After looking at the proposed operating budget Coun. Clark German complimented the CAO.
“I think you did an excellent job Elaine,” said German.
He
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A tax refund is just a missed opportunity A large refund means you’ve been overpaying your taxes throughout the year.
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A large refund means you’ve been overpaying your taxes
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Boyd English, a former Kindersley resident, has an interesting story to share. The 76-year-old is the first person in Western Canada to receive bacteriophage treatment, which rescued him from a life of chronic pain and immobility. What is truly amazing is that this treatment was discovered during WWI, before antibiotics were invented.
After spending the first thirteen years of his life in Marengo, Boyd moved to Kindersley with his parents, Howard and Beryl English, where his dad worked in the post office and his mom was a teacher.
“I started on the rigs when I was 17, and it didn’t take me long to get to Alberta,” he recalled.
It all began in 1973 when Boyd broke his hip and later received a hip replacement. In 2013, he underwent another surgery after sustaining an injury. He began experiencing chronic pain when infection spread through the hardware of his hip replacement, with bacteria on the metal forming a slime that antibiotics couldn’t touch.
“By 2013, I was in pretty much pain,” he said. “I actually farmed for a few years in Alsask; my farm auction sale was in 2014. My family doctor in Oyen tried a lot and finally sent me off to Edmonton.”
It wasn’t long before Boyd moved to Calgary, where he met Dr. Vaughn. During the next ten years, Dr. Vaughn performed more than a dozen surgeries to remove the infected flesh, and then prescribed oral antibiotics and therapy. However, the relief was only temporary.
“I’ve probably had 25 operations on my hip,” he explained. “I’ve had two or three revisions.”
Boyd’s only other option was to replace the hip with new hardware after removing the metal and infection, but there was a problem. The doctor realized Boyd’s pelvis didn’t have enough bone left to withstand the hip replacement. And if they removed the bone, Boyd would lose the use of his leg.
So when Dr. Vaughn told Boyd about bacteriophage treatment, he was happy to give it a try. The pain had made him both desperate and hopeless.
“He asked if I would be interested in trying it two years ago in November. I was getting pretty wore out by that time,” Boyd said. However, the process of gaining approval from Health Canada to give him the treatment took two years.
How did Boyd manage to survive the two-year waiting period? “I took physio,” he responded. “I’ve had a physiotherapist and he’s had lots to do with how I survived.”
According to a media release by Alberta Health Services, bacteriophages infect the bacteria, replicate until the bacteria bursts while leaving other cells unharmed. The treatment uses a virus to destroy the antibiotic-resistant hip infection Boyd had been suffering from.
Boyd English is back riding his Harley after a treatment that was invented during WWI eliminated his infection that antibiotics couldn’t touch. It transformed his life from constant chronic pain to mobility with little pain. SUBMITTED
go, like I did. When they found out they were doing it in November, I ate fairly well and exercised as much as I was able to,” he said.
Boyd underwent surgery on November 20, 2024, to introduce the bacteriophages to the infected area and then received intravenous infusions twice daily for two weeks. “I also had a pump which pumped out the infection. It was taking out 4-6 ounces a day,” he explained.
“What used to be an open wound that wouldn’t close is all healed up now, no swelling, no nothing,” he reported. Just two days after the treatment, he said, “It was amazing how good I felt.” And after six months, there’s no sign of infection.
“It’s way beyond amazing!” Boyd said. He’s already put 540 kms on his Harley motorbike, something he couldn’t have dreamed of doing before the treatment. “I never thought I’d see a day like this. Getting up and doing fifteen minutes of exercise with a minimum amount of pain, and walking around without a cane.” And he’s very grateful.
“I think Dr. Vaughn is more and more excited about it now. They’re trying to get this out,” he noted. Following Boyd’s success story, another Alberta patient received the treatment, and more will follow in the next year or two.
This is Boyd’s personal success story, but he’s one of millions of people throughout the world who suffer from antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which has been identified as one of the top global public health threats. Boyd has been doing his part to help out. Over the years, he’s made significant donations to orthopedics and infectious diseases, but he wants to do more.
