kfrancismla@gmail.com
No giveaways at the pumps
JOAN JANZEN
Your Southwest Media Group
Everyone is talking about gas prices! And it’s not surprising, as prices currently range from $1.69 to $2.00 per litre in Canada. It’s a substantial cost considering the minimum wage in Saskatchewan is $11.81/per hour. However fluctuating gas prices are not new.
Gas prices from 1995 to 2006 ranged from 57.8 cents to 99.8 cents per litre, staying under a dollar. However the price jumped to a whopping $1.17 in 2008, dropping back down to 97 cents/ per litre the following year.
Gas prices have been steadily rising throughout the years, along with everything else. Gone are the days when you would receive special gifts with your gas purchase. An advertisement in 1936 offered a free official weight rubber baseball with every purchase of five gallons or more of gasoline.
Four decades later, in 1975 gas cost 14.4 cents/litre. Canada had introduced the metric system, but it would take some time before gas stations convert-
ed the sale of gasoline from gallons to litres. Minimum wage in 1975 was $2.80 per hour, and (according to an advertisement in the Kindersley Clarion), a new 1975 Ford F100 truck cost $5,950.00.
Nine years later, in 1984, the price of gas in Saskatchewan was 39.9 cents per litre, and the minimum wage was $4.30 per hour. To get an idea of what a dollar could buy back then, partly skimmed milk cost 98 cents per litre, and a dozen eggs cost $1.37.
But in 1984, you were occasionally rewarded for filling your gas tank. An advertisement in a 1984 issue of the Kindersley Clarion revealed a give away at the pumps. Customers could get a set of glassware simply by filling their gas tank. Every time you purchased a minimum of 30 litres of gasoline, you would receive a coupon. Three coupons earned you your choice of a glassware to add to your collection.
Here we are almost forty years later, when gas prices have quadrupled since the days back in 1984. And not even the offer of free glassware would help to console customers.
Work + Play = Drone School
Great Plains College in Kindersley had eighteen participants enrolled in their two-day Drone School on March 15th and 16th. Those participants were from various sectors, including oil and gas, agriculture, ranching and fire and rescue.
The in-person course proved to be very beneficial for those attending. One of the students said she had previously taken a course through Zoom; however,
she found the in-person course much more helpful.
The course ended with the participants having the opportunity to fly their drones outdoors. Since the class portion of the course was finished, it was a chance for the students to try out their newly learned skills. The work had been completed, and now they had an opportunity to enjoy a bit of play by getting some “stick time.” Fortunately, the weather cooperated, and it was a beautiful, sunny day.
In this 1936 ad, a gasoline retailer offered a gift with a minimum gas purchase.
In this 1936 ad, a gasoline retailer offered a gift with a minimum gas purchase.
JOAN JANZEN
Your Southwest Media Group
Students who had completed the two-day Drone School at Great Plains College had an opportunity to operate their drones outdoors. | PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
at FoodMesh would like
thank Shirley
and family of
who donated meat, as well as another local family who wish to remain anonymous. Over 1500 pounds of ground beef was received, filling up the FoodMesh freezer! L-R:
Janelle Hawkins and Oralea Petrowsky, and Barbe Dunn from FoodMesh. |
Kindersley Legion Branch #57
Kindersley RCMP
With the bad weather and equally bad roads Kindersley RCMP were kept busy with several traffic related calls for service over the last week.
Oyen Optometry
ROAST BEEF SUPPER LET’S GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITY & For eye care focused on you!
SPECIAL RECOGNITION NIGHT
For comprehensive eye care, visit us at 103 - 1st Ave. W., Oyen 403-664-3300
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2022
at the Royal Canadian Legion, Kindersley Cocktails: 5:30 p.m. Dinner: 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $30.00/person
www.oyenoptometry.com Facebook: Oyen Optometry & Absolutely Eyes
For Tickets contact: Ernie 306-463-4256 OR David 306-460-8389 OR Caroline 306-463-7633 EVERYONE WELCOME!
Dr. J. Hagens O.D.
On March 11th Kindersley RCMP were called to a report of a suspicious person complaint at a business in the 1000 block of 8th Avenue. The male was discovered to have been taking material out of the yard of a local business and subsequent investigation resulted in this same male being charged with possession of stolen property.
Between March 7th to March 13th, Kindersley RCMP responded to 36 calls for service*. These calls included, but were not limited to, 3 traffic collisions, 1 mental health call, 3 suspicious persons calls and 2 thefts.
For comprehensive eye care, visit us at 107 Main Street, Kindersley
www.absolutelyeyes.com
Facebook: Oyen Optometry and Absolutely Eyes
Dr. Jackie Hagens & Associates 306-463-8266
“Because there is so much worth seeing!”
If you need to report any suspicious activity in your community, please contact the Kindersley RCMP detachment by calling 306-463-4642 or their local police service. Information can also be provided anonymously through Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers by calling 1800-222-TIPS (8477) or submitting a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
Online Crime Reporting can be accessed at: https://ocre-sielc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/saskatchewan.
*For more information on the calls to service please contact the Kindersley RCMP detachment.
Local residents donate meat to FoodMesh - The FoodMesh group was excited to receive a donation of ground beef from local families. Barbe Dunn from FoodMesh was presented with the donation at Kindersley Packers, where the meat was processed. All processing costs were also covered. The folks
to
Torrens
Kindersley
Kindersley Packers staff: Toby Severijns,
PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
Q: What are the similarities and differences between the Canadian and Chinese Constitution? A: Both have freedom of speech, but only one has freedom after speech.
Canadians need to safeguard their “freedom after speech”. Lawyer and broadcaster, Stephen LeDrew said Canadians are too complacent. “Until the truckers went to Ottawa, no one was saying anything about the fact that we have bad federal government.”
He went on to say it’s a travesty that no one is talking about Tamara Lich, an organizer of the
OPINION
CHECK IT OUT with Joan Janzen
Why are Canadians rallying?
convoy, who was jailed for nearly three weeks under a suspicion of public nuisance. “There are murderers who have been out faster than that,” he said.
LeDrew also said, “Our Minister of Public Safety came out publicly and said the reason we had the Emergency Act is because some of those truckers were threatening rape. That’s it. No evidence.” A woman in Ottawa asked, if this was true, why were women allowed to walk by all these people every day? LeDrew concluded, “These are the kinds of things that should not be
going on in Canada. Let’s stand up for ourselves, and for what is right, and for decency in public life.”
