Santa and one of his favourite elves, despite being on the verge of an upcoming worldwide trip, made a delightfully surprising appearance at St Patrick Catholic School last Friday
His visit to the community featured a vintage red truck, complete with festive decorations and even a Christmas tree in the box His reindogs joined in greeting many excited children
Santa was a big hit as he waved through the school windows bringing the joy of the season He reminds everyone to be in bed early on Christmas Eve Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Photo by Adan Shaikh
Point of care testing system started at St. Mary’s Hospital
By Murray Green Covenant Health
St. Mary’s Hospital Camrose received $11,442 from St. Mary’s Hospital, Camrose Foundation for the purchase of a Point of Care Testing System for Creatinine for the diagnostic imaging department.
“Most of our CT studies are conducted with administration of CT contrast, or some patients call it CT dye. It’s an iodinated fluid that is injected via an IV during the scan to enhance the veins, arteries, organs, and soft tissue structures of the body. It gives us the ability to characterize features in the body parts being scanned which leads to a more defined diagnosis. The contrast is imperative in the diagnosis of active strokes, pulmonary emboli, and other life-threatening conditions that patients present with from day to day,” said Justin Hamaliuk, medical radiation technologist.
“The CT contrast eventually gets filtered out by the kidneys and ends up into the bladder. However, if the patient’s kidneys are not functioning well enough, the contrast can reduce their function further and closer to renal failure. Naturally, we have a protocol to test kidney function to make sure it is safe for the patient to have contrast injected, and that’s where the point of care testing (POCT) fits in,” he added.
“As an outpatient currently, the patient needs a requisition from the doctor for blood work, then they need to book a laboratory
visit at an Alberta Precision Laboratory centre to get their blood drawn, which then gets sent for processing. The process typically entails the patient to travel around the city and results are usually in 24 to 48 hours,” said Justin.
“If the patient is an inpatient or an emergency room patient, a requisition is still required, and our inhouse Laboratory services draws the blood and runs the test to get the result. At its shortest time, it can take up to 30 minutes but on busier days it can take several hours,” shared Justin.
“This new POCT I-stat unit will be able to run a blood test specifically for contrast CT patients and get the result in just a few minutes. Creatinine tests are required to confirm ideal kidney function prior to administration of CT dye to prevent kidney damage.
“Testing at point of care (POCT) gives several advantages for patients: progresses the care they get while being an inpatient or an emergency room patient by cutting out any delay time in waiting for results before we can administer CT contrast and proceed with any ordered scans outpatients may not have to make an additional appointment to get a blood creatine/eGFR test completed, patients with borderline results from a previous day can get an up-to-date check on their kidney function to ensure we are making the correct choice to administer CT contrast taking a portion of the load from Labo-
ratory Services, it should in a minor way also help the Lab deliver their care and results faster overall,” he commented.
“The POCT I-Stat will allow us to continue to provide safe patient care by checking patients’ kidney function before giving them CT contrast. This equipment will create efficiencies in our workflow and overall improve the patient experience when they come for a CT scan. We anticipate this to improve our turnaround times for ER patients from time of physician ordering CT scan to time of the technologist completing the exam. For outpatients we expect this to reduce the time the patient is in the department waiting for their CT scan,” explained Justin.
“It has been challenging for our clerical staff to coordinate with patients and family physicians to complete the necessary blood tests before they come in for their CT scan. Our clerks send out letters and make phone calls to have these arrangements made and often patients still show up without having this pre-lab work completed. Justin, one of our CT techs identified this workflow issue and put together a proposal to the foundation for the purchase of a point of care I-stat device. We are grateful for the support from the St. Mary’s Foundation. I look forward to putting this equipment to good use and seeing our patients benefit from it,” added Lisa Garnett, manager, diagnostic imaging.
1L7
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
The diagnostic imaging unit demonstrate the use of the new equipment on Judith O’Shaughnessy, centre, chair of the St. Mary’s Hospital, Camrose Foundation. Pictured, from left, are Holley Santos, Lorianne Hinton, Briana Lyster, Justin Hamaliuk, O’Shaughnessy, Sharla Warawa, Mel Welch and Lisa Garnett.
APHICS DEPARTMENT
Sharon Schwar t z, Ar t Director Journeyman Graphic Designer; Brenda Campbell, Deput y Ar t Director Journeyman Graphic Designer; Alyzza Labajo, Graphic
- James & Romonda
Happy Christmas Eve!
My all-time favourite
Christmas Eve memory is the December 24 late afternoon when we brought home our infant daughter.
In those days, new mothers were in hospital for a few days after the birth. Our little one was four days old.
At the top of the stairs, her two-year-old brother–who suddenly seemed huge–was standing. His arms were outstretched and he was saying, “Ank you! ‘Ank you!”
He thought the new baby was for him.
We thought she was our best Christmas gift.
