Red Deer Advocate, December 08, 2015 by Black Press Media Group

JONES KENDRICK JOINS THE KING RIDERS Rapper leads Grammys with 11 nominations

SPORTS — PAGE B3

PAGE A10

Red Deer Advocate TUESDAY, DEC. 8, 2015

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Role in shootout nets man time served

Plastics recycling program expands

BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF A Vancouver man was sentenced to time served for his role in a shootout that left three people wounded, two from shotgun blasts. With the Crown facing witness credibility issues and potentially violating the accused’s right to a speedy trial, a plea deal was struck that ended the two-year, nine-month prosecution of Bradley Alexander Voykin, 26. Voykin pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon and pointing a firearm. Justice Kirk Sisson sentenced Voykin to 19-and-a-half months in custody. He was given credit for serving the entirety of his sentence before the guilty plea. Voykin and a few other people were partying at a Balmoral Heights residence on March 18, 2013, including the primary resident Robin Stewart. At about midnight the social gathering had ended and Stewart went to bed. He was awoken to noise from the rec room and went to investigate. He saw Voykin and another individual attempting to take items. A gun battle ensued. Though it is unclear who shot who, Voykin took a close-range blast to his chest from a 12-gauge shotgun, and Stewart took a 12-gauge-shotgun blast to his leg. The third individual was shot with a 9-mm handgun in the groin and body. Voykin and the other man left Stewart and left the house. Stewart called Teresa Hellwig, who was at the party, to warn them about Voykin and the other man. Hellwig was in a car in Stewart’s driveway. Voykin left the residence holding a 12-gauge shotgun, his co-accused had in his hand a strong box. Voykin pointed the shotgun at Hellwig and said they needed to get to a hospital. Voykin and the other man left in the car.

Please see SHOOTOUT on Page A2

Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff

City of Red Deer councillor Ken Johnston, Mayor Tara Veer, and councillors Lawrence Lee and Diane Wyntjes attended an announcement at the City of Red Deer Waste Management facility Monday. Waste management supervisor Janet Whitesell announced the city blue box recycling program will accept all numbered plastics. BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF Recyclers rejoice. Effective immediately, plastics No. 1 through No. 7 will be accepted in the City of Red Deer blue box program, multi-family bins and at drop-off depots just in time for yuletide season. Up until now the only plastic accepted for recycling by the city was No. 2. Now plastics like small yogurt containers, Tim Hortons cup lids, clamshell packing used for selling baked goods, plant pots, household detergent bottles and more can be recycled. “It will really expand the types of containers residents can recycle,” said Janet Whitesell, waste management superintendent, at the recycling announcement made at the city’s Waste Management Facility on Monday. “It is something we routinely hear

‘IT IS SOMETHING WE ROUTINELY HEAR FROM OUR CUSTOMERS, THAT THEY’D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO RECYCLE MORE ITEMS SO WE’RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR SERVICE LEVEL AND MEET THAT EXPECTATION.’ — JANET WHITESELL, WASTE MANAGEMENT SUPERINTENDENT from our customers, that they’d like to be able to recycle more items so we’re really excited to be able to increase our service level and meet that expectation.” Recycling expansion will not affect current monthly utility charges for customers. The additional level of service does incur some additional costs for the City, but these were already incorporated into the 2016 utility rates submitted in the operating budget. The resin identification code in the triangular recycling symbol can normally be found on the bottom or neck

of containers. Whitesell said the city has been looking to expand plastic recycling for a while. Working with the international company contracted for the blue box program, the city is confident there’s sufficient market for the plastics. “We do share the revenue with our contractor for the sale of the material. At best it tends to offset about 10 per cent of the cost of the program.”

Please see RECYCLING on Page A2

Negativity, stress climb as oil price plunges BY THE CANADIAN PRESS

Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff

An idle pump jack is silhouetted against the Prairie sky Monday as the sun set on another warm day. The price of oil dropped $2.32 to settle at US$37.65 a barrel on Monday, a level not seen since the 2008 financial crisis roiled world markets.

WEATHER Cloudy. High 5. Low -4.

FORECAST ON A2

INDEX Two sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business . . . . . . . A6-A7 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 Classified . . . . . . B6-B7 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . A8 Entertainment . . . . .A10 Sports . . . . . . . . . B3-B5

CALGARY — A year into the global oil price plummet, and Calgary’s boom-and-bust economy is decidedly leaning towards bust. Home prices are down, unemployment is up, food bank usage is climbing, and no one knows when things might turn around with oil below US$40 a barrel on Monday from highs of well over US$100 less than two years ago. “It’s very uneasy,” Stephen Scott, 45, who lost his engineering job at Cenovus Energy in an October wave of layoffs, said. “There are probably going to be more job cuts. People are still kind of living scared.” Scott says that even when he had a job, he was feeling the pressure. “There’s a lot of stress going

around, a lot of negative talk going around that’s inevitable with this going on in the industry. So it wasn’t fun, it really sucked the life out of the job.” Jackie Rafter, president of the career-counselling service Higher Landing, says the downturn has forced many people to make some tough decisions that include changing industries or even moving away from Calgary. “Unfortunately, a lot of professionals are now considering jobs outside of Calgary. These are people who would have never otherwise thought of leaving their roots here,” said Rafter. But those looking elsewhere for job opportunities are confronting a tough real estate market that may make it difficult to sell their homes. Listings in Calgary are climbing and house prices are down more than five per cent.

Please see DOWNTURN on Page A2

Beef, pork producers applaud WTO ruling The U.S. must repeal its discriminatory meat labelling provisions or face Canadian retaliation, two cabinet minsters said. Story on PAGE A6

PLEASE RECYCLE

A2 RED DEER ADVOCATE Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015

POOL MAINTENANCE

CITY COUNCIL

Council paves way for development north of Hwy 11A BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF Red Deer is moving north of Hwy 11A. Council gave first readings to three high-level documents that will eventually pave the way for development in the area that was annexed from the County of Red Deer in 2009. It contains about 22 quarter sections bounded by Hwy 2, Hwy 11A, the Red Deer River and the County of Red Deer. The long-term vision is one that includes a mix of land uses including residential, commercial, light industrial, parks and mixed residential/commercial. Mayor Tara Veer said development will be phased in over time. “We need to prepare for the future,” she said. “It’s positive in that we are positioning Red Deer for comparative advantage when we return to growth-driven years.” But Veer had some concerns about the amount of proposed industrial. She said there currently some challenges between the existing residential areas and the industrial in the vicinity. “It does concern me that by adding more industrial to what will be a predominantly residential area in the west will further exacerbate those existing challenges,” said Veer.

Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff

City of Red Deer lifeguard Nancy Treffry works to remove stains from the tiles on the pool deck at the Recreation Centre swimming pool on Monday. The pool is undergoing its annual scheduled maintenance program and will be closed until Monday December 28.

Please see COUNCIL on Page A3

STORIES FROM PAGE A1

SHOOTOUT: Sentence at low end of the range Crown Prosecutor Ed Ring and defence counsel Andrew Phypers acknowledged the sentence is at the low end of the range for these offences. Ring said that a lengthy preliminary hearing, which started on May 5, 2014 and concluded on Aug. 31, 2015, left the case vulnerable to defence motions around court delays. He said had the case gone to trial, the defence would have had a strong argument to dismiss due to not being tried in a reasonable time. The second issue was the reliability of the main witness, the victim in this case. Throughout the lengthy pre-trial period, Ring said his testimony was inconsistent and would have been challenged. Phypers said none of the delays were the defence’s fault, adding one delay was due the absence of a judge and one scheduled court appearance. Since the incident, Voykin said he has changed his life. He is now a father and has steady employment as a drywaller in Vancouver. Joshua Cusler, 29, of Red Deer will enter his pleas later this month on Dec. 17. He accused of being Voykin’s accomplice. He is charged with aggravated assault, extortion, robbery with a firearm and breaching his recognizance. mcrawford@reddeeradvocate.com

RECYCLING: Potential to reduce garbage But recycling has the potential to reduce the amount of garbage that ends up in the city landfill. She said in 2013 the city adopted a 10-year goal to reduce waste down to 500 kilograms per capita per year. Right now 900 to 1,000 kilograms per capita per year is buried in the landfill. “Certainly there’s some big steps to take to achieve (the goal). But with the participation of residents in programs like this, they’re certainly achievable.” Red Deer currently collects about 4,500 metric tons a year of recycling from the blue box and

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multi-family program. She said it’s difficult to say how much more will be collected now, but 92 per cent of residents at single family homes recycle with blue boxes. “Plastics are really light so we expect the volume to go up quite a bit, but we track everything by weight.” Residents can get a second blue box for free to hold more plastics and have it delivered by the city by calling the Blue Line at 403-340-BLUE (2583). Plastics the city will not accept for recycling are plastic films (grocery bags, bubble wrap, food wrap), Styrofoam (containers, packing peanuts), and unnumbered plastics. Whiteshell said the plastic bags gum up conveyor belts at recycling storting facilities when they are included in blue boxes. But a number of grocery stores in the city do collect plastic bags. Blue boxes are collected on the same day as curbside garbage and are picked up on all statutory holidays with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Residents should prepare recyclable materials by rinsing them out to ensure they are free of any food contamination, and discard small lids as they cannot be processed at the recycling facility. For a full list of acceptable items that can go in the blue box, visit reddeer.ca/recycling. szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

DOWNTURN: A definite shift in business Thomas Keeper, a real estate agent in Calgary, says sellers are struggling even after they slash their listing prices. “I definitely see a lot of sellers that are desperate to sell. And here’s the unfortunate part — they’re desperate to sell, but it still isn’t selling,” he said. Those sinking house prices are also eating into homeowners’ ability to borrow against the value of their houses, said Mark Kalinowski, a credit counsellor with the non-profit Credit Counselling Society. Kalinowski says he’s seen a definite shift in business as more and more people grapple with the downturn. He recently had to advise a contractor who had been making $180,000 a year but suddenly found himself without work or savings, and was behind on his taxes. “People get into that mentality that it’s only going to get better and better,” said Kalinowski. But he expects worse is yet to come as severance

programs start to run out in the new year. “People are optimistic that they’ll find a job in that period of time, but I don’t know that that’s realistic,” he said. “I think the real pain starts next year.” But while the oilpatch downturn is creating stress in the city, others are seeing it as an opportunity. Dan Harmsen, a commercial real estate agent in the city, says that oil and gas have been so profitable — and such a dominant force in the Alberta and Calgary economies — that it hasn’t allowed other industries to thrive. “Most other industries — their labour costs and space costs are a significant portion of their profit or loss statement. In oil and gas, office space is an after-thought,” said Harmsen. That means lower rent costs could help the high tech sector, creative industries like advertising and others that have struggled to afford space. “We finally have an opportunity to diversify our economy,” said Harmsen. Some laid-off workers in Calgary are also making the most of their forced time off. Marian Hanna was the president of a Canadian oil services company before the parent company closed the entire office in July and moved it to Houston. She’s says she’s looked for work both in Calgary and internationally, but there aren’t many opportunities. In the meantime, she’s taking a director’s education program to get ready to serve on company boards, while also heading a professional society of exploration geophysicists and delving into policy issues. “I’m trying to do the best of all possible things in this rather dismal outlook,” said Hanna. Jon MacConnell, who was laid off from Pengrowth Energy in September, has since incorporated his own company. He said the major companies often cut too many jobs in these situations, and he wants to be ready to fill the gap as a consultant. “The cost point will come down and we will start to see some price recovery here,” said MacConnell. “I think that by mid-way through 2016, most of the deep pain should be over and people will start to get their feet underneath them.” Scott, for his part, says he’s taking the opportunity to look at other industries — including renewables or aviation — to find a career that might better suit his interests. In the meantime, he’s trying to remain positive. “This is my first time being laid off, and sometimes you have to wake up in the morning and say: ‘This is when I need to be tough, and once I get through this I’ll be a better person for it.”’

Numbers are unofficial.

Weather TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

HIGH 5

LOW -4

HIGH 0

HIGH -1

HIGH -4

Cloudy.

Increasing cloudiness.

Cloudy.

A mix of sun and cloud. Low -12.

Sunny. Low -13.

REGIONAL OUTLOOK Calgary: today, increasing cloudiness. High 9. Low 0.

Lethbridge: today, cloudy. High 12. Low 3.

Olds, Sundre: today, increasing cloudiness. High 9. Low -4.

Edmonton: today, 60% showers. High 3. Low -6.

Rocky, Nordegg: today, 60% flurries. High 3. Low -7.

Grande Prairie: today, snow mixed with rain. High 1. Low -9.

Banff: today, snow. High 5. Low 0.

Fort McMurray: today, 60% periods of light snow. High -5. Low -8.

Jasper: today, snow. High 4. Low -5.

WINDCHILL/SUNLIGHT

TONIGHT’S HIGHS/LOWS

FORT MCMURRAY

-5/-8 GRANDE PRAIRIE

1/-9

EDMONTON

3/-6 JASPER

4/-5

RED DEER

5/-4 BANFF

5/0 Windchill/frostbite risk: Low Low: Low risk Moderate: 30 minutes exposure High -5 to 10 minutes: High risk in 5 to 10 minutes High -2 to 5 minutes: High risk in 2 to 5 minutes Extreme: High risk in 2 minutes Sunset tonight: 4:23 p.m. Sunrise Wednesday: 8:32 a.m.

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ALBERTA

TUESDAY, DEC. 8, 2015

NDP amends Bill 6 OPPONENTS SAY CONFUSION REIGNS BY THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON — Alberta has introduced amendments to clarify that its contentious farm safety bill won’t kill the family farm — but opponents say the process is now so muddled the bill should be scrapped. The amendments, introduced Monday, state that workers’ compensation benefits and occupational health and safety rules will only apply on farms that have paid workers. Farms that are run by families will be exempt, even ones where kin are paid to do work. That’s the opposite of what the government promised three weeks ago when it introduced Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act. At that time, the government said farm volunteers and children would be subject to occupational health and safety safety rules. Jobs Minister Lori Sigurdson said the original information was wrong and that the amendments reflect the government’s long-standing policy position. “This was our intent all along,” said Sigurdson, adding there was miscommunication on the issue. Bill 6 has become the focus of a widespread backlash by farmers. In the last two weeks, they have held rallies, driven protest convoys of farm equipment and jammed government information meetings, where ministers have been

Council approves Downtown Business Association spending Businesses in downtown Red Deer will be asked to pitch in more next year. Council approved the Downtown Business Association (DBA)’s spending for 2016 on Monday. The $632,595 approved budget comes with an eight per cent increase in the business revitalization zone (BRZ) levy. The business revitalization levy will bring in $375,845 in 2016 compared to $348,005 in 2015. But it was the issue of business attrition in the downtown that took root in debate. Some councillors were concerned about the number of businesses in the downtown leaving to the suburbs or the city altogether. There are 490 businesses in the BRZ compared to 497 in 2014. “We have placed high priority on our high retention and attraction study in order to make sure Red Deer is competitive for business and business chooses to locate in Red Deer, specifically downtown Red Deer,” said Mayor Tara Veer. “We expect that report in January.” There is also talk about expanding the downtown boundaries. More on this is expected in 2016. In 1984 businesses in the downtown formed a BRZ with a mission to guide the progress of Red Deer’s central business district. It is governed by the DBA’s board of directors.

Operators of an Airdrie company facing child labour and safety charges, skipped their scheduled trial Monday leading to warrants for their arrest. A 14-year-old boy fell four metres off of a roof in July 2014. At the time the teen was working on the roof of a home in Lacombe. He was hospitalized briefly with injuries. Vital Contracting Ltd. of Airdrie is charged with several offences including failure to keep employment records, failing to ensure the health and safety of the worker, failing to train the worker in fall protection, failing to develop a fall protection plan and failing to provide the worker with competent, direct supervision. They were scheduled to go to trial on Monday in Red Deer provincial court. While defence counsel was present, company operators Kalika Northrup and Lee Oliver Northrup did not arrive in court and the trial did not go ahead. Warrants were issued for the two and charges were withdrawn against David Bartsch, who was also accused in the matter. The case will return on March 4, 2016.

stressed the legislation is about bringing safety and security to farm workers. However, Sigurdson said that under the amendments, occupational health and safety can investigate if a paid worker is killed driving a piece of farm equipment, but now won’t be allowed to if a child is killed driving that same piece of equipment on a family farm. Still, said Sigurdson, the bill is “a step forward.” The bill is moving slowly through the legislature as many opposition members take the opportunity to speak to it. Government house leader Brian Mason has said the opposition has moved beyond reasoned debate and is now just trying to eat up time on the legislative clock to keep the bill from passing. On Monday, unions in the province lent their support to Bill 6, saying there will be fewer farm deaths if workers have workplace rights. “It is really about removing the exemptions in law that have denied Alberta’s 50,000 agricultural workers the same kind of basic rights and freedoms in the workplace that other Albertans take for granted every day,” said Gil McGowan, head of the Alberta Federation of Labour. The 112 people who have died in workplace incidents on Alberta farms since 2009 were commemorated at the news conference.

Don Martin acknowledges that part of Scud Stud article was ‘not true’

BRIEF

Firm facing child labour charges a trial no show

shouted at and criticized. Opposition parties have taken up the farmers’ fight in the legislature. They say there needs to be more time for consultation with people affected by the bill, which touches on a range of issues. The Wildrose party has begun holding its own public consultation sessions. Wildrose member Jason Nixon said even with the changes “this bill still creates confusion, frustration and anger amongst Alberta’s farming community. Their voices have not been properly heard.” Progressive Conservative House Leader Richard Starke said he believes the government did initially want to bring family farms under health and safety rules. “That was the way they wanted to go. And when this furor erupted, they started backtracking in a huge way and saying, ‘OK, what do we have to pull out of this (bill) to maybe salvage the situation?”’ said Starke. If passed, the bill will give farm workers the right to workers’ compensation benefits if hurt on the job, along with the right to refuse unsafe work, starting Jan. 1. Specific rules and exemptions on occupational health and safety rules are to be drawn up in the months that follow in consultation with farmers to reflect the unique needs of the industry. The bill also introduces reforms to employment standards and labour relations, with details to be hashed out in the coming year. Notley, speaking to the bill last week,

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY — A writer who penned a column critical of Arthur Kent during an Alberta election campaign acknowledged during testimony Monday that a paragraph in his article was not true. Don Martin, Postmedia and the National Post, are being sued for defamation by Kent, who became known as the Scud Stud for his Gulf War reporting on U.S. television. Martin’s 2008 column was headlined ‘Scud Stud’ a ‘Dud’ on the Election Trail. While cross-examining Martin on Monday, Kent’s lawyer Michael Bates pointed to a paragraph that read: “Alberta Conservatives have bestowed problem candidate Arthur Kent with a less flattering designation as he noisily blusters his way through their reeling election campaign — the Dud Scud.” “Isn’t it the reality that one person —

that you say you can’t remember — told you that Arthur Kent was the Dud Stud? It’s one person isn’t it?” Bates asked. “Could be,” Martin responded. “Your article characterizes it as a large group of Albertans have bestowed him with that new name and that’s not true, is it?” Bates persisted. “I’d write it differently today,” replied Martin. “You’d write it differently today because as it sits in Exhibit 1 it’s not true, correct?” Bates asked. “That paragraph is not true. Correct.” Kent ran unsuccessfully for the Progressive Conservatives in 2008. Martin’s column portrayed him as an egocentric celebrity candidate who had thrown his own campaign off the rails by speaking out against his party and its leader. It used unnamed party sources and Martin admitted he didn’t contact Kent directly for comment.

