RM Review
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RFNOW Hosts Grassroots Events and Community Meetings as Fiber Internet Expansion Comes to the Rural Municipalities of Vanscoy, Corman
Park, and Beyond
Vanscoy, SK — RFNOW Inc. continued its grassroots outreach across the region with recent events at the Robin’s Nest in Vanscoy and Delisle’s Mel Rose Bakery, along with well-attended community meetings in Pike Lake and Merrill Hills, connecting directly with residents and businesses about the future of fiber-optic Internet in their communities.
These local events provided opportunities for meaningful conversations, questions, and feedback as RFNOW prepares to bring reliable, high-speed fiber Internet to the Rural Municipalities of Vanscoy and Corman Park, as well as 68 additional rural municipalities, communities, and First Nations across Saskatchewan as part of a major province-wide network expansion planned for 2026.
“Connecting face-to-face with people where they live and work is incredibly important to us,” said Chris Kennedy, CEO of RFNOW. “These gatherings allow us to listen directly to residents, explain what fiber Internet means for their homes and businesses, and build trust as we invest long-term in rural Saskatchewan.”
RFNOW is a Manitoba-based telecommunications provider dedicated exclusively to serving rural, underserved, and Indigenous communities. Unlike national carriers, RFNOW is purpose-built for rural connectivity—designing, building, and operating fiber networks that deliver fast, future-proof Internet capable of supporting remote work, online learning, telehealth, agriculture technology, and economic growth.
Bringing Fiber to Rural Saskatchewan RFNOW’s fiber-to-the-premises network is designed to bring urban-level Internet speeds to rural homes, farms, and businesses—without data caps or performance slowdowns.
The planned 2026 expansion represents one of the largest coordinated fiber builds in rural Saskatchewan, ensuring communities long left behind by traditional providers have access to modern digital infrastructure.
The recent gatherings in Vanscoy, Delisle, Pike Lake, and Merrill Hills highlighted strong interest from residents and business owners who recognize the importance of reliable Internet for quality of life, business competitiveness, and community sustainability.
“From local entrepreneurs to families and farmers, we’re hearing loud and clear that dependable Internet is no longer a luxury—it’s essential,” RFNOW added. “Our mission is to make sure rural Saskatchewan has the connectivity it needs today and for decades to come.”
Residents interested in project updates, construction timelines, or service availability are encouraged to visit rfnow.com/its-about-time to register for a fiber drop or follow RFNOW on social media for the latest information.
Calvin and Hobbes and Stuff Down the Road by
Brian Brannagan
"Calvin and Hobbes" is a popular comic strip - it's about a young boy, Calvin and his stuffed toy tiger, Hobbes. Calvin is about 6 years old and is a caution. In his imagination, Hobbes is a real tiger, albeit a tiger who walks upright on two legs and talks and helps Calvin with his homework. The comic, as you might expect given its name, tends often to the philosophical. In one strip Calvin and Hobbes are meandering through the woods in the back of their house, not doing anything in particular beyond enjoying a warm, lazy weekend afternoon and Calvin comments to Hobbes,
"There is never enough time to do all the nothing you want."
When I was about to retire, I would use Calvin's comment to answer the question from colleagues about what I was going to do all day. (As it turns out, 'doing nothing' is one of my super-powers.) But oftentimes the questioner would persist, saying, But you're going to have so much time on your hands.
And that's when the conversation would get serious.
Retirement doesn’t open the door to a vast inventory of available time. When the retirement bell rings, that is the pilot telling you to buckle your seatbelt because the plane is about to land - your trip is almost over.
And in addition to buckling up your seatbelt in preparation for landing, you also have to straighten your seatback and put up your tray table. That is, in the time you have left, you have to figure out what to do with all your stuffsome of it precious, most of it litter - on that singular occasion when you don't make it home from the airport. The over-head bin stuff, and the suitcase stuff and all the other stuff you've accumulated in your pre-retirement years.
All your not-money stuff, the stuff that’s left over after the estate garage sale, is going straight to the landfill - harbour no illusions about that. (Yes, yes, I know, that is heart breaking, isn't it? My life-long string and rope collection going to the landfill. Hurtful, very hurtful.)
What’s going to happen to the money part of your stuff is a more complicated question.
Some people can’t quite get their heads around the fact that they can't take their money with them. Jack Benny, the 50-years-gone comedian, famously declared that if he couldn’t take it with him, well, then, he wasn’t going. But of course, we haven't heard from him in quite a while so we have a pretty good idea how that went.
And some other people, while reconciled to the fact that they have to go, still refuse to understand that they can't take their money with them. Like the old, rich guy who was married to a much-younger woman. He impressed upon his bride the fact that he very much loved his money and wanted to be buried with it. Besides being young, his wife was also loving and dutiful and had no hesitation agreeing to his wish and promised to be compliant with it.
Shortly after the old man's funeral, and with curiosity elbowing ahead of good manners, a close friend of the now-widowed young woman asked about the old man’s money and if indeed it had been buried with him. "Of course," the not-so-daft widow responded, "I wrote him a cheque and put it in his coffin."
Most other people, more realistic in their understanding of the constraints of life and death, have high hopes of being well-remembered and think to accomplish this by leaving their money as a gift to their children and their grandchildren. While this is perhaps a generous and laudable intent, the words of a long-ago poet come to mind:
"The gift given, the giver is forgot."
Alternatively, you have the option of spending your money on yourself - spending your money now. That is the advice given in a newspaper column by a lawyer specializing in Wills and Estate Planning. And for this, the lawyer suggested, professional counselling and therapy might be required.
The lawyer noted that some of us, perhaps most of us, have all our lives been in "nut gathering and hoarding" mode. We have spent a life-time working hard at gathering "nuts" and working equally hard at hoarding them - spending carefully, comparing prices, using coupons, sometimes going without. And ironically, even though we have been hoarding all those "nuts" specifically for this time in our lives, our retirement years, we can't quite rid ourselves of the hoarding habit. And that, the lawyer suggested, is where the counselling and therapy come in - we have to re-wire our thinking to allow ourselves to spend our "nuts".
I was relaying this advice to a long-retired friend of mine and he was nodding along before I had even finished. He related that he had been on vacation and woke up one morning wanting peanut butter for his toast. When he got to the store he saw that the peanut butter was priced at $8 instead of the $6 he usually paid at home. Too much, he thought, and left, empty-handed. Belatedly he realized he had deprived himself of his favourite breakfast because he hadn’t wanted to spend an additional measly $2, even though he could have bought the whole shelf of peanut butter and not missed the money. He was rueful in his conclusion: "That’s nuttier than the peanut butter I didn’t buy," he said.
Of course, not everybody needs professional intervention, sometimes divine intervention can preclude the need for therapy. My neighbour used to have strong opinions about the cost of air travel, particularly about the seat selection fees which he absolutely refused to pay - "Against my religion," he would state emphatically. Recently, though, it appears he's had a 'Come to Jesus' moment as he now flies Business Class. "Spending my kids' inheritance," he confessed somewhat sheepishly, in the self-conscious tone of the newly-converted.
