Lazy, hazy days of Summer ... Birds flit and fly on a slough south of Biggar, looking for a meal as the summer heat blankets the province. While the cool water may be a relief for some, the heat is taking its toll. Here is hoping your summer has been one of family, friends and fun! Soon, winter will soak us in its cold grip! (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Jeanne-Marie de Moissac July 26th, the second annual Springwater Lake Revitalization Sports Day, dawned chilly after a spell of hot, still weather. It was a whitecapped, windy day at the Lake but in true Prairie Fashion, no one let it spoil anyone’s fun. A hearty, steaming bowl of chili was served for lunch and warmed everyone up for the volleyball tournament.
Four teams entered the round robin tournament hoping to win the 100dollar prize, putting on an entertaining show for the enthusiastic bystanders. Although everyone played well, Springwater Colony was the star of the show and won first prize! If you weren’t playing or watching the volley ball, you could have partnered up for sack races, horseshoes
or competed to get your pig to market! Supper was hotdogs, hamburgers provided by Dennis Falcon and cooked by Mel Bachman and Mike Plysiuk, with pasta salad and buns donated by Springwater Colony. Duperow Co-op donated the pop and chips and all three drug stores donated the water. Thank you so much for your generosity!
The Springwater Lake Revitalization Committee would also like to thank the Biggar Credit Union, Biggar Agencies, Leading Edge Welding and Northland Painting and Sandblasting for their support. Almost a thousand dollars was raised for the new boat launch!
It takes a prairie community to raise a lake and it’s happening! As always there’s room for more people around the
committee table. Take this as your invitation to join us with your ideas!
I was told by Springwater’s Sage (Harry, you know who you are)
anytime the community comes together it’s a Win. All ages gathered
at Springwater Lake on July 26th and it was, indeed, a Win!
Springwater Lake Sports Day Success…Despite the cooler temperatures and high winds the advertised volleyball took place on Saturday July 27 at Springwater Lake. Lots of fun was had by all despite the weather and in the end there was a winner. (Independent Photo by Dale Buxton)
by Dale Buxton
The Biggar oil and antifreeze recycling program is now open for business at the Biggar landfill.
Oil recycling was once taken care of by Sarcan when the Sarcan location was located on the truck route west of Biggar. Since the Sarcaan move to First Avenue in what was once the liquor store, Sarcan was no longer able to provide the same oil and antifreeze recycling as it has done in the past.
Biggar as a community has long since needed a place for consumers to recycle used oil and
antifreeze so that these products do not end up in the landfill or worse dumped on the ground and cause contamination of land.
This new facility which is part of the Saskatchewan Association for Resource Recovery Corp. or SARRC is part of the large network in Saskatchewan where consumers, business owners and farmers can deposit their used oil, antifreeze, filters, Diesel Exhaust Fluid(DEF) and containers in a safe manner without contaminating the environment.
There is no charge to use this service and you
can drop any materials off safely at the landfill during regular business hours, landfill staff will then dispose of these materials into the Recycle unit.
The recycle ECO unit has a 4,500L tank for used oil products and barrels for the antifreeze and DEF fluid. There is also a barrel to dispose of the oil filters, while containers are bagged and placed in the unit for disposal by SARRC. SARRC says that they will be out in Biggar every six weeks to take away the used products and may adjust their schedule depending on
how much fluids are collected during the busy periods of Spring and Fall.
For farmers who have larger quantities there is a hand pump available to accept used oil in larger quantities such as a 500L barrel.
SARRC has a network of registered collectors based upon the North and South regions of the province. These ECO centres are located in most larger communities like Biggar and provide an absolutely needed service to protect our communities from pollution.
able to deposit their used oil, antifreeze, filters and containers free of charge at the landfill. (Independent Photo by Dale Buxton)
by Sgt. Dereck Crozier, Biggar Detachment
This past week 32 occurrences were dealt with by the Biggar Detachment. Traffic related incidents had nine drivers receiving Traffic Safety reminders.
The investigation into the stolen set of swamper tires from a vehicle parked at Intergra Tire in April concluded this week with the tires being located at a local rural property and returned to their rightful owner.
Report of suspicious activity spotted by a couple of known characters to the rural property owners’ community in the area, after noticing a blue F150 towing a white F350 with a dismantled quad in the box. Vehicles were confirmed not to be stolen at the time, however the activity remains suspicious.
Diesel fuel was stolen from a Semi parked in Perdue, suspects were creatively using a shop vac as a syphon.
Report of an attempted Break and Enter to a porch door at a residence on 4 Avenue in Biggar, pry mark damage located on the door. Crop damage was reported in the RM of Biggar, unknown vehicle drove through a crop for no apparent reason.
A 2021 Sundown Cabin horse trailer was stolen from the RM of Eagle Creek. The trailer suspiciously turned up and was recovered near Wakaw abandoned at a rural property. One could guess the suspect was feeling a little guilty after all the social media attention around the trailer.
An investigation continues into an incident of driving without due care and attention, after a burnt orange Nissan driven by a 16-year-old, struck a 17-year-old pedestrian at Springwater Lake. Thankfully no serious injuries. Take Care out there!
by Doug Firby, former Editorial Page Editor at the Calgary Herald
For two solid terms in government, Saskatchewan’s Premier Scott Moe has ruled the province with bravado and bluster, picking fights with the federal Liberal government and taking no prisoners in his Saskatchewan-first provincial rights campaign.
If Alberta’s Danielle Smith has grabbed the headlines in the past year on her anti-Ottawa bully pulpit, then she surely has a soulmate in Moe, who has been picking fights with the feds since he became premier in 2018.
If Manitoba’s leftleaning premier, Wab Kinew, is Dr. Jeckyl to the feds, then Moe is Mr. Hyde. His confrontational approach to government relations is the inverse of everything Kinew espouses, for better or worse.
Moe has built a career on the back of his adversarial relationship with the federal government. He challenged (unsuccessfully) federal carbon pricing in court, repeatedly called for a reset to provincialfederal relations and advocated for expanded provincial powers, especially in policing and taxation.
This year, Saskatchewan said it would not comply with the federal government’s new clean electricity regulations, citing a report that said it would slow economic growth by at least $7.1
billion and cost at least 4,200 jobs.
Moe’s approach to climate and environment emphasizes technological solutions like carbon capture and storage and agricultural practices, encapsulated in a strategy called Climate Resilience.
However, environmental organizations, such as the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, condemn the strategy as inadequate to address the province’s environmental challenges. Saskatchewan, by the way, has the highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita in Canada.
