December 13, 2019

Friday, December 13, 2019 • Vol.112 No. 19 • Rivers, Manitoba

RiveRs BanneR Micah Waddell

Mike Waddell Sales Consultant Mike Waddell Mike Waddell

Cell: 204-573-0702 Office: 204-328-7494 Email: info@riversbanner.com Box 70 - 529 2nd Ave. Rivers, MB R0K 1X0

Sales Consultant Sales Consultant (204) 727-0531

Rivers Banner

P: (204) 727-0531 (204) 727-0531 1550 RichmondP:Ave 1550 Richmond (204) 726-9160 1550 Richmond AveAve F: F: (204) 726-9160 Brandon, MB R7A 7E3 Brandon, R7A 1-866-980-3757 Brandon, MBMB R7A 7E37E3 TF:TF: 1-866-980-3757 mikew@murraychryslerwestman.com mikew@murraychryslerwestman.com (204) 724-7825 mikew@murraychryslerwestman.com C: C: (204) 724-7825

www.murraychryslerwestman.com www.murraychryslerwestman.com

Serving the Rivers, Rapid City and Oak River areas for 112 years

Gazette -R eporter

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Gazette-Reporter

Rivers Big Buck 2019

Serving the Rivers, Rapid City and Oak River areas for 109 years

March 30, 2018

Volume 110, Issue 37

89¢ + tax

By Hal Sveistrup Rivers & Area Game and Fish Association

A record crowd of approx imately 175 deer hunters, spouses, children and friends congregated at Redfern Hall on Saturday evening, Dec. 7. The attraction was the 23rd annual Trophy Buck Night, hosted by R ivers and Area Game and Fish Association. Seventy quality deer heads were entered, measured and recorded

by Shawn Airey, Lance Anderson, Layne Anderson, Richie Joynt, Kelvin Lamb and Dan Wilson.

The hunter with the highest score in each of the 12 categories was awarded a beautiful engraved trophy. The follow ing is a summar y of award winners and their scores: Ladies Rif le: member, Linsey Kolesar, Beausejour, 129 6/8; non-member, Jennifer Deshar pins, Brandon, 152 2/8; Junior: member, Jayder Lok, Rivers, 136 5/8; non-member, Isaac Boivin, Hamiota, 139 2/8; Archery: member, no entry; non-member, Ryan Spindler, Rivers, 136 7/8; Muzzle Loader: member, typical, Kelvin Lamb, Rivers, 109 7/8; member, non-typical, no entry; non-member, typical, Brenda Hales, Rapid City 134 1/8; non-member, non-typical, Logan Bridgeman, Rapid City, 131 3/8; Rif le: Member, typical, Ron Taylor, Rivers, 150 1/8; member, nontypical, Richard English, Cardale, 146 0/8; nonmember, typical, Brendan Cloud, Rossburn, 164 5/8;

Back row L/R: Meghan Knelsen, Erich Schmidt, Thom Heijmans, Heather Gray, Liliane Dupuis. Front row L/R: Minami Kijima, Haile Hubbard, Chassidy Payette, Morgan Ramsay, Bryce Summers, Quinn Hrabok.

Can collections for canoes

Photo by Sheila Runions

By Sheila Runions Banner Staff

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cans from the school foyer into and Chimo Beach areas for con- put away in the proper place on s r e p or t e d i n t he tion to the schools.

Pupils co-ordinated the entire the church basement the after- tributions from the community. the shelving units. They were March 9 edition, the Grade 12 Interdisci- month-long promotion, which noon of March 21, where the When all was said and done, fantastic! We are very, very plinary Studies in Science class culminated in a ceremonious food was weighed and sorted. the scales at Riverdale Harvest pleased.”

Elementary school staff memat Rivers Collegiate planned a presentation on March 20 to Although the project was a sen- noted a total of 434 pounds, “a project for Riverdale Harvest. Riverdale Harvest president ior students brainstorm, the en- fabulous amount,” says Heather. ber/Harvest volunteer Yvonne tire high school was encouraged “We are so pleased they decided Crouch initiated a similar camDubbed the Boat Load of Food, Heather Gray and Liliane.

Because the snow had melted to participate. The collegiate to help those we serve. A lot paign in her school. That threestudents secured a canoe from Rolling River School Division so much, the canoe could not hosted a poor boy floor hockey of times kids don’t get enough week effort simply encouraged with an intent to f ill it with be portaged across the street to tournament in which to play, credit but this group of students students to leave product in non-perishables. Although the Zion Church (home of River- athletes had to pay with food for certainly deserves some praise. the canoe; 87 pounds of food campaign was fully organized dale Harvest). Rather, the teens the canoe. Some students also All students stayed behind to was collected from the younger by that class, the original idea carried bags, boxes and garbage canvassed Rivers, Oak River help check expiry dates, sort and group on Thursday, March 22. came from a suggestion made by harvest volunteer Liliane Dupuis.

“I heard the idea at a meeting in Brandon. St. Augustine School had tried Fill a Canoe in conjunction with the 10-day Festival du Voyaguer in WinPHOTO BY TERRA WOLSKI nipeg in February. It was very Winner of thesuccessful .22-.250 calibre Savage rifle, complete with a scope, in the first card draw was Kevin Wrightson, Rivers. and whenever I hear food bank, my ears always perk Eye catching displays claimed by Kevin Wright- ers and Elizabeth Smith, gun donated by Rivers non-member, non-typical, up!” son, Richard Shingoose, WayShe then brought theRivers, sug- while runner- Rapid City, pocketed her Home Building Centre by Carroll Sabrina Ariss’s The canoe at Riverssecond $100 gift card, this gestion to Riverdale waysecappo, 185 3/8.

Elizabeth Smith, Rapid went to Tyson Spring, Dusty Oaks Taxidermy, upHarvest, Elementary School was which supported the idea and The winner of a head City, received a $100 filled. gift entry donated by Jo Brook Rivers. Blaine Glaseman, by Jo Brook Outdoors, adequately Photo by Heather Gray asked her to present the promo-

entry draw for a .22 calibre Savage Magnum rif le was Darcy Robins, Rapid City. Top prize of a .22.250 calibre Savage rif le, complete with a scope, in the first card draw was

certif icate donated by Brandon Home Building Centre. The second card draw winner of a .270 calibre Remington bolt action rif le with scope was Doug Lamoureux, Riv-

Outdoors.

