Don and Mindy Good celebrate their 50th anniversary
BY DIANA WALKER
Don and Mindy Good hosted a 50th Wedding Anniversary supper at the 90’s Restaurant in Oyen on February 16, 2024. Joining them were their daughter Jamie, son-in-law Quinn Wagstaff, granddaughters Hannah, Haylee and Olivia, bridesmaid Diana Walker and friend Brenda Neilson. The couple were married on Feb-
ruary 16, 1974, in the Oyen United Church.
Bit of history:
In the spring of 2022, Acadia Ranching Co. Ltd. received an Alberta Charolais Association 50-year Breeder Award.
Don’s parents, Lloyd and Hilda Good of Acadia Valley, bought their first Charolais bull in 1957 and their first Charolais female in
1961 from Ray Branum of Hanna. They imported full French bulls and females from France during the years 1967 to 1972.
Don and Mindy held their first private 2-yearold Charolais Bull Sale on the farm north of Acadia Valley and east of Highway 41, in 1978. This year, they will host their 46th 2-year-old Bull Sale in Brooks.
Mindy volunteered for the Charolettes, serving as Alberta president and treasurer and later as national president.
Acadia Ranching has been a lifetime member of the Canadian Charolais since 1959.
Jamie, Quinn and daughters Hannah, Haylee and Olivia (Desertland Cattle Co.) also raise Purebred Charolais and Angus bulls.
Know your options
BY JENNIFER STURM
Across Alberta there are options available to get the care you need when you need it. Yet when in the throes of a medical event, illness or injury, knowing where to start and how to find the right information and assistance can be over whelming. How do you know when to visit the emergency department (ED), a walk-in clinic, or make an appointment with a family physician? Where can you find care, and information to cope in the meantime?
Albertans are encouraged to call Health Link at 811 to determine if symptoms require a physician appointment, an ED visit, or an ambulance. Similar guidance can be found online at both ahs.ca/knowyouroptions and ahs.ca/heal, and through the Symptom Checker at myhealthalberta.ca. Registered nurses are available 24/7 through Health Link to answer questions and can provide information about nearby walk-in clinics.
Albertans can also access physicians, nurse practitioners, and counsellors online. Many services can be provided virtually, including diagnosis, prescriptions, review of blood pressure or blood sugar monitoring, ordering bloodwork and diagnostic imaging, and more. One benefit of virtual care is that the appointment is often booked and completed in less time than it takes to talk to a physician at the ED or walk-in clinic. It is also completed from the comfort of
your own home, which is helpful when you aren’t feeling well. Depending on the provider, service may involve a fee which are often reimbursed through health insurance.
A local pharmacist might also save a trip to a physician because they can diagnose minor conditions and provide medication and health advice in the same visit. Prescribing pharmacists can provide swabs and antibiotics for common infections like strep throat, and pharmacies may be open later than a physician’s clinic. Another advantage of pharmacist care is that you can phone in advance to ask if the pharmacist can help you directly and if any fees are involved.
The ED is for life-threatening emergencies: heart attack, stroke, difficulty breathing, new seizures, broken bones, head injury, and bleeding that doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of constant, firm pressure. Most other health issues can be resolved outside of the ED, so be sure to consider a different source of medical care when your concern is not life-threatening. If you don’t know where to find alternate care, call 811. By knowing your options, you not only have access to the information and care you need when you need it, but you help free up the ED for those who are truly experiencing a medical emergency.
Jen Sturm is a Registered Nurse at Medicine Hat Community Health Services. Know your options so you can get the care you need when you need it. Visit ahs.ca/knowyouroptions
AHS parking fees to change April 1
Effective April 1, 2024, public parking rates at Alberta Health Services (AHS) facilities across Alberta will be increased to align with local markets and reflect inflation costs. On average, daily rates will go up by $0.75 in large markets and $0.50 in smaller markets.
Specifically, this increase impacts parking at AHS facilities in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, Leduc, St. Albert, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie, and Fort McMurray.
