Current Alberta Legislature representative Nate Horner has again won his seat in the Drumheller-Stettler riding.
The United Conservative Party member nabbed 15,274 of 18,054 votes cast in the riding for an overwhelming majority, and the NDP’s Juliet Franklin was the next closest. The UCP’s Danielle Smith remained as Premier of the province.
“I’m excited and relieved at the result. It’s amazing to see a decisive victory and a majority government,” said Horner, who noted the voter share of 52.5 percent was down from 55 percent in 2019.
“Locally right now, it shows alignment with what we’re currently doing for our constituents.”
The Member of Legislative Assembly previously told The Oyen Echo about the accomplishments he’s proud of, including the Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit Program, and the negotiation of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
“Four years sounds like a long time. But when you’re trying to push forward projects and policies, sometimes you need longer. I’m excited to have had the chance to run again and represent the area,” he said.
“There are some really big-ticket items we can see through, and we need
to just continue on and keep pushing.”
It wasn’t all sunshine for the UCPs during the election, with a government that currently holds no seats in major centre Edmonton and opposition candidates who cited Horner’s lack of a listening ear with constituents as an issue.
Before the election, NDP candidate Juliet Franklin highlighted to the Echo that she felt Horner was failing to provide adequate healthcare and wasn’t engaging with the population.
“People can’t afford their bills, put food on the table, and they have trouble getting a doctor. The cost of school supplies is large, and people are frustrated that their representation isn’t listening to their concerns. They send letters to their MLA and never hear back, and they deserve better,” she said.
When questioned about the criticisms of other parties on Horner not fulfilling his promises, he said he’d “like to see specifics.”
“We’ve largely done what we said we’d do. We did 95 percent of a comprehensive campaign platform. We did everything within our power,” he said.
“We took some things to the Supreme Court and failed, like carbon tax. But we initiated big things that couldn’t have been dreamed of prior.”
Horner has two big projects he continues on, including the irrigation project near Acadia Valley and the rail project.
“We have the potential for 108,000 acres of irrigation, and I just want projects like these to hit a decision point, and they can be huge for Albertans,” he said.
His current big issue is improving healthcare and bringing more services to the area.
“We want to continue on this path and make things better for people. Having businesses opening and people coming in droves is important. We love that people want to make Alberta home,” he said.
“We’re coming off two balanced budgets, and we need to continue with fiscal discipline. We cannot have deficits, and if we continue like this, other good things will happen.”
Kindersley concert serves as local showcase
BY JORDAN PARKER Your Southwest Media Group
The Red Lion is set to host a bevy of rock groups Friday, June 9th, for a night of rollicking entertainment.
Perhaps the best part about the line-up is it’s predominantly marked by Kindersley locals. The Radiant, Hollow Oax and Curtwood Bearsman have come together for the show, featuring a night of homegrown talent.
Bearsman will the opener, and the born-andraised Kindersley resident will shift from his day job teaching to being a presence on stage.
“I work full-time as an online tutor, and music has been a love of mine since I was a kid. I learned piano when I was little, and I discovered guitar at six years old,” he said.
“I was in cover rock bands, metal bands, and I eventually evolved into the solo acoustic artist I am today.”
Bearsman has strong ties to the bands involved and is really excited to play the show.
“People in these bands are close to me. I’ve played with them in the
past and grew up with them. They’ve helped me record, and it’s a great group to play a show with together,” he said.
Of the ten musicians from the three bands involved, seven of the people are from Kindersley.
“This is just really a local thing that’s been put together. Evan Knouse (The Radiant’s bass player) put this together. He reached out and wanted me to open, and of course, I wanted to,” he said.
The idea of doing a show at the Red Lion was thrown around for a while, and Bearsman says
it has a special meaning for him.
“As a venue, it has a great stage and dancefloor. It’s nice and open, and it’ll be nice to play downtown in my home community,” he said.
“I have a lot of history and memories there. We all identify with it as a place we’re coming home to. It’s a popular place that provides a sense of community. It’ll feel like a little reunion, and I’ll see lots of people I haven’t seen in a while.”
He says people expecting good, alternative rock won’t be let down by
the setlist coming.
“There will be lots of fun, positive vibes. I’ll open up acoustic first, so if you like that style, you’ll appreciate it. It’s going to be a night of diverse songs.”
Evan Knouse of The Radiant – born in Kindersley, now living in Saskatoon -- is looking forward to the show at Red Lion.
“We’re all originally from the area. It was a no-brainer, and we’ve wanted to do it for a long time. A friend’s dad told me we’d blow the roof off the place. We decided to put it together,” he said.
“I haven’t lived there for 13 years, but friends and family are really excited. The bar staff are excited, and it feels like it’ll be a hit.”
He says the show will be full of plenty of great tunes for folks to enjoy.
“The easy generic thing to say is rock, but psychedelic, alt rock and punk are all involved in that,” he said. “We’re feeling dialed in, and we really can’t wait for this show. It’ll be awesome.”
The show is at the Red Lion on June 9th, 2023. It’ll be $10 at the door. For more information, visit https:// www.facebook.com/
Pop89
Define: Home
BY MADONNA HAMEL Your Southwest Media Group
Throughout history, we have used words against each other, dickering with aplomb to get away with murder. Or we don’t bother to define our terms because “you know what I mean.” But do we? We each see the world through different lenses.
As a writer, it is my job to be clear. And to spot the ways language gets misused, abused, and meanings muddied. Words can get “word-jacked” - a term I made up to mean we can change meanings to fit our agendas. We can mess with words, rob them of their potency and spirit. Imply agreements never intended.
Powerful words - like “divine” - can be tamed by pop culture, robbing us of a sense of awe. Enticing words like “celebrity” can be elevated to heights of
adoration that, when examined closely, stand on flimsy pedestals easily toppled by the winds of trend.
Take the word “cede,” meaning to give over. But in order to cede, one has to own what one is ceding. If you don’t own land, for example, you can’t cede it. It is not yours to cede. So when Indigenous people signed treaties ceding territory to newcomers who lived according to a world-view that defined “progress,” “success,” and “civilization” in terms of ownership, they assumed they were not giving over but “sharing.” They understood they were making an agreement to share land that was under everyone’s stewardship. Through tricks with language, we led them to believe we were all in this new adventure together.
Then there’s that lovely word “home.” For me, it conjures up images of a hearth, a place to lay one’s head. A
OF SASKATCHEWAN
Notice is hereby given under The Tax Enforcement Act that unless the arrears and costs appearing opposite the land and title number described in the following list are paid before the 4th day of August, 2023, an interest based tax lien will be registered against the land.
Note: A sum for costs in an amount required by subsection 4 (3) of The Tax Enforcement Act is included in the amount shown against each parcel.
refuge and a sanctuary with warm blankets and good books for long, cold winters. Some may argue this is not, in fact, my home because it is an apartment and I only rent. I am reminded of how this philosophy was “explained” to the Indigenous of the Territory: you cannot call this home; you do not own it.
Perhaps there is no idea as bewildering the idea of “home”; it conjures up notions of “inside” and “outside,” “us” and “them.” As newcomers, it would have been a good idea to consider what “home” meant to “them” - those whose stories are bound to the land.
Ironically, Christians, who arrived to claim the land as their own, belong to a faith whose leader spoke not only of the land but on the land. His parables involved fields of lilies, meadows of sheep and oceans of fish. And he “owned” none of them. He moved through them. He kept his burden light.
Is it my Catholic cultural heritage, Metis blood, or just the choice to live frugally that has me averting ownership? Oh, wait, of course, it’s because I’m an artist - I can’t afford a house or land!
But, in the past, I could. And chose not to. In Victoria, my boss told me he knew of a piece of land I could easily afford. But I preferred my bachelor in an old boarding house that backed up against Craigdarroch Castle, the music conservatory. In the evening, I could hear the pianos and violins practicing, their notes rising and blending in the warm caragana-scented air.
