RM Review
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Saskatoon Berries Announce Seating Upgrades
The Saskatoon Berries are excited to announce, in partnership with the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, that a major project will begin this Spring to install new stadium seating sections at the NexGen Patch at Cairns Field.
“The Gordie Howe Sports Complex and it’s collaborative sporting partners are excited with the support from Sask Entertainment Group to increase the seating capacities at Cairns Field,” stated Bryan Kosteroski, chairperson for the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. “The increased seating along with the new sections behind the home plate just expands the bigleague atmosphere it will bring to the Saskatoon Berries at Cairns Field.”
352 seats will be installed in new sections right on the field behind home plate, giving Berries fans a front-row seat to the action. The recently created B.I.P. section from last season will also be relocated alongside the new sections, giving those fans an even closer spot to the action.
“Berries fans have shown up and proven their support for baseball in Saskatoon, and we simply don’t have enough space for everyone to come out and enjoy the entertainment,” explained Berries president Steve Hildebrand. “This project will not only allow more fans to get into the ballpark, but this also provides a comfortable, premium seating space to enjoy the games.”
Current Berries season ticket holders will have the first opportunity to upgrade into the new Home Plate seating sections, while sales to the general public will be available February 3rd.
The Berries will host the 2026 WCBL All-Star Weekend on July 18th & 19th, the first-ever weekend event of this type in league history. Festivities will include a Home Run Derby, Bunt Contest, Live Concert, and more. Full details will be released at a later date. All-Star Weekend Passes will be included in all season ticket packages. Construction for the new seating sections begins in early spring, and will be ready for opening day Saturday, May 30th.
Down the Road
The condo we were renting in Mazatlán was in a medium-size complex, about 75 units in an L-shaped building, 11 floors high and overlooking a very long expanse of beautiful, wide sandy beach. The complex has a small day-time restaurant and two pools, the smaller one being heated and the slightly larger one being unheated, and so referred to as the "Canadian" pool. There was also a small contingent of security staff, about 6 attendants, on duty around the clock and 7 days a week. They were all friendly, pleasant fellows, including the two men who shared the same name, Manuel, and so were referred to as Manuel Uno (One) and Manuel Dos (Two).
(As an aside, there is a wife and husband couple in our neighbourhood who are named Marti and Marty - seriously, I couldn't make this stuff up - both nice folk, but no numerical add-ons needed because you don't have to be a math whiz to figure out who's Numero Uno in that family. Just sayin'.)
I wasn't quite comfortable using a naming system for people that required numbers. I sorta thought it might make Manuel Dos feel second-best, you know, the way a Ford must feel when it gets parked next to a Chev.
This issue was fussing around at the back of my mind as Mrs B and I waved 'Adios' to Manuel Dos and walked away from the complex, heading off to meet friends for lunch. The issue was particularly fussing around because the husband of the couple we were meeting is, like me, named Brian.
It was still very early in our acquaintance so Brian (the other guy) and I (Brian) hadn't settled on assigning numerical add-ons, both biding our time (and both too old - almost) to make sure all the requisite male posturing and chest-thumping, usually obviated and camouflaged by unique names, was over before the dust settled on a numbered priority.
Brian (the other guy) and Larysa (the other guy's wife) were from Winnipeg but spent half the year in Mazatlán waiting out Winnipeg's six-month winter. They were very familiar with Mazatlán and liked to frequent the local restaurants, especially those that had live music. They had picked us up from just outside our condo complex and we were heading to the old part of downtown, to a restaurant they were familiar with and where the music was to their preference.
Larysa and Mrs B got out of the car while we were still a few blocks away from the restaurant, wanting to stop in at a few stores on the final approach, while Brian (the other guy) and I (Brian) continued driving, searching out a not-always-easy-to-find parking spot. We were lucky and found a spot fairly quickly and fairly close by so Brian (the other guy) and I (Brian) got to the restaurant before Larysa and Mrs B had arrived.
by Brian Brannagan
The restaurant was a nice enough place, up a couple flights of stairs, on the roof-top of a two-storey building. The seating area was mostly open air but partially sheltered off to one side, where a small two-piece band was playing non-intrusive background music, mostly old soft rock.
There were a few other customers but Brian (the other guy) and I (Brian) managed to snag an empty table close to the low perimeter wall and overlooking the street below. From where we were seated, we could look over the partial wall and see down to the street.
Within just a few minutes we saw Larysa and Mrs B cross the intersection in their approach to the restaurant. We watched them walk a few feet along the sidewalk before stopping to speak with a middle-aged couple, tourists it appeared, who were standing in the shade of another building, looking around, looking undecided. We watched as all four of them talked for a few minutes and then saw Larysa pointing towards where Brian (the other guy) and I (Brian) were waiting. We continued to watch as all four of them turned towards the restaurant, still talking, and start walking along the street together before turning and coming up the stairs into the restaurant.
Larysa later explained that she had seen the couple standing on the sidewalk and being the friendly and open-hearted sort of woman she is, approached them and asked if they needed help, maybe directions. The couple answered that they had only recently arrived in Mazatlán for an extended stay and were looking for a place to have lunch and where they might listen to some good, live music. Well, come and have lunch with us, Larysa invited, in a spontaneous burst of friendly generosity, the restaurant we are going to has live music and the music and the food are both good.
When the four of them arrived we were then 6 people - too many for one table - so we pushed two tables together, shuffled chairs around to make room for everybody and then proceeded to introduce ourselves. There was, of course, Mrs B and Brian (me) and Larysa and Brian (the other guy), and Sherry, the tourist lady, and her husband . . . . Brian (the new guy). That made three (3) Brians.
So.
Three (3) Brians and three (3) wives and about 100 years of marriage sitting around the table. When one of the wives (pick one, any one) wanted to get the attention of her husband, she would say, Oh, Brian? and three heads would pop-up, emitting a slightly asynchronous chorus of Yes, Dear? Yes, Dear? Yes, Dear?
No Chev, no Ford, just 3 . . . . Chrysler products.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
We are living in uncertain times where the truth is increasingly difficult to find. People are becoming increasingly polarized on everything from politics, energy, the economy, the rule of law, and basic science. The RM Review letters to the editor over the last several months reflect this polarization and the spreading of misinformation.
I thank John Hendrickson for his thoughtful comments on this dialogue in last month’s RM Review.
It was interesting that Mr. Hendrickson’s comments appeared on the same page as those from Mr. Downie, who seemed to be taking aim not only at his dislike for government subsidies and “so called green energy scams,” but personal attack directed at myself and others installing renewable energy.
To answer your question, Mr. Downie, we did install small-scale wind turbines in 2007 on our farm and then abandoned them after they did not turn out to be reliable or robust enough to meet the demands of our strong wind resource here on the prairie.
Although I may regret buying small scale wind for our farm, it is grossly inaccurate to characterize renewable energy as a “scam.”
President Trump ushered in the post-truth era, and he too calls renewables a “scam.” The fact is that wind and solar energy surpassed fossil power in the EU for the first time in 2025, generating 30% of all electricity. China is building wind at an 18% annual growth rate and as of the end of 2024 China’s wind generation exceeded all of Canada’s electrical generation from all sources.