The evening also featured four special raff le draws, Bruce Wrighton, Oak River, won a deluxe smoker. A .177 calibre Krugh Blackhawk pellet

Rapid City, was the lucky winner of a $100 gift certificate and Ken Waldner, Brandon, took home another $100 gift certificate, both donated by Brandon Home Building Centre.

graced by two magnificent mounted deer heads, and

by Brandon Home Building Centre put the finishing touches on another successful evening.

2 Rivers Banner December 13, 2019

Small wishes for the season

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s we close in on Christmas, businesses are anxiously looking at their books to see just how they’ve done this year. This is especially important for the small businesses that run up and down our Main Streets, many of whom rely on end of year purchases to keep them profitable.

Rural communities are reliant upon their small businesses, without them, we wouldn’t have much for business at all. Beyond the obvious— they offer us the products and services we need, where we need them— they are integral to our communities. These are the businesses that provide jobs, they sponsor our fairs, festivals and our sports teams, and support our communities through their taxes.

According to Industry Canada, this country is home to over 1.14 million small business. While big businesses might get the spotlight and the high profile government hand outs, it turns out that most Canadian businesses are in fact, small. According to Statistics Canada data, of the 1,167,978 private businesses active in Canada, 54.1 per cent are microenterprises, that is, firms with 1 to 4 employees. If you add to that the number of business with less than 20 employees, these small business account for 86.2 per cent of Canada’s private employers. If you add up all the small businesses, defined as those with fewer

MY PERSPECTIVE

Kate Jackman-Atkinson than 100 employees, about 98 per cent of Canada’s businesses fall into this category.

If you look around your town, chances are the majority of businesses are small. But when you look beyond the storefronts, there are many more small businesses.

For example, in the rural staple sectors of agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, small businesses rule. Of the 47,397 businesses recorded by Statistics Canada’s December 2015 Business Register, 47,121 had less than 100 employees.

Customers are spoiled for choice, but every choice has an impact, beyond where you buy your widgets.

Beyond the concerns of price and availability, a consumer needs to think about where their money is going. Will it be reinvested in the community or go out of country? Will it benefit workers or further enrich multi-millionaires? Will it help expand the products

and services available to the consumer? These never used to be concerns, but times have changed. Our small businesses do need to work to earn their customers’ support, but customers also need to recognize the impact of their spending.

While the internet has allowed Amazon to bring its low prices to any rural resident, the internet has also allowed businesses located in rural communities, especially those in niche or speciality markets, to sell far beyond their natural market. The internet is not all bad for small businesses.

Small businesses bring life to our communities— their owners live here and want to see their community f lourish. They want to employ people and see their town host events and grow. They want to make a living, but the bottom line isn’t the only thing that matters.

As you wrap up your Christmas shopping season, think about what you’ve bought, beyond the gifts.

Have you spent your money on a vibrant community?

Clouding the Christmas message

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ast week’s column raised some serious questions as to how the Christian church might better serve Christ’s intentions and the wellbeing of His followers. All Christians should be thankful for the Christmas season, the message and the full meaning of Christmas. Christ was born as a baby in Bethlehem. He is the Son of God, but he came to earth to be our Saviour. The message is over 2000 years old, usually revered, but sometimes rejected. It is a message that is one of the most prominent of messages in the history of mankind.

For the Christmas season, for the message of a Saviour, I am truly thankful.

No other holiday (Holy Day) in all the world has the attraction of Christmas.

Over the centuries though, the Christian church has made some errors that need to be acknowledged and avoided in the years to come. Here are some examples that come to mind.

The idea that Roman Catholic priests and nuns must be celibate was not adopted until over 1,000 years after Christ walked this earth. It is a silly notion that has caused the church much grief.

Choosing not to marry, or to be chaste, should be an individual decision, not a compulsory thing foisted upon men and women by church rules. Being married, or not married, has nothing to do with how well a person may function as a church leader.

Churches have made some bad choices over the centuries. The Crusades certainly could be questioned. On the surface, they were intended to defend the Christian faith and drive out the

RiveRs BanneR Est. 1908

STAFF

RIGHT IN THE CENTRE

Ken Waddell Muslims. The problem is that Jesus never asked his followers to go and kill people in his name. He did ask, pretty strongly, that we love our neighbours though. Many wars seem to have been unavoidable, but it would be hard to prove the case that the Crusades were such.

In more recent times, the Christian church has taken stands that may have seemed good at the time, but proved to be less than productive in the long run. Although not entirely lead by the Christian church, attempts to prohibit alcohol consumption proved pretty unfruitful, turning the booze trade into the mainstay of the criminal element.

It might have been better to enforce laws against public drunkenness and drinking and driving, than to have put North America through the prohibition era. The Christian bible is pretty clear that we shouldn’t be “drunk” and that is an obvious truth. I choose not to use alcohol, but that is a matter of choice and for certain, God gives a freedom of choice. The consequences of our choices are a different matter.

Probably the biggest mistake churches have made over the centuries is to impose rules that have little or no basis in the

teachings of Jesus. The Ten Commandments are the basic rules of Christian living. Jesus summarized them saying, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”

He didn’t say dancing would send you to Hell. He didn’t say smoking or drinking would do it either. He didn’t tell churches to practise harsh judgement on their members. He didn’t say not to eat certain foods.

There are lots of practices I don’t like and that I don’t think I, or others should do, but they are preferences, not a matter of Heaven or Hell. I don’t like tattoos, or body piercing and wild hair colours, but these are all matters of preference, Like I said last week, it is my belief that churches have overloaded others with actions and rules that have nothing to with Christ or Christmas. Love yourself, love your neighbour and love Jesus. Merry Christmas to all.

Disclaimer: The writer serves as a volunteer chair of the Manitoba Community Newspaper Association. The views expressed in this column are the writer’s personal views and are not to be taken as being the view of the MCNA board or Banner & Press staff.

529 Second Avenue, Box 70, Rivers, MB R0K 1X0 Telephone: 204-328-7494 Fax: 204-328-5212 E-mail: info@riversbanner.com Website: www.riversbanner.com Circulation: 1,974 Yearly Subscription Rates (excluding taxes): $45.00 in Manitoba, $55 elsewhere in Canada

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Dec. 13: Rivers Legion Chase the Ace, 5 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 14: Rivers Lions Club Senior’s Christmas Supper, p.m.

