The CAO also mentioned some good news regarding fire hydrant repairs: it appears the hydrants may not need repair, just some basic maintenance. Macdonald stated she was told the hydrants may only require some gaskets and O-rings and won’t require digging up the pavement.
After looking at the proposed operating budget Coun. Clark German complimented the CAO.
“I think you did an excellent job Elaine,” said German.
He also asked the CAO if she’d had a chance to look into the amount of water Big Valley actually purchased, but Macdonald answered she wasn’t able to do that yet.
German noted he felt the village should be as prepared as possible for water purchases because an unexpected and non-budgeted purchase could have a big financial effect on the village.
Horns up for Classic Matchup
BY IAN WILSON
It was a big-league baseball experience that truly was a classic.
The Rural Roots Baseball Classic - an event staged by the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) and the community of Oyen on Sunday, June 8th - brought high-end summer collegiate baseball to Doug Lehman Field while honouring the Oyen Pronghorns.
Councillors discussed the municipal assessor, with Macdonald stating she was very happy with Big Valley’s assessor. The CAO stated the village’s assessor knows the job very well and meets all the requirements of the Municipal Government Act (MGA).
Mayor Dan Houle responded that in his opinion assessments in Big Valley may be a bit too low.
The Pronghorns, who operated in Oyen from 1993 through 1997, were the first Alberta team to win a championship in the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League (SMBL), which later evolved into the WCBL. This year marks the 30th anniversary of that title victory.
German added that it does seem that Big Valley has a lot of properties assessed at the minimum value, with the CAO pointing out there are 37 in total.
Councillors unanimously approved the 2023 operating budget.
Several alumni from that team returned to Oyen for a reunion, which included a Saturday golf tournament and a ceremony before Sunday’s game between the Lethbridge Bulls and Sylvan Lake Gulls.
During discussion Coun. Amber Hoogenberg asked why numbers show the village’s water usage has dropped year to year.
Macdonald answered the village has had a couple of leaks repaired over the past few years.
Hoogenberg also mused that the water tower has been drained and refilled which may have also played a role.
Oyen Mayor Doug Jones, who was instrumental in establishing both the Pronghorns and the Bulls, was also honoured during the pre-game festivities. The past president of the WCBL was informed that Alberta RCMP Century Park will now officially be called Doug Jones Park. The site is home to several ball diamonds, including Doug Lehman Field.
“I was surprised – it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Jones.
“It was great and nice to have my whole family here as I wasn’t expecting them all to be here.”
Along with Jones and the Pronghorns alumni, former Deputy Premier Shirley McClellan was recognized for
her efforts in promoting baseball and sport in the region.
The game itself was a high-scoring affair that saw the Bulls jump out to a 10-0 lead after two innings, punctuated by a grand slam from catcher
Drew Bufford. Sylvan Lake responded with four runs in the third inning before both squads put up zeros in the fourth and fifth frames. The bats came alive again in the sixth inning and both
Starting pitcher Max Benton delivers a pitch during play between the Lethbridge Bulls and Sylvan Lake Gulls at Doug Lehman Field in Oyen on June 8. The Prince Edward Island product, who trained at Badlands Baseball Academy, picked up the win after going six innings for the Bulls. PHOTO BY IAN WILSON
Legion poster contest winners Assumption Roman Catholic School
Oyen Royal Canadian Legion Branch 208 2024 Remembrance Day Poster Contest winners from Assumption Roman Catholic School. Vice President Kim
made the presentations. Top Left: Cree Shaddock: First Place,
-
Bottom Left: Polina Matuiichuk: First Place, Junior Poster (Colour). Bottom Right: Lincoln Ruschkowski: Second Place, Junior Poster (B&W)
Warren Peers School
2nd Place Senior Poster (Colour) and her 3rd Place Senior Poster (Colour); Charlee Campbell - 1st Place Senior Poster (Colour); Eva Dyck - 1st Senior Poster (B & W).
The Oyen Royal Canadian Legion Branch 208 2024 Remembrance Day Poster Contest winners from Warren Peers School. Vice President Kim Walker made the presentations Top Row R-L: Sierra Brown - 1st Place Primary Poster (Colour); Trey Jarvis - 3rd Place Primary Poster (Colour); Ember Lindgreen - 1st Place Junior Poster (B&W) as well as District 2nd Place Junior Poster (B&W). Second Row
R-L: Bennett Skappak2nd Place Junior Poster (Colour); William Kuhn2nd Place Junior Poster (B&W); Accepting for Taylor Neilson - 1st Place Intermediate Poster (B&W). Third Row R-L: Accepting for Tristan Neilson - 2nd Place Intermediate Poster (B&W); Ava Kuhn - 1st Place
Intermediate Poster (Colour) as well 2nd Place
Intermediate Poster (Colour) at District; Connor Skappak - 2nd Place
Intermediate Poster (Colour). Bottom Row: L-R: Hudson Campbell - 3rd Place Intermediate Poster (Colour); Skylar Brown - 3rd Place Intermediate Poster (B&W)
The Oyen Royal Canadian Legion Branch 208 2024 Remembrance Day Poster Contest winners from Oyen Public School. Vice President Kim Walker made the presentations. From left: Sadie Ross - 3rd Place, Junior Poster (Colour), Kim Walker Legion Vice President, Dorothy Dick - 3rd Place, Junior Poster (B&W) PHOTO BY DIANA WALKER
The Oyen Royal Canadian Legion Branch 208 2024 Remembrance Day Poster Contest winners from South Central High School. Vice President Kim Walker made the presentations. From left: Kit Klassen - holding Lila Runitska’s
PHOTO BY DIANA WALKER
The
Walker
Primary Poster (B&W); Top right: Blakely Smigelski
Second Place, Primary Poster (B&W);
OPINION:
A look at what’s been happening in Canada
BY JOAN JANZEN
This week’s observations could be compared to the opening lines of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s famous sonnet. A revised version could read, “How do I love thee, fellow Canadians? Let me count the ways.” After all, everything the government does is said to be for our well-being. So, let’s have a look at what’s happening in Canada.
Under the guise of public safety, government documents show the total gun ban and compensation program could cost about $2 billion. A Canadian Taxpayer Federation (CTF) article by Gage Haubrich noted, “That’s too much money to waste on a program that isn’t going to make Canadians safer.”