But don't despair, there is another option here - you can spend your money, all of your money, and still be long-remembered. Because that long-ago poet should have completed the couplet by saying:
"The gift given, the giver is forgot. But for a debt owed, the debtor is not."
In other words, if you really do want to be remembered after you die, spend all your money and leave behind a "Final Notice" letter from Revenue Canada about your unpaid taxes.
You will never be forgotten.
Over the last 8 months,the RM Review has published letters expressing different viewpoints on the power generation systems in this province. And up until the 2015 election of the federal liberal party,we had a stable,reliable,and affordable country.
What seems to happen every time a liberal government is at the controls of this country there is increasing inflation,taxes, huge deficits, and made up problems that are a direct result of the decisions of these inefficient liberals. Instead of concentrating on Canada,they seem to fall in lock step with other associations and countries that continuously seek ways to rob their own citizens of their wealth. The worst example of this is the global warming climate change scam. If the fear of plant food(CO2) wasn't so exaggerated we could probably have a thriving country instead of the fiasco we are experiencing with the same old liberal bandits. If you haven't noticed, increasing use of food banks is a direct result of the liberal net zero scam being forced on us. Just one of many problems brought to us by the same old creative policy makers.
What I have pointed out using the Saskpower website data is actual output from all sources of generation. Our April letter to the editor writer seems to excuse the data I provided as being misleading. If the readers follow along to the data on the website, it is the frequency of the lack of production of wind and solar that most observant people will see as being an everyday occurrence for solar and very often for wind. This is why these 2 systems can only generate about 25 to 30% of stated output over a calender year. When it is winter time in this province( seems to be a November to the end of April thing again) we need power systems that we can depend on all the time to generate power no matter the conditions. You can see that adding wind and solar to a system increases the cost of your power, increases overall emissions, and the overall efficiency of the system is reduced.
Mr Merkosky also fails to realize that by making excuses for China's huge emission footprint results in the biggest pollution release into the earth's atmosphere. So called green renewable energy can't be made without oil, gas, and coal. So I would argue solar and wind power have just as big, if not bigger, of a carbon footprint as any other source.
If we look back to the August 2025 edition of the RM Review, we will see how these different opinions for this discussion started. The letter writer blamed our northern forest fires on our provincial government for continuing the use of our 3 dependable clean coal fired generation system. Pretending our 3 coal plants are responsible for the global warming narrative while ignoring China's 1200 coal power plants and 2500 coal fired manufacturing facilities is actual misinformation. Look up these facts on the internet. If we want to reduce the damage caused by forest fires,we should have better forest management,reduce regulations, and start clear cutting around cities, towns, and hamlets that could be at risk due to their locations.
And as Ryan has stated we do remember the smokey days of our summers. And public policy does leave a legacy. We should remember that most of these fires are caused by people. Perhaps police forces should be arresting these arsonists and applying a harsh sentence instead of the soft on crime policies of our courts. But I guess its just easier blaming fires on something designed to frighten people which can be described as the over exaggerated over used description called climate change.
Fraser Downie Harris, SK
During the last year, an important tipping point was crossed. Globally in 2025, new solar and wind generation supplied all new electricity demand and caused reduced generation from coal and oil. The only fossil fuel generation to post a small increase in capacity in 2025 was natural gas. Renewable energy deployment is outpacing fossil fuel generation because renewables are more reliable and more affordable. As we all see with the price at the gas pumps these days, there is a connection between economic instability, war, and fossil fuels. The Iran war is now accelerating the adoption of solar and electric vehicles everywhere (beyond what occurred in 2025).
The economics of renewable energy are so attractive that even President Trump cannot stop renewables, despite his administration’s best efforts. Texas, California, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, Arizona, and many other states are building renewables with speed. Australia will begin offering free electricity during the sunniest hours starting July 1, 2026 due to an abundance of solar power. As quoted from an Aussie government website: “It is no coincidence that energy price reductions are coming as Australia surpasses the milestone of 51 per cent renewable electricity in the National Electricity Market for the first time. That is a direct result of more of the cheapest form of new energy entering the grid, and it shows why the [Government’s] plan to roll out more renewables and storage is so critical to putting downward pressure on bills.”
But some say Saskatchewan is different. Our climate is different than Australia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, China, Portugal, Spain, etc. Yes, our climate is different, but there are innovative storage solutions that will work here in Saskatchewan too. Grids everywhere are undergoing three revolutions simultaneously: decarbonization, digitization, and decentralization. Saskatchewan needs to embrace these innovations rather than turn the clock back 50 years to expand coal.
But we own our coal, so the price for coal should be stable, right? While this is true, it does not account for the ongoing expensive cost of mining and supplying the coal (paid to the American corporation Westmoreland Coal). In addition, Saskatchewan has recklessly assumed that there will never be a pollution price applied to our coal fired generation. Considering that the Alberta-Canada MOU includes a pollution price of $130/tonne and that border carbon adjustment tariffs will apply to our Saskatchewan exports, we cannot pretend that pollution pricing will never apply to our coal generation. Even the Saskatchewan Industrial Energy Consumer Association has expressed concerns about refurbishing coal and the regulatory uncertainty related to pollution pricing. Serious investors in the financial centres of the world are reluctant to invest in Saskatchewan because we are pursuing dirty coal fired electricity. Coal not only kills people with harmful pollution, coal kills investor confidence in our local economy.
Saskatchewan is at a crossroads with respect to our energy future. We all want affordable and reliable energy. All over the world, solar and wind are dominating new generation. Saskatchewan has the best solar resource in Canada and world class wind. We should be building renewable generation with speed. Instead, we are being left behind. None of us would cook in our kitchens with charcoal briquettes in 2026, so why would we refurbish coal now? The Saskatchewan government is thumbing its nose at the federal government by extending coal, but is there a more desperate and disturbing reason behind doing so? We need to hold the government accountable for this bizarre change in direction, after all Saskatchewan had been committed to phasing out coal for the past 15 years. The growth in renewables all over the world should signal that something is very wrong with our move in the opposite direction.
Glenn Wright Vanscoy, SK
COUNCIL REPORTS
TOWN OF DELISLE
Council held a regular meeting on April 9th at 7pm during which the following items were addressed:
· Council confirmed that the new roadway in Phase 1 of the planned east subdivision, currently labeled as “East Street” be officially named as “Dubkowski Drive”
· Council accepted a flooring quote from ARMR Flooring for new epoxy flooring in the Delisle AGT Centennial Arena in the amount of $40,259.86 plus GST.
· Council agreed to renew the gas supplier contract with CONNECT ENERGY on the Wholesale Flex Plan for the next 3 years
· The 2026-2027 Delisle AGT Centennial Arena kitchen lease was awarded to Lowell Epp in the amount of $1250.00 plus GST per month
· Bylaw 6-2026, being a bylaw for the destruction of documents, was read three times and adopted.