Tax Enforcement List VILLAGE OF SMILEY
Notice is hereby given under The Tax Enforcement Act that unless the arrears and costs appearing opposite the land and title number described in the following list are paid before the 4th day of August, 2023, an interest based tax lien will be registered against the land.
Note: A sum for costs in an amount required by subsection 4 (3) of The Tax Enforcement Act is included in the amount shown against each parcel.
Then, in Quebec City, where I worked in broadcasting, my landlord offered to sell me the suite I lived in. My upstairs neighbour was Denis, my ex-boyfriend and guitarist in my band. He was also a remarkable chef. Next door to us lived our drummer. We had an agreement that Denis would cook suppers if we supplied the groceries. Every afternoon we would practice, eat a sumptuous meal, then return home to the privacy of our rooms. If I bought my apartment, Denis would have had to move out. I said no thanks.
There are as many ways to live as there are people. We could be less judgemental in a world that is increasingly pushing the less fortunate to the periphery of our towns and communities. And, we need to question why the definition of home should rest in the hands of real estate developers who develop first, and ask questions later.
Here are my questions: Are we afraid to admit, as if it’s some great personal failing, that we haven’t made enough money to become what is presently defined as a “home-owner”? What is enough money? And who decides? What defines home?
I have never wanted to own property. I have made a choice to live simply and not get caught up in a lifestyle that would require me to work harder and harder at jobs that are not vocational. “Vocation” comes from the Latin “vocare”, meaning “to call.” I believe we all have a calling - to use our specific talents and gifts, not to own a luxury condo or impressive monster house that puts us deep in debt and far from those talents. A “vocational,” for me, describes somebody who takes their work to heart, not just to the bank.
In looking at the deeper implication of the word affordable, I realize, it means living within my means, debtfree. I live alone. I scaled down my life to a level where it is possible to write. My “home” may not look like much to others, the couch being a little old and covered in a worn quilt. The bookshelves bowing in the middle. The coffee cups chipped. But not everybody needs new kitchen cabinets or a big-screen tv to feel at home. I am not “housed.” Cold and distancing terms like “low-income housing” do not even begin to explain a simple, soulful home.
I have been informed my home is up for sale. I will have to move again. Until now, I have benefited from the humane practice that asked only that I pay a percentage of my income as rent every year. But now, Saskatchewan, home of universal medical care, has decided the practice is not profitable. But wherever I go, I will make myself at home.
Common sense - a resource found on the prairies
Canadians are known for being polite and apologetic. Which may be why there are t-shirts that say, “I’m sorry if I offended you with my common sense.”
An absence of common sense in government regulations is why more Canadians are expressing themselves on YouTube channels, including Quick Dick McDick from Saskatchewan. This bootson-the-ground farmer had quite a bit to say about the Environment Minister’s latest policy, which he described as absolutely ridiculous. Ottawa’s proposal would require all provinces to phase out coal-generated electricity and replace it with renewables by 2035.
“Zero emissions in a province that averages 80% of its power generation from fossil fuels?”
Quick asked. “Our only other options would be wind, solar, nuclear and hydro.” He noted although we have small
modular reactors and uranium right here in Saskatchewan, it would be ten years before we can even think about the construction of any of these.
He pointed out that our peak grid demand jumps in the middle of winter when we lack wind and solar energy. “Last year, we had several days in a row when we had no output whatsoever from solar, and our wind turbines were actually putting a negative draw on our power grid.”
He described renewables as cool but not reliable. Yet the government is pushing our population off of coal-fired generation, trying to replace it with solar panels whose silicone wafers are almost exclusively manufactured by one of the biggest coal-burning countries on the planet.
During question period on May 17, Steven Guilbeault said violating environmental regulations banning the use of
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coal and gas-fired power after 2035 could result in criminal sanctions. He also said non-compliance would be a violation of Canada’s Criminal Code.
According to the Environmental Protection Act, corporations that violate the terms could face a maximum of $1 million/ day fines, while individuals could face three years imprisonment.
“Can you wrap your head around government saying if you do not purchase an electric vehicle, we’re going to fine you? Once you have that electric vehicle, you must charge it with renewable energy. If you use anything else, you will be considered a criminal in your own country. That’s where we’re at in Canada,” he observed.
And Quick didn’t waste any time sharing his response to the government’s newest policy. “Don’t think for two seconds at -45 degree temperatures in the middle of
January, when renewable energy is working about as hard as a Canadian federal cabinet minister, that I’m going to give a xx!##* about your clean electricity regulations,” was his response. “I’m going to use whatever I’ve got to keep myself warm and alive.”
In response to the policy, Premier Scott Moe said Saskatchewan will use existing assets, including natural gas plants, until end of life, and the federal government’s standards for zero emission electrical generation by 2035 are unrealistic and unaffordable.
Another natural resource that is predominantly found on the prairies is “common sense.” That’s because boots-onthe-ground farmers and resource workers are the ones who are most concerned about the environment since it’s their livelihood.
Quick points out while the federal government is
busy making unrealistic policies, here on the prairies, we’re sequestering carbon, keeping a healthy ecosystem, and sustainably keeping our planet fed.
As for the policy, he said, “I’m not going to comply with any of it. I’m actually done with it. Your climate activism is making life unaffordable for me, my parents, my grandparents, my community members, my fellow Saskatchewanians, my fellow Canadians, all while you openly advocate to have us freeze and starve in the dark.”
But he is willing to do what he’s been doing all along, polluting as little as possible, recycling as much as possible, sourc-
ing his food locally and buying Canadian-made goods as much as possible. That’s how he plans to protect the environment.
He summed it up, saying if we all got together and said - no, that’s not going to work for us. We’re going to use what we have and keep planning towards a better future; they wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.
A step in the right direction would be to have an environment minister who is also a boots-onthe-ground farmer from the prairies because one of the most valuable resources found on the prairies is common sense.
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Food Farm and antique seeding demo
BY JOAN JANZEN Your Southwest Media Group
OUTREACH SERVICES
On Friday, June 2, the Threshing Club conducted their annual seeding demonstration in conjunction with the 2023 Food Farm program for Grade 3 students. This year, 110 students from Kindersley and the surrounding area participated.
We now have established Satellite Offices in two surrounding communities. On Tuesday, there is a counsellor in Kerrobert and on Wednesday, there is a counsellor in Eston.
Janelle Swan from Simplot Grower Solutions said the company is excited to, once again, partner with many local businesses in order to make this project possible. This spring, they partnered with Pattison Agriculture, FCC, and the Kindersley Regional Office of the Ministry of Agriculture.
“The Food Farm program is an initiative originally developed by Agriculture in the Classroom
- Saskatchewan,” she explained. “There are 12 Food Farms happening province-wide this spring.” The Food Farm helps students learn about food production by actively participating in growing the ingredients for their “Burger and Fries” Farm. Grade 3 students plant everything they would need for a burger and fries meal.
Each group of students spent half a day at the museum, working through eight fun stations with hands-on activities. Not only was each station fun, but it was teaching different aspects of agriculture, including crop health, plant parts, and meat production. What an excellent tool to help kids learn about agriculture!
The following September, the
students who are now in Grade 4, return to harvest their crops. This is an opportunity for kids and adults to experience the full cycle of farming and to help understand where their food comes from.
Five of the eleven acres were seeded on June 2, using antique equipment and horse power, meaning plow horses. The horses were supplied by Brent Walker, Gordon Caswell, Barry Benjamin and Lionel Story.
Lionel Story is one of the twenty members of the Threshing Club. During the week, the members were busy getting the equipment ready for the demonstration. Thanks to their diligence, the equipment is in reasonably good shape and doesn’t require a lot of work.