Canadians are taking a stand. Freedom rallies continue to take place weekly from Toronto and Niagara to Victoria and Calgary, where thousands of happy people converge. In response, the mayor of Calgary wants to see Calgary police take a more aggressive approach in handling the weekly freedom rally protests in that city.
Jason Kenney says he doesn’t even know what the protests are about. “There still are some re-
maining federal travel regulations that we think are wrong,” he said, and suggested it’s time for Canadians to move forward.
So what could the rallies be about? One possibility was made by columnist Spencer Fernando who noted, “The anti-Canadian energy movement and the push to switch to renewables long before it’s feasible has been revealed as a disastrous error, from both an economic and national security standpoint.”
in every institution.” Peterson said. If it passes in Ontario, the rest of the provinces in Canada will likely follow suit.
Canadian Jordan Peterson discussed the dangers of Bill C-67. “Critical race theorists assume human identity is best understood at the group level. These theorists define offence and harm as subjectively determined. Anyone who feels victimized by any statement, made by anyone, for any reason, is fully justified in their claim of harm regardless of the intent of the author of the statement, who is then deemed guilty and denied the opportunity for a reasonable defence. Bill 67 will mandate this
Other bills Canadians could be concerned about are: Bill C-11, wherein government determines what people can and cannot say online, or Bill C-233, an attempt to introduce a universal basic income. Bill C-26 is about developing a national strategy to assess and address environmental racism and environmental justice, which are not defined in the bill. But the assumption seems to be that every outcome is caused by racism. Meanwhile there are continued restrictions within Canada in regards to flights, ferries, trains and cruise ships. Canadians want their local representatives to put pressure on the federal government to end this discriminatory and unnecessary public policy. And, unfortunately it’s not a joke, but reality, that an increase to the federal carbon tax will take place on April 1.
All of the above bills and concerns have one commonality: government overreach. At the end of the day, Canadians want to to be able to conduct their daily lives without government interference and discrimination.
In conclusion, we can ask ourselves what Canadians could possibly find to protest about? Could all the above bills and issues mentioned explain why Canadians are rallying together outdoors in frigid temperatures, rather than sitting comfortably in their warm homes? Could it be, they not only want freedom to speak, but desire the eventual outcome to be the ability to live out and enjoy freedom in their daily lives? It’s something to think about.
I am looking forward to driving to Eastend on the 23rd to read to you.
I am sure many of you are like me in that there is nothing more comforting than getting together to tell and hear stories. Perhaps it’s true what the late essayist Joan Didion wrote: We tell ourselves stories to keep ourselves alive.
The stories we tell ourselves vary widely - and wildly - even among those who share the same moment and space. Lately, we’ve had plenty of evidence of that fact. We live in a culture of extreme polarization, which grows more extreme when fed by the toxic triplets of resentment, anger and fear. A very wise friend once defined the destructive threesome this way: Resentment, she said, is not having gotten my way yesterday. Anger is not getting my way now. And Fear is not getting my way tomorrow.
Perhaps the only place we can “get our way” without harming each other is by telling our own stories. No one can take our stories from us. Yes, you can say you may have been in the room with me. But you didn’t see it as I saw it, nor feel it as I felt it. Given our differences in size, shape, colour, height, abilities, ancestry, beliefs, income, profession, neighbourhood, geographical location, immune system, sleep patterns, hormones,
etc, we do indeed inhabit different lives perceive differently.
On Wednesday, the 23rd, I’ll be reading from two books in progress. The first is The Hem of the World, based on Mother’s Apron, a play I wrote in 2018 and inspired by an apron collection. The novel is based on stories “provoked” by those aprons. The main character makes it her vocation to read to people.
The other book, Habits, Orders & Vows, is nonfiction, and I began working on it in the 1990s when I was living in Quebec City. It’s a book about the language we use to defend or avoid allegiances, values, disguises and promises. What are our habits? From whom do we take our orders? What vows do we make and break, honour and hold? The questions were provoked by the gift of a history book, handed to me one beautiful Spring day.
I’ll never forget the moment: I was writing in my journal on the couch when my beau returned home from his day at the market. With a baguette tucked under one arm, and a cigarette dangling from his lips, he fished a book out of a grocery bag.
“Voila,” he said, handing it to me. “Check page 42.”
The book was, is, The History of Women in Quebec. Page 42 contains a paragraph about my ancestor, Marie Morin.
(My grandfather, Honore Morin, belongs to the same family tree.) Here’s my translation:
“Marie Morin was born in Quebec in 1649. At 13 years old, she decided to enter the Hospitaller Order of nursing nuns in Montreal. (Ville Marie, as it was known at the time). In 1697 she began to write the history of her community. A Simple and True History, the Annals of Hotel Dieu Hospital of Montreal. Her mother, Helen Desportes, was the first (European) child born in Quebec. Marie Morin was the first nun born in Canada. So, Marie Morin is the first writer and historian born in Canada. And so, Canada’s first writer is a woman.”
I went to the Laval university library to hunt down the book, then painstakingly slogged my way through the 17th century French. It wasn’t until 2010 that I got my hands on an English translation of the book, thanks to a nun scholar I later interviewed who dedicated years “struggling to get across the extent of the nursing nuns precarious, dangerous, and frustrating situation.”
Marie was first and foremost a storyteller. I got the sense she was never without a pen, although it would have been a quill, and she would have had to have made her own ink. She wrote glowing reports of
LAND FOR RENT
RM of Happyland No. 231
All Sec. 11-20-26-W3rd - 627 acres (18,700 bushel storage)
S 1/2 19-20-25-W3rd - 312 acres
NW 17-20-25-W3rd - 160 acres
SW 20-20-25--W3rd - 3160 acres (10,600 bushel storage on 17 & 20)
E 1/2 24-20-26-W3rd - 270 acres (15,300 bushel storage)
W 1/2 24-20-26-W3rd - 165 acres (16,700 bushel storage)
E 1/2 13-20-26-W3rd - 130 acres
1. Good stewardship & sustainability important.
2. A three year term preferred.
Bids close 5:00 p.m., Monday, March 21, 2022.
Box 246, Maple Creek, SK S0N 1N0
email: dtumbach@sasktel.net
Ron Tumbach cell: 306-628-7539
Daryl Tumbach cell: 306-662-8660
A Hard Story is a Good Story
By Madonna Hamel • madonnahamel@hotmail.com
her superiors; she also spied on them and reported on their extreme self-punishments. These were women born in the era of martyrs, when dying for your faith held as much force and emotion as a parent dying for a child.