· Bylaw 7-2026, being a bylaw to amend Bylaw 32013 known as the Zoning Bylaw, was read a first time.
TOWN OF ASQUITH
The Town of Asquith held its regular council meeting on April 8th, 2026. The next meeting is scheduled for May 13th, 2026.
The July and August regular council meetings will start at 6:15 p.m., returning to 5:15 p.m. starting in September.
A discretionary use application for a secondary suite in a new residence was approved. Thank you to the residents within 75m of the site that provided comments.
The Asquith landfill will be open for branches, leaves, untreated wood and other clean yard waste every second Saturday from 9a.m. to 3p.m. beginning May 2nd. A map to the landfill can be found on our website.
Spring Clean-Up Days are scheduled for May 23rd and 24th. Large bins for waste and metal will be located at the Sportsgrounds Parking Lot. This service is available to residents of the Town of Asquith only.
The Asquith Community Garage Sale will take place on Saturday, June 6th.
Visit our website for updates, minutes, events and more: www.townofasquith.com.
VILLAGE OF VANSCOY
The Village of Vanscoy recently has had sewer line blockages that required professional services to clear. Residents need to be aware of the following:
Many household products are labelled and marked as DISPOSABLE and/or FLUSHABLE; many baby and adult personal hygiene products, along with household wipes and cleaning towels are labeled this way. These items should not be flushed down the sewer line on your property and can cause blockages and service problems in the public sewer system and pump stations.
Unlike certain toilet papers, these products DO NOT break down once they are flushed. They can cause blockages in your sewer line, especially older pipes that may have other obstructions already existing.
The following items should NEVER be flushed into the sewer system:
Disinfecting wipes, Baby wipes, Cosmetic wipes, Disposable diapers or diaper liners, cotton swabs, toilet cleaning pads, mop type refills, paper towels, pet care wipes, first aid wipes, feminine hygiene products and moist type towelettes. In addition, grease and cooking oils should NEVER be disposed of in the sink or toilet, and should be placed in the trash.
The connecting line from the home to the main is the responsibility of the home owner to keep clear so there are no backups of wastewater into the home.
The Village is planning to have all sewer mains flushed in the coming weeks.
Back lane pickup service will commence after May 1; once the alleys are dried up and passable. The Village will not be responsible for picking up large branches or large amounts of branches from trimmed trees; only leaves and garden waste will be picked up. When placing bags in the alleys, ensure there is no garbage or pet waste in the bags; they will remain in the alley for the homeowner to deal with and not be picked up.
The Assessment Roll for the Village has now closed. Council will be meeting to prepare a budget for 2026 and will be setting a Mill Rate for the year. Once this process is done, Taxes will be levied and notices mailed to residents.
NOTICE OF CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Public notice is hereby given that nominations of candidates for the offices of:
COUNCILLOR: Resort Village of Coteau Beach, SK
will be received by the undersigned on the 23rd day of May, 2026 from 11am -2pm for the Resort Village of Coteau Beach and during regular business hours.
Nomination forms may be obtained and dropped off at the following locations:
By phone call or text at 306 600 0283
By email at coteaubeach1@gmail.com
Or Mailed to PO Box 277, Outlook, SK S0L 2N0, has to be received by May 23, 2026.
Dated this 2nd day of May, 2026.
Heather Collier Returning Officer
REGULAR LOCAL COUNCIL MEETINGS
RM OF CORMAN PARK - May 26, 8:15am
RM OF DUNDURN - May 12, 8:00am
RM OF EAGLE CREEK - May 12, 9:00am
RM OF GREAT BEND - May 13, 9:00am
RM OF HARRIS - May 14, 8:00am
RM OF MCCRANEY - May 21, 8:00am
RM OF MILDEN - May 13, 9:00am
RM OF MONTROSE - May 14, 9:00am
RM OF PERDUE - May 12, 9:00am
RM OF ROSEDALE - May 12, 8:00am
RM OF RUDY - May 13, 6:00pm
RM OF VANSCOY - May 14, 9:00am
TOWN OF ASQUITH - May 13, 5:15pm
TOWN OF BIGGAR - May 5, 7:15pm
TOWN OF DELISLE - May 14, 7:00pm
TOWN OF DUNDURN - May 12, 5:30pm
TOWN OF HANLEY - May 21, 7:00pm
TOWN OF LANGHAM - May 11 & 25, 6:30pm
TOWN OF OUTLOOK - May 11 & 25, 7:00pm
TOWN OF RADISSON - May 11 & 25, 7:00pm
TOWN OF ZEALANDIA - May 20, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF BORDEN - May 14 & 25, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF BRODERICK - May 13, 7:00
VILLAGE OF CONQUEST - May 12, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF COTEAU - May 25, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF GLENSIDE - May 13, 7:30pm
VILLAGE OF HARRIS - May 13, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF HAWARDEN - May 6, 7:30pm
VILLAGE OF KENASTON - May 12, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF KINLEY - May 13, 6:00pm
VILLAGE OF LOREBURN - May 13, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF MILDEN - May 20, 7:30pm
VILLAGE OF PERDUE - May 12, 7:30pm
VILLAGE OF STRONGFIELD - May 12, 7:30
VILLAGE OF TESSIER - May 11, 7:00pm
VILLAGE OF VANSCOY - May 13, 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.
ASSESSMENT NOTICE FOR THE VILLAGE OF TESSIER
Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll of the Village of Tessier has been prepared and is open to inspection at the Village office until the time for lodging appeals has expired, by appointment by calling the administrator at 1-306-831-7133
April 15, 2026 to May 18, 2026
A Bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and assessment notices have been sent as required.
Appeal documentation is to be sent to:
Secretary Western Municipal Consulting Box 149
Meota, SK S0M 1X0
$50 Appeal Fee is to be paid to:
Village of Tessier
Box 34
Tessier, SK S0L 3G0
Dated at Tessier, Saskatchewan, April 15, 2026
Lisa Trask, Assessor 1-306-831-7133
MP Report Kelly Block MP
And what does this deficit and debt mean for Canadians? More costs, more taxes, more debt, and more inflation, resulting in more Canadians struggling to make ends meet.
The Liberals unveiled a costly “credit card” budget that continues to double the deficit left behind by Justin Trudeau.
“Canadians are now paying $59 billion in debt interest,” said MP Kelly Block. “This is up 10 per cent in just one year. That amount is now more than the federal government spends on health care transfers, and more than the federal government takes in through GST revenues.”
This works out to every Canadian family spending $3400 to finance the federal debt.
Unfortunately, with this Economic Update the Carney Liberals show no signs of fiscal responsibility with:
$37 billion in net new spending.
A new sovereign wealth fund that has no wealth, but it does now have a transition office to set up an eventual permanent office which will one day borrow from the national credit card to set up a fund $3 billion more for international climate finance — the same money scheme this Prime Minister used to enrich himself at Brookfield and through his nowbankrupt Net Zero Alliance.
$11 million for the same meeting with investors that Trudeau had a decade ago and $2.3 billion to subsidize foreign electric vehicles.