“It’s about a 66 percent chance to get it on the first
“I’ve been pretty fortunate in the oilfield,” he said. Boyd owns a 2006 Ford GT40 sports car. “Ford made 2100 of them, and I have one that has seven miles on it. It will probably go to auction, and all the money will go to Phage.” He’s also trying to ensure Dr. Vaughn will have the right to use the funds as he sees fit. In the meantime, Boyd is enjoying living in his home east of Airdrie. “I’ve got a 1/4 section. You can take the boy out of the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the boy,” he chuckled. “I’ll see Dr. Vaughn in November of this year. It’ll be my first year of being free of the infection.”
BY JOAN JANZEN
Here’s a trivia question for you: Q: What was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada’s nickname? A: Dief the Chief.
According to author Bob Plamodon, John Diefenbaker was underrated by historians and deserves to be recognized as one of Canada’s greatest leaders. Many Canadians may not even know who he is, which is why Plamodon published a book in 2025 about Diefenbaker’s life entitled Freedom Fighter.
During Plamodon’s interview on Counter Point, he reported critics said Diefenbaker was a paranoid, antiquated madman, but the public loved him. Diefenbaker once said: “I advise all young men and women who enter public life: they’ll find it satisfying, they’ll be condemned, they’ll be ridiculed. But all those who have been great have had that in their day and generation.”
Plamodon said evidence reveals Diefenbaker was often out of step with Canadian elites, but was rarely disconnected from the people. The 13th Prime Minister once said, “They criticize me sometimes for being too much concerned with the average Canadian citizen. I can’t help that; I’m just one of them, and I have no apologies to offer. My thoughts have been with the underprivileged and the afflicted.”
Born in Ontario, he later moved to Saskatoon, where he attended university and became a well-known criminal defence lawyer fighting for the rights of those wrongfully convicted. His decision to enter politics was not surprising, since at the age of eight years, Diefenbaker told his mother that some day he would become the Prime Minister of Canada.
It seemed an unlikely dream since he didn’t have powerful friends to help him achieve this goal. In fact, he tried many times to get elected but failed, but his determination resulted in him holding the office of Prime Minister in 1957, when the Progressive Conservatives won after the Liberals had been in power for 22 years. Diefenbaker remained Prime Minister until 1963 and had many accomplishments during that period.
He appointed the first female cabinet minister, extended the vote to First Nations people, and appointed the first Indigenous Senator. In 1960, he introduced the Canadian Bill of Rights, the first document of its kind in Canada protecting the rights of individuals against discrimination and abuse.
Author Bob Plamodon said, “No one else was talking about a Bill of Rights. He thought we needed a law on the books to guide all future lawmaking to
make sure that they were not discriminatory and everyone had freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom of thought, which he thought could be suppressed.” How incredibly true those words turned out to be in our current times.
In one of his speeches, Diefenbaker said, “There’s a tremendous satisfaction in being able to say I tried, I did what I could in my day and generation. Don’t move backwards. Don’t do that.”
Once again, his cautionary words are accurate as we witness policies being spewed out for political gain, which need to be eliminated when another party takes office. In contrast, the Bill of Rights endures for generations.
“Whatever remains to me of life, almighty God has been bountiful. I will give to the service of my country. I will continue to fight for those things that I have fought for throughout life,” Diefenbaker said in a public address.
He did just that, continuing to serve as a Member of Parliament from Saskatchewan following his years as Prime Minister. He won his last election in 1973, three months before his passing.
I’m old enough to remember school days spent watching boring films produced by the National Film Board of Canada. In one such film, Diefenbaker said, “From the bottom of my heart, I
thank you for the opportunity to serve in my day and in my generation. There is one thing that will bind the hearts of Canadians: that is the love of country.”
Fast forward to 2025, when the Saskatchewan Institute observed: The same politicians who were tearing down statues, cancelling Canada Day celebrations just a few years ago, are suddenly celebrating Canada. We need to respect our history, respect the Constitution as it was intended, and preserve the freedoms that made this country great.
There’s also a need to preserve our history, as is evident by a comment posted after author Bob Plamodon’s interview which said, “I feel bad for having no idea who this man (Diefenbaker) was.”
One of Diefenbaker’s most famous quotes was: “My creed as a Canadian is summed up in these words. I am a Canadian, a free Canadian. Free to speak without fear. Free to worship God in my own way. Free to stand for what I think is right. Free to oppose what I believe is wrong. Free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind. For I am a Canadian.”
It is indeed appropriate that Diefenbaker’s story is being told more than sixty years after he was Prime Minister.