FROM A2

COUNCIL: Challenges Some of the features in the area include former landfill sites, Hazlett Lake, the Chilies Industrial Park, agricultural land and a residential area in Central Park. Veer said while the area has lots of opportunities, there are development challenges particularly because of the landfill once operated by the county. The city will face transportation pressures particularly during peak flow when people are going to and from work in the industrial area to the south. There will be limited access into the area as motorists will have to turn off the major highways into the area. Veer said any planning has to bare the limited access in mind. “As we develop north of Hwy 11A, we need to work very proactively with Alberta Transportation and Red Deer County to address those transportation pressures that exist now,” said Veer. “They have to be well ahead for when additional development occurs in the area because it will become so much more substantial. Coun. Frank Wong said the long-term plan is not perfect but he does not want the plan dragged out any more. He is pleased that administration has recommended reviewing the plan in five years. Wong said it will truly be a place where people can work, live and play. Three public hearings have been held on the proposed plans in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Recent concerns were about the lack of a high school in the plans, well servicing, noise levels and protection of wetlands. A public hearing is slated for Jan. 18 in council chambers. crhyno@reddeeradvocate.com-

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COMMENT

A4 Charity tax credit system changing

There was a time in my life when off your income, they created a system I felt I was rich. My wife and I had of non-refundable tax points (“non-repaid off the mortgage, we had no car fundable” means they never disapor credit card debt, our children had pear; they’re yours until you claim graduated and left home, and we were them.) both still working full-time. The tax points count Good years. One can feel against your taxes, not your rich without actually being income, and for almost all rich, and it’s a whole lot of us, that’s a bonus. A subeasier to achieve. sidy, really. Along the way, there was The points count thus: always one tax break that in On the first $200 of charirelative terms advantaged table receipts you enclose us more in our modest inwith your tax return, claim come bracket than ever ad15 per cent (that happens vantaged the truly rich: the to be the lowest income non-refundable tax credits tax rate, and the rate the for charitable donations vast majority of us pay on over $200 a year. the majority of our income). GREG Philanthropic foundaOn receipts above $200, NEIMAN tion Imagine Canada sent claim 29 per cent (also the out a warning recently that highest current income tax OPINION unless the federal governrate, which only the top inment tweaks the tables for come-earners in Canada calculating that non-refundable credit, pay). it may cost rich people more to give Prime minister Justin Trudeau generously. In fact, they ran numbers promised in his election campaign to saying top-level income earners will add a new tax bracket: 33 per cent for be taxed more harshly if they give sig- taxable income over $200,000. nificantly to charity than if they simply Until I read the warning from Imagkeep the money. ine Canada, I felt I could pretty well As for the rest of us? Generosity will ignore that promise; it will never, evalways pay. Here’s how. er affect me. But I’m paying attention The feds set up the tax system to now. encourage charitable giving. Money Could it be possible that my donagiven to charities would not be taxed tions over $200 might get me 33 per as income. But instead of simply al- cent in points off my taxes, even lowing you to deduct your donations though my income is only taxed at 15

TUESDAY, DEC. 8, 2015

per cent? That’s not a refund, that’s a subsidy, and I’ll gladly take it. Especially considering that the Alberta government tops that refund to half of my donations. So, $1,000 in charitable donation receipts gets me $210 off my provincial taxes (refund at 21 per cent). That’s the equivalent of what I would have paid on $2,100 of taxable income at my low rate of 10 per cent in Alberta. That’s on top of the $264 I get back from the feds, which represents just over $1,700 of federally-taxable income at my low tax bracket of 15 per cent. But for rich guys, like our prime minister, it’s a different story. If the top refund rate does not match the top income tax rate, the wealthy get “double-taxed” on the difference. They pay income tax on money they never got to keep. That’s a problem for Imagine Canada, and the big, industrial-scale charities that raise big bucks from wealthy donors. In Alberta (as with all of Canada), the rich really do the heavy lifting when it comes to charitable giving. According to Imagine Canada, half of Alberta donors give less than $160 a year, not enough to trigger the big tax savings. But our average donation rate is high for the nation: $812. That means we have a good population of high rollers who happen to be generous. What happens if they begin to find their generosity is not recognized the

way it used to be? Remember, Alberta is also adding new income tax brackets. Without going into detail, the rate is slated to slide up from the current 10 per cent everyone pays, to 15 per cent on taxable incomes over $300,000. The higher the tax rate, the greater the disincentive for the rich to make big donations, if the tax credits for being generous are not also recalculated. December is “harvest time” for charities. About 60 per cent of Canadians will give a total of $5 billion to charity this month, which is about 40 per cent of the entire year’s total. But our charities’ need is higher during this fiscal slowdown as well. Charities report higher traffic at food banks, soup kitchens, shelters, Christmas Bureaus, mental health supports and more. Canada can hardly afford to de-incentivize the rich from making large donations right now. But the incentives are still there for the vast majority of us who should merely feel rich. If you look at the plight of refugees and the poor around the world, and consider a cold winter ahead for the newly-unemployed here at home, it’s not hard to feel rich. Find a charitable cause that inspires you, and see what it feels like to be a high roller. Follow Greg Neiman’s blog at Readersadvocate.blogspot.ca.

Advocate letters policy The Advocate welcomes letters on public issues from readers. Letters must be signed with the writer’s first and last name, plus address and phone number. Pen names may not be used. Letters will be published with the writer’s name. Addresses and phone numbers won’t be published. Letters should be brief and deal with a single topic; try to keep them under 300 words. The Advocate will not interfere with the free expression of opinion on public issues submitted by readers, but reserves the right to refuse publication and to edit all letters for public interest, length, clarity, legality, personal abuse or good taste. The Advocate will not publish statements that indicate unlawful discrimination or intent to discriminate against a person or class of persons, or are likely to expose people to hatred or contempt because of race, colour, religious beliefs, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, source of income, marital status, family status or sexual orientation. Due to the volume of letters we receive, some submissions may not be published. Mail submissions or drop them off to Letters to the Editor, Red Deer Advocate, 2950 Bremner Ave., T4R 1M9; or e-mail to editorial@reddeeradvocate. com.

Bill 6 threatens future of farm families Recently at Farmfair International in Edmonton, a 16 year-old 4-H member won the Supreme Champion Female with her entry. When she was 13 (a child then) she purchased the calf and with hard work she now has a cow that she can be very proud to own. If Bill 6 introduced by the NDP becomes law this can never happen again because children will not be allowed to work our in the barn or field. It will be OK for them to do chores in the house or garden, I guess that must not be considered work. That being said what is the future of 4-H, an organization that promotes health and well being among our youth? I imagine you could have a photography club or maybe a debate club to debate how ill thought out Bill 6 really is. There has been little or no consultation with those it affects and the bill is going to be passed on to the consumer as it is when you get further down the food chain. The family farm or ranch is already a pretty fragile operation and added costs with no benefits in return will cause even more operations to go under. Bill 6 has very little to do with health and safety, and very much to do with organizing labour and possibly getting a union formed. People of rural Alberta, it is time to stand up and protest the legislation the NDP is jamming down your throat. It will become law on Jan. 1, 2016 and they will fill in all the blanks at a later date without input. Please tell your government you want them to slow down and get it right before they forge ahead with new laws. To the people of the towns and cities, we need your to help and understanding, we are under siege and need your help as well.

CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER Published at 2950 Bremner Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta, T4R 1M9 by The Red Deer Advocate Ltd. Canadian Publications Agreement #336602 Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation Mary Kemmis Publisher mkemmis@reddeeradvocate.com Josh Aldrich jaldrich@reddeeradvocate.com Managing editor

Richard Preston Hanna

Farmer, oilfield worker feels held back by government I Connor T. Layton, a registered voter and permanent resident of Alberta and Canada, would like to raise a complaint against the Alberta NDP for discrimination and prejudice. This is not a complaint against one member, it is against the whole group. The Alberta NDP seem dead set on crushing my hopes and aspirations for my life. They aim to keep me impoverished and too trodden down to have a political voice. These are not wild claims of extreme right wingism. This is me, as a worker in agriculture and the oilfield, voicing my struggles. I have a provincial government pushing through legislation that will effectively destroy my ambitions of ever taking over and expanding the family farm. As of now, I work full time in the oil and gas industry. The wages I earn are to be invested back into the farm. I live a modest lifestyle. I own an older mobile home and a pickup but yet I still barely get by. I go to work in the mornings during these uncertain times, not knowing whether or not it will be my last day earning a wage. Without my oilfield income I don’t have a hope of ever staying afloat when I start farming. Now the NDP are effectively planning on crippling agriculture and the oil industry. The proposed carbon tax could exceed an extra $3,000 a year in fuel cost for my farm. As it is right now the profit margins are minimal. I do not take any income off the

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farm and my parents barely make enough to get by. Hearing this news was a kick in the teeth but now we have Bill 6 introduced. So now what? I have to go home to the farm and do nothing on it because I houred out at work? Do I let the fields become weed patches because I already worked my daily maximum of 12 hours already?! And what about the cattle? Do I say to them “Sorry girls, can’t feed you today because my government won’t allow it?” And if the oil industry finally hits its last straw over the imposed carbon tax and I do lose my job what then? Sure I’ll have the government allowed time for my farm but how can I possibly do anything when I can’t afford to invest into the farm, fuel my equipment, pay for crop input costs, make land payments or for that matter feed myself? So now here I sit, looking at my future with much uncertainty and ask myself “What’s the point?” Why would I want to subject myself to a life of poverty? Why would I try to be a benefit to the economy and society by investing capital and time into a business when your government is set to take it all from me? Wouldn’t it be better to be a burden on society and rely on government assistance to make ends meet for the rest of my life? Now I ask of you, Alberta NDP, to stop this totalitarianism rampage. End the discrimination and prejudice against agriculture and the oil industry. Take a step back and look at who built this province. Remember that without hard working individuals this would not be as great of a province as it is. Stop your oppression of working class people and the businesses that keep them employed. And most of all, stop your interference and give us a chance to succeed at our goals in life. Connor Layton Rimbey

of member newspapers. The Press Council’s address: PO Box 2576, Medicine Hat, AB, T1A 8G8. Phone 403-580-4104. Email: abpress@telus. net. Website: www.albertapresscouncil.ca. Publisher’s notice The Publisher reserves the right to edit or reject any advertising copy; to omit or discontinue any advertisement. The advertiser agrees that the Publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of error in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the space actually occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which the error occurs. Circulation (403-314-4300) Single copy prices (Monday to Thurs-

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CANADA

TUESDAY, DEC. 8, 2015

Leaders use first School worried debate to refight about terrorism link election battles BY THE CANADIAN PRESS

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — Canada’s 42nd Parliament got down to business Monday, with the often-promised new era of civility sounding a lot like a brittle rehash of the federal election campaign. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair used debate on last week’s throne speech to refight the same election battles, with sparks flying between Liberals and Tories in particular. Ambrose issued a scathing critique of the new Liberal government’s throne speech, which was itself a recap of Trudeau’s election promises. Echoing the same criticisms levelled throughout the election campaign, she called the Liberal plan a recipe for intrusive government that thinks it knows best how to spend Canadians’ money. “What we did hear was a recipe for big government and big spending. So the question that every taxpayer wants us to ask this government is: where will the money come from to pay for all of this?” Ambrose told the House of Commons. “It only comes from one place and that’s out of the pockets of Canadians.” Treasury Board President Scott Brison questioned how Ambrose could make such an accusation when she had been a minister in what he termed “one of the biggest spending governments and the most wasteful governments in Canadian history.” He noted that the previous Conservative government added $150 billion to the national debt. The exchange prompted Ambrose to observe: “I think it’s been 25 minutes and the sunny ways are over.” But Ambrose was no slouch when it came to partisan shots. She took aim at Trudeau’s vow to withdraw Canadian fighter jets from the allied bombing campaign against Islamic radicals in Syria and Iraq. While the Americans, French, British

and Germans are all ramping up their efforts, Ambrose accused Trudeau of believing that “posing for selfies at international conferences is a better use of his time.” “Canada isn’t back. Canada is backing away,” she charged. Mulcair struck a more conciliatory tone, promising to work with the government “when our values and our policies coincide.” But he took the opportunity to recycle a number of planks from the NDP platform, urging Trudeau to hike taxes on large corporations and introduce a $15-an-hour federal minimum wage. He also touted two other favourite NDP election promises: universal, affordable child care and abolition of the Senate. As he did during the campaign, Mulcair criticized the centrepiece of the Liberal platform — the plan to cut taxes for Canadians in the $49,000-$89,000 income tax bracket while raising taxes on the wealthiest one per cent — as smoke and mirrors. The plan will actually benefit wealthy Canadians the most and do nothing for 70 per cent of taxpayers, he said, urging Trudeau to expand the tax cut to those in the lowest income tax bracket. For his part, Trudeau essentially repeated the throne speech, in slightly greater detail. But he took a veiled shot at the previous Conservative regime, which campaigned on hot button identity issues, including a proposed ban on Muslim women wearing the face-covering niqab during citizenship ceremonies. Extolling the virtues of diversity, Trudeau said some Canadians have, at times, “been the target of hateful words and deeds, simply because they look different, speak a different language, choose to wear different clothes or practice a different faith.” But he argued that “intolerance stands little chance” in Canada and pointed to the recent election as proof that Canadians reject attempts to pit one group against another.

TORONTO — The Canadian branch of an Islamic foundation distanced itself Monday from the woman who carried out last week’s mass shooting in California following reports she had attended one of the group’s schools in Pakistan. The Al Huda Institute Canada condemned the attack by Tashfeen Malik and her husband — which left 14 people dead and 21 wounded — and expressed concerns about a possible backlash against the foundation, which has been criticized for teaching a particularly conservative strain of Islam. “Religious conservatism is one thing. You have people who are conservative in all faiths,” said Imran Haq, the institute’s operations manager. “Extremism is something completely separate and there is absolutely no strain of that here.” The women-only institute, located in Mississauga, Ont., was founded in 2005 by Farhat Hashmi, a Pakistani scholar who lived in Canada at one point but hasn’t resided in the country “for many years,” Haq said. It is among a number of branches across Pakistan, the U.S. and the U.K. which all teach ideology and principles she has promoted. The Al Huda institutes have come

under the spotlight after it emerged that Malik attended a branch in the Pakistani central city of Multan. The region where the school is located is home to thousands of extremist seminaries, with hundreds of them linked to al-Qaida and the Pakistani Taliban. While Hashmi has been criticized for being very conservative, her schools, however, have no known links to extremists. Malik spent more than a year at Al Huda, taking classes six days a week, but didn’t finish a two-year course to study the Qur’an, its translation and interpretation, the Pakistani school’s spokeswoman Farrukh Chaudhry said. She was a student there from April 17, 2013 until May 3, 2014, when she handed in her last paper in the firstyear curriculum, the spokeswoman said. Malik said she was going to get married and move to America, and promised to complete her studies by mail correspondence, but that never happened, Chaudhry said. “I have talked to her teachers, her classmates and everybody says she was a hardworking, friendly, helpful and obedient student,” Chaudhry said, adding that “no one ever noticed any signs of radicalization.”

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OTTAWA — The new Speaker of the Senate says the upper chamber’s spending rules didn’t need to spell out every detail of what was allowed to be expensed because much of it was “self-explanatory” and “intuitive” for senators. Two independent auditors — those from Deloitte who were tasked with reviewing Mike Duffy’s expenses, and another group from KPMG who audited the Senate’s finances — decided that the rules were unclear and, to paraphrase KPMG, lacked enough detail that they could be misunderstood by senators. Senate Speaker George Furey told Duffy’s defence trial Monday that many specific circumstances aren’t laid out in the rules. Furey said there is nothing in the Senate’s rules or the handbook senators receive that says he can’t pay someone to cut down trees on his property, but senators should know that expensing such activities is not permissible.

The overriding theme of the Senate rule book and the senators’ handbook is that each senator is a trustee of the public purse and should keep that in mind when filing expense claims. Furey said senators were urged to ask the Senate’s administration or the committee that oversees spending about any rule if they had any question, concern or misunderstanding about the rules and to do so before they filed an expense claim. Duffy’s defence team has long argued that the Senate’s spending rules were unclear and ambiguous enough that Duffy could not have broken any rules, including those governing his duties as a senator, because the term was loosely defined. Furey told the court that senators are given broad leeway when it comes to how they define parliamentary business given the broad range of activities they undertake. A 2010 outside audit by firm Ernst &Young found “a lack of clear guidance and criteria” that would help senators understand what was a “parliamentary function” and what the Senate would pay for.

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BUSINESS

TUESDAY, DEC. 8, 2015

Tax tweaks to cost $1.2B BY THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — The Liberal government is making good on its election vow to cut federal income taxes for middle earners by raising the rate on the richest Canadians. However, it now acknowledges the tax tweaks, introduced in a motion Monday in Parliament, won’t be revenue-neutral. Finance Minister Bill Morneau conceded Monday that an array of new tax adjustments will have an annual net drain on the federal treasury of about $1.2 billion in each of the next five years, starting in 2016-17. The headliner of the new measures is the one to lower the income-tax rate to 20.5 per cent, from 22 per cent, on Canadians earning between $45,282 and $90,563 per year. To help offset that change, the Liberals have added a 33 per cent tax rate on income earned by Canadians in the top one per cent — those who make more than $200,000 per year. Previously, the 29 per cent tax bracket, which applies to incomes between $140,388 and $200,000, was

the highest tax rate in the country. In their election platform, the Liberals estimated the tax increase on the top earners would only fall short of covering the full cost of the tax cut by less than $100 million per year. But the numbers were adjusted after an evaluation by the Finance Department found the projected revenues of the Liberal promise were off the mark. The net cost of the changes is $1.4 billion in 2016-17, a shortfall that’s projected to rise each year until it hits $1.7 billion in 2020-21. “It will cost a little more for the government,” Morneau said of a plan that will take effect Jan. 1 and is aimed at injecting some life into the ailing economy. The tax-bracket changes were a central pledge in the election platform that helped propel the Liberals to victory in October. Those campaign vows also included another tax modification: cancelling the Conservative move to increase limits on tax-free savings accounts to $10,000 from $5,500. However, the ceilings on the popular accounts will be indexed to inflation. Morneau said more of the promised Liberal changes will be introduced in the new year, includ-

ing its child-benefit plan and a move to repeal the Tories’ income-splitting plan for families with kids. “It’s important to look at our entire plan,” Morneau said. “We have taken this very first step.” Some experts had warned the Liberal tax-bracket changes were likely to cost public coffers more than the government had expected. A recent study by the C.D. Howe Institute think tank predicted the changes would encourage big earners to make more of an effort to avoid taxes, while the rate reduction itself would cost government finances more than expected. Others argue the measures provide more benefit to richer Canadians. Those making more than $90,563 are taxed at three different rates: one rate on the first segment of income up to $45,282, the second, newly reduced rate on the next segment of income, up to $90,563 and a third rate beyond that, up to $200,000. Therefore, people earning $90,563 and higher will receive the largest possible benefit of $679. But once they hit the $217,000 mark, the squeeze of the new, highest tax rate erases the benefit entirely. About 319,000 Canadians will reach the upper tax echelon.

MEAT LABELLING

Beef, pork producers applaud WTO ruling BY THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — The United States must immediately repeal its discriminatory meat labelling provisions or face Canadian retaliation, two Liberal cabinet ministers said Monday. The ultimatum came from International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay after the World Trade Organization ruled Monday that Canada and Mexico can impose more than $1 billion in annual retaliatory on tariffs on U.S. products. This latest win for Canada at the WTO came in a long-running saga focused on how the United States labels packaged steaks and other meats, and was welcomed by Canada’s beef and pork producers. The Republican chair of the U.S. Senate’s agricultural committee agreed with the Canadian position, and said he will push for the lifting of the American “rules of origin” labelling provisions, which the WTO has previously said leaves Canadian and Mexican meat products at a disadvantage. Canada had been expecting Monday’s favourable decision because the WTO ruled in May that the American labelling, known as COOL, violated its international trade obligations. The U.S. House of Representatives repealed the provisions in June. The U.S. can’t appeal the WTO decision. Freeland and MacAulay called on the Senate, where some Democrats support the labelling provision, to follow suit. Or else. “We’re calling on the senate to repeal now,” said Freeland. “We are a trading nation. We believe in free trade. But free trade only works when everyone follows the rules.”

File photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Packaged meat is seen at a grocery store in Montreal. Canada’s beef and pork sectors are welcoming a World Trade Organization ruling that allows Canada and Mexico to impose $1 billion in annual tariffs on U.S. products. Added MacAulay: “Now they repeal COOL, or we retaliate — we will retaliate.” Freeland and MacAulay said Canada has taken the next step in doing just that by filing formal notice with the WTO that it will pursue the punitive tariffs, which could kick in before the end of the month. Republican Sen. Pat Roberts, the agriculture committee chair, urged his fellow lawmakers to finally do away with the COOL provisions. “The WTO has warned us multiple times, and Congress has ignored the warning. This is no longer a warning. Retaliation is real. Now more than ever, we need to repeal COOL,” Roberts said. Ranchers in northern U.S. states that compete with Canada pushed for the labelling law. But Roberts said Monday it is time for them to throw in the towel. “How much longer are we going to keep pretending retaliation isn’t happening? Does it happen when a cattle rancher, or even a furniture maker, is forced

out of business?” The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, the Canadian Pork Council, the National Feeders’ Association and Canadian Meat Council added their collective voices to the call on the U.S. to scrap the labelling provisions in light of the decision. “Our patience is exhausted,” their joint statement said. “There is no further negotiation to be done and no compromise is acceptable. Canadian livestock producers and meat processors expect the U.S. to do nothing less than repeal COOL or face the immediate imposition of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods to the same extent as the damage we have endured.” The ruling allows Canada to impose $780 million in retaliatory tariffs and Mexico $228 million. Like Canada, Mexico also filed notice Monday with the WTO that it intends to pursue the tariffs.

BRIEF Competition Bureau challenges Staples acquisition of Office Depot

File photo BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A Norfolk Southern locomotive on Chicago’s south side.

‘Game of chess’ could see CP Rail boost bid up to US$35.8B, says analyst BY THE CANADIAN PRESS MONTREAL — Canadian Pacific Railway has room to raise its bid for one of America’s largest railways by nearly US$8 billion, or as much as 26 per cent, an industry observer says. The company has said its initial offer for Norfolk Southern, which would create the biggest railway in North America, was just a starting point. Scotiabank analyst Turan Quettawala said the Calgary-based railway can go as high as US$120 per share in cash and stock or US$35.8 billion. “If Norfolk Southern’s board is willing to play ball, it will definitely have to be at a price which is

S&P / TSX 13,042.83 -315.94

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TSX:V 507.26 -9.87

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above the approximately US$95 (per share) which CP has suggested so far,” he wrote in a report Monday. The Virginia-based railway rejected CP Rail’s (TSX:CP) offer Friday as “grossly inadequate.” It also assailed CP’s “cut-to-the-bone strategy” and suggested the U.S. regulator is unlikely to approve a takeover deal at any price. Canadian Pacific CEO Hunter Harrison and activist investor Bill Ackman of Pershing Square Capital are scheduled to hold a conference call Tuesday morning to respond in detail and “correct every inaccuracy” raised, the railway says. Quettawala described the takeover battle as a “game of chess.”

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DOW JONES 17,730.51 -117.12

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OTTAWA — The Competition Bureau is challenging a proposed merger between Staples and Office Depot, saying the country’s office supplies industry is becoming too concentrated. The federal agency has filed an application with the Competition Tribunal raising concerns over how dominant Staples would be if its proposed US$6.3 billion acquisition of Office Depot is given approval. Office Depot operates the Grand & Toy retail and supplier in Canada. The Competition Bureau says the deal would give Staples more than 80 per cent of office product sales in Canada, which would “substantially lessen competition” and likely drive prices higher.

Streaming dominates Internet traffic in North America: report TORONTO — Streaming has taken over the Internet and now accounts for more than 70 per cent of North American downloads at peak times, up from less than 35 per cent in 2010, according a report from broadband services company Sandvine. Netflix makes up a huge part of Internet downloads, the company said, with the streaming service accounting for 37.1 per cent of all downstream traffic in North America during September and October. Youtube accounted for the second-largest share of download traffic, at 17.9 per cent, followed by regular Internet browsing at 6.1 per cent.

NYMEX CRUDE $37.65US -2.32

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CANADIAN DOLLAR ¢74.00US -0.76

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RED DEER ADVOCATE Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 A7

MARKETS

D I L B E R T

COMPANIES OF LOCAL INTEREST

BUSINESS

BRIEFS

xxxxdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stock prices supplied by RBC Dominion Securities of Red Deer. For information call 341-8883.

