The Kerrobert Chronicle - March 18, 2025

Producers bracing for the worst as uncertainty sets in

BY SHERI MONK

Canadian producers are heading into spring intensely worried about what the future may hold. The agricultural industry on both sides of the border is bracing for upheaval, but uncertainty and anxiety is more acute in Canada. This was reflected in Saskatoon last week at the SARM convention with many of the questions and topics centred around economics, trade and tariffs.

“We

Beef and cattle industry: basis volatility and export barriers

With roughly 50 per cent of the total Canadian beef and cattle production exported, and of that, 75-80 per cent of Canadian beef exported to the U.S., producers are in for a rough ride.

“We are still down from the highs we experienced in late January and that obviously reflects the broad uncertainty with the timelines and the impact. There are major distinctions here between the short and the long-term impact,” said Tyler Fulton, vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA).

Cattle feeders operate on very small margins, and many may already have forward contracts with finished cattle destined to go south. As some feeders found out when they were caught by the tariffs first implemented on February 4 before being paused, those margins are not near enough.

“They saw a 25 per cent tariff line item on their brokerage documents,” said Fulton. “For the feedlots that are sending huge volumes of animals south, the exposure on that 25 per cent was unlike anything they’d ever experienced before. To be clear, a 25 per cent tariff off the total revenue of that animal, that dollar amount absolutely dwarfs any potential for a margin on that animal. It is not at all sustainable for weeks – let alone months or years.”

Contracts with cancellation and penalty clauses vary greatly from one to the next and feeders are going to be faced with

The crowd at the SARM convention, with the provincial cabinet in the background awaiting questions from the floor.

PHOTO BY PAUL HEGLUND

very difficult choices as long as tariffs (or the threat of them) persists.

The cow-calf sector is on more stable footing – for now – with record-high prices realized over the last number of years. So far, prices for feeder cattle have remained high, but softening. However, there is no doubt that the fall run of 2025 stands to look much different than that of 2024.

The basis, which represents the difference between local and U.S. cattle prices, is expected to widen significantly, further eroding profitability for Canadian ranchers. A wild card, as always, is Mother Nature. In drought-stricken years, Canadian feeders import feed grains and cow-calf producers tend to send more animals to town when winter feed is tough to come by.

“The nature of the cattle business is that it is largely an economic-driven market, a free market that responds to supply and demand. It is hard to rationalize for any individual operation or packer or any aspect of the value chain to not realize the highest value market that you can,” said Fulton.

Capacity issues

Beef cattle inventories are still very low nationally despite the sharp upturn in prices since 2020, which may be the only factor that will lessen the fallout. Fulton says that the drought years of 2021 and 2023 served to effectively block the expansion signals, which means there are fewer cattle to process.

“If we are dealing with a tariff situation longer term, the priority will be how do we maintain the flow of cattle through the value chain? How do we maintain processing levels that are at a level that they need to be in order to not completely back up the system and make the problem worse,” questioned Fulton.

When Canada’s beef and cattle sector collapses, there is a trickle-up and down effect, that can sometimes appear delayed due to the complex nature of the industry. Feeder cattle cannot stick around much beyond their planned exit date. However, if beef exports drop, processing plants won’t have anywhere to send the beef and may reduce processing capacity and labour in response.

from Canada targeting American agricultural products could make U.S. imports of Canadian barley less attractive, potentially leading to an oversupply in the domestic market and price depression.

The wheat industry may be in a slightly better position due to Canada’s access to alternative global markets, but the overall uncertainty could lead to lower investment in wheat production and hesitation from international buyers concerned about supply chain disruptions.

China – predictably unpredictable

China has always been an unpredictable and fickle trading partner, so it should have been no surprise that it retaliated against Canada over a surtax on electric vehicles (EVs).

Last October, Canada imposed a 100 per cent surtax on Chinese-made EVs and China announced in early March it would retaliate with 100 per cent tariffs against Canadian canola oil, oil cakes and peas, as well as a 25 per cent tariff on pork and aquatic products.

Initially, Canadian consumers may eat more beef as prices come down, but just like during BSE, Canada can’t eat their way out of such a large export market collapse. Feeders, stuck with fed cattle or desperate to take any price to offload finished cattle will not have much appetite – or budget – for calves. Cow-calf producers may not be able to move their calf crop as quickly, and they will begin to take a major price hit. In response, some may hold back their animals – if they have enough feed and grass to do so – which may increase the cattle inventory in a market in which it should be contracting. The coming corrections will be inevitable, and inevitably painful.

Crop farming: Canola, barley and wheat face uncertain markets

The Canadian grain industry, particularly canola, barley, and wheat won’t be immune to the effect of the tariffs. Canola exports, which have already suffered from ongoing tensions with China, face additional pressure as demand from U.S. processors dwindles. With the U.S. imposing tariffs on Canadian canola, producers could see lower farmgate prices as domestic markets struggle to absorb excess supply.

Barley, heavily relied upon by U.S. brewers and livestock feeders, is likely to face declining demand south of the border. The potential for counter-tariffs

At the recent Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) convention held last week, Saskatchewan agriculture minister Daryl Harrison reported that the Canadian federal government was pressured by the U.S. government to impose the EV tariffs. He also said the Saskatchewan government was vehemently opposed to it, and made that clear last year.

If Canada reverses the EV duty, China may seek a more robust trade relationship with Canada, especially given the steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Beef trade to China ceased in 2021 after an atypical case of BSE was discovered in an Albertan cow.

This was a red herring trade ploy. Atypical BSE cases do not prompt trade barriers with other nations and because this type of BSE is universally sporadic and has no means of prevention. They occur everywhere, with an extremely low occurrence rate of no greater than one head per million. In people, the human-equivalent

in humans is called sporadic Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, and the rate of its occurrence is 1-2 cases per million annually. That means that right now, China likely has roughly 2,800 people with the disease. It should also be noted that Canada’s enhanced feed ban makes it one of the safest beef sources in the world.

Since the Chinese beef ban is performative and dated, China may reverse this decision if its relations with the U.S. deteriorate further. In 2024, the U.S. exported $1.4 billion worth of beef to the Chinese market.

The future of supply management

The poultry, egg and dairy industries in Canada operate under a system of supply management. In this system, production (supply) is tightly managed through issuing quotas to producers, and by regulating market price. This ensures stability for both the producer and the consumer, but eliminates many free market aspects of production. Supply management of dairy products (largely cheese) was a sticking point in the five-year-long trade negotiations to sign the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union.

In the current trade agreement (USMCA) signed in 2018 between the U.S., Mexico and Canada, Canada imposes a 200 per cent tariff on dairy imported from the U.S. – but only after agreed-upon tariff-free quotas have been exceeded. Donald Trump frequently cites the 200 per cent tariff aspect as a major part of the justification for the current trade war, but in reality, borrowing a page out of China’s red herring playbook, the U.S. doesn’t even come close to exporting enough to trigger those tariffs.

So will supply chain management be sacrificed in order to negotiate a new deal with the U.S.? Experts think it unlikely. In 2023, the Canadian House of Commons passed Bill C-282, which mandates that Canada’s supply management system be excluded from trade negotiations.

Pork industry: exports in jeopardy

Canada’s pork industry is historically very reliant on both the U.S. and China. Their value chain also moves much more quickly and is less segmented than the Canadian cattle industry. Additionally, their infrastructure is expensive and they typically don’t have a large land mass from which to borrow against. However, the Asian market are voracious pork consumers, and pork does flow from Canada to other nations.

Impact on farm inputs: machinery and supply chain woes

Beyond agricultural commodities, Canadian farmers also rely heavily on American-manufactured farm equipment, including combines, tractors, and specialized machinery. Covid caused widespread supply chain disruptions and the cost of equipment skyrocketed, which the industry is still grappling with.

U.S. agricultural industry response

The American agriculture industry is also going to be in for a bumpy ride – but their wheels aren’t as likely to fall right off. Potash is heavily imported by the U.S. from Canada, and while they are expected to

PHOTO BY PAUL HEGLUND

largely import from Russia instead, they won’t be able to entirely replace Canada from that single source. Belarus and China are other potential sources. Agricultural regions in the U.S. tend to vote Republican, even when against their own interests. However, close collaboration between U.S. and Canadian producer groups could help pressure the American administration to scrap the tariffs.

What next?

“There are just so many different variables and factors to consider in this,” Fulton said.

Indeed, but where to begin? While right now Canada’s agricultural markets may not appear to be very diversified, marketing agencies such as Canada Beef International and the Canadian Pork Council have been fostering relationships and promoting Canada’s meat for many years. In many respects, new trade roads have already been built and the traffic may be yet to come.

It is unlikely that bail-outs and subsidies for producers will prompt any meaningful countervail action from other trading partners while the tariff war continues. Canada’s impending federal election may prompt renewed trade negotiations. The grassroots response of Canadians and international supporters has cancelled travel plans en masse, and consumers are looking for products made in Canada. If the U.S. administration feels increasing pressure from many different spear points, they may be more likely to change their approach. One thing, however, is clear – Canada should be more concerned than ever for national food security, and those who produce it.

“No race can prosper until it learns there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.“ Booker T. Washington

Daryl Harrison, Saskatchewan’s ag minister, answers the questions of an animated crowd at the SARM convention held last week in Saskatoon.

BY SHERI MONK Guest Columnist

I ordinarily flirt a little too much with deadlines, but this time I wasn’t playing. The political and economic climate has been changing so frequently, there was no point in writing sooner than last minute. Whatever I write will likely be dated by the time you read it, so I’m not going to get into the details of tariffs, counter tariffs and trade wars. In this context, the details don’t especially matter anyway.

Here’s what does: Our MPs and MP hopefuls need to hear from us, loudly and often. They need to hear from the overwhelming majority that we are Canadian first, and that we will fight for our nation. There is no room for division and no margin for error. Regardless of their political stripes, you let them know that we are not interested in adding stars to the mix.

For too long we have allowed the deliberate division of our populace, through social media engineering. The evidence is irrefutable. Programmed bots have been seeded throughout social media for years, sowing what we are now reaping. In psychology, sabotaging relationships by creating a divide is called triangulation, and boy, has Canada ever fallen for it.

Increasingly, we were exposed to extreme views on controversial topics. The comments were made on news articles, memes and videos and they were designed to cause tension and to drive citizens further apart. What was the extreme appeared as the norm, and the vast majority of us in the middle acquiesced into what we thought was reality. It wasn’t. It was a manufactured substrate in which hate and fear could be carefully cultivated for a dark harvest later. Folks, the crop is ripe and the combine is ready.

I’ve long believed that the most dangerous government is an entrenched one. When I first came to Saskatchewan, the NDP had been in power for far too long, and when the Saskatchewan Party won, change was sorely needed. Likewise, when I arrived in Alberta, the Conservatives had been in government for my entire lifetime. The former NDP in Saskatchewan and the former Conservatives in Alberta may have had different names and colors but they behaved in exactly the same way, with too little respect for their electorate or democracy.

It’s the same at a workplace. If you have a too lax of a manager, productivity declines. Likewise, it can be the

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same in a marriage. Over time, effort wanes when life seems easy and when things are easy, we become bored. It is the same with business. Once a company becomes too large, they are no longer accountable to their customers and the checks and balances of capitalism stagger. We are driven by rarity, by novelty, by the juicy grapes just out of reach. Those grapes though, once we finally clasp them in our needy little hands, are often full of wrath.

This is human nature. We want what we can’t have and overlook what we do. We follow the path of least resistance. Gravity weighs us down, and the more it drags on us, the less we seem to feel it.

That is why we have never diversified our economy. It was simply easier not to. In a culture that vilifies public spending, there has been little public sanction to create economic infrastructure outside of looming disaster.

Remember the BSE crisis? When we couldn’t slaughter our cattle fast enough, much less consume them all? We threw money at that wreck as if it was going out of style. But guess what? Slaughter capacity is roughly the same today. Like everything else, it is a balancing act of crisis and calm, profit and loss, supply and demand. But if we make it through this with intact borders and a functioning economy, we will need to think beyond our wallets for long-term security. There can be no doubt now about how much we have risked on the altar of the U.S. dollar.

Whatever plagues us in Canada, we can sort it out among ourselves. We have always bounced between left and right like a puck between the blue lines. (Could this even be a patriotic opinion

column without at least one hockey reference?) We had Stephen Harper as our leader for many years—a conservative Albertan—and he has been vocal in his opposition to any loss of our sovereignty.

Writing this now, I find it astounding that I must invoke the influence of a conservative former prime minister just to sway others to retain our national identity, sovereignty, and borders. This should be a given—one of the few things we can believe with certainty. But if there is one thing I am learning from all this, it is that nothing can be taken for granted—least of all freedom and democracy.

I don’t know whether Canada will elect Mark Carney or Pierre Poilievre. If Carney is smart, he will call the election soon because the “dictatorship” sonnet being sung to us from the south is growing louder. And not just from random Russian bots—but from THE Russian bot, Donald Trump. What he says and how he says it mirrors the divisive language used for over a decade to weaken us. That is no coincidence. We may have been duped before, but there is no excuse now. It is staring us in the face, daring us to ignore it. Carney, I think, will see this as the existential crisis it is and deal with it accordingly in an effort to unite Canada – but I am not sure that will appease the Musk/Trump team.

If Pierre Poilievre is elected, Trump will take that as a personal victory. It will take a great deal of ass-kissing to get Trump to give up on his 51st state fantasy, and Poilievre is the only one with the stomach for it. When this country votes, Canada will be voting on the approach we take with the U.S. for the next four

years. If Poilievre can massage Trump’s monstrous ego enough, we may end up with a happy-ending deal in which we lose his tariffs and keep our land.

Once the votes are counted we must stand united as Canadians behind that leader. Our politicians must continue to see a sovereign Canada united, and the Americans/Russians must see there is no longer any room for triangulating us. Our focus must be on our sovereignty first, our economy second-first, and everything else third—at least until January 2029. Let us pray it is no longer than that.

No matter who is elected, we can (hopefully) survive a four-year term without succumbing to a bot-inspired civil war. The Trump sycophants among us must be ignored like screaming toddlers while being given the opportunity to make better decisions. But if they hold office or seek office, we cannot afford mercy—they must be cast aside like the weakest links they are.

Whatever the United States used to be to us, whatever it meant, and whatever friendship we believed was there… these things are transformed today. Maybe not forever, but for now. Today we have an American KGB, drunk with power and lusting for more. Those are not our values and theirs are not our ways.

