Sharing art and knowledge ... Artist Darwin Atcheynum talks to St. Gabriel School students, April 10. Born and raised on the Sweetgrass First Nation where he still resides with his wife Kimberly, Atcheynum is well known for his pre-contact traditional head dress and clothing work. He has created many First Nations Chief’s traditional regalia, and uses the old techniques as a way of preserving the practices. His pieces are in museums today. He was raised doing artwork as a child, and would often visit Elders and his late mother who in turn would share stories with him. He continues today sharing his masterpiece works of art, and the stories passed down to him from generations to generations. (Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)
The Biggar Ministerial Association held five weeks of Lenten Lunches concluding the noon hour services this past Friday. Good food, better company, and a period of repentance as we move to the Easter weekend and an important event in faith-based lives - the resurrection.
(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)
Biggar RCMP report
by Cst. Chad Mehl, Biggar Detachment
Biggar RCMP had 32 occurrences generated, with that number being raised to 45 with the assistance of Biggar Traffic Services who were working the area.
Nine warnings for speeding and vehicle equipment offences were issued while six tickets were issued ranging from speeding, vehicle equipment offences, and for driving without a valid licence.
On April 7, at 4:30 a.m., 300 gallons of diesel fuel was stolen from a locomotive west of Biggar near Oban Road and Highway 14. The thief cut a cable lock off the gas tank to the locomotive and spent 30 to 40 minutes filling up with fuel. The thief also stole two trail cameras located
The regular meeting of Biggar Town Council was held March 18 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Attending the meeting were Mayor Jim Rickwood, Councillors Alan Boyle, Dakota Ekman (via conference call), Nicole Hoppe, Kevin McNicholls, Edward Young, and Ivan Young.
Council resolved that this meeting be recessed at 7:01 p.m. for the purpose of conducting a public hearing to hear any person or group that wishes to comment on
near to the locomotive.
On April 9, Biggar RCMP responded to a dispute between two individuals in a home which was quickly resolved with one of the disputants voluntarily leaving without issue. Later the same evening, there was a report of a grey Toyota 4Runner driving slowly up and down an alley near Main Street in Biggar which drew concern from the caller that the occupants may be driving around attempting to steal copper wire. The two occupants were intercepted by Biggar RCMP, and while not found with any stolen property or evidence to net them any criminal charge, one of the occupants was arrested on outstanding warrants out of Saskatoon and released with a new court
date in Saskatoon. The vehicle promptly left Biggar after finishing its encounter with police. No further calls related to these occupants were generated.
On April 10, there was a report of a suspicious vehicle at a business off of Highway 14 near Biggar which drove into the business parking lot. After briefly looking at a parked vehicle on the premises, the lone occupant left the property.
Continuing a theme of concern for others, Biggar RCMP also received three well-being checks on various individuals over the next three days. All parties were located safe and sound.
On April 12, Biggar RCMP responded to a two-vehicle collision on Main Street. All vehicle occupants were uninjured, but one vehicle needed a tow as it was no longer safe to drive.
On April 13, Biggar RCMP received a 911 call from someone saying she went for a walk, got lost, and didn’t know where
she was. The caller was located near Landis and driven back home.
On April 14, Department of Highways reported that batteries to a mobile sign board that was parked on the side of the road on Highway 4 near Biggar were stolen. Biggar RCMP also responded to a suspicious
white Dodge truck towing an empty flat deck trailer driving past a farm nearly Kinley at 100 km/h, but going down a dead-end road. After getting stuck in the mud, the vehicle eventually got itself loose, turned around, and left the general area of the farm. Patrols were made, but the vehicle was
unable to be located. Biggar RCMP encourages the public to continue their vigilance and report suspicious or unusual behaviour in the area. If anyone has any information to provide regarding these thefts, please contact the Biggar RCMP or anonymously with Crimestoppers.
Council minute highlights
the Discretionary Use Application for SE-0536-14-W3M to construct and operate a group home and vocational building facility in the R1-Residential Zoning District.
Representatives of Catterall and Wright, and Crosby Hanna, along with Mr. Wayne Brownlee, attended this portion of the meeting to discuss the CN Square and Gateway Project with Council.
Council resolved that Bylaw No. 25-876 being a bylaw of the Town of
Biggar to provide for agreements for fixed assessment of Farm Lands be read for a third time, and finally adopted. Council resolved that the following reports from Administration and Council Committees be accepted as amended: Committee Meeting Minutes March 11, 2025. Chief Administrative Officer, Camille Box’s Report. Deputy Administrative Officer, Kristen Tokaryk’s Report. Community Development Officer, Cassidy Heather’s
Report. Public Works Manager, Mark Haynes’s Report.
Council resolved that the following financial reports for February 2025 be accepted as presented: Bank Reconciliation February 2025. Statement of Financial Activities February 2025.
Council resolved that the General Accounts Paid in the amount of $82,480.71 including payment numbers, payroll deposit, and online payments totalling $50,758.55, and the list of accounts for
approval in the amount of $220,356.46, be approved as submitted.
Council resolved that the following correspondence be accepted and filed: RCMP Report March 10, 2025. RCMP Report March 17, 2025. Minister of Government Relations. SHA Meeting Minutes March 10, 2025. SaskTel Service Install Notification.
Councillor Ekman called for a Recorded Vote on the following item. Council resolved that the tender for the CN Square and Gateway projects be awarded to Wilco, and further that the Town will work with Wilco to find efficiencies and cost saving measures to reduce the costs of the project. Recorded Vote: Alan Boyle (yes), Dakota Ekman (no), Nicole Hoppe (yes), Kevin McNicholls (yes), Jim Rickwood (yes), Edward Young (yes), Ivan Young (no).
Council resolved that the 2025 SGI Grant Application be completed and submitted to help fund the Eighth Avenue West to Turnbull sidewalk
project.
Council resolved that the Town of Biggar defer the 2025 Budget to the April 1, 2025 Regular Meeting of Council.
Council resolved that the Fire Department Budget for 2025 be deferred until the next Regular Meeting of Council to be held on April 1, 2025.
Council resolved that as a Discretionary Use Development Permit Application by Farm in the Dell to construct and operate a group home and vocational building facility in the R1-Residential Zoning District has been advertised in accordance with the Town’s Zoning Bylaw and as no objections have been received with respect to this application, that this discretionary use be approved conditional to the requirements outlined in the Zoning Bylaw.
Council resolved that the draft letter to RM 347 regarding Landfill Contribution be approved as amended and sent out. • Meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.
Ready to perform ... Castwell and Company performers Tiffani McBee, left, and Katelyn Fecht, centre, with the garbed up Greek Chorus, get ready with a run-through at the Majestic Theatre this past Sunday.
“I, Chorus”, a comedy/drama is set to run in Melfort, April 25, as Theatre Saskatchewan brings in multiple groups for a celebration of talent from April 23-27. Shows in Biggar are set to run May 9 and 11. Tickets will go on sale soon! (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Cowboy perfect ... The Wardens hit the Majestic Theatre this past Saturday for matinee, the eighth concert in the Biggar and District Art Council season. Talented and able to weave a tale, The Wardens made an impression on the afternoon crowd, mixing rural charm with musical bliss. Left to right: Scott Duncan, Scott Ward, Roy Schmidt and Nico Humby. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Why are Canadian opinion polls all over the map?
by Michael Taube, Troy Media
There was a time when opinion polling was largely taken at face value.
While each opinion research firm produced a different result, very few people expressed serious doubts about the information contained within a poll. They might have agreed or disagreed with a particular survey - which is human nature, after all. At the same time, they wouldn’t have doubted the legitimacy of polls and pollsters.
That’s not the case any longer in many democratic countries, including Canada.
There’s been a significant increase in the amount of frustration and skepticism when it comes to opinion polling during the federal election. So much so that some Canadians can’t come to terms with the fact that the opinion polls have been all over the map.