But these were also nurses, who, except for Marie, were born in France and plopped down in Montreal, the most violent city in North America. They took in anyone who was sick or injured. And there were plenty of injuries when you consider the wars between indigenous tribes, between French and English, between tribes and Europeans, not to mention brawls among soldiers, sailors, traders, coureurs-de-bois and colonists, often dead drunk. The number one “ailment” of patients was “head injury.”
These women had little time evangelize. Instead they prayed unceasingly while feeding, bandaging and applying poultices. They even earned the trust of the Iroquois, who healed under their ministrations. They were first and foremost nurses, I tell myself, to lessen the repugnance (a word of their own) for the behaviours of missionaries bent on converting heathens.
When I moved to Val Marie in 2014, I decided to face my history for the very simple and true reason that it is my history. I can resent the past, but it is part of my heritage. And what better place to write about a bunch of nuns than in the Convent Inn, in the heart of Val Marie, on the edge of
the Grasslands National Park.
I can’t tell you how many times I threw the Annals across the room and how many times I walked across the room to pick it up, wanting to both know and reckon with all the stories. My desire is to locate the courageous, the transcendent and the irrepressible spirit of my 17th C ancestors, to discover what made onlookers of the age call them “spiritual amazons.” By locating the goodness, I can witness the perverse and punitive and break with its ancient hold, once and for all.
Every good story is hard to tell because it is full of paradoxes. And like life, it must be a wit-
ness to extremes; it must hold steady in the midst of ambiguity and ambivalence. In stories, we find our common humanity; we find a way to tell the truth, plain and simple. And, naturally, full stories entertain and captivate, and anything less is mere marketing.
LAND FOR RENT
RM of Newcombe No. 260
NW 1/4 20-27-24 W3rd
S 1/2 16-27-24 W3rd
N 1/2 9-27-24 W3rd
N 1/2 8-27-24 W3rd
All bids considered. Highest bid not necessarily accepted.
Closing date: April 6, 2022.
Mail bids to:
Box 749, Kindersley, SK S0L 1S0
LAND FOR RENT
RM of Newcombe No. 260
NE 1/4 - 4-27-24 W3rd
SW 1/4 - 10-27-24 W3rd
Possibly more land to be rented out later. All bids considered. Highest bid not necessarily accepted. Approximate closing date: March 31st, 2022.
Mail bids to:
Box 1, Glidden, SK S0L 1H0 Ph. 1-306-463-3604
Alcoholics Anonymous
Monday: Kindersley AA Meeting
8:00 PM, Legion Hall
Tuesday: Brock AA Meeting
8:00 PM, Vesper Club
Tuesday: Leader AA Meeting
8:00 PM, Leader United Church
Wednesday: Eston AA Meeting
8:00 PM, St. Andrew’s United Church
Thursday: Kindersley AA Meeting
8:00 PM, 401 - 1st Avenue West
Friday: Kindersley AA Meeting
8:00 PM, St. Olaf’s Lutheran Church
Narcotics Anonymous
Tuesday: Kindersley NA Meeting
7:30 PM, 113 Main Street
Welcome to Pioneer Haven’s new manager
JOAN JANZEN Your Southwest Media Group
Krystal Bazylinski stepped into her new position as manager of Pioneer’s Haven in Kerrobert on February 22nd, 2022. Although she was born and raised in Dawson Creek, B.C., after completing high school, Krystal moved to Saskatchewan, where she met her husband, Ryan.
The couple lived in Grande Cache, Alberta, for nine years before moving to Luseland in 2012, with their two small children, where her husband had relocated for work.
“My husband was born and raised in Major, so we knew the area, and all of his family is here,” Krystal explained. “We chose to live in Luseland because it seemed like a nice, friendly town. And we were right! The pool was the kicker.” The couple loved the fact that their kids could be independent and walk to the pool, where they spent most of their time in the summer. “Now they are both lifeguards,” she said. Their son, Fox, is 16, and their daughter, Keagan, 19, just graduated from Firefighting School.
Krystal is also in the middle of finishing a diploma course in Project Management through Sask. Poly Tech, for which she received a full scholarship! Previous to this,
FARMLAND FOR RENT BY TENDER R.M. of Milton No. 292
NE 6-29-28 W3
SE 6-29-28 W3
Closing date for Tenders is 4:00 p.m., April 1, 2022.
• Highest tender or any tender not necessarily accepted.
• Offers must exclude G.S.T. or any other levies which may be payable by the tenant.
• Tenant must rely on their own research and inspection of the property.
Forward Tender to: Sheppard & Millar Barristers & Solicitors 113 - 1st Avenue East
Box 1510, Kindersley, Saskatchewan S0L 1S0
Attention: Monte Sheppard
Please include file 22-7186 when submitting tender.
she completed the Business Management program through Sask. Poly Tech. Now she says, at Pioneer’s Haven, she has finally found where she belongs.
A typical workday for Krystal involves many activities. Staff shifts, phone calls, arranging activities for the residents and placing grocery and supply orders. “My favourite thing is interacting with the residents, making sure their needs are met, and listening to their stories,” she said.
“As manager, a big part of my duties is fundraising; I love it!” Krystal said. She loves coming up with creative ways to raise money while the board handles the dayto-day operations. “It takes a big weight off, as we are a non-profit organization and depend on donations and fundraising.” Most of the facility’s operating funds come from surrounding municipalities, with donations and fundraising generating additional income.
Krystal isn’t a novice when it comes to fundraising, as she is on the Luseland Town Council and treasurer on the Luseland Wildlife Federation board, where she has helped raise funds. Of course, as a parent, she was involved in fundraising for activities her kids were interested in.
Now Krystal is forging ahead with both old and new plans for Pi-
oneer’s Haven. Not only are regular events like Soup and Sandwich Day and a High Tea returning in April, but Krystal said she is pushing ahead with bigger ideas so the facility can get their upgrades done! Those bigger ideas include obtaining a raffle licence for an online 50/50 in April.
She’s also pairing up with Jared Fischer from Luseland to host a “Paint Party,” which is open to the public. “Big things are coming, so I hope everyone watches for more to come!” Krystal said.
Not only is the public invited to enjoy these events, but the residents love being a part of every activity. Krystal said, “It’s fun for them and getting back that interaction with the community is great! It’s great to see those smiling faces come back!”
