Two Hills Regional Chronicle January 2021

Two Hills Regional

Ch ro ni cl e YOUR MONTHLY REGIONAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Proudly serving the Counties of Minburn, St. Paul, and Two Hills.

www.twohillschronicle.com

Two Hills FCSS 2020 Christmas Hampers a Success!

Volume 1 Issue No 2, January, 2021

Submitted by Dianne Saskiw

Pictured Above: Branch Manager Lil Fesciuc and Renne Yuskow present a cheque to Two Hills FCSS Board Chairman Dave Albrecht.

(Submitted by Shaylee Dubrule)

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his year has been ing to make Christmas a give our heartfelt filled with numer- little brighter for many thanks to them for helping many families get ous challenges for people of all ages!

Two Hills FCSS through some of the everyone. As a result of the pandemic, it was would like to take this most difficult times of not possible to do an ac- opportunity to thank their lives. Communitual physical food our community for their ties are in lock-down, drive/Christmas Gift ongoing support for this jobs are lost and we donation collection for program. The Christ- don’t know when we’ll the 2020 Christmas mas Hamper Program see normal again. But Food Hampers. Two does not fall under our we do know these Hills FCSS saw an in- government funded vouchers have helped crease in need so it was mandate which is pro- many in their time of decided to provide viding preventative need.

Please be assured, any Food Vouchers in place services. The Hamper of the Food Hampers to program truly could not Food Drive financial ensure the needs of the happen without your di- donations go directly to rect support and volun- food security helping community were met.

Assistance has been teerism over the years. those facing a struggle during difficult times. provided to families THANK YOU! Earlier in the pan- Any donations you can and individuals within the Town of Two Hills, demic, Two Hills FCSS spare are sincerely and the Village of Myrnam, partnered with another deeply appreciated. For information, and the County of Two agency in Two Hills further Hills. We were able to who graciously agreed please feel free to conlend a hand to 144 peo- to help facilitate the tact the Two Hills FCSS ple within our FCSS provision of Emergency office at (780) 657service area. Just help- Food Vouchers. We 3540.

Pictured Right, Left to Right- Heidi Buchanan, Shaylee Dubrule, Jodi Brown, Brooklyn Maciborski (Submitted by Shaylee Dubrule)

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RCMP Responds to COVID-19 Concerns

Story by Sonny Rajoo hile the County of Two Hills has managed, in a large part, to contain the Coronavirus pandemic, there are still pockets of resistance to municipal and provincial restrictions.

Two Hills RCMP were quick to respond to community concerns and received praise from the community leaders across the county, for their quick response and the very diplomatic manner in which they addressed the issues.

Even before the province issued its mask mandate and restrictions on gatherings, Mayor Leonard Ewanis- Pictured Above: Sgt. Robert han and the Two Hills Town Council Daisley pictured in front of the passed a by-law that required mask- Two Hills RCMP Detachment. wearing in all public places and busi- (Submitted by Sgt Robert Paisley) nesses.

In a statement to the Chronicle, to 1-833-415-9179 if you prefer to Two Hills RCMP Sgt. Robert Daisley phone. said, “Since the beginning of Decem“One recurring theme that we nober, the Two Hills RCMP has re- ticed early on was people calling to ceived eleven complaints about complain about the various Mennonpeople or institutions not being ite churches. The members attended “Covid-compliant”. Five of these the churches and in all but one of the complaints were deemed to be un- cases the people were found to be in founded while the other six were compliance. In the lone exception, dealt with by warning the people in- the people were receptive to the guidvolved. While Alberta Health Serv- ance provided and there hasn’t been ices are the primary enforcement a problem since. It is difficult to tell body for Covid-related enforcement, if these complaints were simply a rethe RCMP are mandated to respond sult of negative stereotypes about when there is an immediate need to Mennonites, but I have been pleased investigate or otherwise act. Non-ur- to see that most people, regardless of gent concerns can be directed to AHS their culture, have been trying to folvia the internet at https://ephisahs.al- low the rules.”. bertahealthservices.ca/create-case/ or

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5038 - 50 Avenue, Postal Drawer 969 Vegreville, Alberta, T9C 1S1

Fax: (780) 632-4553

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Alberta Party Interim Leader Comments on UCP Resignation Scandal

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JANUARY 2021

Submitted by the Office of Jacquie Fenske, Alberta Party Acting Leader

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olitically speaking, 2021 has started strong. For weeks, Albertans have given up seeing their friends, visiting their family members in long term care and shutting down their businesses. Albertans did their part. But as the calendar turned over we found out that some elected officials and their staff were not prepared to give up their traditions. Their airs of entitlement quite frankly stink.

On New Years Day, the premier stood in front of Albertans and said he was unaware that a minister and his chief of staff were out of the country. I find it almost impossible to believe that a premier would not know that his chief of staff was out of the country. And I find it astonishing that this chief of staff would manipulate the system of getting home from the UK when borders were shut down by flying through the United States, possibly bringing a new strain of COVID into Alberta. And Ministers must make cabinet aware of their travels, so that contact information is known in the case of an emergency and other ministers can cover their responsibilities.

The premier said he accepted the responsibility but that was all he said. No actions, no consequences for days. And then, instead of standing in front of the media and holding himself to account, he delivers his message of action through a Facebook post. Real leaders don't wait days and days to take action. Real leaders

don't hide behind a Facebook post. And real leaders don't send out their minions and employees to face the public when they mess up. Jason Kenney has not been seen in public for five days.

Albertans are angry that they are expected to restrict their contact, even face fines if they don't, but members of his caucus and his staff - the elite - can leave the country and see whomever they please. Leadership is demonstrated. The adage do as I say not as I do is unacceptable when it comes to leading Albertans.

Doing the right thing three days later and doing it under duress is not doing the right thing.

Picking fights with the doctors, reducing special needs funding, destroying our park system and selling our mountains to an Australian corporation, downloading costs to municipalities and not addressing abandoned well reclamation in a timely manner, to all of these things and more that are being done to our wonderful province and its people we can add the stench of entitlement.

Jacquie Fenske is the Acting leader of the Alberta Party, a former Alberta MLA and county councillor.

Pictured Above: Jacquie Fenske, the Acting Leader of the Alberta Party, former MLA and county councillor. (Photo submitted by the Office of Alberta Party Acting Leader Jacquie Fenske.)

Two Hills Regional Waste Management

TRANSFER SITES

• Derwent • Myrnam • Two Hills • Hairy Hill • Willingdon

WIshing you a Happy New Year and a Safe and Healthy 2021!

County of Two Hills Natural Gas Utility 5606 51 Street | Box 428 Two Hills AB T0B 4K0

Office: 780-657-2446 Fax: 780-657-2731

countygas@thcounty.ab.ca

Landfill Hours Tuesday to Friday 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.

Transfer Site Hours Saturday 9:00a.m. to 3:00p.m.

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Editorials

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

JANUARY 2021

Straight from the Heart

America, Please Don’t Bite the Hand that Fed You

Written by Sonny Rajoo

y family has been in Canada since the mid-70’s and has grown considerably over the last few decades. It is, therefore, our hope and prayer that this province which has been so kind to us should always be respected supported and appreciated. It is because of this background, that we are very disappointed to learn of President Joe Biden’s determination to tear up the Keystone XL Pipeline and not honour what we have hoped would be a mission accomplished.

I definitely see the need to pay more attention to climate change and its ramifications, and reducing our carbon footprint should be the goal of everyone. However, I have lived long enough in Alberta to know that we do have stringent regulations when dealing with pipelines and our government has tried at all times to enter into negotiations with affected parties.

I was hoping that the Biden team would at least have the common courtesy to sit down with our government, send in its delegates and hold talks, instead of arbitrarily pulling the rug from underneath our feet.

The energy sector has constantly been a source of income, not only for Alberta, and the rest of Canada, but has played a key role in assisting America with its raw materials over the centuries.

To say that the United States is our strongest trading partner is an understatement. The bulk of our trade is cleaner. America and Canada have so many commonalities. We share a common border, a common vision, and a commitment to human decency, values, human rights, and a fair conviction for all those involved. I have noticed some trepidation that while we welcome the return of human decency to the White House, recent events of congress is something that has not happened in our parliament in Ottawa or Alberta. Sure there have been protests, but they have been peaceful and they were organized, and as far as I can remember, no lives were lost in the process. This cannot be said of the events in the United States of America in this last month, the United States of America which is supposed to be the ambassador of democ-

racy and a lighthouse in dark times throughout the world.

I realize that cancelling the Keystone XL Pipeline is because of the Tr u m p / B i d e n agenda as part of his campaign promise. As much as Canada needs America as a trading partner, the United States has depended on us for its raw materials, its alliances (military and economic) and so much more, our strong cultural ties and the prospect of showing the world how to treat its citizens. I am gravely concerned that for the last few years our enemies have become the allies of the United States, while allies like Canada were treated with contempt and disrespect. This is truly unfashionable. President Biden, we realize that on principle you are resorting to cancelling the Keystone XL Pipeline but I firmly believe that during many times our morals and principles should be superseded by common sense.

We all ought to have alternatives to oil and gas, and resort to cleaner energy whether it is to run our vehicles, or our machinery, but the truly common sense approach to climate change and reducing the harmful effects of polluting the atmosphere, is to adopt a dual track approach where on a gradual sliding scale, attention will be paid more to green energy and a proportionately lessening of dependence on the oil sector.

President Biden, that which does not bend is bound to break, and just as you are proud to create well paid Canadian jobs, we as Albertans have the same determination to provide a decent living to our hard working people, who at all times have obeyed the law and did their utmost to protect our environment at the same time. Many of us Albertans who do see a lot of positive aspects of your foreign and domestic policy, also see that there is a decline of value, placed by you, on Alberta and Canada over the years. Please do not bite the hand that fed you.

Ch ronic le Two Hills Regional

From the Publisher’s Desk

Essential Workers: The Real Heroes

Written by Jared Rajoo

021, a fresh start .... at least that’s what we all had in mind. Little did we know the nightmare that started in 2019 would continue on to dominate our 2020 and cast a foreboding shadow over our 2021. While most New Years start with fireworks, optimism and a desire for self improvement, this year it seems, the prevailing hope is for health and safety. Years are rung in with new gym memberships and new plans to get and stay in shape or to read more or travel. However it seems fate has other plans.

I admit, it was naive of me to think the insanity of the last year would end at the turn of the year, but you can’t blame me for wishful thinking. As the second wave spreads across the globe the numbers comtinue to climb and the death toll keeps rising.

In the midst of the pandemonium and chaos COVID-19, one group has remained steadfast in their determination - our essential workers.

While some of us have had the ability to self-isolate and reduce going out to minimize the risk of contracting the virus, there are many across our community who despite sharing the same fear, had no other choice but to continue their efforts to keep our communities and businesses running. These individuals are the real heroes. Risking their lives each and every time they leave their homes. Knowing full well that at any of those times they may contract a virus which has infected millions of people across the world and claimed the lives of thousands.

From the medical personnel at hospitals, medical clinics and other health care facilities to those who stock the shelves at our local grocery store, these contributions are sometimes overlooked. I have read dozens of articles of doctors and medical personnel working around the clock to do their best to manage an increasingly demanding outbreak. Some who barely have had a chance to see and spend time with their families. There were numerous other employees whose workloads have doubled due to downsizing brought about by the pandemic. These people ring the statement through that not all heroes wear capes.

I would like to thank all of our essential workers within the community. Thanks to your tremendous efforts, our community continues to remain strong and healthy. Your community and its residents are able to rest in the assurance that they are in the very best of care at all time. It is your humanity that remains a beacon of hope in the darkest times. Your efforts and example inspire all of us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You truly are the real heroes.

P.O. Box 156, Two Hills, AB T0B 4K0 Jared - publisher@twohillschronicle.com Niri - news@twohillschronicle.com Sonny - (780) 657-3536

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Distribution The Two Hills Regional Chronicle is proud to serve the County of Two Hills and surrounding areas. We also distribute to local outlets at convenient locations as well as the Saddle Lake Cree Nation. (Approx. 2000 copies).

We can also be found online at www.twohillschronicle.com and on various social networking platforms.

www.twohillschronicle.com

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Jared Rajoo Publisher

Niri Rajoo- Jeevanath News

Sonny Rajoo Reporter

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A Tribute to Our Essential Workers Two Hills Regional Chronicle

JANUARY 2021

Story by Sonny Rajoo

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he challenge of Covid-19 has been felt by people across the world, and the tremors it leaves behind, will be felt long after we have come to grips with this dreadful virus and its complications.

