The Biggar Independent Volume 114, Issue 40

Walk in these shoes for Reconciliation ... Biggar Central School students take to the Sandra Schmirler Olympic Gold Park trails, September 28, part of Truth and Reconciliation activities. The students and any Biggar residents could walk the pathways, stopping at stations to read the signs, activate QR codes to see more content about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, officially observed on September 30.

(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)

New Creation Community Players Youth Musical cast and crew started rehearsals on Alice in Wonderland, the classic tale of the young Alice, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, the Red Queen, Cheshire Cat, Knave of Hearts and more. The young actors and director, Janelle Carr, started feeling out their roles this past Tuesday during noon hours at school. The production is set to run this November 22 at the Majestic Theatre.

(Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)

by Sgt. Dereck Crozier, Biggar Detachment

This past week 47 occurrences were handled by the detachment.

The Traffic Services Unit held a check stop in our area and appeared to be on the generous side this time around with six tickets being issued and seventeen warnings.

However, there were some excessive speeds worth mentioning. A grey 2005 Volkswagen from Manitoba will be leaving a $910 deposit for travelling at 160 km/h on Highway 14, while a Red Silverado 1500 was fined $570 for travelling at 140 km/h on Highway 14.

Two semi’s were reported for erratic driv-

Biggar RCMP report

ing on Highway 14 and a new Volkswagen Beetle was reported for driving dangerously in the fog.

Two collisions with animals reported. A white Ford Fiesta suffered sever front-end damage after being struck by a deer on full throttle and a brown Dodge Ram 1500 was still able to make it home after striking a wandering cow on Highway 376. A few reports of suspicious activity through the area. A black short-box Ford with two occupants was chased off from wandering into yards on Highway 656 in the RM of Rosemount, and a North Dakota pickup truck trespassing on land in the Sonningdale area was reported. Members

were called to keep the peace with a civil dispute between contractor and client. The usual two noise complaints in the Village of Perdue, reporting their neighbour is just too loud for

11:15 p.m. and another time at 12:22 a.m.

A farm on Highway 51 reported the theft of a missing semi tire-bead blaster, car scanner and an ozone machine.

As the dry conditions

lowered the water levels in the majority of sloughs in the area this year, one slough on Highway 4 south decided to give up a couple of secrets and expose a stolen red pickup from

2015 and second pickup that has yet to be determined how long it has been at “rest”.

Take care out there!

Battlefords RCMP works collaboratively with Red Pheasant Cree Nation after drug overdoses

Battlefords RCMP are increasing patrols and working collaboratively with local leadership and health services after a series of overdoses occurred on Red Pheasant Cree Nation this past weekend and the community declared a state of emergency.

The RCMP has not been made aware of any drug-related deaths from this past weekend occurring in the Red Pheasant Cree Nation community.

“Our detachment has engaged support units such as resources from

our Battlefords Gang Task Force and General Investigation Sections as well as the Saskatchewan RCMP’s Crime Reduction Team, to provide increased physical police presence and increased investigational capacity in the community,” shares Inspector Jesse Gilbert, officer in charge of Battlefords RCMP. “What we need from the community is any information related to the presence of illicit substances. This can be scary - to contact police to report illegal activity, but with key informa-

tion, we can specifically target where and how the drugs are entering the community. We understand risks that can be associated with reporting information to the police. Please know you can report information via Crime Stoppers - it’s 100 per cent anonymous. The reality is, multiple people from Red Pheasant Cree Nation nearly died this weekend because of the presence of illegal substances. Help us, so we can target the drugs present in the community and help prevent

future overdoses.”

The RCMP is only one piece of the response. Further conversations and collaboration must occur with the Red Pheasant Cree Nation community, health and harm reduction/support services to address drug presence concerns over the long term.

Information can be reported to Battlefords RCMP (306-446-1720), Crime Stoppers (1-800222-8477). In an emergency, call 911.

Suspected drugs resembling opaque, rock-like candy were seized as part of this weekend’s patrols. Testing of the

substances must occur before RCMP can provide insight into composition.

It’s also been reported the substance is referred to as ‘flakka’. The RCMP is asking the community of Red Pheasant Cree Nation to be on the lookout of suspected drugs resembling or referred to as this, as well as any other suspicious substances. For safety reasons, do not handle any unknown substances and report their presence to police immediately.

As Saskatchewan’s Provincial Police Service, the RCMP has

the ability to draw on resources from surrounding areas and support units, such as the Gang Task Force, General Investigation Section and Crime Reduction Teams, to respond when serious incidents occur. Battlefords Detachment and these support teams will continue to engage with local Red Pheasant Cree Nation leadership and health services to collaboratively combat illicit drug presence in the community.

Biggar Fire Report

by Erroll Horst, Biggar Fire Department

Well I guess that’s it,summers gone. We hope everybody was able to find some time to enjoy it with family and friends.

We had six calls in September - one false call, one structure fire, one dumpster fire, one MVC and two STARS calls. That would bring our year to date total to 64 calls.

It would also include another “first”. This would be the first September in memory that we didn’t have a grass/ field fire. Considering how dry it is, I think having no grass or field fires must be a testament to how careful our rural neighbours are being while working getting their harvest in.

On the September 28, Fire Chief Kelly Dorosh travelled to Saskatoon to receive his Saskatchewan Protective Services Medal from the Lieutenant Governor. The award recognizes 25 years of service in the fire department and to

the community. Definitely well deserved.

Practises during the month included equipment maintenance, cleaning the fire trucks and trying out new equipment and our burn room. With the tests going well we will soon be putting members through training sessions simulating actual conditions working safely inside structure fires.

On the September 18 we were lucky enough to run a scenario with the Emergency Response Team at Rack Petroleum. The situation involved a transport truck loaded with anhydrous ammonia that was leaking.

Overall it was a very good training exercise, with us reenforcing how we can assist the Rack’s team as well as learning what their abilities are and practising establishing a unified command which is always important with more than one emergency response team on site.

As always, we practise Monday nights at 7 p.m., so if you’re interested come on down to the fire hall - 210 Turnbull Avenue.

Well I guess that’s it, summer’s gone. We hope everybody was able to find some time to enjoy it with family and friends.

