New look for The Oyen Echo
For the past 52 years, The Oyen Echo has been under the direction of Diana Walker. I am honoured and humbled to step into Diana’s shoes.
I was born and raised in Kindersley, Sask. In 2020, I moved back to my roots after a 33-year absence to start Your West Central Voice, a weekly community paper published in Kindersley. It serves a broader area, including Eston, Eatonia, Leader and Kerrobert.
I’ve spent my entire working career in communications and newspaper. I have worked for such publications as the Farmer-Stockmen AdVisor, Medicine Hat Shopper, Shaunavon Standard and Maple Creek News. I had my own publishing company previously in Gull Lake, Saskatchewan, where I ran the Gull Lake Advance for eight years from 2009-2017.
The community of Oyen deserves a weekly community paper. I’ve always believed in my abilities, and I’m ready to take on this challenge in these uncertain times. Joining me in this adventure is my husband Robert. We have been married for 20 years and have three teenage children.
The Echo will now be published and delivered to Canada Post on Mondays. Subscribers in Cereal and Youngstown can also expect to receive their paper on Monday, as we will be delivering the papers ourselves to Canada Post in those communities, rather than waiting for it to travel to Calgary and back.
A newspaper is the original social media. We need newspapers to help keep our history alive.
I would encourage people to send their interesting, thought-provoking or unique story or feature article ideas to me at kate@yoursouthwest.com.
I look forward to serving you for many years to come (maybe not quite as many as Diana)!
Report from Battle River - Crowfoot MP Damien Kurek
4945 - 50 St. Camrose, AB T4V 1P9
Text 403-575-5625 or toll free 1-800-665-4358
Email: damien.kurek@parl.gc.ca or social media @dckurek
A Year In Review
2020 was a year where we witnessed a pandemic grip our world that has had serious health implications, led to millions of lost jobs, and held our nation hostage for close to a year. That said, Canadians have always stood strong in the midst of adversity and I am optimistic our nation will bounce back 2021.
With all that transpired in the past year, we found all levels of government providing assistance at an unprecedented rate. Although it has not been without many challenges, I was proud to have worked to ensure aspects of the Federal Government’s programs were adjusted to better serve Battle River-Crowfoot. Additionally, my offices in Camrose, Consort, and Ottawa have helped thousands of constituents in their time of need.
Some things do not change, and unfortunately for Canadians, this goes for the Liberals’ incompetence and corruption. In addition to how the pandemic was handled from the beginning, we have seen numerous scandals emerge from the WE Charity scandal, to lucrative contracts being given to former Liberal MPs, to the most recent attack on law abiding firearms owners. Amidst the struggle between everyday Canadians and COVID, our livelihoods, and our freedoms, the Liberals chose their friends and ideology over helping the people they are supposed to serve.
For Conservatives, 2020 was also the year where we named a new leader, the Hon. Erin O’Toole. Erin earned the respect of Conservatives with his resolve,
military background, and never quit attitude. Erin has shown leadership at a time when it has been needed most, and it is no accident that as soon as Erin and the Official Opposition brought something up in the House, the Government was quick to respond, defend, and in some cases even backfill their responses to save face. The future of Canada’s Conservatives is a bright one. We are a Government in waiting that will represent the best of our nation, always fighting for the unity and prosperity of Canadians.
We are working diligently each day to ensure that good governance returns to our nation, while the Liberals plan to “reimagine the economy,” take advantage of the pandemic to provide “a great reset,” expand the size of government, drown our nation in debt, and fail to show leadership around the world. Canadians didn’t vote for that, and Conservatives remain ready to lead with the prospect of a snap election possible at any time. In the interim, we will remain hard at work as the Official Opposition. Things may not seem as upbeat today as they once were… but when I speak to the people of Battle River-Crowfoot I am continually reminded of the potential we have. It is an honour to be able to serve you in Canada’s Parliament and I look forward to continuing to work for you in 2021.
My family and I would like to wish everyone in Battle River-Crowfoot a very happy, healthy, and bountiful New Year.