When Pierre Poilievre became Conservative leader on Sept. 10, 2022, his party took a significant lead in the polls over then-prime minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals. The pattern remained consistent for over two years. A single-digit Conservative lead turned into a double-digit margin - and, by last summer, had expanded to a 20-point lead.
We all know why this happened. Trudeau was
by Maureen McCall, Frontier Center for Public Policy
The federal government’s push to make Canada’s electricity system netzero is running straight into reality - and it’s not pretty.
Through the Clean Electricity Regulations (CER), the government wants all provinces to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation by 2035. It is an ambitious goal, but one that ignores a basic fact: demand for electricity is exploding, and provinces are struggling to keep up.
New technologies like artificial intelligence are supercharging this demand. AI systems, including tools such as ChatGPT, rely on massive data centres - huge warehouses of computer servers that need constant cooling and enormous amounts of electricity to function. According to a recent
a mediocre, ineffective and delusional prime minister. A growing number of Canadians wanted him to step aside or resign. Leger’s November 2024 survey had Trudeau at a 68 per cent disapproval rating, with only 27 per cent approval and five per cent suggesting they were “very satisfied.”
It was no secret that Trudeau’s departure from Ottawa would reduce the gap between the Conservatives and Liberals. Anyone who actually thought otherwise was fooling themselves. The question was simply by how much. Trudeau announced his resignation on Jan. 6. Many factors led to this moment, including: high disapproval numbers, U.S. President Donald Trump’s constant criticism, attacks and memes after their difficult dinner meeting at Mara-Lago on Nov. 29, 2024, and Chrystia Freeland’s resignation on Dec. 13, 2024, after he unwisely decided to drop her as finance minister. Here’s the interesting thing. One polling firm, EKOS, suggested a sharp decline in the Conservative-Liberal gap started in late January. No other organization made the same assessment in January. Although the 20-point gap shrank to about a 10-11 point cumulative average, EKOS was largely viewed as an
Royal Bank of Canada report, if all proposed data centre projects in Canada move ahead, they would consume 14 per cent of the country’s entire electricity supply by 2030. That is roughly the same as projections in the United States, where data centres are expected to use up to 15 per cent of the national total. This is a serious problem.
Provinces such as Alberta and Saskatchewan have already raised the alarm, arguing that the federal regulations overstep Ottawa’s constitutional authority. Energy supply, like natural resources, has traditionally been under provincial control. Alberta and Ontario, in particular, operate their own electricity markets to attract investment and ensure reliability. Federal regulations threaten to undermine these efforts, adding risk and driving up costs.
outlier.
Things began to change rather swiftly the following month. Several polling firms, including Nanos Research, Leger and Mainstreet Research, noted that the Conservative lead had dropped to single digits by Feb. 13. EKOS suggested the Liberals had taken a small lead on Feb. 23, followed by Ipsos on Feb. 24.
When Mark Carney was elected Liberal Party leader on March 9, it started to steamroll. EKOS, Leger, Mainstreet, Angus Reid Institute and Liaison Strategies had the Liberals out in front, while Nanos, Abacus Data and Innovative Research still had the Conservatives in the lead. By March 21, two days before the federal election was called, almost every opinion polling firm had Carney and the Liberals ahead of Poilievre and the Conservatives in some fashion.
That’s where things currently stand. The Liberals have a 6–7 point cumulative lead as of April 13. It’s a slight increase from last week. With the exception of several polls - Abacus showing a 39–39 per cent tie on March 27 and April 3, Innovative with a 38–37 Conservative lead on March 31, and Mainstreet showing a 44–42 lead for the Conservatives on April 13 - the momentum has completely shifted.
The situation is already tense. Alberta, for example, issued multiple grid alerts in 2024 due to shortages and market disruptions. The province is now looking at “behindthe-fence” power solutions, encouraging data centres to generate their own electricity to guarantee stability.
Canada was not always in this bind. For decades, we enjoyed an abundance of clean, affordable hydroelectric power.
Provinces like Quebec, British Columbia, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador built massive hydro projects starting in the 1960s, creating cheap power and even surpluses to export to U.S. markets. In 2022, for example, B.C. sent 74 per cent of its exported power to the U.S., while Quebec sent 63 per cent and Ontario an impressive 81 per cent - generating billions in revenue.
How did this happen? It certainly wasn’t due to Carney. He’s a politically inexperienced leader who has run a poor campaign and appeared arrogant, egotistical, curt, distant and awkward on the campaign trail. Rather, Trump’s tariffs were the main reason why the polls shifted in such a dramatic fashion. The Liberals have been able to ride this wave, aided by the collapse of NDP and Bloc Québécois support that’s moved into their political camp. Plus, the fact that comparisons of Poilievre to Trump, no matter how inaccurate they are, just won’t disappear.
Yet, there are Canadians who strongly doubt that the pollsters have been accurate and even-
But that era is coming to an end. Most of the best sites for hydro dams have already been developed. New projects would require expensive, long-distance transmission lines to bring power from remote areas to the cities that need it. On top of that, growing environmental concerns make new dam construction an uphill battle.
The truth is, there is no quick fix. A 2025 study by the Fraser Institute paints a grim picture: to meet future electricity demand with solar power alone would take 1,680 years of construction. Wind power? About 1,150 years. Even hydro would take close to a millennium. Even if we combined these sources, we are still looking at more than 1,000 years to build enough capacity.
Meanwhile, federal projections estimate that Canada’s electricity
INDEPENDENT
handed during this election campaign. They point to wild disparities in polling data. They don’t trust polling firms like EKOS and, up until recently, Ipsos, which had the Liberals leading in double digits when almost no one else did. They blame political pundits, columnists and a biased media for not reporting things accurately. And, in some cases, they don’t believe anything is valid other than what they think is happening.
In fairness, there’s plenty of evidence that a growing number of respondents lie to polling firms around the world. Trust in opinion polls has substantially decreased, too.
Nevertheless, there’s no reason to distrust the fact
demand will double by 2050.
Without significant policy changes, Canadians could soon face the worst of both worlds: soaring electricity bills and the threat of power shortages. Our economy could also suffer as companies and data centres look to other jurisdictions with more reliable power supplies.
So what should Canada do? Here are three practical steps:
• Scrap the Clean Electricity Regulations. Provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan are already committed to reaching net-zero by 2050. Federal interference only creates unnecessary political battles and delays investments.
• Fast-track approvals for new interprovincial transmission lines.
Today, building a new transmission line can take more than a decade.
Speeding up this process would help provinces
that the Liberals are in the lead. The cumulative average is probably close to accurate at this stage. There’s more than enough time for things to shift around. The electorate is extremely volatile, as the polls seem to show. A decent-sized chunk of Canadians haven’t parked their votes just yet. The election isn’t going to be a blowout, as some have foolishly suggested. The likely result on April 28 will be a minority Liberal or Conservative government. If that’s what happens, will some Canadians regain their faith in polls once more? I don’t think you need a poll to determine that the answer will be “no” for the foreseeable future.
share power and avoid costly overbuilding of generation capacity.
• Launch a major lowinterest loan program to build new power infrastructure. We need to dramatically expand our generation and transmission systems, including natural gasfired plants, to meet future demand.
Canadians deserve a reliable, affordable and clean energy future. But we will not get there by ignoring the realities of rising demand and provincial responsibilities. It is time for the federal government to listen to the provinces, embrace practical solutions and avoid an avoidable crisis. Otherwise, we are on track for blackouts, higher bills and missed economic opportunities.
Bob Mason Notable Notes
I love to tell my tales of distant places, And high adventure, far across the sea. The memory of far, familiar faces, Has never really left the heart of me. I love to tell of palaces and hovels, Of cities strange and towers in the night. The shell-hole where the hungry soldier grovels, The Rhine at evening when the moon is bright!