The magestic Clydesdales were in action on June 2 as they put in the oats at the antique seeding demo beside the Kindersley & District Plains Museum. | PHOTO BY KATE WINQUIST
Divisional alignment major obstacle for Jays
BY BRUCE PENTON Sports Columnist
Luck usually plays a major role in sports, but the bad luck Toronto Blue Jays are experiencing this year has little to do with their on-field performance.
While Canada’s only Major League Baseball team hardly reminds anyone of a powerhouse, it’s a decent squad that manager John Schneider trots out every day. Through 54 games on May 28, the Jays were 28-26, with only seven American League teams owning better records.
Aye, but here’s the rub. The bad luck for the Jay is that four of those seven were A.L. East Division rivals, which meant Toronto stood dead last in its division. Dead last.
Luck? Yes, bad luck to be part of such a strong division. Tampa Bay got off to an historic 13-0 start and appears to be running away with the division title; the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles this season are getting rewarded for patience after five or six years of second-division status; the Yankees are always in the mix, because they’ve got unlimited money to buy talent; and Boston Red Sox are rebounding this year after a last-
place finish (78-84) in 2022.
That leaves the Blue Jays in the cellar. Their 28-26 record at precisely the one-third mark of the season would have put them in first place, a halfgame ahead of Minnesota, had they been lucky enough to be included in the A.L. Central Division. A 28-26 record in the A.L. West would have the Jays in the middle of the pack, only six games out of first place.
The drop into last place in the A.L. East came on the heels of a 1-7 stretch for the Jays, who combined weak hitting with so-so pitching and a few defensive lapses. Because more than 100 games remain to be played, no one in Blue Jays country is hitting the panic button.
“It’s going to turn,” Schneider told Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. According to centrefielder Kevin Kiermaier, “hitting can be very contagious, but on the other end, when you’re not hitting, that can be contagious as well.”
Still, being above .500 in the most competitive division in baseball means things haven’t
been all bad. The Jays posted a three-game sweep of National League powerhouse Atlanta Braves in mid May; the starting pitching has been decent, with Chris Bassitt limiting opposing hitters to a .186 average, and acceptable performances from fellow pitchers Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and Yusei Kikuchi. If Alek Manoah (16-7, 2.24 ERA last year) rebounds after a 1-5, 5.53 start to this season, much of the Jays’ troubles could be in the past.
Meanwhile, winning the A.L. East might be out of range for Toronto, but earning an A.L. wildcard spot certainly isn’t.
Strong play in the heat of July, the dog days of August and the stretch run of September could make Jays’ fans forget all about the woes of April and May.
• Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: “I’m not sure Brooks Robinson could compete against some of today’s great third baseman. But that’s only because he is 86.”
• Golf instructor Michael Breed, on Twitter, after a wayward drive by Jordan Spieth at the PGA Championship landed among a fenced-off area of portable bathrooms: “So is this the definition of taking relief?”
• Bob Molinaro of pilotonline.com (Hampton, Va.): “Victor Wembanyama, the Eiffel Tower of hoops, could be held back at first by his spindly frame. The NBA’s presumptive No. 1 draft pick from France is built like a baguette. He’ll be better served when he’s closer to a loaf of rye.”
• Another one from Alex Kaseberg: “‘Man, these NBA playoffs take forever to move along,’ said a glacier.”
• Canadian parody website
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the Beaverton, on the potential sale of the Ottawa Senators: “Several bidders had dropped out after realizing that the Tkachuk who plays for Ottawa isn’t the one everyone has been talking about for the last few weeks.”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke. com: “Contrary to what some believe, the 2023 Blue Moon will occur on Aug. 30. It wasn’t on May 23, when the Blue Jays won a game, scored more than three runs and beat the Rays 20-1.”
• Headline at the onion.com: “Dad’s Entire Parenting Strategy Just Ensuring Son Doesn’t Become Yankees Fan”
• From fark.com: “If you were tempted to place any bets about the Saints making the post-season, just remember they have Derek Carr as their quarterback and they just brought in Jon Gruden to install their offence.”
• fark.com again: “Tom Brady to continue ownership of Raiders even in retirement.”
• Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “Longest-running soap operas: General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, Toronto Maple Leafs” Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
Helen Japp shares memories about her life
Helen Japp lived at Caleb Village in Kindersley before recently moving to Eston. She wrote about her life and memories, which we are pleased to share with you.
Memories of Helen Japp:
I was born April 24, 1924, in my parent’s home, nine miles southwest of Lloydminster. I had five brothers and three sisters.
Memories of my childhood are happy ones, with highlights of the year being the Christmas concerts and the July picnic that the whole community attended. Monday was children’s day at the three-day Lloydminster fair, and I always enjoyed the free Christmas theatre show when the Elks handed out bags of candy.
My school days were over when I was fourteen years of age, as we’d gone into the larger unit and were only taught to Grade 9.
I was fifteen when World War II changed not only our family but the whole community. It was not long after when my three brothers enlisted; two in the Air Force and one in the navy.
My youngest brother was in school at Lloydminster, and my younger sister was in school at Branford, Ontario. So at
age seventeen, I was the only one home, as my sisters were married.
I helped Dad farm with horses. He did the seeding and binder work; I did the ploughing, discing, harrowing and stooking. Mother and I did the milking, as we always had several milk cows. I counted eighteen short jobs I had during off-farming season, helping families through an illness, or when there was a baby born.
In the winter of 1941, I went to Edmonton to take a youth training course, then came home for farm work in the spring.
I had one job in Lloydminster Hospital, replacing staff who were on July holidays. It was a change to be with other young farm girls, as we all stayed together after work in the nurse’s old residence in July 1942.
In July and August of 1944, I went to BC to pick fruit. I was called by my sister’s husband to come home to Alberta to help him harvest, as his dad was terminally ill, and my sister had her first baby. I went home after I’d helped him and stooked the best crop we’d ever had.
In February, 1945, I had a call from the manager of a clothing store, asking me to come and
do the housework in the morning and clerk in the store in the afternoon. His wife was in the hospital, and his elderly mother and two small boys were at home. I went until his wife was able to manage, but it gave me a chance to be home for spring work for the last year of the war.
The war being over, I went and had a steady job in the store. I was there a short time when the manager asked me if I’d like to learn bookkeeping, as his bookkeeper was leaving to be married. I would go to the office in the morning and clerk in the afternoon. I worked in the office for three years, when I met my future husband at a dance.
We were married in September of 1949, and
after a short honeymoon, we went to the farm at Madison, where there was some crop to harvest. I got a call from Lloydminster asking me to come back to the store for the winter, as the bookkeeper was having trouble with the job. We left the farm in late October, and I would work in the office in the morning and clerk in the afternoon.
Ronald was able to find carpenter work, so we continued to move to Lloydminster in winter for seven years. By this time, Ronald had built a house, which we sold and returned to the farm in the spring of 1956 to stay. We now had two sons and a daughter.
There were over thirty veterans who had purchased land at Madison
after the war, and we were all originally from Saskatchewan.
Our third son was born in Eston in 1958, and our family was complete. We always spent a week at a lake each July, first Waskesiu, then Turtle Lake and Loon Lake, where some family still go.
In 1971 I took my first plane trip to Holland. The Legion and the Dutch sponsored trips for families who wanted to visit war graves. My brother was buried in Germany, and the cemetery in Reinburg was included, so Ronald insisted that I go.
We started to travel after our family grew up. They were all married from 1974 to 1978, and in 1984 our sons all
took over the land, and we retired to Eston. Our daughter married a farmer.
We made twelve trips to the Hawaiian Islands, then to Mexico, Cuba, England and Scotland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. We went to Ronald’s army reunions from Victoria, then to cities every three years across Canada. The last one was in Toronto. We then took bus trips to Florida, Texas and eastern Canada, and into the eastern states. We also took a trip to Alaska.
In June 2009, we moved to Caleb Village, and Ronald passed away in late November. We celebrated 60 years of marriage in September 2009 while living at Caleb.
