Moose Jaw Express, July 2nd, 2025

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MOOSE JAW’S HOMEGROWN NEWSPAPER

‘Yee Ha’ youth equestrian event returns to Moose Jaw for four-day workshop

The Golden Mile Arena is set to come alive with hooves, hay, and happy riders as “Yee Ha” ’25 trots into town this July for four days of hands-on equestrian learning and fun.

Running July 10 to 13 at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds, the youth-focused event — officially named “YEE HA” (Youth Equestrian Event: Horsing Around) — offers a unique opportunity for young riders from across the Prairies to sharpen their equestrian skills, take part in clinics led by top coaches from Saskatchewan, and test what they’ve learned.

“It’s a youth-only event … basically to try and help the youth advance in their horsemanship skills,” said Mel Burns, office manager with the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company. “It’s open to youth of any age, from any place … It’s designed mostly for fun, so it’s competitive, but not in a way that makes it intimidating.”

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

The event is hosted by the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company in conjunction with Yee Ha Games. Clinics kick off Friday, July 11, starting at 8 a.m. and are open for public viewing, with no charge for spectators. That means even those without a horse or a clinic spot can stop in and glean some insight from industry professionals.

This year’s lineup includes rodeo veterans Ross Smith and Don Gillespie, international show and training professional Tori Meggison, hunter classic champion Samantha Harland, and longtime Moose Jaw-based rider and judge Garry Giofu, alongside Diane Bolen, Bree Gust, and Sherry and Barry Quam.

The focus, organizers said, is on building confidence, community, and connection — not just earning ribbons. Burns said some of the youth who par-

ticipate in the event are likely to be experienced riders, but this isn’t a requirement to attend.

“It’s about fun, experience, education, and just promoting the horse industry in Saskatchewan,” she added.

First launched more than a decade ago, Yee Ha had been on hiatus for years until interest in youth equestrian opportunities brought it back to life in 2024. Last year’s event saw around 40 youth participate, with strong interest from riders across the province.

“Affordability is key for us as well … (as equestrian sports) can be very expensive,” she noted. Burns added that much of the connection with the animals — and the fun itself — can be lost when the focus shifts too heavily toward competition and high costs — two aspects the Exhibition Company is looking to help overcome.

To register, visit MooseJawEx.ca, “Moose Jaw Exhibition Company,” or “YEE HA” on Facebook. The registration deadline is Friday, July 4, with a late fee applying afterward.

The Golden Mile Arena is located at 250 Thatcher Drive East. For more information, visit MooseJawEx.ca.

Clinicians
Photo by: YEE HA/Facebook
‘Ambitious’

$485M development project could make Moose Jaw an AI powerhouse

Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com

Moose Jaw could become a major artificial intelligence (AI) powerhouse in Canada and be the country’s first “AI wellness town,” as part of a proposed $485 million redevelopment of the former Valley View Centre site.

Carpere Canada, which purchased the site in September 2020 under the name Carpere Valley Development Corporation, held a project launch ceremony at the Grant Hall Hotel on June 19.

As a promotional video put it, the site — dubbed “Carpere Valley” — could become “the fastest-growing tech hub in the world.”

Of the site’s 150 acres, the corporation plans to transform 100 acres by renovating all the buildings — they have over 29,430 square metres (327,000 square feet) in floor space — and construct other structures.

The redevelopment — valued between $332 million and $485 million — would integrate AI, regenerative health care and sustainable greenhouse agriculture, with a 150-megawatt AI data centre the site’s centrepiece. Heat from the data centre will support the greenhouse.

The project’s early phases could create 50 jobs, while more than 1,000 new jobs in technology and health care are expected once the site is completely operational. Phase 1 could begin in either late 2025 or early 2026.

Valley View Centre (VVC) opened in May 1955 and closed in September

2019, while Carpere purchased the site in September 2020.

The hand of fate

Christian Yuan, the corporation’s CEO, said Moose Jaw has a rich Chinese-Canadian history, which strengthens his connection to the community.

Yuan highlighted the projects that his other company, BitForest Investment, has supported in Canada over the years, from the energy industry to agriculture to real estate. He said he wants to use his team’s experience to turn the Grant Hall Hotel — which Carpere also owns — into a major attraction and the former VVC site into Canada’s leading AI data hub.

The corporation believes Moose Jaw has the people, the land and resolve to support this project, while the community has leaders who want to grow

the population, support economic development and improve life for everyone, he continued.

An ambitious plan

Adrian Lai, project manager, said this is an “ambitious plan” that will require major financial investment; Carpere plans to self-finance the entire initiative. It has already submitted a rezoning application to city hall and expects to have a public hearing in September.

Renovations and construction will take five to eight years to complete, while Carpere will reuse the existing buildings so as not to disturb the surrounding green fields or area neighbourhoods, he continued.

Meanwhile, the company is working closely with SaskPower since the AI data centre will require a significant amount of energy — that is the project’s biggest hurdle to overcome — since such centres are “fairly power hungry,” he remarked.

Carpere is pursuing this project now because of AI’s recent rise, as many people use generative AI for recreation and work, said Lai. AI is the future, while significant amounts of data and computer power are required to support such services.

Moose Jaw’s colder climate is perfect for an AI data centre — and supports the project’s viability — because 35 per cent of such buildings’ costs typically go to cooling that heat-intensive technology, he pointed out.

A realistic plan

Alan Wallace, with consulting firm Wallace Insights, said “market realities” will force Carpere to be patient in developing the project and be committed to long-term growth and development. Moreover, the project is expensive and challenging because the infrastructure is 70 years old and was built to last. Carpere’s focus during the next two to three years will be on renewing the buildings and restoring water and sewer services so people can work — and potentially live — there, Wallace added.

Christian Yuan, CEO of the Carpere Valley Development Corporation. Photo by Jason G. Antonio
Dignitaries cut the ribbon to launch the project, including Christian Yuan, CEO of the Carpere Valley Development Corporation (centre). Photo by Jason G. Antonio

July Specials:

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TUES: $100

WED:

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Four student athletes awarded scholarships through ‘ Women Fore Women’ program

Four young women are heading into post-secondary studies with an extra boost this year, thanks to the “Women Fore Women” scholarship program hosted by the Hillcrest Ladies Golf League.

Each recipient has been awarded a $5,000 scholarship to support their academic and athletic pursuits at the university or trade school level — and with one more student athlete potentially joining the roster this fall, it could mark the highest total awarded by the group since the program’s inception.

“To date, we’ve given out just over $50,000 in scholarships,” said Deb Negraiff, chair of the scholarship committee. “We started with one $500 scholarship. This year, we’re awarding four $5,000 scholarships, and we may add a fifth scholarship this fall,” depending on whether or not that student makes the swim team in Victoria, B.C.

The program is designed to support high-performance female athletes from Moose Jaw who are continuing to compete in their sport at the post-secondary level. The selection process considers not only athletic achievement but also leadership, community involvement, and academic effort.

“They have to be good students, high-performance athletes, and they need to show that they’re giving back — whether that’s through coaching or mentoring,” Negraiff explained. “They also write an essay that addresses all those points.”

The funding comes from the annual Women Fore Women golf tournament, hosted each August at the

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

Hillcrest Golf Course. This year’s event will be held on Aug. 9 with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. Tournament chair Cheryl Templeton said the event has become one of the most popular in the city, often attracting a waiting list.

“It’s $130 for non-members and $110 for members,” said Templeton. “We usually have about 100 golfers, and we can’t thank our sponsors enough. The business community in Moose Jaw has been incredible.”

Among this year’s recipients is Central Collegiate graduate Katie Rogers, a standout in both track and field and cross-country.

“Our track team was able to win provincials as

a team all four years, and in cross-country we did it twice,” said Rogers. “I’ve gathered 12 medals while running for Central, and I’m really happy to have been able to represent the school and to have won the scholarship. It’ll be very helpful on my journey down to the States.”

Rogers is headed to the University of North Dakota to study biology with a focus on professional health sciences, while continuing to compete in NCAA-level running.

“Living on campus is very pricey, so this $5,000 is definitely making an impact,” she said. “My parents are definitely very thankful for it.”

Fellow Central student Mykenzie Shymko, a longtime lacrosse player, also received a scholarship. She’s heading to McKendree University in Illinois to study sport science and exercise performance.

“I’ve been playing lacrosse for 11 years now,” said Shymko. “This scholarship is a big help for all the extra expenses like dorms, food, and travel. I’m just super grateful for women supporting women, and them being on our side and helping us out as much as they can.”

Rogers and Shymko were joined by Ellah Flanagan, a basketball player from Central Collegiate, and Leoncia White, an archery competitor from Vanier Collegiate.

For more information on the Women Fore Women tournament and scholarship program, visit HillcrestGolf.ca or call the Hillcrest Golf Club at 306-693-1921.

From left to right: Central Collegiate’s Ellah Flanagan, Katie Rogers, Mykenzie Shymko, and Vanier Collegiate’s Leoncia White. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Editor’s Note

Canada is certainly a country that needs to be celebrated! Not only is our huge country grandiose in its scenery and bountiful lakes, rivers, minerals and history, we have a very diverse population that shares their cultures making Canada a colourful mosaic rich in traditions. Many of our ancestors came to this country to live a good life and, for most, that is what they found. We as Canadians stand proud and free and will continue to do so as long as our country continues to stand on the foundation that was instituted in Confederation.

An AI overview on google states, “The premise of Canada’s “from sea to sea” motto, which is officially “A Mari usque ad Mare,” stems from a biblical verse in Psalm 72:8, signifying a vast do-

minion from the Atlantic to the Pacific. This motto was adopted during Confederation in 1867 to represent the newly formed nation’s geographic scope and aspirations for unity and strength. The spiritual implication, particularly for many of the founding fathers, was the belief that this dominion was divinely ordained, reflecting a sense of God’s sovereignty over the land.”

******************************

Now to the serious business. I am going to share some information that may boggle your mind, especially in the country of Canada just after we have celebrated our country as kids of all ages have finished this year of study and are now heading into another grade in the fall.

Our grandson is nine years old and has just finished Grade 3 in a public school in New Westminster, BC. His dad, our son, has been scrutinizing some of the things that are going on in this school, also wondering if this kind of thing is going on throughout their city, the province, and possibly across other provinces in Canada.

The thing is, he recently found out that

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

the school has been teaching our grandson and possibly all the other kids there, the imperial system of measurement.

The imperial system is a system of measurement that was once widely used in the British Empire and the United States. It uses units like inches, feet, yards, miles, ounces, pounds, and gallons. While most of the world has transitioned to the metric system, the imperial system is still used in the United States, although it is sometimes referred to as the US customary system.

Canada instituted the metric system in the 1970’s.

This is Canada and the school is teaching the Imperial system of measurement and not the metric system? How erroneous! No wonder the kid has no idea how to understand what temperature it is…whether 50 degrees is hot or cold… and of course that depends on the system you are implementing.

The note our son sent to our grandson’s teacher below:

“XXXXX was showing me his Science workbook (Green folder) this evening. I was surprised to see the Imperial

system being used throughout, especially in the Snowman project, temperature readings, and global climate topics.

Given that Canada uses the metric system exclusively, I’m trying to understand why classroom materials are not aligned with our national standard. I asked XXXXX if the difference between the two systems was explained and he said no. Reviewing the sheets with him, it’s clear there was some confusion.

Was this part of the BC Curriculum, or are these worksheets being pulled from American sites without proper review? American materials without context or adjustment don’t serve Canadian students well.”

The Grade 3 teacher responded, “Thank you for your email. I will put it into consideration.’

I personally can’t believe the complacency of the education system in their province and this deserves further exploration, going beyond the teacher to the local school board, the education system in BC, onto the MLA’s, MP’s, the Premier of BC, and even the Federal Government if need be.

Final farewell: Sacred Heart students and staff say goodbye as school closes

For students and staff at Sacred Heart School, the final bell on June 26 marked the end of a deeply memorable chapter in their lives.

Sacred Heart is one of four Moose Jaw schools shutting down this month, alongside Westmount Elementary School, Empire School, and St. Mary School. Most students will transition to the new joint-use school in the fall, with others moving to high school as Sacred Heart’s last graduating class.

For Rhyley, a Grade 8 graduate who has attended Sacred Heart for more than a decade, the moment carried weight. Rhyley said he feels sad to learn that Sacred Heart is closing, and will miss the school where he made so many memories. “I liked gym class the best,” he said.

Rhyley is off to Riverview Collegiate in the fall to start Grade 9, where he looks forward to playing basketball and adjusting to high school life.

Sacred Heart staff members — many of whom have spent years working in the building — said the day was full of mixed emotions. Educational as-

sistants Tara Cathcart, Jocelynn Steeves, and Susan Umana all described it as bittersweet.

“As we put it the other day, it’s kind of like grandma’s house,” Cathcart said. “When grandma passes away, and you’re cleaning out her house, you go through all the memorabilia, and you get to look back on all the years that you’ve had there.”

While it’s hard to say goodbye to a place filled with so many memories, staff said the transition feels more like turning a page than closing the book entirely. There’s comfort in knowing that many of them will be making the move to the new school together this fall.

“We’re upgrading from grandma’s house to a new house,” Steeves added with a smile.

All three said they’re excited for the move to Our Lady of Hope — but the sense of family, tradition, and connection at Sacred Heart will be hard to leave behind.

“We’ve been here for quite a few years — six, seven, eight years for some

of us. My kid has been here for two years of pre-K, so it’s 10 years at this school,” Steeves said. “And my daughter came here too, so yeah, it’s a huge part of our life.”

Umana also shared her personal connection to the school. “My daughter was just in here, reminiscing with some of her teachers from previous years. When we first came from Nova Scotia, and when

we first moved here, it was these teachers who made a difference in her life. They made it so that she wasn’t as homesick coming here to a new school, and they have been her favourite people because of that. I feel like we are a family here.”