My biggest regret is that the low-quality small-scale turbines that many rural owners in Saskatchewan bought in 2007-2010 gave people a bad first experience with renewables. We too were feeling “once bitten twice shy” with renewables and I elected to go with the smallest solar system that we had quoted to replace our wind turbines – I wish I would have built the biggest system possible. Despite our small solar system, we have already
generated about $12,000 in electricity since it was installed. I estimate the payback on our solar system to be about 12-14 years. Overall, with our heat pump, EVs, insulation retrofit, and solar system, we now save about $7,000 per year on fossil energy that we used to buy. Electrification and renewables are far better for affordability, reliability, promoting world peace, and for jobs to support our economy. We face a choice as a country – should we continue as a Petro-state, or evolve to become an Electro-state?
I sense that Mr. Downie objects to all subsidies, so he should be very angry at the tremendous subsidies Canadians provide to dirty fossil energy because fossil fuel subsides continue to range from 3 – 10 times more than the subsidies to renewables. If Mr. Downie wants to end subsidies, then sure, let’s do that for all forms of energy. As fossil fuel companies have been posting record profits, are not the fossil fuel subsides just unnecessary corporate welfare?
Despite all this talk about the economics of fossil energy vs renewables, the truth is that to stop dangerous climate change we must replace fossil energy with clean energy, and it is mostly sufficient to replace fossil energy with clean energy.
In addition to my desire to save money, I want to do my part to keep our air clean and our climate livable. I do this because I love my kids, I love nature, and I love things like winter sports, wildlife, gardening, and farming – all of which are already being impacted by dangerous climate change. Not only is it about money, but it is also about doing the right thing.
Polarization and misinformation are harming us all. If anyone has questions about renewable energy, heat pumps, or EVs, reach out to me, I’d be happy to share more information about our lived experience over the last decade. I can assure everyone that there is no “green energy scam.”
Glenn Wright Vanscoy, SK
Reliable Power Is a System, Not a Single Fuel
Over the past several months, readers have seen a spirited debate about coal, renewables, and what keeps Saskatchewan’s power system reliable. That concern for reliability is something we all share. The disagreement is not about whether reliability matters, but it’s about how modern power systems actually achieve it.
One idea keeps coming up: that if wind or solar are not producing power at a given moment, they are therefore useless. That simply isn’t how electrical grids work. No power source, and that includes coal, operates in isolation. Coal plants trip offline, require maintenance, and depend on backup just like any other generator. Reliability comes from a system that combines multiple sources, reserves, and controls, not from betting everything on one fuel.
When it is said that renewables power “zero homes on a windless night,” what is being missed is the bigger picture. Every hour that wind or solar does produce electricity is an hour where less coal or natural gas is burned. That reduces fuel costs, pollution, and wear on thermal plants. Over a year, those savings are substantial, which is
Interesting letters to the editor lately. Great stuff! I’m glad to see Saskatchewan is looking seriously at nuclear energy. Why is it taking so long? This is not something new to Saskatchewan. Not many people know, but we had a Slowpoke-2 research reactor at the SRC, U of S that operated for 38 years. It was dismantled in 2021. There are also some 30 Canadian built Candu reactors supplying energy in many countries around the world.
With the mining of uranium and the renewed potential for power generation, we should also be discussing a demonstration waste disposal repository. Saskatchewan has people that know how to sink shafts and engineers and geoscientists that know how to design and maintain stable mine openings.
why SaskPower itself continues to add renewable capacity, not because of ideology, but because it makes operational and economic sense.
There has also been some mention of subsidies. What often goes unmentioned is that coal has benefited from public investment for generations. From rail infrastructure, to mine development, to pollution controls, to the billion-dollar carbon capture project at Boundary Dam. Were you also aware that a 2022 report from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) identified roughly $409 million in annual Saskatchewan provincial fossil fuel subsidies? Calling one form of public investment “socialist” while ignoring another does not help us make clear decisions about the future.
Finally, reliability cannot be separated from health and cost. Smoke-filled summers, asthma emergencies, and lost workdays carry real economic impacts. Those costs do not show up on a power bill, but families and taxpayers pay them all the same. Reducing emissions is not about symbolism, it is about protecting public health while keeping electricity affordable.
Saskatchewan does not need to choose between reliability and progress. We already know how to build systems that deliver power in all conditions while steadily reducing risk and cost. The question before us is not whether coal has worked in the past (it has) but whether clinging to last century’s solutions will best serve the next generation.
Reliable power is not about one technology winning an argument. It is about building a resilient system that works every day, in every season, while keeping our air, communities, and economy strong.
Salt makes an excellent repository as demonstrated by the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) in New Mexico, licensed to store waste for 10,000 years. In central Saskatchewan we have salt deposits at just under 600m deep where openings are much easier to maintain than in deeper potash deposits. We also have very deep salt in southern Saskatchewan at 1600m to over 1800m where Brian Brunskill of the Saskatchewan Geological Society has suggested that salt creep in deep boreholes would encapsulate waste fuel.
I just think we are missing an opportunity to be a full service province with mining, power generation, and disposal.
Dave
Mackintosh, PGeo., FCIM Vanscoy, SK
Ryan Merkosky Delisle, SK
COUNCIL REPORTS
Submitted by your local Council Administrators. Ask your local Council to send us a monthly report.
TOWN OF DELISLE
Council held a regular meeting on January 8th at 7pm during which the following items were addressed:
Council supported the proposal of the construction of an apartment complex on Lots 1-3 Block 17, Plan G11 in principle pending Council support of the site plan, the building plan, confirmation of adequate utility and emergency services, successful rezoning and successful subdivision application, if required.
Council did not support a request to place a RTM home sideways on Lot 5 Block 38 Plan 101953357 nor a request to place a garage on the rear of the property.
Council accepted a letter of engagement from auditor Jensen Stromberg
Council agreed to lower the arena ice rental fee for the 2026-2027 year to $105.00 per hour for the Trach Sports Academy.
Council agreed to join the West Central Municipal Governance Committee.
Council declared Sophia Vandenameele the winner of the annual Christmas coloring contest and directed that she be awarded a prize equal in value to $50 as well as a Town touque.
Bylaw 11-2025; being a bylaw to control the operation of ATV’s in town, was read a second time.
TOWN OF ASQUITH
Council held a regular meeting on January 14th, 2026. The next meeting is scheduled for February 11th, 2026.
Council extends its congratulations and appreciation to Captain John Dahlseide for fifty years of dedicated service to the Asquith Fire Department.
Council made board and officer appointments for the 2026 calendar year.
The 2026-2030 Council Strategic Plan was adopted. This document provides a clear framework for decision making and ensures that public resources are directed towards a shared, long-term vision.
Pet and Business Licences for 2026 are now due. All cats and dogs must be licensed annually. Anyone conducting commercial, merchandising, industrial, professional, or trade activities, or providing goods or services, within the Town of Asquith is required to obtain a Business Licence each calendar year.
Visit our website for updates, minutes, events and more: www.townofasquith.com
RM OF VANSCOY
The Rural Municipality is pleased to announce that the new water fill station will be operational as of March 1, 2026.
Three 10,000 gallon holding tanks supply non-potable water with one area for residents of the RM of Vanscoy, another for businesses and agriculture use and an exclusive fill area for unimpeded Fire Department access.
Water access rates remain unchanged at $100 for residential and $500 for commercial. Residents must visit the RM Office to complete a Key Issuance Form and pay the fee. Access will be granted once the form and payment are received.
The fill station is located at NW 20-35-07 W3
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the RM Office.
