.

The opportunity also reflects the studio’s broader mission, noted Rempel.

“Against the Grain Studios prides itself on being an inclusive dance studio. We accept dancers of all ages and skill levels, and Dance the Magic amplifies that and showcases everything dancing should be — empowering, fun, and accessible to everyone. This event will also help our dancers build confidence through mastering new environments, team unity, and creating core memories. For many of us former dancers, some of

Mackenzie Ash-Aikman, Myia Christie, Kennedy Diacon, and Temperance Wiebe of Against the Grain Studios are preparing to travel to Disneyland in April, where they will perform in the Main Street parade as part of the “Dance the Magic” program. Photo by: Alana Rempel/Supplied

our best memories are the trips we took with our team,” Rempel said.

To help cover travel, park admission, and costume costs, the studio is hosting a series of fundraisers. A booze basket raffle is currently underway, with tickets priced at $10 each and available at Against the Grain Studios, located at 33 High Street West, or directly from participating families. The draw will take place March 1.

The studio is also hosting a rib and Caesar salad night at The Mad Greek restaurant on March 26, with tickets available for $25 apiece.

“In order to attend, dancers and their families are facing high costs due to travel expenses, park entry and costumes,” Rempel said. “Fundraising helps remove the financial burden this trip places on families, giving the dancers an amazing opportunity to travel for their passion.”

She added that community support plays an important role in ensuring access to the arts.

“Families with children in the arts have fewer opportunities for funding than other activities such as sports,” Rempel said. “By supporting our yearround fundraising efforts, you are helping to bridge the gap and give children equal opportunities to participate.”

Against the Grain Artisan Gallery & Tattoo is located at 33 High Street West and can be reached at 306313-9065. For more information, visit AgainstTheGrainTattoo.ca or email AlanaRempel@hotmail.com.

Regina Cougars fall short of medals at U Sports Canada women’s curling championship

Regina’s Chloe Johnston fall to Albert in bronze medal game, Memorial takes women’s title, Calgary claims men’s championship

Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com

The Regina Cougars were able to reach the playoff round but fell short of the medals on the final day of competition at the U Sports Canadian women’s curling championship on Saturday in Regina. Curling Canada

The Regina Cougars were unable to find a win on the final day of competition at the U Sports Canadian women’s curling championship on Saturday and as a result fell a single victory short of claiming a medal.

Regina’s Chloe Johnston, third Tesa Silversides, second Hannah Rugg, lead Lauren Speidel, alternate Makena Bai-

ley and coach Danielle Sicinski -- who hails from Moose Jaw -- dropped a 5-2 decision to eventual champion Memorial in the semifinal before falling 8-2 to Alberta in the bronze medal game Saturday afternoon.

You can find all the scores from the U Sports curling championships at www.curling.ca.

Prince Albert Raiders build early lead, hold off third period surge by Moose Jaw Warriors

Raiders score pair in first, go on to 6-2 victory over Warriors in Moose Jaw

Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com

Prince Albert’s Benett Kelly loads up for a shot against the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday night. Nick Pettiå

It was another decent effort for the Moose Jaw Warriors on Friday night February 20 in Western Hockey League action, but getting past the Prince Albert Raiders at this point in the season looks like it’s going to take perfection.

The Raiders scored twice in the first period and led 3-1 through two before holding off a third period surge by the Warriors and taking a 6-2 victory in

WHL action at Temple Gardens Centre in Moose Jaw.

As a result, the Warriors fall to 1929-5-2 and remain in ninth place, a single point back of the Red Deer Rebels for the final playoff spot. The Eastern Conference-leading Raiders improved to 42-8-5-0 and are now nine points clear of Medicine Hat for first place in the Conference.

Moose Jaw Warriors turn in another solid effort but fall short against Prince George Cougars

It stands to reason that if the Moose Jaw Warriors continue to play the way they did on Saturday night February 21 against the Prince George Cougars, they’ll be returning to the win column much sooner than later.

But they’ll have to wait at least one more game, as the Prince George Cougars used a pair of power play goals to help secure a 4-2 victory over the Warriors in Western Hockey League action at Temple Gardens Centre.

The Warriors fall to 19-31-5-2 and are now winless in their last eight games but still remain a single point back of Red Deer for the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference. Prince George improved to 34-20-2-0 and remain third in the Western Conference.

It was a special night for Warriors goaltender Dylan Mingo as he made his first career start in net for Moose Jaw. The Warriors’ second-round pick in the 2025 Prospects Draft, Mingo signed with the team this past September and made his WHL debut back on Jan. 2 against the Tigers in Medicine Hat, where he played the final 34:51 and stopped 24 of the 26 shots he faced in a 6-3 loss.

Mingo is having a solid campaign with Rink Hockey Academy Kelowna in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League U17 Prep division, posting a 3.29 GAA and .915 save percentage through 12 games.

The previous two games against the Prince Albert Raiders saw the Warriors turn in a decent start in the first period, but a lack of finish led to the Raiders taking the lead out of both opening frames.

On Saturday night, the Warriors had a great chance early, and they made it count.

A neutral-zone turnover sent Landen McFadden in all alone on a twoon-none with Casey Brown, and Brown

would finish off the play with a perfect shot over Cougars goaltender Josh Ravensbergen for a 1-0 lead.

Carson Carels and Arsenii Anisimov scored for Prince George later in the period, but the Warriors were at least able to get things going early, something that had been a problem in recent outings.

Anyone who took in the WHL Top Prospects Games earlier this week got a look at what Carson Carels can do from afar, and an up close and personal look on Saturday did little to dispel the aura around the 17-year-old defenceman.

The third-ranked North American skater in the NHL Central Scouting midterm rankings, Carels put up four assists in the Prospects Game and didn’t take long to have an impact in Moose Jaw, taking a pass to the high slot and ripping a shot home to tie the game.

Carels now has 15 goals and 54

points in 46 games this season and is sixth in scoring among rearguards.

Safe to say he’ll be one to watch out West in the final weeks of the regular season.

The Warriors don’t take a lot of penalties -- their 574 minutes total as a team were the second lowest in the East ern Conference heading into Saturday’s game -- but the timing as of late has had a serious effect on their chances of suc

cess.

Landen McFadden gave the Warriors the lead with a breakaway goal 4:02 into the second period, but Moose Jaw took their second penalty of the period just over a minute later, and Kooper Gizowski would restore Prince George’s lead 5:51 into the frame.

It’s almost impossible to play a completely clean penalty-free game, but with the way things have been going for Moose Jaw as of late, that’s pretty much what they have to strive to do, especially when they’re building momentum.

Dmitri Yakutsenak would score his 22nd of the season into the empty net, and Prince George’s win was in the books.

McFadden finished with two points on the night, while Carels also had a goal and assist.

Mingo turned aside 36 shots and had a handful of big saves in the third to keep Moose Jaw in the game, Ravens

Toilers Host Learn To Play Basketball Clinic

The Peacock Senior Boys Basketball team recently hosted a Learn to Play Basketball Clinic as part of our annual Helping Hoops Tournament, taking place February 26–28.

It was a privilege to work with approximately 20 kids from Moose Jaw Family Services for this special event and an incredible opportunity to connect, teach, and share our love of the game.

A huge thank you to SaskEnergy for

Submitted by the Peacock Senior Boys Basketball team

joining and supporting the clinic through their Share the Warmthprogram.