Bingo Numbers for October 5

B-07 I-16 I-29 G-55 O-64

Rosetown Towing pulls a truck from a slough, south of Biggar. Dryer conditions revealed one of two trucks. RCMP know one of the trucks was stolen back in 2015, while the second is still being investigated. (Independent Photos by Trudy Buxton)

Biggar Fire Chief Kelly Dorosh is the recipient of the Saskatchewan Protective Services Medal, a recognition for 25 years of service. Dorosh received the medal from Lieutenant Governor General of Saskatchewan The Honourable Russell Mirasty, September 28. (Submitted Photo)

Trudeau must drop his grocery tax threat

by Franco Terrazzano and Kris Sims, Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Here’s political irony to ponder while you’re in line at the grocery store waiting to pay your everincreasing bill.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s thinking about making groceries cheaper by imposing a new tax.

Brace yourself because there’s more irony.

The House of Commons already passed legislation that would make food less expensive. In fact, the House passed the legislation twice. But unelected senators are stalling the bill and the prime minister isn’t pushing it.

Here’s what’s happening:

“We will take further action and we are not ruling anything out, including tax measures,” Trudeau said.

What do you think Trudeau means when he threatens “tax measures”?

Trudeau means he may give in to New Democratic Leader Jagmeet

Singh’s demands and put “in place an excess profit tax” on grocery stores.

Going after greedy rich guys - to paraphrase Singh - may seem appealing, but what do the experts say?

“The last thing we want to do is put on a tax that people then just pass along to the consumers.”

No, that wasn’t freemarket economist Milton Friedman. That was Trudeau, last year, when CBC asked if he would consider the NDP’s grocery tax.

What changed?

The economic realities Trudeau first described haven’t changed. If the feds impose a new tax on companies that sell food, those new costs will be passed on to you at checkouts.

What changed is that Trudeau’s sliding in the polls and grasping at bad policies.

Meanwhile, an actual opportunity to make food more affordable is ready and waiting.

A day after Trudeau threatened a grocery tax,

the Parliamentary Budget Officer released a report about expanding the carbon tax exemption on farm fuels. That would save Canadians about $1 billion through 2030.

The federal government doesn’t currently collect carbon taxes on diesel or gasoline used on farms. However, the carbon tax costs farmers thousands of dollars for the propane and natural gas they use to dry their grain and heat their barns.

MPs from all parties already voted to fix this by expanding the carbon tax exemption for farm fuels. Twice. But senators keep holding up the legislation.

Trudeau could send a text message and pass this through the Senate tomorrow. Instead, the Senate keeps stalling this carbon tax relief that could have already saved taxpayers almost $100 million.

Canadians also pay more for food because the feds make the truckers who deliver our food pay more for diesel. In

fact, federal taxes alone cost truckers more than $260 every time they fuel up their big rigs.

And that big tax bill is getting bigger, courtesy of Trudeau’s carbon tax hikes.

Trudeau recently imposed a second carbon tax through fuel regulations and has committed to cranking up his original tax every year for the next seven years.

By 2030, Trudeau’s two carbon taxes will cost the average family more than $2,000 every year, even after rebates.

Instead of hammering Canadians with a grocery tax, Trudeau should make food more affordable by scraping his carbon taxes.

And if Trudeau real-

ly wants to stick it to greedy corporations, he could stop giving them big buckets of taxpayer cash.

That means no more giving Loblaws $12 million to buy fridges. Or giving multinational automakers Volkswagen and Stellantis about $20 billion. Or announcing $420 million for Algoma Steel, $700 million for Transat, $295 million for the Ford Motor Com-

pany, $110 million for Toyota, $41 million for Honda and $372 million for Bombardier.

The last thing Canadians need is another tax.

It won’t make groceries more affordable. Another tax will make groceries more expensive.

Trudeau needs to stop making threats about grocery taxes and make life more affordable by dialling back his own taxes.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME

They MUST be signed, approximately 300 words in length and are subject to editing. Thank Yous will not be permitted in letters

Sask. Party may be veering off its course

rative that this province has thrived because its government has emphasized growth and freeenterprise opportunity.

This notion has carried the Sask. Party through nearly four full terms, including the last one in which it had to win an election in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic and govern during this tumultuous process.

in March 2021 budget. By the time 2022-23 budget rolled around, Saskatchewan’s budget situation improved to a $1.58-billion surplus. It would have been even more had the government not handed out $500 cheques.

This year in 2023-24 we can now expect a $484.5-million surplus.

case for why it should be the right-of-centre alternative to the NDP.

The problem, however, is Sask. Party is now seems to be having a very difficult time staying on the course.

its reaction to the federal government removing the goods and services tax (GST) on rental apartment construction to stimulate building.

using names or pronouns they weren’t born with.

The problem with political parties after they have been in office for a while is they sometimes forget how they got where they are.

And for the Saskatchewan Party, that is simply the notion of presenting pragmatic right-centre government.

Notwithstanding its struggles presenting accurate budgets, the Sask. Party surely can present a plausible nar-

As rocky as it’s been the past four years, the Sask. Party should stick to this narrative.

In its 2021-22 budget after the Sask. Party’s 2020 re-election, Finance Minister Donna Harpauer gave us a whopping $1.47-billion deficit - $341 million greater than $1.129-billion deficit in the 202021 budget.

However, that 202122 deficit turned out to be a billion less than has initially presented

We see surplus budgets, a strong economy is strong and we continue to grow.

Last week, it was announced Saskatchewan grew by 8,567 in the second quarter of 2023, and by 30,685 in the past year.

Growth has slowed down a bit, but we will still see more than 200,000 people added to the province in 16 years.

That remains Saskatchewan’s greatest growth spurt in 100 years.

It all fits the Sask. Party

Maybe one gets why it embarked on its economic sovereignty tour last year that produced the new marshal service and provincial income tax legislation in the last sitting.

There is an insatiable appetite in this province to take on the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration that has likely been the furthest left federal government this province has seen.

But what’s strange is how this exceedingly disciplined provincial party is veering off that centre-right course in directions that are really to no one’s benefit.

One recent example is

It’s a policy that should be beneficial everywhere, including here. More to the point, the construction industry and the opposition have been lobbying for years to remove the provincial sales tax (PST) from construction materials here for the same reason.

Yet the notion was met with a stubborn resistance to do so - largely because the NDP and now the federal Liberals are asking for it.

This isn’t the practicality the Sask. Party has been known for.

Instead, it’s a party that seems engrossed in the notion of “parental rights” in what seems a phoney fight over kids

How this is now the biggest issue in the province - or even an issue at all in the schools - is something the government has yet to explain.

It may sound popular to some, but a policy that might be hurting struggling kids is wrong and, ultimately, the kind of thing that loses you votes.

Instead of remaining on that centre-right course, the Sask. Party is being pushed to the right by social conservatives. Instead of adopting good ideas regardless of where they come from, the Sask. Party is ignoring good ideas like tax breaks that would stimulate the economy.

