Prairie Sentinel
OYEN, ALBERTA
The Esther elevator is the oldest wooden elevator remaining in the province of Alberta. It was built by the Alberta Wheat Pool in 1926. It closed in 1979.
| PHOTO BY KATE WINQUIST
Whatever is good for the soul - do that
It’samazing what a little sunshine and warmer temperatures can do for a person’s mental health. As I said in one of my ramblings a few weeks ago, I had a case of the February blahs. That two weeks of frigid temperatures, plus the ongoing COVID saga, was enough to drive even the sanest person over the edge.
Not only has the weather improved, but the Scotties Tournament of Hearts is back on TSN, and we can watch curling again! How about Saskatchewan’s Sheri Anderson Rink? (sorry Alberta) She finished first in her Pool after a shaky start at the beginning of the week with a loss to Prince Edward Island, but rebounded with big wins over Jennifer Jones and Team Fleury, skipped by Chelsea Carey. At the time of writing this, the Anderson rink was set to start the Championship Round against Team Canada. No matter what happens, they have made my province proud.
It was Pink Shirt Day last Wednesday, and it
was fantastic to see all of the participation. Bullying is a major problem in our schools, workplaces, homes, and online. Anti-Bullying Day originated in Canada and is now celebrated on various dates around the world.
There have been many positives this week, and I can safely say now that February is in the rearview mirror, spring is just around the corner.
The days are already getting longer, and the sun has some heat to it now, slowly melting our winter’s snow. It seems like forever ago that the big blizzard hit on the weekend before Remembrance Day. It has been a long three months since then!
The highlight of my week (as it usually is) was Saturday, February 20. I didn’t even have to suggest that we go for a road trip. Robert beat me to it this time. “Let’s get the hell out of Dodge” is one of his favourite sayings. So we left “Dodge” and decided that we would head back down the number 7 highway. Now that we have taken over The Oyen Echo, I felt that I should know that area a little better. The first stop
we made was turning right onto a grid to snap a picture of the Alsask Radar Dome. I have always been fascinated by its architecture, sometimes referring to it as the World’s Largest Golf Ball.
For those of you who follow our Facebook page, you will be aware that I sometimes share photo galleries of my adventures and this week was no exception. I used the Radar Dome photo as our website’s Photo of the Week, and I had posted six of my favourite images from the day. The response that the post was getting was quite phenomenal. Then I received a private message from Fred Armbruster, who happens to be the Executive Director and Founder of the Canadian Civil Defence Museum Association. Fred was concerned that my photo was compromising the site’s security and asked me if I would remove the picture. By rights, I probably did not have to remove it, but I obliged. I did end up sending Fred a copy of the photo for the Museum’s archives. However, all was not lost as I am hopeful that Fred
will grant us an interview coming up, and I was also invited to have a tour of the Dome once the snow disappears.
We ventured into Wild Rose Country (Robert always wants to know who Rose is?) We drove into the hamlet of Sibbald. I remember hearing my classmates’ stories driving to Sibbald on their 18th birthday to drink beer legally in the Sibbald Hotel. I’m not sure when the Hotel closed. We did pop into Oyen, and I got a few snapshots of some teenage boys playing a game of shinny. Everyone and their dog was out for a walk, quite literally!
We headed north towards New Brigden, a place that I had never been. I had never been on the highway towards Consort. Robert had
worked rigs many years ago in the area, but he too had never been to New Brigden, Sedalia or Esther, the three places we stopped that day.
It was well worth our while to check out all of these communities. The New Brigden water tower reminded me of the water tower in Wartime, SK. I was also impressed that such a small place had a tire shop and, of course, the New Brigden School.
We stopped at the Sedalia Co-op, and I had a quick visit with Ed, the manager and Shelby. I mentioned to Shelby that she was the main reason that I stopped in. I follow the Sedalia Co-op page on Facebook and had a good chuckle at Shelby’s Bernie Sanders imitation with mittens and all.
Our final stop of the day was at the bona fide ghost town of Esther. Esther was named after the community’s Postmaster’s daughter, Anna Esther Landreth, in 1914. The townsite was established in 1926 alongside the newly constructed C.N.R. rail line. The Esther elevator was one of three original elevators built by the Alberta Wheat Pool. Prior to the train coming to Esther, farmers made the 14 mile trip to Loverna to sell their grain.
If any of our readers have suggestions on where I might head next, I’m always up for an adventure. Adventures are good for the soul and whatever is good for the soul is what we should be doing.
The Sedalia Co-op was built in 1925 as a private store. Six community members bought it in 1942 and it has been community owned ever since. They are a general country store that has everything from soup to nuts! Manager Ed Thornton (right) has been running the store since 1996. On the right is employee Shelby Blair.
The water tower in the Hamlet of New Brigden, Alberta.