Dec. 15: Rivers Legion Bingo, doors open 12:15 p.m.

Dec. 17: Diabetes Clinic, Riverdale Health Centre, 8:15 6 a.m.

Dec. 20: Rivers Legion Chase the Ace, 5 p.m. - 7:15 p.m.

Dec. 22: Rivers Legion Bingo, doors open 12:15 p.m.

Dec. 24: Tarbolton Christmas Eve Service @ 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Dec. 25: Christmas Day Dec. 31: New Years Eve 2020 Jan. 1: New Years Day Jan. 16: Rivers 50+ Club meeting, 2 p.m.

Jan. 28: Diabetes Clinic, Riverdale Health Centre, 8:15 a.m.

Feb. 20: Rivers 50+ Club meeting, 2 p.m.

Feb. 25: Diabetes Clinic, Riverdale Health Centre, 8:15 a.m.

Mar. 19: Rivers 50+ Club meeting, 2 p.m.

Mar. 24: Diabetes Clinic, Riverdale Health Centre, 8:15 a.m.

Apr. 16: Rivers 50+ Club meeting, 2 p.m.

Apr. 28: Diabetes Clinic, Riverdale Health Centre, 8:15 a.m.

May 21: Rivers 50+ Club meeting, 2 p.m.

PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY AD DEADLINE: TUESDAY 12 PM PRIOR TO ISSUE DATE Rivers Banner does not guarantee publication of any submitted articles or pictures. Such submissions, if printed, will appear at the discretion of the managing editor or publisher and only when time and space permit.

We are not responsible for fax and e-mail transmissions which are not confirmed either in person or by phone.

Staff Donna Falkevitch

Members of:

Everyday encounter

December 13, 2019 Rivers Banner 3

Home Bodies

By Rita Friesen Ever evolving

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Name: Season Chiborak Birthday: September 23 Occupation: Nurse – Entrepreneur – Mom – Wife First Job: Peeling Potatoes Hobbies: Taxi Driver, Chef and Housekeeper for my children In Rivers/Rapid City/Oak River since: 2007 Where do you live? Rivers on 4th Avenue Hometown: Anola Where did you attend school? Anola, MB, Oakbank, MB, Winnipeg, MB Favourite or Dream Vacation Spot: Anywhere warm Favourite Food: Rice Favourite Holiday: Christmas Favourite Music, Song or Artist: Sing along tunes Favourite Sports Team: Rivers Jets and Rivers Synchro Team Favourite Animal: Our rat Pearl Favourite TV show: New Amsterdam Favourite Actor/Actress: Reese Witherspoon When you were 12, What did you want to be when you grew up? Interior Designer

Where am I?

orty-five years ago, my first Christmas as the matriarch of a blended family, I decided that it would work well to start a new tradition– all new tree decorations. I chose my favourite colours of blue and silver. Garlands and baubles and do-dads. The balls were wrapped with fine threads, really quite pretty.

There were several things wrong with this idea. For one, we had a house cat that loved the tree, and batted balls and baubles everywhere, tangled string all over the place. That wasn’t the real problem. Christmas is tradition. Christmas, for a family, is hand made decorations, school projects and gifts lovingly given. An eclectic collection of memories all hung on the tree and strung around the home. I was forgiven.

The family embraced Christmas, more decorations made and bought every year. Big ones and small ones. Gaudy ones and spiritual ones. Our home was a riot of colour, noise and laughter. We cut our own tree. First at a tree farm, then from the road allowances, and the turning point was the year the tree was cut from the shelter plant we had so carefully planted and watered. Then we got a fake tree. Big enough to fill the bay window, window to window and floor to ceiling, a tree big

FAITHFULLY YOURS Neil Strohschein A perfect fit

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any years ago, I heard a Christmas sermon given by the late Rev. Dr. Lance Morgan, who, at that time, was Senior Minister of First Baptist Church, Prince George, BC. His sermon was titled “Jesus, the Perfect Gift.” It was a typical Lance Morgan talk– lots of stories (all hilarious), with a punch line that gave you a lot to think about.

On this occasion, he shared stories of inappropriate gifts he had received over the years. One of those gifts was a shirt. He told us that it was a nice shirt. He loved the colour and he could tell that it was an expensive shirt. The problem was that it didn’t fit. It was two sizes too big– so he offered to give it to anyone who could use it. Then he made the point that the gift God gave us in Jesus Christ is a perfect fit. He is able to forgive every sin, heal every

On this day Dec. 13

Springhill Municipal Well The Springhill municipal well can be found in Riverdale Municipality, ¾ of a mile south of Highway #25 on Rd 117 W, which is east of the town of Rivers. The site of the well itself is on municipal land but E. Smith family gave right of way for some of their adjacent land to be used as access and egress. This pumping station was built with all new equipment over 30 years ago. Apparently, there is an almost never-ending flow, as it was tested at 500 gallons per minute over a 24-hour period and did not diminish noticeably. It is presently set to deliver 300 gal/min.

Springhill well was originally built to serve the people who reside in the south-east corner of Riverdale and a key was needed to gain access. Today, this well is open to the public for anyone to use at no charge. The municipality only asks that it be kept neat and clean and users comply with the rules in respecting this natural resource. The water had been deemed potable but may not be regularly tested any longer. This well is mainly used for household, livestock and other ag-related uses.

1774- Paul Revere and Wentworth Cheswell ride to warn Portsmouth of the approach of British warships.

1916- Avalanche kills 10,000 Austrian and Italian troops in 24 hours in Tyrol.

1929- Christopher Plummer, Canadian actor (Sound of Music, Doll's House), was born on this day in Toronto, Ontario.

1938- Los Angeles freezes at 28°F. 1964- In El Paso, Texas, Lyndon B. Johnson and Mexican President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz set off an explosion diverting Rio Grande, to reshape US-Mexico border.

1995- Actor Christopher Reeve is released from physical rehab center after a fall from his horse in a riding competition.

2003- Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is captured near his home town of Tikrit, during Operation Red Dawn by US forces.

2007- The Mitchell Report is publicly released listing the names of 89 Major League Baseball players that have presumably used anabolic steroids and human growth hormones.

enough to bear with grace the abundance of memories strung from its branches.

This year, I down-sized the tree. The select few decorations that I cherish are enough to make the tree my tree. Red and gold now, several pieces I brought home from Moscow, some handmade, all chosen.