Volunteers from the surrounding communities help make all the ‘big’ events happen, and the staff helps set up and takedown. “It’s a huge group effort, and the residents, staff and especially myself are so thankful for the time put in from volunteers!” Krystal said. Those activities include exercise classes, Chair Yoga, manicure days, church services, sing-songs and hair cuts. “It’s fabulous!” Krystal concluded.
FOR SALE BY TENDER
Tenders will be accepted on the following parcels of land:
SW 29-33-21 W3rd
SE 29-33-21 W3rd
NE 29-33-21 W3rd
NW 29-33-21 W3rd
Located in the RM of Winslow No. 319.
Sealed tenders will be received by the undersigned On or before 12:00 o’clock noon on April 4th, 2022
Home Features and Outbuilding Information Available upon request.
Oil revenue - $2,500.00 per year.
Not necessarily the highest or any tender accepted.
MORGOTCH LAW
Solicitor for Gloria and Dale Neumeier. Tel: 1-306-430-9997
Fax: 1-306-988-5057
E-mail: cmorgotch@morgotchlaw.com 113B Main Street, Box 2530, Kindersley, SK S0L 1S0
PHOTO: Krystal Bazylinski (right) and a Pioneer Haven resident.
Acupuncture is for all ages
JOAN JANZEN
Your Southwest Media Group
In November of 2019, Staci Mysko began offering her services as a registered acupuncturist in Kindersley one day a week. Staci has a long list of credentials, including B. Ed., D. Ac., R. Ac., R. BIE., Dr. Ac., amounting to seven years of acquired education. “I started out with a different profession in mind and found acupuncture,” Staci said.
When in Kindersley, Staci (Enhanced Life) operates out of the Kindersley Chiropractic Office at 109 - 1st Avenue West. She also serves clients in Saskatoon and Rosetown.
Acupuncture points are believed to stimulate the central nervous system, which releases chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. These biochemical changes may stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities and promote physical and emotional well-being.
Staci explained what takes place when a client comes to see her. “Usually, we ask a lot of questions to find out why this is happening.
We’re able to analyze the situation and determine the root cause. From there, we pick what we might want to do.”
People come to see Staci for a wide variety of reasons. “I have
Staci Mysko
seen almost everything. People come because of pain, arthritis, high blood pressure, digestive issues, hormonal problems, infertility, sports injuries, and allergies,” she said. “A wide, wide range of things.”
When asked how people respond to acupuncture treatments, Staci replied, “Most people feel really relaxed; a lot fall asleep. Kids are just able to rest and be still; they usually feel calm.” It’s not the response people expect when they initially hear the word acupuncture. “It’s really surprising,” she said.
Staci uses different treatments depending on a person’s age. Other treatments could include using a popular massage tool (Gua Sha) or a heated herb that is useful for treating arthritis and menstrual cramps.
During Staci’s past twenty years as an acupuncturist, she has treated people of all ages. “I had some babies the other day, working on allergies with milk, up to seniors. Basically the whole life span,” she noted. “One of the kids that comes to see me was having tons of hiccups. When she came we decided to add that into our treatment plan for the appointment. Next visit, she tells me no more hiccups!” Staci said she started working on her own children when they were toddlers.
The most common reasons people come to see Staci is because of pain, including headaches, knee pain or stomach pain. However, she does a lot of work with cases of anxiety and depression. “It’s really effective,” she said. “We look at the whole body; everything matters.”
She admits she has had people who have told her she is their last resort, and it is very rewarding to be able to help them. “It’s rewarding when people come back, hope has been restored, and they feel like they’re getting their life back. That’s very rewarding for me,” Staci said. “I really love what I do!”
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an email to our
correspondent, Mallory Cawthra at mcawthra@uvic.ca
The Repurposing of St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church
MALLORY CAWTHRA
Your Southwest Media Group
As you drive through the Village of Mendham, you’ll notice a prominent sign that reads: “Dedicated to the Pioneer Families of Mendham, St. Anthony’s Parish and 1914 Oblate Fathers 2001, 1939 Ursuline Sisters 1964, 1957 Catholic Women’s League 2007, 1945 Knights of Columbus 1985.” Next to the sign is a bell with an intricately designed wrought iron cross atop of it, and next to the bell and cross is another sign with the title, “St. Anthony’s Parish 1914-2001.” The sign contains a scene depicted underneath the title, complete with St. Anthony’s church in the center, a horsedrawn buggy on the left, and trees and silhouettes of various people on either side.
off to local and nearby residents. The church was built in 1916 and was located two miles south of Mendham, and was then moved into the Village of Mendham in 1931, with the help of a horse.
In 2005, St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church was purchased by Dean and Fran Francis and moved to their art studio, located on the north side of the South Saskatchewan River. Their art studio is called Sagebrush Studios and contains three restored churches. They restored St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church, and it was later opened as a seasonal art gallery starting in 2009. Utilizing the church as an art gallery is a great way to preserve a valuable piece of Mendham history without having it demolished or torn down.
The Town of Leader invites tenders for the Supply and Install of Asphalt Shingles of the former ambulance bay, located at 420 – 1st Street East, Leader SK. The successful contractor must supply all labour, material and equipment necessary.
Once started, the above noted project will need to be completed by June 15, 2022.
In your tender, please include an estimated start and completion date for this project.
The successful tender shall provide proof of Workers’ Compensation and Liability Insurance.
Council reserves the right to reject any or all tenders received.
Tenders shall be submitted by 4:30 pm on Monday, April 1, 2022 to the undersigned.
For further information regarding the scope of this project, please do not hesitate to contact the Town Office at 306628-3868.
Erin Romanuik, Administrator
Town of Leader - Box 39, Leader SK S0N 1H0 Ph: (306) 628-3868 admin.leader@sasktel.net TENDER FOR SUPPLY & INSTALL OF ASPHALT SHINGLES
St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church was an integral part of the Mendham community for 87 years, and was unfortunately closed down in 2001 due to small congregation numbers and high to rising maintenance costs. Items from the church were auctioned
If you visit St. Anthony’s cemetery, located about two miles south of Mendham, you will find a replica of St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church, which was built by local resident Larry Bischoff. St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church used to be at this location.
Photo: Wilkepedia
Jim Pattison Recognized for Distinguished Service
The Government of Saskatchewan has recognized Jim Pattison with the Saskatchewan Distinguished Service Award for his commitment to Saskatchewan’s economy and his dedication to philanthropy.
Mr. Pattison was privately presented with the award in February 2022.
