NCCP held their annual treat, this year the iconic “Cabaret” at the Majestic, March 27-30. Racy and suggestive, the local actors and crew were an absolute delight with many of the musical numbers stunning in their audacity and complex choreography, acting and comedic timing ... this was a stunning production from a very talented group!
(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)
by Kaitlynn Nordal
For Darren Ramsay of Biggar, music is not just a hobby but a way of life.
“I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember,” said Ramsay, who started playing guitar and writing songs at 18. “I picked up the guitar to accompany myself... It’s a lot easier when you have an instrument to write songs on.
“I grew up with music.
I’ve loved it for a long time.”
Ramsay usually plays acoustic guitar.
“I have a couple of electric guitars. I love them but apart from a band setting I have a hard time finding a place where I can play them.”
Ramsay also enjoys all genres of music having sung in jazz, blues, rock, country, gospel, “you name it,” said Ramsay. There are very few genres he doesn’t like to sing or play.
This love of music led Ramsay to audition for a vocal competition in Toronto that is part of the Canadian Model and Talent Convention (CMTC).
“What makes it special is they guarantee there will be 65 to 70 or more scouts there and studio reps and that kind of thing,” said Ramsay.
Ramsay submitted his audition tape in September and made it to this semi-final portion.
“Even though it’s not televised you still have a good chance of being discovered,” said
Ramsay. “Even if you don’t win you get your name out there anyway.”
Ramsay will fly to Toronto on April 30 with the last day of the CMTC being on May 5. The finals for the competition happen at the same time.
“The whole event is in that period of time. I will find out while in Toronto how well I did.”
As it does with many dreams, reality had set in for Ramsay and this is why he wanted to participate in CMTC now.
“I chose to raise my family. I’ve always had a desire to make some sort of career in music. I’ve never cared whether I was famous but the idea of making a living off something you love has appeal,” said Ramsay.
“Now that the kids are grown up and in college I came across the opportunity and it went from there,” continued Ramsay. “I thought now if I can do something with this it show my kids you are never too old to chase a dream.”
Since this trip to Toronto will be expensive - the event itself is about $1.2 thousand, Ramsay has been doing some fundraising.
One of the fundraisers was a show with Jesse Bates.
“I thought he would be a great guy to jam with because his guitar playing is phenomenal,” said Ramsay.
The two of them have been playing together for a while now and decided
Tale of Tome, Treatise, Title and Terrific Tale ... St. Gabriel School held their
Book Fair this past week, giving young bookworms a chance to get their fill of written
was hugely successful, bringing in funds for the school library, and a offering a
up an inexpensive bit of “fuel” for the imagination! (Independent
April 1, 2025 marks an important milestone for Biggar’s New Horizons organization.
It was on this date in 1985 that they moved into their own building on the corner of Queen Street and Third Avenue West. When New Horizon was formed in 1972 the Town of Biggar gave them space in the south corner of the old town hall. By the 1980’s they had out grown this area and began fundraising to build their own centre.
During the summer of 1984, McCarty Construction put in a basement and framed the outer walls of the building. After this was completed a veritable army of senior volunteers took over and finished the interior which included a kitchen and hall with board room and office space for New Horizons and Biggar Home Care. The enthusiasm with which the seniors worked
to do a show together.
“I was going to do one solo anyways just because I need to raise money but he said he would love to,” said Ramsay.
The classic rock and blues show took place at the Main Event (former Jehovah Witness Hall) in Biggar, March 22.
The concert was free with a donation box in the hopes of helping raise the funds to go to Toronto.
resulted in a “pride of ownership”. Towards the building which has lasted to the present day.
Over forty years, there have been many changes. A legacy from a grateful senior allowed for the addition of a lift for the building. Air conditioning was also added. When the original stucco began to deteriorate there was a fundraising push to replace it. In recent years, the windows have been replaced and the kitchen has been updated,thanks to generous donations from local organization.
A new generation of seniors are using the building these days. While there are fewer of them than the original membership, they still treat the building with “pride of ownership”. They are working to keep it in shape for the present enjoyment of Biggar seniors, in the hopes it will be used for many years to come.
Charity motorcycle, Ride For Dad, is in its 25th year, and you can get involved with the fight against prostate cancer.
Locally, The Independent publisher, Dale Buxton, and Biggar local, Don Sapsford will be taking donations and supporting the worthy cause, which shines a light on the deadly disease, making it front and centre to make people aware of how important a simple PSA (ProstateSpecific Antigen) blood test can be.
It all started in 2000 when Garry Janz, a broadcast journalist was creating a documentary on cancer. A cancer patient told Janz that “if someone had told me earlier about a PSA test, I wouldn’t be going home to plan my funeral.”
Janz saw a need and with Byron Smith, President of the Ottawa Police Association, joined forces. Their love of riding started Ride For Dad, small and modest at the start, now a national effort and passion. From that initial start of raising awareness about prostate
cancer and its deadly toll, sent a clear message: Early detection saves lives.
The event gained momentum - excitement grew. More people shared their stories, growing the ride into something significant. What started between two friends, became a national phenomenon.
In Saskatchewan, the ride is scheduled for June 13, at the Western Development Museum (2606 Lorne Avenue South, Saskatoon), with start time at 10:15 a.m. ( RideForDad. ca/Saskatoon or RideForDad.ca).
With the 25th Anniversary of Ride For Dad, those who collect
$100 in pledges have a chance to win a BMW F 900 XR, supplied by BMW Motorad or a secondary prize of a “Best of the Canadian Rockies”, an 11-day motorcycle adventure worth $10,000.
Pledges drive critical research and support lifesaving initiatives in the fight against prostate cancer. Proceeds from the Ride For Dad tell a simple message, “If you’re a man over 40, call your doctor and get a PSA blood test - it might save our life.” That message could save a life.
Again, contact Don Sapsford or Dale Buxton if you want to continue the fight against prostate cancer.
Bingo Numbers for MARCH 27
Playing on a Blue Card
CORRECTION: Last week’s Independent contained an error on Page 16. Brian Ives grandchildren are Eva, Parker and Carver. We apologize for the error.
Dear Editor, 51st State, Eh!
The very suggestion is the old corporate real estate scam of low-balling a coveted property with the intent of scooping it up cheap and making huge profits.
To suggest our Prime Minister is a governor does not just eliminate the value of our head of state it suggests internationally our government is insignificant in comparison to the strengths of our “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) neighbours. There is no generosity in Trump’s suggestion that we become a subservient acquisition of his regime.
Forty-million Canadians getting representation as one U.S. state would give us only two senators and around 57 representatives in the lower house of congress based on population, plus one governor to rule the entire country while suddenly increasing the population of the USA by 12 per cent.
So, this is a staggeringly insulting, intentional, suggestion. The idea of Canada becoming one single state is a smoking dream deal for a trumpedup real estate investor who has gone bankrupt several times.
More palatable would
by Michael Taube, Troy Media
If a political campaign stumbles at the starting gate and voters barely notice, does it matter?
That’s the question facing newly minted Prime Minister Mark Carney, who called a snap election this past Sunday for April 28and has already fumbled through the opening days.
You’ve likely heard this thought experiment before: “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Its origins remain unclear. Some have suggested it was taken from AngloIrish philosopher George Berkeley’s A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge. That seems to be a stretch, so it may be a variation on several themes that were gradually tied together.