What has happened to Ukraine is criminal. We knew it was criminal when Putin invaded. When the USSR collapsed in 1991, Ukraine inherited the third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world. In 1994, they agreed to return that arsenal to Russia for dismantling in exchange for security assurances. Both Russia and the U.S. signed the agreement—now both have betrayed it.

If there is one silver lining to all of this, it is that I have seen Canada more united over the past several weeks than I have seen… perhaps ever. When Quebec is willing to fight for Canada, when Indigenous leaders stand up for our the land we share, we know two things –the situation is serious, but we are closer together than we thought. There is great hope and great wisdom in that.

Our grandfathers before us bled and died for the freedom and democracy we have taken for granted all these years. They would be horrified to see what has transpired south of us. We owe it to them and to our children to ensure it goes no farther.

Sheri Monk is a freelance writer based out of Medicine Hat, AB. She can be reached at sherimonk@gmail.com

DNA identifies male who went missing in 1990

DNA sequencing assisted in identifying a male whose remains were found in 1997

In November 1997, Saskatchewan RCMP received a report of human remains that were found in the area surrounding the North Saskatchewan river outside Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. DNA testing at the time was unable to identify the body. The DNA was retained by the National DNA Data Bank of Canada (NDDB).

The file remained with the Saskatchewan RCMP Historical Case Unit. Investigators revisited the file using new technologies in 2005 and then again in 2024. “Our team worked with the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains and the National Missing Persons DNA Program, and the file was ultimately linked to a missing person investigation out of Edmonton,” says Cst. Brendan Sanford, Saskatchewan RCMP’s Missing Person Coordinator.

In 2024, as EPS Historical Crimes Section detectives continued their ongoing review of unsolved historical missing persons files, they obtained voluntary DNA samples from living relatives of Jose Valdez, a man who went missing in Edmonton in late 1990.

In February 2025, DNA obtained from Valdez’s family members matched to the DNA from the remains that were found in Saskatchewan in 1997, conclusively identifying the remains as those of Jose Valdez.

Jose Valdez, 36 at the time of his disappearance, was last seen in Edmonton in November 1990. His disappearance was believed to be non-criminal. The Saskatchewan Coroner examined the remains when they were located and determined the death was not suspicious in nature.

“We sympathize with Jose’s family for the decades of ambiguous loss they have suffered, and while this is difficult news, we hope it also brings some measure of resolution,” says Detective Glen Haneman, with the EPS Historical Crimes Section. “This is why we never stop investigating unsolved missing persons and unidentified human remains cases.”

“Technology is transforming the way investigations are being approached and solved,” adds Cst. Sanford. “It helps to uncover leads in ways that were not possible when the case first opened. Being able to bring closure to Jose’s loved ones is extremely rewarding and gives us hope that we can provide answers to other waiting families.”

The EPS Missing Persons Unit currently has 95 unsolved missing persons files dating back as far as the 1970s. The EPS Historical Crimes Section will continue to explore ever-improving DNA, genetic genealogy and other forensic technology as they review these unsolved files.

Strange object falls from the sky in 1945

MOOSE JAW - February 9th 1945 – A strange object was seen in the sky falling to earth. Upon landing, the police were called and shortly afterward the Army arrived to quickly cordon off the crash site. The Prime Minister was informed and given a briefing. The remains were meticulously collected, labeled TOP SECRET and sent by armed guard to a laboratory in Ottawa.

Witnesses were warned not to talk about the event citing National Security and the media strictly censored from reporting on it. The Army pulled out as quickly as it had arrived and not a trace of the object was left behind. Word spread quickly and bewildered locals were left to speculate what happened... Fanciful rumours abounded, some even whispered of ‘crashed Martians’.

Only it wasn’t a UFO – The truth was Moose Jaw had been bombed by the Empire of Japan.

Between November 1944 and July 1945, the Japanese military released over 9,000 un-manned, non-guided, bomb carrying hydrogen filled balloons (called ‘Fu-Go’ or ‘fire balloon’) against North America. Released from mainland Japan and carried across the Pacific Ocean by prevailing jet stream winds, the balloons carried a mix of ordinance ranging from high explosive anti-personnel bombs to multiple incendiary devices for the purpose of setting fires in forests, fields and cities.

Of the over 9,000 launched, less than 300 were reported to reach North America, causing virtually no damage (save for the unfortunate death of 6 picnickers in Oregon who discovered a landed device in a forest and set it off by poking it with a stick).

Saskatchewan had 8 officially documented balloon bomb landings, all in 1945 – Stoney Rapids on January 1st, Minton on January 12th (seen below, the restored bomb is currently on display at the Canadian War Museum in

Ottawa), Moose Jaw on February 9th, Porcupine Plain on February 12th, Camsell Portage on March 21st, Consul on March 30th, Ituna on March 30th and Kelvington on May 15th. It is estimated that approximately 1,000 Fu-Go bombs may have landed in North America and are still waiting to be found, their lethal payloads just as dangerous as when launched 80 years ago. Most recently one was discovered in October 2014 near Lumby, B.C. and disposed of by a Canadian Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.

Photos from the Canadian War Museum, text written by Thom Cholowski, Administrator HISTORIC SASKATCHEWAN

Celebrating annual Agricultural Safety Week

Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to prioritize #FarmSafetyEveryday

Canadian Agricultural Safety Week takes place March 16-22 and this year farmers, farm families, farm workers, and farming communities are encouraged to prioritize #FarmSafetyEveryday.

Canadian Agricultural Safety Week (CASW) is an annual national initiative delivered by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) that raises awareness about the importance of safe agriculture and showcases how safety directly contributes to the success and sustainability of farming operations.

This year, CASW will feature daily themes to address essential agricultural health and safety topics affecting those who live and work on Canadian farms.

The daily themes will cover health hazards on the farm, emergency preparedness, grain safety, mental health, road and rail safety, and women in agriculture.

“Every year, far too many lives are lost or irreparably changed due to preventable farming accidents,” says Sandy Miller, CASA’s Executive Director.

“That’s why CASA is committed to

providing Canadian producers with the information and resources they need to protect the well-being of everyone on their farms and ranches. Safer farms benefit everyone and Canadian Agricultural Safety Week is a reminder for all of us to do our part to prioritize farm safety every day.”

CASA highlights the importance of safety on Canadian farms and encourages conversations about farm health and safety annually through CASW, which takes place during the third week of March. CASW’s sponsors for 2025 are

CN, the Canadian Canola Growers Association, and Syngenta Canada.

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of farmers, their families and agricultural workers. CASA is funded in part by the Government of Canada under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial and territorial initiative. For more information, visit www.casa-acsa. ca, find us on Facebook or LinkedIn, or follow us on X @planfarmsafety.

Canadian pro athletes showing dominance

BY BRUCE PENTON

With our geographical parents, Canada and the United States, seemingly on the verge of divorce, now is a great time to review what might be the best thing to keep these trade-warring countries together.

Sports.

BY BRUCE PENTON Sports Columnist

While the two countries are bitter rivals in hockey, a sport in which they both do well, there is no such heated rivalry in the other major sports. However, Canadian athletes are fully embedded into the fabric of professional basketball, football and baseball.

The most dominant Canadian in a U.S-based pro sports league is the runaway favourite to be this season’s most valuable player in the National Basketball Association, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The No. 1 winter sport south of the 49th parallel (it’s a distant No. 2 in Canada) gets more attention from the sports networks than any other, and the guy known as SGA, from Hamilton, Ont., is the league’s best, most dominant player. He is the league’s leading scorer, with more than 32 points per game, and is averaging nearly two points more per game than his nearest competitor, Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee. SGA is second in steals among all NBA players.

Network observers and columnists who report on the NBA are lavish in their praise of Gilgeous-Alexander and have been declaring him the leader in the MVP race for most of the season.

Canada will have a strong Olympic basketball team led by SGA and a supporting cast featuring Jamal Murray of Denver, R.J. Barrett of the Raptors, Zach

of Memphis, Andrew Wiggins of Miami and Dillon Brooks of Houston.

In football, running back Chuba Hubbard of Edmonton is approaching superstar status with the Carolina Panthers after a 2024 season in which he ran for 1,195 yards, despite missing the final two games with a calf injury. Other Canadian NFLers of note are London, Ont., twin bothers Chase and Sydney Brown of the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles respectively. Chase is a running back/receiver while Sydney plays safety for the Super Bowl champs. Wide receivers John Metchie of Baltimore Ravens (born in Taiwan, raised in Brampton, Ont.) and Josh Palmer of Los Angeles Chargers (also Brampton-raised) and Miami safety Jevon Holland of Coquitlam, B.C., are also NFL stars with Canadian heritage.

Back in the 1960s and 1970s, Canadians playing at a professional level in the U.S. were few and far between. Perhaps the most famous was Chicago Cubs pitcher Ferguson Jenkins, a Hall of Famer who grew up in Chatham, Ont., and was always identified as “Ferguson Jenkins of Chatham, Ontario” in news reports circulated in Canada. Today, however, Major League Baseball rosters are flush with Canadians, led by Maple Ridge, B.C.’s Tyler O’Neill of Baltimore Orioles, who belted 31 homers for Boston last year; the Naylor brothers, Josh and Bo, the pride of Mississauga. Ont., who both play for the Cleveland Guardians, and star reliever Cade Smith of Cleveland, who was born and raised in Abbotsford, B.C., and dozens more.

Thankfully, tariffs don’t apply to sports excellence.

• Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, on one voter denying Ichiro 100 per cent induction into the baseball Hall of Fame: “Why are we surprised … are you familiar with America? In this fractured country we could have a poll that asked, ‘Do you believe in love and happiness?’ and it wouldn’t do 100 per cent.”

• Jeremy Baker on bluesky.app, after Canada didn’t make the medals at the recent World Junior hockey championship: “Some people are complaining about the refs and bad calls. The game was in Ottawa. If Canada can’t find a corrupt ref in Ottawa of all places, we deserve to lose.”

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, on Donald Trump playing a role in talks between LIV and the PGA Tour: “Here’s hoping Trump and Vice President JD Vance don’t invite (Jay) Monahan back to the White House, where they berate him and then side with the Saudis.”

• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “God’s truth: I’ve just watched 11 minutes of TSN without any mention of Leafs’ centre Austin Matthews So I must — oops; they didn’t make it to 12 minutes.”

• Headline at theonion.com: “Homesick Luka Doncic Gazes Longingly At Photo Of Barren Dallas Office Park”

• Headline at fark.com, after Seahawks’ DK Metcalf demanded a trade: “DK Metcalf decides he’d rather not stand around and watch Geno Smith hand the ball off all game.”

• Another fark.com offering: “Jets release all the receivers that GM Aaron Rodgers brought in, leaving them free to sign wherever QB Aaron Rodgers’ corpse washes up.”

• Columnist Norman Chad, on things overheard from the four-legged competitors at the Westminster Dog Show in New York: “Donald Trump stopped by and asked to see the American foxhound’s birth certificate.”

• Steve Simmons in the Toronto Sun: “The slow, steady, cautious approach Kevin Cheveldayoff takes in operating the Winnipeg Jets would be terrific if he were handling your financial portfolio. You’d get your 8 per cent every year from Chevy. But you’d never hit on a big one.”

Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca

Edey

OPINION:

The greatest generation gave us exceptional opportunities

BY JOAN JANZEN

Here’s a bit of humour for anyone who finds themselves getting older. That’s everyone, right? So the question is - why do people snore more when they get older? Answer: It’s nature’s way of letting their spouse know they’re still alive.

One of my favourite online voices recently paid tribute to people in their 90s. Dr. Suneel Dhand referred to them as “the greatest generation. “I regularly tell them, with heartfelt gratitude, how easy we have it because of their sacrifices,” he said.

This week, during Ag Safety Week, we pay tribute to our agricultural community, which was built upon the perseverance, discipline, and sacrifice of the greatest generation.

The doctor said one of his greatest privileges has been spending time with the last remaining members of that generation, listening to their stories of rationing, veterans serving during WWII, and stories about the Great Depression. It’s a privilege I also cherish as I’ve listened to individuals share their stories.

The stories I heard included recollections of children being evacuated to safer locations during WWII, unable to see their parents for four years. At that time, young men volunteered to join the military as soon as they were old enough to provide finances for their families because there were few employment op-

portunities.

It was common for young people to drop out of school after completing Grade 8, and help out on the family farm. “My folks didn’t have money to board me out for high school. That’s the way life went in those days,” one man recalled.

As Dr. Dhand listened to the stories of his elderly patients, he noted they possessed an increasingly rare mindset. “The most profound differences between then and now is the concept of duty has been replaced by the concept of rights,” he observed. The senior generation saw their lives through the lens of responsibility, often placing their obligations above their personal interests.

Sadly, as people age our modern culture tends to forget about them. Although they are physically cared for in senior homes, their valuable contributions are often forgotten.

“Not many are left now but I still see that sharp 90 plus year old weekly on my hospital patient list who I can make a special effort to talk with,” the doctor said. Their generation often grew up having their grandparents living with them in their homes; however now we need to make a special effort to converse with the greatest generation.

“I often wonder what the greatest generation thinks when they observe today’s world?” Dr. Dhand asked. I recalled the story of three 80-year-olds I had heard recently. After seven decades

the three individuals finally discovered they had one thing in common: they were all born in the same concentration camp prior to their liberation in 1945.

Their mothers had carefully preserved the stories of their births. Each of their mothers weighed approximately 70 pounds and gave birth to their premature babies weighing only two to three pounds amidst appalling conditions. Yet their mothers’ determination for the survival of their babies kept both mothers and babies alive.

Stories such as these are unimaginable to our modern society, but what must these three 80-year-old miracle babies think when they hear of increasing anti-semitism in Canada?

Faytene Grasseschi interviewed Richard Robertson, director of research and advocacy, who reported, “The figures are astounding! Jews represent one percent of the Canadian population, yet they represent over 50 percent of the hate crimes in Canada and specifically those targeting religious minorities.” How sad it is for Jews who miraculously survived atrocities, live to be a ripe old age, and then be forced to endure modern day hate crimes.

The greatest generation endured the Dirty 30s. “Nobody knows what poor was until you lived in the 1930’s. A lot of people didn’t have anything, and we didn’t waste anything either,” one woman told me. “If kids today went through half of what we did they wouldn’t make it.”

Another man shared his story and recalled his dad coming home and saying their “bank account was done.” However, they persevered, and a few years later, things turned around when they harvested a good crop.

Dr. Dhand observed, “They built a world that gave future generations unparalleled opportunities.” That is certainly true for our agricultural world. “What we choose to do with those opportunities is up to us.”