Iwould like to send my sympathies out to the family and friends of former Youngstown resident, Stuart Murney of Hanna who died on December 23rd in the Hanna Hospital.
I hope everyone managed to enjoy their Christmas despite the Covid restrictions that were in place. Even though we were unable to gather with all our family and friends as is our usual routine, I have heard that their were celebrations held by most, albeit a different if more quiet one than usual. Some were virtual, some invited and entertained those single persons who were living on their own such as myself, some had a traditional turkey feast, some had Ham, while others
Reported by Robert Blagen 403-854-0664
had more non traditional celebrations with everything from a Seafood feast, Steak and Lobster, to an Appetizer spread. No matter the fair, I am sure it was an enjoyable day despite the times. Hopefully next year will be back to our normal, whatever that might be, for everyone. Maybe we will take what we learned from this year and make gathering together for the next one even better and more meaningful.
I am also saddened to report that on the morning of December 27th, Sandy Sutherland, who resided at the Oyen Extended Care passed away. I wish to extend my sympathies to her family and friends for their loss. As per Sandys wishes, there will be no funeral service. I wish everyone a Healthy and Happy New Year! Here is hoping that 2021 turns out to be better than 2020.
Withthe new year upon us, the Special Areas Board is getting key pieces moving for the year ahead. The Advisory Council has reviewed the 2021 budget and the Board has recommended it for approval. 2021 marks a departure from the revised budget put in place April 2020, with a return to expenditure levels more consistent with pre-COVID years.
In 2021, the Board is planning a small deficit budget which is a result of significant reductions in revenues for the upcoming year. Fiscal pressures resulting from declining grant funding, increasing levels of bad debt, and downward pressures on assessment continue to create challenging financial conditions.
This spring the Board will review the 2021 budget to establish municipal mill rates once provincial assessment information is released, including expected changes to industrial assessment. The Board’s focus remains on delivering a budget that protects investments made in municipal infrastructure while focusing on key ratepayer services.
At the last Advisory Council meeting in December, the road recrowning pro-
gram was approved for the 2021 season. This program, investigated in-depth in 2019, allows internal forces to rehabilitate appropriate gravel roads by re-establishing crown and road width. This program will reduce long-term maintenance costs on these surfaces and gives Special Areas a tool to rehabilitate some gravel roads at a much lower cost when compared to traditional road construction. From now until March, administration will be working with local road committees and foremen to develop the formal 2021 road recrowning program for review this spring. Local road committees will be meeting over the next few months to allow local road committee members, administration, and Advisory Councillors a chance to review the proposed 2021 road program, discuss local road priorities and make formal recommendations for upcoming projects.
For more information on your local road committee meeting or to learn more about upcoming Advisory Council meetings contact your local District Office.
nominations from members who are interested in serving as a director of the Co-op
~ Prairie View ~ Where Was the Leadership?
We are in a period of time when strong political leadership is a necessity. What we see now is weak leadership at both the Federal and Provincial level. It has really showed up here in Alberta right after the new year. The government set rules for everyone to follow to try and decrease the amount of COVID-19 infection. Our elected representatives have a responsibility to set a high standard example for everyone else to follow in making sure that the rules are followed. What do we have happening?
At least 9 MLA’s and senior government officials from Alberta left the country for a winter holiday when we the people were told to not leave the
country, stay home, avoid groups of people etc. Not only that we weren’t even supposed to have family members in for Christmas unless they were part of the everyday household. It appears that we have a premier and a government that feel their elected position gives them entitlement to ignore the rules that the rest of us are expected to follow. Initially Jason Kenney even felt that it was not necessary to reprimand any of those people for ignoring these rules. He did state after the public became aware of what happened, that they were to return immediately and no one else was to leave the country unless it was urgent government business. Well that action is akin to the old cliché about shutting the barn door after the horse got out. After intense public pressure he had his Municipal Affairs Minister who was in Hawaii resign her Cabinet position, and the five other MLA’s were relieved of their committee positions, his chief of staff also resigned. So why didn’t he do it when he first became aware of them being out of the country? I find
that this Premier seems to have trouble making hard decisions.