Theodore L. Flood’s defunct magazine The Chautauquan posed a similar question in its June 1883 issue: “If a tree were to fall on an island where there were no human beings, would there be any sound?” The answer was thought-
be a suggestion of a power-sharing agreement an offer of multiple Canadian states. If based on population alone compared to the U.S. it would mean representation in congress of 16 senators still 57 Representatives but eight governors all elected by Canadians. If based on 10 provinces and three territories becoming states then that would mean 26 senators and 13 governors. Consider that the acquisition of Canada would more than double the land mass of the USA, then if the Canadian land mass was divided into equivalent sized states, we would have more than 50 states and a majority of the senate seats with the voting ability to set a new path for the USA despite the current regime. Let’s not forget that Canada is not the only acquisition Trump has his greedy eyes set on. There is also Greenland, Panama and the Gaza Strip he has consistently admitted to coveting, while trying to black mail Ukraine into giving up their natural resources. These are not offers where equal value would be exchanged or human rights considered. These are threatened cold-hearted real estate and natural resource
acquisitions complete with ethnic cleansing. I have no problems rubbing shoulders with Greenlanders, Palestinians, Panamanians or Ukrainians, and I don’t think that many people in the Western world do. They’re not much different than us. Most of them, that aren’t psychopaths, they love their families and just want to live in peace with enough prosperity to keep food on the table and a
Dear Editor,
roof over their heads. So, a more palatable deal to make a much greater USA would be to offer Canada 50 states, Greenland 10, Gaza 5, Panama 7 and include Ukraine with another 50 states making 122 states with full representation in the U.S. congress. That would solve a lot of existing world problem like tariffs and the intentional slaughter in two existing nasty wars. Greg Chatterson, Abernethy
Regarding the March 6 issue of the Biggar Independent opinion article by Brian Giesbrecht, Senior Fellow, Frontier Centre for Public Policy (impressive title) .
He states: “Canadians, who panicked over COVID19 deaths, have hardly noticed that far more healthy Canadians and Americans are now dying from fentanyl overdoses than ever died from COVID.”
I ask that he clarify this statement as it forms the premise for his argument.
Does he mean that far more Canadians and Americans are now dying from fentanyl than ever died from COVID?
Or conversely, does he mean that the people dying from fentanyl are far more healthy than the people who died from COVID and then, presumably more worthy of living?
Ross Westman, Biggar
Dear Editor,
With a federal election fast approaching, I am writing to draw your readers’ attention to an imminent threat to Canada’s cultural sovereignty - one whose urgency grows by the day, as President Donald Trump continues his unprovoked economic attacks on our country. Following decades of underfunding and institutional neglect from governments of all political stripes, the CBC now finds itself in the crosshairs of Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives, who are promising to defund it altogether. We cannot stand by and let this happen. Canadians rely on the CBC for information, news, and entertainment that speaks to their daily realities and reaffirms their shared values. Defunding our national public broadcaster would inflict immeasurable harm on our communities, on our Canadian identity, and on our democratic health as a country.
Thankfully, the CBC doesn’t belong to the politicians. It belongs to us, the Canadian public - and it’s time we put our foot down. At this critical moment in history, Canadians from all walks of life are closing ranks around our storied institutions. And we expect our elected officials to do the same. We won’t stand for vague promises, and we certainly won’t tolerate any more threats to our shared way of life - foreign or domestic.
That’s why I am standing with Friends of Canadian Media and its hundreds of thousands of supporters this election. When we head to the polls, we’ll be voting to save the CBC. If the federal party leaders want to secure our vote, they have to stand up and support our national public broadcaster.
Sincerely, Janice E. Phillips, Biggar
provoking. “No. Sound is the sensation excited in the ear when the air or other medium is set in motion.”
That’s one way to look at it. You could also argue that a tree would still make a sound because the action of falling doesn’t have to be connected to the reaction of a human being hearing it.
Let’s adjust things to fit within the parameters of the federal election. If Carney continues his pattern of stumbling through this campaign, will Canadian voters make a sound?
Carney’s supporters would likely say “no.” They have a valid argument because his party is ahead in many opinion polls. The most recent data (as of this writing) showed the Liberals leading the Conservatives 46 to 38 per cent, according to the Angus Reid Institute on March 24. That’s a healthy advantage.
Carney’s detractors would likely say “yes.” They also have a valid argument because opinion polls are small snapshots of voter intentions. They’re not the be-all and end-all of political analysis. Circumstances
can change quickly, and the pendulum can swing in different directions.
Here’s an example. Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives led in the polls for over two years. They were ahead by double digits for over a year and by an average of 20 to 25 points in recent months.
Many Canadians seemed convinced the Conservatives would run away with the next election. The reality was different. The gap between the Conservatives and Liberals was always going to shrink. Anyone who suggested otherwise was fooling themselves.
It ultimately did, partly because of former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s departure (almost 70 per cent of Canadians wanted him to resign in late December) and largely because of frustrations about U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and Conservative parties and leaders.
Poilievre got ensnared in the latter category.
The Liberals have tried to link him to Trump in the past but have largely
been unsuccessful. The president’s tariff battle and threats of annexing Canada have changed today’s political temperature. Even though Poilievre’s political ideas, views and policies are vastly different from Trump’s - which the U.S. president has himself acknowledged - some Canadians remain unconvinced.
While Carney’s supporters are likely thrilled that some Canadians have returned to their political camp, there’s no guarantee they’ll stay put.
Pollster Nik Nanos recently suggested “this campaign is going to see a lot more volatility than we’ve seen in the other campaigns,” meaning the result could be a “coin toss.” He’s right, and my guess is about 30 to 35 per cent of the electorate could be easily swayed one way or the other.
This puts the politically inexperienced prime minister directly in the hot seat.
Carney has solid credentials, including former head of two central banks (Canada and England), former chair of Brookfield Asset Management, the
Financial Stability Board and Bloomberg L.P.’s board of directors, and former special adviser and chair of a Liberal Party task force on economic growth.
The fact remains that he’s never led a party, run for a political seat - or worked on an election campaign. It’s not a seamless transition to move from one discipline to another, in spite of what some suggest. Governing a party and country is a completely different kettle of fish, too.
Carney has a reputation for having a “volcanic temper,” according to Larry Elliott, former economics editor of Britain’s leftwing Guardian newspaper. He’s proven himself to be extremely thin-skinned during press scrums. Carney told CBC News Network’s Rosemary Barton to “look inside herself” and “you start from a prior of conflict and ill will” when she expressed doubt about his blind trust (of which few details have been released) and possible conflicts of interest due to his time in the private sector. That’s to say nothing of his gibberish
response to a reporter when asked about repaying the costs of his European trip as an unelected official. Carney ignored the question and droned on about tariffs and trade. When the reporter said, “I’ll take that as a no, then,” Carney retorted, “No, you’ll take that as a very comprehensive answer to your question.” Carney has also been long associated with left-wing views such as increased government intervention, tackling wealth inequality and supporting netzero emissions. He’s now attempting to shed this image. He removed Trudeau’s hated federal carbon tax, wants to build national trade corridors and called for a middle-class tax cut. Carney is trying to out-Conservative the Conservatives, which is a difficult task for someone who’s never been mistaken for a Conservative.