A popular question upcoming generations ask is, ‘What is my purpose?’ Dr. Dhand observed that modern society wonders why people haven’t been given success just for showing up, whereas the senior generation asked what they must give in order to succeed. They found their purpose by asking, ‘What is my duty to my family, my community, and my country?’

“As their numbers dwindle, I feel an urgency; younger generations must learn from them while we still can,” Dr. Dhand said. “When they are gone, we will have lost more than just individuals - we will have lost an invaluable perspective on life.”

“Let’s honour their sacrifices, not just with words, but by living with the same integrity, resilience, and duty that defined them,” he urged.

LAVIGNE SALVAGE INC.

Pop89: Follow them home

BY MADONNA HAMEL

Daniel Webster

Notice of Preparation of Assessment Roll 2025 TOWN OF ESTON

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Town of Eston for the year 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection at the office of the assessor from:

Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (closed 12-1) Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (closed 12-1)

From March 17, 2025 to May 30, 2025

A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required. All fees must be submitted to the local assessor at the TOWN OF ESTON.

All appeals must be filed with the Secretary of the Board of Revision, Nicolle Hoskins, which can be sent electronically to: secretary@westernmunicipal ca or via post/mail to TOWN OF ESTON, Box 757, Eston, SK S0L 1A0, and forwarded to the Secretary of the Board of Revision. Any person wishing to discuss the notice of assessment or potential appeal may contact the assessor at the TOWN OF ESTON, Box 757, Eston, SK S0L 1A0

A notice of appeal, accompanied by a $50 appeal fee, which will be returned if the appeal is successful, must be submitted by Friday, May 30, 2025.

Dated this 17th day of March, 2025.

Jody Schmidt, Assessor

Why is it so hard for one group of people to believe another group when they claim to be hurting? Why are politicians, professionals and media pundits so deaf to people living in rural and factory towns crushed by deindustrialization and the monopolization of big agriculture when they holler: “Helloooo! We are bleeding and on fire!”?

Part of the problem lies in the presumption that the real reason people are upset is because of their own hard-held prejudices. The problem, the academics and legacy media celebs tell us, is really racial, gender or religious prejudice. And, anything else is just a cover.

There ARE racists and misogynists and unChristian Nationalists out there. I’ve encountered them. But every generation has its master narrative. And the biggest one, the most enduring, is the Dream. Sadly, not Martin Luther King’s Dream of being judged by character not skin colour, but the $Dream of becoming a billionaire just like the men standing on the stage behind the president.

The $Dream is so strong it even outweighs the fact of individual nightmares of losing a home due to unpaid mortgage or hospital or heating bills. The $Dream defines the Western world’s measure of worth. And its function.

I’ve mentioned before that we can define a culture’s collective purpose by noting the words used to describe the collective. Once upon a time we were souls, looking upward. Then we were citizens, looking at our countrymen. Then we became consumers, looking at the shelves. Now we are refered to as users, looking at screens to buy, spy, trash, troll and connect. Our job is to use or be used.

So maybe it’s no surprise that the news, once meant to inform us, is now using us as pawns in mud-slinging contests.

My friend George, a one-man newscaster and cameraman for many years, recently reminded me that the whole news industry changed when it went from being a service to a commodity. It had to turn a profit.

Gone are the days when a news anchor just stuck to the facts. No helpful modifiers and descriptors like “horrible” or “devastating” were necessary when describing crashes or tornadoes; the public were capable of coming to their own conclusions

But then came the 1980s, we went from being citizens to consumers. And news “shows” became something we consumed, preloaded with opinions and rants, like tv snacks with plenty of additives. Now news is therapeutic, cathartic. Casters and viewers can let their vendettas fly.

And for all the championing a newscaster might do for the working poor, they really have no idea. Because they don’t live like us. And they don’t want to.

I have a surefire test of a newscaster, professor or politician’s grasp of reality: Follow them home. See where they live. If they live in a gated community, or a penthouse, or a five-bedroom-three-car-garage bungalow built for two, they haven’t a clue about the people they report to and claim to represent.

Follow them home and you will see they do not drive a 15-year-old car or a truck held together with baler twine. They go to cocktail parties. They take cabs. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be.

You talk like a Commie, my neighbour laughs. I know. But I’m not; I’m using the language of Christ. Isn’t it ironic how much they sound alike?

Don’t worry. I have no intention of following any CNN or Fox or CBC news host home. I don’t even follow them on Instagram. I can guess where they live. I agree with George, who, for sanity’s sake, keeps coming to visit us in Val Marie because “it’s better to follow the call of the land.”

So, skip their homes and just keep walking…past the suburban and urban silos of the select…past the shopping centres and their vast parking lots, past the overpasses and the off-ramps, past the strip malls, past the box stores and megachurches.

Keep walking past the backyards with abandoned toys and rusty car parts, past the storage units and rental facilities, past the dealerships and mini-golf courses and cineplexes. Past the airport, the hangers and plows, past the little lake close enough to town to afford a swim on a hot day after work.

Now you’re getting somewhere. Now you can breathe. Now the sounds of birds take over the sounds of cars. Now you might stop or at least slow the noise of worry, condemnation, scathing judgements and clever put-downs competing for attention in your head, the noise of the news which isn’t news anymore but a litany of things to fear.

Walking along the Frenchman River last night, enjoying a windless evening full of coyote calls and a violet sky of wavelet clouds stippled hot pink, I thought:

The land is the original strong silent type- it quietly stands firm while we let all our anxieties and energies release into it. Oh I know its not an “it”, but a shea mom, the ultimate den mother. Patient as she sits and watches us make a mess of things, over and over. Occasionally she gets very mad at our constant proddings and extracting. Then she gives us earthquakes and tornadoes.

Once we stepped into the role of consumer, like we were draping our shoulders in ermine and crowns, ginned up on the princely proposition that the “customer is always right”, it was only a matter of time before we’d concede to the idea that “every network has its price.” Which is how we ended up with news anchors who unmoor us and take us out to sea on their private opinion yachts.

So, turn off the news before “Give us more bread than we could spend in one lifetime, and while you’re at it, give us more circuses, too!” replaces “Give us our daily bread.” And give yourself back to the land.

“The Brand of Brotherhood”

by T. D. Zummack

Published by Endless Sky Books REVIEW BY TOBY A. WELCH

The Brand of Brotherhood starts off with a literal bang. In the brief first chapter, the Warner family experiences a lifetime of struggle. William Warner moves his wife and two young sons west to Nebraska to forge a better life. But drought, poverty, and illness hit hard. The family will never be the same again. Giving up the unachieved dream of a great life in Nebraska, the Warners - who now number three instead of four - head further west to California. But William doesn’t survive the journey, making orphans of twelve-year-old Colt and ten-year-old Brick. Undeterred, the boys continue the trek to Sacramento as their father had planned to start their new lives.

Jim Borden, a retired gunfighter, takes the boys into his care as they travel westward by train. Borden sets the boys up with a solid, routine life - school, work, home, bed - and they flourish. Until they don’t. Brick turns to the outlaw life while Colt is a law-abiding citizen. Brick becomes a successful stagecoach robber, joining a gang of thieves called The Brotherhood, while Colt becomes a landowner. On totally different life paths, the brothers grow apart until their story comes to an explosive and satisfying end.

To keep the story going, Zummack throws in love affairs for the brothers with girls and interesting women. He then adds a father determined to protect his daughter. And since this is a Western, classic gunfights are included. I especially appreciated a secondary storyline about a lady of the night and a bit of her world.

The pacing of The Brand of Brotherhood is spot on. The action starts on page one and continues at a perfect pace until the end. Descriptions are simple and not flowery and keep things moving. Zummack nailed the prose, that’s for sure.

I haven’t read a Western in awhile and I’d forgotten how the characters typically follow traditional roles. But I love that in this genre. Women are strong but soft. They are often in the man’s shadow while remaining the backbones of relationships. Men are macho and are the protectors.

The Brand of Brotherhood gives off a Louis L’Amour vibe so I wasn’t surprised to learn that Zummack spent his younger years reading L’Amour as well as Agatha Christie. Likely even without realizing it, Zummack nailed the necessary ingredients for an authentic Western novel. It is not an easy genre to successfully write and pull off but Zummack delivers!

Snag yourself a copy of The Brand of Brotherhood if you are in the mood for a classic Western written in modern times by a formidable writer. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Westerns, from teenagers to centenarians.

This book is available at your local bookstore or from www.Skbooks.Com

The Brand of Brotherhood gives off a Louis L’Amour vibe, so I wasn’t surprised to learn that Zummack spent his younger years reading L’Amour as well as Agatha Christie.

Saskatchewan farm groups unite for Ag Summit

REGINA - With the imposition of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, eight Saskatchewan farm groups are joining forces to host a Saskatchewan Ag Summit in Saskatoon on March 27, 2025. This collaborative event will bring together producers, industry experts, and stakeholders to focus on critical issues facing the province’s agricultural sector, including farm advocacy efforts and mounting trade concerns.

Bill Prybylski, APAS President, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “The Summit underscores the critical role of agricultural organizations during these uncertain times. Issues like the start of U.S. tariffs showcase our vulnerabilities, highlighting the need for greater awareness and preparedness.”

Summit presenters include:

Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute: Delivering a comprehensive overview of agri-food challenges, insights into trade risks and disruptions, and highlighting strategic policy directions for navigating an increasingly complex global landscape.

Agri-Food Economic Systems: Discussing modern approaches to grain contracts and the broader implications of trade challenges.

Temple Scott Associates: Offering expert guidance on enhancing agricultural advocacy and its role in shaping policy.

University of Calgary: Exploring emerging trade dynamics and future industry trends.

Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers: Analyzing how international trade policies affect farm inputs and the agricultural supply chain.

Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership: Examining the role of Saskatchewan’s agri-food exports

amidst global trade uncertainties.

Mercantile Consulting Ventures: Assessing how increased transparency in export sales data could influence farm profitability and economic stability.

“This Summit is a crucial opportunity for Saskatchewan’s agricultural community to come together, share insights, and chart a course forward on pressing issues,” highlighted Jake Leguee, Chair, Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission.

“Having experts from University of Calgary, the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers, CAPI, and the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership enriches this event with insights and expertise for managing the impacts of trade uncertainty,” said SaskPork Chair, Toby Tschetter. “By joining forces, we’re focused on safeguarding our industry, tackling trade hurdles, and charting a course for continued growth for Saskatchewan’s agricultural community.”

Less than two per cent of Canada’s population are farmers, and yet they are able to feed a population of more than 30 million and export to foreign markets.

Dr. Jackie Hagens & Associates

www.absolutelyeyes.com

Facebook: Oyen Optometry and Absolutely Eyes 107 MAIN STREET, KINDERSLEY • 306-463-8266

“Because there is SO much worth seeing!”

Eston Wheatland Centre presents

Everyone Welcome!

DRAWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AT THE CENTRE

Ticket Sales 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Draw at 7:30 PM

Draws will be held until Oct. 30, 2024

Draws will continue until Oct. 29, 2025

See our Facebook page for details

Lic. #LR24-0086

Lic. #LR23-0068

“Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.“

Thomas Jefferson

Notice of Preparation of Assessment Roll Town of Kerrobert

Pursuant to Section 213 of The Municipalities Act notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Town of Kerrobert for the year 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection at the office of the assessor from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

On the following days: Monday to Friday March 18th to May 16, 2025

Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment or classification to the Board of Revision is required to file his or her notice of appeal with:

The Secretary Board of Revision Krystal Bazylinski 503 Grand Ave. PO Box 130, Luseland, SK S0L 2A0

By: 4:30 p.m., May 16th, 2025

Dated this 18th day of March, 2025. Tara Neumeier, Assessor

Notice of Preparation of Assessment Roll R.M. of Winslow No. 319

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the R.M. of Winslow No. 319 for the year 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the following days: Monday to Friday, March 21 to May 21, 2025

A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required. All fees must be submitted to the local assessor at the RM of Winslow No. 319. All appeals must be filed with The Secretary of the Board of Revision, Kara Lindal, which can be sent electronically to: secretary@westernmunicipal.ca, or via post/mail to RM of Winslow No. 319, Box 310, Dodsland, SK S0L 0V0, and forwarded to the Secretary of the Board of Revision.

Any person who wishes to discuss the notice of assessment or potential appeal, may contact the assessor at: the R.M. of Winslow No. 319, Box 310, Dodsland, SK S0L 0V0. A notice of appeal, accompanied by a $200 appeal fee, which will be returned if the appeal is successful, must be submitted by the 21st of May, 2025.

Dated this 21st day of March, 2025.

Regan MacDonald, Assessor

Assessment Roll Notice

TOWN OF BURSTALL

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Town of Burstall for the year 2025 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the Assessor from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the following days: Monday to Thursday, March 13, 2025 to May 15, 2025

A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.

Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment or classification is required to file his or her notice of appeal(s), along with the required fee of $250.00 per appeal in writing, with:

The Secretary of the Board of Revision Western Municipal Consulting Ltd. P.O. Box 149, Meota, SK S0M 1X0 by the 15th day of May, 2025.

Dated this 13th day of March, 2025. Stacey Jansma, Assessor

STARS SWEEP! The Dodsland Stars were crowned Cross Roads Hockey League champions after sweeping the Luseland Mallards in three straight games. Scores were 8-5, 3-2 (OT) and 9-3. League president Sam Somerville presents Stars captain, Brad Buckingham with the trophy. SUBMITTED

BY JOAN JANZEN

KINDERSLEY—The Kindersley Library hosted a new adult program on Thursday evening. It was Paint Night at the library. A handful of adults came to the library to paint and socialize. The free program included all the necessary supplies. All the amateur artists were required to bring was their creativity.

Although socializing was evident, the group was quiet as they concentrated on their artwork. After taking a photo of the group, I tried my hand at painting. However, after completing my project, I came to the conclusion that I’m much better suited to writing. By the end of the session, it was evident there was a lot of talent gathered around the table.

Farming with my grandparents

Every year in April before we start seeding, we clean our seed, service our air seeder, tractor, and sprayer. We also load water tanks onto the back of our tandem for hauling water to spray.

In May, we start seeding our four crops: yellow field peas, canola, spring red wheat, and durum wheat. This is a very busy time of the year that requires a lot of planning. This includes figuring out where we are going to seed our crops and how many acres of each crop we are going to seed. This lasts for three to five weeks, depending on the weather. Before the crops emerge, we do a chemical burn-off. Once the crops reach a certain growing stage, we figure out what chemicals are needed to kill the weeds that are emerging.