I think this started as soon as he became the leader of the UCP. The party went off the rails already at the founding convention in Red Deer. When the first board was elected at that convention the old operatives of the previous PC party were successful in having themselves elected to the key positions in the party. From then on especially when getting nominations for the upcoming election they did everything they could to diminish the influence of the previous Wildrose Party. When we were setting up constituency associations after the members of both parties voted in favor of amalgamating the two parties into a united conservative party, it was a requirement that ½ of the board members for each constituency be from each of the previous parties. Since it was now a united party, Kenney as leader should have made sure there was equal representation from each of the founding parties.
Getting back to Kenney’s lack of leadership,
Heather Norris recognized by the Alberta Amateur Baseball Council
Alberta Amateur Baseball Council is recognizing individuals that have contributed significantly to Alberta baseball, at the grassroots level. Heather Norris of Oyen was recognized back in December for her “Passion for Baseball” with the Badlands Academy.
Heather is proudest of what the Badlands Academy has brought to Oyen. She cites the economic plusses, but also the pride in the partnership between the Town of Oyen and the Prairie Rose School Division, in order to bring the program into fruition. She is also pleased that the local citizenry has jumped on board to support the Academy through sponsorships, fundraising initiatives, and the host homes opening their residences to players.
Heather has been inspired by two Dougs, Doug Lehman and Doug Jones. Their con-
when he became premier after the last election, he stated that he was going to implement the old firewall principles due to the lack of respect that Alberta was getting from the federal government. Alberta was contributing most of the money for the equalization payments while at the same time the Prime Minister seemed to be doing everything, he could to curtail Alberta’s oil production which was the source of much of Alberta’s revenue. So far, all Kenney has done is appoint a committee to study the issue instead of actually doing something. I don’t think he is serious about implementing the firewall principles. Either he has a hidden agenda, or he is afraid of the federal government. He seems to be working for himself instead of Alberta.
Since it looks like Kenney and the UPC are going to govern like the old PC Party we many have to look at another grass roots option like we did when the Wildrose party was formed. That may be my topic for the next column.
Cervical Cancer Screening
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. If you have a cervix, it is important to get cervical cancer screening.
Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), and the types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer usually don’t cause symptoms, so most people don’t even know they have it.
The good news is that cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Regular cervical cancer screening (Pap tests) is effective in reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality. In fact, 90 per cent of cervical cancer can be prevented with regular screening and following up on any abnormal results.
A Pap test checks the cervix for any abnormal cells. It’s a quick test that can be done right in your healthcare provider’s office or at a women’s health clinic. By screening regularly, any cell changes can be followed closely to make sure they clear up or are treated, if needed.
If you’re between the ages of 25 and 69 and have ever been sexually active, start having Pap tests at age 25, or three years after becoming sexually active, whichever is later.
Plan to be screened once every three years unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. And once you start, continue having Pap tests until you’re 69 years of age.
Is it safe to go for screening during COVID-19? Enhanced health and safety measures are in place to keep patients and staff safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Your healthcare provider’s office may provide more details about these safety measures.
Getting screened can save your life. Remember to book your screening appointment and talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.
Visit screeningforlife.ca to learn more.
Content provided by: Alberta Health Services, myhealth.alberta.ca
LAND FOR SALE BY TENDER
Sealed tenders will be received by Smith & Hersey Agribusiness Law of Consort and Oyen until the deadline of 4:00 p.m. on February 18, 2021, for the sale of the following Land:
1. Section 34-30-29-W3 2. W ½ 27-30-29-W3
3. W ½ 26-30-29-W3 4. S ½ 22-30-29-W3
5. W ½ 15-30-29-W3
6. W ½ 23-30-29-W3
7. E ½ 27-30-29-W3 (home ¼ is SE)
• 1,874 total acres - 1,624 of which are cultivated (GPS measurement)
• 180 acres of pasture with very good water
• Yard site contains: 2 homes (1,200 and 800 sq ft); heated barn (30 x 50); heated shop (32 x 48); large machine shed (70 x 120); small machine shed (40 x 60); 38,000 bu of bin space (17,500 bu has aeration)
Land is located 4 miles south of Loverna, SK directly on the AB/SK border.
tributions and support for the project helped motivate her to become involved with the Badlands Academy. As well, since the academy helps young people attain their educational and baseball goals, it stimulates her to build an even stronger program.