They generously provided each participant with to-go bags and Nike duffle bags, and capped off the day by bringing pizza for everyone to enjoy.

A thank is also extended to Riverview Collegiate for allowing the use of their gym while the floor at Peacock Collegiate is being resurfaced. The support made this event possible.

Finally, a big thanks goes out to all the amazing helpers — the Peacock Senior Boys team, members of the Pea-

Share your team’s news, pictures and results with us! email: editor@mjvexpress.com

cock Senior Girls team, and athletes from the Ballers Basketball Club. Your leadership and enthusiasm made the day a huge success.

We are proud to continue building community through basketball.

https://www.mjindependent.com/ sports/2026/2/20/toilers-host-learn-toplay-basketball-clinic

Toilers Set To Host Helping Hoops Tournament

By Robert Thomas

The Peacock Toilers senior boys basketball team will be hosting a major 16team basketball tournament February 26th - February 28th.

The tournament will see 16 teams from across the province - two from Moose Jaw - descend on the Peacock Gym for the 2026 Peacock Helping Hoops Tournament.

The two local teams participating are the Peacock Toilers and the Vanier Vikings.

The Toilers tip off against Estevan at 5 pm Thursday February 26th.

The Vanier Vikings tip off against the Luther Lions at 5 pm Thursday February 26th.

The tournament ends with the championship game at 7:30 pm on February 28th.

https://www.mjindependent.com/ sports/2026/2/20/jd5khqkzsoiyofsso8htp6whb0wk8x

Sask Selects competition concluded at SCORE! Bowl Series in Mexico

Athletes from Moose Jaw and across the province represented Saskatchewan last week as the Sask Selects football program competed at the SCORE! Bowl Series in Monterrey, Mexico, from Feb. 19 to 22.

The Selects brought three teams — 12U, 14U, and Varsity — to the international tournament, with just over 100 players travelling as part of a delegation of roughly 300 people. Twelve athletes from Moose Jaw were among those competing.

The event featured teams from

across Mexico, including Los Cabos, Canc?n, Mexico City, and Monterrey, and followed a format similar to January’s Battle on the Prairies tournament.

With temperatures significantly warmer than Saskatchewan’s February climate, hydration and acclimatization were a key part of preparations as players adjusted to conditions in Nuevo Le?n.

The Sask Selects are based out of the Yara Centre, located at 1220 High Street West. For more information, visit SelectsFootball.com.

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

The Peacock Toilers senior boys team and participants - submitted photo

Spring hockey development program to bring structured skills training to Moose Jaw

A new hockey development program is set to hit the ice this April, with a focus on structured teaching and limited group sizes for both players and goalies.

Ryan Carlson, founder of Carlson Cutting Edge Development, is launching his first spring camp in Moose Jaw, offering eight evening sessions at the Red Knight Arena throughout April for U13, U15, and U18 athletes.

“For our practices, I’m going to pair up with a goalie coach here in town named Adam Evanoff. He’s the Warriors’ goalie coach, and I want to try to find a way to expand not just player development, but goalie development

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

as well,” Carlson said. “I think there’s a lack of intertwining between those two things.”

Each session will run for one hour and follow a consistent format, beginning with 15 minutes dedicated to breaking down a specific skill. During that time, players will work with Carlson, while goalies will train separately with Evanoff.

“Whether that’s breaking down a skating skill, a puck-handling skill, or other things of that nature,” Carlson said, “the goal is to teach the skill in detail before progressing.”

is designed to allow for direct, hands-on instruction, ensuring each athlete receives individualized teaching and guidance throughout the hour-long session.

While this marks the first official camp under the Carlson Cutting Edge Development banner, Carlson brings experience from previous coaching roles across Western Canada.

The next segment, which lasts roughly 15 to 30 minutes, will see athletes apply that skill through stationbased drills designed to introduce pressure and game-like scenarios. The final 15 minutes will focus on implementing those skills in small-area games.

“I’ve worked in Winnipeg as a skills coach. I’ve worked in Regina as a skills coach. I’ve worked in Cranbrook, British Columbia, as a skills coach,” he said. “So I’ve seen a lot of different player development throughout Western Canada, and I’m trying to bring it here to Moose Jaw and do it right.”

Aaron WalkerMoose Jaw Express

SNAPSHOT: Casey Brown of the Moose Jaw Warriors celebrated his 20th birthday on Feb. 20. The veteran forward is marking a milestone season in the Western Hockey League, continuing to contribute experience, energy, and leadership to the Warriors’ lineup as he closes out his junior career. Photo by: Moose Jaw Warriors Hockey

“So 15, 30, 15 (minutes) will look like a typical session for us when it comes to both player and goalie development,” he said.

Carlson said he plans to cap registration to ensure athletes receive individualized attention.

“I’m hoping to have a minimum of 12 players and a maximum of maybe 16 skaters,” he said. “Goalie-wise, two to four, so Adam (Evanoff) can work with them and get good touch points throughout the session.”

Carlson said the small group format

Later in the season, Carlson said he hopes to expand with additional camps in Caronport.

The upcoming eight-session spring camp will run on select evenings throughout April at the Red Knight Arena. The cost is $450, which includes taxes and a jersey. Registration is open to U13, U15, and U18 players, with a deadline of Friday, March 20. Spots are limited.

To register, parents or players are asked to email CarlsonCEDevelopment@gmail.com with the athlete’s position, age, and the last team they played for this past season.

The Red Knight Arena is located along North Battleford Street West at 15 Wing Moose Jaw.

Photo by: Matthew Gourlie

Young’s Equipment earns provincial Outstanding Employer Award for apprentice leadership

Young’s Equipment Inc., which operates one of its nine Saskatchewan locations in Moose Jaw, has been recognized at the provincial level for its apprenticeship training efforts.

At the recent Apprenticeship Awards event in Regina, the company received the Outstanding Employer Award for employers with more than 50 employees, presented by the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC). According to information provided by Young’s Equipment, the award covers all apprenticeable trades in Saskatchewan for large employers and marks the first time an agricultural equipment dealership has received the honour in that category.

The company stated that apprenticeship training has been a priority since its incorporation in 1988. According to Young’s, structured training pathways are embedded across departments, particularly within the Agricultural Equipment Technician (AET) and Parts Technician trades.

In the AET trade, the company reported that new hires are required to register as apprentices after completing their probation period. Service department managers who hold a Red Seal Journeyperson certificate are also required to obtain their Blue Seal certification. Within the Parts Technician trade, new hires are strongly encouraged to register as apprentices following probation.

Young’s Equipment also stated that its compensation structure includes pay

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

increments tied to apprenticeship levels, which it said is intended to support continued training and certification.

The company also points to longterm involvement in industry trade boards. According to Young’s, it has maintained continuous representation for more than 22 years on the AET Apprenticeship Trade Board and has previously served on the Parts Technician Apprenticeship Trade Board and Curriculum Board. It currently has representation on the Regina Trades and Skills Board.