Outside of the pandemic, this Liberal Prime Minister is running the biggest deficit in history.
“Canada should be the richest, most affordable country on earth,” said MP Block, “yet yesterday’s economic update predicts growth will drop and inflation will rise this year.”
Additionally, under this Liberal Prime Minister, Canada now has the G7’s highest household debt, most unaffordable housing, lowest investment per worker, second-worst productivity, and second-highest unemployment.
Conservatives believe affordability at home and strength abroad are key to building a self-reliant Canada and have the clear plan to get there:
Affordable and abundant energy: Get rid of energy taxes, repeal anti-development laws, and rapidly approve projects to lower the cost of energy.
Low inflation and taxes: Balance the budget, keep spending low, and keep our money strong by not printing money to spend it.
Free market competition: Cut corporate welfare, remove the capital gains tax to promote reinvestment in Canada, and cut the taxes on work, investment, home building and energy.
National self-reliance: Pass the Canadian Sovereignty Act, to repatriate production to our country and make Canada a magnet of economic activity so that we’re always able to provide for ourselves.
Conservatives have warned that the Carney Liberals’ deficits drive up costs, weaken our economy, and leave Canadian families paying the bill.
We will continue to offer a plan that will make Canada self-reliant again, remove Liberal barriers and unleash Canadian potential so we can build a country that is affordable and secure at home, and unbreakable abroad.
Kelly Block Member of Parliament Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek
REPORTS
Sonningdale Seniors Lounge
Vanscoy and District Agricultural Society
The Vanscoy & District Agricultural Society is pleased to announce that our sponsorship. coordinator, Bonnie Elliott, was recently recognized as Volunteer of the Year from the Saskatchewan Association of Agricultural Societies and Exhibitions annual convention in March. Bonnie is a dedicated member who brings so much to our agricultural society. Last year she went above and beyond in her role and was our sponsorship coordination, bingo guru, behind-thescenes shopper, designer/organizer of our summer colouring contest and was the lead of our catalogue revamp in 2025! The number of hours she devoted to VDAS was incredible.
Thank you, Bonnie, for all that you do for our society and the betterment of our community, you are greatly appreciated.We are lucky to have you (and all our wonderful members) part of our group!
Quick reminder of our upcoming perennial exchange on Thursday, May 14th at 7pm, Vanscoy Circle Hall. Doors open at 6pm. We have Kristen from Shifting Roots joining us as our guest speaker and she will be speaking on “Building a Perennial Garden that Always has Something in Bloom!”
TDelisle Senior Citizen Club Seeking Members
The Delisle Senior Citizens Club is seeking new members. Anyone 55 years or over are welcome and encouraged to join. Membership fees are $20.00 annually.
We are also looking for volunteers who are willing to help out at our various fundraising events like catering for funeral lunches, meetings, bingos, pancake breakfasts, etc.
For questions regarding memberships please contact Pauline at 306-229-3867
For questions regarding volunteering at events or to sign up as a volunteer please contact Ellen at 306290-7052. You don’t need to be a senior to volunteer. All help would be greatly appreciated!
We would love to have you join our 2026 Perennial Exchange. Please remember all are welcome, beginners to expert! If you do not have any perennials to share, no worries! Feel free to join, bring a snack to share and just come for community, learning, and sharing! Silver collection at the door, silent auction/raffles as well!
Lastly, planning is underway for our bi-annual Safety Day! It will be held in Delisle on Friday, September 25, 2026. We are looking for volunteers to help run various safety stations! If you have a few hours of our day to spare, we would love to have you! It is an amazing day of hands on learning for our local students and we cannot do it without you! Please email vanscoyag@gmail.com to be added to our volunteer list. Thank you for giving the gift of time, we appreciate you!
Vanscoy Senior Citizen Club Report
he past month was very busy for the membership. The Country Quilters are still busy sewing the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, while the ladies continue to meet Wednesday afternoons to play cards.
On April 16th, 2026 we had our Annual General Meeting. The weather was horrible but brave soles trudged through the snow and we managed to get our business done. We started the evening with a free supper to members of beef stew, home made buns and dainties. The AGM followed with the new executive as follows:
President - Graham Shackleton
Vice-President - Raelene Boyle
Secretary - Cynthia Sparks
Treasurer - Linda Stevens
Provincial Director - Linda Wright
Village Rep - Nelsen Chovin
IT Coordinator - Terry McConnell
Rec Board Rep - Daryl Giesbrecht
Custodian - Calvin Abel
Each gave a brief update about what was happening. No date was set for next spring as we will do so later in the fall. Meeting adjourned
Delisle Community Centre
Monday to Friday Men’s Coffee from 9:00 to 10:30
Tuesdays and Fridays
Ladies Coffee from 10:00 to 12:00 Thursdays
Cards from 1:00 to 3:00
$2.00 fee for each of the above activities
The following activities will be temporarily paused from May 1st to September 30th and will start again on October 1st: Yoga , Get Moving Exercise Program, Floor Shuffle, Billiards
THE SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB also provides catering for funeral lunches, meetings, birthday parties, bridal and baby showers, reunions, graduation suppers, etc. For questions regarding catering please contact Ellen at 306-290-7052.
We followed with a general meeting, discussing the ramp for the back door and upgrading the toilets to taller ones. It was discussed that we would sell tickets on the quilt that was so generously donated by the Country Quilters starting this fall with the draw date of December 10, 2026 the night of our Christmas potluck. There was also a reminder to get the Provincial Cash Draw ticket books back in as the draw is coming up in June. (The club is given back $1 for each $2 ticket sold)..
On April 18, 2026 the Seniors helped out with the community garage sale by having the fabric portion at the centre. We also had a bake sale and ran a small concession. A huge thank you to the many donations of baking, the variety was unbelievable. To the many people who bought baking and/or stopped for something to eat we can't thank you enough. The support was overwhelming. We even managed to sign a few new members.
Just a quick reminder that the annual membership of $10 is due now and that Kaiser Night is on May 29th
Lastly a huge thank you to the members who volunteered to make our AGM and fundraiser such a success. The many hours of work that is done behind the scenes does not go unnoticed. Thank you for all that you do to make it so seamless.
Submitted by
Raelene Boyle
in April at Borden and Radisson
Anita Roston, President Vanscoy & District Agricultural Society
Garage Sales
Town of Outlook May 9
For a fee of $10.00, your sale will be listed on the online digital map. To be on the map email outhermuseum@outlook.com
Town of Delisle May 9
For a fee of $2.00, your address and/or name will be listed in the town newsletter, on a map for public distribution. Register at the Town Office by Friday, April 25th.
Town of Langham May 9
For a fee of $5.00, you will get listed on a map and receive free balloons. Register with the Town Office by May 7.
