Winter
The regular meeting of Biggar Town Council was held March 4 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Attending the meeting were Mayor Jim Rickwood, Councillors Dakota Ekman, Kevin McNicholls, Edward Young, and Ivan Young.
Council resolved that Bylaw No. 25-874, being a bylaw of the Town of Biggar to regulate the Biggar Public Utility Service be read three times and adopted.
Council resolved that Bylaw No. 25-875, being a bylaw of the Town of Biggar to regulate traffic, the use of public streets, and to preserve order thereon be read three times and adopted.
Council resolved that the following reports from Administration and
Council Committees be accepted as presented: Committee Meeting Minutes, February 25, 2025. Recreation Board Meeting Minutes, February 19, 2025. Recreation Director’s Report, February 2025. Assistant Public Works Manager’s Report. Deputy Administrative Officer’s Report. Chief Administrative Officer’s Report.
Council resolved that the General Accounts Paid in the amount of $106,530.36 including payments, payroll deposits, and online payments totalling $54,791.47, and the list of accounts for approval in the amount of $33,695.45 including payments, be approved as submitted
Council resolved that the following correspondence
be accepted and filed:
RCMP - Elected Official Notice re: ATM Thefts. RCMP Report, February 24, 2025. Catterall and Wright - 60th Anniversary Invitation. Biggar Dance Festival CommitteeThank You Letter.
Council resolved that the land proposed for the access road for the Farm in the Dell development be gifted to Farm in the Dell. Also, that the Town of Biggar exempts the Farm in the Dell facility, to be located on SE 5-36-14 W3, from the Utility Bylaw provisions to connect to the Town water and sewer system upon construction. Discussion was held regarding the 2025 Budget.
Council resolved that the New Creation Community Players (NCCP) request for
sponsorship be approved in the amount of $150.
Council resolved that the Red White and Gold Slot Race Organizing Committee’s request for sponsorship be approved in the amount of $700.
Discussion was held regarding traffic safety along Third Avenue East near Third Avenue Park. Discussion was held regarding Saskatchewan Health Authority Board Nominations.
Council resolved that the Town of Biggar approve the Deputy Administrative Officer and Chief Administrative Officer to attend the SAMA 2025 Annual General Meeting virtually.
• Meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m.
Life sort of imitating art will be on hand April 12 at 2 p.m. as real park wardens hit the Majestic Theatre for the eighth and penultimate concert of the Biggar and District Arts Council concert season.
The Wardens don’t just sing about the land, they’re part of it.
The Rocky Mountainbased band’s stories and songs rise from the very land they’ve protected as Canadian national park wardens. With haunting three-part harmonies and chilling tales, the band’s mountain musicblending folk, roots and western styles – reflects Canada’s protected wilderness areas.
Celebrating the return of wild buffalo, wrangling grizzly bears, lonely nights on the packtrail and reflecting on an environment in crisis, a performance by The Wardens has been dubbed “the quintessential mountain-culture concert experience.”
Following the 2021 release of their third fulllength album “Sold Out at the Ironwood,” band member Ray Schmidt was nominated Traditional Singer of the Year by the
Canadian Folk Music Awards. The band has also received numerous regional nominations including 2022 Touring Artist of the Year by the British Columbia Touring Council and Album of the Year by Country Music Alberta.
The Wardens stories and mountain music rise from the very land they’ve protected as Canadian national park wardens collectively for over 50 years.
The band have performed widely across Western Canada and in the U.S. from Alaska to California. They’ve shared the stage with Blue Rodeo, Pharis and Jason Romero and Ian Tyson and performed at Folk Alliance International, Canmore Folk Festival’s main stage and for a royal audience in Edmonton, Alberta.
The Wardens come to the Majestic Theatre for the eighth show in the Biggar and District Arts Council concert season this Saturday, April 12. Please note: show time is at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale from Ross Holt at de Moissac Jewellers or from ticketpro.ca
by Sgt. Dereck Crozier, Biggar Detachment
This past week 29 occurrences were dealt with through the Biggar Detachment.
In traffic, 12 motorists were assisted in their quest to be better drivers, and a Honda Accord met with a deer on Highway 14 near Kinley.
A 31-year-old male reported having his vehicle windshield smashed by a 28-year-old male after an argument.
Report of a sexual assault between teenagers at a teen party in a rural area. Investigation is ongoing into the circumstances.
Report of malicious sharing of intimate images after the end of a bad relationship. At times it can be hard to reach the threshold of criminal court and the burden of proof required for a conviction. But, Saskatchewan has legislation in place for victim’s of “revenge porn” to seek justice through the civil court process.
A 90-year-old had her phone and cards stolen while playing VLT’s. The description of the suspect was familiar to police and with technology on our side. The phone was traced to a residence in Coleville and the phone and cards were recovered before any further loss was incurred. The 34-year-old provided his best good Samaritan speech, explaining how he found the phone and just hasn’t had time to track down the owner yet. Take care out there!
by Sylvain Charlebois, Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Dalhousie University
In the shadow of endless headlines about Donald Trump and the American political circus, another crisis is quietly unfolding on Canadian soil - this one in our fields, barns and fishing boats.
As of March 17, China has imposed crippling tariffs on key Canadian agri-food exports: 100 per cent on grains and canola, and 25 per cent on pork, lobster and seafood. These aren’t abstract threats. They are real, immediate penalties on farmers, fishers and harvesters - Canada’s food producers.
The federal government’s response?
A last-minute announcement, just before the election, doubling the maximum AgriStability payout from $3 million to $6 million per farm. It sounds impressive - until you scratch the surface.
AgriStability, a joint federal-provincial income insurance program, has long suffered from design flaws. To qualify, farmers must already be enrolled, and many have opted
out over the years due to red tape, inconsistent payouts and poor reliability. Even for those still enrolled, profitability in other areas of the farm operation leads to clawbacks in support. In short, the boost may look like a helping hand on paper, but for most producers, it’s largely symbolic. This is political theatre, not economic relief.