In the future, Heather would like to see Covid-19 disappear and help the Badlands Academy, and baseball throughout the province, move forward. She would also like to see the continued growth in Alberta baseball numbers, She believes that baseball is a great game to teach future life skills, and keep people active.
Alberta Amateur Baseball Council, and the Alberta baseball community, would like to thank Heather for her contributions to Alberta baseball.
ALBERTA AMATEUR BASEBALL COUNCIL
Tenders on the Land must be accompanied by a certified cheque, bank draft, or electronic transfer in favor of “Smith & Hersey Agribusiness Law” for $20,000.00 as a deposit. The deposit will be returned if the tender is not accepted. If a tender is accepted and the tenderer does not proceed with the sale, the deposit of the tenderer will be forfeited to the owner. The balance of the tender price shall be paid and the sale will close no later than March 19th, 2021. The owner and the successful tenderer will each be responsible for their own legal fees. Each tenderer must understand that a tender is an unconditional offer to purchase the Shares/Land set out in the tender. Tenderers must rely on their own research of the Lands, and Smith & Hersey Agribusiness Law and the owner make no warranties or representations in regard to the Lands.
The Vendor requests bids for a share purchase whereby the Purchaser buys the vendor’s corporation which maintains only the lands and assets listed above. The Home Quarter is personally owned and will be sold as well. Share purchase tenders will be given significant preference over land purchase tenders. Should a potential purchaser require further information or have questions regarding a share sale, please contact the Vendor’s lawyer, Reid Wilkie at the number below.
The owner has complete discretion whether to accept the highest or any tender. Further inquiries, or to arrange viewing the lands, can be made by contacting Reid Wilkie at (403) 577-2539 or reid@smithhersey.com. Tenders may be emailed or sealed in an envelope marked “LAND TENDER” and delivered to:
Smith & Hersey Agribusiness Law
Attention: Reid A. Wilkie
Box 95 Consort, AB, T0C 1B0
Phone: 403.527.5506 or 403.664.2812
Email: reid@smithhersey.com
HERMAN SCHWENK CORONATION
Heather Norris
OPINION
CHECK IT OUT with Joan Janzen
Why Canadians need a voice
JOAN JANZEN joanjanzen@yahoo.com
Awife said to her husband, “I think you need a hearing test.” He replied, “Why do I need a hairy chest?”
Most Canadians want their voices to be heard by those individuals who have influence in the decision-making process. The numerous petitions that are distributed on line appear to provide proof of a people who want to be heard. Those same Canadians may become disillusioned when the petitions they have signed are ignored or brushed aside.
What other options do they have? They can contact their local representatives - MLA’s, MP’s and their Prime Minister - relaying their concerns. However, the response, if any, may be a form letter or an automated reply.
What other options do they have? One option is their representatives who speak on their behalf in Parliament. One of those representatives is the Conservative shadow minister of the Ministry of Finance, Pierre Poilievre, a free market activist and six time Member of Parliament who advocates for employment of people with disabilities.
“I’ve felt the urge to continue to fight for what I believe in, and thought parliament is the best place to do that, so I keep running,” he explains. Pierre grew up in Calgary; his dad is a French Canadian from Saskatchewan.
“Parliament is often viewed as a truce machine,” Pierre observes. “We should be fighting for the things we believe, fighting for the people for whom we work.” And if you’ve observed him as he speaks in Parliament, you will realize he fights for what he believes.
“That is how our system is designed; it is deliberately adversarial. There are two sides, and the official opposition has the job of holding the government to account. That’s the role I play right now,” Pierre said, and goes on to explain why his role is vital at this point in time.
