Biggar’s Castwell & Co. have come off an award-winning performance, April 25 at the Theatre Sask and Melfort Amateur Dramatics TheatreOne weekend. Winning Best Performance in a Supporting Role for Tiffani McBee, as well as numerous other “gongs” for their play, “I, Chorus”. Locally, you can catch the play May 9&11 at the Majestic. A licensed event, it is General Admission.
(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)
Decisions were made this past Monday, and we’ll have to live with them for the next four years. The Biggar New Horizons was a busy place as residents cast their vote for who will represent them in the constituency, nationally and globally. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
by Sgt. Cst. Chad Mehl, Biggar
Detachment occurrences were generated in Biggar RCMP detachment’s area since April 22, 2025.
As per usual, RCMP Traffic Services conducted speeding enforcement in the detachment area, contributing to this number. Once again it was a lower key week with traffic enforcement and relatively minor occurrences being
Liberal’s get to ignore the West for four more years
The federal election has the Liberal Party of Canada forming the next government.
Monday’s decision - decided in the eastwill see more blundering ignorance from the Liberal’s, this time under the leadership of Mark Carney. As of Tuesday, the dust hadn’t yet settled but the Liberal’s took 168 seats to the Conservative 144. The Bloc came in with 23, and woeful, the NDP took just seven seats, while
Biggar RCMP Report
responded to overall.
Biggar RCMP responded to suspicious persons with flashlights seen on a street in Perdue. At the school bus maintenance shop in Biggar, two starters were stolen from a 2018 Ford F150 as well as windows being shot out of a retired school bus sometime since March 2025. A vehicle with expired plates was located on Highway 51 and the owner had run out of gas. Unable to renew the plates on the vehicle and unable to legally park it without the risk of it being struck by traffic, it was subsequently towed.
Biggar RCMP responded to several reports of different persons requiring
medical attention for various reasons. While police don’t normally attend purely medical calls, sometimes police are required to attend for various extenuating circumstances, depending on urgency.
There was a report of five loose cows near Kinley that had broken through a fence line. There was also a report of a theft of gas at one of the local gas stations in Biggar which turned out to be a mix up between a husband and wife as to who had paid the gas bill. The matter was quickly resolved after police contacted the driver and they returned to settle their fuel bill
immediately.
Biggar RCMP are also investigating activities at the Biggar Airport that have been occurring during evening hours since October 2024. An individual was caught on one of the surveillance cameras during that time trespassing and examining various stored items on site. On March 10, 2025, one of the airport surveillance cameras, a game camera, was stolen from the airport. If you have any information on the identity of this suspect, please contact the Biggar RCMP. Police will be attempting to step up patrols in and around the airport area.
an Independent claimed one seat (all results since Independent deadline, Tuesday noon, April 29).
Locally, Swift CurrentGrasslands-Kindersley has Conservative Jeremy Patzer going back to Ottawa under the new constituency with 32,067 votes. Liberal William Caton came in a distant second with 4,341, while the NDP’s Alex McPhee garnered 2,236 votes, and Independent, Maria Rose Lewans, 417.
Former MP Kelly Block,
now in Carlton TrailEagle Creek won handily against Liberal Katelyn Zimmer. Provincially, the Conservatives painted the province blue except for the north and DesnetheMissinippi-Churchill River where Buckley Belanger won for the Liberal’s.
The Liberal minority government made promises to represent everyone. It will be another four years of them forgetting that promise.
Annual Mother’s Day Tea set for May 6
Prairie Branches will be hosting their annual fund raiser this Tuesday, May 6, 2 p.m. at the Biggar Community Hall, honouring all Mom’s.
An important fund raiser for Prairie Branches, Mother’s will be pampered and treated to an afternoon of entertainment, tea, coffee and snacks, raffles, and bake table.
In the past, Mother’s from certain service groups were nominated for the yearly fund raiser. This year, Prairie Branches will be honouring all Mothers.
The tea is an important part of Prairie Branches. Residents benefit with money raised going to
Final show of Arts Council season brings Misery Mountain Boys to Majestic
summer holiday trips, family visits. Prairie Branches has been grateful for past support, and are hoping residents continue to champion the organization in their efforts to provide important necessities for their clients.
The community has been very supportive of the event, and Prairie Branches is hoping that they will continue to do so. Prairie Branches will be accepting all financial donations for this worthwhile cause.
Prairie Branches Mother’s Day Tea is Wednesday, May 6 at 2 p.m. at the Biggar Community Hall.
It has been a fantastic Biggar and District Arts Council performance season, and it all comes to a conclusion May 10 with the ninth and final
concert, the Misery Mountain Boys. You might hear the tunes of the Misery Mountain Boys drifting from behind a rotating
bookcase of a 1930’s speakeasy. Harkening back to a simpler time, the MMB’s create a collaborative soundscape infused with tongue in
cheek wit, playfulness, and nostalgia. With a mix of catchy originals and contemporary songs reimagined in driving swing, the band’s performance delivers as both classic and fresh, offering a generous variety of sweaty jazz numbers, velvety love songs, and swingin’ jump-blues.
Born in the remote, river-laced hills of Northern Alberta (Peace River to be exact), the Misery Mountain Boys is the black sheep brainchild of frontman Steven Gevenich. Through its iterations, the band has been delivering top quality musicianship and a high energy performance for over 12 years. Walking bass lines (Daniel Watson), shuffling drums (Ethan Markwart), meandering clarinet and saxophone (Joe Semple), and Gevenich’s own skillful jazz/blues guitar and gentle, gravely voice form the musical
landscape of the Misery Mountain Boys.
The forthcoming record “Somebody Stole My Peaches” (April 2025) is the band’s most heartfelt and realized offering to date. interspersing the MMB’s trademark swing and jump blues with introspection and heart.
The album features 10 original tracks, featuring clever arrangements, authentic musicianship, and heartfelt lyrics, laced with a token tongue-andcheek wit, throughout.
The first single off the record “If You Want Me” was release in October 2024, along with an accompanying live performance video. Single releases are slated for November, February, and
March, leading up to and supporting the full release in April 2025.
A musical rarity in an industry busy with melancholy, the Misery Mountain Boys are a confident celebration of all that is moving about being alive. The project firmly asserts that playfulness and ease are sacred, and we all have the right to boogie.
The Misery Mountain Boys come to the Majestic Theatre for the ninth and final show of the Biggar and District Arts Council concert season this Saturday, 10, showtime at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale from Ross Holt at de Moissac Jewellers or from ticketpro.ca
The final show of the 2024-25 Biggar and District Arts Council will feature the Misery Mountain Boys at the Majestic Theatre, May 10. (Submitted Photo)
The most powerful man in Ottawa isn’t even Canadian
by Michael Taube, Troy Media
This year’s Canadian election has been a strange one. A massive Conservative lead in the polls evaporated in the blink of an eye. The Liberals chose a new leader and unexpectedly found themselves in the lead, ultimately winning government for the fourth consecutive time.
Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney will form the next government, defeating Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in a closer-than-expected race.
While Canadians cast the ballots, however, one thing is certain: the outcome was not shaped by a Canadian politician, but by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The story has been told by political commentators and columnists like me. It’s worth mentioning one final time for historical perspective.
Trump was elected to a second presidential term on Nov. 5, 2024. Within three weeks, he announced the implementation of 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican products.
“As everyone is aware, thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” he wrote on Truth Social on Nov. 25, 2024. “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all
necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 per cent Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders. This Tariff will remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!”
Most Canadian officials openly or begrudgingly acknowledged there was at least something to Trump’s assessment.
Then-Liberal prime minister Justin Trudeau hadn’t focused on border safety and security in nearly a decade, and the black market for illegal weapons and drugs hadn’t dried up. Whether or not
Trudeau thought he was being treated harshly by the U.S. president, he went to Florida with a small delegation to see if he could turn the tide and reverse the trade penalties.
But he didn’t even come close.
Trudeau reportedly told Trump during their Nov. 29 dinner meeting at Mara-Lago that the tariffs would “kill the Canadian economy completely.”