Compare this to Ottawa’s swift promise of a $2-billion support package for the auto sector after the U.S. threatened a 25 per cent tariff on imported vehicles, beginning April 2. Never mind that U.S. President Trump’s executive order appears to spare cars and parts covered under the USMCA - for now. While the threat of tariffs looms in theory for automakers, farmers are already living with their consequences. The imbalance is stark. One sector gets real money for a hypothetical crisis. Another, living through a very real trade war, gets a preelection press release and a patchwork safety net. The auto sector
is essential, yes, but so is food. And unlike electric vehicles, food is something you can’t live without
Let’s not pretend this situation is mysterious. China’s retaliation is clearly linked to the Trudeau government’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles - a move aimed at protecting North American EV producers and, more notably, aligning with Washington’s lead. We joined the United States in targeting China’s subsidized clean-tech surge, and now our farmers are paying the price for that allegiance. If Ottawa wants to demonstrate real support for Canadian agriculture, it needs to rethink this strategy. Step one: lift the tariffs on Chinese EVs. Step two: reengage with China diplomatically and quickly. If the goal is to become more economically autonomous and less dependent on the U.S., as some in Ottawa have hinted, then it’s time to act like it. That starts with defending our own interests first
- particularly in sectors that actually are under siege.
Farmers have seen this movie before. Big talk, delayed action and policy Band-Aids that don’t address the root of the problem. During the Trudeau government’s tenure, the same script played
out again and again: glossy announcements with little effect on the ground. Prime Minister Mark Carney is veering dangerously close to rerunning that playbook. Food doesn’t grow in headlines. It grows in soil, on ranches and in coastal waters. Right now, the people who
grow and harvest it are hurting. Ottawa must prioritize their livelihoods with the urgency and seriousness it extends to other sectors. If we are truly committed to food security and economic sovereignty, then it’s time to act - not just announce.
by Troy Media
Voters in Canada face a fundamental question during this federal election campaign: What kind of leadership do we want in this country?
Prime Minister Mark Carney, during the height of the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests, crossed a dangerous line: he redefined dissent as sedition. That response - sharp, sweeping and dismissive - tells us a great deal about how he views opposition and what kind of leadership he brings to the country today.
In a sharply worded opinion piece in the Globe in Mail three years
ago, Carney argued that Canadians protesting COVID-19 mandates were part of an “insurrection.”
He described their actions as “anarchy.” He wrote that people who donated to the protest - many of them ordinary Canadians frustrated by prolonged restrictions - should be “identified and punished to the full force of the law.” Foreign donors, he said, were interfering in Canadian democracy and should be thoroughly exposed.
This wasn’t a measured response to a complex event. It was a visceral, ideological reaction to a movement Carney didn’t agree with. And as voters
weigh their choices today, they should ask themselves what this reveals about the man who wants to continue leading the country.
Yes, the protest disrupted life in Ottawa. Yes, there were bad actors. But painting the entire movement as sedition? That’s a dangerous overreach. What Carney seemed to fear wasn’t violence - it was defiance.
He showed little interest in understanding why so many Canadians - from truck drivers to small-business owners to parents and seniors - had reached a breaking point. Instead, he treated them
as criminals and enemies of public order and demanded a crackdown. That’s not leadership. It reflects a streak of authoritarian thinking - a preference for state control over public dialogue, for punishment over persuasion.
Now that he’s on the campaign trail seeking to remain prime minister, Carney is likely to present himself as calm, competent and pragmatic. But Canadians shouldn’t forget his past words - or what they suggest about how he governs.
If Carney views protests against government overreach as sedition, what other forms of
dissent might he shut down? Will criticism of climate policy be labelled denialism? Will parents questioning school curricula be branded extremists? Will journalists or whistleblowers who challenge official narratives be dismissed as foreign agents?
Canadians should be wary of leaders who demand obedience rather than dialogue - especially those who cloak an authoritarian leadership style in the language of peace, order and good government. That phrase, after all, is the foundation of our Constitution, not a blank cheque for state
control, but a promise that government exists to serve all citizens, not silence them.
As we head to the polls, we need more than résumés and sound bites. We need to understand how a candidate thinks about power, the public and the role of disagreement in a democracy. On that front, Prime Minister Mark Carney has already told us more than he perhaps intended.
The question is: Are we listening?
Bob Mason Notable Notes
Some poetry - there’s been a lot of lousy stuff written - has always fascinated me. Not so much for its sometimes fantastic alliterations and structure but because of pieces one finds, now and then, that have ... how should I put it ... an opinion-changing insight into the subject they mention. Whew!
As a name for an article, “Tombstones” in a way makes a somewhat morbid impression, and maybe I shouldn’t use it. But it is a definite description of the intent
of this little piece. So let’s go!
When mentioning “opinion-changing,” Y.T.
(Yours Truly) wants to point out that for most of our lives most of us look on death and dying as an oh-so-unacceptable part of life. And yet we all know that passing on is just as natural a part of things as being born!
Having the same dread ideas of death as most people, was it ever “opinion-changing” to find this verse in an old book we had years ago. The Old Soldier
“Feel my pulse, Sir, if you want to, “But there ain’t much use to try.”
“Never say that!” said the surgeon,
As he smothered down a sigh.
“It would never do, old comrade,
“For a soldier to say die!”
“What you say don’t make much difference, Doctor,
“When you come to die!”
It may not mean much
to you but it has changed my idea of dying for the last 60 years!
Back to the subject! All over the world are the burial sites of many great people of the past. I understand that the much-mentioned “Valley of the Kings” in Egypt holds the remains of many of the countries ancient rulers, interred with great ceremony to assure their high position even in the after life. And yet, other than possibly King Tut, many people nowadays couldn’t name one other of those vaunted royals. How come?
It would fill quite a few volumes if one were to record the writing on the tombstones of the world. And yet, for all the certainly well intended engravings, when someone passes on, we grieve for a while and then - I know this seems kind of cruel - we forget!
Family trees and documented relations aside, I think the following realization
Why does this town have so many talented and generous
has been with us all the way down the ages. But maybe Mr. Kipling put it best:
There is neither east or west, Border nor breed nor birth.
There are great tombstones and great statues of great patriots all over the world. Or were they just ordinary folks?