The Sibbald Hotel, which is no longer in operation.
New business opens in Oyen Oyen Home Hardware, formerly ACE Hardware, opened its doors Monday morning, February 22—same building, same friendly staff but operating under a new name. “We think this move will be good for the town with a wide variety of goods readily available,” says Richard Wood. “The business has operated under several names over the years but this will be the last change for me,” laughs Richard. Inside the store customers may see a some changes but during the next six months Richard says the outside of the store will undergo a complete facelift.
- Diana Walker Photo
Oyen Weekly News Briefs
I apologize for not having any Oyen Briefs last week. Being part of the Big Country Agricultural Society, I was fully immersed in organizing and helping pull things together, following all COVID restrictions, for the 19th Annual Crossroads Beef Expo held at the Crossroads Centre February 20. Watch the Oyen Echo for results.
Congratulations: Winners of the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspapers Association Better Newspapers Competition were announced in an online awards presentation on October 28, 2020.
1st place winner of Best Photographer was Kate Winquist, then from the Maple Creek & Southwest Advance Times! She is now publisher and owner of The Oyen Echo and Your West Central Voice (Kindersley). This announcement appeared this week News Media Canada’s Facebook page.
The judge comments, “Ms. Winquist’s photograph, ‘Colorful spectacle’ on the front page of the February 19, 2019 issue is exceptional in composure, sharpness, contrast, color, and too is eye-grabbing enough to drive sales. Everything a newspaper in any market would love to rely on.
Kate scored 93 of a possible 100 points.
Seen Around Town: When entering the Provincial Building to pay our grass/hay insurance, I was pleasantly surprised by the new vinyl floor planking throughout the office — fresh new look!
A picker truck was parked outside Schindel Agencies Monday, replacing light bulbs in their sign across the building.
Congratulations to Vida VanSickle of Acadia Valley, winner of the Crossroads Beef Expo Raffle. She chose the cash prize of $2,000 rather than use the $3,500 certificate toward the purchase of an animal from any one of the Expo exhibitors.
Condolences: Over the past couple of weeks, several families among us have lost loved ones. Sympathies are extended to Gloria Koppenol, Bonnie (Hank) Doktorchik and Daryl (Debby)
BY DIANA WALKER fwalker1@telus.net
Yake and their families on the death of their brother Rex Yake of Oyen January 23, 2021, at the age of 63. A man who loved nature and farming, Rex was the youngest of Daniel and Susan Yake’s four children. After high school, Rex attended SAIT to become a partsman before becoming a full-time farmer. He was predeceased by his father, mother, and brother-in-law, Mart.
Condolences to Marilyn Lehman, Don (Mindy) Good and Glen Good and families on the death of their aunt Beulah Martin on February 2, 2021, in the Brooks Hospital at the age of 97. Beulah served in the Duchess Mennonite Church in many roles. She was predeceased by her husband Sam, daughter Glenda, son Murray and brothers Lloyd and Edgar Good. She is survived by her sons Gerry (Wendy), Rodney (Evelyn), Richard (Lecia), daughter Fern (Alvin), daughterin-law Joan, 15 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, sister Viola and many nieces and nephews.
Dorinda Kolkman, 58, sister-inlaw to Bill and Cynty Kolkman of Oyen, died after a long and courageous battle with cancer at Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario, February 7, 2021. She is survived by her husband Leonard, son Tristan (Erica) and proud Nana to Dash as well as her parents, in-laws, one brother and two sisters.
John Wain, in his 70th year, brother to Cynty Kolkman of Oyen, died February 11, 2021, at his home in Auburn, Ontario. He is survived by his wife Dianne of 46 years and children Tracy, John (Ashley) and Vicki, five grandchildren and three sisters and two brothers-in-law. Our condolences to Bill and Cynty and their family on their losses.
Sympathy is extended to the family of Dorothy (Swanston) Champagne —an animal lover, musician, cook, marksman and gardener, who loved square dancing and floor curling—upon her death February 9, 2021, at the age of 89 in Extended Care, Oyen. Dorothy leaves to cherish her memory her sister Marion (Ted), sisters-in-law Phyllis, Beverley and Lucy (Jake), brother-in-law Albert,
as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Bob, father, mother, brothers Vernon, Donny and Bobby and sister Sharon.
Maxine Westerlund died February 18, 2021, at the age of 81 in Extended Care, Oyen, where she shared a room with her husband Lloyd. Maxine graduated from the University of Calgary with a teaching degree but her love of country life and outdoor work may have influenced her decision to become a farm wife active in all aspects of raising grain and cattle and still finding time to sit on many community boards, including the Big Country Hospital and Big Country Medical and Dental boards and UFA Advisory Council. Maxine’s memory will be cherished by her husband Lloyd, her children: Shane (Teena), [Ailisa]; Heather [Oceana, Delfin, River], plus many nieces and nephews. She is survived by two brothers and one sister. Maxine was predeceased by her two brothers and two sisters-in-law.