He was badly behind in the polls against the Poilievre Conservatives, and likely figured that Trump’s tariffs would end his career. Trump realized this and went on the attack.
“So, your country can’t survive unless it’s ripping off the U.S. to the tune of $100 billion?” Trump
said. This was apparently followed up with an amusing proposal: Canada could “become the 51st state.” He also said that while “prime minister is a better title,” he could still be “governor of the 51st state.”
Trump has had an on-again, off-again trade war with Canada ever since. The chances of this ending anytime soon are unlikely.
Trudeau was unquestionably a major casualty of Trump’s measures. He never recovered from the memes and quips. His status as a mediocre, ineffective national leader holding on by a thread was reinforced. His resignation in January allowed many Canadians - and some Liberals - to breathe a sigh of relief.
Poilievre faced issues with the U.S. tariffs, too.
The Conservatives had been ahead in the polls for over two years, including by double digits since September 2023. It was a 20 to 25 point lead as recently as this February. Trudeau’s lousy leadership was the main reason for the massive gap between the two major parties, of course. Poilievre’s fiscally conservative response to the affordability crisis, combined with his outside-the-box ideas on challenging elites, targeting “gatekeepers” and promoting cryptocurrency, caught on with Canadians, too
This lead dissipated due to the tariff threat. Some Canadians were not only furious and blamed Trump and the U.S. Republicans for creating this situation, they also viewed Poilievre and Trump as two sides of the same political coin. The comparison was ridiculous: Poilievre and Trump have always had different ideologies, policies and personalities. The president also knew this.
“I think his biggest problem is he’s not a MAGA guy, you know? I mean, he’s really not ... a Trump guy at all,” he said to Ben Domenech during an interview with UK-based The Spectator magazine.
Carney was the strangest case of all. Trump’s actions both helped and hindered him. Carney initially benefited from Trump’s intervention when the
Conservatives lost their enormous lead. He was seen as an improvement over Trudeau, which wasn’t difficult to achieve. His March 28 phone call with the U.S. president was fairly positive, although nothing was specifically accomplished. Some Canadians started to believe (for no legitimate reason) that Carney was the best leader to defend this country’s safety and security.
Carney’s over-reliance on Trump and trade tensions began to backfire as the campaign wore on. His political inexperience, arrogant behaviour, massive ego and aloof personality were impossible to miss. He offered no original ideas, maintaining large swaths of Trudeau’s policies and swiping a few from the Conservatives. He performed poorly during the two CBC leadership
debates, and by skipping TVA’s French-language debate, he caused it to be cancelled. Some Canadians who had initially trusted Carney to take on Trump suddenly realized that he may not be strong enough to make a significant impact. This perception led to a late shift in the polls. Poilievre’s performance was stellar during the campaign. He regained some of his lost support, and his critiques of Trump became much stronger. Carney remained in the lead in most polls on election night, but only by a cumulative average of two to three points. That narrow margin was enough to give the Liberals another term. Is Trump watching the results? He might be, at least in passing.
Is he planning his next move on the tariff chessboard he’s created? I’d imagine so.
Mark Carney and the myth of Liberal Party renewal
by Our View, Troy Media
It’s an overused phrase, but one that still carries weight: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”
As Canadians head to the polls, it’s worth asking whether electing the Liberal Party - even with a new leader - would truly represent a new direction for the country, or simply more of the same under a different name.
Justin Trudeau may be gone, but the consequences of his nearly decade-long tenure remain. Under his leadership, Canada saw soaring public debt, deteriorating affordability, declining productivity, and a historic erosion in affordability. The Trudeau government was also marked by repeated ethical breaches, a
diminished global presence for Canada, and increasing national division. These aren’t footnotes - they are the legacy the new Liberal leader inherits.
Mark Carney is an accomplished figure, well-known on the international stage as a former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor. But his emergence as the Liberal leader raises a serious question: Are Canadians being offered real change, or simply a different face for the same political agenda?
There is a troubling pattern here. For years, the Liberal Party has prioritized recognizable names over meaningful renewal. After losing power in 2006, the party did not take the time to rebuild from the ground up. Instead, after the short tenure of Stéphane
Dion, it turned to Michael Ignatieff - a high-profile academic - in hopes of quickly restoring its brand. When that effort collapsed with the 2011 election disaster, the party again chose a prominent name, Justin Trudeau, banking on personal appeal and family legacy rather than substance. Now, with Mark Carney at the helm, the pattern continues. At no point did the party honestly re-evaluate its direction or distance itself from the policies that contributed to its decline. Its thirst for power has consistently come before what is good for Canadians. So far, Carney appears aligned with many of the same positions that defined the Trudeau era, particularly on climate, spending, and identitydriven politics. He brings a polished tone and a reputation for
competence, but there is little evidence of a break with the governing philosophy that left many Canadians behind.
Meanwhile, everyday problems have only grown worse. Wages aren’t keeping up with inflation. Housing costs remain out of reach for many. Small businesses face rising costs and relentless regulation. Federal-provincial tensions over resources and taxation continue to deepen.
Canadians have every right to expect that a leadership change would signal a shift in priorities. But political history suggests otherwise. Parties rarely reinvent themselves while in power, and in the Liberals’ case, not even when out of power. Policy inertia runs deep, and the same insiders and advisers who shaped the last nine years
INDEPENDENT
remain at the centre of the Liberal operation.
In other words, while the face at the podium may have changed, the machinery behind it has not - and neither have the consequences. The election should be a moment of serious reflection. Voters must ask whether they are better off than they were in 2015 - economically, socially and globally. Many are not. And they must also ask whether the Liberal Party has truly earned another mandate, or if it’s time to consider new ideas from a government better prepared to confront the challenges ahead.
Canada is a country of immense potential. But that potential can’t be realized through status quo thinking. It requires bold reforms in housing, energy, productivity and tax policy. It demands
fiscal responsibility, institutional integrity, and a renewed commitment to national unity. And it calls for leadership that’s ready to confront hard truths rather than offer polished talking points.
For too long, Canadians have been asked to tolerate underperformance in exchange for lofty promises. That tradeoff no longer holds. Rebranding a government is not the same as reforming it. Real change must be structural, not symbolic.
In that sense, the “definition of insanity” still applies. Not to voters looking for stability or leadership, but to those expecting that the same party, with the same policies, will suddenly deliver new outcomes simply because the person at the top has changed. Canada can do better.
Bob Mason Notable Notes
In some parts of the world, if someone were to mention “rain” or “water,” folks would look around for a paper bag to throw up in!
In Saskatchewan we never seem to get enough concerning subjects like that, though. From the time of our earliest recollections up in Great Bend during the dry Dirty Thirties, “rain” and “water” seemed to be words that people never tired of!
It is this much underwatered point of view, possibly, that inspired this cheap borrowed pen to mark some of these recollections down.
It’s not odd these days for someone to say, “I sure enjoy my jacuzzi!” or “I have a cellphone beside the hot tub!” - and this is good! But bathing wasn’t always that easy!
As youngsters out on the farm, sanitary regulations or not, often the whole family washed themselves in the same round tub every week! That doesn’t sound good, I know, but we did it! And often I think that our immune systems maybe benefited too!
In those years we lived up across the North Saskatchewan River and more than once - at our parent’s urging! - the RCMP came down and chased a bunch of small waders out of it. It was kind of dangerous, all right, and more than one of the locals had drowned doing the very same thing. But as a bunch of very mature 10- and 12-year-olds, of course we knew a lot more than they every did! They say that “Cleanliness is Godliness!” and if that is
Aunts, uncles, and cousins
My friend Mel just got back from an aunt’s funeral, where he met family members he did not know he had.
Personally, I’ve met more relatives at funerals than I have at weddings ... but maybe it’s because weddings require an invitation.
Last month, my uncle told me that my third cousin had died. No, two cousins didn’t die before her. She was my third cousin because our great-grandmothers were sisters. Confusing, huh?
The word “removed” just means a different generation. So, my first cousin’s children would be my first cousins once removed.
I had not met the deceased, but her obituary photo looked just like my uncle ... but without the beard.