And last year, Moe’s government passed the controversial Saskatchewan First Act to protect natural resources and the production and generation of energy from “federal overreach.” The act amends the Constitution of Saskatchewan to assert Saskatchewan’s autonomy and claim exclusive legislative jurisdiction under Section 92 (A) of the Constitution of Canada over a number of areas, including: • exploration for nonrenewable natural resources, • the development, conservation and management of non-renewable natural and forestry resources, and • the operation of sites and facilities for the generation and production of electrical energy. During his two terms, Moe has had his share
of troubles. His team has branded itself a “law-and-order,” family-values government. Yet its MLAs keep getting into trouble. In February, Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence was booted from caucus after he was charged with assault and assault by choking. Before that, caucus member Ryan Domotor, MLA for Cut Knife-Turtleford, was picked up in a police human trafficking sting and charged with communicating for the purposes of obtaining sexual services. This follows the ejection of MLA Nadine Wilson from caucus for misrepresenting her COVID-19 vaccine status.
And yet, Moe is one of those unapologetic politicians to whom the misdeeds of others never seem to stick to him. He remains highly popular with Saskatchewan voters, ranking in one recent pole as the second-most popular premier in the country. Moe is running for a third term in Saskatchewan’s provincial election this fall. (The party previously ruled for two terms under the popular Brad Wall.) If he succeeds, it will be the Saskatchewan Party’s fifth majority government. No party has won four consecutive elections in Saskatchewan since the CCF led by Tommy Douglas in the 1950s. And no pundit worth his salt is betting
against another majority government for the farm boy from Shellbrook.
But there are curious signs that the tide might be turning for Moe’s Saskatchewan party. During closing remarks at the end of the spring session, outgoing legislative Speaker Randy Weekes said numerous Saskatchewan Party members harassed and tried to intimidate him during his time as speaker.
Others like Greg Bkrich, who stepped down before the 2020 election, have openly expressed their discontent, and some MLAs are quietly dropping out. Fully 22 of the 48 party caucus members elected in the 2020 election have announced their planned departures. Before that election, only seven members had stepped aside. Meanwhile, Moe has amped up right-wing populist rhetoric to appeal to the fringe. After the 2020 provincial election, in which the separatist Buffalo Party received more than 2.5 per cent of the popular vote, Moe stated, “We share your frustrations, and we share many of your objectives,” he went on to call for more “independence” and “autonomy” for the province. Saskatchewan should be considered a “nation within a nation,” he said, a statement applauded by both
the federal separatist Maverick Party and the provincial separatist Buffalo Party.
Such talk seems to be driving some MLAs to distance themselves from their once-Midastouch leader. Word has it that Moe’s inner circle of trusted friends has dwindled to a handful.
Voters are also becoming increasingly restive over promised healthcare improvements. There are calls for more action on healthcare staffing in hospitals and primary care. On the homelessness file, representatives of Saskatchewan urban centres are seeking changes to income assistance. Saskatoon councillor David Kirton even said the current system is “manufacturing homelessness.” On education, Regina and Saskatoon school divisions and teachers are demanding increases in funding for K-12 education. Perhaps nothing has defined Moe’s time laissez-faire approach more than his government’s mishandling of the COVID-19
pandemic. Saskatchewan was one of the hardest hit provinces in Canada. Yet, Moe limited public health measures throughout the pandemic, which made Saskatchewan the first province to lift its pandemic-related public health orders twice. After he lifted restrictions in February 2022, Saskatchewan saw a per-capita record in COVID deaths. At least 845 people with COVID-19 died in the province that year, an increase of 43 from the year before. An Angus Reid Institute poll found that 59 per cent of those surveyed felt Moe was doing a bad job handling the pandemic.
In seeking to appease the right-wing fringe, Moe may have reached the limit of tolerance from Saskatchewan’s more sensible voters. As the election season heats up, the coming weeks will reveal whether he has been able to keep his uncanny sense of the zeitgeist of this, the most prairie of the Western provinces.
Provincial Viewpoint
Murray Mandryk
Conventional wisdom tells us that the Saskatchewan Party has nothing to worry about in rural Saskatchewan that should provide enough seats to help it form a fifth straight majority government after this fall’s general election.
And the thing about conventional wisdom
in politics is that it is usually right. Seldom have there been massive upsets we didn’t see coming.
And there is little reason to expect the fall 2024 Saskatchewan election will become one of those times.
The NDP have been struggling to maintain relevancy in rural Saskatchewan for nearly 50 years now. It started to lose rural seats in the mid-1970s and was basically wiped out of rural Saskatchewan in the 1980s, before slightly rebounding in the early 1990s.
However, by the late 1990s, it was again wiped out and the NDP simply hasn’t been able to win seats in rural Saskatchewan in the new millennium.
Of course, the Buffalo Party made some noise in the 2020 general election and the Saskatchewan United Party has
been even louder since its creation and since attracting Sask. Party cast off Nadine Wilson to its fold.
But a 22-per-cent showing (Sask. United’s best showing, to date) in last year’s LumsdenMorse byelection hardly constitutes a major threat.
Even the combined dual threat of the Buffalo Party and Sask. United hardly poses a threat, given their lack of candidates and questionable organizational skills. Remember: the Sask. Party still won most rural seats with massive majorities. That includes the Lumsden-Morse byelection last year in which newcomer Blaine McLeod still took more than 50 per cent of the vote in a mid-summer byelection in which there was ample reason to either vote against the governing party or sim-
ply not show up and vote at all.
By contrast, the Sask. Party in last summer’s byelections were soundly defeated in two north Regina seats it previously held. Wouldn’t that suggest that if there is an existing political problem for the Sask. Party, those problems exist in the cities?
Yet the Sask. Party strategy sure seems focused on the countryside.
You may have caught Premier Scott Moe’s latest political ad online or elsewhere that focuses on his hometown of Shellbrook and the need to bolster and preserve rural communities like it.
It’s a nice ad and there’s political capital in portraying Moe as a hometown boy proud of his community. (Although, the NDP have been quick to respond with their own online parody of
the advertisement, noting temporary closures of emergency service at Shellbrook’s hospital.)
Moreover, it surely isn’t unprecedented to see a Saskatchewan political party campaigning on preserving the stability of smaller rural communities. Entire elections have been fought on this theme.
But it’s passing strange that this has become Moe’s emphasis.
You may recall earlier in the spring, Moe created a significant political stir when he invested several hours attending a “community” meeting in nearby Speers where he was peppered with an array of conspiracy theories from COVID19 coverups to “chemtrails” from aircrafts.
Initially, the government tried to pass this off as community meeting he attended at the
invitation of the mayor of Speers _ something the Speers mayor quickly denied.
By no small coincidence, organizers of this event had previously invited officials from the Buffalo Party and Sask. United Party to previous meetings that seem wellintended by people from around the province who hold like-minded views on conspiratorial issues. Now, one gets that politicians can never be sure what they are walking into when they attend any such community meeting.