The moment was also one to reflect on the many happy memories made at Sacred Heart, like the time a teacher shaved his head in front of the school after a surprisingly successful school fundraiser, or the year the entire school made and wore matching tie-dyed shirts.

“Everyone was in tie-dye. That was fun, and I still have mine,” Umana said.

For the three educational assistants, it was witnessing their students’ milestones that stood out the most.

“Those successes are even bigger successes when it’s something they’ve worked so hard for,” Cathcart said. “We love the kids like our own.”

The new joint-use school, named Our Lady of Hope for Holy Trinity Catholic School Division students, is located at 1700 Vermont Road and is set to open on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Left to right: Tara Cathcart, Susan Umana, Rhyley, and Jocelynn Steeves stand in front of Sacred Heart School before its doors close one last time. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Trinity United Church 100th Anniversary

Submitted by Ken Mathers

On June 1st, Trinity United Church held a 100th anniversary service which was conducted by Reverand Doug Shepherd. His worship the Mayor, James Murdock was in attendance and gave a brief history on the United Church of Canada.

After the service everyone gathered in the basement to enjoy a lunch catered by Charlotte’s and to enjoy some music from some of our talented members which include Gideon, Gwen, Doug, The Engles, and our choir.

There was a display table of artifacts from the last 100 years, and the afternoon ended with an anniversary cake made by one of our members, Bev Ruehs.

Rains change moisture ratings

Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

What a difference rain can make to crop potential.

After general rains around June 20 moisture on land took a turn for the better, says the Ministry of Agriculture weekly crop report.

Moisture ratings went from 40 per cent adequate and 59 per cent short the week before to 74 per cent adequate and six per cent surplus.

In the southwest around Moose Jaw 54 per cent was adequate with 46 per cent still short.

Rainfall was varied with the area around Moose Jaw receiving 20 to 30 millimetres (one to 1.5 inches) and an area around Assiniboia got 1.3 inches to 1.5 inches

The rest of the southwest got about an inch. Heaviest rain was in the west central region.

The moisture boosted hayland mois-

ture to 64 per cent adequate from 44 per cent and with six per cent in surplus.

Unfortunately, the rain came too late to make much difference to hay yields.

Pasture land moisture went from 38 per cent adequate to 57 percent adequate with three per cent surplus.

Heavy rains flooded and damaged one per cent of crop land and one per cent of pastures, meaning no production this year.

One per cent of livestock operations are severely short of water with 21 per cent short and 23 per cent expecting to be short of water in a couple of months.

Thirty-eight per cent of livestock producers in the southwest have concerns about water shortages.

Cool weather has held back crop development with oilseed crops the furthest behind.

Gary McDowell
Michelle Ellis

From The Kitchen

Oven-cooked meals remove chill from summer days

On a rainy day or when there’s a nip in the summer air, using the oven will remove the chill and provide simple but tasty meals that all ages will enjoy.

This week’s recipes are tried and true, coming from a well-worn family cookbook.

HAMBURGER PIE

1 medium onion, chopped

2 tbsps. fat

1 lb. ground beef

salt and pepper to taste

1-20 oz. can green beans, drained

1-10 oz. can tomato soup

5 medium potatoes, cooked

1/2 cup warm milk

1 egg, beaten

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

Brown onion in hot fat, then brown meat in the same fat and add salt and pepper. Stir in the beans and soup and pour into a large greased casserole.

Mash the potatoes. Add milk, beaten egg and seasonings. Arrange potato mixture over the meat in a ring or form into 6 mounds.

Bake at 350 degrees F until potato peaks are lightly browned. Serves 6.

PRAIRIE CASSEROLE

1/2-1 pkg. flat noodles

3 tbsps. fat

1 cup sliced onion

1/2 cup green pepper, chopped

1 lb. ground beef

1-20 oz. can tomato juice

1-6 oz. can tomato paste

1 cup kernel corn

salt and pepper to taste

2 tsps. worcestershire sauce

1/2 lb. processed cheese, grated

Cook noodles according to package direction. Drain and set aside.

Melt fat in frying pan and cook onion and pepper until onion is clear. Remove onion and

pepper and then brown meat.

Combine all ingredients in a 2 qt. casserole. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes or until the mixture bubbles. Serves 6.

RHUBARB SAUCE

4 cups rhubarb, chopped

1 1/ 2 cups sugar

Choose young, tender rhubarb of red colour. Remove the root and leaves and wash the stalks. Cut into 1 inch pieces.

Place rhubarb in a greased casserole. Sprinkle sugar over the fruit and mix well. Let stand 20-30 minutes.

Cook slowly in a 350 degrees F oven. This method develops a rich, red colour in the rhubarb and eliminates the need for constant watching.

Serve warm over a white cake or vanilla ice cream.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Moose Jaw police guide young riders through safety-focused ‘bike rodeo’

Earlier this spring, the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) took a hands-on approach to bike safety by hosting a series of “bike rodeo” events that emphasized smart riding habits and built stronger ties with local youth.

Led by School Resource Officers Const. Hoffman and Const. Perron, the rodeos were held in elementary schoolyards across the city throughout May and June. Students cycled through obstacle courses, simulated traffic stops, and learned how to perform safety checks — all under the guidance of uniformed police officers.

“The bike rodeo was a fun, handson event where students learned about bicycle safety through a series of engaging activities and stations,” explained Const. Hoffman, speaking with Const. Perron on behalf of the MJPS. “It took place in the schoolyard, where we set up various courses and learning zones to simulate real-world biking scenarios. Officers guided students through safety checks and traffic simulations.”

wanted to emphasize the importance of wearing helmets, understanding traffic signs, and being aware of their surroundings.”

Rather than high-speed races or tricks, the rodeo focused on practical skills such as weaving through cones, using hand signals, and navigating stop signs. One popular activity — a slow race — challenged kids to maintain balance and control while riding as slowly as possible.

Along the way, officers also addressed some of the most common safety pitfalls seen in young riders.

are here to help and care about their safety,” said Const. Hoffman. “These positive early interactions can shape how youth see law enforcement as they grow, fostering a stronger, safer community overall.”

By blending education with fun, the officers hope the lessons stick and that students feel empowered to take their safety into their own hands.

The goal, these two officers explained, was to create a positive, memorable experience around the core message of safe cycling.

“The primary goal was to teach students how to ride their bikes safely and confidently,” Const. Hoffman said. “We

“Some of the most common issues we see are improperly fitted helmets, forgetting hand signals, and not doing a basic bike check before riding,” the officers noted.

The annual event is part of the MJPS’ broader community outreach efforts, aimed at building trust between officers and youth.

“Events like this build trust and show young people that police officers

“By turning learning into a fun, interactive experience, students are more likely to remember the lessons,” Const. Hoffman noted. “It reinforces that biking safely isn’t just something adults talk about — it’s something they can actively practice and get better at.”

The bike rodeo program will return next spring, and schools interested in taking part can contact the MJPS Community and Strategic Services Unit through the “Request a Presentation” form on the department’s website, MJPolice.ca.

“We’re always happy to collaborate and help promote safe habits across the city,” Const. Hoffman concluded.

Const. Hoffman, left, and Const. Perron, right, help two students adjust their helmets during this year’s bike rodeo, part of the Moose Jaw Police Service’s community outreach and youth safety initiative.
Photo by: Moose Jaw Police Service

Sibmitted

The Lynbrook Golf Club had their 4th Hole in One of the year Tuesday June 24, 2025. Junior Member James Lanoie achieved his ace on Hole #8 using his driver for his first ever Hole in One.

Congratulations James!

MOOSE JAW BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS NOTES

THE

NEXT POLICE BOARD MEETING IS WEDNESDAY, JULY 16

Warmer weather could be reason for increased graffiti, mayor suggests

More graffiti tags appear to have popped up around the community in the past few months, which has prompted police to dig further into the situation and record what they find.

Graffiti vandalism does seem to go in cycles, while the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) regularly tracks it by visiting tagged sites — especially when building owners call — and cataloguing the images, Acting Chief Rick Johns said after the recent Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting.

Furthermore, officers will attempt to identify if the tags are linked or share commonalities, considering taggers usually leave their mark or a signature on certain pieces, he continued.

The police service has worked with students from Project 104 High School Arts Collective Graffiti Team on projects in the past, where youths create artworks that are installed in high graffiti areas, the acting chief pointed out. Those were great projects and the agency would love to see more such initiatives.

Johns noted that there appears to be “a code of ethics between taggers” where they usually don’t paint over others’ artwork, which means Project 104’s work proved “to be a really good deterrent.” So, he thought this topic might be a good opportunity to revisit working with the youths.

Meanwhile, the police service helps clean up tagged sites by working with

the victim — whether it is business owners, residents or the city — and finding ways to keep the community “looking safe and beautiful,” added Johns. However, it’s always an ongoing process.

The acting chief said he didn’t know if officers had any leads about who was tagging sites around the community. However, members were working on this issue and cataloguing what they found, while the agency was also looking for tips from residents.

“So if any public knows of anybody that’s tagging public buildings or private buildings, (they should) call Crime Stoppers (because) it’s completely anonymous and we will follow up on those tips,” Johns continued, adding that

“many sets of eyes” can help officers with their investigations.

People can contact Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or through an anonymous online reporting option available at SaskCrimeStoppers. com.

Mayor James Murdock, the police board chairman, said graffiti is more noticeable now that summer has arrived, as warmer weather and longer days make it easier for vandals to tag infrastructure.

Murdock added that city hall will continue to monitor the level of graffiti in the community in partnership with the Moose Jaw Police Service, residents and businesses.

Police agency receives $501K grant to support victim services work

The Moose Jaw Police Service recently received over half a million dollars in grant funding, some of which it will use to support two new initiatives in the Victim Services Unit.

The agency applied last spring for grants through provincial and federal streams, but because of long approval processes, it only learned that it was receiving the money — $501,233 — earlier this year, Acting Chief Rick Johns said after the recent Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting.

The police service used the money to enhance the response efforts of the Victim Services Unit (VSU), specifically,

Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com

by hiring Kayley Letilley as a second victim services co-ordinator to support Terri Roney, the main co-ordinator, Johns said. Furthermore, it has created a new room where children of crime victims can have a safe space to tell their stories and receive support.

The agency is “just putting the finishing touches” on that room, while it is waiting for some audio-visual equipment to arrive, the acting chief added. Once the organization installs the equipment, it hopes to begin using that space regularly in a few weeks.

A board report about the grant funding showed that, before the police

service received the unbudgeted revenue of $501,233, it had already spent $248,624.77 from various expense categories to support enhancements to its VSU.

Since some grant funding was for capital project initiatives and equipment purchases, the agency needed to redistribute some of the additional revenue into the affected accounts to balance them properly, the report said.

So, the MJPS asked the board to transfer $126,285.84 from the provincial revenue account to the capital account and $122,338.93 from the provincial revenue account to the equipment reserve

account. It also asked Commissioners to approve a capital budget provision of $126,285.84 and an equipment reserve budget provision of $122,338.93.

The board voted unanimously to approve the requests.

Meanwhile, in an email to MooseJawToday.com, a police services spokesman said the agency had spent an additional $104,662 from its operating budget to support VSU activities, for a total of $353,286.77. Therefore, the organization would spend the remaining $147,946.23 in grant funding throughout the rest of 2025 to support the child youth advocacy centre.

Farm asset values grew by double digits last year

Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

Value of farm assets in Canada grew by $38.9 billion in 2024.

Growth of 14.9 per cent put total assets at $991.5 billion.

Saskatchewan with a 9.8 per cent increase in farm assets value and Alberta at 5.5 per cent accounted for two-thirds of the national increase.

But growth in equity, the farmer’s share in assets, slowed for the first time in five years, according to the Statistics Canada report.

Cause for slower equity growth was liabilities increasing 14.4 per cent while assets grew only 6.3 per cent.

Equity in farms grew 7.3 per cent to $832.5 billion, indicating farmers are still in good financial shape.

Equity in Saskatchewan farms grew by 9.7 per cent to $179.5 billion.

Since 2020 farm asset values have soared 53 per cent across Canada. Saskatchewan didn’t quite match that rate, growing 50 per cent to $203.3 billion.

Interest coverage ratio on debt is the lowest since 1981 at 2.12 times. Most lenders prefer three times coverage.

Long term liabilities remain low as a portion of equity at $138.6 billion in Canada.

Since 2020 long term liabilities grew 42.9 per cent in Canada. Saskatchewan long term liabilities grew 38.3 per cent since 2020 to $19.39 billion.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

CITY HALL

COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, JULY 14

The City of Moose Jaw has released its 2024 public accounts report listing the pay for all city employees and council members, with police and firefighters continuing to earn the most.

The report — presented during the June 23 regular council meeting and unanimously accepted without discussion — showed the remuneration and expenses of council members for the previous year. Last year was also an election year, so the remuneration for the three new council members and the mayor was also included.

Council pay and expenses

· Mayor Clive Tolley: $99,016.29 / $5,689.08

Coun. Doug Blanc: $32,981.18 / $983.11

· Coun. Heather Eby: $36,439.41 / $76.04

· Coun. Crystal Froese: $32,981.18 / $1,368.87

· Coun. Jamey Logan: $36,415.92 / $0

· Coun. Dawn Luhning: $36,415.92 / $0

· Coun. Kim Robinson: $32,591.18 / $947.35

· Coun. Patrick Boyle: $4,432.62 / $0

· Coun. Carla Delaurier: $4,432.62 / $0

Coun. Chris Warren: $4,432.62 / $0

Mayor James Murdock: $14,108.01 / $0

The total remuneration and expenses last year were $334,246.95 and $9,064.45, respectively, with the former increasing by $8,453.97 and the latter decreasing by $3,511.20 compared to 2023.