Diversified and Industrials Agrium Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ATCO Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BCE Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BlackBerry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bombardier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brookfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cdn. National Railway . . . . . . Cdn. Pacific Railway. . . . . . . . Cdn. Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Capital Power Corp . . . . . . . . Cervus Equipment Corp . . . . . Dow Chemical . . . . . . . . . . . . Enbridge Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Finning Intl. Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . Fortis Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Motors Co. . . . . . . . . Parkland Fuel Corp. . . . . . . . . Sirius XM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SNC Lavalin Group. . . . . . . . . Stantec Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Telus Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Transalta Corp.. . . . . . . . . . . . Transcanada. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Consumer Canadian Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gamehost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . Loblaw Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maple Leaf Foods. . . . . . . . . . Rona Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wal-Mart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WestJet Airlines . . . . . . . . . . . Mining Barrick Gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cameco Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . First Quantum Minerals . . . . . Goldcorp Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hudbay Minerals. . . . . . . . . . . Kinross Gold Corp. . . . . . . . . . Labrador. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Potash Corp.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sherritt Intl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Teck Resources . . . . . . . . . . . Energy Arc Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . Badger Daylighting Ltd. . . . . . Baker Hughes. . . . . . . . . . . . . Bonavista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bonterra Energy . . . . . . . . . . . Cdn. Nat. Res. . . . . . . . . . . . . Cdn. Oil Sands Ltd. . . . . . . . . Canyon Services Group. . . . . Cenovous Energy Inc. . . . . . . CWC Well Services . . . . . . . . Encana Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Essential Energy. . . . . . . . . . .

MARKETS CLOSE TORONTO â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Plunging oil prices dragged the Toronto stock market down Monday by more than 300 points â&#x20AC;&#x201D; about 2.4 per cent â&#x20AC;&#x201D; as the Canadian dollar fell to its lowest levels in more than a decade. The oil-sensitive loonie dropped nearly 0.8 of a cent from Fridayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s close to end the day at an even 74 cents U.S. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the lowest the Canadian dollar has been against the greenback since June 2004. The price of oil dropped $2.32 to settle at US$37.65 a barrel, a level not seen since the 2008 financial crisis roiled world markets. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said Friday it would maintain current production levels for the next six months even as a worldwide supply glut shows no signs of easing. Oil has dropped from a high above US$110 in July 2014 as OPEC has pumped up supply while demand from big consumers such as China has sagged. Craig Fehr, Canadian market strategist at Edward Jones in St. Louis, said cheap oil will be a double-edged sword for Canada. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Obviously, consumers in Canada benefit from lower gasoline prices,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But given the slow growing economy and the fact that oil prices has squashed any investment in the energy industry, and given how prominent that industry is for the Canadian economy, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really slowed down growth.â&#x20AC;? In the U.S., cheap oil has been a boon because consumer spending is a larger share of GDP and cheaper gas tends to boost what people spend elsewhere, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Across the board youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seeing much more of a benefit to the U.S. economy and other developed economies like Europe where energy isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a big part of

their market,â&#x20AC;? he said. The improving prospects for the U.S. economy and the looming rate hike for the American dollar are helping drive down the loonie, Fehr said. And while the strengthening greenback can cause pain for importers or travellers, he said, Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exports look to be increasing as American buyers take advantage of their purchasing power. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect to see a huge rebound in the loonie any time soon because thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a lot of forces at play,â&#x20AC;? he said. The Toronto stock market closed down 315.94 points, or 2.37 per cent, to 13,042.83, the biggest one-day decline since a 374-point drop on Sept. 28. The metals and mining subsector was the biggest loser on the day, down 7.6 per cent, while the energy subsector fell 5.9 per cent. New York markets also closed in the red. The Dow Jones industrial average ended the day down 117.12 points, or 0.7 per cent, to 17,730.51, while the broader S&P 500 index fell 14.62 points, or 0.7 per cent, to end at 2,077.07. The Nasdaq declined 40.46 points, or 0.8 per cent, to end at 5,101.81. The February gold contract fell $8.90 to settle at US$1,075.20 per ounce, while the January contract for natural gas fell 8.9 cents to US$2.067 per mmBtu.

Employers banned from taking employeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tips

who lost in the 2014 election, and picked up by Arthur Potts, the Liberal MPP who defeated him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since I brought it (forward) I have heard many stories from employees where the employer typically will take 25, 50 per cent right off the top of a tip pooling and distribute it to themselves rather than their employees,â&#x20AC;? Potts said Monday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not as widespread as I think people sometimes imagine but it is happening and this levels the playing field for everyone.â&#x20AC;? Though the bill passed with unanimous consent, the NDP accused Potts of watering down Prueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work by not

TORONTO â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Ontario is banning employers from taking a cut of tips that are meant for servers and other hospitality staff. The Protecting Employeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Tips Act passed third reading Monday, making it illegal to withhold their employeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tips, except temporarily if they are pooling all of the gratuities to redistribute them among all employees. The idea was brought forward years ago by Michael Prue, an NDP MPP

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Highlights at the close Monday at world financial market trading. Stocks: S&P/TSX Composite Index â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 13,042.83, down 315.94 points Dow â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 17,730.51, down 117.12 points S&P 500 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 2,077.07, down 14.62 points

Sales Associate of the Month The Management and Staff of Vellner Leisure Products would like to congratulate

Exxon Mobil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Halliburton Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . High Arctic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Husky Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . Imperial Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pengrowth Energy . . . . . . . . . Penn West Energy . . . . . . . . . Precision Drilling Corp . . . . . . Suncor Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . Trican Ltd.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trinidad Energy . . . . . . . . . . . Vermilion Energy . . . . . . . . . . Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Canada one of countries most exposed to Chinese slowdown

Financials Bank of Montreal . . . . . . . . . . Bank of N.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CIBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cdn. Western . . . . . . . . . . . . . Great West Life. . . . . . . . . . . . IGM Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intact Financial Corp. . . . . . . . Manulife Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . National Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rifco Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Royal Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sun Life Fin. Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . TD Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Nasdaq â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 5,101.81, down 40.46 points Currencies: Cdn â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 74 cents US, down 0.76 of a cent Pound â&#x20AC;&#x201D; C$2.0338, up 1.29 cents Euro â&#x20AC;&#x201D; C$1.4658, up 1.11 cents Euro â&#x20AC;&#x201D; US$1.0847, down 0.28 of a cent Oil futures: US$37.65 per barrel, down $2.32 (January contract) Gold futures: US$1,075.20 per oz., down $8.90 (February contract) Canadian Fine Silver Handy and Harman: $20.155 oz., down 14.8 cents $647.98 kg., down $4.76

TORONTO â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A new report says Canada is one of five countries most exposed to Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s slowing growth. Geneva-based asset manager Unigestion says Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reliance on commodity exports makes it vulnerable as Chinese demand for oil, metals and other raw materials falls because of structural shifts in its market. Canada, where commodities make up roughly half of exports, is facing lower prices for its goods and falling demand from China, which accounts for five per cent of its total exports. Unigestion says China is maturing from an investment-led economy into a services and consumer-based economy, meaning annual GDP growth of around seven per cent rather than the average of 12 per cent that the country posted between 2000 and 2010. An aging population, over-

ICE FUTURES CANADA WINNIPEG â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ICE Futures Canada closing prices: Canola: Jan. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 $4.80 lower $469.40 March â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 $4.20 lower $478.80 May â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 $4.60 lower $486.80 July â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 $4.40 lower $493.00 Nov. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 $2.90 higher $492.40 Jan. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17 $2.70 higher $495.80 March â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17 $2.60 higher $496.00 May â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17 $2.60 higher $496.00 July â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17 $2.60 higher $496.00 Nov. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17 $2.60 higher $496.00 Jan. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;18 $2.60 higher $496.00. Barley (Western): Dec. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;15 unchanged $189.00 March â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 unchanged $191.00 May â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 unchanged $197.00 July â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 unchanged $197.00 Oct. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 unchanged $197.00 Dec. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 unchanged $197.00 March â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17 unchanged $197.00 May â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17 unchanged $197.00 July â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17 unchanged $197.00 Oct. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17 unchanged $197.00 Dec. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17 unchanged $197.00. Mondayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s estimated volume of trade: 625,060 tonnes of canola 0 tonnes of barley (Western Barley). Total: 625,060.

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66% Spike In Recent Foreclosures Plus Aging Baby Boomers Downsizing Creating Discounted Property Frenzy In U.S. New Real Estate Bonanza Right now while you are reading this, hedge funds are buying U.S. property in mass. Foreign nationals are loading up on houses as fast as they can. Some savvy individuals are snapping up housing in the U.S. like never before. In October, Reuters reported private investment ďŹ rm Starwood Capital Group got in the game. They purchased 23,262 mid-rise and garden-style apartments for a whopping $5.37 billion. Other hedge funds are buying entire subdivisions under construction. The Chinese are the number one overseas investors of U.S. real estate. Often they will buy 10 condos at once, sight unseen. Does all this investment activity show the U.S. headed for another property bubble? The answer is no. Demographics are driving demand for rental property to heights unseen in American history. Bloomberg Business says rents are only going higher. The Millennials saddled with student debt, are choosing to rent. Others want to live in cities and avoid long commutes home ownership often demands. One of the fastest growing demographic segments in the U.S. is those over age 65. Their downsizing activity is ďŹ&#x201A;ooding the market with discounted property.

Warren BuďŹ&#x20AC;et told CNBC he would buy a couple hundred thousand single family homes if he could. good deals in U.S. property?â&#x20AC;? The answer is an emphatic YES. Real estate investors on the Turnkey Trainings team know the right way to buy property. No matter what the economy is doing. Using their proprietary techniques, you too can ďŹ nd screaming bargains in the U.S. They will reveal these breakthrough strategies at the FREE events in the Red Deer area. When you attend youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see many successful current and former and students who made a bundle in U.S. real estate. The Vancouver couple pictured here, were able to buy an entire trailer park in Florida for half oďŹ&#x20AC;. Their investment brings them a 23% net annual return on their money. Would you like these types of returns? Another Canadian couple found and ďŹ&#x201A;ipped a property in 2 weeks to pocket a cool $40,000! Imagine if you could do that just a couple of times a year. You can if you gain the knowledge. You will after attending this FREE educational event where you will ďŹ nd out; â&#x20AC;˘ Super simple method for getting sellers to chase you. The sellers of the trailer park mentioned above emailed and texted the buyers over 100 times! Hear the secret strategy to make sellers

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No matter how many real estate seminars youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve attended. Or courses youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve taken. This FREE educational event shows you how to create real wealth... fast. The masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s level secrets will make real estate investing seem like a steal. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll learn how to ďŹ nd real estate as much as 70% oďŹ&#x20AC;, close discounted deals in minutes, and ďŹ&#x201A;ip them in days or rent for passive income. No experience needed. These breakthrough strategies have closed 12,000 property deals in the last 15 years... Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve earned investors healthy returns, often in as little as 7 days... You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t aďŹ&#x20AC;ord to sit by while one of the greatest real estate opportunities in the U.S. roars by. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re serious about learning techniques that land you on proďŹ table deal after deal... then attending this FREE educational event is a no-brainer.

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CALGARY â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Construction of the $715-million Tower natural gas procession complex in northeastern British Columbia has received the green light from the Cutbank Ridge partnership formed by Encana (TSX:ECA) and Mitsubishi. Veresen (TSX:VSN) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a Calgary-based company that agreed last year to undertake up to $5 billion of expansion projects for Encana and Cutbank Ridge â&#x20AC;&#x201D; says the Tower complex south of Fort St. John, B.C., will be able to process 200 million cubic feet per day of natural gas.

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investment, a slowdown in the European Union and the rise of the U.S. dollar are also weighing on the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth. The Chinese yuan is pegged to the greenback, meaning gains in Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s currency push up the value of the Chinese currency and make its exports more expensive for buyers. Unigestion says the country most exposed to the Chinese slowdown is Malaysia, followed by Australia, South Korea and Switzerland.

RADISSON TUE, DECEMBER 8 at 12pm or 6pm Radisson Hotel & Convention Ctr Edmonton 4520 76 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB T6B 0A5

EDMONTON WED, DECEMBER 9 at 12pm or 6pm DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel West Edmonton 16615 109 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB T5P 4K8

RED DEER THU, DECEMBER 10 at 12pm or 6pm Radisson Red Deer 6500 67 Street Red Deer, AB T4P 1A2

CLARION FRI, DECEMBER 11 at 12pm or 6pm Clarion Hotel & Conference Centre 2120 16 Avenue NE Calgary, AB T2E 1L4

ÂŠ 2015 Turnkey Trainings. All Rights Reserved. No properties will be offered at seminar. This is a FREE educational event. Some past attendees have gone on to make a lot of money. Your own results will be determined by your perseverance and adherence to the tools, tips and techniques given. This is not a business opportunity. No property will be offered. No accounting or legal advice will be given.

CALGARY SAT, DECEMBER 12 at 10am Best Western Village Park Inn 1804 Crowchild Trail NW Calgary, AB T2M 3Y7

A8 RED DEER ADVOCATE Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE

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TODAY IN HISTORY December 8 2003 — The United States awards Bronze Star medals to 26 Canadian soldiers of 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group who distinguished themselves serving alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2002. The four Princess Pats who were killed in a friendly fire incident are awarded the medal posthumously. 1986 — John Polanyi of the University of

TUNDRA

ARGYLE SWEATER

SUDOKU Complete the grid so that every row, every column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 through 9. SHERMAN‛S LAGOON

Toronto shares the Nobel Prize for chemistry with Americans Dudley Herschenbach and Yuan T. Lee for their contribution to the field of chemical-reaction dynamics and the development of the chemical laser. 1917 — First relief train reaches Halifax, Nova Scotia from New England; with doctors, nurses, and supplies to treat survivors of the Halifax Explosion. 1915 — Canadian MD John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields is First published in Punch magazine. London, England 1880 — First edition of The Edmonton Bullet is printed, Alberta’s First newspaper.

RUBES

Solution

FOOD

TUESDAY, DEC. 8, 2015

Kitchen Wise: Bistro-style slow-roasted duck BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The prospect of roasting a duck strikes many a home cook as a mountain too high, but I’m not sure why. It’s definitely no more complicated than cooking a whole turkey, and I think it tastes far better. Some folks surely suspect that duck is gamey, but that’s only true of some wild ducks. It’s not true of the kind known as Pekin (or Long Island) duck, the domesticated product most widely available at supermarkets. Other folks shy away because they’ve heard that duck is too fatty and rich. Sure enough, there is a fair amount of fat in duck, but most of it is in and under the skin. The meat itself actually is quite lean. And — surprise! — duck fat, unlike beef fat and most kinds of poultry fat, boasts some of the same healthy attributes as olive oil. So this holiday season why not roast a duck? As noted, it’s pretty simple. However, you do need to set aside enough time to let the bird cook properly in the oven, just as you would when roasting a turkey. The goal is a bird with crispy skin and moist meat. The easiest way to make it happen? Roast the duck low and slow, pricking the skin every so often to drain out the fat. (Do be careful, however, not to prick the meat you don’t want to lose any juices from the meat.) At the end of the process, the duck is treated to a final crisping in a highheat oven, then retired for a nice long rest to let the juices redistribute before the bird is carved. The slow-roasting process provides you with ample time to make a succulent sauce from the bird’s giblets, neck and wings. Those parts are browned in a saucepan along with onions, carrots and garlic, then simmered in red wine and chicken broth, and finally finished with green peppercorns and Dijon mustard. (You’re welcome to lose the peppercorns if they’re too hot for you.) The end result is a wonderfully tasty duck swimming in a French-style sauce. Fancy! And much more interesting than turkey. Your guests will think you are a culinary genius.

BISTRO-STYLE SLOWROASTED DUCK Start to finish: 4 hours 50 minutes (50 minutes active) Servings: 4

5 ½- to 6-pound Pekin (Long Island) duck Kosher salt and ground black pepper 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped 1 small carrot, coarsely chopped 2 cloves garlic, smashed with the side of a knife 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 cup dry red wine 1 stalk celery, coarsely chopped 2 sprigs fresh thyme 1 bay leaf 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons drained bottled green peppercorns, packed in brine 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard Heat the oven to 250 F. Remove the neck and giblets from the cavity of the duck, pat dry and reserve. (Save the liver for another use, such as sauteing and serving on toast.) Cut the last two joints of the wings off and reserve. Remove the excess fat from the cavity of the duck and cut off the flap of skin at the back end of the duck. (You can save the skin and fat to render into duck fat for future use.) Rinse the duck under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Using the tip of a paring knife, prick the duck all over, in ½-inch intervals, inserting the knife at an angle to pierce just the skin, not the flesh. Make sure to prick the skin around the leg thigh joint thoroughly, as there is a lot of fat stored there. Season the duck well with salt and pepper. Place on a rack in a roasting pan and roast on the oven’s middle shelf for 3 ½ hours, removing the roasting pan after the first and second hour of roasting to re-prick the duck skin. After the duck has roasted for 3 ½ hours, carefully pour off all the fat at the bottom of the roasting pan (reserving it for other uses, such as sauteing potatoes), and increase the oven temperature to 450 F. Return the duck to the oven and roast it for 10 minutes. Transfer the duck to a platter, cover with foil, then let it rest for 30 minutes before carving. While in the duck is roasting, cut the neck and wings into 1 ½-inch pieces. In a large saucepan over medium-high, heat the vegetable oil. Add the neck, giblets and wings. Cook, stirring often, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion, carrot and garlic. Cook until the vegetables are lightly browned, 5 to 8 minutes.

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Roasting a duck is no more complicated than roasting a turkey, and this recipe also has a French-style sauce. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the wine and bring to a boil, stirring to pick up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Boil until most of the wine has evaporated. Add the celery, thyme, bay leaf, broth and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook, skimming off any scum that rises to the surface and adding water to the saucepan if the liquid dips below the bones, until the duck is ready to come out of the oven. While the duck is resting, strain the stock and discard the solids. Measure the liquid. You should have about 1 ½ cups. If you have more, boil the liquid

down. If you have less, add water. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and ¼ cup water. In the saucepan, bring the duck stock to a boil, add the flour mixture in a stream, whisking. Bring the mixture back to a boil and simmer 4 minutes. Stir in the green peppercorns and mustard, then season the sauce with salt and pepper. Carve the duck and serve each portion with some of the sauce. Nutrition information per serving: 980 calories 670 calories from fat (68 per cent of total calories) 75 g fat (25 g saturated 0 g trans fats) 210 mg cholesterol 850 mg sodium 10 g carbohydrate 1 g fiber 2 g sugar 50 g protein.

WISH

hile we humans can receive help from the Food Bank or Christmas Bureau during the holidays, family pets and animals in care during the season are often overlooked because of resource shortages. But there are organizations in the community which do help our our furry (and feathered) friends and they are in need of donations also. The following items are high on their priority list: • • • • •

Litter (clumping) Litter (pine, from RONA) Cat Food (canned or dry) Kitten Food (canned or dry) Kitten Formula

• • • • • • •

Collars (M-L) Leashes (M-L) Senior Small Bites (for dogs) Senior Canned (for dogs) Small Male Belly Bands’ Small Female Diapers Puppy Pads

• • • • • • •

Always Laundry Soap Liquid Laundry Soap Bleach Paper Towel Towels Blankets Beds CALL

• • • • • •

Puppy Foods Cat Toys Dishes Dog Toys Dog Treats Cat Treats

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Printer Paper Tape Paper Clips Envelopes Stamps Dish Soap Hand Soap Sheets Facecloths Rags Mops Rubber Gloves Garbage Bags Ziplock Bags Rubber Maid Containers

4PAWS DOG DAY CARE TO FIND OUT HOW TO DONATE

(403) 342-0085

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BRAND NEW

ENTERTAINMENT A10 Kendrick the King

TUESDAY, DEC. 8, 2015

RAPPER LEADS GRAMMYS WITH 11 NOMINATIONS — TAYLOR SWIFT, WEEKND EARN 7 NODS BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BRIEF U2’s performance in Paris had a mournful tinge

File photos by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Singer Taylor Swift performs during her “1989” world tour at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Kendrick Lamar (right), Swift and the Weeknd have earned top nominations for the 2016 Grammy Awards, including album of the year. Portnow said of Lamar. “He’s someone that’s very serious about his art and about his craft, and has been working it for quite some time. And this is one of those instances where the work pays off.” Swift, who won album of the year with Fearless in 2010 and earned a nomination in the top category with Red, is also up for best pop vocal album for her top-selling 1989 and pop solo performance for Blank Space. The Weeknd’s nominations include best pop solo performance for Can’t Feel It began: “Holly came from Miami, F.L.A. Hitchhiked her way across the U.S.A. Plucked her eyebrows on the way. Shaved her legs and then he was a she. She says, ‘Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side.’ “ Woodlawn explained in a 2007 interview with the British newspaper The Guardian that she didn’t get to know Reed until after the song was released in 1972. Woodlawn received critical acclaim for her film roles, but she couldn’t find mainstream success. Her cult status helped her make a comeback in such 1990s independent films as Twin Falls Idaho and Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss. More recently, she appeared in the TV comedy Transparent.