Rosetown RCMP Report
from May 26 - June 1
FRIDAY MAY 26
• at 0451 hrs, Rosetown RCMP received a complaint of a vehicle collision with a deer in Highway 7, near Fiske, SK. There were no injuries. Reported for insurance purposes.
• at 1120 hrs, Rosetown RCMP received a report of mischief in Rosetown, SK. Members attended and acted as a mediator in a tenant dispute.
• at 1320 hrs, Rosetown RCMP received a complaint of theft of fuel at a rural farmyard. There was insufficient evidence to proceed.
• at 1330 hours, Rosetown RCMP receipved a complaint of mischief in Rosetown. The matter is still under investigaton.
• at 1420 hrs, Rosetown RCMP received a report of an erratic driver on Highway 7 near Harris, SK. The matter is still under investigation.
• at 1434 hrs, Rosetown RCMP received a complaint of theft in Tessier, SK. There was insufficient evidence to proceed.
SATURDAY, MAY 27
• at 2016 hrs, Rosetown RCMP acted as meiators in a tenant dispute in Zealandia, SK.
SUNDAY, MAY 28
• at 2040 hrs, Rosetown RCMP received a traffic complaint on Highway 7 near Zealandia, SK. Members were unable to locate the vehicle.
• at 2244 hrs, Rosetown RCMP received a report of a motor vehicle collision with a deer on Highway 4. There were no injuries. Reported for insurance purposes.
MONDAY, MAY 29
• at 0639 hrs, Rosetown RCMP received a request for a wellbeing check in Rosetown, SK. Members attended and spoke to the subject of complaint.
• at 1105 hrs, Rosetown RCMP received a complaint of fraud. The matter is still underinvestigation.
Report from Battle River-Crowfoot MP Damien Kurek
4945 - 50 St. Camrose, AB T4V 1P9 Text 403-575-5625 or toll free 1-800-665-4358
Email: damien.kurek@parl.gc.ca or social media @dckurek
Carbon Tax 2.0: Making Your Life More Expensive
Canada’s Conservatives have spent a lot of time talking about the carbon tax, its effect on the cost of living, and how it is ineffective at reducing emissions while punishing regular Canadians. In an implicit acknowledgment that their carbon tax isn’t working, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are trying to sneak through another tax on fuel. That tax recently underwent an analysis of its cost, and the numbers are not good. That analysis, done by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), of the “Clean Fuel Regulations,” confirms what Conservatives have long suspected. The estimate is that with the newly implemented 2nd carbon tax, we will pay up to $1,157 more per year. That is in addition to raising the first carbon tax up to $0.41/litre, and thousands per year. With the two taxes combined, Albertans are expected to pay $3,930 more in environmental taxes alone each year.
While the first tax adds costs to everything… like groceries, travel, utilities, and other essentials that Albertans must pay for, the ‘Carbon Tax 2.0’ will add costs to every litre of fuel and add cost to everything that is transported in Canada, and ultimately makes life more expensive by inflating costs at every step of the supply chain.
On a loaf of bread, for example, Canadians pay a carbon tax on the inputs to grow the grain and harvest it. The carbon tax adds unnecessary costs to the transportation, heating, and storage
of the grain. Additionally, fuel is taxed on the equipment to process wheat into flour, bake it into bread and transport it to the warehouse and then to the store. Every step of the process adds to the costs Canadians have to pay, and it gets progressively worse with each planned tax hike. And what is most frustrating is that rising costs are not a by-product of the tax plan, it is the central theme of it!
Food security and energy security are very tightly linked. The reality is that if we are not very careful, food insecurity will increase at an exponential rate. A very clear example is granular fertilizer, which is made from natural gas. Increasing taxes on energy will increase food uncertainty, something that Canadians and the world cannot afford. It will cost more to get food to consumers. The PBO (Parliamentary Budget Office) also confirms that the Liberal carbon taxes will shrink our economy.
Additionally, the clean fuel standard use “biofuels” that are made from commodities like corn and canola. The problem also exists that while we are using “food” commodities to power our vehicles, people are starving here and around the world. Something few people account for in the promotion of this additional tax.
After 8 years of Justin Trudeau’s tax and spend government, Canadians have seen their lives become less affordable and are feeling the financial pain of inflation. In a country as wealthy as Can-
ada, there shouldn’t have to be a choice between heating or eating.
And the Liberals can’t even say the carbon tax has been successful, they have missed every single emissions target since they brought it in… and recently have gone as far as to use the COVID lockdowns as evidence their plan is working.
On June 1st, Conservatives put forward a motion calling on the federal government to acknowledge the failures of the first Liberal carbon tax and immediately cancel their second carbon tax. Every day I hear from constituents who are facing challenges brought on by this cost-of-living crisis that the carbon tax makes worse. Led by Pierre Poilievre, Conservatives will protect our environment through technology and innovation, not punishing taxes. We will axe the carbon tax and bring home affordability for Canadians.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this column, you are encouraged to write Damien at 494550th Street, Camrose, Alberta, T4V 1P9, call 780-608-4600, text 403-5755625, or e-mail damien.kurek@parl. gc.ca. You can also stay up to date with Damien by following him on social media @dckurek. If you need of assistance regarding a Federal Government program, or need assistance and don’t know where to turn, feel free to reach out to MP Kurek’s office.
Acadia Valley News
It’s trying to rain today; we’ve had about a ½ a 10th in town this morning but the weather is calling for showers off and on the next few days. I sure hope it pours. We desperately need the moisture! Most farmers in the M.D. have now finished seeding so bring on the rain!
Sending well wishes to Tyrel Kuhn who has spent the last week in the hospital in Medicine Hat. Congratulations to Savannah Carter (Niwa)
who married Matt Carter in Field, BC last weekend. Many locals travelled to the wedding over the weekend.
Wednesday May 24th
the Warren Peers Grade 4-6 students participated in track & field at The Assumption school along with O.P.S. and New Brigden Students. It was a bit of a rainy day, but we made the best of it. Many students brought home ribbons and we had 3 students received the overall medal for their grade:
Ava Kuhn, Colton Cowan, and Bennet Skappak. Congratulations kiddos. The vendor market on May 25th was well attended. We all enjoyed a lovely homemade lunch prepared by The Clay Cup Mobile Bakery. Thank you to all the vendors who came out, Deb Rafa for organizing and all the patron’s who came out and shopped.
The W.P.S. students wrapped up their toonie drive fundraiser for Brody Smigelski. The kids
PUBLIC NOTICE
COUNTRY WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION -
ACT NOTICE OF APPLICATION
In accordance with the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA), Big Country Waste Management Commission has applied to Alberta Environment and Protected Areas for an amendment to the approval (307766-00-00) of Class II Youngstown Regional Landfill, which is located in the east half of Section 29, Township 029, Range 09, West of the 4th Meridian. The amendment is for the construction, operation, and reclamation of the Cell E (air space 96,000 m3) within the landfill property boundary.
A directly affected person may provide input into certain regulatory decisions, as allowed by the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (section 73). Specifically, any person who is directly affected by this application may submit a written statement of concern within 30 days of the date of this notice to:
Environment and Protected Areas
Regulatory Assurance Section Approvals Unit
5th Floor, South Petroleum Plaza 9915 - 108 ST
EDMONTON, AB T5K 2G8
Fax: (780) 422-0154
E-mail: aep.epeaapplications@gov.ab.ca
The written statement of concern should include the following:
- the application number 004-307766
- describe concerns that are relevant to matters regulated by the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act
- explain how the filer of the concern will be directly affected by the activities proposed in the application
- provide the legal land location of the land owned or used by the filer where the concerns described are believed to be applicable
- state the distance between the land owned or used by the filer and the site in the application
- contact information including the full name and mailing address of the filer.
Please provide a telephone number and/or email address for ease of contact.
Environment and Protected Areas will review each written statement of concern, seek more information if needed, and notify each filer by letter of the decision to accept or reject their written submission as a valid statement of concern. The Public Notice of this application will also be posted on the Department’s website at https://avw.alberta.ca/PublicNoticesViewer.aspx.