Another young couple who also had a baby and a toddler brought over Christmas Eve supper to share–an act of kindness and friendship. We sat around our tiny upstairs suite living room, eating from our laps, and felt magical.
At some point during that Christmas Eve supper–two babies, two toddlers and four way-too-young parents–we realized that our toddler had been toddling from end table to coffee table, sipping wine from glasses low enough for him to reach. Oops!
Quick re-location of wine glasses. Laughter and warmth, friendship and gratitude. Whatever were our stressors of that year did not matter on that magical Christmas Eve. For the record, our toddler son did not grow up to become an alcoholic.
On a Christmas Eve, my teenage son and daughter and I were at my parents’ home. We got home shortly before midnight. After the kids went to bed, I finished wrapping some gifts and filled Christmas stockings under the Christmas tree. After poking my nose into every room in the house, I nodded off to bed about 2 a.m.
Christmas morning came early. Somewhat blearyeyed but feeling that bubbly Christmas morning happiness, I went into the living room. Practically the entire floor was filled with a giant box, gift-wrapped and addressed to me.
I unwrapped a gorgeous round teak coffee table from my parents.
How did it get there? When did it get there?
Fifty years later, I still don’t know. My now-adult children have never revealed the secret. I’ve speculated out loud but their lips are sealed. They just smile and say, “You’ll never know.”
Life moves on. Families expand and change. New generations create new customs. As someone no longer in one of the mid-generations responsible for making arrangements, all I have to do is show up.
Do I miss the years of children’s laughter and excitement? Sure.
I’m also happy to have fewer responsibilities. I would not have predicted how easy it is not to be in charge!
I’m keenly aware that not everyone finds this a joyful season. It can be a time of poignant emotions. All the hype, the pressure to buy, buy, buy, the requests for donations, the forced pretend happiness, the illusion that everyone is having a good time, can make difficult situations even more painful.
I know people who dread this season, who wish it would go away, or who go away themselves so they don’t have to be subjected to it.
At this season, we feel more keenly the loss of people we love who are no longer with us. If we’re far from the people we most treasure, the distance seems greater. If health or financial or relationship or work aspects of our lives are less than optimum, if we’re nostalgic for magical feelings we used to have and don’t any more, the contrast between what is and what we wish stands out more sharply.
Whatever the hype, whatever the hustle and bustle, this is a season to be gentle and kind–to ourselves as well as to others. It’s a season to remember and be grateful for the real gifts in our lives–the love and deeper meaning of all those events.
Whatever your traditions, whatever your memories, I wish you a peaceful heart during this holiday season. ***
I’d love to hear from you. If you have comments about this column or suggestions for future topics, send an email to Bonnie@BonnieHutchinson.com I’ll happily reply within two business days.
LIONS SHARE
QUILT PROCEEDS
THRIFT SHOP
Murray Green, Camrose Booster Camrose Swans and Roses Lions Club president Ken Dobos presents $2,000 to Raylene Robbins of Camrose Helps program to go towards food items over the holiday season.
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
Battle River Quilters’ Guild member Eleanor White, right, presented Neighbor Aid Center interim executive director Holly Field with $1,539 to go towards the Food bank program. The funds were raised at a quilt show and sale at the Camrose Heritage Railway Museum.
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
Camrose and District Family Thrift Shop secretary Joanne Olsen, left, presented Merry Christmas Fund volunteer Vikki Stang with $1,000 to help purchase food items to be given to less fortunate families prior to the holiday season. The Thrift Shop also donate $500 to the Camrose Women’s Shelter.
• Camrose City Council approved a net budget increase of 2.28% after spending a couple of months trimming municipal expenditures and looking for areas of savings. City Councillor Gerry Galenza called the budget process one of the toughest he had ever experienced. “When we first started the budgetting process, we were looking at an increase in the double digits and it was shocking,” he said. “By the time the process was finished, the municipal tax levy had been reduced to $813,575.”
• Bawlf School was a recipient of $650 in the Camrose Garden Market IGA School is Cool program. Bawlf School Principal Doug Bowie received the cheque from Bert Bromley, store owner. Bawlf School will split the money between the band program and library books for students in Grades one to three.