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF CENTRAL ALBERTA

PYJAMAS LS and PEAR Soroptimist International of Central Alberta would like to thank all of our generous sponsors and donors for their support of our 2015 “Pyjamas and Pearls” event held on November 7, 2015. RUBY Red Deer Advocate The Cruz 100.7 FM PEARL All Things Keto Candy Bags Sweet Stop Holiday Inn & Suites Red Deer South Marg Pragnell - Park Lane Jewelry Proform Concrete Services Inc. SAPPHIRE One to 1 Fitness Peavey Mart Red Deer Firefighters Children Charity The Brick ZoomFoto Red Deer TOPAZ Alberts Family Restaurant April Reynolds Thirty One Gifts Boston Pizza - Gasoline Alley Browns Social House Casovan Oilfield Inspection Plus Central City Asphalt Chatters Canada D Brown Contracting Ltd. Dagmar Hargreaves - Princess House Digitex Family Eye Care Famoso Pizza Float Shack Glacier Rafting - Golden BC

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Frontman Bono paid respects to 130 people killed by extremists in Paris on Nov. 13, and 14 people killed in a mass shooting last week in California. Names of Paris attack victims were projected on a huge video screen in the arena on the east side of the French capital, not far from the site of the Nov. 13 rampage. Bono wrapped himself in a French tricolour flag for the encore, in which he sang a verse from French crooner Jacques Brel’s Ne me quitte pas, or Don’t Leave Me. “We stand together with the families of those killed in Paris. We stand GiŌs will be delivered to together with the families Seniors in our community who of those killed in San Bernardino,” he told the will beneĮt from your energized Paris crowd. generosity. Please drop oī “We are all Parisians,” donaƟons by December 15th. he continued. “There are few words to speak to the loss you are feeling in this We will gratefully accept donaƟons like: city tonight.” x Throw Blankets Earlier, U2 dismissed x Bath Towels/ Mats x Toiletries for Men & Women rumours that it would be x MiƩens, Scarves, Hats, Toques joined on stage Sunday by x Coīee, Tea, Hot Chocolate Eagles of Death Metal, the x Large Print Books (Crossword, Suduko, Word Search) x Cookies, Candies (including DiabeƟc), Crackers, Jam band that was performing x GiŌ Cards & Cash DonaƟons, $20 + will receive tax in the Bataclan concert receipts venue when suicide bombers stormed it Nov. 5409 50 Ave. Red Deer 13. The band, deeply PH: 403-343-6400 shaken by the attacks, has For more informaƟon visit: said it wants to play again www.fsca.ca in Paris.

My Face and urban contemporary album for Beauty. His hit from the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack — Earned It — garnered nominations for best R&B performance, R&B song and song written for visual media. The film’s soundtrack, which also featured the Ellie Goulding hit Love Me Like You Do, is up for best compilation soundtrack for visual media along with Empire: Season 1, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts earlier this year. More than 21,000 submissions were

Transgender actress dies at 69 LOS ANGELES — Holly Woodlawn, the transgender actress made famous by Andy Warhol and Paul Morrissey in their 1970s films Trash and Women in Revolt, has died. Woodlawn died Sunday in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer, said her former caretaker and friend Mariela Huerta. She was 69. Born Harold Danhakl, she took on the name Holly Woodlawn after running away from home at age 15 and hitchhiking to New York City, where she became one of Warhol’s drag queen “superstars.” Her story was immortalized in the first lines of the Lou Reed song Walk on the Wild Side.

TRAVEL WITH

“because we care”

BOOKS Kelly Falardeau Chris Hadfield Amanda Lindhout President Jimmy Carter Jackie Collins Victor Malarek Sheldon Kennedy Sean Liv Shelley Streit W. Brett Wilson Barbara Stegemann

Many thanks as well to our members and volunteers for organizing such a successful event. Thank you Central Alberta for joining us in being “the best for women and girls” in our community.

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FRIEND ABC Country Restaurant Bonnie Vestrum Cathy Schultz City of Red Deer

Dance Magic Debbie Wilson Family First Chiropractic Galaxy Cinemas High Style Rentals Joanne Bucklee The Lazy One Light My Wick Candles Christine Long Liquor Crossing Montana’s Cookhouse Pet Planet Randi Boulton Shoppers Drugmart Clearview Market Shoppers Drugmart Village Mall Subway - Penhold The Hideout The Man Cave TMS Trucking Ltd. Tony Romas

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FRONTIER

CASINO EDMONTON DEC. 1

Harley Davidson Gasoline Alley Heritage Lanes Jackpot Casino Jo-Ann Grimwood Judy Nelson/Lorelei Stefanson Kimberlink Consulting Lasermann Cuts Ltd. McBain Camera Mohave Grill Monica Bouteiller - Rodan + Fields Parkland Nurseries and Garden Centre Queen Bee and Carrie Freeman Red Deer Goldsmith Robin Armitage - Partylite Gifts Shannon Szabodos Sherri Smith Sylvia Bouteiller Teena Payne Toronto Blue Jays Velma DiBartolo Vic Cotton, Avenue Financial Vivian Williamson Warren Sinclair LLP The Worx Salon

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NEW YORK — Kendrick Lamar is the king of the Grammys: the rapper is the leading nominee for the 2016 awards with 11, including album of the year for To Pimp a Butterfly and song of the year for Alright. Lamar, who won two Grammys earlier this year, is followed by Taylor Swift and the Weeknd, who each earned seven nominations, including album of the year. Butterfly, 1989 and Beauty Behind the Madness will battle country singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton’s Traveller and rock group Alabama Shakes’ Sound & Color for the top prize. Lamar’s Alright and Swift’s Blank Space are nominated for song of the year, a songwriter’s awards. Other nominees include Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s tribute to actor Paul Walker, See You Again, Ed Sheeran’s slow burner Thinking out Loud and Little Big Town’s semi-controversial hit, Girl Crush, written by Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey and Liz Rose. Thinking out Loud and Blank Space, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, are also nominated for record of the year, pitting the songs against No.1 hits that include Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk and the Weeknd’s Can’t Feel My Face, as well as a wild card: Really Love from R&B singer D’Angelo and the Vanguard. “There’s a broad spectrum and certainly it shows there’s been quite a bit of wonderful and excellent recordings in the last year,” Recording Academy CEO Neil Portow said. Lamar’s other nominations include best rap album for Butterfly, rap performance for Alright, pop duo/group performance for Bad Blood with Swift and dance recording Never Catch Me with Flying Lotus. He’s nominated twice for both best rap song with Alright and for co-writing Kanye West’s All Day, as well as best music video for Alright and Bad Blood. “It’s a testimony to his artistry,”

entered for the 83 Grammy categories, with the first round of votes due by Nov. 4 — the day the Country Music Association Awards aired and Stapleton cleaned house and turned in a memorable performance alongside Justin Timberlake. In addition to album of the year, Stapleton’s Traveller is nominated for best country album, country song and country solo performance. Garth Brooks, who marked a comeback after 13 years last year, was surprisingly shut out of the country categories. Despite success with tours, albums and singles, Luke Bryan was also snubbed and has yet to earn a Grammy nomination. This year’s best country album contenders include Little Big Town’s Pain Killer, Kacey Musgraves’ Pageant Material, Ashley Monroe’s The Blade and Montevallo by singer-songwriter Sam Hunt, who is also nominated for best new artist. Other nominees include All About That Bass performer Meghan Trainor, big-voiced singer Tori Kelly, Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett and rock musician James Bay, who is also nominated for best rock album and rock song. Rapper Drake scored five nominations, including best rap album for If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, pitting him against Lamar, Dr. Dre’s Compton, Nicki Minaj’s The Pinkprint and J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive. Alabama Shakes, fronted by singer Brittany Howard, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts with Sound & Color earlier this year, and the album was met with critical acclaim — much like the band’s 2012 debut, Boys & Girls. Their four nominations include best alternative music album as well as best rock performance and song for Don’t Wanna Fight. Pharrell and West are also nominated for four awards, including album of the year for producing songs on Lamar’s album. West’s nominations include best rap song and rap performance for All Day, which featured Paul McCartney and earned the icon two rap nominations.

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RMH approaching 3,000 families helped RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OPENED IN 2012, PROVIDING MANY WITH A PLACE TO STAY AND A MEAL BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF Ronald McDonald House Central Alberta has been a blessing for both Central Albertans and Red Deerians. The house, located at 5002 39th St. near Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, has helped 2,891 families since it opened in February 2012. Not only have 1,221 out-of-town families live at the house while their children received medical treatment, but 1,670 Red Deer families with children in hospital also dropped in during the day for a meal, shower or break. Larry Mathieson, CEO of Ronald McDonald House for Southern Alberta and Central Alberta, said serving so many local families is what makes the Red Deer house unique. “There are a number of houses that do open the house during the day to local families who are at the hospital. Red Deer is the smallest house in the system, but we serve the most local families,” said Mathieson who met

Photos by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff

From the left, Ronald McDonald House volunteers Diane Reykdol, Brenda Halford, Sandra Brown, Darlene Zimmer, Michelle Simpson, Kathy Ivey and Angela Bysterveld in the kitchen at the House in Red Deer on Friday. recently with CEOs for other houses across the country. He said there could be a few reasons for higher day use at the Red Deer house. It could be due in part to the fact that the house mostly serves families spending countless hours with infants in the special care nursery or ICU beds. The house gives local residents the

opportunity for a quick time-out close to the hospital. “That doesn’t seem like a big thing unless you’re sitting by a crib or incubator for several days and haven’t had a shower. Then it seems like a great relief,” Mathieson said. Also, many volunteers regularly cook dinners for those living at Ronald McDonald House which are available

Deal in works in Red Scorpions trial BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF

COURT

A plea deal is in the works and could resolve a big part of a gang-related drug bust made by Red Deer RCMP in summer 2014. In Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Monday, Cory James Lesperance, 31, of Kelowna indicated the charges against him are working their way towards a resolution. Local Mounties said Lesperance is a member of the Red Scorpions gang, which is based out of the Lower Mainland of B.C. He was central to a drug bust police conducted in three Alberta cities on July 23, 2014. Search warrants were executed in Red Deer, Airdrie and Calgary Defence counsel Kevin Sproule, acting as agent for Chady Moustarah said

Lesperance would be entering pleas to some of the charges. The matter was adjourned to Jan. 4, 2016 for Lesperance to enter pleas. Lesperance was arrested with Robin Joseph Stewart, 53, of Red Deer at a Balmoral Heights residence by police executing a search warrant. Lesperance and Stewart are both charged with five counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of a prohibited firearm. Andrew Phypers acted as agent for Stewart’s counsel Akrim Attia in court on Monday. A five-day trial has been set for Stewart to run form May 15 to 19, 2017 for his alleged role in the bust. The Red Scorpions gang is most

known for its involvement in the Vancouver drug trade, and a violent shooting in Surrey, B.C. that left six dead. Two other people were arrested in the July 23, 2014 raid. Nicholas David James White, 22, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and breaching his probation. He was sentenced to time served. Charges against Amber Theresa McLeod, 26, were stayed by the Crown Prosecutor. During the search police seized half a kilogram of methamphetamine, half a kg of cocaine, 52 grams of heroin, a quarter of a kg of marijuana, 80 grams of psilcybin, 130 millilitres of anabolic steroids, a cocaine conversion lab, scales, packaging and other drug paraphernalia, a loaded semi-automatic handgun, a stolen shotgun with ammunition, three replica handguns, $8,955 cash and two vehicles. mcrawford@reddeeradvocate.com

Fleig gets third trial in gangland shooting BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF New trial dates and an additional 30-day psychiatric evaluation have been ordered for a man accused of ordering a gangland style shooting in Inglewood six years ago. Christopher Martin Fleig, 31, was to have been tried in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench starting on Nov. 9. However, his declining mental state led to 30-day psychiatric fitness assessment order. Fleig appeared in court for the start of his trial, but his counsel Allan Fay noted bizarre and distressing behaviours from his client. Fleig was diagnosed as bipolar and would intermittently refuse to take his medications. The day the first 30-day as-

Stop on Red checkstop on Wednesday Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools and Chinook’s Edge transportation departments, along with Prairie Bus Lines, will be hosting a safety checkstop outside of east Red Deer on Highway 11 on Wednesday morning called “Stop on red, kids ahead.” The checkstop will go at 7:30 a.m. and was developed by a joint committee to help educate motorists on the school bus eight way flashing system. The campaign is funded by a small grant, received this past fall, through Alberta Transportation. Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools serves more than 9,200 students in 19 schools in Red Deer, Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House, Innisfail and Olds. It also supports the learning of over 600 students in a Home Education Program.

Police investigating Blackfalds fatal collision RCMP are investigating a fatal single vehicle collision that happened north of the Village of Clive on Sunday night. A car with four occupants was travelling south bound on Range Road 245 at about 8:30 p.m., when the driver lost control on a gravel road and

sessment order was made, Fleig mumbled to himself constantly and laughed seemingly at random. In court on Monday, Fay requested an additional assessment order be granted for Fleig to continue his assessment at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre in Calgary. A new trial has been scheduled for June 1 to 23, 2017 in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench. Justice Larry Ackerl, who granted the first fitness assessment order, is seized with the trial. This will be Fleig’s third trial on the charge of first-degree murder. He was convicted of first-degree murder in May, 2012 for the shooting death of a rival drug dealer. He was sentenced to life in prison. On March 10, 2014, the Alberta Court of Appeal ordered a new trial, but did not overturn the conviction.

Brandon Neil Prevey, 29, died in a drive-by shooting while parked in a car on Ibbitson Close. Fleig ordered the shooter by walkie-talkie to pull up beside Prevey and shoot. A total of 15 shots were fired, seven hit Prevey and the autopsy concluded three of the shots were fatal. According to the Crown, Fleig had recruited another person to perform the murder, provided the murder weapon, directed the shooter to Prevey’s car, gave the order to shoot, assisted in the disposal of the murder weapon and drove to Calgary with the shooter after the incident. Police recovered the handgun on June 23, 2009 from a vacant lot. Fleig became a person of interest in the investigation in October of 2009 and was charged on March 29, 2010. mcrawford@reddeeradvocate.com

LOCAL BRIEFS

180 pounds). He has blue eyes and was wearing a black jacket with a hood, face covering, grey gloves, blue jeans and white shoes. The truck is described as an older white Chevrolet with a possible paint patch missing on the roof and rusty wheel wells. RCMP asks anyone with information regarding the incident to call 403-3435575 or Crime stoppers at 1-800-2228477 to remain anonymous.

the car entered the ditch, striking a number of trees. Three of the four passengers were transported to Red Deer Hospital with serious bu non-life threatening injuries. One passenger, a 17-year-old from Clive, died from their injuries at the scene. The name of the deceased is not being released. Blackfalds RCMP and the Red Deer RCMP Collision Analyst continue to investigate.

Red Deer RCMP looking for armed bandit Red Deer RCMP are asking for assistance in identifying a man who robbed the Post Time Lounge early Saturday morning. The Caucasian suspect pointed a hand gun at patrons and staff before leaving with an undisclosed amount of cash shortly before 1 a.m. He walked to the bar with his face covered and demanded cash while pointing his weapon at staff. he put the cash in a grey plastic bag, and ran to a white truck that was waiting in the Checkmate Court parking lot. The suspect is described as being between 1.88 and 1.93 metres (six-foottwo and six-foot-four) tall and with a slim build, about 77-82 kilograms (170-

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Sylvan RCMP search for Eckville Hotel robber A shotgun was fired by an armed robber at the Eckville Hotel bar early Sunday morning. Sylvan Lake RCMP said at about 1 a.m., two men armed with shotguns entered the bar. One suspect fired one round into the roof while the other suspect took an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured. Both suspects fled the out the back door of the building. Both suspects were described as 1.8 metres (six feet) tall, weighing 81 to 90 kilograms (180 to 200 pounds). They both wore face coverings. Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to contact Sylvan Lake RCMP at 403-887-7200. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com.

to day visitors, as social workers and nurses at the hospital give out guest passes to the house to assist Red Deer families with children in care, he said. As a result of local demand, a new pilot program will begin in the new year to keep one of the suites available for two or three local families for a few hours each so they can rest, maybe grab a quick nap. He said depending on how well the program works in Red Deer, other houses may adopt the program. The number of families living at the 11-suite house generally ranges from about nine to 11. “Because of the nature of stays in the hospital, the turnover in the Red Deer house is a lot higher than a lot of houses in the system.” On average, families who live at the Red Deer house stay about two days compared to the Calgary house where the average stay is six months. Another change in store for the local house concerns the upcoming fundraiser Freeze the House Charity Bonspiel. Mathieson said the fifth annual bonspiel at the Pidherney Centre will be held Feb. 19 to 21 instead of the end of January to make it more accessible to people who otherwise might be out of the province after Christmas. For more information on bonspiel visit www.ahomeawayfromhome.org/ central.html. szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

Lacombe council cuts down tax increase Lacombe council whittled down its budget to a 3.91 percent tax rate increase. The tax hike could drop a little further after staff have had a chance to look at $73,000 in savings proposed by Coun. Reuben Konnik, but did not become part of the budget debate on Monday night at the council committee of the whole meeting. Last month, council had announced its goal of keeping a proposed tax rate increase to three to 3.5 per cent and had pared the tax increase down to 3.22 per cent . However, council was sent back to the budget drawing board after deciding last month to do away with photo radar and the $325,000 in anticipated revenue that went with it. Given that each one per cent of taxes increases equals $123,000, council was left with a big hole to fill. Projected lower fuel prices will save about $25,600 and another $25,000 in leftover photo radar revenue helped brought the tax increase down to 5.29 per cent before council pulled out its budget knives to see what could be chopped from what are considered new additions to the 2016 budget. Most of the cuts were relatively small amounts, in the thousands of dollars. For instance,$2,000 was cut from the Christmas light budget, $4,500 in software for online program booking and $5,000 in computer software upgrades. Some of the bigger savings were found by cutting a $50,000 contribution to a community building fund. Now sitting at $150,000, the fund is to be used to help provide matching funds for a major community-driven project. Another $25,000 was saved by axing spray patching road repair work and about $11,000 saved by hiring only one of two summer casual parks staff. A $32,000 boost to building maintenance was deferred to 2017. In all, council found $170,000 in additional savings. Coun. Peter Bouwsema said he was comfortable with a 3.91 per cent tax increase, pointing out the end tax increase may very well be lower — as it was in recent years — after assessment increases have been tabulated and the final numbers are available next spring. There is a risk to cutting too much, warned Coun. Wayne Rempel. A number of the items cut now will return in future budgets and deferring too long can lead to large future budget increases. Mayor Steve Christie said in an interview following the budget talks he wants to ensure the quality of life is not affected, adding inflation adds to the cost of services every year. “If we keep cutting and cutting, it’s tough to keep that service level there. I feel that 3.9 will allow us to keep those service levels where they are and we’ll move a little bit forward. What we don’t want to do is go backwards.” Not approving a proposed cost of living allowance for city staff would have saved another $136,000 but there was no support on council to chop that. Christie said the move would seem like a “slap in the face” to staff. Council is expected to review the budget again next Monday.

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Crash likely caused by lack of visual cues TRANSPORTATION BOARD SAYS ABOUT ARCTIC CHOPPER CRASH THAT KILLED THREE IN 2013 BY THE CANADIAN PRESS QUEBEC — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says there is a strong probability that a lack of visual cues to judge altitude caused the crash of a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter that killed three people in 2013. The Messerschmitt 105 had been stationed on the icebreaker Amundsen, which was sailing through M’Clure Strait in the western Arctic as part of a regular program of scientific study. In a report released in Quebec City on Monday, the TSB said various factors contributed to the accident, including possible pilot distraction. “There’s a strong probability the pilot lost some visual references that are required to judge altitude,” lead investigator Jean-Marc Ledoux said in an interview. Ledoux said it’s hard to say what could have been done to prevent the accident. “This type of perception of judging height is something that can happen to any pilot, no matter the experience you have,” he said. “When you don’t have the proper visual references, it’s very difficult to judge your altitude.

And when you’re flying as low as 20 feet, the margin of error is very very thin.” Those who died on Sept. 9, 2013, were Marc Thibault, commanding officer of the ship helicopter pilot Daniel Dube and Klaus Hochheim, a veteran University of Manitoba Arctic scientist. The report also stated the search and rescue operation from the Amundsen was delayed, as the vessel’s crew was inadequately trained to use and interpret information from the system that tracks flights. The flight-tracking system did not provide an aural warning to alert the vessel’s crew immediately that the helicopter was no longer transmitting position reports. The helicopter was also not equipped with a flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder and was not required to. The TSB said investigators would have been able to better understand the circumstances that led to the accident had the aircraft been equipped with these systems. Another complicating factor was the presence of thick ice. “The ship, even if it wasn’t very far, was working in very icy conditions and

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Wreckage of the Canadian Coast Guard helicopter Messerschmitt Bolkow-Blohm Bo 105 is shown in a TSB Canada handout photo. could not proceed directly to the last known positions,” Ledoux said. “It took them 23 minutes just to start to find the first debris and then the occupants.” All three who died were wearing safety equipment at the time, although Ledoux said the pilot’s suit was not fully zipped, meaning water entered

the clothing and affected thermal protection. Following the accident, Transport Canada introduced new survival equipment, while a new fleet of helicopters with cockpit voice recorders, flight data recorders and externally mounted life-rafts was acquired to replace the 105.

Board confident in Victoria Proposed big boost to jaywalking police chief after ‘inappropriate’ fine in Nova Scotia criticized social media use BY THE CANADIAN PRESS

BY THE CANADIAN PRESS Victoria’s police chief says he is “truly sorry and humiliated” for engaging in direct messages with a woman over Twitter. Frank Elsner made the comments after the revelation that an interval probe was launched into his conduct. Elsner said in a statement the investigation that concluded in late November found there was no inappropriate relationship between himself and the woman he was messaging. “However, I should not have engaged in the direct messages in the first place and for that, I take complete responsibility,” he said in a written statement. “…I need to conduct myself with the highest standards of integrity. I take full responsibility for my actions and I am truly sorry and humiliated.” The chief declined to be interviewed. However, the Victoria Times Colonist reported that Elsner said in an interview with the newspaper that the exchange was with the wife of one of his Victoria police officers. The woman is also a police officer, but works in a neighbouring department, he said. Elsner said it wasn’t a friendship,

but that it was “strictly work and the messages just took on a far more personal tone.” He said he stopped it after the third exchange. The Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board was notified of a concern against the chief in August, said spokeswoman and Esquimalt Mayor Barbara Desjardins. “It was about inappropriate use of social media and a potential relationship, so that’s what the investigation was about,” Desjardins said in an interview on Monday. She said an independent lawyer was hired to probe the complaint. The findings were presented to Desjardins and her co-chair, Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps. “Once we’d made our discipline decision, then we fully apprised the board of all of the information,” she said. The civilian board met on Friday and its eight members determined that they continue to have full confidence in the chief’s leadership. Desjardins said she could not release details about the allegations or the board’s final decision on discipline for Elsner because it pertains to a personnel matter. She said it’s important for the public to know the board acted on the complaint as quickly as possible.