REGULAR LOCAL COUNCIL MEETINGS
RM OF CORMAN PARK - February 24, 8:15am
RM OF DUNDURN - February 10, 8:00am
RM OF EAGLE CREEK - February 10, 9:00am
RM OF GREAT BEND - February 11, 9:00am
RM OF HARRIS - February 12, 8:00am
RM OF MCCRANEY - February 19, 8:00am
RM OF MILDEN - February 11, 9:00am
RM OF MONTROSE - February 12, 9:00am
RM OF PERDUE - February 10, 9:00am
RM OF ROSEDALE - February 10, 8:00am
RM OF RUDY - February 11, 6:00pm
RM OF VANSCOY - February 12, 9:00am
TOWN OF ASQUITH - February 11, 5:15pm
TOWN OF BIGGAR - February 3, 7:15pm
TOWN OF DELISLE - February 12, 7:00pm
TOWN OF DUNDURN - February 10, 5:30pm
TOWN OF HANLEY - February 19, 7:00pm
TOWN OF LANGHAM - February 9 & 23, 6:30pm
TOWN OF OUTLOOK - February 9 & 23, 7:00pm
TOWN OF RADISSON - February 9 & 23, 7:00pm
TOWN OF ZEALANDIA - February 18, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF BORDEN - February 10, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF BRODERICK - February 11, 7:00
VILLAGE OF CONQUEST - February 10, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF GLENSIDE - February 11, 7:30pm
VILLAGE OF HARRIS - February 11, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF HAWARDEN - February 4, 7:30pm
VILLAGE OF KENASTON - February 10, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF KINLEY - February 10, 6:30pm
VILLAGE OF LOREBURN - February 11, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF MILDEN - February 18, 7:30pm
VILLAGE OF PERDUE - February 10, 7:30pm
VILLAGE OF STRONGFIELD - February 10, 7:30
VILLAGE OF TESSIER - February 9, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF VANSCOY - February 11, 7:00pm
Regular Council meetings are always open to any and all members of the public. Some restrictions may apply. Dates may change. Check with local Councils.
Report
Late last year, Mark Carney’s Liberal government introduced Bill C-9, which amends the Criminal Code of Canada. This Bill could lead to you being charged for your beliefs, passing on your traditions or celebrating your religion.
I know that sounds unbelievable but you don’t have to take my word for it.
Liberal MP Marc Miller infamously said that many religious texts contain “statements” he found “hateful” and that “there should perhaps be discretion for prosecutors to press charges.” Then, on December 1st, Prime Minister Carney promoted Mr. Miller to the position of Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture.
Shortly after, the Liberals supported an amendment to Bill C-9 put forward by the Bloc Québécois to repeal important provisions that protect those speaking “on a religious subject or…based on a belief in a religious text.”
Without these long-established safeguards for persons acting “in good faith” – meaning reasonably and without malicious intent – preaching on certain doctrines could soon be considered a hate crime.
This is especially concerning given that the government is trying to introduce a new definition of “hate” that could extend to any speech the government finds objectionable.
This is unacceptable in Canada. Bluntly put, the Liberals and Bloc Québécois are working together to repeal the religious defence, which could lead to faith leaders, or any Canadian, facing jail time.
January 21, 2026
We want to be absolutely clear: Conservatives oppose this proposed change by the Carney Liberals. We will do all we can to defend your religious freedom.
On January 14th, I had the privilege of hosting a roundtable meeting with MP Andrew Lawton and faith leaders from Saskatoon and the surrounding area. The purpose of the event was to discuss the impact Bill C-9 could have on them and their faith communities. Over 50 faith leaders attended. This number speaks to how concerned people are.
If you share my opposition to Bill C-9, I encourage you to become involved in promoting free speech in Canada.
One way to do that is to print the paper petition provided in the link below and gather signatures.
https://kellyblockmp.ca/petition-on-bill-c-9/
Thousands of Canadians have already signed this petition and I ask you to join them by adding your name.
I will always defend our collective right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion in Canada. Bill C9 is an assault on those freedoms and has no place in our nation.
Sincerely,
Kelly Block Member of Parliament Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek
Memories on the Farm at Mosaic Tower at Hill Centre III
If you have some time, swing by downtown Regina to see the SK Arts installations at Mosaic Tower at Hill Centre III. This display of miniature folk sculpture reflects early farming life in Saskatchewan through the imagination of father and son artists, Fred and Dick Moulding. The exhibition will remain open until April 3, 2026.
Dick Moulding was born in Abernethy, Saskatchewan in 1939 and came from a farming family, son of farmer and folk artist, Fred Moulding. Dick Moulding worked building roads, farming, was a commercial grain cleaner for 18 years, and worked for Federated Co-op.
Self-taught, his father was a source of inspiration. While his dad crafted miniatures out of wood, Dick opted to work primarily in metal. Using parts salvaged from old refrigerators and dishwashers he repurposed small electric motors designed for toy cars, so his sculptures were mechanical and functional. Fred Moulding was born in 1894 in Yorkshire, England. He immigrated to Canada in 1912 and settled near Regina, Saskatchewan. There, Moulding farmed, struggling through the Depression and other difficult times while raising his family. It was not until Moulding was in his 60s that he began carving wood.
A self-taught carver, Fred Moulding began to make models of the tools and farm equipment that had been part of his early working life. Working with scrap metal and wood, his sculptures captured people, animals and machinery from the early 1900s to the development of the tractor. His purpose was not nostalgic, but to document an earlier way of life. Moulding showed his work at local fairs and exhibited in many Saskatchewan venues, including the Susan Whitney Gallery (Regina), Dunlop Art Gallery (Regina), and Remai Modern (Saskatoon). His work is part of several private collections, as well as the collections of the Canada Council Art Bank (Ottawa), Remai Modern (Saskatoon), MacKenzie Art Gallery (Regina), the University of Saskatchewan, the Western Development Museum's Heritage Farm and Village (North Battleford), and the Canadian Museum of History (Hull, Quebec). Fred Moulding died in 1993, in Regina.
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that nominations of candidates for the office of:
COUNCILLOR : Village of Kinley Number to be Elected: 1
Will be received by the undersigned at the Village Office, located at 1123 Main Street, Kinley, SK during regular business hours on Tuesdays from 9:00AM to 4:00pm until February 17, 2026.
Nomination forms may be obtained at the Kinley Village Office.
Dated this 1st day of January, 2026
Pasture Land/Farm Land for Rent April 2026
Location: Delisle, Sk. SE-30-31-07-W3M
Please submit bids to: rontardif1@gmail.com or call Ron Tardif at 780-837-4376
Rosetown - Delisle Constituency
Vanscoy Seniors Community Club
On January 13, 2026 the VSCC executive met to discuss the coming year's possible activities, with 7 out of 8 members present. One of our concerns is ensuring that we have enough funds to cover our operating expenses. The Sask Lottery grant covers a portion of this as well as our membership fee. Added to this is the SSAI cash draw where each registered club is given ticket books to sell. For every $2.00 ticket sold the seller gets $1.00. In 2025 we received a cheque for $422. Thus going forward we have planned three fundraisers to be held at the Vanscoy Senior Centre:
Pie and Coffee Afternoon February 12, 2026
2pm to 4pm $5 per person
Treat donations appreciated
Bake Sale
April 18, 2026 10 am to 3 pm
This runs in conjunction with the United Church garage sale as they setup the fabric sale at senior centre
Any baking greatly appreciated
Soup and Sandwich Luncheon
May 7, 2026 $10 per person 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
The dates for potlucks for 2026 are: March 12, June 11, September 17 and December 10 These suppers start at 5:30 pm. Anyone attending is asked to bring an edible item. There is no cost to members. 10 charge for non-members.
Kaiser Night goes on at the centre on the last Friday of the month starting at 7 pm. Cost $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers. Everyone is welcome.