I went to her memorial service so I could mingle
true, then a whole bunch of us - including Y.T. (Yours Truly) - should have been able to recite the Biblical testaments off by heart after we fell through the ice on one of the neighbours sloughs. Boy, were we ever wet! Maybe we shouldn’t have lit that big bonfire out there and then gathered around it! Did Walt and I ever get home late! It seemed to me that we sat around their stove for hours drying out before they let us jump into the old cutter and head off to the farm.
As we grew up, the little round bathtub seemed to get smaller and smaller every year until one summer a thick, metalled 30-gallon tank appeared out the eaves of one of the bins. Walt got tired of scrunching down to fit into the ever-shrinking container that we had always known, and built a bracket to put the tank on. The tank was filled with nice soft water from the eaves trough, heated by the summer sun and made a darn good shower
when we came in from the field.
It worked real well, too, until one day the girls were out there getting sprinkled on when the local fuel-supply truck drove up!
I think one of the wettest, certainly the most miserable, times in my life was while riding from the river down to Tessier in the rain, back about 1938. But we mentioned that before in that bit I wrote about called “Old Saddles”.
We were just nicely getting dry behind the ears when World War Two came along and we found out what getting wet was really like. We were fairly slow starters but some of our friends had joined the armed forces.
I remember John. Word got back into the community that John was in the ML and BU!
“Wow,” we thought. “The Military Liaison of the Battle Unit!”
Sorry, the military glamour faded when, much to our comfort, we
found out later that ML and BU stand for “Mobile Laundry” and “Bath Unit”!
These guys weren’t frontline troops by a long shot, but were we ever glad to see them after a couple of muddy, bloody weeks in action!
It would take quite a few pages to enter here all of our sometimes watery escapades while in the army, but now that we’ve started, Y.T. must mention a few.
One time, just as we had moved into a small Dutch town with all my equipment on including a No. 18 radio set strapped to my back, I stepped backward and fell right into a ground-level cistern full of water. It so happened to be right in front of our temporary B.H.Q. (Battalion Head Quarters) and I could hear some of the officer “inmates” laughing at me - until I climbed out, soaking wet, walked inside and dripped all over their floor!
Things got worse and worse - maybe we just
thought they did - for I see in my old L and T some entries like: Crossing the SoesteThe night we waded that cold, cold river just this side of Friesoythe!
Rain in the forest - All of the stuff that kept falling out of the sky wasn’t rain either!
Bivouac in Camp Shilo - Br-r-r-r-!
Wet ride - That beforementioned time of misery when we rode, without chaps, in the rain all day! Or Harvey’s WellMick Munroe can tell you about that!
But lately the wettest I ever seem to get is while dodging the sprinklers on the local golf course! We did take a lot of target practice while in the army and Y.T. finally got so that he could sometimes hit what he aimed at, but for a long time now I seem to be missing the fairway on No. 1!
If practice will do it, and of I hang on long enough ... maybe!
Sweet and savoury veggie-packed stir-fry in under 30 minutes
with familiar relatives, plus meet new ones.
As one of my buddies says, “You need to know cousins in several states, so you can travel crosscountry for free.”
The deceased cousin was 97, and she had lived a busy life. She’d been married four times, each one an upgrade from her prior spouse.
At one time she’d also been a softball umpire. Maybe that’s why she married so much. When a husband disputed her decision, she just called him “out.”
Since the funeral was at the grave site, attendees then walked to a nearby large tent for a reception. I’ve never seen so many familiar-looking folks whose names I didn’t know.
I talked to several second cousins, third cousins, and even one old guy who looked like he’d wandered over because he smelled coffee.
After the event, I remembered what an old friend told me: “Any time an event serves food outdoors, you’ll see lots of aunts.”
Were you born between 1946-1964? Would you like to know more about the generation called Baby Boomers? You can order Rix’s book on that generation today. Just go to this link: amazon. com/BABY-BOOMERSSPEAK-learnedwhatever/dp/
Loaded with fresh veggies and bursting with flavour, this stir-fry will become
Ingredients:
1 tbsp (15 ml) oil.
a go-to meal when you need something quick and nutritious. This dish pairs
1 package (227 g) sliced crimini mushrooms.
1 large red bell pepper, sliced.
1 small zucchini, quartered.
1 small red onion, sliced.
2 cups (500 ml) broccoli florets.
1 cup (250 ml) sugar snap peas.
1 cup (250 ml) carrots, sliced.
1 cup (250 ml) baby corn.
1/2 cup (125 ml) chicken (or vegetable) broth.
1/4 cup (60 ml) reduced-sodium soy sauce.
3 cloves garlic, minced.
3 tbsp (60 ml) brown sugar.
1 tbsp (15 ml) cornstarch.
1 tsp (5 ml) minced ginger.
1 tsp (5 ml) sesame oil.
Optional garnish: Chopped green onions, sesame seeds.
well with a side of rice or on top of lo mein noodles to make it a complete entrée.
Heat oil in a large non-stick wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, bell pepper, zucchini, onion, broccoli, peas, carrot and baby corn. Sauté 6-8 minutes until vegetables are almost tender. In a medium bowl, whisk together chicken broth, soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar, cornstarch, ginger and sesame oil.
Pour over sauteed vegetables and cook until sauce has thickened; about 2-3 minutes. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.
Tips:
To ensure the vegetables cook at the same rate, cut them into similar sized pieces.
Canned baby corn can be found in the international aisles of most grocery stores.
Notice of Abandonment of Poll
The Village of Perdue Municipal By-Election 2025
Whereas a poll is not required pursuant to The Local Government Election Act for the offices of:
Councillor: Village of Perdue
I hereby give public notice that no voting for the said office will take place on May 28, 2025 and that the following person is elected by acclamation:
Councillor: Peter Johnson
Dated this 24th day of April, 2025
Andrea Ball Returning Officer
Rix Quinn
Quinn Minute
Bees are an important aspect of our ecosystems. We know that we need to improve the conditions for bees, which in turn improves the conditions for survival of people. In Saskatchewan, many of our crops depend on bees for pollination and
we also produce approximately 25 per cent of Canada’s honey. Pollination is needed for plants to reproduce, and so many plants depend on bees or other insects as pollinators. When a bee collects nectar and pollen from the flower of a plant, some pollen from the stamens - the male reproductive organ of the flower - sticks to the hairs of her body. Bees are drawn to plants with open or flat tubular flowers with lots of pollen and nectar.
The scent of the flower, the bright colours also help to bring the bees in.
Flowers visited more of-
Bee Engaged
ten by bees will produce larger and more uniform fruit. There are other pollinators in nature including wind, birds, other animals and sometimes water, but bees and also other insects are the most valuable pollinators. Every individual can contribute to the preservation of bees and other pollinators. If you are a beekeeper, you are particularly concerned to ensure you can keep your bees healthy and productive from the very earliest spring until you close down the hives in fall. In order for bees to be the most productive, a very diverse environment is
necessary. A diverse environment contains trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals so there is always cover on the ground and there is always something growing. This is the environment that will give you the longest season for honey production.
Some plants are magnets for bees such as summer flowering annuals like borage, bee balm, heliotrope, sweet clover and lavender. Perennials such as our native prairie crocus, chives, joe pye weed and salvia also fit the bill. Be sure to include one or two spring flowering fruits in your
garden: raspberry, cherry, apple, chokecherry, plum and Saskatoon’s are delicious as far as bees are concerned. Bees need to feed in early spring too. It may surprise you that early-blooming willow is a major food source for bees. There are also those pesky dandelions that grace our lawns just as the grass is greening up. We’re not suggesting that you grow a crop of them, but at least they are good for something. Bees just love them and this is another reason to keep herbicides off your lawn. Late summer blooming sunflowers, chrysanthemums and
asters complete the season to keep bees fed until fall.
Almost any flowering plant you grow in your garden will benefit bees. 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?
Remembering places before they are forgotten
by Delta Fay Cruickshank for the Biggar Museum and Gallery
There is a book in the Family Research Library in the Biggar Museum and Gallery. It is called “Thirsk, Through the Years”.