They may be forgetting what’s worked for them.

Propaganda

maniacal, murderers you fought against during the war. Someone on reading this, is bound to ask, “How come that old ‘Crank’ has such a poor opinion about the way things are run?”

Notable Notes

Bob Mason

Propaganda is a great but sometimes terrible tool. And in its different forms of salesmanship and advertising is responsible, I think, for a large part of the world economy.

Used to further the betterment of our world, the benefits of propaganda can be limitless. However, used to pit one faction against another it can be terrible!

Sometimes in retrospect, it is hard to imagine that the polite Oriental you met last year was the son of that leering, pointed-tooth, bloodybayoneted baby-killer whose image appeared in American magazines soon after Pearl Harbor! Or that your best friend from over west a bit is distantly related to the

I imagine that the reason one feels this way is because in the past he has been hoodwinked time after time by the stirring “facts” of propaganda!

Heck, I remember a high ranking Canadian officer who made a speech to our regiment one time.

“The only good German,” he yelled, “is a dead German!”

Some of us kind of smiled about that, though we made darn sure nobody saw us! Because by his name, it was obvious that his family had come out from somewhere in central Europe years ago!

Sometimes prisoners of war came in almost shaking with expectation because someone had told them that we would kill them right away! No wonder they didn’t give up easily!

Every now and then a fellow with a British accent came on the radio and explained to the poor

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Allied foot-sloggers what a pointless effort it was on our part to oppose the mighty enemy army in order to defend a system that allowed big important guys to take advantage of us. I think he was called “Lord Haw-Haw”!

[Editors Note: ‘Lord Haw-Haw, aka, William Joyce, broadcast Nazi propaganda to the United Kingdom from Germany in the Second World War. Joyce, American-born, raised in Ireland, was a Fascist, fled England at the start of the war. He was one of many voices, but is most associated with the ‘Lord Haw-Haw’ moniker.]

One can be quite sure that there was also someone who came on German radios - possibly with a German accent - explaining much the same thing to them!

Quite often we use the same tactic today, but now, instead of wars, we have politics!

Writing this, one realizes that this approach about getting along together is nothing new. In the last thousands of years, these philosophies have been presented over and over. Sometimes, for a while, they

often did have an influence on society - but we don’t keep them up!

A thousand years ago, one fellow wrote: The worldy right man sets his sight upon, Turns to ashes, or it prospers - and anon. Like snow upon the deserts dusty face, Lighting a little hour or two - is gone!

Sure, many amongst us have spent their whole lifetimes trying to teach us this “right” thing, often to be overwhelmed by another faction that tells us - or at least infers - that people are not created equal. That there are the rich and the poor, the “haves” and the “have nots”. The “haves,” struggling to keep on being “haves” and the “have nots” trying to climb up there with them!

Maybe what we call the problem of “having” or “not having” is where our evaluation of life, is a mistake ... I dunno! Folks are being told that they need more and more in order to win (and supposedly be happy!) until honestly, many come to believe it and can’t accept any other way!

All of us have known

millionaires who didn’t seem to enjoy life in the slightest!

It’s not a secret that propaganda has caused some of the worlds worst social upheavals. Not because of the general opinion - basically, we are all good guys!but because some of us have the resources that it takes to propagandize their offbeat opinions!

Even at the “right” or “wrong” bit, in itself, is sometimes the problem, for a propagandist is always right - and says so! Also, the public opinion claims to be right, and we often find ourselves wondering which one to believe!

Someone is bound to say, “That old guy is kind of crazy anyway!” and that is a criticism that we expect. But again, I must emphasize that these opinions are mine and only mine. Through most of life, I have been convinced that regardless of who is at the worldy helm, personal decisions are entirely the most democratic ones we’ll ever make!

Engineering the correct moves needed to satisfy the ever increasing world population is fat too much to ask of most

of us but in the little bit of that, we can control the personal decisionsoften the only ones that really count! I think that we of the so-called “enlightened” countries are kind of spoiled in a way, and have grown to expect too much from someone else.

“Nature abhors a vacuum,” and when we stop trying to make a life for ourselves, we are sure creating a vacuum! (I was going to say “man” but this is kind of discriminatory!)

“Homo Erectus” over the long, long time since he first appeared, has been conditioned by his problems to do something about them - and I’m afraid that very few of those people who sat by the rail taking what society handed out to them, have been marked by history as having achieved anything!

So we should take heart (as a bunch of little people) in realizing that the “might” we have contributed has done more for the furtherance of humanity then all the propaganda since history began!

3 items your family and friends won’t want to re-gift

Even when re-gifting is something many people do - whether they admit it or not - it can hurt to think your gift wasn’t wanted by the recipient and was instead passed along to someone else.

But you don’t have to worry with these three strategies for outstanding gift giving every time.

The perfectly practical With budgets tight and the cost of living high, there’s nothing like getting a break on practical purchases that take a regular chunk out of your wallet. Ask your

family and friends what they need this year and tell them you’re good for it. Think about their lifestyle and what makes a difference. If they have a draining commute to work or school, a gas card will be appreciated. If they work outdoors, give them a nice pair of warm socks. Treat coffee lovers to a break at their local café.

The enticing activity

Perfect for a minimalist who despises clutter or adventurer looking for something new, turning any gift into an activity or event is a great way

to treat the recipient to something fun and spend some quality time together - plus it can’t be re-gifted. There’s everything from tickets to a concert or sporting event to activities like rock climbing. Learning together in a cooking class can be fun too. You can also think further outside the box - and maybe closer in line with a budget - and create your own experience for them by offering to cook their favourite meal.

The kind causes

Donating to a wor-

thy cause on behalf of someone else is always a meaningful gift, and it won’t require the recipient to do anything or store anything at home. Many charitable organizations feature gift catalogues filled with various options that can give them the warm fuzzies of knowing their gift goes to help vulnerable children and families. Many of these gifts will be multiplied by governments and corporations totalling up to seven times the amount of your gift. No re-gifting in sight.

Ask The Money Lady

Christine

Ibbotson

Dear Money Lady Read-

ers:

Were you a helicopterparent when your children were small and now you’re a moneycopter parent with your adult children?

Helicopter-parents were mainly from my generation because we were overly focused about our children’s experiences and problems; wanting to dive in and rescue them from life’s hardships.

By definition, a helicopter-parent is one who was extremely attentive to their child’s experiences, problems and

particularly their education. These hovering parents were constantly ready to swoop in to rescue their children at the first sign of trouble.