Sympathy is also extended to Clarke Wood, and Cathy Joyce, niece and nephew of Kenny Wood of Alsask who died February 19, 2021, at the age of 81 following a battle with cancer. Many in the Oyen area will remember Kenny, a man with a humble soul and little smile to share with those he met, coming to town on his tractor.
Minnie Blair, formerly of Sedalia, then an Oyenite for many years and more recently a resident in Consort LTC, died February 21, 2021, at the age of 96. A teacher, mother, grandmother, cook, hard worker, gardener, pianist, crocheter and knitter, Minnie was the Sedalia correspondent for Oyen Echo for many years and, after moving to Oyen, became a self-appointed proofreader. She was active in the Big Country Agricultural Society’s Oyen Fair in many capacities, including contributor of entries and a judge. She is survived by one son, five daughters, 15 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, one sisterin-law and many nieces and nephews.
Special Areas and Oyen Development Corporation is soliciting expressions of interest for the sale of the Oyen Rail Yard Site, with the purchaser assuming direct operations and development. Interested parties are asked to submit a response by 4:00 pm on March 12, 2021.
For details of this opportunity, please view the expression of interest at www.specialareas.ab.ca/ business/rfps-tenders/.
Kindersley Denture Clinic
&
Kindersley Denture Clinic
The Town of Oyen is currently accepting applications for employment for the 2021 summer season. General duties will include but are not limited to mowing grass, ball-park maintenance, painting, watering trees and weed whipping. Other duties may be assigned by the Recreation Director and Public Works Foreman that include planning and managing community project initiatives.
The Town of Oyen is committed to providing students with the opportunity to gain relevant experience in a broad scope of work.
Offering Competitive Wages
Please forward resumes including qualifications to: E-MAIL: townoffice@townofoyen.com FAX: 403-664-3712
MAIL: PO Box 360, Oyen, Alberta T0J 2J0
PLEASE NOTE: These positions are summer employment opportunities. Applicants MUST
Acadia Valley News
February 24, 2021
Reported by Yolanda Kuhn
yakuhn@hotmail.com call or text 403-664-0582
I need to start this weeks news with a bit of a retraction. On February 10th I reported well wishes for Betty Benson who had finished her chemo treatments and is now cancer free. She has finished her chemo treatments and starts radiation on March 8th. She hasn’t yet heard the words “cancer free”. We’re all thinking of you and hope that day comes very soon for you Betty.
The weather warmed up nicely for the Family Week Break. My family along with Grandma Lorraine spent a few days at our cabin on Moose Lake. Pat and and Tony Dicychuk spent a few days in High River while Tony went to his specialist appointments in Calgary. They got to see their grandchildren which was wonderful after all these months being housebound.
Dan Grudecki and fiancé Whitney travelled to Vancouver Island to deliver some seeding supplies and visit with Bryce and Jill Rashleigh in Saanichton. They brought 2000 daffodil stems back with them to hand out in the community. This has been an ongoing tradition over the past few years. Thank you to Bryce and Jill Rashleigh for thinking of our community and sending a little pop of spring our way.
The Seniors Club has started a puzzle exchange. They have several puzzles at the Seniors Centre for your taking, exchanging, or dropping off your extra ones. If non-Senior members want to take part, please contact a member to let you into the centre. Happy puzzling!
We had to close the outdoor rink last week due to the warm weather. Hopefully, we will be able to flood again once the weather cools off. Watch Facebook for updates.
The Ice to Dice Bingo Fundraiser has started. There’s still time to participate, contact Chynna Kuhn (403-664-8592) to register your team for a chance to win a $4000 travel voucher Make sure to watch The Ice to Dice Fundraiser Facebook page for updates. The Rec. Club is also selling 50/50’s this month. The next draw will be made March 1st. You can get your tickets at The Store, Skappak’s Farm Supply or from a Rec. Club member.
Thanks for reading this week. I will end with a quote from Mark Twain, “Never regret anything that made you smile”
JOAN JANZEN joanjanzen@yahoo.com
ACADIA VALLEY - You never know where the circumstances in life will lead you, which is what happened for Teren Turner, who grew up in Acadia Valley, a small hamlet in southwest Alberta with a population of 149 souls. Teren’s parents, Todd and Joleen Turner, still reside in Acadia Valley.
Like a lot of kids growing up on the prairies, Teren loved playing hockey. “I think it’s every Canadian kid’s dream. That’s exactly what I wanted to do.” Teren moved to Utah, where he played hockey for the University of Utah for three years. Teren’s a big guy, standing tall at 6 foot 3 inches.