With our new practice in our farming, instead of fertilizer, we apply bio-carbon water mixed with Reverse Osmosis water while seeding and spraying. The purpose of this application is to grow a healthier plant without using fertilizer and inoculant.

Throughout the growing season we monitor the crops for any pests and disease. If we find any, we contact an agrologist to help with advice for the control of them.

At the appropriate time in the growing season, we apply more cultured carbon water for the crop’s health. The

cultured carbon water is cultured from concentrated biocarbon water, molasses and Reverse Osmosis water.

Most crops take eighty to one hundred days to reach full maturity. Over this time, we check the crops routinely to see if they have reached maturity. When the crops have reached maturity, they are ready to harvest. A couple of days before harvest, we service the combine, headers, and grain trucks. During harvest, the three of us juggle combining, trucking, meal prepping, and delivering meals to the field. Harvest usually takes a month, depending on the weather. Right after the harvest ends, we service the equipment and store them in the shed for the winter.

In early winter, we order canola seed, chemicals, and cultured carbon water for the next spring.

Along with farming I help out with planting our garden. We plant all kinds of vegetables such as: yellow beans, tomatoes, carrots, peas, red and white onions, garlic, potatoes, corn, lettuce, beets, pumpkin, cucumbers, and zucchini. This also involves weeding and watering the garden as required. To water the garden, we make little furrows beside the rows. In the hotter months we water the garden every few days.

I also help with planting flowers in our flower pots. In mid-May, we go to

16 - 22, 2025

a local greenhouse to pick out flowers to put in the pots. When at home I pick out arrangements of flowers I like to put in the flower pots. When this is done, we work and water the soil so it’s ready for the new flowers to go in. Throughout the summer, I help water the flowers. Earlier in the season we water the flowers every few days until June, then

as it gets hotter and as the plants are on the south side of the house, we water them every day until it gets freezing. This is when the season really ends.

Written by Azia Dietrich Age 12, Grade 7 Lives on the farm near Mendham, SK Attends Leader Composite School.

Along with farming, 12-year-old Azia Dietrich helps out with their garden.

Azia Dietrich from Mendham gets a front row seat on the combine with her gramma behind the wheel. For the past four years the family has been employing a new practice. Instead of fertilizer, they apply bio-carbon water mixed with Reverse Osmosis water while seeding and spraying. PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY AZIA DIETRICH

People keep farming because they love it

BY JOAN JANZEN

According to Statistics Canada, the average age of farmers in Saskatchewan is 55. The 2021 census revealed that more than 60 percent of operators in Saskatchewan are 55 years or older, almost double the number of those aged 35-54.

Nevertheless, Hugh McLean from the Kindersley area noted that most farmers in his area are in the 35-year-old category. Likewise, Gordon Dunn reported that his son has taken over the farm, but at the age of 80, Gordon still helps out.

“There’s times of the year when it’s busy, and I can fill in and alleviate the workload,” he explained. He enjoys contributing, and why not? It’s common for businessmen to continue working past the age of 65, and farming is a business.

The census also showed that 735 more women were in the agriculture sector in 2021 than in 2016. How-

ever, that number is likely higher since women who have other jobs aren’t tagged as farmers in the census. Jane Dietrich from Mendham is one of the women in Saskatchewan who enjoys farming.

She and her husband are in their late 60s. “I would say most farmers in our area are over 60,” she said. She estimated there are less than ten farmers in the area who are under 40.

“Some older farmers keep farming to help their children who have a second job while farming,” she explained.

Gordon Dunn said helping out on the farm gives him something to do and helps to keep his mind active. It’s common for farmers who enjoy good physical health to continue working on their farms.

“People keep farming because they love it and it keeps them occupied,” Jane Dietrich commented. It appears to be an accurate observation; one that is not recorded by Statistics Canada.

David Liam Roberts, cellist and Godwin Friesen, pianist wowed their audiences at Kindersley and Luseland on March 11th and 12th.

BY JOAN JANZEN

Prairie Sons wowed audiences at Kindersley and Luseland

BY JOAN JANZEN

The duo Prairie Sons performed at Kindersley on March 11th and Luseland on March 12th as part of their Arts Council tour. The moment David Liam Roberts, cellist and Godwin Friesen, pianist, dawned the stage, they held their audiences captive as they poured their heart and soul into their performance. “I’m so glad I came,” was a comment made by many who attended their concert.

“We want to work together to create something great and fun,” Godwin said. They definitely achieved their goal. They played Métis fiddle tunes by Andy Jarvis, a new composition by Godwin, a love song by Faure and ‘more.’

The ‘more’ included a rendition of ‘Both Sides Now,’ a medley of songs from the 1970s to 1990s, and an encore performance of ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ as the audience chimed in with ‘Shoo-bop, bop, bop, bop.’

Both artists were raised in musical families and were performing at a young age. David said he was playing the cello at the age of three and was busking

alongside his siblings at local markets in Winnipeg. Likewise, Godwin, who grew up in Saskatoon, also performed with his siblings, resulting in the ‘singing classical pianist’ entertaining the crowd in song.

The two met at Glenn Gould School of Music in Toronto and formed a friendship along with the Prairie Sons duo.

David currently lives in Switzerland and Godwin resides in Montreal; however David said “they come back to the prairies at least once a year.” This year they returned to their longest tour ever. Their Kindersley and Luseland performances were the 27th and 28th concerts in a series of 34 scheduled performances.

Both young musicians were awarded and featured in CBC’s Hot 30 Classical Musicians Under 30. Their audiences at Kindersley and Luseland thoroughly enjoyed their music, which conveyed their deep connection to their prairie roots.

Overall their performance was a love song to the prairies, and was deeply appreciated by the communities of Luseland and Kindersley.

PHOTO BY JANE DIETRICH

Prairie Sons -

PHOTO

BY BRIAN ZINCHUK

CALGARY - A blockbuster merger was announced the morning of Monday, March 10, with Whitecap Resources Inc. (TSX: WCP) and Veren Inc. (TSX: VRN) (NYSE: VRN) announcing a $15 billion all-stock deal.

The companies’ joint press release said the strategic combination would create a “leading light oil and condensate producer with concentrated assets in the Alberta Montney and Duvernay. The combined company will be the largest Alberta Montney and Duvernay landholder, a prominent light oil producer in Saskatchewan and will leverage the combined asset base and technical expertise to drive improved profitability and superior returns to shareholders.”

The companies have entered into a definitive business combination agreement to combine in an allshare transaction valued at approximately $15 billion, inclusive of net debt. Under the terms of the agreement, Veren shareholders will receive 1.05 common shares of Whitecap for each Veren common share held. The combined company will be led by Whitecap’s existing management team under the Whitecap name with four Veren directors to join the Whitecap Board of Directors, including the current president & CEO of Veren, Craig Bryksa. The transaction is expected to close before May 30, 2025.

Indeed, “Veren” didn’t last very long under that name, with Crescent Point Energy Corp. announcing its name change on March. 20, 2024. The new stickers on the lease signs haven’t even had time to fade before this merger will make them obsolete.

In many ways, in Saskatchewan it’s a case of getting the band back together. Veren, formerly Crescent Point Energy Corp., has been on a years-long trend since

2018 of selling off Saskatchewan assets that it built up since around 2007. That build-up, which included around 30 acquisitions, mostly in Saskatchewan, had solidified its dominant position in both southeast and southwest Saskatchewan, with additional operations in west central Saskatchewan, Alberta, North Dakota and Utah. But the change in leadership at then-Crescent Point, from Scott Saxberg to Craig Bryksa in 2018, saw a reversal in the company’s strategy, from growth in Saskatchewan assets to selling off most of them as it focused on reducing debt incurred in the previous buildup. A year ago, it sold off its Flat Lake and Battrum plays to Saturn Oil & Gas. Just the Viewfield Bakken and Shaunavon play remained in Veren’s Saskatchewan portfolio, a dramatic reduction from seven years prior.

Many of the portions of Crescent Point’s once dominant position that were sold off went to Whitecap, especially in the Lampman/Browning area.

Essentially, as Crescent Point gave up its former role as the serial acquirer in southern Saskatchewan, Whitecap has picked up that very role.

The merged company will operate under a CEO whose Saskatchewan roots run deep, as he originally hails from Estevan. Grant Fagerheim, Whitecap’s president & CEO, stated in the release: “We are excited to bring together two exceptionally strong asset bases to create one world-class energy producer with one of the deepest inventory growth sets of both liquids-rich Montney and Duvernay opportunities, along with conventional light oil opportunities in some of the most profitable plays in the Western Canadian basin. Our combined company will include exceptional technical and support personnel from the two companies

Lions Club endeavouring to rebuild club in Kindersley

BY JOAN JANZEN

KINDERSLEY—Two individuals have been visiting businesses door-to-door in an effort to build a Lions Club in the Kindersley community. Rob Hill, from the Global Action Team (GAT) for District 5, and Ron Tessier, from Eston’s Lions Club, have been hitting the streets of Kindersley.

“We’re canvassing door to door at businesses. It’s by word of mouth,” Rob said. “Membership is by invitation only. We’re here for three days. We’ll get a start and then we’ll have local people follow through.” Their visit will be followed by an information meeting on Thursday evening at Kindersley Inn.

Kindersley had a thriving Lions Club approximately fifteen years ago, at which time it was a men’s club. “It had a lot of members and did a lot for the community, but people didn’t want to step up for the executive and weren’t recruiting new members,” Rob recalled. Now Rob and Ron are trying to rebuild the club in southern Saskatchewan.

“We’ve just started, and the interest has been good,” Ron observed. The Lions Club is a co-ed club; however, there are two separate clubs in Eston. “We have almost 70 members between the two clubs,” Ron reported. The men’s club has been operating for 78 years.

Lions clubs support global causes including diabetes, vision, hunger, environment and childhood cancer, but are not limited to those pursuits. Each club decides what needs they want to support within their community and there are grants available from Lions Club International, including grants for disability playgrounds.

“If there’s a major disaster such as a fire, there’s an emergency grant of $50,000 US available within 48 hours, administered through the club,” Rob explained. “There’s also an emergency clean-up grant; either one or the other is available in the event of a local disaster.” Funds come from the Lions Club International Foundation, which is supported by Lions of the World.

PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN

Thursday’s meeting was designed to provide information on the new club and Lions Club International. Twenty members are the minimum number required. Regardless of the number of members, the club will be sponsored by the Eston Club, which will guide it for two years.

“There’s always a need for service clubs,” Rob concluded. And the Lions Club is well established and has been operating in Canada since 1920.

...Whitecap and Veren combine in stock deal

in both the office and field and an experienced Board of Directors that prioritizes sustainable and profitable growth to generate strong returns for our combined shareholders. We look forward to bringing Whitecap and Veren together and providing increased value to both sets of shareholders well into the future.”

Fagerheim was named the 2022 Saskatchewan Oil Person of the Year at the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show.

Craig Bryksa, Veren’s president & CEO, stated, “This strategic combination unlocks significant value for all shareholders and together positions us as a stronger, more resilient company. With enhanced scale, deep inventory, and increased free funds flow generation, we’re building a business with a differentiated competitive advantage. Our combined balance sheet reinforces our financial strength and enhanced credit profile, ensuring the long-term success in an evolving market. Together we’re unlocking synergies, creating new opportunities, and setting the stage for sustainable growth.”

Chris Bullin, vice president, East Division (essentially Saskatchewan), said during the March 10 webcast, “The conventional division becomes an extremely robust entity that brings together over 150,000 boe a day of high net back 81% liquid-weighted light oil focused volumes to drive corporate free cash flow generation.

“The combination of Whitecap and Veren lands in Saskatchewan provides an ideal opportunity, as these lands each other exceptionally well, which has further solidified our position as the premier conventional producer in Saskatchewan, with the largest producing volumes per day, when excluding heavy oil thermal operation. We continue to be the most active conventional driller in Saskatchewan, and now, with our combined activities are even more significant, with approximately 200 wells planned to be drilled in Saskatchewan for 2025.

“These sustainability driven assets are further enhanced in aggregate as overall base declines are reduced to less than 20%, bolstered by the increased weighting and EOR volumes from both the Veren’s dominant positions in the Viewfield Bakken in eastern Saskatchewan and the Shaunavon in southwest Saskatchewan, with approximately 60,000 boe per day under secondary or tertiary recovery within the division, 80% of which resides in Saskatchewan. Whitecap is the dominant EOR producer in Saskatchewan.

“The overlay with the existing Whitecap lands provides an optimal opportunity to realize the benefits of the combination. Conventional synergies are expected to drive drill, complete equipment tie-in savings of approximately $25 million on an annual basis. This primarily comes from program rephasing and savings related to size and scale.

“From an inventory perspective, the conventional division has strengthened with this high confidence and repeatable portfolio that now increases to approximately 7,000 locations strong, including over 2,600 premium locations to support over 15 years of running room. Our conventional division is the foundation for free cash flow generation, and the team continues to find opportunities to enhance our already robust inventory duration, when combined with the unconventional division, this complimentary asset portfolio is able to deliver both sustainable cash returns and longterm growth for our shareholders.”

Ensign Drilling Rig 423 was drilling north of Lampman for Whitecap Resources Inc. on March 2. Photo by Brian Zinchuk

Notably, there was something distinctly different about this announcement. Historically, Crescent Point/Veren would stop drilling in an area before an impending sale. But as of March 10, both Veren and Whitecap had rigs working in the field.

In this slide from the merger presentation, Veren land is in orange and Whitecap land is

Rob Hill from the Global Action Team, (left) and Ron Tessier from Eston - District Membership Coordinator for 5SKS were visiting businesses in Kindersley this week in an effort to rebuild a Lions Club in Kindersley.

Toolkits help bridge mental health gap in ag emergency preparedness

ERIN KELLY FOR THE CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL SAFETY ASSOCIATION

Whether it’s disease, fire, or extreme weather, a sudden catastrophic event can have a devastating toll on farming operations.

And while efforts to rebuild and repair farms tend to take centre stage following a crisis, the mental health aspects of these events are often put on the backburner.

However, the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing (CCAW) hopes to change that mindset with its Catastrophic Events Toolkits.

“The agricultural industry does a really good job of showing up and making sure we’re doing what needs to be done to make sure a farm can be saved or rebuilt or otherwise intervening in another way that is appropriate,” explains Dr. Briana Hagen, CEO and lead scientist at CCAW.

“What we don’t do a great job of is making sure there are mental health supports in place or intervention or preventative services that can be included in that response.”

The toolkits contain insights and resources for those supporting farmers and farm families during an agricultural crisis, and were developed from a research study asking farmers what they need in a crisis.