For any lady wanting to play cards please come out and join the group Wednesday afternoons at 1:30 pm.
The Country Quilters meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month, starting at 1 pm. If you are interested or have questions contact me at 306-230-5042.
Submitted by Raelene Boyle VSCC Vice President
Saskatoon, January 15, 2026 — STARS is proud to announce the renewal of its longstanding partnership with Nutrien, which is adding $4M in new funding to bring their total contribution, in over a decade, to more than $30 million.
This renewed commitment directly enables STARS’ critical mission operations throughout Saskatchewan, ensuring rural and agricultural communities have access to critical care when they need it most.
“Nutrien has been an incredible and generous partner, helping STARS provide critical care across Saskatchewan for more than a decade,” said Dr. John Froh, President and CEO, STARS. ”This amazing gift will ensure that the people of this province can continue to depend on STARS and that we will be there for them where and when they need critical care.”
Nutrien’s initial support of $27 million established STARS’ home base in Saskatoon and enabled thousands of life-saving missions – 10,000 since 2012, including 921 last year alone. These missions represent real lives and real impact across rural communities.
“We’re renewing our commitment to STARS in Saskatchewan, bringing Nutrien’s total support to more than $30 million,” says Ken Seitz, President and CEO of Nutrien. “Safety, from our potash operations to the farm gate, is central to who we are, and supporting STARS reflects our pride and responsibility to the communities where we live and work.”
STARS has operated in Saskatchewan since 2012, with bases in both Saskatoon and Regina.
For more information on STARS please visit stars.ca
Over-thinking by Tardij
- You may have made a decision that saved you life and not even known it
- We will never be able to hear about the perfect crime
- We have walked past killers before and have never known
- You have never been closer to your time of Death than right now !
- In the word scent … is the S or the C silent ?
- You don’t earn money… it is just your turn with it
- If money is the root of all evil, then why do churches ask for it ?
- Taxes are just a subscription to your country that you cannot cancel
- Coins are technically 3 sided
- Our pee is always touching our bodies
- If a hotdog is just meat in an animal casing… it does not stop being a hotdog even after we eat it… by that conclusion… we, as the hot dogs casing, become the hot dogs our selves every time we eat a hot dog !
- Is it kidnapping if you kidnap an adult ?
- If you weigh 99 pounds and you eat a pound of nachos… are you now 1% Nacho ?
- When we yawn, do deaf people think we are screaming ?
- If you drop soap on the floor, is the floor clean… or is the soap dirty ?
Asquith Better Life Recreation Association (BLRA)
January has been a quiet month; we like the down time giving community members time to reflect on the past year and hopefully make new and exciting plans for the coming year.
Our January bingo was generously sponsored by BTE Burwell Trenching and Electrical. A company that serves in and around Asquith and further, I am sure. The seniors and community members who come out to play bingo thank you very much for your support!
The donations and support that we have received from our local businesses continue to be amazing and greatly appreciated. We are hoping to continue to receive support throughout the bingo games from February – June, 2026. We thank your business in the RM Review as well as a thank you the evening of the bingo a number of times throughout the game for the month you’ve offered your support. This is advertisement for your business and it helps us to offer a larger payout when a customer wins. We also accept anonymous donations. Our next bingo night is Friday February 27th, come one come all. The jackpot will be $140 in 58 numbers. Bring yourselves, your friends and your family.
Our President Genevieve Innes bakes some wonderful treats for each bingo night that are delicious and enjoyed by all. All proceeds are generously donated to the senior centre. Thanks Genevieve.
Our annual pancake supper is on Wednesday February 18th this year, at the Asquith Seniors Centre from 5:00-7:00pm. Watch for the advertising on Facebook. Come and enjoy, who doesn’t like breakfast for supper?
Mark your calendars for Wednesday March 18th, we will be having a pulled pork on a bun, cowboy caviar, coleslaw and coffee or tea. Watch for the advertisements.
Are you a senior and or retired and live in the Asquith community or surrounding area? Are you debating whether or not you should get involved, if so, why not just come to one of our meetings or exercise class, or cards or pool. What have you got to lose? You will gain a community of people with like interests. We do not expect anything from you. We won’t put you to work, if you want to help with events that would be great if you don’t, we won’t ask. We are looking for new ideas, and are always open to hearing them. Don’t be shy we are a friendly group that love to laugh and spend time together. Memberships are $25.00 per year and are due in April.
Do you have an event you would like to put on, do you require a rental of our hall for an art/painting class, a dance class, is there an instructor out there that teaches line dancing, a book club, wedding shower, baby shower, funeral, memorial service, billiards tournament, shuffle board, Karaoke night, think outside the box and reach out to our President Genevieve Innes, VP Carrie Latta, Secretary Karen Duguid or myself Sue Sawicki Treasurer.
The exercise classes continue to be a hit. Some new seniors have decided to move and shake with us which is great for them and us. The benefits are not only physical but mental and emotional as well. The exercises start out with a bit of cardio, some weights to strengthen our muscles, stretching that helps us stay limber and of course moves to help with balancing. All of these exercises can be modified to fit your physical limitations if you have any. Any level of physical activity is good for us even when modified. Remember exercise is for everyone. Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 10:00am-11:00am at the Asquith Seniors centre. Our trained and wonderful leaders for the classes are Diane Haugrad and Trudy Westad. There is no cost for this service, our goal is to assist our seniors to be as healthy as they can be with a little movement in their lives. Balance is an issue as we age and exercise helps with that.
A reminder billiards are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1:00pm. Canasta (Hand & Foot) is every Monday and Friday at 1:00pm. All activities take place at the Asquith Seniors Centre. (Better Life Recreation Centre). Please come and check us out.
As promised the 2nd edition of how to be aware and recognize when you are being scammed. Romance scams are on the rise it is important to stay vigilant. Romance scams touch on our emotions, they target lonely vulnerable people of all ages. When you decide to go on line to look for a friendly person to chat with, or you are looking for companionship or a love interest it can be scary. Who do you trust? These are some things to be aware of......
1. Love bombing: is a form of psychological abuse. The person wants to make you feel special; they overwhelm you with comments like you are their soul mate, that they have never felt this way before, they love everything about you, using excessive flattery. This usually happens very quickly within the first couple of weeks. They want to move forward with the relationship there are intense talks about your future together. They convince you that you are their world, they love you and want only you. You may feel like you are falling in love, yet
you have never met them. (The picture on line is NOT the person you have been conversing with) They may shower you with unwanted or unneeded gifts making you feel special. Once they have you believing that you will have a future together, they agree to meet, but something always comes up to stop them. They then use manipulative behaviors to get you to do what they want. This is when the gaslighting starts.
2. Gaslighting: is when they use manipulation and emotional abuse when you question them. An example, they have agreed to meet at a certain date, time and place but never show. They leave you hanging not answering when you text or try to call them, it could be days, you start to get concerned. When you are able to reach them you may question them, they become upset and start asking why you don’t trust them, it wasn’t their fault. They turn it back on to you and you start to question yourself. This is a highly sophisticated form of emotional abuse. They are very good at it, after all you are not the only one, they are conversing with, I guarantee that. They have many more people on the hook; you are definitely NOT the only one.