AHS’ public parking rates have not been adjusted in more than eight years. The costs of maintaining existing AHS parking structures and building new parking structures have increased, and parking fees must increase to fund these items.
AHS strives to ensure parking rates are below or at fair market value, and provides cost saving options including:
• Monthly and weekly parking passes: available to patients and visitors at rates well below market value.
• Compassionate parking passes: available to people facing financial hardship on a case-by-case basis.
• Volunteer driver programs: available at some AHS facilities, offering free transportation to and from our facilities for treatment. AHS must offer appropriate and accessible parking to help deliver high-quality care to Albertans. No healthcare dollars go towards parking services at AHS facilities. AHS parking is required to be financially self-sustaining, and AHS is responsible for all maintenance costs, as well as the costs for the construction of any new parkades. Visit ahs.ca for detailed rate adjustments in each zone.
The Hanna Harvesters Lacrosse organizers went to Delia School for their first Try It Night night. Coaches Ricky Boyce and Kyle Povaschuk are trying to get kids from east central Alberta interested in the sport. PHOTO SUBMITTED
OPINION: You are what you eat
BY JOAN JANZEN
A woman attended her great granddaughter’s birthday party and said to her, “You’re five now. You’re pretty old.” The little girl responded, “Nanna you’re so old you’re running out of numbers!”. And when it came time to sing to the little girl she protested, “I don’t like that silly song!”
Even if we don’t like hearing that “silly song” or maybe we’re running out of numbers, birthdays and good health are usually valued and appreciated. Although there’s no shortage of topics to be discussed in our world, our physical and mental health are a primary concern. Because chronic illness often forces people to focus on little else beyond their health.
Dr. Suneel Dhand specializes in lifestyle medicine and metabolic health and practices acute care in a US hospital. In his podcast he advises his listeners to ask their physicians the right questions and seek alternative treatments and pathways to care if needed. “Always prioritize your metabolic health through lifestyle choices, so we have the best possible chance of not needing the healthcare system in the first place,” he advised.
Dr. Mark Hyman, a US family physician reported in an interview 75% of North American adults and 45 percent of kids are overweight and 6 out of 10 people have a chronic disease. This is largely due to our explosion of ultra
We’re focussed on the downstream things we can treat with medications rather than the causes
Dr. Mark Hyman
processed food.
The doctor said most people don’t understand why we’re seeing an increase in anxiety, depression and suicide. He did a literature review on how our food is affecting our brain. When our brains are inflamed it causes brain disorders such as autism, anxiety, and depression.
Yet the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has almost nothing slotted in their budget for nutrition research, which is the biggest driver of chronic illness, he said. NIH receives millions of dollars to study cancer, but they’re not studying the root causes.
“We’re focussed on the downstream things we can treat with medications rather than the causes,” he said. Ultra processed food is one of the causes driving all the other diseases.
He explained that the food industry designs processed food to be addictive, just like alcohol or drugs. According to
studies 14% of adults and 12% of North American children meet the criteria for having an addiction.
In one study they gave a group of people as much ultra processed food as they wanted to eat, and they gave another group of people as much whole food as they wanted to eat. In this cross over trial they discovered the one group ate 500 calories more a day of processed food because their bodies didn’t register that they’re being satisfied eating that food.
A recent program on the Canadian show Marketplace, discussed artificial synthetic dyes added to food to make it look more appealing. Those dyes are especially unhealthy for children and can cause hyperactivity, sleeplessness, inattention, and irritability. In the United Kingdom foods that contain those dyes are required to have a warning label about the effects of these ingredients on children. However Health Canada says they can’t prove that the dyes cause behavioural problems in kids.
As for Dr. Dhand he says for his own personal health he does everything possible to stay away from the healthcare system. He lists the top ten foods he consumes on a regular basis. These are anti-oxidant foods that help neutralize the effects of radicals that cause inflammation and diseases.
According to Dr. Dhand, 100 grams of blueberries contain more antioxidants than five servings of fruits or vegetables. Turmeric and ginger are also
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potent anti oxidants that he adds to his foods regularly.