It is said that the term helicopter-parent really only became apparent through social media in the early 2000’s when college and university staff started experiencing consistent and intrusive behaviours from the pushy, opinionated parents of new students.

Nowadays many have become money-copter parents too, believing their adult children will not make it without the monetary assistance from the parent. Add in the mental torment of a divorce when your child was young, and you now have a parent today feeling it’s warranted to keep supplementing their adult child due to their own personal regret.

Many 50-plus parents still have an open-door policy with their adult children, living at home with no costs, free rent,

Harvest nears completion

Many producers have wrapped up harvest with 91 per cent of the provincial crop in the bin, ahead of the five and 10-year averages of 73 per cent, according to the weekly crop report for September 19-25.

The southwest and west-central regions completed harvest this week, with 98 and 97 per cent of crops off, respectively. The northwest is 90 per cent complete, followed by the southeast at 89 per cent and northeast at 88 per cent.

The east-central region has made significant progress this past week, with 82 per cent of crops off.

Many crops are entirely harvested provincially with the remaining crops nearing completion. Oats are 93 per cent completed this week, followed by canary seed at 88 per cent. Later maturing crops, or fields seeded later, represent the remaining acres to be harvested, although great progress is being made. Canola is 80 per cent, flax is 63 per cent and soybeans are 64 per cent combined for the year.

A dry week across the province meant good harvest weather for producers. The most rainfall recorded was 15 millimetres in the Carnduff area. However, this also meant a decrease in topsoil moisture across the province. Twenty per cent of cropland has adequate moisture, 45 per

and the fridge full.

While helping our children is something we expect to do as parents, it is important to realize the long-term cost this can have on our own futures as well as the future of our adult children.

I want to share a personal story with you, one that I have just witnessed again with another family member repeating the same mistakes as my mom.

My mother always felt regret and a sense of need to financially support my sister. Maybe it was due to hardships after my father’s death or perhaps because my sister and I were adopted. The reality is, because of this consistent financial support, my sister never learned to save money or for that matter, how to earn it, and build an independent future.

Both my mother and my sister took the easy way out of their relationship through money. Did it benefit either one of them - no

My sister always felt it was never enough, and she only learned how to prosper financially when the money eventually ran out and she was forced to change at almost 50 years of age.

My mother lost most of her retirement savings and gained a daughter with resentment.

Now, of course, there is a lot more to this story, and it took 35 years to transpire, but the message is still there.

Let your adult kids figure it out for themselves. Let them make mistakes with money. Let them value their careers and want to aspire for more out of their lives for themselves and their own family. Stop try-

ing to make it easy and constantly offering a bailout. Did you get a bailout when you were a young adult - or did you learn your life lessons from hard work and inner drive?

A child in their late 20’s and 30’s that is being supplemented to maintain their lifestyle does not view this as an act of love - even when the parent thinks it is.

Be careful, your socalled monetary love will, after a while, be expected. All adult children want is true unconditional love, care, and emotional support from their parents. They want to be nurtured and cherished - and this can never be done with money. The helicopter-parents started out being their children’s cheerleadersthey didn’t throw money at them or pay off credit card bills and school

debts - they loved their kids, stuck up for them, and told them “they could do anything.”

And our kids can. They are the most educated generation of all time. They are amazing young adults. Let them figure out their money themselves. Stop bailing out your children and concentrate on your next adventure - retirement.

Let your kids make mistakes. They can figure out their own way without you.

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. Send your money questions (answered free) through her website at askthemoneylady.ca

Helping keep life more affordable through the Active Families Benefit

cent is short and 35 per cent is very short. Sixteen per cent of pastures have adequate moisture, 44 per cent are short and 40 per cent are very short.

With the limited moisture this year, many livestock producers are experiencing moderate water shortages for their animals. Some producers in the southwest and west-central regions are experiencing water supply shortages. There are also concerns about livestock water quality. Producers are welcome to bring livestock water samples to a regional office and work with a specialist to determine how to address water quality concerns.

Crop damage this past week is due to grasshoppers and dry conditions, with some reports of wind damaging standing crops. With many producers wrapping up harvest this week, they are now working their fields and applying postharvest herbicides. Livestock producers continue to haul water and feed for their animals while preparing for winter.

Producers are reminded to take safety precautions in all the work they do. The Farm Stress Line is available to provide support to producers toll free at 1-800-667-4442. The public is reminded to take extra caution, time and space when encountering machinery on the roads.

The Government of Saskatchewan is reminding families with children and youth participating in sports, culture, and recreation that they can access the Active Families Benefit, a tax credit that helps keep these activities more affordable.

“The Active Families Benefit helps ensure that children’s activities remain affordable and accessible for Saskatchewan families,” Premier Scott Moe said. “Our government is committed to ensuring youth can continue to be involved in sport, recreation and cultural activities, which helps build strong families and strong communities across our province.”

The benefit is available to families with an annual income up to $60,000. They can receive up to

$150 per year, for each child 18 years or younger, or $200 per year for children who are eligible for the federal Child Disability Tax Credit. Eligible families claim the benefit when they file their taxes.

“The Active Families Benefit ensures that the families who need it the most can access it,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross said. “Parents who enrol their children in sport, culture and recreation activities in 2023 are reminded to keep their receipts, so they may claim the benefit when they file their 2024 taxes next spring.”

Many communities offer affordable and accessible activities for children and youth through local recreation facilities and community organizations.

Saskatchewan keeps growing at fastest pace in more than a century

Saskatchewan continues to enjoy strong population growth, according to the latest quarterly population estimates released September 27 by Statistics Canada.

The number of people living in Saskatchewan grew by 8,567 in the second quarter of 2023, and by 30,685 over the past year. The annual growth is the largest increase in a single year in more than a century.

Saskatchewan’s population has now grown by more than 200,000 people since the current government took office in 2007.

The growth in the sec-

ond quarter of 2023 was due to net international migration of 9,594 people and natural growth (births minus deaths) of 890 people, offset by net interprovincial out-migration of 1,917 people.

During this quarter, Statistics Canada revised previously released population estimates dating back to 2001. As of July 1, 2023, Saskatchewan’s population was 1,209,107.

“We’re always grateful for the provincial government’s support, which helps open doors to a variety of leisure, sport and recreational opportunities that foster healthy families and neighbourhoods,” Saskatoon City Council lead on Recreation, Culture and Leisure Councillor Troy Davies said. “This is especially important with Saskatoon entering a new stage of growth. City Council’s planning must consider how to best respond to future program and infrastructure needs, not just for today’s residents, but for the generations to come.”