“The projected deficit for 2020 is at $343 billion. Half of Canada’s public debt has been accumulated under Justin Trudeau since 2015. Canada’s credit rating has been reduced from triple A to double A plus, and the government has publicly announced more spending of $40 billion.” He stresses that the situation has become non-partisan.
Pierre went on to explain the gravity of the situation. “Historically, we have in all of Canada’s history, two world wars, the Great Depression, and a global recession. The deficit is now 17 percent of GDP, which is about twice what it was in the worst year of WWI, three times what it was in the worst year of the Great Depression, and four times bigger than the worst year in the great global recession.”
In 1943 it was 23 percent of GDP, but when our grandparents got home from the war they paid off the debt. In 1947 we had the biggest single budget surplus with 5 percent of GDP. Our grandparents didn’t leave the debt to their grandkids, but today the federal government wants to keep on spending,” Pierre explained.
He added another serious concern, saying “A non-partisan bureaucrat, appointed by Trudeau, said we have one year, maybe two, at this rate, before the money runs out. Finance bureaucrats are telling journalists, off the record, that they are literally frightened.”
He ended by explaining the rumours of an upcoming election. “An election may be on the horizon to avoid the truth coming out regarding the corruption of the WE scandal, and to hide from the people the true cost of his economic mismanagement.”
“Canadians deserve the most transparent government. When I was asking for the true cost of the carbon tax, they said it would jeopardize national security if they told us the full cost.”
Those are a few of the many reasons why Canadians need to have a voice.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
By Robert Blagen
Canada has always been known as the Food Basket of the world.
Something awful wrong has happened this year. We are seeing thousands of people having to get their Christmas dinner from the Food Banks. The big Corporations and Banks are sitting on billions or trillions that they don’t know what to do with, and the ordinary people are trying to live on handouts. Something is wrong with this picture, Eh!
And it’s not just caused by the Pandemic because most people were only half a paycheque away from a catastrophe before this happened. How has the country been allowed to get so far out of balance, and what is the answer?
Well, for one thing, I believe the first step would be a guaranteed minimum wage. We are working over half a year to pay our taxes. It’s time we bottom feeders were elevated a bit higher up on the food chain.
Food Banks can’t keep trying to do
the job of the grocery stores forever. I would say this is one hell of a disgraceful situation for a country like Canada. If we don’t get a guaranteed minimum Wage soon, there will be more people out in the streets begging or maybe even looting the stores. It might make the dirty thirties look pretty good. We can’t blame this on any one government because we’ve had many different governments and they have all screwed the country up because they have never worked for the ordinary person. They have always looked after the Banks and the Corporations who donated the most money to their political party!
Maybe it’s time the poor people of the world filed a “Class Action Lawsuit” against the government, banks, and corporations to get a fair share of our great country’s wealth. It’s hard to believe in a country like Canada that has an abundance of almost everything that we have so much poverty.
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paid for at the time of insertion. Active accounts excepted.
A New Year’s tax reduction helps strengthen seniors’ financial security
Canadians are ringing-in the New Year with another tax reduction from the federal government—they can now earn more before paying any federal income tax. It’s another important step forward for the middle class and those working hard to join it—and for seniors’ financial security.
When the Liberal government’s increases to the Basic Personal Amount are fully implemented in 2023, 4.3 million seniors will benefit, including 465,000 whose federal income tax will be reduced to zero. Every year, singles will save close to $300 and couples will save nearly $600.
These savings will help seniors with everyday expenses, like groceries, hydro and deliveries.
It’s part of the Liberal government delivering on their plan to make life more affordable for seniors.
That work started in 2016, when the first act of our new government was to pass the Middle-Class Tax Cut to reduce personal income taxes. This saved affected Canadians an average of $330 a year for singles and $540 a year for couples.
Seniors depend on strong public pensions, and our government is committed to improving them. We reversed the previous Conservative government’s increase to the age of eligibility for Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), restoring it to 65 years from 67 years. That put thousands of dollars back into the pockets of new seniors.
To help low-income seniors, we increased the GIS by $947. And to help those low-income working seniors keep more of their benefits, we increased the
GIS earnings exemption so they can earn up to $5,000 without any reduction in benefits and get a partial exemption for their next $10,000 in income.