By castle walls I’ve been a carefree rover, And humble huts have been my mean abode.
by Frank Cox
In a den of iniquity, where the smoke of vice hung thick, sat a cat named Jack, a solitary silhouette slumped in the corner booth holding a whiskey glass sweating with the weight of melancholy.
A man with a past as dark as the night, and a present as murky as the depths of the sea. He was a lone wolf, a solitary figure in a world that had moved on without him, but the city stopped at the door of the bar.
And there, in the corner of the room, sat a dame who seemed to have stepped out of a dream. She was a vision, a beauty to rival the stars, with lips as cherry red as a ripe tomato and eyes as smoky blue as a summer sky. Her hair was a cascade of dark curls, and her figure was a tantalizing curve that made the hearts of many a man race.
But now those days of restlessness are over, I’m back again along the Kinley Road!
Considering that our ancestors had no idea what motor cars, planes, radio and television were, I suppose none of us should be surprised that the things we used to think were modern have also changed quite a bit! I imagine in the past when things did change, some older pessimistic type gave out with much the same sort of “Doomsday” outlook as Y.T. (Yours Truly) does!
Many years ago, and unaware that changes were bound to take place, Y.T. scribbled the above lines in his old black notebook about the way it was then - and the way he thought it always would be!
Sorry! He neglected to foresee that “change” bit at all, and here we are, sitting in one of the upstairs rooms in Perdue, miles away, recalling that when we drove down the once so familiar Kinley Road last summer, there
The Kinley Road
were so many farm sites missing, we darn near got lost!
There is no use explaining or trying to explain what happened. It’s just “progress” I guess, and no amount of excuses can ever change things. What used to be a lively, thriving community just isn’t there anymore. The only way survivors of those times will ever see it again is in memory!
This sentimental stuff about a disappearing past has been written many times in the year gone by and, we suppose, will be marked down by many people again and again in the future.
Pages and important pages have been endlessly recorded concerning this same situation, and one doesn’t have to necessarily climb the hills of “How green was my valley” or stroll the landscapes of “Gone with the Wind” to have experienced it!
And so “The Kinley Road” - who do I think I am, anyway?
At dawn the sun comes stealing down the
Prairie,
With warm and tender hand to brush my cheek.
The Meadowlark with summer’s song is merry, Among the mists that haunt the Eagle Creek. And as the morning grows in all its glory, Another dawn, long dead, comes back to life. Another mist, a river rude of story, Another sun, indeed, that watched the strife. Another world it wasquite mad with power, Another race that lived another code.
How happy is the thought, this sunrise hour,
That I am back along with the Kinley Road!
I often wonder how many people there are in the world who never had a chance to live the kind of life we knew on the Kinley Road! The history of it isn’t so much different than thousands of other communities all over, and like Margaret Mitchel says, “they are all gone...”
I was going to say that
“poets are dreamers” but that’s not right ... we all are! Just give them a chance and, economy or not, people will start to manufacture another dream.
Some folks will glance at this page and possibly feel that it is kind of empty and, in the light of this never ending change, the message on it might seem kind of empty to them, too. But, at least it seems to me, the values on it won’t appear until society, in its mad rush for progress, has time to look back.
And so - I sit around the supper table, With coffee cup a grip in restless hands. And try and spoil that old familiar fable, That greener fields are found in other lands. But sometimes there are tender ears that listen, To tales of far “adventure” unattained. And sometimes there are youthful eyes that glisten, Aglow with glory of a goal ungained. And then it is, I tell them
Lost Souls
how, in fighting, Mud-soaked, exhausted, resting with my load. I used to tell the boys my yarns exciting, Of days back homealong Kinley Road!
Forgive me my friends should I somehow enrapture, Your sons with stirring tales of “over there”. I only mean their telling to recapture, The awful evil of the days that were!
Recapture it - and then the two comparing, Look out across this life we know today. With home and love and peace and promise sharing, With every man at will to his way. And show them - through grim utterings of glory, The hopeless, helpless gain the struggle showed. And prove, above all else, in every story, The future lies along the Kinley Road!
Maybe these words aren’t all correct, but the thought is sure good!
As he approached her, she looked up at him with a mixture of confusion and irritation.
“Beat it. I don’t want you to sit down,” she said, her voice sharp and cold.
“I’m not interested in talking to you.”
But Jack was a man who never gave up. He was a man who always got what he wanted. And he knew that this dame was no exception.
“I understand,” he said, his voice smooth as silk.
“But I couldn’t help but notice you sitting there all by yourself. I thought maybe we could talk, get to know each other a little better.”
She hesitated for a moment, but then nodded her head.
“Fine,” she said, her voice still cold and distant. “But don’t expect too much.”
And so, Jack sat down across from her, and they began to talk. They talked about their lives, their dreams, their fears. And as they spoke, Jack felt a strange, inexplicable connection.
For they were both lost souls, searching for something they couldn’t quite define. They were both haunted by their pasts, and longing for a brighter future. And as they sat there, in that smoke-filled den, Jack knew that he had found a kindred spirit.
The night wore on and
But Jack was no ordinary cat. He was a man who knew his own worth, and he saw something in her that no one else did. He saw a kindred spirit, a woman who was as lost and lonely as he was. And as he sat there, watching her, he felt a strange, inexplicable connection.
the hours slipped away. Jack knew that this was more than just a casual encounter. He knew that he had found something special, something worth fighting for. And he vowed to do whatever it took to win her heart.
As the sun began to rise, Jack stood up and pulled out a wad of cash.
“I’ve got to go,”he said, his voice heavy with regret. “But I’ll be back.”
She looked at him with a mixture of confusion and sadness, but Jack simply smiled and walked out of the bar, leaving her alone once more.
And so, night after night, he returned to that den of iniquity, determined to win her over. And little by little, he chipped away at her defenses, until at last, she gave in.
Late one night he looked across the table at the woman, a vision of softness and warmth in the cold, harsh world. Her eyes, pools of liquid sapphire, held a gentle fire that ignited the embers of his longdormant emotions.
He took another drag of his cigarette, let out a heavy sigh, and decided to take a chance.
“Babe,” he drawled, the words rough as gravel, “I’ve been a lone wolf for far too long. My heart’s been a desert, barren and empty. But you, darlin’, you’re a raging river, a floodplain blooming with life. I’m tired of being a drifter, a ghost in my own life. I want you, here,
with me, to fill this void, to make this old heart sing again.”
The woman, a picture of grace, a balm to his weary soul, smiled, her eyes softening at his confession. In that moment, the bar fell away, the world outside shrank, and all that mattered was the connection between them, a lighthouse in the darkness.
“I’m sick and tired of being alone,” he said. “I’m tired of living in the shadows, of being unwanted. I think it’s time we took a chance, you and I.”
She looked at him with a mixture of surprise and
uncertainty, but Jack smiled and took her hand.
“I’m not asking for much,” he said. “I just want to be there for you, to help you through the storm. To be a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold.”
And as he looked into her eyes, he saw a flicker of something deep within her, a glimmer of hope.
And he knew that he had made the right decision.
The lone wolf had found his pack, and the bar, for a brief moment, seemed a little less cold.
And as they sat there, in that smoke-filled den, Jack knew that he had found something rare and precious.
He looked into her eyes and he knew that he had finally found his place in the world. He was no longer a lone wolf, a solitary figure on the edge of society that he could no longer understand. He was a man with a purpose, with a love that burned brighter than the neon lights of the city.
And as the years passed and the world continued to spin, Jack and his dame remained a constant in each other’s lives. They were a pair of lost souls who found each other in the heart of the storm, and together, they weathered the tempest, surviving against all odds.
NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL Rural Municipality of Biggar No. 347
Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the RM OF BIGGAR No. 347 for the year 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor from April 18, 2025 to June 16, 2025, on the following days: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 pm to 4 p.m.
