0 10 g
tin bra e l e c
Biggar asked to get involved in Operation Christmas Child It is that time of the year again where you see the very familiar red and green shoe boxes. These are the boxes of Operation Christmas Child, a shoe box filled with the simple things that bring joy to a child in a Third World country who would have likely never receive a gift at Christmas without your generosity. There are 11 countries around the world that fill shoe boxes and teacher tubs for the world’s largest charity Christmas project. This year the boxes and tubs from Canada will go to Latin American countries like Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and African countries, Guinea, Senegal and Sierra Leone. Each country that receives shoe boxes has a team of national leaders who are trained to oversee their transport, helping to ensure that the boxes are kept safe until they are distributed. The national leadership teams also
determine which areas have the greatest needs. Boxes in the area have already been distributed. You can find them in Handel, Landis, Kelfield and Tramping Lake. The Hutterite colonies of Big Rose, Springwater and Golden View are also helping to fill boxes. In Biggar, you can find boxes at the Lutheran, Anglican, Associated Gospel, Church of God and St. Gabriel’s churches. Both schools are participating with either shoe boxes or teachers tub. If you choose to do a shoe box you have two choices: 1.) It can be just school supplies - pencils, small notepad, crayons, scissors, et cetera. In some Third World countries, children must have supplies first before they are allowed to go to school. They don’t have the privilege like we do here in Canada. 2.) School supplies plus other items like: a bar of soap, maybe a small toy, something to wear like stretchy mitts or a
headband, and maybe some wrapped hard candies. All boxes from this area are crated up and shipped to Calgary where they are checked before being sent out. Do not put things in the boxes like liquids, food, or toys that portray violence or could scare a child. A teachers tub is basically school supplies. Things that a teacher would use in a classroom here are most likely not accessible in a Third World country. In these countries, children do not have sports equipment for recess, so even small items like skipping ropes, jacks, et cetera, are welcome in a teachers tub. Biggar and area has been very supportive of this project in past years. Hopefully people will once again be willing to help out in a small way to bring happiness to someone else. Crating starts on November 14, so get your box in early!
That’s Gourd Artwork . . . St. Gabriel Kindergarten student, Ava Barber draws out her pumpkin design while mom, Jill waits, ready to make the cuts. Ava and her classmates were having some fun with the Halloween pumpkin carving last Monday, dreaming of the candy and fun they’ll have on the 31st. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Gov’t moves to end long-gun registry Last week, in the House of Commons, the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, introduced the Ending the Long-Gun Registry Act. The minister made the announcement alongside the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism), and Candice Hoeppner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety, in Richmond, Ontario, where they met with various stakeholders who support the long-gun registry’s abolition. “The Harper government has always been clear; by eliminating the wasteful and ineffective long-gun
registry, we can instead focus our efforts on measures that actually tackle crime and make our streets and communities safe,” said Toews. “Our government will continue to uphold our commitment to effective gun control measures that help keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and off our streets.” The legislation introduced will: • Repeal the requirement to register non-restricted firearms (long-guns); • Provide for the destruction of all records pertaining to the registration of longguns currently contained in the Canadian Firearms
Registry and under the control of the chief firearms officers; and • Maintain controls over restricted and prohibited firearms. Under the proposed reforms, firearms owners will still require a valid firearm license to purchase or possess firearms and to purchase ammunition. They will also be required to undergo police background checks, pass a firearms safety training course and comply with firearms safe storage and transportation requirements. In addition, individuals will continue to be required to register prohibited and restricted firearms, such as
Blazers advance . . . Blazer Wes Tornberg holds on to the ball, October 22 as Biggar hosted Shellbrook in playoff action. Blazers won the contest 43-26 to advance to the provincial quarter final in Watrous this past weekend. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
handguns. “The Harper government is committed to putting the safety of Canadians first with real action on crime that delivers enhanced protection for communities,” said Parliamentary Secretary
Hoeppner. “That is why our government is investing in a number of effective measures such as putting more police on our streets, fighting organized crime, introducing mandatory minimum penalties for serious gun crime
and combating gun smuggling.” The introduction of this legislation is consistent with the government’s efforts to ensure our firearms laws target real criminals and protect the safety of the public.