• As their millenium project, students at Chester Ronning School set out to collect 2,000 items for the Camrose and District Food Bank The school, however, far surpassed its goal; collecting 2,531 items of food. Pictured in front of the wide variety of food items donated were Verni Byers, representing the Chester Ronning Millenium Committee, Principal Gerry Lawrence and Food Bank Coordinator Pat Hagen
• Art Smith, Vincent Daley and Alfred Leeb, all of Camrose, were presented with Honorary Life Memberships by the Knights of Columbus Camrose Council #3437. They received Honorary Life Pins, Certificates of Commendation, and a letter in recognition of more than 25 years of continuous memberships, loyalty and service. Brothers Ed Gerling and Dr. Joe Cloarec were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the Red Cross Society. Award Certificates for the two were read to the meeting by H.C. Hilton, Commissioner for the Alberta-N.W.T. Division of the Red Cross Society
• Students of Camrose Composite High School conducted their annual Room Decorating Contest. With an expression of their concern for those who don’t have the extras that most people enjoy for the Christmas season, each student donated canned food to be included in the Merry Christmas Hampers, which were delivered in Camrose and District on the Saturday before Christmas. It was estimated that close to 1,000 tins of food were delivered A modest estimate of value would be $300. School Board members Mrs. Dorothy Clapson and Mrs. Francis Elliott judged the Room Decorating Contest. The winners were Dr. Sue Ram’s class and runner up was Mrs. Eddy’s class.
LIGHTS
Adan Shaikh, Camrose Booster Camrose Chambers of Commerce, in a partnership with the City of Camrose, has brought the lights back to Main Street. Locals gathered as Mayor PJ Stasko, left, and Chambers of Commerce president Jennifer Fossen flicked the switch to turn the lights on December 19th. The Camrose Police and Fire Department joined in with their lights. “It is a
said Fossen.
THANK YO U Camrose Communit y
Your generosity at the Trauma and Crime Suppor t Services Charity Check Stop on December 7th helped to ll our shelves in time for Christmas!
Sincere thanks to Camrose Police Service, Camrose Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and to our truly wonder ful, suppor tive Camrose Community!
From our hear ts and home to yours, have a safe and joyous Christmas Season!
crisiswork@camrosewomenshelter.org General Information or to Donate 780-679-4975 · camrosewomenshelter.org
Haldorson rings bells for Salvation Army, dream wish
By Murray Green
Alice Haldorson of Camrose is proof that you are never too old to complete the items on your bucket list.
“My wish list included ringing the bells to raise funds in The Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign in their holiday appeal,” said the spry 98-year-old to the members.
She received the opportunity to ring the bells at the Superstore in Camrose on December 12 from 3 to 4 p.m.
“This was a heartwarming story for me and I hope it encourages others to do something like that,” said Major Mike Mailman, commanding officer of The Salvation Army that is based in Wetaskiwin.
Salvation Army mem-
ber John Blair of Camrose and Bruce Finkel of Wetaskiwin greeted Alice at Superstore to show her how to ring the bells and to present to her a Volunteer Appreciation certificate.
Although the funds were collected in Camrose, they go to support less fortunate people from across central Alberta, but mostly in the Wetaskiwin and Camrose area.
“The money we raise stays in the district, we don’t pass any on to the provincial or national associations. It stays here to help local people,” Mike said.
During the holiday season, The Salvation Army visits seniors at the Rosealta Lodge, Louise Jensen Centre and Deer Meadows (part of the Bethany Group).
Submitted
Alice Haldorson receives a volunteer appreciation certificate from The Salvation Army’s John Blair.
The Salvation Army’s Bruce Finkel greets Marilyn Hoveland (Alice’s sister) and Alice Haldorson.
FROM ROSS AGRI
CDFCSS enhances its support services
rals to targeted services addressing specific community needs. “Every FCSS is structured differently based on the municipalities and their specific needs,” said Kasa.
By Adan Shaikh Winter is here and so is a growing need for support in the community. With this in mind Camrose and District Family & Community Support Services (CDFCSS) has decided to expand its services and continue to provide support.
FCSS partners with the Province of Alberta, the Camrose County, the City of Camrose and nearby villages to deliver preventive social programs. The organization, established in 1967, provides services aimed at helping residents improve their quality of life while providing them support in times of crisis.
“This is a program that is only offered in Alberta and we offer preventive support services to all ages,” shared Lyndell Kasa, executive director of FCSS.
CDFCSS is part of the broader Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) network, which includes several hundred programs operating across Alberta under the guidance of the provincial FCSS Act and Regulations. Through these regulations, FCSS provides a framework that focuses on prevention and community wellness. In Camrose and surrounding areas, CDFCSS offers programs that range from general support and refer-
With recent organizational changes, CDFCSS has restructured its support network. As six affiliated foundations planned to dissolve by the end of 2023, CDFCSS decided to carry forward the work of these groups, bringing their services in-house under its own umbrella. As a result, CDFCSS now operates a total of 32 support services directly.
“At the end of 2023 six non-profit organizations that were funded by CDFCSS became internal departments or divisions of FCSS, with the same services being offered,” commented Kasa.
One of the new initiatives to be launched in the coming months is Drive Happiness, a volunteer transportation program designed for older adults. This service will offer reliable, accessible transportation to help seniors remain mobile and connected to their community. “We are currently looking for volunteer drivers for this program, which is posing to be a challenge. Continued on page 47
BOXING WEEKSale
Police launch new dispatch system
By Murray Green
The Camrose Police Service has implemented a new dispatch system within its 911 Dispatch Center to better serve the residents in emergency situations. Plans to implement a similar fire dispatch has been scheduled for early 2025.