But premiers have pretty good intel and would normally recognize the problems of pandering such votes. It leaves one to wonder why Moe is so hyperfocused on every vote in his seemingly very safe rural seats like his own. It seems rather unconventional.
Bob Mason
All of us at some time have seen “Good Time Charlies” strut on to the scene, and hoped that they’d fall down and break a leg or something. Anything just to lower their puffed-up egos down to where ours were.
Murderers may get life in prison with no parole, or if they are in some parts of the world, execution, and this to some of us may seem like justice. But seeing some big-shot get what we call his “Just Desserts” is a lot more satisfying.
I remember the big kid at our country school who commandeered the skis that Dad had
made for us one winter, so that he - the BK (Big Kid) - could show us how to ski-jump. As young enthusiasts, on the side of one of the nearby hills we cut and piled up about four-feet of snow blocks to make a fairly good ski run. The BK slid down the slope on our newly made skis in perfect form, and took off from our fourfoot jump like a professional.
Whoops! When Dad fashioned the pointed front-end of those oneby-threes in the old copper boiler, he hadn’t put quite enough bend in them. When the BK landed, they jammed under a branch of a ground-cedar that grew all over the place, and flopped face down in the snow!
Oh, he had a lot of ski-jumping skills, all right, and if all had gone well, might have put Bill Bakke [a U.S. ski-jumping champion in 1970] out of business! As it was, justice had been served and he never borrowed our skis
again!
Y.T. (Yours Truly) was in a public ward in the hospital, one time, playing cards with an accident victim when a pretty nurse came in.
“Wow!” he says. “Look at that! Hey Mason, go over and tell that nurse that I need to take a bath!”
I did what he said, and a few minutes later she came in carrying a basin and put it down on the night table.
“Mr. Mason,” she said as she pulled a couple of screens around. “You’ll have to go back to your bed while this patient has a bath!”
The guy grinned in anticipation and I left just as a stern-faced, much older matron came in to swab his loins! I often wonder if that pretty nurse ever became a lawyer or judge. She sure knew how to hand out justice!
Mentioning justice reminds me of the lady who came into the cafe on Halloween night with a plate of styrofoam chips dyed to look like
cookies.
One of the more forward of the local connoisseurs sampled some and said, “By Gosh! They taste pretty good, too!”
We recommend the calorie-count of these cookies to anyone wanting to lose weight. We might even be able to still get the recipe!
They say the Allies won the Second World War, but sometimes I think that is debatable. Actually, Y.T. feels a lot more satisfaction when he remembers the army guy who got kitchen duty and volunteered to cut bread as soon a he saw a bread-slicing machine. He spent the next week carving loaves with a knife after the Sergeant/ cook said the machine didn’t work!
Or the time one of our guys rushed out with great bravado, stood spread-legged on a road, Sten gun [British designed 9 millimetre submachine gun] so that he could stop a German “Tiger” tank ... fiveinches of sloping steel armour on the front ...
When I was in my teenage years in the 1970’s, a new television series debuted on CBS on September 14, 1972. It aired on Sunday evenings in Canada on CTV.
The show was called ‘The Waltons’.
Created by Earl Hamner Jr. and based on his own depression-era rural childhood in Schuyler, Virginia, USA, it is a heartfelt and sentimental show about a large close-knit intergenerational fictional country family who grew up in the fictitious Blue Ridge Mountains area of Virginia during the depression era of the 1930’s and World War Two. Our Mother grew up in the country and our Father grew up on a farm in different parts of the region in roughly the same approximate time frame the show was set in. And because of their
shared rural experience, when they watched the show, they felt a personal kinship with it right away.
When our Mother started watching the show, I remember she fell in love with it immediately. Because she grew up in a large family in the country, many of the show’s rural themes, issues and stories were very relatable to her. The show touched her heart.
Our Father, having grown up on a family farm also in the same approximate time frame the show was set in, watched it as well. While I think our Mother enjoyed it more than he did, he liked the old vehicles and related to the country themes, family issues and rural common sense of the show.
Admittedly at the time, I did not have the same fondness for the show that our parents did. As a young person in my early-mid teens, I was restless and solely focused on looking to the future. Our parents were ‘country’ and I was ‘rock ‘n roll’, so to speak. I had no interest whatsoever in looking into the past and at the time thought that ‘The Waltons’ was the corniest show on television. I never said much about it to my parents but occasionally I made my attitude perfectly clear.
But as I have gotten older my attitude has changed towards many things. One day when I was much older and now out on my own, I was channel surfing and I finally settled on watching an episode of ‘The Waltons’ because there was nothing else on at the time. As I watched that episode, I began to reflect on some of the stories that our own parents had told us about their own country childhoods as we were growing up and how relevant they were to what I was watching on the TV screen right then.
And in a moment of personal enlightenment, I began to realize that ‘The Waltons’ was giving me a certain amount of insight into the way my own parents had grown up. While every life journey is different, certain experiences are common to anyone who grew up in a rural environment: The country common sense and honesty, the family bonding and closeness, the hardship and occasional conflict, the hard work, the good neighbours, and the drama and rural humour.
Granted, ‘The Waltons’ is an American show with American references, American viewpoints, and traditional American family values of the highest order, but
that he heard coming. Boy, was he ever lucky that it was one of our own Shermans [M4 Sherman, Allied main battle tank]! He didn’t get a medal for all his bravery but he darn near got something else!
One fellow, I think it was in Woodstock, Ontario, claimed to be an old truck driver, and was going to show us how to run one, but he couldn’t figure out what a clutch was for! He didn’t seem to like being told by a farmer that that was the way we put it in gear, let alone double-clutching when we had a load of grain on!
Sometime in these little bits we’ve mentioned the fellow on the back-fill crew at Outlook who took one bite out of an axle-grease sandwich and decided not to help himself to my lunch anymore. And the truckdriving boss up north who parked his loaded vehicle on a sloping curve while he went over to bawl another driver out, just as his own truck
certain common experiences are universal to farm and country life all over the world and are relevant to any rural person, no matter what part of the world you may have grown up in.
It was a sad day for ‘Waltons’ fans on June 4, 1981, when the series was finally cancelled. But by that time the children on the show were mostly grown up and beginning to live their own lives and the storyline had run its course.
But people still have a special place in their hearts for the show, indicated by the five successful reunion movies that were made over the years following the series cancellation. And the series will live on forever on television in reruns.
In personal hindsight, watching ‘The Waltons’ was, to a certain extent, kind of like getting a little personal window into the time period my own parents grew up in. And I suspect it was this way for many other people whose parents grew up in rural families at the same time around the world.
I still watch ‘The Waltons’ to this day and have grown to love and appreciate the show over the years as I have matured.
“Good night, JohnBoy!”
slowly slid down the slope and upset!
The old L&T has a lot of this “justice” stuff in it like:
Photographic memory - The fellow knew what kind of a watch he had, but couldn’t tell what time it was!