HALIFAX — Increasing the fine for jaywalking in Nova Scotia to nearly $700 is being roundly criticized by active transportation advocates and pedestrians alike. The legislature passed a bill last week that boosts the fine from $410 to $697.50 - more than the penalty for using a cellphone behind the wheel and well above jaywalking fines in other cities and provinces The penalty for jaywalking ranges from a maximum of $30 in Quebec and $50 in Ontario to $250 in Edmonton. Nova Scotia officials say the increase in what was already the highest jaywalking fine in the country is intended to create consistency between fines for drivers and pedestrians while also acting as a deterrent. A member of the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax calls the fine “disproportionate and counterproductive.” “It’s a distraction from the real work that needs to be done, which is to design streets that are safer for everybody,” said Tristan Cleveland in an interview. Provincial Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan said raising the pedestrian fine to a level equivalent with

the highest fine for drivers sends the message that road safety is a shared responsibility. But MacLellan said the government realizes fines alone won’t tackle the persistent issue of vehicle-pedestrian collisions, particularly in urban centres. “By increasing a couple of the categories of fines under our system that’s by no way going to solve all of our issues with pedestrian safety,” said MacLellan. He said the legislative changes have to be part of a broader effort to better educate the public about road safety and to examine such things as road engineering in urban corridors where there is heavy pedestrian traffic. MacLellan said the intent is not to target pedestrians. “This is about the larger road safety issue,” he said. “This conversation will indicate to drivers, to pedestrians to cyclists, to everyone on our roadway that we’ve got to get serious and it’s a shared responsibility.” Vehicle-pedestrian accidents are an ongoing problem in Nova Scotia, and Halifax in particular. Official figures show police had responded to 153 such collisions in the city by the end of October, down from 184 in the same period the year before.

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Flames showing sparks BUT MUST CATCH FIRE TO CLIMB OUT OF NHL BASEMENT BY THE CANADIAN PRESS

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Former Edmonton Eskimos’ head coach Chris Jones hoists the Grey Cup during a fan rally for the Grey Cup champions, in Edmonton, on Dec. 1. Jones left the Eskimos to become the general manager and head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Monday.

Jones jumps to Riders BY THE CANADIAN PRESS REGINA — Chris Jones comes from the southern United States, where football is akin to religion. He sees the same dedication to the sport in his new CFL home. Jones was introduced Monday as the new head coach, general manager and vice-president of football operations of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, ending weeks of speculation about the Grey Cup-winning coach’s future. Jones, who led the Edmonton Eskimos to a CFL championship this season, says he’s looking forward to working in Saskatchewan, which boasts a fervent fan base. “I’m from a little, small place down in Tennessee, town called South Pittsburg … and to have this opportunity, I woke up this morning with a smile on my face,” Jones said at a news conference at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. “Football matters a whole lot down south, and it matters a whole lot here, and that hinged a lot on my decision.” Jones will have his work cut out for him, inheriting a Roughriders team that struggled mightily last season en route to a league-worst 3-15 record. Saskatchewan spent half of last season with interim tags on both its head coach and GM after the organization fired coach Corey Chamblin and GM Brendan Taman in September. Jones wouldn’t speculate on his vision for the Riders’ future. “I’m not going to sit here and make any bold predictions or anything like that,” he said. “I can you that we’re going to put a really high quality, high character staff together that enjoys being around each other. We’re going to bring in good people first, that happen to be good football players and we’re just going to go to work.”

He says there are good players on the roster and it’s a matter of adding to an already good product. However, he adds the salary cap “will dictate who can stay and who has to go.” Riders president and CEO Craig Reynolds said Jones is a winner. “He’s a great leader and he’s had a track record of success wherever he’s been,” said Reynolds. Jones has had success at each of his CFL stops since entering the league in 2002 as a defensive line coach with the Montreal Alouettes. After the Alouettes won the Grey Cup in 2002, he was defensive co-ordinator Calgary’s championship-winning team in 2008, and defensive co-ordinator, assistant head coach and assistant GM of Toronto’s Grey Cup team in 2012. He has already demonstrated his ability to turn around a troubled team. The Eskimos had just posted a 4-14 record when Jones took over after the 2013 season. Two years later, they defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 26-20 to win their first Grey Cup title in a decade. “I thank Chris Jones for his work over the last two seasons. This is an opportunity for him to grow professionally and I wish him well in his future endeavours,” Eskimos GM and vice-president of football operations Ed Hervey said in a statement. “The search for our new head coach begins immediately. Over the next few weeks, I will interview several qualified candidates and select the right head coach for our team and community.” Jones says he debated staying in Edmonton, but the decision ultimately came down to the chance to do his own thing in Saskatchewan. “When an opportunity like this presents itself, you have to jump at it,” he said.

CALGARY — The Calgary Flames are beginning to show flashes of that lightning-in-a-bottle team that made the playoffs last season. The mediocre Pacific Division is giving them the chance to climb out of the basement if they ignite. Last in the NHL at 10-14-2 on Monday, just six points separated the Flames from the San Jose Sharks sitting second in the division at 14-12-0. The Flames were riding their first back-to-back wins of the season heading into Tuesday’s game against the Gaudreau, a finalist last season visiting Sharks. for the Calder Trophy that goes to the Calgary’s comeback victories in NHL’s top rookie, leads the Flames in overtime and a shootout last week scoring with nine goals and 17 assists. were shades of last season, when they The 23-year-old scored the overtime earned 24 of their 97 points when trail- winner to complete his hat trick in Friing after two periods. day’s 5-4 win over Boston. “Those are fun nights, but you’ve got That and a 4-3 shootout victory over to gain momentum from them,” Flames Dallas earlier in the week made for forward Matt Stajan said. great theatre at Scotiabank Saddle“We know how tight the standings dome, but the Flames can no longer are and we’re obviously at the bot- afford to be so entertaining. tom and not at the top so we need the With just three wins in regulation, points. they’ve given up at least a point to op“We know we’re fortunate to be the posing teams in 23 of 26 games. division we’re in right now with a few A combined save percentage of .885 teams struggling.” by Calgary’s goaltenders contributes The Los Angeles a league-worst 94 ‘WE STILL FEEL WE CAN to Kings (17-8-1) are goals against. The pulling away atop GAIN SOME GROUND WITH F l a m e s ’ s p e c i a l the division, but the teams also rank last SOME BIG WINS ON THIS with power play at Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyper cent and a HOMESTAND. IT’S BEFORE 12.2 otes, Vancouver Capenalty kill at 72. CHRISTMAS SO WE FEEL nucks and Edmonton Much of Monday’s Oilers have yet to practice spent WE CAN GET working onwas reach 30 points. the power BACK INTO play. So the Flames are not yet in the danger Forward Lance THIS.’ zone despite sitting a Bouma, who led the dozen points back of Flames in hits last CALGARY FLAMES CAPTAIN where they were afseason with 264, has MARK GIORDANO ter 26 games in 2014begun skating with 15. the team again afThanks to sophoter breaking his leg more sensation Johnny Gaudreau, the Oct. 13. Defenceman Kris Russell, Flames have adapted well to the new who missed Friday’s game with an upthree-on-three overtime with a 6-1 re- per-body injury, did not practise Moncord in it. Gaudreau led the NHL in day. overtime goals Monday with three and Calgary is at home to the Buffalo Saalso assisted on two. bres on Thursday and New York Rang“I get excited to play three-on-three. ers on Saturday before a four-game Obviously I really like it,” Gaudreau road trip. said. “Our team has had a lot of suc“We still feel we can gain some cess with it so far this season. We’d ground with some big wins on this like to get the win in regulation, but homestand,” captain Mark Giordano when it comes into overtime, we feel said. “It’s before Christmas so we feel we’re pretty confident in ourselves.” we can get back into this.”

Cowboys rope up win over Redskins with wild finish BAILY KICKS LAST-SECOND FIELD GOAL TO TIGHTEN UP RACE IN NFC EAST BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cowboys 19 Redskins 16 LANDOVER, Md. — Sure was ugly, devoid of any style points or many scoreboard points until the final 1 ½ minutes. Perhaps fittingly, a fumbled punt return by Washington’s DeSean Jackson deep in his own territory led to Dallas’ only touchdown. Dez Bryant’s sideline pouting aside, the receiver and the Cowboys will gladly accept the victory, because it means they’re somehow still in the thick of the playoff chase in the woeful NFC East. With a wild finish capping an otherwise dull game filled with turnovers, punts and penalties, the Cowboys edged the Redskins 19-16 on Dan Bailey’s 54-yard field goal with 9 seconds left Monday night. After combining to score 18 points in the first 58 ½ minutes, the teams combined for 17 the frenzied rest of the way. Dallas scored the game’s first TD with 74 seconds remaining to lead 16-9 after recovering Jackson’s miscue on an ill-advised return, Washington tied it on Jackson’s 28-yard TD catch, and then Bailey hit the go-ahead kick. “A roller coaster,” Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins called it. The last-place Cowboys (4-8) won for the first time this season without Tony Romo at quarterback, and made quite a jumble of their division. They are only one game behind the Redskins, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, who are all 5-7. “Records aren’t good, but they’re

good teams,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. Washington had won its past five home games, but this loss continued a pattern: The Redskins have not won in consecutive weeks all season. “We just had some unforced errors,” Gruden said. With the score knotted at 9-9, Jackson — who hadn’t been used as a punt returner this season until last week — caught the kick at his 16, began running up the field and got past the 20, before reversing course and heading backward all the way to the 1. As he again tried to move forward, Jackson was surrounded and the ball popped out, recovered by punter Chris Jones at the 15 with 86 seconds remaining. “Well, it didn’t end up the way we wanted it to,” Gruden said about that play, delivering quite an understatement. Dallas needed only two plays to cash in, jumping in front on Darren McFadden’s 6-yard touchdown run. A 41-yard kickoff return plus a 15-yard facemask penalty on J.J. Wilcox set the Redskins up at Dallas’ 43, and four plays later, Jackson hauled in a perfect pass from Cousins in the back corner of the end zone to pull even with 44 seconds to go. That left enough time for Matt Cassel — previously 0-4 as a starter in place of the injured Romo this season — to take Dallas 20 yards in five plays for Bailey’s fourth field goal of the evening. Washington’s Dustin Hopkins made three kicks but missed one from 43 yards with about 7 ½ minutes remain-

Greg Meachem, Sports Editor, 403-314-4363 E-mail gmeachem@reddeeradvocate.com

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dallas Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey (5) kicks the game winning field goal during the second half of an NFL game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Monday. The Cowboys defeated the Redskins 19-16. ing. The teams combined for 16 penalties for 144 yards, along with 10 punts, seven in the first quarter alone. Dallas lost three fumbles, including two by McFadden in his team’s own territory, but that trio of turnovers led to only three points for Washington. Both QBs were mediocre, with Cousins going 22 for 31 for 219 yards, the one TD and zero interceptions, marking the first time Washington has lost this season when he avoided throwing

>>>>

a pick. Cassel finished 16 for 29 for 222 yards, with several of his throws landing nowhere near teammates. Bryant was yelling and cursing and generally carrying on along the Cowboys’ sideline in the first half, apparently upset about not being thrown the ball. By halftime, he had zero catches and had been targeted twice. He finished with three receptions for 62 yards, including a diving 42-yard grab that led to — what else? — a field goal.

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SCOREBOARD Local Sports • Senior high basketball: Lacombe at Lindsay Thurber, Ponoka at Hunting Hills, Camrose at Notre Dame, Innisfail at Rocky Mountain House, Wetaskiwin at Sylvan Lake; girls at 6 p.m., boys to follow. • Men’s basketball: Btown Maple Jordans vs. Johns Manville, Sheraton Red Deer vs. Wells Furniture, 7:15 and 8:30 p.m., Lindsay Thurber. • Heritage junior B hockey: Mountainview at Blackfalds, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday • JV basketball: Notre Dame at Ponoka, Hunting Hills at Sylvan Lake, Lacombe at Stettler; girls at 6 p.m., boys to follow. • WHL: Red Deer at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m. (The Drive). • Peewee AA hockey: Red Deer TBS at Red Deer Parkland, 7:30 p.m., Kinsmen A. • Heritage junior B hockey: Red Deer at Ponoka, 7:45 p.m. • Chinook senior AAA hockey: Innisfail at Bentley, 8:30 p.m., Lacombe.

Thursday • Men’s basketball: Vikings vs. Alken Basin, Bulldog Scrap Metal vs. The D Leaguers, 7:15 and 8:30 p.m., Lindsay Thurber. • Midget AA hockey: Red Deer Elks at Central Alberta, 7:15 p.m., Lacombe.

Friday • Senior high boys basketball: Notre Dame Cougar Classic. • JV basketball: Hunting Hills tournament. • Peewee AA hockey: Airdrie at Red Deer Parkland, 6 p.m., Collicutt Centre. • WHL: Medicine Hat at Red Deer, 7 p.m., Centrium. • AJHL: Bonnyville at Olds, 7 p.m. • Minor midget AAA hockey: Red Deer North Star at Red Deer Strata Energy, 8 p.m., Arena. • Bantam AA hockey: Central Alberta at West Central, 8 p.m., Sylvan Lake. • Heritage junior B hockey: Cochrane at Three Hills, 8 p.m.

• Midget AA hockey: Bow Valley at Red Deer Indy Graphics, 8:30 p.m., Collicutt Centre.

Saturday • Senior high boys basketball: Notre Dame Cougar Classic. • JV basketball: Hunting Hills tournament. • Peewee AA hockey: Okotoks at Red Deer Parkland, 12:30 p.m., Kinsmen A; Bow Valley at Central Alberta, 4:45 p.m., Big Valley; Olds at West Central, 5:30 p.m., Rocky Mountain House. • Major bantam hockey: Calgary Royals at Red Deer, 2 p.m., Arena. • Bantam AA hockey: Olds at Red Deer Ramada, 2:30 p.m., Kinex. • Major bantam girls hockey: Rocky Mountain at Red Deer, 2:15 p.m., Collicutt Centre. • Junior women’s hockey: Irma at Central Alberta, 4:15 p.m., Penhold Regional Multiplex. • Midget AA hockey: Calgary Bruins at Red Deer Elks, 4:45 p.m., Arena; Calgary Stampeders at West Central, 5:30 p.m., Eckville. • Heritage junior B hockey: Stettler at Red Deer, 8 p.m., Arena.

Sunday • Peewee AA hockey: Central Alberta at Red Deer TBS, 1:30 p.m., Kinex; Okotoks at West Central, 2:45 p.m., Sylvan Lake. • Bantam AA hockey: Central Alberta at Red Deer Steel Kings, 1:45 p.m., Kinsmen A. • Chinook senior AAA hockey: Fort Saskatchewan at Bentley, 2 p.m. • Midget AA hockey: Okotoks at Red Deer Indy Graphics, 2:30 p.m., Arena. • Men’s basketball: Grandview vs. Washed Up Warriors, Monstars vs. Henry’s Eavestroughing, Silver Spurs vs. Rusty Chuckers, 4:15 p.m.; Chillibongs vs. NWS, Lacombe All Sports Cresting vs. Carstar, Triple A Batteries vs. Subaru, 5:30 p.m.; all games at Lindsay Thurber. • Heritage junior B hockey: Three Hills at Red Deer, 6:45 p.m., Arena. • WHL: Calgary at Red Deer, 5 p.m., Centrium.

Basketball National Basketball Association EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto 13 9 .591 — Boston 12 9 .571 1/2 New York 10 12 .455 3 Brooklyn 5 15 .250 7 Philadelphia 1 21 .045 12 Southeast Division W L Pct 12 7 .632 12 8 .600 13 9 .591 11 9 .550 9 10 .474 Central Division W L Pct 13 7 .650 12 7 .632 11 7 .611 12 10 .545 9 13 .409

Cleveland Indiana Chicago Detroit Milwaukee

WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct San Antonio 18 4 .818 Dallas 13 9 .591 Memphis 12 9 .571 Houston 10 11 .476 New Orleans 5 16 .238

Oklahoma City Utah Portland Minnesota Denver

Northwest Division W L Pct 12 8 .600 9 9 .500 9 13 .409 8 12 .400 8 13 .381

TUESDAY, DEC. 8, 2015

Hockey

Today

Miami Charlotte Atlanta Orlando Washington

GB — 1/2 1/2 11/2 3 GB — 1/2 1 2 5

GB — 5 51/2 71/2 121/2 GB — 2 4 4 41/2

Pacific Division

Golden State L.A. Clippers Phoenix Sacramento L.A. Lakers

W 22 12 9 7 3

L 0 9 13 15 18

Pct 1.000 .571 .409 .318 .143

GB — 91/2 13 15 181/2

Sunday’s Games Memphis 95, Phoenix 93 Golden State 114, Brooklyn 98 Detroit 111, L.A. Lakers 91 Dallas 116, Washington 104 Oklahoma City 98, Sacramento 95 Monday’s Games San Antonio 119, Philadelphia 68 Charlotte 104, Detroit 84 Toronto 102, L.A. Lakers 93 Dallas 104, New York 97 Washington 114, Miami 103 Phoenix 103, Chicago 101 L.A. Clippers 110, Minnesota 106 Boston 111, New Orleans 93 Milwaukee 90, Portland 88 Tuesday’s Games Portland at Cleveland, 5 p.m. Golden State at Indiana, 5 p.m. Houston at Brooklyn, 5:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at Memphis, 6 p.m. Orlando at Denver, 7 p.m. Utah at Sacramento, 8 p.m. Wednesday’s Games Chicago at Boston, 5 p.m. Houston at Washington, 5 p.m. Miami at Charlotte, 5 p.m. San Antonio at Toronto, 5:30 p.m. Memphis at Detroit, 5:30 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Minnesota, 6 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Milwaukee, 6 p.m. New York at Utah, 7 p.m. Orlando at Phoenix, 7 p.m. Atlanta at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

Bowling Heritage Lanes High scores Nov. 30-Dec. 6 Monday Club 55+ 1 p.m. : Bill Dunlop, 266 high single; Dunlop, 662 high triple. Monday 7 p.m. mixed: Steve Thomlison, 262; Andy Silbernagel, 634. Tuesday 7 p.m. mixed: Greg Gigliuk, 298; Rob Clark, 728. Wednesday Club 55+ 1 p.m.: Don Knowler, 329; Curtiss Lund, 772. Thursday morning ladies: Toni Cocks, 297; Cocks, 707. Thursday Special Olympics mixed: Matt Mundorf,

226; Mundorf, 445. Thursday 7 p.m. mixed: Bruce Hicks, 266; Terra Nystrom, 721. Monday scratch: Gene Ziebarth, 355; Erik Kjos, 1,064. Youth Bowling of Canada Bumpers: Brodie Ehret, 98. Bowlasaurus: Liam Lafrance, 105. Peewees: Jonathan Holford, 142; Holford, 238 (2 games). Bantams: Xander Croswell, 172; Blake Stanley, 409 (3 games). Juniors: Kennedy Chrest, 309; Chrest, 798. Seniors: Cody Pratt, 328; Pratt, 705.

Transactions Monday’s Sports Transactions BASEBALL COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE — Named Cal Ripken Jr. special adviser to the commissioner on youth programs and outreach. American League BOSTON RED SOX — Traded LHP Wade Miley and RHP Jonathan Aro to Seattle for RHP Carson Smith and LHP Roenis Elias. CLEVELAND INDIANS — Designated LHP Jayson Aquino for assignment. Claimed OF Joey Butler off waivers from Tampa Bay. KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Agreed to terms with RHP Chris Young on a two-year contract. National League LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Claimed RHP Danny Reynolds off waivers from the L.A. Angels and OF Daniel Fields from Milwaukee. MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Named Derek Johnson pitching coach, Pat Murphy bench coach, Carlos Subero first base/infield coach and Jason Lane coach. PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Agreed to terms with OF Danny Ortiz, INF Cole Figueroa, LHP Robert Zarate and RHPs Curtis Partch, Wilfredo Boscan and Deolis Guerra on minor league contracts. Atlantic League SUGAR LAND SKEETERS — Named Jay Miller president. Frontier League FLORENCE FREEDOM — Signed RHPs Austin Delmotte and Tony Vocca to contract extensions. Signed RHP Steve Chapter and OF Andre Mercurio. RIVER CITY RASCALS — Signed RHP Derek Cape to a contract extension. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MINERS — Signed RHPs Edward Cruz and John Kimborowicz. WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS — Signed RHPs Cam Giannini and Thomas Nance to contract extensions. Signed C Corey Bass and RHP Clay Chapman. BASKETBALL National Basketball Association CHICAGO BULLS — Recalled F Cameron Bairstow from Austin (NBADL). CLEVELAND BROWNS — Placed OL Joel Bitonio on injured reserve. Claimed OL Gabe Ikard off waivers from Buffalo. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS — Named Jerry Colangelo chairman of basketball operations. FOOTBALL National Football League NFL — Suspended Baltimore TE Nick Boyle four games for violating the league policy on performance enhancing substances. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS — Released CB Cary Williams. ST. LOUIS RAMS — Fired offensive co-ordinator Frank Cignetti. Arena Football League ORLANDO PREDATORS — Agreed to terms with OL Adam Shead. Canadian Football League

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS — Signed OL Matthias Goossen to a contract extension. HOCKEY National Hockey League CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS — Reassigned F Tanner Kero to Rockford (AHL). Recalled F Dennis Rasmussen from Rockford. DETROIT RED WINGS — Reassigned G Jake Paterson from Toledo (ECHL) to Grand Rapids (AHL). LOS ANGELES KINGS — Recalled F Joel Lowry from Manchester (ECHL) to Ontario (AHL). MONTREAL CANADIENS — Recalled D Dalton Thrower from Brampton (ECHL) to St. John’s (AHL). NEW YORK RANGERS — Reassigned G Cedrick Desjardins from Hartford (AHL) to Manchester (ECHL). PHILADELPHIA FLYERS — Recalled D Maxim Lamarche from Reading (ECHL) to Lehigh Valley (AHL). American Hockey League ALBANY DEVILS — Released G Doug Carr from a professional tryout agreement. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS — Recalled G Ty Rimmer from Norfolk (ECHL). LAKE ERIE MONSTERS — Returned F Derek DeBlois to South Carolina (ECHL). ECHL ADIRONDACK THUNDER — Released F Garrett Ladd. EVANSVILLE ICEMEN — Added G Brent Troyan as emergency backup. INDY FUEL — Released F Walker Wintoneak. MANCHESTER MONARCHS — Released G Steve Mastalerz from an amateur tryout agreement. NORFOLK ADMIRALS — Announced the retirement of F Nicolas Blanchard. SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS — Released F Louis Belisle. TOLEDO WALLEYE — Added G Josh Unice as emergency backup. SOCCER Major League Soccer COLUMBUS CREW — Exercised options on Ds Harrison Afful, Chad Barson, Sergio Campbell, Waylon Francis, Chris Klute and Michael Parkhurst Ms Romain Gall, Hector Jimenez, Justin Meram and Wil Trapp and G Brad Stuver. Declined options on D Emanuel Pogatetz and M Kristinn Steindorsson. D.C. UNITED — Traded M Chris Pontius to Philadelphia for general and targeted allocation money. Exercised options on Fs Fabian Espindola and Conor Doyle Ms Miguel Aguilar and Jared Jeffrey and Ds Sean Franklin, Steven Birnbaum, Taylor Kemp, Chris Korb and Luke Mishu. Declined options on F Jairo Arrieta and M Michael Farfan. Waived F/M Facundo Coria. LA GALAXY — Declined options on F Edson Buddle and Charlie Rugg Ms Mika Vayrynen and Kenney Walker D Tommy Meyer and Gs Brian Perk, Donovan Ricketts and Andrew Wolverton. PHILADELPHIA UNION — Traded Ms Cristian Maidana and Andrew Wenger to Houston for a firstround draft pick and allocation money.