Highest-paid city hall employees

Some of the highest-paid city hall

employees last year were:

Report shows highest-paid employees, police, firefighters in 2024

G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com

· Michelle Sanson, director of planning and development: $225,330.19; other remuneration of $4,786

· Maryse Carmichael, city manager: $208,722.51

· Bevan Harlton, director of operations: $163,754.34

· Brian Acker director of finance: $156,660.59; other remuneration of $2,084.38

· Derek Blais, director of community services: $154,516.72

· TJ Karwandy, director of human resources: $149,954.91

· Wade McKay, director of information technology: $149,954.91

· Andrew Svenson, city solicitor/director of legislative and enforcement services: $143,491.88

· Staci Dobrescu, manager of public works: $130,168.42

· William Fraser, city treasurer: $120,542.62

· Monica White, deputy city comptroller: $110,289.79; other remuneration of $2,851.35

Chassidy Guy, human resource consultant: $103,124.98; other remuneration of $1,807.85

Marnie Loney, land administrator: $96,431.41; other remuneration of $1,668.17

· Jim Dixon, manager of economic development: $74,123.57

· Gary Couzens, bus driver (retired in 2024): $58,498.69; other remuneration: $4,526.70

Of note, Michelle Sanson and Jim Dixon were let go last year and have not attended any council meetings since. City hall confirmed to MooseJawToday.com in an email in September that Sanson no longer worked for the city, after a departmental reorganization folded planning and development into the

new community services department. Highest-paid firefighters

Some of the highest-paid firefighters last year were:

· Rodney Montgomery, fire chief, $170,621.70

· Michael (Mike) Russel, deputy chief, $155,573.59

Christopher Luiten, senior captain, $144,613.54

· Curtis Beler, senior captain, $141,724.04

Robert Halsall, senior captain, $139,303.90

Ryan Hopkinson, senior captain, $136,838.85

· Jae Unser, shift captain, $135,000.52

· Richelle Grocott, shift captain, $132,920.55

· Jeremy Sanderson, shift captain, $132,890.09

· Craig Flanagan, shift captain, $127,909.13

· Ian Clark, fire prevention officer, $125,505.30

· Rodney Ansell, 16th year, $122,606.45

· Matthew Corcker, 16th year, $120,058.44

· William Howse, senior captain, $79,408.05; other remuneration of $23,549.31

Highest-paid police

Some of the highest-paid police officers last year were:

· Chief Richard (Rick) Bourassa, $221,285.60

· Deputy Chief Rick Johns, $204,317.73

· Supt. Richard (Rick) McKenna, $187,224.67

· Staff Sgt. Chad Scheske, $187,077.23

· Staff Sgt. Randell Boechler, $182,193.84

· Sgt. Ryan Lawrence, $176,925.91

· Const. Kyle Cunningham, $176,574.33

· Staff Sgt. Sheldon MacNaughton, $176,512.70

· Sgt. Jason Watt, $175,661.21

· Staff Sgt. Cameron Lewis, $175,589.43

· Staff Sgt. Taylor Elder, $171,135.43

· Staff Sgt. Kevin Pilsworth, $169,615.95

· Staff Sgt. Trisha Seman, $168,378.67

· Sgt. Myles Coghlin, $168,059.65

· Supt. Taylor Mickleborough (fired in 2024), $166,026.19

· Const. Bradley Sukenik, $132,677.31; other remuneration of $42,179.15

· Const. Todd Booth, $79,360.63; other remuneration of $48,258.22

· Const. Stanley Koch, $36,141.80; other remuneration of $20,908.16

· Sgt. Robert Heath, $31,679.31; other remuneration of $55,787.14

Contractors’ expenses

Some of the highest-paid contractors or notable contractual expenses included: NIS Contractors Ltd., $9,248,913.84

· Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation, $4,066,122.54

SaskPower, $3,682,087.03

· Cypress Paving, $3,397,347.23

· Neptune Technology Group, $1,895,718.39

· Prairie South Schools, $1,604,870.39 Parkson Corporation, $1,442,717.44 Nova Bus Inc., $1,313,405.94

· Insituform Technologies Ltd., $1,308,746.09

· Canada Life Assurance Company, $1,307,543.13

· Palliser Regional Library, $1,240,742.50

· HF Environmental and Construction Ltd., $1,111,121.32

· Finning (Canada), $1,092,724.65

· Federation Co-operatives Ltd., $993,993.05

· SaskEnergy, $718,683.88

· Loraas Disposal South Ltd., $704,250.28

· Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency (SAMA), $687,648

· Sask. Workers’ Compensation Board, $673,884.38

· Canadian Corp of Commissionaires, $554,762.06

· Greenwave Innovation Inc., $435,765

· KGS Group Consulting Engineers, $324,651.99

· River Street Development Corporation: $304,500

The total amount that city hall paid for all 134 contracting services last year was $57,453,261.35; in comparison, in 2023, those numbers were 144 and $61,184,578.66, respectively.

CITY HALL

COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, JULY 14

Gasoline is expensive and protecting the environment is important, so the fact that some city crews leave their vehicles running for hours at a work site concerns one city councillor.

During city council’s June 23 regular meeting, Coun. Jamey Logan asked city administration what the policy was with idling vehicles when no one was in them. He noted that he sees many empty city-owned trucks running when he drives around the community and wonders why, especially for economic and environmental reasons.

Bevan Harlton, director of opera-

Idling city vehicles are economic and environmental concern, councillor says

tions, started his response by apologizing and saying he owed a response to the city’s accessible community advisory committee and the public works, infrastructure and environment advisory committee since they had also asked about similar driving-related issues.

Operationally, the department is working in-house to monitor the fleet with an operations analyst since managers are seeing that “return times” on vehicles are “a lot higher” than what the odometer shows for kilometres driven, he continued.

This data, which the department

recently acquired, shows that crews are leaving vehicles idling when they shouldn’t be, while the information allows managers to question staff about why they’re leaving those machines running, Harlton said.

The operations director noted that one reason vehicles could be idling is that crews are using trucks to power portable signs or beacons, when some other energy source could be used. That is just some “low-hanging fruit” that managers are reviewing.

Harlton said he issued an email a month ago to employees in the opera-

tions and community services departments identifying this problem and urging managers to “clamp down” on it. He added that he should also be referring staff to the traffic bylaw to draw a “hard line” about idling vehicles.

Logan said he appreciated Harlton’s response and thought acquiring fleet management software could help the department address this issue, since it could compare vehicles’ hours of service to the number of kilometres staff drive them.

The next regular council meeting is Monday, July 14.

Councillor inquires about repairs to catch basin on Ninth Avenue NW

Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com

A repair that city crews made to a catch basin near William Grayson School and that a nearby resident criticized for poor work has received some attention from one city councillor.

Taxpayer Art King spoke to city council on June 23 during a public hearing about the proposed stormwater utility bylaw and, while discussing his opposition to the utility, criticized city crews for their “incompetent job” of fixing the stormwater infrastructure at the corner of Ninth Avenue Northwest and Athabasca Street West near his house.

In light of King’s comments and an

email he had sent days before, Coun. Chris Warren asked city administration later in the meeting about the repair work to the road, storm drain and sidewalk. The councillor pointed out that gravel and sand build up at the location and cause localized flooding.

Warren then inquired about the repairs that crews performed, including whether the repairs were permanent, whether the city would return to fix the sidewalk and whether the drain could handle excess rain.

Bevan Harlton, director of operations, said crews replaced a catch basin

and a degraded portion of the connecting pipe that had partially collapsed. Moreover, the repair to the stormwater infrastructure is permanent until the city addresses it with “more substantive work” during a future capital project on that street.

Continuing, Harlton said the work on the road and sidewalk is temporary, while crews laid down asphalt that will remain until the city fully replaces the sidewalk and road.

“The sidewalk goes onto a list of (repairs), likely next year. That is done by a contractor (because) we don’t do our

own sidewalk replacement in-house,” he said. “And in a similar way, the road cut goes onto our road list and the work is likely done with public works’ resources next year.”

With the capacity issues, crews replaced the catch basin and pipe with similarly sized hardware so they can handle a one-in-two-year or one-in-five-year storm, Harlton said. City hall is aware that the stormwater system on Ninth Avenue Northwest “is not healthy” and hopes to run cameras through the pipes to attain an accurate assessment.

Jaime Ansell hired as city hall’s new director of finance

The City of Moose Jaw has announced that it has hired Jaime Ansell as the new director of financial services.

With a strong foundation in financial management and organizational leadership, Ansell comes from the Water Security Agency, where she held several key leadership roles, the city said. This included director of financial strategy, manager of financial services, and financial analyst, where she led major financial initiatives, streamlined operations, and provided critical insights to execu-

tive leadership.

“I’m honoured to step into this role and continue building a culture of collaboration, innovation, and financial excellence,” Ansell said. “I look forward to working with city council and our administration to support sustainable growth and deliver meaningful results for Moose Javians.”

Ansell will officially assume her new role on Monday, June 30, succeeding Brian Acker, who is retiring. Acker will continue supporting the department

during the transition period through to Aug. 22.

In an interview with MooseJawToday.com, Carmichael said she is excited that Ansell is the new finance director, but she also has mixed emotions about saying goodbye to Acker after 35 years at city hall.

Continuing, she said that, based on the 2024 audited financial statements, the City of Moose Jaw “is in a great financial position” compared to other major Saskatchewan cities. Much of this is

because of the hard work Acker contributed over three decades while working with past councils.

Ansell is a financial leader who has years of experience, while she also worked with a third party that supported the former Downtown Facility Field House (DFFH) organization, the city manager added. Also, city administration is eager to see Ansell take the financial services department “to the next level.”

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY,

Development of the proposed Hilton Hotel in downtown Moose Jaw appears to be picking up steam, as city hall and the developer have agreed to a land deal to further the project.

During its June 23 regular meeting, city council voted 6-0 to authorize city administration to create a street closure bylaw affecting a chunk of the 0 block of River Street West on the north side. This is so River Street Development Corp. — also known as 102071770 Saskatchewan Ltd. — can purchase a parcel for $1 for its project.

The sale is conditional upon the corporation purchasing four nearby lots. Furthermore, it must complete the subdivision and consolidation of the four lots to form a single parcel, while it must consolidate the remaining portion of a nearby property.

Also, the organization will be re-

JULY 14

Developer acquires piece of River Street for hotel project

sponsible for all related costs, such as for the street closure, subdivision, consolidation, land sale, title transfer and any required easement agreements.

Mayor James Murdock recused himself from the vote because he is connected to the corporation and has a financial interest. He also recused himself from two other items on the executive committee’s agenda that were in-camera, or behind closed doors, as the hotel developers made presentations.

This is the second land sale the city has made with the corporation, as in March 2024, council approved administration’s application to subdivide the west 150 feet of the 0 block of River Street West from the corporation’s adjacent property for $290,000.

The affected parcel, 0.024 hectares (0.06 acres) in size, was originally intended as a turnaround — or “bulb out”

PUBLIC NOTICE - BYLAW NO. 5739, STREET CLOSURE BYLAW, 202 5(3)

as administration described it — for a previous hotel development in September 2012, where construction was required to start within 18 months of the approval, a council report said.

The construction deadline passed, and the developer asked for a two-year extension, but council approved only a one-year extension to September 2013, the document continued. Ultimately, the developer never constructed the turnaround or the hotel, while the parcel has remained legally designated for that purpose.

The municipality has no use for the parcel, which is not used as a road and serves no function, the report said. The corporation will acquire some of the land, while a portion of the road will remain as part of River Street, vested with the Crown, and the city will confirm the final boundaries through a legal survey.

Blk/Par S1, Plan 102065532 Ext 0 to the newly consolidated parcel, the document said.

There are several reasons why the city sold the land for $1, the report noted, including:

· The land is required for the future hotel development

· The city no longer requires the original turnaround

· The municipality did not incur any costs to acquire the extended street parcel in 2012

· The parcel is too small to be sold or developed independently

· The city has not identified any use for retaining the remnant parcel City hall recognized that the purchaser will incur costs for the subdivision and consolidation

City of Moose Jaw hereby g ves notice, pursuant to The Cities Act, that Council will consider proposed Bylaw No. 5739, Street Closure By aw, 2025(3) and report at its regular meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025, 4:30 p.m , Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 228 Main Street North, Moose Jaw

The proposed Bylaw is to close all of Blk/Par S1, P an 102065532 Ext 0, to help facil tate the subd vision and sa e and consolidation of the street back to ts orig nal parcels of land The street be ng closed is not required for public access and has never been utilized as a street R ver Street will remain open

Also, the city will preserve or protect any utilities through registered easements.

A map and copy of the proposed Bylaw may be found under the “C ty News” sect on at www.moosejaw ca, or on the 3rd Floor, City Hall between June 24, 2025 to July 14, 2025 Inquir es, written comments or requests to address Council must be received by 10:00 a m on Monday, Ju ly 14, 2025 in person at City Hall, by emai at planning@moosejaw ca, or by phone, 306-694-4443

Dated at Moose Jaw Saskatchewan this 24th day of June 2025

The report noted that the municipality and River Street Development Corp. engaged in negotiations in 2024, where the former agreed to sell the street portion if the latter acquired properties of Lot 34, Blk/Par 110, Plan Old96 Ext 53; Lot 33, Blk/Par 110, Plan Old96 Ext 52; Lot 32, Blk/Par 110, Plan Old96 Ext 51; and Lot 55, Blk/Par 110, Plan 99MJ06781 Ext 10.

Following the corporation’s acquisition of those properties and council’s approval of a street and lane closure bylaw, administration agreed to transfer

Meanwhile, the estimated fees that the corporation could pay include $1,300 to the Ministry of Highways for consent to close and transfer the road and acquire a title transfer document, $250 to $750 to advertise the bylaw, $3,500 to $6,000 for subdivision costs, $450 to the city for the subdivision, $360 to Information Services Corporation (ISC) for the subdivision and unknown fees for land transfer/title consolidation.