The intention of the toolkits, says Hagen, is to bridge the mental health gap in emergency preparedness for catastrophic events across the agricultural industry.

“We know that farmers are experiencing poor mental health outcomes compared to the general population in Canada. We know that agriculture has unique stressors and some of those stressors are around these catastrophic events, including extreme weather events that are happening more frequently, that can really ratchet up stress on a farm and for a farm family,” Hagen explains, adding that CCAW also recently launched the National Farmer Wellness Network crisis line to provide farmers with access to farm-tailored mental health support.

“There is always going to be something causing stress and challenges, so making sure we have these types of supports in place for farmers to seek appropriate care is key.”

In addition to a core component that outlines how to support farmers during an agricultural crisis, a unique aspect of the toolkits is information for crisis liaisons to know more about specific farming events. The toolkits, which are geared towards groups creating emergency preparedness programs or plans, currently highlight avian influenza, African swine fever, and porcine epidemic diarrhea. The toolkits are described as living templates that will evolve to include other agricultural threats and crises.

“The beauty of crisis liaison toolkit is that a group, whether it’s a commodity group or a community group, can identify who the best-suited person for that role might be in that area or in that crisis, and this type of training could be utilized to make sure that person is ready,” explains Hagen. “Who a crisis liaison is depends on who might be the right person in that moment. I think that’s one of the really great things about this approach because it can evolve based on who is available and what farmers need in that moment.”

The background information for crisis liaisons and other individuals or groups could make a tremen-

dous difference in supporting farmers’ mental health during a crisis.

As Hagen explains, for farmers to get on board with receiving support, they want the people helping them to understand the unique traits of agriculture.

“That is something that came through in our previous research time and time again; that having someone who has a baseline knowledge of agriculture is key in order to have farm credibility and for a farmer to trust them in those moments of need. Without that knowledge, it’s harder for them to be able to serve farmers.”

Hagen points out that the crux of ensuring farmers get the support they need when they need it comes down to being proactive as an industry, which is why awareness about emergency preparedness, including mental health, is crucial.

“I do think that there is a strong urgency for emergency preparedness in a lot of commodity groups right now. For example, with African swine fever, we know that there is a lot of preparation for what could happen if it hits. That is where a toolkit like this could be incorporated into an existing emergency preparedness plan and really be helpful,” Hagen says.

“That’s why we’re working with groups to make sure the toolkits can be moulded to fit their commodity or community, which is what is really unique and really important about these kits.”

After years of research on farmers’ mental well-being, Hagen says the overwhelmingly positive response to the toolkits is undoubtedly a testament to the work that has been done to build awareness around mental health and its importance in the agricultural industry. And that’s a trend that Hagen hopes continues.

“What I really hope happens with these toolkits is that mental health doesn’t just become an interventional thought for groups and for farmers. I really hope that by implementing plans and a crisis liaison, that we can have boots on the ground early. So that we aren’t responding to a mental health crisis – we’re preventing one.”

SASK WEST THIS WEEK

Wilkie takes early lead in SWHL final

BY PHIL HEILMAN

We are getting into the nitty gritty of hockey in the area, with many finals being set or have just started.

League

Game 1 of the SWHL finals kicked off Saturday night in Wilkie as the two seed Outlaws hosted the four seed Edam 3 Stars, with the home team romping to a 7-1 win.

Ryan Keller fired up the crowd early with 8th of the playoffs, followed quickly Mike Sittler’s 5th of the playoffs for a solid 2-0 lead after 20 minutes. In the 2nd period, Mitch Suchan would extend that lead to 3-0, but Josh LaClare would claw it back down to a 2-goal deficit. That would be as close as they would get as Brock Harrison and Keller would extend the lead up to 5-1 after 2 frames. Harrison and Rick Cey would tack up insurance markers for the final result.

Taryn Kotchorek stopped 26 of 33 shots in the loss, while Jared Herle stopped 39 of 40 shots in the win.

Game 2 is set for Tuesday night in Edam.

Saskatchewan signs on to the National School Food Program

The governments of Saskatchewan and Canada have signed a $15.8 million three-year agreement under the National School Food Program.

The federal investment is in addition to Saskatchewan’s Child Nutrition Program, which in 202425 invested $2.7 million to assist school divisions and community-based organizations in addressing child hunger, offer nutrition education and provide skill-building opportunities like cooking classes.

“When kids are hungry, they can’t focus - it’s that simple,” Federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jenna Sudds said “That’s why we’re making sure more kids in Saskatchewan get healthy meals at school. Filling their bellies with nutritious food will set them up for success. It also helps parents save hundreds on groceries. It’s a game changer for everyone.”

“We recognize that basic nutrition at school contributes to positive student outcomes including improved academic work, initiative, class participation and problem solving,” Education Minister Everett Hindley said. “This funding will make a difference and allow us to continue to support the wellbeing of children and families who need it most across our

growing province.”

The National School Food Program was announced by the federal government in 2024 and, through a $1 billion investment over five years, will provide meals to up to 400,000 children across Canada each year.

Provincials

In Senior ‘C’, the Wilkie Outlaws headed to Foam Lake for game 1 of the provincial final against the Flyers from the Long Lake Hockey League. Results were not available at press time.

In Senior ‘D’, the Edam 3 Stars are North Champs after a 4-3 2OT win in game 2 against the Delisle Bruins. They will now face the Redvers Rockets in the finals, with Edam holding the hammer in the series.

The Kerrobert Senior Rebels defeated Asquith by a score of 71-61 and are 1A Regional Champions! The team has earned a ticket to Hoopla 2025 in Saskatoon where they will compete against the top 4 1A Teams in the province in hopes of bringing home a banner for Kerrobert Composite School! FACEBOOK

Visiting our Hutterite neighbours

BY JOAN JANZEN

KINDERSLEY — Dotted across the prairies, you’ll find numerous Hutterite colonies. We may meet these individuals in our communities while shopping or at local markets. They are our neighbours, producers of grain, livestock, poultry, garden produce and many other products.

Recently, I had the opportunity to tour Springfield Hutterite Colony, located seven miles east and three miles north of Kindersley. The colony of 126 souls was founded in 1991 as a subdivision of Smiley Colony.

There are three different branches of Hutterites: Schmiedeleut, Dariusleut and Lehrerleut. The Springfield Colony is the latter. Each branch has slight differences in style of dress and the structure of their organization. Tamara and Anita Kleinsasser were my tour guides; however, two hours was only enough time to tour one-quarter of the colony’s facilities. The two sisters welcomed me into their family’s home, which was filled with the colony’s workmanship. Sturdy upholstered furniture, a handcrafted wooden clock, kitchen cabinets, and a sink were all products made at Springfield Colony.

Even the broom used for sweeping the floors was manufactured on the premises.

Next door to their living room, the sewing room has three sewing machines, all acquired from the former Veronica’s Sewing Supplies store. Making all their clothing is a huge task, which the ladies do in their own homes. After all, Tamara mused, “I can already picture thirty ladies together. No sewing would get done, only visiting.”

Companies from Winnipeg and Medicine Hat send out fabric samples. Once the ladies have made their selections, a shipment is delivered from Winnipeg or picked up at Medicine Hat.

Activity at the colony’s greenhouse will begin in late March when flowers

will be planted for the colony’s use, along with bedding plants for their garden. The garden plot is ten or more acres in size.

The colony has a 600-start-to-finish sow/hog operation. The slaughterhouse is also where produce is canned. Livestock consists of 102 steers and four milk cows. The colony provides beef and milk for itself and sells cattle once they reach market weight. Their chicken production is enormous, including 80,000 broilers and 36,000 laying chickens. That equates to 24,560 eggs per picking, which are then shipped by truck every week. The chickens are picked up and taken to a slaughterhouse, where they are sold at

Hutterite children from ages two and a half to five years attend pre-school while their mothers are working. They speak primarily German until they start school at age 6.

outlets such as Costco and KFC.

Hutterites are a generous bunch. They donate food to the Food Bank once a month and also make donations to Ronald McDonald House and FoodMesh Kindersley.

The chickens’ feed and water intake and surrounding temperature are closely monitored using an alarm system, as the health of the birds is a primary concern. When they arrive at the colony, chicks are a day old and are shipped out at six weeks.

Recycled newsprint is shredded and used as bedding for the broilers. Apparently, bugs don’t like ink, which keeps the chicken barn free of pests. The colony’s paper shredder is a modified straw shredder.

As we headed towards the carpentry shop, Anita informed me that the colony has its own certified plumber, electrician, welder, and carpenter, as well as someone with a natural gas licence. All their work is inspected, and everyone is required to take the necessary safety courses associated with their work assignment. Every position on the colony is obtained by vote.

“This is where the magic happens,” Tamara said as we entered the carpentry shop, where cabinets were being built for their kitchen renovation project. Another colony collects and recycles any scraps remaining from cabinet construction.

Skid plates used in combine headers are made on a mold press and sold to implement dealers. And a 3D printer enables the production of various gadgets and toys.

The welding shop was working on an impressive playground equipment project for the colony. Tamara said she would like to try out the lengthy slide after it is set up, but only when no one is looking.

Meanwhile, a dozen preschool children ages 2 to 5 were all looking at me as I entered their space. They follow a regular routine while their mothers

are working. The youngsters speak primarily German until they begin attending school at the age of 6.

The school-aged children begin their day at 7:15 , attending German

School until 8:30 a.m. and memorizing verses. They also attend another half hour of German school after their regular school classes, at which time they learn German songs and German calligraphy. Hutterites speak a Bavarian dialect, which includes an English

word here and there.

The English classroom is down the hall from the German classroom, where principal Alexandra Graham teaches twenty students from grades 1-9. She has the help of three education assistants, and all the staff expressed appreciation for the support they receive from the Hutterite community. On Saturdays the students take on the responsibility of cleaning the classrooms.

After completing their elementary school years, I was told the students have no problem challenging the GED, which is required for anyone entering a trade.

The next destination was the church, the central building in Hutterite colonies. Each evening, a bell rings to notify the community that it’s time to attend a half-hour church service. Men sit on one side and women on the other, while the two ordained ministers and six elders are seated facing the people. These men are responsible for making the major decisions on the colony. Sunday morning services also include Sunday School for the children who begin attending services at the age of six.

At the age of 19, people on the colony have the option to get baptized, at which time they are considered brothers and sisters of the colony. Couples must be baptized before getting married. Married men have beards, and brides wear a typical Hutterite dress of their choice on their wedding day.

We headed to the kitchen, where we were greeted by wonderful aromas. The head cook decides the main dishes which will be served, while two assistants make the cold and hot side dishes. The kitchen staff works on a rotation basis, with bread making scheduled on Fridays and pastry made on Wednesdays.

Although that ended my tour, it was the beginning of a new acquaintance with our neighbouring Hutterite community. Thanks for the tour; I really enjoyed it.

Men were working on playground equipment in the welding shop.

The carpentry shop is “where the magic happens”. Kitchen cabinets were being prepared for the colony’s kitchen renovations.

Twenty students from grades 1-9 settled into their desks after recess. They are taught by Ms Alexandra Graham, along with three Education assistants.

Martin Kleinsasser showed a sample of what can be created on a 3D printer.

Mantario and Eatonia Lions clubs participate in Soles 4 Souls

BY JOAN JANZEN

EATONIA/MANTARIO —Patrons visiting the Town of Eatonia office will immediately notice two giant red boxes labelled Soles 4 Souls Canada. The Eatonia and Mantario Lions Clubs have joined forces to run this shoe and clothing drive for people in need.

Matt Hoffman from the Eatonia Lions Club said they first learned about the initiative from a Lions member in Richmound. “We had a District meeting in Eatonia early in March. There were six clubs In attendance, including Richmound and Mantario,” he explained. As non-profit organizations, both clubs in Mantario and Eatonia decided to partner with Soles 4 Souls Canada and place their individual boxes in the Eatonia Town Office.

Soles 4 Souls only accepts new and gently used shoes and clothing.

Gently used means no obvious or significant wear and tear, no holes, no mud or excessive staining, or items with broken/missing parts.

Items which are not accepted include undergarments (socks, bras, underwear), household textiles (blankets, comforters), baby and children’s toys (stuffed animals), accessories, and perishable items. Further information is available at soles4soulscanada.org

Soles4Souls Canada diverts unwanted shoes and clothing from landfills and puts them to good use. It helps get new shoes and clothing to people in crisis situations, as well as provid-

ing shoes to children in need. Matt said although the donated items aren’t going to local people, they are going to serve those in need. “And

March 16 - 22, 2025

that’s what we do, we serve,” he stated.

Once the boxes are full, Soles 4 Souls Canada will distribute them to people in need. So, if you’re planning to visit the Eatonia Town Office, remember to bring your gently used shoes and clothing and help fill the boxes.

Patrons visiting the Eatonia Town Office are invited to donate gently used shoes and clothing in the Soles 4 Souls boxes set up by the Eatonia and Mantario Lions Clubs. SUBMITTED

The RM of Kindersley No. 290 is seeking a Seasonal Grader Operator / Utility Person. The successful candidate will meet the following criteria:

• willingness and aptitude to operate RM grader

• servicing & maintaining various equipment

• working knowledge of road building and maintenance

• work with others and with minimal supervision

• attention to detail and safety conscious

• Must have Class 1A Gravel Truck License

Pay: $36.00 per hour

The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. Applicants are invited to submit a resume with driver’s abstract and references to:

Rural Municipality of Kindersley #290 Box 1210 Kindersley, Saskatchewan S0L 1S0 Phone: 306-463-2825

email: rmkindersleyshop@sasktel.net

GRAVEL SPREADING TENDER

Sealed tenders will be received by the undersigned for the loading, hauling and spreading of approximately 10,000 cubic yards of road gravel for 2025 from the municipality’s gravel stockpiles. The 10,000 cubic yards to be spread are in stockpiles located in multiple locations throughout the municipality.

Additional terms and requirements outlined on the Gravel Tender Form are available from the municipal office or online at rmofantelopepark.ca. Form must be completed and returned with the tender.

Sealed tenders are to be received by 4:00 p.m. on March 20, 2025 with tenders to be opened during the regular meeting of council on March 25, 2025 commencing at 7:00 p.m.

Lowest or any tender not necessarily accepted. For further information, please contact Reeve Clinton Barr at 306-460-9610.

Rural Municipality of Antelope Park No. 322 Box 70, Marengo, SK S0L 2K0 306-912-8922 fax rm292.rm322@sasktel.net

LAND FOR SALE BY TENDER

RM of Chesterfield No. 261

4 strategies for retaining your employees

kate@yourwestcentral.com

The Rural Municipality of Prairiedale No. 321 is seeking a seasonal Grader Operator.