The new Minister of Public Safety in charge of confiscating firearms, told MP Andrew Lawton that he didn’t know anything about the Canadian Firearms Safety Course or what safety classes and safety demands are required for Canadian gun owners.
Ryan from Northern Perspective reported police unions across the country are sick of the soft-on-crime policy. As an example, he said six of the nine people arrested in the recent seizure of 1000 pounds of drugs were already out on bail because of the failed bail system.
The Prime Minister selected and recommended the new cabinet ministers,
including the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Immigration. When MP Michelle Rempel asked the new Immigration Minister why the government issued over 500,000 student visas this year, she was accused of spreading misinformation. MP Rempel informed her she got the information from the government website.
When asked how many people are in the country with expired visas, the Liberal Immigration Minister wouldn’t reveal a number and said, “We have rules in this country, and we expect people to follow those rules.” They expect the people to leave voluntarily.
Bill C-2, known as the Strong Borders Act, is currently in front of the House of Commons. The latter portion of the 140-page Bill introduces massive surveillance provisions which have nothing to do with border security. In an interview on Northern Perspective, John Carpay, a lawyer with the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom (JCCF), suggested the Bill be called the Strong Surveillance Act.
The proposed law would give police more power to search mail while expanding the authority of Canada Post to open people’s mail and give police and intelligence services enhanced power to access electronic information, in some cases without a warrant.
The Bill would also outlaw cash transactions greater than $10,000 to pre-
vent money laundering, even if it’s broken down into smaller amounts.
John Carpay said, “In this Bill, we see the first steps in criminalizing the use of cash. Once this is in the criminal code, it would be very easy for government to change the limit, and before you know it would be illegal to use $100 in cash. Cash protects our privacy. Cash is one of the pillars of a free society.” He suggested Canadians contact their MP asking them to oppose Bill C-2. “A government that knows everything about you can take everything from you,” he noted.
Ryan, the host of Northern Perspective, summarized Bill C-4, the Tax Reduction Bill. The first parts cover a temporary tax break on new homes and repealing the carbon tax legislation; however the piece on the Elections Canada Act has absolutely nothing to do with the tax bill. Ryan suggested it will remove your rights to your own personal data and remove the government’s ability to call them to account.
Meanwhile, Jay Goldberg from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) spoke on LeDrew’s 3 Minutes. He addressed the government’s claims that they are spending less and investing more. “The government can call anything investing. They split up the budget into an operating budget and a capital budget.”
Nevertheless government spending is increasing. Ryan from Northern Perspective noted the Prime Minister appointed 39 parliamentary secretaries at a price tag of $760,000. He now has more people in Parliament than Trudeau had.
Unfortunately, we’re not done talking about government waste just yet. Journalist Candice Malcolm reported the Liberal government paid $20,000 to a University of Ottawa researcher to survey and compensate pedophiles about their sexual attractions to children, asking them to rank their levels of attraction to different age groups plus more. The participants were offered Amazon gift cards for taking part.
John Carpay reminded Canadians that we don’t automatically inherit our freedoms. “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance,” he advised.
The words of our national anthem become increasingly significant as the years go by. “Oh, Canada, we stand on guard for thee.”
He compared this to Canadians using two credit cards - one for household expenses and another for capital spending like fixing up your home. “You still have to pay both credit cards at the end of the month. It’s the same deal with the government,” he said. “We’re already spending $1 billion a week on debt interest. Debt interest is getting out of control, and pretty soon, it’s going to consume the budget.”
Pop89: Were you there at the time?
BY MADONNA HAMEL
Last week, I attended three graduations. And though I couldn’t be at two of them in person, I did my best to be fully present. The first was a post-graduation ritual devised on the fly. We decided to celebrate my friend’s grad by taking a trip to Shaunavon, planning the day around meals and walks and lots of talk about life changes. And how to be here when they happen!
We talked about the growing pains that come with graduating. And how they can manifest as a subtle but consequential shift in perspective or a swift kick to the proverbial pants of awareness. Caught between ending and new beginning, graduations are vulnerable moments in our lives, some more than others. (Birth and death come to mind.)
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NOTICE OF SHAREHOLDERS MEETING
Acadia Seed Processing Co-op Ltd.
Acadia Seed Processing Co-op Ltd.
PO Box 243 Oyen, AB T0J 2J0
May 12, 2025
Dear Shareholder,
As you are no doubt aware, shareholders voted in 2021 to sell the Acadia Seed Processing Co-op facility to Prairie Wind Milling Ltd. As of 2025, PWM is cleaning seed at the new plant, and Acadia Seed Processing Co-op can move on to the necessary steps for dissolving the cooperative.
According to Acadia Seed Processing’s legal counsel, “the co-operative may be liquidated and dissolved by a special resolution of the members ... the special resolution must be passed by at least 2/3 of the votes cast at the properly-constituted members meeting ... Quorum of the members is constituted by the presence of one tenth of the members eligible to vote on the matter.”
The board has set June 18, 2025 at 2 pm at the Oyen Legion Hall for the meeting date. Members must be present to vote.
Acadia Seed Processing has 177 members, so at least 18 people must be present to achieve quorum. If the special resolution passes, a statement of intent to dissolve will then be sent to the Director of Co-operatives who will issue a certificate of intent to dissolve. Following that, the Co-op can begin distribution of remaining property (in this case, cash) amongst its members.
If you have any questions, feel free to call Board Chair Randy Wiechnik at 403-664-0297.
Sincerely, Andrea Shields Acadia Seed Bookkeeper
In these moments, we are like trapeze artists suspended in mid-air. We have to let go of the receding swing in order to catch the one coming at us. And in order to catch that swing, we must be physically present to the moment, embodying it completely.
If we’re lucky, we have a net beneath us. In the case of college or high school graduation, that means: a place to rest our head until we secure that job we trained for. We also need witnesses to help us over, to catch us if we fall.
I remember studying Greek mythology in university and learning about “the numen” - spirits who help people across major life “bridges.” Bridesmaids are examples of such spirits at work. Their job is to act as decoys to divert the attentions of dangerous spirits ready to attack the vulnerable transitioning bride.
The day after our ritual foray to Shaunavon, I attended Val Marie’s high school graduation. It was a large class this year - four grads in total, which means, easily, four hundred witnesses. It’s a “it takes a village” thing.