The following are eligible for the Active Family Benefit:

• Sporting activities that provide exposure, training, or participation in any field of sport in an

organized and competitive environment that requires strategy, physical training and mental preparation.

• Recreational activities that provide exposure, training, or participation in any field of recreation designed to refresh, provide satisfaction, entertain, and provide physical or mental benefits.

• Cultural activities that provide exposure, training, or participation in the field of arts, heritage, or multiculturalism.

For more information on the Active Families Benefit visit the frequently asked questions at: saskatchewan.ca/ residents/parks-cultureheritage-and-sport/ sport-and-recreation/ programs-and-supports/active-familiesbenefit.

Biggar Guardian Steps Up for Mental Health ... Biggar Guardian and friends teamed up for the Step Up for Mental Health Run in Saskatoon, September 23. The group participated in both the 5 and the 10 kilometre run/walks. The Biggar business set their cash registers to round up to the nearest dollar for the month of September, raising $391.15, matched by Cameco. The money raised will go directly to helping fund mental health initiatives right here in Saskatchewan. Great Job, Biggar Guardian! (Submitted Photo)

3 career options for people who love working with kids

For many of us, working with children is a passionate calling that comes with the satisfaction of knowing you are shaping young lives. If you’re one of those people who love to work with children, here are three careers for you to consider.

Teacher when we think back upon our days as students, many of us have fond memories of a few key teachers who really made an impact on our lives. Whether it’s helping school-age children learn to read or guiding teens through their postsecondary options,

teachers have endless opportunities to leave an impression. You can take a specialized approach focused on your passions. If you’re a singer or musician, you can become a music or band teacher.

Aspiring author? Become an English teacher. Sports nut? Then get that whistle around your neck and lead gym class. It’s also a family-friendly occupation as you get the same vacation days as the kids, including having the summer off to bond with your own children.

Speech therapist

A speech therapist or, as those in the industry refer to themselves - a speech language pathologist (SLP)

- is someone who identifies, diagnoses and treats communication issues. The impacts an SLP can have on their patients are truly life changing. Many therapists specialize in working with kids. Their patients may be slow to develop their language skills, have a stutter, suffer from hearing loss or even have difficulty swallowing. The role includes using a mix of high-tech medical equipment and hands-on treatment. SLPs work in partnership with educators, doctors, nurses and other therapists to help their patients.

Early childhood educator

An early childhood educator (ECE) specializes in teaching the youngest of children, from infancy to six years old during the

most critical phase of brain development.

An ECE’s role is to provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for children to grow and develop foundational skills such as walking, talking and emotional self-regulation. They also help with academic growth, setting children up for success in education later on.

by Trudy and Dale Buxton

I am going to take you on an adventure that we took last summer with some good friends as we headed for the Town of Ogema.

This particular day was spectacular for weather as we headed south from Rosetown to Lucky Lake and crossed Lake Diefenbaker at Riverhurst.

The Riverhurst Ferry is always an enjoyable calm ride across the river and the views are very nice. The ferry is run by the Saskatchewan Highways Department and runs 24-hours a day for a distance of 1.5 kilometres across. It only operates during the ice-free months.

In the winter Saskatchewan Highways Department maintains an ice

road across the river.

The Riverhurst Ferry is the largest in Saskatchewan, carrying upward of 30,000 vehicles a year.

Once we cross the lake we head south on Highway 42 to Central Butte.

The name Central Butte comes from being in the middle or centre of “The Buttes” which are large hills that surround the community.

Central Butte is the main community in the area and is also central to cities in the north and the south.

With a population of around 450 people, it is located in a great spot near lakes and recreational facilities.

From Central Butte we head south into Moose Jaw, catch Highway 39 continuing south to Corrinne, south on Highway 6 to Pangman, hang a right on Highway 13 to Ogema.

Located about 115 kilometres south of Regina, Ogema has a population of around 400 people.

Ogema is a fascinating

little town that was settled in 1908 by the first settlers, mainly from Ontario, but there was also a presence of some Europeans and people from the United States.

Ogema was established in 1911 with the first post office. The name “Omega” was chosen because it comes from the Greek word for “end”, or at the time, the end of the railroad.

When it came time to register the name “Omega”, the name was already taken so a couple of letters were switched around to spell Ogema, which means “Chief” in the Ojibwa language.

The “Southern Prairie Railroad” operates out of Ogema with old fashioned train rides to the nearby communities of Pangman and Horizon. We took a tour on the train to the community of Horizon. Run with a 1945 diesel locomotive, the passenger cars are from around 1925.

The trip itself there and back is about two hours and you see some different views of the country side that you normally wouldn’t see from the road.

Once in Horizon, a small hamlet of less that 20 people, we took a small walk to the old United Church and were treated to a fantastic feast and homemade pies that were catered by the locals.

The train was turned around and we headed back to Ogema.

We stayed at the Burns House Bed and Breakfast, a fantastic place

to rest with a fantastic breakfast the following morning.

This is one of our most memorable trips and one I recommend everyone! We travelled with some good friends and found our way home the next day.

Stay Tuned for more adventures of The Saskatchewan Traveller.

How to prepare yourself financially before the unexpected occurs

You may not want to think about it, but chances are that an accident or illness may require you to take a short- or long-term leave from work.

Statistics show that one out of every five Canadians will experience a disability in their lifetime. According to the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, one in three people will be disabled for 90 days or more at least once before they reach age 65.

In some cases, the financial responsibilities of being on leave go well beyond yourself and your family - for those who are self-employed, your business partners and employees also depend on your ability to work. There are a few proactive steps you can take to set yourself up to be more financially

secure in case an injury or illness keeps you from work.

Savings: If you can, it’s helpful to start setting aside at least six months of your salary to help cover important expenses during an extended period away from work. Consider sources of money that may be available, such as through a spouse, partner or family member.

Workplace Coverage: Check the coverage available with your workplace to see if you’re covered for short- or longterm disability benefits through the company’s group insurance policy. Review the accidents and illnesses you are covered for, and for how long.

Government Support: Find out if you qualify to receive the Government of Canada’s Employment Insurance, or if Canada

or Quebec Pension Plan disability benefits are available to you.

Disability Insurance: Consider where your unique needs for financial protection aren’t fully met, and then decide if you need more protection, such as an individual disability insurance policy (or topping yours up).

If the unexpected happens, many insurance companies provide extensive support to help you throughout your journey, including expediting access to rehab and mental health specialists, drug compatibility testing and assessing your work site to ensure a safe and comfortable return. Some even support your job search and reskilling if you can’t return to the same role.