Maybe, in the eyes of some, the world is made to recognize the winners of the day, and little people (like us!) don’t count for much. But there have been millions of “us” over the ages, little, no-account folks who had nothing to do with the memorable structure of anything! Are they so insignificant?
As we look back at world history, should we just shrug and pass them off as “has been”? Or as we look into faces of our contemporaries, should we say something like, “These are the memorials of all those other little folks who’ve gone before. These memorials are not
made of stone with prosy paragraphs, but real, live thinking images to remind us that all those other ones were here!”
Sometimes I think the very fallacy of those marble images, however conscientiously portrayed, has led us into situations where ordinarily we wouldn’t be! What I mean is that often our aims and ambitions have been so influenced by the ideas and inventions great people have had in the past, that we are incapable of coming up with any progressive new thoughts of our own that would better fit in with our changing times. Whew!
Flattering Note: I read somewhere that there were more statues of Taras Shevchenko in the Ukraine that of Joseph Stalin! Taras Shevchenko was the “ploughman poet” of the Ukraine, and Joseph Stalin was ... well
The evil that men do lives after them, The good is often interred
with their bones! At the start of this little piece, it said something like, “all over the world are the burial sites of great people.” But great or not, it made some pretty good copy a while ago when they started digging up skeletons at Kapelshe Veer while repairing the dikes along the Maas River in Holland.
Those guys had lain there in that churned up bit of ground for over 50 years, and on one even knew that they were there! So much for the pyramids and the Taj Mahal!
One wonders how many folks over the ages lie in nameless graves. The only memory of their existence is in our very selves.
Sure, as we stroll through the cemeteries of the world, we should remember the dead. As we stroll through life, we should greet the folks we meet as memoriams to those millions of insignificant little people whose statues don’t stand in the park!
by Delta Fay Cruickshank for
the Biggar Museum and Gallery
I got to sit in on the Music Festival adjudications this week in the Majestic Theatre in Biggar. It was such a delight to see the aspiring musicians. And it all got me to thinking about the role volunteerism plays Biggar. Like how many volunteers helped put together the Music Festival? How many hours did many spend over and above their positions to create this opportunity?
Then I realized, this whole theatre was revamped by volunteers in the 1980’s. The annual productions that we watch on stage are presented by volunteers. The treats served by volunteers, the promotion created by volunteers, the theatre board are volunteers.
People working the shifts, volunteers! Without volunteers what would we do for entertainment in town?
Not only does the act of volunteering enhance our community, but it also has great benefits for the individual doing the volunteering.
• Volunteering will increase self-confidence, self-esteem and a sense of life satisfaction.
• Volunteering could combat depression. Avoiding social isolation is a key factor in reducing depression. Getting out of the house and meeting new people could lead to a solid support system.
• Volunteering is good for your health at any age, but especially beneficial in older adults. The practise could lower symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease. Studies have found those who
• Volunteering could give one a sense of pride and identity. And the better one feels about themselves could lead to a more positive view of life and future goals.
volunteer have a lower mortality rate. Consider giving a call to the organization that appeals to you.
The Biggar Museum will soon be having their Volunteer Appreciation Week, and the board members will be creating a brunch for all the volunteers who donate their time and supplies to the museum. If you have baked anything in the past for the museum, expect a call for your invitation. If you do not receive a call, please give us a call. It was not our intention to miss you.
FORM H [Section 66 of the Act]
Notice of Call for Nominations By-Election
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that nominations of candidates for the office of:
Councilor (1): Village of Perdue
will be received by the undersigned on the 23rd day of April, 202, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Village of Perdue Office; and during regular business hours on April 3rd, to April 23rd, 2025, at the Village Office
Nomination forms may be obtained at the Village Office, 1103 – 9th Street, Perdue.
Dated this 3rd day of April 2025
Andrea Ball Returning Officer
Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the VILLAGE OF PERDUE for the year 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor from 9am to 11:30 and 12:30 to 4:30 on the following days: Monday to Friday March 27, 2025 to May 27, 2025.
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 VILLAGE OF PERDUE 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 VILLAGE OF PERDUE, Box 190, Perdue, SK S0K3C0, 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 VILLAGE OF PERDUE, 11039TH Street, Perdue, SK S0K3C0. A notice of appeal, accompanied by a $25.00 appeal fee, which will be returned if the appeal is successful, must be submitted by the May 27, 2025
Dated this 27th day of March, 2025
Andrea Ball Assessor.
Schell
When we were young, our late father, early one Saturday afternoon on our bush property as our family culled and cut down dead and decaying trees in the spring snow to harvest as firewood for our home, shared this profound piece of manly philosophy over lunch with his three growing boys:
“A man who cuts his own firewood is twice warmed.”
And that’s very true. For those of you who may not know what he meant, he meant that you are firstly warmed by the physical effort of cutting the wood yourself, and then later on you are secondly warmed by the heat from the burning of that same wood as you burned it in your wood stove or in
your fireplace at home. Our father was an ardent and robust outdoorsman who loved and respected the bush. Dad loved everything about wood. He loved to cut down trees, he loved to cut the downed trees up into splittable sections, he loved to split the wood sections into usable firewood, and he loved the heat and roaring glow of a fire in a wood stove. Firewood was an essential part of our father’s life growing up.
Dad grew up on a country farm where wood was the sole source of heat for their home. Not only was his country home heated solely by wood as a boy, but he was also appointed by his teacher as the boy who had to get to school a bit earlier than everyone else in the winter to get the wood stove going to heat up their one-room schoolhouse so that everyone else would be comfortable when they came to school to begin their studies for the day. Because the burning of wood held a special place in our father’s family
life growing up, it also held a special place in our memories of growing up in the country. I distinctly remember our grandparents having a big black cast iron woodburning cook stove in their kitchen that they used to cook meals every time we visited. They also had an electric stove as a backup, but it was only used as a last resort if the wood stove was going to take too long to cook the meal. The wood stove was big and black with white enamel oven doors, and you had to lift the cooking surface stove lids with handheld lid lifters to feed wood into the stove to maintain the fire for cooking. Many a happy Sunday dinner we enjoyed at Grandma and Grandpa’s was cooked on their wood-burning cast iron cook stove.