“The new system allows emergency dispatchers to follow national standards and research-based protocols to identify lifethreatening situations and to safely prioritize calls for response. The protocols will further improve the services being provided as they guide emergency dispatchers through a series of questions they ask callers in order to identify the problems so they can send the correct help,” said Camrose Police Service Inspector Rene Brisson.
“Emergency dispatchers will also use the questions to provide responders with accurate information so they can more effectively give care once they are on the scene. Emergency dispatchers can provide lifesaving and safety instructions to callers before police arrive. We are excited to bring in standardized 911 dispatch protocols and software,” said Inspector Brisson. “Our 911 dispatch center serves both the City and Camrose County. These new tools further enhance our services that our citizens have come to expect, while adding critical lifesaving instructions for
those in need.”
“All emergency dispatchers who work on the new system are certified and must recertify every two years, complete 24 hours of continuing dispatch education (CDE) and pass all requirements for IAED recertification,” he added.
“Proactive quality improvement benchmarks are an important part of the PDS. Use of this system will allow Camrose emergency dispatchers to assess the quality of the care they provide their communities, allowing them to make positive adjustments to training and staff in response to these assessments,” said Inspector Brisson.
“At the IAED, our goal is to help the emergency dispatcher do their job better,” said Dr. Jeff Clawson, chair, Rules Committee for the IAED Medical Council of Standards. “This system increases safety and effectiveness for the first responders and creates better outcomes for callers.”
“Although it is constantly evolving, it will help provide the highest standard of care to the community, allowing emergency police dispatchers and fire dispatchers to better manage limited resources and increase the accuracy and efficiency of the dispatching process,” said Inspector Rene Brisson.
Continued on page 35
Christmas Merry
As 2024 draws to a close…
The Bethany Group wants to extend our sincerest thanks to our community for their continued support of our Mission. Together, we were able to accomplish so much, including the purchase of three new tubs ($116,700 total) for our Health sites. This was made possible in large part due to the generous donations made by donors like you.
Thank you to all who attended our Faith and Aging Conference in November It is always a blessing to get to connect with our community members, while we learn and grow with the speakers and each other
To our volunteers, clients, residents, sta , and community members: We also want to extend all our hopes, prayers, and best wishes this season. We hope that however you celebrate, you are surrounded by your loved ones and are able to find time connecting and relaxing. May your hearts be cheered and may you find encouragement and joy in these challenging days of winter.
May God bless you all.
Warmly,
Carla Beck, CEO, and Our G overning Board:
Jack Ramsden, Board Chair
Scot Lorenson, Vice Chair
Cher yl Smith, S ecretary
Brenda McDermott
Elizabeth B agdan Amber Davis
Lynda Haarstad Pet ten
Sharon Mickla
Ron Pilger
Cher yl Dechaine
Thelma and Maurice Smith celebrate 50 years of marriage
By Adan Shaikh Thelma
and Maurice Smith, long-time residents of New Norway, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 21st. This is a testament to everlasting love in a time when
lasting partnerships can feel increasingly rare.
Maurice, who grew up on his family’s ranch in the rugged Drumheller badlands, found an unexpected path to love in 1971. Inspired by the film Mutiny on the Bounty and eager to connect beyond his immediate circle, he joined a pen pal program. His letter reached Thelma in the Philippines, and a simple exchange of words became the foundation of something extraordinary. Over months of correspondence, they developed an emotional connection.
A few months later, Maurice travelled to the Philippines to meet Thelma and her family in person. That visit cemented their bond, turning friendship into love. Determined to honour Thelma and her family, Maurice returned again to seek her father’s permission to propose. With the blessing of her parents, the couple began planning a future together.
On December 21, 1974, surrounded by loved ones, Maurice and Thelma were married in the Philippines. Their wedding was not only a celebration of their commitment but also a beautiful blending of two cultures. They settled down in New Norway in 1980, where they built a beautiful home and family with their three kids. When asked about the secret to a long-lasting marriage, Thelma offered simple advice, “Don’t worry about material things, avoid getting buried in debt because that adds a lot of stress to life, and use humour.”
Maurice added his perspective on keeping the peace, “Don’t get into big arguments. Don’t throw gas on the fire; let it burn out.” Now, after five decades together, the couple’s story reminds everyone of what’s possible when love is built on patience, respect and shared joy.
Pictured above are Thelma and Maurice Smith. They celebrated their 50th anniversary on December 21st.