The ceremony went on for hours, resembling more of a roast than a ritual, but the videos, painstakingly edited by one of the dads, brought home to me the value of being raised in the country, where embodiment begins early with morning chores, rough-housing, manual labour and animal husbandry. No matter where they end up, these teens have a core connection with the physical world and their own bodily capacity to encounter it, feet first.
The third convocation was the ordination of eleven priests in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, accessible through the Vatican’s YouTube channel. Throughout the highly ritualized and solemn ordination sacrament and ceremony, I sat, transfixed, as the young men lay prostrate on the ground, then rose to receive anointing, then blessing, then the adoption of new robes. Every gesture, witnessed by thousands present and millions over the world, had symbolic meaning. Every prayer and song and pause, a way to help incarnate the moment.
To be a witness is to affirm that it takes a community to raise each one of us, to keep a conversation alive, to enliven a vocation. In fact, without others who needs graduations? We graduate into a calling, and there is no calling that does not, in some way, call us to serve each other. Even the contemplative contemplates and prays on behalf of the rest of us.
Graduation is the arrival at a destination after a journey of work, struggle, discovery, wonder, confusion, etc. Upon arrival, we have hopefully gained
Oyen Lodge Report
BY DIANNE SPATH
Hello, everyone. It has been a little smokey for a few days, and I hope everyone stayed in doors those days. It was nice to have a taste of rain to freshen things up, but it is still very dry. The Oyen Lodge would like to welcome the new secretary, Amanda Dick.
Monday started with exercises followed by a oneon-one scrabble game. In the afternoon there was bingo. A few gift certificates were given from Alberta Clothing at bingo. Alberta Clothing will be at the Lodge on Tuesday June 17th.
Tuesday morning there were exercises and the regular bus run downtown for shopping. Before lunch there was an outdoor walk. In the afternoon there was a pub day, on which snacks and refreshments were served. It was our first event in the gazebo this year.
Wednesday morning there was Church with John, followed by crossword games. We did some walking indoors because it was too smokey to walk outside. In the afternoon there were shuffleboard games.
Thursday morning started with exercises, followed by a one on one with a resident to do some baking. Thursday afternoon, from 1:00-3:00 there was a session with the Alberta Health East Central Health Assessment Project. This session was Alberta Health
some knowledge, skills, and a deeper awareness of self. We can assure the world that we have learned some things- even if it’s: “The more I know, the more I know I don’t know.”
Without the journey, what does one actually celebrate? It is not the diploma itself we celebrate; it’s just a piece of paper. To celebrate the piece of paper itself is the equivalent of celebrating an AI-generated book or piece of art- all product, no process.
I didn’t bother asking my family to come all the way to my university graduation. I was working as a barmaid that day and made a joke of turning my mortar board upside down and using it as my serving tray. “Because that’s what kind of work I’ll get with a specialty in literature of the American South,” I quipped.
I took my last required credit - a Shakespeare tragedy - over the summer. Afterwards, we all went to the pub where, instead of attending the evening grad ceremony, I hung out until closing, egging a fellow classmate from Texas to recite Hamlet - you have not heard Hamlet until you hear it performed with a southern twang.
Later, attending art school, I grew to understand symbols, and I understood my diploma would be more than just a piece of paper, so when it came time to receive my second degree, I made sure to show up for the ceremony. I wore my overalls, with tools in my pockets - ready for action, reporting for duty as a 24/7 artist. My best pal accepted her degree in a wedding dress. Now, that’s a commitment to art!
As a child growing up in the Catholic tradition, we had guardian angels to get us over bridges. We celebrated the transformational sacraments of baptism, communion, and confirmation - the spiritual equivalent of high school graduation. I remember the day I was confirmed, how I marched around feeling like Joan of Arc, waving my invisible sword in the air.
Watching the young seminarians, vulnerable to the new life ahead of them, it hit me: Each graduation I attended was a culmination - the result of time and effort dedicated to an outcome. The degree to which we are able to embrace the new is completely dependent on the degree to which we can release the old. And that’s where ritual and witness help. They keep calling us to show up, to focus our whole being on the task at hand. For some of us, that means stepping out of the mundane and into the sacred. For others, it may nudge us into considering what it is we hold sacred, ourselves.
and CGI conducting a comprehensive Rural Health Assessment across the East Central Region to better understand the healthcare needs, challenges and opportunities in your community. They are focused on gathering community insights to inform future health service planning and investment. This includes evaluating the availability of healthcare providers, the condition of local facilities, and accessibility of services in our rural towns, villages, and hamlets. The session was about listening to people’s experiences with health care and how to improve health care needs. If you are interested in finding out more about the sessions, you can contact Emile at Emile.Jabbour@ cgi.com. Thanks to Emile and Cheryl for coming to the Lodge to listen to everyone’s suggestions. Friday morning started with horse races, followed by walking. At dinnertime the Acadia Valley elementary students came to the Lodge to entertain the residents by playing flutes, singing and dancing. They were very entertaining, and the residents enjoyed them. In the afternoon there was a Father’s Day party at which chocolate cupcakes were served along with pub refreshments. The men were given a pair of socks as a gift. In the evening there was music by Jorgenson’s and Dale Huston. Friday was “National Wear Blue Day” so the residents took part in wearing blue. Hope all the fathers and grandfathers had a great Father’s Day weekend.
Hall of Fame controversy still follows Pete Rose
BY BRUCE PENTON
Pete Rose, a Hall of Famer? Yes or no?
The late Rose, who passed away in September of 2024, is at the heart of one of baseball’s greatest debates: Should he be admitted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y?
BY BRUCE PENTON Sports Columnist
There’s no debate about his credentials, of course. All he did during a 20-year career with Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and Montreal Expos was accumulate more base hits than anyone else in the history of the game. Is Wayne Gretzky Hockey Hall of Fame worthy? Is Michael Jordan a Hall of Famer at the basketball shrine in Springfield, Mass? Would Tom Brady deserve a bust at the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio?
Of course, yes, yes, yes, yes to all of the above. Rose accumulated 4,256 base hits, but he’s still not in the Hall of Fame because he violated one of Major League Baseball’s most sacred rules: He bet on the results of baseball games. No one is sure whether he bet on his own teams to win or lose, but he laid down bets and in the world of baseball, that’s sacrilegious.