Celebrate Saskatchewan Agriculture in October

The Government of Saskatchewan has once again proclaimed October as Agriculture Month in Saskatchewan.

Agriculture Month is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of the agriculture industry and the dedicated farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses who produce the high quality, sustainable food in our province.

“The agriculture industry is a cornerstone of our province,” Agriculture Minister David Marit said. “You can’t celebrate this amazing industry without acknowledging the people who make the industry great. Through a combination of experience and cutting-edge technology, Saskatchewan producers and agri-businesses are

building and protecting the agriculture sector in the province for generations to come, which is certainly worth celebrating.”

Agriculture Month is an opportunity to increase consumer understanding of and trust in modern food production. We encourage the public to explore their connection to food and share their story through the theme, “#CelebrateAg”. Members of the agriculture industry are also encouraged to get involved by sharing their own stories, hosting open houses or engaging the public in discussions about agriculture and agri-food production.

Throughout the month of October, Farm and Food Care Saskatch-

You’re in good hands.

Every day, champions across the country stand up for their communities, raise their hands to ask the tough questions and uncover the truth.

This National Newspaper Week, celebrate the power of words and local homegrown news.

Purchase the Champions book at championsofthetruth.ca

ewan, in collaboration with industry partners, will share food stories, hold an online photo contest and use social media to encourage the public to learn about modern agriculture.

“As we celebrate Ag Month this October, we want to recognize how far we have come in food production and farming practices,” Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan Executive Director Clinton Monchuk said. “Saskatchewan agriculture has been made great by the people who work in this industry and the benefits are global.”

For a full list of Agriculture Month events or to learn how you can take part, visit farmfoodcaresk.org. Follow Farm and Food Care

Saskatchewan on Twitter @FarmFoodCareSK, or on Facebook at Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan and share your stories on social media using #CelebrateAg.

So close to a win ... Biggar Junior Blazers hit the Recreation Complex hosting the Kindersley Lions, Tuesday. The Green and Gold had a great game, but were eked out of the win by the Lions who went home with a 30-24 win. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Penton On Sports

Bruce Penton

What’s so special about Vegas Golden Knights’ goalie Adin Hill?

In addition to him being a key member of the National Hockey League team that won the Stanley Cup last year, Hill has the status of being the only Canadian-born player to statistically finish among the top 15 goaltenders in the league last season.

Where have all the Canadian goalies gone?

A hockey fan has to be old to remember the NHL’s Original Six, but I definitely fit that category and it doesn’t take much brainpower to recollect who tended goal for the six teams. And they were all Canadians, too.

There was Quebecborn Jacques Plante in Montreal, the innovator of the face mask. Aging Johnny Bower of Prince Albert played goal for the Leafs before returning to the nursing home after every game. Glenn Hall from Humboldt, Sask., was the Chicago goalie, and he was famous for throwing up before every game. Eddie Johnston, born in Montreal, was the Bruins’ goalie in the Original Six era. Terry Sawchuk from Winnipeg played almost every game for Detroit Red Wings and Gump Worsley, born in Mon-

4

In today’s NHL, Canadian goalies a rarity

treal, kept pucks out of New York Rangers’ net.

Of course, the game has changed. American players in the NHL back then were rarities. The league was a closed shop to Europeans. Russians? No way, Sergei.

Last year, the goalsagainst average leader was Linus Ullmark of Boston, a Swede. Runner-up was Filip Gustavsson of Minnesota, another Swede. Third was Antti Ranti of Carolina, born and raised in Finland. American Jeremy Swayman and a couple of Russian Ilyas, Samsonov of Toronto and Sorokin of the Islanders, followed. Scroll on down and ... finally, a Canadian netminder, Hill, at 15th. Two others Canadians, Logan Thompson of Vegas and Stuart Skinner of the Oilers, made the top 20.

Scanning all 32 teams’ rosters showed only 34.8 per cent of goaltenders were Canadian-born.

Four teams - Chicago, Nashville, Calgary and Florida - had not a single Canadian goalie on their rosters. At the other end of the table was St. Louis, which listed five Canadians among its six goaltenders, and Dallas, which had three of four.

There have been numerous Canadian goaltenders with Hall of Fame credentials in the past couple of yearsCarey Price, Marc-Andre Fleury and Roberto Luongo come to mindbut it doesn’t take much studying of the NHL stats’ page to realize that non-Canadians are taking over in goal.

Maybe it’s akin to the old baseball saying - singles’ hitters drive Chevrolets; home run hitters

drive Cadillacs. In hockey, a similar adage might be that the McDavids, MacKinnons, Crosbys and Bedards drive Lamborghinis while the goaltenders get stuck with Volkswagens.

• ESPN broadcaster Robert Griffin III, whose parents were army sergeants: “He’s got more moves than a military family.”

• Steve Simmons of Sun Media: “What I almost have in common in Yusei Kikuchi: He gets 13 hours of sleep a night. I get 13 hours of sleep a week.”

• Canucks coach Rick Tocchet following a 10-0 pre-season loss to Calgary Flames, on the same day Denver Broncos lost 70-20 to Miami Dolphins: “I feel like (Denver coach) Sean Payton.”

• Headline on yahoo. com, in the midst of the Taylor Swift-Travis Kielce relationship noise: “Taylor Swift visits friend at work.”

• How does a team score 70 points in an NFL game, asked yahoo. com: “Miami had the good fortune to draw the seafood-restaurant Dumpster fire that is the Denver Broncos.”

• Bill Belichick on Travis Kelce/Taylor Swift (via @TheGregHillShow):

“I would say that Travis Kelce has had a lot of big catches in his career. This would be the biggest.”

• David Vincent, on X (formerly Twitter), on the Kelce-Swift relationship: “Things are going so well between the two that she hasn’t even started writing their break-up song yet.”

• Eamon Lynch of gulfweek.usatoday.com, on

the Euros’ dominance through the first two days of the Ryder Cup: “This is the most lopsided contest in Rome since the Christians were drawn at home to the lions at the Coliseum.”

• Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: “Miami beat Denver 70-20. Tua Tagovailoa had six threepoint shots, seven rebounds and 10 assists.”

• Comedy writer Brad Dickson of Omaha: “Am I the only person in this

miserable nation who doesn’t care that Taylor Swift was at the Kansas City Chiefs game and that she has been romantically linked to Andy Reid?”

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “Did you see where Colin Kaepernick is lobbying to be signed by the New York Jets? Hasn’t he suffered enough?”

• Headline at fark.com: “Dusty Baker complained about how often

the Astros are getting hit by pitches while conveniently forgetting that his pitchers hit the other team more often.”