“Jim Pattison is the pride of Luseland, Saskatchewan,” Premier Scott Moe said. “His success is attributed to his hard work, dedication and consideration for the greater good. Saskatchewan is proud to present Mr. Pattison with the award, as his contributions to the province have benefited so many.”
Mr. Pattison started his career as a car salesman and is now the CEO, chair and sole owner of the Jim Pattison Group, Canada’s largest privately held company. He is also the owner of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Guinness World Records, Save-On-Foods, Quality Foods, Real Estate Development and many radio and television stations across the western provinces.
He is also a dedicated philanthropist. Mr. Pattison donated $50 million toward the construction of the children’s hospital in Saskatoon, which is now named in his honour. Because of his gen-
Summer Kick-Off 2022
June
erosity, many families in Saskatchewan are able to seek medical help and treatment closer to home.
“Mr. Pattison has not only enriched Saskatchewan’s economy, he has also improved the lives of the citizens in our province,” Moe said. “I want to personally thank Mr. Pattison for his work and continued contributions.”
Mr. Pattison has always found ways to give back to the province. In July 2017, he arranged for Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe’s crystal and rhinestone encrusted dress, made famous when she wore it to sing “Happy Birthday” to then United States President John F. Kennedy, to be displayed in his hometown of Luseland, drawing observers from far and wide. The dress made further stops at his Save-On-Food locations in Saskatoon and Regina, as well as other store locations in western Canada.
The Saskatchewan Distinguished Service Award recognizes non-residents of the province who have made outstanding contributions to Saskatchewan and the development of the province’s economy, culture and society.
Nominations for the Saskatchewan Distinguished Service Award may be proposed by any ministry, agency or Crown corporation of the Government of Saskatchewan, or authority in which the government is a direct partner.
Including Mr. Pattison, 25 non-residents have received the award since its inception in 1997.
For more information on the Saskatchewan Distinguished Service Award and the Saskatchewan Honours and Awards Program, please visit www.saskatchewan. ca/honoursawards.
The Tournament will take place June 10-12
$250 per Team, Cash Prizes! Contact Bret to register at 306-962-4444 or recreation@eston.ca to enter
BY BRIAN ZINCHUK
And just like that, spring breakup begins. Winter weights removed on provincial highways on March 15
BY BRIAN ZINCHUK
The winter drilling season is coming to a close. Spring breakup is here. This is the time of year when truckers and shippers must begin reducing loads on secondary highways in Saskatchewan. All secondary highways return to regulation weights, which will help prevent damage to these roads this spring.
“At various times of the year, weight restrictions are put in place on some highways as a measure to prevent damage to the surface and roadbeds,” Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw said in a release on March 14. “As the warmer weather rolls in, some roads can become susceptible to soft spots and surface cracks.”
During the coldest months of December, January and February, roadbeds freeze and become stronger, and subsequently supports heavier truck loads.
When the mild temperatures arrive, winter weights are removed. Effective at 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, March 15, any existing winter weights will be removed and revert to regulation weight.
2022 Spring Road Bans
Spring road restrictions are used by the province and rural municipalities (RM) to mitigate damage to infrastructure. Typically, these road restrictions start in March in the southwest and move in an east and northern direction. These restrictions remain in place for ap-
proximately six weeks or 42 days.
The road bans reduce allowable weights on RM roads and secondary weight provincial highways by 10 to 15 per cent and typically last about six weeks.
Nine Month Primary Weights
Saskatchewan is unique because of its nine-month primary weight highways, the province said. As a large province with considerable difference in climate in the north and the south, there are different dates for when nine-month primary weights are in effect.
In the north of the province, the annual weight increase on the ninemonth primary highways is from July 1 to March 31 of the following year. In the south of the province, the annual weight increase on the
nine-month primary highways will occur earlier, from June 15 to March 15 of the following year. This helps sustain road conditions in the south, where spring thaw occurs earlier.
To check which highways are impacted by weight restrictions, please visit truck weight classifications and restrictions at saskatchewan.ca/trucking. Spring road bans will be posted as necessary under the “New Spring Order” link.
To view the interactive map showing winter weight restrictions and spring road bans, please visit www.saskatchewan.ca/highwayhotline and scrolling down to restrictions. Information is also available by contacting the Highway Hotline at 511.
Does the Saskatchewan oilpatch have jobs that we can offer to Ukrainian refugees?
BY BRIAN ZINCHUK
MARTINSVILLE –
Things are moving fast in Saskatchewan when it comes to grassroots efforts providing support for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.
One of the people who has been working extensively on this front is Steve Halabura, a regular columnist with Pipeline Online. For the past two weeks, he’s been working on putting together what is known as a “Group of Five” people who commit to supporting a refugee family for a year. However, that program can be very bureaucratic in nature, and things are happening fast in Eastern Europe.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), by March 11, “Over 2.5 million refugees (are) estimated to have fled to neighbouring countries since 24 February and rising.”
Additionally, the UNHCR says there are 854,000 internally displaced people within Ukraine. (To be considered a refugee, you must cross an international border.)
As a result, with provincial and federal governments on board, it may be possible to see action a lot sooner than what has typically been the case.
Halabura and a number of business people and family members in the Saskatoon area, Estevan, and most recently, Moosomin, have been coming together to support refugees right away.
“One of the first people to contact me was Brian Crossman of Independent Well Servicing”, said Halabura. “Then from the southeast Cory Casemore, Josh Biggs, and of course Brian Zinchuk. Like I figured, when there is need, the oilpatch is often the first to step up!”
On March 11, he reported they are hearing positive things from the provincial government.
But a key factor is going to be once they get here, these refugees are going to need jobs, in addition to housing and other supports. And that coincides with two words that have become very common in Saskatchewan’s oilpatch: labour shortage.
“What are we going to do for employment? What actual oilfield companies hiring, and what would be required?” Halabura said.
Specifically, they are looking for an organization, group, individual or company who would be willing to step forward and do coordination in this regard. If a comprehensive list of available jobs for refugees could be presented to the provincial and federal governments, that would go a long way in supporting these efforts.
“Anything from a hotel needing cleaners to office support to slinging tongs. If we can put that list together, that is gold to our cause,” Halabura said.
He’s thinking big, too. Not just a handful of people, but maybe 100, or 300 refugees who need work.
“My cousin and fellow group member, Wayne Halabura, said that if we are making this effort, lets streamline it so we can accept and settle hundreds, not just tens,” Halabura said.
A key consideration is that most of the refugees will be women and children. Ukraine is not permitting men from the ages of 18 to 60 to leave, requiring them to take part in the war effort against the Russian invaders.