To no one’s surprise, Rose was given a lifetime ban in 1989 by then Commissioner Bart Giamatti and declared ‘permanently ineligible’ for the Hall of Fame. But now that he has passed away, things have changed. Today’s commissioner, Rob Manfred, announced in May that Rose and Joe Jackson, banned in the 1920s for conspiring with gamblers to throw the 1919 World Series, would have their names removed
from the ‘permanently ineligible’ list.
So the debate is resurrected. Rose’s on-field credits are sublime. But his name hasn’t been on the Hall of Fame ballot because of the commissioner’s banishment. Now, however, his name can appear on the Veterans Committee ballot. If he were to garner a minimum 75 per cent of votes cast at the next vote, in December, 2027, he would receive a posthumous induction into Cooperstown.
It’s unlikely, however, that he would achieve the 75-per-cent threshold. The Rose subject has polarized the baseball world, with one side saying the on-field performance should be all that matters and the other side saying he disgraced the game and should be permanently banned. He might get more than 50 per cent of the votes cast, but 75 per cent is asking a lot under such controversial circumstances.
While reaction was both positive and negative on the lifting of the Rose ban, the positive side seemed to win the day. A statement by the Reds’ owner Bob Castellini said “on behalf of the Reds and our generations of loyal fans, we are thankful for the decision by Commissioner Manfred and Major League Baseball for the removal of Pete Rose from the permanently ineligible list. Pete is one of the greatest players in baseball history and Reds Country will continue to celebrate him as we always have.”
Will he get the 75 per cent? The answer from here is ‘no,’ and you can bet on it.
• Columnist Norman Chad: “Pete Rose’s lifetime ban has been lifted, raising the question: Does a lifetime ban end when the lifetime does?”
• The late great NBA star Wilt Chamberlain: “They say that nobody’s perfect. Then they say practice makes perfect. I wish they’d make up their minds.”
• U.S. college basketball coach Billy Tubbs: “This year we plan to run and shoot. Next year we plan
to run and score.”
• Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com: “The Colorado Rockies have won three in a row. Let’s really hope this isn’t a sign of the apocalypse.”
• Canadian parody website The Beaverton.com: “‘You should root for the Oilers because they’re Canadian,’ says man who has confused this with the Olympics.”
• Another one from The Beaverton: “Hockey players shake hands, say there are no hard feelings about the permanent brain damage.”
• Norman Chad again: “Skipped NBA Finals tonight because … Mediocre teams from small markets playing; never heard of any of these players; OKC probably sweeps this series; games are never close or exciting.”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “According to a recent survey, men with facial hair are more attractive to women than clean-shaven men. I’m guessing the study wasn’t commissioned during the NHL playoffs.”
• Headline at fark.com: “Dallas Stars throw coach Pete DeBoer off the team bus a week after he threw their goalie under it.”
• One more from fark.com: “‘Okay, but this time we REALLY mean it,’ says Jacobs/Sweeney/Neely as the Bruins hire Marco Sturm, their third coach in three years.”
• Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun: “So explain Madison Square Garden to me: The Knicks fire coach Tom Thibodeau after he takes the team further than it has been in centuries. And at the same time, MSF re-ups Rangers general manager Chris Drury, after New York had one of its most dysfunctional seasons ever. The notion being: Do well and you get fired. Do lousy and you get an extension.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
Recognizing our western and frontier heritage
BY DAMIEN KUREK Battle River-Crowfoot MP
In the last couple of weeks, Ottawa has been busy, not only with a new session, but a new parliament. The Conservative team has welcomed 44 new Members, making our team the largest Official Opposition in Canadian history and are showing a strong start in the House of Commons. And while I am stepping aside temporarily to trigger a by-election, Danielle and I will still work to ensure that rural roots are recognized across Canada.
Last Parliament, I was proud to introduce a Private Member’s Bill, An Act to recognize a national livestock brand as a symbol of Canada and of western and frontier heritage. The Bill has been tabled and will be known this Parliament as Bill C-208. One of my new colleagues and long-time friend, Steven Bonk, the Member of Parliament for Souris—Moose Mountain, Saskatchewan, has agreed to take this on in my stead. There is increasingly a disconnect from our past, and society seems to take our food production, our heritage, and our unity for granted. This has left our agricultural and ranching sectors behind, isolated and less understood. Not only is this harmful to these sectors’ success, but it ignores the importance this heritage played in building communities and their economies. Liberal policies have contributed to this disconnect.
The proposed national livestock brand (pictured here) to be included on Canada’s list of national symbols, which includes the maple leaf, hockey and lacrosse, and the Canadian tartan. Recognizing this brand as a national symbol would be a permanent salute to the role Western and frontier heritage have played in shaping Canada.
As fifth-generation Canadian rancher, this Bill is personal to Steven Bonk and those he represents. In his statement to the House this week, he said, “For those of us who have lived the ranching life, a livestock brand is more than a practical tool; it is a legacy.
It tells a story. It represents families who rose before dawn, worked through storms and endured hardships of the land with quiet determination and unwavering faith…. In doing this, we honour the immense contributions of ranchers, farmers and indigenous peoples, and we affirm the enduring significance of our western and frontier heritage in shaping the Canadian identity. This symbol is a quiet but powerful reminder of who we are: resilient, rooted and proud.”
Canada’s hard-working agriculture and ranching sectors have long been the backbone of our economy. While they are simple images, brands often have a distinct meaning for a family, farm, or community. And ‘brandings’ remain significant social events in rural communities to this day. Ranchers and farmers work
long hours to ensure Canadians, and the entire world, do not go hungry. For generations this sector has re-invested in their communities and provided good, local jobs. These contributions should not and cannot go unnoticed, and like a family brand, a national brand is meant to symbolize legacy, history, and hope of the future.
It’s an honour to advocate for this Bill, which will recognize the work of so many in Battle River—Crowfoot and across Canada. I am grateful to MP Bonk, seconder MP Michael Chong, and the whole Conservative team who will continue the good work and keep advocating for farmers and ranchers. I call on all MPs in Parliament to pass this important Bill, as this symbol will help bring our nation together.
Damien Kurek
Ordinary people can do extraordinary things
BY VAMINI SELVANANDAN
We live in a time of complex and wicked problems: climate change, economic inequality, violent conflict and human rights violation. These problems seem too large to tackle and much too difficult to solve. What can the ordinary person do but despair?
But we don’t have to accept the way things are. We are not too small or insignificant to make change. Cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead declared: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
We all have values about what is important and beliefs about how the world should be. But impact in the real world requires more than good intentions, it requires action. Many of us want to make change, but don’t know how to get started.