Eventually, after Mom and Dad married, started our family, and built our house in the country, Dad decided it was finally time to invest in a wood-burning stove for our family home. He originally purchased a Franklin stove and set it up in the living room.
Village of Landis
Notice is hereby given that the Assessment Roll for the Village of Landis for the year 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor from: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the following days: Tuesday to Thursday, March 27, 2025 to May 27, 2025 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.
Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment is required to file his or her notice of appeal, including the appeal fee, by the 27th day of May, 2025, with:
Kara Lindal, Secretary to the Board of Revision Western Municipal Consulting Box 149 Meota, SK, S0K 1X0
Dated this 27th day of March, 2025.
Shantell Redlick Assessor
Rural Municipality of Rosemount No. 378
Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll of the Rural Municipality of Rosemount No. 378 for the year 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection at the office of the Assessor from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the following days: Monday to Thursday, April 3, 2025 to June 3, 2025; excluding holidays.
A Bylaw pursuant to section 214 of the Municipalities Act has been passed and theassessment notices sent as required. All fees must be submitted to the local assessor at the RM of Rosemount No. 378. 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 RM of Rosemount No. 378, Box 184, Landis, SK S0K 2K0, and forwarded to the Secretary of the Board of Revision.
Any person who wishes to discuss the notice of assessment or potential appeal may contact the Assessor at: Rural Municipality of Rosemount No 378 P.O. Box 184 Landis, SK. S0K 2K0 or by calling 306-658-2034. A notice of appeal, accompanied by a $25.00 appeal fee, which will be returned if the appeal is successful, must be submitted by the 3rd day of June, 2025.
Dated at Landis, Saskatchewan this 3rd day of April, 2025. Kara Kirilenko Assessor.
We enjoyed the warmth and crackle of a wood fire on many cold and snowy winter nights and occasionally saw the natural phenomenon of the ‘migrating geese’ radiating from the fire on the inner walls of our Franklin stove. Taking his love of firewood to the next level, our entrepreneurial father decided to turn woodcutting into a profitable side business. While we usually just cut wood for ourselves, Dad knew the local cottagers enjoyed the pleasure of a glowing fire as much as he did. We boys would go with Dad to a local sawmill to buy truckloads of slabwood to cut to size and sell to the local cottagers for firewood. For those who may not know, slabwood is the outside part of the tree, including the bark, that is left over when the sawmill cuts the harvested tree
logs into usable building materials. Slabwood was considered scrap at the time, so the mill was happy to sell it by the truckload to anyone who wanted to take it away. We would pile the wood as high as we safely could in the back of our truck, using extra-long pieces of sturdy slabwood as side slats to secure the load and make the pile even higher. Once our truck was stacked to the sky with slabwood, we would tie the load down securely and take it home to pile close to our own little personal sawmill, ready to be cut to size and parcelled out to any cottager who wanted to order a cord of wood from Dad. As word about his business spread, many local cottagers experienced a warm and soothing evening fire in their fireplaces thanks to the efforts of our family.
Double entendres
aside, men and wood will always have a special relationship with each other. Lynn Johnston, the Canadian creator of the ‘For Better or for Worse’ cartoon strip, understood this, once writing in her autobiography, as she lived with her dentist husband in a rural community in the wilds of Northern Ontario, “You can mess with a man’s wife, but not his woodpile.”
Like in the story of the grasshopper and the ant, our family spent many weekends in our bush lot in the early spring before the bugs came out, harvesting decaying trees for firewood in preparation for the winter to come. And I smile about those times spent in our youth, working in the early spring snow and bonding with family, all the while being ‘twice warmed’ by the cutting of our own firewood.
Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Rural Municipality of Reford No. 379 for 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection, by appointment, in the office of the Assessor from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the following days:
Tuesdays & Wednesdays, April 4th to June 11th, 2025
A bylaw pursuant to Section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.
Any person wishing to discuss the notice of assessment or potential app eal may contact the assessor at the R.M. of Reford No. 379, 214 Second Ave. East, Wilkie, SK S0K 4W0. A notice of appeal, accompanied by a $500 appeal fee, which will be returned if the appeal is successful, must be filed with the Secretary of Board of Revision, Kara Lindal at Box 100 Wilkie, SK, S0K 4W0 by the 11th day of June, 2025
NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL
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
by Calvin Daniels
Now I completely recognize that any posting on social media needs to be taken with a bushel of salt because social media is certainly a cesspool of misinformation, so you best do some ‘fact checking’ and determine what sources are legitimate.
So when I recently saw a post suggesting there are ‘40 million acres of manicured lawns in America’ it was a case of immediately doubting such huge numbers.
Imagine if the number were accurate and those acres were instead producing wheat how many bushels would be produced to feed the world’s hungry.
Ultimately that was what the ‘post’ was actually about. It suggested that if lawns were ditched and the idea of ‘victory gardens; was brought
back, food security would drop dramatically.
And therein lies an interesting vision of what could be, and it matters not of whether the 40 million acres is accurate or not. Even in a community such as Yorkton, or Weyburn, or Moose Jaw there are lawns in front of hundreds of homes which exist basically to look at as most front yard lawns are little used for activities beyond burning gas or using electricity to mow the grass, or spraying some herbicide to deal with a rogue dandelion.
But, imagine the beets and turnips and carrots and parsnips and potatoes that might be produced and stored to feed the hungry if the grass was tilled under and veggies planted instead.
And we don’t need to look past the growing need realized by local food banks and community fridges to know there are hungry people living in our communities.
One wonders how we might better use the land resource which now grow grass to feed our neighbours? Could for example a small tax break be given to front yard gardens with the produce donated to a food bank? It certainly would not be so
different from a business garnering a grant from the city to upgrade its façade.
One can see similar efforts by farmers, some tax break for raising some livestock destined for food banks.
Of course when you start to look at how we might better our community by aiding those most needing a hand, it opens the doors to some bigger ideas that might seem extreme, but you are left wondering why.
For the sake of argument, let’s take the growing issue of homelessness. One at least partial solution is creating ‘tiny houses’ as a starter home for the homeless. But even tiny houses cost money.