Statements of concern submitted regarding this application are public records which are accessible by the public and the applicant. Failure to file a statement of concern may affect the right to file a Notice of Appeal with the Environmental Appeals Board.
Copies of the application and additional information can be obtained from:
Big Country Waste Management Commission
Attention: Sean Olmstead
BOX 1906
HANNA, AB T0J 1P0
Telephone: 403-857-9300
Email: sean.olmstead@bcwmc.ca
raised just over $400. Thank you to everyone who donated.
The Warren Peers School hosted their come and go book launch on Monday May 29th. The kids did an excellent job showcasing their stories and their “how to’s”. Thank you to everyone who attended.
The Warren Peers grade 1-3 students went on a mini field trip to The M.D. Reservoir last week to watch the dam be restocked with fish.
The landowners, M.D. of Acadia and R.E.S. celebrated the upcoming start of construction for The Big Sky Solar Project. The 140 MW project will provide a steady source of tax revenue to Acadia Valley and is a big contribution to diversifying the Alberta energy mix. The project will begin construction on Monday June 5th.
The W.P.S. grade 9 class will be having their annual grade 9 farewell parade on Thursday June
8th at 6:30 p.m. Watch the digital sign at the hall for more info. Or check in with the school for a map.
St. Mary’s Parish is planning to redo the roof out at St. Peter & Paul’s Church this spring. In the future the church will require further improvements including new windows. If you would like to make a donating to the project, you can donate to Sacred Heart and in the cheque memo write St. Peter & Paul fund.
Cheques can be mailed to box 629 Oyen, T0J 2J0
Mark your calendars
BORDER KENNELS
for July 1st as The Acadia Valley Rec. Club will be hosting their annual slow pitch tournament. There will be a huge inflatable obstacle course for the kids, beer gardens, dance, fireworks and more. Watch Facebook and The Oyen Echo for more details. Contact Karilynn to register your team 403-664-1142
Thanks for reading this week. I will leave you with this quote from Satchel Paige “Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines”.
Dennis A. Heimdahl OD Wardell ZoBell OD Tues. & Wed. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Thurs. & Fri 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 609-2 Ave. W, Hanna 403-854-3003
CORONATION
We believe a
and
Oyen Optometry
Peers School Book Launch
Viva Vitality: Join the pack – Canada’s tobacco use continues to decline
By Rita Aman
Several weeks ago, I was presenting information about tobacco and e-cigarette use to a group of adults. The presentation included information on smoking rates declining from almost 50 percent of Canadians in the 1960’s to today’s rate of 15 percent. We had a conversation about the factors that may have contributed to this decline. Several ideas were suggested, including a better understanding of the negative health effects, the cost and that people can no longer smoke at work or in public places.
Some adults in the group discussed to those previous times. “Remember when…” Remember when you could smoke in restaurants, bars and pubs? While shopping in a mall, or in the college cafeteria? Remember when people smoked on a bus, a plane, the hockey rink and while curling? Remember when people could smoke in a hospital bed?
Some of the younger adults did not re-
member any of this. It all seemed a little absurd to them, questioning, “You mean, the last four rows of the plane was the smoking section? How did that stop the smoke from going all over the plane?”
And, “You’re telling me a patient in the hospital could light up a cigarette in bed, and the doctor was okay with this?”
Times change and fortunately we have come a long way in helping people quit and keeping them from starting. It’s not hard to connect that when there was little restriction on where you could smoke, more people smoked, and people smoked more. When tobacco was seemingly inexpensive, more people smoked, and people smoked more. When there was little support to help smokers quit, more people smoked, and people smoked more. Tobacco regulation and taxation has also contributed to the decline in smoking rates.
If you are interested in quitting, there are many options and resources avail-
able to support you on your journey. You don’t have to do this alone. Ask for support from your doctor/health care professional and check out these programs:
Phone support
The AlbertaQuits helpline is FREE for all residents of Alberta, open from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. seven days a week. Call toll-free at 1-866-710-7848 to receive confidential, non-judgmental support from Quit Counsellors. They will help you deal with cravings and help you stay motivated. Translation services are also available.
Text support
AHS offers a FREE 3-month text messaging program that delivers motivational messages, advice and tips to your cell to help you quit. The text service has been enhanced to include support for quitting vaping and a live chat feature with quit counsellors. The free text service is designed for those who have recently quit or are ready to set a quit date within the next 30 days. Messages are tailored to your quit date.
Text the word ABQUITS to number 123456 to register for free.
When you register:
1. You will be asked to text back
your quit date in yyyy-mm-dd format. 2. You will receive a confirmation message and a maximum of three messages per day.
You can also use some keywords like CRAVE (info about beating cravings) or STRESS (coping with stress) to get extra, on-demand, support when you need it. Get a list of available keywords by texting KEYWORDS on your phone.
Group support
QuitCore is a FREE group support program that provides Albertans (18+) with the tools and skills they need to quit using tobacco. As a part of Quitcore, you will join six 90-minute sessions that are guided by a trained facilitator.
Quitcore is currently offered in both virtual and in-person formats. You can join a group online to share your stories, learn new coping strategies and celebrate milestones. When joining virtually, you will need a device with a video camera, audio, and a secure internet connection. You can join a group through your smartphone, tablet or computer.
If you would like to attend a Quitcore group, call the AlbertaQuits Helpline at 1-866-710-7848 and a counsellor will help you find and register for an upcoming group.
Rita Aman is a Health Promotion Facilitator with Alberta Health Services.
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BY
BRIAN ZINCHUK
Without it, nothing else matters
I woke up the morning of May 25 and my early-rising wife informed me the power had been out for an hour. She expressed disappointment she couldn’t have her morning coffee, nor make a hot breakfast.
By the time I was moving, power was back, so no big deal. I had to reboot my computer (protected by not one, but two uninterruptable power supplies, but their batteries had run out). Good thing I saved that file the previous night.
But as I turned on CJME to listen to John Gormley, the news focused on a power outage that took out the eastern half of Regina.
My guess was thunderstorms the night before might have been the culprit, as the SaskPower map showed unplanned outages across central Saskatchewan. Outlook, Davidson, Englefield and Clavet were all out. The men and women in orange and white trucks had a busy day ahead of them.
It’s a good thing their trucks run on diesel, because if they were charging overnight, and the power went out, they’d have a hell of a time getting out in the field, wouldn’t they?
But these things happen. Storms, be it thunderstorms, tornadoes, plow winds, blizzards or frigid cold are part of the reality of living on the Canadian Prairie. And by 9 a.m., the power was largely restored.
How many nines?
Reliability is sometimes measured in “nines.” If you did the math, I would estimate that most places in Saskatchewan see power outages like this totalling less than six hours a year. That would mean our reliability would be roughly 99.9 per cent. Some places, the grid is less reliable, and has seen more frequent power outages, and for much longer period. But if you said SaskPower’s reliability is in the range 99.9 per cent (three nines), you wouldn’t be too far off. To hit four nines, outages would have to be around 53 minutes in total or less over a year. And five nines would mean only 5.3 minutes of outages per year.
Some might think well, 99 per cent should be okay, right? Well, that would mean power outages totalling 87.6 hours – or 3 days, 15 hours, 36 minutes. And we’ve had people in Saskatchewan recently who endured that at a stretch. Think of the recent blizzard near Estevan that broke a pile of power poles? People went for days without power, and for them it was a crisis.
That’s because a nuisance can lead to ruin. Three days without power and everything in your fridge and freezer are likely garbage. And perhaps the appliances, too. All productivity goes to hell. No computers, you can’t even charge a cellphone unless you use your car.
Three days without any power in -36 C can be deadly. Animals that need to be kept warm could die.
SaskPower crews were working west of Estevan on April 26, restoring power days after a major blizzard.