What’s the answer to this Canadian-based philosophical thought experiment? We’ll find out after the election is over.
Bob Mason Notable Notes
Y.T. (Yours Truly) could never quite get used to Army life, not that he couldn’t take orders - even obey them - but, aside from Mr. Tennyson’s, “Theirs but to do and die!” sentiment, he often analyzed just who the order-giver was, and how much sense his order made.
Well, I am a Canadian farmer!
As a result of that confrontation was that right afterwards, Y.T., in a huff, stalked over to a T.S. (Trained Soldier) company and made ready to go overseas. It wasn’t my fault that some higher-up type called me off the draft and arranged somehow for Y.T. to become a signaller - namely a Driver Operator.
They asked if we knew anything about trucks (I think we’ve mentioned that before, too) and maybe this had something to do with that “driver” bit.
Of course as farm boys we had driven loaded grain trucks all over the place but this didn’t
matter at all. They sent us off to Woodstock, Ontario to learn all over again!
I can see their point, though, some of the fellows who went there didn’t know a steering wheel from a spare tire!
We drove and drove, mostly in convoy and often on the left side of the road, and took a lot of what seemed to me, useless training. But eventually, as “finished” drivers, they sent us off to Vimy Barracks east of Kingston, Ontario, where we were to take some signal training.
Without a doubt, our group wasn’t the first to train there. As a matter of fact, our class was known as “1,005”.
I could name a lot of those guys, but I won’t. Besides training, we skied on the St. Lawrence River, marvelled at the Martello Towers - which were never used in the defence of Canada - and wondered if maybe we ever would defend our nation!
We sat in small elevated rooms and learned Morse Code over and over (and even over!). A Corporal droned into a microphone things like “daw-daw dit daw” (the letter “C”) and a lot of other signals that go with it.
I don’t know or have a record of how many long hours we spent in that room, learning to send a message of 25 words a minute, but I do know that personally, in action I never had occasion to even touch a telegraph
key! Maybe some guys did, I dunno! But any messages that Y.T. sent or got were just a few muttered words. North of Vimy we drove all over the country sending and receiving messages here and there to the groups that were on “scheme” with us. I understand that each message was being monitored by an upstairs group in Vimy Barracks, sometimes we got blasted for staying on the air too long or using unacceptable language! Hullo, Bill Urquahart!
It seems that this “Jerry” guy took only a few seconds to latch on to a fellows frequency and jam it, and this meant that one kept his messages very short, and in an emergency used an alternative frequency, which Mr. Jerry also jammed sometimes!
Of course, part of our training included just that sort of thing, along with the intricacies of “dead” spots and “netting in”, as they did their best to prepare us for the eventual, but always mysterious, real thing!
We studied the much larger No. 19 sets that were mounted on trucks, carriers and tanks, with all their working parts and, thank heavens, the smaller man-carried No. 18 sets.
Right after Y.T. arrived on the scene and Shorty had taken over the 19 set, guess who was left to carry that No. 18 set into action! My education
by Rix Quinn
Not long ago at a class reunion, I started talking to my crush in sixth grade. I had not seen her in years.
I reminded her of the time I took her bowling. My Mom drove us there. It was my first actual date.
“No,” she said, “I do not remember that.”
A friend overheard this exchange, and he laughed that I had apparently “left no footprint on the sands of time.” He was right.
For 40-plus years I’ve worked as a memoirist, writing short biographies for business magazines. I’ve helped other make impressions in the sand.
But I never wrote my own memoir until recently ... and I’m glad I did. Because I believe everybody’s got a unique story to tell, and we need
to verbalize it before we get too old.
Should we all write our life story? It’s hard if we try to explain things on a timeline. It’s much easier if we just tell stories about memorable things we experienced ... or reply to questions family members ask about us.
Have you written about yourself? Do it today, so your descendants and friends will know more about your childhood, and your adult feelings, thoughts, and dreams.
Writing about yourself is easier if you first ask yourself questions. You can then answer them in the form of a story that explains what happened to you, the actions you took ... and what you learned from the experience.
A memoir company can provide lots of questions
- war wise - had started!
Apparently a lot of the Wehrmacht people had 20-20 vision, and when they noticed a P.B.I. (Poor Bloody Infantry) type carrying a radio on his back, they marked him down as their second most important target (the Company Commander was usually the first). So, whenever Y.T. was lying face down on the ground to get away from their line of fire, they seemed to take great joy in filling his radio set full of holes!
More than once, the frustration of not being able to communicate occurred, and sometimes in a spot like that it took
a long time to find a D.R.!
Note: I imagine that a fellow could have saved the DND a lot of money if he had just laid on top of the radio, but I never thought of that!
I felt a lot more confident the night they asked 180pound Y.T. to help carry a stretcher-mounted No. 19 into Friesoythe.
We forded a four-foot deep, icy river and held the whole thing above water, big batteries and all. The sun was just coming up and we were just starting to relax when they jumped us.
Oh, we had dandy communications, all right, and got a forward company to come back to
our rescue in a hurry. But sorry! Along with some other guys, our Colonel got killed. No. 19 set or not, it didn’t save them! All the way from smoke signals, mirrors, flashing lights and radios, now we have some very sophisticated, technical means of communication ... and wars.
In this day of guided missiles, computers and GPS, it often seems that anything we can’t use for war or defence is unimportant! What an ideal, wonderful world it would be if all this scientific and technical stuff were used in another way!
Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Rural Municipality of Perdue No. 346 for the year 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following days: March 28th to May 30th, 2025, Monday to Friday, except all public holidays
A Bylaw pursuant to Section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.
All fees must be submitted to the local assessor at the Rural Municipality of Perdue No. 346. All appeals must be filed with the Secretary of the Board of Revision, Kara Lindal, which can be sent electronically to: secretary@westernmunicipal.ca, or via post/mail to Rural Municipality of Perdue No. 346, Box 208, Perdue, SK S0K 3C0, and forwarded to the Secretary of the Board of Revision.
Any person wishing to discuss the notice of assessment or potential appeal may contact the assessor at the Rural Municipality of Perdue No. 346 Box 208 Perdue SK S0K 3C0. A notice of appeal, accompanied by a $25.00 appeal fee, which will be returned if the appeal is successful, must be submitted by 30th the May, 2025.
Dated this 28th day of March 2025 Kelsie Walkeden, Assessor
to stir your memory. Go online for a list of specialists who offer this service. I think you’ll be glad you did.
Next week, I’ll try to be funny again. But this week I’m wearing a more serious look.
Family Memory Book?Turn old thoughts into a new memory book ... for a very affordable price. For more details and a nice discount, contact Memorygram.com, and insert the discount code rix20
P.M.
Schell
Growing up in the 1970s, it seemed as though everybody and his brother manufactured snowmobiles.
Considered the golden age of the snowmobile, the years 1968-1982 featured 250 different manufacturers of snowmobiles, and at its peak in 1971, total snowmobile sales reached 495,000 units worldwide, a record that still stands today.
Currently, there are 1.27 million snowmobiles registered in the USA and over 555,000 snowmobiles registered in Canada, with worldwide sales of 112,650 in 2024. Of that 2024 sales figure, 51,987 were sold in the USA and 38,599 were sold in Canada.