“I decided to retire at age 24. I had three concussions at that point, and I came to a conclusion I wasn’t going to make the NHL, and I had to quit because the next hit could be serious,” Teren said. At that point, he decided he had to apply his skills to other things in life.
“I coached on the university team for two years, but I was thinking it was making it worse because I wanted to play but wasn’t,” he confessed.
After three more years, Teren acquired his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. “It’s great going to the doctor’s office and understanding what they’re talking about,” Teren jokingly commented since he hasn’t been using his training in Kinesiology.
Teren had been going home every summer to work, but he met someone who was a UPS manager and was offered a job. After getting married, he accepted the job offer. Now he is an on-road supervisor for UPS. However, another opportunity presented itself.
“I met someone who said he knew people who were looking for actors,” he said. “I would watch TV and wonder if I could do that. So I went and did it, and I loved it. I haven’t looked back since.” Teren still works full-time at UPS, but eventually, he would love to make acting/producing full-time. “I love the hustle and drive to go after it.”
Teren is most well known for his role in the Yellowstone TV series episode where he played a Masked Man. Yellowstone stars Academy Award winner, Kevin Costner. “It’s the biggest thing I’ve done; it was a cool experience.”
“The other thing I did was a modern adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.” It’s doing its rounds on the short film circuit, and it’s absolutely killing it right now,” he said.
He’s also done an audition for a job that will potentially shoot in Italy. “There’s a big push for Indigenous artists right now,” Teren said. Teren’s background is Métis, which could potentially help him procure more jobs.
However, a lot of people back home in Acadia Valley noticed Teren in a commercial for a Leduc-based tool company called Osla tools.
“For the most part, I’m kind of getting cast as a hitman, but I’ll just ride the wave until it opens more doors for me. I’ve been at this for four years now, and I do work hard for it, so I do make my own luck,” Teren said. “I have an agent who signed up with a manager based out of Vancouver. We’re trying to broaden my horizons and get jobs in Canada. I still have my Canadian passport so I can work in both places, which is super cool.”
Teren has gone from small-town Alberta, to playing hockey in Utah, acquiring a degree in Kinesiology, working full time at UPS, and then discovering the potential of his love of acting. It has been quite a journey, and along the way, he learned a valuable lesson.
“You have to keep marching forward. Like Winston Churchill said, ‘If you’re going through hell, keep going. You got to look at the silver lining of things. If you ever had an idea or hobby that you really wanted to pursue, now would be the time to do it. A lot of people are at home or not necessarily working. Try something new; you never know where it’s going to take you. That would be my advice. Things will get better, though it might not seem like it right now.”
“If you find something you love, you’ll never work another day in your life,” Teren concluded.
Left: Teren Turner in Yellowstone.
Teren Turner
JOAN JANZEN joanjanzen@yahoo.com
On Good Friday, April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre in Washington by John Wilkes Booth, an actor, who thought he was helping the south. One hundred and fifty-five years later an exam question read: “Suppose you lived during the time of Abraham Lincoln. What would you say to him?” The student answered: “I’d tell him not to go to the theatre, ever.”
Both that student and MP Pierre Poilievre would agree that hindsight is 20/20. Poilievre said, “Governments are printing more money than ever. There’s a long history of governments printing money to pay for their spending and it never ends well. We need real economic output rather than just money creation.” Poilievre is the incoming Shadow Minister for Jobs and Industry.
Poilievre stressed the seriousness of the situation. “Canada has $3.87 of debt for every
Prairie folk love a weather story. We mark certain years, even decades, by memorable weather events, and use storms or extreme temperatures or even winds as a yardstick for recalling other important happenings like weddings or births.
It’s easy to understand our prairie preoccupation with the weather given that it is responsible for making our lives inconvenient, drastically changing our plans, and even putting us or our animals in downright dangerous conditions. Yet weather is one of the few things that is completely out of our hands. Perhaps the fact that we can’t do anything about current weather conditions irks us more than the weather itself.
We can collectively complain or post dozens of photos of our thermometers on social media, but these efforts won’t increase the temperature. More helpfully, people can share their water-bowl-thawing devices (and there are some good ones out there!) but even that isn’t enough to warm the atmosphere. We cannot stop power outages and in spite of our best efforts, we can’t
Hindsight is 20/20
$1.00 of economic output. The only thing that is saving us right now is our interest rates are low.”
He explained that there are two ways to reduce our debt ratio before rates rise: frugality and industry. “One is to grow our economy and the other is to contain our debt. We need to contain our expenditures while we expand our income through industry,” he explained, adding that right now we are hampered by low levels of investment.
When he was asked how we bring investment back to Canada, he said an unexpected positive opportunity came as a result of Covid. Because people were not able to spend money during the lock down, they were able to save. Reports show $170 billion of cash savings ... $90 billion by households and $80 billion by businesses.