But what of instead of requiring one, two, or three car garages in some development areas, we realize it would be better to have the BMW outside, and the materials that would have gone into a ‘required’ garage go to a tiny home - with a small tax break for the homeowners decision?
Certainly a home with veggies out front and no garage seems a pretty reasonable way to help others, and are at least ideas to start looking at new ideas.
Advertising doesn’t cost, it pays!
Jim Reiter, MLA
Rosetown-Delisle Constituency
215 Main Street, Rosetown
Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 5:00
Tel: 306-882-4105
Fax: 306-882-4108
Toll Free: 1-855-762-2233
Box 278, Rosetown SK S0L 2V0
Please call with questions or concerns
“Welcome
to Loreburn, Sask”
E-mail: jimreitermla@sasktel.net
The Saskatchewan Traveller by Trudy and Dale Buxton
We have returned from
the east coast, put a few of our affairs in order, patched up the bike and get ready to go for another run, this time on a beautiful August summer day. Destination? Lake Diefenbaker!
We head down to Rosetown on Highway 4 and then hang a left on Highway 15 which takes us into Outlook.
After a quick stop and some supplies, we continue east on Highway 15, passing by the small community of Broderick. We didn’t stop today, but did you know that there is a fantastic restaurant in this tiny community of 85 people?
Called the Terrace Dining Room, I can tell you from personal experience that if you are in the area, stop by this place. The food is excellent, and the prices are not bad. It doesn’t look like much from the outside but once inside the décor and the lounge are quite nice - definitely worth the visit.
Onward east we hang a right on Highway 219, known as the Chief Whitecap Trail, the road is a secondary highway but in good shape and a nice easy distance to Danielson Provincial Park. If you are looking for a place to go camping, Danielson offers up some nice beaches and some very good fishing in Lake Diefenbaker. Danielson is part of the Trans Canada Trail for those who like to go hiking and just enjoy the surroundings.
Highway 219 turns into Highway 44 and we continue east into the community of Loreburn.
Loreburn is a quiet community of around 100 people and was named after a distinguished British fellow whose name was Robert Reid, the first Earl of Loreburn in England.
For being such a small community, Loreburn does have a few amenities like a post office, and more importantly, a K to 12 school. Loreburn relies mainly on agriculture and tourism for incomes. For groceries most people of the community travel just 10 minutes south to Elbow, which is a bit larger in size.
Elbow is a community of around 340 people and is mainly an agriculture and tourism village.
Elbow got its name from its position near to the South Saskatchewan River - when you look at the river from the top it curves into an elbow shape.
Elbow was incorporated in 1909, but there is evidence dating back
to as early as 1804 that there where people who had camped along this “elbow in the river”.
Nestled in the community is a sod house, which is now a museum.
If you are a golfer there is a very nice golf course that is situated by the popular Elbow Harbor Marina, where you can keep your boat for those fishing trips.
There are many nice neighborhoods and houses in Elbow, nice community.
After a quick visit through the community and a stop at the local ice cream parlour we continue north on Highway 19 to Highway 44 and head east to Davidson. Once back to Davidson, it’s on to having supper at Big Murs in Dundurn and then home.
It was a great day for a ride and nice to be back on the bike as we covered a little more than 500 kilometres.
Stay tuned next week as we make a little trip into Alberta.
DEADLINE MONDAY AT 5P.M.
Potluck Party a big sucess… On Sunday March 31 the English students from Great West College paid a visit to the residents of Almost Home for a funfilled evening of traditional foods, from the students , along with some games and song & dance, where all could join in.
Jennifer Lindgren was the organizer for this event and is also the teacher for her student who come to this country and learn English in thier new land.
Sandra Grobell is the manager of Almost Home and welcomes the activities for her residents. Well done Jennifer for organizing such an event and with all the fun that took place there will be another event in the future. (Independent photos by Dale Buxton)
On March 29, Eagle Creek Wildlife Federation held their Annual Awards Banquet and Fundraiser in Perdue.
The evening consisted of Dinner catered by Val Fossen, of “Eagle Creek Concession”, followed by awards before ending the night with live entertainmenet by “The Band Wagon”.
The 2024 award winners were: Destynee
Young - Junior Northern Pike; Drew DrapakJunior Walleye; Carson Pickett- Junior Perch; Laura Jenkins - Ladies Walleye; Kyle Pickett - Men’s Walleye; Jacey Sarvas- Men’s Goldeye; Preston Haanen - Man’s Non Typical Mule Deer; Sarah Drapak - Junior Girl Typical White Tail Deer; Darian GareauJunior Boys Typical White Tail Deer; Laura Jenkins
- Ladies Typical White Tail Deer; Kyle Pickett - Men’s Typical White Tail Deer; Sarah Drapak - Junior Balck Bear; Laura Jenkins - Ladies Black Bear; Ed DrapakMen’s Black Bear; Laura Jenkins - 2023 Wildlife Photo; 2023 Scenic Photo - Shantelle Downton; Junior Angler of the year - Carson Pickett; Junior Master SportsmanSarah Drapak; Overall
Angler of the Year - Kyle Pickett; Best Overall Big Game - Ed Drapak. MC of the evening was E.C.W.F President Susan Pezderic pictured with Shelley Sarvas, accepting a generous
donation from Nutrien and with Desiree Young accepting a generous donation from Cargill. Reminder that members of SWF have permission to access Habitat Trust Lands. Non-members
must obtain permission to access SWF lands by emailing permission@ swf.sk.ca.
More photos on page 15. (Independent Photos by Dale Buxton)
There couldn’t be a more appropriate word for the scramble to determine the final few teams for the Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s wild, man, so the term ‘wildcard’ could not be more apropos.
The 82-game regular season winds up April 17 and while some teams locked up berths weeks ago - hello, Washington; hi there, Winnipeg - there are division positions and wildcard spots still up for grabs.
The situation is extreme in the East, where at one point in late March, there were five teams battling for the second and final wildcard position and separated by a mere three points. Barring a late
Sometimes it seems that winters are long, but once we get through January - we truly are looking at the end of winter. The days are getting longer and the mercury in many locations is on the plus side of zero! What that means is spring is on the way!