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 RM OF BIGGAR No. 347. 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 BIGGAR No. 347, Box 280, BIGGAR, SK S0K 0M0, 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 RM OF BIGGAR No. 347, Box 280, BIGGAR, SK S0K 0M0. A notice of appeal, accompanied by a $200.00 appeal fee, which will be returned if the appeal is successful, must be submitted by June 16, 2025.
Dated this 17th day of April 2025. Sandi Silvernagle Assessor
Frank Cox Humble Opinion
Christine Ibbotson
Ask The Money Lady
Dear Money Lady, Do you think we’re going into a recession?
Roy L.
Hello Roy, Yes - and it’s a great time to invest.
Here’s a quote from James O’Shaughnessy: “Fear, greed, and hope have destroyed more
portfolio values than any recession or depression we have ever been through.”
I know most people are upset when looking at their retirement portfolios these days and with our current economic environment we may be in for a much longer ride on this uncertaintyrollercoaster. It’s very hard to be a Canadian investor today with the Trump tariffs, the looming election and all the nonsense about annexation with the USA.
But, with all that going on, please remember that even though it may feel somewhat counterintuitive to many Millennial investors,
recessions can be a great time to maximize your wealth. If you can, maximizing your RRSP now would be a great investment move. During recessions, securities undergo significant pressure from the Bank of Canada, punctuated by unemployment scares, lower income projections and increased inflation. Recessions force people to reduce consumer spending causing stock markets to suffer significantly. Sprinkle in a little global uncertainty, maybe some overseas civil unrest, and a war or two and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a downhome-depression.
Now I don’t mean to upset any of my readers, but please remember that since the 1900’s the average length of a recession is only 17 months. The longest recession was in 1929 which lasted 43 months and since then the second longest was 18 months in 2008. Many investors get spooked by the “R-word” and run around like chickens proclaiming that the sky is falling.
Honestly, by remaining invested and then adding to your portfolio during these times, you can significantly increase your wealth over the long term.
Let’s look at some facts. Here are the cumulative
Bright smiles: Protecting children’s oral health
Did you know tooth decay is the most prevalent, preventable chronic disease among children worldwide?
Ensuring children maintain good oral health is essential for their overall well-being. Not only do healthy teeth and gums support proper chewing and speaking, but establishing proper oral hygiene habits early on can prevent tooth decay along with bad breath and gum disease. Here are three key strategies to improve your child’s oral health:
Create a daily oral hygiene routine Prevent cavities by encouraging regular brushing and flossing. Children should brush their teeth twice a day with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste to help strengthen tooth enamel and prevent decay. Children under 3 years old should use an amount similar to the size of a grain of rice. For children 3 years and older, the amount of toothpaste should be similar to that of a pea. They should also clean between their
teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes. If your child isn’t old enough to do all of these things correctly on their own, you can help them until they are old enough to do so.
Encourage healthy eating
What children eat also plays a significant role in their oral health. Limiting sugary snacks and drinks can reduce their risk of cavities. Instead, opt for nutritious snacks like fruits, vegetables and cheese, and offer water throughout the day to help wash away food particles
Turn your crafting hobby into a business
If you’re someone who loves to craft and create, you may also have a successful side-hustle at your fingertips.
Whether you enjoy making jewellery, knitting or crafting pottery, there is a market out there for your creations. Here are some key steps to help you transform your crafting hobby into a successful business.
Plan and organize
Before you start selling, make sure you have a clear plan. Determine what products you want to sell, where you will sell them, who your target customers are and how you will market your items. Create a business plan that outlines your goals, budget and timelines.
Manage your costs
One of the challenges of turning a hobby into a business is managing costs. Track your expenses carefully and find ways to reduce costs without compromising on quality. Buying in bulk or directly from manufacturers is a great way to keep the cost of supplies and tools down.
Online marketplaces such offer a wide range of affordable, high-quality supplies that can help you manage costs while fulfilling your creativity.
Share your brand story
People love to know the story behind the products they buy. Use social media platforms to share your journey, inspiration and the process behind your creations. Engaging with your audience on a personal level can build a loyal customer base. Differentiate your offerings To stand out from the competition, think about what makes your creations unique. Offer customizations, use rare materials or develop a signature style. Find inspiration through other
online sites where there is a diverse selection of unique products from around the world to meet various customer needs. The more you can differentiate your products, the more attractive they will be to potential customers.
Engage with the community. Participate in local craft fairs, markets and online craft communities. Not only will this help you gain exposure, but it will also allow you to network with other crafters and potential customers. Building a community around your brand can lead to long-term success. With dedication and planning, you can turn your crafting hobby into a thriving business.
returns after significant recessionary events.
• 1929 Great Depression = +365% 5-year cumulative return.
I know these current times are unnerving and most Canadians believe that this time it could be different.
It’s not.
The stock market will recover. The real estate market will recover. Believing that these events we’re immersed in now are so different from those in the past and that
today’s market will never recover is truly a false narrative.
If you don’t want to increase your portfolio now as suggested, your next best course of action is to do nothing. Running for the exits, although you may want to, will never make you wealthy.
Written by Christine Ibbotson, author, finance writer, syndicated national radio host, and now on BNN Bloomberg News, and CTV News. Send your money questions (answered free) through her website at info@ askthemoneylady.ca
and bacteria that lead to cavities.
Have regular oral health care appointments
Scheduling regular appointments with an oral health professional is crucial to your child’s overall health. Dental hygienists can provide preventive treatments such as fluoride varnish and dental sealants, which offer additional protection against cavities. Dental sealants are thin coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, where cavities are most likely to form. They last for many years.
By encouraging good oral hygiene habits early on and making healthy dietary choices, parents and caregivers can help children maintain bright, healthy smiles for life.
Collections & Romance
by Brenda Richards
Most people have “collections” of some kind.
I have been married for over 44 years and when we were first married, I collected owls. I had many, many items that were owls from tea towels, salt and pepper shakers, notepads, pictures, and ornaments (big and small): you name it.
Now on to the
“romance” reference (but don’t forget the owls mentioned above).
There are many instances where we have been asked can I get you something and we say “on no, don’t bring me anything”. In most instances, I personally find, that is not true. What I (and most of my friends) mean is “oh yes, bring me something”.
When we were first married my husband went on lots of business trips to conventions and many times came home empty handed. I had to clue him in that even though we say we don’t want anything we really would like some little thing that shows us you were thinking of us.
This goes a long way to building the “Brownie Point Bank”.
Anyway, on the next trip my husband came home and presented me with a tiny pink pig to which I responded with a strange
look on my face and said “I collect owls.”
He then proudly said it’s made of Rhodonite (a pink mineral)! Did this rhodonite mineral mean anything to me: No, but the fact that he remembered to bring some little thing home (even though not of the correct species) is priceless.
Now 40-plus years later I have no owl collection (only scarves, jewellery and shoes) but that little Rhodonite Pig sits on the window sill in my kitchen and every time I look at it, it reminds me that He tried! Also, he has never come back from a trip (other than fishing/ hunting) without some little gift of some kind.
Note: if you must pick your gift up at the Saskatoon Airport, please be sure to take the sticker/price tag off - it’s a dead give-away!
Brenda Richards Twiddling My Thumbs
Trump arrogance taints Canadian federal election
by Calvin Daniels
So we’re in the middle of a federal election in case you missed that fact.
It’s pretty easy to be disengaged from the election - at least in Saskatchewan right now - for a number of reasons.
by Patricia Hanbidge, Orchid Horticulture
As Easter approaches, the characteristic symbol of the Easter Lily begins to grace our shops and homes. We have long associated this plant with spring and the Easter season.
Lilium longiflorum, the Latin name for the Easter lily, is native to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan. The Easter lily is a mark of purity and grace throughout the ages symbolizing joy, hope and life. Traditionally, the Easter lily yields large white flowers, but others
Of course the continuing trade war barrages being fired in the daily tantrums out of the ‘Oval Office’ by U.S. president Donald Trump of course are a main focus, as they must be as he is the overwhelming threat to Canadian trade and sovereignty.