However, mankind has the uncanny ability to come through, despite all the adversities, and ascribes to the theory that “if the mountain is too smooth, you won’t be able to climb it!”. It is against this background, that we, as a community, pause to pay tribute and our utmost respect to our essential services employees. Starting with the doctors, to nurses [both practical and registered], to home care aids and to maintenance staff of hospitals and lodges, we express to you our utmost gratitude and heartfelt thank you! To the staff of Alberta Health Services, I have first-hand knowledge and experience, of the contributions of the Home Care aides who, despite the ups and downs of the Covid-19 cases, have shown your unique personality, and by assisting us with the running of our day to day lives. We will forever remember, with a deep sense of appreciation, all that you have done for the well-being of our residents. From the grocery store clerks, to the bank tellers, to the Municipal Management and staff, we understand the challenges you face during these trying times. At every

opportunity, you have risen to the occasion. To our truck drivers, our Canada Post staff, our assistants that stock the grocery store shelves, our Public Works employees and all who are in involved in assuring our health and safety ,remember your hard work ,your dedication and your passion has not gone unnoticed. We, as seniors, take it for granted and are confident that our firefighters, our R.C.M.P. and ambulance staff will al-ways be there when we need them. To those involved in these depart-ments, we also know that you have risen to the challenge and have en-sured our safety. Thank you for your reassuring presence in this dire time of need. To most of you out there, you have taken your jobs and turned it into a career; you have taken your career and turned it into a passion; and you have taken your passion and turned it into a crusade, so that all those around you can draw comfort from having such capable people to take care of our health and welfare. In which ever field you are in, what-ever undertaking you have, what is important is that your daily devotion and dedication to your jobs, is what makes us, as a community, feel safe!

Thank you so much for helping make us better people.

May God bless you all!

Sonny Rajoo and family

Pictured Above: County of Two Hills Administrative Office.

(Photo by Colby Klassen)

Pictured Above: ATB Financial in Two Hills.

(Photo by Colby Klassen)

Pictured Above: Two Hills Post Office.

(Photo by Colby Klassen)

Pictured Above: Vision Credit Union Two Hils Branch.

(Photo by Colby Klassen)

Pictured Above: Two Hills RCMP Detachment.

(Photo by Colby Klassen)

Pictured Above: Town of Two Hills Administrative Office.

(Photo by Colby Klassen)

JANUARY 2021

A Tribute to Our Essential Workers Two Hills Regional Chronicle

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Pictured Above: Two Hills Ambulance Service.

(Photo by Colby Klassen)

Pictured Above: The Eagle Hill Lodge in Two Hills.

(Photo by Colby Klassen)

Pictured Above: The Two Hills Medical Clinic.

(Photo by Colby Klassen)

Pictured Above: The Two Hills Hospital.

(Photo by Colby Klassen)

Pictured Above: Wendy Calibiso a dedicated employee at Fas Gas. (Photo by Colby Klassen)

Pictured Above: Deanna Tupechka and Jignesh Patel on the frontlines at the Two Hills I.D.A. (Photo by Colby Klassen)

We thank you for all your hard work and extra effort during these trying times.

Thank you to all our Essential Workers.

Darrell Younghans, County Councillor, Division 1 - County of St Paul

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Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Message from Mayor Leonard Ewanishan

JANUARY 2021

Submitted by Mayor Leonard Ewanishan

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t would have probably been about the same time last December that I took pen to paper to write my Mayors column. No one could have envisioned the pandemic that was about to encompass the whole world. We had all just finished celebrating Christmas with family and friends.

The new year 2020 was on the horizon and again we were preparing to ring it in. Who would have guessed that in a different part of the world a virus was starting to infect people. It spread so quick that it became a global pandemic in no time.

Dealing with a global pandemic without any previous experience was definitely a challenge for every level of government and every citizen.

Every country, province, state or municipality tried to keep its citizens protected from this virus. This has led people to either agree or disagree with the laws passed. These laws were to protect people and to try stop the spread of the virus. Through all of this, unlimited resources were used to find a vaccine to combat this virus. To date, Health Canada has given the green light to two vaccines and they are being distributed. As fast as the vaccine can be produced and shipped, we all will be able to receive it.

As the vaccine is rolled out in Canada, we will be able to begin a

new, normal life. No one is sure what this new normal will look like but we will make the best of it no matter what it is. For as a Country, we have faced world wars, diseases and all types of disasters. We have managed to conquer all these and moved forward with a resilience that is truly Canadian.

As we move from 2020 to 2021, we do not know what awaits us. What we do know is that there is a light at the end of this long tunnel. It may be dim now but as we move further into 2021, it will get brighter.

To all of our businesses and residents who adjusted your lives and livelihood to follow all the Covid rules, I would like to say, “Thank you very much.” I know at times it was not easy but through all your efforts, we were making a safer community environment for everyone. Your resilience through these trying times helped our community grow and prosper. Council and administration will endeavor to continue to create an environment for both businesses and residents to prosper.

May 2021 bring you all good health, happiness and prosperity. On behalf of council, administration and our families, please stay safe and healthy.

Better times are ahead!!!

Pictured Above: Mayor Leonard Ewansihan at the Town of Two Hills Office. (Submitted by Ava Clark)

4712-50th St P.O. Box 687 Two Hills, AB T0B 4K0 780-657-3540 info@twohillsfcss.com

Two Hills Family and Community Services wishes you a very Happy New Year and a safe and healthy 2021. www.twohillsfcss.com

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Highlights from Two Hills Town Council Meeting, December 15, 2020

JANUARY 2021

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:

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as presented.

CARRIED

Public Works Report The Public Works Foreman’s Report was provided to Council in advance for their review.

2020-262 MOVED by Councillor M. Tarkowski that the Public Works report be acknowledged as presented and incorporated into the minutes.

CARRIED Chief Financial Officer Report The Chief Financial Officer’s report was provided to Council in advance for their review.

2020-263 MOVED by Councillor S. Rajoo that the Chief Financial Officer’s report be acknowledged as presented and incorporated into the minutes.

CARRIED

Reporter Questions Administration is seeking Councils direction and protocol on responses to the media.

COUNCILLOR REPORTS: 2020-267 MOVED by Councillor M. Tarkowski to accept and incorporate the Council Reports as presented into the minutes.

CARRIED

Chief Administrative Officer Report The Chief Administrative Officer’s report was provided to Council in advance for their review.

2020-264 MOVED by Councillor E. Sorochan that the Chief Administrative Officer’s report be acknowledged as presented and incorporated into the minutes.

CARRIED NEW BUSINESS: Council meeting schedule for 2021 A motion is required to change the date of the January meeting on the Council calendar.

2020-265 MOVED by Deputy Mayor W. Babiuk to change the calendar removing the January 12th & 26th meeting in January and replace it with one meeting on January 19, 2021.

CARRIED 2021 Interim Budget Preparation of Interim Operating Budget for the first 3 months of 2020 until the Final Budget is passed.

2020-266 MOVED by Councillor M. Tarkowski to pass the interim budget

Pictured Above: Two Hills Town Council all wearing their face masks to promote mask wearing.

(Submitted by Ava Clark)

Two Hills Town Councillor Willie Babiuk Sworn in as Deputy Mayor

Councillor WIllie Babiuk, who has served on Two Hills Town Council for over nine years, has been sworn in as Deputy Mayor by Mayor Leonard Ewanishan.

This will be the third term he is serving as Deputy Mayor.

Deputy Mayor Babiuk previously worked for the Alberta Government in various capacities for approximately 45 years and is well known for his community service.

Deputy Mayor Babiuk has also served as a volunteer for many community organizations and town appointed committees in the region.

(Pictured Above: Mayor Leonard Ewanishan [Left] swearing in Councillor Willie Babiuk [Right] as Deputy Mayor) (Submitted by Ava Clark)

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

The Alberta Party Comments on the Keystone XL Pipeline Cancellation Page 8

JANUARY 2021

(Source: Alberta Party)

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he Alberta Party echos province-wide frustration with the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline. While Premier Kenney and Prime Minister Trudeau should continue to advocate for the re-issue of permits for Keystone XL, focus on constructing the Trans Mountain pipeline and getting Canadian products to market must not be lost.

The United States is Canada's closest ally and trading partner, sharing the world's longest undefended border and the largest trading relationship in the world. It is because of this important relationship that the decision by President Biden to cancel permits allowing the construction of Keystone XL is so frustrating.

The President's Executive Order is not surprising, but it is disappointing. Well paying jobs on both sides of the border have disappeared. Alberta tax payers are set to lose a huge investment. And this is one less opportunity to get Alberta product to market so that we can build a resilient, future-focused economy.

Alberta is a world-leader in the safe and environmentally responsible extraction of crude oil and Albertans have worked hard to improve environmental protections across many industries. The Alberta energy industry has successfully lowered its greenhouse gas emissions per barrel to be comparable to most other large scale exporters. By limiting Canadian supply, the United States places itself in a troubling geopolitical situation and its energy supplies will be less secure, safe, and environmentally sound.

Acting Leader Jacquie Fenske: "Keystone XL was a safe and detailed project that was already providing jobs to both Canadian and American workers. There is no logical reason for its cancel-

lation. While I recognize the need to grow the Alberta economy and transition away from fossil fuel reliance, this politically-motivated decision does not limit the demand for oil now and in the future.

This is disappointing news that highlights the need to find other routes to market for Alberta energy. But most of us have seen President Biden's actions today coming for months. That's one reason why many conversations are happening across the province about how we can take serious steps towards expanding our economy.”

The Alberta Party is the party of the innovators, the entrepreneurs, and those who have worked so hard to create an environmentally responsible industry. Their success deserves to be rewarded, not punished.

Premier Kenney talked about the need to urge President Biden to re-issue a permit for Keystone XL. Talking to our neighbours about the need for this pipeline is worthwhile, and we are hopeful Canada and Alberta will build strong relationship with the Biden administration.

A single pipeline cannot be Alberta's main focus.

Premier Kenney and Prime Minister Trudeau must be focused on getting Trans Mountain complete

and on finding other Canadian routes to tidewater.

The Alberta Party proposed an Alberta to Alaska railway in 2019 for this exact reason.

Albertans are innovative, hard working, and don't give up.

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Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange on International Day of Education

JANUARY 2021

Page 9

Don Gulayec

Reeve, County of Two Hills

“

Jan. 24 is International Day of Education, a time to recognize the importance of education across the world.

“Education is a fundamental human right that benefits students, families and communities. Through education, we can inspire children and youth to reach new heights and provide them with opportunities to discover their unique skills and talents.

“Everyone deserves an education that prepares them for success, no matter where they live or what their personal circumstances might be. Ro-

bust learning opportunities help break the cycle of poverty and help build vibrant communities.

“With the unique challenges we face during the pandemic, I am so proud that students here in Alberta continue to receive a world-class, high-quality education that enriches their lives and prepares them for success beyond school.

“I would like to thank teachers, and everyone in the education system, for their hard work to make that possible.”

Wishing you a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2021.

Stay safe and healthy.

Happy New Year Elroy Yakemchuk

Councillor Division 5, County of Two Hills

Wishing you a Safe and Healthy New Year.

From Murray Phillips & Family Councillor, County of Two Hills Division 2.

Wishing you a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2021.

Stay safe and healthy.

An Update on COVID-19 Two Hills Regional Chronicle

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Story by Niri Rajoo-Jeevanath

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e all have been made aware (be it through personal experience or that of someone close to us or information provided through the media), the potential fatality caused by the Covid-19 virus and its mutations. We were guided by the World Health Organization and our own Alberta Health Services on how to avoid contracting the virus, its effects, consequences and the treatment thereof. Scientists and other sectors of the medical field have sacrificed time, finances, resources and, for some even their lives, trying to understand and acquire a deeper knowledge of this virus and its ripple effect of the way it spreads, in order to curb the infection and mortality rate on a global scale.

Amidst the frantic and nerve-wrecking fears, there seems to be several breakthroughs in finding a suitable vaccine to assist the human race in combatting and conquering this worldwide threat. But with that followed many theories; which vaccine proved to be most effective, the cost of developing and vaccinating on a global scale, the demand for receiving the necessary quantities of the vaccine needed as well as who should be receiving the vaccinations first. In all of these factors, there too, were various differing opinions and theories.

How then, do we continue or proceed to ensure that our family and loved ones receive the vaccine or should we vaccinate at all? We have so many questions, doubts, concerns and we need a professional medical authority to help ease or at least dissipate our anxiety and apprehension.

Here are some guidelines by the Alberta Health Services that should serve to inform us further:

JANUARY 2021

Q: Will I have to pay for the vaccine?

A: No, the COVID-19 vaccine is free and is being offered to key populations identified in the province's phased immunization program.

Q: When will more COVID-19 vaccine arrive?

A: It will take several months for our province to receive enough vaccine for everyone to be immunized.

That is why Alberta Health and AHS are being very thoughtful and strategic around who will be eligible to receive vaccine as it becomes available in our province. COVID-19 vaccination planning continues to develop rapidly; we will keep our staff, stakeholders and the public up-todate as more information becomes available.

Q: Why is Alberta distributing COVID-19 vaccine in a different way compared to other provinces?

A: Decisions around immunization sequencing are being made very thoughtfully and carefully. There are many factors to consider, including vaccine supply and specifically in our province at the current time, the need to support acute care capacity. We need to protect populations at highest risk of severe outcomes.

Q: What is the rollout plan for the vaccine?

Q: How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?

A: Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. These vaccines contain the genetic instructions for making a protein that is found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19. It uses our cells to make this protein and triggers our immune system to make antibodies against it. Then, if the real virus enters our body in the future, these antibodies will help fight the infection.

A: Alberta Health, with input from Alberta Health Services, has identified the key populations to be included in the province's phased immunization program.

Exact amounts and timelines are subject to change. The approach will be amended as needed depending on vaccine supply.

(Source: Alberta Health Services)

Q: Can the COVID-19 vaccine give me a coronavirus infection?

A: None of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines in use in Canada contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. The vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.

Q: Why is immunization important?

A: Although some individuals are at greater risk for severe complications, without immunization, we have seen that even healthy Albertans are at risk of severe illness and even death from this virus. Vaccines make your immune system stronger. They build antibodies to help prevent diseases. Immunization is safe. It is much safer to get immunized than to get COVID-19 disease. With the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine in Alberta, we have the opportunity to slow the spread of the virus, and ensure our most vulnerable and at-risk populations are protected from COVID-19. The vaccine will also help reduce the strain on our healthcare system and allow elective surgeries, and other postponed services to continue. We all must do our part to protect one another.

Immunization is the single most effective means of protecting yourself, your loved ones and the greater community from COVID-19.

Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year.

Stay safe and healthy!

Wishing you a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2021.

Stay safe and healthy.

Barry Morishita Mayor of Brooks President of AUMA

Elaine Sorochan

Councillor, Town of Two Hills

A Brief History of the Village of Willingdon

JANUARY 2021

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Story by Niri Rajoo-Jeevanath

W

ith the arrival of the Canadian project. Today the Recreation Centre Pacific Railway through the plays host to everything from annual hamlet of Whitford came the birth of curling bonspiels in the indoor rink to Willingdon. Springing up "virtually dances and weddings in the banquet overnight", Willingdon became a hall! There is also year-round recremajor nucleus of activity. A great ational activities available in Willingnumber of businesses, as well six don. For baseball buffs, there is ball grain elevators and a brand new Post diamond access for tournaments or Office became core operations. In just for a casual game. There is also June 1928, the Village of Willingdon a new fish pond being created on the became incorporated north side of the village, for young Willingdon’s economy revolved and old alike to enjoy! mostly around agriculture, with a The Willingdon Agricultural Recregreat number of farms creating Will- ational Arena, built in 1972, becomes ingdon’s greater area. Willingdon a main attraction in winter, with also has a diverse business arena, al- hockey and ice skating being popular lowing basic needs to be served. Two activities. In the summer, the arena grain elevators exist, as well as two houses the 4-H Achievement Day, plants: the Poultry Processing Plant, where community youth can show and the new Willingdon Seed Clean- off their projects for the year. ing Plant, an all steel structure built If you are more of an indoor person, in 1988. there’s a bowling alley, pool tables, The quality of life in this small vil- shuffleboard, and exercise equipment lage is high, with the provision of available at the Senior Citizens Cenclean, safe surroundings. It is also a tre. central point providing quick, easy See page 12 for more information access to many nearby towns, as well on the Village of Willingdon. as its close proximity to Edmonton.

Send us your stories or let The Willingdon and District Recreus know how we can imation Centre officially opened its prove.

Conact us by email at doors on November 16, 1967. The building came about as a joint effort news@twohillschronicle.co involving the entire community’s in- m or call Sonny at 780-6573536. volvement and commitment to the

Pictured Above: Old Willingdon School.

(Photo by Ron Rudkowsky)

Pictured Above: Old Willingdon School.

(Photo by Ron Rudkowsky)

Pictured Above: Willingdon Hotel,

Pictured Above: Willingdon Lawyers Offices, 1941

Pictured Above: Old Willingdon School.

(Photo by Ron Rudkowsky)

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Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Willingdon: A Community Committed to Survival in Tough Economic Times

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JANUARY 2021

Story by Sonny Rajoo

The former Village of Willingdon, which is now part of the County of Two Hills, is a community that is determined to survive and play a pivotal role in th region.

As showcased in these pictures that some businesses have reinvented themselves to sustain and make themselves financially viable.

Pictured Above: Bid’s General Supplies. (Photo by Bill Albers)

Pictured Above: Willingdon Liquor Store. (Photo by Bill Albers)

Pictured Above: Willingdon Grocery. (Photo by Bill Albers)

Pictured Above: Willingdon Grocery. (Photo by Bill Albers)

Pictured Above: ET Crafts. (Photo by Bill Albers) Pictured Left: Natures Premium. (Photo by Bill Albers)

j|á{|Çz çÉâ tÄÄ t [tÑÑç axã lxtÜA fàtç átyx tÇw {xtÄà{çA Pictured Above: Willingdon Hotel Grocery.

(Photo by Bill Albers)

Soren Odergard Councillor, Division County of Two Hills

JANUARY 2021

By Niri Rajoo-Jeevanath

Who’s Your Mentor

Chronicle: Tell us a little about yourself?

Principal Kupchenko: My name is Collin Kupchenko. I have been the Principal of Two Hills School since September of 2018 and have taught at the school since September of 2006. I have been connected to our fine community since I was born, as I grew up on a farm in Two Hills County where my brother now resides and farms with his family and my parents. Growing up in the area has afforded me many opportunities. On the farm, I learned many valuable skills, the value of hard work and earning your way, setting goals and working closely together to achieve those goals. I have also been fortunate to grow up in a community that has a strong core set of values and respect for one another. In this community, I was given the opportunity to foster many of my interests such as sports, and outdoor activities such as camping, fishing and hiking. We live in such a beautiful part of the province; it is certainly nice to take advantage of that. I am so happy now to be living, working and raising a family in the area with my wife, Tana, and two daughters, Avery and Addyson. I love being able to pass along those same experiences and values to them that I grew up with. It makes it even better knowing that I have the help and guidance of the same community of people that have had a positive impact on my life.

Chronicle: Who is your mentor?

Principal Kupchenko: I have been very fortunate to have many people influence my life and provide mentorship in all aspects of my life. It is very difficult to pick just one. I have mentioned above that there are many wonderful people involved in this community and that I have met throughout my life that have mentored me in some way. I have also been fortunate to have some very good mentors in my professional career both as an accountant and an educator. I want to identify my parents, Jim and Lorie Kupchenko, as mentors who have had a profound impact on me and continue to do so until this day.

Chronicle: Why did you feel that you needed a mentor?

Principal Kupchenko: Everyone needs a mentor,

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

maybe even multiple mentors! We are, after all, social beings and on our own we only have one perspective. We are always going to make mistakes and that’s okay. Without mentorship, I would challenge that we may make more mistakes and, further than that, we may make the same mistake more than once, as we try different solutions without consultation. Mentorship gives us perspectives that would be difficult to achieve on our own, as we cannot possibly experience everything. Mentorship gives us these perspectives and speeds up this process as long as we have an open mind and open ears!

Chronicle: What were the characteristics that you wanted to find in a mentor?

Principal Kupchenko: Strong values, beliefs and ethics is a good place to start. This lays a strong foundation that can be built upon with encouragement, support and assurance and finished off with a strong dose of leading by example. When I think of the mentors in my life, they characterized things that I appreciated and kept me learning from them by both watching for their example and seeking their advice.

Chronicle: What made your mentor stand out above the rest of the people you interacted with?

Principal Kupchenko: The characteristics above are important and other skills can be learned if you work at them, but the best mentors are set apart by the strength of their relationship with you. With a great mentor, you develop a relationship that is strong enough to be genuine and supportive and even still stronger to be real and let you know when you are off track.

Chronicle: As a fairly young man in a demanding career, what advice would you give the youth regarding mentorship and the character traits to look for?

Principal Kupchenko: Mentorship can take many shapes and forms as our lives are more than just in the workplace. All aspects of our life are interrelated and mentorship in one area can positively affect all areas. That being said, I believe that what you are looking for in a mentor is someone you can connect with, believes in you no matter what and gets to know you for more than your name and where you’re from. The relationship built is key as everyone has mentorship to offer, but that cannot be unlocked without first having a strong relationship.

Chronicle: The youth across the world have had some form of disappointment or disillusionment at some stage of their lives. What advice would you give to men and/or women who are in the mentorship-role for these youngsters?

Pictured Above: Jim and Lorie Kupchenko, parents and mentors of Principal Collin Kupchenko.

(Submitted by Collin Kuchenko)

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Principal Kupchenko: There are times when we all feel like we do not have mentorship to offer, but the truth is, we all do! Most times all it takes is the willingness to listen, be present and let yourself be vulnerable. If you add a positive attitude to the mix, you have a pretty good recipe for success. Of course, everyone has their own ingredients to add as there is no one-size-fits-all mentorship model.

The good news is that is why there is a mentor for everyone.

Chronicle: Being in a field of work where you

Pictured Above: Principal Collin Kupchenko with his wife Tana, and two daughters, Avery and Addyson.

(Submitted by Collin Kuchenko)

are constantly engaged with the younger generation, would you regard yourself as a mentor or potential mentor?

Principal Kupchenko: I think that anyone involved in the field of education is in a position to be a mentor for many of the reasons that I have outlined in earlier questions. We all work quite closely with the youth in our care. Our specific situation, with Two Hills School being a K-12 school, lets us develop those relationships with our students over many years. This lends itself even further toward mentorship of students. I am privileged to work with an amazing staff of mentors who exhibit these characteristics to both the students in their care and their colleagues. This allows a collaborative approach to mentorship, which provides insight and new perspectives to us all along the way.

Chronicle: As a principal of a community school, facing these tumultuous times, how would you ensure the best outcomes for the learners and youth in your community?

Principal Kupchenko: Our school and school division have done an amazing job during these tough times. I am proud to say that following the protocols outlined by Alberta Health Services and Dr. Hinshaw have allowed us to educate our students in as close to normal conditions as possible.

I think that just getting back into this “normal” routine in a stable environment has been good for students. Students have learned a lot over the past ten months about how to handle adversity, even when it comes to education, and have passed with flying colours.

Chronicle: Do you have any “wise words” for the readers?

Principal Kupchenko: Mostly, I just want to thank our families and community members. The last ten months have brought all kinds of challenges to all of our lives, yet I continue to witness acts of caring and respect throughout the community in response to those challenges. This is also evident within the walls of the school. I am blessed to live and work in a community that exhibits those traits.

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Farmer Pesticide Certificate Program 2021 update

Team Alberta welcomes Minister Dreeshen’s announcement on reduced crop insurance premiums in 2021

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ment program is a practical solution that will help Alberta farmers continue to manage their production risks from adverse weather events that are beyond their control.

As stated in Minister Dreeshen’s announcement, today’s news brings a $55 million injection into Alberta agriculture as part of the Alberta Economic Recovery Plan. Team Alberta thanks the Government of Alberta and Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) for the confidence and recognition that Alberta’s agriculture industry can be a leader in Pictured Above: Alberta Minis- the province’s economic recovery. ter of Agriculture and Forestry, Alberta’s crop sector – from farmers Devin Dreeshen. to the entire value chain – has demonstrated resiliency throughout oday, Alberta’s Minister of Agri- the COVID-19 pandemic and will culture and Forestry, Devin continue to do so.

Team Alberta views today’s anDreeshen announced a 20 per cent reduction in crop insurance premium nouncement as a positive step forfor Alberta farmers in 2021. Team Al- ward. The four crop commissions berta – a collaboration between Al- thank Minister Dreeshen and AFSC berta Barley, Alberta Canola, Alberta for making crop insurance more afPulse Growers, and the Alberta fordable for the 2021 crop year, and Wheat Commission – welcomes this look forward to continued work on announcement as crop insurance is behalf of Alberta farmers to improve the first line of defence for Alberta the long-term economic sustainabilfarmers in managing the risk of crop ity of Alberta farms. loss.

Reducing the cost of the most (Source:Alberta Wheat) widely used business risk manage-

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4909 50 St, Vegreville 780-632-2082

Happy New Year and a safe and healthy 2021 from the Reeve, Council & Staff at the County of Minburn

www.minburncounty.ab.ca

L

ike most things in 2020, the Farmer Pesticide Certificate Program has undergone some changes,’ says Devon Smiegielski, pesticide certification specialist with Alberta Environment and Parks. ‘The training material and information regarding the program is now housed on the Alberta Environment and Parks website.’

New and recertifying applicators will continue to work through their agricultural fieldman to obtain farmer certification.

‘Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, certified trainers are permitted to offer the training course online, pro-

JANUARY 2021

vided participation is tracked through either the use of video or polls and quizzes.’

The duration of the training will remain the same length of 8 hours regardless if the training occurs online or in person. Smiegielski adds all exams will be administered in person following the Alberta Heath Services guidelines and restrictions at the time.

Trainers who require more information, attendance sheets or temporary certificates should contact pesticide certification specialist Devon Smiegielski.

Send us your stories. We want to talk about what matters to you email us or call us at 780-657-3536.

4829 50 Str Vegreville, AB (780) 632-2606 Wishing you a Happy New Year and a prosperous 2021 from the Mayor, Town Council, & Staff at the Town of Vegreville.

Stay safe & healthy

JANUARY 2021

Agriculture

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Page 15

Six Municipalities Unite to Boost Defence Against Clubroot

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n an effort to greater our defences against the rampant spread of clubroot, the County of Two Hills, along with five other municipalities have increased their efforts of detecting Clubroot by implementing an enhanced clubroot surveilance program.

The municipalities have been using Burkard spore traps, which essentially use adhesive tape to trap spores for testing. The traps were set up for four weeks during the summer and submitted to the University of Alberta for subsequent testing.

Hannah Musterer, agricultural services technician with the County of Vermilion River, said in an interview, “As clubroot evolves as a soil-borne disease in Alberta, we are monitoring it more because counties and MDs enforce the pest act. In order to enforce it, we have to find it so we’re doing more inspections.”

Best management practices

1. Use clubroot-resistant varieties when growing canola in areas where the disease is established.

Alternate growing clubroot-resistant varieties with different sources of resistance when they become available.

2. Although crop rotation will not prevent introduction of clubroot to clean fields, the practice will lower subsequent disease buildup and severity and reduce other diseases, such as blackleg.

Crop rotation will not eradicate the clubroot pathogen from the soil. A minimum of a 2-year break from all clubroot-susceptible hosts is recommended for all producers. A longer break may be required if clubroot is well-established, or a Pictured Above: Characteristic clubroot Notice to Control is issued by the local authority. galls on an infested canola plant; Canola growers in high-risk situations (confirmed (Photo credit Azara Effect) clubroot in the field or area) should follow traditional canola rotation recommendations (one recommended because soil inactivates most discanola crop every 4 years) using clubroot resistant infectants. A 20 to 30-minute wet period is recvarieties. The one- in 4-year rotation recommen- ommended for good efficacy. For more dation using resistant varieties is designed to slow information on disinfecting equipment for clubdown pathogen population shifts. There have root prevention see the fact sheet Preventing Clubeen numerous reports in Alberta of pathogen broot: Agricultural Sanitization.

• Disinfectant footbaths can be an effective first population shifts to a strains not controlled by cluline of defence in a biosecurity program. Howbroot-resistant canola. This has occurred many ever, footbaths are not able to completely elimitimes in other parts of the world in canola and nate biosecurity risks in all situations. Disposable cole crops.

3. Growing a clubroot-resistant variety in fields foot coverings should be utilized where possible without known clubroot but in areas where the and in combination with a foot bath to more fully disease is prevalent can help slow the establish- minimize biosecurity risks associated with soilment of the disease. Since there would be low borne diseases like clubroot. For more informaspore numbers when clubroot does get introduced tion on how to develop a comprehensive to the field, this approach should not significantly biosecurity plan for a farm or business, see the induce changes in the strains to those that are not Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s National controlled by the variety resistance. The greatest Voluntary Farm-Level Biosecurity Standard for pressure to alter the pathogen strains is frequent the Grains and Oilseeds Industry. exposure (rotation length) of the same resistance 6. Seed and establish an area with grass near the to high soil spore populations (distinct clubroot field exit. A well-sodded grass will retain soil removed during equipment cleaning without creatpatches have occurred in the field).

4. Volunteer canola and cruciferous weeds must ing a mud hole after washing and thus will reduce be controlled in infested fields to prevent more the re-introduction of infested mud to wheels than 3 weeks of growth, to avoid the production when moving from this area to the exit. The grass area will not be susceptible to clubroot if volunof new resting spores on these host plants.

5. Practice good sanitation (cleaning and disin- teer canola and mustard weed species are confection) of machinery and equipment to restrict trolled. the movement of potentially contaminated soil. 7. Use direct seeding and other soil conservation This approach will also help reduce the spread of practices to reduce erosion. Resting spores can other diseases, insects and weed seeds. Resting also readily move in soil transported by wind or spores can be spread via contaminated soil. Mod- water erosion. Reducing the amount of tillage on erate to high infestations will leave high spore any given field will reduce the spread of the orconcentrations in soil on field machinery, thus ganism within the field and to other fields. sanitation is very important in these situations. All 8. Minimize vehicle and equipment traffic to and producers should follow the practice of cleaning from fields. soil and crop debris from field equipment before 9. In situations where fields are lightly infested transport from all fields. The most critical step in only near the current access, create a new exit at cleaning equipment is physical dirt removal – another distant edge of the field if possible. knocking or scraping off soil lumps and sweeping 10. Scout canola fields regularly and carefully.

Identify causes of wilting, stunting, yellowing and off loose soil.

• For risk-averse producers or with heavy infes- premature ripening – do not assume anything! tations, there are additional cleaning steps, with 11. Avoid the use of straw, hay or greenfeed, diminishing returns on investment, that will silage and manure from infested or suspicious slightly decrease the risk of spread, but will in- areas. Clubroot spores may survive through the digestive tracts of livestock. volve considerably more work and expense: •After removal of soil lumps, wash equipment 12. Avoid common untreated seed (including with a power washer, finish by misting equipment canola, cereals and pulses). Earth tag on seed with disinfectant. Recommended products in- from infested fields could introduce resting spores Pictured Above: Cumulative cases of club- clude 2% active ingredient bleach solution, Spray to clean fields. The effect of current seed treatroot in Alberta as of fall 2019. Map courtesy Nine, Adhere, Premise and AES 2500. The use of ment fungicides on resting spore viability on seed of Strelkov et al. (2020). Canadian Plant Dis- a disinfectant without first removing soil is not is currently being studied. ease Survey.

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

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JANUARY 2021

HIGHLIGHTS January 26, 2021

January 20, 2021 Council Meeting BYLAWS AND POLICY: Bylaw No. 13-2021: Council gave third and final reading to Bylaw No. 13-2020 Fees, duly enacting the bylaw. The Fees bylaw amends development fees. Visit www.thcounty.ab.ca for more information.

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: Derwent Golden Age Club: Council provided the Derwent Golden Age Club with two letters of support in their applications to the Community Facilities Enhancement Program (CFEP) grant and to the UFA Rural Communities Foundation Grant.

Next Council Meeting: Thursday, February 17, 2021 in Council Chambers at 10:00 a.m.

2021 MUNICIPAL ELECTION The Local Authorities Election Act specifies that a general municipal election shall be held every 4-years. The next general Municipal Election will be held in the County of Two Hills on October 18, 2021. Nominations for the 2021 Municipal Elections are now open. All nominations must be received at the County of Two Hills Administration Office on or before Nomination Day, Monday September 20, 2021 by 12:00 p.m. (Noon). COVID-19 Restrictions: At this time, appointments are required for any matter relating to the upcoming Municipal Election.

Nomination hours: The Returning Officer or designate will receive nominations of candidates for the local jurisdiction election during the regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday from January 4, 2021 to September 17, 2021 and till 12:00 p.m. September 20, 2021.

For more information, please visit www.thcounty.ab.ca or contact: Sally Dary, Returning Officer at 780-657-3358.

E-Billing is Here!

Sign up for e-billing today! You can sign up for e-billing for your utility invoices (water/sewer/garbage), natural gas utility invoices, bulk water invoices and any other County related services. Choosing E-billing does not change how you pay your bill, just how you receive it. If you are interested, please call the Administration Office at 780-6573358 to join now or email your request to cmcrae@thcounty.ab.ca.

Outstanding Taxes The County of Two Hills recognizes that 2020 was filled with exceptional hardship and that County residents were not excluded from these difficulties. Please be advised, if your residence is in tax arrears that there are various payment options available.

Payment information Pay-as-You-Can: Please be advised that the County will take any denomination of payment, as you can afford, without being on a formal payment plan. Payments may be made: At the County Office by cash, cheque, debit or credit card.

On the County Website: Property Tax may be paid by credit card, processed online the County’s website at www.thcounty.ab.ca through Option Pay. If you choose to make a payment with a credit card please be aware there is a 3% service fee that will be processed on the credit card at the time of transaction.

With your Bank: If you pay your taxes by bank teller or internet banking please choose COUNTY OF TWO HILLS as the Payee. Please DO NOT PAY your County of Two Hills property taxes to the Town of Two Hills as this will result in penalties.

Internet banking can be used if you bank with any of the following institutions: TD, ATB, BMO, any Credit Union, CIBC and Scotia Bank. Please use your Roll Number as your Account Number.

Monthly Pre-Authorized Payment Plan: The County of Two Hills has monthly pre-authorized debit for Property Taxes. Please be advised that to be eligible for the monthly pre-authorized payment plan, property taxes must be in good standing, having no taxes owed.

If you would like clarification or any additional information please contact the County of Two Hills Tax Clerk at 780-657-3358.

JANUARY 2021

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

AGRICULTURE SERVICE BOARD

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PUBLIC WORKS 2020 – 2021 SNOW PLOWING With the onset of winter, the Public Works Department would like to remind residents that the snow plowing of driveways will be available to full-time resident that qualify. Please ensure that you are on the approved snow plow list and that you have a proper County of Two Hills Snow Plow Flag out to have your driveway cleared.

As part of the snow clearing policy: BUS ROUTES WILL BE GIVEN FIRST PRIORITY FOLLOWED BY COUNTY ROADS before driveways are cleared, please be patient as the Snow Clearing Crew will do their best to reach qualifying residents in a timely manner.

Please be advised that due to low snow fall, graders on routes have prioritized de-icing. At this time, drive ways shall be plowed by request. Please call 780-657-2499 to submit requests.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Public Works Office at 780-6572499.

NATURAL GAS UTILITY 2021 INFILLS The County of Two Hills Natural Gas Utility is encouraging residents to book infills early, as infills are scheduled on a first-come first-serve basis. Rates for the 2021 construction season are as follows: • Rural: $ 8000.00 • Urban: $ 4000.00 • Grain Dryers and Commercial: Actual Cost To book an infill please contact the Natural Gas Utility Office at 780-657-2446.

ANNUAL METER INSPECTIONS Please be advised that the County of Two Hills Natural Gas employees will be accessing yards for annual meter inspection and pfm checks in the upcoming weeks.

SAFETY CHECK! Please remember to check carbon monoxide and gas monitors to ensure safety measures are properly working.

CONTACT US: Box 490, 4818-50 Avenue Two Hills, Alberta, T0B 4K0 www.thcounty.ab.ca Visit our Facebook Page!

ADMINISTRATION OFFICE 780-657-3358

PUBLIC WORKS 780-657-2499

NATURAL GAS UTILITY 780-657-2446

Canadian Dairy, Poultry, and Egg Farmers Rally to Support Local Agriculture with #CanadianComfort

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anada’s dairy, poultry and egg farmers are joining forces to support local agriculture through their joint Canadian Comfort campaign.

The four-week campaign, which launched earlier this month, encourages Canadians to buy and cook with locally produced ingredients this winter season.

As more Canadians have been cooking at home in recent months, the appetite for feel-good comfort food and sustainably sourced, wholesome Canadian products has only increased. In light of this trend, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Chicken Farmers of Canada, Turkey Farmers of Canada, Egg Farmers of Canada and Canadian Hatching Egg Producers are teaming up to help consumers better understand the value of high-quality local agricultural products produced right here in

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Canada.

“Canadians rely on local farmers for nutritious and high-quality agricultural products. We are proud to work with our partners to encourage Canadians to continue supporting local agriculture during this unprecedented holiday season.” said Pierre Lampron, President of Dairy Farmers of Canada.

From an iconic cheese master to a former celebrity chef, four handpicked social media influencers from across the country will help drive awareness for this initiative by sharing online how they cook their favourite recipes at home using Canadian dairy, chicken, turkey and eggs. Through weekly videos posted on Instagram and Facebook, these influencers will showcase their mastery of the quarantine kitchen with locally produced ingredients.

“Egg farmers coast-to-coast are passionate about providing Canadians with fresh, local high-quality eggs, every day. We’re pleased to be part of this initiative and look forward to working together in further motivating and inspiring Canadians to seek, buy and cook with local food from Canadian farmers.” stated Roger Pelissero, Chair of Egg Farmers of Canada From the dedication of farmers to the stringent

JANUARY 2021

production standards focused on animal care, food quality and sustainable practices, more and more Canadians are recognizing the value of producing more of our food within our own borders. According to a recent study from Leger, more than 74% of consumers deliberately buy Canadian products.

Farmers’ contribution to both the economy and the farm-to-fork ecosystem are instrumental to the livelihood of rural communities, which in turn are an integral part of our national identity.

To help support Canadian agriculture and, in turn, the more than 365,000 jobs supported by Canada’s supply-managed sectors, we are encouraging Canadians to buy local ingredients whenever possible and share their culinary creations on social media using the hashtag #CanadianComfort.

Dairy Farmers of Canada, Chicken Farmers of Canada, Turkey Farmers of Canada, Egg Farmers of Canada and Canadian Hatching Egg Producers are the voice of farmers in Canada’s dairy, poultry and egg sectors. We are a stabilizing force in rural Canada and a part of Canada’s economic solution, contributing $31 billion to the GDP. “Canadians want Canadian dairy, poultry and egg products, and for good reason! Our farmers deliver on consumers’ expectations for excellence in quality, food safety, animal care, and sustainability.

Farmers are proud to help Canadians, now and always, to find comfort, value, and nutrition in the products they choose for themselves and their families.” – Benoît Fontaine, Chair of Chicken Farmers of Canada.

Alberta Government Expanding Funding to Support New Businesses

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o better support Alberta’s small business community through the ongoing public health crisis, the Alberta government is expanding the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant to allow new businesses to apply. By expanding applications to businesses that started operating between March 1 and October 31, 2020, up 5,000 more Alberta businesses will be eligible for this funding.

New Alberta businesses impacted by public health orders will need to demonstrate a 30 per cent reduction of revenue using revenue figures from November or December 2020 compared with any prior month between March to October 2020. The payment is 15 per cent of their monthly revenue, for a maximum of $15,000 in funding available for each business.

“We’ve been listening, and new businesses need our support. We’ve already provided funding to more than 40,000 businesses, and we’re opening it up to more.” said Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation The Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant offers financial assistance to Alberta businesses, cooperatives and non-profit organizations with fewer than 500 employees that faced restrictions or closures from public health orders, and experienced a revenue loss of at least 30 per cent due to the COVID19 pandemic.

Businesses can use the funding as they see fit to offset the costs they are facing as they relaunch their businesses. This includes the costs of implementing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as physical barriers, PPE and cleaning supplies, as well as rent, employee wages or replacing inventory. The funds can also be used to help businesses expand their online presence or e-commerce opportunities so that they can continue to serve customers.

The program launched at the end of June with a budget of up to $200 million. To ensure Alberta businesses have access to the supports they need, the budget was increased to $500 million. More program details will be outlined on the program web page when finalized. Applications will be open until March 31, 2021, unless otherwise communicated.

Alberta’s Recovery Plan is a bold, ambitious long-term strategy to build, diversify, and create tens of thousands of jobs now. By building schools, roads and other core infrastructure we are benefiting our communities. By diversifying our economy and attracting investment with Canada’s most competitive tax environment, we are putting Alberta on a path for a generation of growth.

(Source: Dairy Farmers of Alberta)

Quick facts • Any new company that meets the 30 per cent threshold will be able to apply for the grant starting February 4, 2021.

• Small businesses that may be eligible under the new rules should wait until February 4 to apply, to avoid being deemed ineligible.

• Additional supports for businesses are available through the Federal Government • Small and medium-sized businesses represent 99.8% of all job creators in Alberta, employing more than 500,000 Albertans.

(Source: Alberta Government)

Pictured Above: Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

David Price to join the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame

JANUARY 2021

‘

I believe that no significant accomplishments are made alone,’ says David Price, one of 3 inductees into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame.

‘With the wonderful support of my family, I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with, and to learn from some tremendous people of all ages and walks of life.’

As founder, past president, and company director of the Sunterra Group of Companies, Price’s leadership was integral to building a fully integrated family-run food company with top-quality pork and a true farm to fork business model.

The Sunterra Group of Companies now comprises pig production in Canada and the U.S., crop and greenhouse production, two meat-processing plants, and 9 retail markets in Alberta. Price’s ability to see potential future trends and opportunities, but not compromise on quality or service, was a critical pillar of the company’s success.

As a young man in 1968, Price spent a year in England working with the Pig Improvement Company, a new pig-breeding concept. Upon returning to Alberta, he, his parents and some very close friends decided to launch Pig Improvement Canada.

They imported ‘modern’ swine genetics from England in the 1970s, built a national swine breeding company, and pivoted to an innovative swine production company with exceptional health and quality.

Price led his team in their continued quest to expand into marketing areas previously not considered by others. They added a PhD in genetics and another PhD in meat science to their group (believed to be the first by a North American meat processor) to assist in creating a focus on production of ‘premium quality pork’.

Their combined vision paid off. Continual advances in genetic research, cross breeding techniques, swine nutrition, meat science analysis and management produced more pork per sow per year, at less cost and, over time, produced higher quality pork for consumers with more protein and less fat.

In honour of the premature death of his late son Greg, Price and his family have also worked diligently to make changes in health care to make it safe, continuous, collaborative and patient-centred.

They shared their thoughts and experiences on the healthcare system through their Health Arrows website and, more recently, they established the not-for-profit organization Greg's

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Wings Projects.

‘Thank you for this unexpected honour, and a special thanks to everyone that has been part of our journey,’ says Price.

David Price joins Walter Paszkowski and George Visser as the 2020 inductees into the Hall of Fame.

Due to public health measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, the inperson 2020 Agriculture Hall of Fame Ceremony was cancelled. The 2020 inductees will be formally recognized at an event, likely in 2021, when it is safe to gather.

More information about the Hall of Fame can be found on the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame webpage or by calling 780-968-6557.

(Source: Alberta Government)

Do you have a birthday or anniversary coming up? Share it with us to show your loved one you care. You can email us at news@twohillschronicle.com or call Sonny at (780) 657-3536.

We love to hear from you. Stay safe and healthy. We are in this together.

AHS celebrates National Non-Smoking Week

Reducing and stopping commercial tobacco use has multiple health benefits for all Albertans. People who quit substantially reduce their risk of heart disease, lung cancer, chronic lung disease and other tobacco-related illnesses. The health benefits of stopping start right away and reducing and stopping is more successful with help.

According to Statistics Canada, in 2019: • 15 per cent of Canadians smoked regularly, a decrease from 16 per cent in 2018.

• 15 per cent of Canadians aged 15 and older had tried an e-cigarette, an increase from • 13 per cent in 2015.

• The increase in use of e-cigarettes has been the greatest among youth and young adults with 34 per cent of students in grades 7-12 reporting they had ever tried a vaping product and 20 per cent reported using them in the last 30 days. This is an increase from 10 per cent in 2016-17.

N

ational Non-Smoking Week runs Jan. 17 to 23, and Alberta Health Services (AHS) is partnering with communities to raise awareness of tobacco cessation services.

This month, the QuitCore Tobacco Cessation Cancer Support Group will begin a virtual program. For patients with cancer, Virtual QuitCore is a free group support program that provides Albertans (18+) with the tools and strategies they need to quit/reduce smoking commercial tobacco or other forms of tobacco.

The program consists of a set of six 90-minute online virtual sessions guided by trained facilitators. The first session runs from Jan. 26 to March 2, from 7:30-9 p.m. on Tuesday evenings. A sec-

ond session will run March 10 to April 21 from 10:30 a.m. to Noon, on Wednesday mornings.

A QuitCore Support Group session, open to all Albertans (18+), will begin Jan. 27 and run to March 3 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. (Wednesday afternoons).

These sessions are offered on a secure Zoom platform.

For information and to register for any of these sessions, contact the AlbertaQuits helpline at 1866-710-7848.

Please visit www.albertaquits.ca for more information on free tobacco cessation services and resources available to residents in AHS North Zone.

These include resources to quit smoking and vaping during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An annual event across Canada for more than 30 years, National Non-Smoking Week aims to raise awareness about the health risks of tobacco, in all its forms, as it provides education on the resources and support services available for those who wish to reduce or quit tobacco use.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

(Source: Alberta Health Services)

BOROWICH CHURCH & CEMETERY

Page 20

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

JANUARY 2021

A HISTORY RICH IN TRADITION, SPIRITUALITY, AND DETERMINATION

Submitted by Ron Rudkowsky

forested wilderness. They grew crops of cereal grains namely wheat, oats, and barley. They also raised horses, beef cattle, hogs, and chickens. This was supplemented by huge gardens to grow vegetables and some fruits for domestic consumption.

Many of the pioneers arriving from eastern Europe to Northern Alberta came from the ‘cello’ or village of Borovtzi in the Ukraine, and settled in an area just north of Willingdon. This was the origin of the area which became known as Borowich.

Following the building of family homes came the matter of building a Church, to be closely followed by the building of a school.

As was the case in their homePictured Above: Borowich Church, established in the early 1900’s. land, the people needed a place (Photo by Ron Rudkowsky) in which to gather to honor and n the late 1890’s and early 1900’s jarlais, Boian and Borowich in search worship their Creator, to commit many pioneers, in search of a bet- of their homestead – new surroundtheir sacraments of marriage and ter life earmarked by more personal ings, a fresh life, and unlimited opbaptism as well as a place to bury freedoms, left eastern Europe, portunities for freedom. their dead. For these Christian folks They particularly cherished their crossed the Atlantic Ocean, and arit was very imperative to worship in rived in Canada at Halifax. From freedom to openly worship God, with peace, serenity, and freedom. there they made their way to Edmon- an unwavering commitment to their In 1902, the present twenty acre ton and the wilderness of Northern Christian beliefs, and enjoyed miniBorowich Church site was selected mal government interference. They Alberta. and an application for construction of In Edmonton they purchased a certainly did not miss the taxmen of a church was approved by the “De“homestead” of 160 acres for a fee of their old country. The taxmen would partment of Dominion Lands” in Ot$10.00. These homesteads simply come around to take stock of what tawa. The current site was ideally on comprised of one “quarter section” of you possessed (mostly agricultural a hill, as it was important that the unbroken, forested land one half mile produce). The taxmen would confisringing of the church bells be heard cate what they felt you did not need by one half mile in size. for several miles, calling the people Numerous pioneers travelled to for simple survival existence, declarto church for worship and prayer their designated homestead on foot. ing it “surplus”. They would call it every Sunday morning, as well as the However, many families built a raft ‘taxes’, take it away, and you could frequent religious holidays. to hold all their earthly belongings, do nothing about it.

Within the church yard an area was Their profound ethic for hard work, and set out floating eastward from designated as the cemetery, and in Edmonton on the North their infinite perseverance, and their 1903 the Borowich Cemetery unlimited commitment to Christian Saskachewan River. recorded its first burial. Mr. John For some, their destination was in family life proved to be huge assets Tarangul was killed by a horse and the Smoky Lake area and they exited in overcoming the hardships and was the first person to be laid to rest the river at the Victoria Trail Metis harsh climate of this unknown land. in the Cemetery. Today there are Crossing. Other homesteaders con- These industrious pioneers carved over 400 graves in the cemetery, untinued on to Kahwin, Shandro, Des- out productive farmland from

I

Pictured Above: Borowich Cemetary Gate.

(Photo by Ron Rudkowsky)

Pictured Above: Church Rear.

(Photo by Ron Rudkowsky)

fortunately this includes 50 – 60 unmarked graves from the early 1900’s.

In 1904 a Church organizational meeting was convened and an executive was selected to oversee the building of a church and establish a parish. The executive was elected as follows: President – Hrehory Kowalchuk, Secretary-Treasurer Michael Zukiwski, Directors – Wasyl Dushenski and Michael Gordey.

Amongst the surnames of other founding members were the following: Chustavic, Fedorak, Hunchak, Hrynyk, Likar, Lastiwka, Popowich, Shewchuk, Sembaliuk, Shymko, Skoreyko, Stefaniuk, Ukrainetz, and Zukiwski.

In the winter of 1905, many members volunteered their time and labor to cut logs from the banks of the North Saskachewan River. They hauled these logs on sleighs (drawn by oxen) some eight miles to the Church site. Many materials were either purchased or donated and brought to the Church site in readiness for construction.

In the spring of 1906 the building of the Church began in earnest. Mr. Olaksa Morris was hired as building supervisor, and Mr. Dionysy Lastiwka as an assistant for the construction crew which was almost entirely volunteer labor.

Originally the Church was built on a foundation of large rocks from the surrounding area. Timbers from the river were placed on these rocks to support the floor on which the rest of the building was constructed. About 50 years later some of the rocks and the deteriorating timbers were replaced with railway ties which were hauled all the way from Onoway by Mr. Wilson Zukiwski and Mr. Harry M. Zukiwski.

(Continued on Page 21)

BOROWICH CHURCH & CEMETERY

JANUARY 2021

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Page 21

A HISTORY RICH IN TRADITION, SPIRITUALITY, AND DETERMINATION

Submitted by Ron Rudkowsky

Pictured Above: Church Interior.

(Photo by Ron Rudkowsky)

memorial, adorned by an Orthodox cross, was donated by the Zukiwski Family to honor the thirty one founding members of the Church. As well, the Zukiwski Family Reunion donated two large and colorful stained glass windows on the south wall of the Church.

In 2008 the Borowich Church held its 100th Anniversary Celebration with 350 people attending a banquet, ceremony, and fellowship to celebrate its proud legacy.

In 2010 Mr. Ron Rudkowsky and Mr. Anton Osatenko installed 1100 feet of black chain link fencing to beautify the front of the Church and Cemetery property along County Range Road 151.

They also reinforced and rebuilt the bell tower (originally constructed by Harry M. Zukiwski), complete with enclosed walls and new vinyl siding. They also replaced a few of the beams which hold up the four heavy Church bells.

Over the years, Parochial boundaries have changed, and the Borowich Church is currently a member of the Smoky Lake – Willingdon Parochial District. Today the Borowich Church is served

by Reverend Father Benny Ambrosie, who serves all twelve Parishes in the Parochial District including Andrew, Bellis, Boyne Lake, Calmar, Downing, Edwand, Kahwin, Luzan, Pruth, Smoky Lake, and Spedden.

Over the past 120 years the Church organization has benefitted

In 1906 the Church site was officially blessed by missionaries of the Russo Orthodox Church. The title for the land, including the Church building was originally held by the Shandro Russo-Orthodox Church until some time in the 1060’s, at which time the name was officially changed to The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of St. Pokrova at Borowich. Since then the Church, cemetery, and yard has been the property of the local parishioners.

In 1908 the Church (26 ft. X 44 ft.) was completed, and on October 14, 1908 the first official service was delivered by Father Anthony Pechinsky, the parish priest.

Also, in 1908, Mr. Nikoli Likar donated a ‘clarion set’ of four large church bells, which he brought with sleigh and oxen from Fort Saskachewan – a journey which took one week. This set of four bells is still housed in the original (upgraded several times over the years) bell tower beside the Church and still, generates beautiful sounds.

In 1955, Mr.Harry M. Zukiwski built a large dome for the Church top to replace the original small dome. The new dome was built in the same Orthodox style as the original one.

In 1973, under the supervision of Mr. Marshall Kowalchuk, a 12 ft. X26 ft. extension was added on to the west side of the original Church increasing the total Church capacity to 90 people.

In 1978 Harry M. and Midoria Zukiwski donated a large steel framed sign which identifies the Church name and stands proudly beside the gate Pictured Above: Church and Bell Tower. to the Church yard.

(Photo by Ron Rudkowsky) In 1980, and in conjunction with Alberta’s 75 Anniversary a large marble

Pictured Above: Church Stained Glass windows (Photo by Ron Rudkowsky)

from a number of long-term dedicated Presidents, each of whom has served as President for over twenty years. These include Mr. Hrehory Kowalchuk, Mr. George H. Kowalchuk, Mr. Harry M. Zukiwski, and Mr. Ron Rudkowsky. Mr. Nick W. Dushenski served as secretary – treasurer for twenty five plus years. More recently,Mrs. Judy Rudkowsky has served in this position for the past twenty years.

Today the Church still sits proudly on a hill overlooking the Cemetery, with the yard surrounded by mature forty foot spruces. The Borowich Church continues to successfully operate with a relatively small membership.

Every spring many people from near and far, whose ancestors rest in the Borowich Cemetery, look forward to attending our annual “Provody” (Blessing of the Graves). This includes divine liturgy, as well as blessing each and every one of the 400 plus graves. This is followed by family get togethers and fellowship in the Church yard. The 2021 Provody is scheduled for June 6, Covid19 permitting.

The current executive of the Church is as follows: President – Ron Rudkowsky, Vice-President – Mary Karbashewski, Secretary-Treasurer – Judy Rudkowsky.

The Borowich Church Parish has undergone a number of name changes over the past 120 years, and today is known as Borowich Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Pokrova.

Page 22

T

Canola rally – how high can it go?

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

he price of canola has risen from $460 per tonne last August to an early 2021 price near $660 per tonne,’ says Neil Blue, provincial crop market analyst with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

What is driving this canola market? Blue says there are several factors affecting prices.

‘Both the Canadian canola crop and U.S. soybean crop produced less yield than was expected earlier in the season. Then, exports for both crops increased during the fall and early winter, notably on demand from China.’

He adds Canadian canola exports have also become diversified. To the end of November, China was the number 1 market, doubling last year’s pace of Canadian canola imports 4 months into the crop year. Japan, in the number 2 position, continues to be a steady buyer. France, the United Arab Emirates and Mexico had each imported over half a million tonnes of Canadian canola.

Other major canola importers include the Netherlands, Pakistan, Belgium, the U.S. and Germany.

‘Canola prices tend to be driven by the value of canola oil, which in turn is directed by the supply, demand and price of vegetable oils,’ explains Blue.

The chart below shows the close relation between the canola and soybean oil price.

Palm oil has become the largest produced vegetable oil and, being a substitutable vegetable oil, its price is closely tied to that of soybean oil. Due to supply and demand factors, palm oil is in the tightest supply situation in over 10 years, so palm oil prices had risen dramatically over the last few months.

‘The function of price is to ration demand to available supply,’ explains Blue. ‘Recently, the price of palm oil is signalling that the high price is doing its job of curtailing demand. As a result, the price of palm oil and soy oil have fallen sharply in mid-January. Canola prices have also retreated, as shown in the chart above.’

However, says Blue, to January 10, the Canadian Grain Commission reports that Canadian canola usage this crop year of 10.18 million tonnes exceeds last year’s pace by 1.4 million tonnes. With just over five months gone this crop year and an estimated Canadian canola supply of 22 million tonnes, canola supplies are slipping away.

‘If canola prices fall too far beyond the drop in vegetable oil and meal values, canola crushing and exports will be further stimulated, and canola prices will rise again.’

Blue adds a strong price rally early in the crop year is rare and has been driven mainly by Chinese demand and concern over the South American crop, which was seeded late and only recently received widespread rains.

JANUARY 2021

This time of year is often a slow time for crop markets. The South American soybean crop could still be record-high, but the North American growing season is coming, with its own production risks and market excitement.

‘Can canola prices still rise to record high levels above $700 per tonne?

Nobody knows for sure, but it is certainly possible. Meanwhile, metering crop sales into a rising market is considered the best approach.’

(Source: Alberta Agriculture)

Caution when winter burning

‘If fires are not properly put out, they can spread and burn underground, even under the snow and ice, all winter. Under the right conditions, these fires can re-emerge in the spring as wildfires,’ says Story.

Following safe burning practices during this period will help prevent holdover fires that can start spring wildfires. Although snow helps reduce the risk of the fire burning into the ground, it is recommended that landowners check regularly all fall and winter burn sites to ensure the fire is out.

‘Walk the burn area and roll over any debris to check for hot spots. The best way to find hotspots is to look for visible signs of burning such as melting snow around the edges. Touch the burn area with your hands and smell for smoke.’

Things to consider when burning this winter:

W

ildfire danger is based on a number of factors and the dryness of fine fuels like leaf litter, needles and small twigs can play an important part,’ says Melissa Story, provincial information officer with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry.

‘The moisture content of fine fuels can change quickly with wind and temperature changes, often within a matter of hours. If the lack of precipitation continues, and we have a hot windy spring, the wildfire danger could be significantly higher then normal.’

At this time of year, industry and landowners often take advantage of the cooler weather to burn debris and brush on their land. However, under current conditions landowners need to be extremely careful their actions do not start a wildfire.

The majority of wildfires are started by humans. Alberta Wildfire urges anyone doing winter burning to ensure their piles have been fully extinguished.

• Ensure you have proper tools at the burn site such as an axe, shovels and at least 200 litres of water.

• Be aware of forecasted wind conditions. Wind can pick up sparks or embers and start a wildfire if the conditions are right.

• As with any burning, do not attempt to burn more than you can control.

Actively manage burn projects to reduce disposal time and smoke impacts. • • Continually re-pile if needed.

• Consult local municipalities or Alberta Agriculture and Forestry on how to mitigate impacts when undertaking larger winter burning projects near communities or roadways.

• Fire permits are required during wildfire season, which is March 1 to October 31. All burn piles must be fully extinguished before the start of wildfire season.

For questions about proper burning procedures, visit the Alberta Wildfire website or phone 310-0000.

If you see smoke in the forest, report wildfires by calling 310-FIRE (3473).

(Source: Alberta Agriculture)

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Alberta Milk’s New Entrant Assistance Program Now Accepting Applications

JANUARY 2021

A

lberta Milk is now accepting applications for the New Entrant Assistance Program (NEAP). The program helps qualified new farmers enter the dairy industry in Alberta by offering a quota loan at no cost. Applications will be accepted from January 1 to March 31, 2021.

Enhancing the Program This year, the Alberta Milk Board of Directors sought direction on how to improve the sustainability of the program. All accepted new entrants will now be allowed to use the NEAP loaned quota as equity/security with financial institutions.

“The New Entrant Assistance Program is a way our industry is trying to support those coming into the dairy industry in Alberta,” says Stuart Boeve, chair of the Alberta Milk Board of Directors. “We continually review the program to make improvements to ensure we can continue to meet the needs of new dairy farms. We’re proud that 22 new farms have entered the industry through this program.”

About the Program The program works by matching 2 kilograms of quota from Alberta Milk for every kilogram of quota purchased by the new entrant up to 25 kilograms/day at no cost. This loan

translates to enough quota to milk about 20-25 additional cows. While using the program, new entrants can expand up to 100 kg/day of total quota holdings, or about 80-100 cows. The loaned quota usage gradually expires beginning in the 11th year and reduces to zero at the end of year 19, marking the end of participation in the NEAP for the new entrant.

The process to qualify for the program consists of submitting an application that includes a two-year financial business plan, a 10-year implementation plan, a risk mitigation plan, and a signed conditional letter of approval from the applicant’s financial institution agreeing to finance their operation. Further details about the program can be found at albertamilk.com or by calling 1-877-3611231. Joining this program is not a pre-requisite to becoming a dairy farmer in Alberta.

Organic Entrants Assistance Program Alberta Milk is also continuing to accept applications for our Organic Entrants Assistance Program (OEAP). Similar to the NEAP, the program is designed to encourage growth in organic dairy production in Alberta but has different guidelines.

You can review the OEAP requirements at albertamilk.com.

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January Fun Facts

Page 23

• The month of January is named after the Roman god of doors, Janus, because this month is the door into the New Year. Janus is also called the twofaced god. He represents all beginnings and possesses the ability to see the past and the future.

• January is the time for new beginnings. It is in this month that you get a clean slate, a chance to reflect, relax and set new goals. These things are important to set your mood for the whole year, so there's no point in dwelling on the January blues you may be experiencing.

• The flower symbol of January is snowdrop & carnation.

• January’s gem is garnet which represents constancy.

• The zodiac signs for January is Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) and Aquarius (January 20 – February 18).

• On January 10, 1920 the League of Nations was established.

• January 8 – Elvis Presley’s birthday • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States – Third Monday • January 26 – Republic Day in India • On the first Monday of January, Handsel Monday is celebrated in Scotland and northern England.

January in Other Languages • Chinese (Mandarin) – yiyuè • Danish - januar • Italian – gennaio • Latin - Ianuarius • French - janvier • Spanish – enero Historical Names: • Roman: Januarius • Saxon: Giuli • Germanic: Schnee-mond (Snow month) • On average, it is the coldest month of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the second month of winter.

• In the Southern Hemisphere January is a summer month the equivalent of July.

Sometimes the Saxons called January the wolf month because hungry wolves would come into their towns searching for food this time of year.

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Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Page 24

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Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Introducing Ted Lance

JANUARY 2021

Scholarship program supports equality in Alberta

Submitted by Pastor Warren Charlton

Pictured Above: Ted Lance, Pastoral intern at the Two Hills Felowship Chapel (Photo submitted by Pastor Warren Charlton

T

wo Hills Fellowship Chapel would like to introduce our Pastoral Intern who began his ministry among us on October 1, 2020. Ted’s given name is Anthony but he has been known as Ted for most of his life. Born in the North West Territories Ted comes to pastoral ministry with much life experience. He worked as a pipe-fitter in the oil patch for 33 years and pursued a lifestyle that was marked by self-indulgence. But God got a hold of Ted about ten years ago and transformed his life from the inside out by bringing Ted to faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. Ted’s favourite hymn is also his testimony-Amazing

Grace. The Lord stirred within Ted a desire to attend Bible College and pursue some type of ministry. Under the Lord’s leading and through the generosity of his people Ted attended Prairie College in Three Hills, Alberta from where he graduated last April with a BA in Christian Ministry with a focus on pastoral ministry.

While at Prairie, Ted became involved in its Prison Ministry and was considering becoming a Prison Chaplain when COVID-19 shut that door.

That is when a letter from our Chapel came into the right hands at the right time and Ted was invited to intern under Pastor Charlton. Ted’s pastoral internship is designed to last until the end of June with the objective that he would be equipped to do pastoral ministry in smaller or rural churches such as the Chapel. Ted is a big man with a BIG HEART filled with kindness and affection for others. He finds it easy to make new friends and values those friendships but the pandemic has made that more difficult for Ted to achieve at the moment. We welcome Ted to Two Hills (a town he really likes) and to the Fellowship Chapel where we have already been blessed by God through him. We invite you to watch our livestream services on Facebook and listen to Ted as he shares God’s grace and God’s Word with us.

T

he new program is supporting students who are working to reduce gender discrimination in their communities or who are studying in fields where their gender is traditionally under-represented. Each successful student will receive $2,500.

The scholarship program consists of two funding streams: the previously announced Women in STEM Award stream, which is open to women under 30 years of age pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics; and the Persons Case Scholarship stream, for anyone pursuing studies to advance gender equality.

“More than 100 years ago, women were critical in the building of Alberta – shaping its society and economy. The LEAD Program will assist women and gender-diverse Albertans to pursue fulfilling careers that help promote gender equality and change Alberta for the better. It is especially important at this time to support students in pursuing a broad range of careers as we work toward Alberta’s economic recovery.”said Leela Sharon Aheer, Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women.

“The Leaders in Equality Award of Distinction scholarship supports students and empowers them to build the skills they need to find success in their chosen career. By providing more opportunities for under-repre-

Page 25

sented Albertans to apply their talents in a wide range of pursuits – from science, technology and trades to the arts – we are helping to build the workforce of the future.” said Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education The Women in STEM award was announced in September 2020. Consolidating the funding with the Persons Case under one program streamlines the application process for students and reduces red tape.

The first intake deadline for the scholarship is Feb. 21. Those who are interested in applying can visit the program website to find the scholarship criteria and application information.

Quick facts • Total funding for the program is $225,000.

• Up to 40 students will receive $2,500 each in the Persons Case Scholarship stream.

• Up to 50 students will receive $2,500 each in the Women in STEM stream.

(Source: alberta.ca)

Contact us today with any news or noteworthy information for our community by email at news@twohillschronicle.co m or contact Sonny by phone at (780) 657-3536.

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Page 26

Things to Ponder in our Heart Two Hills Regional Chronicle

JANUARY 2021

Submitted by Pastor Warren Charlton, Two Hills Fellowship Chapel

“

Realism” so says J. I. Packer, “is a Christian virtue that acknowledges God’s sovereignty over His world. It interprets unexpected disappointments and deferrings of hope as acts of God’s wisdom and goodness, according to His promise. No discouragement, bitterness or cynicism (the wasting diseases of the soul) find a foothold in realistic hearts.” As we leave 2020 and enter 2021 do you and I have realistic hearts? What wisdom did we gain from the past year that will equip us to live well in this new year? May I propose some thoughts that you can ponder in our heart. They are drawn from the Christian Scriptures so are they truths that apply at all times and in all circumstances.

Those who walk in pride, God is able to humble.

God opposes the proud for they boast of what humans do but fail to glorify God as God nor give him thanks. Covid-19 is a reality God has allowed to turn our entire world upside down and inside out. Every aspect of humanity has been impacted by this pandemic. Government, family, business, sports, entertainment, leisure, travel, church-life and especially our health and safety have all felt

the sting of this coronavirus. With the arrival of vaccines many are hoping to make 2020 a distant memory, but as I write a new strain of the virus has appeared. Will the vaccine be effective? At times we may feel we are at the end of our wits. Is it time to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and seek his face? Is it time to ask him for wisdom in dealing with this all-pervasive issue? Is it time to confess that our cares are too great for us to bear and cast them on the Him, for he cares for the humble. Ponder in our hearts, is God humbling us through this pandemic?

God’s will trumps our plans and expectations. It is not wrong for us to plan for the future or take steps to improve our lives. With its protocols, our government has tried to balance our life and our livelihoods, our health and our economy. But the reality is that our life is uncertain for we do not even know what will happen tomorrow. Our life is as fragile and as brief as a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. To presume that time is on our side and under our control, and that our plans are sure to succeed to our benefit is foolish and the height of arrogance. Instead, we ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” This is the realistic wisdom that God gives. For some, the truth that God is control of all things brings great comfort in the midst of a chaotic world, but for others it that grates across their souls like chalk on a blackboard. Realism from God asks us one simple question: “What is your life?” Accepting the reality that God (not us) is in control frees us from bitterness and anger when our expectations and hopes do not unfold as we had arranged. Ponder in your heart, is God in

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control of all of life, even your life?

God’s love is a reality upon which we can depend. Currently the horizon of all our lives is dominated by the coronavirus. Its infection rates, death tolls, the misery it has inflicted among our seniors and the financial duress that it has placed on so many people must not be underestimated nor softened. But there is another horizon in our world that must never forget. It is an historical reality. It is a personal reality. It is God’s love. A love that He has showed among us when he sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into our world in which disease, suffering and death have always been realities. God’s love for the world is great. Not because the world is so big that it takes a great deal of love for God to love us all, but because the world is so bad that it takes a special love from God to love us at all. God loved us when we did not love him. God’s love is extended to those who are undeserving and ill-deserving. His love is seen at its greatest when He did not spare his own Son but delivered him up to the cross to put away our sins by the sacrifice of himself. Through Christ Jesus, God promises us eternal life after death and the hope of glory when the Lord Jesus comes again. Realism does not stick its head in the sand when faced with the uncertainties of life in 2021 but it fills its horizon with the greater reality of the love of God for us in Christ Jesus. Ponder in your heart that God loves you and invites you to open your heart to his love. Ponder, do you have a realistic heart?

Pastor Warren Charlton Two Hills Fellowship Chapel

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Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Tai Chi: An Ancient Art with Numerous Benefits

JANUARY 2021

T

Page 27

Never -Fail Brownies

By Jared Rajoo

ai Chi or Tai Chi Chuan, is an internal Chinese martial art which has grown in popularity over the past decades. Its numerous benefits including selfdefence, relaxation, and physical strength, are what have driven practitioners worldwide to delve into the art. Colloquially it has become referred to “Meditation in Motion”.

The earliest records of Tai Chi is in a text called ‘The Book of Changes” from over 3000 years ago. Since then it has been adapted and modified over the years into the styles we know today.

There are five major syles of Tai Chi, each one named after the family from which it originated: • Chen Style • Yang Style • Wu Hao Style • Wu Style • Sun Style Each style, although similar, has a unique set of movements which are to be coordinated while keeping a clear mind.

A study from Harvard University has concluded that although Tai Chi is slow and gentle, while practitioners are seldom strained or

Ingredients: out of breath, it addresses the key components of fitness - muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and to a lesser degree aerobic conditioning. Although, Tai Chi is considered a martial art, practicing can be beneficial to people of any age or fitness level. The movements are slow and deliberate and result in minimal strain on muscles and joints.

To get started it is recommended to find a Certified Instructor who will be able to provide guidance as well as monitor progress. However, classes are not always accessible to every area. For such situations, there are hundreds of instructors online, via YouTube and other offi-cial training websites.

Whether it is to improve balance and coordination, or to reap the rewards of a calm and relaxed mind, tai chi is an excellent addition to any fitness routine.

• 1 Cup of Sugar • 1/2 Cup of Softened Butter • 2 Eggs • 1 Tsp Vanilla Essense • 1/3 Cup of Cocoa Powder • 1/2 Cup of Self-Raising Flour Preheat Oven to 180 Degrees Celcius. Grease and flour a 9”x9” oven safe pan.

Cream butter and sugar until well blended. It helps if the butter is soft. Mix in eggs and vanilla extract.

Add cocoa and mix well. Mix in flour until well blended. Pour into greased pan. Bake at 180 for 25 to 30 minutes depending on oven. Cut into portions.

(Optional: You can add chopped nuts if you choose) (Decorate as desired)

Method:

Town of Two Hills By-Law Notice 2021-1004 TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Town of Two Hills, in the Province of Alberta, has given first reading to Borrowing Bylaw 2021-1004 which will, upon final passage and approval, authorize the proper officers of the Town of Two Hills to borrow monies from the Alberta Capital Finance Authority by way of debenture issue, for the remainder of the Alberta Central East (ACE) Waterline; That for the purpose of ACE Waterline payments, the sum of THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED SIXTY Dollars ($356,160.00) be borrowed from the Alberta Capital Finance Authority or another authorized financial institution by way of debenture on the credit and security of the Town of Two Hills at large, of which amount the full sum of $356,160.00 is to be paid by the Town of Two Hills at large. The Town of Two Hills shall repay the indebtedness according to the repayment structure in effect, namely semi-annual or annual equal payments of combined principal and interest instalments not to exceed twenty (20) years calculated at a rate not exceeding the interest rate fixed by the Alberta Capital Finance Authority or another authorized financial institution on the date of the borrowing, and not to exceed five (5) percent.

NOW THEREFORE NOTICE is hereby given by the Council of the Town of Two Hills that, unless a petition of the electors for a vote on Bylaw No. 2021-1004 is demanded as provided for by the terms of Section 231 of the Municipal Government Act, the Council may pass the said borrowing bylaw.

All persons interested are hereby notified and they are required to govern themselves accordingly.

DATED at the Town of Two Hills, this 21st day of January, 2021 Town of Two Hills Gerren Saskiw, C.A.O.

I want to thank the ambulance staff and the medical personnel of of both the Two Hills Health Center and the Fort Saskatchewan Health Care Center.

I suffered great pain on my left side and shoulder which could be a side effect of COVID-19 which I had in December. It could have been a blood clot caught in my lung.

The medical staff that treated me worked like angels and a big Thank You to everyone at the hospitals from the receptionist to the various department staff and the doctors in charge.

Your patient care was simply the best and I wish to express my prfound gratitude.

Albe de Villiers

Page 28

History of Valentine’s Day Two Hills Regional Chronicle

JANUARY 2021

Story by Niri Rajoo-Jeevanath

S

t Valentine's Day is an annual festival to celebrate romantic love, friendship and admiration. Every year on 14 February people celebrate this day by sending messages of love and affection, gifts and tokens of admiration to partners, family and friends.

Having a particular Valentine's Day is a very old tradition, thought to have originated from a Roman festival. The Romans had a festival called Lupercalia in the middle of February - officially the start of their springtime. It's thought that as part of the celebrations, boys drew names of girls from a box. Lupercalia is an ancient Roman festival of purification and fertility, held annually on 15 February. This was an ancient pagan festival held each year in Rome.

Although Valentine's Day shares its name with a martyred Christian saint, some historians believe the holiday is actually an offshoot of Lupercalia.

The history of Valentine’s Day, and the story of its patron saint, is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated

with this ancient rite?

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.

When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Still others insist that it was Saint Valentine of Terni, a bishop, who was the true namesake of the holiday. He, too, was beheaded

by Claudius II outside Rome.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, an imprisoned Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after he fell in love with a young girl–possibly his jailor’s daughter–who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed “From your Valen-

tine,” an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and–most importantly–romantic figure.

Cupid is often portrayed on Valentine’s Day cards as a naked cherub launching arrows of love at unsuspecting lovers. But the Roman God Cupid has his roots in Greek mythology as the Greek god of love, Eros.

Accounts of his birth vary; some say he is the son of Nyx and Erebus; others, of Aphrodite and Ares; still others suggest he is the son of Iris and Zephyrus or even Aphrodite and

Zeus (who would have been both his father and grandfather).According to the Greek Archaic poets, Eros was a handsome immortal played with the emotions of Gods and men, using golden arrows to incite love and leaden ones to sow aversion. It wasn’t until the Hellenistic period that he began to be portrayed as the mischievous, chubby child he’d become on Valentine’s Day cards.

Regardless of its history, Valentine’s Day proves to be a day to acknowledge, and celebrate the various forms of love and admiration. So, Happy Valentine;s Day everyone!

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The Tradition of A Ukrainian Christmas

JANUARY 2021

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Page 29

Story by Niri Rajoo-Jeevanath

C

hristmas in Ukraine is celebrated on the 7th January. The Orthodox Church is their main church, as in many other countries. These countries use the old 'Julian' calendar for their church festivals. The Julian calendar, proposed by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, was a reform of the Roman calendar. It took effect on 1 January 45 BC, by edict. It was designed with the aid of Greek mathematicians and Greek astronomers such as Sosigenes of Alexandria. The calendar was the predominant calendar in the Roman world and most of Europe for more than 1,600 years.

The star represents the birth of Jesus and the journey of the Wise Men to find Jesus. This indicates that Christmas can start!

Ukrainian Christmas Day also kicks off a 12-day period of caroling and more celebrations, ending with the Epiphany liturgy on Jan. 19. The Ephiphany, here, refers to the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi, and the manifestation of His Divinity.

Both the Orthodox and Western Christmas celebrations are meant to mark the birth of Jesus. The Very Reverend Archpriest Taras Makowsky, dean of Saskatoon’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, says the two traditions have much in common, but also differ somewhat in their approach.

1.The Date: Orthodox Christmas Eve is Jan. 6, with Christmas Day following on Jan. 7.

The difference in date is down to the Orthodox Church continuing to use the Julian calendar, which predates the Gregorian calendar used in the West.

“It’s not to say that either date is 100 per cent correct, it’s just this is the church calendar we follow. And it’s still important for the Orthodox world to still show respect for the Dec. 25 celebration that the rest of the world celebrates,” Makowsky says.

2. The Food: In the Western tradition, the big Christmas Day meal typically features turkey or ham. Makowsky says the Orthodox feast on Christmas Eve is usually meatless. But don’t mistake a lack of meat for a lack of food — the supper has 12 courses, as it’s meant to break a traditional fasting period of 40 days leading up to the big night. These courses include kutya; pickled Herring; beet salad; bean salad with garlic; marinated mushrooms; vinaigrette salad; cabbage rolls stuffed with buckwheat and mushrooms; borscht; deep fried white fish; ovenroasted cabbage; perogies with potatoes; perogies with sauerkraut and a special dessert called uzvar.

“The Western world calls it Advent and we call it the Fast of Phillip,” Makowsky says.

3. The Duration The 40-day Fast of Phillip lasts a little longer than the roughly 28 days of Advent leading up to Christmas. Makowsky says Ukrainian Christmas Day also kicks off a 12-day period of caroling and more celebrations, ending with the Epiphany liturgy on Jan. 19. Ukrainian New Year’s — Malanka — falls in between, on Jan. 13.

4. The Gifts Gift-giving in the Orthodox tradition usually happens on Saint Nicholas Day or the Feast of Saint Nicholas, which falls on Dec. 6.

5. The Music Between Christmas and Epiphany, the tradition is for children to go caroling.

“That’s the fun part of the Christmas celebrations. The kids look forward to it, because of course they get a box of juice or chocolates — something like that.”

One of the more well-known Ukrainian carols is Shchedryk, a traditional New Year’s song that was adapted into the English Carol of the Bells.

Shchedryk shchedryk, shchedrivochka Pryletila lastivochka Stala sobi shchebetaty Hospodarya vyklykaty "Vyydy, vyydy, hospodaryu Podyvysya na kosharu Tam ovechky pokotylys’ A yahnychky narodylys’ V tebe tovar ves’ khoroshyy Budesh’ maty mirku hroshey V tebe tovar ves’ khoroshyy Budesh’ maty mirku hroshey Khoch ne hroshey, to polova V tebe zhinka chornobrova" Shchedryk shchedryk, shchedrivochka Pryletila lastivochka Translated it means: A little swallow flew (into the household) And started to twitter To summon the master "Come out, come out, O master (of the household) Look at the sheep pen There the ewes are nestling And the lambkin have been born Your goods (livestock) are great You will have a lot of money, (by selling them) Your goods (livestock) are great You will have a lot of money, (by selling them) If not money, then chaff: (from all the grain you will harvest) You have a dark-eyebrowed (beautiful) wife" Shchedryk, shchedryk, a shchedrivka A little swallow flew

Page 30

Aunty Niri’s Corner From my Corner Two Hills Regional Chronicle

JANUARY 2021

Hello there, It’s the middle of winter, life seems to have slowed down after the Christmas and New Year hype, the budget is minimal and ways to keep our families content are dwindling. The toddler’s Christmas toys are already broken, the junior school child has lost his, the pre-teen is simply bored and the teenager hates her life! To add to the already spiraling situation, the Covid-19 pandemic goes on with further restrictions and limited time with friends and family outings.

What do we moms do? We are exhausted, chores seem endless, trying to balance working from home and catering to our darling children’s needs seem to leave some area falling short.

Some chore gets pushed for the next day, supper becomes a quick fix, our endless state of bussiness makes us snap at the bickering siblings and we can’t wait for everyone to go to bed for a few moments of sanity and some alone time. Eventually, the dishes are done, home tidied up and we sink into our bath savoring the suds around us and the silence that we finally have that we have craved for all day….

And then the guilt starts to set in. The email we forgot to send…the birthday wishes to a family member forgotten… was the meal sufficiently nutritious? did we really have to be so harsh with our darlings? We make a mental note to call and email first thing in the morning, mentally plan the healthy meals for the next day. We creep into our children’s rooms and watch them sleep.

Waves of guilt and shame wash over us.

I’m a horrible mother! I don’t deserve these children! Why can’t I do anything right?

We get into bed feeling deflated and ashamed, guilty and condemned…

Promising to try to do better the next day.

I repeated this cycle for several years before finding a balance between being a home-maker, wife and mother and an efficient, reliable and dedicated employee. It did not come easy, and I still have my challenging days, but I found a few ways to keep myself on course. Maybe someone else identifies with this and needs a few suggestions. These are mere guidelines and each mom is at liberty to adapt it to cater to the exclusivity of her own family.

1.Start the day a little earlier to include some Me-time for prayer, meditation and introspection.

2.Be prepared for the unexpected.

3.There is no textbook solution to every problem.

4.Delegate!!

5.Even while you are busy with chores, even if its meal preparations, include the children. It’s a wonderful opportunity for interaction.

6.Put on some music and sing along while you clean.

7.Laugh together!

8.Make a ‘fort’ in the living room and ‘camp’ with the younger kids.

9.Plan popcorn and movie nights.

10.Have a sandwich-making competition.

11.‘Girls’ can have down time together painting each other’s nails or doing each other’s hair.

12.Learn to play your child’s favorite games. It will be awesome to have them teach you a little.

13.The house does not have to look perfect, we do not need to live in ‘museums’.

14.Do some coloring-in with the younger children. It can be very therapeutic for adults.

15.Have role-play games with each member of the family where they get a chance to be you, and you be that member. You will be surprised at how much you learn regarding their perceptions of situations.

Cut yourself some slack…remember that we are only human and do not have everything we feel that we need at our disposal, but we have each other.

So, please let me know how this works for you. I really would appreciate it and I am open to any suggestions that you may want to share with our readers and I. Love always, Niri

Noodle Scratchers • Which is faster, hot or cold?

Hot ... you can easily catch a cold.

• What has hands but no feet, a face but no eyes, tells but does not talk?

A clock • What has teeth but cannot eat?

A comb • What belongs only to you yet is used more often by others?

Your name

Reflections on my Visit to Lovely Canada

JANUARY 2021

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Page 31

Submitted by Johnny Rajoo

M

y last and second visit to your beautiful country, Canada and its vibrant Province, Alberta during your summer of 2018 was a very memorable one. I pledged to visit and explore the vast country every two years but my planned visit in 2020 was rudely interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic raging across the world as international travel bans came into effect.

Almost half of my immediate family, including my brothers, sister, numerous first cousins and countless nephews and nieces are full fledged Canadian citizens, with the one group having first arrived in the land of the Maple Leaf in 1976.

Impressed by its beauty, splendour, peace, tranquillity, democratic values and human rights, many of my South African family members chose to make Canada their final home. Indeed, my own country, South Africa following its first democratic elections in 1994 under the leadership of the great and now late Nelson Mandela has modelled much of its constitutional values and legal systems on the Canadian system.

I spent three wonderful days in the lovely and small town of Two Hills, where my eldest brother Sonny Rajoo is now happily retired. The small town’s citizen impressed me with their kindness and peaceful demeanor. I was welcomed with open arms and made many new friends.

My visit to Canada also exposed me to the destructive effects of global warming on our planet.

Canada which has a strong envi-

ronmental culture and consciousness makes it a dream visit for real nature lovers and ambitious outdoor explorers.

Flanking Alberta’s western border with their rugged mountain peaks and ranges, the Canadian Rockies are home to alpine meadows, blue water lakes, wild waterways, back country wilderness and some of the best hiking and skiing in the world. I visited the famous Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, as well as numerous provincial parks and recreation areas – all of which provide incredible year round adventures and activities.

Having travelled 12000 km by car throughout the Canadian Province of Alberta which is appropriately named as “ Wild Rose County”, the effects of climate change are all too visible. On my visit to the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, glacier cover has been decreasing rapidly in recent years, and total cover is now approaching the least extent experienced in the last several millennia. As the glacial cover has decreased, so have the downstream flow volumes.

Putting it simply - the Canadian Rockies and Canada in general is like “heaven on earth”.

May God Bless Canada and save it from the ravages of the Covid19 pandemic. Stay home and Stay Safe. God Bless You. Pictured Above (Top): Johnny Rajoo – Retired College Campus Manager – in South Africa – reflects on his last visit to Canada (Province of Alberta) visiting his Canadian Families.

Pictured Above: Johnny Rajoo on his last visit to Canada.

(Photos Submitted by Johnny Rajoo)

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Wishing you a very Happy New Year, and a safe and healthy 2021 David & Liz Chomik

Real Estate

Two Hills Regional Chronicle

Page 32

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JANUARY 2021

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