City hall will issue a public notice to property owners within 90 metres that will include the legal land description, the closure’s purpose and instructions for how the public can comment before council approves the bylaw change, the report said.

Tracy Wittke, City Clerk

CITY HALL

COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MONDAY, JULY 14

Two residents have expressed their concerns about a proposed stormwater utility bylaw that would see property owners pay a monthly fee and be forced to connect to the system.

Fabrice Dourlent and Art King presented at the June 23 regular city council meeting, during a public hearing for the proposed bylaw.

Dourlent said he received a letter about the bylaw but discovered that it lacked sufficient information for him to fully understand the changes. Moreover, the letter suggested that the bylaw was already set and there was nothing residents could do but pay the monthly fee of $9.80.

Instead, he thought the letter should have said the bylaw is still in draft form and residents could speak to it during the meeting. Furthermore, he thought the full bylaw should have come with the letter.

“It’s not fair (and) it’s not transparent,” Dourlent remarked.

The homeowner emailed city hall

asking how many properties were involved, but learned that the municipality was allegedly unsure. However, the city expected to receive nearly $1.6 million annually from the new utility, which made him think that “basic math” should easily reveal the number of properties.

Moreover, he believed that the city had a database of properties, since it had to mail letters to announce this bylaw.

“So there’s no way city hall doesn’t know how many owners received that letter. And I think it’s weird,” Dourlent said.

Continuing, Dourlent said he was unclear about how the city would use the money to support the utility. Moreover, he thought it was unfair, against the “democratic process” and “an abuse of power” that just the city manager would grant or deny exceptions to joining the system.

The Francophone resident said he moved to Moose Jaw in 2019, bought a house and wanted to build a fence, but city hall denied his request. So, he

went to the development appeals board, which allowed him to proceed.

He pointed out that that process allows the city and property owner to discuss their conflicts, whereas there is no dispute resolution in the proposed bylaw.

“I think the councillors (were) elected by (the) population, so they should consider that people should be able to talk like (the public hearing allows),” Dourlent stated.

Continuing, he said he had concerns about the bylaw forcing property owners to connect to the system in 60 days. He said that’s not long enough, since people can be on vacation or outside the country, while contractors are usually busy.

“The city hall could do a better job in town,” Dourlent said, pointing out that the roads are growing “worse and worse,” are unsafe for motorists, cyclists and bikers, and damage vehicles. Moreover, he said his taxes have doubled since he moved here six years ago, with little to show for it.

City hall’s new stormwater utility a ‘cash grab,’ resident suggests

“I wonder what (the) money is used for (by city hall) because I can’t see any thing except just paying more and more and more … ,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mr. King criticized the bylaw because some of its clauses al legedly existed in another bylaw, so this one was redundant and a waste of time. Meanwhile, he suggested that the new utility would allegedly perform “at best, terrible.”

He also criticized a recent project at the corner of Ninth Avenue North west and Athabasca Street West near his house. He noted that crews dug up a storm drain and left it in such a poor state that it threatened the safety of students walking to school. Therefore, for the new utility to have force, these employees “will do exactly the same in competent job.”

“This particular bylaw has to do with cash flow … . That’s what it comes down to,” King added. “It’s a cash grab; you’re milking a cash cow and the tax payer is the cash cow.”

Council wants concerns addressed before it approves stormwater bylaw

City council has paused approving a new stormwater utility bylaw and wants more time to review it because of some concerns that members and taxpayers have with the wording.

Coun. Jamey Logan, who owns several businesses, spoke against several clauses in the proposed bylaw during council’s June 23 regular meeting.

Some of his concerns included:

• Property owners with buildings that are over 300 square metres in size or with parking lots over 1,200 square metres must tie into the stormwater system; Logan said this may cost $50,000 to $100,000 and may send the wrong message to builders

• Owners must connect to the system within 60 days of notification from the city, otherwise, the city will connect at the owners’ expense; Logan wanted older buildings “grandfathered” into the system, otherwise,

owners may be forced to spend money digging up their lots

• Where there is no adjacent stormwater main, the owner must submit a drainage plan to the city before construction or development; Logan was worried that this may turn off developers from building here

• The city manager has the discretion to exclude certain properties from paying the fee; Logan was worried that this could be a problem if the city manager and the landowner dis like each other

City manager Maryse Carmichael said administration used external legal counsel to create the bylaw, which is similar to Saskatoon’s. Also, because the utility fee is $9.80 per month, administration thinks the city manager should have the sole power to approve or deny exemptions instead of sending the re

• The city manager’s decision is final and property owners cannot appeal it

• The city may disconnect a property from the system if the owner fails to pay the monthly fee or violates the bylaw, while a designated officer from the city may enter any property to disconnect it from the system.

quest to council.

Derek Blais, director of community services, said many clauses in the pro posed utility bylaw are already in the building bylaw. So, administration is transferring some clauses from the lat ter to the former and will soon present an updated building bylaw for approval.

We Wish You Every Success!

We are so proud of all the students in the Moose Jaw Community!

Have a great Summer!

to our Grads

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Bulwer-Hailey
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Andries-Hunter
Bekar-Ronni
Cheesman-Denise
Craig-Jayden
Arnott-Makaya
Brown-Kalista
Coates-Jared
Craig-Keira
Atherton-Keaton
Buchanan-Kaycee
Cockburn-Cody
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Avery-Athon
Buckton-Lynkin
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Cushway-Riley

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Zillman-Michael

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Smith-Maia Sopp-Allija Sowden-Caleb Spencer-Ethyn Starr-Natalia
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Slon-Emma
Kirsten Knox
Cailean Fitzpatrick
Casey Hopps
Cody Dreger
Atticus Hyatt
Daxton Lugrin
Taylor Jacobson
Hailey Flaman
Kylar Marciszyn
Hailey Hutchinson
Mackenzie Thorvaldson
Hailey Knox
Mary Kayne Rufole Mikey Taylor
Jasper Gross
Neil Bornmann
Carter Biccum
Hannah Hipfner
Cheyenne Trumbley

CENTRAL COLLEGIATE

Affie-Ferguson, William Ahadi, Jamal Ahsan, Muhammad Alabi, Wifaq Ali, Abdulmunim
Aberehaley, Helena
Amell, Drew
Ayodeji, Tanvir
Broomfield, Paetyn
Anderson, Cohen
Baumann, Rylan
Buckton, Ezra
Ansell, Ben
Billington, Sierra
Burnham, Laine
Armstrong, Brenton
Blondeau, Alex
Candido, Joshua
Aspinall, Kaden
Bowes, Brogan
Carpentier, Madeleine
Ausland, Nash
Bradish, Hayden
Christison, Keianna
Friesen, Cohen Funk, Sienna Galarosa, Denizia Gauthier, Kai Gillert, Parker
Freeman, Ava Giokas, Jackson
Heidinger, Cooper
Givera, Vann Greenwood, Allison Gulutzan, Gerritt Gyurov, Maks Harkness, Donovan
Closs, Matthew
Dafoe, Rhys
Egan, Rykr
Flanagan, Ellah
Coad, Emma
Davie, Joshua
Flavel, Mackenzie
Constable, Shaylan
Dedelley, Alissa
Eros, Aurelia
Flavel, Paige
Cowan, Lennon
Delizo, Lei
Faisal, Hiba
Frank, Justys
Cridland, Mitike
Duncan, Tanner
Faulkner, Ethan
Franken, Jodi
Christmann, Treyton
Csada, Owen
Ebuehi, Sean Fehr, Nevaeh
Jacques, Audrey
Juan, Eliajah
Hewitt, Logan
Jin, Judy
Kicenko, Mila
Hogg, Katie
John Ezra, Enush
Krukoff, Payton
Hunter, Lucas
Johnson, Autumn
Laturnus, Hailey
Hutton, Gavin
Johnson, Bennett
Legare, Tryton
Hwang, Hannah
Johnson, Ethan
Leveille, Evan Loutit-Myers, Dylan
Lowe, Faith
Meyer, Erica Lynch, Javaughn
Mercene, Jhen
Mackow, Makenzie
Millar, Kohen
Maurer, Trevor Milligan, Eldon
McKee, Chase Mohle, Jovie
McLean, Lucy Moore, Adalie
Jacques, Audrey Juan, Eliajah
Hewitt, Logan
Jin, Judy
Kicenko, Mila
Hogg, Katie
John Ezra, Enush
Krukoff, Payton
Hunter, Lucas
Johnson, Autumn
Laturnus, Hailey
Hutton, Gavin
Johnson, Bennett
Legare, Tryton
Hwang, Hannah
Johnson, Ethan
Leveille, Evan Loutit-Myers, Dylan
Lowe, Faith
Meyer, Erica Lynch, Javaughn
Mercene, Jhen
Mackow, Makenzie
Millar, Kohen
Maurer, Trevor Milligan, Eldon
McKee, Chase Mohle, Jovie
McLean, Lucy Moore, Adalie
Prior, Rhett
Pryadko, Patrick Rattee, Ben
Riak, Paul Riley, Mattea
Porto, Rhianna
Rizvi, Aamina
Rowlinson, Morgan
Shepherdson, Breanna
Robinson, Kendall
Ruston, Hurley
Shymko, Mykenzie
Rogers, Katherine
Santana, Leslie Rogers, Josephine Schmidt, Aaliyah
Rogowski, Emma
Seaborn, Chase
Rosenau, Hailey
Sharpen, Connor
Morhart, Adison
Payne, Maguire
Nancarrow, Riley
Perez Lopez, Diego
Nancarrow, Sidney
Pisio, Nathan
Nichol, Maddy Nichols, Hunter
Pollock, Ollie
Oshineye, Erioluwa
Prior, Rhett
Pryadko, Patrick Rattee, Ben
Riak, Paul Riley, Mattea
Porto, Rhianna
Rizvi, Aamina
Rowlinson, Morgan
Shepherdson, Breanna
Robinson, Kendall
Ruston, Hurley
Shymko, Mykenzie
Rogers, Katherine
Santana, Leslie Rogers, Josephine Schmidt, Aaliyah
Rogowski, Emma
Seaborn, Chase
Rosenau, Hailey
Sharpen, Connor
Morhart, Adison
Payne, Maguire
Nancarrow, Riley Perez Lopez, Diego
Nancarrow, Sidney
Pisio, Nathan
Nichol, Maddy Nichols, Hunter
Pollock, Ollie
Oshineye, Erioluwa

Dela Rosa, James La Madrid, Eljay

Dela Rosa, James La Madrid, Eljay

Wishing all of our graduating students a future lled with health and success.
Wishing all of our graduating students a future lled with health and success.

It took a lot of hard work to be where you are today!

It took a lot of hard work to be where you are today!

This is to be commended and celebrated!

This is to be commended and celebrated!

Prairie South challenges each of you to be lifelong learners.

Prairie South challenges each of you to be lifelong learners.

Never stop #learningtogether, never stop exploring, never stop dreaming, never stop growing, and never stop challenging yourself to be the very best you can be!

Never stop #learningtogether, never stop exploring, never stop dreaming, never stop growing, and never stop challenging yourself to be the very best you can be!

Smith, Madison Smith, Sidney Silbernagel, Casson
St-Laurent, Gabrielle
Simmons, Max Tangan, Alec
Singh, Pratham
Taylor, Kally Smith, Brooklyn
Watterson, Brooklyn Watterson, Kasen Wu Wu, Kevin
Smith, Madison Smith, Sidney Silbernagel, Casson
St-Laurent, Gabrielle
Simmons, Max Tangan, Alec
Singh, Pratham
Taylor, Kally Smith, Brooklyn
Watterson, Brooklyn Watterson, Kasen Wu Wu, Kevin

CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT? WE DO.
Adams, Jaycee
Behrns, Tanner Biette, Drew Binetruy, Emma
Block, Kierran
Adams, Isabella
Brown, Eden
Gramlich, Aidan
Lesperance, Olivia
Couch, Brendan
Gregor, Cooper Maneso, Tizita
Craik, Wyatt
Heppner, Tobias
Mellor, Linnea
Ellard, McKelvey
Hetherington, Lukas
Purdy, Mateah
Empey, Faith
Hrechka, Kiana
Seida-Ruthven, Jorja
Galbraith, Nolan
Kaminski, Luke
Shave, Dannika
Wonnick, Annika
Stafford, Emma
Alana Cluie Capis
Annique Boyer
Anastasia Rajczakowski Arlyn Dequina
Audrey Chukwurah
Adysen Moser
Avery Boechler
Burkeley McLellan
Eden Benson
Brandon Zimmer
Carson Gomersall
Gabrielle Orino
Brinnagh McKean
Chellcie Nichol Pante
Brooklyn Dekker
Brooklyn Hrynkiw
Brooklyn Miller
Danielle Joaquin Guerzon
Janzen Lamey Joshua Abanes
Kirsten Mytroen
Lilah Calvert
Jorja Orth
Krishia Bautista
Layla Nickel
Kamden Winder
Kohl Olson
Madison Schuler
Katherine Randall
Lance Tan
Maria Pouteaux
Keira Zimmerman
Leah Crossland
Matthew Bergado
Kent Cyril Laeno
Leoncia White
Jacie Ruckaber Jada Symak
Jenna Porter
Jeanine Rebello
Jacob Douglas
Ireland Guillaume
Janzen Lamey Joshua Abanes
Kirsten Mytroen
Lilah Calvert
Jorja Orth
Krishia Bautista
Layla Nickel
Kamden Winder
Kohl Olson
Madison Schuler
Katherine Randall
Lance Tan
Maria Pouteaux
Keira Zimmerman
Leah Crossland
Matthew Bergado
Kent Cyril Laeno
Leoncia White
Jacie Ruckaber Jada Symak Jenna Porter Jeanine Rebello
Jacob Douglas Ireland Guillaume
Noah Thul Portlyn Schultz
Tsnat Sbhatu
Savannah Jackson
Praizelle Gumacal
Waverley Demassi
Schwartz Tucker
Rhyza Lacsa
Yhanzen Garlitos
Sean Ramos
Rowan Gray Zayden Anderson
Sierra Glova
Sarah Gonzales Ryan Work
Saicy Jho Santiago
Tristan Nuell
Noah Thul Portlyn Schultz
Tsnat Sbhatu
Savannah Jackson
Praizelle Gumacal
Waverley Demassi
Schwartz Tucker
Rhyza Lacsa
Yhanzen Garlitos
Sean Ramos
Rowan Gray Zayden Anderson
Sierra Glova
Sarah Gonzales Ryan Work
Saicy Jho Santiago
Tristan Nuell
Carter Coroy
Tia Cathcart
Joey Friedrich
Evan Moffatt Daniel Peddle
Alina Dunn
Abigail Kuntz
Chyler Lamb
Khylin Lamb Taylor Lea
Carter White
Colby Cushway
Dayton Corbin
Kaydin Krahenbil
Hailey Oram

Moose Jaw Warriors to open regular season against Brandon Wheat Kings as WHL releases schedule

October to feature eight home games, U.S. Division road swing set for January

The Moose Jaw Warriors and Brandon Wheat Kings will once again become two of the first teams to renew acquaintances in the 2025-26 Western Hockey League regular season.