The makes and models of snowmobiles during the winters of my country childhood were numerous and plentiful. While I never saw all of the different makes and models back then, I still saw a considerable number of them on the frozen lakes and snowy trails around me when I was a kid.
One of our friends had a Snow Cruiser, sporting a distinctive dark robin’s
egg blue cowl adorned with a red and white stripe around the middle. Because the machine felt like it weighed a ton, it earned the nickname the ‘snow crusher,’ and to my knowledge, they were the only machine back then to feature a reverse gear for backing out of difficult places.
Moto-Ski was a strong, heavy machine that took all your might to pull the starter cord and featured two bright white headlights under one clear sheet of plastic on its orange wedge-like cowl. You could see a long way ahead of you when you went out for a night ride on a Moto-Ski.
One of my Grandpa’s neighbours approached us on the frozen lake one day driving a newly purchased Ski Whiz, made by tractor manufacturer MasseyFerguson. Because most machines back then had a rounded convex cowl, the square boxy cowl of the Ski Whiz equipped with two front headlights made them appear to be a bit of an oddity in my eyes. But they certainly stood out visually from their competition.
Boa-Ski was a dark burgundy-coloured machine with a convex round cowl that featured dual headlights. Unspectacular at best, you didn’t see them around very much, but I did see them on occasion. They stuck out in my memory because of the name.
Another of my Grandpa’s neighbours had an Arlberg , a machine
featuring a black concave cowl with a single recessed headlight and a red and white stripe around the middle. I recall my father saying that they had a tendency to fishtail a bit on the ice at high speeds.
The Sno-Prince was a tan-coloured machine that never distinguished itself in my eyes as a particularly good or bad machine, but I did see them around occasionally when I was a kid.
Skiroule was an aqua green machine that I also saw around occasionally.
Yamaha was a white machine with black and red trim back then. I always associated them with motorcycles as a kid and was surprised when I saw my first Yamaha snowmobile on the frozen lake!
Polaris was a white machine with blue trim that didn’t make a lot of inroads into our area when I was young, but as I got a bit older, you would sometimes see one zipping around the lake on the odd winter day.
The Scorpion was a burgundy-coloured machine that I saw ads for on television when I was in high school (“Look out Cat, look out Ski-Doo...”), but I never actually saw one in real life.
One of the two most prominent snowmobiles of the day was the Arctic Cat. Many of our country neighbours had an Arctic Cat because they had family ties to the local marina, which happened to be an Arctic Cat dealer.
And, of course, the other prominent snowmobile of the day, and the most prominent snowmobile of all time, was the current industry leader, the SkiDoo. Originally intended to be called the ‘Ski-Dog’ in reference to the dog sleds it was replacing when it was launched in 1959, the name ‘Ski-Doo’ was an accident. The printer made a mistake printing the first brochures, calling the machine a ‘Ski-Doo’ instead of the actual intended name, and the new name stuck. Ski-Doo became the leader in the industry and the first brand of snowmobile our family ever had.
Nowadays, most of the snowmobile manufacturers of our youth are long gone, either swallowed up by their competition or forced into bankruptcy. With climate change today
MONDAY 5 P.M.
comes unpredictability in weather patterns; some years we get snow, and some years we don’t. Because of that, the fortunes of the current-day snowmobile industry have fluctuated. If we get a few good snow years in a row, an uptick in snowmobile sales generally follows. If not, the reverse happens.
Of all the manufacturers of snowmobiles in the 1970s, only four remain today. They are: BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products, maker of SkiDoo), headquartered in Valcourt, Quebec, Canada; Polaris Industries, headquartered in Medina, MN, USA; Yamaha Motor Corporation, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Arctic Cat, headquartered in Thief River Falls, MN, USA (although Textron, who owns Arctic Cat, announced in December 2024 that all snowmobile production in Thief River Falls (assembly) and St. Cloud, MN (engines), will cease in the spring of 2025 with the loss of 560 jobs, citing soft demand for the product).
Because the winters of our youth were usually very
steady and predictable, the snowmobile industry flourished during that time. Many of the snowmobiles from our youth have become classics, and some have even become collector’s items.
If you still have a classic old snowmobile somewhere on your property, whether it’s in a shed or out in a field, clean
it off, see if it still runs, and reminisce about the happy times of your youth spent on that machine. Recall the times travelling throughout the snowy countryside or across frozen lakes with family or friends, enjoying winter life to the fullest, and doing so while growing up in the golden age of the snowmobile.
Calvin Daniels Agriculture
Tariffs are easily the biggest issue - perhaps storm cloud is a better word - hanging over agriculture in Canada today.
It’s rather easy to understand the impact of tariffs, they impede the natural supply and demand flow of products crossing borders. The reason for tariffs are simply political tools imposed on trade for a variety of reasons, protecting domestic producers and making international political statements a couple of typical reasons to imposing tariffs.
Right now Canadian agriculture finds itself taking tariff war hits from two sources in particular, the United States and China.
The U.S. issue is less about the nation imposing tariffs and more about President Donald Trump being, well Donald Trump. Ultimately, Trump appears to be a strange amalgam of a man intent on protectionism at home, while covering to be expansionist on
the international side of things. His rhetoric about Canada becoming the 51st state seems far less amusing today than it did the first time he suggested the nonsensical notion. He, more than the U.S. president in general, is a threat to Canadian sovereignty, and his gaze extends farther too Greenland coming immediately to mind.
Trump tosses tariff threats around in a way that seem largely vindictive and petty without any real plan in his seemingly scattered mind, but there may well be darker subtext to consider too.
And, Canadian farmers are left wondering how sales to the U.S. will take place in the months ahead.
China’s tariffs on canola oil and meal and a range of peas is more immediately troublesome given their 100 per cent rate and the scale of the market, but they also appear more easily understood.
The Chinese tariffs are largely a reaction to a 100 per cent Canadian tariff was announced on Chinese electric vehicles, along with a 25 per cent tariff on Chinese steel and aluminium.
The EV tariff was a move to basically shelter domestic efforts in that market, which is ultimately just a protectionist measure by this country.
Sure there have been
suggestions Canada made its move because of questionable labour standards in China and manufacturing there lacks proper environmental standards, but if you start piling up tariffs based on other country’s standards not matching those in Canada one suspects it would encompass a lot of trading partners.
Ultimately is a fledgling EV sector worth sacrificing canola trade too?
Amid the tariff war barrages one other sector seems largely forgottenthe consumer.
It’s truly doubtful - at least in my mind - that Trump has given any real effort to determining what his tariffs will mean to American consumers. He sells them to his followers as creating jobs and that sounds great, but it will mean higher prices too as companies there either pay the tariffs on Canadian imports or source from less easily accessed and likely more costly sources.
And here in Canada it’s the same scenario, items will simply be off shelves or our costs will rise.
You would think consumers, as voters, would be the primary concern for government but the tariff war we are experiencing sadly suggest that is not the case.
by Trudy and Dale Buxton
Here is a question, what is the most popular sport in Canada and a sport that we call our own?
Hockey ... that’s what! We have arrived in the Town of Windsor, the birthplace of hockey.
Windsor was founded in 1685 by the Acadians, and for the most part they were farmers who utilized dikes around the marshland to create rich fertile land in which to grow crops.