WHL EASTERN CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF GA Prince Albert 29 18 8 2 1 93 87 Brandon 28 17 8 1 2 102 73 Moose Jaw 29 15 9 4 1 103 92 Regina 28 14 11 2 1 84 92 Saskatoon 28 10 15 3 0 83 117 Swift Current 29 8 17 3 1 66 93

Pt 39 37 35 31 23 20 Pt 38 38 38 27 19 14

WESTERN CONFERENCE B.C. DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF GA Kelowna 29 22 6 1 0 117 82 Victoria 29 19 8 1 1 101 64 Prince George 28 17 9 1 1 90 80 Kamloops 26 12 10 3 1 94 88 Vancouver 30 8 18 2 2 85 111

Pt 45 40 36 28 20

U.S. DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF GA 27 17 8 2 0 95 78 28 15 10 2 1 96 93 26 15 9 0 2 66 52 27 13 14 0 0 89 84 29 11 17 1 0 87 112

Pt 36 33 32 26 23

Sunday’s results Calgary 2 Swift Current 1 (SO) Prince Albert 3 Red Deer 1 Prince George 6 Vancouver 5 Tuesday’s games Calgary at Brandon, 6 p.m. Prince Albert at Edmonton, 7 p.m. Kootenay at Prince George, 8 p.m. Wednesday’s games Calgary at Regina, 6 p.m. Brandon at Moose Jaw, 6 p.m. Red Deer at Medicine Hat, 7 p.m. Portland at Everett, 8:05 p.m. Seattle at Spokane, 8:05 p.m. Red Deer Rebels Scoring GP Nikolishin 29 Spacek 29 Musil 29 Fleury 23 Bleackley 27 W.Johnson 29 Bobyk 29 Hagel 29 Pawlenchuk 29 Polei 24 Kopek 28 Pederson 29 de Wit 29 Pratt 23 Nogier 27 Strand 29

G 17 10 9 7 6 6 8 5 11 10 4 4 4 4 0 0

A 24 20 11 12 13 13 9 12 5 6 11 9 8 2 6 5

Pts 41 30 20 19 19 19 17 17 16 16 15 13 12 6 6 5

PIM 4 6 21 25 21 27 37 4 8 33 17 17 17 7 28 29

+/5 3 12 6 3 -2 3 10 -3 12 -1 8 8 2 4 4

19 8 15 11 2 14 23 25 MP 1212 522

Toth Martin

CENTRAL DIVISION GP W L OTLSOLGF GA Lethbridge 29 19 10 0 0 117 86 Red Deer 29 19 10 0 0 109 83 Calgary 31 18 11 1 1 98 95 Edmonton 29 12 14 3 0 82 97 Medicine Hat 27 8 16 2 1 85 113 Kootenay 31 6 23 2 0 58 128

Seattle Spokane Everett Portland Tri-City

Doetzel Purtill R.Johnson Pouliot Mahura Martin Toth Shmoorkoff Goaltenders

0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

4 1 1 2 1 0 0 0

4 2 2 2 1 0 0 0

GA 56 25

SO GAA 2 2.77 0 2.87

27 2 18 2 0 0 0 8

9 1 -1 5 1 — — 7

Sv% .907 .896

WHL Scoring Leaders Tyson Baillie, Kel Dryden Hunt, MJ Brayden Point, MJ Mathew Barzal, Sea Reid Gardiner, P.A. Ivan Nikolishin, RD Brayden Burke, Let DevanteStephens, Spo Radel Fazleev, CAL Alex Forsberg, Vic Adam Brooks, Reg Parker Bowles, TC Jonathon Martin, SC Egor Babenko, Let Jayce Hawryluk, Bra Collin Shirley, Kam Keegan Kolesar, Sea Noah Gregor, MJ Tyler Wong, Let Lane Bauer, Edm Brett Pollock, Edm Nolan Patrick, Bra Matthew Phillips, Vic Cameron Hebig, Sas Nick Merkley, Kel Simon Stransky, P.A. Michael Spacek, RD Giorgio Estephan, Let Chad Butcher, MH

G 18 19 18 9 18 17 6 9 13 10 14 16 20 14 17 17 15 14 20 16 10 7 17 12 11 11 10 9 9

A 31 24 25 34 23 24 34 30 25 28 23 20 15 20 16 16 18 19 12 15 21 24 13 18 19 19 20 21 21

National Hockey League EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts Montreal 28 19 6 3 41 Detroit 27 15 8 4 34 Ottawa 27 14 8 5 33 Boston 26 14 9 3 31 Florida 27 13 10 4 30 Tampa Bay 28 13 12 3 29 Buffalo 27 11 13 3 25 Toronto 27 9 13 5 23 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts N.Y. Rangers 28 18 7 3 39 Washington 25 18 5 2 38 N.Y. Islanders 28 15 8 5 35 New Jersey 27 14 10 3 31 Pittsburgh 26 14 10 2 30 Philadelphia 27 11 11 5 27 Carolina 27 10 13 4 24 Columbus 28 11 16 1 23

Dallas St. Louis

WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts 27 20 5 2 42 27 15 8 4 34

Pts 49 43 43 43 41 41 40 39 38 38 37 36 35 34 33 33 33 33 32 31 31 31 30 30 30 30 30 30 30

GF 94 71 86 85 69 66 65 61

GA 63 69 81 75 66 65 73 74

GF 80 79 78 69 61 54 59 66

GA 58 55 67 66 62 74 81 81

GF 93 68

GA 70 67

Minnesota Nashville Chicago Winnipeg Colorado

26 14 7 5 33 70 64 27 14 8 5 33 72 71 27 14 9 4 32 74 69 28 13 13 2 28 76 85 28 12 15 1 25 77 81 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Los Angeles 26 17 8 1 35 68 55 San Jose 26 14 12 0 28 70 68 Arizona 27 13 13 1 27 74 85 Anaheim 28 11 12 5 27 55 68 Vancouver 28 9 11 8 26 72 79 Edmonton 28 11 15 2 24 71 82 Calgary 26 10 14 2 22 65 94 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Sunday’s Games Carolina 5, Arizona 4 Chicago 3, Winnipeg 1 New Jersey 4, Florida 2 N.Y. Rangers 4, Ottawa 1 Edmonton 4, Buffalo 2 Anaheim 2, Pittsburgh 1 Los Angeles 3, Tampa Bay 1 Monday’s Games Nashville 3, Boston 2 Colorado 2, Minnesota 1, OT Buffalo at Vancouver, late Tuesday’s Games N.Y. Islanders at Philadelphia, 5 p.m. Los Angeles at Columbus, 5 p.m. Detroit at Washington, 5:30 p.m. New Jersey at Toronto, 5:30 p.m. Ottawa at Florida, 5:30 p.m. Arizona at St. Louis, 6 p.m. Nashville at Chicago, 6:30 p.m. Carolina at Dallas, 6:30 p.m. San Jose at Calgary, 7 p.m. Wednesday’s Games Boston at Montreal, 5:30 p.m. San Jose at Edmonton, 7:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at Colorado, 8 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Vancouver, 8 p.m. NHL Scoring Leaders

Patrick Kane, Chi Jamie Benn, Dal Tyler Seguin, Dal Erik Karlsson, Ott Michael Cammalleri, NJ Daniel Sedin, Vcr Taylor Hall, Edm Blake Wheeler, Wpg Artemi Panarin, Chi John Klingberg, Dal Vladimir Tarasenko, StL Mike Hoffman, Ott Johnny Gaudreau, Cgy Bobby Ryan, Ott David Krejci, Bos Henrik Sedin, Vcr Evgeny Kuznetsov, Wash Max Pacioretty, Mtl Joe Pavelski, SJ Evgeni Malkin, Pgh Jeff Carter, LA Tomas Plekanec, Mtl

G 16 18 14 6 11 12 11 9 9 5 15 14 9 9 9 8 8 13 12 12 10 7

A 26 17 21 26 19 17 17 18 18 22 11 12 17 17 17 18 18 12 13 13 15 18

Pts 42 35 35 32 30 29 28 27 27 27 26 26 26 26 26 26 26 25 25 25 25 25

Football National Football League AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct New England 10 2 0 .833 N.Y. Jets 7 5 0 .583 Buffalo 6 6 0 .500 Miami 5 7 0 .417 South W L T Pct Indianapolis 6 6 0 .500 Houston 6 6 0 .500 Jacksonville 4 8 0 .333 Tennessee 3 9 0 .250 North W L T Pct Cincinnati 10 2 0 .833 Pittsburgh 7 5 0 .583 Baltimore 4 8 0 .333 Cleveland 2 10 0 .167 West W L T Pct Denver 10 2 0 .833 Kansas City 7 5 0 .583 Oakland 5 7 0 .417 San Diego 3 9 0 .250

N.Y. Giants Dallas

5 4

PF 375 295 296 240

PA 247 248 278 300

x-Carolina Tampa Bay Atlanta New Orleans

W 12 6 6 4

PF 259 253 275 245

PA 305 264 341 296

Green Bay Minnesota Chicago Detroit

W 8 8 5 4

PF 334 311 272 216

PA 196 240 291 347

PF 269 321 284 247

PA 210 240 314 324

NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF Washington 5 7 0 .417 257 Philadelphia 5 7 0 .417 278

PA 286 302

W Arizona 10 Seattle 7 St. Louis 4 San Francisco 4 x-clinched division

7 0 .417 8 0 .333 South L T Pct 0 0 1.000 6 0 .500 6 0 .500 8 0 .333 North L T Pct 4 0 .667 4 0 .667 7 0 .417 8 0 .333 West L T Pct 2 0 .833 5 0 .583 8 0 .333 8 0 .333

307 223

296 277

PF 373 271 279 299

PA 243 298 257 380

PF 289 238 251 253

PA 238 232 290 315

PF 382 305 189 178

PA 232 229 257 291

Sunday’s Games Arizona 27, St. Louis 3 Seattle 38, Minnesota 7 Tennessee 42, Jacksonville 39 San Francisco 26, Chicago 20, OT N.Y. Jets 23, N.Y. Giants 20, OT Tampa Bay 23, Atlanta 19 Buffalo 30, Houston 21 Miami 15, Baltimore 13 Cincinnati 37, Cleveland 3

Denver 17, San Diego 3 Kansas City 34, Oakland 20 Carolina 41, New Orleans 38 Philadelphia 35, New England 28 Pittsburgh 45, Indianapolis 10 Monday’s Game Dallas 19, Washington 16 Thursday, Dec. 10 Minnesota at Arizona, 6:25 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13 Detroit at St. Louis, 11 a.m. San Diego at Kansas City, 11 a.m. Washington at Chicago, 11 a.m. Buffalo at Philadelphia, 11 a.m. San Francisco at Cleveland, 11 a.m. New Orleans at Tampa Bay, 11 a.m. Tennessee at N.Y. Jets, 11 a.m. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 11 a.m. Indianapolis at Jacksonville, 11 a.m. Atlanta at Carolina, 11 a.m. Seattle at Baltimore, 11 a.m. Oakland at Denver, 2:05 p.m. Dallas at Green Bay, 2:25 p.m. New England at Houston, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14 N.Y. Giants at Miami, 6:30 p.m.

CATALINA SWIM CLUB Rebecca Smith of the Red Deer Catalina Swim Club won three individual medals and helped the Catalina relay teams garner a pair of bronze medallions in the Ontario Junior International meet at Toronto during the weekend. Smith, 15, captured a silver medal in the 200-metre freestyle with a provincial-record time of 1:57.17 and earned bronze medals in the 50m free and 100m free with respective times of 25.28 and 54.59 seconds, also new provincial marks.

Smith, along with Daniel Stayer, Josh Young and Kyla Leibel, won bronze in each of the 4x50m mixed medley and mixed free relay events. The meet featured some of the top 18-and-under swimmers from Canada, the United States and Britain. “It was exciting to be a part of the mix. The mixed relays were really exciting to see the kids work together and bring home two bronze medals as a team,” said Catalina head coach Mandi Smith. Other Catalina results:

Smith, fifth in 200m backstroke (2:08.53, provincial record), ninth in 100m butterfly (59.86, provincial record), 10th in 100m back (1:00.05); Stayer, 12th in 50m free (23.88); Young, fourth in 200m breaststroke (2:14.77, provincial record) and 50m breast (29.05, provincial record), eighth in 100m breast (1:03.56), 11th in 200m individual medley (2:05.44, provincial record), 13th in 400m I.M. (4:30.23); Leibel, 13th in 50m ‘fly (28.28), 15th in 50m free (26.29); Elizabeth Moore, 16th in 100m breast (1:12.52).

Jordan Spieth ends best year, and the new year is around the corner BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NASSAU, Bahamas — Jordan Spieth and his caddie shared the kind of hug on the 18th green normally seen only by winners. They were six shots behind when they finished the Hero World Challenge, and it was clear this moment wasn’t about Sunday at Albany Golf Club. This was about the realization that the year was finally over, the kind of year a player never wants to end. The Masters made it special. The U.S. Open made it incredible. The FedEx Cup made it lucrative. The No. 1 ranking made it satisfying. When the 22-year-old Texan made his final full swing of the year and was walking toward the green, caddie Michael Greller walked alongside him. “Michael said, ‘Hey, man, it’s been an honour to be in the passenger seat, sitting shotgun for this ride this year. Thanks for everything,”’ Spieth said. “Obviously, I thanked him. It’s been a team effort this year, just as we always stress. But yeah, there was certainly a sigh of relief.” It’s time to take a break, even if it’s a short one. He leaves in just over three

weeks for Maui, where the new year starts at Kapalua and Spieth will have to figure out an encore from winning two majors to get halfway to the Grand Slam, five tournaments overall, a record $12 million in PGA Tour earnings and a sweep of all the major awards. Except that he’s not looking at it as a new year. It’s simply a break. He had a chance to win the Australian Open last week in Sydney until Matt Jones recovered on the back nine. Spieth was in range at the Hero World Challenge until Bubba Watson didn’t give anyone much of a chance and won by three shots. Spieth was on a victory lap these last two weeks, and he said he spent more time on the beach than on the putting green, with no regrets. He played 28 times this year, including the Presidents Cup. He won or finished second 10 times. He was a combined 54-under par in the four majors. He was due a working vacation. Even so, he’s always looking ahead. “I think these last two weeks, the fact that I didn’t win when I had a chance, may actually be a good thing for me,” he said. “I’m going to

look at it positively that you can’t settle down, you’ve got to work a little bit harder. Everyone is playing a high level of golf right now, and they’re going to carry that into next season. So if I want to stay at the top, I’m going to have to outwork them. And that’s going to be challenging.” He was headed home to Dallas on Monday for his three-week break. His first order of business was to play golf. Spieth is taking his father, Shawn, and agent Jay Danzi to Augusta National to enjoy the privileges of being the Masters champion. He also plans to play with Augusta member and AT&T chief executive Randall Stephenson. And that’s a fitting way to end the year. Spieth joined Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players since 1960 to win the first two legs of the Grand Slam, and he came closer than all of them to getting the third leg. He was tied for the lead at the British Open with two holes to play until finishing one shot out of a playoff. He was in the final group of the PGA Championship and was runner-up by three shots to Jason Day. Even so, the Masters is what made his year.

RED DEER ADVOCATE Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 B5

Kobe steals show in Raptors’ win LAKERS STAR GETS PLENTY OF APPRECIATION DURING LAST GAME IN TORONTO BY THE CANADIAN PRESS Raptors 102 Lakers 93 Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey wasn’t happy with his team’s defensive effort on Monday night — even if it did result in a victory. L.A. erased a 10-point halftime deficit and entered the fourth quarter tied at 71 in the Raptors’ eventual 102-93 win. Led by Kobe Bryant, the Lakers went on a 15-4 run to open the second half and capped the third quarter off with five unanswered points. “It’s a dangerous habit. Dangerous habits we have,” said Casey. “One was rebounding, we got outrebounded by nine. Defensively, collectively, we’ve all got to get better. That’s where the slippage came (and) how they got back in the game.” Kyle Lowry poured in a game-high 27 points as the Raptors swept a season series versus the Lakers for the first time in franchise history. Toronto won the only other meeting of the season between the two teams, 102-91 on Nov. 20. Terrence Ross, starting in place of the injured DeMarre Carroll, added a season-high 22 points for the Raptors (13-9), who snapped a two-game losing skid. “I always had my confidence, the amount of minutes I played was a little longer so I didn’t feel like I was rushing things,” said Ross, who made his first start of the season. “I felt a lot more comfortable. More relaxed.” Bismack Biyombo added 15 points and 13 rebounds. The Raptors used a 9-0 fourth-quarter run, highlighted by a Biyombo alley-oop dunk, to pull away. Bryant had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Lakers (3-18), who have lost three straight games and eight of their last 11. “I thought the biggest difference for us in the game was just our turnovers,” said Lakers coach Byron Scott. “It seemed like every time we turned it over, they got a layup. “Twenty-three points off our turnovers compared to six off theirs, it’s a big difference.” Monday was Bryant’s final regular-season game in Toronto. The 37-year-old is retiring at the end of the season. Bryant received cheers from the 20,163 in attendance at Air Canada Centre throughout the night, including multiple standing ovations. Casey would’ve preferred the pro-Bryant crowd to send some cheers Toronto’s way. “We have great fans,” he said. “Around the league he’s kind of getting that coverage, but again this is

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS

Toronto Raptors’ Terrence Ross, right, battles for a loose ball with Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant during second half NBA action in Toronto on Monday. home. We’ve only had a few home games and we want to make it feel like home. “I respect Kobe and all that, but our guys, we need those cheers too.” Lowry took over in the second quarter going 4-for5 from beyond the arc as Toronto went into the locker-room up 52-42. The Raptors guard had a gamehigh 19 points at halftime. After falling behind 15-9 early, the Raptors outscored the Lakers 14-3 to take a 23-18 lead. Toronto

led 25-22 after the first 12 minutes. Ross, who picked off a Bryant pass and finished with a one-handed jam as part of a 5-0 Toronto run, led the way in the first quarter with 13 points and two rebounds. He had eight points in the first eight minutes of the game. “Offensively, I thought he got a rhythm going, and for a scorer like him, having extended minutes really helped him,” Casey said. “Hopefully that gets him jump-started on the offensive end.”