It is the last chance to get planning on what is going to happen in your garden or landscape this growing season, especially if you are going to be making any radical changes to your space. If you like to start your own seeds, you may have already ordered them or perhaps already are watching the magic of tiny little seeds becoming plants that will grace our gardens come May. If you are ready to get gardening, then it might
collapse, Ottawa Senators have seemingly locked up the first wildcard berth in the East, but Montreal, the Islanders, Rangers, Columbus and Detroit were all neck-and-neck.
It’s not so crazy tight in the West, but fans of Vancouver and Calgary will be on pins and needles down the stretch as they try to sneak into one of the wildcard spots. Minnesota and the hardcharging St. Louis Blues appeared fairly secure as the calendar flipped to April, with the Canucks and Flames needing lateseason winning streaks to have a hope.
The chase for the wildcard positions in the East is just one of the highlights of a very entertaining NHL season, which offered excitement galore. Ottawa making the playoffs with former Canucks’ coach Travis Green at the helm created loads of excitement in our nation’s capital. Montreal and Columbus both coming to life and making solid runs was a surprise, with the possibility of playoff regulars Boston
and Rangers being sent to the sidelines. The relative success enjoyed by the Blue Jackets was especially heartwarming, considering the team’s best player, Johnny Gaudreau, was killed along with his brother Matthew while riding their bicycles in August.
Five Canadian teams could make the NHL playoffs, making Sportsnet happy.
Winnipeg was one of the best stories of the year, roaring off to a 14-1 start and not letting up, battling Washington all season for the President’s Trophy as the league’s overall points leader. Jets have perhaps the best line in the league - Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi. Goalie and MVP candidate Connor Hellebuyck was the team’s glue.
Another goalie who was the undisputed kingpin of his team was Linus Ullmark in Ottawa. The Senators picked him up as a free agent after a great season last year with Boston and the
Swedish netminder has been sensational.
Montreal won only 30 games in 2023-24 and had already exceeded that total after 67 games this year. The vastly improved Habs have one of the most potent lines in the league, led by sniper Cole Caufield, captain Nick Suzuki and former No. 1 overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky.
Canada’s two other playoff hopefuls, Toronto and Edmonton, led by superstars Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid respectively, have had solid seasons, but are anything but dominant.
It would certainly be a surprise if the Leafs snapped their 58-year Stanley Cup drought, but hey, why not? Just add that to the ‘wild’ pile.
• Headline at fark.com: “Seahawks DE DeMarcus Lawrence to former Cowboys’ team-mate Micah Parsons: ‘Maybe if you spent less time tweeting and more time winning, I wouldn’t have left.’”
• Super 70s Sports: “Slap
Shot gets better with each passing year. At our current rate of cultural decline, we’re about a decade from it becoming the new Citizen Kane.”
• Vancouver comedy guy Torben Rolfsen: “Ohio State running backs showed off absurd talent with their performances at the NFL combine. It’s amazing what they can do when there aren’t any Michigan defenders on the field.”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “I was surprised to learn Rob Gronkowski grew up in the state of New York. Usually, he seemed to spend most of his free time in the state of intoxication.”
• Headline at fark.com: “Arizona Cardinals might be the best in the entire NFL with 2025 season ticket renewals and sales; might be the rumours of upcoming dozen-egg night.”
• Torben Rolfsen again: “They did the wave at the Tokyo dome (during the Dodgers-Cubs game), or as they call it, the tsunami. Trivia: Did you know that in the southern
be time to ease into the gardening chores. Try not to overdo it all at once as gardening muscles have been resting for the long, cold winter. If you have not kept up your personal physical fitness since fall, then do yourself a favour and work into gardening slowly. Make use of those lovely mornings and evenings going for a brisk walk (where the ice has melted) followed up by some simple stretching exercises, using of course those same muscle groups you will use all summer long in the garden. As the snow recedes and the soil dries, it is a great time to clean up the borders. Take away any dead plant parts, dig out any offending dandelions that seem to be already so green but take some time to ponder what is coming up. I find that each spring I get a few surprises. Things seem to be sprouting in places where you can’t quite remember planting something! I guess that is what we call a “spring bonus”!
It is also a good time to tidy up the garden shed or garage. The temperatures are warm enough that it is not an ordeal to be outside for longer periods of time.
Take a look at your tools, clean them up, sharpen them and get rid of what you do not use. The expression spring cleanup is generally meant to be for your garden. But for me, it is for every part of my property! It is such a great feeling to dispose of clutter!
If you still have not done your spring pruning, you still have a little bit of time. Try not to miss this chore as pruning later in the year is not ideal for most of our woodies. The rapid growth of spring will ensure that any wounds caused by pruning will heal over quickly thus reducing any chance of disease transfer. Remember that it is not a good idea to do catch up pruning but instead to do a little bit each year. Do not remove more than one third of the canopy in any given year.
If you have any trees or shrubs that need moving, then as long as the soil is not too wet but is fully thawed then this is a good time to do this rather big chore. The buds have not yet burst so moving anything at this time will be the least risky time of all. Better yet, anything you move will have the
entire growing season to get re-established.
Rake your lawn areas if they are dry enough. It is amazing how this small chore really spruces up the landscape. It seems that the grass areas turn green overnight once they have some of that thatch removed. It is a bit early to fertilize with conventional inorganic fertilizers as that will encourage fast green growth that is susceptible to late spring frosts.
Pay close attention to any seedlings you have growing inside. If you have started your seeds without additional lights and have them sitting on a windowsill you will likely have noticed them reaching for that sun. Try to give them all the light possible as if you find them reaching for light the seedlings will be less strong and more susceptible to stresses like disease.
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
hemisphere, the wave goes counter clockwise?”
• Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe. com: “Arkansas blew a 16-point lead midway through the second half and a six-point leaded with one minute and 15 seconds left and the ball, to lose to Texas Tech in OT 85-83. This is the most embarrassing thing to happen to Arkansas since they elected Sarah Huckabee Sanders governor.”