3. When they ask you for money that should be a red flag. Know that this is a job for them and they have to earn money to survive. It will be small amounts at first, they will be in a jam and need access to funds but there will always be a shady reason they can’t get to their funds, they need your help. All the gifts they showered you with initially were purchased from money they scammed from previous victims. Yes, you are a victim of an extremely well thought out campaign to drain every dollar they can from you. When you refuse to give them money, they become mean and angry using verbal abuse and threats to get you to comply. If you continue to refuse, they shut you down and move on. These people are not in love with you and they have no intention of ever being in a relationship with you.
If any of this sounds familiar, or you believe you are in this very situation STOP now and contact the RCMP or city police. Do not continue with the relationship and NEVER ever give them money. If you are still unsure google Love Bombing and Gaslighting and read the information. Become informed, save yourself from being a victim. The worst thing is believing that it can never happen to you. If there is a scam that you would like to share anonymously but want people to know, reach out to me and I can share the details without names.
Our senior meeting was on Monday February 2nd at 3:00pm at the centre, thank you to all who came. We appreciate and value any new and exciting ideas. Put your thinking caps on and come and join us. Usually the first Monday of every month. Our next senior meeting will be on Monday March 2nd.
Thank you from your Asquith Better Life Recreation Centre board & members.
Asquith BLRA Friday Bingos
January 30, 2026 February 27, 2026 March 27, 2026
April 24, 2026 May 29, 2026 June 26, 2026
Local Winter Events
Have We Stopped Dreaming Because We Assume Things Would Last ?
Have you noticed that nobody talks about the future anymore? What's there to say when hyper-technological advancements are decimating professions and industries with no rebound in sight (Full disclosure: I view AI as a human replacement tool—employers requiring fewer employees— and not a productivity enhancement tool.), shifts in geopolitical relationships that were thought to be solid now feel like exposed raw nerves. Moreover, under the banner of "social progress," many of yesterday's acceptable behaviours are today's offensive behaviours. Much of the angst I see and hear around me stems from not knowing what to mentally pack because they don't know what lies ahead.
A semblance of stability no longer exists. Government, employers, and social values are all in fast hands today, with no attachment to tomorrow, and everyone is looking for exits. Everything feels short-term. As employees are increasingly viewed as liabilities, careers have become contracts with an escape plan, which, given the rise in entitlements that distract from profits, has merit. Marriages used to be framed as "forever." Now they're framed as "pending the possibility of a better (read: sexier) option coming along." For those who bought into marketing propaganda that groomed them into consumers by blurring the lines between needs and wants, thus having them spend their money trying to look rich, the thought of retirement feels like historical fiction, set in a time when company pensions existed and living within one's means was not something to be ashamed of.
When someone talks about their future plans, you likely think they're either naïve, believing they’re somehow insulated from the consequences I mentioned and that they'll be humbled. Consider how the world is today compared with five years ago; what didn't exist then but now dominates our lives.
•ChatGPT, released on November 30, 2022, and now our digital overlord, is better at writing emails than you and I are.
•Relationships with longstanding American allies are being irreparably damaged by Trump, causing geopolitical fallout that is impacting consumer prices, destabilizing labour markets, and adding fuel to existing divides.
•Social media platforms have become TikTokified. Nowadays, fame is achieved through being relevant on social media rather than by doing something well.
•Digital "Stay-at-Home" culture—leveraging digital technology to enable conducting work, socializing, consuming entertainment, and managing your daily life from home rather than in public or traditional offices—has exacerbated loneliness and a decline in social skills.
•The phrase "Peanut gallery" and the word "tribe" have become problematic for some. While words themselves are inherently neutral, rapid pejoration—the act, under the guise of social awareness and a desire for more inclusive language, of declaring an inoffensive word offensive—has made communication more difficult and anxiety-provoking, as people fear judgment and social disapproval.
In the last five years, technological, cultural, and social evolution have been compressed into a timeframe shorter than most university degree programmes. Today's innovations become tomorrow's museum pieces faster than we can process them, making long-term planning akin to building a sandcastle during high tide.
All this excessive, supposedly "forward motion" and "progress" raises the question of who is benefiting from constantly shifting paradigms and moving goalposts, and keeps us operating in survival increments, which we call "being realistic."
•the next month
•the next phase
•the next paycheck
•the next crisis
•the next political freakout
•the next irrelevancy
•the next "latest and greatest"
•the next emotional trigger
We expect the rug to be ripped from under us at any moment, so we stop dreaming about what the future might hold and concentrate on making it to Friday still employed. We stopped assuming that those who benefit from keeping us in constant flux will slow things down to give us time to adapt and, more importantly, find our place in the new world order that is rapidly emerging. Right now, "the future" can best be described as steep cliffs, which we find ourselves dropping from without prior notice.
•Industries, professions and companies are disappearing overnight.
•Rules are being changed mid-game.
•Education, credentials, skills and experience lose their value faster than fruit left out in the sun.
•Institutions of all kinds have become comfortable contradicting themselves.
•Effort no longer correlates with outcome.
•Promises made in good faith are being reneged on due to sudden changes in conditions.
We no longer say, "In five years I’d like to be doing [whatever]." We say, "Right now, I'm doing this." We know that plans, especially artistic ones, can evaporate with the next "update." Talking about your future feels like tempting fate, like painting the walls while the roof is caving in. Long-term plans—dreaming, for those who have a romantic view of life—are iffy; having a clear vision and a plan is viewed as a flaw—"Good luck with that!" We've lost much of our optimism because of our fears of embarrassment.
Additionally, when it comes to long-term planning, one needs to be able to predict cause and effect, which we can no longer do. Envisioning and mapping out a five-year "hope for the future" plan seems pointless when the last few years felt like a slow software update nobody asked for. Furthermore, bringing your dreams to life requires spare mental energy. Most of us are using 90% of our mental RAM and are constantly receiving push notifications that don't include a decline button.
Not long ago, we built our lives assuming:
•consistency
•progression
•delayed reward
Now we try to build a life, assuming:
•interruption •volatility •sudden resets
Timelines no longer exist. Prescriptions, such as performing actions A + B + C = D for "guaranteed outcomes," are a thing of the past. Most disheartening is that it no longer makes sense to write love letters to your future self when your future isn't texting you back. Today, dreaming about your future, let alone preparing for it, feels like a futile exercise. However, we haven't stopped making plans or dreaming. We’ve stopped assuming things will last; therefore, we've shifted our long-term planning and dreams into short-term, adaptable survival strategies. .
The assumption of stability—stable careers, permanent relationships, linear progress—has all but disappeared, leading to a more realistic, albeit anxious, acknowledgement of life's fleeting nature. We stopped asking "What do I love?" and started asking "What pays?" (for now). We stopped chasing purpose and dreams and started chasing paychecks and algorithms. We're simply trying to get through each moment until the next push notification arrives.
Nick Kossovan, a self-described connoisseur of human psychology, writes about what’s on his mind from Toronto. You can follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram @NKossovan
Dollars and Sense by
Owen Goosen, CIM,
Registered Retirement Savings Plan: Features, Benefits, and Misconceptions
RRSP’s are one of the most used financial tools in Canada. Most people have heard of them, many have contributed to them, but surprisingly few understand all the features and how to use them effectively. In this article, I am going to cover some of the features, benefits, and common misconceptions that I hear regarding RRSP’s.
What is an RRSP?
An RRSP is a tax-deferred savings vehicle designed to help Canadians save for retirement.
Tax deferred is a key phrase that often gets overlooked when you are considering contributing to an RRSP.
When you contribute to an RRSP:
•Your contribution is deductible from your taxable income.
o Ex: You earn $100,000 and contribute $10,000 to an RRSP – your taxable income for the year will now be $90,000.