The first step is to be able to articulate what it is you most care about. This is usually something that angers or frustrates you or keeps you up at night. Is it the threat of wildfire and the fear you will lose your home? Or are you worried that your children will not be able to afford renting or owning a home when they become adults?
The next step is getting together with other people who share the same concerns to build a team to tackle the issue together. Usually having face-to-face conversations and building relationships is the best way to start. To make real change, you collectively need to define your issue and state it in terms of the change you want to see. For example, do you want your provincial government to double its investments in renewable energy? Do you want your municipality to ensure twenty percent of housing stock in your community is perpetually affordable?
You have to be strategic in how you get your demands met. It is necessary to understand who makes decisions about the issue you have defined. Mapping out the power landscape and building relationships with the people who are decision-makers on your issue is key to having impact. Timing is also important in influencing decision-makers. Politicians tend to be most responsive in the period leading up to the next election and corporation annual general meetings are a good opportunity to hold a company’s board of directors and executives to account.
Democracy means power is distributed among the people and not concentrated in the hands of the few. It means that people have power and responsibility to shape the future. For democracy to work, it cannot be a spectator sport. We cannot simply sit back and watch politicians score points off each other, spurred on by a media that is more interested in sensationalism than substance.
So, if you are worried, frustrated or angry about the way things are in the world, or if you have ever thought that someone should do something about an issue, then, guess what, it is time to break out of your complacency and realize that that someone is you!
Nobody beats Alberta drilling
Alberta is investing more than $20 million to help Alberta’s drilling experts develop new technologies to keep responsibly powering the world.
Alberta is home to the best drilling expertise in the world. Decades of oil and gas development has made the province a proven drilling leader, while Alberta-led advancements in geothermal, lithium and other areas continue growing Alberta’s reputation as a powerhouse in energy innovation.
However, many promising technologies and products have challenges reaching the market due to high costs and limited access to demonstration sites where testing can be done in real-world settings. With the right resources, Alberta’s energy developers can bring drilling technologies to market faster and more affordably.
Alberta’s government is investing more than $20 million in industry-funded TIER dollars to launch the Alberta Drilling Accelerator program and keep pushing Alberta’s drilling expertise to greater heights. Delivered through Emissions Reduction Alberta, this funding will help Alberta companies advance new and emerging technologies, reduce emissions and, ultimately, increase responsible energy production around the world.
“Alberta’s drilling expertise is second to none. The world needs energy and Alberta has the experience, geology, expertise and innovative spirit needed to deliver it. This funding is all about getting the next generation of drilling tech out of the lab and into the field, powering the world and Alberta’s economy at the same time.”
Rebecca
Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas
“Drilling technology is highly relevant to Emissions Reduction Alberta’s mandate, as it offers a potential path-
way to direct emissions reduction in the oil and gas sector while also playing a critical role in commercializing technologies in emerging areas like geothermal and critical minerals extraction. We look forward to sharing the scope of this funding in the fall.”
Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta
This new funding program will help speed up the development of geothermal, helium, critical minerals, carbon capture, utilization and storage, and other technologies and commodities that rely on Alberta’s world-class drilling expertise, further establishing Alberta’s global leadership in providing affordable, reliable, responsibly produced energy.
More details on the program will be announced when it officially launches this fall.
This is phase one of the province’s Alberta Drilling Accelerator. Future phases and initiatives will be developed as government continues accelerating new technologies that rely on Alberta’s world-class drilling expertise.
Quick facts
• The Alberta Drilling Accelerator program will launch in fall 2025, with planning and engagement taking place this summer.
• Funding for the program comes from the industry-funded Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund.
• Demand for new and more efficient technologies is rising globally, and Alberta is well-positioned to capitalize. For example, cumulative geothermal investment is poised to reach $1 trillion by 2050, while investment for oil and gas, carbon capture and storage and other sectors continues to grow.
Canada top energy supplier for
G7: Smith
Premier Danielle Smith issued the following statement in response to the new Ipsos poll’s findings:
“The recent Ipsos poll of G7 countries ranks Canada as the top preferred oil supplier among our G7 allies and the world. Canada has risen in the ranks to the top spot over the past two years since the poll was last conducted.
“As Canada’s energy province, these results speak to Alberta’s growing reputation and profile as a secure, responsible energy producer with the resources and expertise our partners around the world are looking for.
“Alberta’s government has been relentless in our efforts to promote how our province can provide reliable and sustainably produced energy to our G7 partners and beyond – and I am thrilled to see this message is being heard. Alberta’s strong environmental record and human rights standards contribute to our global reputation as a supplier of choice, and we stand at the ready to meet the world’s growing demand.
“The vote of confidence from our G7 allies also speaks to the incredible scale of the opportunity in front of us. Now is the time for us to work togeth-
er to unleash the full potential of Alberta’s energy sector and create jobs and prosperity for generations of people in Alberta and Canada. The federal government should act now to remove production caps and join us in supporting an oil pipeline to the west coast, increasing access to tidewater and ensuring we can continue to provide Alberta-made energy for our valued partners around the world.
“As we welcome world leaders to Alberta for the G7 Leaders’ Summit, we will showcase exactly why Alberta is the answer to achieving global energy security.”
Vamini Selvanandan is a rural family physician and public health practitioner in Alberta.
Players and coaches from both the Sylvan Lake Gulls and Lethbridge Bulls turned to the crowd at Doug Lehman Field after the game on Sunday, June 8th. They tipped their caps to those in attendance to say thanks for coming to the WCBL game.
Oyen Mayor Doug Jones was honoured before the June 8th Rural Roots Baseball Classic game between the Lethbridge Bulls and Sylvan Lake Gulls on Sunday, June 8th at Doug Lehman Field. Event organizers surprised Jones by revealing that Alberta RCMP Century Park would undergo a name change and now be called «Doug Jones Park» to acknowledge his efforts in promoting baseball in the region and the province.
...Baseball Classic
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
teams traded runs until the final score ended in a 19-11 victory for Lethbridge.
Top hitters on the Bulls included Bufford and left fielder Brennan McTavish, who had two hits, two runs and five runs batted in (RBI). Lethbridge right fielder Lee Matsuzaki also collected three hits, one run and a pair of RBI.
Among the noticeable Gulls batters were outfielder Simon Baker, with a homer and five RBI, and catcher Cam Macleod, who hit a double and scored three runs. Outfielder Ayden Makarus connected on a solo homer in the sixth inning.