There were many battles fought on these lands between the Acadians and the English, who built forts in many communities. In Windsor, the English built Fort Edward.
Fort Edward, which was formally known as Pisiguit, became very important to the British. The fort was built to help prevent the Acadian Exodus from the region.
Fort Edward became most famous with the role that it played in the Expulsion of the Acadians in 1755. The blockhouse of the original fort is still
by Sgt. Dereck Crozier, Biggar Detachment Spring is here and as we look forward to what remains of the snow to disappear, on that feeling of urgency to “hurry”. Let’s not allow the foot to get to heavy on the pedal.
Twenty-two drivers were met with traffic safety incentives to promote road safety. However, if you can’t seem to find a lighter foot, stay clear of Highway 51. Damage was reported to a vehicle’s C-pillar after a report of a 59-year-old male throwing rocks at vehicle out there.
A complaint of an ongoing party at 1 a.m. out in Perdue. However, the public should be happy to know that it was full of responsible people that had planned for a safe ride home. Good to see all the SGI and
standing and is the oldest of its kind remaining in North America.
Windsor was officially incorporated in 1878 and the harbour within Windsor made the town a centre for shipping and shipbuilding. At one time Windsor was the homeport of the largest fleet of sailing ships in Canada.
It also became a centre for railway traffic, connecting most parts of Nova Scotia.
Windsor became victim to a large fire that took out about 80 per cent of its buildings, displacing around 2,500 people. Eventually it was rebuilt.
Today the population is around 3,500 people in the town with another 8,000 people around the community. It is home to an agriculture fair that started in 1765 and continues every September, making it the
longest running fair of its kind in North America.
Home to the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia which was originally founded in Wolfville but was moved to Windsor in 1987, the theatre introduces young audiences to the craft of puppetry, which has become world famous.
Windsor is home to many attractions that happen throughout the year, but one of the craziest attractions is the Pumpkin Regatta, which started in 1999. In this regatta people carve out giant pumpkins then race across Lake Pisiquid! Came you imagine racing in a pumpkin across a lake?
As mentioned, the biggest claim to fame is that of the birthplace of hockey.
Based upon reference from a novel by Thomas Haliburton, the boys
MADD messaging is reaching and resonating with today’s drivers. Thank-you to all that were out there.
The local drama group in their new reality series performed an episode of disturbing the peace in a commercial parking lot where a 37-year-old male was complaining that a 36-year-old female had nothing nice to say to him and felt a provincial court judge should have the need to deal with the issue. Hmmm...
A report made on concerns of Internet safety. Do you know what photos your child is sending out over social media platforms? As a parent you need to have that difficult uncomfortable conversation with the child. It is harder to undo what is done. Prevention is the key.
A work place serious injury incident was reported near Highway 376. A momentary lapse of attention caused an employee to have their foot crushed by a hydraulic pad. Thanks to all our volunteer first responders that assisted on scene.
A suspicious person wondering around yards and looking in houses was report in Perdue. Turns out taxes will be going up, this was the tax assessor. Surprise!
Couple of fraud attempts again to mention, nothing
Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Town of Biggar for the year 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following days: Monday to Friday, March 27, 2025 to May 23, 2025
A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipality Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.
Any person wishing to discuss the notice of assessment or potential appeal may contact the assessor at the Town of Biggar, Box 489, Biggar, SK S0K 0M0. A notice of appeal must be filed with the Secretary of the Board of Revision, Kara Lindel, Western Municipal Consulting Ltd., Box 149, Meota, SK S0M 1X0, by the 23th day of May, 2025
Dated this 27th day of March, 2025
Camille Box Assessor
from King’s Collegiate used to play “Hurley” on a frozen pond next to the school campus in the early years of the 19th century. Games today still take place on that same pond, proclaimed as the Cradle of Hockey, which is located on the farm of Howard Dill.
Howard Dill incidentally is also known as the Pumpkin King, having developed, and patented the pumpkins seeds used in growing the large pumpkins that can weigh hundreds of pounds.
Windsor also claims to have the oldest hockey arena in Canada, called the Windsor Rink built
way back in 1897.
Windsor has many attractions, great shopping, and fantastic food locations, this is a place you could spend many days exploring the town and surrounding area.
We have had such a good trip into Nova Scotia, but unfortunately all good things come to an end.
After Windsor, it’s back to the airport in Halifax and home.
Stay tuned next week as we start a new trip into Alberta.
new but seems the message can never be out there enough. E-mail scam with the attempt of the scammer trying to get your financial information by telling you money has been removed from your account and you need to call them to have it returned. The second fraud is the old “please e-transfer me a deposit” to hold this his item for you. Exchanging money for goods first hand should still be the preferred method unless you 100 per cent trust the source.
Thieves were busy around the area this week, performing a little small-town discount shopping. Tires were stolen from Integra Tire after suspects sat in an adjacent parking lot and cased the town and their prey before making their move. The Biggar Post Office was broken into and thieves damaged the lobby boxes. More senseless damage for what would have been gained. A break and enter into a residence on Woods road during the afternoon hours, this investigation remains on going into a local thief. Take care out there!
Inclusive education means that all students are welcomed by their neighbourhood schools in age-appropriate, regular classes and are supported to learn, contribute and participate in all aspects of the life of the school.
My name is Andrew Bennett, and this is my story of inclusive education. For those who don’t know me, I have 3 children aged 11, 8, and 6. My 11 year old daughter Samaire (aka Sami) sustained a brain injury when she was born. This has meant she has had to experience several disabilities: cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and a cortical visual impairment. In more plain language she cannot walk, she cannot speak, her sight is not particularly good, she is unable to feed herself, and occasionally she has a seizure. I am not saying this to make you feel sorry for her, if you had the opportunity to spend time with her you would understand how similar she is to any other 11 year old girl. However, without that opportunity to get to know her you might only see her disabilities rather than who she is.
When Sami turned 3 we looked to enroll her in preschool and spoke with both of the schools in Biggar. Both welcomed her to attend, acknowledging that she would require additional supports that they would work to provide. In the end, we enrolled her at St. Gabriel school and from preschool until this year (Grade 6) she has been in a regular classroom with the same kids. Her classmates have known her for most of their lives. While an outsider might look at Sami and see the differences between her and her classmates, I don’t think they see that first. She is just one of them, and they belong together.
I believe it is important for all people to understand the benefits of inclusive education. In the past, children with intellectual disabilities were not allowed to attend school (which is called exclusion) or they were placed in separate classrooms away from children without disabilities (which is called segregation). I expect many of you reading this may have not had any children with a disability in your classroom or maybe not even in your whole school. My daughter’s classmates have attended school with Sami most of their lives, so they understand the benefits of inclusive education, but they can’t vote yet.
I have been told that if we had lived in Saskatoon that, given her medical needs, Sami may have been placed at a separate school away from the kids in her neighbourhood. That makes me sad. Our small town school opened its heart, rolled up it’s sleeves, and welcomed Sami to be part of our community. I wish all kids could be given the same grace, and I hope we can all work together to see this happen.