•The investments inside the RRSP grow tax free
o Ex: Your $10,000 earns 3% in dividends and the capital appreciates by an additional 3%. That $600 accumulates in your RRSP and continues to grow tax free.
•You pay tax when you withdraw money from your RRSP, typically later in life. RRSP’s must be converted to a Retirement Income Fund at age 71. Another option come retirement is the purchase of an annuity.
Key Features & Benefits
Here are some of the key benefits of contributing to an RRSP.
1) Tax deduction. For those in a higher tax bracket, the deduction you receive can lead to substantial tax savings. An easy way to supercharge your savings is to then turnaround and invest the tax return you receive. That could go towards additional RRSP contributions, or you could look at other options such as a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA).
2) Tax Deferred Growth. Any interests, dividends, or capital gains received in the RRSP are not taxed annually. This allows your capital to compound at a faster rate than if you paid taxes on an ongoing basis.
3) Flexibility of Investments. An RRSP is not an investment itself – it is simply a vehicle which you can invest in. Inside it, you can purchase different investments such as:
o Mutual Funds
o ETF’s
o Stocks & Bonds
o GIC’s
4) Income smoothing. Once RRSP’s are converted to a Retirement Income Fund, there are several planning strategies to consider. RIFs are there to supplement other sources of income in retirement such as OAS and CPP. Depending on your specific situation, you may be able to split income with a spouse leading to a lower overall tax bill.
Misconceptions
1) RRSP’s are only for retirement.
a. While retirement is the primary purpose, you can also make a withdrawal from your RRSP for other uses such as your first home purchase (Home Buyers Plan) or to fund education under the Lifelong Learning Plan.
2) You buy RRSP’s.
a. You do not buy RRSP’s, you contribute to them. You then need to purchase an investment within the RRSP to maximize the benefits you receive. If you leave your contribution sitting in cash, you may earn some interest – but you should consider a longer-term investment solution with higher expected returns to truly benefit from the tax-free compounding.
3) RRSP’s are bad because you pay tax on them when you take money out. a. Even if you are in the same tax bracket in retirement as you are in now, what is often overlooked is the tax savings from the contributions you have made as well as the benefit of tax-free growth. Proper planning can help you structure your withdrawals in a tax efficient manner and provide you with additional income later in life.
4) Waiting to make RRSP contributions in higher income years. a. You do not have to claim the deduction on your income in the year that you make the contribution. You can elect to save that deduction for a future year. The sooner you make the contribution, the sooner that money can compound.
A Simple Way to View RRSP’s
Used properly, RRSP’s can lower your current tax bill, improve the long-term compounding of your investment portfolio, and create flexibility for your income in retirement. Like any tool, the value depends on how and when they are used.
If you’re unsure how RRSP’s relate to your specific situation, a second opinion can be extremely valuable.
Proper planning will help you ensure you’re getting the most out of your savings and are on your way to achieving your financial goals.
The deadline to contribute to RRSP’s for a deduction on your 2025 income is March 2nd, 2026. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Disclaimer:
This information is not investment advice and should be used only in conjunction with a discussion with your RBC Dominion Securities Inc. Investment Advisor. This will ensure that your own circumstances have been considered properly and that action is taken on the latest available information. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the time obtained but neither RBC Dominion Securities Inc. nor its employees, agents, or information suppliers can guarantee its accuracy or completeness. This report is not and under no circumstances is to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. This report is furnished on the basis and understanding that neither RBC Dominion Securities Inc. nor its employees, agents, or information suppliers is to be under any responsibility or liability whatsoever in respect thereof. The inventories of RBC Dominion Securities Inc. may from time to time include securities mentioned herein. Insurance products are offered through RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc. (“RBC WMFS”), a subsidiary of RBC Dominion Securities Inc.* RBC WMFS is licensed as a financial services firm in the province of Quebec. RBC Dominion Securities Inc., RBC WMFS and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. *Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and RBC WMFS are member companies of RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. © 2026 RBC Dominion Securities Inc. All rights reserved.
AGRICULTURE REPORTS
SaskCrops Looking for Solutions to Recent AAFC Research Staff Reductions & Station Closures
Pat “Duke” Bueckert
306-291-9675
Alvin Busby
306-227-0575
Alan Jackson
306-961-5682
Aiden Zwack
306-961-5198
BUYING ALL CLASSES OF FEEDER & CULL CATTLE
Spencer Fox
306-361-9701
Boden Letkeman 306-230-1309
Lyal Fox (cull cows & bulls) 780-808-9731
February 2, 2026 (Saskatoon, SK) – SaskCrops (consisting of SaskBarley, SaskOats, SaskOilseeds, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, and Sask Wheat) are concerned about the impact of recent Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) staffing reductions and research station closures. These cuts will have a significant impact on the capacity to undertake crop research important to farmers, and will have broader impact on the Canadian agriculture sectors’ productivity and global competitiveness.
AAFC sites at Indian Head (SK), Scott (SK), and Lacombe (AB) impacted by the cuts manage important field research supporting breeding, weed, disease, agronomic, and insect research, minor use pesticide registration, regional variety trials, and more. Loss of these sites will reduce people, infrastructure, and project capacity to undertake this critical research on behalf of farmers.
Research is critical to increase productivity, keeping farmers competitive long-term in a global economy. SaskCrops members, the provincial government, and other stakeholders have made numerous substantial investments into research, highly qualified personnel, equipment, and infrastructure in recent years to address an already concerning downward trend in capacity. This latest setback only underscores the importance of work that lies ahead to protect and grow research capacity.
“While the full extent of the impact these cuts will have on projects and the sector is still to be fully realized, we cannot stress enough the value that the research undertaken by AAFC researchers and their research stations provides for farmers,” says Stuart Lawrence, Chair of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers. “Cutting edge research ensures farmers remain competitive and we are working to uncover alternate pathways forward to ensure this important work continues and capacity can be preserved.”
To address this issue, SaskCrops is engaging with governments, research organizations, and other grower groups to identify solutions and pathways to minimize the impact of these cuts on farmers and the research that keeps them competitive.
Pest Management Regulatory Agency Decision Denies Emergency Use of Strychnine in Saskatchewan for 2026
The Government of. Saskatchewan is disappointed in the decision by Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to deny Saskatchewan and Alberta's joint emergency use registration request for two per cent liquid strychnine to support Richardson's ground squirrel management for the 2026 growing season.
"Saskatchewan producers have been clear about the challenges they face in managing Richardson's ground squirrels with the limited tools available," Agriculture Minister David Marit said. "We are extremely disappointed by PMRA's decision and ask them to reconsider this decision. We need a federal regulatory system that considers economic impacts felt by producers and the realities on the ground."
Saskatchewan joined Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation to submit an emergency use request on October 1, 2025, following continued concerns from producers and industry stakeholders regarding the on-farm efficacy of currently-registered alternatives. Throughout PMRA's scientific review process, Saskatchewan and Alberta officials met with PMRA to clarify the urgent need for access to strychnine and to respond to PMRA's technical and science-based questions.
PMRA's decision means producers will not have access to strychnine for the 2026 growing season.
Saskatchewan maintains that the emergency use request included robust, science-based and strengthened mitigation measures—such as narrower application windows, mandatory training, enhanced reporting requirements and improved stewardship—to reduce risks to nontarget species while preserving the product’s practical value for producers.