Going through the storage box, memories galloped. A shoe box labelled “Christmas Balls” in my second son’s young printing. A flat box containing crocheted snow flakes, “Rita”, in my mother’s handwriting. An aside here, the snowflakes were starched with a sugar solution and Henry Hoover has eaten more than one! I am looking for more, there were a dozen and now there are seven.

Going through the box, ready to discard some, gift others, I came across some that needed to hang on my tree. There is a Christmas stocking, no more than four inches long, hand quilted by a process called paper quilting, by the sister-in-law that just passed away. It hangs where I can draw comfort from seeing it as I sit in my comfy chair.

Not far from it, and also front and centre, is a clear ball cradling a white feather. A gift from one of my extra grand daughters the Christmas after Ed passed away. Low, safe because the dogs don’t eat paper! Is a miniature songbook, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, a gift from one of my youngest daughter’s friends in thanks for the support we offered when she headed out on a mission term.

The one decoration that is not like the others– at all– is a three dimensional Snoopy, the cartoon dog from the Peanuts series.

Snoopy is a family favourite, the books, the cartoons, the movies.

Over the years, the look of my tree has evolved. Today, it is me and it is mine. I am thankful for my journey. disease, help us overcome every trial and enable us to face each day with dignity, courage and optimism.

To this day, I have never forgotten that sermon. I thought of it again last week, as I was reviewing the lectionary readings for Dec. 29. The gospel for that Sunday is the story of the time Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus spent as refugees in the land of Egypt.

They had gone there deliberately, at God’s command, because the ruler of the Roman province of Judea, a man who called himself “King” Herod, had sent his security forces to Bethlehem to find the infant Jesus and kill him.

Egypt provided the holy family with a safe place in which to hide until Herod’s death.

Having been a refugee himself, Jesus can identify with the struggles faced by today’s refugees. But can he identify with the struggles faced by children and youth? Yes, he can, because he had to learn how to eat, drink, walk and talk just like we did. He had to go to school. He had to learn how to read and write. He had to learn how to live as a responsible, caring and law-abiding human person in his time and culture. Although Jesus was an excellent student, there were certainly times when he must have found the challenges a bit overwhelming.

Can he identify with working people? Yes, he can. Like all teenaged boys of his time, he learned his father’s trade (in this case, carpentry) and worked in his family’s business.

He would do this until he reached the age of 30, when he began his public ministry.

Can he identify with the poor and homeless? Yes, he can. He never owned a home. He and his disciples lived from day to day, often staying with friends and faithful followers when they visited a town or village. He knows the challenges faced by the poor in our society and his heart is broken whenever he hears their cries for help.

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus was tested in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He understands the hardships we face. He cares for us just as he cares for every part of the universe he helped create and he will run swiftly to the aid of all who seek his help in their time of need.

Today, he says to us: “Whatever you need, ask and you will receive.”

Rivers Community Church 447 Edward Street, Rivers

Sunday worship service/Sunday school, 10:30 a.m.

BG Club (age 3-Gr. 6), 204-412-0448 for details.

Junior youth (Gr. 5-9), 204-328-7854 for details.

Senior youth (Gr. 10-12), 204-328-7016 for details.

Phone 204-328-7882 or 204-761-2235

4 Rivers Banner December 13, 2019

Hot House Earth?

I must take exception to Mr. Waddell’s article in the Nov. 29, Banner, “A number of questions.” Mr. Waddell writes about blindly accepting Climate Change stories, surely 98 per cent of scientific studies can’t be wrong about climate change and surely these studies can not be considered stories.

The International Panel on Climate Change has warned humanity that it has 12 years to reduce green house emission by 50 per cent or risk heating the planet to a tipping point. It took millions of years of organic decomposition to make oil. We have taken that million years of oil and burned it up in 100 years. That’s a lot of trees! The hottest years on record are in the last decade, in fact 2019 is the hottest year ever recorded. Climate does not change in decades unless something is wrong.

What causes climate change? We know that green house gases cause climate change. Antarctica, the arctic, Greenland, Iceland etc. as well as the glaciers are melting. This is unprecedented as are the storms, floods, droughts and fires occurring at increased intensity. Please do not deny the facts, it is not easy to face the truth. We are not helpless, as individuals we can walk more, drive less, eat less meat, buy less and fly less. The creation of stuff is killing the earth.

Our governments can stop subsidizing oil and build solar and wind farms. Governments can incentivize electric vehicles, bring back trains, double our tracks and electrify buses. People in cities and towns should have good mass transit and carbon taxes on cars to discourage driving. In rural areas we should put up solar arrays to plug the new powerful electric trucks into and to run our homes off of.

Our homes could be smaller with good insulation, not the huge palatial homes they re building today. We have a peacock mentality, all show. As a society, we need to become more out-like where the good of all is also the good for me. Stuff doesn’t make us happy. Enough is enough but what is enough?

Mary Lowe Kenton, MB

RC 4-H Beef

By Chance Inglis Club Reporter Rapid City 4H Beef Club held their re organization meeting Friday Nov 22. 2019 at the Rapid City Fire Hall. Our club has 10 members this year, including three new members.

The following members volunteered for executive positions: President: Anja VandeLangemheen Vice President: Graycen VanMeijl Secretary: Mona VandeLangmheen Treasurer: Sierra Inglis Reporter: Chance Inglis Head leader is once again Deb Inglis and assistant leaders are Diana VandeLangemheen, Doug Finlay and Wilco vanMeijl. The new executive took over for the 2019-2020 year. We welcomed our new members this year Tarron and Brody Basaraba and Kaelyn Miller.

We have set a weigh date for Sunday Dec 8 at Bos Family Farms. We will have a potluck lunch and our monthly meeting afterwards.

Project books were handed out to all members.

They were asked what projects they will be taking this year. Meeting was adjourned

Thank you for reading the Rivers Banner

Letters

Believe It or Not (Part Four)

In last week’s letter, (Part Three), I said I wanted to reveal what God has to say regarding the beliefs of Gretta Vosper, the minister of Westhill United Church in Toronto, who declared herself an atheist and the doctrine of the United Church of Canada which has affirmed her ministry within the UCC by defending her stance. In this week’s letter, I wish to deal with the beliefs of Ms. Vosper.