It recalls families who lived in the Thirsk area plus the school. In the same book there is section on the area called Triumph; the school, the church, the hall and the first homesteaders.
While reading this book I found an answer to a question I’ve had for a long time. Was there a church on the hill near the intersection of Highway 4 and Triumph Road? I ask this question because I see a metal cross there on my way home from Rosetown, and I wondered.
From what I have been able to learn was where a church in the area which opened in 1910 with Reverend Mr. Gilmour. At the time it was known as the South Biggar Presbyterian Church. It soon began being known as the Triumph United Church. As the community around the church grew so did the congregation. In 1928 a manse was build for the ministers. In 1944 lightning struck the church, destroying the chimney and causing considerable damage to the interior.
Seems like it was repaired and life carried on.
The last minister was William Ferrier from Toronto in 1955. There is no written word about the church in the book after that. Was it demolished, or did it fall down?
There was a Triumph School as well. It was situated on SW 1/4-2634-15-W3. That is west of Highway 4 and the Triumph grid corner. It has a history of opening
Father and the young Laura walked into Biggar, about four miles away.
In Biggar they lunched with the Routley’s, left the trunk with them and all carried on to their homestead. It was a long walk!
They kept asking, “How far now Father?”
them and bold gophers that came right into the house! She mentions their neighbours were the Eslers, the Parkers, the Doans, the Tapps and a few bachelors.
and closing, according to the size of the enrolment. It originally opened in 1912, then closed in 1917 because there was only one student enrolled. It reopened in 1918. In 1926 a new school was considered with room for 50 students. Between the years 1942 and 1944 it was closed and reopened again in 1945. That year it was considered part of the Biggar School District. In 1954 with buses available the school was permanently closed. I read some of the homesteaders’ stories in “Thirsk, Through the Years”. The Longman Family story was very interesting, as told by Laura Longman Potter. She tells of being in Saskatoon when her father came to the area to homestead in February 1910. He built a small house, and the rest of the family joined him at the end of March. There was
no station in North Biggar at the time, so they went on to Castlewood. Father met them in a borrowed horse and buggy. Because they had so much luggage - plus Mother was ill -
“Just over the next hill!” he replied. It was a long six miles!
She goes on to recount neighbours with 13 children living in tents, grass fires all around
The church was in the home of Allan Esler for a time until Ami Routley donated some land and neighbours built the first Triumph Church. The Esler’s continued to contribute their home for church events when it got too cold to use the church. Other stories
were about her father’s walking trips to provide for his family: walking six miles past Kinley to get a heifer, and walking home, it took him two days! Or walking to Biggar to buy 100 pounds of flour and carried it back! The tales fascinate me, and they are all here for you to read as well. The Family Research Library is open to the public. The books cannot be lent out, but we are friendly and offer access to our photocopier.
Patricia Hanbidge Orchid Horiculture
Triumph Ladies Baseball (1912) Team photograph of the Triumph Ladies Baseball team in Biggar. Team players identified are (left to right): Eloise Ferguson (Pitcher), Jean Movis (Catcher), Ethel Pettigrew (1st Base), Helen Little (2nd Base), Maggie Ester (3rd Base), Claire Pettigrew (Short Stop) and Minnie Routley (Fielder). (Photos for The Independent by the Biggar Museum and Gallery)
Congregation in front of Triumph Church, 1919.
Confederation Pageant, June 3, 1927.
NHL coaching improvement not always rewarded
Penton on Sports
Duck! Here comes the axe!
Greg Cronin probably deserved better than to be fired at the end of the 2024-25 National Hockey League season. After all, he led the Anaheim Ducks to an 80-point season (35-37-10), which was a league-leading 35.5 per cent increase over the previous season’s disastrous 59-point campaign.
Cronin, probably among the least-recognizable coaches in the NHL outside of southern California, will deservedly get some coach-of-theyear votes but his relative success this season didn’t
carry enough weight with Ducks’ general manager Pat Verbeek.
“I think I see this team at a point to where my expectation of this team is to make the playoffs next season,” Verbeek told Yarkbarker.com
Coaching the Ducks for two years, Cronin’s record wasn’t great, but the talent he had to work with wasn’t so hot, either. His teams finished 25 games under .500 and the playoff drought for the team goes all the way back to 2018. Still, a 21-point improvement from one season to the next usually results in a contract extension with a big raise, not a firing. Verbeek wasn’t happy with the team’s offence, which ranked 30th of the NHL’s 32 teams. Mason McTavish and Troy Terry tied for the team lead in goals with 22, and finding more firepower is at the top of Verbeek’s to-do list. With that in mind, highscoring free agents Mitch Marner of the Leafs and Nikolaj Ehlers of the Jets are on his priority list.
So who will be the NHL’s coach of the year? Washington’s Spencer Carbery got a lot of attention this year for leading the Capitals to an Eastern Conference title and improving their points’ total from 91 to 111. Ottawa’s Travis Green will get a few votes for the Senators’ vast improvement from last year, in which they garnered 78 points, to the 97 and a wildcard playoff position this year. Scott Arniel of Winnipeg should get some consideration for the season-long consistency that earned his team the President’s Trophy, but the Jets’ season-over-season gain was not that spectacular (110 to 116). Another top candidate is Montreal’s Martin St. Louis, who guided the Habs to the playoffs for the first time in four years. Montreal was second-last overall in early December before something magic started to happen in Montreal. Whether it was the team’s core finally coming together, the emergence
of rookie flash Lane Hutson on defence or the coaching strategy of St. Louis working its magic, the Habs were red-hot down the stretch. But the best of them all might be Dean Evason of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who didn’t make the playoffs, but went right down to Game 82 before being eliminated. The Jackets’ point improvement (66 last year to 89 this year, a 34.8 per cent increase) was impressive, even more so when you consider that their best player, Johnny Gaudreau, was killed in an August car-bicycle crash. But Evason’s percentage improvement still didn’t match Cronin’s 35.5, and look where it got the ex-Ducks’ bench boss.
• Vancouver comedy guy Torben Rolfsen: “Tiger Woods’ design firm is going to build a nine-hole short course at Augusta National. Prediction: They’ll hold a tournament there called the Mistresses.”
• Super 70s Sports: “I
cannot emphasize how little I care what the speed of a home run was. ‘He crushed a 105.8 mph homer!’ means nothing to me. To paraphrase Satchell Paige, ‘Did it go over the fence, wild child?’”
• From an X user called Thank the Stars: “If they do speed and launch angle for HRs they should do it for every ball in play. Let the people know about that 60 mph soft grounder with a launch angle of seven.”
• Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com, after the first day of the NFL draft: “Imagine being Cam Ward, No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. And all the media is about the guy who HASN’T been drafted yet.”
• Columnist Norman Chad: “Shedeur Sanders has fallen so far down in the NFL draft, he’s watching it with me tonight.”
• Another one from Chad: “President Trump just signed an executive order placing Shedeur Sanders on an undisclosed NFL team.”
• Super 70s Sports, on Shedeur Sanders not being drafted in the NFL’s first round, as had been expected: “If 32 teams individually decide your talent isn’t worth you being a migraine headache, that’s not getting ‘blackballed.’”
• Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “No phones are allowed on the course at the Masters. It’s like a Salvadorean prison for Tik-Tokkers.”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com : “The Canucks recently banned the video game Fortnite during their road trips. I’m thinking that might actually be the game Vancouver was playing this season - it didn’t look like hockey.”
• Headline at theonion. com: “Masters Crowd Whispering Its Lungs Out.”
• Care to comment? E-mail brucepenton2003@ yahoo.ca
Biggar Tae Kwon Do athletes set to compete at three international events
For a group of determined Biggar athletes, years of discipline, long nights of training, and countless competitions have all led to this moment: the chance to represent their community — and their country — on the world stage.
Eight members of Biggar Tae Kwon Do will soon take part in three major international tournaments across two countries, highlighting the end of a season marked by exceptional dedication and perseverance.
Steven Carter, Kaleb Carter, Marissa Carter, Aleksandra Todorovic, Chloe Hebert, Harjap Thandi, and Ibadat Thandi will begin their journey May 30 to June 1 in Toronto for the ICTF Open World Taekwon-Do Championship.