In that regard Trump has more or less taken this federal election hostage, as how one deals with his arrogance and often petty machinations is a key issue one could not have envisioned even six months ago. In many ways we need to elect a Prime Minister best suited to baby-sit
range from cream to pink and may include the cultivars ‘White Heaven’, ‘Deliana’ or ‘Nellie White’, which is one of the most popular lilies grown commercially.
Prior to 1941, the majority of the Easter Lily bulbs were exported to the United States from Japan. The Second World War eliminated the dependence on Japaneseproduced bulbs and commercial bulb production shifted to the U.S. Today over 95 per cent of all bulbs grown for the potted Easter Lily market are produced by just 10 farms in a narrow coastal region straddling the California-Oregon border. The production of consistent, high quality lily bulbs requires specific climatic conditions, which just happen to exist in this region aptly termed the Easter Lily Capital of the World.
The Easter lily bulbs must be cultivated in the fields for three, and sometimes four years, before they
the American president, without just giving him what he wants: ‘Canada’. That sort of spins into the second reason the election lacks a certain fervour here. Many eyes are watching Premier Scott Moe and his reaction, or lack of reaction might be more precise, in terms of tariffs, Trump’s 51st state nonsense, and the equally inane idea of some configuration of Western separation.
Canada is far from perfect but it is better than options of joining the quagmire that is the current U.S., or having to be beholding to the
U.S. as some landlocked creation trying to go it alone, and Moe should be making that clear as Premier.
Then there is the realization of the provinces Saskatchewan and Alberta will solidly support the Conservatives and leader Pierre Poilievre, although to be fair you could substitute any name for leader and the support would be there. The right wing blinders are rather large in the two provinces. Those blinders have been good for the Conservatives in filling seats but less so with the two provinces having a
The Easter Lily
are ready to be shipped to commercial greenhouse growers. Throughout that time, the bulbs are never dormant and require constant care and attention to assure superior quality and cleanliness. Each bulb is handled up to 40 times before it is ready to be shipped. The Easter lily bulbs are harvested in the fall, packed and shipped to commercial greenhouses where they are planted in pots and forced under controlled conditions to bloom for the Easter holiday. The cultivar most widely grown today is ‘Nellie White’.
When purchasing an Easter lily, look for high quality plants that are aesthetically pleasing from all angles. Select medium-to-compact plants that are well-balanced and proportional in size - not too tall and not too short. Choose plants with foliage that is dense and plentiful, all the way down to the soil line.
As the flowers mature, re-
move the yellow anthers before the pollen starts to shed. This gives longer flower life and prevents the pollen from staining the white flowers. When a mature flower starts to wither after its prime, cut it off to make the plant more attractive while you still enjoy the fresher blooms.
In the home, Easter lilies prefer relatively cool temperatures of 18 to 21 C (65 to 70 F). Avoid placing plants near drafts, and avoid exposure to excess heat or dry air from appliances, fireplaces or heating ducts. The lily will thrive near a window in bright, indirect natural daylight. Easter lilies prefer moderately moist, well-drained soil.
Water the plant thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to a light touch, but avoid overwatering. If the pot is wrapped in decorative foil, be careful not to let the plant sit in trapped, standing water. For best results, remove the plant
voice on the ruling side of things in Ottawa.
And when it has come to issues of importance here - agriculture issues as an example - there is little reason for the ruling Liberals to listen, we don’t vote their way and really the few seats here have little impact on winning.
It’s not a great scenario, politics aside, having long stretches with no real voice on the side with their hands on the levers of power.
So how much interest is there in farm issues this election amid the bluster emanating from Trump and the near forgone
from decorative pots or covers, take it over the sink and water thoroughly until water seeps out of the pot’s drain holes to completely saturate the soil. Allow the plant to air for a few minutes and discard the excess water before replacing it back into its decorative pot cover. It is very difficult to force Easter lilies into bloom a second time. What you can do is plant them outside in the spring and they may bloom again in the fall. They require a location with bright light, well-drained soil that is
conclusion Saskatchewan and Alberta will vote Conservative no matter what? The answer is sadly that the interest in farm issues is low. Even in a Conservative win the party would ‘owe’ ridings in other provinces for the victory and one shouldn’t expect Prairie Ag to suddenly be a priority.
So we find ourselves awaiting the decisions of others in determining who best deals with Trump from a Canada first perspective, and hoping in the end we are not completely forgotten by whichever party forms government.
rich in organic matter. They need some shelter from extreme heat or wind. They will not survive our prairie winter. 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/UCzkiUpkvyv2e2HCQlFl0JyQ?
Garden glow-up: 5 tips to improve the look of your yard
Add outdoor décor
Spring brings sunshine and warmth, motivating us to get outdoors, start new projects and improve our yards, which typically look less than stellar after the winter.
Give your garden the refresh it deserves with these simple steps.
Tidy up the yard
The very first step is to remove dead leaves, trim overgrown bushes and prune any plants that need a little extra care. This simple cleanup will immediately make your garden look more inviting. Add flowers
Consider adding
seasonal flowers such as dahlias, snapdragons and cosmos that bloom at different times throughout the season for continuous colour. For a lowercommitment gardening option, try adding potted plants and arrangements strategically around the yard to brighten up the space.
Mulch and edge garden beds
Edging creates a clean and visually appealing boundary between the lawn and garden. Adding mulch polishes off the look while also helping to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Touches of décor around the yard will elevate the overall look. From solar-powered lights to decorative planters, metal wall art, patio signs and furniture, small touches can make a big difference in the ambience of your garden.
Add a fresh coat of paint
Don’t underestimate the power of paint. A fresh coat of paint on fences, garden furniture and planters can instantly rejuvenate your outdoor space. Choose colours that complement your garden and create a cohesive look.
With a little bit of effort and some smart shopping, you can give your yard a beautiful spring cleanup without spending a fortune.
Calvin Daniels Agriculture
Patricia Hanbidge Orchid Horiculture
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
The Saskatchewan Traveller . . . is back on the Prairies
The Saskatchewan Traveller by Trudy and Dale Buxton
has a lot of amenities that you would see in larger centres.
Box 278, Rosetown SK S0L 2V0
Please call with questions or concerns
It has been a good start to our Alberta trip as we come to the community of Youngstown.
E-mail: jimreitermla@sasktel.net
Youngstown only has a population of around 200 people, but what this community lacks in population seems to be made up in community spirit.
The community lies in between the communities of Hanna and Oyen and
The people of Youngstown refer to itself as a Sportsman’s Paradise due to the over abundance of wild game and the large trout fishing that is found in the surrounding area’s lakes.
As we continue down the highway, the nice sunny weather we started with soon turns into a day where we fight the wind. I didn’t know that the wind could blow so hard - just keeping your helmet on your head and not blown into the next county, was a difficult task
We continue down the road until we come to the intersection of Highway 9 and 36. This welcomed pit stop was the Cactus Corner Rest Stop, and with battling the wind, a break was needed.
As we were having a little rest, a look across the highway revealed another beautiful areaa rest stop adorned with a Remembrance theme so touching and pristine.
Called the Veterans Memorial Highway Special Areas Rest Area, it is a wonderful tribute to the men and women who served this country - what a nice area. Well done to those that put it together to honour our veterans.
Highway 36 in Alberta is a route travelled north to south from Lac La Biche all the way down to the community of Warner.
After a nice stop at Cactus Corner, we head south on Highway 36.
The wind isn’t much better but at least were heading into it and not having it blast us from the side.
We have come to the corner of Highway 36 and 570, and we head in the direction of Drumheller.
We travel through the community of Dorothy, which was named after a Dorothy Wilson, a young girl who lived in the area at a time when the post office opened.
The population of Dorothy is only around 10 people, but back in its day this community was a hub of activity and two significant churches.