Ms. Vosper, by declaring herself an atheist, believes there is no sovereign, transcendent, supernatural, omniscient and omnipotent God as revealed to us in The Holy Bible, the sacred book of all Christians. If you are a fellow Christian reading this, then we can agree that God Himself has spoken to us through His Word. This is confirmed in the following well known verse: •“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…”

2 Timothy 3:16 And as I mentioned last week, we as Christians would hopefully be familiar with what Scripture says regarding Christianity and Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us in the New Testament that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came and established the Christian Church. What I’m implying is this: because Christ established the Church, then it is His Church. This is confirmed in the following verse: •“And He is the head of the body, the Church...so that in everything He might have the supremacy.” Colossians 1:18 And what is the reason for the Church one may ask? I could flood this letter with an endless supply of scripture stating the many purposes of the Church which I will condense down to it’s foremost purpose which is this: to worship, glorify and honour the Son of God, Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. By glorifying and honouring the Son, we glorify and honour God the Father. This is confirmed in the following verses: •“...Jesus said, “Now the Son of (God) is glorified and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will glorify the Son in Himself…” John 13:31,32 •“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13 •“Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father…” John 5:23b So what implications does this have for Ms. Vosper and Westhill United Church? Let me attempt to sum it up in the following equations: •No God = no Son of God. No Son of God = no Jesus Christ/ Christianity. No Jesus Christ = no Church.

What we are left with then is a “church” that is not a church in the Biblical sense. They have the right to have the word church in their name, but let it be known that it is not a Christian Church because neither God or Christ is recognized within its walls.

If you go to the website of Westhill United church, the first sentence you come across begins with the following words: “Seek the truth…”

So what is truth and can it be found? It most certainly can be found; and known!! Let’s look in the pages of the Bible where we read the following: •“Jesus answered, “ I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 •“We know also that the Son of God has come and given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true.” 1 John 5:20a If you are someone who is seeking the truth, it can be found in the pages of the Bible and in Jesus Christ Himself.

I sincerely hope you will be curious enough to search these matters out by picking up a Bible and reading it. If you don’t have one, I will be more than happy to give you one and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at: jgklassen@icloud.com Next week I will share what God has to say regard19123BB1 ing the doctrine of the United Church of Canada and the statements made by the moderator of the UCC, Dr. Richard Bott.

John Klassen Rivers, MB

Rivers and Area Lions Club 41st Annual Seniors Christmas Supper December 14th 2019, 6 p.m.

Rivers Legion Hall for take outs or handi-van call 328-5300

December 13, 2019 Rivers Banner 5

Riverdale Municipality Nov. 19, 2019.

Delegation: G & D. Miller and D & M Woytowich attended the meeting to discuss concerns with property standards maintenance in Chimo.

B. Montague, owner of 41 Dakota Drive was not granted a temporary permit to allow for the placement of a sea container for storage purposes.

Two acre residential lots on Memorial Drive, known as the Lake Road Subdivision, will be available for sale in 2019 and the asking price for each lot be set at $65,000.00 + GST. Council accepted the offer to purchase Lot 5, Plan 2272 in Wheatland in the amount of $500 plus applicable GST.

Grain drying must be exempt from the Liberal Carbon Tax

Both Members of Parliament who represent Western Manitoba, are calling on the Liberal government to immediately exempt farmers from paying the carbon tax to dry their grain and to reimburse the taxes collected to date. Larry Maguire who represents BrandonSouris and Dan Mazier, who is the new Member of Parliament for Dauphin-

Swan River- Neepawa, are calling on the Prime Minister to make these changes before the House of Commons rises for the Christmas break.

“This year’s harvest was incredibly challeng ing for our famers,” said Maguire. “Between the rain and snow, almost every farmer had to dry their grain. We are calling on the Liberal government to

take immediate action and get this changed before Parliament rises for the holidays.”

“Farmers are facing real challenges right now.

Prices remain stubbornly low, input costs are rising, borrowing costs are rising, transportation costs are rising all because of the Liberal carbon tax. The last thing our farmers need is additional costs to dry

their grain, which will further reduce profit margins that are already extremely low,” said Mazier.

While the Liberal government promised that farmers would be shielded from paying their carbon tax, they have been forced to pay the tax on the fuel needed to dry grain.

Continued on page 7

Councillor’s remarks & suggestions: Councillor Tait – washboard on Taylor & Whitetail Road Councillor Falkevitch – status of lighting at Millennium Park Councillor Dyer – signage for RCC regarding behaviour and cleanliness

Rural Municipality of Oakview -Nov. 21, 2019

Visit

murrayindoorsale.com

Reports of committees Councillors K. Hyndman and F. Hyndman reported on the review they completed on the agreement to provide emergency services in the R.M. of Elton. The C.A.O. updated Council on projects being worked on by municipal employees.

Receptions of delegations Dale Lyle, consultant from Way To Go Consulting attended the meeting at 7 p.m.

Fire agreement with the R.M. of Elton-a draft amended agreement is to be sent to the R.M. of Elton for review. Compensation for EMS services was discussed.

Municipal Services Off icers met with off ice staff on Nov. 14 2019 to review special service levies and tax options for the 2020 f inancial plan. The special service levy by-laws for garbage pick-up and the Newdale Hall levies were reviewed.

Chris Brown was granted permission to construct an additional approach into the SW ¼ of 19-1519W off of Machinery Road #114 West.

Council agreed to request that Manitoba Hydro install two additional streetlights to the hydro poles heading north out of Rapid City on 5th Street/ Hwy #24.

DAILY EVENTS INCLUDING: PHOTOS WITH SANTA, INFORMATION SEMINARS, VIRTUAL REALITY RACING, DOOR PRIZES AND GIVEAWAYS! SEE MURRAYINDOORSALE.COM FOR DETAILS DECEMBER 14: OPEN 9-5 DECEMBER 16-20: OPEN 9-7 DECEMBER 21: OPEN 9-5 SANTA PHOTOS 12-4 DECEMBER 22: CLOSED DECEMBER 23: OPEN 9-7 DECEMBER 24, 25, 26: CLOSED DECEMBER 27: OPEN 9-7 DECEMBER 28: OPEN 9-5 DECEMBER 29: CLOSED DECEMBER 30: OPEN 9-7 DECEMBER 31: OPEN 9-5 JANUARY 1: CLOSED JANUARY 2: OPEN 9-7

railers are very unsafe places to take shelter as not anchored to the ground. formed and stay safe. For more information blic Safety Canada http://www.publicsafety. /em/nh/to/index-eng.aspx or Environment 6 Rivers Banner December 13, 2019 http://www.ec.gc.ca.