On the bump, righthander Max Benton went six innings for the Bulls and allowed five runs, four of them earned. The Prince Edward Island product, who studied at Badlands Baseball Academy, threw 50 of his 68 pitches for strikes and finished with five strikeouts and the win.
“It’s great to have that opportunity to come back here. I definitely credit Oyen and the community here for being a big part of me growing up as a person and just getting ready for the next step,” said Benton, who also helped out as an instructor at a kids baseball camp at the academy on Saturday.
“It’s always fun to come back.”
Edmonton’s Hunter Jones was tagged with the loss after giving up eight runs, four earned, in just 1.1 in-
Children from the Oyen area received instruction from several Lethbridge Bulls players at a kids summer baseball camp at Badlands Baseball Academy. Teachers from the Bulls in the back row (left to right) include Noah McNeil, Max Benton and Shaye McTavish.
nings for the Gulls. Lefty Nick Veselinovic did a solid job in relief for Sylvan Lake. The Ontario native registered seven strikeouts and allowed no earned runs over 3.2 innings.
As much as the crowd of more than 550 fans appreciated the WCBL players, the Oyen faithful were also excited about recognizing the Pronghorns team that helped the community make a name for itself in baseball.
Their SMBL title helped set the league on a course to what would later become the 12-team Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL), which took baseball to new levels in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. On the field the squad was formidable. In 1995, they had an overall record of 29-7 and in the SMBL that year the Pronghorns were 18-6.
After they departed the league, Jones helped set up the Bulls in Lethbridge. The SMBL soon became the Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) and, in 2018, it was rebranded as the Western Canadian Baseball League, to reflect its national identity. The WCBL now has seven Alberta-based teams, including the Bulls, Gulls, Medicine Hat Mavericks, Brooks Bombers, Okotoks Dawgs, Fort McMurray Giants and the newly minted Energy City Cracker Cats.
The ‘95 Pronghorns team also produced its own share of trailblazers and vital builders of the game beyond Jones.
Oil Battery gets hit by lightning near Provost
PROVOST - On June 13, 2025, at 8:50 p.m., Provost RCMP received a report of a fire at an oil site located south of Highway 13 on Range Road 22. Fortunately, no injuries were reported due to the fire, which the Provost Fire Department was able to contain. Both the Provost Fire Department and the RCMP were on the
scene, and Highway 13 was closed between Range Road 23 and Range Road 21 until approximately 10:30 p.m. Initial reports indicated that no chemicals or harmful agents were burning at the site. However, as a precaution, the public was advised to avoid the area, minimizing exposure to the smoke.
Ten alumni of the Oyen Pronghorns teams, which competed in the Saskatchewan Major Baseball League (SMBL) from 1993 to 1997, showed up for a reunion at the Rural Roots Baseball Classic. They were honoured before the game between the Lethbridge Bulls and Sylvan Lake Gulls on Sunday, June 8th. From left: Aaron Anderson, Mick McClellan, Josh Nowlin, Brad Molchak, Darran Jones, Barry Logan, Graham Schetzle, Aquil Samuel, Todd Hubka and Ched Simmons.
A crowd of over 550 baseball fans - many of them wearing Oyen Pronghorns hats and jerseys - showed up at Doug Lehman Field in Oyen on Sunday, June 8th for an afternoon matchup between
Todd Hubka went on to be the long-time head coach of the Prairie Baseball Academy (PBA), a program that feeds several players to the Bulls each season.
Graham Schetzsle, a first baseman on the Pronghorns, is the co-founder and chief executive officer of the Sylvan Lake Gulls alongside his wife, Jen Schetzsle. The president of the Gulls, Aqil Samuel, was a firstyear player with the Pronghorns.
“It’s pure excitement and just enthusiasm to have this event here,” said Schetzsle during an interview during the game broadcast.
“You tap into the memories from thirty years ago. It brings it all back ... to see the modern-day product that we have to offer in our league today on this field, it’s really cool.”
WCBL President Kevin Kvame was also excited about the neutral site regular-season contest, a first for the league.
“It’s great to play a game here in small-town Alberta and showcase the roots of the league,” said Kvame.
“It’s a great event for the fans that have come out.” Jones expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host the Rural Roots Baseball Classic.
“I’d like to thank the Western Canadian Baseball League governors for choosing us to be the first outof-market game here. We hope to continue to see that grow throughout the province and to other places,” said Jones.
PHOTOS BY IAN WILSON
BORDER KENNELS
EMAIL: moozer@netago.ca
Measles is spreading in southern Alberta: Here’s how to stay safe
BY AMANDA POLL
• Cough, red eyes, and/or runny nose; and
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• A rash that appears three to seven days after fever starts, usually beginning behinds the ears and on the face and spreading down the body. The rash is red and blotchy on lighter skin. On darker skin colours, it can appear purple or darker than the skin around it, or it might be hard to see.
Call the Measles Hotline
craig.paetz@investorsgroup.com (403) 664-8311 STEVEN PAETZ CFP, B.Mgt. Associate Consultant steven.paetz@investorsgroup.com (403) 664-9494 A
STEVEN PAETZ CFP, B.MGT. Associate Consultant steven.paetz@igpwm.ca 403-664-9494
Right now, measles cases are rising across southern Alberta. Alberta Health Services (AHS) has advised people in the South Zone of a widespread potential exposure risk across all communities in the zone and issued a standing measles exposure advisory for the entire zone including Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, and surrounding communities. Some people are getting sick without knowing how they got it. That means the virus may be moving around in schools, workplaces and other public places.
Complications of measles can include ear infections, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, premature delivery, and rarely death. Young children, pregnant people, and those with weak immune systems are most at risk.
Protect Yourself and Your Family
The best way to stay safe is to get your measles vaccine. It’s free in Alberta and is highly effective at preventing infection and complications. The recommended schedule for measles immunization is two doses, the first at one year of age and the second at 18 months.
Check your child’s immunization record to make sure they are protected. If your baby is at least 6 months old and you’re travelling or live in a high-risk area, such as the South Zone, they are currently eligible to get an early dose of vaccine. They will still need their two regular doses later.
If you were born in or after 1970 and haven’t had two doses of the measles vaccine, you may still be at risk. Talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated. If you were born before 1970 and have not been immunized, ask your healthcare provider if you should get a single dose of the measles vaccine.