The Warriors and Wheat Kings will play a home-and-home series to open the new campaign, with the teams in Brandon on Friday, Sept. 19 before holding their home opener at the Temple Gardens Centre on Saturday, Sept. 20.

That will kick off the WHL’s 68game season, with games running through to the Mar. 28 weekend when the Warriors close out the regular season with a home-and-home against Swift Current.

Before that all gets underway, training camp will take place beginning the Aug. 29 weekend, leading into the first pre-season games on Friday, Sept. 5 in Swift Current and Saturday, Sept. 6 against the Broncos at home. The Warriors will also take on the Regina Pats at the Brandt Centre on Tuesday, Sept.

Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com

on

Wheat Kings

9 before playing a home-and-home against Saskatoon on Friday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 13 to close out the exhibition campaign.

Warrior fans won’t have to wait long to see plenty of games, as eight of their first 12 regular season contests will take place in October, their busiest month at Temple Gardens Centre.

Moose Jaw will also play five games

Moose Jaw Miller Express win North Regina Little League Major AAA championship

Express put together 11-1 regular season record before sweeping to title win

Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com

The Moose Jaw MIller Express are the North Regina Little League Major AAA champions.

And in dominant fashion, at that.

The Express put together an 11-1 record through the regular season and put up double digits in offence in 10 of their 12 games, easily finishing in first place ahead of the Iron Pigs (6-6) and Pirates (1-11).

Things always get interesting in the playoffs, though, and they were this

time around, too. The Pirates upset the Iron Pigs with an 8-4 win in the quarterfinal and then threw a scare into Moose Jaw before the Miller Express escaped with a 3-1 win in the A final.

The B final turned into another close game, with the Iron Pigs prevailing 10-7 this time around.

That set up a Miller Express and Iron Pigs final, with Moose Jaw taking a 13-4 victory to claim the championship.

at home in November and December, including the New Year’s Eve Game against the Regina Pats on Dec. 31.

All told, Moose Jaw will play 35 games prior to Jan. 1.

January will be the Warriors’ busiest month with 13 games, the majority on the road as they head out west for a tour of the U.S. Division. That will see Moose Jaw in Wenatchee (Jan. 9), TriCity (Jan. 10), Portland (Jan. 13), Everett (Jan. 14), Seattle (Jan. 16) and Spokane (Jan. 17).

Outside of their west coast swing, February will see the Warriors play their most road games, with seven of their 12 games away from home. Moose Jaw closes things out with four of their eight games at home in March.

The six B.C. Division teams will be making their biannual stops at Temple Gardens Centre, with the Vancouver Giants in Moose Jaw on Saturday, Oct. 4, Kamloops Blazers on Wednesday, Oct. 15, the Memorial Cup host Kelowna

Rockets on Tuesday, Dec. 16 and Victoria Royals on Friday, June 23. The Penticton Vees will make their first-ever visit to Moose Jaw on Saturday, Feb. 28.

The major theme nights for the season will see the Vees game also acting as Hockey Fights Cancer Night. The Warriors and Legends Hall of Fame weekend is Saturday, Nov. 22, the Teddy Bear Toss Game will take place on Saturday, Dec. 13, Fan Appreciation and postgame skate on Sunday, Mar. 15 and the annual Awards Night on Saturday, Mar. 21.

The Western Hockey League postseason will begin Friday, Mar. 27.

The Warriors will also have a new wrinkle to their home games on Saturdays, featuring an hour earlier start time of 6 p.m. All other home games will see puck drop at 7 p.m.

For more information on the Moose Jaw Warriors, keep an eye on their social media accounts and their website at www.chl.ca/whl-warriors.

The Moose Jaw Warriors will open their regular season
Sept. 19 and 20 with home-and-home series against the Brandon
The Moose Jaw Major Express capped an outstanding season with the North Regina Little League Major AAA championship recently.

Moose Jaw Warriors captain Lynden Lakovic selected 27th overall by Washington Capitals in NHL Entry Draft

Warriors captain cracks top 30 picks after putting up 57 points in 47 games with Moose Jaw last season

Moose Jaw Warriors captain Lynden Lakovic will soon be rubbing shoulders with the greatest goal scorer in National Hockey League history.

The Kelowna, B.C. product was selected in the first round, 27th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2025 National Hockey League Entry Draft on Friday night at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.

As a result, it might not be long before he’s playing alongside the likes of all-time NHL scoring leader Alex Ovechkin in the Capitals’ line-up.

A 6-foot-4, 190-pound forward, Lakovic had a stellar campaign with the Warriors this past season, putting up 27 goals and 58 points across 47 games to lead Moose Jaw in scoring despite a

Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com

mid-season shoulder injury.

While those numbers and Lakovic’s raw size and talent were the final factor in his first-round selection, it was what he put together in the Warriors’ 2024 Western Hockey League championship run that established him as a big-game player. Lakovic’s five goals and eight points in the 20 games included three game-winning markers, including overtime goals in Game 6 and 7 to close out the epic seven-game series against the Saskatoon Blades.

When Lakovic’s name was announced by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, a huge cheer went up from the crowd, and for good reason -- the Warriors’ Player of the Year estimated he had 50 or 60 people in attendance cheer-

Fort

ing him on.

The Capitals management crew admitted they were surprised to see Lakov-

ic still available at the 27 and had been holding their breath the previous half dozen picks prior to his selection.

Lakovic isn’t the first member of his family to join the NHL ranks, as uncle Sasha Lakovic played parts of three seasons with the Calgary Flames and New Jersey Devils and was one of the toughest players in the league during his tenure.

Two Saskatchewan-born players were selected earlier Friday, with Saskatoon’s Roger McQueen going at 10th overall to the Anaheim Ducks and Macklin’s Cole Reschny being selection 18th overall by the Calgary Flames.

The NHL Draft continues Saturday with rounds two through seven beginning at 10 a.m..

Miller Express pick up pair of wins in four-game weekend set in Fort McMurray

Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com

The Moose Jaw Miller Express had an up and down weekend in Western Canadian Baseball League action while playing four games against the Energy City Cactus Rats and Fort McMurray Giants in Fort McMurray.

A unique bit of scheduling saw the Express joined by Energy City and the Swift Current 57’s for a round robin of sorts at Legacy Field, with Moose Jaw opening by a doubleheader Thursday

with a 3-1 loss to Energy City and 3-0 win over Fort McMurray. The Express then dropped a 6-5 decision to the Giants on Friday before finishing off the series with a 4-1 win over Energy City on Saturday.

Moose Jaw is now 12-14 on the season and continue to hold down fourth place in the East Division, 1 ½ games back of the third place Regina Red Sox.

Moose Jaw Miller Express pitcher Kaden Noble picked up the win against the Energy City Cactus Rats on Saturday night in
McMurray. Joe Gunnis photo
Moose Jaw Warriors captain Lynden Lakovic is joined on the stage by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being selected in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Washington Capitals. Sportsnet

Running Festival raises over $15K for Moose Jaw Health Foundation

The Moose Jaw Running Festival made its official debut on June 8 — and crossed the finish line with a recordsetting result.

Rebranded from the longtime Moose Jawg Charity Road Race — now in its 21st year — this event marked the third organized by race director Andrea Amiot and the first under its new festival format, drawing more than 325 runners and walkers in support of pediatric care at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital.

Amiot said the festival’s transformation into a full-fledged running event paid off in a big way. Participation jumped by 20 per cent over last year’s 271 attendees, with runners from 44 different communities and four provinces — including one participant from as far away as Florida — helping make this

year the most successful yet.

“We set out to build something that brings people together, encourages movement, and gives back. I truly believe we did just that,” Amiot said.

“Moose Jaw showed up in a big way.”

Thanks to that strong turnout and a boost in sponsorship support from nearly a dozen local businesses, the festival is donating $15,004.89 to the Moose Jaw Health Foundation — a 63.1 per cent increase from last year’s total of $9,200. The donation will directly support pediatric rehabilitation services at the regional hospital.

“Crossing the finish line with a $15,004.89 donation is an incredible milestone,” said Kelly McElree, CEO of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation. “On behalf of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, thank you to the Moose Jaw Run-

THIS WEEKS FLYERS

ning Festival organizers, sponsors, and every participant who went the distance to support pediatric rehabilitation. Your commitment helps children and their families take confident steps toward a future filled with possibility and hope.”

Participants had the option of running one of four distances — a fivekilometre, 10-kilometre, half-marathon, or the popular “Runt Run” for children. Among the finishers in the Runt Run were two local children, Wells and Lyd-

ia, who received treatment with equipment purchased through last year’s fundraising.

This year’s event was presented by Golden West Trailer & Equipment and operated in full partnership with 321 Go Running, a Saskatchewan-based company that organizes charity races across the province. Timing was handled by Prairie Run Crew, whose team helped deliver a smooth experience on race day.

Amiot extended thanks to the nearly 40 volunteers, the City of Moose Jaw transportation department, and the Wakamow Valley Authority for their behind-the-scenes support.

Local sponsors included: The Mosaic Company, Casino Moose Jaw, Visit Moose Jaw, Sonya’s Insurance & Financial Solutions Ltd., Prairie Spring Water, The Attic Spin Studio, Clothes Encounter, My Addictions Boutique, Vicki Pantelopoulos Realty, and Ottawa Real Estate & Insurance.

Amiot confirmed that next year’s charitable race will return, with 321 Go Running and Prairie Run Crew set to help organize once again.

To learn more, visit “Moose Jaw Running Festival” on Facebook or 321GoRunning.ca.

*Full Circulation means every home & paper should have this yer. If you are missing call us @306-694-1322. *Selected Areas means only selected areas were chosen by the business or agency (please call the business).

Sian (left), one of this year’s three Moose Jaw Running Festival ambassadors, poses with her husband and two children after completing the five-kilometre race as a family.

Students and staff say final farewell to Westmount Elementary School

As the final bell rang through the halls of Westmount Elementary on June 26, it wasn’t just the end of another school year — it was the end of an era.

Outside the aging school, students clung to final moments, sharing hugs, snapping photos, and saying emotional goodbyes. One student shouted, “So long, Westmount!” with a satisfied grin, but the overall mood was reflective as the kindergarten to Grade 8 school officially closed its doors for good.

Westmount is one of four Moose Jaw schools that will not reopen in the fall, alongside Sacred Heart Community School, Empire School, and St. Mary School. Most students will start fresh at the new joint-use school in September, and others will transition to high school, but on their last day at a place filled with familiar faces and memories, the mood was bittersweet.

Grade 8 student Blake Gatzke, who transferred to Westmount during the COVID-19 pandemic and finished his final year is heading to Peacock Collegiate this fall, said one of his fondest memories was having Mr. Boyle as his teacher in Grade 6.

“Grade 6 with Mr. Boyle was the best … Mr. Boyle really shaped me into the person I am right now,” he said. “I’m nervous, but I’m excited because (I’m mov-

Students gathered for a final group photo in front of Westmount Elementary School on June 26, marking the school’s last day before closing its doors permanently.

ing on to) high school.”

For younger students, the day was just as poignant. Amelia, Olivia, and Emberley — students in Grade 5 — said they were both excited and sad to be moving on.

All three said they were looking forward to the new school’s modern facilities and a chance to reunite with friends — and for Amelia, the promise of a much shorter walk each morning. “I’m sad, but I can finally

walk to school next year,” she said, noting that the joint-use school is closer to her home.

Still, leaving behind Westmount — and the friendships built within its walls — was no small thing.

Some students were already wondering what would become of the building, while others were focused on soaking in their last few memories at a school that had shaped them. For many, the hardest part was saying goodbye to close friends — some of whom will attend different schools in the fall — and facing the uncertainty of making new ones in unfamiliar hallways.

When the final bell rang throughout Westmount, Mrs. Alexander, the school’s principal, saw students off with a wave and a few hugs as buses pulled up and parents arrived to pick up their children. A few final photos, selfies, and goodbyes completed the scene. As the last footsteps faded and the last cars rolled away, the weight of the moment settled softly over an empty schoolyard.