There, they will face athletes from 14 different countries in individual sparring and patterns events. In addition, Team Canada members will take part in Group Sparring - where teams are formed based on rank, age, height and weight, bringing together competitors from across Canada to compete sideby-side against other
nations.
For four of Biggar’s black belt athletes - Steven Carter, Kaleb Carter, Marissa Carter, and Aleksandra Todorovicthe journey doesn’t stop in Toronto.
In August, they will cross the Atlantic to Stirling, Scotland, to compete in both the GTF 13th World Championships and the 35th Open World Cup, taking place from August 14 to 17.
These tournaments offer a rich variety of events beyond traditional competition, including: Individual Patterns and Sparring; Team Patterns; Couples Patterns; Power Board Breaking; Flying High Kick; Flying Side Kick
Meanwhile, Janice Carter, Harjap Thandi, and Ibadat Thandi will also travel to Scotland to represent Biggar at the 35th Open World Cup, focusing on their own categories in sparring and patterns.
The students of Biggar Tae Kwon Do have spent the past year travelling throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta, competing, attending seminars, and training with other clubs. Their journeys have not
only refined their martial arts skills but have also built friendships across the province and beyond. These international events are more than just tournaments, they are a chance to forge new bonds, test limits, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Meet Biggar’s athletes: Steven Carter, 1st Dan Black Belt and Millwright at Prairie Malt, balances career and martial arts with a love for travel and family. Janice Carter, Blue Belt, shares her passion for travel and will compete in Scotland’s Open World Cup. Kaleb Carter, 1st Dan Black Belt living with Down Syndrome, inspires with his resilience and dreams of home ownership.
Marissa Carter, 2nd Dan Black Belt, will soon begin an apprenticeship as a crane operator in Saskatchewan.
Aleksandra Todorovic, 1st Dan Black Belt, will study nursing at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in the fall.
Chloe Hebert, 1st Dan Black Belt, will enter Grade 12 at BCS 2000 and explore a future in healthcare. Harjap Thandi, Red Belt, heading into Grade 7 at BCS 2000,
hopes to join the RCMP as a forensic analyst. Ibadat Thandi, Green Belt, soon starting Grade 4 at BCS 2000, already dreams of becoming a cardiologist.
Behind every athlete is a village - family members, instructors, and community members who provide encouragement, motivation, and vital support.
As these athletes prepare for the biggest competitions of their
lives, a simple word of encouragement or congratulations from friends and neighbours goes a long way. Their journey is a celebration not only of individual achievement but also of the strength of the Biggar community.
Travelling to Toronto and Scotland comes with significant costs.
Fundraising efforts are ongoing to help offset flights, accommodations,
and tournament fees. Those wishing to help can contact Biggar Tae Kwon Do Club at BiggarTKD@gmail.com to learn more about donation opportunities. Every bit of support makes a difference, helping these young martial artists chase their dreams and proudly represent Biggar on the world stage.
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
Bruce Penton
Jim Reiter, MLA
The Saskatchewan Traveller ... The Alberta Ride
by Trudy and Dale Buxton
After a “waspy” little incident in Wayne, it’s back out on the highway and through Drumheller.
size of a real T. Rex and attracts over 150,000 visitors a year. Tourists are able to make the 106step climb and stand in the mouth of this enormous statue.
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
Drumheller bills itself as the Dinosaur Capital of the World and a local committee has built up the community of around 8,400 residents as a tourist mega spot for the chance to see what a dinosaur looked like.
E-mail: jimreitermla@sasktel.net
With all the hype around Drumheller, prominently standing is a statue named Tyra, a 25-metre structure, the tallest in the world.
Tyra is four times the
However, with such a tourist attraction you wouldn’t think there would be trouble in dinosaur land. It seems that the large structure is sitting on town land, but the structure itself is owned by the Chamber of Commerce and plans are afoot to take Tyra away. The Chamber plans for a removal by end of 2029.
So far there are over 20,000 signatures on a petition to save Tyra and the hope is to turn Tyra over to a non-profit to preserve the landmark, the committee has five years to do it.
With all the attractions up for grabs, we make a pit stop and continue on Highway 575 heading west.
Just outside the town limits along the highway you will find a number of campgrounds and canyons to explore, there is one in particular called Horsethief Canyon, which offers some stunning views of the canyons below.
The highway we are travelling on is not so much a main road but the highway is in really good shape and with the view of the surrounding farms it’s a nice piece of country to be travelling through.
Our next little stop is at the community of Acme.
Acme is a community of around 650 residents, the main economy is mostly farming and ranching. This thriving community also relies on oil; and natural gas that is done in the region.
Acme was named by the CPR Railroad officials as they saw it Acme was the northern most point of the map, which gives
this village its name.
Incorporated in 1910, the same day the first train came to town.
Acme in a way takes a play on itself with the cartoon Bugs Bunny, because everything in the cartoon came out of Acme.
Next up we continue on down the road to the community of Carstairs.
With a population of around 4,800 people, the origins of town date back a few centuries as this place is on the forks of an ancient trail referred to as The Old North Trail
and the Wolf Track.
This was an important trail for many of the First Nations people that travelled along the formations of the creek and the river. The name Carstairs comes the community of Carstairs in Scotland. Carstairs began as a loading dock for the railway connecting Calgary and Edmonton, the first post office opened in 1900. Stay tuned next week as we continue in Carstairs further into the Alberta country.
“Carstairs Welcomes You”, Alberta.
Tyra the Tyranasaurus, Drumheller, Alberta”
Provincial win for Biggar artist ... Biggar Legion President Dale Buxton, left, was handing out cold hard cash to St. Gabriel School student, Julie Cempron (second from left) who was a big winner of the Legion Poster contest. Julie won first in Junior Poster at the Provincial, District and Zone level, netting her $115 for her efforts and a chance to move on to the National judging. Klieve Sarto (second from right) took third in Intermediate Poster, while Abby Donahue received second for Junior Poem. Congratulations! (top picture)
Legion President Dale Buxton, left, also handed out awards and cash to Biggar Central School students
Ayden Owens-Nahorney: first in Senior Colour Poster, Zone, and third in Senior Colour, District; Yevheniia Taranukha: first in Intermediate Black and White Poster, Zone, and Second for Intermediate Black and White Poster, District; and Vlademir Villanuena: first in Senior Black and White Poster, Zone, and Second in Senior Black and White Poster, District (all left to right). A fantastic effort from both schools made the judging difficult - a good problem to have! Congratulations! (Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)
Biggar’s Castwell nabs Theatre Sask. awards
Theatre Saskatchewan recognized Biggar’s Castwell and Co. for their play, “I, Chorus”, April 25. Theatre Sask. held a slate of plays from the best of Saskatchewan’s theatre troupes at their TheatreOne event in Melfort, and Castwell’s Tiffani McBee (bottom picture) was awarded the Best Performance in a Supporting Role. In addition, the Greek Chorus (right) received an Honourable Mention for Performance in a Supporting Role. For a Castwell project to be recognized and honoured twice in one evening within the Supporting category feels truly remarkable. Castwell is immensely proud of our their entire team and the unwavering support they’ve shown one another throughout this journey, both onstage and off. Locally, the play will run this Friday, May 9 and Sunday, May 11 at the Majestic Theatre. General Admission and it is a licensed event - minors must be accompanied by an adult. Congratulations, Castwell! (Photo for The Independent courtesy of Michaela Hoppe)
was not so long ago the vision in terms of strengthening Prairie agriculture.
Hogs were to be a key component of that utilizing cheap feed grain, cheap land and a ready supply of staff, all of which were to make the sector lucrative. Then key crops, particularly canola boomed.
Other crop prices dragged higher, and land values climbed, as the workforce looked elsewhere than a pig barn too, and that sector stumbled.
Cropping was supposed to diversify too, with a number of alternatives briefly gaining interest, then fading; pinto beans, lupins, borage, quinoa and others - a few hanging on a low acre specialty
crops.