Looking Back

December 12, 1929 profession to assume the The storm the night be- position of post-master. fore which played havoc December 15, 1949 with the roads, kept many Tonight is the night– from the annual banquet and Rivers is the place of the Rivers Old’ Tim- for the first game to be ers Hall on Friday even- played on local ice, when ing. Even so there was the Rivers CJATC plays nice attendance and all Neepawa. enjoyed a splendid supThese two teams of the per prepared by the town Big Six Hockey League EA ladies. The tables were should provide lots of ON certainly inviting and all action when they come hygienist present proved that the together at 8:15.

• Residential & Commercial omesefforts these ladies The game marks the • of Farm Wiring & are Trenching e appreciated. first of any hockey to be Brandon - Rivers played in the new arena.

96 14, 1939 The lights will blaze in l.com December 204-761-2192 Member of the teach- the new structure–which staff of Rivers School, has been visited by large age ing CMA together with Mr. Nowe numbers of persons durent.on Sat u rd ay even i ngShapinging the Futurethe past week or two.

A CCOUNTING S ERVICE last, to bid farewell to An advertisement in 7893 CertiM. ed Management Accountants Mr. G. Henderson, this issue call for tenders as he Hamiota: leaves 71 the teaching for operating the refreshMaple Ave. 204-764-2544

ment concession at the rink.

CTORY TIPS

Place orium

we cherish

ceptions

30 or 8153

pel.com

KNIGHT

December 10, 1959 Those appearing on the Smith Lumber Talent Show, featured every second Tuesday a 9:30 p.m. on Brandon CKXTV, from Rivers and district in the coming weeks are the R ivers Junior String Quartette (Sharon Stalker 1st violin, Robin Hedley-Smith, 2nd Violin, Bruce Hedley-Smith, v iola and Margeur ite Stalker, cello).

They will appear Dec. 15, playing melodies from t he ch i ld ren’s oper a , Hansel and Gretel and will be accompanied by Miss Betty Cook, pianist.

CANADA

Please note our early holiday deadlines: Deadline for Holiday Greetings: Monday, December 3 at noon

Deadline for December 21 edition: Friday, December 14 at noon Deadline for December 28 edition: Monday, December 17 at noon Deadline for January 4 edition: Monday, December 31 at noon

Brandon: 20-18th St., 204-727-5927 knightcm@mymts.net

Hunt, For allMiller your & Co. LLP electrical needs

Jack Cram, Lawyer ALEXANDER Phone 204-727-8491 or 204-328-7540 (Thursdays, ELECTRIC 2-5 p.m.) for appointments.

204-721-4320

Business Directory PROS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Way-Mor Agencies Ltd.

Jeannie’s Interiors Professional Painting & Decorating

Jeannie Bos

204-573-1150

• Residential & Commercial • Farm Wiring & Trenching

Brandon - Rivers

Rapid City, MB jeanniesinteriors@hotmail.com

204-761-2192

Hunt, Miller ThisCo. space is & LLP

Eric 204-573-7661•Kyle 204-841-4409 e.k.kostenchuk.ltd@gmail.com

WWW.KROEGERBACKHOE.CA EXCAVATION-GRAVE-ACREAGE DEVELOPEMENT-SEPTIC SYSTEMS 204-761-8765

Place Emporium

Hamiota ~ Brandon ~ Birtle   Souris ~ Pilot Mound  Killarney ~ Deloraine

OPEN Tues., Wed. and Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon

204-328-7494

Trenching • Excavating • Landscaping Trucking • Water & Sewer • Demolition Dozer work • Ditching

Phone 204-328-7540 204-566-2490

Ph. 204-328-7893

Family Hair Care

As204-727-8491 low as or Phone 204-328-7540 (Thursdays, $13.50/wk.

2-5 p.m.) for appointments.

Neepawa, MB.

Insurance, Travel, Investments, Real Estate

Hair Dynamics

available for, you!

Jack Cram Lawyer

E.K. Kostenchuk LTD.

Mini storage units for rent.



Ph. 204-328-7435

•

Residential & Commercial

•

Repair & Maintenance

•

HVAC Installations

•

Septic Truck Services

•

Licensed Gas Fitting

•

Duct Cleaning

•

24 hr Emergency Service

•

Backhoe & Skidsteer Services

 

HAMIOTA: 204-764-2544  BRANDON: 888-726-1995 allianceaccounting.ca

• Residential & Commercial • HVAC Installations • Licensed Gas Fitting • 24 hr Emergency Service • Repair & Maintenance • Septic Truck Services • Duct Cleaning • Backhoe & Skidsteer Services

Hamiota’s

204-764-2744 FUNERAL DIRECTOR Dwayne Campbell ~ 204-764-2746

e and Stud Fram t Fram s e o P Farm Buildings

Johan’s Construction Ltd. 204-745-7628 cell 204-328-7310 office “Building for all your farm needs!”

Serving Rivers and area since 1906.

Phone 204-727-0694 or 1-800-897-5694 www.brockiedonovan.com

Ph. 204-724-6870 Fax 204-328-4407 alepp@redlinetransport.ca Dry bulk transportation

This space is available for you!

As low as $13.50/wk.

204-328-7494

December 13, 2019 Rivers Banner 7

RIVERS

BANNER CLASSIFIEDS

PLACE YOUR AD BY:

PHONE: 204-328-7494 FAX: 204-328-5212 E-MAIL: info@riversbanner.com

Thank you

For Sale

The ‘friends of Rivers lake’ committee would like to thank the Rivers and area Community Foundation for the $1000 grant towards our beach clean up project. This grant was also matched by the Manitoba 150 Grant.

Integrity Post Frame Buildings

Help Wanted

FOODS Meat Cutter/Production Personnel HyLife Foods a division of the HyLife organization is engaged in the dressing and processing of hogs for both domestic and world markets.

To reach and sustain its position as a premier supplier of quality food products it strives to employ talented and motivated people who are capable of reaching the cutting edge of their discipline.

This position is based at the operations in the vibrant community of Neepawa, Manitoba which has a reputation for its beauty and high quality of life. Due to rapid growth we are looking for Meat Cutters/Production Personnel.