He noted the Finance Minister says she considers these savings as stimulus to use as consumer spending. Poilievre rationalized, “Spending these
savings will create short term activity, but it will leave no lasting economic asset that will go on producing income, to feed our families, to fund schools and hospitals.”
Rather he suggested, “We need that money to convert into income producing investments ... factories, software, patents, things that produce income. We need to unleash the power of our free enterprise system so our businesses can make more, produce more and pay more wages. There’s one solution to a debt crisis: pay cheques. It’s simple but not easy.”
A Little Bit Western Calm, Cool and in Control
By Tara Mulhern Davidson
always minimize equipment malfunctions because unfortunately, machines don’t run at their optimum potential when it’s ridiculously cold. In case anyone needs a reminder, patience levels and relationships also don’t function at their peak when a cold front moves in.
While we can’t will the weather to suit our needs, there are a few things that we can manage. For example, we can control our ability to find our block heater cord before we need it. I’ve had two years to source that cord on our family vehicle, yet I found myself fishing around under the hood on the coldest day of the year at the darkest time of night in order to locate it.
As per the old saying that there is no such as thing as poor weather, just poor clothing choices, another thing we can control in many cases is how warmly we outfit ourselves. In our household, the rule is function over fashion and as the temperature decreases, our layers and use of woollen accessories increases. My warm winter chore boots are a wardrobe staple from October
He also had suggestions how it can be done. One was to make Canada the fastest place on earth to get a building permit. “That would unleash our construction sector, our steel sector, our energy sector.”
Poilievre noted our tax and benefit system needs to be reformed so it will reward, not punish work. “Workers currently get a penalty for the crime of earning themselves a pay cheque,” he explained.
“Government should fast track decisions on $40 billion dollars worth of projects,” he said, referring to the Teck Frontier Mine in northern Alberta, the $14 billion LNG Canada gas plant where BC private sector LNG Canada liquifies billions of cubic feet of natural gas.
He stressed the importance of the energy sector, since it’s predicted 60 - 100 million barrels of oil will be consumed every day for the next several decades.
“We have clean green Canadian oil. We have the world’s only carbon negative oil com-
through April. My choice of footwear not only keeps my feet warm and dry, but it has been scientifically proven to reduce my cold-feet-complaining by 73% which 100% of my family appreciates.
Controlling our expectations can be a little trickier. On one hand, if we are looking at that long range forecast and already mentally celebrating when temperatures appear to warm up in about ten days time, it’s hard not to be disappointed when – as we get closer – the temperatures not only remain chilly, they actually dip colder. On the other hand, during winter on the prairies, we can’t be generally shocked when we get long stretches of sub-zero temperatures.
One final thing we can control is our weather chit chat and that’s where things can get really complicated. If you say “cold enough for ya?” to someone who has cold-started that engine or searched for that heat gun or hooked up that generator or thawed that water line one too many times, you might find the conversation will heat up before you know it.
Our condolences are extended as well to the family of Maxine Westerlund who died February 18 at the Extended Care in Oyen.
Our deepest sympathies are extended to the family of Minnie Blair, formerly of Sedalia area, then of Oyen and recently residing in Consort, who died February 21. March 1-7
Happy birthday to Ashley Leslie, Breanna Hayworth, Clark Boehmer, Edward Peacock, Elliott Martin, Maureen Muzyka, Eileen Reimer, Leroy Schlenker, Lucus Duffield, Mira Homan, Brielle Leslie, Lindsey Paterson, Andrea Thornton, Duncan Kelsey, Ivy Homan, Kari Beaudoin, Gary Bannick, Jace Howe, Jasmin Reimer, Adam Paterson, Angie Shier, Maxine Howie, Vincent Vanstone.
Happy anniversary to Tim and Vicki Marr.
I bought a new top of the line weed whacker yesterday. It is cutting hedge technology.
pany, White Cap Resources. It puts more carbon back into the ground where it came from than it puts in the air through its production of oil. Why aren’t we celebrating these environmental breakthroughs and unleashing the massive job and wealth potential that it brings rather than strangling the industry to death by blocking two pipelines? That is an outrage. Canada has the second biggest oil reserves on planet earth. We need to reverse those policies.”
In conclusion he summarized the solution he offered, “We need to slow the growth of government spending below the growth of the economy so the economy can catch up to the debt and progressively reduce it.”
Hindsight is 20/20 and shows there are solutions available, but is the government listening to them?