“A little piece here in Saskatoon, a little piece in Estevan. Momentum is starting to grow,” he said.
If you are interested in joining the effort, please contact Steve Halabura at steveh@conceptforge. ca.
Women and children arrive at a makeshift camp to board a train heading to Krakow after fleeing Ukraine, at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, Thursday, March 10, 2022.;The war in Ukraine is forcing investors, especially those who prioritize environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, to take a closer look at the stocks and other assets they hold, whether individually or through funds. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Visar Kryeziu
TOWN OF KINDERSLEY
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public notice is hereby given that the Council of the Town of Kindersley intends to adopt Bylaw No. 02-22 being a Bylaw to regulate zoning in the Town of Kindersley under the Planning and Development Act, 2007
INTENT
Proposed Bylaw No. 02-22 to adopt a new Zoning Bylaw that will control the use and development of the land in the municipality and assist in implementing the Official Community Plan for the Town of Kindersley.
• The intent of this Zoning Bylaw is to provide for the amenity of the area within the Town of Kindersley (hereinafter referred to as Kindersley) and for the health, safety, and general welfare of the inhabitants of Kindersley and area:
o To minimize land use conflicts.
o To establish minimum standards to maintain the amenity of the Town.
o To ensure development is consistent with the physical limitations of the land.
o To restrict development that places undue demand on the Town for services; and
o To provide land-use and development that is consistent with the Town’s goals and objectives.
AFFECTED LAND
The affected land is legally described as the Town of Kindersley
REASON
The reason for the adoption of a new bylaw is to consolidate all amendments from the last Zoning Bylaw 04-14 and provide better interpretation thereof
PUBLIC INSPECTION
Any person may inspect the bylaws at the Town Office, located at 106-5th Avenue East, in the Town of Kindersley, between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays. Copies of the proposed bylaw are available at the Town Office at a cost of $1.00.
• On April 3, 1776, the Continental Congress, lacking sufficient funds to build a strong navy, gives privateers permission to attack all British ships. Any goods captured by the privateer were divided between the ship’s owner and the government.
• On March 28, 1814, the funeral of Guillotin, the inventor and namesake of the infamous execution device, takes place outside of Paris. Guillotin had built the guillotine to show the intellectual and social progress of the Revolution; by killing aristocrats and journeymen in the same way, equality in death was ensured.
• On March 30, 1820, Anna Sewell, author of “Black Beauty,” is born. “Black Beauty,” the first significant children’s story in the English language to focus on animal characters, established the precedent for countless other works. The story, narrated by the horse, showed Black Beauty’s progression through a series of increasingly cruel owners.
• On April 2, 1863, responding to acute food shortages, hundreds of angry women riot in Richmond, Virginia, demanding that the government release emergency supplies, breaking windows and looting stores. Confederate President Jefferson Davis threw his pocket change at them from the top of a wagon.
• On March 29, 1927, Major Henry O’Neil de Hane Segrave becomes the first man to break the 200 mph barrier. Driving a 1,000 horsepower Mystery Sunbeam, Segrave averaged 203.79 mph on the course at Daytona Beach, Florida.
• On March 31, 1959, the Dalai Lama, fleeing the Chinese suppression of a national uprising in Tibet, crosses into India, where he is granted political asylum. With the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in China, suppression of Tibetan Buddhism escalated, and practice of the religion was banned and thousands of monasteries were destroyed.
• On April 1, 1963, the ABC television network airs the premiere episode of the daytime drama “General Hospital.” The enduring soap opera would become the longest-running serial program produced in Hollywood.
Kim Vogel, Deputy Administrator
Kindersley clipping through provincial playoffs
The Kindersley Senior Klippers have reached the Provincial B Finals.
They’re readying to embark on a best-of-three series with the Outlook Ice Hawks next week.
“Obviously the league playoffs didn’t go how we planned, but we’re happy to be in the provincial finals,” said Coach Chris Forsman.
“We’re excited. It’s always strange to play in two playoffs, and it’s challenging physically. We’re playing a game-aweek, so we’ll have more energy.”
Forsman says the team is playing competitive playoff hockey in a short amount of time. With a successful series against the Hafford Hawks, they’re now in the final stretch.
“We played Hafford during the year, and it was always competitive. We were surprised the series wasn’t more hardfought. They picked up good players, and we’re lucky we got a good start the first game,” said Forsman.
“The second game was close at the end. We scored goals and it ended up positive.”
The team is getting prepared for a big series against the Ice Hawks, and they’re so close to a championship.
“The Ice Hawks are really good. They’re one of the best teams in the province. We need to be aware of their high-powered offence,” he said. “We need to stay out of the penalty box, stay aware and have a good series. I hope the guys are ready for it.”
Early morning house fire in Kindersley
The Kindersley Fire Department was called at approximately 5:11 a.m. last Tuesday morning (March 15) to a structure fire at 419 - 2nd Avenue West in Kindersley. They were unable to save the home, but kept it from doing any significant damage to neighbouring properties.
The house was unoccupied and had been recently put up for sale through a local real estate agent.
The investigation continues on the cause of the blaze.
SJHL AWARDS
The 2021-2022 Kindersley Klipper awards for the SJHL were held on March 16, 2022. The following are the winners:
Volunteer Of The Year – Cheyenne and Paulette Bosch
Community Award – Jaxon Georget
MVP – Matt Pesenti
Most Dedicated – Noah Lindsay
Plus/Minus – Liam Bell
Hustler – Jaxon Georget
Rookie of the Year – Tylin Hilbig
Most Improved – Josh Danis
Top Hitter – Ethan Hilbig, Cash Arnsten Scholastic Player – Ethan Hilbig
Three Stars – 1. Matt Pesenti 2. Jaxon Georget 3. Andrew Schaab
Top Scorer – Tylin Hilbig
Top Dman – Josh Morton, Brayden Koch
Coaches Award – Josh Pufahl
JORDAN PARKER
Your Southwest Media Group
| PHOTO COURTESY KINDERSLEY FIRE
| PHOTO KATE WINQUIST
Classifieds
CARDS OF THANKS
The family of Diane Krogstad would like to thank family, friends and the community for your kind words, cards, thoughts, prayers, love, flowers and meat trays. Thank you to the doctors and staff at the Kindersley Hospital for your kindness and caring. Thank you to Kindersley Funeral Home for your caring and guidance during this difficult time. Thank you to the doctors and staff on the 6300 ward at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. - The Krogstad Family
COMING EVENTS
Highway 41 Pheasant Festival AGM. March 29th @ 7:00 PM at
Consort Sportex. Email: phesfest@gmail.com for more info.