BY MADONNA HAMEL
This year, I decided not to worry about growing vegetables. I accept that my green thumb does not extend beyond flowers and herbs; I have offered weeding services to friends in exchange for the occasional bunch of carrots or head of lettuce.
Flowers are as necessary as potatoes; they are soul food. And I need more floral nourishment as the years progress. I go to a garden centre like I go to church, filling my spirit with the heavenly scents and colours of thousands of plants gathered under one roof. This year, I am particularly enamoured with the centre at The Wholesale Club, due to the unceasing labour of love of the young man in charge. All season he waters, prunes and dead-heads with care. The plants positively sing! I arrive late in the day. Even at the end of the season, the tables are full of petunias, still trumpeting; herbs curl and climb out of their confining little boxes; teeny tiny peppers and tomatoes bead stalks; and exotic semi-succulents burst bold and unfazed by the intense heat.
I greet the young Filipino man who informs me that “everything is 24 cents.” “What? Everything? Everything. Can it be? Pinch me! I must be dreaming!” “No, it’s true,” says an older woman. She waves a bill in the air, explaining that her 93-year-old mom gave it to her for giving her a pedicure. “It’s only ten bucks, but I thought, ok, I’ll go buy a couple of new plants. But I can buy fifty with this!”
A young man with two shopping carts full of plants keeps giggling with glee. “I hardly wait to see my wife’s face when she gets a load of this!” he laughs, waving his hand over the carts. “She’s gonna kill me!” I respond: “Until you tell her the price, right?” And sure enough, when we wheel our treasures inside to
pay, he laughs again, this time at the sight of her holding her hands to her face in shock.
Plant people are like dog people; we don’t need to know each other’s names, we are kin in our kinship with living things. These are life’s big small joys - not the just the bargain, but the glee shared by strangers.
In her book “Braiding Sweetgrass,” Anishinaabe writer and biologist Robin Wall Kimmerer talks about the earth and the natural world being animate beings. She calls this ‘animacy.’ “Plants feed us, shelter us, clothe us, keep us warm,” she says. “Who else can take light, air, and water and give it away for free? They are models of generosity. They are our teachers.” One way she respects ‘animacy’ is by referring to plants, earth, and animals as “kin”, which is a variant on the Anishinaabe word “aki,” meaning earthly being.
One of my favourite saints from childhood is St. Francis. He, too, felt kinship with plants and animals. And planets. He called the sun his brother and the moon his sister. He preached to critters. When I lived with my dad in Kelowna, I loved going to the blessing of the animals mass on St. Francis’ feast day, when Father Pat would bless a rambunctious menagerie of furry and feathered kin, as if they too were his flock.
Sometimes, all it takes to calm a worried brain is to “consider the lilies. They do not toil or spin.”
The new pope has added a new mass to the Catholic missal that “we may learn to live in harmony with all creatures.” The biblical readings include selections from the Gospel of Matthew that recount Jesus “calling people to trust in divine providence through the lilies of the field and the birds of the air.”
“This new mass is a reason for joy,” said Cardinal Czerny, the Canadian cardinal partly in charge of carrying out Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ ecology project, involving a space for education and training in integral ecology at the Castel Gondolfo gardens in Italy, where
the first new mass will be celebrated by the new pope. “It increases our gratitude, strengthens our faith and invites us to respond with care and love in an ever-growing sense of wonder, reverence and responsibility.”
“Wonder, reverence and responsibility.” I would concur that we could all use more of these attributes. And I find they grow in me whenever I enter a garden centre. I’d even dare say that the young man and older woman felt the same way, spurred in part by the example of the young Filipino man. In our present world, where glib and sarcastic so-called “influencers” and “thought leaders” lead with cynicism, irreverence and irresponsibility, child-like enthusiasm is a life-saving balm.
Whenever I look at a pot of flaming zinnias or gerbera, I can’t help but laugh out loud - as if their bold petals reflected a perennial sense of humour. A pot of fuchsias is a mini-universe of multi-skirted dancers, a bleeding heart begs us to slow down and open our own hardened, frightened hearts.
As for reverence, if I read one more book blurb promising a new novel to be a “delightfully irreverent look at modern life,” I’m going to scream. When has irreverence ever served as the best solution to disillusionment? That we don’t ‘revere’ our planet, our neighbours, the fact of our own existence, is not a cause for “delight”. But it does call for a new liturgy of life - able to respond in ways that aren’t dismissive and denigrating.