Thurston recovers big from slow start

Bettman says NHL is still in deliberation stage about potential expansion BY THE CANADIAN PRESS PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — The NHL continues to pump the brakes on the issue of expansion. A year after giving businessman Bill Foley the green light to do a season-ticket drive in Las Vegas and six months after opening the expansion process, the league is still deliberating. The board of governors’ executive committee discussed applications from Quebec City and Las Vegas on Monday in detail and updated the full group as another step in the ongoing process. There remains no timetable to make a decision or even call for a vote, commissioner Gary Bettman said. “The purpose was to update the committee on everything that we’ve done since the filing of the applications, the data that we’ve collected, the research that we’ve done and the information that we have at our disposal,” Bettman said. “Having now seen the information that’s been gathered, having been 99 per cent satisfied with what we’ve identified and what we’ve reported, then the committee will have to begin substantive discussions.” The executive committee, which consists of 10 owners, met for three hours at a coastal resort on the Monterey Peninsula to talk about the expansion presentations given by Quebecor and Foley’s Black Knight Sports & Entertainment in September. Bettman said the report to the full group lasted 15 or 20 minutes. “Very informative,” Carolina Hurricanes president Don Waddell said. “The process continues, as we all know.” Bettman said there are many questions that still need to be resolved “after you get past the point: Do we want to expand?” Issues regarding a potential expansion draft are among them, but the biggest one remains. “Are these the right markets? Are these the right applicants? Are we comfortable with the arena? The list goes on and on,” Bettman said. “It’s an important, significant business decision, and it’s being treated in a businesslike way.” Bettman gave no indication when the issue will next be discussed, though the board next meets at all-star weekend in Nashville at the end of January. The earliest the NHL could expand is the 2017-18 season, something Bettman said was still a possibility if the decision was made to add one or two teams. If expansion happens, Quebec City and Las Vegas are the only cities in the running. Amid speculation

that the NHL was slowing the process to wait for another city, namely Seattle, Bettman called those reports “categorically untrue.” “We’re going to go through this process, complete this process one way or the other, and that’s where we’ll be,” Bettman said. “If we decide at another point in time to re-open expansion, and I’m not saying we would, that’s a subsequent decision. This process is this process for these two applicants. Period.” They’ll just have to keep waiting as the board has what Bettman called “internal, substantive discussions.” The executive committee at some point will make a recommendation, but there’s no clarity on when that might be coming. Expansion was just one piece of a two-hour board meeting that included updates on hockey operations, player safety, officiating and business topics. Threeon-three overtime and the coach’s challenge system got the thumbs up so far. Bettman gave a very preliminary 2016-17 salary cap projection of roughly US$74.5 million, an increase of just over $3 million from this season. The board got a very early projection of the 201617 salary cap, with Bettman saying the range went from the current US$71.4 million to around $74.5 million. That increase would include the NHL Players’ Association’ using its five per cent escalator clause. Bettman said revenues were growing despite the sagging Canadian dollar, which is worth roughly 74 cents U.S. Plans for the NHL’s centennial celebration are ongoing, and Bettman said the NHL had hired former IMG executive producer Steve Mayer as executive vice-president and executive producer, programming and creative development. Even though no announcements were made about what’s to come in 2017, Toronto and Montreal are expected to be focal points. “We think it’s important to recognize the 100th anniversary of the league, which happens to be in conjunction with the 375th anniversary of the founding of Montreal, Canada’s sesquicentennial and the 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup,” Bettman said. “We’re looking forward to that.” Bettman talked to the board about the departure of chief operation officer John Collins and said he’d continue to be supervising those who worked under Collins. He said he’s “not necessarily looking for a new COO.” Topics to be discussed Tuesday include the league’s concussion protocol and the controversial executive compensation policy. Bettman doesn’t expect that to be a contentious debate.

rookie title, CoBurn Bradshaw, gained ground in his lead by winning a round for the second time. Still in the saddle bronc riding, Manitoba’s Tyrel Larsen has also cashed in for one cheque, as the NFR hits the halfway point, for $15,654. His brother, Orin, is a bareback finalist who placed in the opening round, for $9413, but has been shut out since. Cadogan’s Clint Laye has been the biggest money earner of any of the six Canadians at the NFR, collecting $43,154 after placing in three straight rounds. Steer wrestler Tanner Milan of Cochrane has earned a pair of payouts, for $22,212. Barrel racer Deb Guelly, borrowing some different horses for the NFR, hasn’t been able to find the speed she needs to place in any rounds yet. Monday was a big night for Canadian bucking stock. The three time Canadian saddle bronc of the year, Lunatic Party from Outlaw Buckers, turfed Cort Scheer to the ground early. Stampede Warrior, from the Calgary Stampede, did the same to Bradley Harter, while the outfit’s bareback horse Special Delivery bucked off Jake Brown. Another Stampede great, Reckless Margie, teamed up with four time World Champion Kaycee Feild for a 91 mark to win the bareback riding for round five. Field has now passed $200,000 in earnings for the season and is in the driver’s seat for his fifth title.

RINGETTE Shae-Lyn Baxter and Kristen Demale each netted three goals to lead the Central Alberta U19AA Sting to an 8-2 win over the Zone 5 U19AA Grit in weekend ringette action. Gillian Dreger and Ashlynn Morrison also scored for the Sting, while Grace Romansky was the winning netminder. • Hanna Gill and Tory Towers scored in a losing cause as the Central Alberta U14AA Sting fell 8-2 to the Edmonton U14AAA Elite. Goaltending duties were shared by Maddison Kohut and Gracie Setters. The Central Alberta Sting AA Association will host their home tournament Friday to Sunday at the Lacombe Arena.

PET OF THE WEEK

My name is Minette, a pretty 2 year old, domestic Short Hair brown tabby. I would need a home where there are no young children as I am still pretty timid of new situations. I’m a pretty easygoing girl, with a heart of gold. I enjoy getting lovins but please know that it has to be at my own time. If you think that you’re the purrfect home for me. Please speak with the animal care staff. They will get you started on the adoption process.

If you are interested in adopting Jadyn, please call Red Deer & District SPCA at 403-342-7722 Ext. 201 www.reddeerspca.com 2015 City of Red Deer Dog Licenses are available at SPCA! Support Red Deer & District SPCA at no additional cost: As a portion of all licenses sold at our facility will support animals in care, please visit the team at the Red Deer SPCA Reception and they will be happy to process them at the time.

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It took Zeke Thurston a little while to warm up to the next you might fall off a hopper. You just have to the City of Lights, but Sunday night he rode direct- figure out a way to fight through it. Stick to the baly to the NFR bank till and made off with a $20,731 sics, stay calm and not worry about it.” haul. While that can be easier said than done, ThurThe Big Valley saddle bronc rider is ston’s got plenty of folks around him to at his first National Finals Rodeo, and reinforce that message. His father, Skeefinally hit paydirt in Round Four with an ter, knows firsthand what riding for big 85 point ride on a horse, fittingly, called money can do to the mind. Although when Let ‘Er Rip. That was good enough for seche made his six trips to the NFR’s bronc ond place behind Rusty Wright, who was pen, the purse wasn’t in the same sky-high half a point better. Breaking the ice after range it is after the new deal was signed back to back buckoffs was an important to keep the rodeo in Las Vegas. triumph for 21-year-old Thurston. Even though he’s young, Zeke has had “It was kind of a slow start,” he admitsome big league experience and that’s ted. Between that and Edmonton - gosh I helping. was wondering when it was ever going to “It’s crazy here. I’ve been to some big come!” rodeos - Houston, Calgary, the Canadian “I was glad to have a horse that bucked Finals, but they don’t quite compare to DIANNE well.” the amount of electricity and energy here. FINSTAD Thurston was getting a little concerned Everything’s right in your face; it’s like about his fortunes in Las Vegas, a city nothing I’ve ever seen,” marveled ThurRODEO where cash can be ‘hard come’ as well as ston. ‘easy go’. And rodeo is a sport where con“But there’s lots of money to be won fidence, no matter how solid it seems, can vaporize yet. Everybody’s coming’ for it. Hopefully I’m right far too quickly. there with them.” “It’s easy to start fighting your head any day in While Thurston came back Monday night with a this game. That’s the way rodeo is, with ups and solid ride, the 73 mark didn’t get a sniff of any round downs. One day you’ll be fighting the killer bees and five cash. And his fellow competitor for the world

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Obituaries

Obituaries TINORDI Frank Tinordi, beloved and devoted husband of 55 years to Zita Tinordi, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday, December 6, 2015 at the age of 77 years. Funeral arrangements will be announced once completed. To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com

SWAINSON Mrs. Winnifred Swainson of Calgary, Alberta passed away on Friday December 4th, 2015 at the age of 86. She had spent 4 long challenging years battling Alzheimer’s. Winnie was born to Daniel and Winnifred Sheridan on November 9th, 1929 in Lacombe, Alberta. After high school she attended nursing school and graduated as a Registered Nurse. In 1952, she married Lewis Hilsenteger and moved to Saskatchewan. They had 6 children, then relocated to Red Deer where they had their 7th child. Sadly, in 1965, Lewis passed away suddenly. Winnifred, with her amazing inner strength, moved her entire family to Edmonton and enrolled at the U of A to complete her Nursing Degree. A year later she graduated and moved back to Red Deer where she was employed for several years at the Red Deer Mountview Health Unit. In 1975, Winnifred married Bryan Swainson and spent many vacations traveling with him to far away lands. Winnie enjoyed playing golf at the Red Deer Country Club and spending time at the family cottage at Gull Lake. Many were impressed with her level of determination to deal with the ups and downs of life. Winnie is survived by her two daughter’s; Peggy (Larry) Crowe and Barb (Ken) Purcell, five sons; Jim (Glenda), Ray (Kathy), Dan (Donna), Ken (Pam) and Marty (Kathy), 19 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and her three sisters; Pat (Greenhough), Marg (Hedges) and Cecile (Phillips). Her husband Lewis, her sisters Mary and Anne, her brothers Edward and Robert and her parents Daniel and Winnifred preceded her in death. A Funeral service will be held in Red Deer at Sacred Heart Church on Saturday, December 12th at 11am, with a reception to follow. Friends and family are all welcome to attend and celebrate Winnifred’s life.

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LITTLE Caesars Pizza is now hiring a F/T Food Service Supervisor. $13.75/hr. 40 hrs/wk. Flexible time including weekends. Must have at least 1 - 2 yrs. food service exp. Email resume allan_barker25@yahoo.ca or apply in person @ 9, 6791 50 Ave. Red Deer. Call 403-346-1600 for info.

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SESAME Street Bert & Ernie, 4 stuffed figures, $30 for all; baby doll with rooted hair, sleep eyes, 22” tall, $15; and Storybook Classic DVDs, 16 in total, $35. 403-314-9603

Red Deer Rocky Mtn. House Rimbey Caroline Sylvan Lake Innisfail Stettler Ponoka Lacombe Gov’t of Alberta Funding may be available. 403-340-1930 www.academicexpress.ca ELLIS Bird Farm is accepting applications for a Cafe (Tea House) Operator/Contractor for the 2016 season (May - early September). Favorable terms and high profit potential. For information package contact info@ellisbirdfarm.ca Start your career! See Help Wanted

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8 X 10 AREA RUG, green, beige and burgundy tones, clean, $30 obo. 403-755-2760 PRECISION Water Distiller $300. 403-347-1501 TABLE & 2 chairs, wooden child size, $65. 403-342-7460

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The Travelman Luggage & Swimwear Warehouse Requires a

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SYLVAN older 2 bdrm. house. Large lot, $975/mo. Avail. immed. 403-886-5342 403-357-7817

3 BDRM. 4 plex, Innisfail, heat included, $875 w/laundry connection. 403-357-7817

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2 BDRM., 2 bath condo, in Anders $1300 rent & d.d. + utils. Avail. Dec. 1 no pets. Ref’s. req’d. 403-728-8240

ACROSS from park, 2 bdrm. 4-plex, 1 1/2 bath, 4 appls. Rent $925/mo. d.d. $650. Avail. now or Jan. 1. 403-304-5337

HIGHLAND Green 3 bdrm. ACROSS from park, 1 1/2 bath, townhouse Oriole Park, 3 bdrm. avail. immed. $1300 + 4-plex, 1 1/2 bath, 4 appls. utils, water/garbage incld, Rent $1025/mo. d.d. $650. 1 yr. lease, no pets, n/s, Avail. now or Jan. 1 403-872-0668 403-304-5337

3 BDRM. house n/s, small pets, $1050 + utils. + SD, avail. Jan. 1, 403-741-7442

SEIBEL PROPERTY

6 locations in Red Deer, well-maintained townhouses, lrg, 3 bdrm, 11/2 bath, 4 + 5 appls. Westpark, Kentwood, Highland Green, Riverside Meadows. Rent starting at $1100. For more info, phone 403-304-7576 or 403-347-7545 SOUTHWOOD PARK 3110-47TH Avenue, 2 & 3 bdrm. townhouses, generously sized, 1 1/2 baths, fenced yards, full bsmts. 403-347-7473, Sorry no pets. www.greatapartments.ca

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3060

1 BDRM., 3 appls., 50+, no pets, $840 rent, $600 SD. 403-318-0751 ADULT 2 BDRM. spacious suites 3 appls., heat/water incld., ADULT ONLY BLDG, no pets, Oriole Park. 403-986-6889 AVAIL. IMMED. large 2 bdrm. in clean quiet adult building, near downtown Co-Op, no pets, 403-348-7445

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1200

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1290

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LOGS Semi loads of pine, spruce, tamarack, poplar, birch. SYLVAN Lake, 3 fully Price depends on location furn. rentals, 1 w/garage, of delivery. Lil Mule inclds. all utils, $1100 Logging 403-318-4346 $1500. Details 403-880-0210

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FIREWOOD. Pine, Spruce, Can deliver 1-4 cords. 403-844-0227

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Trail Appliances Ltd. has an immediate opening for a full-time Journeyman Plumber to work within Red Deer and surrounding areas based out of our Red Deer location.

SUPER Nintendo w/4 games $140; Game Cube w/6 games $80; Sony CD Walkman $30 Pacific DVD series $20 403-782-3847

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JOURNEYMAN PLUMBER

1605 Horses 2140

Spruce, Pine, Aspen - Split. Avail. 7 days/wk. 403-304-6472

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Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lilian Tintori, wife of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, left, holds hands up with re-elected opposition lawmaker Enrique Marquez, who represents Zulia state, during a press conference in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday. Venezuela’s opposition won control of the National Assembly by a landslide in Sunday’s election, stunning the ruling party and altering the balance of power 17 years after the late Hugo Chavez was elected president.

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CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s opposition rejoiced Monday after its shock triumph in legislative elections and waited anxiously for the final tally to see whether it secured a two-thirds supermajority that could dramatically wrest power from President Nicolas Maduro after 17 years of socialist rule. The Democratic Unity opposition alliance declared Monday that it won the minimum number of seats needed to initiate a process to remove Maduro. But despite the efficiency and transparency promised by the country’s electronic voting system, the National Electoral Council has yet to announce the results of 22 undecided races, almost a full day after polls closed. The opposition coalition won at least 99 seats in the incoming 167-seat legislature, electoral authorities announced after midnight Sunday, setting off a cacophony of car honks and fireworks in the capital’s wealthier eastern neighbourhoods. The ruling Socialist party and its allies won 46 seats. The opposition coalition needs 13 of the 22 undecided races to give it the supermajority needed to sack Supreme Court justices, initiate a referendum to revoke Maduro’s mandate

and even convoke an assembly to rewrite Hugo Chavez’s 1999 constitution. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry congratulated Venezuelans for making their voice heard and called on authorities to tabulate and publish remaining results in a timely manner. “Dialogue among all parties in Venezuela is necessary to address the social and economic challenges facing the country, and the United States stands ready to support such a dialogue together with others in the international community,” Kerry said in a statement. Even if the opposition falls short, the landslide could unleash intense political battles. Since the late Chavez swept into power, the opposition has never held a branch of government. Both sides are more accustomed to hurling insults than negotiating across the country’s vast political divide, and a protracted power struggle could rip apart an economic and social fabric already in tatters. Maduro urged his supporters to accept Sunday’s results, even as he recalled the long history of US-supported coups in Latin America and blamed the “circumstantial” loss on a right-wing “counterrevolution” trying to sabotage Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy and destabilize the government. “I can say today that the economic war has triumphed,” said Maduro, who was surrounded by top socialist leaders in the presidential palace as he mostly pulled phrases from the stump speech he had been delivering before the election. Hardliners in the opposition seemed similarly entrenched, preferring to talk about ending Maduro’s rule before his term ends in 2019 rather than resolving Venezuela’s triple-digit inflation, plunging currency

and the widespread shortages expected to worsen in January as businesses close for the summer vacation. Some opposition figures caution that the result has more to do with anger at Venezuela’s woes than an embrace of the opposition. While even moderates pledged to use their new leverage to pass an amnesty for opponents jailed during last year’s protests, putting food on the table is the priority for most Venezuelans. “The opposition needs to accept this with a lot of humility,” said political consultant Francisco Marquez, who managed one of the winning opposition campaigns. “This was a punishment vote and we will need to show people that we’re up to the task.” Voting Sunday was mostly peaceful, though several ruling party governors, including Chavez’s brother Adan, were videotaped braving boos and insults as they entered polling centres. Turnout was a stunning 74 per cent, the highest for a parliamentary election since Chavez ended compulsory voting in the 1990s. The scale of the political earthquake was such that socialists lost even in Chavez’s home state of Barinas, where Adan Chavez is one of several family members holding high office. In the capital, the opposition won by almost 20 percentage points, even prevailing in the emblematic 23rd of January slum where a mausoleum holds the remains of Chavez, who is revered by the poor as their “invincible commander.” It was also a major blow to Latin America’s left, which gained power in the wake of Chavez’s ascent but has struggled more recently in the face of a region-wide economic slowdown and voter fatigue in some countries with rampant corruption.

Presidential candidate Trump calls for ban on Muslims entering U.S. BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWARK, N.J. — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called Monday for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States,” an idea that prompted one of his rivals to call him “unhinged.” The proposed ban would apply to immigrants and visitors alike, a sweeping prohibition affecting all adherents of Islam who want to come to the U.S. The idea also raised immediate questions about whether it could pass muster under constitutional protections of the free exercise of religion. Trump’s campaign said in a statement that such a ban should stand “until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.” The statement added that the Republican front-runner’s proposal comes in response to a level of hatred among “large segments of the Muslim population” toward Americans. “Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life,” Trump said in the statement. He added on Twitter: “Just put out a very important policy statement on the extraordinary influx of hatred & danger coming into our country. We must be vigilant!” Trump’s campaign has been marked by a pattern of inflammatory statements and he kicked off his campaign with a speech in which he said

some Mexican immigrants are rapists cluding Muslims seeking immigration and criminals. He recently drew crit- visas as well as tourists seeking to enicism for retweeting an image of inac- ter the country. curate statistics that vastly overrepHe did not respond to questions resented the number of whites killed about whether it would also include by blacks. But so far those and other Muslims who are U.S. citizens and errors of fact have not diminished his travel outside of the country, or how popularity among a determination of many Republican ‘UNTIL WE ARE ABLE TO DETER- someone’s religion voters. MINE AND UNDERSTAND THIS might be made by Since the Paris and border PROBLEM AND THE DANGEROUS customs terrorist attacks, a officials. number of Repub- THREAT IT POSES, OUR COUNTRY There are, for lican presidential CANNOT BE THE VICTIMS OF HOR- e x a m p l e , m o r e contenders have than 5,800 serviceproposed restric- RENDOUS ATTACKS BY PEOPLE men and women t i o n s o n S y r i a n THAT BELIEVE ONLY IN JIHAD, on active U.S. milrefugees — with itary duty and in s e v e r a l s u g g e s t - AND HAVE NO SENSE OF REASON the reserves who ing preference for OR RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE.’ self-identify as MusChristians seeking lim and could be asylum — and tightREPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP assigned to serve er surveillance in overseas. the U.S. Trump was alBut Trump’s proposed ban goes so unclear on whether his ban would much further than those ideas, and his apply to Muslim allies in the fight Republican rivals were quick to reject against Islamic State militants. the latest provocation from a candiAri Fleischer, a former aide to Redate who has delivered no shortage of publican President George W. Bush, them. tweeted, “Under Trump, the King “Donald Trump is unhinged,” Jeb Abdullah of Jordan, who is fighting Bush said via Twitter. “His ‘policy’ ISIS, won’t be allowed in the US to proposals are not serious.” talk about how to fight ISIS.” Carly Fiorina said, “Trump’s overTrump has taken a particularly reaction is as dangerous as President hard line against Muslims in the days Obama’s under-reaction.” since the Paris attacks, advocating John Kasich slammed Trump’s enhanced surveillance of mosques “outrageous divisiveness,” while a due to fears over radicalization. more measured Ted Cruz, who has Trump’s proposal comes a day afalways been cautious about upsetting ter President Barack Obama spoke to Trump’s supporters, said, “Well, that the nation from the Oval Office about is not my policy.” the shootings in San Bernardino, CalTrump campaign manager Corey ifornia, which Obama said was “an Lewandowski said Trump’s proposed act of terrorism designed to kill innoban would apply to “everybody,” in- cent people.”