You can contact me at joanjanzen@yahoo.com
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
By Robert Blagen
HAS TRUDEAU LOST HIS MARBLES: Last week Trudeau was telling us how he was making all Canadians safer by buying all our guns back and banning most firearms. The next day he announces that we have too many Indian and Black criminals in jail. So, for “Gun”crimes and “Drug”crimes, he’s doing away with jail terms for them. They mostly got a slap on the wrist, but now he’s going to pat them on the head and send them home and tell them to be good little girls and boys. Canada will sure be a lot safer now! He didn’t mention “White criminals” though, so I guess they will just still go to prison. This should also be very good for racism! I think if you “do the crime”, you should be prepared to “do the time” in jail, regardless of your race or colour.
Tonight (Sunday) as I write this, the chinook wind is blowing so hopefully the snow will leave us without leftover ice. Thankfully the temperatures have moderated nicely.
Belated happy birthday to Simon Schonhofer whose special day was February 18. Best wishes for many more years to add to the 85 you’ve already enjoyed.
Word has been received of the passing of former Buffalo resident, Clayton Campbell. He is cousin to Jack and Bob Thompson. The Alfred Campbell family were former owners of the
Reg Howe ranch in the ‘50s and Clayton and his brother Alison attended school in Buffalo. Reading Week 2021 is now history and we hope school children will be able to get back to their studies in their respective schools. Good luck to all students for a successful last term. I am sorry to report the passing of old friend Minnie Blair of Oyen who passed away on February 21, 2021 at the age of 95 years. Minnie was a great help to the community by judging at our Fall Fair for many years. Our sincere condolences to her family and friends.
BLANKET ALBERTA
Coming Events
FIREARMS WANTED FOR APRIL 24th, 2021 LIVE & ONLINE AUCTION. Rifles, Shotguns, Handguns, Militaria. Auction or Purchase: Collections, Estates, Individual Items. Contact Paul, Switzer’s Auction: Toll-Free 1-800-694-2609; sales@ switzersauction.com or www.switzersauction.com.
Employment Opportunities
BLANKET THE PROVINCE with a classified ad. Only $269 (based on 25 words or less). Reach 90 weekly newspapers. Call NOW for details. 1-800-282-6903 Ext 225; www.awna.com.
**The library is currently operating through curbside service only. Please contact the library to arrange pick-up for any library materials.**
ADULT FICTION:
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah Do No Harm by Christina McDonald
The Boy in the Barn by Ciana Stone
PICTURE BOOK:
The Berenstain Bears Love is Kind
NON-FICTION:
The Princess Spy: The True Story of World War II Spy Aline Griffith, Countess of Romanones by Larry Loftis
Unfinished: A Memoir by Priyanka Chopra
The New Normal: A Roadmap to Resilience in the Pandemic Era by Jennifer Ashton
Blanket classified ads are produced through a joint agreement by The Oyen Echo and the Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association (AWNA). They appear in all 90 AWNA members’ community newspapers for $269. ($299 for Employment Opportunity, also posted on AWNA Careers online) for the first 25 words, $8 for each word over 25 (+GST). To place a blanket classified call THE OYEN ECHO 306-463-2211.
Feed and Seed
ALBERTA FEED GRAIN: Buying Oats, Barley, Wheat, Canola, Peas, Screenings, Mixed Grains. Dry, Wet, Heated, or Spring Thresh. Prompt Payment. In House Trucks, In House Excreta Cleaning. Vac Rental. 1-888-483-8789.
HEATED CANOLA buying Green, Heated or Springthrashed Canola. Buying: oats, barley, wheat & peas for feed. Buying damaged or offgrade grain. “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain, 1-877-2505252.
FORAGE SEED FOR SALE: Organic & conventional: Sweet Clover, Alfalfa, Red
Clover, Smooth Brome, Meadow Brome, Crested Wheatgrass, Timothy, etc. Star City, SK. Birch Rose Acres Ltd. 306-921-9942.
CERTIFIED SEED. - WHEAT – Go Early, Pintail. - OATS –AC Juniper, AC Morgan, AC Mustang, Derby, SO1 Super Oat. - BARLEY – Amisk, Busby, Cerveza, Conlon, CDC Austenson, CDC Maverick, Sundre. Very Early Yellow Pea, Forage Peas. Polish Canola, Spring Triticale. mastinseeds.com; 403-556-2609.
Equipment For Sale
1998 JOHN DEERE 310D Tractor Loader Backhoe. 4-wheel drive. Extenda hoe. Original owner. $28,000. ROLL-OFF BINS & TRUCK. 1992 Ford L9000 and 9 Bins, 30 cubic yard each. All in excellent condition. $140,000. 780-446-1051.
Health
GET UP TO $50,000 from the Government of Canada. ALL Ages & Medical Conditions qualify. Have a child under 18 instantly receive more money. CALL THE BENEFITS PROGRAM 1-800-211-3550 or send a text message with your name and mailing address to 403-980-3605 for your FREE benefits package.
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.