The new joint-use school, named Coteau Hills Elementary for Prairie South School Division students, is located at 1700 Vermont Road and is set to open on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Peonies – Part I

I have fallen in love this year – with peonies – all over again! It is rather amazing that each year, I seem to have a new love in the garden. Sometimes it is an old love that again rises to the top and sometimes it is a completely new love! I have for some time been buying peonies from my favourite florist and have been enjoying them in vases in my house as well as gifting them to some of my favourite people for their homes. There is nothing quite like a peony in full bloom as their big fluffy flowers and heavenly scent are truly floral royalty.

There are a few different types of peonies, but this column will focus on the herbaceous peonies as those are the ones that have stolen my heart once again. Peonies are a gardener’s dream that lives longer than most humans!

Over the years I have seen them happily growing in farmsteads that have not housed humans for many years. They are a perennial that lives for a long time, but does not like being moved.

Herbaceous peonies die back to the ground in winter and in the spring regrow once again. Their season of bloom is from late spring to early summer – depending on your location and what type of peony you are growing. If you really like peonies and have the space there are early, midseason and late-blooming kinds of peonies that traditionally were white, blush, pink and red. Modern breeding has expanded our choices to include creamy white, coral, purple/lavender and even some variegated, multi-coloured types.

Single bloom types have a single row of broad petals surrounding a cluster of stamens and seed-bearing carpels. The quite striking and elegant. ‘Athena’ has single creamy-white cup-shaped

petals with a delicate raspberry flare at the base of each petal. ‘Krinkled White’ has large crinkled or wavy petals surrounding the golden yellow heart of stamens.

Japanese peony types are similar to the signal bloom types of peonies but have a prominent centre of modified stamens (staminodes) that have become thickened and don’t produce viable pollen. They have either a single or double row of large, flat outer petals. A couple of stunning cultivars are ‘Sword Dance’ with rose-red petals with a centre of same coloured rippled staminodes etched in gold. ‘Nippon Beauty’ has deep red petals with bright red staminodes edged with gold.

Semi-double peonies have several rows of petals with visible pollen-bearing stamens. Their stems are generally more sturdy so do not require staking which is a big bonus! Some of my favourites include: ‘Coral Charm’ with an unique coral colour; ‘Buckeye Belle’ with striking deep red blooms with golden stamens; or ‘Garden Treasure’ with large golden yellow petals flushed with scarlet at their heart.

Bomb peonies have a single row of broad outer petals that form a skirt around the centre petals. The narrow inner petals that are surrounded by the

broad outer petals are actually modified stamens and carpels, forming full, luxurious and impactful blooms. Some cultivars to try include: ‘Red Charm’ with true red petals; ‘Raspberry Sundae’ with elegant ivory coloured ruffles blushed with a delicious raspberry-pink shade and ‘Fire Bomb’ which is fireengine red.

Double peonies have all stamens and carpels transformed into petals creating lush. fully rounded blooms. These flowers are heavy and large and often can be seen swooping down to the ground when they open. ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ is a famous later blooming fully double soft pink peony with later season bloom. ‘Kansas’ is another popular choice with large, fuchsia-red double blooms that is lovely as a cut flower. Watch next week for more on peonies.

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…

https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCzkiUpkvyv2e2HCQlFl0JyQ?

Patricia Hanbidge For Moose Jaw Express
Blake Gatzke is fifth from the left. Photo by: Aaron Walker

HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL DIVISION

THE NEXT HOLY TRINITY BOARD MEETING IS MON. AUG 18.

Catholic students and staff from the region raised thousands of dollars this year to support faith-based education in areas of Canada where pursuing such learning is financially difficult for some families.

Holy Trinity Catholic School Division raised the money during Catholic Education Week for the “Toonies for Tuition” program, which the Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association (CCSTA) organized.

Saskatchewan won the overall national fundraising title — it collected $28,324 — as it raised the most per fulltime equivalent student. The top three school divisions were Prince Albert with $6,441.99, Moose Jaw’s Holy Trinity with $5,207.25 and Weyburn with $4,100.

In Holy Trinity, the schools that raised the most were St. Michael with $1,724, Vanier/Phoenix with $780, All

Moose Jaw-area Catholic students raised over $5K to support national campaign

Saints in Swift Current with $692 and École St. Margaret with $585. However, However, based on the amount raised per student, the top schools were St. Michael with $5.39 per student, St. Margaret with $2.72 per student and Christ the King (Shaunavon) with $1.93 per student.

Holy Trinity’s total of $5,207.25 amounted to $2.18 per student, good for second in the province, while Weyburn’s total amounted to $3.01 per student and Prince Albert’s total amounted to $2.14 per student.

Catholic trustees briefly discussed the initiative during their recent June board meeting.

Ward Strueby, director of education, said that St. Michael’s principal, Gail Cyrenne, joked with him that she wanted her name on the Toonies for Tuition Trophy before she retired. Mean-

while, he noted that the money raised per student was “crazy” and “heads and tails above” what the other schools did.

“It’s not about just winning the contest, but it’s nice,” he remarked.

Continuing, Strueby said he asked Cyrenne how her school raised what it did and learned that it sold ice cream sandwiches for $1. Many students enjoyed having “a cool treat” throughout the week, while it was a great way to support the cause.

“Overall, Holy Trinity did quite well,” he continued, pointing out that they could be on the receiving end of this financial support because of a provincial lawsuit in 2021 over whether Catholic schools should receive provincial funding for non-Catholic students.

“So, it’s nice to give back to this cause.”

With a laugh, Strueby added that

20 fewer students projected next fall for Holy

Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com

Holy Trinity Catholic School Division is projecting that 20 fewer students will enrol next year compared to this year, but division administration knows more families will enrol at the last minute.

Administration presented an enrolment projection chart during the June board meeting, which showed that Holy Trinity will have 2,445 students attending in September. In comparison, in September 2024, there were 2,465 students in desks, so next year could see a decrease of 20 youths, or a drop of one

per cent.

Enrolment for each school this year and next year shows:

• All Saints, Swift Current: 540 / 537; a drop of three

• Christ the King, Shaunavon: 93 / 101; an increase of eight

• Home-based students: 31 / 30; a decrease of one

• Sask. Distance Learning: 2 / 2

• Phoenix Academy: 67 / 60; a decrease of seven

• Sacred Heart: 313 / 0; closing this

it was fun to beat Prince Albert in the amount raised per student — the latter has raised the most nationally nine times since 2011 — while he good-naturedly teased its education director about that fact.

After the meeting, Strueby said that raising more than $5,000 for Catholic education across Canada was wonderful, while the school division was grateful that the province fully funded it, as other public school divisions were fully funded. It was also wonderful to have the “gift of Catholic education” and the ability to pass it on.

The education director commended St. Michael School for “having a really unique” fundraising idea to sell ice cream throughout the year, while he hoped that other schools in the division created similar activities to support the campaign.

Trinity school division

year and being folded into the new South Hill school

• St. Agnes: 348 / 365; an increase of 17

• St. Margaret: 215 / 201; a decrease of 14

• St. Mary: 113 / 0; closing this year and being folded into the new South Hill school

• St. Michael: 320 / 299; a decrease of 21

• Vanier Collegiate: 423 / 450; an increase of 17

• Our Lady of Hope (students from Sacred Heart and St. Mary): 0 / 400; a decrease of 26

Ward Strueby, director of education, acknowledged that enrolment projections showed a decrease of 20 students next year but pointed out that some families — including school administrators — have not yet registered their children.

“We’ll get those in the system. And we’re anticipating hitting that number (of 2,465 students) right on the head like last year,” he added.

Holy Trinity to lease most classroom-focused technology next year

Holy Trinity Catholic School Division plans to lease most of its classroomfocused technology next year, while five companies will be supplying most of the equipment.

The division issued a request for proposals (RFP) this spring seeking support for its technology purchase require-

Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com

ments for the 2025-26, a report presented during the June board meeting showed.

Included in the RFP were pricing requests for 450 Chromebooks, eight projectors, 12 desktop computers, 61 laptops, 30 Wi-Fi access points, five data switches, one voice router and 60 phones with wall mounts. Except for the

phones, the division plans to lease all its new technological acquisitions next year.

Eleven companies responded to the RFP, with the highest bid being $470,070, but the division awarded components of the RFP to five companies for a total value of $283,837, the

report said. The document noted that the RFP process was valuable in acquiring the technology for less money.

The document added that it will cost Holy Trinity roughly $76,000 annually to lease the equipment, but the 2025-26 budget will be able to accommodate it.

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

Something magical in the air as summer began back then Reflective Moments

The day after the final school bell rang to signal the end of classes for a glorious two months, there was something special in the air.

It wasn’t so much the turning of the school calendar, but a spiritual feeling deep down that something wonderful was just beyond the grasp of a varied crew of school friends who had not yet been transported to another town for classes. We were still the original group, 20-or-so of us who shared the one-room school that housed multiple grades.

The higher grades were in another school room and we in the lower grades were either in awe or deathly afraid of those older kids.

I have always considered myself lucky to have been schooled in a multigrade classroom. Eavesdropping on the lessons of the higher grades did nothing but prepare some of us for being moved along at the end of the year - or even being asked to participate in some of the lessons of those advanced grades - as long as we had finished our own grade’s assignments.

Getting 100 per cent on a Grade 4 exam while still in Grade 2 was better than a gold star but then the parents of a student in Grade 4 complained that the

teacher should have been giving more attention to their Grade 4 child, and thus ended the experimental educational method of the teacher.

But I digress. The air simply felt different at the beginning of summer. Maybe it was the freedom to roam at will, to spend entire days outdoors, except for the Saturday dusting chores, of course. Even working in the garden seemed less tedious and more like an adventure — counting the pea pods, racing to pick the most beans and waving at every vehicle that passed by on the road beside our property. And of course every one of those drivers waved back or honked, as was the custom of rural friendliness.

Packing a lunch and heading out on gas deliveries with my Dad didn’t have to wait until the weekend or after school. If there were a delivery to be done on Monday, then there I was, plopped in the passenger seat beside my dog, “helping” Dad make his deliveries of farm fuel and pails of lubricants to his customers.

At some farms we were invited to stop for coffee or Freshie and home baked cake or cookies. Of course we accepted and it was a foregone conclusion that Mom didn’t need to know about these lunch breaks, especially when we

SNAPSHOT: ‘Inspiration in Clay’ artist’s reception held for Dorothy Yakiwchuk

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

SNAPSHOT: Dorothy Yakiwchuk and her husband, Walt, are pictured next to a ceramic globe during the artist’s reception for “Inspiration in Clay,” held June 28 at the Moose Jaw Centre for Arts and Culture. The globe represents a lifetime of travel and connection, with family currently living in Tokyo and visiting from as far as Copenhagen to celebrate Yakiwchuk’s 52-year journey in clay. If you missed the opportunity to meet her at the reception, Dorothy (Elias) Yakiwchuk can be contacted by email at DEliasYak@gmail.com. Photo by: Aaron Walker

told her we weren’t very hungry when we got home. I suspect she knew what we were hiding!

Summer also meant that two of my friends would join me for the bike ride to our friend’s farm north of the village. Before leaving home we were warned to be extra careful when crossing the busy, two-lane Trans-Canada Highway to get to the grid road leading to her house.

Upon arrival there we would head directly to the corral when her placid, old, fat and sway-backed horse stood. The horse was likely thinking, “Oh Lord, not those giggly girls again.” But she was patient and allowed all of us to climb onto her back for a walk around the enclosure. A rocket could go off and her pace would not have picked up.

We’d eat our lunch in the trees with the cats and dogs and then it would be time to head back to town. Her parent quite often put our bikes in the back of

his truck and we’d pile in to be delivered to our respective homes. I’m sure by the end of summer he and the horse likely wished his daughter’s friends would go elsewhere.

All too soon the days of summer were over and done and it was time to head back to school. We were dressed in our new outfits, carrying a binder of new notebooks, precisely sharpened pencils and a metal box of utensils with which to draw graphs and other mathematical shapes.

There was a different feeling at the end of summer, but I can still remember what it was like to be wild and free for two months of every year — until we became too grown up to admit to thinking there was magic in the air. Happy summer everyone.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

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

Sudoku #5 - Challenging

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

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.

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

"In every man's heart there is a secret nerve that answers to the vibrations of beauty." -Christopher Morley

ADVANTAGE, BATTLE, BROTHER, CHAIN, CLEAN, CLUMP, CRYPT, DEDUCE, DOOM, DOOR, DROVE, FLOUR, GATE, GNOME, HAVOC, HOPE, INVITATION, MAGIC, MESSAGE, MONUMENTAL, MOTTO, NARROW, NUMBER, PAPER, PEDESTRIAN, POORLY, REBEL, REMOVE ROAM, SENSE, SPOT, STORY, TENOR, TIGER, UNIFORM, UNITY

ACROSS

1. Act presumptuously

5. Mock

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.

10. A hollow in a mountain

14. Greek goddess of discord

15. Acquiesce

16. Wild goat

17. Plague

19. Worry

20. Half of two

21. Thick

22. Sail supports 23. Trigonometric function

25. Malicious

27. Type of cereal grass 28. Earthquake waves 31. Flowing garments 34. Wife-to-be 35. East northeast 36. Duty

37. Compose

38. One single time 39. Caviar 40. Divinity 41. Wood strips

42. Earphone

44. Used in baseball

45. Keyboard instrument

46. Booing

50. Odor

52. Rent

54. Mongrel

55. Notch made by a saw

56. Next to a port

58. A Great Lake

59. Once more

60. Away from the wind

61. Don

62. Quizzes

63. Long and open portico DOWN

1. Storehouse

2. Sporting venue 3. Above the horizon

4. Estimated (abbrev.)

5. Ability 6. Go-between 7. Coffee dispensers

8. Requirement 9. Golf ball support 10. Noisy insect 11. Humiliation

12. Green, in heraldry

13. X X X X

18. Notions

22. Not yours

24. Departs

26. Naked

28. Shopworn

29. 2.53 centimeters

30. Notices

31. The central part

32. Dwarf buffalo

33. The period after childbirth (pl)

34. Type of construction

37. Imagine (archaic)

38. Horse feed

40. Found on rotary phones

41. Kind of beam

43. Take by theft

44. Buffaloes

46. Custom

47. In an unfriendly way

48. Naked people

49. Welcome

50. Misrepresent

51. Nothing more than

53. Ages

56. Cap

57. Saxophone

220 HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED - P/T or Casual secretary/typist/internet research assistant for Christian Bible topics. Must be compatible with salvation, healing, deliverance, and ministry outreach. Call 306-6841084

205 WANTED

Looking for unwanted media records, video games, VHS tapes, CD’s, and stereo equipment. Will pick up, 306-527-7786 or 306631-8399.