April 9 & 10: Wilson School of Dance presents their annual recital, Oyen Legion. 7pm Saturday evening, 2 pm Sunday afternoon. Adults - $15, Students - $5.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
FOREFRONT INSURANCE is hiring external brokers and processors/ data entry positions. Broker partnership opportunities for the right candidates. Call / email Michael 403-501-8013 / mhollinda@excelrisk.ca
Hiring Care Companion for resident living in Long Term Care facility in Oyen. This is a con-
tracted position with the Community Access for Persons in Continuing Care (CAPCC) program. Care Companion will assist resident to access their community and provide opportunities for meaningful social interaction. For full job description and details call the CAPCC Coordinator, Adele @ (403) 526-5742 or email a.dieterle@redi.ca
DID YOU KNOW?
When you place a classified ad with us, it goes in all three of our community newspapers for ONE LOW PRICE! Call Kate at 306-463-2211 kate@yoursouthwest.com
IT’S A BOY!
Congratulations to Megan Lacelle and her husband Eddy Gergely on the birth of their son, Gus Patrick on September 24th. Ongoing legal services in the area will be provided by our Associate Lawyer, Alex Laird.
Sure-Fire Streaming
BY JORDAN PARKER https://parkerandpictures.wordpress.com/
Mad Max: Fury Road
Available On Netflix
One of the most visceral, ambitious film experience in two decades, Mad Max: Fury Road is one of the best action movies I’ve ever seen.
Writer-director George Miller – known for the Mel Gibson incarnations – returns here and helms an absolutely incredible affair.
The post-apocalyptic thrill-ride follows a woman who rebels against a terrifying rules as she tries to find her homeland. She has female prisoners in tow, as well as a drifter named Max.
The performances from leads Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron are unforgettable, and Nicholas Hoult, Zoe Kravitz, and Hugh Keays-Byrne are all fantastic as well.
It’s one of the very best genre films I’ve ever seen, and one of my favourite flicks of all time.
The Invisible Man
Available On Netflix (Saturday)
Based on the timeless H.G. Wells novel, this is a terrifying twist on the classic tale.
Writer-director Leigh Whannell has been terrifying audiences since her wrote Saw in 2004, and Insidious, Upgrade and more have come from is mind.
With The Invisible Man, he takes another interesting step forward, and breaks new ground with a concept I thought had been done to death.
It follows Cecilia, a fragile woman who escapes her abusive ex, only to find out weeks later he’s committed suicide and left her all his money. But she doesn’t believe he’s actually dead.
She soon comes to think he’s made himself invisible and is haunting her in grotesque ways.
Elisabeth Moss is perfection as Cecilia, and the film truly doesn’t work without her commitment to the role. She really brings her all here.
Invisible Man has so many twists and turns, and if the frights don’t get you, it’s a worthy showcase for Mad Men alum Moss nonetheless.
The Card Counter
Available On Prime Video
Writer-director Paul Schrader is the man who penned Taxi Driver, and has been an icon in the film world for decades.
The last five or so years have seen him very much go his own way, and directing his own screenplays, to mixed results.
He was incredibly successful with Ethan Hawke-starring First Reformed, and repeats here with Oscar Isaac-fronted The Card Counter.
It’s a story of redemption following William, ex-military interrogator who is now a gambler. He’s haunted by his past as he tries to plot revenge and takes on a young protege.
Isaac is joined by Tiffany Haddish (in a deep dramatic turn), Tye Sheridan and Willem Dafoe, and they all do a fantastic job.
It’s a haunting little film, and though it doesn’t always hit the mark, there’s no way you’ll forget it.
Source Code
Available On Netflix
One of the best sci-fi films in recent years, this flick took me by absolute surprise, and refused to let me go.
It follows a soldier who wakes up in another body and figures out he’s being used in an experimental government program to find a bomber on a commuter train.
Trapped in a time-loop, it’s high-stakes Groundhog Day, and he only has eight minutes to solve the puzzle and save lives.
Director Duncan Jones – known for Moon and Warcraft – makes the best film of his career here.
Jake Gyllenhaal is fabulous, as are leading ladies Michelle Monaghan and Vera Farmiga.
It’s a genre movie that transcends, and one of the hidden gems of the 2010s.
Kevin Can F… Himself
Available On Prime Video
FX’s pitch-black satire of popular Kevin James sitcom Kevin Can Wait is hilarious, poignant and a perfect skewering of the genre.
It follows a woman who cooks, cleans and works full-time to sustain the habits and hijinks of her silly, buffoon of a husband and his friends & family.
Her husband Kevin is, frankly, clueless. And as she despairs to escape her life, Allison plots to kill her him.
Annie Murphy – of Schitt’s Creek – is great here, as are Raymond Lee, Eric Petersen and Mary Hollis Inboden.
It’s a bit tonally off, but it’s renewed for a second season. This show is definitely worth catching up on.
We
NUISANCE BYLAW
The Nuisance Bylaw for the Town of Eston was recently updated.
“Nuisance” means a condition of property, or a thing, or an activity, which adversely affects or may adversely affect:
• The safety, health or welfare of people in the neighbourhood
• People’s use and enjoyment of their property; or
• The amenity of a neighbourhood and includes;
• A building in a ruinous or dilapidated state of repair;
• An unoccupied building that is damaged and is an imminent danger to public safety;
• Land that is overgrown with grass and weeds;
• Untidy and unsightly property;
• Nuisance vehicles; and
• Open excavations on property;
• Inoperable appliances stored outside;
• Dilapidated furniture
You can find more information on this and other bylaws at www.eston.ca.
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Put your restlessness to good use by indulging the Arian love of exploring new places and seeking new challenges. There also could be a new romance waiting to be “discovered.”
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) A surprise message from someone in your past could lead to a long-awaited reunion with a once-close friend. Also, look for a workplace problem to be resolved in your favor.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Your self-confidence is rising, and that should be a significant factor in helping you adjust to a new social situation, as well as adjusting to a series of changes in the workplace.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Turnabout could be lots of fun when someone who previously accepted your tender, loving care without question now suggests that he or she wants to start taking care of you.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) Put the lessons you learned from past disappointments to work in planning your future. The way ahead opens to opportunities “purrfectly” suited to the adventurous Lion.