The abandoned buildings show a little of what used to be in the community.
Next up is East Coulee with a population of around 140 people.
It is hard to believe that back in the 1940’s and 50’s that East Coulee
was home to over 3,000 people and many thriving businesses. This was during the coal boom, of which it had plenty. By the mid 1950’s natural gas and the expanding oil industry brought about the downfall of the village. By the late 1970’s the town was reduced to a ghost town. Travelling through this area makes for a unique and spectacular drive with hills on either side and the hint of dinosaur country in the distance. Our next stop is the community of Rosedale and a population of 325. Rosedale is home to many coal mines before their closures in the 1970’s and home to a 384foot suspension bridge which is still maintained today.
Stay tuned until next week as we have lunch at an old saloon.
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East Coulee, Alberta.
Veterans Memorial Cactus Corner, Alberta”
West Central Girls Win Provincial Championship ... The U15A Western Prairie Thunderbolts won the final series, on the road, 5-4 in Game 3 against the Moose Jaw Carpet One Mavericks, March 29, to claim the banner and the title of Provincial Champions. Thunderbolt players are: Cortney Tebb (Landis), Taryn Pernitsky (Wilkie), Emry Grumpinger (Unity), Rayelle Bar (Macklin), Alena Scholer (Luseland), Julie Hammel (Kindersley), Shaye Winterhalt, Emilee Partington, Ayla Sperle, Emersyn Brown, Ashlyn Brown, Chloe Dean, Samantha Cowie, Addyson O’Connor, Becca Preston, Ayva Cummings. Head Coach Wade Dean, assisted by Amber Sperle, Chris Barr, Aaron Winterhault, Brandon Cummings, Manager Raelene Dean. Great Season, everyone! (Submitted Photo)
BCS 2000 Teacher, Amy Zhao along with the grade 8 students went on a tour of the Food Bank in Biggar and brought a wagon of donations to drop off as well. The students had many questions and learned how the food bank operates, how hampers are prepared and what goes in a hamper. (Photo for The Independent by Barb de Haan)
Mother’s Day Tea
Sponsored by Prairie Branches Enterprise Honouring All Mothers Tuesday, May 6 at 2 p.m. Biggar Community Hall Coffee/Tea and snacks provided There will also be raffles, bake table & entertainment. Funds raised support Biggar Prairie Branches residents. Everyone is invited to attend. Silver Collection
NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL
TOWN OF BIGGAR
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
Happy 10 year Anniversary Biggar Long Term Care
Biggar and District Health Centre – Long term care was formerly known as Diamond Lodge. It was relocated to a new and facility in April 2015. The new facility is attached to Biggar Hospital – Acute Care and provides the same care but more axcess to the hospital for the 54 clients. On April 11,2025, we celebrated our 10 th year anniversary with a huge success. Stakeholders, businesses and town attended to join the celebration.
Spring home care: Protecting your home from floods and wildfires
While we all look forward to the arrival of spring, it also brings a higher risk of extreme weather that could impact your home. As snow melts and temperatures rise, it’s important to stay aware of potential flooding and wildfire risks.
Here are a few proactive steps you can take to protect your home and family this season: Assess your flood risk
When it comes to potential water damage, there are many factors to consider, including where you live, the weather and the type of property you own. Keep water away from your home
Spring is the perfect time to clear your gutters and downspouts, which play an important role in directing water away from
your foundation. Make sure your gutters are free of debris and extend at least six feet from your home to prevent water pooling. You may also want to consider installing a sump pump with a backup battery to protect your basement from flooding, especially during heavy spring rains. Reduce fire hazards around property
Wildfires are becoming more common, especially in dry regions. Spring is a great opportunity to do yard work to ensure your property is protected from this risk. Keep your landscaping wellmaintained by trimming your lawn, pruning trees and using rock or gravel mulch. Make sure to remove flammable debris like dry leaves and dead
branches from your property. Use fire-resistant materials
If you’re in the process of building or renovating, consider using fireresistant roofing and siding to reduce fire risk. Triple-paned windows and fire-rated exterior doors can also help prevent fire from entering your home through vulnerable areas. Stay prepared for emergencies
If something does happen, you should always have an emergency bag prepared with essentials. Some key items to pack include cash, passports, insurance information, important documents, medicine, non-perishable food, water, a flashlight and a first-aid kit.
• Power Liftgate
RM of Glenside helping Green Thumbs in Biggar ... OJ Singer, left, and Darren Dove, right, representing the RM of Glenside council, present a cheque to BCS 2000 volunteer Leith Larson. This donation will be of great benefit in helping to replace the worn out wooden garden beds at the school and creating a safer environment for all the student gardeners. (Submitted Photo)
Easter: bunnies, chocolate and new beginnings
by Delta Fay Cruickshank for the Biggar Museum and Gallery
When I was a kid, decades and decades ago, Easter was a big deal.
Always a brand-new outfit, always a hunt for chocolate and candy eggs, and often a trip to the local church to puzzle over why would people want to crucify a good man.
But he came back in spirit, and all was good and forgiven. Followed by a big dinner; in my mother’s house that meant a big ham, scalloped potatoes, hot cross buns and company.
It’s a little different now, and yet some of the old traditions are part of the long weekend. Biggar has celebrated Easter in the town’s churches for 114 years. Easter egg hunts still go on, there are still church services, and I’m sure someone will get a new outfit in the spring.
Speaking of new outfits, many may have been ordered from the Eaton’s catalogue, the old-fashioned Amazon.
I found a photo of the 1934 Eaton’s catalogue. Interesting that the front cover was recognizing 400 years since Jacques Cartier sailed across the Atlantic from France and landed on the Gaspe Peninsula, thus opening the New World for the French explorers and then the British. That means I missed the 490th anniversary last year, that is a long time!
How many women saved their money to buy a new outfit for Easter from the
catalogue? Many women got paid for the cream or the eggs they harvested, did they buy their outfits with these funds? What stores were on Main Street so that the women could buy locally?
In 1934 Hock and Packers (now the Tae Kwon Do Studio) would have had fashion for the ladies as well as the Golden Rule Department Store (now the Professional Building and H&R Block). I imagine coming into town on a Saturday, dropping the children off at the Majestic for a matinee, father would stop at the newly opened O’Brien’s Hardware next to the O.K. Economy store (now the downtown park) and mother would check out the latest fashions in the department stores.
Easter is late this year, April 18 being Good Friday, which is the statutory holiday. Decades ago, Easter Monday was the holiday as well. But now Easter Sunday is the day Christians celebrate the resurrection, and there is no longer a holiday for the day after the resurrection. Why is Easter so late this year? According to Google, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring Equinox which is on March 20 or 21 every year. The full moon in this month this year April 12. There, that explains the lateness this year. Why are bunnies and eggs part of the Easter weekend? Well, it goes back centuries before
HOLY THURSDAY
Thursday, April 17
6 p.m. • Our Lady Fatima Parish, Landis
8 p.m. • St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Biggar
GOOD FRIDAY
Friday, April 18
10:30 a.m. •Biggar Associated Gospel Church
1 p.m. • Our Lady Fatima Parish, Landis
3 p.m. • St. Gabriel Roman Catholic Church with Father Gibney
EASTER VIGIL
Saturday, April 19
6:30 p.m. • Our Lady Fatima Parish, Landis
9:30 p.m. • St. Gabriel Roman Catholic Church
Christianity swept Europe. The hare in ancient folklore represented fertility. The Goddess Eostre (close to the name of the holiday now, Easter) was honoured in ancient traditions and her symbol was the hare. Eggs represented new life and rebirth. Early Christians adopted the egg as a symbol of the resurrection, with the empty shell representing Jesus’ tomb.
In ancient German the Easter Bunny was called the Osterhase or Oschter Haws. In the German folk stories, the Osterhase laid colourful eggs for good children. Modern history turned the eggs into chocolates and candy
and the hunt for these springtime treats.