• Toronto’s Steve Simmons of Sun Media: “This would like look nice on paper next season and certainly sentimental: Joey Votto, designated hitter, Toronto Blue Jays. Mom in Etobicoke would like that.” Care to comment?

E-mail brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca

simple and affordable ways to stay healthy this fall

No one wants the discomfort - let alone the hassle - that comes with catching a cold or other illness.

But you don’t have to shell out for expensive remedies or shots of ginger or kale smoothies

every day to support your immune system or stay healthy. Here are a few affordable steps you can take to safeguard your health.

Have a laugh

Stress is a major contributor to why and

when we get sick. It taxes the immune system and makes it harder to fight off infections. Growing research points to laughter as a powerful medicine that helps reduce stress, lower blood pressure and

improve your mood. When we laugh, our body brings in extra oxygen, which lowers our heart rate and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system - the opposite of fight-or-flight mode. Basically, it’s like taking deep breaths to calm yourself down, but more enjoyable.

Drink up Staying hydrated is an important tool to keep your body working at its best, especially if you think you might be coming down with something. Water is recommended as best, but as the days cool off a soothing cup of mint, lemon, ginger or fennel tea, may give you a lowcost boost of vitamin C and antioxidants in addition to warmth and

a calming, comforting flavour. Stashing a box of tea bags at the office or in your kitchen cupboards means they’ll be within easy reach when you need them.

Get some shuteye

Sleep is like the ultimate no-cost wellness hack, allowing your body to reset and restore itself overnight. Experts generally recommend adults get six to nine hours of sleep a night, but exactly how much each person needs is different. Research also suggests that waking and going to sleep at roughly the same time every day will improve your quality of sleep.

Alternatively, a slightly cool room is thought to provide a less disturbed, more restful sleep - so

it’s smart to turn down the thermostat a little at night.

Get your shots

Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent the flu and the serious complications you can get from it. And, of course, costs associated with receiving the flu shot are covered by provincial health insurance plans in Canada. This year, you can get the flu shot at the same time as your dose of the latest approved COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, that’s what’s recommended by Health Canada. While it’s never too late to get them, the sooner the better so that your body can build up immunity before the season peaks.

Green and Gold Juniors still looking for a W ... Biggar Junior Blazers were on the road, visiting Kindersley to take on the Lions last week. The Blazers are showing huge improvement as the season rolls on, but fell 60-8. (Independent Photo by Trudy Buxton)

Sad day for Biggar curlers ... Structural damage to the Biggar Curling Rink has unfortunately brought to an end the 2023/24 curling season. Town of Biggar engineers are currently looking into and assessing the damage, helping the club determine what options they have - if any - to bring the historic building back to operation. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Business & Professional …

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Want

Weight Management

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Toning Table Exercise Machines

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Dr. Kirk Ewen Dr. Michelle Skoretz Doctors of Optometry

ARIES – Mar 21/ Apr 20

Aries, a project you thought would be done quickly is taking more time than expected to be completed. Don’t fret over it too much, as things will work out in the end.

TAURUS – Apr 21/ May 21

There are just a few obstacles that you need to get past before it is smooth sailing for a bit, Taurus. Use these roadblocks as learning opportunities as you go along.

GEMINI – May 22/ Jun 21

Gemini, when someone approaches you saying they have a good deal for you, there are certain questions you should ask before moving ahead. It’s important to get all the facts.

CANCER – Jun 22/ Jul 22

LEO – Jul 23/Aug

23

Leo, if someone already has made up their mind about something, it’s unlikely that you will be able to change their way of thinking in one day. Keep at it if it means that much to you.

VIRGO – Aug 24/ Sept 22

Virgo, if you really ponder how you have been interacting with others, have you been completely honest? You might think you’re getting away with something, but others see the truth.

LIBRA – Sept 23/ Oct 23

Libra, money is a major driving force behind a lot of decisions, but it shouldn’t be the only one. You may be taking on too much if you are working yourself to the point of exhaustion.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/

Nov 22

- 1st Avenue West Rosetown, Sask.

Monday to Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Phone:306.882.2123

Patients Welcome! Dr. Krista Maedel & Associates

Others might start asking questions about your whereabouts if you take too many days off from your job, Cancer. While you don’t necessarily have to explain yourself, it’s helpful if you do.

SAGITTARIUS –Nov 23/Dec 21

Sagittarius, you might be the topic of conversation this week, as others are all figuring out what they can do to be in your good graces. Try not to play favorites in this instance.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

No one knows which side of you they will get during an interaction, Capricorn. That can make business or family interactions challenging. Try to be more open.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

Aquarius, you have been managing a lot of extra tasks and could be feeling the added stress from the work. Tune out for a few days to rest yourself and restore your mind to calm.

PISCES – Feb 19/ Mar 20

Troy May, owner/operator

Fax: 306-237-TROY email: tmay@hotmail.ca

Super B outfits hauling grain and fertilizer in Alberta and Saskatchewan

• Cattle Hauling with 21 ft. gooseneck trailer • Grain Hauling

• round and large square bale hauling with step-deck or highboy semi-trailers

• also buying and selling straw and forage

• also Machinery Hauling Dan • 306-948-7843 Biggar, Sask.

Scorpio, you continue to roll with the punches, despite things not going your way just yet. Don’t worry, your break is out there. The timing is just off for now.

Pisces, you want to be everyone’s friend and go along with any plan that comes your way, but you might have to be a little bit more firm in your choices moving forward.

a mammary gland

49. Technological advancement

50. Male parent

51. Dissociable

55. More cold

58. Cape Verde Islands capital

59. Blood disorder

60. Creative

64. Sun up in New York

65. Made angry

66. Relieves

67. Brooklyn hoopster

68. Seasonsings

69. Movable barriers

70. Attempt CLUES DOWN

1. Occur as a result of

2. Spiritual essences

3. Representative

4. Entering

5. Nobel Prize-winning physicist

6. Midway between northeast and east

7. Consumed

8. Tablelands

9. Kids’ craft accessory

10. Not known

11. Sound directed through two or more speakers

12. A major division of geological time

13. Wild ox

19. Shock treatment

21. Turner and Lasso are two

24. Genus of flowering plants

25. Relating to ductless glands

26. Stock certificate

27. Satisfies

31. Places to enjoy a rest

32. Edward __, author and writer

34. “__ but goodie”

35. One hundredth of a liter

36. Shabbiness

40. TV personality Roker

41. Triangular upper part of a building

45. Speed at which you move

47. Offend

48. A reference point to shoot at

52. Forays

53. Biblical city

54. Blatted

56. Northern sea duck

57. Shabby (slang)

59. Allege

60. Tax collector

61. Whereabouts unknown

62. Chinese philosophical principle

63. Indicates equal

OBITUARIES

RICHARD ELWYN (DICK) WHITFIELD

September 28, 2023

It is with heartfelt sadness that the family of Richard (Dick) Elwyn Whitfield of Calgary, Alberta, announce that he passed away peacefully at the Rockyview General Hospital, in Calgary, on September 28, 2023 at the age of 81 years.