Town of Dalmeny May 9
For $5.00 you can register your sale on the town list. Call 306-254-2133. Lists will be available at Town Office May 9 at 12pm
Merrill Community May 23
9:00am - 3:00pm Merrill Community Centre 306244 Merrill School Road Tables $25 - 306-222-9080 or merrillcommunityimprovementpro@gmail.com
Town of Asquith - June 6
Participants will display balloons in their yards Pike Lake - June 7
Donate items to this fundraiser for the School and Hall. Sale runs 10am - 4pm at the hall
Village of Harris - July 18
9:00am - 4:00pm-4. Maps located at Town & Country grocery in Harris
Local Summer Art Tours
River & Rail ArtVenture
Imagine loading up the SUV with friends or family for a warm weekend of interesting sights, people and conversations. Or perhaps a daytrip with the special people in your life to make memories. After such a long winter and slow spring, we all need some RnR...rest and relaxation? Or…River and Rail ArtVenture !
Now in our 6th year, River & Rail ArtVenture is a free, self-guided tour encompassing three communities, with ten venues and representing over forty Makers.
Makers are the local artists, artisans and agricultural entrepreneurs who are ready to welcome you to their studios, show and explain what they are passionate about, and offer a wide variety of products you can take home with you. New artventures each year from returning and new Makers !
The Tour takes place Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. The route includes Makers in and around Outlook, Broderick, and Elbow. Start where you like and plan your own ArtVenture! Look for the venue signs and flags once you get close.
For so much more information check out the excellent website at www.riverandrailartventure.ca
The link on the website to MemoryKPR features an interactive app with photos and comments.
What else can you add to the weekend? There are golf courses, all that Lake Diefenbaker offers and homestyle restaurants. Stay overnight, spend an evening hiking, biking, or just relaxing around the campfire to the sounds of the prairie. This is an immersion into the soul of West Central Saskatchewan.
If you’ve already experienced the River and Rail ArtVenture, you know that this is no ordinary gallery tour. If you haven’t, check it out online, on Facebook and on Instagram. Then come for the real deal on June 27-28. You’ll be glad you did!
Pike Lake Art Tour
Mark your calendars! The Pike Lake Art Tour returns June 6–7, featuring 11 talented artists showcasing a wide range of creative mediums.
Visitors can take part in a fun passport program—collect signatures at each stop and enter your completed passport into a draw at your final venue!
Follow along on the Pike Lake Art Tour Facebook and Instagram for updates, artist highlights, and tour details.
Don’t miss this chance to explore local art and meet the creators behind it!
Fridays 10am - 3pm
Starting May 1
Transfer Stations & Spring Cleaning
R.M. of Dundurn
Location - North of Dundurn Summer Hours
Saturday & Sunday - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
R.M. of Eagle Creek
Location - Sonningdale Summer Hours
Saturday - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location - Arelee Red Garbage Bin and Blue Recycle Bin by highway
R.M. of Great Bend
Location - West of Borden Summer Hours
Wednesday - 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday - 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
R.M. of Montrose
Location - NW 31-32-7-W3
Summer Hours
Saturday, Sunday - 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday - 5:00pm - 9:00pm
R.M. of Perdue
Location - East of Perdue
Summer Hours
Tuesday & Saturday - 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday - 4:00pm - 8:00pm
R.M. of Vanscoy
Location - Grandora Summer Hours
Saturday & Monday - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday - 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location - Pike Lake Summer Hours
Saturday & Sunday - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
BBQ Rentals
Town of Delisle
Location - 1/2 mile west of Delisle. Summer Hours
Tuesdays & Thursdays - 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays - 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Town of Hanley
Location - NW 6-31-03-W3 Summer Hours
Tuesday & Thursday - 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Town of Langham
Location - Kyle Street - Langham Summer Hours
Tuesdays - 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Thursdays - 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays - 9am - 12pm and 1pm - 5pm
Town of Outlook
Location - Outlook Summer Hours
Tuesdays - Saturday - 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Open during the noon hour !
Town
of Radisson
Location - West of Hafford Summer Hours
Daily - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Except Saturday, Sunday and Holidays
Cleanfarms Grain Bag Collection Sites
Cleanfarms operates collection programs to help farmers dispose of agricultural waste materials. Grain Bags can be recycled locally across Saskatchewan, including locations listed here. Contact the local RM office for more details on the location.
RM of Biggar
RM of Biggar Main Shop
705 4th Ave. E
Biggar, Saskatchewan
April 13, 2026 9:00am to 1:00pm
Phone: 306-948-2422
RM of Perdue
Perdue Landfill
NW 27-35-11 W3
Perdue, Saskatchewan
Tues & Sat 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Thurs 4:00pm to 8:00pm
GB Roller is available
Phone: 306-237-4202
RM of Milden
Milden Transfer Station
Service Road - Village of Milden
NE 17-29-11 W3
Milden, Saskatchewan
Last Friday of every month
from 8:00am to 4:00pm
GB Roller is available
Phone: 306-935-2181
RM of Rosedale
RM of Shop Yardsite
NW 36-30-04 W3
Hanley, Saskatchewan
Contact office for collect day
Phone: 306-544-2202
Borden Electronics Recycle
Starting April 15th you can bring your used electronics at the bin in the alley beside the Village office, from 8:30 - 4:30 daily.
Milden Grain Bag Collection
The RM of Milden provides grain bag collection at the RM shop site from 8am-4pm on the last Friday of each month. Bags must be rolled, and a roller is available to use for free.
Delisle Street Sweeping May 22
The Town has scheduled street sweeping throughout the Town for Friday May 22nd, weather permitting.
Asquith Spring Clean-up Weekend & Clean Waste Days
Spring Clean Up (big bin days) will take place May 23 and 24. Large waste and metal recycling bins will be located at the Sportsgrounds. There will also be a trailer to accept used tires.
Clean Waste Days will be running at the old Asquith landfill every 2nd Saturday through the summer from 9am - 3pm. Both services are open to residents of the Town of Asquith only.
Asquith Better Life Recreation Association (BLRA)
April was a slower month than we are used to, no fundraisers. Almost seems like we are winding down for the busy summer ahead. Hmmm flowers and vegetable gardens are occupying our thoughts. I know every year I go hog wild especially with my flowers. I try to buy the flowers that attract the hummingbirds. I am a hummingbird NUT as my husband would say. I even bought little house/nests and new feeders for them this year. My babies are coming home.
Weather wise in April, WELL sheesh another snow storm hit on April 24th and 25th. (Imagine the emoji with the huge eyes staring out) that was my face both days when the snow just would not stop. What is going on with the weather? I know all of the farmers are jumping for joy and I get it but I ask why can’t we just have rain? Our bingo was canceled for April 24th due to the storm and was rescheduled for Friday May 1st at 7:00pm. I hope that everyone saw the cancelation on Facebook and didn’t venture out.
Friday Bingos
Hopefully our double May bingos Friday May 1st and Friday May 29th will bring out more new faces. Remember that if you bring a new person, you will get a free three up booklet. More chances to win! Our progressive jackpot is $160.00 in 60 numbers or less. As I have previously mentioned anyone can sponsor our community bingo, a family, an individual, or a business. If you do not want your name advertised you can sponsor us anonymously. The sponsorship means that the winners receive a larger payout.