Responsibilities / Duties include but are not limited to: • Slaughter, eviscerate and mark hogs for further processing • Cut pork carcasses into primal cuts for further detailed specifications intended for commercial, industrial, institutional or wholesale use • De-bone edible part and remove inedible organs or parts The successful candidate should possess the following qualifications: • Be able to work in a culturally diverse workplace • Have a good work ethic • Focus on treating people with dignity and respect • Appreciate a stable long term work environment • Experience as an Industrial Butcher or trimmer is required • Completion of secondary school may be required

Built with Concrete Posts Barns, Shops, Riding Arenas, Machine Sheds and More

2 brand new Decor cancelled kitchens.

Can be configured to fit your space.

Retail $15,000 each.

Blow-out for $5,500 each!

Send us your measurements.

We will help make it fit.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package and competitive compensation based on experience and knowledge.

HyLife has been recognized as a Platinum Member of Canada’s Best-Managed Companies.

If you have the qualifications and the passion to meet this challenge then we would like to explore your potential.

Please apply online at http://www.hylife.com/current-opportunities/ at 623 Main Street E, PO Box 10,000, Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0

Auctions

204-746-2223

McSherry Auction 12 Patterson Dr. Stonewall, MB

Estate & Moving Last Auction for 2019 Sat Dec 14th @ 10 AM

1st 100 Bidder #’s – Free Touques- Free Draws Throughout The Auction Yard * Recreation * Tools * Misc Antiques * Furniture * Household January Sales Will Be Announced

Winter Road Haul 2020 Class 1 Drivers needed for deliveries in MB & NW Ont. (800) 665-4302 ext. 251 or e-mail: orderdesk@penneroil.ca

Services

B - 116 Main St S Minnedosa (across from the main entrance to the Co-op Food Store)

867-3981

http://www.ajaxlaw.ca

Consignments Welcome!

Announcement

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• Use your LOGO! • Create instant top of mind awareness • Showcase your info, business, product, job, announcements or event • We format it, to make it look great!

• Starting at $339.00 (includes 45 lines of space) • The ads blanket the province and run in MCNA’s 48 Manitoba community newspapers • Very cost effective means of getting your message out to the widest possible audience

Call Dan Devloo (204) 526-7093 CAI Financial Unit K - 2151 Portage Ave. Winnipeg MB

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Classifieds MUST be PREPAID Visa/Mastercard accepted

Maguire and Mazier team up to push for tax change This extra cost only exacerbates the financial strain on farm families, particularly due to falling commodity prices, a rail strike, markets being shut and a very challenging harvest caused by rain and snow.

Fa r m org a n i zat ion s such as the Keystone Agricultural Producers and the Western Canadian Wheat

Growers Association are also calling for the carbon tax to be removed from the fuel used to dry grain.

In the coming days, Maguire and Mazier will work with the Conservative caucus and reach out to the other Members of Parliament from other parties to stress the need to get these changes made.

They will also be sending a request to meet with the Hon. Jim Carr, who was

recently appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Represent at ive to t he Prairies.

Maguire concluded by saying, “by making this change, it would show that the Prime Minister and his Liberal government care about agriculture. There are thousands of famers across the Prairies that need help, and now is the time for action.”

RiveRs BanneR 529 Second Ave Rivers, MB. R0K 1X0

www.riversbanner.com

info@riversbanner.com The Rivers Banner serves the communities of:

Rivers Oak River Rapid City Cardale Harding

Bradwardine Forrest Station Alexander Kenton

myWestman.ca

NEW!

Advertising deadline:

12 noon Tuesday

Be On Time!

Contact this newspaper NOW or MCNA at 204.947.1691 or email classified@mcna.com

Advertising deadline:

12 noon Tuesday

www.mcna.com

(204) 467-1858 or (204) 886-7027 www.mcsherryauction.com

RiveRs BanneR

Need Cash?

• We Loan • Easy application • Approval with collateral • Title Loans • No Credit Check • We service ALL of Manitoba

Minimum charge: $5+GST Extra insertions: 1/2 original price

Continued from page 5

Craig.c@ Integritybuilt.com 1-204-596-8620 www. integritybuilt.com

office@fehrscabinets.com

Financial

Health

SINCE 2008

Current starting wage is $14.15, ranging as high as $21 plus $1.00 per hour perfect attendance incentive!

We thank all applicants, however, only those under consideration will be contacted.

DEADLINE: TUESDAY AT NOON

529-2nd Avenue, Rivers, MB 204-328-7494 info@riversbanner.com

Manitoba Community Newspaper Association Province-wide Classifieds NOTICES Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Manitoba Community Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or reliability of such advertisements.

For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.mcna.com.

Do you have a PRESS RELEASE / MEDIA ADVISORY

that needs to go out? Let us help you with that! Though we cannot guarantee publication, MCNA will get the information into the right hands for ONLY $35.00 + GST/HST. Call MCNA (204) 947-1691 for more information, or email classified@ mcna.com for details. www. mcna.com FOR SALE BATTERIES FOR EVERYTHING. Automotive, farm, construction, ATV, marine, motorcycle, golf carts, phones, tools, radios, computers etc. Reconditioned, obsolete and hard-to-find batteries.

SOLAR equipment. The Battery Man. Winnipeg.

1.877.775.8271 www. batteryman.ca SALES – FINANCING – LEASING of Trucks, Truckbeds, Trailers, full repair and safeties. Vehicle Parts, Tires & Wheels, Vehicle & Trailer Parts & Batteries. Best Products - Best Prices! Kaldeck Truck & Trailer Inc., Hwy #1 MacGregor, MB. 1-888685-3127 www.kaldecktrailers.com BOSCH Mixers, Ankarsrum Mixers, VITAMIX blenders, LEFSE supplies & more FREE SHIPPING. Call toll free 1-888-692

6724 Hometech BOSCH Appl 375 Broad St, Regina www.hometechcanada.ca CHRISTMAS IS COMING! Do you have a Christmas message or a last minute Christmas Sale that you would like to get out to the public? Deadline is no later than Dec 17th at Noon for the Province Wide Classifieds. The Classifieds reach over 400,000 Manitoba readers weekly. Get results.

For as little as $189.00 + GST, you could book your ad now! Don’t miss out!