The Biggar Museum and Gallery would like to
wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday ... well, try not to eat too many chocolates. Celebrate how
your family and country of origin celebrate this time of year and enjoy yourselves!
In the past Easter cards were exchanged. Here is one from the collection in the museum from 1915.
11:00 a.m. • Biggar United Church Comunion Service
11:00 a.m. • St. Gabriel Roman Catholic Church
Check out these outfits available in the 1934 catalogue. The Biggar Museum has similar outfits in their fashion exhibit. A price tags of $4.50 for a dress seems very affordable for our time. But do not forget, the average hourly wage for a working woman in Saskatchewan in 1934 was 25 cents per hour, if you could find a job! Almost a day’s wages to pay for the dress!
The 1934 Spring and Summer Eaton’s catalogue, the front cover celebrating 400 years of since the French first set foot in the New World. (Photos for The Independent by the Biggar Museum and Gallery)
Easter Sunday in Biggar 1919, the ladies in their Easter best waiting to go into church: Alice Cadreud, Jeanette Dunbar, Eloise Ferguson and Marjorie McConachie.
Biggar School of Dance Festival Awards
(April 4-6, 2025)
Highest Festival Mark Group - Lyrical: Leave A Light On, Biggar School of Dance (90). Trio - Hip Hop: As Seen On TV, Selenas (85). Duet - Modern: Samantha Molberg and Kaylee Poitras, Biggar School of Dance (90). Solo - Tap: Jessica Calow, En
Pointe (93). End of Festival Scholarships
Biggar School of Dance Summer Intensive: Jessa Large, Dance Connection.
Tisdale Dance Centre Just For Kix Scholarship - Age 9-10: Karys Krushelniski, Rhythms Dance. Age 15-16: Samantha Molberg,
Biggar School of Dance. Excite Dance Intensive Scholarship - Age 11-12: Alivia Caldwell, Borden Dance Club. Age 13-14: Molly King, Borden Dance Club.
Annette’s School of Dance Summer IntensiveAge 12 and under: Addison Molberg, Biggar School of
Dance. Stand Out Dance Collective ScholarshipAge 11-14: Maggie Blair, Langham Dance Club. Harbour Dance Centre Scholarship - Age 17-18: Eva Neufeldt, Biggar School of Dance. Where We Collective 7 Day Scholarship - Age
13-18: Jessica Calow, En Pointe Studio. Flourish Studio Bloom Dance Camp - Age 4-12: Hilary Pernitsky, Cut Knife School of Dance. Age 6-18: Morgan Link, Langham Dance Club.
Impact Dance Company Summer ScholarshipAge 12 and under: Rowan
Large, Dance Connection. Where We Collective Teacher Scholarship (awarded to a teacher that received the most choreography awardstotal 6): Teigan Furber, Biggar School of Dance. Spirit of Dance: Mark McGill, Borden Dance Club.
Guerrero, Jr.’s signing highlights a solid April
Bruce Penton
Penton on Sports
After a miserable lastplace finish in the American League East in 2024, the trajectory arrow is pointed straight up for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025.
Let’s start with spring training. The Jays posted an 18-10 record and wound up as the No. 1 team in the Grapefruit League circuit, perhaps a harbinger of things to come. Then, after the first two weeks of the season, they found themselves right in the mix in the A.L. East, splitting a four-game series with Baltimore Orioles, a team many had pegged as a potential World Series contender, and then sweeping a three-game set against Washington.
And while those early results were encouraging, the cherry on top
came in the first week of April when the Jays announced they had extended their marquee player, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., with a contract that will undoubtedly make him a Blue Jay for life.
The deal was for 14 years and $500 million, not Ohtani or Soto money, but the offer was enough for Guerrero to jump at, and to end the persistent talk about him leaving the team this year, either via a mid-summer trade, or as a free agent at the end of the 2025 season.
Guerrero, Jr., who has averaged 31 homers and 100 runs-battedin during his six-year career, had issued a fairly strong threat to the Jays about his future, as we paraphrase: “Either sign me now with a nice, expensive contract extension by Feb. 18, or I’ll say goodbye. I will not negotiate during the regular season.”
The Blue Jays’ braintrust, however, couldn’t risk losing their franchise player, the face of the team, so rather than heavy negotiations, they simply put forth the $500 million figure and Guerrero, Jr., said yep, sign me up for that. His contract calls for more than $35 million U.S.
per year and it should make him and his family happy. Also happy will be the millions of Blue Jays’ fans across the country, who hope the team’s front office will build another contender around its newly-signed centrepiece.
Teammate Bo Bichette couldn’t have been happier to see his friend sign the long-term deal.
“Super excited for him,” said Bichette to a Sportsnet reporter. “Something that he wanted, something the organization wanted. Seems like it’s going to be a good marriage.”
Newly acquired pitcher Max Scherzer sees the signing as a message to fans about the front office’s plans.
“You don’t sign him like that unless you think you’re going to win,” said Scherzer.
Meanwhile, first-month reviews for the Jays have been great. George Springer was leading the league in hitting, and Bichette appears to be bouncing back after a so-so season last year. Free-agent infielder Andres Gimenez was leading the team in homers and Anthony Santander, who signed as a free-agent after a 44-homer season with
Baltimore last year, was sure to get hot. This year’s Jays may not replicate the success of the 1992 and ’93 World Series champs, but they’re definitely moving in the right direction.
• Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “Philadelphia 76ers said they used artificial intelligence to help sign over $600 million in player contracts last year.
AI stock plummeted 20 per cent on the news.”
• From golf website The First Call Extra: “After a protracted slump, Max Homa fired longtime caddie Joe Greiner a week before the Masters. The player can’t fire himself, can he?”
• A post from Twitter, forwarded by Jack Simpson, on the Great 8’s record-breaking 895th career goal: “Alex Ovechkin did something unbelievable today. He got the entire hockey world to watch an Islanders game.”
• Reecey Pierce, on X, after the Masters’ Tuesday night Champions dinner: “Everyone just wants to know if Cabrera and Scottie swapped prison stories.”
• Torben Rolfsen again: “The Masters’ Sunday, the only day of the year outside of St. Patrick’s
that anybody wants to be seen wearing a green sport coat.”
• One more from Rolfsen: “The Dodgers placed Blake Snell on the 15-day injury list with shoulder inflation. Oh no, now they’re down to only eight great pitchers in their rotation.”
• Comedy guy Alex Kaseberg: “Scientists have resurrected dire wolves that became extinct 10,000 years ago. Now they will try to resurrect the NBA’s 17-64 Washington Wizards.”
• Headline at the Beaverton.com: “Rogers CEO says joy of torturing Canadians with garbage
Biggar Bowling Weekly Scores
hockey broadcast worth way more than 11 billion dollars.”
• From the late ex-Major League Baseball manager Tommy Lasorda: “There are three types of baseball players: Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who wonder what happens.”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “I recently drove in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on a highway named after local skip Brad Gushue. It was great: No matter how many mistakes I made, it was someone else’s fault.”
• Care to comment? E-mail brucepenton2003@ yahoo.ca
Monday Adult Mixed
Tuesday Night Mixed
Thursday Afternoon Seniors
Biggar Bowling Weekly Scores
Ladies High Single - Leisha Redlick 209. Ladies High Triple - Leisha Redlick 546. Men’s High Single - Jason Raschke 219. Men’s High TripleJonathan Redlick 538.
Ladies High Single - Melissa Raschke 164. Ladies High Triple - Melissa Raschke 458. Men’s High Single - Michael Hebert 217. Men’s High TripleMat Harrabek 582.
Ladies High Single - Mary Boy 205. Ladies High Triple - Ann Debusac 479. Men’s High SingleWalter Fernets 197. Men’s High Triple - Gerry Besse 559.