Educational partnerships are another area the company highlights. Young’s

The “Outstanding Employer — More than 50 Employees” award was presented to Young’s Equipment in recognition of its apprenticeship training programs and support for skilled trades development

Tim Young, left, presents the “Outstanding Employer — More than 50 Employees” award to Brent Bazin, right, service executive at Young’s Equipment, during the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission’s Apprenticeship Awards event in Regina this February. Photo by: Supplied

reported that it played a role in developing Agricultural Equipment Technician Level 20 and 30 high school programs, now managed by Sask DLC, as well as partnering in the development of the Level 30 Parts Technician program. Through career outreach efforts, including events hosted by local school divisions and Sask Polytech, the company stated that it promotes skilled trades to students. In 2025, the company projected that it would engage with more than 10,000 students through career events and collaborations, including work with Ag in the Classroom.

Young’s also cited its internal train-

ing environment as part of its apprenticeship model. According to the company, all staff, including apprentices, receive approximately 100 hours of annual training, including safety instruction and technical updates. AET apprentices are paired with experienced mentors and take part in monthly evaluations conducted by department service managers, along with semi-annual reviews involving the corporate service manager.

The company reported that it contributes to North America Equipment Dealer Association scholarships and awards five annual scholarships to AET apprentices and certificate students enrolled at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Over the past five years, Young’s said that it has donated more than $850,000 worth of agricultural equipment and components to Sask Polytech to support hands-on training.

In collaboration with Sask Polytech, the company also helped develop the “Top Tech” Case IH training program, which it said provides product-specific training to complement the standard apprenticeship curriculum.

According to Young’s Equipment, 63 per cent of its AET technicians have been employed for more than five years, and 47 per cent for more than 10 years. The company reported that its average AET staff was under 37 years of age.

The company’s Moose Jaw branch is located at the junction of 32nd Avenue Northwest and Highway 1. For more information, call 306-694-1800 or visit Youngs.ca.

Western Development Museum hosts Community Heritage Day

An afternoon of storytelling, hands-on demonstrations, and connection drew families through the doors of the Western Development Museum in Moose Jaw on Feb. 21 for its annual Community Heritage Day.

Running from 1 to 4 p.m. in the museum’s lobby area, the event brought together local and regional organizations to share their work, traditions, and upcoming programming.

Erika Warkentin, programs and volunteer co-ordinator at the museum, said

the event served as a platform for smaller museums and community groups to expand their reach.

“Every year we host it to give organizations around Moose Jaw and surrounding communities another opportunity to share their message and reach a broader audience. As a larger organization, we have the attention of the public in a different way than many of these smaller museums do,” she said.

Warkentin, who began her role at the WDM in November, described this

year’s Heritage Day as the first major event fully under her direction at the museum.

“It’s been good. It’s definitely been a lot, but I was very lucky that the previous programs co-ordinator took extensive notes, so it’s been pretty easy to get into it,” she said. “It’s been a great way to kick things off, especially since there have been a lot of people who are really excited about it.”

Unlike traditional heritage events that focus solely on artifacts and pio-

neer history, Warkentin said the scope extended to ongoing arts and cultural initiatives in the region.

“We like to emphasize arts and culture in the community. It’s nice to be able to provide insight into what’s going on and what people can get involved in that they may not have known about before.”

Participants included Prairie Hearts Quilters’ Guild, New Southern Plains M?tis Local No. 160, Saskatchewan

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

across Saskatchewan. Photo by: Supplied

Festival of Words, Sukanen Ship Pioneer Village and Museum, the Moose Jaw branch of the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society, the Assiniboia and District Museum, Avonlea Heritage Museum, and the Moose Jaw Public Library (MJPL).

By the midway point of the afternoon, Warkentin estimated attendance at approximately 150 people, with more still arriving.

At the public library’s booth, staff highlighted regular services and upcoming events, including Indigenous Storytelling Month programming.

“It’s always nice to get out into the community, talk to families and let people know what we’re doing, and just to have that connection. We want people to come see us,” said Naiomi Setter, com-

by: Aaron Walker

munity outreach librarian at the MJPL.

Warkentin said one of her favourite aspects of the day was the opportunity for visitors to interact directly with presenters.

“I really like the interaction between the public and those who are behind the scenes. There isn’t necessarily one big takeaway — I think they’re all

doing something meaningful in different ways.”

Encouraged by early feedback, she’s already looking ahead to her next big event.

“I’ve been getting a lot of good feedback from people who’ve been coming in, and I’m really excited to move forward and do it again next year, improving on what we’ve been do-

ing,” she said. “I just started about four months ago, so I’m excited to take what I’m learning right now and apply it next year, and hopefully reach an even bigger audience.”

For more information, visit WDM. ca/moose-jaw. The Western Development Museum is located at 50 Diefenbaker Drive.

‘You Belong Dance’ aims to create inclusive celebration for every ability in Moose Jaw

A local mother hopes to turn a simple yet powerful idea into a new annual tradition — a fully inclusive dance event designed to accommodate people of all abilities.

Chelsey Goodwin is in the early planning stages of launching “Molly & Elliot’s You Belong Dance,” envisioned as “a dance for every body.” The event, still seeking sponsors and a venue, would be intentionally structured to ensure individuals living with different abilities or additional support needs are not only invited, but fully included.

“I have two children with autism who are nonverbal. I have a boy and a girl, and they’re absolutely amazing,” Goodwin said.

Her children, Molly and Elliot, inspired the concept after Goodwin noticed that while Moose Jaw offers a variety of themed dances and community events, few are designed with accessibility and sensory needs at the forefront.

“I noted that … there wasn’t anything specifically for everybody, and every version of everybody with no judgment,” she said. “That is kind of what pushed me to explore the idea of having an all-inclusive dance.”

The vision includes many of the traditional elements of a school dance — a DJ, music, and lights — but with

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

thoughtful adaptations. Goodwin said sensory considerations would be central to the planning.

She hopes to secure sponsorships to purchase noise-cancelling headphones and create a designated sensory space with dim lighting and a quieter atmosphere for anyone who needs a break from the stimulation.

An accessible venue remains one of the first hurdles. No date has been set, as sponsorship support will determine the location and scope of the event. Goodwin said she is open to indoor or outdoor options, as long as accessibility is prioritized.

“I’m hoping to find a venue that has accessible bathrooms and accessible areas for people in a wheelchair or not in a wheelchair as well, (including) a little extra space for a sensory area,” she said.

For now, she is calling on the community to help shape the event from the ground up.

“I think everything starts with an idea, and then you work as a community to make it come true,” Goodwin said. “I just feel that Moose Jaw is such a great community, and I’ve seen so many wonderful things happen as a parent to two kiddos with autism.”

Support could range from financial sponsorship and donated services

An illustration shared by Chelsey Goodwin features Elliot and Molly, representing the vision for Molly & Elliot’s You Belong Dance — a proposed sensoryfriendly, fully inclusive event celebrating different abilities and belonging for every body.

by: Chelsey Goodwin

to printing tickets or helping promote the event. Goodwin said inclusion also means being mindful of cost. She is exploring options such as sponsorshipsupported tickets or pay-what-you-can pricing so that families are not excluded for financial reasons.

“Inclusion means accessibility in every way, including cost,” she added.

If funds remain after expenses, Goodwin plans to donate them to the

Kinsmen Caf? on South Hill, which provides employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

“We love the inclusion they bring and admire that they create opportunities year-round for individuals of all abilities,” she noted about the inclusionfocused caf?.

She added that kindness and understanding must remain at the centre of the effort.