Brian Zinchuk continued: Reliability of the electrical grid is everything.
Energy is the lifeblood of our economy and electricity is the air that it breathes. Just like breathing, the second you stop, it’s a crisis. The second the lights go out, everything comes to a halt.
What does that mean in real terms? Grid reliability or lack thereof in Estevan, no less, meant that the local Dairy Queen lost its inventory a few years ago because the power was out for too long. That was economically devastating to that restaurant. Now they have a large backup generator, nicely wrapped with signage, immediately behind the store, ready to go at a moment’s notice.
They can afford to do that. Or perhaps more importantly, can’t afford to not have it.
Having a generator capable of replacing your grid power at hand is not a cheap endeavour. Most individuals, businesses and farms in Saskatchewan do not have them, because in recent decades, they have not needed them.
But they soon might. If you have a generator business, this could be an opportunity.
The irony is that many of those who have been crying the most for wholesale adoption of wind and solar may not be able to afford having a backup generator (and the fuel required for it), should the power go out because said wind and solar fail.
And don’t think it can’t happen. Last November-December, the Alberta Electric System Operator put out five “grid alerts” in three weeks, warning people to not use high-power appliances like dishwasher, let the grid be in peril of rolling blackouts. The usual culprit was the frigid temperatures caused demand to peak and wind turbines to shut down, coinciding with the sun going down.
Let me be clear – Alberta has more coal, natural gas, and oil than God, because God gave all of his to Alberta. If ever Alberta,
or Saskatchewan for that matter, should find itself in peril of rolling blackouts because it was too cold, the wind didn’t blow or the sun didn’t shine, it was because of sheer and utter incompetence at the top.
What we could end up with is a situation common in much of the Third World. Power is unreliable, so everyone who can afford it has a backup generator. And for those who don’t, too bad.
Look at what’s been happening in South Africa – their grid’s reliability has been collapsing, driven by corruption, and so, too, is their society. That country is falling apart as a result.
Reliability trumps all
You often hear politicians and activists talk about “affordability, sustainability and reliability.” But the reality is reliability trumps all. The second the power goes out, the other two don’t matter very much, do they?
A house’s power bill might be $200 a month, but if the power goes out, the owner
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AT EATONIA OASIS LIVING
We need casual staff. Resident Care Aide and Housekeeping / Laundry Aide Not sure if it’s the right fit for you? Stop by, get a tour, ask some questions. Come see what it is all about!
Please apply by email, mail or fax your resume to: Eatonia Oasis Living Box 217 Eatonia, SK S0L 0Y0 Fax: 306-967-2434
Email: eol@sasktel.net Phone: 306-967-2447
Pioneer’s Haven is Now Hiring Manager Position
The Kerrobert Pioneer Haven Co. Inc. facility is a non-profit organization for assisted living with 29 rooms and employs 14 staff. We are looking for someone that has dedication to the residents, staff and all that encompasses the Pioneer’s Haven Vision.
Responsibilities:
1. The manager is to oversee the following services:
- Nutrition Services - General on-going Tenant Contact
- General Housekeeping Services relating to the common areas. Certain general required functions including but not limited to:
- Day-to-day operations, ordering supplies - Following with budget guidelines
- Operating petty cash - Contact with maintenance provider
- Operating reports - Co-ordinating with religious groups in the area
- Problem solving - Preparing reports and attending board meetings
- Contact Board of Directors - Contact Homecare Services when required
- Promoting the facility in the communities it serves and manage social media website
- Interacting with residents and families and keep them informed
2. The Manager is responsible to manage and direct the daily operations and development of the Pioneer’s Haven. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Promotions and community relationships - Tenant services
- Famoly relationships - Quality control
- On call responsibilities - Fiscal operations
- Reviewing and submitting timesheets to payroll - On call responsibilities
- Site operations - OH&S Operations
- Staffing and human resource management - Hiring, scheduling, training, and supervising staff
- Program Development - Organizing activities and entertainment for residents
This position is from 9:00am - 4:00pm that may include some evening or shift work. Disability and Pension Plan included after probation period.
Application Deadline: Until position is filled. Position Start: Immediately
Application Process: Please email resumes with expected salary to pioneerhaven@hotmail.com
will likely pay $50 a day for gas to keep a generator going, much more for a farm or business. And you don’t really care how sustainable that generator is, as long as it works.
This is why I’ve been writing so much about the reliability, or lack thereof, of wind and solar. The more I’ve seen how truly unreliable they are, the more alarmed I’ve become.
It’s too easy to pick on solar. It’s like picking on the fat kid at school. As the earth has yet to stop turning, the sun goes down every night, and solar power goes to zero. But I was amazed at how little solar power we get in November-December-January, three months where power is doubly important.
But after 17 months of frequent monitoring, I’ve found that wind, too, frequently drops to next to zero, and does so pretty much every month. On May 12 Alberta’s wind dropped to 2 megawatts out of 3,618. On May 26, it fell to 3 megawatts. And this happens many times a year, for hours at a time. If you were counting nines, like above, you wouldn’t even get two. There are so many times that wind drops to next to nothing, it’s astonishing.
We’re throwing away what we know works – coal and natural gas – for something we know that absolutely doesn’t work – wind and solar.
We’re building the BHP Jansen mine, the biggest potash mine in the world. It needs 200 megawatts. What do we do if build a whole bunch of wind power, like Alberta’s 3,618 megawatts, and it drops to 2 megawatts? Sorry, boys shut her down. Good luck coming out tonight, or breathing when the ventilation loses power. The feds said we can’t use coal or gas anymore, so good luck.
Reliability of the electrical grid is everything. Without it, nothing else matters. Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online. He can be reached at brian.zinchuk@pipelineonline.ca.
The Town of Eston seeks to hire a part-time seasonal employee for the Eston & District Regional Landfill. Under the supervision of the Director of Public Works, the successful candidate will work an average of 15 hours per week at the Eston & District Landfill from June to September, with the potential for extension. The position entails working Thursday 12 pm - 7 p.m. and Saturday, 9 am - 5 pm. Must be physically fit and able to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
Duties:
• Monitor incoming waste to ensure compliance with landfill regulations
• Keep the landfill site clean and organized, including litter picking, sweeping, and general maintenance
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Public Works
Applications:
For more information or to submit an application, including cover letter, resume and references, contact the Town Office by email at cao@eston.ca, by phone at 306-962-4444, in person at 111 - 4th Ave. S.E., or by mail at Box 757, Eston, SK S0L 1A0
CAREER & EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
Big Country Community Adult Learning Council 113 - 2nd Ave. W., Oyen,
www.bigcountrylearning.com
services are FREE OF CHARGE. Services offered:
• Job / Labour market information
• Educational and distance learning opportunities
• Access to all calendars from educational institutions
• Access to telephone, computers and internet
• Community displays with up-to-date resources
• Links to Alberta Human Resources
• Resume preparation and writing
FULL TIME OPERATORS & SWAMPERS
to join our team in Macklin/Chauvin Area Class 1A 3A 5A Rod Trucks, Flushbys. Vac trucks, Batch Trucks Experience an asset. Oilfield Tickets required. Please email resume and abstract to: dshapka@steelview.ca Call/Text 780-753-0711
PUBLIC WORKS ASSISTANT FOREMAN
The R.M. of Newcombe No. 260 invites applications for the position of Public Works Assistant Foreman.
The Public Works Assistant Foreman is a working position that reports to the Foreman of Public Works who is responsible for the co-ordination and efficient operation of all public works services in the rural municipality.
The Foreman supervises and coordinates the work of a variety of equipment operators, labourers, and contractors.
The successful candidate will meet the following criteria:
• Valid Class 1A Driver’s Licence
• Experience/Training in operating heavy equipment
• Experience in road maintenance
• Power Mobile Equipment Trainer Certification would be a definite asset
• Mechanical ability would be a definite asset
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills
• Ability to work co-operatively with Administration and Council Employent to begin as soon as possible. The R.M. of Newcombe No. 260 offers a competitive wage and a comprehensive benefits package.