The successful candidate will meet the following criteria:

• Have willingness and aptitude to a operate grader as required for the job

• Have knowledge of servicing and maintaining heavy equipment

• Valid Driver’s License

• Have a working knowledge of grading roads

• Must be capable of working with minimal to no immediate supervision

• Attention to detail, safety conscious, and ability to take direction from Supervisors

Duties may include but not limited to:

• Operating grader

• Experience operating other equipment is an asset

• Any other tasks assigned by the Supervisor with the direction of Council

Employment proposed start date is to be determined. The RM of Prairiedale offers a competitive wage and comprehensive benefits package including the Municipal Employees Pension Plan (MEPP).

The position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found. Applicants are invited to submit a resume with driver’s abstract and references to:

RM of Prairiedale No. 321 Box 160 Major, SK S0L 2H0

Fax: 306-834-1202

Email: administrator@rmofprairedale.ca

As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, it can be challenging to retain your employees. Here are four strategies to help keep your talent.

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CLOSING DATE FOR SALE MARCH 28, 2025 Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted. Please text or send offers by picture or PDF to 306-460-9990. Serious offers only.

1. Focus on communication. Communicate openly with your employees. Listen to their concerns and be open to new ideas. Let them know they’re heard and that you take them seriously.

2. Think about development. Employees often quit because of a lack of advancement opportunities.Therefore, provide training so your employees can develop their potential,avoid boredom and take on new challenges.

3. Offer benefits. Ask your employees what your company could improve and add these to their benefits and perks. For example, you could include group insurance,paid holidays, yoga classes, flexible working hours and telemedicine.

4. Get out of the office. Create opportunities for your employees to socialize and have fun in a context that doesn’t revolve around work. Use the opportunity to celebrate their successes.

The Great Sandhills Museum and Interpretive Centre Invites applications for the positions of 2 TOUR

GUIDES

Employee retention also depends on effective recruitment.Therefore, use a specialized agency to start your talent search today.

We welcome applications from the Government of Canada’s job equity groups (women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, and Indigenous people).

First Position will start May 15, 2025.

Second Position will start June 27, 2025.

Qualifications:

- Must be college, university or high school student

- Must be between the ages of 15 - 30 years old

- Moderate computer knowledge

- Willing to work at least 30 - 35 hours/week

- CPR & First Aid would be an asset

Send resume to:

Great Sandhills Museum Box 29, Sceptre, SK S0N 2H0 or email gshs@sasktel.net

Deadline for applications: April 15, 2025

Where Is”

As the job market becomes petitive, it can be challenging employees. Here are four keep your talent.

1. Focus on communication. openly with your employees. their concerns and be Let them know they’re take them seriously.

2. Think about development. ten quit because of a opportunities.Therefore, so your employees can tential,avoid boredom challenges.

All offers to be accompanied by a Certified Cheque or Bank Draft for 10% of tendered bid payable to “MLT Aikins LLP in Trust”.

Balance of the purchase price of the successful bid to be paid within 30 days of acceptance of the offer or the

1. ANALYTICAL SKILLS

An Agreement for Sale shall be prepared between the Vendor and the Purchaser upon acceptance.

Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted.

Send

How to welcome a teleworking employee

Telecommuting has become increasingly popular in recent years. It allows companies to recruit qualified talent across the globe. If your company is about to welcome a new telecommuting employee, here’s how to do it.

• Talk about the company. Describe the company’s mission, values and other information to help the employee develop a sense of belonging.

• Present your tools. Familiarize the employee with the tools, software and online platforms the company uses daily.

• Offer mentoring. Ensure the new employee knows they have someone they can

Whether you already work in information technology (IT) or are just starting studies,here are three qualities your success.

As an IT employee, you’re often solve problems. Consequently, you joy challenging yourself and looking novative solutions.You must also rently curious to stay updated with technologies in a constantly evolving

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• Introduce the team. Set up a video chat to introduce the entire team.You can reserve extra time for the employee to get to know the colleagues they’ll be working with directly.

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• Follow up. Make sure the new employee receives feedback from their immediate colleagues in the first few weeks to help them adjust.The recruit should feel free to ask questions without fear of judgment.

Are you looking for telecommuting employees to join your team? Do business with a recruitment service.

2. COMMUNICATION SKILLS IT specialists must be able to communicate with their colleagues and clients.This

It’s rare to get your dream job try.Therefore, if you’re offered an vel position, it’s necessary to ask it’s a good idea to accept it. Here tips to help you decide.

WHEN TO ACCEPT

If the job is related to your area and allows you to use and develop it may be worthwhile.The job may explore a field you’re interested you obtain a better position in the offer may also be attractive if there’s for career development within the

Telecommuting has become pular in recent years. It to recruit qualified talent If your company is about new telecommuting employee, to do it.

• Talk about the company. company’s mission, values formation to help the sense of belonging.

• Present your tools. ployee with the tools, platforms the company

• Offer mentoring. Ensure yee knows they have 4 strategies a teleworking

Where’s the best beef dish in the country? You can help decide!

Canada Beef invites Canadians to celebrate local restaurants by nominating and voting for their favourite beef dishes in the Best Canadian Beef Dishes Contest. This nationwide competition encourages diners to support local and showcase the best in beef via the Canadian Beef Information Restaurant Gateway.

The contest offers Canadians an opportunity to nominate their most-loved beef dishes at local restaurants, with a chance for someone in each region to win $200 for participating as nominators. The contest will also crown a restaurant winner from each province, with each provincial champion advancing to the national finale. Provincial winners will receive a prize pack valued at $1000, and the national winner will take home a grand prize valued at $5000.

The Restaurant Gateway is an online hub dedicated to celebrating Canada’s high-quality beef and the farmers and ranchers who produce it. This comprehensive resource features a Where to Eat directory, helping diners discover restaurant chains that serve Canadian beef, along with insights into the restaurant industry’s beneficial impact on local communities. Restaurant Gateway visitors can explore exclusive videos from farmers, ranchers and chefs from across the country, highlighting their dedication to Canadian beef.

The Restaurant Gateway will also house the Best Canadian Beef Dishes Contest and over time, offer diners in each province a list of nominated restaurants serving delicious beef dishes.

The nomination window will run from March until November 30, 2025, giving Canadians ample time to try local beef dishes and nominate their favourites.

“It’s more important than ever to support local,” says Director of the Canadian Beef Information Restaurant Gateway, Kelly Hyde. “The Best Canadian Beef Dishes Contest allows Canadians an opportunity to champion their most-loved beef dishes on the Restaurant Gateway for others to discover and enjoy while serving as a reminder of the vital role that restaurants play in our communities.”

About Canada Beef

Canada Beef is a cattle producer-funded and run organization responsible for domestic and international beef and veal market development. It has offices in Canada, Japan, Taiwan and Mexico. Canada Beef works to enable and sustain loyalty to the Canadian beef brand and build strong relationships with trade customers and partners around the world. These efforts increase demand for Canadian beef, and the value producers receive for their cattle.

Saskatchewan stands strong in the face of tariffs

Province will continue to seek out a diplomatic resolution to tariffs, while pursuing new international opportunities

On March 13, Premier Scott Moe, hosted a Saskatchewan Business Roundtable in Saskatoon with provincial companies most likely to be impacted by the tariffs threatened by the U.S., and China. Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding and Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison also led industry consultations with businesses from the potash, critical minerals, energy, manufacturing, agriculture and forestry sectors.

“We know these tariffs will decrease the competitiveness of Saskatchewan products, negatively impacting investment and the provincial economy,” Moe said. “Our companies bear the brunt of these impacts, which is why I am committed to standing up for Saskatchewan’s interests, focusing on calm and sensible solutions. These tariffs, particularly from China, will disproportionately impact Saskatchewan and we urge the federal government to continue working with provinces to create an economically sound and reasoned response.”

On March 8, 2025, China announced its intention to implement 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil, canola meal and pea imports. They also announced 25 per cent tariffs on pork and aquatic products. These tariffs are scheduled to begin on March 20, 2025.

These are in addition to the 25 per cent tariffs from the U.S. on all Canadian goods, with a lesser 10 per cent tariff on Canadian energy. These tariffs will hurt all three economies and raise prices for millions of

consumers.

Since November 2024, Premier Moe and Government of Saskatchewan representatives have participated in several provincial, national and international engagements on the issue of tariffs.

“We will continue to reach out to our contacts across Canada, the U.S., and China to advocate for Saskatchewan’s interests and further encourage them to speak to their local representatives,” Moe said. “Saskatchewan will also continue to prioritize international engagement to grow markets for Saskatchewan exporters.”

The U.S. is Saskatchewan’s largest trade partner. Roughly $40 billion worth of goods cross the border every year. China is the province’s second-largest trading partner. In 2024, agri-food exports to China were worth $3.7 billion and accounted for 38 per cent of total agri-food exports from Canada.

Saskatchewan is a strong advocate for free trade and currently exports to every province and territory in Canada and to more than 160 countries.

Through our network of nine international trade offices, Saskatchewan has been able to diversify exports in recent years. This international presence has allowed the province to become the least dependent on the American market due to a strong global reputation as a sustainable and reliable source of food and energy security.

For more information on Saskatchewan - U.S. Trade, visit: saskatchewan.ca.

Proactive grain storage and handling measures are key to grain safety

CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL SAFETY ASSOCIATION

It’s often said that the most effective way to stay safe around grain is to keep out of it.

But what exactly does that mean?

In part, it means being proactive by keeping grain in good condition. A key reason people become trapped in grain is because the stored product has gone out-of-condition; keeping grain in good condition lessens the need to enter a grain bin. That’s especially critical for canola, which is particularly susceptible to spoilage in storage.

Andre Harpe is vice-chair of Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) and a third- generation farmer with around 5,000 acres of canola, barley, and grass seed northwest of Grande Prairie, Alberta. He says the benefits of proper grain storage and handling can’t be overlooked.

“When it comes to grain, you have to be very careful around it and the safest way to do that is to stay out of it,” explains Harpe. “Many of the injuries I know of have been the result of canola sweating and creating a crust at the top. So, it’s very important that canola, and all grain, is stored correctly and safely.”

And the time to start taking precautions is right at harvest.

“Being proactive and on top of things is the best bet, because, unfortunately, it’s pretty simple for canola to spoil,” says Breanna Miller Friesen, an agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada. “The critical time to make sure grain is conditioned properly is in the initial post-harvest time. If canola goes into the bin with a higher moisture or if it’s quite warm, then we’re already increasing the chances of an issue later down the line.”

Since canola is sensitive to moisture, getting it down to eight per cent moisture and less than 15 degrees Celsius in temperature as soon as possible is key for safe long-term storage. Of course, it’s not just the grain that farmers need to be mindful of in storage — dockage (grain dust, weed seeds, etc.) and green canola can also have a significant impact as they tend to have more moisture than canola seeds.

“Ninety-nine per cent or more of seeds can be dried down and mature, but then there are those small pockets with high-moisture green seeds and that can cause spoilage,” explains Miller Friesen.

Proper airflow is also essential for canola. As Miller Friesen explains, canola is a challenging crop for airflow because of its small size and round shape, which leaves fewer air pockets than other grains, and getting adequate air circulation can require more effort with larger storage facilities.

Once canola is in storage, it’s necessary to regularly monitor temperature and moisture levels. While monitoring is particularly crucial during the initial storage period to ensure the product is cooling down properly, Miller-Friesen stresses the importance of staying on top of monitoring year-round.

“Farmers can’t get complacent about monitoring their stored canola, particularly as the warmer weather comes in. Towards the end of winter, I know a lot of farmers are thinking about seeding and getting ready for the season

ahead. But it’s important to still keep stored canola top of mind,” says Miller Friesen, noting that cold snaps during the winter are an ideal time to run fans and move cool air around proactively.

“Considering how quickly a bin can spoil, a lot of farmers check their storage weekly or bi- weekly to stay ahead of things.”

On Harpe’s farm, monitoring stored grain is a regular occurrence, which he says makes it both easier and safer to detect issues early on.

“As soon as we see that something is happening to the canola, if it is starting to sweat or if it’s starting to get a bit warm, we pull it out of storage and move it or dry it,” he says.

In grain bins, heat rising in the centre and cooling off from the colder canola on the outside can lead to issues with moisture and spoilage. Crusted or heated seed at the top of a bin, typically in a cone shape, indicates that quick action is needed to prevent further spoilage.

“If out-of-condition canola is caught early enough, where some of it is just

starting to spoil, it’s best to isolate and remove the spoiled canola as soon as possible and then get fans running and potentially move the remaining canola to another bin,” Miller Friesen explains.

“The biggest thing is to catch out-of-condition canola before it impacts the entire bin. When a full bin is compromised, that it is a very scary situation that hopefully few people ever have to experience.”

Proper grain storage and handling practices are pivotal to grain safety The key to avoiding the nightmare situation of losing an entire bin to spoilage goes back to being proactive with grain storage, which isn’t just imperative for mitigating out-of-condition grain but also for ensuring safety.

“My stance is that I want everyone to go home at night the same way they came to work and the only way to do that is to try and keep things as safe as possible. And being proactive with good canola storage practices is a big part of that,” says Harpe, adding that CCGA, along with Alberta Canola, SaskOilseeds, and Manitoba Canola Growers Association, have been supporters of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association’s BeGrainSafe program since it launched in 2017.

By keeping proper grain storage and safe grain handling at the forefront of everyday happenings on his farm, Harpe says the return is far greater than just unspoiled canola.

“One of my employees likes working on my farm because of how we proactively address safety and he has told me he feels safer on my farm. When you are proactive and work to keep things as safe as possible, it makes for a better working environment, which benefits the entire farm,” Harpe explains.

Although some may have an “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” approach to certain farming practices, Harpe says it’s important for farmers to stay up to date on new techniques and consider the return on investment for technologies that can boost efficiency – such as with monitoring stored grain – and improve safety.

“There is always room for improvement on any farm. At the end of the day, a safe farm is a successful farm.”

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR HOUSE IS

Keep your dollars in Canada to strengthen communities and support local businesses, including your local newspaper.

AG SAFETY WEEK

Alcoholics Anonymous

Macklin female charged with trafficking cocaine and meth

• RCMP received a complaint of drug trafficking. This matter is still under investigation.

Narcotics Anonymous

• Police received a report of an abandoned vehicle. Members could not contact the registered owner. The vehicle was deemed a roadway hazard and was towed.

• Members issued a 7-day roadside suspension during a traffic stop.