While PMRA determined these measures were not sufficient to mitigate risk to an acceptable level, Saskatchewan remains adamant that all PMRA's requests were responded to. Saskatchewan will need to pivot efforts in supporting producers with the management of this important pest through the implementation of a Richardson's ground squirrel management strategy. Efforts will focus on:
Continued advocacy at Federal-Provincial-Territorial tables for a sciencebased system that considers economic impacts; Delivery of support programs through the Gopher Control Program, administered by the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities; Targeted extension efforts to improve the on-farm performance of registered alternatives; and Investments in research focused on best management practices, environmental risk mitigation, population monitoring and predictive modelling.
More information on Saskatchewan's Richardson's ground squirrel management programming is available at Saskatchewan.ca.
It’s A White Bread World Pantry Staple Endures As a Favourite Food Across The Globe
By Elizabeth Chorney-Booth
The words “white bread” don’t tend to stir excitement in the hearts of Canadian consumers. The term itself is used as shorthand for “boring,” and typical grocery store white bread is often considered a junk food, inferior to whole wheat counterparts. But despite white bread’s second-rate reputation, squishy snow white bread has long been a staple of diets around the globe. While trends may ebb and flow, refined grain breads continue to have a place in our ever-changing culinary world.
Internationally, evidence suggests white bread is having a moment. U.K. Flour Millers reports that nearly 100 per cent of British households buy bread of some sort and 60 to 70 per cent of it is white. A whopping 76 per cent of Brits say they regularly eat white bread. In 2024, New York Times Magazine declared white bread is back, at least as a restaurant trend, and evidence of this can also be seen in Canada. Fashionable restaurants in this country are trading tweedy multi-grain bread baskets and sourdough for shokupan (Japanese milk bread), brioche and Parker House rolls, all breads made with white flour.
OLD FASHIONED REMAINS OUT OF FASHION
Of course, restaurant menus and food trend stories in consumer magazines only tell part of the story. While certain types of white bread may be hip, it’s not necessarily dominating in Canadian homes. Martin Barnett, executive director and general manager of the Baking Association of Canada points to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada data that indicates white pantry bread sales in Canada are forecasted to gradually decline between now and 2028. Canadians are turning to whole grain or artisan breads that carry perceived health benefits. White bread production became popular as an inexpensive method to feed families in the mid-20th Century, said Barnett, but large-scale bakers are meeting public demand for healthier and more flavourful alternatives. “We didn’t do a very good job in the ’60s and ’70s of making sure white bread products were as healthy and nutritious as they could be, but we did a really good job of feeding hungry people after the war. That’s worth celebrating,” said Barnett. “But it meant moving away from traditional ways of baking with longer fermentation and breads made by hand,” he added. “Large commercial bakeries are now responding by making products with healthier ingredients and using clean label inclusions to enhance production and increase the shelf life of pantry bread.”
ELEVATION AND MULTICULTURAL BREADS LEAD THE PACK
While many Canadians may turn their noses up at classic white pantry breads, it doesn’t mean white bread faces extinction. Both smaller bakeries and large grocery store chains continue to display white pan loaves alongside their sourdough and multigrain selections. White flour items such as hotdog and hamburger buns are typically not popular in whole grain form. While white bread on its own may not be terribly exciting, its sturdiness and mild flavour earn it a place as the favoured vehicle for peanut butter, sandwich meats and other high-flavour ingredients intended to be the star of the show.
“A customer told me their best-selling breads are things people can spread peanut butter on. They call it the peanut butter test,” said Jonathan Aleong, director of bakery research and development at Puratos Canada, an international baking industry supplier based in Belgium. “If you want a neutral carrier for hamburgers or hotdogs, you want that neutral flavour and texture.”
Though customers may prefer tried-and-true white bread hotdog buns and sandwich bread, innovations are being made within the larger white bread category. Aleong’s colleague at Puratos, vice-president of marketing Adriana Fazzina, said while she doesn’t see much movement in the realm of standard grocery store pantry breads, white bread products in the artisan or globally influenced categories are on the rise.
Multicultural bread products such as Italian ciabatta, shokupan and Nigeran Agege, as well as butter-heavy brioche and crusty French baguettes, all generate consumer interest.
“Those are traditional products—bakers use what the traditional product is calling for,” said Fazzina. “If you’re making a French baguette, the French baguette calls for white flour. If you’re making an Italian focaccia, it calls for white flour. You want to stick to the original recipe.”
Fazzina said she also sees innovation in terms of adding new ingredients and techniques to add a twist to basic white breads. While many bakers may put sourdough in a category separate from white pan bread, many sourdoughs use white flour and fall within the white bread family. “We have a lot of conversations about more elevated products,” she said. “We do see innovation taking bread one step higher in terms of the use of other ingredients like grains, seeds or creating a brioche type of product.”
FORTIFICATION POWER
White bread, be it the squishy pan bread or the fancy artisan variety, is perceived to lack nutritional value. Visually speaking, white bread may not appear as nutrient rich as its whole grain counterparts. It does generally fall short when it comes to dietary fibre because the wheat’s germ and bran are removed in the milling process. Still, Canadian white flour contains far more nutrients than some may think.
Canada’s food and drug regulations require white flour to undergo a fortification or enrichment process that adds certain nutrients. This includes the B-vitamins thiamine, riboflavin and niacin as well as folic acid, iron and the voluntary addition of vitamin B6, d-pantothenic acid, calcium and magnesium. The process reintroduces the nutrients lost in milling and addresses public health concerns such as iron deficiency and fetal neural tube defects that can occur during pregnancy. The process is like the iodization of salt or addition of vitamin D to milk.
Enriched bread—which all white bread in Canada is required to be—is often higher in iron, B vitamins and folic acid than whole grain or whole wheat bread, which do not typically undergo fortification processes.
“White bread can certainly be part of a healthy diet that is based on variety and moderation. We know that the fortification process takes care of some of the micronutrient differences between white and whole grain bread,” said Alison Duncan a professor in the Department of Human Health Sciences at the University of Guelph. She noted that because white bread is typically eaten in tandem with other foods, consumers shouldn’t fret too much about the nutritional content. “White bread can also facilitate a nutrient-dense diet by the choice of foods placed between the white bread slices.”
CWRS MAKES GREAT WHITE BREAD
Whether bakeries around the world stick to old school white pan bread or choose to innovate, white bread production is good news for Canadian wheat farmers and flour millers. CWRS wheat accounts for 60 per cent of Canada’s wheat production and remains the gold standard for bread baking. Its versatility also makes it useful in additional wheat-based products beyond white and whole grain bread.
CWRS is coveted because of its high quality. Its strong protein structure and high content—12.5 to 14.5 per cent—produce bread with a soft and springy texture, good volume and a consistent crumb. Domestically, high quality bread is enjoyed in Canada because it makes sense for millers to exclusively use Canadian wheat (though not necessarily CWRS). But with more than 80 markets around the world importing CWRS, Canadian grain also adds pep to flour blends globally.
“It’s often considered a top-up. In Canada, millers are blending with other Canadian wheat classes to make that all-purpose flour, while international countries might blend with wheat from the Black Sea region, which might be a hard red winter wheat with lower protein content,” said Elaine Sopiwnyk, vice-president of technical services at Cereals Canada. “We refer to CWRS as an improver wheat because when you have it as part of a wheat blend, you’re really improving that overall quality of the flour.”
Because Canadian farmers produce so much CWRS for white and whole grain breads and other baked goods, fluctuations in white bread trends won’t necessarily create fluctuation in demand domestically or in international markets. Breads such as shokupan, brioche and ciabatta can all benefit from the use of CWRS flour. As consumers the world over continue to eat their daily bread, in whatever form, Canadian wheat farmers will profit.