Applicants are invited to submit a resume including past and present work experience, education and skills, job-related safety courses and certificates, references, and a current driver’s abstract by 4:00 p.m. Friday, June 30, 2023 to:
R.M. of Newcombe No. 260
Wednesday, June 21 7:00 PM Morgotch Law Board Room Includes Auditor’s Report and Bylaw Revisions. Public welcome.
Mail: Box 40, Glidden, SK S0L 1H0
Email: rm260@yourlink.ca
Fax: 306-463-4748
In-person: 103 Hwy Road, Glidden, SK S0L 1H0
A criminal records check will be required for those selected for an interview.
Council appreciates all applications; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
For Sale By Tender
Business & Professional Directory
Butchering
SAM TESSIER - gold medalist at the
Figure skating champions from 25 years ago
Tessier said the Winter Games proved to himself he has improved this skating season. “I’ve improved over the year,” he said. “I’m a little more consistent, stronger both mentally and physically, and a little more confident.”
“I skated good for myself, but not the best, though,” Krista Maedel said of her Winter Games silver medal performance finishing second in both the short and long programs. “I trained hard for the Winter Games and went to Saskatoon most Saturdays and some
On the move 25 years ago ...
According to information from a March, 1998 edition of The Clarion, Brock’s old Catholic Church was moved out of the village March 3, 1998 to its new home in the Madison area. It became part of Garden Gallery owned by artist Laurie Besplug, who had plans to use the building to display art. During the operation, SaskPower crews had to cut power to Brock, and lift some power lines to get the church out on to the highway. MEGAN LACELLE Every
1998 Winter Games. KRISTA MAEDEL - silver medalist at the 1998 Winter
Classifieds
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
HEAVY
EQUIPMENT OPERATORS & LABOURERS WANTED
For all heavy equipment: ie. dozers, excavators, scrapers etc.
Camp/R & B provided. Competitive wages. Valid drivers license req’d.
Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction and Transport Co. Inc.
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FINANCIAL SERVICES
Private mortgage lender. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1-866405-1228 www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca
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Doug Rue, for further information 306-716-2671 saskfarms@shaw.ca www.sellyourfarm land.com
MISCELLANEOUS
Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness, or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.swna.com.
PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. 49 local community newspapers, distributing to over 450 communities, including 14 cities. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call 306-649.1405 or visit www.swna.com for details.
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BLANKET THE PROVINCE with a classified ad. Only $269/wk (based on 25 words or less). Reach almost 90 weekly newspapers. Call NOW for details. 1-800-282-6903 Ext 225; www.awna.com.
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GET YOUR MESSAGE SEEN ACROSS Alberta. The Blanket Classifieds or Value Ads reach over 600,000 Alberta readers weekly. Two options starting at $269 or $995 to get your message out! Business changes, hiring, items for sale, cancellations, tenders, etc. People are increasingly staying home and rely on their local newspapers for information. KEEP people in the loop with our 90 Weekly Community Newspapers. Call THIS NEWSPAPER now or email classifieds@ awna.com for details. 1-800-282-6903, 780434-8746 X225. www. awna.com.
COMING EVENTS
FIREARMS WANTED FOR OUR 2023 AUCTION PROGRAM: Rifles, Shotguns, Handguns, Antiques, Militaria, Collections, Estates, Single Items. For Auction, or Possible Purchase: TollFree 1-800-694-2609, Email Us @ sales@switzersauction.com or Visit Us @ www.switzersauction.com.
Conditions for the salvage of hay from a road allowance in the municipality:
1. Ratepayers must notify the the municipality in writing by June 15th as to which municipal road allowances they wish to cut. Each ratepayer is only permitted to cut the road allowance adjacent to his/her own property unless written permission has been obtained from the adjacent owner. If the municipality is not notified by June 15th, the municipality will cut the ditches as it deems necessary.
2. The adjacent landowner or the lessee in the case of rented land has first option to salvage along municipal roads. Other persons must contact the adjacent landowner or lessee to salvage hay on or before July 15th each year.
3. After July 15th any person may cut hay and salvage hay without the permission of the adjacent land owner or lessee, provided the adjacent landowner or lessee has not begun salvage operation.
4. The right-of-way must be left in a neat appearance by the person salvaging the hay.
5. Bales of hay must be at least three (3) metres from the edge of the shoulder of the roadway.
6. All haying and removal must be completed by August 1st each year.
7. All bales must be removed from the municipal road allowances within ten (10) days of baling.
8. The council reserves the privilege and the right for its members, employees and/or agents to enter upon the said right-of-way for the maintenance and/or reconstruction of said roadway or for other such purposes as may be deemed necessary, and at no compensation or reimbursement to the party salvaging the hay therefrom.
9. The municipality assumes no liability for labourors, machinery or bales relating to the salvaging of hay operations.
LAND FOR SALE
Randy Weekes is a candidate for Kindersley-Biggar constituency
Early this year, MLA Randy Weekes announced his candidacy for the Saskatchewan Party nomination in the new constituency of Kindersley-Biggar. However, Kindersley MLA Ken Francis has chosen not to seek re-election. Francis was first elected in a 2018 by-election, and re-elected in a 2020 general election. His roles included Deputy Caucus Chair and Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Trade and Export Development.
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Due to boundary changes which take effect in 2024, Francis may have faced a nomination situation against Speaker Randy Weekes, however, Francis chose to bow out. Francis said he was proud to represent the folks of Kindersley and work with Premier Moe.
Weekes is MLA for the constituency of Biggar-Sask Valley and was first elected in 1999. He was appointed government whip when the Saskatchewan Party won the
2007 election. In 2020 he was elected to serve as the 27th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. In this role, he serves as the Chief Presiding Officer and Chair of the Board of Internal Economy. He recently led a parliamentary delegation to the state of Haryana, India, in an effort to build upon the close ties with India. There, parliamentarians and business representatives discussed the potential of future trade ties. Saskatchewan currently produces forty percent of all lentils consumed in India and is a major exporter of potash and uranium.
Weekes is Saskatchewan born and raised, grew up on the family farm and received a diploma in Agriculture at the U of S. Randy Weekes,
events.
Kindersley RCMP Seek Public Assistance to Locate Stolen Bikes
Kindersley RCMP are requesting the public’s assistance in locating two stolen bikes from the community. One is an adult bike and one is a child’s bike that were stolen at different times and the RCMP would like to get them returned to their owners. Kindersley RCMP are asking that if members of the public see the bikes in the community to call the police.
In addition to the stolen bikes Kindersley RCMP responded to a further 28 calls for service between the dates of May 22nd and May 29th. The calls for service included,
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but were not limited to; one traffic collision, three suspicious person complaints and one mental health complaint.
The Kindersley RCMP has partnered with the Town of Kindersley again this year and Garage529 to help prevent bike theft and help reunite bikes with owners who have had their bikes stolen. To participate visit the Town of Kindersley website at https://www.kindersley.ca/529garage-town-of-kindersley/ to register your bike for this valuable bike theft prevention program. It is quick and easy and free of charge.
and his wife Cindy live near Biggar. He looks forward to meeting many of the constituents and welcomes invitations to local
Seniors’ Week supports healthy activity and independence
SOUTH ZONE – Seniors’ Week, which runs June 5-11, is an opportunity to learn how seniors can stay safe, healthy and independent by promoting healthy activity to reduce falls.
Falls are the leading cause of injury in seniors and can cause life-limiting effects that can lead to a decrease in independence. In 2020, falls among Alberta seniors ages 65+ resulted in over 34,000 visits to an emergency department or urgent care centre and more than 11,000 hospitalizations.
While the risk of falls increases as people age, falls are not considered a normal part of aging.