Today it’s very much canola, and then typically a cereal grown primarily because you can’t continuous crop canola without courting disaster.
In the U.S., it’s corn and soybeans, and other crops being again largely specialty crops. It makes sense from the perspective of planting that which offers the greatest opportunity for large returns.
However, in the process perhaps crops which offer the greatest potential toward our collective future are being largely overlooked.
The most obvious crop in that regard is hemp.
Now hemp is not a crop which will contribute greatly to feeding the masses, although the problem of world hunger is largely an issue of wealth distribution not food shortage, but hemp seed has 50 per cent more protein than almonds according to the National Hemp Association’s Facebook page.
As a fibre producer, hemp can be used in everything from cloth to wood substitutes to uses in composites for car parts, and home insulation.
The potential versatility is intriguing, especially when cutting less trees or using less water than cotton are factored into the equation.
Of course hemp faces issues which are always in the way of new crops. It is difficult to commit acres to production without established markets to sell into and that means processors needing product.
But, it’s equally difficult to create substantial processing capacity without crop supply on one side, and established markets on the other.
A market is difficult to create without product supply. A company isn’t switching to using hemp if they may not be able to buy every time they need it.
And of course there are long-established products whose companies are not going to give up market share easily.
So as broadly based as the potential of hemp may be it may be years, if ever, before it supplants canola, soybeans, corn and wheat in a significant ways - which is the same story with many crops with potential which was never realized.
Calvin Daniels Agriculture
Sign of Spring ...
This beautiful shot from Independent reader Lorna Goring is proof that spring is really here. With the warmer weather, crocus’ have made their debut for the year. Here’s hoping we have a warm and colourful summer!
(Photo
Wilkie Museum gearing up for another exciting year
The
past. Things have already kicked off with the Hometown Raffle, a unique take on the everpopular raffle style.
“We had some amazing
Wilkie-based businesses donate their goods and time for this fundraiser” said Public Relations coordinator Phil Heilman. The Grand Prize of the Hometown Raffle is a beautiful set of his and hers leather bags (purse and messenger bag) and wallets. The leather
was handpicked by OA Leather Supply, a largescale leather distributor making his home in Wilkie. The bags and wallets were handcrafted by the one-woman crew known as Blu J Keepsakes. Second Prize of the raffle is Wilkie, SK apparel donated by the Wilkie Pharmacy, as well as a marble game for the kids. The museum board has also tossed in some surprises! Tickets are distributed all over Wilkie and surrounding areas including Landis, Ruthilda, Scott and Kelfield.
The museum also has been planning their second edition of the Wilkie Show N Shine, slated for June 14, along with the Town of Wilkie’s Jump into Summer festivities. The Show N Shine will also have some entertainment and a barbecue lunch.
Moreover, the Museum is also tying up some loose ends on their second annual Canada Day celebrations. On the docket is a pancake breakfast, entertainment throughout the day and a barbecue supper in the evening.
The board is also set on doing some well needed work around the grounds too, including roofing the Blacksmith Shop, and redoing some walkways and steps. Want to keep up on everything the Museum is doing? We have a Facebook page, just look up the Wilkie and District Museum. Look for posters for all our events as well as ads in your favourite newspapers.
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
for The Independent courtesy of Lorna Goring)
Camille Box Assessor
Dearing fund raiser a
A fund raiser for the Dearing family was held at the Biggar Community Hall, April 17, all in support of the medical costs while Jeff recovers from injuries incurred from a car accident. The Banger Bingo was a huge success with a silent auction, Biggar Bites on site, and a trip to the 1980’s with a unique stand-up comedy, karaoke, game-show feel. The whole effort was also supported by Biggar Minor Ball and Hockey, and Biggar School of Dance. (Independent Photos by Fallon Neugebauer)
3 ways to maintain a healthy smile and body
Most of us try to stay healthy by being active, whether it’s spending time in the gym, swimming pool or with a personal trainer.
But while moving your body is great, don’t forget about your oral health, which is part of your overall well-being. So, here are some ways to keep your smile and body happy: Dial in your nutrition
The old saying, “you can’t outrun a bad diet” remains truer than ever. If you eat a lot of sugary foods, you may find it harder to stick to a healthy weight. Sugars are also harmful for dental health. That’s because naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth consume sugars and produce acid that can cause cavities, plaque and tartar to form on your teeth. Instead, try eating more whole foods including proteins, complex carbohydrates for energy, and dietary fibre to help with digestion. Raw vegetables can also help scrape away sugars
from your teeth, which will make brushing and flossing more effective. Practice a good oral care routine
Many factors impact oral health, in addition to proper hygiene. For example, that morning cup of coffee and afternoon sports drink you consume for energy can be acidic, creating harmful effects on your tooth enamel.
Fortunately, simple habits like flossing daily and brushing your teeth twice a day can help prevent this damage. You can also choose products that are backed by science, that fight the root cause of common oral health issues such as gingivitis, plaque and tartar when
a toothpaste, mouthwash and toothbrush are used together twice daily. Consult the experts Correct brushing and flossing will go a long way towards improving your dental health, but professional care and cleaning are also necessary. Just like you schedule regular checkups with your family doctor, try to book visits with your dentist every six months.
Besides cleaning your teeth, your dentist can offer advice for dealing with common issues like sensitivity. Thorough cleanings by a dentist or hygienist will also remove most external staining caused by food.
by Philip Watson, New Beginnings Church, Biggar
I was looking for a movie to watch last night and was surprised at how many “End of the world” movies there are to watch. So I did a Google search on “List of Apocalyptic Movies.”
I was amazed at how many movies there are. It seems that some people have an interest in end of the world events. Jesus even tells us in The Book of Revelations that this present earth will be destroyed and God will judge all the people. In Matthew 25:31-33 Jesus tells the people “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides “his” sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on
the left.
[Matthew 25:41, 46 NLT] 41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons’” ... 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
God has a plan; and in the end all the unrighteous people will be judged and will be punished. [Isaiah 13:11 NLT] 11 “I, the Lord, will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their sin. I will crush the arrogance of the proud and humble the pride of the mighty.”
People are also recognizing this world is running out of time, Many of the signs that precede His return and judgement, that Jesus spoke about in Matthew, Thessalonians and Revelations are being fulfilled today. Paul, in Colossians
1:28 [NLT] gives us an introduction to the solution: 28 “So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.”
Here Paul is echoing the teaching of Jesus in the book of John chapter 3. And Jesus makes it very clear in John 3:16-18 [NLT] 16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 There is no judgement against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.”
How to boost healthy gut bacteria for a happier you
Did you know that your gut is home to an entire ecosystem?
That’s why maintaining a balance between the “good” and “bad” bacteria in your gut is essentialyour body relies on them to power your digestion and keep you healthy.
In fact, studies suggest that an imbalance in your gut bacteria can contribute to inflammation, allergies, heart disease, diabetes and even depression. Researchers are also looking into how the trillions of microbes - including bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeast - living in your stomach might play a role in arthritis, and how taking care of your gut could help you feel better. Research supported by Arthritis Society Canada has identified a protein naturally present in the gut that can act on microbiota and make symptoms of chronic inflammatory diseases like arthritis worse. Studies are underway to discover ways to prevent this protein from breaking down, with the hope of staving off inflammation.
There’s still so much to learn about the relationship between your gut microbiota and arthritis, but the research is promising. With scientists making exciting discoveries, we’re one step closer to understanding how to prevent and treat arthritis more effectively.
For now, with a little attention to your diet and lifestyle, you can help keep your gut and body feeling awesome.
To get started, try these three easy tips: Load up on plant-based goodies. Vegetables,
fruits, nuts and legumes are packed with fibre, which is like a spa day for your gut. It helps keep everything running smoothly and supports healthy bacteria. Eat the rainbow. Bright-coloured foods - think berries, peppers and leafy greens - are gorgeous on your plate and full of antioxidants. These foods help support your gut microbiota and keep your body feeling great. Try starting your day with a fruit smoothie for a burst of colour and nutrition.