The glib manner in which we divert the world’s troubles, keeping us stewed in self-absorption, makes me anxious to move past this smart-ass adolescent phase in which humanity loiters and languishes. Maybe we could all get out of ourselves by buying a plant. Water it. Give it sunlight. Behold it. Watch it grow, along with our sense of wonder. Heed the trumpet trill of the wave petunias, and instead of flipping the bird at the world, wave back!
CAMROSE — Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Pierre Poilievre, launched his by-election campaign office opening in Camrose, Alberta.
Pierre has been hitting the doors and touring around to meet with the hardworking people of Battle River-Crowfoot who are opposed to the industrial carbon tax, the Liberal gas powered vehicle ban and who want the government to get out of the way so that East Central Alberta and the rest of Canada can be prosperous and free.
“I want to thank Damien Kurek and the incredible team of volunteers who, from day one, have been on the ground helping me
Standing alongside his wife Anaida Poilievre and former MP Damien Kurek, Pierre Poilievre spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of locals who came out to celebrate the opening of the Pierre Poilievre Campaign Office in Camrose.
spread our message of hope and my mission to make Canada the freest country on earth,” said Poilievre.
“It would be an honour to represent the people of Battle River—Crowfoot on the floor of the House of Commons, fighting for oil and gas, low taxes, free enterprise, a strong defence and respect for the West. The farmers, energy workers and soldiers of Battle River—Crowfoot feed, power and protect Canada. I will work hard and with humility to earn the support of the amazing people in this extraordinary region,” said Poilievre.
BY BRUCE PENTON
Winnipeg now has two golden boys.
The hockey gods may have kicked Winnipeg Jets in the gut with a second-round playoff ouster, but the team was blessed with a nice consolation prize in late June when future Hall of Famer Jonathan Toews announced he would sign a one-year deal with the Jets.
BY BRUCE PENTON Sports Columnist
For Toews, a 12-time 20goal scorer, it’s a true homecoming, for the 37-yearold veteran who played 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, is a Winnipegger by birth. He grew up in the suburb of St. Vital, bypassed the Western Hockey League to play two seasons at the University of North Dakota, and was chosen third overall in the 2006 draft by the Blackhawks.
Three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe trophy and 417 goals (counting playoffs) later, Toews was not only the Blackhawks captain and leader, but a Windy City icon.
Then COVID-19 hit, and it hit Toews harder than most. He missed two full seasons, 2023-24 and ’24-’25 due to his battle with long-COVID, but he never contemplated retirement. When he told the hockey world a few months ago he planned to return to the game, teams lined up to sign the true free agent. The Hawks, in the middle of a youth-oriented rebuild, weren’t among the bidders.
But general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Jets’ brass were indeed interested. They valued his leadership skills, his defensive prowess and still feel he can be a threat to score and set up linemates with his savvy offensive skills. And he came cheap, too, signing a $2 million contract loaded with incentives that could bolster his income by another $5.5 million or so.
“We are excited to add a proven winner like Jonathan Toews to the Winnipeg Jets,” Cheveldayoff told The Athletic. “It will be a unique opportunity for Jonathan to play for his hometown team. His talent, drive, and experience will be a great complement to our club.”
Toews says he still has some “high level hockey left” and issued a release where he conveyed his thrill of coming home.
“I’m grateful to be making my return to the NHL with the Winnipeg Jets,” Toews said. “It’s very special to come home and play in front of my family and friends in Manitoba. The Jets have been on the rise over the last few seasons and I’m eager to join the group and help however I can.”
Toews gives the Jets additional strength down the middle. Mark Scheifele, Toews and Adam Lowry form a talented threesome and the fact that Winnipeg didn’t have to lose a rostered player to add Toews is a bonus.
It’s like an early Christmas gift for the Jets, who would have always been the front-runner for Toews’ services given his love for his hometown. Fifteen teams spoke with Toews’ agent about the veteran centre, according to The Athletic, including Montreal, Toronto and Colorado.
Just one question: Is there room atop the Manitoba Legislative Building beside the Golden Boy for a statue of a St. Vital-born hockey star?
• From Super 70s Sports, on Twitter: “Tom Brady: “Monitored his health with a strict exercise and nutrition plan and advanced medical testing. Ken Stabler: Woke up that morning so figured he was probably OK. Advantage: Stabler.”