Scott Garnett, CPA, CA
Ashley Radchenko, CPA, CA
Clark MacKay, CPA, CA
Greg Wood, CPA, CA
Yvonne Myrehaug, CPA, CMA
Bruce Rudosky, CPA, CGA
Cameron Lewis, CPA
Aaron Willson, CPA
Bonnie Chartrand
Melanie Van Petten
Amy Stollery
Lisa Gaumont Susan Kelndorfer
Amanda Ford
Amanda Maksymchuk
Zoe Hagel
Tanya Jewell
2024 -2 025
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE S
Ci ty Hall , Communit y Serv ices , and Public Works Of fice Hours Community rv
December 24, 2024 Open until Noon
December 25 – 26 , 2024 Closed
December 31, 2024 Open until Noon
Januar y 1, 2025 Closed *Access to the Public Works building is by appointment only.
Centra Cam Recycling Depo t
December 24, 2024 Ga tes close at Noon
December 24 – 26 , 2024
December 27, 2024
December 28 – 30, 2024
December 31, 2024: Ga te s clos e at Noon
Januar y 1, 2025 Closed
Januar y 2, 2025 Ga tes open at 8:00 am For more informat ion, please contac t Cent ra Cam Recycle Depot at 78 0.679. 4196
Chuck MacLean Ar ts Centre
December 23, 2024 – Januar y 5, 2025
Januar y 6, 2025
Mayer Aq uatic Centre
December 23, 2024 7: 00 am – 4: 00 pm
December 24 – 26 , 2024 .C lose d
December 27, 2024 7: 00 am – 4: 00 pm
December 28 – 29, 2024 1: 00 pm – 4: 00 pm
December 30, 2024 7: 00 am – 4: 00 pm
December 31, 2024 – Januar y 1, 2025 .C lose d
Januar y 2 & 3, 2025 7: 00 am – 4: 00 pm
Januar y 4, 2025 Re sume Regula r Hour s View the full schedule online at www.c amrose .c a/pool
Resident ial Wa ste/ Organics Collection
We dnesday, December 25 collection will be picked up on Saturd ay December 28
We dnesday, Januar y 1 collection will be picked up on Saturd ay, Januar y 4
Re member : bi-weekl y organic collection happen s th ro ughout th e winter months For more informat ion, please contac t City Hall at 78 0.672. 4428
Walking Track (Rec Centre & Community Centre)
December 24, 2024 8: 00 am – 3:00 pm
December 25 – 26 , 2024 Closed
December 27 – December 30, 2024 Open Regula r Hour s
December 31, 2024 8: 00 am – 3:00 pm
Januar y 1, 2025 Closed
Januar y 2, 2025 Re sume Regula r Hour s
Council approves budget for the next two years
By Adan Shaikh Camrose
City Council has approved the 2025 to 2026 budget for Camrose, and many changes that will directly impact residents are being made. The approved budget increases municipal taxes, utility rates, and franchise fees while planning investments to sustain infrastructure and maintain services. How will these adjustments affect the community over the next two years?
Homeowners will see a 4.65 per cent increase in municipal property taxes in both 2025 and 2026. For an average household, this means an additional annual cost of $204.34 in 2025 and $244.35 in 2026, bringing the total annual tax to $2,639.37 in 2025 and $2,762.14 in 2026.
Franchise fees will also rise, with the electricity fee increasing from 17 per cent to 18 per cent and natural gas from 27 per cent to 32 per cent, effective April 1, 2025. These increases will remain in place for 2026.
Utility rates will see continued adjustments, with five per cent annual increases for water and wastewater over both years. These increases will contribute to higher household costs, but residents will save in other areas. Solid waste fees will drop by 19 per cent in 2025, and recycling fees will be halved, largely due to operational efficiencies and anticipated savings from the Extended Producer Responsibility program.
Bouck, general manager of financial services. The City also provides Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Arts Centre with $310,000 annually in operational funding.
“Additionally, the implementation of body-worn cameras for our city police officers, as mandated by the province. We are also updating the public washrooms to address health and safety concerns. We will also add a new outdoor skating rink by the field house, demolishing two existing ones,” Bouck continued.
The City will also complete a raw water line condition assessment to mitigate risks associated with the critical water supply infrastructure, create an implementation plan for the downtown area redevelopment plan, increase the lagoon sani-dump security and update the City’s heritage inventory.
“I think one of the important things to understand is that our franchise fees, which are the fees that homeowners and business owners pay on their electricity and natural gas, go to the City. Because the province has reduced the funding to the City by $3 million, the City has had to increase the franchise fee to bridge that gap,” said Bouck.