May 29 & June 26
and the new and old connections that have been made. Our wonderful instructors Trudy Westad and Diane Haughen are fantastic, friendly, outgoing and more importantly welcoming! We are exercised from our heads to our toes. The exercises are never all the same they make sure to mix it up and add variety. Please if you haven’t already tried the class get your butt in gear and come meet us all and have some fun. Remember our balance is extremely important as we age and improves and is dependant on how much physical activity we do. Any and all type of movement is good for us. Please bring an inside pair of shoes, weights if you have them and a band. Trudy and Diane have bands for $5.00 if you don’t have one and there are weights available at the centre. If you have weights that you no longer use and would like to donate them they would be graciously accepted. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00am-11:00am. I previously mentioned that if you are a solitary person, get out and walk. If you are just starting walk a block and increase it daily until you are walking between 800010,000 steps a day. You can do it! Spring is coming (right?) it is time to pull out those peddle bikes get your tires pumped and, jump on and go for it!
Our final Forever in Motion fitness class will be on Tuesday June 23rd, immediately after we will have a wind down lunch at the Asquith Bar & Grill. Please join us!
All baking is done by our President Genevieve Innes and proceeds from the baking are generously donated to the BLRA. Thanks Genevieve!
Our Forever in Motion fitness classes started in October, 2025 with 10 movers and shakers, we are now up to 25 movers and shakers and the centre rocks when we are all there. It is amazing to see how the class has grown
Any and all events are welcomed, do you require a rental of our hall for a meeting, an art/painting class, a dance class, a singing class, a cooking class, a craft class, is there an instructor out there that teaches line dancing, a book club, wedding shower, baby shower, funeral, memorial service, a murder mystery, shuffle board, Karaoke night, do you want to have a movie night, we also have a ping pong table that can be used, think outside the box and reach out to our President Genevieve Innes, VP Wayne Lake, Secretary Karen Duguid or myself Sue Sawicki Treasurer. If there is something I haven’t mentioned and you need a hall just get in touch and we will see what we can do.
A reminder billiards are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1:00pm. Ping Pong can also be played on Wednesdays at 1:00pm, if you have a hankering to play Ping Pong come on down. 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.
Our next senior meeting is on Monday May 4th at 3:00pm at the centre, come check it and us out. We appreciate and value any new and exciting ideas. Put your thinking caps on and come and join us. 2026 Memberships are now due. $25.00 per year per person (cheap like Borscht as they say). With this membership you join a community of people who have like minded interests, and remember we can always use new ideas and energy for our club. Is there something specific you would like me to write about, something you want to know about, maybe some history of our town or community that you would like to share. I would love some new ideas to write about; please contact me it would be my honor to share your story.
Thank you from Asquith Better Life Recreation Centre board and members.
Dollars And Sense
by Owen Goosen, CIM, B.Comm
Understanding Estate Tax and Probate: A Step-by-Step Guide for Saskatchewan Farm Families
Start by Knowing What You Have
Before anything else, you need a complete inventory of your assets. It sounds tedious, but this is foundational. You can’t plan effectively if you don’t know what you’re working with. This not only helps you, but also future generations. Write down everything:
•Land and buildings (current fair market value)
•Equipment and machinery
•Livestock
•Grain or commodity inventory
•Financial accounts (savings accounts, GICs, stocks, bonds)
•Registered accounts (RRSPs, TFSAs, RESPs)
•Life insurance policies (death benefits)
•Business interests (if applicable—corporation shares, partnership interests)
•Vehicles
•Other investments or real estate
For the land especially, get a realistic estimate of fair market value. If you haven’t had your land appraised recently, this might be worth doing. Land values have changed significantly over the past decade, and you need to work with current numbers. You also want to understand your cost base. This inventory isn’t just for tax purposes. It’s the foundation for everything that follows. Having this documented is valuable for your family and your executor regardless of tax planning—they’ll need this information when the time comes.
Understanding Probate
Probate is simply the provincial court process of validating your Will and confirming your executor’s authority to distribute your estate according to your wishes. It’s a legal formality, but it comes with a cost. In Saskatchewan the probate fee is 0.7%.
Not everything you own goes through your Will and gets hit with probate fees. Understanding the difference can save your estate a substantial amount of money.
Assets that pass through your Will (subject to probate and potential tax):
•Land and buildings owned in your personal name
•Equipment and machinery owned personally
•Vehicles (unless jointly owned)
•Financial accounts in your name only
•Investment accounts in your name only
•Business interests held personally
Assets that pass directly to beneficiaries (bypassing probate):
•Life insurance proceeds (goes directly to your named beneficiary)
•Registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) with a named beneficiary
•Tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) with a named beneficiary
•Joint accounts with right of survivorship
•Property held jointly with someone else
Saskatchewan’s probate fee is 0.7% of the net estate value for most estates. On a $2 million estate, that’s $14,000 going directly to the province. This is only on the assets that pass through your Will.
If you have $100,000 in a TFSA with your children named as beneficiaries, that $100,000 never touches your estate. No probate fee, no waiting on the courts to probate your Will, no tax.
If you’re strategic about how you title and structure certain assets, you can reduce probate.
Capital Gains Tax
Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room for farm families: capital gains tax. In Canada, when you pass away, the government considers it as though you’ve sold all your capital property at fair market value—even though no sale occurred. This is called "deemed disposition." On that deemed sale, any gain between what you paid for the asset and what it’s worth today is a capital gain, and it gets taxed at the time of your death through your final tax return.
Let me give you an example:
Scenario: You bought land 30 years ago for $200,000. Today, it’s worth $1 million. That’s an $800,000 capital gain. Under current tax rules (as of 2026), capital gains are taxed at 50% inclusion, meaning half of that gain is added to your taxable income. So, $400,000 gets added to your income in your final year. The amount owing on that is dependent on your tax bracket. This happens at death, —with some important exceptions, which we’ll get to in a moment.
Now, here’s what many don’t realize: this tax bill must be paid from somewhere. And if most of your wealth is tied up in land, you might not have liquid cash sitting around. This is where planning becomes critical.
The Spousal Rollover—Your Most Powerful Planning Tool
When you leave farm property to your spouse, you don’t have to trigger that capital gains tax immediately. Instead, your spouse can inherit the property at your cost basis (what you paid for it)—not at fair market value. This defers all the capital gains tax until your spouse sells the property or passes away themselves.
Going back to our example: You bought land for $200,000, it’s now worth $1 million. You leave it to your spouse. They inherit it at $200,000 (your cost basis). No immediate capital gains tax. The gain isn’t taxed until they eventually sell it or pass it on.
This can buy your family significant time and flexibility. It also allows your spouse to potentially sell portions of land over time, managing the tax impact rather than having a massive bill all at once. There’s also something called a testamentary spousal trust, which offers additional flexibility. If you’re concerned about your spouse’s financial security but also want the land to eventually go to your children, a testamentary spousal trust allows your spouse to benefit from the property during their lifetime, and then it passes to your children with certain tax advantages still available. If you’re married and leaving farm property behind, the spousal rollover should be front and center in your planning.
The Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption for Farmers
Here’s something that makes farm property special: there’s a lifetime capital gains exemption (LCGE) specifically for qualified farm property. As of 2026, this exemption is $1.25M
To qualify, your farm property needs to meet certain conditions:
•The property must be in Canada
•You (or your spouse or children) must have been actively engaged in farming on a regular and continuous basis
•If you’re leaving it to children, they must be residents of Canada. If your property qualifies, you can use this exemption strategically. Your executor can elect to have a portion of your land transfer at fair market value (triggering a capital gain), but because of the exemption, little or no tax is owed. Meanwhile, your children inherit the land with a higher cost basis, which reduces their tax exposure if they eventually sell.
Where Will the Money Come From?
If you’ve utilized your capital gains exemption, your land doesn’t qualify, or you have other assets exposed to capital gains - the question then becomes: Where does the money come from?
Life insurance is a great planning tool—not just for estate equalization, but for tax liquidity. A $200,000 life insurance policy, held properly, produces $200,000 in tax-free proceeds that can be used to pay taxes and probate fees without forcing the sale of any land.
For many farming families, this is an effective strategy. It’s clean, straightforward, and provides certainty for your family.
Your Step-by-Step Action Plan
Here’s how to work through this:
Step 1: Complete your asset inventory. Write down everything—values, ownership structure, and current title. This is your baseline.
Step 2: Identify which assets will trigger tax and probate. Using the framework above, categorize each asset. Which ones pass through your Will? Which ones go directly to beneficiaries?
Step 3: Estimate your capital gains exposure. For land and other appreciated assets, calculate the likely capital gain. Talk to a tax professional if needed.
Step 4: Research your available exemptions. Do you qualify for the lifetime capital gains exemption on farm property? Do you have unused exemptions? This matters.
Step 5: Consider your beneficiaries. Are you married? Do you have children interested in farming? Are there non-farming children who need to be treated fairly? Your structure should reflect your family situation.
Step 6: Explore your strategic options. Spousal rollover? Testamentary trust? Life insurance? Corporate structure? Each has pros and cons depending on your circumstances.
Step 7: Get professional help. This is not something to navigate alone. You need a qualified tax advisor, a lawyer who specializes in farm succession, and a financial advisor who understands your situation holistically.
Step 8: Document everything. Once you’ve made decisions, make sure your Will, insurance policies, asset titles, and beneficiary designations all align. Gaps here can undo months of planning.
Step 9: Review regularly. Life changes. Tax rules change. Your plan should be reviewed every few years or whenever something significant happens—a major land purchase, a marriage or divorce, the birth of grandchildren, or changes in your health.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone If you’re interested in this service, we’re happy to sit down with you. There’s no obligation or pressure. Just a conversation between people who understand farming and understand planning.
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.
Cold Stress and Mud Management in Calving Season
Corissa Wilcox, PAg, Livestock and Feed Extension Specialist, Swift Current
Calving season, whether early or late, can present challenges. Cold stress and muddy conditions not only compromise animal comfort but also create ideal conditions for pathogens to spread, increasing the risk of neonatal diseases such as scours. Implementing proactive management strategies can help reduce these risks and support healthier outcomes throughout the calving period.
Shelter
Windbreaks can provide an added layer of protection to mitigate harsh environmental conditions. The recommended space allowance is one foot of windbreak per cow and a half foot per calf. An effective windbreak should have 25 to 33 per cent porosity to allow controlled airflow. Shelterbelts can also serve as long-term, living windbreaks, offering both protection and additional environmental benefits. Calving shelters also protect animals from environmental elements and provide a designated resting area, helping increase calf comfort.
Bedding
likely to be weak at birth and have low fat reserves, which limits their ability to insulate themselves. A body condition score of 2.5 to 3.0 (on a 1 to 5 scale) is ideal.
When temperatures drop below –20 C, energy requirements increase. As a rule of thumb, provide an additional one pound per head per day of grain or pellets for every 5 C that the temperature drops below –20 C at midday. For example, at –30 C, cows should receive an additional two pounds of grain/pellets to help meet increased energy demands. Feeding in the afternoon or evening can also support heat produc-
Adequate bedding provides insulation from cold ground surfaces, reducing the risk of hypothermia and frostbite – particularly in newborn calves, which lose heat faster than mature animals. Clean bedding also helps prevent navel infections, especially in muddy or contaminated environments. Pens should be cleaned as needed with fresh bedding added regularly to maintain a warm, sanitary environment.
Cows and newborn calves utilize sheltered, well-bedded areas to reduce cold stress and mud exposure during calving season.
tion through fermentation during the coldest periods, helping conserve maternal energy stores.
Body Condition and Cow-calf Nutrition
A group of cattle and young calves gather on a dry, straw covered area in a winter pasture.
Cows and newborn calves utilize sheltered, well-bedded areas to reduce cold stress and mud exposure during calving season.
Ensuring cows enter calving season in adequate body condition is important for maintaining energy reserves during cold weather and limiting hypothermia impacts in calves. Calves born to nutrient-restricted cows are more
Colostrum provides essential antibodies, fat and protein that can help chilled calves. A thermometer is a useful tool when assessing calf health. Intervention is recommended when a calf’s internal body temperature falls below 37.7 C. If assisting, recheck the calf’s temperature every few hours and its sucking ability.
Animal Movement
Controlling animal movement is another effective strategy to reduce the risk of pathogen spread in confined systems. The Sandhills Calving System helps decrease pathogen exposure by separating freshly calved pairs from pregnant cows. This system also reduces the potential for exposure to mud and fecal contamination during nursing.
Being prepared for variable weather conditions during calving season is important for maintaining cowcalf health and ensuring a successful calving season. Work closely with your veterinarian to ensure effective prevention and treatment protocols are tailored to your herd. For more information, contact your local livestock and feed extension specialist or the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.
Before Social Media, You Were Normal
Spain is the latest country to take part in the growing "It's about time!" international effort to protect children from the myriad harmful effects of social media. Speaking at the World Governments Summit 2026 on Tuesday, February 3rd, Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, declared that social media has become a "failed state." Sánchez then announced plans to ban under16s from accessing social media, which'll require platforms to implement effective age-verification systems. Spain joins Australia, France, Portugal, Denmark and the United Kingdom—Greece is expected to follow—in considering platforms co-responsible entities for their users' well-being, rather than mere intermediaries. Such a ban calls for social media platforms to establish "effective age-verification systems."
Although I hold a strong belief in freedom of speech, it's impossible to ignore that social media has deteriorated into a breeding ground for hate speech, spreading misinformation like wildfire, and cyberbullying—issues that artificial intelligence is amplifying. Digital governance, especially for young people in their formative years, is long overdue.
Human DNA leaves us ill-prepared for anything that requires moderation; hence, our lack of moderate use has created the seismic social shift brought about by the Internet and social media. Instant mass communication from a handheld device has made everyone a broadcaster, fueling egos and self-serving interests. It's no wonder that social media has become the primary platform for those eager to influence how others view them.