• Headline at fark.com: “Chris Simms claims that no NFL franchise thinks Brock Purdy is a Top 10 quarterback. And if anyone would know about quarterbacks being outside the top 10, it’s definitely Chris Simms.”
• Globe and Mail columnist Cathal Kelly, on the lengthy contract awarded defenceman Morgan Rielly “that lasts until he’s about 80: “Toronto should rehire Kyle Dubas so they can fire him again for agreeing to that.”
• Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “Green Bay’s Jordan Love made a horrible first pitch at a Brewers’ game. Must have been a Packers’ receiver behind home plate.”
• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, after a ‘fan’ heckled Arizona’s Ketel Marte about the death of his mother, who died a couple of years ago in a car accident: “If you’re scoring at home, chalk this one up as a strikeout for humanity.”
• Vancouver comedy guy Torben Rolfsen, on bad TV ratings in south Florida during the Stanley Cup final: “Alligator wrestling got more views than the Panthers did!”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “Victoria’s Secret model Emily Ratajkowski once wowed Lakers fans at a game, then had a photo spread in Esquire as Woman of the Year. She went from Staples Center to a stapled centre.”
• A stinky pun from RJ Currie: “Flatulence during a recent World Darts Championship game had competitors reduced to rasps by shouting accusations at each other. Otherwise known as putting the fart before the hoarse.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
• Another one from Rolfsen, after Canada beat Honduras 6-0 in soccer’s Gold Cup: “Six-nothing? Who was in net for Honduras? Carlos Skinner?”
• Former MLB player and broadcaster Joe Garagiola: “I went through baseball as a player to be named later.”
BY KEITH SCHELL
Back in the day, you had to take your amusement where you could find it; not like today, where there are a million funny and amusing videos at your fingertips on your phone or laptop to be viewed at a touch.
Keith Schell
Our late father, along with many other people he worked with at the time, found an amusing distraction from the workaday world one summer that brought a smile to everyone’s faces and was usually good for a chuckle every time anyone who experienced it ever thought about it.
Because of the long-term physical and emotional aggravations of working in a factory, Dad would sometimes come home from his job aching with repetitive stress pain or fuming with workday frustration. A good natured person at heart, he would usually need half an hour or so after getting home to cool down and recover before he returned to his old normal self again.
But one summer, Dad would usually come home with a little smile on his face. Sometimes at dinner, Dad would be thinking about something that happened at work that day and begin to chuckle.
When we finally asked him what was so funny, he told us with a grin:
At our father’s workplace, there was a small row of houses adjacent to the right side of the factory property from the passing street. Each of those residential properties was separated from the plant property by a row of chain-link fence and some company green space. All of those residential backyards faced that side of the plant behind the chain-link fence, and in one of these backyards was a stand for a large birdcage.
And when the birdcage was brought out and placed on the backyard stand that summer, it always contained a couple of old Macaw parrots.
When the weather began to warm up that summer, the owner of the two parrots would often put them in the cage, bring the cage outside in the late morning, and place the cage on the backyard stand so the birds could get a little fresh air.
There was a large tree in that particular backyard that provided shade and overhung onto the factory green space. When lunchtime rolled around, some of the workers, our father included, liked to leave the plant and eat their lunch outside in the green space by the chainlink fence in the shade of that backyard tree, especially if there happened to be a nice breeze blowing that day.
When the weather began to warm up that summer, the owner of the two parrots would often put them in the cage, bring the cage outside in the late morning, and place the cage on the backyard stand so the birds could get a little fresh air.
And one day, while some of the guys were eating their lunch in the shade of the tree by the fence, the two old Macaw parrots in the backyard cage looked at each other and suddenly began swearing like a couple of drunken sailors!
Apparently, it was quite the thing to hear for all those who were present. It was so unexpected and so funny that everyone eating lunch under the tree burst out laughing at the two cantankerous birds who were cussing each other out!
When the workers got back from lunch, word quickly spread amongst the employees about the two potty-mouthed parrots in the backyard of one of the houses adjacent to the right side of the plant.
And the next day at lunch, a couple more guys came out to the tree to sit on the grass, eat, and listen to the parrots swear. And the next day at lunch, a couple more guys came out for the same reason. And so on, and so on.
By the end of the summer, the two old Macaw parrots had built up a considerable noontime fan following of workers who enjoyed eating their lunch while
sitting in the grass under the shade of the tree and listening to the parrots’ X-rated backyard banter.