• A 36-year-old male was charged with Uttering Threats and two counts of Assault Public Officer after Members received a complaint of assault.

• CMP conducted a wellbeing check at the request of a family friend.

• Police received a complaint of uttering threats. This matter is still under investigation.

• Members acted as mediators in a dispute between two adults.

• RCMP spoke to an individual regarding a peace bond.

• There was also one traffic complaint.

WILKIE RCMP

• RCMP received a complaint of theft but there was insufficient evidence to proceed.

• Police attempted a traffic stop but the vehicle fled from Members. Insufficient evidence to proceed.

• Members received a request to dispose of firearm ammunition.

• RCMP received a complaint of uttering threats. Insufficient evidence to proceed.

• Police received another complaint of uttering threats. This matter is still under investigation.

• Members received a complaint of theft. The subject of complaint returned the property. No charges were laid.

• RCMP attended the sudden death of a 61-year-old

• There was also one traffic complaint.

MACKLIN RCMP

• RCMP received a complaint of a break and enter at the Royal Bank. This matter is still under investigation.

• A 33-year-old female from Macklin was charged with Trafficking Cocaine, Trafficking Methamphetamine and Fail to Comply with Release Order Condition during an investigation.

• Police received several complaints of two suspicious individuals near a business. Members spoke to the subjects of complaint. No police action required.

• RCMP received a Mental Health Act complaint. Members spoke to the subject of complaint.

• Members received a request from another RCMP Detachment to serve a court document to an individual in the Detachment area.

• Police received a complaint of theft. This matter is still under investigation.

• There was also one false alarm.

Persons with information about crimes being committed in the Unity / Wilkie/ Macklin areas are urged to call the Unity RCMP detachment at (306)228-6300; the Wilkie RCMP at (306) 843-3480; or the Macklin RCMP at (306) 753-2171. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may also call Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or *8477 on the SaskTel Mobility Network. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2000.00 for information which leads to the arrest of person(s) responsible for any serious crime. Crime Stoppers is anonymous and does not subscribe to call display, nor are your calls traced or recorded. You can also submit a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com

Rosetown and Kyle RCMP Weekly Report

• Kyle RCMP received a report of a suspicious person in Rosetown. Members made patrols but found no suspicious activity.

• Rosetown RCMP received a report of an erratic driver on Highway 7. Members located the vehicle and issued the driver a verbal warning.

• Rosetown RCMP received a mischief complaint in Harris. There was insufficient evidence to proceed.

• Rosetown RCMP received a report of a motor vehicle collision with a deer on Highway 4. There were no injuries - reported for insurance purposes.

• Rosetown RCMP are investigating an assault complaint in Rosetown.

• Rosetown RCMP attended a wellbeing check request near Rosetown.

• Kyle RCMP received a report of a motor vehicle collision in Rosetown. There were no injuries.

• Rosetown RCMP received a report of an erratic driver on Highway 7. Members were unable to locate the vehicle.

• Kyle RCMP received a report of a two vehicle mo-

tor collision on Highway 4. There were no injuries.

• Kyle RCMP received a theft of fuel complaint at a local business in Rosetown. Members located the subject of complaint and fuel was paid in full.

• Rosetown RCMP received a report of a suspicious vehicle on Highway 7. Members were unable to locate the vehicle.

• Rosetown RCMP are investigating a mischief complaint in Rosetown.

• Rosetown RCMP received a report of a break and enter to a yard-site near Harris. The matter is under investigation.

There were 59 Traffic related charges issued, 1 false alarm call and 1 911 miss-dial call. Police are asking anyone with information about these or any other crime(s) to please contact the Rosetown RCMP at 306882-5700, Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers anonymously at www.saskcrimestoppers.com 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com

UNITY RCMP

Wilkie male. The death was not suspicious in nature.

Investment to support the health and safety of Canadian farmers

The Government of Canada is committed to safeguarding the health and well-being of Canada’s agricultural community while supporting the longterm sustainability and success of the sector.

Last week, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced up to $1,607,291 over 3 years to the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) through the AgriCompetitiveness Program, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

This funding will support a range of initiatives aimed at improving farm safety and reducing the risk of injuries in Canadian agriculture. Through national leadership, training programs, awareness campaigns, and on-farm resources,

CASA will help farmers, farm families, and workers adopt safer practices.

Farm safety is about protecting everyone on the farm, from experienced producers to the next generation. One initative will focus on ensuring the health and safety of children and youth by developing safety education resources and promoting a new child and youth agricultural safety week. In addition to promoting physical safety, the funding will support mental health initiatives that address the unique stresses of farm life.

MacAulay stated, “Our hardworking farmers do so much for us, from putting food on our tables to keeping our economy strong. This funding will help ensure they are safe and taking care of their own health – both mental and physical – so they can continue doing

the vitally important work they do. By supporting farmers and their families, we’re helping to build stronger, safer agricultural sector for everyone.”

Quick Facts

• From 2011 to 2020, there were 624 agriculture-related fatalities in Canada: an average of 62 per year.

• From 2006 to 2020, an average of 9 children and youth lost their lives each year due to injuries related to agriculture.

• Agriculture-related fatalities have decreased by 36%, dropping from an average of 110 deaths per year (1990–2005) to 70 deaths per year (2006–2020).

• The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association is a national non-profit

Classifieds

AGRICULTURE

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

NOW HIRING:

Bryden Construction & Transport Co. requires SHOP LABORERS

Duties involve cleaning the shop and equipment, assisting in the service/ maintenance area, and general laborer duties. Clean driver’s abstract required. Job location is Arborfield, Sask. Room and board provided. Send resume with work references to: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca or fax 306-769-8844

COMING EVENTS

63rd DRAGGINS CAR SHOW

- April 18 & 19 at Prairieland Park, Saskatoon. Check out the “Battle of the Automotive Technicians”!. Draggins Rod & Custom Car Club. Visit our website; Draggins.com.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

NOW HIRING:

Person to COOK & CLEAN for heavy (road) construction camp this upcoming season. Current location is near Saskatoon, SK. Must have valid driver’s license and safe food handling ticket. Experience in camp setting with 20-30 crew, an asset. Send resume with two work references to: Bryden Construction, Box 100, Aroborfield, SK., S0E 0A0 brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca or fax 306-769-8844 www.bryden constructionand transport.ca

Now HiriNg AG/HEAVY DUTY MECHANIC

Come and develop your meChaniCal skills at our busy, well-equipped shop loCated in arCola, sk all skill levels will be Considered

We are Willing to apprentice the right candidate we offer Competitive wages, a Comprehensive benefits paCkage and rrsp/dpsp plan housing is available. Submit your reSume jjtrucking@sasktel.net Fax: 306-455-2433

ViSit our webSite: www.jjtruckingltd.com

FEED AND SEED

HEALTH

organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of farmers, their families and agricultural workers.

• The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is a $3.5-billion, 5-year agreement (2023 to 2028), between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector.

• The AgriCompetitiveness Program, under the Sustainable CAP, supports sector-led activities that identify industry best practices and build the capacity of the sector, advance farm business management, as well as develop and inform about farm safety.

BARLEY

*New - AB StANdSwell* Smooth awn high yielding grain and forage great lodging reSiStance 1St NitrogeN uSe efficieNt cereAl iN cANAdA AttrActiNg JApANeSe iNtereSt cerveza, cdc auStenSon cdc maverick, Sundre wheAt Pintail, forage or grain oAtS ac JuniPer ac morgan ac muStang, derby, cdc So1 SuPer oat peAS very early yellow Pea forage PeaS, AlSo AvAilABle PoliSh canola & SPring triticale mastinseeds.com 403-556-2609

AGPRO SEEDS - BUYING HEATED CANOLA, FEED BARLEY & FEED GRAIN. #1 buyer on the prairies, top price paid! For Bids Call/Text: 306-873-0481, Email: sales@agproseeds.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Private mortgage lender. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1-866-4051228 www. firstandsecondmortgages.ca

strength of community newspapers! Visit www.swna.com or call 306649-1405 to find out how!

REAL ESTATE

Curious about Retirement Living?

Drop by our OPEN HOUSE Sat, March 22 1pm - 4pm

To learn more: 1-877-929-9222 venviliving.com

MISCELLANEOUS

Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness, or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com.

PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. 48 local community newspapers, distributing to over 450 communities, including 14 cities. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call 306649.1405 or visit www.swna. com for details.

Find QUALIFIED, LOCAL EMPLOYEES, using the

The health effects of working irregular hours: 5 preventive measures

Do you have—or are you planning to have—a job that doesn’t conform to the traditional 9 to 5 schedule? Working irregular hours can lead to various health problems. Fortunately, a few effective strategies can help you reduce the effects.

Negative health consequences

Working nights and long hours, doing shift work and accumulating overtime can throw off your body’s natural clock. These irregular work hours can cause fatigue, sleep disturbances and difficulties concentrating, which can negatively impact your work performance and even lead to accidents.

Additionally, working nonstandard

hours increases your risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. Plus, it can affect your mental health, leading to anxiety and irritability.

Solutions to limit the impact Although it’s impossible to eliminate the health effects of working atypical hours entirely, you can significantly reduce them. Try these five effective strategies:

1. Prioritize high-quality sleep. Create an environment conducive to sleep by ensuring your bedroom is dark and quiet.

2. Eat well. Eat balanced meals at regular times, even if your schedule is variable. Choose light foods and avoid stimulants like coffee

Ask your employees what your company could improve and add these to their benefits and perks. For example, you could include group insurance, paid holidays, yoga classes, flexible working hours

Create opportunities for your employees to socialize and have fun in a context that doesn’t revolve around work. Use the opportunity to ce­

before bed.

3. Get natural light. During the day, expose yourself to a few minutes of sunlight to help regulate your internal clock.

4. Plan naps. Whenever possible, try to incorporate naps—about 10 to 15 minutes long—into your routine to stay alert.

5. Move your body regularly. Be sure to get plenty of exercise, such as walking, yoga or swimming, to reduce stress and improve sleep quality.

These simple habits can significantly lower the risks associated with working irregular hours and promote your overall well-being. Why not give them a try?

Interested in working in a commercial

The food service industry offers a variety of work environments, including restaurant kitchens, hotel kitchens, reception halls, school kitchens and hospital kitchens. If you’re looking for a fastpaced career, find out if you have what it takes to work in a commercial kitchen.

Types of jobs

Commercial kitchens may occupy numerous different positions, including:

• Assistant cook

• Catering assistant

• Head chef

• Pastry chef

• Cook

• Dish washer

• Food preparer

• Sous-chef

Whether you already work in information technology (IT) or are just starting your studies, here are three qualities essential to your success.

Desired qualities

1. ANALYTICAL SKILLS

If you want to thrive in a commercial kitchen, you must work well under pressure. Orders often come in quickly

As an IT employee, you’re often required to solve problems. Consequently, you must enjoy challenging yourself and looking for innovative solutions. You must also be inherently curious to stay updated with the latest technologies in a constantly evolving field.

2. COMMUNICATION SKILLS IT specialists must be able to communicate with their colleagues and clients. This means

kitchen?

and must be organized efficiently. Depending on your role, you may need to manage multiple tasks simultaneously while following strict hygiene and quality standards.

Teamwork is also essential in commercial kitchens. Everyone must work together to prevent delays and mistakes and minimize the risk of accidents and injuries. Additionally, an abundance of energy and excellent dexterity are musthaves.

you must be good at conveying your ideas, making yourself understood and finding the best moments to do so.

3. ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves? Explore the training courses available in your area that can lead you to a rewarding job in the food service industry.

If you want to thrive in IT, you must have exceptional organizational skills. Depending on your job, your colleagues may regularly interrupt you and require you to switch gears constantly. Therefore, you must be well organized and able to multi­task to keep up with your workload.

HAYLAND FOR SALE BY TENDER

Do you have these qualities? If so, you have everything you need for a long career in this promising field.

Tenders will be accepted on the following parcel of land located in the R.M. of Grass Lake No. 381, approximately 3 miles North and 1 mile East of Salvador, SK: SW 35-37-25 W3rd (municipal assessment - $131,000.00) - 140 acres seeded to “Halo” Alfalfa in October, 2023

It’s rare to get your dream job on the first try. Therefore, if you’re offered an entry­level position, it’s necessary to ask yourself if it’s a good idea to accept it. Here are some tips to help you decide.

- 20 acres saline and slough

WHEN TO REFUSE

- Dugout

- 4 wire fence on 3 sides and single wire electric on 4th 5% non-refundable deposit will be required on accepted Tender 10 days after closing.

WHEN TO ACCEPT

If the job is related to your area of expertise and allows you to use and develop your skills, it may be worthwhile. The job may let you explore a field you’re interested in and help you obtain a better position in the future. The offer may also be attractive if there’s room for career development within the company.

Tenders will be received by the undersigned on or before 12:00 noon on Wednesday, the 9th day of April, 2025.

More information available upon request.

If you sincerely doubt that you’ll enjoy your everyday tasks, the job probably isn’t for you. The same applies if most of your skills and educational achievements don’t apply to the job and won’t contribute to your professional development. Finally, it may be best to refuse the position if the salary is significantly lower than your expectations or if the company has a high turnover rate.

Not necessarily the highest or any tender accepted.

COOPER NEIL LAW FIRM

Are you having trouble finding a job that suits you? Consult job hunting resources in your area.

Solicitor for Fred Guth Telephone: 306-228-2631 • Fax: 306-228-4449

Email: unityoffice@cooperneil.ca P.O. Box 600, Unity, SK S0K 4L0

Above normal runoff expected for most of southern Saskatchewan

The Water Security Agency (WSA) released the Spring Runoff Report for 2025 on March 14.

A normal to above normal runoff is forecast for most of central and southern Saskatchewan due to an above normal snowpack.

Runoff across most of the north and parts of the southeast is expected to be below normal due to dry fall conditions and a below normal snowpack in these areas.

Most major water reservoirs in southern Saskatchewan are at or above normal levels for this time of year and are expected to be near normal levels following the spring runoff.

“Over the winter, we have seen moisture conditions improve in parts of the province with higher than forecasted snowpack particularly across the south-central area of the province,” Minister Responsible for the Water Security Agency Daryl Harrison said. “This, combined with overwinter operating plans at reservoirs designed to retain water supplies, means water supply conditions have improved over last year.”

Snowfall throughout the remainder of the spring, and the melt rate, can significantly impact spring runoff. Longrange forecasts predict normal precipitation and near normal temperatures across Saskatchewan from March to May.