“I just really want to stress that everyone be mindful of everybody’s abilities and needs, because even though they may not be visible, they’re there,” Goodwin said. “I just think we need to bring a lot more kindness into the world, and understanding with each other.”

More than anything, Goodwin said the dance is about belonging.

“This dance is (about) everyone coming together, and it’s not just Molly and Elliot. We all belong. It’s everyone’s dance. And I want everybody to be a part and for everyone to be involved,” she said.

Community members interested in sponsoring, volunteering, or collaborating can contact Goodwin at 306630-4746 or by email at MindEmpowerME@outlook.com.

Photos

Photo

From The Kitchen

By Joyce Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

Pineapple from a can does not compare with fresh pineapples enjoyed by folks who escape Saskatchewan winters for warmer climates.

But we at home adapt and make many mouthwatering dishes with chunked, sliced or crushed pineapple from a tin, adding both a sweet and sour taste to the main course or dessert.

PINEAPPLE PORK STIR-FRY

2 tbsps. lime juice

1 tbsp. soy sauce

2 tsps. brown sugar

1 tsp. sesame oil

1 tsp. fish sauce

1 tbsp. cooking oil

1 cup red onion cut in thin wedges

1 cup red pepper, thinly sliced

1-14 oz. can pineapple chunks, drained

1 1/2 cups cooked pork, sliced in thin strips

Combine first five ingredients in a container with a tight lid. Shake well. Set aside.

Heat a large frying pan on medum-high setting until hot. Add cooking oil, onion and pepper and stir-

Pineapple from a tin conjures feel of warm climates

fry 4-5 minutes or longer until softened.

Add pineapple chunks and pork, Stir then add previously made sauce and cook about 2-4 minutes longer until all ingredients are heated.

Serve hot over a bed of rice.

PINEAPPLE DESSERT PIE

3 large eggs

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

6 tbsps. all-purpose flour

6 tbsps. butter softened

1-14 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained

6 tbsps. milk

1 1/2 tsps. vanilla extract unbaked pie shell

Beat eggs vigoursly. Add sugar, butter and flour. Beat until smooth.

Add pineapple, milk and vanilla and stir.

Pour into a pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60 minutes until set. Cool before cutting into six or eight wedges.

Note: a store-bought graham cracker crumb pie shell can also be used.

PINEAPPLE COCONUT BARS

1 tbsp. butter

1 cup pastry flour

1 tbsp. granulated sugar

3 eggs, well beaten

3 tsps. baking powder

1 large tin crushed pineapple, well drained

3/4 cup sugar

1 tbsp. melted butter

2 cups shredded coconut

Cream 1 tbsp. sugar and butter. Blend in sifted dry ingredients. Add half the beaten egg and mix thoroughly. This mixture will be quite thick. Spread into a greased 8 inch square pan.

Cover batter evenly with the well-drained pineapple.

Mix 3/4 cup sugar, melted butter and coconut. Mix in remaining eggs. Spread this mixture over the pineapple.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes. Cool and cut into squares.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Age-Friendly Moose Jaw focusing on digital literacy, intergenerational programs in 2026

With its late-2025 transportation pilot now concluded, Age-Friendly Moose Jaw is shifting its focus toward a broader goal: better co-ordination of services and programming for older adults, with new work planned around intergenerational activities and digital literacy.

Rom Jukes, a member of the AgeFriendly Moose Jaw Committee, said the organization has now completed its 2025 grant-funded projects — including the Age-Friendly Transportation Pilot: Enhancing Mobility for Older Adults in Moose Jaw — and has secured new grant funding for 2026.

“The takeaway from our work in 2025 is that co-ordination of programming and supports is really valuable,” Jukes said. “So our goal (for 2026) is to enhance what exists — to partner with programs that are already occurring, and also try to develop programs that are identified as lacking.”

Jukes said part of that work is ensuring the committee understands what services are already available to avoid duplicating efforts, while also look-

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

ing for ways to support those programs when barriers arise.

He pointed to an example involving an art program at the Timothy Eaton Centre — where the Age-Friendly Moose Jaw is based — when organizers were struggling to find a specialized tool used for paper quilling.

“They were having trouble finding a very specific tool,” Jukes said. “We were able to partner with the Moose Jaw Public Library and basically 3D print those for 35 cents a tool.”

The committee is now entering 2026 in what Jukes described as a preparation phase. While grant funding has already been secured, the committee is still looking to hire a co-ordinator before the next stage can begin.

Jukes said two themes will guide the organization’s work this year: intergenerational programming and digital literacy for older adults.

Intergenerational programming, he explained, is meant to bring younger and older residents together through shared activities and community partnerships.

Last year, Age-Friendly Moose Jaw brought in a classroom of students to attend a program for older adults at the Timothy Eaton Centre in one example.

Digital literacy became a priority after the transportation pilot revealed barriers to its use. During the pilot, AgeFriendly Moose Jaw partnered with Booker Rides, a Yorkton-based ridesharing service similar to Uber or Lyft, and offered subsidized rides through participating organizations.

However, Jukes said the committee found that some participants were not comfortable using the app-based booking tool. This required a project co-ordinator to step in and dispatch rides over the phone.

The committee is still brainstorming how digital literacy support might look in practice, but Jukes suggested it could include both group-based learning and one-on-one assistance.

Jukes said there are currently no free rides available, though transportation remains a long-term priority. He added that the committee will continue

exploring solutions in 2026, but not through the same model used last year.

Age-Friendly Moose Jaw’s transportation pilot, which ran in November and December 2025, subsidized 100 rides in that period. The results revealed both demand and sustainability concerns.

“Those 100 rides were taken by 10 unique riders,” he said, adding that the early data suggested the ride-share model was popular, but could become expensive in its current form if participation grows.

Age-Friendly Moose Jaw continues to welcome community feedback, and residents can contact the organization at 306-690-3900. Those visiting the Timothy Eaton Centre at 510 Main Street North can also stop by the group’s resource office when it’s open, although regular hours of operation are still being finalized. To learn more, visit AgeFriendlyMJ.Wordpress.com.

Further updates from Age-Friendly Moose Jaw are expected in March.

BIZWORLD

By Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

The last five weeks have been turbulent for agricultural producers in Canada as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced seven research and development stations would be closed within a year.

Research stations being closed include Indian Head and Scott in Saskatchewan, Portage la Prairie in Manitoba, Lacombe in Alberta and Nappan in Nova Scotia.

That will leave 17 ag research stations in the country. Yet farm organizations from all ag sectors are complaining loudly.

Some observers believe that closure, due to federal budget tightening, is fine — no more real breakthroughs are left to find.

That shows a complete misunderstanding by the non-ag community, the bureaucrats and the Liberal politicians, who only represent a few ag-focused ridings in the East.

Ag research station closures ignore facts

The original reason for having so many ag research stations comes from the vast geographical and climate differences across Canada.

Soil types vary within each province. Micro climatic conditions vary from region to region in most provinces

In northern Alberta the Fort Vermilion area receives more hours of sunshine than Lethbridge, changing types of crops grown.

With such varied conditions having this many research stations makes sense.

Some like Lacombe offer the only federal research into the cattle and meat processing industry.

Closure for some like Indian Head means loss of 100 years of data and future ongoing trends from continued study.

The organic farming research program will be lost when jobs are lost at Swift Current.

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

These stations have been and are essential to keeping and growing export markets as well as finding better yielding grain varieties, better disease and pest control in grains.