Watch for Symptoms
Measles symptoms usually start seven to 21 days after someone is infected. They include: • Fever over 38.3°C; and
If symptoms of measles do develop, individuals are advised to stay home and call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 before visiting any healthcare facility or provider, including a family physician clinic or pharmacy.
Call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 to:
• Check your vaccine records
• Book a vaccine appointment
• Get advice if you’re feeling sick
• Learn what to do after being exposed
You can also visit ahs.ca/measles or text “Measles” to 88111 to get updates on your phone.
Think You’ve Been Exposed?
If you’ve been near someone with measles and haven’t been vaccinated, you may still be able to protect yourself. Call the measles hotline at 1-844-944-3434 to see if you’re eligible to receive vaccine within 72 hours (three days) of being exposed.
Some people, like babies under 12 months old, those with weak immune systems, and pregnant people, may be able to get a special medicine called immunoglobulin within six days to help prevent illness.
Let’s Work Together
Getting vaccinated helps protect you, your family and your community. Let’s stop the spread of measles together.
Promotion Facilitator with Alberta Health Services Population Health Promotion program.
RCMP’s Musical Ride saddles up to tour across Alberta this summer
The RCMP’s Musical Ride, an iconic Canadian spectacle recognized at home and abroad, and a symbol of tradition, honour, and pride, will be trotting across Alberta this summer. Spectators can expect to be wowed as the Musical Ride troop, made up of up to 32 RCMP officers and their horses, perform intricate formations and drills set to music at shows in a community near you!
With twenty stops across Alberta, including Calgary, Edmonton, Pincher Creek, Red Deer, St. Paul, Cold Lake, Lloydminster, Strathmore, Medicine Hat, Rocky View County, Camrose, Athabasca, Wabasca, High Level, La Crête, Fairview, Donnelly, Whitecourt, and Mayerthorpe, there will be plenty of opportunity for community members to see the spectacle up close.
Fatality on Highway 12
CASTOR - A man from Red Deer is dead after the vehicle he was driving crashed with a truck northwest of the town of Castor.
RCMP said in a media release Wednesday evening that early findings by investigators suggest a truck heading eastbound on Highway 12 immediately northwest of Castor went into oncoming traffic and collided with a sport utility vehicle (SUV).
The 79-year-old man driving the SUV died at the scene, say police, while his female passenger and the man driving the truck were taken by STARS air ambulance to hospital with serious injuries.
The highway, which was closed in both directions early Wednesday afternoon between Castor and Township Road 380, reopened in the evening.
Your Alberta RCMP Indigenous Policing Services and recruiters will also be at many of the Musical Ride events this summer, connecting with the communities and people we serve.
The RCMP’s Musical Ride performances help raise thousands of dollars for local charities and non-profit groups. For more information on the upcoming Musical Ride tour of Alberta, follow our Facebook @RCMPinAlberta and X @RCMPAlberta.
So, giddy up an get your tickets for what is sure to be a great time for all ages. The Musical Ride full tour schedule, and links to venues for tickets sales, can be found here: https://rcmp.ca/en/corporate-information/musical-ride/musical-ride-tour-schedule.
Highway 12 and Township Road 380 was closed Wednesday afternoon due to a serious collision.
(GOOGLE STREET VIEW)
Amanda Poll is a Health
Oyen and District Seniors Report
BY BETH SYMES
Eighteen people gathered on June 6 at the Seniors Recreation Centre for the last Pot Luck and meeting prior to the fall. Lynda had barbequed hamburgers and brought all the fixings to which the rest of the members added a variety of salads, vegetables and desserts to create a delicious meal. Our back ground entertainment during our meal was the first period of the first game of the Stanley Cup final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers showing on the big TV screen. Following the meal sixteen members were present for the meeting. Lynda called the meeting to order at 7:05 and we proceeded to have the minutes from the May meeting and the financial reports for May presented to bring the mem-
bership up to date.
Following that a number of items of business were discussed. Bev Hegg reported that the casino, which the Seniors Group had hosted in Red Deer in May, had gone well. She thanked the volunteers who had worked the casino and noted the income from the casino would probably not be delivered until fall.
Further updates were given about other activities in May. Kyna reported that her work on the Memorial Book is progressing. Lynda reported that the money from the New Horizons Grant was spent by the end of March as required. This was money which was spent on the beautification of the exterior and interior of the Seniors Recreation Centre. The final report about the use of the grant had been submitted. A good portion of the grant had been spent on
Classifieds
COMING EVENTS
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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the beautification of the area south of the Recreation Centre. Landscaping had been done earlier in the year. Then on May 15th a group of seniors gathered to plant grasses, scrubs in the gravel base and flowers in planters.
The Fun Night on May 30 was attended by eight people. The next Fun Night will be held in the fall.( An announcement about a Fun Night on June 27 was placed in the Oyen Echo in Error. Please disregard.)
The next Oyen and Pot Luck and District Seniors Meeting will be held on September 3. We welcome new members to join with us then. Our Annual meeting will be on October 8.
Lynda adjourned the meeting at 7:35 so that the hockey fans in our group would be able to give their full attention to the hockey game.
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.
LANDSCAPING & GARDENING
GET YOUR MESSAGE
CLASSIFIED AD RATES (20 words or less). $10.00 plus GST. Additional words are 20¢ each. Deadline is Friday noon. 306-463-2211
SEEN ACROSS Alberta. The Blanket Classifieds or Value Ads reach over 500,000 Alberta readers weekly. Three options starting at $269, $299 or $599 to get your message out! KEEP people in the loop with over 75 Weekly Community Newspapers. Call THIS NEWSPAPER now or email classifieds@awna.com for details. 1-800-282-6903, 780-434-8746 www.awna. com.
SERVICES
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If you have a claim against this Estate, you must file your claim by July 25, 2025, with Carl Barrell at 41 Arbour Butte Rd NW, Calgary, AB T3G 4L7.
If you do not file by the date above, the estate property can lawfully be distributed without regard to any claim you may have.
IN THE ESTATE OF VALERIE FRANCES BARRELL, LATE OF THE TOWN OF OYEN, IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA, WHO DIED ON THE 10 DAY OF JANUARY, A.D., 2025.
Dwight was born and raised in Oyen Alberta to Frank and Bertha Hauck. He loved his farming life. Probably more than most. As a young man he struggled to get his own land and cattle.