And when the lunch break was finally up, everyone who enjoyed the little blue show would usually go back to work with a smile on their face.
As fall began, the weather would start to get too cool through the day to put the parrots out for fresh air around noon like always, and to everyone’s disappointment, the shows would finally end for the summer. And the next summer, the parrots were no longer there. To my knowledge, no one ever found out the reason. Perhaps the owners just got tired of their pets putting on a noontime show for the neighbouring workers. Or perhaps the people sold the house and moved, taking their profane pets with them. Or perhaps the two old Macaw parrots were just re-homed or simply passed away. We will never know.
But for a few months that one particular summer, the swearing old neighbourhood parrot duo brought a lot of lunchtime amusement to a group of workers who dearly needed it.
Talk about a couple of dirty birds!
11-12-13
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SUBMITTED BY NICKY BEYNON
Fred Beynon, the Scholarship Committee Chairman of The Oyen Lions’ Club, was very proud to present post-secondary scholarships to two well-deserving students this year. Members of the club wish these two students all the best in their future endeavors.
The first recipient is Cashius Norris, son of Greg and Jerilyn, a local young man who is attending Lakeland College and studying in the Animal Science Livestock Major program.
During his school years at South Central High School, Cash was on the curling team, and played volleyball and badminton. Volunteering with the yearbook committee, as well as with the Big Country Rod and Gun Club, and the Big Country Agricultural Society were important to him.
Ranching is an integral part of Cash’s life, as along with his family, he raises animals and participates in
4-H. He fully intends to pursue a career in ranching as he loves livestock and the great outdoors. Before being full-time on the ranch, he is going to pursue a Masters in Animal Nutrition.
The second scholarship recipient is Pacey Phillips who moved from Kerrobert, SK to become a player for the Badgers Baseball Academy, while attending South Central High School for Grades 10-12. Along with his parents, Bree Phillips and Gary Phillips, he saw the advantages that the academy could offer him to play a higher level of baseball.
He has really enjoyed his time in Oyen, and willingly participated in Halloween for the Hungry, and coached a Little League baseball team in New Brigden. He also managed to play his final year of U18 hockey in his hometown.
Before heading off to Bismarck State College in North Dakota, he played with the Veteran AAA Wranglers, helped coach the Kerrobert U15 provincial base-
July 10-12, 2025
Crossroads Centre - Oyen, AB
THURSDAY, JULY 10th
5:00 PM - KID ZONE
7:00 PM - RODEO 10:00 PM Beer Gardens featuring DJ Philly P
SATURDAY, JULY 12th
KID ZONE ALL DAY!
8:00 AM Rodeo Slack
8:00-10:00 Pancake Breakfast Downtown Lijdsman Insurance Parking Lot
11:00 AM Town Parade
1:00-5:00 Free Swim at the Shirley McClellen Aquatic Centre
1:00 PM Golf Tournament at the Oyen Golf and Country Club
7:00 PM Rodeo Performance
10:00 PM Beer Gardens with Cole Patten and The Blackjackets
Enter the
OYEN RODEO PARADE!
Saturday, July 12th, 2025
Lineup: 10:00 AM (SCHS parking lot) PARADE KICKS OFF 11:00 AM
Prize for Best Float
Sponsored by Special Areas Board
FRIDAY, JULY 11th
5:00 PM - KID ZONE
7:00 PM - RODEO 10:00 PM Beer Gardens featuring DJ Philly P
DAY PASSES
Adult $20 11-17 $10 FAMILY $50 10 & UNDER FREE
ball team, and worked. His plans include completing an Instrumentation course and receiving his ticket. He hopes his future includes living and contributing to a rural community in Alberta or Saskatchewan. The Oyen Lions Club takes applications for two $1000 scholarships every year with the deadline being November 1st. Contact SCHS or Oyen Lions Club for the criteria. The Lions Club is always in need of new members and volunteers. There are opportunities for them to make more money to put back into the community, but more people power is needed. Please reach out to Fred Beynon at 403-664-0883, if you can help out in any way.
3 DAY PASSES
Adult $40 11-17 $20 FAMILY $80 10 & UNDER FREE
WILD PONY RACING ALL THREE NIGHTS! ... TRICK RIDERS ~ FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS
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We are told reduce-reuse-recycle are great ways to help the environment by keeping material out of the landfill. Individuals can reduce and reuse on their own, but the recycling needs individuals and a larger organization.