His list included green, leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach and broccoli, and also tomatoes. Not many people know that red and yellow peppers contain three times as much Vitamin C as an orange. Those were also on his list of preferred foods, as well as eggs which he described as a “super food” and valuable source of protein.
His preferred beverage is green tea, and his healthy treat is dark chocolate. However he advised to read the ingredients and be sure it contains about 70 percent of cocoa. But he also said supplements are always beneficial, especially anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant supplements.
Another interesting bit of information Dr. Dhand supplied was that breakfast is not the most important meal of the day. “No other animal in nature gets up in the morning and immediately eats,” he said. “There’s a lot of evidence out there claiming the longer you fast in the morning the better it is for your metabolism. And definitely don’t eat sugary cereals first thing in the morning,” he advised.
There’s an old saying that claims “you are what you eat”. Opting for healthy food choices rather than processed foods comes with a lot of health benefits, and unlike medications it doesn’t have any negative side effects.
Pop89: The liberation of limitations
BY MADONNA HAMEL
At 60, you are forced to realize you are no longer middle-aged; you are old. There’s no getting around it. At 50, you can entertain the possibility of living until the age of a hundred. But at 60, there’s no possibility of making it until 120. I phoned my younger siblings to share this little insight on their sixtieth birthdays. It wasn’t the cheeriest of well-wishes, I admit, but I meant it to be a head’s up as to how the shock of mortality can hit like a brick. And then, this past year, three of the men in my family were suddenly faced with serious health issues, and we are all still reeling from the triple dose of hard reality.
I’m not looking for sympathy - such is life. What is happening to us happens to us all - if we are lucky to live this long. This is the time of life where more and more aches and pains and sudden shocks will mess with our days and plans. I was warned by friends in their seventies and eighties who are further out to sea. They’ve been navigating the choppy waters of aging that much longer, facing life as is, not as it “shoulda” “woulda” “coulda” been. Learn to live within your limitations rather than whine about how much life has changed, they say.
“Have you noticed that old people don’t cry at funerals?” asks Ervin. He drives through the early morning fog into the rising sunlight, and for hours,
driving to and from Regina, we bring each other up to speed on our lives and our opinions. We rant and laugh, segue and interrupt our way through the day in a fashion that has become familiar, expected. “It’s because they’ve been to so many,” he continues, answering his own question. “They’re all done crying.”
He’s right. But not so long ago, I had a more idealized notion; I believed they had physically integrated the truth of death; it was all part of the package. Meanwhile, the rest of us had been to so few funerals we still experienced them as unnatural ruptures in an otherwise fairly lively life. We were brought up short by them. But now, ten years later, obituaries, if not funerals, are becoming routine. Each of us can recite a litany of dearly beloveds friends and, neighbours and relatives we just saw a month, even a week ago.
We are headed to Regina for a CT scan I’ve been putting off for months. Without pausing, Ervin offered to take me to my appointment and take me home again, all in one day. His kindness brings tears to my eyes. It’s a long haul, and yet he claims it will be an opportunity to catch up on a year fraught with mishaps and events. It’s true - we do have much to talk about - but most people, especially on a cold February morning, would suggest a coffee at the hotel for a chinwag.
As the fog bank creeps over the highway, we speak of the odd ways we hope
When elevators came tumbling down
BY JOAN JANZEN
A memory recorded in the Sibbald Community History Book was submitted by Bill O’Neill, who had been the manager of the Alberta Wheat Pool elevator in Sibbald in 1967. The elevator was covered with old silver coloured tin siding and held 25,000 bushels with the annex holding 30,000 bushels. A second red cedar sided elevator nearby held 60,000 bushels. The sign on the elevator read “Alberta Wheat PoolFarmer Owned Co-operative - Sibbald”.
to make a mark in life and yet how life makes its mark on us. I know I’ve had all sorts of plans, projects I’m still working on, planned to get around to, really should focus on etc. But now, so many of those just aren’t going to happen. It’s a fact, I tell myself. It’s not meant as a chastisement, nor is it cruel fate. It’s a reality check: life is only so long, and you are definitely on the downward slope, with more behind you than in front of you. You can only squeeze in so much in one lifetime. So, assess what can be done. And let the rest go.