There are actions that can be taken to help seniors avoid falls:
Keep active to maintain strength and balance. Regular physical activity can help prevent injury and enhance independence, improving overall quality of life. Specifically:
• Do activities that challenge strength, balance, endurance and flexibility.
• For those with limitations, discuss strategies for staying Active With Limited Mobility. (MyHealth.Alberta.ca).
• Use supportive footwear.
• Consider staying active with a friend/exercise partner for safety and socialization.
Happy 70th Anniversary!
Once again Happy 70th Anniversary to Ralph and Marvel Jorgenson!
Thank you Mom and Dad for giving everyone, family and friends, such a great reason to get together and celebrate!
Thank you to the Oyen Echo for the overwhelming front page publicity and interview, to bring community awareness of this very special occasion!
Thank you to all the families and friends who organized, helped with the event and came from near and far, to help celebrate this 0.1% occurrence! Extra thanks to those who managed to fit the celebration in, with their seeding operations! Thanks to those who sent their congratulations by card, text, phone etc, when they were unable to attend in person.
Thank you to Manfred Schroeder, for helping get Seniors to and from the Open House Luncheon, even after his handy bus quit working!
Thank you to Lee’s Catering, for a delicious and abundant supper, including home made buns!!
Thank you to Trevor and Carter Hittel’s amazing skills at producing mouth watering smoked brisket and beans!
Thank you to the Happy Plus Band, for entertaining us with some fun tunes, joined in by Ralph & Marvel, to wind up the evening!
Thank you to Brent Peers at “The Store” in Acadia Valley. We ordered the majority of our food supplies from him for the Anniversary and the Reunion! Everything was fantastic and the beef was especially outstanding! Special thanks to our very patient and capable photographers, Charlene Furman from Fort Macleod, and Mckenna Giddings from Sylvan Lake! Finally, thank you to Laurie Burke and Jason Wallsmith for their exceptional communication and the Acadia Valley Community for an incredible facility “The Acadia Valley Community Hall” to rent, to hold our Anniversary and Family Reunion Celebrations!
Thanks to all of the above, everyone has so many more beautiful memories!!
From Ralph and Marvel Jorgenson and their families.
• Prevent heat-related illness by protecting yourself from the sun and drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated. Avoid strenuous activity during hot, humid hours of the day. Find more information on preventing heat-related illnesses (MyHealth.Alberta. ca).
• Talk to a healthcare provider before beginning a new physical activity.
Check your vision and ensure you have a complete annual eye exam:
• Allow eyes time to adjust to light and to pay attention to surroundings to help prevent falls.
• Changes to vision may increase the risk of falling. Alberta Health Care covers the cost of an annual eye exam for adults aged 65 and older. Some seniors may also be eligible for limited reimbursement for prescription eyeglasses. See Vision Care for Seniors (Alberta Association of Optometrists).
Review your medications annually with a doctor or pharmacist:
• Ask questions about side effects, interactions, and proper dosing when starting a new medication New Medicines: Questions to Ask the Doctor (MyHealth.Alberta.ca)
• Some medications can increase the risk of falling. See Review Your Medications (FindingBalanceAlberta.ca).
• Keep a Master List of Medicines at home and with you when you go out (MyHealth.Alberta. ca).
• Speak with your doctor if you experience dizziness and learn about managing blood pressure by reviewing Manage Your Blood Pressure (MyHealth.Alberta.ca).
Reduce falls in the home
• Keep floors and pathways clear of furniture, cords and clutter.
- Remove items you can trip over.
- Move furniture and electrical cords out of walking paths.
- Keep your home well lit.
- Remove scatter rugs and mats. Use non-slip mats on slippery surfaces such as bathroom floors and entranceways.
- If you use a cane, replace the rubber tip when it becomes worn.
- Ensure you have sturdy handrails along stairways.
Seniors’ Week has been recognized since 1986 to celebrate and recognize the contributions seniors make to enhance the quality of life in Alberta.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait-times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.
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ACADIA VALLEY
JUNE 30 - JULY 2
• Acadia Valley Canada Day Weekend. Slo-Pitch Tournament, Bouncy Obstacle Course & Castle, Beer Gardens, DJ Saturday night, Fireworks Saturday night. Food concession all weekend.
* Yoga in The Valley Thursdays from 7:00 - 8:00 PM in the Hall. Call/text Jamie 403-548-5146 for more info.
ALSASK
SATURDAY, JUNE 10
• Alsask Life-Size Fooseball 3:00 PM - 2:00 AM at the Alsask Recreation Centre. 6 players to a team $90 entry fee. Fun event involving very little skill! Call or text Sara Wilke 306-460-4303 to enter your team. Food provided by Herbal Twist. Beer Gardens on site.
CEREAL
* MONDAYS - Cereal Board of Trade BINGO. Doors open 6:30 PM. Bingo starts 7:30 PM at the CJ Peacock Centre. (BINGO cancelled on Victoria Day)
* TUESDAYS - Cereal Cottages Weekly Coffee Time 9:30 AM
* THURSDAYS - Chase the Ace 7:00-8:50 PM Tix Sales. 9:00 PM Draw at the Cereal Bar. Lottery Lic. #632392. Last Draw will be June 29th. Jackpot could be $7000!
TUESDAY, JUNE 13
• Cereal Community Centre AGM 7:00 PM at the Cereal Community Centre (aka the C.J. Peacock Centre). If you would like to see this building remain open, are curious about current operations, or would like to join the committee please attend! All members of the public are welcome.
• SAB Rate Payers Meeting at CJ Peacock Centre 2:00 PM.
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, JULY 21-23
• Cereal Sports Days, Annual Slo-Pitch Tournament, Cereal Sports Grounds. To register, call 403-664-0878 or 403-664-0647.
SATURDAY, JULY 29
• Cereal Mud Bog. Mud flies at noon. Adult & Kids Mud Runs - 3 person Tug of War. ATV Mud Races (open to all).
* Cereal Prairie Pioneer Museum Open to the Public July & August. Call 403-326-3769 to book your private tour!
EMPRESS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12
• Empress & District Historical Society “Pub Night.” Entertainment by Sleepless Hights.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
• Empress & District Historical Society “Whistle Stop Supper” with Berk Jodoin.
HANNA
SATURDAY, JUNE 10
• Hanna District 4-H Show & Sale. Hosted by Dryland Multi 4-H Club. Hanna Rangeland Multi 4-H Club and East Sounding 4-H Beef Club participating. (See ad in this week’s Oyen Echo).
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14
• The Hanna & District Historical Society Annuel General Meeting 7:00 PM at the Hanna Museum.
OYEN
TUESDAY, JUNE 6
• Oyen Eagles vs Kindersley U18 7:00 PM at Kindersley
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7
• Regular Pot Luck Supper and Meeting for Oyen and District Seniors 6:00 PM at the Seniors Centre.
• Celebrate our Seniors at the Ice Cream Parlour. Join us for a cool treat at the FCSS Community Centre, Main Street Oyen from 1:00 - 4:00 PM. Slip on your loafers and boogie woogie down and order your fav from the 50s style ice cream menu!
FRIDAY, JUNE 9
• Oyen & District Farmers’ Market runs every Friday until September 8th from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM at the Oyen & District Memorial Arena. Lunches and Bake Table still available.
SATURDAY, JUNE 17
• East Central Regional 4-H Heifer Show at the Oyen Crossroads Centre. Purebred & Commercial Classes. All 4-H members with female projects.
JULY 14 & 15
• The Big Country Agricultural Society (BCAS) is hosting the Oyen Indoor Rodeo.
OCTOBER 27-28
• 6th Annual Highway 41 Pheasant Festival
* Oyen Town Council meet 2nd Tuesday of every month 7:00-9:00 PM in Town Council Chambers.
YOUNGSTOWN
* Youngstown’s Back In Time Museum & Antiques Open 10-6 PM Thursday-Monday until September Long Weekend.
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