The Ladies Man - Mac hollered, “Stop the truck! I’m gonna pick up this lady!” But she wouldn’t even ride with us!
Three-way switchThis guy (who thought he knew) showed us how to connect the wires, but the switch wouldn’t work!
Helicopter - The big rancher thought that a helicopter landing in his yard was quite a thing until a tax collector stepped out!
Aluminium screwsThey never did find out who authorized getting that big magnet!
“Whereas and to wit the party of the first part” doesn’t have to worry about “justice” as long as we have things
Christine Ibbotson
Dear Money Lady Readers:
Planning to travel this summer? Most Canadians are not. The higher interest rates and rising debt servicing challenges of Canadians may be to blame for the reduction in travel and leisure tourism activities. Interest rates are still too high, even after the Bank of Canada’s quarter point discount.
According to RBC Economics, Canadians will not see a turnaround in per-capita spending until Q4/Fall of 2024. So how can you enjoy a summer vacation on the “cheap?”
Most Canadians are planning to have “staycations” to lower costs. There are tons of things to do with the kids such as day trips to museums, art galleries, country markets and even camping in the back yard. Canada has a number of beaches that are open, so “pop-a-squat” and enjoy the sun. Here are some other ideas to keep the costs down, but still create a memorable summer vacation.
Visit a summer music festival, farmer’s market, flea market, flower
farm, petting zoo, farm pet sanctuary or a local pioneer village. You could also go camping, cave exploring, join a bike riding tour, go on a train tour, tall ship cruise, or island cruse. What about white water rafting, canoeing, fishing, or why not discover Canada’s lighthouse histories and visit them all. You could also go hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, or better yet, visit a trampoline park or water park. For those who want a slower pace, why not check out food tours, wineries, sunflower or lavender farms, or even plan some home events like BBQs or backyard picnics. But, what if you absolutely must travel outside of Canada to enjoy
Picnics are a great summer pastime, and this recipe of mine will ensure that your picnic egg salad sandwiches will be the best ever.
Recipe created by Chef Dez, chefdez.com
“A reinvention of a classic sandwich with the infusion of Cajun flavours and prawns, because life is too short to eat bland egg salad sandwiches”
300g raw prawns or shrimp (16/20 size or smaller), peeled & deveined
1/3 cup minced onion
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons canola oil, divided
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup small diced celery
1/4 cup small diced red bell pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
2 tablespoons sweet green relish
1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3 to 4 dashes Tabasco brand hot sauce
6 large, hard-boiled eggs, chilled, peeled, & rough chopped Salt & pepper to season, if desired
4 – 4” brioche buns, cut in half horizontally
1 Cut the prawns into small pieces, if desired. Combine the prawns in a small bowl with the minced onion, paprika, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon of the canola oil.
2 Heat a 10-inch non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of canola oil, and then the prawn mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, until the prawns are cooked through, approximately 2 minutes. Transfer this cooked prawn mixture to a shallow tray or dinner plate and refrigerate immediately to chill while you prepare the other ingredients.
3 In a medium mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, celery, bell pepper, chives, relish, pickle juice, lemon juice, and Tabasco together. Stir in the chilled chopped hard-boiled eggs, and the chilled prawn mixture. Season to taste with salt & pepper, if desired.
4 Portion mixture equally onto the 4 prepared buns and serve immediately. Makes 4 sandwiches (approximately 3 cups of egg salad mixture) Send your food/cooking questions to dez@chefdez.com or P.O. Box 2674, Abbotsford, B.C., V2T 6R4. Chef Dez is a Food Columnist, Culinary Travel Host and Cookbook Author. Visit him at chefdez.com
your summer? Well, according to the recent flight surveys that came out in May 2024, the following destinations in South America now have the lowest costs for air fare and accommodations for Canadians: Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Chile, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, and Argentina. Would you rather go overseas? All European travel tends to be hyperexpensive this year. According to WestJet CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, Canada has some of the highest costs for air travel due to fees added to ticket fares for airport maintenance and other infrastructurerelated costs. And let’s not forget the Olympics
in Paris this summer, which now makes air travel outrageous. Still there are some overseas destinations that have come in lower than Europe and could be an alternative to those who want to jet set across the pond. Why not consider Asia? According to the Canadian travel and tourism stats released last month, the following destinations have the lowest costs for air fare and accommodations: Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia or the Philippines. Whatever you do this summer – whether you stay close to home or travel to far off lands, keep in mind that everyone needs time to refocus and recharge. According to Health Canada,
those people that took a vacation every 2 years (as opposed to those who waited longer than 5 years) were more likely to reduce their risk of coronary heart disease, cancers and stroke. So, for your personal health and longevity – take some time off this summer and enjoy your life. Good Luck and Best Wishes, Written by Christine Ibbotson, author, finance writer, national radio host, and now on CTV Morning Live, and CTV News @6, syndicated across Canada. Send your money questions (answered free) through her website at askthemoneylady.ca.
Food prices in Canada remain high, but there are ways to get more bang for your dollars.
One of the best ways is to plan your meals around what is in season. Summer and fall harvest seasons offer plenty of options to save money and eat healthy. At this time of year, there is an amazing variety of fresh fruits ripe and ready to be enjoyed, like blueberries, apples, grapes, peaches, nectarines, pears, plums, strawberries, raspberries, watermelons and more.
There is no less variety when it comes to locally grown vegetables, from classic favourites like beans, cauliflower, carrots, peas, carrots, radishes and squash to more varied options including artichoke, bok choy, daikon radish, mustard greens, snow pea shoots and water spinach.
Tree, field or vineripened, they’re packed with delicious flavour and nutrients, whether they’re eaten on their own or used as an ingredient in a favourite dish.
Whether you’re stopping at an on-farm store, visiting a farmers’ market or stocking up at the supermarket, shopping for what’s in season means plenty of supply and good value for money. Buy extra when you see a great deal and freeze, can, process or pickle produce to enjoy all year long as jams, jel-
lies, sauces, condiments, soups, ingredients and more.
Buying local will not only help you stretch your food budget, it’s also climate-friendly and more sustainable.
A shorter distance from farm to plate means fewer emissions and less food waste, and you’re supporting fruit and vegetable farmers who are using a wide range of environmentally friendly practices that support sustainable production.
This includes investments in technologies and practices that support more efficient use of water, energy and fertilizer; using tools like soil testing and cover crops; and reducing water and pesticide use.
Four ways to enjoy local fruits and vegetables all year long:
Freezing - Peel, slice and pit fruits and freeze them on a large baking sheet before transferring
them into freezer bags or storage containers. Chop and blanch vegetables before freezing by boiling them briefly and cooling them quickly to improve food safety and preserve nutrients and flavour.