To help seniors with extra expenses of the pandemic, we made one-time payments to seniors in April through the GST Credit and July through OAS. Together, they are worth over $1500 for a low-income couple, all tax-free.
We also worked together with provinces and territories to increase the Canada Pension Plan’s maximum yearly benefit for future retirees by about 50 percent, meaningfully reducing the risk of not saving enough for retirement. The Quebec Pension Plan mirrored these improvements.
Our policies are showing positive results: 25 percent fewer seniors live in poverty than when we took office in 2015.
As seniors age, they are more likely to outlive their savings, have disabilities, be unable to work and be widowed—all while their health care costs are rising. To help address these pressures on older seniors’ quality of life, the Liberal government has reaffirmed our commitment to increasing Old Age Security by 10 percent once a senior turns 75.
Taken together, our government’s ambitious and progressive measures are making a real difference in seniors’ financial security—however, there is more work to do. Canadian seniors can always count on Liberals to listen, understand their needs and work hard to deliver for them.
• Limited time offer: January 1, 2021 - June 30, 2021.
• Discounts/Promotions apply only to residential vacant lots listed in the McClellan Place Subdivision.
• 10% non-refundable deposit required to enter into purchase agreement, with the balance due within 60 days accompanied by a development permit.
• Development must be in compliance with the Town’s Land Use By-law #829-13
• Construction of primary dwelling to commence within one year of signing the purchase agreement.
• Lots will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Please contact the Town Office (403-664-3511) for further information.
The Honorable Deb Schulte, MP Minister of Seniors
There was a three-way tie for 2nd Place. (Left) Lou and Gordon Melvill (Right) Mark and Lyndsey Strutt (Bottom Left) Kevin and Tenelle Brosts
(Left) Velma and Terry Pearen and (Right) Tracy and Matthew Hudson ALL PHOTOS BY TRACY HUDSON
Classifieds The Oyen Echo
RATES (based on 25 words or less). $10.00 plus GST. Additional words are 20¢ each. Deadline is Thursday noon. 306-671-0242
ANNOUNCEMENTS
“Give the world one-half of Sunday and you will soon find that religion has no strong hold on the other half.” Sir Walter Scott
AUCTIONS
POLICE THEFT RECOVERY, TRAILERS, TOOLS, On-Line Timed Auction Jan 14 – 19, MAS Sales Centre, Blackfalds, AB. Selling Enclosed Cargo Trailers, Quantity of Tools, Ladders, Pressure Washer, Tires, Slip Tank, Computers, Jewelry, Hockey Cards, X-Bows, Saddle & More. www.montgomeryauctions.com; 1-800371-6963.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Handhills Drumheller Campground. 87 serviced sites, group area, with buildings, well treed, on 67 acres. All equipment and supplies. Turnkey. Owner retiring. $650,000 firm. 403-3692774.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
BLANKET THE PROVINCE with a classified ad. Only $269 (based on 25 words or less). Reach 90 weekly newspapers. Call NOW for details. 1-800-282-6903 Ext 225; www.awna.com.
FEED AND SEED
HEATED CANOLA buying Green, Heated or Springthrashed Canola. Buying: oats, barley, wheat & peas for feed. Buying damaged or offgrade grain. “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain, 1-877-2505252.
FOR RENT ROOMS FOR RENT IN KINDERSLEY $500. Includes all utilities. Call Tim Schuh at 306-460-9292.
FOR SALE
INTEGRITY POST FRAME BUILDINGS since 2008 BUILT WITH CONCRETE POSTS. Barns, Shops, Riding Arenas, Machine Sheds and more, sales@integritybuilt.com 1-866-9747678 www.integritybuilt. com.