DVD: Second Act
KITS:
Dr. Suess and St. Patrick’s Day Pre-School Story Time Kits* (books, activity sheets, & a craft)
Family Grab & Go Packs* (family theme –books, activities, craft)
Book & a Movie Packs (book, movie, crossword/ word search, popcorn)
Adult Colouring Kit (colouring book & pencil crayons)
Puzzles
*Please specify ages and number of children when ordering so enough craft
Land for Sale
VERY INEXPENSIVE 2 QUARTERS OF PASTURE LAND, Central SK, for sale. 8 other good quarters may be available. Requires fencing. Great hunting $74,900. Call Doug at 306-716-2671.
Services
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by Tricia Fischbuch
materials can be included.
March’s Book Club pick is We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. Copies will be available at the library. Please contact the library to register.
“The best advice I ever got was that knowledge is power and to keep reading.”
– David Bailey
403-664-3644 ext. 2727 aoymlibrary@marigold.ab.ca
Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 12-5; Tuesdays 2-7
Last week, the School Basketball teams were able to start up practices again. It’s nice to see them being able to get back to partaking in sports after such a long stretch where it was not allowed. With school classes being on a break last week, I hope the students and their families were able to enjoy it and found something enjoyable to during their break.
How has everyone been enjoying the warmer weather? The temperatures have sure been nice the last few days compared to the previous couple of weeks. It had melted quite a bit, but we have also had a couple of snowfalls the last couple of nights and we are a looking like a Winter Wonderland again. It was reported that road conditions were slippery and a bit on the treacherous side. Hope everyone was able to stay safe.
I guess Covid restrictions remain in place till at least March 1st until after the powers that be have evaluated all the stats. Fingers crossed we can make some more gains toward getting back to our normal lives. I am not sure I recall what normal is at this point. Do you?
It is sure nice to see that our cafe in town appears to be well supported and patrons are enjoying taste testing their way through the cuisine. It has been reported that they have installed a pizza oven and have now added pizza to their menu. Although, I have yet to sample the Pizza, I have heard it’s been a hit with those who have.
Classifieds The Oyen Echo
(based on 25 words or less). $10.00 plus
COMING EVENTS
Bridal shower for Rebecca McIntyre, bride-elect of Blake Hertz, Saturday, March 6. Watch for more info.
Oyen Ministerial World Day of Prayer Virtual Service ONLINE NOW! 1) www.oyenemc.org 2) Go to events. 3) WDP2021. Questions? Contact Shirley at (403) 664-2817.
LAND FOR SALE
800 acres of deeded land, 320 acres of grazing lease located in Special Area #3 west of Oyen, AB. adjacent to Hiway 9. Contact Barry Lowe at Real Estate Centre, #2218 McCrea Dr. Hanna, AB. T0J 1P0 ph. 403854-4456 or 403-8541005 or barrylowe48@ gmail.com.
WANTED
Looking for Dad’s old Buffalo Coat. Worked on CNR railroad in 1950s. Heavy coat with large bone buttons. Great sentimental value! Larry Dziuba @ (403) 808-6932.
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER
FTG Enterprises Inc.
DUTY REPAIR SHOP
Receiving drop-offs at THE OYEN ECHO WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17th, 2021 For appointments call Hanna: 403-854-4045
PO Box 193, Oyen, AB T0J 2J0
Cell: 403-664-9637 buds_e_i_services@yahoo.com Office: 403-676-2162 Fax: 403-676-2152
Minnie Blair November 27, 1924 to February 21, 2021
Minnie Doreen
Blair was born November 27, 1924 to Pete and Lena (Danallanko) Wyrozub at Loyalist, Alberta. She was the eldest of four children (Minnie, Helen, Carolyn and William). She passed away February 21, 2021 at Consort, Alberta.
Mom went to school in Loyalist and then in Consort. She took her teacher training at the Calgary Normal School. She taught at Sedalia and Naco from 1943 to 1947.
Mom married our dad, William Archie Blair on September 14, 1946. She was a very hard worker and a very good cook. She loved to garden and grow dahlias, gladioli and house plants. She had a wonderful flower garden and friends would come and get plants for their flower beds. Mom always told them, “Don’t thank me for those plants, or they won’t grow!” She sold Avon for decades and I enjoyed going on drives around the countryside to deliver orders to her customers. I guess that’s why I love driving down new and different backroads! Mom was a long-time member of the Alberta Women’s Institute and Women of Unifarm. She was also a very good pianist and played for church in Naco and Sedalia. She contributed the Sedalia news to the local papers for many years. She also judged many Country Fairs.
Mom and Dad lived on the farm until 1985 when they moved to
Oyen. There was a big garden spot there too! She was an avid crocheter and knitter and made sure everyone, especially children had an afghan. She’d whip out 3 or 4 dishcloths in an afternoon!
She moved to the Oyen Lodge in 2018 and enjoyed those couple of years not having to cook and clean.