“We will be doubling our sidewalk repair budget to $100,000 annually. One of the things in the budget that has had a significant impact this year is long-term funding commitments for the key arts and culture offerings within this community. A one-time funding of approximately $180,000 will be given to the Bailey Theatre to pay off their mortgage, and an annual ongoing commitment of $15,000. A contribution of $500,000 to the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre to help fund their capital equipment replacement reserve, which will help them replace any critical equipment. The lights in downtown are coming back with the help of an external partner. The community bus is getting an additional day of service, walking pass fees are being removed, and additional funding is going towards improving our communications team and increasing staff at the Chuck MacLean Arts Centre and various other city facilities to improve the levels of services we provide,” shared Travis
“As a result of that, when we look at the average cost to homeowners impact, factoring in taxes, utility fees, franchise fees and estimating the provincial tax, we are seeing a monthly increase of approximately $17 a month in 2025 and $20 a month in 2026, to an average single dwelling family. That is factoring in the increase in property taxes of 4.65 per cent in 2025 and 2026,” commented Bouck.
These changes come as the city contends with a reduction in provincial funding stemming from Alberta’s new Local Government Fiscal Framework. To offset this shortfall, Camrose is raising franchise fees and maintaining user fee increases to ensure continued investment in essential infrastructure. Without these adjustments, the City warns that critical services could be jeopardized, and the cost of addressing aging infrastructure would likely fall even more heavily on future generations.
While some savings in waste and recycling fees provide relief, higher taxes and utility rates will strain household budgets, considering the ongoing high cost of living. For those wanting to find more details on this matter, can find the meeting video and minutes on the City of Camrose website.
Council discuses transport issues
By Adan Shaikh
At the December 2 Camrose City council meeting, they discussed several transportation-related matters. The first topic discussed was whether escooters would continue to be part of Camrose’s services.
“In June 2023, council passed an amendment to the business licence by-law which allowed shared escooter businesses within the City,” said city manager Malcolm Boyd. The owner of Elite Scooters was the only business that applied to run this service in Camrose and has requested to extend the project. “We saw increasing concerns about scooters being left on private property. If we plan to make this permanent, I recommend we must make it a requirement that the business must have the scooters collected and bring them back to their parking spots at least once every 24 hours, that was the most common complaint about the e-scooters. There are still a couple of scooters that have not been collected,” shared Patricia MacQuarrie, general manager of community development.
Security concerns regarding the e-scooters were also brought up.
“What about safety regulations? Such as helmets?” asked Councillor Anges Hoveland. However, it seems that enforcing helmets for the e-scooters will be difficult.
“We had it in the policy originally that riders must wear a helmet when using the e-scooters, but enforcing that has been challenging. We are hearing the same concern from other municipalities about e-scooters,” responded Particia. There have also been reports of vandalism on the e-scooters and their misuse; however, addressing the individuals committing these nuisances poses a challenge. By the time authorities can get somewhere to address any reports, the individuals in question are generally gone.
The council ultimately decided to return Elite Scooters to Camrose as long as they could ensure they were collected in a timely manner and not left lying around the sidewalks. Many locals enjoyed the service, but the City advises residents to practice road safety and be mindful of their surroundings when using the scooters.
Continued on page 21
UPDATE ON POSTAL DEL AYS
The postal strike is now over, but a backlog of mail may still delay the deliver y of utilit y bills, accounts receivable notices, and vendor payments and business licences.
To avoid disruptions, please note the following:
• Utilit y Bills: Payments are still due as scheduled to avoid late fees.
To make things easier and ensure you always receive your bill on time, sign up for electronic billing at forms.camrose.ca/Paperless-Utility-Bill -Sign-Up
(Signing up for Paperless Billing only applies to future bills.)
• Accounts Receivable: Opt for electronic invoicing for rentals, leases, etc.
• Vendors: Sign up for secure, faster payments with Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
• Business Licences: Contact the Planning & Development Depar tment at 780.672.4428 or planning@camrose.ca. You can visit the second oor of Cit y Hall Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (closed for lunch 12:00 –1:00), excluding statutor y holidays.
Want to sign up for e-billing or EFT ? Call us at 780.672.4426 or visit Cit y Hall.
By Murray Green
beginning at 10 p.m. on December 31.
Pinocchio will be performed by the Polish National Ballet at the Bailey
on January 5 beginning at 2 p.m. This is a danced version to music by Mieczysław Weinberg, the Polish-born Soviet composer. The band Mourning Wood returns to the theatre for a concert on January 10 at 8 p.m. They enjoy playing the best songs in cover versions.
Bailey Film Series will show Backspot on January 15 at 7 p.m.
A cheerleader faces new adversity and the increased drive for perfection and triumph when she and her girlfriend are selected for an all-star cheer squad and its demanding head coach.
The six-member band The Hearts will be playing
New Year’s Eve party at the Bailey Theatre
the Bailey stage on January 17 at 8 p.m. in the Rose City Roots Music Society series.
The Two Widows will be on the Bailey stage on January 19 starting at 2 p.m. This is a story about two young widows that are cousins, Karolina and Anežka, who live together on a countryside estate. Bailey Buckaroos re -
turn with a variety of country music on January 26 starting at 2 p.m.
Tracy Miller will present her concert My Roots Are Showing on February 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Local singer Tracy has an unmistakable voice as a pure country instrument rooted deep in her adoration for traditional country.