Runoff has already started across parts of the southwest including the Maple Creek area in the Big Stick Basin, in the Old Wives Basin and in lower

Dianne Westerlund nominated for Women in Ag Award

BY JOAN JANZEN

Oyen resident Dianne Westerlund was nominated for AFSC’s (Agriculture Financial Services Corp) Women in Agriculture Award. All 38 award nominees were invited to celebrate their achievements at a gala on March 16th in Calgary.

As a nominee, Dianne is a woman who is shaping the agriculture industry’s future through dedication, passion and commitment to growing and sustaining agriculture in Alberta. As Manager and Forage Agronomist at Chinook Applied Research Assoc. (CARA), Dianne was honoured to be nominated.

She felt her strength lay in a behind-the-scenes role and credited her accomplishments with a team effort combined with the support of family, the Board of Directors, staff, local producers, and peers.

Dianne graciously provided the following account of her time at CARA.

After graduating from the U of S with a BSc in Agriculture in 1981, she joined CARA as a summer technician. When the Program Coordinator left in late summer, the Board gave her the opportunity to take on the leading role at CARA.

Over the years, CARA’s program has expanded. They now have seven full-time staff equivalents, including a PhD in Soils and four BSc’s. Two seasoned Field Technicians have been with the program for the past several years, and four or more summer students assist with adaptive research projects.

CARA’s capacity has grown to include a full component of small plot field equipment, as well as all necessary processing and monitoring tools. Local producers who donate use of their land for trials are a huge asset for CARA.

In 2018, their program expanded with the opening of the Soil Health lab, a unique facility that offers evaluation of soil health indicators, assessment of compost and plant materials, and training opportunities

for farmers, ranchers, industry, and students to better understand and monitor soil health. Dianne reported that the lab has processed thousands of samples for individual operations and research projects.

In addition to their projects, CARA staff lead and/or participate in a number of agricultural initiatives. Staff are also asked to present information to producers and industry across Alberta and western Canada.

“CARA‘s program wouldn’t be possible without

the support from local producers, the Special Areas Board, the MD of Acadia, our Ag Services Boards as well as agri-businesses within our agricultural community,” Dianne said. “Funding and in-kind contributions enable CARA to connect ag research and innovation to the farm level.”

A sincere thank you to Dianne for giving us a window into the extensive work done at CARA. The community offers their heartfelt congratulations on her much-deserved nomination.

Dianne Westerlund, CARA Manager and Forage Agronomist at Oyen was nominated for AFSC’s (Agriculture Financial Services) Women in Agriculture Award.

Saskatchewan farm families under threat as trade disputes intensify

REGINA — Escalating trade disputes have prompted the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) to sound the alarm over the increasing pressures facing Saskatchewan’s farm families.

Bill Prybylski

Saskatchewan’s agricultural producers are grappling with unparalleled uncertainty amid tariffs imposed by China and implied by the United States, are threatening their economic stability and livelihoods.

Bill Prybylski, APAS President, highlights the dire situation, “Our agricultural sector faces serious threats. These trade disputes are causing tangible economic hardships and anxiety among farmers, who are dedicated to producing high quality food for global consumption.”

Trade tensions combined with the cancellation of strategic projects are unsettling the agricultural community. The Chinese government’s introduction of a 100% tariff on Canadian canola oil, meal, and pork, jeopardizes a crucial export channel worth nearly $5 billion in 2024 and threatens the income of canola and pork producers throughout Saskatchewan.

Additionally, the potential imposition of a 25% tariff on Canadian agricultural products by the United States adds another layer of uncertainty. The ongoing threat disrupts long-standing trade relationships, causing widespread concern among producers reliant on these markets. As Canada’s primary agricultural trading partner, any turbulence with the U.S. will have far-reaching implications.

Provincially, the merger between Bunge and Viterra raises fears of reduced competition in grain purchasing, which could depress crop prices and further threaten farm profitability. Moreover, Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL)’s decision to withdraw from its renewable diesel facility and canola crush project stalls efforts to add value to Saskatchewan’s

We need our government to stand up for Saskatchewan producers and defend our interests.

canola production, hindering market diversification opportunities for producers.

Prybylski outlines the challenges, “We’re confronted with a series of complex and unprecedented threats to our industry. The retaliatory tariffs from China, ongoing uncertainties in U.S. trade relations, halted value-added processing initiatives, and Canadian supply chain bottlenecks leave farmers exceedingly vulnerable.”

Given the scale and complexity of these challenges, there is a pressing need for strategic guidance from the provincial government in the upcoming provincial budget. The agriculture community holds its collective breath, hoping for decisive actions that will help mitigate the adverse impacts of these global trade tensions and provincial economic shifts.

“We need our government to stand up for Saskatchewan producers and defend our interests,” Prybylski emphasizes. “The livelihood of Saskatchewan farm families is at stake. We need a swift and effective response to mitigate the damage and ensure the longterm viability of our agricultural industry”.

To help educate and prepare for these uncertainties, APAS and seven other Saskatchewan farm groups will host the Saskatchewan Ag Summit on March 27, 2025, in Saskatoon. This event will tackle the pressing issues of trade among other critical concerns facing the province’s agriculture sector. Registration is open to all Saskatchewan farmers at no cost.

APAS urges solidarity and a concerted effort to identify new global markets, underlining the importance of defending Saskatchewan’s agricultural prospects and supporting North American prosperity in alignment with CUSMA principles.

RCMP seizes cocaine, charges two in Kindersley

Saskatchewan RCMP has charged two individuals following a drug seizure in Kindersley, SK.

On March 7, 2025 at approximately 2 p.m., officers from the Saskatchewan RCMP’s North Battleford Crime Reduction Team (CRT) and Kindersley Detachment executed a search warrant at a residence on 8th Street W in Kindersley as part of a drug trafficking investigation.

Officers arrested an adult male at the residence, and an adult female away from the residence.

During a search of the residence and arrested individuals, officers located and seized 135 grams of cocaine, $465 in cash, unstamped tobacco and other drug trafficking paraphernalia.

Following investigation, 42-year-old Cameron Watson and 46-year-old Amanda Watson, both from Kindersley, have each been charged with one count,

possession for the purpose of trafficking – cocaine, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

My family and I would like to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming love and support you have shared during this difficult time. Your kindness has been a great comfort, and a reminder of the strong community Bob cherished.

Thank you, Pastor Mel for the beautiful celebration of life service. Your heartfelt message brought comfort and truly honoured Bob’s memory.

Tom and Jamie, who were dear friends to Bob, thank you for taking care of the Elks Hall. We know Bob would have been touched by your thoughtfulness.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Tallit, dear friend of Bob’s, for arranging the food. Also, to Lynn, Richard and Diane for taking care of the wonderful lunch. We know how much each of you meant to Bob and he would have greatly appreciated your kindness and support.

Darla, thank you for opening your home for all of us to gather. Your hospitality is a true testament to family and friendship, and we are deeply grateful.

Thank you to all for the food, flowers, calls, messages and many hugs. Every gesture meant so much and helped ease our sorrow. To all our relatives and friends that came from afar, thank you.

Bob will be missed dearly, but he will always live on in our hearts. Your support has helped honour his memory and for that we are truly grateful.

With sincere gratitude.  Rose and Elmhurst Family.

Cameron Watson and Amanda Watson appeared in Saskatoon Provincial Court on March 10, 2025.

ALSASK

- Drop in Pickleball every Tuesday 8:00 PM at the Alsask Rec Centre. All ages are welcome.

DENZIL

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

• Denzil Surf N’ Turf Fest. Supper & Dance at the Denzil Community Hall. Music by Detour. 5:30 & 7:30 PM Supper Seatings available. Silent Auction. No Minors. Dance 9:00 PM - 1:30 AM.

HOOSIER

- Sunday Service Hoosier Community Church 10:30 am at the Community Hall. Contact Joel Hamm 306-460-7056 or Curtis Kornelson 306-460-7327.

KERROBERT

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19

• Job Fair / Career Expo at the Prairieland Community Centre from 1:00-7:00 PM. Bring your resumes! If interested in having a table, contact the Town of Kerrobert Office. $40 /table.

• Pie a La Mode & Coffee 2:00-3:30 PM at the Seniors Centre. Come and enjoy some great food and friendship!

SATURDAY, MARCH 29

• Ducks Unlimited Supper at the PCC. Tickets are available from Jim Wilson 306-834-5156 or Richard Anderson 306-8347676. Games, Live Auction and Silent Auction.

THURSDAY, APRIL 10

• Easter Egg Hunt at the Library starting at 1:00 PM. APRIL 13-16

• Prairie Sunset Music Festival. Entry forms available on their Facebook page.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

• Annual Kerrobert & District Wildlife Supper at the PCC. More info to come.

- Shuffle Club every Monday from 1:30-3:00 PM at the PCC (216 McPhersons Street).

- Walk This Way Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:30 - 11:30 AM at the at the PCC (216 McPhersons Street). All ages. All skill levels. No cost. Bring your indoor shoes. Everyone welcome.

- MS Support Group at Kerrobert Health Centre Meeting Room every 3rd Saturday 2:00-4:00 PM. Contact Gail Wiebe for more information 306-834-7068.

- Kerrobert Courtroom Gallery presents Erin Haight untilMarch 31, 2025. Gallery Hours - Weekdays 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.

- Town of Kerrobert Memory Tree program is open. Contact the office for more infomation 306-834-2361.

KINDERSLEY

SATURDAY, MARCH 22

• Kindersley Screen Arts presents “Ghostlight” 4:00 PM at Sunset Theatre. $10 cash at the door.

MARCH 21-23

• Men’s Bonspiel at the Kindersley Curling Club. Saturday Steak Supper. To register contact Richard 306-460-6258.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26

• Kindersley Chamber of Commerce Job Fair 10:00 AM6:00 PM at Kindersley Composite School.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1

• Westberry Elementary School’s SCC AGM 7:00 PM in Westberry’s Library.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5

• St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Annual Spring Fling 8:3011:30 AM. Pancake breakfast, huge garage sale, bake sale, mini raffles, grocery hamper draw, used clothing, books and much more.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

• Kindersley Screen Arts presents “Goodrich” 4:00 PM at Sunset Theatre. $10 cash at the door.

THURSDAY, MAY 1

• Kindersley & District Arts Council presents “The Misery Mountain Boys” 7:30 PM at the Norman Ritchie Community Centre.

FRIDAY, JULY 25 - SUNDAY, JULY 27

• Kindersley Claybusters Registered Trap Shoot at the Kindersley Wildlife Federation Shooting Range starting at 1:00 PM on Friday. For info please contact Dan Kachmarski at 306-463-7207.

- Parkinson’s Support Group Meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month 1:30 PM at 401 - 4th Ave West (New Life Church). Everyone welcome! For more info call Nancy at 306-463-4514.

- Monday Night Jam Sessions at the Norman Ritchie Community Centre. Doors open at 6:30 to set-up, then the fun begins at 7-11 PM. Call Keith 306-460-8633.

- Interested in a support group for weight management? TOPS meetings; every Monday at 6:00 PM in the Kindersley Senior Centre OR contact Jill at 306-463-4210.

- PickleBall Indoor Season meets Sunday & Wednesday evenings 7:00-9:00 PM at Elizabeth Middle School gym. Cost is $50 for the season or $5 drop in. More info call Teresa Knight 306-460-7304.

- Fit Fighter Group Class. Helping individuals with Parkinson Disease, Fibromyalgia, MS, Arthritis and mobility issues. Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:00 AM at Anytime Fitness. Call Karen 463-3607 for more info.

- The Prairie Crocus Quilt Guild meets on the second Tuesday of each month from September to May at 7:00 pm at the Kindersley Seniors Centre. All levels of quilters and quilt enthusiasts are welcome! If you are interested in joining the group or would like more information, please contact Regan Overand at 306-460-6467.

- 365 Kindersley Air Cadets meet Thursday evenings at the Kindersley Museum. No charge to be a member, youth ages 12-18, must be a Canadian resident. Contact Ian Kehrer via text at 306-460-0057 or Sheila Kehrer via text 306-6049044. Come Fly With Us!

Not

Community and

We

LUSELAND

SATURDAY, APRIL 12

Please

but

• Luseland Daycare Fundraiser “Spring Back in Time” (Dress as your favourite decade) at the Luseland Community Hall. Doors open: 5:30 PM. Supper: 6:00 PM. Catered by Wes & Nona Holtz. Time of Your Life Entertainment Dance: 9:00 PM. Get your tickets now! Monica Streberg at 306-228-1263. $50 ($20 dance only at the door).

- Luseland Library Art Gallery presents “Color. Light. Connection” by Debra Scholer (This Little Light Photography). Come see the unbelievable technical expertise, creativity, and composition skills of a local photographer.

- The Luseland Homecoming Hall will be available for indoor walking on TUESDAY & THURSDAY mornings. Please pick up the key at the Town Office to unlock the door. Silver collection at the door.

Recurring events at The Luseland Pioneers Club: PUBLIC

- Every Monday 2:00-4:00 PM Coffee

- Last Monday of the month 2:00-4:00 PM Pie ’n Ice Cream MEMBERS

- Monday-Saturday 8:30 AM - Noon, Coffee, Pool, Cards, Visiting

- Tuesday 1:00-4:00 PM Cards

- Tuesday 7:00-10:00 PM Games

- Wednesday 1:00-4:00 PM Cards

- Thursday 1:00-4:00 PM Cards

- Third Friday of the month Birthday Lunch at noon.

MAJOR

SATURDAY, APRIL 5

• Major Re Board Steak Shoot. Live & Silent Auction, Gun Raffle, Family Fiendly. Entertainment by Dueling Pianos. SATURDAY, APRIL 19

• 2nd Annual Kindersley West Central Crisis Centre Fundraiser at the Major Hall. Starts at 5:30 PM. Featuring Jordyn Pollard, Laura Hayes, Superb Sound & Friends. Special Guest: Cole Patton. Silent Auction. Door Prizes, Food & Drinks. Tickets are available at the door. All ages welcome!

- MS Support Group at Kerrobert Health Centre Meeting Room every 3rd Saturday 2:00-4:00 PM. Contact Gail Wiebe for more information 306-834-7068.

PLENTY

TUESDAY, MARCH 18

• Pie and Coffee Day at the Plenty Coffee Shop 8:00-11:00 AM and 1:30-4:00 PM. $5.00.

SATURDAY, MAY 3

• Plenty’s 6th Annual Quilt Show “Stitching Together, a Community” 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at the Plenty United Church on Main Street. Admission by donation. Luncheon served from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM in the church basement. More details to follow closer to the event.