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) This is a good time to renew contacts with family members and/or old friends who somehow slipped off your personal viewing screen in recent years. Travel also is favored.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Most problems surrounding that recent personal situation have been resolved, and that means you should move on to other things that are important to you.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Spend this weekend recharging your physical and spiritual energies. When you return to your workaday world, you’ll be ready to take on that new project.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Be careful how you advise a troubled friend. Even your wise counsel could be misunderstood. Better to suggest that he or she seek professional help.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Family problems once again dominate and, once again, everyone seeks your guidance in these matters. Later, you can indulge in some much-needed relaxation.
1. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the Adriatic Sea located?
2. MEASUREMENTS: How many centimeters are equivalent to 100 inches?
3. MOVIES: Who was the famous person portrayed in the movie “The Aviator”?
4. FOOD & DRINK: When did the first selfserve grocery store open?
5. FAMOUS QUOTES: Which 19th century author once wrote, “It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade”?
6. TELEVISION: Frank Costanza was the dad in which 1990s TV comedy show?
7. LITERATURE: Sir Walter Scott wrote novels about which country?
8. ART: What kind of stone did the Renaissance artist Michelangelo like using in his sculptures?
9. ADVERTISING SLOGANS: What product did the “Most Interesting Man in the World” advertise on TV?
10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What unique sense do butterflies have in their feet? © 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Some mixed signals create confusion in the workplace. Best advice: Ask for explanations before you attempt to deal with any of these matters on your own.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20) A patch of roiling water in the workplace could be threatening, but stay the course and you’ll soon be clear of it. Then go out and have a great time with loved ones.
BORN THIS WEEK: Your extraordinary leadership qualities mark you as someone people can turn to for guidance in difficult situations.
Trivia Test Answerst
1. Between the Italian and Balkan peninsulas; 2. 254 centimeters; 3. Howard Hughes (by actor Leonardo DiCaprio); 4. 1916, Piggly -Wig gly store in Memphis, Tennessee; 5. Charles Dickens; 6. “Seinfeld”;
7. Scotland; 8. Marble; 9. Dos Equis beer; 10. Taste
HZN.kindersleyshared@hubinternational.com
Sports with Bruce Penton
Handful of teams have shot at Stanley Cup
Unless there are some extraordinary transactions at the National Hockey League’s March 21 trade deadline, it’s becoming fairly obvious that only six or seven teams have a legitimate shot at this year’s Stanley Cup.
Sorry, Leafs’ fans, your team’s probably still one of the outsiders. But 1967 was a great year, right? For the third straight season, there’s a good chance the Stanley Cup will be won by a team based in that frigid, ice-capped hockey hotbed of Florida. Tampa Bay Lightning were winners in 2020 and 2021, and they have a good shot at making it three in a row, thanks to their packed lineup featuring Sergei Vasilevskiy in goal, Steven Stamkos, Bryaden Point and Nikita Kucherov up front, and the game’s best (or second-best) defenceman, Victor Hedman. But if it’s not the Lightning, then it could be their cross-state rivals, Florida Panthers. Florida lost its coach, Joel Quenneville, in the first month, but didn’t skip a beat, leading the Atlantic Conference almost all season. Florida is strong in goal with Sergei Bobrovsky and feature the highest-scoring team in the NHL — led by Sasha Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, Sam Reinhart and defenceman Aaron Ekblad.
If the Cup winds up being displayed outside of Florida, watch for it being paraded around by players from one of the ‘C” teams — Carolina, Colorado or Calgary. The Hurricanes posted the league’s best winning percentage most of the season and coach Rod Brind’Amour seems to get the best out of his personnel; Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen leading the way up front with Jacob Slavin on defence and Frederik Andersen in goal having outstanding seasons. Colorado has the big offensive quartet of Nazem Kadri, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog, along with arguably the game’s best (or second best) defenceman, Cale Makar. Flames’
fans have been encouraged by a resurgence by Johnny Gaudreau, and his powerplay pals Matthew Tkachuk and Elias Lindholm have been stalwart. Goalie Jacob Markstrom gives Calgary stability in the net that their northern cousins in Edmonton wish they had.
Who else? The Rangers have a chance, thanks in part to their Panarin-Kreider-Zibanejad trio on offence and starry goaltending by Igor Shesterkin. Can’t ever count out Sidney Crosby and Pittsburgh, who have picked up steam after a slow start. Two other dark horses might be Minnesota Wild and the Leafs, who just may ride the coattails of Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner to playoff success.
But hey, it’s still early. Teams still have 20 or so games to play and, who knows? Maybe the Oilers will start a rebuild by shipping Connor McDavid off to the Leafs for a package of draft picks, the entire CD collection of Drake, and lifetime admission for Edmontonians to the CN Tower. Hey, if the Oilers could trade Gretzky. …
• Nick Canepa of The San Diego Union-Tribune, on Falcons owner Arthur Blank calling the NFL’s lack of minority head-coaching hires ‘just not acceptable’: “It’s apparently acceptable in Atlanta, where his Falcons are one of 13 franchises never to have a Black head coach.”
• Bob Molinaro of pilotonline. com:: “Lent is the season for giving up things. Or possibly in the case of the Lakers, just giving up.”
• Susie Maxwell Berning, inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame the same night as Tiger Woods: “Tiger, I know it’s hard to believe as young as I am but I won all of my majors before you were born. I won $16,000 for all four. I was wondering if you’d like to swap cheques?”
• Comedy writer Erid Stangel, on Twitter, just before the lockout ended: “If #MLB cancels any more games, the Pirates are going to get mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.”
• Golf broadcaster David Feherty at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, looking around the Global Home facility: “This building is so big it’s almost big enough to contain the egos of Brooks and Bryson.”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “Whenever I see BJ Neufeld, former third for Manitoba’s Mike McEwen, playing for Kevin Koe in Alberta, I think the same thing. Sweeping with the enemy.”
• Headline at fark.com: “Green Bay Packers punish Rodgers with 4-year, $200 million contract.”
• Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley has been suspended for the 2022 season for betting on NFL games. Evidently he didn’t get the express written consent of the NFL’s official betting partners, Caesars, DraftKings and FanDuel.”
• Another one from Perry: “Packers QB Aaron Rodgers officiated at teammate David Bakhtiari’s wedding on March 5. No word on whether Bakhtiari got the Rodgers rate, but the QB did get the bridesmaids to jump offside with a hard count.”
• TNT’s Charles Barkley, to ESPN Radio, on Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: “I think he’s the pretty girl that you gotta tell her she’s pretty every day.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