As for white bread’s perceived boringness, sometimes a straightforward classic is exactly what the market, and people’s tables, need. When it comes to pricing, availability and the ability to please a crowd, there’s no beating a really good piece of white bread, preferably made with Canadian flour and particularly when paired with a pat of butter and a smear of jam.
“White bread will always be in the market as a base. It’s an entry base as far as price is concerned, but also as far as general population preference is concerned,” said Fazzina. “Those needs will not disappear anytime soon.”
INTERNATIONAL TASTES
Edmonton’s simply named Italian Bakery opened in 1960 with the intention of selling pagnotta, a large, white Italian loaf prized for its hard and crusty exterior and light and airy insides. The bakery has expanded significantly over the years. It now produces more typically North American sandwich breads, hamburger and hotdog buns for grocery stores and other wholesale customers such as Rogers Place. Storefront sales of traditional Italian breads tie the business to its roots.
The Italian Bakery exclusively sources Canadian flour made from wheat grown in Saskatchewan and milled in Alberta. The business’s bakers favour white flour for its classic Italian products. This satisfies tradition as well as the need for a high-starch base with good protein to create the desired texture. “Our older customers, they all want the hardest pagnotta they can have,” said the bakery’s Chantal Chinni. “‘Give me the burnt one,’ they’ll say. They love that hard crust so they can dip it in their soups and stews.”
Asian-headquartered bakery chains such as Tous Les Jours and Paris Baguette have set up shop in Western Canada in recent years. One of the most prolific Asian style bakeshops in Alberta is Calgarybased Wow Bakery, with locations throughout the city and central Alberta. Having noticed a growing interest among Calgarians in Korean culture and curiosity about unique flavours, entrepreneur Andrew Kim developed the concept around Asian baked goods, which include deliciously spongy and mildly sweet milk-and-butter loaves.
Wow bakers constantly tweak their flour blends, using Canadian flour as often as possible and employs various strengths to complement Asian breadmaking methods, which often include making a cooked flour roux. The result is a sandwich-ready white bread flavourful enough to eat on its own. “I can literally sit down, open a bag and eat the whole loaf without any supplementary jams,” said Kim. “It’s because of the way we make it. It’s a shift to realizing white bread can actually taste great on its own.”
AAccess
Communications
Expands
Broadband Connectivity Across Saskatchewan with Support from the Universal Broadband Fund
ccess Communications Co-operative (Access) is pleased to share it is expanding and strengthening broadband connectivity across multiple Saskatchewan communities, thanks to $1.5 Million in support from the Government of Canada’s Universal Broadband Fund (UBF).
The investment will support a mix of fibre and wireless infrastructure projects designed to improve service in existing Access service areas while extending new wireless coverage to communities currently underserved. Projects supported through the UBF include fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) deployment around Greig Lake in west-central Saskatchewan, and rural wireless internet coverage in areas around Meadow Lake, Shellbrook, Viscount and Saltcoats. These investments will help ensure residents and businesses have access to reliable, high-quality broadband to support daily life, economic activity, and community connectivity.
“Support through the Government of Canada’s Universal Broadband Fund allows Access to invest in infrastructure that strengthens connectivity in the communities we already serve and extends new wireless coverage to additional
areas across Saskatchewan,” said Carmela Haines President and CEO of Access Communications. “As a Saskatchewan-based, not-for-profit co-operative, our focus is on building reliable, resilient networks that support local communities, economic participation, and long-term quality of life.”
Provincial Campground Reservations Begin on April 13th
Reservations for the 2026 camping season at Saskatchewan Provincial Parks will begin on April 13 for seasonal campsites and April 14 to 17 for nightly, Camp-Easy yurts, and group campsites.
Reservations launch at 7 a.m. CST each day.
Set your alarms, charge your devices, and get ready to book your favourite campsite!
Fabric, Notions or Yarn can be dropped off at the Vanscoy Village Office by Tuesday, March 31 or for Free Pick-up Call/Text 306 - 230 - 0434
Donations will be graciously received at the Vanscoy Circle Hall 5pm - 8pm Friday, April 17
You can also book a table for $20 for your own sales Call/Text 306 - 220 - 1560
takes place at Vanscoy Circle Hall on April 18, 2026
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Delisle Agricultural Co-op Delisle 306-493-2212
Innovative Ag Performance Group Ltd. (IAP)
Ag Retail & Custom Seed Treating Services Delisle 306-493-3167 www.innovative-ag.ca
Orchard Transport - Ag Div. Delisle 306-493-2406
Richardson Pioneer Delisle 306-493-1500 www.richardsonpioneer.ca Flo-Gate
Delisle 306-493-7409 www.flo-gate.ca
or 306-220-5500 Asquith bte20@outlook.com
Seal, Licensed and Bonded Outlook and Area 306.867.4469
Health Foods
OLD MIKE’S Raw Prairie Honey FRESH HONEY... READY ! “Healthy Eatable Honey Comb Treat” Wildflower/Dandelion & Canola 2023 Food Safe Certification Pike Lake 306-220-0389 mikesbees@sasktel.net
Digger’ Painting Serving all communities in the RM Review distribution area Delisle 306-231-4258
GED Painting & Decorating European Designs Delisle/Vanscoy 306-229-8743 eugenegrenier8@gmail.com
Hillbillie Painting Biggar, Rosetown, Outlook, Delisle 306-381-3202 4bparker@gmail.com
Jerry's J&L Frame and Alignment
The Shop for a Second Opinion!
SGI certified, we offer wheel alignments, frame straightening, and more! 626 Weldon Avenue Saskatoon 306-934-3634 www.jandlframe.com
Trusty Appraisal Service & SGI
Prairie Sun Bookkeeping Vanscoy 306-230-1522 prairiesunorchard@sasktel.net
Precise Accounting and Consulting Grandora/Pense 306-731-1957 Info@paac.ca
Lawn & Garden
Arborscapes Tree & Landscape Services Ltd. Tree Pruning, Tree Removal Saskatoon 306-222-6494 www.arborscapesltd.com info.arborscapes@gmail.com
Pike Lake Lawn & Garden Sales, Service, Parts, Rentals Pike Lake 306-221-8558
Kenny’s Cultivating Professional Garden Tilling Asquith, Delisle, Vanscoy, Pike Lake & surrounding Towns, Farms, Acreages Call or Text 306-281-4111
Asquith 306-220-4377 bte20@outlook.com
Econo Septic & Sewer Services
Pillar to Post Home Inspectors Seasonal & Temporary worker housing and home inspections. Saskatoon, Rosetown, Outlook, Humboldt, Prince Albert and surrounding areas. Office 306-956-6760 www.pillartopost-saskatoon.com
RE/MAX Shoreline Realty 306-867-8380 / 1-844-838-SOLD www.remax-shorelinerealty.com
Pump septic tanks, mud sumps, car wash, commercial/industrial tanks. Unplug sewer lines, replace and repair pumps, switches, alarms. 24-hour emergency service Saskatoon 306-384-6662 Econoseptic.ca
Links Water & Septic Services Certified septic design/consulting. Acreage water/septic install and repair, water testing/treatment and septic system maintenance. Vanscoy 306-493-2410 24Hrs Linksbackhoe.com
Graham Contracting Asquith 306-230-4653
Klassen Trenching Delisle 306-493-7579
Starlings Septic Services Delisle 306-493-2241 darrelpenny@sasktel.net
Sew Kleen Hydro-vacing & Septic Asquith 306-283-4406