Pickling - A relatively fast and easy option to preserve fruits and vegetables is to marinate them using a brine, which is a mix of salt, sugar, vinegar, water and other spices of your choosing.
Dehydrating - Use a dehydrator or freeze dryer to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables and make them convenient for on-thego snacks or meals.
Canning - A great but a bit more complex way to make jams, jellies, chutneys, sauces, salsas and other condiments. Find a good recipe, and make sure to follow the directions for proper canning techniques.
Calvin Daniels
by Calvin Daniels
There always seems to be divisive issues in agriculture – the Canadian Wheat Board for years – and today the idea of cutting greenhouse emissions would lead the list.
Certainly, the federal government believes farmers and Canada’s agriculture industry should cut greenhouse gas emissions. Of course across much of the Prairies at least anything coming out of Ottawa is seen as bad theses days – a view reinforced in Saskatchewan by a Premier that works hard to deflect the reasons for all provincial woes to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
But, dig past the rhetoric of two levels of government at near constant loggerheads is the vision of cutting greenhouse gases a good one?
The obvious answer is yes – but that yes does
come with a massive caveat.
While there are naysayers – there are flat earthers too – the science makes it rather clear we are seeing climate change and that is particularly concerning for the farm sector which is by nature weather reliant.
Now the water muddies just a little in terms of why climate is changing – is it a long term natural pattern of play, or is it the impact of humans finally changing things to an extreme level?
It of course might be a combination too, a natural pattern accelerated and made more dramatic because of our
by Dale Buxton
I met an interesting fellow while out at the Springwater Lake Sports Day, his name is Wayne and he travels all over Western Canada in his converted ambulance that he made into an RV.
Wayne got this idea from being a patient in an ambulance after suffering a heart attack, he thought to himself that an ambulance would make a great RV. After his heart attack Wayne was on the hunt for a used ambulance.
After finding a unit that he wanted Wayne renovated the used ambulance and converted it into a living space that he could travel from town to town and be self sufficient.
Wayne gave me a tour
of the unit and I can tell you he used up every bit of space for storage, including the inside of door panels.
Waynes has a fridge and freezer unit, and small stove. The unique thing about Wayne’s Ambo World is that if someone is stranded on the road, Wayne is there to help and normally free of charge. Wayne also has his own YouTube channel where he documents his travels.
Wayne’s goal in life is to travel North America taking time to visit small communities and help people in need, his specialty is helping people with electrical issues.
Good job Wayne and keep up the travels. (Photos for The Independent by Dale Buxton)
long term impact on the earth.
Ultimately, it’s highly unlikely we are blameless, so that means we should be changing what we do to try to reverse a trend that if it continues long term is not a good one for humanity or the planet.
That agriculture should be part of it is logical.
But, again the question is whether it makes sense to impact farmers in Canada when much of the world – the United States, China, Eastern Europe seem blissfully
unaware of the threat of climate change with almost zero indication they will do anything to change things.
Until the big players get their heads out of the
sand and into the game, whatever we might achieve in Canada simply won’t tip the scales in a positive way. Then again somebody has to lead the way too.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
MAIN STREET MARKET 115 Main Street Biggar, SK 306-948-3337
by Trudy & Dale Buxton
As we continue our trip home from Alberta, we decided to make a righthand turn at Vegreville, heading south on Highway 857. Not a bad road, but certainly a secondary highway as we are headed for the hamlet of Bruce. With 65 people, it is the smallest community in the Beaver County District.
bronc, with a good old fashioned breakfast and barbecue.
For being so small, the community continues to be a busy place for residents and visitors alike, and you can’t help but stop at the Bruce Hotel every Friday for their famous steak nights - a year-long event.
Next, we head east on Highway 14 to the community of Viking.
“ e Howard Powell Reunion Committee” would like to thank the following for their kind donations :
Mainline Motors, Western Sales and Central Plains Co-op all of Rosetown. Rob Irwin for the fabulous banner with the picture of the school on it, Eva Shannon for the banner at the front of the hall, Morgan and Karen Jiricka for supplying the alcoholic beverages and Doug and Adele McLeod for the meat trays.
ank you also to Lois and Mary ( nee Simpson) who delivered the cake and buns the day of the event. We hired Judy Kahovec to make a quilt for the alumni to sign and ra ed it o . e quilt was beautiful! Biggar Bites catering for the lovely supper meal on such a hot day. With air conditioning the Biggar Community Hall was the perfect venue for this occasion.
Bruce was named after A. Bruce Smith who was a manager of the Grand Trunk Pacific Telegraph Company. The community was established in March of 1909. The residents of Bruce boast of a community that seeks big adventure with a delicious taste of home. Did you know that the community of Bruce is home to Canada’s oldest one-day rodeo? Yup ... the Bruce Stampede, which runs in late July every year, started in 1914 and still going strong today. The stampede brings together North America’s best cowboys in a one-day event that features bull riding, steer wrestling and saddle
We’ve been working with Fred & Patsy at Spyder Autobody for the past 3 years, and will continue servicing the Biggar community with mobile SGI appraisals
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• Free pickup and delivery 2326 Avenue C North Saskatoon 306-664-4156
Viking was established by two Scandinavian settlers, Sivert Hafso and Ole Sorenson from Norway, in 1909. This are had long been inhabited by the Cree and Blackfoot First Nations people as seen with the Viking Ribstones, that sit on top of hill near the community. The two large stone carvings are in the shape of an animal’s ribcage. These stones are said to be the only ones of their kind in Alberta, and have stood in this spot for thousands of years.
The original name of Viking was going to be Meighen, after a Federal MP, Arthur Meighen, who served briefly as Prime Minister. However, town people did not want that as a name. The north side of town was strong with Norwegian background
and preferred “Viking” while the south side had a large Czech background and wanted the name to be “Prague”. The north side folks came out in larger numbers to vote, and the name “Viking” was chosen. The name, as some would say, also comes from the Viking Formation which is an oil bearing stratigraphic earth formation.
The approximately 1,100 people of Viking have a strong sense of history and heritage as noted by the Viking ship that was used as a ceremonial town project. Viking has been very involved with Communities in Bloom, winning the annual
competition in 2000. The economy comes from mainly agriculture and oil and gas.
Viking is also very well known for the Sutter hockey family that includes Brent, Brian, Duane, Rich, Ron, and Darryl, all of whom made the NHL ranks and are very well known for their work ethic on and off the ice. At one time when the brothers were not playing hockey they would return to Viking to work on the farm. There are a number of second generation Sutter players that are or will be drafted into the NHL. Stay tuned next week as we continue our journey home.
and grandson
convocated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering with Distinction. Kaeden is presently employed with Shell Canada. Congratulations, Kaeden!
Back to school is an exciting time for postsecondary students, but it can also be a source of financial stress.
Here are three tips to help you make a financial plan for campus life and beyond.