Cook at home. Preparing
home-cooked meals is a great way to control what goes into your body, and often means eating less processed junk. By
cooking your meals from scratch, you can avoid those ultra-processed ingredients that don’t do your gut any favours.
Biggar Proud! Team Sask nabs gold! ... Team Saskatchewan A won Gold at the Interprovincial 5-Pin Bowling Championship in Saskatoon this past weekend. Teams from across the country came to Saskatoon to partake in the tournament, April 23-27. The Saskatchewan A team, made up of West Sask Zone bowlers: Bridget Berg (Rosetown), Yvonne Markewich (Biggar), Leonard Lapierre (Lashburn), Mat Harrabek (Biggar), and Coach Alvin Anderson (Lashburn), fought a hard battle that came down to the wire. They prevailed taking first place in the final playoffs. Saskatchewan B team from Social Bowl in Swift Current: Tiarra Korchalo, Tyrone Shaw, Anika Blaschuk, Don Hornung, and Coach Teagan Gader also played amazing and ended up coming in eighth place over all. Jennifer Heimbecker (Rosetown) was able to step in and coach a PEI team. This event is made possible because of the sponsors and numerous organizers and volunteers. Congratulations! (Submitted Photo)
GAMES PAGE …
(Answers on Page (18) SUDOKU
ARIES –
Mar 21/Apr 20
Aries, there’s a secret that you have been holding on to and you are ready to let it go. It won’t weigh you down anymore and you can finally focus fully on the future instead of the past.
TAURUS –
Apr 21/May 21
Taurus, certain ground is tough for people to travel, but you have conviction and grit to get things done. You have a history of thriving when faced with adversity, and that’s an asset.
GEMINI –
May 22/Jun 21
Gemini, keep an eye open for a challenge. When you are given an opportunity that will require for fullest and best effort, embrace it as an opportunity to fulfill your potential.
CANCER –
Jun 22/Jul 22
Cancer, keeping things pleasant and lighthearted is a talent of yours, but this week you might need to take a new approach. Work with others and listen to suggestions.
LEO –
Jul 23/Aug 23
Leo, you often are the life of the party, always ready to find something to do and be with other people. This week you might need to slow down and enjoy some alone time.
VIRGO –
Aug 24/Sept 22
Virgo, you could be especially energized this week and feel the need to get as much done as possible. Try not to race through tasks without focusing on doing things right.
LIBRA –
Sept 23/Oct 23
The news that comes your way isn’t what you had hoped, Libra. Roll with the punches and embrace the challenge. Soon there will be blue skies again and everything will settle.
SCORPIO –
Oct 24/Nov 22
Scorpio, you will meet up with someone you haven’t seen in a while and it will be like no time has passed whatsoever. Be prepared for a coincidental situation to bring you together.
SAGITTARIUS –
Nov 23/Dec 21
The universe will put you in touch with someone who is reputable and diligent, Sagittarius. This way you can both tackle what you need to get done reap the rewards of your hard work.
CAPRICORN –
Dec 22/Jan 20
Capricorn, a little competition never hurt anyone. Embrace an upcoming chance to see how you stack up. Give your best effort, as always.
AQUARIUS –
Jan 21/Feb 18
This is a good week to play things safe and keep your cards close to the vest, Aquarius. Consider each situation carefully before engaging.
PISCES –
Feb 19/Mar 20
Pisces, you are a sociable person and ready and willing to chat up others. This week you might not be up for any social interaction and prefer a few days of solitary time spent.
CLUES ACROSS
1. McCarthy acolyte Roy
5. Ancient Korean chiefdoms 10. Not soft 14. Jai __, sport 15. Philosophy
16. Do what you’re told 17. Gaffe
18. Widely known and esteemed 19. Amusement park attraction
20. Popular comic strip Viking 22. Usually has a lid 23. American sportscaster
24. Lung fibrosis
27. General’s assistant (abbr.)
30. Pouch
31. Upset
32. Partner to hem
35. Astronomy unit of distance
37. Witch
38. Gradually disappear
39. Regions
40. Possesses
41. Body parts
42. A way to comprehend
43. Defraud
44. Sandwich type
45. Expression of disappointment
46. Popular Dodge truck model
47. The 17th letter of the Greek alphabet
48. Soviet Socialist Republic
49. Songs to a beloved
52. Custom
55. Partner to cheese
56. West Indies trees
60. Member of a Semitic people
61. Plant that originated vegetatively
63. Squandered one’s money
64. Ethiopian river
65. Excessive fluid accumulation in tissues
66. Acquire by one’s efforts
67. Irish goddess
68. Hungarian village
69. Cereal grasses
CLUES DOWN
1. Currency
2. Ceramic jar
3. Reagan’s Secretary of State
4. God worshipped in Kanesh
5. One thousand cubic feet (abbr.)
6. Semitic
7. About blood
8. Benign tumors
9. Move one’s head
10. Hours (Spanish)
11. Hebrew calendar month
12. Advise someone
13. Colors clothes
21. The sun does it
23. Concealed
25. City of Angels hoops team (abbr.)
26. Droop
27. Away from one another
28. Challenges
29. A harsh scraping sound
32. Attaches to a wall
33. Capital of Ethiopia: __ Ababa
34. German river
36. Disappointed
37. Star Wars character Solo
38. Supervises flying
40. Not mass-produced
41. Nonsense
43. Automobile
44. Hogshead (abbr.)
46. Soak in water
47. Flower cluster
49. Romanian city
50. A parent is often one
51. Fencing sword
52. Body part
53. Region
54. Farm building
57. Ali’s surname at birth
58. Waxy bird beak covering
59. Stiff bristles
61. VCR button
62. Small amount
Business & Professional …
MECHANIC SHOP
ROSETOWN NATURAL HEALTH
Stay healthy, naturally!
311 Main Street, Rosetown Massage Therapy - Supplements Ideal Protein Clinic Mail orders welcome. Monday – Saturday 9:00 – 6:00 306-882-2220 rosetownnatural@sasktel.net www.rosetownnaturalhealth.com
311 Main Street, Rosetown Quality Supplements Mail Orders Welcome. Monday – Saturday 9:00 – 6:00 306-882-2220 rosetownnatural@sasktel.net
NOW HIRING:
Person to COOK & CLEAN for heavy (road) construction camp this upcoming season. Current location is near Saskatoon, SK. Must have valid driver’s license and safe food handling ticket. Experience in camp setting with 20-30 crew, an asset. Send resume with two work references to: Bryden Construction, SK., S0E 0A0 brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca or fax 306-769-8844 www.bryden constructionand transport.ca
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FEED AND SEED FORAGE SEED FOR
SALE: Organic & conventional: Sweet Clover, Alfalfa, Red Clover, Smooth Brome, Meadow Brome, Crested Wheatgrass, Timothy, etc. Star City, SK. Birch
Rose Acres Ltd. 306921-9942.
BARLEY
*NEW - AB STANDSWELL*
SMOOTH AWN, HIGH YIELDING, GRAIN AND FORAGE
GREAT LODGING RESISTANCE 1ST NITROGEN USE
EFFICIENT CEREAL IN CANADA ATTRACTING JAPANESE INTEREST
ESMA, CERVEZA
CDC AUSTENSON
CDC MAVERICK, SUNDRE WHEAT
PINTAIL, FORAGE OR GRAIN OATS
AC JUNIPER, AC MORGAN, AC MUSTANG, DERBY, CDC SO1 SUPER OAT PEAS
VERY EARLY YELLOW PEA FORAGE PEAS, ALSO AVAILABLE POLISH CANOLA & SPRING TRITICALE
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS
Motor scrapers, dozers, excavators, rock trucks, packers; wide range of machines.
Lots of work all season. Camp/R & B provided. Competitive wages. Valid drivers license req’d. Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction and Transport Co. Inc.
to manage a tourist Camp in northern Saskatchewan from May 15th to July 15th
The applicant must have management experience and strong interpersonal skills.
Please send resume to r.mckay@sasktel.net or for more information call 1-306-425-7788
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Private mortgage lender. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done.
Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1-866-4051228 www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca
Find QUALIFIED, LOCAL EMPLOYEES, using the strength of community newspapers! Visit www.swna.com or call 306-649-1405 to find out how!