Looking To Rent - Garage/warehouse/ or unused semi-trailer unit. Prefer downtown area. Will consider other options. Can be reached at 306-684-1084. Looking for a good reliable ve-

CLASSIFIED ADS

hicle to commute with please call 306-527-7786 private only WANTED - Cap for 2013 Chevy

4 door truck. 73” long, back width is 70”, front is 72”. Prefer white. Please call 306-313-7788.

160 MISCELLANEOUS

Daisy Air Gun - Complete with shoots and canister. Call Ray @ 306-690-8018

Small Safe - Sentrysafe, 17”x14”x7” combination and keys. Best offer. 306-690-8018.

188 FOR SALE - Belmont Barber Chair. Good condition. Asking $500, please call 306-631-7698.

125 TRAILERS

2024 Rainbow Cargo Trailer, 6’x12’ dual axel 3500. Bought new April 24, 5 year warranty. Barn doors, spare tire, used for quad, $8900. Located in Moose Jaw, 306-250-5271.

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. Cleaner with 20 years experience

available for spring cleaning and move out cleans. Please call Rebecca at 306-990-0387.

Junk to the dump in and around Moose Jaw, $60 and up. Will pick up, move, haul, and deliver any appliances, tvs, furniture, or anything large in and around Moose Jaw, $45 and up. 45-gallon plastic barrels, great for rainwater, $20 each. 1000 Litre plastic totes - $60. 306-681-8749

Licensed hairdresser will go into senior’s home to do your hair. Call or text 306-690-1865 for more info.

Professional Painter - Interior painting $80 per room. Phone Shaun 306-313-7969

145 REAL ESTATE

Senior Living Condo for Rent - Points West Retirement Centre, 917 Bradley Street, Moose Jaw, SK. Friendly, warm, home like atmosphere, open floor plan with large living room, full selfcontained kitchen, 2 bedrooms with walk-in closet, balcony, corner unit with beautiful view in 3 directions, ensuite washer and dryer, individual thermostat for heating or cooling, garage available, large and bright dining and common area floor plan, entertainment and bistro facilities, monthly or individual

meals available, shuttle service available. For more information or viewing call: Dan 306 6311669, Judi 306 631-0742

135 TOOLS & EQUIPMENT  Engine stand - $50. Log splitter 20 ton - $1200.00. Stump grinder - $1500.00. Trencher 13.5 hp - $1500.00. Lawn tractor lift - $70.00. Tractor pulled aerator$75.00. Please call Greg at 306630-9763.

wrote in A view of some exceptions which have been made by a Romanist to the Lord Viscount Falkland’s discourse, “The Catholiques were knowne good Patriots under our former Kings.”

John Dryden (1631-1700), appointed the first Poet Laureate in England, penned in Fables, Ancient and Modern in 1700, “A Patriot, both the King and Country serves; Prerogative, and Privilege preserves.”

The upheaval in Europe eventually led to a derogatory use of the word patriot Patriots were people who claimed devotion to the country and government but whose actions or beliefs contradicted such loyalty. Patriots were viewed as hypocritical followers. This usage led to a discrediting of the steadfastness associated with the word patriot.

Patriot

O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all of us command.

Patriot means one who loves and supports their country. Patriot has been used in the English language since 1577. It came from the Middle French word patriote, meaning fellow countryman. Patriote was derived from the Greek word patrios, meaning ‘of one’s father.’

The 16th century was a time of political unrest in western Europe, characterized by infighting among Protestants and Catholics. Those who were called patriots loved their country. Good patriots also loved the ruler and supported and defended the religious beliefs of the monarch. Good patriots were distinguished from those citizens who professed a love

At the time of the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) English writers disseminated the concept of patriot for the seditious American rebels against the English monarchy. American writers readily embraced the expression patriot to define the colonists who acted against British control. In the American colonies a new intimation of patriot developed, referring to a person who advocates or promotes the independence of their land or people from the country of which they are a colony. Benjamin Franklin wrote in a letter dated 7 July 1773, “It should be no Wonder … if among so many Thousand true Patriots as New England contains there should be found even Twelve Judases.”

My wife loves the movie The Patriot (2000), starring Mel Gibson. The story follows Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson), an American colonist who is opposed to going to war with Britian but, along with his son Gabriel (Heath Ledger), gets swept into the Revolutionary War when his home life is disrupted, and one of his sons is murdered by a cruel British In the end Benjamin Martin, patriot, returns to his family and discovers that his former militia has rebuilt his homestead in honor of Gabriel’s dream of building a new world.

Since the American patriots won the war the word patriot has regained its place of honour in the English language as the meritorious name for the brave men and women of

the armed forces who defend the rights and freedoms of their country. All previous derision of patriot has passed, and the word has returned to its original meaning of one who loves his or her country.

Today, active fighting or resistance is not a requirement to being a patriot. A patriot only needs a strong sense of love for one’s country. Although the contention remains that true patriots would be willing to do anything for their country and government. This is the sense in which the Canadian national anthem uses the phrase ‘patriot love.’

O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all of us command.

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.

Please include the Moose Jaw Health Foundation in your estate plan to help your community for generations to come.

for more information.

Sadly done’; St. Andrew’s United Church closes after holding final service

Bev Curran has attended St. Andrew’s United Church for most of her life, but this past Sunday was “very difficult” for her and others as the church closed its doors.

This closure has been in the works for more than a year, after the church leadership put the building up for sale in April 2024.

Curran, whose maiden name is Rollefson, has attended St. Andrew’s since she was six months old. Even when she was in university, she returned every weekend to attend services since she wanted to be with her parents.

She noted that many important life milestones occurred at the church over the decades, including her wedding, her children’s baptisms, some of her children’s funerals and her grandchildren’s baptisms.

Curran held various roles and ran several programs over the decades, including establishing and running a nursery and leading a program for mothers. Furthermore, she taught Sunday school, supported the church’s Christian Education Committee and volunteered with the United Church Women (UCW) during events like suppers and funerals.

Sheila Leahy, the chairwoman of the worship committee, has attended the United church for almost 31 years and has enjoyed her time there. She noted that there have been “good points and … bad points” and “happy points and … sad points.” She particularly enjoyed singing in the choir.

“It’s family. And we’re all going to miss family,” she said. “But we can’t continue on any longer.”

of its welcoming approach.

The office administrator said the closure in June 2025 was not the church leadership’s initial goal, as they had originally planned to close on Dec. 31, 2024. However, “a lot of people were upset” by that announcement, even though many of them did not attend the meeting where the closure vote happened.

Continuing, Milligan Stevens said the congregation was older and there

weren’t any more volunteers to keep the church running, while the parishioners who did volunteer were exhausted and needed a break.

The office administrator added that as of Aug. 1, Victory Church will take ownership of the former St. Andrew’s United Church building, while the Moose Jaw Multicultural Council is expected to move into the mall in the fall.

Continuing, Leahy said St. Andrew’s was a small congregation — about 65 people are on the roll, but only 20 to 30 attend weekly, while the church can hold 750 — and the building was too big for them to maintain financially. So, closure was the only option.

She said that the church is filled with history, including being the first in Canada to ordain a female minister — Lydia Gruchy in 1936 — and being the only affirming church in Moose Jaw.

One person who has appreciated St. Andrew’s openness to diverse sexualities is Heather Milligan Stevens, the office administrator.

Her husband is transgender, and when her previous church in Moose Jaw found out, she began receiving unfriendly treatment, she said. So, her family left and has been worshipping at St. Andrew’s for seven years. She noted that her husband is not a churchgoer but attended services at St. Andrew’s because

The Moose Jaw Inter 4-H Committee and the 4-H members would like to thank all the buyers who purchased steers at the sale on June 22, 2025. To the Moose Jaw Animal Clinic & JMC Mechanical for purchasing the Grand Champion Steer at $6.10/lb shown by Elise Howe of the Moose Jaw 4-H Club and to Warken Welding, Howe Coulee Charolais, Cargill & Bar Over HC livestock for purchasing the Reserve Champion Steer at $6.00/lb shown by Andy Warken of the Moose Jaw 4-H club. Also, thank you to our volume buyer - Canalta A&W Moose Jaw/Davidson/Melville/Regina (6 locations).

Agri Link Equipment Ltd. – Moose Jaw

Babco Meats – Bethune

Big Rock Trucking – Punnichy

Canalta A&W MJ/Davidson/Melville/Regina

Church Hill Land & Cattle Corp – Coderre

Don Oberg Auction Services - AB

Cypress Farms Ltd. – Moose Jaw

Fountain Tire – Moose Jaw

Layne & Megan Giofu – Mossbank

Heartland Livestock Services – Moose Jaw

JGL Livestock Ltd. – Moose Jaw

Johnstone Auction Mart Ltd. – Moose Jaw

Mainline Corral Cleaning – Moose Jaw

Moose Jaw Animal Clinic – Moose Jaw

Arrowhead Soil Solutions - Weyburn Bar Over HC Livestock – Moose Jaw

Bohrson Marketing Services – AB

Cargill – Moose Jaw

Cold Creek Land & Cattle Ltd – Drinkwater

Cummins & Son Excavating Ltd. - Craven

Fries Tallman Lumber – Regina

Ken Fuchs – Bethune

Hawks Agro – Moose Jaw

Howe Coulee Charolais – Moose Jaw

JMC Mechanical – Moose Jaw

DT Johnstone Farms Ltd. – Coderre

Merv Nidesh Legal Prof. – Moose Jaw

Moose Jaw Co-Op Agro – Moose Jaw

National Crane – Regina

Nick’s Service Ltd. – Regina

North 43 Welding – Mazenod

South View Dental – Regina

Warken Welding Ltd. - Kendal

Young’s Equipment Inc. – Moose Jaw

Nelson GM – Avonlea

Norheim Ranching – Moose Jaw

R & B Livestock – Caronport

Titan Livestock – Moose Jaw

Westrum Lumber – Moose Jaw

Zinn Enterprises Inc. - Bethune

Thank you to Johnstone Auction Mart Ltd. - Scott Johnstone, Corey Mantell, Ken Fuchs & Will Rosso for handling the sale, Heartland Livestock Services for the use of the facility to weigh the steers for us before the show AND to our many sponsors, without, we wouldn’t be able to host our 4-H Regional, a very special thank you.

Heather Milligan Stevens, the office administrator at St. Andrew’s United Church, gathers in the sanctuary a few days before the church held its final service. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

UPCOMING EVENTS IN MOOSE JAW

If you would like your notice or event added to this list, contact us at: joan@moosejawexpress.com

Saskatchewan 55+ Provincial Games will be held in Swift Current between August 26-28.

National Association of Federal Retirees # 23

Looking for members to volunteer at our table at Sidewalk days. There will be shade, and access to washrooms. Volunteers will sit at the table with info about NAFR for 2-hour shifts. Please call Sharon; 306 631 4236 for info. New members always welcome. We look forward to hearing from you! NAFR members are retired Fed. office workers, military, RCMP.

Online Auction - online timed auction of acreage equipment, vehicles, trailers, building supplies and more for Glen and Roger Blager, Moose Jaw, SK. Bidding begins to close at 6 pm (SK time), Friday, July 4th, 2025. www.2sauctioneers.hibid. com Register early so you don’t miss out! Viewing 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday June 28th or by appointment, call Glen at 306631-6002.

Archydal, Bellbeck, and Boharm Reunion will be held on Sunday, July 6th, 4 pm at the Moose Jaw Wildlife building, 1393 3rd Ave NE. A social gathering with potluck supper; bring your favourite dish. Time to visit and reflect with former neighbours and friends!

Moose Jaw Lawn Bowling Club has returned to their GREENS in Crescent Park. This spring regular hours will be Tues &Thur @10:00am and 6:30pm M-Tu-W-Th. Everyone welcome. This is a sport for all abilities, for both recreation and competition, for youth and seniors. Text 306-630-8160 for info about other opportunities to participate.

Moose Jaw Lawn Bowling has stated. Drop in bowls will be Tues &Thurs@10am; also, M-T-W-Th @7.

In Moose Jaw Parkinsons Support Group meet at 1:30 p.m. on the last Monday of the following months: April and May. Call or text 306 756 2819.

The Prairie Hearts Quilters Guild is held every 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 7 pm at St Andrews Church until May. Learning, comradery, fun challenges, quilting and Community Projects.

New Youth Pipe Band in Moose Jaw

“The White Heather” for youth aged 8 to 12. Further information may be obtained by contacting Michelle Carline at mcarline@hotmail.com

The Moose Jaw Stamp Club will not be meeting this summer and will resume

meetings in September.

Moose Jaw Town N Country Square

Dance Assoc. Winter 2024 Program on Monday nights from 7-9pm at St. Mary’s School, 720 – 5th Ave. SW. Dance in a 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 meetingsWednesday 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 6:307 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.

Moose Jaw Public Library (MJPL), 461 Langdon Cres. Phone 306.692.2787. Visit their website at https://www.moosejawli-

brary.ca or visit ASK@MOOSEJAWLIBRARY.CA

Some library programs require registration by calling 306-692-8210 or emailing nsetter@moosejawlibrary.ca.

The Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 59 Moose Jaw is making it’s move to their new location – 693 Fairford Street W. Please call to see when opening day is. Contact: 306-692-5453. Facebook @ ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION-Branch 59 Moose Jaw Instagram: @Royalcanadianlegion59 BINGO – Monday @ 6pm CRIBBAGE –Tuesday @ 1:30 pm - Please sign-in by 1pm MEAT DRAW & CHASE THE ACE - Saturday @ 3pm - Everyone welcome

Moose Jaw and District Seniors: For more information Call: 306-694-4223 or Email: mjsenior@shaw.ca . The centre is now open Mon-Thurs 8am – 8pm. Fitness Level & Indoor Walking Track open M-Thurs 8am-8pm and on Fri 8am4pm

Wood working area – Mon- Fri 8am – 4pm Timothy Eaton Cafe open Mon-Fri 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cinnamon Buns on Thursday’s. Tuesday is pie day. Everyone is welcomed. Billiards daily 8a.m. – 4p.m.; Monday & Thursday evenings 4:30 – 8 p.m.

Pickle Ball – Monday & Thursday mornings @ 9a.m/Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday afternoons @ 1 p.m./Monday & Thursday evenings @ 7 p.m./ Weds pickleball @5pm Fitness- Chair/Low Impact Fitness Tuesdays 11:30 & Thursdays @ 1:00 p.m.

Cribbage – Wednesdays @ 1 p.m.; Whist – Tuesday @ 9:30am; Hand & Foot Card Game for Beginners – Thursday @9:30 am.; Mah Jong – Wednesday @1 p.m.

Beginners is Monday @1pm; 500 Cards –Thursdays @ 1 p.m; Spades – Tuesday and Fridays 1pm ON HOLD

Full Body work out – Monday’s 10am Scrabble – Monday’s at 1pm

Line Dancing – Tuesdays @ 10 a.m.

Intro to Line Dancing – Wednesday’s @ 11am

Art & Crafts – Monday, Tuesdays & Wednesdays @ 1 p.m.

Floor Shuffleboard – Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 1 p.m.

Paper Tole – Tuesdays @ 1 p.m.

Circle Dancing – Thursday 2:15pm

Nickle Bingo – Fridays @ 1 p.m.

Quilting – Every Friday 9am to 4pm

Lounge – Friday’s from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Jam Sessions – Friday’s 9 a.m.

Texas Hold’em - Thursday @ 6:30pm

Floor Curling – Wednesday and Fridays @1pm

Floor Curling – Wednesday and Fridays @1pm

New to the Centre is BINGO every Monday at 1:30pm

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. Monday: Indoor Walking - 8:15am and 11:30am/Pickleball 9am/Shuffleboard 1pm/Pickleball 3:45

Tuesday: 9:30am-Jam Session/1pmPickleball/7pm-Friendship Bridge/7pmBeginners Only Pickleball/ Indoor Walking - 8:15am and 11:30am Wednesday: 8:30am-TOPS/8:30amPickleball/1pm-Floor Shuffleboard/ Indoor Walking - 11:30am/Art Drop In - 1:00pm/ Pickleball 3:45pm and Beginner Pickleball 7:00pm

Thursday: 10am-Line Dance/1pmPickleball/ Indoor Walking - 8:15am and 12:00pm/ Hand/Foot Canasta - 1:30pm/ Beginner Pickleball - 3:15pm and Advanced Pickleball - 6:30pm Friday: 9:00am-Beginner Pickleball/1pmRegular Pickleball/ Indoor Walking8:15am and 11:30am Saturday: Advanced Pickleball - 9:30am and Pickleball - 1:00pm July 17th Cosmo Barbeque Fundraiser from 5-6pm. Hamburgers, hotdogs, beans, salad, coffee & tea. Cost $15

Moose Jaw ANAVETS: Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit #252 – 279 High St. W, Moose Jaw. 306.692.4412 or anaf252@sasktel.net

Monday/Tuesday – Open 12 to 7 pm Wednesday – 12 – 6 pm 10 card Crib and Smear

Thursday – 12 – 7 pm Regular Crib and Smear

Friday – 1 - 10 pm Pool and Darts (7 pm) Saturday – 1 – 7pm Meat Draw at 4:30 pm, 50/50 and gift cards. Everyone welcome.

FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES #3395 EVERY THURSDAY: Ladies Auxiliary “Meat Draw” – ticket sales start at 5:30 pm, draws start at 6:00 pm – Meat Draw, 50/50, “Chase the Ace”

EVERY SUNDAY: Aerie “Meat Draw” –ticket sales start at 2:30 pm – Meat Draw, 50/50, Mystery Draw, “Chase the Ace” MONDAY THRU SATURDAY – DROP IN POOL – 1:00 pm to 1:30 start time. Singles and Doubles. Partners draw from those attending to play.

FIRST AND THIRD SUNDAY – Aerie meeting – 11:30 am FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY – Ladies Auxiliary meeting - 7:00 pm

Western Development Museum; 50 Diefenbaker Drive, Moose Jaw. For more information, visit the museum’s website at WDM.ca/Moose-Jaw. Call 306-693-5989 or email ajones@wdm.ca

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

FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE WINNERSMoose Jaw

7 p.m. - Tuesday Nights, Cosmo Senior Centre

May 6, 2025

1st – Ronald & Linda McGinnis

2nd – Bob Cobbe & Vivian Brailean

3rd – – Frank Van Breugel & Lawrence

Fatteicher

Hidden Score – Anita Duncan & Rae Trites

May 13, 2025

1st – Ronald & Linda McGinnis

2nd – Dorene Paxman & Gwen Venn

3rd – Ken & Yvette Storozuk

Hidden Score – Frank Van Breugel & Lawrence Fatteicher

May 20, 2025

1st – Anita Duncan & Rae Trites

2nd - Frank Van Breugel & Lawrence

Fatteicher

3rd – Bryce Warren & Jeff Walpole

Hidden Score – Ronald & Linda McGinnis

May 27, 2025

1st – Frank Van Breugel & Lawrence

Fatteicher

2nd – Bryce Warren & Jeff Walpole

3rd – Marie Spencer & Sharon Knittel

Hidden Score – Ronald & Linda McGinnis

June 3, 2025

1st – Carol Andrejcin & Gwen Venn

2nd – Bryce Warren & Jeff Walpole

3rd – Ronald & Linda McGinnis

Hidden Score – Anne Kraus & Lorne Jackson

June 10, 2025

1st – Debbie Firth & Linda Sempel

2nd – Vivian Brailean & Bob Paulowicz

3rd – Carol Andrejcin & Gwen Venn

Hidden Score – Marie Spencer & Sharon Knittel

June 17, 2025

1st – Ronald & Linda McGinnis

2nd – Vivian Brailean & Bob Paulowicz

3rd – Bryce Warren & Jeff Walpole

Hidden Score – Anne Kraus & Lorne

Jackson

June 24, 2025

1st - Bryce Warren & Jeff Walpole

2nd – Marie Spencer & Sharon Knittel

3rd – Gwen Venn & Eunice Reader

Hidden Score – Anne Kraus & Lorne

Jackson

All bridge players are welcome to join our club. In addition, if you are interested in learning how to play, we would like to help.

We play at the Cosmo Senior Centre on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. For more information contact Anita Duncan at 306630-1256.

OPINION EDITORIAL:

Drug overdose issues related to homelessness

Fentanyl deaths and overdoses from drug abuse have become major social issues.

In Saskatchewan during 2024 there were 238 deaths related to drugs with 128 caused by the potent drug fentanyl.

The overdose drug death rate is affecting the expected longevity in Canada with British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario leading in these deaths.

Saskatoon Fire Department responded to 29 overdoses a day in one week in March.

Fentanyl and homelessness are closely connected. People who feel forgotten, isolated and with no hope turn to drugs to get away from the mental anguish.

Homelessness is also a major issue with no place where the homeless can go on a permanent basis in our modern era. The homeless are the lepers of ancient times, who then were relegated to live

TRADING THOUGHTS

in colonies.

Hardly anybody wants anything do with them, yet they are people. They are brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. Some are mothers and fathers.

Sending them to a colony like the lepers would be unacceptable.

The political debate is focused on two strategies. One involves safe drug places where fentanyl can be checked for toxic content and life saving naloxone applied to any overdose.

The other side considers drug use totally a crime and wants jail time for users and forced recovery treatment.

Both strategies are used in Canada. The issue continues to grow. Neither by itself is a solution.

In the United States numerous counties and some state programs have cut overdoses and fentanyl deaths sharply.

Virginia State programs reduced fentanyl over dose deaths by 46 per

cent from the 2021 period. One county, Chesterfield has cut them by 49.8 per cent.

Other counties and states have seen large declines.

How did they do it?

It took the whole community to get involved, according to one source.

Police responding to drug incidents hired a person who had been through addiction to come along.

They talked the same lingo and could better understand what addicts are going through.

Naloxone kits were made freely available to drug users to help them if they overdosed. Free toxicity tests of drugs were made available to users.

Users were encouraged to join recovery programs. It took building their trust in the system to get them joining recovery programs.

One county offered a recovery pro-

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

gram in the county jail and was flooded with requests to join up.

Most important was finding permanent homes for homeless people to give them some hope.

There may be other reasons contributing to lower death rates.

People have varying reactions to fentanyl. One theory holds that those with low tolerance to the drug are dead now so fewer will die in future.

Many users have become more interested in pre-testing for toxicity, thus reducing deaths.

The prevalence of naloxone kits has made use safer.

Until the public agrees that drug addiction, while a crime, is a mental health issue, solving the overdose issue will not happen.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

of Moose Jaw & Area properties and things for your home

918 Fairford St. E Built in 1998 and recently re-imagined into an open concept masterpiece. Vinyl Plank Flooring, Quartz Counters. 3 Beds/2 Baths. Det. Garage. Lower Level is open for development.

MLS®# SK004029 - $279,900

636

Year

1385 Queen Cres Key features include 3 Beds, Den & 2 Baths. Updated Kitchen & Baths, all nestled in Prime Palliser Neighbourhood Cres.

MLS®# SK007731 - $369,900

1073 2nd Ave. NW. Stunning! Exudes timeless elegance w/modern updates. 3Beds/Den/3 Baths. Everything for a family, fully nished & a Dbl. Det. Garage! In the Avenues.

1158 Alder Ave Character design w/UPDATES! MOVE IN READY! 3 Beds/Den/3 Baths. Finished Lower level & Dbl. Det. Heated Garage!

MLS®# SK009519 - $324,900

833 Keith St. Bungalow w/an Addition adding perfect space to the Kitchen/Dining area. 3 Beds/2 Baths. Updates inside and out!

MLS®# SK009518 - $339,900

too.

MLS®# SK003113 - $319,900

1332-1338 Irving Ave

Full Duplex (2 units) w/updates. Great opportunity to supplement mortgage to live in one & rent the other or for investors looking to add to their portfolio.

MLS®# SK009160 - $390,000

MLS®# SK999264 - $322,000

1609 11th Ave NW

Prime VLA location on park like yard. This Bi-Level enjoys 4 Beds, is nished, Enclosed Deck, Patio & Oversized Dbl. Att. Garage.

MLS®# SK010195 - $394,900

1651 Marshal Cres. Over 3100 sq.ft plus additional lower level living space. This is Spacious, Living, Dining, Casual Dining & Family Rooms on Main. 2nd Floor is Primary Suite! Fully renovated!

MLS®# SK999272 - $699,900 3 Iron Bridge Terrace In Prestigious Iron Bridge. Fully nished, nestled on just under ½ acre of landscaped & fenced land. 5 Beds/3 Baths, Flex space & room for your growing family!

1072 2nd Ave NW

Perfect blend of classic charm & modern. 4 Beds/Den/3 Baths, Enclosed Sunroom. Bonus of Gorgeous 75ft wide lot & Dbl. Det. Heated Garage!

MLS®# SK009520 - $439,900

1022 Clifton Ave

Welcome to Caldwell Manor.

Stunning 2 ½ Storey Home! A home to love & has the space for any family! So many updates, w/so many precious character features. A must see!

MLS®#SK007261 - $449,900

147 Hochelaga St W Condo w/an Outdoor Pool. Steps to Downtown & updated w/ 2 beds, 2 Baths, Covered Patio overlooking courtyard & pool. This is one to see!

MLS®# SK008753 - $349,900

275 Blue Sage

Stunning custom-built home by Sandbeck Construction, enhanced w/gorgeous features. Beautifully landscaped w/Dbl. Att. Garage in Sunningdale of Moose Jaw!

MLS®# SK008649 - $669,900

MLS®#SK996189 - $705,000 1429 Normandy Dr. In prestigious VLA, backing green space on pie shape lot w/wrap around deck. Fully Finished. Beautiful views. 4 Beds/3 Baths. BONUS Triple Att. Heated Garage!

MLS®# SK004376 - $755,000

1055 7th Ave. SW. Gated Acreage in the City! Overlooking the valley. 2.36 Acres on city water. Stately grounds, w/2 x Dbl. Att. Garages, PLUS 2 Additional Oversized Garages & Parking Pads. Location is Perfect!

MLS®# SK000517 - $769,900

1148 Meier Drive

Backing the Park, WALKOUT Bungalow, Custom Built. 5

Beds/3 Baths, Upper/Lower Decks & Patios. BONUS Oversized Heated Garage! A MUST SEE!

MLS®# SK0017785 - $849,900

Det. Condo, nestled on the Greens of the Lynbrook Golf Course, in Lynbrook Place. Stunning & attention to detail &features are incredible. Call for more info!

MLS®# SK006857 - $949,900

Daniel Drive, Bu alo Pound Lake
Round Living in this waterfront property in North Grove, that includes all furnishings + a 4pp Trailer. Let’s not forget the Dbl. Garage

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