The closures would see 653 jobs lopped off the federal payroll and an estimated $154 million saving.

A fear in the ag industry is that closure will mean individual producers will need to fund future research.

Through check-off fees on sales and farm organization funds a huge amount of research is now funded by producers. But they do not operate any stations.

This appears to be another downloading of costs from the feds to the farmers and provinces.

Provincial governments haven’t really turned up the pressure on the issue – out of fear they will be told to foot the bill.

Almost a month after the closure

announcement the real reason was admitted by federal politicians.

Over decades various federal governments from different parties in Canada have ignored the need for upgrading the research stations. That had led to a $700 billion backlog of deferred maintenance.

Deferred maintenance is a polite way of saying: we let the place fall into disarray.

Farmers and export markets will suffer from the closures.

Someone in authority apparently forgot that Canadian grains and processed grain exports account for one in every $6 of exports.

Nor did they know, or recall, that more than one in every $6 of income in this country is generated from agriculture.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net

Moose Jaw W arriors Hockey Club

The W arriors and Sonya Hulgan, Sonya's Insurance & Financial Solutions Ltd Miracle Makers Ambassadors were out and making deliveries to sponsors

Outreach director of human rights group to speak at pro-life banquet

An outreach director of an educational human rights organization dedicated to speaking out on behalf of pre-born children is the guest speaker at this year’s Moose Jaw Right to Life banquet.

Kyle Coffey with the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR) will discuss his work with the organization during the pro-life group’s annual banquet on Friday, April 10, at Church of Our Lady Hall.

Doors open at 6 p.m., while dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 each or $210 for a table of eight, and there will also be a silent auction. To purchase tickets, phone 306-694-4111.

Coffey is a pro-life activist, speaker, and founder of CCBR’s Manitoba outreach department, according to his biography. He leads a passionate team of prolife members in implementing CCBR’s end-the-killing strategy in Manitoba.

Since joining the organization in 2017, he has had thousands of streetlevel conversations with people about

Jason G. Antonio - For the Moose Jaw Express

abortion and given numerous pro-life presentations across Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Besides being the banquet speaker, Coffey is also giving a pro-life “crash course” in Moose Jaw on Saturday, April 11, at St. Joseph’s Parish. The event — “Learn how to change minds on abortion and save lives!” the tagline says — is free for students, while it’s $25 for nonstudents.

To register, visit endthekilling.ca/ crash-course.

Brenda Havanka, president of Moose Jaw Right to Life (MJRTL), said she attended a similar pro-life crash course in Regina last year — “It was really good” — and heard Coffey speak. She was so impressed with him that she suggested to the pro-life board that he be the 2026 banquet speaker.

Members agreed, while they also thought it would be beneficial to have him give the crash course here.

“I felt he is a very good speaker,

articulate, and presents materials well, (and) has conducted a lot of research into the material,” said Havanka.

“He is passionate about life and how God values life. (He) truly cares about informing people of the truths about abortion and conducting himself (respectfully and with honour),” she continued. “The people attending the course with me also concurred (about) those details. They enjoyed it as well.”

While the Regina-based pro-life course was short — Moose Jaw’s will also be brief — it offers plenty of information that provides people with good solutions and understanding for answering “delicate questions” about abortion, Havanka remarked.

The course also discusses some of the main debates around abortion, such as rape, medical or health issues, and poverty, and helps participants respond to those issues.

“It informs and equips people, putting education into application,” she added.

Havanka recalled that the Regina course saw participants learn in the morning and then spend the afternoon speaking to people on the streets and doorsteps. She noted that it’s “pro-life apologetics,” where participants attempt to address the concerns or worries people have in their hearts.

“Sometimes it’s a very hard topic to talk about (and) it’s very sensitive,” she said, noting participants will receive tips and tools on how to “share these truths” about alternatives to abortion and potentially help change people’s minds, without feeling overwhelmed.

Continuing, Havanka said these are important tools to have in a politically “hot” environment, while it’s also good for pro-lifers to know how to defend their faith and beliefs.

“It will be a wonderful event,” the MJRTL president added. “I hope many people come.”

‘I will give you rest’ the theme for 2026 World Day of Prayer

A committee of Christian Nigerians has prepared the program for this year’s 99th annual World Day of Prayer (WDOP) church service, which has the theme “I will give you rest; come.”

For a second straight year, St. Aidan Anglican Church at 124 First Avenue Northeast is hosting the event, which happens at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 6. Everyone is invited to attend the ceremony, which includes a video, music and stories from the West African country.

Attendees can also sample Nigerian food in the hall after the service.

The theme comes from the Bible, specifically, the Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 11, verses 28 to 30.

The Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada (WICC), one of the founders of this prayer movement, is co-ordinating WDOP activities across this country, while a New York-based international committee is offering support to other participating nations.

That international committee will write the service for WDOP’s 100th anniversary in 2027.

Jason G. Antonio - For the Moose Jaw Express

WDOP, which began in 1927, is an international, ecumenical, women-led movement that enables participants to hear the hopes, concerns and prayers of women worldwide. More than 120 countries celebrate the day, which begins in Samoa and heads west through Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe and finishes in the Americas 38 hours later.

“It is a global prayer movement of informed prayer and prayerful action,”

WICC says, adding that, last year, over 1.5 million Christians speaking 90 languages in 150 countries united to pray

for relevant issues affecting women and children, especially in the Cook Islands.

From WDOP donations over the last 40 years, WICC has distributed over $3 million for small projects to restore hope to women and children touched by injustice.

Deacon Arleen Champion, with St. Aidan, said WDOP allows Moose Jaw to learn about the country from which some of their fellow parishioners come. Moreover, the event gives Canadians the chance to learn about Nigerian music, customs and food.

Continuing, Champion said it’s important for Canadian Christians to pray with their Nigerian brothers and sisters about relevant issues affecting the African country. Such issues include political and religious violence and the safety of families still living there.

As to the theme, the Anglican deacon said, “It’s a reminder for us that in the midst of life, which sometimes feels hectic, that Jesus calls to us to come and He’ll give us rest. And … He gives us permission to come and be with Him, and He will strengthen us … .”

Meanwhile, Champion said that while Christians from different denominations usually work together on WDOP, this year is particularly special since Nigerians from different churches have the opportunity to lead the world in prayer and teach people about their country.

“Sometimes we don’t always take the opportunity to work with other denominations, (so) this World Day of Prayer brings us all together,” she noted.

That ecumenism is also reflected in St. Aidan — which is accessible and has the broadcasting technology — co-hosting the event with Trinity United Church and the community’s Christian Nigerans, with Champion joking that she’s “the glue” holding everything together.

Continuing, she said that roughly 12 Moose Jaw churches are helping with the event, while she was encouraged to see Christians coming together “to spread the love of Christ.”

Champion added that the service will be live-streamed and recorded for people who cannot attend in person.

Visit https://wdpcanada.ca for more information.

Nigerian artist Gift Amarachi Ottah created this artwork for the 2026 World Day of Prayer event, which, this year, was created by Christian women from the West African country. Photo submitted

Rob Reimer to headline Full Gospel Men’s Fellowship family banquet at Joe’s Place

The Regina chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship in Canada is inviting Moose Jaw residents to a testimony-focused banquet later this month, as the group works to relaunch a local chapter that has been inactive since the pandemic.