Inclusive education is good for all students, even if they don’t have a disability! Research shows that students without disabilities who learn in the same class as students with disabilities have more positive attitudes towards people who are different from them and feel better about themselves. Students with disabilities who learn in inclusive classes can expect better outcomes in post-secondary, independent living, and employment. All students in inclusive classes can benefit from higher scores in reading & math and are more likely to graduate from high school.
While the Ministry of Education promotes inclusive education, there are still segregated programs, and kids are still being excluded from schools whether part time or full time, you can help by Expressing your support for inclusive education and asking them to commit to developing policies that ensure inclusive practices are always prioritized and supported over segregation and exclusion. Opening the link below will take you to a form that can email both your MLA and the Minister of Education in less than 5 minutes.
Having students with disabilities in a regular classroom is incredibly important for all individuals to develop empathy, show kindness toward those that may be different from themselves, and strengthen skills in patience and understanding. These skills are valuable for society as it allows children the opportunity to build this foundation before they would encounter individuals with disabilities in their future careers. We can learn a lot from kids as they interact with the peers in their classroom with disabilities. The compassion, support, and advocacy our students show to their peers is nothing short of awe inspiring. I have watched our students seek out their peers with disabilities and ask them to join games at recess. I have seen our students offer to help others with various tasks in and out of the classroom, offering kindness, patience, and words of encouragement to help their peers be successful. An inclusive school setting is valuable, as it provides all individuals the opportunity to learn and grow in a diverse environment.
-Mrs. Jennifer Porter, Learning Assistance Teacher
Inclusive education is one of the best changes in human reality. It brings in a whole new world to your classroom like in our class when Sami tried to sing O Canada. If [students with disabilities were removed] it would change our classrooms and more. Now why should you change this? Add a little bit of happiness!
Inclusive education is very important because kids with disabilities should be able to contribute just as much as everyone else. Everyone should have the same amount of value. A classmate of mine with disabilities brings as much joy and energy as everyone else. I know if my classmate had to learn somwhere else it would have a negative impact on my class.
I believe that people with disabilities deserve to go to classes with their classmates. People with disabilities having feelings like everyone else, maybe they can’t always show it but they do. If I didn’t have someone with disabilities in my life, I think I might take some things for granted because some people can’t walk and some people can’t talk and I would take that for granted. People with disabilities open my eyes in a different way. I have someone in my class with disabilities and even though she can’t do some things that I can, she’s happy everyday and she smiles no matter what happens.
Inclusive classrooms provide a rich learning environment for all students, including those with disabilities. My experiences have been profound, as I witnessed the growth of an empathy, understanding, and collaboration among students. Having students with disabilities in regular classrooms foster an atmosphere where all learners can contribute their unique strengths, making the classroom more diverse and dynamic. These students often bring a different perspective enhancing the learning process for everyone. Furthermore, their peers learn important social skills like patience, respect, and cooperation. The shared experience helped to breakdown stereotypes and misconceptions about disabilities. From a Catholic perspective inclusive education aligns with the core values of compassion, justice, and the inherent dignity of every person. Our Catholic faith teaches us that every individual is made in the image of God and should be treated with love and respect regardless of their abilities. In an inclusive classroom, students with disabilities are given the opportunity to be fully integrated and valued members of the community promoting our belief in the importance of inclusion and care for the marginalized. We love because He first loved us. - 1 John 4:19
Rick Garchinski – Principal St. Gabriel School
Patricia Hanbidge Orchid Horiculture
The spring equinox is the first day of spring. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is actually spring in your garden.
The word “equinox” means “equal night” in Latin. So when we have both spring and autumn equinox, the daytime and nighttime hours are very close to equal.
If the earth took exactly 365 days to revolve around the sun, then the date of our spring equinox would not change from year to year. The earth’s orbital period takes about 365.25 days to complete one orbit around the sun.
The standard Gregorian Calendar has 365 days in one year and every four years, there is a leap day to account for the extra quarter day. Because of each quarterday, the equinoxes (and solstices) occur about six hours later each year. When it is a leap year, the extra day makes the date of the equinox earlier. The different time zones, which further complicate the actual date of the equinox. The spring equinox will fall around March 20 and the fall equinox around September 23.
Plants do not realize that the true equinox is the exact moment that the sun crosses the equator and when both the North and the South poles are at virtually the same distance from the sun, they do sense the change.
What this means scientifically, is at this moment, there is no tilt of the earth either towards or away from the sun. Thus, at this moment, the
sun rises due east and sets due west.
For the rest of the year, the sun rises and sets at a slightly different spot. We often do not notice the slight changes, but we certainly realize in mid winter, the sun is at a different angle than in midsummer.
The spring equinox is the beginning of longer days and warmer weather. The increased light exposure influences plant growth, encourages earlier flowering, and impacts the dates of planting and harvesting. In the fall, plants growth and helps us to decide spring planting and harvesting schedules. In the fall, the decrease in daylight hours and cooler temperatures gives the signal to plants to mature, complete their life cycle and prepare for the long winter rest.
Throughout history, many civilizations have developed festivals, rituals and monuments to honour these celestial events. Equinoxes have held great symbolic value - representing balance, renewal and transition.
These events also have an impact on the ecosystems of our earth. Birds rely on the equinoxes to guide their migration journeys. Humans are also tied to these seasonal changes, and societies have been able to thrive by aligning their activities with the natural world.
The seasons represent
the balance between light and darkness and have many cultural, scientific and environmental implications.
As gardeners, we get itchy fingers to get out into the garden and see what is growing. We poke around and look for the tiniest signs of life. When we find a tiny bit of green, or the earliest spring crocus, we rejoice. Coffee shop talk centres around the overnight lows and we all stop to feel the warmth of the sun on our faces. The buds on our trees swell and we anticipate the burst of life when the first flowers or leaves appear. Flannel goes to the back of our closets, along with base layers and fleece jackets. We search for our rubber boots, and stop wearing toques every time we venture outdoors. We wake earlier along with the longer days and enjoy our evening light.
This is why the spring equinox is important to all of us! Happy Spring! Patricia Hanbidge is the Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at orchidhort. com; by e-mail at info@ orchidhort.com ; on facebook @orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort. Tune into GROW Live on our Facebook page facebook. com/orchidhort or check out the Youtube channel GROW youtube.com/channel/
Toronto Blue Jays have gone eight full seasons without winning a playoff series and every baseball expert posting preseason prognostications says that number will likely be nine when the 162-season comes to a close Sept. 28. In fact, the oddsmakers in Las Vegas predict the Blue Jays will finish fifth in the five-team American League East, perhaps the toughest division in baseball. All this despite
an outstanding spring training season, in which they led the A.L. in wins. But you never know. Maybe outfielder Addison Barger will carry his impressive spring training stats into the regular season or maybe he’ll be sent down to Buffalo. Maybe 41-yearold Max Scherzer will find his 2013-18 magic and post a 20-7 record or something similar. His colleagues in the starting pitcher rotation include veterans with talented arms - Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and last year’s breakout star, Bowden Francis, who posted an 8-5 record with a 3.30 ERA. Potentially, that group could thrive, especially if the offence packs a bit more punch than it did last year. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., who has reportedly
cut off negotiations on a contract extension and could become a free agent, or a trading chip, could have a monster year, especially if he’s intent on impressing potential suitors for his free-agent talents. Guerrero, Jr., batted .323 last year with 30 home runs, and with freeagent slugger Anthony Santander batting either before him in the lineup, or following him, pitchers will have to think twice about pitching around the Jays’ two big bangers. Other solid bats for the Blue Jays belong to Bo Bichette, who suffered through an injuryplagued season last year, and free-agent signee Andres Gimenez. Bichette played only 81 games and batted a lowly .225 in 2024, but he’s a career .290 hitter and if he’s healthy for 162 games,
Western Sales supports Biggar bowlers ... Since the break-in at the Bowling Alley, Biggar YBC received a $500 donation from Western Sales as well as various amounts from members from our community: Richard, Angela, Jo, Sean, and Leading Edge Welding. Jennifer and Steven’s donation helped cover the losses for the 5-Pin Association. The Seniors and Telemiracle headpin monies were also replaced by anonymous donors. These associations would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude for the support. (Submitted Photo)
March 17
Monday Adult Mixed
another season around .300 can be expected. Gimenez is expected to start at second base after four seasons with Cleveland Guardians.