Over the years, we’ve covered a lot of territory - in his truck, driving to Calgary, Medicine Hat, Regina, Montana and the Hawaiian coast- and in our conversations. We’ve covered the plights and passions of the young people in our lives - their Christmas pageants, volleyball tourneys, difficult subjects in school, recalling our own childhood gains and losses, hits and near misses along the way. We’ve covered our theories on what bits of history keep repeating themselves. We’ve covered the urban-rural divide and the delights that present themselves when people unexpectedly surprise you by being not at all what you presumed. We’ve listed the places in the world we plan to visit before travel becomes a pain and a risk. Of course, we’ve covered the rise of Trump and the concurrent demise of manners and civil conversation. There’s always plenty to cover, and it turns out there is never enough time.
The surprise of aging is the daily inescapable humiliations it necessarily bequeaths us. There’s no getting around the fact that “things break down”, as a seventy-seven-year-old colleague at art school informed me over thirty years ago. “Nothing lasts forever - you may be “special” you may think you are unique, but you ain’t that unique.” What surprises me is how, along with my knees and my stamina, I find my prejudices and pet peeves breaking down, too.
My mom used to say to me: “You can do anything.” And though it reflected her unconditional faith in me as a promising youth with several abilities, I rode on that faith far too long, using it as insurance for the future. I could dabble and dream on that faith for a long while, but the day would come when I’d comprehend there are only so many left me to finish that book, that CD, that performance. Now, I think back, and I wonder why I didn’t hear the proviso to my mother’s promise: “As long as you apply yourself - consistently, daily, and when you least want to.”
As we pull into the driveway at sunset, I am refreshed by the long conversation and not at all saddened by the fact that time is limited. I promise myself to engage myself fully in what I do. Now.
Investing in Alberta’s emergency services
MFRs are often the first to arrive on the scene and provide life-saving care until an ambulance arrives, especially in remote communities. Through the MFR Program, $3.85 million will be distributed to support efforts to improve the quality of emergency care in Alberta communities.
This support will increase the funding by $3.75 million this year and will expand the program to include medium and large MFR agencies across Alberta, including fire departments, urban, remote and rural municipalities and Indigenous communities participating in the MFR Program. More than 200 MFR partner agencies across Alberta will receive targeted funding for emergency medical services (EMS).
be provided for various supplies and services, including purchasing modern automated external defibrillators (AED), medical kits, CPR mannequins, instructor development and front-line responder training courses.
The second stream of funding introduced this year totals $2.5 million and will directly support MFR agencies to offset some of the growing costs involved with providing MFR, including increased event volumes, population growth and general inflation of equipment and fuel.
In 1978 those elevators were torn down, and new ones were built. The wood was left lying on the ground for anyone to help themselves and then was hauled away and burned. It was recorded that Brian Norris’ house was built with some of that wood.
The cost to build a new complex was $500,000. When the first quota opened, Tommy Mills and Elmer Berscht hauled to the Pool; and because Bill O’Neill was a new buyer, the rest went to the Pioneer for a while. The old Pioneer elevator was demolished in 1984.
“Medical first responders are unsung heroes and often the first on the scene of an emergency, particularly in remote areas where access to immediate care is limited. Their swift intervention can mean the difference between life and death while waiting for EMS services. Investing in these agencies will help to make sure they have the tools and training they need to provide timely and life-saving emergency care when and where it’s needed.”
Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health
The financial supports offered consider two main streams. The first stream builds on the successes from previous years of the MFR Program and will
“Medical first responders are important partners that co-respond with EMS to many 911 emergencies, often providing care to patients. Having the opportunity to expand our support beyond small rural agencies helps us achieve our goal of providing the best emergency care to Albertans, regardless of where they live.”