People rely on these classifieds to find what they need in your area and across the province. Catch them

looking at YOUR material in our 48 Weekly Community Newspapers. Call this newspaper to BOOK NOW or email classified@mcna. com for details. MCNA (204) 947-1691. www.mcna.com STEEL BUILDINGS STEEL BUILDING CLEARANCE ..."FALL BLOWOUT - PRICED TO CLEAR!" 20X25 $6,687. 25X29 $7,459. 28X29 $8,196.

30X35 $9840. 32X37 $9,898. One End Wall Included. Pioneer Steel 1-855-212-7036 www.pioneersteel.caa

8 Rivers Banner December 13, 2019

Rivers Men’s and Ladies’ Bonspiel

Submitted Rivers Banner

The Rivers Curling Club was host to an earlier than usual Men’s and Ladies’ Bonspiel this past weekend, due to the Scotties occurring in our usual dates in January 2020. Fifteen men’s teams and nine ladies’ teams enjoyed great competition during the four day event.

Drawmaster Al MacDonald did an amazingly creative job with the awkward odd numbered entries.

Brett Esplin kept the ice surface in fine shape and ready on time throughout the bonspiels. The men held their supper on Friday and served roast beef to an appreciative crowd. The ladies enjoyed a delicious chicken supper on Saturday, organized by Loree Wedderburn’s evening four-

some, with help from some afternoon curlers. Creative Scottie’s theme decorations and basket raffles were also a fun portion of the ladies banquet evening. Alas, due to time restraints, there was no costume dressing up or themed skits, but look out next year when we get back to our regular January bonspiels in 2021.

Winners in the Men’s A Event was the Brandon team of Mark Anderson, Dwayne Payette, Teresa Payette and Riley Willows (formerly of Rivers). They defeated Myles Wotton’s Rivers team in the final.

In the B event, the winners were the Rivers team of Derwyn Hammond, Brian English, Connor English and Justin Gerrard, who defeated the Les Wedderburn team also from Rivers.

The C event was won by the Hamiota foursome

of Dale Brooks, Tim Webber, Glen Lamb and R.L. Lamb, who defeated Harvey Wood’s Rivers team.

On the Ladies’ side the A event was won by the Brandon team of Kristin McLellan, Lorelle Pegus, Jana Kiasyk and Jose Maguet.

They defeated the Rivers team of Kahli Wedderburn, Charley Sprenger, Jocelyn Beever, Loree Wedderburn and Monica Madden.

Ladies B event was won by the Hamiota rink of Sandra Cowling, Sheila Gregory, Jackie Brooks and Jeannine Skayman, who defeated Donna Morken’s Rivers team.

The C event was won

by Rivers team of Donna Falkevitch, Maxine Veitch, Jean Ryall, Sally Carter and Darlene Gourlay who defeated Kendra Walker’s Rivers team.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

(Above) l-r Mens A event winners, Mark Anderson, Dwayne Payette, Teresa Payette and Riley Willows. (Below) l-r Cheryl Cooper (Ladies bonspiel coordinator), Kristin McLellan, Lorelle Pegus, Jana Kiasyk and Jose Maguet wit the A side trophy.

Liberals won’t be satisfied till they confiscate all your firearms

Whenever we have a Liberal government in Ottawa, the subject of gun control rears its ugly head.

I’ve been following Liberal gun control policies since the early 1990s.

I’ve come to the conclusion that liberals in Canada will not be happy until every civilian firearm is banned or confiscated.

The new Liberal minority throne speech did not address the country’s division, the worst November job loss numbers since the great recession, the sinking economy, or the alienation of western Canada, but did put front and center the banning of so called assault weapons and handguns. This appears to be Justin’s priority.

The Liberal party leader reminds me of Trump, who doesn’t believe in real facts, statistics, science, or expert witnesses but bases his decisions on pure emotion and political gain. What happened to the common good principle of a democracy?

These are the facts. Canada has one of the most strict firearm laws in the world. If you don’t believe

Effective Immediately:

Rivers/Rapid City

Incorporated

The phone number for Rivers/Rapid City Senior Services has changed; please contact us at

204-412-0484.

ALSO NOTE: The office is now located in Zion Church (Rivers). Hours are unchanged; they remain as Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Feel free to stop by and visit co-ordinator Sherry Wiebe.

To make an appointment, call 204-412-0484 or email rrcssi19@gmail.com.

this statement, go to a gun store and you’ll find out how many hoops you must jump through before you’re cleared to purchase a firearm. There are approximately 2.2 million firearm owners in Canada possessing 10-20 million firearms.

99.9 per cent of these lawful firearm owners will never commit a crime with their firearms. They are farmers, ranchers, hunters, sports shooters, collectors, and Indigenous hunters.

The current wave of violence in the large cities is strictly caused by gangs and drug dealers using illegal firearms smuggled from the United States.

Toronto experiences shootings or knifings on a daily basis. This is a fact. The lawful firearm owner has nothing to do with the gang and drug violence, yet the Liberals keep preaching the message that all assault weapons and handguns need to be banned.

Liberals can’t even agree on the definition of an assault rif le other than its looks. In Canada only the military have assault rif les (full auto capability).

Liberals want to ban all evil looking rif les with pistol grips and black in color. The fact is all civilian owned AR15 in Canada are semi auto rif les. These AR15s are all in the restricted category and can only be used on a government licensed and approved range.

Hunting with an AR15 is illegal.

So the question is how does confiscating these ARs from lawful owners prevent violence perpetrated by gangs and drug dealers in big cities. In Canada no AR15 has ever been used in crime.

What’s most disturbing is Justin and the Liberals refuse to accept advice from the experts in law enforcement, like the many chiefs of police and the RCMP commissioner. They advised the PM that gun bans do not work. The legitimate firearm owners are not the problem. The problem is the illegal use of firearms by the gangs and drug dealers. The judicial catch and release practises just doesn’t work to make Canada safe. The Supreme Court of Canada rejected mandatory jail time for offences with a firearm.

Until governments deal with the real root causes of crime, confiscating all the firearms in the country will have no effect on gang and drug dealer violence.

If the banning or confiscation of firearms is done through an order in council, this is proof we are living under a Liberal dictatorship.

Inky Mark, former MP Dauphin, MB

Holiday Hours Deceber 24, 8:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

December 25, Closed December 26, Closed December 31, 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

January 1 , Closed