People born between 1965 and 1980 were the last generation to grow up without the influence of the Internet or social media. As a Gen Xer, I can speak firsthand about what life was like before digital platforms:
•We caught up with family and friends face-to-face.
•We read, played, and did sports.
•We spent more time outside.
•We made phone calls using a landline, which most Gen Zers have never experienced.
•We drove without being distracted or tempted by a smartphone.
•We didn't see our friends on Instagram hanging out with other people.
•We were more involved in our community.
•We relied on TV, newspapers, and magazines for product information and advice rather than "influencers."
•We had to turn on the 6 or 10 o'clock evening news or read a newspaper to know what was going on. We watched, listened, and discussed, then went about our day.
•We had fewer "connections," but much stronger social relationships in real life.
•We didn't feel like our hair, makeup, weight, home, or job had to be Instagramworthy, or that we weren't good enough. We were real, which was liberating.
Pat “Duke” Bueckert
306-291-9675
Alvin Busby 306-227-0575
Alan Jackson
306-961-5682
Aiden Zwack
306-961-5198
Spencer Fox 306-361-9701
Zach Huber 306-715-4311
Lyal Fox (cull cows & bulls) 780-808-9731
•We were happier, less lonely, had fewer anxiety-related mental disorders, and compared ourselves less to others. We lived more in the moment. Fast-forward to today, and what a different world we live in, mostly by our own doing, given how most of us have freely (keyword) chosen to use the Internet and social media the way we do, which, sadly, is to weaponize it, either intentionally or unintentionally, against each other. Online, we're constantly reminded of what we don't have, where we haven't been, and what we haven't accomplished. Our feeds are saturated with displays of seemingly perfect lives, created and posted to boost the poster's self-esteem. The result? Many people, regardless of age, feel inadequate and that they're perpetually falling short.
Governments regulate food. Governments regulate cars. Governments regulate medicines. Governments regulate vices (tobacco, alcohol, gambling). Yet governments are allowing digital platforms to expose children and society to unchecked harm. This "oversight" seems to be slowly coming to an end.
Before social media, I thought I was kicking ass. Now, with a mere glance at my phone, I'm confronted with an endless parade of questions: "Are you killing it today?" "Are you living your best life?" As someone who spends more time online than is likely advisable, I've learned to approach social media with skepticism. As I scroll through my feeds, I keep reminding myself that what I see is largely curated and not an accurate portrayal of real life. However, many people struggle to discern this, especially younger people who are in the midst of figuring out who they are.
No doubt, there will be armchair critics who'll say that, for many teenagers, social media is where they first encounter news, public debate, and civic life. Then, they'll add, in an attempt to trigger the "We must defend democracy at all costs!" sentiment we're supposed to have, that cutting anyone off from social media risks undermining democracy.
The issue isn't young users. It's platform design, weak governance, and a lack of meaningful accountability. If adults are spending vast amounts of time on social media, neglecting the real-world and their relationships, being influenced by strangers to the point of questioning their normalcy, what makes anyone think a 14-year-old, who hasn't yet developed the cognitive capacity to ask, “Is this true?” "Why am I being shown this?” “What verified facts support this?” about what they see on social media, isn't being adversely affected by content that many adults aren't mentally competent to handle? Sánchez may want to consider restricting access to social media to those over 30.
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
Saskatchewan RCMP: Wanted Persons RCMP REPORTS
Over-thinking by Tardij
1. Jogging is just putting on a uniform to let others that you’re not running from Danger
2. If you get cremated you lose
chance of joining the Zombie Apocalypse.
3. Locks just turn doors into walls
4. Fried eggs and fried chicken are just the
5. Mirrors don’t break, they just multiply.
6. Candles are just pet fires.
7. What if dogs lick us because they know we have bones inside.
8. Mosquitoes are basically dirty used needles that fly.
9. In the movie cars there are sidewalks, but everyone in the movie is a car.
10. When dogs go deaf do they think that people just stopped talking to them.
The following individuals are wanted by the Saskatchewan RCMP. They are people with active warrants who were last known to be living in Saskatchewan. They have been selected to appear on this list based on a review of their current criminal charges and the potential harm they present to communities in Saskatchewan.
This is not a complete list of all individuals wanted by the Saskatchewan RCMP. Those appearing on this list are determined by a data-driven scoring system using the Crime Severity Index, a Statistics Canada measurement that looks at both the number and the relative severity of crimes. Factors such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, socio-economic
status, religion, sexuality or disability of an offender are not considered in the scoring process.
The intent of releasing this list is to encourage tips and information from the public to support Saskatchewan RCMP investigations and to lead to the arrest of these individuals.
This list is updated and distributed monthly.
Do not attempt to contact, approach or apprehend any wanted persons on your own. If you recognize any of these individuals and have information regarding their whereabouts, activities or associations, call 310-RCMP (310-7257) or 911 in an emergency.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Shane's Surplus World Serving Saskatoon & Biggar #120-1500 Quebec Avenue Saskatoon - 306-665-1313 521 Main Street Biggar - 306-948-1313 www.shanessurplusworld.com
Northern Craftsman Inc. Construction / Carpentry New Builds and Renovations Interior, Exterior, Roof, Garage Delisle & Surrounding Area Josh - 306 - 361 - 8829 John - 306 - 251 - 2588
Redberry Renovations Ltd. Grandora 306-260-3778 redberryrenovations@sasktel.net
Air Conditioning & Heating
ATL Electric & Heating Boiler & In Floor Heat Specialists Service all Furnaces/Air Conditioners Vanscoy 306-493-2410 24Hrs
PLAINSMAN HVAC-R Ltd 24 Hour Emergency Service Vanscoy 306-242-3002 Taylor Mechanical Vanscoy 306-381-7998 taylormechanical@sasktel.net
Mechanical Vanscoy 306-381-7998 taylormechanical@sasktel.net Automotive
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 Arbitration Delisle 306-222-0456
SATELLITE + Electrical Troubleshooting and Service - Licensed & Bonded Asquith 306-229-3813
& Canola 2023 Food Safe Certification Pike Lake 306-220-0389 mikesbees@sasktel.net
Vanscoy 306-230-1522 prairiesunorchard@sasktel.net Precise Accounting and Consulting Grandora/Pense 306-731-1957 Info@paac.ca
Arborscapes Tree & Landscape Services Ltd. Tree Pruning, Tree Removal Saskatoon 306-222-6494 www.arborscapesltd.com info.arborscapes@gmail.com
306-329-6338 Dwein Trask Realty Inc. Dwein Trask 306-221-1035 Office 306-653-4100
to Post Home Inspectors Seasonal & Temporary worker housing and home inspections. Saskatoon, Rosetown, Outlook, Humboldt,
Water / Septic
Burwell Trenching & Electrical Asquith 306-220-4377 bte20@outlook.com
Econo Septic & Sewer Services
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
LOCAL BUSINESSES