Dwight Hauck
Sept. 10, 1946 - June 8, 2025
Dwight spent his time playing hockey and ball. Spending much of his free time coaching hockey for about 13 years. He followed the same team until they graduated and went off to bigger things. His other love was his hunting.
Left to cherish Dwight’s memory are is wife Imogene, children Frank Hauck and Bertha (Trevor) Webb, grandchildren; Damon (Angie) Webb, Mitchel (Chenaara) Webb, Darrien Webb, Jack (Steph-
anie) Hauck, Michael (Lyndsay) Hauck, Nirvana Ross and Avalon Hauck (Randy). Great-Grandchildren Zachary Webb, Cecelia Webb, Gabriel Webb, Isabel Hauck, Aubree Hauck, Nowell Hauck, Emmett Hauck, Eli Hauck, Bennett Hauck, Chloe Ross and Winry Webb.
Dwight is predeceased by his parents Frank and Bertha Hauck and great grandson Maes Webb.
Memorial Donations to be directed to The Oyen and District Health Care Foundation Box 1 Oyen AB T0J 2J0 or to the Oyen United Church PO Box 392 Oyen, AB T0J 2J0.
The family gathered privately on Saturday June 14th, 2025 for a private service and internment.
To leave a condolence message, please visit ofsmacleans.com
Funeral arrangements in the care of MacLean’s Funeral Home in Oyen AB.
Town of Oyen Library: Booknotes
BY DAYNA WILSON Library Manager
ADULT FICTION:
Speak to Me of Home / by: Jeanine Cummins
A Crop Farmer’s Daughter : Based on a true story / by: Ioni Goldstein
On Isabella Street / by: Genevieve Graham
We Live Here Now / by: Sara Pinborough
NON FICTION:
Submersed : Wonder, Obsession and Murder in the world of Submarines / by: Matthew Gavin Frank Disasters : Seriously deadly facts about natural disasters / by: multiple authors
The 10 : A memoir of family and the open road / by: E.A. Hanks
How things are Made : a journey through the world of manufacturing / by: Tim Minshall Self Heal by Design : the role of micro-organisms / by: Barbara O’Neill (Naturopath)
My Next Breath : a Memoir / by: Jeremy Renner Free Ride : A 20,000 mile motorcycle journey that changed my life / by: Noraly Schoenmaker
Open When : a companion for life’s twists and turns / by: Julie Smith (Psychologist)
“Show
me a family of readers, and I will show you the people who move the world.”
Napoléon Bonaparte
PERIODICALS:
Focus on The Family Magazine
People Magazine
The Hockey News Magazine
Woman’s Day Magazine
SERVICE OPTIONS:
The library is currently open as usual, but we have added a curbside service option as well. If you prefer to pick up materials this way, please call ahead or email to let us know which day to put them out.
*If you are unable to come out to the library due to physical conditions we can do deliveries within the town limits. Please just give us a call at the number listed below.
Library Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 12-5; Tuesdays 2-7 403-664-3644 ext. 2 aoymlibrary@oyenlibrary. ca www.oyenlibrary.ca www.facebook.com/ OyenLibrary
Acadia Municipal Library
BY TRICIA FISCHBUCH Library Manager
We have new books on the adult fiction and non-fiction shelves. Check out My Friends by Fredrik Backman and The Crash by Freida McFadden in the fiction section. In non-fiction, choose The Science of Trust: Emotional Attunement for Couples by John M. Gottman or Sea of Grass: The Conquest, Ruin, & Redemption of Nature on the American Prairie by Dave Hage
& Josephine Marcoti.
Join us for the first summer movie of the season on Tuesday July 8th at 2PM. Kids are invited to watch Paddington in Peru. Free popcorn is provided and parents are always welcome. Elsie will be running a kids reading program this summer. Stay tuned for further details and dates!
The library will also be tentatively closed for two weeks during the summer for regular maintenance. Exact dates will be posted once confirmed.
To place an obituary
Send a photo and text to 306-463-2211 or email Kate at kate@yourwestcentral.com or contact your funeral home to send it on your behalf.
L.R. Webb
Chartered Professional Accountant will be in Oyen at the Oyen Liquor Mart By Appointment ONLY
Please call 403-854-4045 to book your appointment.
Forever In Our Hearts
Eric Chrysler August 18, 1942 - February 4, 2025
It was with sadness we announced Eric’s passing in February of this year. A memorial service was held at Choice Memorial, Calgary on February 16. Now, we invite you to join us for his burial service at the Oyen Cemetery at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 where Eric’s ashes will be laid beside his first wife, Shirley (Helm) Chrysler.
CHEERS TO 10 YEARS! Big Country Thrift Store celebrated 10 years in Oyen on June 10th, 2025. The volunteers served a total of 103 burgers, chips, drinks & cheesecake. The door prize donated by “Straight Up” Jason Kowal was won by Muriel Martin.Thank you to all the volunteers, for the amazing time spent helping us put on this lunch for the Community. Items/supplies left over from today's lunch was donated to the Oyen Lions Club for the Canada Day BBQ
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We try our best to keep events up-to-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
TUESDAY, JUNE 17
• Cereal Sports Grounds Clean-up starting at 5:00 PM.
FRIDAY, JUNE 20
• Cereal Sports Grounds Clean-up starting at 5:00 PM.
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
SUNDAY, JUNE 22
• Empress & District Historical Society presentation by Dale FisherArchaeologist and Stone Tool Replicator “Flintknapping.” 2:00 PM at the Empress Train Station.
- Empress & District Fine Arts, Culture and Leisure Society Craft Monday 1:00 PM at Empress Commu-
nity Hall Craft Room. Everyone is welcome and coffee is always on!
- 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.
OYEN
TUESDAY, JULY 1
• Canada Day BBQ at the Crossroads Museum sponsored by Oyen Lions Club. The works $10 (burger or hotdog, drink and chips); burger $6; hotdog $5; pop/water $2; juice box $1; chips $1; corn dog $5. Part-
nered with FCSS. Free tattoos for kids, games, popcorn $2. Come join in the celebration and fun.
JULY 10, 11 & 12
• The Big Country Ag Society presents the 4th Annual Oyen Indoor Rodeo.
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 403-6642462 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.
Volunteers Cynti Kolkman, Heather Norris, Vicki Smale set out the lunch while guest Ellen Foot looks on.