On April 24, members of the Big Country Regional Recycling Society (BCRRS) met with Director of Operations for the Big Country Waste Management Commission (BCWMC). It may seem like there is little recycling happening in the Special Areas other than paper and cardboard, however, statistics provided by Big Country Waste Management Commission show that there is still a large amount of recyclables being diverted out of the BCWMC landfill south of Youngstown. With all of us working together, we can continue to keep these materials out of the landfill, extending its life for many years.
SUBMITTED
BY
NICKY BEYNON
Oyen Public School was privileged to acquire one of the traditional tipis that were donated to Prairie Rose Public Schools from Saamis Park in Medicine Hat.
On June 18th OPS’s outdoor classroom became a hive of activity as Grade 3-6 students enthusiastically took part in two traditional tipi raisings. We were so lucky that Mr. Cory Schiebelbein from Eagle Butte High School shared his expertise with us about Indigenous ways, and led us through the steps to ensure it was properly erected. The students were amazed at how the initial tripod was made and hoisted, and how sturdy it was. Tying the canvas to one pole and then lifting it proved to be a very efficient way to get the cover into the correct place.
We kept it up for a few days so students could use it for reading and class work.
Do you know why the door of a tipi always faces east? Do you know what the flaps at the top are for, and how they are operated? Ask an OPS student.
The tipi poles are Lodgepole pines. They are used as a 20-25 ft length can be cut without any branch knots, therefore making them very sturdy.
Thank you to Ms. Sharol MacSwain too for providing us with the handout, “Tradition of the Tipi”. Our tipi raisings were an appropriate way to recognize and celebrate National Indigenous History Month.
BY TRICIA FISCHBUCH Library Manager
Three new adult fiction books have arrived this week. Enjoy The Widow’s Husband’s Secret Lie: A Satirical Novella by Freida McFadden, The Final Episode by Lori Roy, and The Sirens by Emilia Hart.
Bring the kids by on Tuesday July 8th for our first movie of the summer. Paddington in Peru starts at 2PM and free snacks are provided. Join us on Thursday July 10th from 2-3PM for the kickoff to the “Summer at the Library” reading program. There will be a dog-themed story, snack, and craft. We ask that children be accompanied by a responsible caregiver. This program is geared to younger kids over 4 but older kids under 12 are definitely welcome to attend as well! The reading contest for ages 4-12 also begins July 10th so make sure to pick up a reading log while you’re
in the library! The online TD Summer Reading Club (www.tdsummerreadingclub.ca) is also running and registration packets are available for pick-up in the library. Remember that the library will be closed for cleaning starting July 22 and will reopen August 5th.
If you need a cool place to chill out on the hot days, feel free to drop in at the library for a bit! Relax with a book on our comfy couches, work on the perpetual puzzle, or take advantage of the free wifi or public computer access.
“Reading is a joy for my kids, and to swing in a hammock on a lazy summer day reading a good book just goes with summer.”
Marcia Gay Harden
BY DIANNE SPATH
Hello, everyone. The weather has been a bit warm lately. I enjoy the warm weather, but it’s just a little too hot for some people. The residents have been enjoying their walks outdoors and sitting in the gazebo on those beautiful sunny days. I hope everyone had a great Canada Day weekend, whether it was camping or just celebrating Canada Day.
Monday morning there was Church with Father Rodell. There were no other activities, Dianne was away.
Tuesday was Canada Day and some of the residents enjoyed the BBQ lunch at the museum. There were no activities on that day as it was a holiday.
Wednesday morning was exercises followed by crossword games and then we enjoyed an outdoor walk. In the afternoon there were shuffleboard games.
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Thursday started with exercises, followed by baking and then some decorating for the stampede theme in the Lodge. A lot of cowboy, western décor has been put up to celebrate stampede and rodeo month. The stampede activities will start on July 7th11th.
Friday started with horse races, # 5 horse Silver, was the top winner that day. In the afternoon there was card bingo.
The Oyen Lodge would like to welcome Barb Stober. “If the Shoe Fits” company will be at the Oyen Lodge on July 16th, from 10:00-2:00 p.m.
Rodeo Quotes: “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway!”-John Wayne
“A good old rodeo never hurt anyone”-Taylor Kitsch
Have A Great Week Everyone. Keep enjoying the summer.