Make a budget
It may not sound riveting, but budgeting is the best way to manage your finances.
First, you need to determine your shortand long-term goals. These could include things like reducing your weekly expenses or paying off your student loan.
Then, you need to evaluate your “needs” and “wants.” You need a place to stay, food and clothes. But you may also want to take a road trip with your friends for March break. A budget will help you determine what you can and can’t afford or help you save for a specific objective.
Finally, list your income, savings and expenses. Consider all costs, from big ones like tuition to small ones like your daily coffee. Enter this information in a tool such as the Budget Planner developed by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. Adjust amounts in each
category to balance your budget.
Keep track of your spending
Sticking to your budget is not always easy. Keep your receipts and bills, and compare your budget to what you spend at the end of each month.
If there are important differences, figure out why. Were there bigticket items, like new furniture, that won’t be repeated each month?
Consider setting spending limits to help you reduce costs if you tend to overspend in certain categories regularly.
Get ready for the unexpected
Keep in mind that unexpected expenses will occur, from additional books to travelling home for holidays. That’s why it’s important to build an emergency fund.
It may sound out of reach, but you can start by putting aside even a small amount on a regular basis to deal with unexpected circumstances. Knowing that you have this buffer will help relieve financial stress and set you up for success.
Find more budgeting advice and a free online budget calculator at canada.ca/money
Bruce Penton
Canada, primarily because of our comparatively small population, is not one of the heavyweights in the global sports picture, unless we’re talking about hockey, where we dominate. But at an event like the Summer Olympics, Canada is usually one of the unheralded nations. In fact, through the years, Canada ranks 13th in total medals (while placing third overall in Winter Olympics).
But ask any sports fan outside of Canada what comes to mind when they mesh the words ‘Canada’ and ‘Olympics’ and the answer will invariably be ‘cheating.’
Canada, with an
otherwise spotless worldwide reputation as fair, kind, honourable and polite — cheaters. Aaaghh! Say it ain’t so, Justin.
Thirty-six years ago, Ben Johnson brought shame to Canada when he tested positive for steroids in the aftermath of one of the biggest events of the 1988 Seoul Olympics: The 100-metre sprint final featuring Johnson and the United States star, Carl Lewis. The hype and buildup for the final was enormous and when Johnson crossed the finish line first in a world record time of 9.79 seconds, Canadians from coast to coast rejoiced. For one day, anyway. Johnson’s use of the banned substance stanozolol, which was discovered in his system following a post-race drug test, had him stripped of the gold. The story made worldwide headlines and Johnson went from hero to zero in Canadian sports history. Now, our country’s making headlines around the world for another reason — and it’s not the swimming
exploits of Summer McIntosh, or the basketball team led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or the sprinting prowess of Andre DeGrasse. It’s another cheating scandal and because it’s centred around soccer, the sport played in more countries in the world than any other, the shame has spread to all corners of the globe.
Prior to the start of this year’s Olympics, a drone operated by representatives of the Canadian team was discovered taking video of a practice session of New Zealand, their first opponent (Canada won the game 2-1). Head coach Bev Priestman was suspended for the rest of the Olympic tournament and two others, an assistant coach and an analyst, were sent home from Paris before the opening ceremonies. “By no means did I direct the individuals,” Priestman said.
Initial reporting by Rick Westhead of TSN indicated that use of drones to spy on Canadian opponents’ practices has been commonplace.
Last year, Canada faced record-breaking wildfires. And, each year, extreme heat events continue to increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change. Extreme heat and wildfire smoke can occur at the same time and put everyone’s health at risk.
Here are some tips to stay safe.
Be prepared Keep indoor air cool and as clean as possible during wildfire smoke conditions. When there’s a heat wave, indoor temperatures can get dangerously high. If you have an air conditioner, make sure to have it serviced annually. Use a goodquality air filter in your ventilation system based on the manufacturer’s recommendations or consider using a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine particles from wildfire smoke. Check on those who are in your care, including neighbours, friends or family members, especially those who are more likely to be harmed by heat or smoke, such as older adults, pregnant people and people with chronic health conditions or mental illness.
Regularly check your local weather forecasts, heat alerts and airquality conditions using the Air Quality Health Index, special air quality statements or air-quality advisories.
How to reduce your risk
When extreme heat
and wildfire smoke occur simultaneously, prioritize keeping cool. Drink plenty of liquids, especially water, before you feel thirsty. It can be challenging to know if you should open your windows for cooling or close them due to the smoke. If you don’t have air conditioning and the outdoor temperature is cooler than the indoor temperature, opening your windows can help cool your home. Seek out local cooling centres or cleaner air spaces to take a break from the heat or smoke if it’s too warm to stay inside with the windows closed or you can’t maintain clean air indoors during a wildfire smoke event.
Try to reschedule your outdoor activities for a time when conditions are better. When going outdoors, wear loosefitting, breathable clothing. Use a widebrimmed hat or umbrella and try to stay in the shade as much as possible. If you must spend time outdoors in smoky conditions, wear a well-fitting and properly worn NIOSH-certified
respirator or equivalent respirator (KN95 or KF94) mask.
You should also know and monitor for signs of heat- or smokerelated illness, including irritated eyes and throat, nausea, headache, new or worsened cough, and fatigue. If you’re experiencing these, move to a cool, smokefree place and drink plenty of liquids.
More severe symptoms of smoke exposure to watch for include chest pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness or fainting. High body temperature, vomiting, and confusion and lack of coordination may be signs of heat stroke. Heat stroke is a medical emergency. If someone around you experiences signs of heat stroke, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. While waiting for help, try to move them to a cool place and apply cold water to large areas of their skin.
Find more wildfire and extreme heat safety tips at canada.ca/ wildfiresmoke
Questions were asked whether John Herdman, who guided the Canadian women’s soccer team to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, authorized similar spying tactics while he was the women’s coach, and whether he’s authorized similar underhanded tactics in his current role as Canada’s men’s team coach. He said no to all such suggestions.
The Canadian Olympic story in Paris will obviously be brighter as the Games move toward their Aug. 11 conclusion. It couldn’t have got off to a worse start and no matter how many medals our country wins, the ‘cheating’ black cloud will hang over our country in the eyes of the rest of the athletic world.
• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “Golf is just an adult version of an Easter Egg hunt.”
• Medicine Hat News’ CFL columnist Graham Kelly, detailing the recent sad history of Edmonton coach Chris Jones: “Jones’ major talent turns out to be burning bridges.”
• Another one from Kelly, on the CFL matchup between struggling Edmonton and Hamilton: “Edmonton hosts Hamilton in the Misery Loves Company bowl.”
• Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “Cleveland Guardians drafted Travis Bazzana first in the MLB draft. I hope at some point he gets to play for the Savannah Bananas. That would be awesome.”