FOR SALE: Medical Sheep Skin. Single bed size. Best offer. 306-463-9170. JN11p
FOR SALE: 166 round hay bales, alfalfa and brome mix. 1680 lbs. Oyen area. Ben Meier 1-780-753-2550. JN18
HEALTH
HIP/KNEE REPLACEMENT. Other medical conditions
causing TROUBLE WALKING or DRESSING? The Disability Tax Credit allows for $3,000 yearly tax credit and $30,000 lump sum refund. Take advantage of this offer. Apply NOW; quickest refund Nationwide: Expert help. 1-844-453-5372.
LAND FOR SALE
DUCKS UNLIMITED CANADA has for sale 4 project lands in Beaver County. Land locations are: SW27-50-16-W4, SE 18-4914 W4M, S½ 3-46-11 W4M and NW 32-47-13 W4M. Call Brent Thygesen, b_thygesen@ducks.ca or 780 678-0150.
REAL ESTATE
VERY INEXPENSIVE 2 QUARTERS OF PASTURE LAND, Central SK, for sale. 8 other good quarters may be available. Requires fencing. Great hunting $74,900. Call Doug at 306-716-2671.
NOTICE
CRIMINAL RECORD? Why suffer employment/licensing loss? Travel/business opportunities? Be embarrassed? Think: Criminal Pardon. US entry waiver. Record purge. File destruction. Free consultation. 1-800347-2540. www.accesslegalmjf.com.
GET YOUR MESSAGE
SEEN ACROSS Alberta. The Blanket Classifieds or Value Ads reach over 600,000 Alberta readers weekly. Two options starting at $269 or $995 to get your message out! Business changes, hiring, items for sale, cancellations, tenders, etc. People are increasingly staying home and rely on their local newspapers for information. KEEP people in the loop with our 90 Weekly Community Newspapers. Call THIS NEWSPAPER now or email classifieds@awna.com for details. 1-800-282-6903, 780-434-8746 X225. www. awna.com.
WANTED WANTED TO BUY - Hunting Rifles, Shotguns and Ammunition. Have permits. Call 463-7756 (Cell).
Canadian fans will embrace NHL’s ‘North’
One of the seven Canadian teams is guaranteed to make the final four of the Stanley Cup playoffs in mid-July now that the completely revamped, COVID-induced realignment of National Hockey League divisions has put all the teams north of the border into one group called the North Division.
Now, if the inter-city travel and playing hockey in a non-bubble atmosphere, which worked so well last summer in Edmonton and Toronto, can somehow prevent outbreaks of the coronavirus, Canadian hockey fans could be in for a treat starting this week. Teams will play a compact 56-game schedule, crammed into 116 days, and not once be required to set foot in Bidenland.
Canadian teams will play only other Canadian teams, until a division champ is determined in, tentatively, late June. The matchups are delicious, as Dan Rosen of NHL.com pointed out. Alberta fans get 10 episodes of the Battle of Alberta — Flames vs. Oilers. The Habs and the
Leafs will clash 10 times. Ottawa’s rambunctious Brody Tkachuk will tangle with his agitating brother, Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk, nine times. The best two goalies in hockey, Carey Price in Montreal and Connor Hellebuyck of Winnipeg, will meet nine times. Jacob Markstrom, the long-time Canuck netminder, will face his former team nine times now that he’s a free-agent member of the Flames. Two of the game’s greatest young players, Connor McDavid of the Oilers and Auston Matthews of Toronto, will meet nine times this season. Euro superstars Patrik Laine of the Jets and Elias Pettersson of the Canucks will oppose each other nine times.
Which team or teams will emerge as the North Division’s power(s) is anyone’s guess. The season starts Jan. 13, after a shortened training camp, so it may take a month or two for the tea leaves to settle.
None of the seven Canadian teams would have been regarded as a strong Stanley Cup threat under the normal divisional and scheduling setup. Last year, Canada’s top conference finisher was Edmonton, fifth in the West. The NHL could have called this the Mediocre Division and not been too far off. Calgary, Winnipeg and Vancouver were seventh, eighth and ninth in the West last year, while the Eastern Conference teams in 2019-20 finished eighth
(Toronto), 12th (Montreal) and 15th (Ottawa).
Maybe, just maybe, everything will work out as planned and the subsequent 2021-22 season can begin as the Canadian Constitution deems it should, in early October. But can we keep the North Division? Please, please?