The Full Gospel Family Banquet will take place Feb. 26 at Joe’s Place Youth Centre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the evening will include a meal, music, and keynote speaker Rob Reimer.

“We’re going to have a testimony night. What that means is Rob (Reimer) will be sharing the story of his life and the role that faith played in it, and what God did in his life,” said Lee Harding, president of the Regina chapter.

Harding said the organization’s banquet format is designed to be welcoming for people who may not be connected with a church, and to highlight faith through personal stories rather than sermons.

“Full Gospel started in 1952. There was a cattle farmer in the United States who lived in Los Angeles, and he noticed that in Christian meetings, a lot of the time it was women and children, and not very many men,” Harding said. “The pastors told him that was pretty typical, so he wanted to start a fellowship for men — working-class people talking to each other — because he knew there were some people who would never walk into a church and would never listen to a minister. But if you were talking to another cattle farmer, or a plumber, or an accountant, their life, their story, and their faith might seem more real and le

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

gitimate to you.”

The featured speaker in Moose Jaw will be Rob Reimer, a former Moose Jaw Warriors centre who later became the pastor of Living Springs Church in Regina. Harding said Reimer’s story will be the main focus of the evening.

“Generally, this is going to be Rob Reimer’s night, and I’m really excited,” Harding said. “For his dad to have a neardeath experience, and come back having met God, it changed the whole spiritual trajectory of his family. I want to know what that (experience was like).”

Harding said he has known Reimer for years, dating back to when Harding

moved to Regina in 2001.

“He was my first landlord, as I was renting a basement (room in) a building that he owned,” he said.

The banquet is being hosted at Joe’s Place, which Harding described as a neutral venue not tied to any one church.

“We always have (our meetings) in a neutral location, not a church,” Harding said. “Joe’s Place is a ministry, but it’s not connected with any individual church.”

Harding said organizers are currently expecting 80 people, although only about 25 to 30 had registered at the time of the interview.

The Fellowship has 35 chapters across Canada, with additional chapters internationally. Harding pointed out that this includes “more than 3,000 (chapters) in Nigeria,” among other places.

Harding said a key goal of the Moose Jaw banquet is to help restart a local chapter.

“Moose Jaw is the flying city, and we hope that a chapter there will get off the ground and take flight, and that this event can be a part of it,” he said.

While the group’s membership is limited to men, Harding emphasized that the banquet itself is open to everyone. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for members and spouses, and $15 for children under 14. Attendees can pay at the door by cash or cheque, or pay in advance online. Advance registration is recommended.

To learn more, visit FullGospelRegina.ca, call 306-546-3403, or register at FullGospelRegina.ca/Register.

Joe’s Place Youth Centre is located at 402 Main Street North.

Rob Reimer, a former Moose Jaw Warriors player and now pastor of Living Springs Church in Regina, will be the keynote speaker at the Full Gospel Family Banquet on Thursday, Feb. 26. Photo by: Jason G. Antonio

Sudoku #5 - Challenging

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

ACROSS

1. Saber or epee

46. Yearn

47. Furrow maker

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

ADMONISH, ANIMAL, ASCENT, ATTACK, BLISS, CIVILIZATION COMMISERATE, DITHER, ENTER, EVACUATION, EVENING EXCITE, GRIT, INDUCE, LUCKY, NEARBY, NEIGHBORHOOD, ORBIT, PEEK, SEAT, SOURCE, STEEP, SUBORDINATE, SWAN SYSTEM, THEIR, VISION, VISIT, WATCH, WEAPON

10. Procurable

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.

11. Strange

6. Professor

10. Is endebted to

49. Big fuss

50. Poi source

12. Spooky

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

14. Apple-based alcoholic drink

15. Protagonist

51. Exhilarate

54. Edges

56. Bobbin

13. Water vapor

21. Lacquer ingredient

25. Emollient

26. Handled hook

16. Borscht vegetable

17. Battery terminal

18. Anagram of “Nose”

19. Become weary

20. Gloomy ill-tempered feeling

22. Diva’s solo

23. Large number

24. Footnote word

26. Crazy

30. Estimated time of arrival

31. Local Area Network

32. Long, long time

33. 5280 feet

35. Oversight

39. Frenzied

41. Gadabout

43. Sheet of paper

44. Urge (on)

57. Teetotallers

63. Seaweed

64. Glazier’s unit

65. The southern states

66. Thin strip

67. Travel on water by wind

68. Omit

69. Puncture

70. Glimpse

71. Discourage DOWN

1. Cheat

2. Drunkard

3. Scent

4. Overhaul

5. Clothe

6. Speech study

7. Reclamation

8. Minerals

9. Anything extinct

27. Designed for flight

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.

28. Objective

29. Wipe out

34. Learnedly

36. Trudge 37. Dispatch

38. Therefore

40. An implement

42. Fragrance

45. Whitish edible root

48. Pass by

51. Garbage

52. Howdy

53. Majestic

55. Allied

58. Bleats

59. Egyptian river

60. Way out

61. Fair attraction

62. Fortune teller

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 306-9728855.

145 REAL ESTATE

1500 Square foot condo, located at 149 Hoch. St. W. Single attached garage, large deck at rear

CLASSIFIED ADS

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 306-631-0525.

200 LOST & FOUND

LOST CAT - $1000 REWARD for information proving her location, confidentiality guaranteed. Missing from West Park area. Believed to be stolen and living in West Park. Answers to June. Please call 306-313-7771.

210 SERVICES

Moving jobs done reasonably: appliances, furniture, dump runs. Call to do it all. $45.00 a load. 306-630-2268

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, fur niture, 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

Better Water Solutions for your entire home.