SUDOKU
GAMES PAGE …
ARIES –
Mar 21/Apr 20
Expect some valuable insight regarding your future to emerge in the next few days, Aries. It won’t be difficult to set plans in motion when you have the right people on your side.
TAURUS –
Apr 21/May 21
Taurus, take a breather and give some careful thought to your recent experiences and your expectations going forward. You will benefit from this in the long run.
GEMINI –
May 22/Jun 21
You are focused on your work, Gemini. However, distractions are beyond your control right now and will pull your attention away from what matters to higher-ups.
CANCER
–
Jun 22/Jul 22
Romantic endeavors are a little hard to plan and consider right now, Cancer. Just stick to what your intuition is telling you and you will come out just fine in the end.
LEO –
Jul 23/Aug 23
Leo, you might be called upon to be a mediator for friends or loved ones who need a fresh set of eyes. Keep a cool demeanor and a level head and you can lead them to a resolution.
VIRGO –
Aug 24/Sept 22
Virgo, you are drawn to creative projects, but avoid using them to put off other endeavors. These distractions will only delay the inevitable and then you’ll be pressed for time.
LIBRA –
Sept 23/Oct 23
Libra, carefully schedule your time this week, as you cannot afford to get behind on your assignments at work or in school. You also have many important appointments on the calendar.
SCORPIO –
Oct 24/Nov 22
Scorpio, someone comes to you for advice this week and wants you to keep their situation private. You need to help them without betraying their request for confidentiality.
SAGITTARIUS –
Nov 23/Dec 21
It is possible your mind will wander this week, Sagittarius. You might not be able to focus on the tasks at hand, and will need to focus extra hard to limit distractions.
CAPRICORN –
Dec 22/Jan 20
Capricorn, pay attention to detail in all things that you do. Be mindful of this when tending to professional and personal matters.
AQUARIUS –
Jan 21/Feb 18
Aquarius, the simplest resolution is often the best one. Keep this mind when tackling a perplexing problem in the days ahead.
PISCES –
Feb 19/Mar 20
Pisces, you are eager to sail through your to-do list, and certain tasks need to be postponed to address those that are high-priority. Rearrange things accordingly.
Business & Professional …
MECHANIC
by Rev. Daphne Bender, PALs
Where in the world do we find hope when our loved one is taking their last breath of life?
One of the hardest experiences in life is to stand helplessly beside a loved one when they take their last breath. There are no words to adequately describe the emptiness in our heart when we cannot do or say anything to reverse the situation. If there are words at all, they are echoing from some hollow place in our minds, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
It is the most final moment ever to be experienced in life. How can we have hope when it’s over? What could there possibly be to look forward to when they’re gone forever? There is nothing left but the memories.
Tomorrow is Good Friday. Those who loved Jesus would have experienced the same hopelessness, emptiness, and agony. Jesus was their lifeline; he had become their hope, their reason for living. He gave them a new life, taught them how to care for one another; showed them a love they
had never known before. Then the nightmare began.
Everything they had become accustomed to started falling apart. They were ashamed when their dearest friend was arrested. They were scared to follow him through his trial. They didn’t want to be present to see him suffer. They were helpless to do anything to turn the situation around. Only some of his followers were with him to experience the moment when Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit. How could they have hope when it was all over? What could they possibly look forward to when Jesus was gone forever? Their questions are our questions.
Tomorrow, Good Friday, we remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. We remember that when Jesus died for all humankind, God
experienced what we feel when a loved one dies. We remember that Jesus died for all humankind, so that he can walk with us when we face our own death.
At the foot of the cross we find our hope. Christ’s cross is God’s power. Christ’s cross is God’s insatiable desire for life. Christ’s cross is not the end.
The Son of God’s cross is our hope. There is nothing more needed to hold us up in our grief, in our doubt, in our despair. Because it held up the Son of God’s dying body for the world to see, it holds our eternal futureGod’s power over death. Amen.
LENORA BARBER
August 31, 1934 - March 23, 2025
With heavy hearts, the family of Lenora Barber announce her passing on March 23, 2025 at the tender age of 90.
Lenora is lovingly remembered by her husband Walter Barber, her children, Lavina Barber, Allen (Val) Barber, Cathy Allen, Weldon (Denise) Barber, Anita (Trent) Silvernagle, Shannon (Vince) Morgan, her Brother Ray (Brenda) Wood, Sister Shirley (Rick) Richards, numerous grand children and great grand children.
Lenora was predeceased by her son Lyle Barber, parents Warren and Alice (Watson) Wood, and brother Marvin Wood.
Lenora and Walter were married November 11, 1953. They farmed in Lydden/Duperow area where they raised their seven children.
Lenora was a busy woman raising her family, helping out with the farm work wherever needed, preparing meals and delivering them out to the field, nurturing her beautiful flowers, growing a very large garden, canning endless jars of fruit and freezing the abundant produce from her garden. “No store-bought food for her family!”
Lenora volunteered many hours with the Lydden Community Club, Lydden 4-H Club, cooking/serving food for Fall Suppers, Duperow Curling Club Executive, etc.
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 20 10:30am Easter Worship (ST.PAULS)
APRIL 27 10:30am Regular Worship (ST.PAULS)
Rev. Daphne Bender Pastor’s cellular Phone: 1-306-621-9559 Office Phone: 306-948-3731 (Messages are forwarded to Pastor’s phone immediately)
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
SATURDAY SERVICES
BIBLE STUDY 10:00a.m. CHURCH SERVICE 11:00a.m. 320 - 6th ave.east contact: 306-951-8445 3 abn
NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH
...In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope...1Pe 1:3 You are Invited Sunday Tea and Coffee -10:15am Worship - 10:30am NEW HORIZONS 117 3rd Ave. W, Biggar For more info - Philip Watson - 250-487-8476
Never allowing grass to grow under her feet, in the late 1970’s Lenora started working in the laundry/kitchen of the Diamond Lodge. Soon after she started, she knew she wanted to care for the elderly, so she took the Long-term Care Aid program and then transferred to that department. She thoroughly enjoyed caring and spending time with residents.
Lenora also knew how to have fun. Whether it was playing cards with neighbor friends till the wee hours of the morning, or curling at the Duperow curling rink, and then stopping down at the “Red Lion” for a beverage or two, a good time was had by all when she was around.
In later years as Lenora’s mobility became a challenge, she enjoyed spending time on her computer emailing jokes and keeping in contact with family and friends afar, watching curling and baseball (especially her beloved Blue Jays)!
Lenora lived a full life and her family are truly blessed to have had her as their mother, friend, and confidant. They will miss her dearly.
A remembrance celebration will be held at a later date.
Memorial tributes can be made to the Biggar and District Health Foundation or the Sandra Schmirler Foundation.
New donation to the museum Advertising doesn’t cost
by Delta Fay Cruickshank for the Biggar Museum and Gallery Murray Yaschuk was just here in the museum. He brought with him a donation for the museum.
Yaschuk grew up here in Biggar. He attended Nova
Wood and Woodrow Lloyd school then went on to Biggar Composite that was on the east side of the playing field across from BCS2000. His mother Susan still lives in town.
Yaschuk left Biggar to
by a son of Biggar, Murray Yaschuk. (Submitted Photo)
further his education at Olds College in Alberta. He now lives in Edmonton with his wife, and near his grown children. At one point, he taught himself the practice of Pysanky, the Ukrainian art of painting on eggs. It is a wax relief method, like batik. The art is delicate, and imaginative. I marvel at the end results. He has donated four of his beautifully decorated eggs and once the paperwork is all done, we will be displaying them in the museum.
The history of the Ukrainian Easter Egg goes back thousands of years, before Christianity. As an agricultural country, the people depended on the sun for survival and successful crops. The egg was a symbol of the sun, just look at the yolk and you will understand. The egg is also a symbol of renewal and spring, the rejuvenation of the earth after winter, just like Easter.