B8 RED DEER ADVOCATE Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015

Radicalized for ‘quite some time’ FBI SAYS SAN BERNARDINO KILLERS TOOK TARGET PRACTICE DAYS BEFORE ATTACK BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The San Bernardino killers had been radicalized “for quite some time” and had taken target practice at area gun ranges, in one instance just days before the attack that left 14 people dead, the FBI said Monday. In a chilling twist, authorities also disclosed that a year before the rampage, Syed Farook’s co-workers at the county health department underwent “active shooter” training in the very conference room where he and his wife opened fire on them last Wednesday. It was not immediately clear whether Farook attended the late-2014 instructional session on how to react to a workplace gunman, San Bernardino County spokeswoman Felisa Cardona said. On Monday, two employees who had been in the room during the attack on a holiday luncheon said colleagues tried to do just as they had been trained — drop under the tables and stay quiet so as not to attract attention. “Unfortunately, the room just didn’t provide a whole lot of protection,” said Corwin Porter, assistant county health director. Farook, a 28-year-old restaurant inspector who was born in the U.S. to a Pakistani family, and Tashfeen Malik, a 29-year-old immigrant from Pakistan, went on the rampage at about the same time Malik pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group on Facebook, authorities said. The Muslim couple were killed hours later in a gunbattle with police. “We have learned and believe that both subjects were radicalized and have been for quite some time,” said David Bowdich, chief of the FBI’s Los Angeles office. He added: “The question we’re trying to get at is how did that happen and by whom and where did that happen? And I will tell you right now we don’t know those answers.” He also said the couple had taken target practice at ranges in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, with one session held within days of the rampage. In addition, authorities discovered 19 pipes in the couple’s home in Redlands, California, that could be turned into bombs, Bowdich said. The FBI previously said it had found 12 pipe

Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mourners comfort each other at a makeshift memorial site honoring Wednesday’s shooting victims Monday, in San Bernardino, Calif. Thousands of employees of San Bernardino County are preparing to return to work Monday, five days after a county restaurant inspector and his wife opened fire on a gathering of his co-workers, killing 14 people and wounding 21. bombs. Newly released emergency radio transmissions from the fast-moving tragedy show that police identified Farook as a suspect almost immediately, even though witnesses reported that the attackers wore black ski masks. An unidentified police officer put out Farook’s name because Farook had left the luncheon “out of the blue” 20 minutes before the shooting, “seemed nervous,” and matched the description of one of the attackers, according to audio recordings posted by The Press-Enterprise newspaper of Riverside. In addition to the 14 killed, 21 people were hurt. At least six remained hospitalized, two in critical condition. President Barack Obama said in a prime-time address Sunday night that the attack was an “act of terrorism designed to kill innocent people.” The killers had “gone down the dark path of radicalization,” he said, but there was no evidence they were part of a larger conspiracy or were directed by an overseas terror organi-

Syria says airstrikes kill three of its soldiers WASHINGTON BLAMES RUSSIA BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIRUT — Syria on Monday accused the U.S.-led coalition of bombing an army camp in the eastern part of the country, killing three Syrian soldiers and wounding 13, but a senior U.S. military official said the Pentagon is “certain” the strike was from a Russian warplane. The dispute over the deadly airstrike underscored the increasingly chaotic skies over Syria as various powers hit targets in the war-ravaged country. The U.S.-led alliance began its airstrikes in Syria in September 2014, while Russia’s air campaign began a year later. In a letter to the United Nations, the government in Damascus said four aircraft from the coalition targeted the army camp in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour on Sunday night. In addition to the casualties among the troops, it said the attack destroyed armoured and other vehicles, and a weapons and ammunition depot. “This hampers efforts to combat terrorism and proves once again that this coalition lacks seriousness and credibility to effectively fight terrorism,” said the letter, which was published in Syrian state media. The government refers to all those fighting to overthrow President Bashar Assad as “terror-

WORLD

BRIEFS

Amnesty: Most war equipment used by IS seized from Iraqi army BEIRUT — Amnesty International says most of the Islamic State group’s weapons were taken from the Iraqi army. The international rights group says in a report released Tuesday that decades of reckless arms trading and poorly regulated arms flows into Iraq have contributed to IS’ “large and lethal arsenal,” which is being used to commit war crimes on a massive scale in Iraq and Syria. Amnesty based its report on expert analysis of verified videos and images. It says the weapons used by IS were manufactured and designed in more than two dozen countries, including

ists.” It was the first time Syria has accused the U.S.-led coalition of hitting its troops. The U.S. denied the claim, saying four alliance airstrikes in the eastern province of Deir el-Zour all hit oil wells about 55 kilometres (34 miles) southeast of where the Syrian government said its camp was struck. “We did not strike any vehicles or personnel targets in this area. We have no indication any Syrian soldiers were even near our strikes,” the coalition statement said, adding that it takes allegations of potential collateral damage seriously and investigates them. Moreover, a U.S. military official said Washington was “certain” it was a Russian airstrike that hit the camp. U.S. officials cited coalition surveillance and other data they said showed that Russian aircraft launched airstrikes near the Syrian army camp. One senior official said the Russian aircraft were in the air around 9 p.m. Sunday near the city of Deir el-Zour, whereas the coalition aircraft were flying an hour earlier about 55 kilometres away. A senior U.S. official said radar tracked a dozen Russian TU-22 bombers that left Mozdok, Russia, travelled over the Caspian Sea, across portions of Iran and Iraq, and launched airstrikes in Raqqa, Deir el-Zour and Al Bukamal, Syria. Russia, China the U.S. and European states.

Ethiopia: Over 10 million will need food by January as drought continues ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — The Ethiopian government says more than 10 million people including nearly 6 million children will need emergency food by January because of drought. Mitiku Kassa, head of Ethiopia’s disaster relief operation, said Monday that the government is currently distributing its own emergency food aid because pledges made by donors have not yet been delivered. He said there hasn’t been loss of life due to the drought so far. Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen estimated that the drought will continue well into 2016 and cited lack of transportation and food supplies as major obstacles. John Graham, Save the Children’s

zation. The two assault rifles used in the attack had been legally purchased by an old friend of Farook’s, Enrique Marquez, authorities said, but they are still trying to determine how the couple got the weapons. Marquez has not been charged with a crime. The FBI would not release details on where the husband-and-wife killers practiced their shooting. But John Galletta, an instructor at Riverside Magnum Range, said in a statement that Farook had been there on Nov. 29 and 30, two days before the attack, and “nothing was out of the ordinary regarding his behaviour.” Galletta told reporters that he never spoke to Farook and that no one had seen Farook’s wife around there. Asked whether in hindsight he or others in the shop should have been suspicious of Farook, Galletta said: “How are you able to determine what somebody’s intents are?” Meanwhile, most of the county’s 20,000 employees went back to work

for the first time since the rampage five days earlier plunged the community into shock and mourning. “To honour them, to express our gratitude for their unimaginable sacrifice, we have to fight to maintain that ordinary,” County Supervisor Janice Rutherford said of the victims. “We can’t be afraid of our lives, of our community, of our neighbours, of our co-workers.” Authorities tightened security at county buildings and offered counselling and a hotline for employees in distress. Employees in the environmental health division, where Farook and many of his victims worked, will be off until next week. It was the environmental health division that held the active-shooter training last year. “We held each other and we protected each other through this horrific event,” said county Health Director Trudy Raymundo, who was in the room during the attack, “and we will continue to hold each other and protect each other.”

U.S. gov. opens investigation into Chicago police practices BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO — Responding to deepening mistrust of one of the nation’s largest police forces, the U.S. government opened an investigation Monday into the Chicago Police Department, while authorities said they would not charge an officer in the death of a 25-year-old black man who was shot in the back last year. The Justice Department investigation will look into patterns of racial disparity in the use of force. It comes nearly two weeks after the release of a video showing a white Chicago officer shooting a black teenager 16 times. Lack of trust between police and their communities “makes it more difficult to gain help within investigations, to encourage the victims and the witnesses of crime to speak up and to fulfil the most basic responsibilities of public safety officials,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the U.S.’s top lawyer, said. “And when suspicion and hostility is allowed to fester, it can erupt into unrest.” The investigation, which is separate from an existing federal investigation into last year’s shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, will also review how the department disciplines officers and handles misconduct accusations. The civil-rights investigation follows recent ones in Baltimore and Ferguson, Missouri, and comes as the police department and Mayor Rahm Emanuel are under intense scrutiny over their handling of the October 2014 Country Director in Ethiopia, said in a statement that Ethiopia is experiencing its worst drought in 50 years and $1.4 billion in aid is needed to adequately respond to the emergency.

Cartel member sentenced in U.S. tried to bring 1 ton of cocaine into country CONCORD, N.H. — A member of an international drug cartel has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for his role in trying to expand the organization’s reach into the United States. Rafael Humberto Celaya Valenzuela, part of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel run by drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, was sentenced Monday in federal court in New Hampshire. At trial, secret video and audio recordings showed Valenzuela conspiring with fellow cartel members and undercover FBI agents to distribute up to 2,200 pounds of cocaine into the U.S. The 40-year-old Valenzuela had faced more than 30 years in prison.

death of McDonald. Officer Jason Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder Nov. 24, more than a year after the killing and just hours before the release of police dashboard camera footage showing the officer shooting the teenager. Emanuel, who initially said a federal civil rights investigation would be “misguided” but later reversed course, said the city needs comprehensive solutions. Speaking at a news conference, Emanuel said he’s making several reforms, including appointing a new leader for the Independent Police Review Authority, which investigates shootings by police. The previous head resigned Sunday. Also Monday, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez said there would be no charges against Officer George Hernandez in the shooting of Ronald Johnson. Authorities say he pointed a gun at police before he was killed on Oct. 12, 2014. Alvarez and Assistant State’s Attorney Lynn McCarthy spent more than 30 minutes detailing evidence before showing the dashcam video, which shows Johnson running from police across a street with several officers in pursuit, and then one officer firing. Johnson is not on screen when he was struck by two bullets. The video was also slowed down to show what McCarthy said was a gun in Johnson’s hand. Prosecutors say a loaded weapon was found in his hand after he was killed. She also said Johnson ignored officers’ commands to stop and drop his weapon.

Small explosion at bus stop in central Moscow injures 3 MOSCOW — A small explosive device has lightly injured three people at a bus stop in downtown Moscow, police said Monday. Moscow police spokesman Andrei Galiakberov said the explosion occurred at the bus stop on Pokrovka street, just over 1.6 kilometres (1 mile) from Red Square. According to the Interfax news agency, he said it could have been a small explosive thrown from a passing car or a window of a nearby building, and that the three were injured by flying glass. Galiakberov wouldn’t give any further details and refrained from speculating about possible motives. Russian news agencies said two women were hospitalized with leg injuries, and the third injured woman refused to be hospitalized. In the past, criminal groups in Russia have used low-power explosives in their turf battles. There was no immediate indication of any extremist connection.

FAMILY

B9 Finding the perfect Christmas tree

It was about 33 below and the young manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fingers were icy cold inside his threadbare gloves, but still he kept looking. The perfect Christmas tree. There had to be one somewhere on this snowy Christmas tree lot in downtown Edmonton. The young manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife and six-weekold son watched carefully from behind the windshield of a warm and running vehicle as he presented tree after tree for their inspection. Finally, he held one up and it turned out it was not just a tree. It was the perfect tree. His wife smiled and nodded. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it,â&#x20AC;? she mouthed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You got it.â&#x20AC;? And so it came to be that they brought the perfect tree home to their tiny one-bedroom apartment where they lived in a jumble of school books, diapers, baby bottles, and wild and crazy aspirations about what they were going to be when they all grew up. First baby, first Christmas, second year NAIT student! In honour of that very first Christ-

TUESDAY, DEC. 8, 2015

mas tree, I said, in a tone belonging to someone young and naĂŻve, that we would always have a real tree, and it would always be perfect. And so the years passed and the children became used to hearing me say every Christmas, â&#x20AC;&#x153;this is the perfect Christmas tree, the nicest one weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever had.â&#x20AC;? And they would smile and mutter under their breath to each other, â&#x20AC;&#x153;thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what mom always says.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;And so it TREENA must be true,â&#x20AC;? I would finish for MIELKE them. LIFE And so the children came and the children left and still Christmas remained, undeniable, regular, like clockwork, a red letter calendar day in a sometimes bleak and dreary month. Then one year the unthinkable happened. We bought an artificial tree. This year, I lugged the artificial tree upstairs from its secret hiding place

under the stairs and two of my grandsons helped me put it together. And as I pulled out the decorations, gently holding each sacred ornament in my hand like it was a raw egg with a vulnerable and fragile shell, I explained to the boys what they represented. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Here is the cloth ball your mom made me. Look how carefully she put it all together,â&#x20AC;? I said, reverently. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And this, this is the ball your Auntie Darcie made when she was younger than you. Look at that, it still has her name on it, sort of.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;And this; Uncle Devin made this when he was only five-years-old. I hold up his paper cow proudly.â&#x20AC;? The boys look blankly at my treasures. Somehow, I could tell they were not even a tiny bit impressed. Finally, I hold up wooden mitts their mom and I had crafted together years ago. The mitts have tiny bells attached. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do the bells work?â&#x20AC;? they ask, hopefully. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No,â&#x20AC;? I said, the bells do not work. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not the point.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grandma, can we have more

juice?â&#x20AC;? they ask, finally. I laugh and hug their precious little selves to me and obligingly pour them more juice; the bubbly kind that goes with tree decorating along with caramel popcorn. And as they hang most of the balls on one branch because that is the one they can reach, and I notice that the garland doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t quite reach the top and the Christmas angel is crooked as it perches on top of the tree, I feel all ridiculously happy and proud. And I know, without a doubt, that once again I can claim ownership of the perfect Christmas tree. I am truly blessed. It happens every year, just like magic. Just like Christmas! Treena Mielke lives in Sylvan Lake and is editor of the Rimbey Review. She has been a journalist and columnist for more than 25 years. Treena is married to Peter and they have three children and six grandchildren.

Fighting over who gets to put up what decorations There was once a time when I loved Christmas. I loved the smell of cinnamon that would waft through my grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home while we tore through gifts piled high under the tree. The fun my brother and I used to have stuffing ourselves full of turkey and mashed potatoes until we were ready to explode. The laughter that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d share with the people who we loved was so unforgettable in those days of carefree Christmases. There was just something about that time of year that brought smiles to faces and a feeling of cheer to the air. But then adulthood hit and the reality of this god-awful month became painfully clear. Let us remember the fact that you will probably be plunging yourself into thousands of dollars of debt in order to achieve the â&#x20AC;&#x153;perfectâ&#x20AC;? Christmas experience for you and your family. Not to mention the high-stress state of affairs that is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;family get-together.â&#x20AC;? All of the scheduling around each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plans can be enough to drive a person bonkers. And please donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get me started on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;one-uppingâ&#x20AC;? of the Jonesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; at this sacred time of year. Right down the

street we have our very own Griswold family who seem to think it is appropriate to drain the electricity grid every evening to show off their superb light show. How the hell am I supposed to compete with that? Here I am with a pitiable Charlie Brownish wreath that hangs lopsided off my front door and I am calling myself Martha Stewart for the effort I put into it! Well, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t I sound like the Grinch? Before I know it I am going to be growing green body LINDSAY hair and peoBROWN ple arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t going to want to ME PLUS THREE touch me with a 39-and-a-half foot pole. Each year when this month rolls around I tell myself that I shall not succumb to the scroogery. However, every year once the pressure of Christmas envelopes me there I am yelling at Christmas carolers to get off my porch and telling the children that the Elf on the Shelf was too tired to get into any shenanigans the night before. Ugh it makes me guilty even writing it. Christmas is a difficult time of year and it on-

ly seems to be getting more and more complicated as I get older. I had been telling the kids for weeks that after Larsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; birthday we would put the tree up. This is yet another Christmas event that has become more of a task than a treat. Each year it always seems to be a fight over who gets to put up what decorations and where on the tree they should go and how the proper way to string a strand of lights are and how much tinsel is too much tinsel â&#x20AC;&#x201D; you get the point. So begrudgingly I pulled out the tree from our storage area and began to set up. Something happened however as I placed the synthetic thing together â&#x20AC;Ś Some might say my small heart grew three sizes that day. I watched as Sophie sorted eagerly through the antique decorations that my Mom had given to me several years back. Any other year when the kids have eyed the priceless bulbs Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve stopped them in their tracks and told them that those decorations were for adults only, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be left with the paper-chains and popsicle stick picture frames they had made in preschool. Maybe it was the way she ever so

gently handled them or the gleam of wonder in her eyes as she sorted through these very old treasures but I decided to let Sophie and Lars do all of the decorating this year. After setting the tree up and stringing the lights (which seemed surprisingly easy when you forgot about the stress of it all) I found a seat on the couch. I took that time to appreciate the joy that they were getting out of this tree decorating occasion. I played Christmas carols and made hot chocolateâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the real kind of hot chocolate that my mom used to make for us. After all was said and done the tree looked beautiful! All at once I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t care about coordinating the colors of the decorations or if the bulbs were evenly distributed, my heart was too warm to feel anxious about anything. It was then that I realized that it isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t childhood that makes Christmas a carefree and joyous time. It is having the ability to let go and simply be grateful for the people you love and the delight of the season itself. Lindsay Brown is a Sylvan Lake mother of two and freelance columnist.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Awe as an emotion resides in the upper reaches of pleasureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;What are we doing?â&#x20AC;? Lloyd asked, settling down next to me on the embankment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to feel fortunate,â&#x20AC;? I replied. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to feel humble.â&#x20AC;? It took a bit of cajoling, but I managed to convince my cousin Lloyd to join me for a night walk. We were both living in Medicine Hat at the time. I had told Lloyd of a spot Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d found overlooking Kingsway Avenue that offered a great view of the city lights below and the bright, twinkling stars up above. With the aid of a flashlight, we picked our way tentatively down the trail to the edge of an embankment several stories above the streets and houses below. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It kind of puts things into perspective, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it?â&#x20AC;? he said after a time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Awe-inspiring,â&#x20AC;? I said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I find it

takes me out of my head for a MURRAY while.â&#x20AC;? FUHRER When was EXTREME ESTEEM the last time you felt awe-inspired â&#x20AC;&#x201D; filled with wonder and amazement? The stars can be awe-inspiring, as can viewing the commonplace, like city lights from a different perspective. Many things have moved me to a state of awe: a powerful storm, a mountain range, the vastness of the ocean. I have been awe-inspired watching someone overcome adversity and by the birth of my children. But I have also been awe-inspired by the tiniest of things â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a delicate humming bird, a fragile flower blossom, a drop of rain on a window pane. It has been said by poets that awe is both heart and mind expanding, but until recently little attention has been paid by scientists to the complex and multi-faceted emotion of awe. A 2003 study conducted by psychologists Dacher Keltner of UC Berkeley and

Jonathan Haidt of New York University provided insights into aweâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effect on the human mind. According to Keltner and Haidt â&#x20AC;&#x153;awe consists of two qualities: perceived vastness, something we think to be greater than ourselves, and accommodation, a need to assimilate the experience of vastness into oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current mental structure.â&#x20AC;? According to the study, â&#x20AC;&#x153;awe as an emotion (resides) in the upper reaches of pleasure and on the boundary of fear.â&#x20AC;? Keltner and Haidt noted that awe can be â&#x20AC;&#x153;fleeting and rareâ&#x20AC;? but such experiences can alter the course of oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life in â&#x20AC;&#x153;profound and permanent ways.â&#x20AC;? Keltner and Haidt reference a 2012

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Stepping into step-parent role a challenge Dear Annie: My boyfriend and I have been dating for 18 months and would like to move in together and eventually marry. It would be a second marriage for both of us. He has been divorced for four years and has three children who are just into their teens. I have no children, but have been actively involved in the lives of my many nieces and nephews, and the children of my friends. His kids are the problem. I’m ready to give up the best relationship of my life because of them. They curse me, blatantly disrespect me, and are generally unpleasant to be around. They are physically and verbally violent toward each other, their peers and other family members. They lie and are disrespectful of adults and authority. They gossip and spread rumors. I’ve told my boyfriend about their bad behavior, but they are well-mannered and courteous in his presence, so he claims not to see it. I’ve attempted a heart-to-heart with them, only to be mocked, have my words twisted and lies told about me. I am currently tak-

ing anti-anxiety medication over this situation. How can I convince my boyfriend how his children really act? Should I bother? I was raised in a loving respectful home and feel totally out of my element. — KATHY MITCHELL Heartbroken in AND MARCY SUGAR California ANNIE’S MAILBOX Dear Heartbroken: Becoming a stepparent can be difficult and it doesn’t help that your boyfriend closes his eyes to the problem. If his children are violent toward each other and other family members, he is undoubtedly aware of it, but unwilling to deal with it. Teenagers can be notoriously rebellious, even under the best of circumstances. And their mother could be

HOROSCOPES Tuesday, Dec. 8 CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DATE: Serena Ryder, 32; Kim Basinger, 61; Niki Minaj, 32 THOUGHT OF THE DAY: The stars favour looking at issues in a deep and vast way. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: You are a real individual but must find a positive outlet for your dynamic energy. Success will come in 2016 — but only with patience, persistence and hard work. ARIES (March 21-April 19): With Uranus in your sign, it’s vital to be the authentic you. Be inspired by birthday great, singer/songwriter/ poet Jim Morrison “The most important kind of freedom is to be who you really are.” TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s time to get up-close-and-personal with loved ones as you focus on close relationships, and work on giving more and taking less. Joint business ventures are also favoured.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gregarious Gemini — you love to hear the sound of your own voice, but you don’t have to be constantly talking to prove a point. Today is one of those days when silence is golden. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Aim to be more sensitive towards a child, teenager or friend. Consultation is the key. It’s also time to swap frivolous spending for serious saving, as you carefully nurture your nest egg for the future. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): With the Moon and Venus moving through your domestic zone, it’s the perfect time to enjoy the company of family and friends in your Lion’s den. But avoid stirring up trouble in the work place. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Are you being unusually subjective about a problem? To find a solution, combine head and heart. Plus nurture

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your contacts in the local community — who knows where they may lead? LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Search for creative ways to boost your cash flow, increase business or land a flash new job. Smart networking is essential. At the moment, it’s not what you know JOANNE MADELINE but who you know. MOORE SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Venus SUN SIGNS is vamping through your sign — until Dec. 30 — so aim to be the most charming and cooperative Scorpio you can be. If you’re looking for work, make sure you dress to impress.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Your sunny Sagittarian smile lifts the mood of those around you. You’re feeling positive about a current challenge but sometimes there’s a fine line be’\tween being optimistic and unrealistic. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It’s time for Capricorns to socialize and circulate; mix and mingle. All types of group activities are favoured but avoid getting drawn into an argument with a housemate or work colleague. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Venus is now visiting your career zone — until Dec. 30 — so the next three weeks should be good ones at work. It’s also a fortunate time to apply for a promotion, raise or new job. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Creativity and compassion are high today Pisces, as you intuitively pick up on how a family member or friend is feeling. It’s also time to nurture your relationships with overseas connections. Joanne Madeline Moore is an internationally syndicated astrologer and columnist. Her column appears daily in the Advocate.

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match her body. I hope she can find a therapist who works with the transgendered community. Surgery is expensive and not covered by insurance. Please don’t give up. Be the person you were meant to be. — Proud Parent of a Transgendered Son Dear Parent: We wish all parents would be as accepting and supportive as you. Thank you for writing. Dear Readers: Sunday, Dec. 13, is The Compassionate Friends’ Worldwide Candle Lighting in memory of all the children who have died. Please light a candle in the evening at 7 p.m., local time, and remember them with love. For more information, log on to compassionatefriends.org. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailbox@ creators.com, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

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influencing them negatively, as well. You need to be extremely kind and patient, but the cursing, lying and disrespect must end. And that will happen only if your boyfriend insists on it. Please ask him about family counseling before the relationship disintegrates. Also, look into the National Stepfamily Resource Center (stepfamilies.info). Dear Annie: It’s taken a while, but I want to respond to “Forever Trapped,” who feels she was born the wrong gender, but worries about surgical solutions. My son (he was born female, but is living his life as a male) was also confused. When younger, he exhibited so much male behavior that I thought he was a lesbian, but that wasn’t it. He realized he was transgendered and transitioned from female to male many years ago. He had surgery, and you now cannot tell he was ever female. My son is happily married, living as a gay man in the Boston area. There is nothing wrong with “Forever Trapped.” Her gender identity didn’t