• Funny guy Brad Dickson of Omaha: “As some of you undoubtedly heard I qualified for the Paris Olympic Games in both the decathlon and the heptathlon. However, I’ve decided to forego the competition and stay home and spend my time reading social media posts about the upcoming U.S. presidential election.”
• Vancouver author and humour columnist Steve Burgess: “Canada’s Celine Dion will return to the stage in the Olympic opening ceremonies. Plans for drone footage have been cancelled.”
• Phil Mushnick of the New York Post: “NBC’s
genuine Olympics spirit can soon be seen on bills. Just before the Games were scheduled to begin, it raised the cost of Peacock by two bucks per month.”
• Jack Finarelli on his website sportscurmudgeon.com, quotes from a note he received from a reader named Barry: “Reminder that the term ‘Home Run’ is incredibly offensive to homeless people, people in wheelchairs and especially homeless people in wheelchairs.”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “Reuters reports a Belgian town made a giant omelet of 10,000 eggs. I’m taking the high road on this and not cracking any yokes.”
• Headline at the onion. com: “MLB Loses Millions of Stats In Warehouse Fire”
• Headline at fark. com: “Why do athletes bite their medals at the Olympics? Because one in every 25 contains a delicious chocolate centre.”
• Care to comment? E-mail brucepenton2003@ yahoo.ca
by Jeff Dearing I was going to the park for the day and when I approached The Regional Park maintenance building and I noticed a large mass on the building. As I drove closer I could tell it was wasps or bees and they were flying everywhere. Immediately I called a wasp/bee removal company in Saskatoon. When I sent them a picture of what I was dealing with they said that these were honey bees so they couldn’t help me but they suggested that I contact a bee keeper. I then contacted the Saskatoon Bee Club who suggested that I contact Biggar’s Big Rose Colony, guessing that they were probably their bees anyway.
So I contacted Big Rose Colony and was put in touch with brothers, Leonard and Rueben Walter. Within an hour they were in the park assessing the situation. We actually closed off access to the park for the three hours that the bees were being dealt with. When they arrived they had a close-up look at the swarm. Amber was in this building the day before so this all happened essentially over night! The guys guessed there were somewhere in the range of 10,000 bees here. They also said swarms like this occur when hive populations grow too large for their current hive so they
go out looking to start another bee colony. Scout bees first go out to find a couple suitable places before they send for the rest of the colony. Also, when bees swarm like this, they gorge on honey before they leave their hive - like packing when you move to a new home, and being so full of honey it’s actually hard for them to stick out their stinger - so getting stung is a lot less likely unless they are agitated. Rueben got the bee boxes ready while Leonard got the smoker going. After smoking the bees (smoke calms them)
they brushed them into the bee crate. Rueben and Leonard were very knowledgeable and very easy to work with and they said that if anyone has any honey bee (recognizable by being much smaller and slender than a bumble bee) issues they can contact Leonard at 306948-1410.
The Biggar Regional Park would like to thank Leonard and Rueben for doing an excellent job taking care of the bees so quickly on such a hot day and for minimal cost - a couple boxes from the local watering hole!
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Your feelings this week may not be entirely trustworthy, Aries. You could end up worrying for nothing, and being pulled into difficult situations for the wrong reasons.
TAURUS –
Apr 21/May 21
Taurus, if you are feeling a little lost these days, it could be that you need a change in perspective and location to help you get inspired. Plan a short trip to recharge.
GEMINI –May 22/Jun 21
You cannot serve as mediator or help friends establish harmony if you are all over the emotional map, Gemini. Work your way through your emotions before offering to help.
Leo, once you give a certain plan a little more thought you may determine it isn’t worth your time right now. Perhaps you’ve been building this idea up in your head.
VIRGO –
Aug 24/Sept 22
Virgo, you are eager to share your ideas and vision with others, but right now the audience isn’t as receptive as you would have hoped. Do not give up; people will come around.
LIBRA –
Sept 23/Oct 23
Libra, you have a way of doing things, and right now you’re not ready to deviate from that routine. With time you may be able to branch out and try a new approach.
Sagittarius, this is one of those weeks when you can get into trouble if you let your emotions be the driving force behind your actions. Make an effort to balance emotion and reason.
CAPRICORN –Dec 22/Jan 20
This is your week to really shine, Capricorn. Let others know what you’re made of, but be sure you do not do something at another person’s expense just to get ahead.
AQUARIUS –
Jan 21/Feb 18
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CANCER –Jun 22/Jul 22
Cancer, you may be so caught up in a specific vision for the future that you are not open to new ideas that are equally beneficial and possible. Be more receptive to what others offer.
SCORPIO –
Oct 24/Nov 22
People are receptive to your words and you often speak with assertiveness Scorpio. Do not let this go to your head, though. Aspire to be humble while exhibiting confidence.
HOUSING AUTHORITY
Housing for families and
Aquarius, if you do not like the course you are on, you have the ability to change things whenever you want. Nothing is set in stone at this point, so start dreaming up new ideas.
PISCES –Feb 19/Mar 20
Pisces, there are so many ways you can be creative and express yourself. This is a week of true inspiration and exploration. Nothing is off-limits if you desire it.
44. Honorific titles in NW Semitic languages
46. Present 47. Afflict in mind or body 49. Duty
52. Municipality in Stockholm
56. In a normal way 58. Rode a bicycle 60. Charitable 62. Verandas 63. Uncredited CLUES DOWN 1. No seats available 2. Russian river
3. A European river 4. Phrase 5. Idol
6. Keyboard key 7. Prefix indicating mutual 8. Kilometers per hour 9. Set an example 10. It’s among the “Great” ones
Whip up delicious stock, gravies and sauce with ease. Wholesome ingredient with less salt in the products.
FABULOUS FRENCH ONION SOUP
Ingredients
5 med. Onions
3Tbutter or margarine
41/2c. quartz water
1/4 c. WATKINS BEEF SOUP AND GRAVY BASE
1T. WATKINS ONION SOUP AND GRAVY BASE
1/4t. WATKINS PURE GROUND BLACK PEPPER
1/4t. WATKINS ORGANIC CAYENNE PEPPER
1/4t. WATKINS ORGANIC THYME
6 slice french bread
1c. shredded cheese (swiss/chedder)
Direction peel and cut onion thinly cook onions in butter/margarine until golden brown gradually add water, soup base and seasoning bring to a boil cover and shimmer for 15 minutes meanwhile toast bread one side put soup into oven safe bowls put toasted bread on top sprinkle with cheese put under broiler until cheese is melted and enjoy