• RJ Currie again: “According to Forbes, roughly eight in 10 NFL players go broke within three years of retiring. It’s a different story in the CFL, where players go broke three years into their careers.”
• Headline at theonion. com: “Star BYU Player Suspended After Testing Positive For Coffee.”
• fark.com headline:
“Cuba has record 26 players on opening-day rosters. ICE not saying how many will be on second-day rosters.”
• Care to comment? E-mail brucepenton2003@ yahoo.ca
on our Facebook page facebook.com/orchidhort or check out the Youtube
channel GROW youtube. com/channel/zkiUpkvyv2e2HCQlFl0JyQ?
Monday Adult Mixed
Tuesday Night Mixed
Thursday Afternoon Seniors
YBC
Ladies High Single - Marilyn Miller 211. Ladies High Triple - Marilyn Miller 584. Men’s High Single - Barry Redlick 230. Men’s High TripleBarry Redlick 605.
Ladies High Single - Melissa Raschke 170. Ladies High Triple - Melissa Raschke 432. Men’s High Single - Michael Hebert 216. Men’s High TripleMichael Hebert 574.
Ladies High Single - Marcia Besse 155. Ladies High Triple - Marcia Besse 435. Men’s High Single - Gerry Besse 212. Men’s High Triple - Greg Love 549.
Pee Wee Single - Benjamin Olson 133; Double - Benjamin Olson 178. Bantam Single - Nash Wheaton 155; Triple - Nash Wheaton 417. Junior Single - Jesse Bourk 187; Triple - Jesse Bourk 470. Senior High Single - Noah Park 235; High TripleNoah Park 627.
ARIES –
Mar 21/Apr 20
Aries, a burst of energy propels you to move forward. It feels like everything is clicking, and you are full of ideas and brimming with contagious enthusiasm.
TAURUS –
Apr 21/May 21
You are in the mood to get down to business this week, Taurus. It’s a great time to focus on your career or finances. Pay attention to all of the little details as you go along.
GEMINI –
May 22/Jun 21
Curiosity takes control this week, Gemini. Opportunities for learning are all around you. You just need to look for them. It may be a new class or a trip that you take with friends.
–
Jun 22/Jul 22
Cancer, this week you may have a lot of emotional processing going on, particularly regarding relationships or past experiences. Embrace these deeper feelings.
LEO –
Jul 23/Aug 23
Your social energy could be off the charts this week, Leo. Others will be drawn to your magnetism and selfconfidence. It is a great time to network or collaborate.
VIRGO –
Aug 24/Sept 22
Efficiency and productivity are the name of the game right now, Virgo. When it comes to organizing and planning, you will be all about getting things done in a timely manner.
–
Sept 23/Oct 23
Libra, this week is a time for self-expression. You may find yourself pulled toward hobbies or artistic endeavors that enable you to showcase your talents.
SCORPIO –
Oct 24/Nov 22
This is a time to dive deep into your home and family life, Scorpio. You want to create a sense of stability at home and address anything that might compromise that. Trust your gut with how to move forward.
SAGITTARIUS –
Nov 23/Dec 21
Communication is the key this week, Sagittarius. Initiating important conversations and speaking directly with others is a great way to clear the air and get to the root of these issues.
CAPRICORN –
Dec 22/Jan 20
Capricorn, you are focused on your financial well-being this week, but other issues may fall by the wayside. You might have to bring in someone else to keep the balance.
AQUARIUS –
Jan 21/Feb 18
Personal goals and ambitions are front and center this week, Aquarius. This could put you in the spotlight and showcase what you want to accomplish to those around you.
PISCES –
Feb 19/Mar 20
Pisces, this week invites you to slow down and recharge your batteries as much as possible. You might feel pulled to spend time alone or simply get away for a few days.
1.
12. Sour
16. Infrequent
17. Former AL MVP Vaughn
18. Policemen wear one
19. Out of the question
24. Used to chop
25. Symptoms
26. Not moving
27. Folk singer DiFranco
28. Comedian Armisen
29. Quantitative fact
30. Incline from vertical
31. Scottish musician
33. Rooney and Kate are two
34. Positioned
38. A very short time
39. Tropical American shrubs
40. Yemen capital
43. Spanish municipality
44. Medical professionals
45. Fibrous material
49. Confined condition (abbr.)
50. Without covering
51. “Mad Men” honcho Don
53. Hockey position
54. Taste property
56. Fertile spots in a desert
58. They precede C
59. “Requiem for a Dream” actor Jared
60. Try a criminal case
63. Liberal rights organization
64. Spoke
65. Insect repellent
CLUES DOWN
1. Unshaven facial hair
2. More thin
3. Show up
4. Seethed
5. Ancient Greek city
6. Poisonous plant
7. Hello
8. College sports official
9. Monetary unit of Russia
10. Wings
13. Take too much of a substance
14. A citizen of Uganda
15. Most appealing
20. Atomic #18
21. Global investment bank (abbr.)
22. Jewish calendar month
23. Popular sandwich
27. Swiss river
29. Incorrect letters
30. Popular entree
31. Foot (Latin)
32. A driver’s license is one form
33. Extinct flightless bird
34. Appetizer
35. After battles
36. It neutralizes alkalis
37. Beverage container
38. Partner to “Pa”
40. Gray American rail
41. Salt of acetic acid
42. Canadian province
44. Dish made with lentils
45. Narrative poem of popular origin
46. For each one
47. Come to terms
48. Test
50. More dishonorable
51. Unit of loudness
52. The Ocean State
54. Monetary unit in Mexico
55. Lying down
57. Thus
61. Where LA is located
62. Western State
by Pastor Doug Motz, Biggar Chapel of Hope
With Easter less than one month away, let’s reflect on that first Easter.
Come with me on a journey back 2,000 years. This account is recorded in many ancient writings, but the best account is recorded in the oldest and best seller - the Bible. In that book we find the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 26 and 27 which we can use to navigate through this journey.
Let’s get started.