Brett…
Bar Server / Front Desk Clerk Required Apply
PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. 48 local community newspapers, distributing to over 450 communities, including 14 cities. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call 306649.1405 or visit www.swna.com for details.
Please get back to me with changes/corrections by return email this morning.
Thanks Urla
DONNA EILEEN TURK
April 2, 1933 - April 18, 2025 Everyone Welcome!
It is with sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Donna (Seime) Turk at the age of 92 on April 18, 2025.
Donna is lovingly remembered by her children Nola (Bob) Stephens, Allen (Patti) Turk, Scott (Terri) Turk, her brother Stuart Seime, half-sister Wendy (Brenda) McGraw, half-brother Karl Seime, eight grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren.
Donna was predeceased by her parents Isaac Seime and Willa Ducommun, husband Jack of 60 years in 2012 and recently her half-sister Doris Baldwin.
Donna was born on April 2nd, 1933 in Dodsland. As a young girl, she attended Jellicoe School and rode a horse to school. She recalled the story of when her horse on the way to grade school suddenly expired in a slough along the way. Not the kind of history that will likely ever repeat itself. She completed her high school in Scott and Kerrobert, being advanced a year and still becoming class valedictorian. She revealed that her first real job was a switchboard operator in Kerrobert a couple of evenings a week during high school. We discovered a group photo where she attended a 1948 Kiwanis farm girls camp in Saskatoon, further evidence of her independence and social nature. She was gifted in music and played piano at a funeral at age 14, the first of too many to count throughout her life. Donna figure skated as a young woman and loved watching coverage of skating whenever it was televised.
In 1952, Donna married Jack Turk. They began mixed farming north of Dodsland with some livestock, but soon focussed on grain only. Nola, Allen and Scott soon took much of Donna’s focus and time. She still found time to pursue artistic endeavours; painting, pottery, sewing, quilting and piano, taking on all with passion. During the CB radio era for communication around the farm, she became known as Momma Bear, of course with Jack known as Pappa Bear, handles
that remain to this day. She attended church regularly and could most often be found in the choir or in front of the organ. After the children began to leave home, Donna became involved with the local dinner theatre productions and found perhaps her greatest passion, immersing herself into her characters - their costumes, accents and habits (literally as in the productions of Nunsense).
Jack and Donna caught the travel bug and travelled extensively. Many trips were considered adventurous for the time including mainland China, during a period when tourism wasn’t established. They lived in their camper strapped to a railcar through mountainous Mexico, flew in a small plane over the Nazca lines in Peru, visited the Galapagos islands and had tea with the Queen of Tonga, just to name a few.
Donna lived a full and compassionate life, always kind and gentle. Memories of her will be cherished by family and friends alike.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, April 25, 2025, 2 p.m. at the Dodsland United Church.
Donations in Donna’s memory can be made to: Kerrobert & District Health Centre
Long Term Care Activity Department Box 320, Kerrobert, SK S0L 1R0
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 MAY 11 10:30am Regular Worship (REDEEMER) MAY 25 10:30am Regular Worship (REDEEMER)
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 www.amazingfacts.org
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
Indulge in these guilt-free, arthritis-friendly brownies
Looking for a dessert that’s as nourishing as it is indulgent? Say hello to these sweet potato brownies - they’re moist, chewy and packed with surprising nutritious benefits that can help manage arthritis symptoms. Bright-coloured vegetables like sweet potatoes are bursting with antioxidants that help fight inflammation and keep your gut bacteria happy. Cocoa, another rich source of
Sweet Potato Brownies
antioxidants, brings a deliciously deep flavour and flavanols that could help reduce blood pressure and aid in blood flow. Who knew a brownie could double as a mini health boost?
1 cup (250 ml) sweet potato puree (about 3 to 4 small sweet potatoes).
1/2 cup (125 ml) natural peanut butter.
1/3 cup (125 mL) maple syrup.
2 eggs.
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla.
1/3 cup (160 ml) whole wheat flour.
1/2 cup (125 ml) cocoa powder.
1 tsp (5 ml) baking powder.
1/4 tsp (1 ml) salt.
1/3 cup (160 ml) semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
Pierce sweet potatoes several times with a knife and microwave for 7 to 10 minutes on high until soft. Set aside and let them cool down to room temperature.
Slice them in half and scoop out the flesh. Blend in a food processor or blender until smooth.
In a medium bowl, mix sweet potato puree, peanut butter, maple syrup, eggs and vanilla until smooth.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until combined.
Fold in the chocolate chips.
Spoon the batter into your lined baking dish and spread it out evenly with a spatula.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 350°F until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Once cool, slice and serve.
Tips for the ultimate brownie experience:
Short on time? Swap the sweet potato for 1 cup of canned 100 per cent pure pumpkin puree.
Want more crunch? Add 1/2 cup of chopped nuts for additional protein, fibre and healthy fats.
Need to boost your fibre? Add a few tablespoons of chia seeds to the batter for additional soluble fibre.
Peanut allergy? Substitute peanut butter with almond butter, soy butter or sunflower butter.
5 arthritis-friendly activities to keep you moving
Warmer weather is here, and that means it’s time to enjoy the sunshine while staying active. Whether you’re looking to strengthen muscles, improve flexibility or simply enjoy the fresh air, incorporating daily movement can help improve overall health, especially when managing arthritis.
Here are five lowimpact, arthritis-friendly outdoor activities that are gentle on your joints and full of fun:
Walk it off: Take it one step at a time
Walking is a fantastic way to re-immerse yourself in the outdoors.
If you’ve been less active lately, begin with short strolls and gradually increase your time each week. This gradual buildup will enhance your strength and endurance over time. If
you’re concerned about balance, consider using walking poles. They provide extra stability, making walks on uneven paths more manageable and enjoyable. Dive in: Cool off with aquatic activities Low- or no-impact activities like swimming and water therapy are fantastic if you’re experiencing joint pain or stiffness. The buoyancy of the water takes the pressure off your joints while still allowing you to build strength and improve your cardiovascular health.
Meditate and move: Embrace low-impact exercises Outdoor low-impact exercises like cycling, yoga and Tai Chi are great for your body and are often described as meditative. These activities help keep you physically fit and
promote mental wellbeing, helping you feel rejuvenated and centred. Forest therapy: Connect and heal with nature Forest therapy, also known as “forest bathing,” is a beautiful way to experience the healing power of nature. Immerse yourself in the serene environment of parks, woods or forests and mindfully soak in nature’s calming sights and sounds. It’s a peaceful, restorative activity for both the body and mind.
Gardening: Find wellness in your own backyard
Gardening is a fun and rewarding way to stay active while enjoying the outdoors. Whether you’re planting flowers or growing veggies, it’s a great way to get some gentle exercise and soak up the sunshine.
Mushroom up your plate: Elevate ready-made meals
Between their texture, umami flavour and versatility in cooking, mushrooms make a great addition to many meals. They can add that little something ‘extra’ to premade dishes or bring an earthy tone and texture to your usual favourites.
Whether you like to eat them fresh, sautéed, grilled or fried, there are many ways to enhance your meals with mushrooms, even your
leftovers or pre-made frozen dinners. Pasta dishes: Combine sautéed mushrooms with pre-made pasta sauce or add them directly to the cooked pasta. Stews and soups: Stir in mushrooms during the last few minutes of cooking to allow them to absorb the flavours of the dish.
Sandwiches and wraps: Add fresh mushrooms as a filling or sautéed ones
as a topping. Pizza: Add sliced mushrooms on top of ready-made or homemade pizzas before cooking
Not only will mushrooms enhance the flavour of your dish, but they’ll also give it a nutritional boost. Mushrooms are low in calories, carbohydrates and sodium but rich in B vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin and
pantothenic acid. They can also turn sunlight into vitamin D. When exposed to sunlight, mushrooms can convert ergosterol into vitamin D, making them one of the few plant-based sources of this essential vitamin. In order to receive this benefit, leave your mushrooms exposed to the sun for up to 15 minutes before eating.