Sarah & Mitch Holick

Moose Jaw, SK

Feb 16, 2026

1:08 pm

Female

6 lbs, 5 oz

Laura & Jordan Fehr

Moose Jaw, SK Feb 18, 2026

6:13 pm

Female

6 lbs, 13 oz

Brittany & Chase Tonks

Central Butte, SK Feb 20, 2026

5:57 pm

Male

7 lbs, 12 oz

MAURICE WILLIAM GARDNER

On Wednesday, February 11th, 2026, just 17 days shy of his 97th birthday, Maurice Gardner quietly left us, with his daughters by his side. Maurice was born to Thomas and Gertrude Gardner (née: O’Dell) on March 1st, 1929 in McLean, Saskatchewan and passed away on February 11th, 2026 at Pioneer Lodge in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He grew up in Kedleston, SK where his father was section foreman for the railroad. After completion of high school at Central Collegiate in Moose Jaw, Maurice ventured off to St. Andrew’s College in Saskatoon, SK. He served as an ordained United Church minister before a calling into education. He taught history, English, and psychology at Riverview Collegiate for 30 years until his retirement in 1989. It was during his early years teaching in Moose Jaw that he met “his Marie” through mutual friends. After a 4-year courtship, they married and enjoyed 55 years together. Their loving relationship was an inspiration to many. They raised 3 daughters - Sheryl, Janice, and Melissa. Maurice was an athlete at heart enjoying hockey, running, curling, bowling, golf, and baseball. Although quiet and reserved, he was a passionate competitor. Maurice was active in the community and had a particular passion for politics. He was a member of the New Democratic Party, Nature Moose Jaw, and The Canadian Club. He served on the board of directors for Hunger in Moose Jaw, The Coop board of directors, and several committees at Zion United Church. He gave much of his time to charitable organizations including the Heart and Stroke Foundation, The Kidney Foundation, The United Way, and delivering Meals on Wheels. He was predeceased by his wife, Marie (née: Oystryk) in 2017; daughter, Janice in 1994; parents, Thomas and Gertrude (née: O’Dell); brother, Tom; and sisters: Florence, Irene, Hazel, Doris, and Mildred. Maurice leaves behind many people who will miss him dearly including his daughter, Sheryl Salen (Drew) and her children Jesse (Olivia) and Hannah; daughter, Melissa Gardner and her children Devyn and Jorja; sister-in-law, Holly Kominetsky; as well as many special nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Pioneer Lodge for the exceptional care of dad over the past 4 years. He often spoke of how happy he was living there and how kind you all were to him. You are appreciated.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 28th, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Moose Jaw Funeral Home, with interment to follow in Rosedale Cemetery. Those not able to attend may view the service by going to www.moosejawfuneralhome.com/webcast/. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Maurice’s name may be made to The Heart and Stroke Foundation, Box 2414, Toronto, ON M4P 1E4, Canadian Cancer Society, 55 St Clair Ave W, Suite 300, Toronto, ON M4V 2Y7, or to a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Michelle Ellis, Funeral Director 306-693-4550 www.moosejawfuneralhome.com

I would be honoured to serve you in your time of need.

Blake Seebach Funeral Director

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.

Sanctions

Maria sent in a request to research the history of the word ‘sanctions.’ She inquired as to how sanctions came to be used as punishment when originally its root is found in words connected to holy. So, let’s have a look into sanctions

The government of the United States has instituted sanctions targeting Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Russian, to name a few. Sanctions are financial and trade restrictions imposed against individuals, entities, and jurisdictions whose actions contradict foreign policy or national security goals of the country or region levying the sanctions.

The government of Canada website gives information about sanctions. “Sanctions are an important part of Canada’s foreign policy toolkit. They are used to foster international peace and security, combat corruption, and promote respect for international norms and values, notably human rights. They form part of a comprehensive foreign policy approach involving political dialogue, engagement at various levels, and programming. Sanctions encompass a wide variety of measures, including, but not limited to: financial pro-

hibitions, arms and related materials embargo, export and import restrictions, asset freeze, and technical assistance prohibitions.”

Sanction originally entered the English language in the 15th century as an ecclesiastical decree. Sanction was derived from the Latin sancire, meaning to make holy. Church sanctions were meant to authorize certain actions as holy and prohibit particular activities that were deemed as unholy. Sanctions would enable people to live holy lives if following the official pronouncements.

Since sanctions were announced to both permit and punish, the word developed two different meanings over the next hundred years.

Sanctions were declared to give effective or authoritative approval or consent to actions. The Church decreed sanctions that permitted market stalls to operate on Sundays but not on the church grounds or during church services.

Sanctions allowed forcible intervention to a violation of a law as a means of enforcing the law. The bishop proclaimed severe sanctions against anyone who neglected to make personal confession during the season of Lent. The sanctions included withholding the sacrament at Easter and shunning by town businesses.

Sanctions then migrated into the secular vocabulary, both as a noun and in a verb form.

Any authority could sanction laws. To sanction meant to formally approve or ratify a law. The court sanctioned the agreement between the government and the labourers in respect to minimum working hours and earnings.

Governments could sanction a person or business or country as a means to punish them. The World Trade Organization suggested sanctioning nations violating international law.

In the positive sense sanction, endorse, and certify all express a favourable opinion of something or someone.

Sanction implies both approval and authorization. It was discovered that the Presi-

TRINITY UNITED CHURCH

dent had sanctioned the covert operations.

Endorse means an explicit statement of support. The Prime Minister endorsed her for the position of Governor General.

Certify suggests official confirmation attesting to conformity to set standards. One must be certified to be a teacher in the public school system.

In the negative sense restrict, embargo (see Word Wisdom from April 6, 2022), and prohibit are synonyms to sanction

Restrict means to set bounds or an upper limit. New laws were enacted to restrict the freedom of the press.

Embargo implies an order that something may not be done or used. There is a standing embargo against cheering for the opposition when the Riders are playing.

Prohibit is to order not to do or use. The city prohibits dogs without a leash in the Sunningdale Nature Park.

I believe I have the authority to sanction certain sanctions dealing with the cooking of beets in our home, both in a positive and negative manner.

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.

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

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 Town and Country Singles Dance will be held on Saturday February 28. 2026 at Church of Our Lady Community Center 566 Vaughan St. W. from 2:00 - 5:00 PM. Band is Jim Woytuik. Come on out for an afternoon of fun! Married couples are welcome. Cost is $15 for non members and $13 for members. For more information contact Marion at 306-630-1492.

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 306693-0159 after 5 pm. Sponsored by the Moose Jaw Cycle Assoc.

Prairie Spinning and Knitting group will hold workshops at the Zion Church March 7th, 423 Main Street Moose Jaw.

Beginning Weaving Workshop 9:00-2:00 no experience needed and all supplies included learn the foundational skills to weaving while making your own unique scarf.

Spinning Wheel Workshop -learn the basics or more advanced skills. Tailored to the individuals skill levels 9:00-5:00. No experience needed and all supplies are included.

Felting Workshop -2:00-5:00 learn how to felt a stunning one of a kind scarf. No experience needed and all supplies included.

Mitten Knitting Workshop - 9:00-5:00 learn how to knit mittens with skills that can be applied to many other projects and this program is tailored to skill levels. A vanilla mitten for beginners and colourwork for advanced. Basic knitting skill required. All material included to knit one pair of mittens. To book a workshop please sign up www.canadianfibremill.ca

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: 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. 2025-2026 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 adultfocused events.

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

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 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 self-guided 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. 25

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, judgment-free 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.

Youth programming

Program Room from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays. The free event is a drop-in program and you Youth programming Teen Anime+ Club

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.

Jam Sessions – Friday’s 9 a.m.

Texas Hold’em - Thursday @ 6:30pm

ime, read manga, draw, chat, and eat Asian snacks.

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.

brary’s theatre, and yes — cosplay is welcome. Next Anime+ meeting: Featuring “Kaiju No. 8” on

Next Anime+ meeting: Featuring “Kaiju No. 8” on Wednesday, Feb. 25

Tuesday Cards – 6:30pm

Floor Curling – Fridays @ 1pm

Bingo – Monday afternoons 1:30pm -3:30pm and Wednesday evenings 6:30pm-8:30pm Darts – Wednesday’s @ 10am

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. 28

The public library partnership with the Moose Jaw Chess Club, re-

Consignment Area – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10am-3pm, Wednesdays 10am-12pm

Cosmo Senior Citizens’ Centre Weekly Activities – 235 3rd Ave. N.E. Phone 306.692.6072 or email cosmo@sasktel.net Check them out on Facebook.

The public library has out to Sanctuary Games at 11 River Street West by

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.

with modern electronic devices. Call the book a session.

Tech Time: Tech Time offers one-on-one instruction with modern electronic devices. Call the library to book a session.

Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 59 Moose . Contact: 306-692-5453

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

59 Moose Jaw OFFICE HOURS: Sunday 11:00am – 3:00pm (when there’s Curling); Monday 12:00pm – 9:00pm;

– 10:00pm; Thursday 10:00am – 10:00pm; Friday 12:00pm – 10:00pm; and Saturday 12:00pm –

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

Cosmo Coffee Shoppe - open daily from 9:00am - 3:00pm
Lunch special $10/person, Tuesdays 11:30am Pie and Coffee - Thursdays Fitness Room - 8:15am - 3:00pm
Indoor Walking - Monday 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 Saturday, March 28 Cosmo Centre Crafts and Trades Fair from 9:00am - 3:00pm; $2 admission. Coffee Shoppe is open for baking and lunch. Moose Jaw ANAVETS: Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit #252 – 279 High St. W, Moose Jaw. 306.692.4412 or anaf252@sasktel.net

BINGO – Monday @ 6pm – Paper goes on sale @ 5pm

CRIBBAGE – Tuesday @ 1:30pm

Monday @ 6pm – Paper goes on sale @ CRIBBAGE

LEGION DARTS – Thursday @ 7pm

DROP IN SHUFFLEBOARD – Friday @ 7pm

• Every Monday and Tuesday 1 – 6:30 pm

• Wednesday 12 – 6:30 pm/Smear starts at 12:30 pm

– Thursday @ 7pm DROP IN SHUFFLEBOARD – Friday @ 7pm MEAT DRAW & CHASE THE ACELEGION CURLING – Sunday @ 10am @ Temple

MEAT DRAW & CHASE THE ACE - Saturday @ 3pm - Everyone welcome

LEGION CURLING – Sunday @ 10am @ Temple Gardens Curling Centre – Always looking for spares.

• 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!

off 7th Avenue NW

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. Web-

Moose Jaw & District Seniors Assoc. Inc. Website – moosejawseniors.ca

Email: The centre is now open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8am –

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

day, Wednesday, Thursday from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Monday to Friday 8 am – 4

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.

from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Cinnamon Buns are on Thursday’s. Tuesday is pie day.

Cinnamon Buns are on Thursday’s. Tuesday is pie

Everyone is welcomed.

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.

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

Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday afternoons @ 1pm.Monday & Thursday evenings @ 7 pm

Skills & Drills – Tuesday @ 6pm

\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 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

Skills & Drills –Tuesdays 11:30 & Thursdays @ 1:00 p.m.

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

Hand & Foot Card Game for Beginners – ThursWednesday @1 p.m. Beginners is Tai Chi –Tuesday

Line Dancing – Wednesday @ 11 a.m.

– Wednesday @ 11 a.m.

Art & Crafts – Monday, Tuesdays & Wednesdays @ 1 p.m.

Art & Crafts @ 1 p.m.

Floor Shuffleboard – Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 1 p.m.

Floor Shuffleboard – Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 1

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

Derek McRitchie REALTOR® (306) 631-1161

E.G. (Bub) Hill REALTOR® (306) 631-9966

Tanya Minchin REALTOR® (306) 630-6231

Cassie Nichol REALTOR® (306) 631-0691

Justin Hammer REALTOR® (306)684-4266

$279,900

Square One adds new prize incentives ahead of March 14 ‘Walk for Warmth’

Square One Community Inc. is adding a new layer of friendly competition to its upcoming “Walk for Warmth,” introducing two prize packages aimed at boosting team spirit and fundraising efforts ahead of the March 14 event.

The annual fundraiser will begin earlier than in the past, starting at 1:30 p.m. at Square One’s office in William Milne Place. Participants will follow a mapped route through downtown Moose Jaw before arriving at Zion United Church for a wind-up gathering.

This year, organizers have added two brand-new awards: a Spirit Award and a Top Fundraiser Award.

“Some people are walking as individuals and some as teams, and whoever comes away raising the most will be the prize winner as well,” said Della Ferguson, a Square One board member and walk organizer. “We’re just trying to incentivize and encourage folks to come out and be part of our Walk for Warmth and help us to really make homelessness history in Moose Jaw. We’re working so hard at increasing our staffing so that we can increase the number of people we can serve.”

The Spirit Award will recognize creativity, enthusiasm, and meaningful participation.

“In past years, we’ve had folks who dressed up. We’ve even had people who dressed as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” Ferguson said. “They were cre-

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

ative. Some people dress up, and some just come with an energy — they’re this energetic group that inspires everyone in their presence. Those are the kinds of things we’re going to be watching for.”

The awards will be selected by Square One’s team and presented at the wind-up gathering.

Prize packages have been assembled through community donations.

Ferguson said SaskEnergy has donated several prizes, including a pickleball set, a coffee mug and a Saskatchewan Roughriders drinking mug, along with winter-themed items.

Ferguson noted the Spirit Award could also recognize more personal motivations.

“It’s just to incentivize involvement. Sometimes people like to have that little

thing to look forward to, or they’ll think, ‘Oh, a Spirit Award — let’s have a little fun with this and let’s dress up.’ It can be a fun dress-up idea, or maybe it’s for walking in memory of someone,” she said.

Ferguson pointed to one participant walking in memory of a loved one who experienced homelessness, describing that as “very honouring” and in line with what the award seeks to recognize.

Primary Eye Care Centre and the Water Security Agency have recently registered teams, and additional groups are welcome to sign on as event sponsors. Each partner will be highlighted on Square One’s website and Facebook page.

All proceeds from the Walk for Warmth support Square One’s supportive housing program, which provides wraparound case management services for individuals experiencing homelessness in Moose Jaw.

Organizers are encouraging preregistration so participants can receive pledge packages in advance. Pledges must be returned by March 13 between 3 and 6 p.m. to Square One’s office.

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

William Milne Place is located at 138 Fairford Street West.

A four-legged participant leads the way during Square One’s 2025 Walk for Warmth. If the newly introduced Spirit Award had existed last year, this enthusiastic pup may well have been a top contender. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Here’s what our clients

I switched over to TaxTeam last year and I will never look back. They are very professional and experienced. I had tons of questions, being self employed, and they took the time to explain ‘complicated accounting stuff’ in a way that made sense to me. Their team was on top of my tax needs and even gave tips on how to make this years taxes easier for me to gather and prepare. If you want quality service, look no further!

Clients' Bill of Rights

We believe you have the right to:

1 Consistency: You will have the same tax accountants year after year We think that's the best way to understand your ongoing tax situation

2 Competence: We provide credentialed, experienced tax preparers, not inexperienced seasonal staff

- Stacey S

Extremely helpful, pleasant and informative. Made a very stressful situation calm. Had answers for every one of the dozen questions I asked. It feel’s very daunting when CRA comes knocking and the staff made me feel like it was a walk in the park.

After dealing with TaxTeam I wouldn’t trust anyone else.

- Greg C

3 Transparency: Our price list is straightforward, and if you'd like, we'll quote you our fee in advance

4 Fairness: Our flat-rate pricing for basic returns guarantees fair, low prices for all we don't charge "by the slip".

5. Accuracy: If we make a data entry error on your return, we'll refund you double any penalty or interest assessed by Canada Revenue Agency a first in the industry!

6. Advice: We do much more than plug numbers on a tax form. If we think you might qualify for a credit or deduction you haven't been claiming, we'll let you know

Come to TaxTeam and Exercise Your Rights!

With this Coupon Expires April 30, 2026 15% Off Seniors’ or Students’

17,