Minnie is survived by her son Terry (Nancy) Blair, daughters Judy Johnson, Carol McLean, Cathy (Len) Fuss, Marion (Jim) Damiani, and Heather (Greg) Berreth, 15 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild, sister in law Susan Wylie, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Archie, son Barry Blair, parents, brother and sisters and brother and sister in-laws.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Oyen United Church, the Sedalia Hall Club and the Cop Hill Cemetery.
Maxine Westerlund
January 19, 1940 to February 18, 2021
Maxine
driving a classy team in parades, cattle round ups or just giving neighbors a special treat with a winter sleigh ride.She was proud of her prairie country heritage.
During her school years, Maxine was a member of the student’s union. She took part in 4-H Beef Clubs and in later years she was assistant leader in the East Sounding Creek Beef Club and leader in the Horse Club.
In her home community, Maxine served on the Big Country Hospital Board as trustee and chairperson, and was on the Public Relations Committee for several years. She was also on the Big Country Medical and Dental Board for 15 years and the U.F.A. Advisory Council for 12 years.
SACRED HEART RC OYEN
1st Friday 6:30 p.m. Mass & Adoration at Sacred Heart Church. Rest of the Fridays at the Extended Care unit 6:30 pm Sunday Mass at 11:00 a.m. Cell 403-795-6912. shcoyen@telus.net
OYEN EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH Meeting IN PERSON again on Sunday mornings at 10 AM for Sunday School and 11 AM for the Worship Service. The service may still be viewed live on Facebook and later in YouTube.
Esther
Lucille Westerlund was born in the Cereal Hospital on January 19,1940, the 5th daughter of George and Sadie Heatherington of Sedalia, AB.
She grew up on the family farm. Early farm life nurtured her love of animals, especially horses. Attending Wildflower School for grades 1 to 3 necessitated travel by horse and buggy. Horses remained prominent in her life and she participated in trail rides,
ST. MARY’S RC, ACADIA VALLEY
Thursdays 10:00 a.m.
Sunday Mass 9:00 a.m. Rectory 403-664-3603. newtonrodrigues17@outlook.com
After completing grades 4 to 12 in New Brigden, Alberta, Maxine’s career choice was Education, and she attended the University of Calgary. Maxine spent many years teaching in Esther and Consort then she substituted in Oyen.
Her love of country life and outdoor work may have had some influence on her decision to become a farm wife. However, the handsome young farmer himself likely had a far greater influence. Maxine married Lloyd Westerlund of Esther, AB on December 29, 1958. Together, they farmed in that area, adding their work and contributions to the field of agriculture for nearly half a century.
Maxine was familiar with the problems, challenges, opportunities, advantages and pleasures that this particular prairie lifestyle presents. This may have helped her in making the most of all of them. She was active in every aspect of grain and cattle farming, whether running equipment, pulling or feeding a calf, or preparing and delivering meals. These represent but a few of the jobs that she assumed on the home front.
She enjoyed social life such as dancing and signing everywhere at weddings, funerals, and Christmas parties. She especially wanted to be perfect in the way she was dressed, her hair and make-up, and had her lipstick like Queen Elizabeth.
The arrival of a son, Shane, in 1964 and a daughter, Heather, in 1969 added motherhood to Maxine’s life. Both children are deaf, which presented a major challenge. They graduated grade 12 in Alberta School for the Deaf in Edmonton.
Regardless of her busy schedule, Maxine always managed to find time for people. Her personality shone through in her genuine affection and concern for family, community and people near and far. A friendly greeting, a word of sympathy, encouragement, or congratulations, whatever the circumstance called for is what endeared her to so many people. Especially fortunate are those who were neighbors. They benefit by an extra measure of her friendship, help and consideration in both good and difficult times. Maxine had the capacity to make people feel good.
Maxine’s memory will be cherished by her husband Lloyd of 62 years of marriage, her children :Shane (Teena), [Ailisa]; Heather [Oceana, Delfin, River] plus many nieces, nephews, neighbors and special friends. She will also be remembered by her brothers Don Heatherington, Gordon Heatherington and her sister Doreen Rude.
Maxine was predeceased by her 2 brothers and 2 sisters in law Vernon (Myrtle) and Dale (Marie) Heatherington.
When someone asked Maxine if she and Lloyd had retired she would reply, ”No, just tired” or “No, we are just getting started. We have enjoyed farming, but with Lloyd’s back problems, it is time to think of slowing down and heading south for the winter. I think I could live with that. We are pleased to have Shane and Heather home now farming full time.”
Maxine resided at the Big Country Hospital, Long Term Care in Oyen, AB, with Lloyd in a shared room.
Funeral arrangements in the care of MacLean’s Funeral Home in Oyen, Ab. ofsmacleans.com