The late Ed Chynoweth, president of the Western Hockey League, musing about resigning in the 1970s, as detailed in Gregg Drinnan’s excellent history of the WHL “It is starting to bother me that all my friends in Saskatoon are going to the airport to take flights out for winter holidays. I go to the airport and fly to Flin Flon.”
Blogger Chad Picasner, on veteran (and chubby) third baseman Pablo Sandoval: “In his day, Pablo was very good around the plate — both home plate and the dinner plate.”
Patti Dawn Swansson aka the River City Renegade, complaining about a double standard re: Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman analyzing NHL games last year while sporting an unruly beard: “No chance a female broadcaster would be allowed on camera with a head of hair that looks like a cluster of dead animals.”
Bob Molinaro in the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, after a Steph Curry rookie card sold at auction for $611,000: “So now we have a better understanding for why the very rich need those tax break.”
ESPN broadcaster Dave Pasch, to NBCsports.com, on calling college-football games remotely from home because of COVID-19 restrictions: “At least I don’t have to wait in line for the bathroom at halftime.”
Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: ”Rams QB Jared Goff dislocated and broke his thumb and popped it in himself and finished the game. Once I called in sick with a case of the hiccups.”
RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “An eagle in Montreal reportedly grabbed a toddler off the street only to unexpectedly drop its catch a few feet later. It was probably a Philadelphia Eagle.”
From news.com.au (Australia): “X-rated horse names just being mispronounced, Racing Australia says. Hoof Hearted unavailable for comment.”
Headline at TheOnion.com: “Report: 750,000 Americans die each year during first attempt to get back in shape.”
Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “Lions DB Mike Ford got penalized for taunting after teammate Jamal Agnew’s 74yard punt return cut the Buccaneers’ lead to 40-7. They had to rule it taunting, because there’s no such thing as 15 yards for stupidity.”
• @Tierno158, via Twitter: “I tossed a Nerf football around with the neighbour kid yesterday and inadvertently won the NFC East.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
Alberta RCMP urge rural residents to use online crime reporting
RCMP launched the online crime reporting platform in May 2020. Since then (May 31 – Nov. 30, 2020) there have been over 780 reports submitted through online crime reporting.
We are encouraging all Albertans to report eligible crimes (select property crimes under $5,000)
because reporting less serious crime online helps emergency call takers and frontline members focus their time on high-priority calls. It is also a very convenient way to add your report and even include photos of your stolen or lost property.
More reports have been made in urban ar-
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eas than rural, and we’re urging rural residents to consider making online reports when possible. These reports assist us in crime analysis, aids us in establishing trends and patterns, and ultimately leads our investigators to the chronic offenders. It also assists us in making decisions about how and where to deploy resources.
Crimes reported online will be taken just as seriously as crime reported in any other way.
The Police Reporting and Occurrence System (PROS) Data Centre processes all online crime reports. The PROS Data Centre is a centralized data centre team that handles records management and routine data entry to allow frontline officers to focus on policing our communities, not doing administrative work. From Dec. 1, 2019 – Nov. 30, 2020 the PROS Data Centre handled over 58,500 requests which saved officers, approximately, over 20,000 hours of time in front of a computer. Of those requests, over 780 came from online
crime reporting.
After the PROS Data Centre processes the reports, they are sent to the Call Back Unit (CBU). The CBU is a specialized team of RCMP members designed to handle non-emergency calls for service in an effort to create efficiencies in our service. From Dec. 1, 2019 – Nov. 30, 2020 the CBU diverted and answered over 8,300 calls for service which is equivalent to approximately 22,300 hours of service or 18.5 General Duty Constables’ workloads over the past 12 months.
Our number one priority is the safety and security of the public and of our officers. We are committed to providing the most effective, efficient policing possible and being responsive to the ever-changing policing needs in Alberta. Help us help you. Pick up the phone and report crime and suspicious activity to your local RCMP detachment, or go online to report eligible property crimes at: https://ocre-sielc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/alberta/en