It was just hours before Jesus who was both God and human would be crucified. Jesus invites us to join Him and His 12 disciples for their final meal together. What happens next seemed strange, and looks of the disciples seem puzzled too! Near of the meal He takes unleavened bread, breaks it - told the 12 and us to eat it - as it represents His soon to be broken body. Then He takes the third cup and said to them and us, “Drink of it, all of you. For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
All of this, and as we followed them out of the upper room to Gethsemane seemed too confusing! Even the disciples were bewildered! I mean the arrest with Judas Iscariot and a band of soldiers -
like what’s going on here?!
Once the Jewish leaders pronounce Him guilty of death, they take Him to the Roman Governor Pontus Pilate for final judgement. We follow Jesus to this high court, where Pilate ordered Jesus to be scourged.
As we stand stunned and helpless while watching these soldiers tie Him to a pole and begin beating Him multiple times. Look, those whips have nine strands, and with each laceration of these whips cut deep into Jesus flesh right to the bone. As we stand there Jesus begins to bleed from every part of His body - until there was so much blood on the ground as He was getting weaker and weaker until it seemed as though He was blacking out to the point of near death!
Weak from all the loss of blood, the soldiers then lead Him to Pilate’s quarters. There they laid a crown of thorns on Jesus head, and taking a hardwood rod they drove those one and a half-inch thorns into His head. They put a purple robe on Him ... listen to their mockery. Now, listen as Pilate tried his best to set Jesus free once all of these things had taken place. It was to no avail because the Jews and crowds keep crying out “Crucify Him, Crucify
Him”; Pilate washed his hands to show he was guiltless of this man’s blood. Already so weak because of the scourging and crown of thorns, Jesus is driven by the Roman soldiers to a place that in Hebrew is called “Golgotha” (place of the skull). There they lay Jesus on a rugged Roman cross and drove railroadspikes like huge nails into His wrists and feet, setting the cross into it’s hole.
There He hung for six excruciatingly painful hours, bleeding/dying!
With each breath in, and each exhaled breath, He had to lift His body with His arms and feet. This would cause more bleeding. Watch carefully, as Jesus is struggling hard with every breath. But look, amidst all this pain and struggle as He hung between heaven and earth, there was nothing but LOVE for us in His eyes!
I don’t know about you, but all of this makes me feel nauseous, as I can’t bare seeing Him suffer like this anymore, it’s just too much! But after being there those six hours, finally, Jesus cried out three things: “My God, My God why have you forsaken Me”; “I thirst”; “It Is Finished”.
As we’ve heard Him say this, He took His final breath and died!
Stay tuned for the rest of the story!
Any questions about our journey, let’s talk about it over coffee! Call Doug @ (306) 658–3338.
2 col/6
Thanks Urla
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.
Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan (WESK) is proud to announce a major transformation focused on closing the gender entrepreneurship gap and strengthening Saskatchewan’s economy.
The organization unveiled a refreshed brand and membership structure Tuesday along with the strategic vision behind these changes.
“Our bold new look and enhanced membership options reflect our 30-year evolution from a grassroots organization to a leading force supporting women entrepreneurs in Saskatchewan,” said Miriam Johnson, WESK CEO. “Since 1995, WESK has made significant progress in closing the gender entrepreneurship gap, but there’s more work to be done so that women entrepreneurs can reach their full potential and drive economic growth. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to women entrepreneurs with a refreshed brand and membership structure as we grow forward to
build an even stronger, innovative and more inclusive business community.”
WESK’s updated colour palette symbolizes growth, the ancestral lands on which the organization operates and the diversity of women entrepreneurs who strengthen Saskatchewan communities. Green represents the province’s landscape, along with growth, renewal and prosperity to reflect WESK’s mission to empower women entrepreneurs so they can drive economic growth.
Orange honours the Treaty lands on which the organization operates and celebrates the resilience and contributions of Indigenous women in Saskatchewan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Navy represents the professionalism and trust embodied by WESK and its members, while lilac represents a nurturing energy and the steadfast support for women entrepreneurs
to help them achieve their business dreams.
The letter E in the logoshaped like Saskatchewan - angles towards the “S” to highlight the strong foundation of support WESK has provided to women entrepreneurs throughout its 30-year history.
WESK’s membership structure has also been redesigned to better support and empower women entrepreneurs at every stage of their business journeys. Built from member and network feedback, along with best practices from other successful membership structures, WESK now offers two membership tiers - Momentum and Elevate - for women who are looking to gain momentum in their own businesses or those who are in a position to elevate and inspire others. The new two-tier membership structure provides a range of benefits, including a stronger focus on mentorship.
Mary Weimer, a longtime WESK member
and accomplished entrepreneur, has firsthand experience with the positive impact of mentorship and connections within the WESK community.
“The support I’ve received and the connections I’ve made through WESK have been a game-changer in my entrepreneurial journey,” said Weimer.
“Access to experienced entrepreneurs who walked the path before me gave me the confidence and knowledge to push my business forward. With WESK’s new membership structure, I see even greater opportunity for women to learn from each other, grow their businesses and be part of a supportive network that truly empowers success.”
While today is a day of celebration, WESK recognizes the enduring gender entrepreneurship gap and the important work that remains ahead to close it. Women continue to lag behind their male counterparts in owning businesses
and in their intentions to become entrepreneurs.
In fact, more than 80 per cent of Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were owned by men in 2023.
Women-owned SMEs also have significantly lower earnings, with 37.1 per cent of women entrepreneurs earning less than $50,000 annually in 2022 compared to 31.7 of men entrepreneurs. Progress on gender parity has stalled over the last two decades. Should the trend continue, it could take up to 180 years to close the gender gap altogether.
“The persistent gender entrepreneurship gap in Saskatchewan and Canada hinders many women from reaching their full potential,” said Johnson. “Enabling
women to fully participate in the economy represents an economic opportunity of up to $150 billion for Canada. The initiatives announced today build on WESK’s 30-year legacy to address the gender gap and expand economic opportunity by giving women entrepreneurs greater access to essential resources and support to start or expand their businesses.”
In addition to the brand refresh and enhanced membership structure, WESK also launched a new website (wesk.ca) that was created with its members in mind. The new website makes it easier than ever for members to connect, learn and access the resources they need to start, develop, lead and grow their businesses.
MONDAY 5 P.M.