Blaine Barody, manager for medical first response and public access to defibrillation, Alberta Health Services
The MFR Program seeks to provide direct supports to MFR partners across several areas and will continue to seek out opportunities to strengthen the quality of patient care. This investment will move forward efforts to enhance health care services for Albertans and will help address the diverse needs and challenges of Alberta’s remote, rural and Indigenous communities.
The old Pioneer elevator was demolished in 1984. PHOTO SIBBALD COMMUNITY HISTORY BOOK
Will wearing green be lucky for McEwen?
BY BRUCE PENTON
It’s the month for St. Patrick’s Day, so perhaps wearing Saskatchewan green and the luck of the Irish will mean a Brier championship for Mike O’McEwen.
BY BRUCE PENTON Sports Columnist
He’s changed provinces regularly, so why can’t he change his name, too? — from McEwen to O’McEwen, just to heighten his chances of expanding his luck quotient to win the biggest prize in Canadian men’s curling. No skip has ever represented three different provinces in the Brier, until McEwen this year, so maybe third time will be lucky. He won the Manitoba title four times, and represented Manitoba, his home province, on three other occasions as a wildcard entry. Last year, he joined forces with an Ontario rink featuring Ryan Fry, Joey Hart and Brent Laing, and they won that province, losing in a 3 vs. 4 Page playoff game at the Brier. But when Laing, Fry and Hart went their separate ways at the end of the season, McEwen was a loose free agent, looking for a strong team that needed an experienced and proven skip.
It didn’t take long for that curling marriage to happen. Colton Flasch of Saskatchewan has long been a contender on the men’s curling circuit, but he lost his third, Catlin Schneider, following the 2022-23 season. The dichotomy was perfect — McEwen available; Flasch with one missing piece. Flasch moved down to play third and the team clicked almost immediately.
Wearing green for the first time in his life, McEwen led his team of Flasch and the Marsh twins, Dan and Kevin, to the Saskatchewan championship, running off seven straight wins to earn a spot in the 2024 Brier which, as fate would have it, is being played in Regina starting March 1. The pressure will be ramped up threefold: Playing in front of a home crowd; being a firstyear skip with the Flasch squad; and trying to break a long Brier drought for teams from Saskatchewan. The most recent Brier title for the Wheat Province came in 1980, 44 years ago, when Rick Folk was the winner. While McEwen representing Saskatchewan may be the feel-good story of the week, Canada’s best curlers won’t be coming to Regina to play secondary roles. Five-time (and defending) champ Brad Gushue of Newfoundland will be among the favourites, as will last year’s runner-up, Brendan Bottcher of Alberta. Perennial contenders Matt Dunstone, Kevin Koe, and Reid Carruthers (whose rink is skipped by Northern Ontario veteran Brad Jacobs), will also have strong opportunities to win..
In the round-robin, Regina fans’ eyes will be focusing on the B.C.-Saskatchewan matchup because the former Flasch third, Schneider, moved to B.C. and won his new province’s championship. Ideally, B.C. vs. Saskatchewan would be a terrific Brier final, too, with McEwen trying to write a fairytale finish to his vagabond curling tale.
• Comedy writer Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “The Blue Jays are trying to cash in on mascots popularity. They signed Justin Turner, the baseball player that mostly closely resembles Gritty and Youppi!”
• Headline on Page 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle the day after the 49ers fell 25-22 to Kansas City in the Super Bowl: “LOSS VEGAS”
• Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, on the shooting in Kansas City during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade: “What if Patrick Mahomes had been hit in the spray of bullets? Would that have gotten America’s attention? Because nothing else has as our national plague of gun violence and mass shootings goes on and on.”
• Cote again, after Patrick Mahomes’ outstanding play in the Super Bowl led the Chiefs to victory: “The G.O.A.T. corral has a new member.”
• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “A 16-ounce can of beer at the big game in Vegas cost $18.90. The only people who can afford those kinds of prices are Taylor Swift, LIV golfers and Georgia football recruits.”