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BY THE SUMMER STAFF
Since the Oyen Museum opened this summer, Jonah, Kaydance, and John have done an incredible job bringing history to life through engaging tours and dedicated care of the exhibits and other tasks at hand, within the days that we expect more people to come visit. Our team and staff have worked hard to welcome visitors, organize events, and ensure a meaningful experience for all who come by.
On Canada Day, the museum came alive with exciting tours, delicious food, and the warm presence of many wonderful people from Oyen and beyond. It was a celebration of community, culture, and connection that truly reflected the spirit of the town.
With many more days in front of us we look forward to what will come knocking upon us next, whether it’s the days of work or the amazing people—Oyen residents or from elsewhere—we are excited to see what awaits us this summer.
We try our best to keep events upto-date, but if you see an error or have a cancellation, please let us know!
ALSASK
- Drop in Pickleball every Tuesday 8:00 PM at the Alsask Rec Centre. All ages are welcome.
CEREAL
SATURDAY, JULY 26
• Cereal Mud Bog. Mud flies at 12:00 noon. Dance to follow.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24
• Cereal Kids Rodeo starting at 9:00 AM. Pre-registration required July 7th thru August 1st.
- Monday Night Bingo (except holidays) at the CJ Peacock Centre. Doors & Concession open at 6:30 PM. Bingo starts at 7:30 PM
- Cereal Cottages Coffee on Tuesdays 10:30
- 11:30 AM
- Quilting Club weekly Wednesdays 10:00 AM
- 4 PM at the CJ Peacock Centre.
- Cereal Playground most Tuesdays 10:00 AM at the CJ Peacock Centre.
EMPRESS
- Empress & District Fine Arts, Culture and Leisure Society Craft Mondays 1:00 PM at Empress Community Hall Craft Room. Everyone is welcome and coffee is always on!
- Empress & District Fine Arts, Culture and Leisure Society Crib Wednesdays 7:00 PM at Empress Community Hall. $5 entry fee. $1 for each hand scoring 19 goes into the loonie pot. All monies will be paid out at end of evening. Great opportunity to see old friends and make some new ones.
- Empress & District Fine Arts, Culture and Leisure Society presents Snarples Thursdays 7:00 PM. No entry fee. Great opportunity to see old friends, make some new ones and learn a new card game. Empress Community Hall (314 Centre St.)
- Game Night Saturdays at 7:00 PM at the Community Hall. Come join us for a night of fun and excitement. Play games and hang
out with friends and family.
JULY 16-19
• Empress Summer Curling Bonspiel. Contact Brad 306-661-0409 to enter of for more info.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16
• Empress & District Historical Society presentation “Wildlife, Landscapes, and Geology” by Dale Leckie Ph.D., P.Geol 4:00 PM at the Empress Train Station.
LEADER
THURSDAY, JULY 17
• Leader & District Arts Council and Town of Leader FREE Community Concert 6:30 PM in the Millennium Gardens (in case of bad weather, it will be at the Leader Community Centre). Featuring Berk Jodoin with Aspen Beveridge and Kurtis Kopp with opening act Owen Nelson. Concession available.
MARENGO
JULY 10, 11, 12
• Sell-It-All at the Hall! Hosted by the Maren-
Submit your Upcoming Event to kate@yourwestcentral.com or text 306-463-2211
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY AT NOON.
Not intended for business use. Community and non-profit events are FREE OF CHARGE. Please try to keep wording to a minimum. We try our best to place as many events as possible, but closer dates will take priority. Please support the businesses that advertise in this newspaper. Without them, this publication would not be possible!
go Community Club (July 10: 1-8 PM, July 11: 1-8 PM, July 12: 10 AM - 5 PM). To book your spot and number of tables for $10 each, call or message Candace at 306-968-2922. Food Bank items or cash donations to hall operations will be accepted and appreciated as admission.
OYEN
JULY 10, 11 & 12
• The Big Country Ag Society presents the 4th Annual Oyen Indoor Rodeo. See advertisement in this paper.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
• Regular Pot Luck and Meeting for Oyen and District Seniors (50+) at Oyen and District Seniors Recreation Centre. Pot Luck at 6:00 PM and Meeting at 7:00 PM. Call Lynda 403-664-0908 or Beth 403-664-2462 for more information.
- Oyen Town Council meet 2nd Tuesday of every month 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. - Community Choir every Wednesday at 7:00 PM in the Evangelical Missionary Church.