Santander, who crushed 44 homers for Baltimore last year, will patrol the outfield with George Springer and Daulton Varsho, both of whom are coming off so-so seasons in 2024, but still carrying potent bats. Springer has averaged 23 home runs a season during his 11-year career while Varsho, who has played only three full seasons, has averaged 21 homers when he’s played a full year.
Surprise contributors to the Jays could be infielder Will Wagner, who batted .305 in 24 games for the Jays after being acquired last July from Houston for pitcher Yusei Kikuch, and Barger, who batted only .197 last year but has enjoyed a tremendous spring, hitting .370 in his first 14 games.
“The floor was raised because of our own guys’ expectations after the way things went last season,”
manager John Schneider told Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun. “And then having guys like Max (Scherzer), (Anthony Santander), (Andrés) Giménez come in ... you
add those personalities and you kind of see guys feeding off each other.”
• Care to comment? E-mail brucepenton2003@ yahoo.ca
Biggar Minor Ball receives Métis Local 105 donation ... Métis Local 105 believes in giving back to our community and supporting local initiatives. With Biggar Minor Ball playing an important role in youth development, promoting teamwork, sportsmanship, and community involvement, a recent fund raiser at the Main Event, which was held in memory of Shay Dorosh, a dedicated coach who had a lasting impact on the program and its players, donated proceeds to their upcoming season. By supporting Biggar Minor Ball, Métis Local 105 aims to continue to help provide positive opportunities for youth in our community. The Métis families goal is to strengthen community connections and invest in programs that bring people together. (Submitted Photo)
Biggar Taekwondo hosts tourney ... Biggar Taekwondo had an amazing weekend with their recent Biggar tournament. Eighty-two competitors from 12 clubs spanning Saskatchewan and Alberta came to Biggar to compete at Biggar Central School. Many organizations and businesses supported the event including Sask Lotteries, Biggar Credit Union and UNIFOR Local 270 and the Biggar Independent. Other sponsors were Kelly’s Kitchen, Kelly’s Greenhouse, Angie’s Hair Salon, Guardian Pharmacy, Shane’s Surplus, Pharmasave, Main Street Market, Boortmalt, Biggar Dollar Store, Hague Taekwondo, Mickelson Store, GTMA and Ray’s Pizzeria. Competition season is now underway and Biggar Taekwondo wishes all the competitors good luck and success with all of the provincial and interprovincial competitions leading up to and including two world competitions. (Independent Photos by Dale Buxton)
Tuesday Night Mixed
Thursday Afternoon Seniors
YBC
Ladies High Single - Jennifer Jiricka 245. Ladies High Triple - Leisha Redlick 561. Mens High Single - Jonathan Redlick 243. Mens High Triple - Mat Harrabek 599.
Ladies High Single - Jeannie Stewart 181. Ladies High Triple - Jeannie Stewart 453. Mens High Single - Michael Hebert 230. Mens High TripleMichael Hebert 535.
Ladies High Single - Ann deBussac 208. Ladies High Triple - Winnie Roloston 443. Mens High Single - Gerry Besse 188. Mens High Triple - Gerry Besse 482.
Pee Wee - Single - Benjamin Olson 85; Double - Benjamin Olson 156. Bantam - Single - Nash Wheaton 159; Triple - Nash Wheaton 366. JuniorSingle - Jesse Bourk 202; Triple - Jesse Bourk 502. Senior - High Single - Noah Park 232; High Triple - Noah Park 642.
Duties & Responsibilities:
e Clubhouse Sta shall be responsible for ful lling the following duties as assigned by the Clubhouse Manager:
•Booking tee times
•Processing greens fees, memberships, food and beverage sales
•Daily cash out and till reconciliations
•Ensure adequate change available in till
•Ensuring adequate supplies are available (ex. Food, beverages, score cards, etc.)
•Prompt communication regarding unforeseen issues at the Clubhouse/Course – Ex. Equipment breakdown, complaints, equipment requests, etc.
•Ensure Clubhouse is clean
•All other assigned duties.
Quali cations:
•Must have Food Safe Certificate, or willingness to obtain
•Must have Serve it Right (SIRS) Certificate, or willingness to obtain
•Be 19 years Åof age or older
•Ability to work days, evenings and weekends
•Experience operating food equipment is an asset
•Experience with cash out procedures is an asset
•Be willing to learn and accept direction
•Be able to work independently
•Great communication and customer service skills
Term of Contract: his contract will be for the 202 Operating Season of the Biggar Golf Club (roughly May to the end of September). These dates are tentative and weather dependent.
Clubhouse Sta will work up to 40 hours per week, with the understanding that shifts may be during the daytime, evening
ARIES –
Mar 21/Apr 20
Aries, you may encounter some stubborn people this week and that always has the potential for confrontation. Make yourself scarce if conversations veer in the wrong direction.
TAURUS –
Apr 21/May 21
Things might not be lining up perfectly for a whirlwind trip right now, Taurus. Don’t let it get you down. In a few more weeks, an entirely different story may emerge.
GEMINI –
May 22/Jun 21
Gemini, this is a good opportunity to begin clearing up the clutter in your life. Start tackling the mess as soon as possible and enjoy the weight being lifted off your shoulders.
CANCER –
Jun 22/Jul 22
Try not to sweat the small stuff right now, Cancer. It often is easier said than done, but the little things could be dimming your light unnecessarily. Seek the support of positive people.
LEO –
Jul 23/Aug 23
Leo, there are plenty of opportunities available to you now whether you realize it or not. Keep an open mind and equally open eyes to see if you can spot chances to learn and grow.
VIRGO –
Aug 24/Sept 22
Virgo, your mind and heart are simply not able to let something go that happened in the past. Your emotions may feel restricted because of it. It’s a passing thing and will resolve.
Sept 23/Oct 23
Libra, you are going through a period of evaluation of certain things in your life. This may bring about tension and even some friction, but it’s a necessary step for you.
SCORPIO –
Oct 24/Nov 22
This week there may be a weighty air that puts a damper on your jovial nature, Scorpio. Instead of getting down on yourself, use this time to focus and get a job done.
SAGITTARIUS –
Nov 23/Dec 21
Sagittarius, you have a chance to make tremendous progress and further your career. It will take hard work, but the rewards will start to roll in soon enough.