• From Bianchi’s column in the Sentinel: “Best pre-Super Bowl Sunday meme: ‘I hear Taylor Swift’s boyfriend will be attending the Usher concert this weekend.’”
• Headline at Canadian parody website The Beaverton: “Saskatchewan residents furious over local sports network’s decision to air Super Bowl instead of 2013 Grey Cup replay.”
• Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: “At one point 200 million people watched the Super Bowl. Imagine how many it would have been if they weren’t airing a curling game at the same time?”
• Jim Trotter of The Athletic, after the Waste Management Open in Phoenix turned into a drunken debacle: “The Waste Management now resembles the Wasted Management.”
• Another one from Kaseberg: “Sarah Thomas was the first ever female ref in a Super Bowl. That explains why that one player was called for Unsatisfactory Feelings Sharing.”
• Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “The Vegas Golden Knights ended the Edmonton Oilers winning streak at 16 games, which is usually around when casino security steps in.”
• Headline at the onion.com: “Chiefs Pour Vat Of Hot Fryer Grease Over Andy Reid”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
Nicole Bodnaruk receives Jardine Bursary
BY DIANA WALKER
After graduating from South Central High School, Oyen in 2022, Nicole Bodnaruk, headed off that fall to the University of Alberta in Edmonton to take a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Animal Science.
“Growing up in Cappon, a rural area surrounded by cattle and grain, has led me to find a passion in agriculture, one in which I would like to pursue,” says Nicole.
During that first year she gained useful knowledge and skills in different sectors of the livestock industry.
Returning home after her first year at university Nicole was proud to share knowledge as well as a few new tricks when working with cattle with her parents, Paul Bodnaruk and Mona Davidson.
I am passionate about my program and returned to Edmonton last fall to complete my second year,” says Nicole. “I have volunteered for multiple functions at the Crossroads Centre, and a few programs while still attending high school. I also had the opportunity to volunteer at the dairy barn at the campus farm.
“I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me as I progress with my educa-tion,” says Nicole. “Af-
Cutlines: Nicole Bodnaruk receives one of the two $1000 Jardine Bursaries from Diana Walker, representing the bursary committee including Cheryl Ball and Sharon Dahl.
ter completing my Bachelor of Science I would like to further my education in the field of Veterinary Medicine.”
In a recent email update Nicole said: “I’m very excited to be finishing up my gen-eral courses and moving into courses based around animal health. Although my second year is coming to an end I’m very excited to be another year closer to reach-ing my goals.”
Protecting Alberta’s ferruginous hawk
New at-risk species plan to protect an endangered hawk and send population numbers soaring.
The ferruginous hawk has been seen in the rolling plains of southern Alberta’s grasslands for generations and is widely known as the largest hawk in North America. However, despite past efforts to increase its numbers, the bird remains endangered under Alberta’s Wildlife Act.
Alberta’s government is releasing an updated plan to protect this majestic hawk and support the growth of its population. This plan will update the original 2014 plan and will increase population numbers, protect nest sites and support the habitats needed for the ferruginous hawk to thrive.
“This plan represents a collaborative, multi-year conservation effort between Environment and Protected Areas and multiple partners. While still not where they need to be, numbers of ferruginous hawks appear to be moving in the right direction, thanks to these efforts. These large, conspicuous hawks are an iconic species in our grasslands and play an important role in our province’s ecosystem.”
Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas
Alberta’s species at risk recovery plans help establish a basis for cooperation among government, Indigenous communities, industry, conservation groups, landowners and other stakehol-
ders to ensure at-risk species and populations are restored or maintained to their former glory.
Under the original plan, the ferruginous hawk population has slowly stabilized and shown signs of increasing. However, the bird remains endangered, and an updated approach is needed if Alberta hopes to see a long-term recovery.
Through the new plan, Alberta’s government and partners across the pro-
Bringing it Home
Ever since a record number of members of the Conservative Party of Canada elected Pierre Poilievre as its Leader in September of 2021, he has been hard at work.