12. VVV
13. Murdered
16. Icelandic poems
17. Seas
20. Famed cartoonist
22. Partner to “Ma”
25. Equal to one quintillion bytes
26. Speak incessantly
27. Disquiet
29. Parts per billion (abbr.)
31. Upper-class young woman (abbr.)
34. S. American plant
36. Monetary unit of Thailand
37. Regions
38. Baseball legend Yogi
40. Ancient Egyptian notion of spiritual part of humans
43. Fishing net
45. Tinseltown
48. MacBeth’s wife was one
50. Took a spill
51. Adversary to pets
53. Town in Galilee
54. Secret racist society (slang)
55. About aviation
57. Longing or yearning
58. Hawaiian dish
59. Field force unit
61. Partner to “Pa”
Ingredients
8 slices of bacon
6 medium/large potatoes peeled and cubed
2 cups chicken stock made from WATKINS CHICKEN SOUP AND GRAVY BASES
1 cup water
4Tbsp WATKINS ORGANIC ONION POWDER
3/4 tsp WATKINS MINCED GARLIC
1 Tbsp unsalted butter
2/3 cup sour cream
1/2 heavy cream
WATKINS BLACK PEPPER to taste
WATKINS HIMALAYAN PINK SALT or WATKINS MEDITERREAN
SEA SALT to taste
garnish ideas: shredded cheese, bacon and green onions
Directions
Place potatoes into a slow cooker, add chicken stock, onion, garlic, butter and half the cooked bacon
Notice to Creditors
In the estate of Edward Curtis Beeson, late of Biggar, Saskatchewan, deceased. All claims against the above
statutory declaration and with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before the 30th day of August, 2024
August 21, 1936 - July 23, 2024
Edward Curtis Beeson was born August 21, 1936 at Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, where he grew up on the family farm.
As a young man he joined the navy for a short time and served on both coasts of Canada. He later came to Biggar looking for work as a barber, he never left. He met and married Evonne June Wright and they bought the McLaren block building. Together they opened Biggar Flower and Gift Shop, including the attached barber shop where Edward worked. Edward was very active with many community boards and organizations, and was an elder with the Presbyterian Church where he often led services. He loved to play the piano, paint, sketch, and was involved in many theatre productions in Biggar and Asquith. As a
couple Edward and Evonne loved spending time at their cabin at Cochin, and would go fishing as often as possible. Edward passed away July 23, 2024 at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon surrounded by his family. Evonne has been waiting for Edward, they are once again together fishing, we know the lake will be calm, they are laughing and getting a lot of bites.
Edward is survived by his children David (Michelle), Doug (Jackie); his grandchildren Renee, Michael, Aaron. A private family service will be held for Edward. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Biggar Long Term Care Facility. Arrangements entrusted to Gerein Funeral Service.
Ben and I would like to sincerely thank everyone for their prayers and support throughout this extremely difficult time. Special thanks to everyone who donated to Sophies trust. We greatly appreciate it. We would like to thank the whole community for all their support, generosity and acts of kindness. The outpouring of support and prayers goes beyond words.
We would especially like to thank Pastor Mark for coming out and providing an amazing Celebration of Life service. He not only connected with the adults but also brought a fun aspect to the service for all of the children. Also, thank you to Janelle, Tanya, and all the kids for bringing joy to the service. Sophie would have loved all the singing.
To my family and Bens family, thank you for being there for us the entire way. There are too many people to name personally. So to everyone who visited, sent food, donated money, prayed, decorated or helped with arrangements we say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
As part of WESK’s Rural Ambassador Program, Lisa will act as a link between WESK and women-owned businesses in West Central/ Biggar and surrounding areas. Lisa is a Rancher and Insurance Broker from Biggar, Saskatchewan. She works with business owners to mitigate risks that may arise and runs a ranch where she markets cattle in various ways, including directly to consumers.
If you have any questions about WESK, our programs, services, or events, please reach out to Lisa herelhaynes@wesk.ca!
By Daphne Bender
When I was growing up I remember asking my mother a question repeatedly: “Why?” Why do I have to do that? Why can’t I have that toy? And when I had asked the question enough times without getting the answer that my young mind would deem as satisfactory, my mother would answer, “Because I said so!!” Thus ended the conversation.
Job, a well-known character of the Old Testament, is introduced to readers as a man without fault whom God blessed with great riches. But then, without knowing why, Job began to experience hardships. He accused God of sending the hardships upon him. Job questioned God’s motives and asked frequently, “Why? Why are you doing this to me?” Job approached God as though God was inferior to Job! And finally God answers Job with a becauseI-said-so type answer. Through a series of ironical questions, God makes the point that Job is in no position to challenge God. Job is creature. God is creator. Therefore God has wisdom that creatures do not have. Job was called to trust God and God’s wisdom.
As I grew to be an adult, I began to appreciate that when my mother had answered me as a child, “because I said so”, it was her way of saying, “Trust me. I know what is best for you.” God’s answer to Job helps us see God in the same light. God is God. We are creatures of God. Our place is to trust God.
God, remind us always that you are God. Amen.
A Special Award… Congratulations going out to Richard Bourke for a special 30 years of service award, presented at the annual general meeting on July 25th at the Duperow Co-op store. Presenting the award was Angela Buhler, General Manager of Duperow Co-op, and Andrew Haynes member of the board. (Independent Photo supplied)
What is the Lazy Man Triathlon?
You have five weeks to complete your goal of swimming, biking and running/ walking.
We have recommended full distance and half distance goals, but do what works best for you.
The Lazy Man Triathlon runs from July 29th - August 30th. Fill out the registration form/tracking sheet which can be found on www. townofbiggar.com, or at the Town Office and hand in by September 5th for your chance to win a prize.
A Volunteer Award… Presenting an award to Henrietta Parenteau was Cynthia Tymoruski, Community Developement Coordinator for Rivers West Sports and Culture, on July 20th at the Springwater Lake Sports Day. Henrietta received her award for the commitment and dedication that she does within the community. Congratulations Henrietta. (Independent Photo supplied)
Henrietta Parenteau is an amazing volunteer, living in the RM of Biggar, and has been awarded the 2024 Rivers West, Sport, Culture and Recreation Volunteer Award for her commitment and dedication to her community.
Over many years Henrietta has donated her time and energy to clubs and organizations, from being involved with the Biggar Rodeo Association for fifteen years as Secretary, Treasurer and President, to being a vital member and leader in the Boy Scouts, imparting her lasting and positive energy to the youth. She was also a strong supporter of the 4-H Club when her sons were members.
Currently she devotes her time as President
of the Springwater Lake Revitalization Committee, Secretary of the Springwater and District Activity Center, and has served as both secretary and treasurer of the Ruthilda Metis Local. Henrietta was instrumental in organizing the Winter Festival in February of 2024, a gathering enjoyed by the whole community. Henrietta is a grant guru! She has devoted hours applying for and successfully receiving grants, all to make her community a better place. Congratulations, Henrietta, for this welldeserved award. Your community is so proud of you.