CAPRICORN –
Dec 22/Jan 20
Avoid questioning superiors or those in positions of authority right now, Capricorn. This is a surefire path into hot water. Take a break and sort through negative emotions.
AQUARIUS –
Jan 21/Feb 18
Aquarius, you might be going through a time of great preparation with a focus on building a major life project. This is not to be taken lightly and will require a lot of attention.
PISCES –
Feb 19/Mar 20
There may be a sober feeling to the week that leaves you feeling a bit down, Pisces. Focus on finishing projects and these feelings will pass by before you know it.
etc. by coordinating with the organizers.
•Weekly communication to Board Representative of Clubhouse activities.
•Monthly inventory counts.
•Prompt communication regarding unforeseen issues at the Clubhouse/Course - Ex. Equipment breakdown, complaints, equipment requests, etc.
•Ensure Clubhouse is clean
311 Main Street, Rosetown Massage Therapy - Supplements Ideal Protein Clinic Mail orders welcome.
Stay healthy, naturally! 311 Main Street, Rosetown Quality Supplements Mail Orders Welcome.
Monday – Saturday 9:00 – 6:00 306-882-2220 rosetownnatural@sasktel.net www.rosetownnaturalhealth.com
Monday – Saturday 9:00 – 6:00 306-882-2220 rosetownnatural@sasktel.net
by Pastor Ken Davidson, Perdue United Church
As we approach Easter, a time of reflection and renewal, we should consider the profound message of hope and new life that lies at the heart of the season, let it prompt us to examine the possibility of a transformation.
Easter is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, a powerful symbol of hope and victory over death and darkness. This season should inspire us to seek a deeper connection with the one we say we believe saved us from ours sins. This Easter message can be particularly meaningful during challenging times. There is always the possibility of renewal and new beginning.
During this Easter season, let’s reflect on our past, let go of negativity and embark the new day we have been given. Let us use Jesus selfless love and sacrifice inspire us to live lives of compassion, kindness, service and love. We can celebrate the joy of faith and strengthen and
deepen our relationship with God and our neighbours. We can and should share the knowledge that we have in our hearts, and proclaim the truth of the Easter story.
The Risen Christ is the all embracing, loving incarnation, that extends, without limit. The unconditional love and forgiveness to all that believe.
The Easter message gives us the joyful message that we are all “Resurrection People”. Our new life is filled with forgiveness, and the knowledge that death has been defeated, and our life is eternal.
Thanks to the Easter story, we can celebrate, because we know how this story ends.
Thanks be to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!
The Biggar Knights of Columbus would like to say a HUGE thank you to Parrish & Heimbecker for thier continued support of our Pancake Breakfast
Biggar & District Arts Council is hosting a Christmas supper and concert on Friday December 5, 2025 at the Biggar Community Hall.
Tenders are invited to cater supper for approximately 175-200 people. If Interested please submit menu and pricing to:
Beth Hoppe
Box 1598 Biggar, SK S0K 0M0 email: sales@salterindustries.ca phone: 306-280-0596 for more information
Deadline for proposals is MAY 15,
St. Gabriel roman CatholiC ChurCh 109 - 7th Ave.W, Biggar Father Edward Gibney Parish Phone: 306-948-3330 Saturday Mass.......7:00p.m. Sunday Mass....... 11:00a.m. our lady of fatima CatholiC ChurCh, Landis Sunday Mass.......9:00a.m.
Presbyterians, Anglicans and Lutherans St.Pauls Anglican Redeemer Lutheran 205 4th Ave. E 319 7th Ave. E
APRIL 13 10:30am Regular Worship (ST.PAULS) APRIL
Biggar associated gospel church 312 - 8th Ave.W. and corner of Quebec St., Biggar Sunday Service 10:30 a.m. All are welcome to come and join us Biggar United ChUrCh REGULAR SERVICES SUNDAY 11:00 am Minister Dale Worrall Inquires Call Church Office 306-948-2280 Leave Message
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH
Biggar & District Arts Council celebrating over 40 years, presents...
Biggar & District Arts Council celebrating over 40 years, presents...
SATURDAY APRIL 12, 2025
SATURDAY
Starting March 1 , 202 and the next Fridays in Lent, interdenominational Lent services, 12:05 p.m. followed by lunch at: Biggar New Horizons. Sponsored by: Biggar and District Ministerial Assoc. Everyone welcome. Silver Collection Appreciated.
by Delta Fay Cruickshank for the Biggar Museum and Gallery
A slow growth of people from different origins was the beginning of Curthshill, a community and a school. It began in 1907 when Fred L’Ami from Ireland came to settle on the southwest quarter of section 20, Township 37. A month later the McLean brothers coming
from Scotland settled next to L’Ami. By the end of 1907, five others had made their home nearby: R. Barber, Dick White, Jim Braithwaite, W. Moody and Andrew Charles.
They came because unemployment in their native countries drove them away. The promise of “Free” Land in the Dominion of Canada encouraged them to give
growing grain on the Prairies a go. The offer of a quarter section of land for only a $10 registration fee was very tempting.
They came with little knowledge of the climate or even with a knowledge of grain growing, and not much equipment, tools or cash. But, they came with hope and enthusiasm.
then expecting winter to last a couple of months, and in April they are still waiting for winter to let go of its hold!
I asked one of our favourite historians, Harvey Moncrief, a few questions because he grew up in the Curthshill area.
His father was born in Milton, North Dakota in the USA. He came here with his parents and settled first in the Valley Centre area, then moved to the area now known as Curths Hill.
I asked Harvey and he said there was no store in the area, so people went to North Battleford or Biggar as services grew there. Also, there was a store in Oban that they used for picking up essentials. We must also remember that back in the day most things they either did without or made themselves.
Please call with questions or concerns
The first thing they needed was shelter. Logs were not readily available because of the shortage of trees, but the prairie offered up a plentiful supply of sod, and with this many built their first homes.
The community in the area where the school was built was called Curthshill after the homesteader whose land the school was built on. Mr. Curth also built the school. The farmers whose children attended the school became the community. The school was used for dances and card games, and in the summer, it was used for the Vacation Bible School.
E-mail: jimreitermla@sasktel.net Box 278, Rosetown SK S0L 2V0
It was a tough, rough way for the first settlers of the Curthshill community. Can you imagine the shock to their system to witness their first Prairie blizzard! And
The school went to Grade 8 and then the students could somehow make their way into Biggar to further their education. Correspondence school was also available for a student to carry on. By the 1960’s all the country schools were closed, and buses brought all the students into Biggar
Did his family drink milk? Did they have to go to Oban or did a neighbour have a cow?
Harvey’s parents took care of six cows, they had lots of milk to drink. The cream was shipped to the Dairy Pool in Biggar. At the time the Dairy Pool was near where the water tower is now.
Harvey’s mother, like so many women around took care of the children,
the farms and the houses while their husbands went off to war. Let us not forget the contributions made by women during the war years. Just another story of one of the many small communities in the areas around Biggar that thrived at one time. The small communities may not exist anymore, but the prairie spirit carries in the Biggar area. Neighbours helping neighbours and getting together to provide for their families. Life changes, that is the only constant. Not necessarily adversely, just different.
• Information from the North Biggar History books and from Harvey Moncrief.