This work includes his role as Leader of the Official Opposition in holding the Liberal Government, propped up by the NDP, accountable. This work in Parliament is why so many issues with mismanagement, corruption, and bad policy are coming to light. It is also where Pierre and the entire team of common-sense Conservatives can ensure that the voices of regular Canadians are heard in Parliament.
was outlined. Many folks think of Pierre as the prosecutor who exposes Liberal corruption, and he is, but in the last year and a half, since becoming Leader, he has shown how, with skill and hard work, we can work together to get Canada back on track. In his many rallies and tours, he reassures Canadians of a better future and economic opportunity, being proud of our nation and its people, removing censorship, cutting red tape, and giving Canadians back control of their lives. This has been summed up by talking about the need to, “Bring it Home.”
vince will work to protect and support the hawk’s habitats, nest structures and prey needed to survive. Other important steps will also be taken in the coming years, including reducing human disturbance at nest sites and limiting the impacts of predators.
“Ensuring grasslands are maintained for species like ferruginous hawks is crucial. These hawks are often embraced by landowners as a natural means to
help control ground squirrel numbers, with many encouraging the endangered species to establish a nest on their land. Continued support and collaboration from landowners, along with society’s desire to see ferruginous hawks thrive, provides a promising future for this and other species as long as we maintain intact grasslands.”
Brad Downey, Senior biologist, Alberta Conservation Association
“Since 2008, AltaLink has proudly been an active member of the Alberta Ferruginous Hawk Recovery Team and contributed to the development of the recovery plan. Through our own avian protection plan, AltaLink proactively works to mitigate the potential impact that our facilities can have on all avian species. This has included funding ferruginous hawk research and contributing materials and resources to construct nesting platforms. We are pleased with the approval of the recovery plan and look forward to continuing our efforts to support the recovery of this species.”
This recovery plan was developed with input from Indigenous communities, industry, conservation groups and other stakeholders that have played vital roles in recovery efforts for Alberta’s ferruginous hawk population.
When he announced that he would run for Leader of the Party, Pierre made it clear that he was starting his campaign to become Prime Minister. And in that process, a vision of hope for the country
There are many components which go into an election platform and policy to shape the future of our nation. To ensure all Canadians know and trust what Pierre and our Conservative team are going to do, we have summed it up
straightforwardly… Conservatives will axe the tax, build homes, fix the budget, and stop the crime.
Justin Trudeau, along with the Liberal Party and the NDP, are tired and corrupt. Recently, the ArriveScam Scandal has dominated headlines, but it’s a continuation of a trend of the disrespect the Liberals have for taxpayers and the rule of law, assuming accountability doesn’t apply to them. While this makes headlines in big spending scandals, I see every day in their attitude.
All these issues ring true for the residents of Battle River—Crowfoot, examples like: Rural Canada faces the brunt of the unfair and ineffective carbon tax as well as the many policies designed to punish Canadian ingenuity and hold back our country’s economic growth. There is a growing issue of homelessness in our local communities which would have been unheard of only a few short years ago. While young people struggle to buy
homes, seniors are being forced to sell their homes to make ends meet. Folks around here know budgets don’t balance themselves, and the bill eventually comes due. We also know our justice system needs an overhaul. There is unprecedented crime on both our town streets and gravel range roads… catch and release doesn’t work.
We are working diligently to hold the Liberals to account and to show Canadians a common-sense plan that will restore the hope and promise of Canada after the next election. It is an honour to serve the people of Battle River—Crowfoot alongside Pierre Poilievre and the national Conservative team. This is a Leader and a team who listens to what Canadians, including rural Canadians, need and who respect them. It is time to bring home Canadian taxpayers' safety and hard-earned income, ensuring they can own their homes, and prosper.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this column, you are encouraged to write Damien at 4945-50th Street, Camrose, Alberta, T4V 1P9, call 780-608-4600, text 403-575-5625, or e-mail damien.kurek@parl.gc.ca. You can also stay up to date with Damien by following him on social media @dckurek. If you are in need of assistance regarding a Federal Government program, or need assistance and don’t know where to turn, feel free to reach out to MP Kurek’s office.