Dick will be sadly missed by his children, his grandchildren, his brothers and sisters and his many nieces and nephews.

Dick was a long-haul trucker for most of his life and made many friends over the miles who will also miss him greatly.

As per Dick’s wishes, there will be no service.

Everyone Welcome!

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

by Marjorie Fortney, Seventh-day Adventist Church

Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

The harvest is over for another year, and much praise and gratitude is due to our God. The rain and the sunshine, though perhaps not as much or as little as we may have wanted, nevertheless, always brings a harvest. Wonderful tomatoes, beets, carrots, and many other vegetables we have enjoyed from our gardens, and of course the huge harvest of grain reminds us of the great blessings of living on the Prairies.

God be praised!

Psalm 150: 1,2,6 declares, “Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary: Praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts: Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. (KJV)

If we would but think of God as often as we have evidence of His care for us we should keep Him ever in our thoughts and should delight to talk of Him and to praise Him.

We talk of temporal things because we have interest in them. We talk of our friends because we

love them; our joys and our sorrows are bound up with them.

Yet we have infinitely greater reason to love God than to love our earthly friends; it should be the most natural thing in the world to make Him first in all our thoughts, to talk of His goodness and tell of His power. The rich gifts He has bestowed upon us were not intended to absorb our thoughts and love so much that we should have nothing to give to God; they are constantly to remind us of Him and to bind us in bonds of love and gratitude to our heavenly Benefactor. We dwell too near the lowlands of earth.

Let us raise our eyes to the open door of the sanctuary above, where the light of the glory of God shines in the face of Christ, who “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him” (Hebrews 7:25)

Psalm 107: “Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”

Praise the Lord! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

St.Pauls Anglican Redeemer Lutheran 205 4th Ave. E 319 7th Ave. E October 8 (Thanksgiving Worship) at REDEEMER LUTHERAN

Worship - 10:30 a.m.

October 22 at REDEEMER LUTHERAN

Rev. Daphne Bender Pastor’s cellular Phone: 1-306-621-9559 Office Phone: 306-948-3731 (Messages are forwarded to Pastor’s

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 CHURCH SERVICES

EVERY SUNDAY AT 11:00am

Minister Dale Worrall

EVERYONE WELCOME!!

INQUIRIES CALL CHURCH OFFICE 306-948-2280

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

SATURDAY SERVICES

BIBLE STUDY 10:00a.m.

CHURCH SERVICE 11:00a.m. 320 - 6th ave.east contact: 306-948-2481

3 abn

www.amazingfacts.org

NEW BEGINNINGS CHURCH

“The Lord’s mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness(Lamentations3:22-23)”

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

Biggar Walking: Exercise Group

Biggar Community Hall

Starting October 2nd, 2023 at either 9:30am, 11:00am or 1:00pm Monday, Wednesday and Fridays

Pick your time

Everyone Welcome - Men & Women Exercise Therapist in attendance monthly?

Contact Cheryl Amy at 306-948-5338 for more information

ASQUITH SENIOR CENTRE Main Street, Asquith, SK 2p.m. -

Memorial Donations can be made to the Biggar & District Health Centre Box 130 Biggar, SK S0K 0M0

How to master shopping early for the holidays

“The early bird gets the worm” is a well-known English proverb that historians trace all the way back to the 1600s. Though the words might first have been popularized hundreds of years ago, they remain as true today as they were then, particularly in regard to holiday shopping.

Savvy shoppers have long touted the importance of starting early when looking for holiday gifts for loved ones. Seasoned procrastinators may never embrace early shopping, but others who want to a less hectic holiday shopping season can consider these tips.

• Begin with a plan. Holiday shopping

excursions, whether they take place in town, at the mall or online, can take longer than expected when shoppers have no idea what they’re looking for. Prior to your first holiday shopping trip, jot down gift ideas for each person on your list. Then scour stores or web sites for those items. Starting early affords shoppers time to bargain hunt and ensures supply shortages or other issues won’t get in the way of a happy loved one come the holiday season.

• Recognize the notion of “early” has changed. Early holiday shopping used to be synonymous with the retail holiday Black Friday. However, many holiday shoppers now begin buying

gifts long before they’ve purchased a Thanksgiving turkey. In a 2022 consumer survey, it was found that 56 per cent of consumers started their holiday shopping in October. A host of variables may have influenced that shift, but supply chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic have lingered, which undoubtedly compelled consumers to get an especially early start on holiday shopping. Shoppers who want to ensure everything arrives on time for the holiday season must recognize that “early” shopping now involves beginning around Halloween, if not earlier.

• Take the (local) road

PASSPORT PHOTO’S

less travelled. Shopping local merchants in person is a strategy savvy shoppers have long since embraced, but it’s one that’s especially beneficial in an era marked by supply chain issues and inflation.

Local merchants don’t have the overhead or sizeable staffs of big box or chain stores, which enables them to keep costs low. And since local merchants produce many of their own products, it’s likely there’s something in store that shoppers will love and less likely that they will have issues filling orders. A late fall afternoon in a local shopping district can yield an array of treasures and help holiday shoppers find the right gift for many a person on their list.

• When in doubt, go gift card. If the right gift is proving elusive even when shopping early, shoppers should not hesitate to go the gift card route. Shoppers need not feel as though a gift card is a nonstarter, as a 2022 survey found that 54 per cent of survey respondents indicated gift cards were the most desirable gift of the holiday season.

Shopping early is a great way to enjoy a less hectic holiday season.

Available at The Independent 948-3344

No Reservation Needed

Fourteen-year-old Kera Savostianik has been recognized for the time she has spent sharing her music in her home community of Biggar. Kera has embraced opportunities to play for church, accompany for school, assist with a pre-school choral program, and play O Canada for school assemblies. For her hours of service, Kera has attained the Bronze level certificate. Musical collaboration by students within a community not only enhances the quality of life within a community, but also builds skill and confidence in the young musician. Congratulations, Kera!

Contact DALE BUXTON at The Independent 948-3344

No Reservation Needed

Come

supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities