VOLUNTEER, BETTY WALKER WEARS MANY HATS! Betty Walker is a regular attendee at Oyen & District Farmers Market when she is not off helping out in the kitchen at her Saskatchewan hometown of Kelvington’s reunion or working a casino in Medicine Hat for any one of several Oyen organizations. Even at the Farmers Market, she can be manning a different table each week! On June 13, Betty accepted cash donations for the Oyen & District Food Bank. She shared information with visitors about their work, the growing number of people using the service, and some of their greatest pantry needs. She also talked with folk about the display of work done by the local Border Quilters (Vicki Smale, Doreen Rude, herself and Budz Crace of Osoyoos, who stitches the tops together). Betty shared with the photographer that the quilters have given away 150 quilts since October of 2023 to the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter, Oyen Extended Care, Big Country Health Unit for new babies, Ronald McDonald House, and Nurture Pregnancy Centre. She also sold tickets for several local organizations. Betty is a woman who wears many hats and volunteers for many organizations.
PHOTO BY DIANA WALKER
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BORDER KENNELS
A tax refund is just a missed opportunity
“Having investments” isn’t the same thing as financial planning. We believe a real financial plan adapts and grows alongside your life - and includes investments, tax opportunities, estate and legacy planning, and more. Do you agree? Let’s talk.
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Terry Lynne Mactavish
Birthday and Anniversary celebrations this week
BY DIANNE SPATH
Hello Everyone. The first week of August, the weather was a bit cooler, but it was a nice change from the heat. It was nice to get some rain to freshen things up again. I hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend. Tuesday was our regular bus run, followed by some indoor games. Tuesday was National Root Beer Float Day, so the residents enjoyed some root beer floats in the afternoon.
Wednesday morning was exercises. Outdoor horseshoes were cancelled due to the cool weather. Wednesday was pub afternoon. The residents enjoyed some refreshments and celebrated Doreen Rudes’ birthday and Don & Margaret Bamber’s 65th Anniversary.
Some residents dressed in purple because of Purple Heart Day.
Thursday morning was spent outdoors walking. ATB Financial Bank was at the Lodge in the morning. The residents also enjoyed lunch and homemade pie at the Acadia Valley Elevator and a drive-by of the solar panel area in Acadia Valley. The young ladies who prepared our meals did a wonderful job. The handi bus took a different route back to Oyen so the residents could see some different country.
Friday morning was exercises. Some residents went to the farmer’s market for a little shopping and turkey dinner prepared by the Acadia Colony. Friday evening, there was music by the Jorgenson’s. Have a great week, everyone.
OYEN LODGE NEWS
A day out at the Acadia Valley Tea House. PHOTOS BY DIANNE SPATH
Pub Day
OPINION:
Raising kids who grow up looking for opportunities
BY JOAN JANZEN
A wealthy businessman posted a photo of four children happily climbing on a valuable Lamborghini sports car. The man’s accompanying comment was, “The happiness of children is the most valuable thing in the world. A million-dollar Lamborghini can’t compare to that.” But the interesting part wasthe kids didn’t belong to him, and neither did the Lamborghini.
Everyone would agree that the happiness of children is important, but it’s also important to remember they will be our future caregivers, professionals, employers and leaders. And what kind of leaders do we want in years to come?
Riley Gaines is an athlete who was interviewed by Xaviaer DuRousseau and commented, “We need to see more people leading by example rather than doing what they do for personal advancement or monetary gain.” Twentyfour-year-old Riley is one of those leaders who made the difficult decision to interrupt her education to advocate for fair competition in female sports.
Motivational speaker Patricia King recently spoke on social media about the qualities that are desired of a good leader. A good leader is someone who doesn’t expect to be served, but wants to serve others. “Not someone who wants to be great and is serving their
own purposes,” she noted. A leader’s motive should always be to benefit others, not someone who promises something beneficial but the promise ends up being harmful.
Her next attribute for a leader was humility. “A leader who is humble, rather than someone who wants power, control and popularity,” she said. Talk to anyone from a communist nation, and they will tell you all about that.” Pastors who counsel many people during their daily routine see people who are pressured by the need to please others.
“There are people who work hard for recognition who are usually fighting for their personal identity,” Pastor Bill Johnson said. “But any identity that you get through applause of others, you’ll have to sustain through the applause of others.” He said people motivated by this need can be easily intimidated.
He went on to explain that one of the most basic needs is to be valued by someone. He said although being affirmed and celebrated in a family and community is a huge part of life, it’s not the source of one’s identity. “Identity has to come through the wonders of being created by a loving God who places value on every life,” he said.
After reading numerous articles written by nurses and hospice staff who work with people at the end of their lives, he noticed one common thread.
TO THE EDITOR:
POLITICIANS WANT MORE LAWS MADE TO PROTECT THEM
More Laws won’t do it alone. If they’d govern for the people and get rid of the corruption that has crept into the political system at the Federal level, I’m sure this would go a long way in making the job of a politician much safer. And remember, God is looking over your shoulder, too. Still, I doubt if we’ll ever return to the days of Ralph Kline,
who was able to walk into a bar, pull up a chair to sit with the local yokels and tell a few jokes and BS over a couple of beers without needing a hundred security guards with him. In the summer BBQ season, you would find him out and about with a Shriner and probably a local MP. My how times have changed!!
Robert Blagen Youngstown, AB
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We welcome the opinions of our readers in the form of letters to the editor, as long as submissions do not include: • Profanity, vulgarity and/or obscenities • Slurs and/or personal attacks • Misinformation We reserve sole discretion to decide whether or not a reader submission will be published. We will not publish anonymous submissions or letters containing personal attacks. We reserve the right to edit or refuse all letters.
“The number one regret is that they lived their life according to the expectations of people around them and not according to their dreams,” he observed.
Mike Rowe, well-known for the show Dirty Jobs, also addressed this topic in a recent online interview on TBN. “What’s changed is we’ve told kids that happiness depends on what they do, not on who they are,” he said. It was a life lesson he learned in his own career.
He had twenty years of success on television and a thriving business. “But it had no real inherent meaning for me. Dirty Jobs straightened me out,” he said. “It forced me to be humble in a way that I never would have imagined on camera.”
He recalled an episode where a pig farmer collected the leftovers from Las Vegas casinos and fed it to his pigs. As a result, his pigs grew like crazy, and he saved the casinos an incredible amount of money in landfill costs. Although he raised pigs, the man thought of himself as a conservationist and found true value in his work. So much so, that when he was offered $70 million for his property, he refused. Mike observed that figuring out how to love your job that provides a need can be defined as success.
“None of the people on Dirty Jobs were doing the things they originally thought they would be doing. They were people who were looking for opportunities,” Mike said.
A comment posted by someone lis-
tening to the interview was also relevant. The man said he has his masters in Physics. “I was offered a job with a pay cheque I could never have imagined possible and did the job well,” he posted. “But I retired early and bought a sheep farm. I work harder moving 20 tons of poop every year than I ever worked before, and I love it! Now I’m finally happy.”
Those stories are living examples of Bill Johnson’s observation that the need to please people can cause a person to lose courage and take a safer path that is more well thought of by others.
He also said, “Parenting, if done correctly, provides identity, enables children to understand their purpose and destiny and awareness of unlimited resources. Because there’s always enough to do what’s right.”
There was a 16-year-old skateboarder who had the courage to do what she knew to be right despite opposing forces. The bronze medalist from Brazil was instructed on what she wasn’t allowed to say publicly. Nevertheless, before accepting her medal, she smiled and signed, “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.”
The happiness of children is important, but it’s even more important that they know they are valued by God and their family. Then they’re more likely to have the courage to pursue their dreams and possess a passion for serving others.
Pop89: Life list
BY MADONNA HAMEL
Every birder has a life list - a wish list of all the birds they must see with their own eyes before they die. Hardcore birders will fly all the way to the other side of the world to tick off a flamingo or a pileated pecker. I wondered if David would even bother staying the night.
I was living in the Val Marie Convent at the time. Once the country school my mother attended in the 30s, it’s now a B&B. In 2014, I was accepted as the writer-in-residence. The owners gave me the former Mother Superior’s room in the basement next to the laundry. They referred to it as the Cinderella Room. It was all I needed - a comfortable bed with a cozy duvet, a closet, a sink and a chair. I felt like the Desert Mother I needed to be. I wrote in the upstairs chapel all day, every day, for three months.
In exchange for my room and use of the kitchen, all I was expected to do was write and eat breakfast with the guests. Many of them were from Europe or big Eastern cities and, like David, had never experienced the vastness of the prairie. Even Canadians don’t expect a border town to be so remote, as most of our big cities tend to be huddled along the 49th.
David was a birder from Washington D.C. Arriving late one Friday evening, looking a bit dazed and lost, he told us he came because his birding app alerted him to dozens of Baird Sparrow sightings in The Grasslands. “It’s on the top of my Life List,” he explained. “So I booked a flight to Regina, rented a car and I’ve already checked off three more birds on my list, including the Baird! I almost turned around and
headed home. But, hey, I came this far.”
The next morning at breakfast, I took my coffee over to David’s table in the corner, away from the long table set for all the guests. “How’d you sleep?” I asked. “It took a while,” he said. “It’s too quiet.” “I guess it can be. But for me, it’s just right,” I laughed. He looked out the window. “It would be so lonely to live here. There’s nothing for miles.”
No doubt, it’s a shock to the system for people who come from places like D.C.- ground zero of the American political system. “I’ve been there,” I said. “The energy is palpable. Things are always changing, disrupting. The constant lobbying, charming, dealing … and that’s not counting the racial stuff. Sorry. You don’t need me telling you about your home.”
“No it’s true. You’re not aware of how those vibes eat at you, until you leave. But coming here is the extreme opposite. It’s spooky. Like I’m in a Western Movie. In a ghost town.”
“It takes settling into. But it can be noisy too, when the wind picks up, sometimes for days on end. And the birds, you didn’t hear them this morning? They woke me at 3:30 with their racket! By the way, There’s a bird that makes a sort of whirring call. A kind of woo-woo-woo song. In the evening. It’s haunting. I can never seem to spot it. Do you know what it is?”
“Well, actually, that’s not a song. It’s his tail. It’s called the Wilson’s Winnowing Snipe and what you’re hearing is the winnowing sound it makes when it drops from the sky after doing concentric circles way up high. It fans its tail feathers and kinda freefalls.”
“That’s tail feathers making that sound?”
“Yep, they do it to attract a mate.”
“Oh, like in The Harlem Shuffle: ‘Shake your tail feathers, baby!’”
By the time David had finished his bacon and eggs he was ready to head back to ‘civilization’ as he knew it. “Just point me to the gas station.”
Federal government cuts funding for Alberta workers
Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Matt Jones issued the following statement on the Canada-Alberta Job Grant on Wednesday, August 7.
“As a result of Ottawa’s unexpected and unreasonable decision to cut $70.8 million in Labour Market Transfer Agreement (LMTA) funding for Alberta, our government has been forced to put an indefinite hold on the Canada-Alberta Job Grant program for the remainder of the 2024-25 fiscal year.
2023-24 to Alberta employers so new workers could be properly trained. This funding also supported existing employees in gaining job-related skills, with small- and medium-sized businesses receiving approximately 80 per cent of the overall funding.
“Despite several letters to the federal government, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Randy Boissonnault urging reason, the federal government has proceeded with their LMTA cut for Alberta’s workers.
“As a result of this cut, Alberta’s employers will be short roughly $10 million in skills and training funding for 2024-25. This means approximately 1,000 businesses, and the training for up to 4,000 Albertan employees, will be impacted.
“LMTAs support important workforce development programs that help Albertans get the training they need to find and keep good jobs. This includes the Canada-Alberta Job Grant program, which provided nearly $27 million in
“This cut to funding has serious, far-reaching consequences for workers and comes at a time when Alberta continues to face critical skills shortages in several industries, including construction, health care and education. The Canada-Alberta Job Grant program has helped thousands of Albertans close skills gaps, further strengthening Alberta’s labour market and growing our economy.
“Our government understands the impact a strong and skilled labour force has on the success of Alberta’s economy. Alberta’s government is working hard to develop and implement new employer-led training programs that will provide Albertans with similar opportunities to learn job-related skills.
“While we are disappointed with the federal government’s decision to cut LMTA funding, we remain committed to addressing labour shortages and skilled-training gaps through innovative programs that meet the needs of employers, training providers and industry, both now and in the future.”
“Oh, we don’t have one,” I said. “You have to go to Bracken. But I’ll go with you. It’s not far. And I’ll show you a real ghost town on the way.”
Three jars of unopened potato salad sat on a shelf of the abandoned grocery store. A pair of cowboy boots were parked by the hingeless door. On the wall hung a starburst clock stopped at 3:19.” I pulled out my notepad.
“What’s that you’re writing?” David asked.” This is my own Life List of found objects. Abandoned objects, actually. Things people leave behind, have no use for. I used to peel wallpaper to see how many layers were underneath and take a chunk. I wonder sometimes if it was the same family trying for a new look. And how many people lived here before it was abandoned? I realize it’s disrespectful to take things. They’re not mine to take. Nothing here is mine.
We got in his car and headed to Bracken where he filled his tank at the pump. “In D.C. we can’t just just pull up and start pumping gas,” he marveled. “We have to leave our card with the clerk behind the bullet-proof glass.” He filled the tank and we walked into the Co-op. The woman behind the till, who also runs a B&B down the road, said hi and smiled at David, waiting patiently.
The two of them stood like that for a few seconds until, finally, she said: “Well, how much?” “How Much?” he repeated. “How much do you owe?” She said. “Oh,” he said. “Just a sec”. He stepped out to check the pump and returned. “54.36?” he said, looking stunned. “Ok,” she said, plunking the price into the cash register. “That’ll be 54.36.” He handed over his card, looking as if he wasn’t sure what just happened there. “Wow,” he said, shaking his head as we walked back to his car. “That’s a first. I think I’ll have to start a new life list of my own.”
Country Agricultural Society was among sponsors of the
4H Show & Sale. As stated in the Big Country Agricultural Society’s Bylaws, their objective is “to encourage improvement in agriculture and enhance the quality of life for persons living in the community by developing educational programs, events, services and facilities based on the needs of the community.” One of the specific objectives listed is “To support and cooperate with associations organized to improve farm production and to promote and encourage farm activities to enrich rural life.” In keeping with this objective, BCAS was a $1400 sponsor of the Hanna District 4-H Show and Sale held at the Crossroads Centre last June. BCAS President Dave Cordick presents a cheque to Sadie Rude, a member of the East Sounding Creek
Matt Jones
Big
Hanna District
4H who hosted the event.
PHOTO BY DIANA WALKER
Scheffler’s Olympic gold ends all POY arguments
BY BRUCE PENTON
After Xander Schauffele won the Open championship at Troon for his second major championship of 2024, the major conversation among golf insiders was about PGA Tour Player of the Year.
BY BRUCE PENTON Sports Columnist
The debate percolated for a couple of weeks — does Schauffele’s two majors trump Scottie Scheffler’s six victories, including the Masters, the Players and the Memorial — or was Scheffler’s sterling record enough to give him the POY title.
It was a legitimate argument for a couple of weeks, but it ended abruptly in Paris when Scheffler roared back to win the Olympic gold medal with a final round nine-under-par 62 while Schauffele, who was tied for the lead entering the final round, faded to a tie for ninth with a two-over-par 73.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us introduce you to the Player of the Year — Scottie Scheffler.
When you consider Schauffele has finished in the top 10 in 13 of his 19 tournaments this year, and has gone 52 events in a row without missing the cut (dating back to the Masters in 2022), his POY credentials were certainly solid. Most years, the player of the year winner is obvious. And going into the Open Championship, the runaway leader was Scheffler. But Schaffele’s win muddied the water until Scheffler abruptly ended the debate with his victory in Paris.
Schauffele may still have a whisker of an outside chance. There are two playoff events to be played in
SPORTS TALK
August, along with the Tour Championship for the Fed-Ex Cup Aug. 29-Sept. 1. Schauffele running the table on those last three events could give him the title, but winning all three is unlikely. But let’s say Schauffele wins the first playoff event and Scheffler takes the second one. If that were the case, the Player of the Year would be the one who won the Fed Ex Cup.
Twenty years ago, this award had almost an automatic winner: Tiger Woods was POY 11 times in a 17-year period. If Scheffler were to win in 2024, that would give him three in a row and create more talk of elevating him to Woods’ status.
Who will win the honour this year has been the popular topic on various golf sites since Schauffele thrust himself into the conversation at Troon. One wise guy predicted the winner would be someone whose name started with ‘Sch’. Another said Bryson DeChambeau winning the other major title this year (the U.S. Open) prevented a ‘Grand Schlam.’
All joking aside, other than a bonus from their equipment companies for winning the POY, there is nothing at stake except the honour involved. For a while after the Open, the discussion was lively, and legitimate. But the gold medal in Paris probably clinched the third consecutive Player of the Year for Scheffler. Pretty hard to beat one major, one gold medal and five other titles, including the Players and Memorial.
• Headline at Canadian satirical website The Beaverton: “Olympic trampolinist scores extra points for resonant, high pitched ‘wheee!!!’”
• Another beaverton.com offering: “Embarrassed FIFA announces that Canadians can only use their left feet during quarter-finals.”
• Super 70s Sports: “Military experts later confirmed that Chuck Norris and Walter Payton together on the same boat was temporarily the world’s fourth-strongest navy.”
• Vancouver comedy guy Torben Rolfsen: “LeBron James was the first NBA player to carry the Olympic flag for the U.S., just like he carried his son Bronny at the NBA draft last month.”
• Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: “The NFL Is finally going to stop measuring first downs with two poles and a chain. And they’re going to stop counting the score by using a big rock for each point.”
• From Bob Molinaro of pilotonline.com (Hampton, Va.): “Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan, after winning bronze in fencing, said ‘To all the athletes who could not be here because Russia killed them, I dedicate this to them.’”
• Another one from Molinaro: “Aaron Rodgers won’t be satisfied until he gets his head coach fired.”
• Author and humorist Steve Burgess of Vancouver: “Wow. So far the Canadian women’s Olympic soccer team has defeated: New Zealand, France, Colombia, FIFA, and their own coaching staff.”
• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “I just saw where the Lakers signed second-round pick Bronny James – who really shouldn’t have even been drafted – to a multi-year guaranteed contract! And you wonder why Dan Hurley turned down the job?”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “ This just in: Beverly Hills 90210, Edmonton Elks 11.”
• Another one from Currie: “OHL and WHL junior hockey players are suing to be paid minimum wage. League representatives were quoted as saying: ‘Who do they think we are? The CFL?’”
• Headline at fark.com: “Juan Pablo Montoya to race in the Cup Series at Watkins Glen. Jet dryer drivers seen updating their insurance policies.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
Olympics more about controversy than athletes and medals
BY GREG BUCHANAN
The Olympics are never short on controversy and scandal, and Paris has been no different so far.
From opening ceremony shenanigans to polluted water, drone-spying, sexist remarks by commentators, and hijab bans, here are the stories that are stealing headlines at the 2024 Paris Olympics for all the wrong reasons.
Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer who recently defeated Italian Angela Carini in an Olympic welterweight bout, faced scrutiny over a failed gender eligibility test at the 2023 World Championships, where reports indicated elevated testosterone levels, which sparked speculation about her biological gender.
However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stood by Khelif, confirming her eligibility to compete in the women’s division based on current regulations.
The Olympics are never short on controversy and scandal, and Paris has been no different so far.
Khelif’s victory over Carini, a bout that ended in just 46 seconds, intensified the debate. Carini expressed shock at the power behind Khelif’s punches but refrained from commenting on the eligibility issue.
As Khelif continues her quest for Olympic gold, the discussions around her case underscore the complexities of gender eligibility in sports. Her matches’ outcome will likely keep her sup-
“You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.“
Michael Phelps
porters and critics engaged as she aims to achieve Olympic glory. Oh, times are changing. I have covered sports at all levels for over 30 years. 20 years would make a skit on Saturday Night Live.
At the Paris Olympics, Australian Kaylee McKeown’s bronze medal in the women’s 200-metre individual medley was shrouded in controversy after American swimmer Alex Walsh was disqualified.
Walsh finished third before being disqualified for an inappropriate manoeuvre during the race. The manoeuvre stemmed from a disputed interpretation of her butterfly-to-backstroke transition, which some observers felt was a dubious call.
Walsh had been leading with a commanding performance and looked to finish atop the podium until the last 25 metres, when Canada’s Summer McIntosh and fellow American Kate Douglass caught up to take gold and silver,
respectively.
McKeown, who was in contention but not leading, delivered an impressive race to a fourth-place finish. Following Walsh’s controversial disqualification, she would eventually be given the bronze medal.
The situation sparked a debate among fans, who had a range of opinions over the decision’s fairness and impact on the event’s outcome. Some fans argued whether Walsh’s disqualification was valid, while others defended the officials’ adherence to the rules.
Walsh’s younger sister, Gretchen, is also competing in the Paris Games. She won gold in the 4x100-metre mixed medley relay and silver in the 100-metre butterfly and the 4x100-metre freestyle relay.
The storylines will include not only the sports, athletes, and medals but also controversies. The Olympics wouldn’t be the Olympics any other way.
MUSEUM MUSINGS
Myrtle
Varney donates paintings to Crossroads Museum
Myrtle Varney of Medicine Hat recently donated several farm scenes to the Oyen & District Museum. They are proudly displayed in Westside School which serves as our office.
Myrtle (Doran) Varney, a resident of the Oyen area for most of her life, was born in Oyen in 1924. When Myrtle moved into town, she could pursue her artistic desire with a group of interested folks. They formed Studio 9-41 and worked together for more than 30 years.
The Quonset on the museum
grounds depicts several rural scenes all done by Studio 9-41 artists. Myrtle also has a painting displayed in the Oyen’s Main Street Park. Her paintings of the grain elevators over the years are showcased at the Prairie Elevator in Acadia Valley. If you haven’t had a chance to experience the Treasure Hunt at the museum, there is still time! Give John and Mya a call to arrange a time. We’ll be open until August 23. Drop in for a tour. We would love to see you.
Man Van tests 31 for prostate cancer
BY DIANA WALKER
Saturday, June 22, the Man Van from Calgary rolled into Oyen and parked on the street between Halfway Pizza and Convenience Store and Lijdsman Insurance making easy access for the attendees and bikers at the BCAS Car/Bike Show.
“We tested 31 men and we had 1 elevated PSA at that time,” said Cresta Boyce, Man Van Booking Coordinator/Prostate Cancer Centre, Calgary. Of the 31 men, four were in the age category of 40-49; nine between 50-59; thirteen between 60-69 and five were 70 plus. Eighteen of those men had previous PSA tests; five had fathers with a history of prostate cancer; 24 had seen a doctor in less than one year.
The Oyen & District Chamber of Commerce and Big Country Agricultural Society were pleased to share the cost of bringing the Man Van to our community. Both organizations praise those who took the time to go through the Man Van.
BUFFALO NEWS
Annual Buffalo Rodeo set for this weekend
BY LORRAINE MONKMAN
The countryside has received varying amounts of rain in the past few days. I know it’s not great for those who are harvesting but the danger of fire is so much reduced.
Just a reminder of the memorial service to honour Betty Rinker will be held in Buffalo Hall on Wednesday, August 14 at 2:00 p.m. Betty passed away in Calgary on May 2, 2024 and is survived by her daughter Debbie (Jerry) Schmipf, granddaughter Krystal Riddick and great granddaughters Hannah, Nyah and Ellie Riddick all of Calgary Brother Wayne (Myna) Wendt, and sisters Lily Rinker and Linda Becker will also miss Betty as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Get well wishes are extended to Jodie Campbell who had an accident with her horse on Sunday. Jodie is in Foothills Hospital suffering broken bones. Get well soon Jodie. This is not the vacation you had planned! The annual Buffalo Rodeo is scheduled for this weekend August 16, 17 and 18 at the rodeo grounds. Come out and take part in this family event.
“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.“
John Ruskin
Lorraine Monkman
PHOTO BY DIANA WALKER
PHOTO BY TRACY HUDSON - REMEMBER WHEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Our record of deaths – 1964
BY BERNIE KREWSKI
One of the more inspiring experiences of our times is the possibility that deaths of our loved ones and friends will be gracefully accompanied by a perceptive and vividly written obituary acknowledging their very existence. That now happens due to the wide-ranging work of many journalists during the last thirty years. Examples are Sandra Martin’s “Working the Dead Beat: 50 Lives That Changed Canada” (2012), and “Canada From Affair: The Daily Telegraph Book of Canadian Obituaries” (1996), edited by David Twiston Davies. Newspaper accounts in 1964 marking the deaths of people connected to this district during their lifetime offer a distinct contrast.
LAWSON – The family history John Lawson of Cappon is recorded in Many Trails Crossed Here (MTCH) vol. 1, pp. 197-198). At age 76, at some time during the week of January 12, he died in the Nanaimo Hospital a few hours after being struck by a car. He and his wife were spending the winter months in that B.C. community.
NORDBLOM – Mrs. Isobel Nordblom, wife of George (MTCH, 178), died suddenly at her home on Saturday, Feb. 1. Sympathy is extended to the Nordblom, Love, and Doupe families.
WILSON – “Sibbald Pioneer Dies At 90” was the headline in the Edmonton Journal, Feb. 8.
Charles Wilson (Sibbald Community History, 353-354) was a “pioneer of the Sibbald district before coming to Edmonton in 1950.” Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Mr. Wilson came to Canada in 1904. After working in Montreal and Winnipeg, he moved to Sibbald, taking up a homestead which he farmed until his retirement in 1950. His wife predeceased him in 1937.
He joined the AF&AM (a Masonic designation) before coming to Canada and was a life member of the Acadia Lodge in Oyen. Mr. Wilson is survived by his daughter, Mrs. A.S. Corneliuson of Edmonton, with whom he has been living since his retirement, two grandchildren and two sisters. Services and burial occurred at Sibbald. No date of death was provided.
SHAW – Mrs. Shaw, Dean McKelvie’s grandmother, an early resident of Benton, died at Whiterock, B.C ., as reported in the Hanna Herald on March 7. No date of death was indicated. Margaret and Ben Shaw’s brief history is recorded in Alsask’s “Captured Memories,” p. 421.
McLEAN - Mrs. Jack McLean died in the Medicine Hat Hospital on March 26 following a brief illness, The McLeans, former residents of Oyen (MTCH, p. 146), are currently residents of Bindloss.
RUDE – Mrs. Clara Rude, age 69, died at St. Mary’s Hospital in Camrose on March 30. Her family history is in Sedalia’s “Wind, Willows & Prairie Wool,” pp. 317-318. She was born Dec. 13, 1894, in Minnesota, moved with her parents to Melfort, SK where she married John Rude on April 11, 1911, subsequently moving to Sedalia. She was predeceased by two sons, Clifford and one in infancy, and leaves five daugh-
ters and seven sons.
SVATOS – Frank Svatos, age 73 or 74 (MTCH, p. 202), died at the Calgary General Hospital on April 12 following a long illness. He was well known in the Cappon district where he farmed for many years and more recently just north of Oyen. His remains will be forwarded to Edmonton for services and interment.
GREEN - The headline in the Calgary Herald said: “Curling Vet Bob Green Dies At 71.” Mr. Green died at the Holy Cross Hospital on April 15. He arrived in Lanfine from Ontario in 1914 and farmed there and at Dinsmore, SK until 1948 when he and wife Emma moved to Calgary. He was a “ the most familiar figures around the city curling scene,” a member of the Meadowlark Club since its formation in the 1950s. He is survived by Emma, son Lee and daughter, Mrs. Lois Costigan of Calgary.
DOBROSKY – On April 23, the Hanna Herald announced the death of Phyllis Dobrosky (nee Blehm) providing no date or any further information.
BODNARUK – This was cited as an Obituary. Samuel Bodnaruk, a resident of the Cappon district for 46 years, passed away in the Oyen Municipal Hospital, Wednesday, March 18, following a lengthy illness. Born in Ukraine 69 years ago, Mr. Bodnaruk came to Canada in 1911, working his way west, and settled in the Cappon district in 1918 where he was engaged in farming until the time of his death. Beside his wife, he is survived by three sons: Dmitro and Peter of Cappon and John of Calgary; four daughters, Mrs. Jeanette Senkiw of Sibbald, Mary of Calgary, Mrs. Madeline Taylor of Cappon, Annie in Oyen; a sister residing in Ukraine, and six grandchildren. Funeral services were at the Greek Orthodox Church, March 21, with Father Seneshen officiating. Interment followed in the Oyen cemetery under the direction of Klym’s Funeral Home. His family history is in MTCH, v. 1, p. 188.
NEVILLE - “Pioneer Woman Dies In Calgary” (Hanna Herald, June 4, p. 1). An early pioneer of the Cappon district, Ida Antonio Hoffman, age 88, died on May 24. Born at Chilton, Wisconsin, December 7, 1875, Ida married Michael Neville in Neilsville, Wisconsin, and they commenced homesteading in North Dakota in 1903, coming to the Cappon district in 1910. They retired in Oyen in November 1950. Mrs. Neville entered a Calgary nursing home in March this year. She is survived by a sister-in-law, a niece and several nephews in Wisconsin. She is predeceased by her husband in 1953 (July 16, MTCH v. 2, p. 174) and a brother and a sister. Her funeral was at Sacred Heart Church in Oyen. Pallbearers were Percy Carroll, Frank Volk, Carl Haugsett, Roy Horne, William McDonald and Clinton McMullen. The Neville family history is in MTCH, v. 1, p. 167.
PADBERG – Ida & John. Ida died on June 1 and John on August 31. There is a brief reference to Ida in the Hanna Herald on June 25: “Rush Centre Women’s Institute Pays Tribute to Deceased Member,” especially for being secretary-treasurer of the women’s institute for 48 years. Two months later a brief
note referred to John’s funeral at the Catholic Church on August 31. Their family history in Esther’s “Sage Brush and Sifting Sand”, pp. 558-560, makes no reference to the dates of their deaths.
BRUNNER – The Hanna Herald published this tragic news report on July 23: “Mother of Six Killed on No. 9 Highway; Fishing Trip to Dobson Reservoir Ends in Tragedy for Family From Acadia Valley. Mrs. Alf Brunner, age 34 killed; husband in Oyen Hospital with severe injuries; 6 children escape.” This fishing trip was a daylong outing for Mrs. and Mr. Brunner, their four children and two friends. Their late model station wagon left the highway four miles east of Cereal. Mrs. Brunner, the driver, was killed instantly. Mr. Brunner is in serious condition with a fractured skull and broken ribs. None of the six children were seriously injured. Accompanying the four Brunner children were Wayne Brausse of Acadia Valley and Clifford Qually of Oyen. Several children received medical attention in Oyen. The family resided on a family farm in the Vandyne district. The accident occurred around 10:00 p.m. The cause is not known. After leaving the highway, the auto sheared off a pole and landed in the ditch at a location near the railway crossing. A short follow-up report on July 30 indicated that Clifford Qually was released from hospital after a few days and Mr. Brunner is progressing favorably.
An addendum to this news report was a series of emails from Rick Brunner, one of the children involved in this accident, and Diana Walker in May 2019. That is a larger story worthy of greater attention at another time.
ABBOTT - Howard Davies reports the death of Thomas Morley Abbott of Keswick, Cumberland, England on Aug 18. He was age 77. Mr. Abbott came to this district in 1911, farming with his brother Sid four miles south of Oyen. They disposed of their farm in 1952 and moved back to England. Sid died Dec 31, 1963.
CARROLL – Mrs. Mary (Joe) Carroll, age 83, died in Calgary recently. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph, in 1961. She is survived by two sons, Leo of Port Alberni BC, and Percy of Cappon, four daughters Mrs. Isabell Sidle, Mrs. Rita Fuller of Calgary, Mrs. Doris Kosman, Edmonton, and Mrs. Lillian Knapik of Acadia Valley. Funeral services were held at Sacred Heart Church in Oyen, September 5. Interment followed in the Oyen Cemetery. In MTCH,
v. 1, p. 165, it says that Joe Carroll died in the spring of 1960, not 1961, and Mary in 1966. Keith MacLean’s records state Joseph died on January 11, 1960, and Mary on September Sept 3, 1964.
MALYX – The death of Mrs. Malyx of Oyen was reported in the Hanna Herald on Oct. 8 with no accompanying information.
PEERS – The death of the wellknown Acadia Valley pioneer, Warren Peers, was reported in the Hanna Herald on October 15: “Early Settler of Acadia Valley , W.F. Peers Laid to Rest Oct. 10; was early homesteader, storekeeper and postmaster; came in 1910.” His life is described extensively in Acadia Valley’s “Times to Remember.”
WRIGHT – This also was cited as an Obituary. Walter Wright, 81, died in Oyen Hospital on October 31 after a long illness. He was born in Sherwood, Ontario in 1873 (incorrect – 1883), married Harriet Yake in 1905, and came to the Cappon district in 1916. They retired to Oyen in 1953. Harriet died in October (Oct. 27, Keith Maclean records) 1955. He is survived by his son Robert of Helmsdale, daughter Edna of Cappon, five grandchildren, and a brother in Toronto. Besides Harriet, he was predeceased by sons Gordon and Donald, three brothers and two sisters. Services were conducted at the United Church with Rev. Barnum. Pallbearers were Charlie Greenwood, Ronald Kulbergs, Gordon McBain, Aleck McNally, Frank Hoffman and Carl Haugsett. There is a brief family history in MTCH, v. 1, p. 169. There, reference is made to daughter Edna’s marriage to Frank Logan in 1928 and Robert’s to Irene Stammers in 1942. No reference is made to his predeceased sons, Gordon and Donald. His date of death is listed as Oct. 30 in Keith MacLean’s records.
LYNETT - “City Parish Priest, Rev. J.C. Lynett, Dies” (Calgary Herald, Dec. 7). Father Lynett was the parish priest in Oyen from 1923 to 1938, an unusually long appointment. He had great influence of my older brother, Walter. He was also a great tennis player. Educated in Kitchener and Toronto, he was ordained in 1921. Before arriving in Oyen, he briefly served in Calgary and Drumheller. After Oyen, he spent five years in Carstairs, then St. John’s in Calgary. Coincidentally, he had visited Oyen a few weeks before his sudden death to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Oyen’s Catholic parish.
STREET SIGN IN OYEN Dedicated to DR. ED DOROSZ
Join in the Dedication of the street sign at the turn into the Crossroads Centre in Oyen on
Saturday, August 17 @ 1:00 PM
11th Avenue East, Oyen will also be known as Dorosz Drive in memory of Dr. Ed Dorosz, former veterinarian in Oyen, and a president of Big Country Agricultural Society. Join Sandra Dorosz and her daughter Sarah and husband Jason Baker and their daughter Kate for cake, Ice cream, refreshments and a lot of visiting under the tent near the sign.
Small Business Week event in the works
SUBMITTED
The bi-monthly meeting was held at the FCSS Youth Centre, and members who were present were treated to a BBQ lunch prepared by Kim Walker, who volunteered to prepare the meal for our next meeting on September 18, 2024. Discussion took place regarding the summer events, specifically the pancake breakfasts in June and July. Both events were extremely well attended, with over 250 people enjoying pancakes, sausages (generously donated by the Oyen
We kindly ask for your support in our 2024
TOOLS for SCHOOL
CAMPAIGN
Monetary Donations for supply kits OR Purchasing of Supplies are both needed!
A list of items can be found at Oyen Pharmacy, Home Hardware, Oyen FCSS Office & FCSS Facebook page
Please have items at these locations by Aug. 23, 2024
If you feel your child(ren) or know of a family in need of receiving school supplies please contact: Our Office: 403-664-2255 or email: oyenfcss@telus.net
Thank You So Much For Your Support!
Canalta Hotel), eggs, coffee, and juice at each breakfast.
The Chamber has decided to host an annual event to promote business in and around Special Areas #3. This new event will take place during Small Business Week in 2025. Stay tuned for more details!
The telephone directory is almost complete and will be available for distribution at the final Farmers Market of the season on September 6, 2024. Look for our table and get a copy of the Business Directory.
It may be early, but the Chamber is already making plans for the Christmas season. We are excited to bring back the Passport to Christmas, along with several other events that will take place over the month of De
cember during the late-night shopping days. Details will be finalized at our next meeting in September, and we can't wait to share them with you!
If you want to join the Chamber or attend one of our meetings, please contact Charmain Snell, Secretary/Treasurer at 403-664-1404 or email: oyenchamberofcommerce@gmail.com.
Church Service held at Norris farm
SUBMITTED
Sixteen people gathered at the gorgeous farm
yard of Brian and Heather Norris on Sunday, July 7, to attend an Oyen United Church Service. The weather was perfect—no bugs, and the sun streamed through the tree cover. A few birds added to the music. A gopher tried to catch part of the festivity.
Heather capably delivered the message from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 12:2-10 “I will be as strong as weak as I am.”
After contemplating on the chosen scripture, guest vocalist and guitarist Clark Huston stated that his weakness was “saying No, and his love for music.” He then sang a couple of songs. The congregation thanked him for his weakness. Jerilyn Norris also shares the same weakness and sang a couple of songs. Clark and Jerilyn are both strong people sharing their weaknesses.
A potluck picnic lunch followed the 11:30 am service.
Beverages, plates, cutlery and chairs were supplied. The yard was equipped with a swing, trampoline, sandbox and a friendly dog. Several attendees accompanied Heather on a tour of the yard to see the horses, the variety of trees in their shelterbelt, a uniquely decorated garage wall, a stunning display of Virginia Creeper covering their sun porch and their abundant garden (in the background).
What a superb way to spend a Sunday afternoon - with friends!
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Left: One of the cooks at the July 13 breakfast was Kevin Barr of Cereal. PHOTOS BY NANCY HANSON
The Norris farmyard provided a gorgeous setting for the United Church Service on July 7. SUBMITTED
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To place your Career / Employment ad,
GREENHOUSES
LTD. is currently seeking a SEASONAL
GREENHOUSE WORKERS
Required starting January 6, 2025 until approximately mid July 2025, with some work available until mid September. No experience necessary. Duties include: Planting, watering, moving and packing plants. Wage $17 44 per hour. Send or drop off your resume to:
Oyen Greenhouses Ltd.,
201-1st Ave. West | PO Box 358 Oyen, AB T0J 2J0 • Fax 403-664-3326
Email :accounting@oyengreenhouses.ca
Faces of Wellness program seeks Albertans who inspire wellness
Alberta Blue Cross® is looking to recognize Albertans who are champions for wellness in their communities through its annual Faces of Wellness program. Each year, the program recognizes those making positive lifestyle changes toward becoming healthier, promoting a health-related cause, making the most of life while living with a chronic condition, advocating for wellness in their workplace, standing up for mental health or acting as a role model for others—people who embraced the courage to overcome.
In 2023, the Faces of Wellness campaign received 223 applications and nominations from Albertans across the province. Alberta Blue Cross recognized 1 grand prize recipient and 10 finalists.
The grand prize recipient of the 2023 Faces of Wellness program was Ufuoma Muwhen. Ufuoma lived with the emotional and physical challenges of sickle cell disease for 18 years. Cured after a bone marrow transplant, she wanted to be an advocate and positive light for others with sickle cell disease. She created NotJustYou, a nonprofit sickle cell support organization that provides a platform for individuals to connect, share experiences and access support. Her story of determination, resilience and dedication to her community makes Ufuoma a face of wellness.
Many inspiring honourees were also recognized
Classifieds
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND CLAIMANTS
IN THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM BENJAMIN LOCKHART (also known as WILLIAM B. LOCKHART, BEN LOCKHART; WILLIAM LOCKHART), LATE OF THE TOWN OF OYEN, IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, WHO DIED ON THE 9 DAY
FARM MACHINERY
124 - 2 Avenue West, Hanna, Alberta, T0J 1P0.
If you do not file by the date above, the estate property can lawfully be distributed without regard to any claim you may have.
AUCTIONS
Meier Unreserved Live Auction Sale for Ronwood Enterprises Ltd. Saturday August 17 10am. Consort. Kenworth C500B Tri/Axel Hot Oil Truck. 2017 Gerry’s Tri/Axel Double Drop. 1984 Kenworth Winch Truck. Lazer Tridem Tanker Trailer. Lazer Triden Pup Tank Trailer. 2001 Mack Winch Truck. John Deere Skid Steer, Liquid Storage Tanks, Fuel Tanks, Shop Equipment. Visit www. meierauction.com for more details
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY
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through the 2023 Faces of Wellness program, including Evan James Mudryk, a brain hemorrhage and stroke survivor who now educates people through social media and guest lectures, as well as Shawna Rose Goss, a survivor of abuse, human trafficking and confinement who turned to her community and started a peer support group at her organization.
Albertans are encouraged to apply or nominate someone they know to be recognized as a face of wellness for a chance to win amazing wellness-themed prizes including the grand prize of a weekend away in the Alberta Rockies. The deadline to apply for Faces of Wellness is October 1, 2024 and program recipients will be announced in December. To enter and learn more, visit https://www.community.ab.bluecross.ca/ programs/faces-of-wellness.php.
CLASSIFIED AD RATES (20 words or less). $10.00 plus GST. Additional words are 20¢ each. Deadline is Friday noon. 306-463-2211
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REAL ESTATE
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TRAVEL
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Abner (Ab) Glen Grover was born May 15, 1933, in Hanna, Alberta, and passed away peacefully with his family by his side at the Oyen Long Term Care on July 31, 2024, at the age of 91.
ABNER (AB) GROVER
May 15, 1933 - July 31, 2024
Ab was the first son born to Glen and Hazel Grover (Boyd), joining his older sister, Thelma, and later welcoming younger siblings Archie, Gordon and Margaret. His early years were spent on the family farm north of Hanna in the Garden Plains area. To ensure he could attend school during the winter months, Ab stayed with his grandparents, Harry and Myrtle Grover (Burns), in town.
In 1942, the family moved to Youngstown, Alberta, when Ab’s father was appointed Road Foreman for Special Areas. Ab completed his schooling in Youngstown and later pursued further education in Calgary, Alberta, from 1953 to 1954, where he earned his Red Seal in Automatic Transmissions and his mechanic’s license. His professional journey began at Cereal Motors in Cereal, Alberta, followed by a role at Bosch Motors in Oyen, Alberta, where his expertise in automatic transmissions was highly valued.
In 1954, Ab met the love of his life, Regina Dick. They married on July 21, 1954, in Oyen, Alberta, and settled in the community where Ab initially worked as a mechanic before transitioning to the role of Pest Control Officer in 1957. His dedication to keeping Alberta pest-free was a point of pride for him. In 1959, Ab shifted careers to become the Office Manager for the Special Areas office in Oyen, eventually moving to Consort, Alberta, in 1967 as an Office Administrator/Fieldman. In 1975, the Grover family moved to Hanna, Alberta, where Ab served as a Board Member and was later appointed Chairman of the Special Areas Board until his retirement in 1991.
Throughout 66 years of marriage, Ab and Regina (Jean) were blessed with seven children: Dennis, Ken, Lorna, Carol, Janet, Brian and Ron. Ab was a devoted father who spent many years coaching his children’s hockey and baseball teams. He loved hunting, often bringing home game and sharing his hunting tales. The Grover family enjoyed numerous camping, boating, fishing, and waterskiing adventures, creating cherished memories at Gooseberry Lake Cabin and later the purchase of a motor home.
ALBERTA RCMP
In their later years, Ab and Jean took up golf, which became a beloved activity for them both.
Ab’s joy was further enriched by his cousin Arnold’s frequent flying visits, which Ab eagerly looked forward to. Family was central to Ab’s life, and he was always there to lend a helping hand or fix anything that needed repair.
Ab and Jean spent 19 winters travelling south, where they met and travelled with friends and family, creating lasting memories. Ab was also a dedicated member of the Kinsmen club, K40’s, a volunteer firefighter and earlier on he acted as a volunteer ambulance driver for patients and hospital staff, using his station wagon.
Ab and Jean left Hanna in November 2019 and made the move to the Oyen Lodge in Oyen, Alberta.
After Jean’s passing in July 2021, Ab moved to the Oyen Long Term Care, where he lived until his passing. He leaves behind a legacy of love and family, remembered by his children: Dennis (Penny) Grover, Ken (Kathy) Grover, Lorna (Matthew) Robinson, Carol (Rod) Carriere, Janet (Gordon) Resch, Brian (Darlene) Grover and Ron (Laura) Grover, 21 grandchildren, and 46 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Archie (Sandy) Grover and Gordon (Donna) Grover, brothers-in-law Fred Kautz, Paul Dick, Willy (Rita) Dick, Robert (Mabel) Dick, Gordon Dick and Gordon Paetz, along with many nieces, nephews, extended family and numerous friends.
Ab was predeceased by his beloved wife Jean; his parents, Glen and Hazel Grover; his mother and father-in-law, Peter and Catherine Dick; sisters Thelma Paulson and Margaret Kautz; sisters-in-law Teresa Dick, Rita Paetz, Bonnie Dick and Rose Marie Rude, brother-in-law Claire Paulson, son-in-law Rod Carriere and great-granddaughter June Resch. Ab will be deeply missed by all who knew him, and his memory will live on in the hearts of his family and friends.
Memorial tributes may be directed to Alzheimer Society of Alberta and Northwest Territories 306-10430 61 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6H 2J3 or to Oyen and District Health Care Foundation c/o Resident and Family Council Box 1, Oyen, AB T0J 2J0.
The Funeral Service was held on Friday August 9, 2024 at Sacred Heart RC Church in Oyen Ab at 1 p.m. with Father Rodel officiating.
Funeral arrangements in the care of MacLean’s Funeral Home in Oyen, AB
To leave a condolence message, please visit ofsmacleans.com
Motorcyclists with a need for speed take it to the track
Modern motorcycles are extraordinarily powerful and capable of extreme acceleration and high speeds. In a controlled environment, like a race track, there is little more exhilarating. On public roads and highways, there is little that is more dangerous. Whether you are riding a cruiser, an adventure bike, or a sport bike, it is important to understand that the same risk factors exist for any category of rider:
• Behaviour of other motorists
• Changing road conditions like debris, oil, gravel, or moisture
• Braking and handling characteristics of your motorcycle relative to the road surface
• Wildlife
• Mechanical fitness of your motorcycle
• Weather and road visibility
Alberta is home to several top-notch motorsport facilities. Your Alberta RCMP recommends taking your need for speed to one of these fine places. You might even find one of us making passes or turning laps out there.
These risks are controlled for environment like the race track, and should something happen, safety personnel are only a few seconds away. Conversely, on public roads, these risk factors remain high. The Alberta RCMP want to remind motorcyclists to stay defensive, attentive, and diligent with regards to safety, and that includes resisting the temptation to squeeze the throttle for too long.
Please slow down, and take it to the track.
Five reasons to take a break from screens!
BY TANIEL ZANIDEAN
Disconnecting from screens can be difficult but the benefits can be endless! Here are five reasons why taking a break from screens can be so important. Present moment awareness. Our moment-to-moment experiences are being fragmented by the near-constant presence of our cellphones – incoming texts, emails, and countless notifications. Although cell phones are a link to family, friends, school, work, and other commitments, it is important to break the habit and remove devices from the flow of our daily experiences, such as during class or work time, in transitional moments walking from one place to another, and in our downtime when we turn to our phones to fill the blank spaces in our lives. Being more aware, mindful, and immersed in the present moment can be deeply nourishing to the mind and body.
Improved sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep when using electronics prior to bed can be difficult. This is partially due to the physiological effects of the ‘blue light’ of the screen impacting the brain’s production of melatonin, delaying the onset of sleep. We’ve probably all experienced the ‘quick check’ of our
phones or computers that inadvertently leads to many unplanned minutes (or hours) of use. When this happens at night, we lose sleep.
Deepened connections. Social media promises social connection, but the full richness of human relationships is best found face-to-face. Studies have shown that when a cellphone is present in the conversation, people feel less connected to the other person and feel the other person to be less empathically attuned. Having a phone present during conversation can inhibit deeper, more meaningful conversations that require trust, vulnerability, and undivided attention. A break from media allows us to nour-
BUFFALO
AUGUST 16-18
• Buffalo Rodeo Daze.
CEREAL
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25
• Cereal Kids Rodeo (18 yrs & under) 9:00 AM start. Cereal Rodeo Grounds. Free Admission for spectators.
- Monday Night BINGO. Every Monday except holiday Mondays. Doors open at 6:30 and Bingo begins at 7:30 PM. (April to end of November).
- Tuesdays - Cereal Cottages Weekly Coffee Time 10:30 AM
- Wednesdays - Cereal Quilting Club 10 AM - 4 PM at the CJ Peacock Centre
- Thursdays - Chase the Ace progressive raffle every Thursday 7:00-9:00 PM at the Cereal Hotel & Bar. Chance to win TWICE each week. Ace Jackpot could grow up to $7000! Must be at least 18 years. Winning ticket must be present to
ish our relationships and we may find ourselves feeling more connected when we disconnect.
Productivity and learning. Any work that requires a focused mind will benefit from a media break. The sheer presence of a cell phone, even when ignored, reduces an individual’s intellectual acuity due to the level of mental effort it takes to resist checking a phone. The more distant the phone, the better the performance and learning outcomes. Additional benefits include increased focus, less procrastination, increased productivity and ease of learning.
Breaking the habit. Our devices are
used for a wide variety of reasons ranging from work to recreational use. Despite the intentions for use, the routine of checking our texts, emails, and social media accounts can become a self-reinforcing pattern. However, implementing media fasts can break that habit. A media fast can be a temporary break or a ‘reset’ allowing for changes in the way we desire media. Following a media reset, individuals reported feeling less dependent on media and were more likely to engage in regular media fasts in the future. Whether it’s a temporary breather or an opportunity to create enduring change, there is much to be gained from a media fast!
We could all use a little less media time. Why not start today? For a list of Unplugged Activities, check out the resources on the Digital Wellness Coalition’s website –https://digitalwellnesscoalition. weebly.com/. The Digital Wellness Coalition also provides information and resources on digital wellness and how to stay safe online.
Taniel Zanidean is a Health Promotion Facilitator with Alberta Health Services, Addiction and Mental Health.
win. Cash ticket purchase on site only. AGLC #669949
OYEN
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9
• The Oyen & District Farmers Market Acadia Colony will be hosting a turkey dinner complete with turkey, stuffing, dill potatoes, baby buns, salad, dessert, coffee and juice from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. $20/plate.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13
• “FUN WITH FURS” at the Town of Oyen Library. Come on down for an afternoon of fun while learning about and examining the furs of some of the most amazing creatures on the planet! All ages welcome but under 6 need to be accompanied by an adult please
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
• Dedication of the street sign at the turn into the Crossroads Centre. 11 Ave. E, Oyen will also be known as Dorosz Drive in memory of Dr. Ed Dorosz, former veterinarian in Oyen and a presi-
dent of Big Country Agricultural Society. Join Sandra Dorosz and her daughter Sarah and husband Jason Baker and their daughter Kate for cake, ice cream, refreshments and a lot of visiting under the tent near the sign.
• OYEN FARM DAY has been cancelled.
MONDAY, AUGUST 19
• ROARSOME FOSSIL DIG at the Town of Oyen Library. 1:00-2:00 PM. Participants will begin the activity with a story and the following hour digging up dinosaur bones to assemble and identify. Each participant will get their own dinosaur fossil to take home!
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22
• ICE CREAM PICNIC & STORY TIME! 1:30-3:30 PM behind the High School. Town of Oyen Library with The MHCB and Oyen Lodge. Bring the kids to visit with our seniors, listen to stories and eat ice cream!. Under 5, must be accompanied by an adult.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
• Regular Potluck Supper and Meeting
at Oyen and District Seniors Recreation Centre. Supper 6:00 PM. Meeting 7:00 PM.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
• 3rd Annual Kathy Allen Memorial 3 Lady Scramble. Registration at 9:00 AM. Tee-Off 10:00 AM. $240/team includes golf, breakfast, supper and prizes. To register call the Clubhouse at 403-664-2555.
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 & 21
• Ranch Rodeo at the BCAS Crossroads Centre
OCTOBER 4-5
• Prairieland Pheasant Festival. Call 403-664-0878 or 403-664-8204 to enter a team.
- Oyen Town Council meet 2nd Tuesday of every month 6:00 PM in Council Chambers.
- Drop in Pickleball Mondays 7:00-9:00 PM at South Central High School