By Joseph Keelring
County prepares to sell old seed plant facility land
By Murray Green
Camrose County is moving towards selling the lot that the old seed cleaning plant was located on within the City of Camrose.
At the regular meeting on November 26, the County council agreed to approach the Battle River School Division to discuss the property. County administration has attempted to work with the Battle River School Division regarding an old agreement between the County and BRSD with regard to the old seed cleaning plant/bus garage property.
The BRSD buses share the County owned lane, but the agreement needs to be revamped to prepare for a new owner of the property. The County currently maintains the gate and yard.
“I move that Camrose County council request a meeting with the Battle River School Division board of trustees to inform them of the County’s intent to sell the old Seed Cleaning Plant property, which is adjacent to the Battle River School Division bus garage property and request amendments to the current agreement,” moved councillor Doug Lyseng.
“The County and school division became separate entities around 1996. In 1999, an agreement was made between the school division and the County which outlined the sharing of the seed cleaning plant/bus garage lot. This agreement no longer serves the County purposes as the lot is surplus and the County is hoping to sell it,” explained administrator Teresa Gratrix.
“The way the agreement is written gives the County no avenue to exit the agreement, impeding the sale of this property at anytime in the future. It would be beneficial if Council could meet with the board of trustees to discuss options going forward,” she added.
By Murray Green
The line-ups for the Big Valley Jamboree schedule from July 31 to August 3 have been finalized.
On Thursday, July 31, at the kick-off party you can enjoy the sounds from Tommy Charles, Tyler Joe Miller and the Hunter Brothers.
On Friday, August 1, the music starts with Nice Horse at 2 p.m., then follows with Drew Baldridge at 3:30 p.m., Tim Hicks at 5 p.m., Tyler Hubbard at 7:30 p.m. and fin-
ishes with Bailey Zimmerman at 9:30 p.m.
On Saturday, August 2, music begins with Savannah Jade at 1 p.m. and follows with Owen Riegling at 3:30 p.m., James Barker Band at 5 p.m., Ashley McBryde at 7:30 p.m. and completes with Blake Shelton at 9:30 p.m.
On Sunday, August 3, music starts with Teigen Gayse at 1 p.m. and follows with Lindsay Ell at 3:30 p.m., Clint Black at 5 p.m., Nate Smith at 7:30 p.m. and ends with Jason Aldean at 9:30 p.m.
Augustana sports takes a holiday break
By Murray Green
A new season of sports has arrived at the University of Alberta, Augustana for the 2024-25 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference season.
Hockey
Augustana Vikings have six wins in 12 games and sit in fourth place in the ACAC standings. The top six teams qualify for playoffs.
Augustana hosts the first place SAIT Trojans on January 24 at 7 p.m. in the next home game.
Volleyball
The Augustana women’s team are tied for fifth place with four wins in nine matches.
On the men’s side, the Vikings are in sixth place with two points.
Augustana hosts NAIT on January 11 at 6 p.m. for the women’s team and 8 p.m. for the men’s squad in the next home game.
The Vikings women’s team is in fifth place with a 2-8 record. The Vikings men’s team is in fifth place with two wins.
The Vikings host NAIT Ooks on January 10 at 6 and 8 p.m. in the next home game.
Augustana women’s team have a 1-4 record. The men’s rink is at 0-4.
The second bonspiel is on January 17 to 19 in Edmonton, hosted by Concordia. The ACAC championships are in Red Deer on February 7 to 9.
- Kevin & Chris
become a permanent fixture in Camrose.
“Flixbus has ceased their bus route to Camrose; they did not see the numbers they needed to see for it to continue,” informed councillor Lucas Banack. Due to a lack of interest in the service, the bus route will no longer be available.
Flags arE TerrifiC
STAR SKATERS
Murray Green, Camrose Booster Camrose Skating Club hosted the Star Series event December 6 to 8. Local members Lilly Bendfeld placed fourth in Star 7 women’s artistic, fifth place in Star 5 freeskate for those 13 and over. Raven Kading came in fifth place in Star 4 girls under 13, fifth place in Star 6-7 solo dance. Olivia Dingman was seventh in Star 4 girls under 13, fourth place in Star 6-7 solo dance. This is Raven and Olivia’s first time competing in a Star 4 gold competition. Erika Lessard won silver in artistic and fifth place in Star 8 freeskate. Coach Annika Goreniuk won gold in Adult Silver Freeskate.
Erika Lessard
Olivia Dingman
Raven Kading
Wendy Westlund Corey Kudrowich CFP®,
Kudrowich
BRSD
Submitted
Battle River School Division kindergarten teachers participated in learning collaboration day on December 10. This professional learning day provided an opportunity for the early learning team to review the newly mandated Alberta Education screening assessments for kindergarten. In the morning, teachers worked on enhancing their understanding of the new provincial literacy and numeracy assessments, which will launch in January. Early Learning coordinator Nola Bellamy presented to the group.
Sincere
Season
HOSPICE
REMEMBERS
Adan Shaikh, Camrose Booster Hospice Society of Camrose and District held a beautiful Lights to Remember ceremony. Those experiencing grief this holiday season gathered around with candles and ornaments. Pam Cummer from the society shared words of strength, followed by a moment of silence. A church choir sang Christmas carols as everyone lit their candles, in memory of their loved ones. People shared who they were lighting their candles in the memory of. Holidays may not be a happy time for those missing their loved ones, but the ceremony provided warmth and comfort to those who participated.
Christmas Lane was
on December 13th, with over 200 people attending the festivities. Individuals and families were invited by the Camrose Christmas Association to join Santa and Mrs. Claus for a wintry night of Christmas carols by Camrose Children’s Choir, beautiful lights and horse-drawn wagon rides. Pictured are Lisa Dirksen as Mrs. Claus and Ken Miller as Santa. Children sat with Santa, sharing what they wish to get this Christmas, before running off to play in the snow. Families walked around the beautifully lit Christmas Lane, enjoying the many decorations set up by the residents of Marler Drive.
“We had to unfortunately turn people away, but we hope next year we can provide wagon rides for extended periods so no one has to miss out,” shared Shauna Chrabaszcz organizer of Christmas lane, who has put in a lot of hard work and heart into bringing this initiative to the families and individuals of Camrose.
Please
Majesk
Hertel
Hauser
Banack
Lysanna Damron Tr ac y Br andingen
Nicole McCormick
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By Adan Shaikh
Christmas gift exchanges are one way people come together during the holidays and share the joy of giving. But how did the custom of exchanging presents come to be? According to an article by HolidaySmart, the tradition of Christmas gift exchanges dates back to ancient pagan festivals and the development of Christian customs.
One of the earliest precursors was the Roman festival of Saturnalia, celebrated during the winter solstice. During this time, Romans exchanged small, often handmade gifts to wish each other luck and prosperity. When Christianity started to spread through the Roman Empire, many of these customs were absorbed into Christmas celebrations, including gift-giving, which was also inspired by the three wise men bringing gifts to Jesus and later solidified with the tale of Saint Nicholas who was known for his generosity.
In medieval Europe, the focus of Christmas was on charitable giving instead of exchanging gifts among family and friends. People gave to people experiencing poverty, servants, and employees as an expression of goodwill. In countries like Germany and Norway,
Season’s Greetings
Different ways to exchange gifts this Christmas
traditions began to develop where children received presents they believed were from the Christ Child and neighbours exchanged anonymous gifts.
The emphasis on exchanging gifts as part of family celebrations became popularized only in the 19th century. The rise of Christmas trees and Santa Claus, especially in the United States, significantly shaped contemporary practices.
The commercialization of Christmas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries then established gift
exchanges as central to the holiday, spreading the custom worldwide.
As fun as the traditional approach to gift-giving is, it’s always fun to try creative ways of exchanging gifts; here are several ideas to consider for your holiday celebrations.
Secret Santa Secret Santa is a classic exchange where each participant draws a name and buys a gift specifically for that person. This method is thoughtful and personal but adds some mystery to the occasion. Participants are generally given spend-
ing limits or a wish list to smooth the process.
White elephant
For a humourous twist, try the white elephant exchange. Everyone brings wrapped gifts that can be swapped or “stolen” during the game. The theme is often amusing or quirky items, making it an excellent choice for casual gatherings. According to Elf by Stealth, white elephant exchanges work best when participants choose unconventional or tacky gifts.
Themed exchange
Adding a theme can make your exchange more exciting and personalized. For example, “homemade gifts,” “winter accessories,” or “gifts under $20”. Themes will turn the exchange into an opportunity to be creative.
Dice exchange
If you and your family are a fan of board games, this idea is for you. It involves rolling dice to decide how gifts are exchanged. For instance, rolling a certain number might allow someone to swap their gift with another player. This method adds an unpredictable and entertaining element to the event.
Charitable exchange
For those who want to focus on helping others, consider a charity exchange. Participants can
donate to a selected cause in each other’s names or pool funds for a more significant charitable gift. It is a great way to give back and promote kindness and generosity worldwide. Gift auction Earn play money through party games or trivia, then use it to bid on wrapped gifts during an auction. This adds a competitive and strategic element to the exchange and is another perfect option for groups who enjoy games. Pollyanna exchange Similar to the white elephant but with a more amicable approach, Pollyanna exchanges allow participants to swap gifts without “stealing.” This option is ideal for groups who want a less competitive and more inclusive experience. Regardless of your chosen method, clear communication is important to make sure all participants get a present they will be pleased with. You can always edit the method you choose to suit your group.
RCMP office set on fire
By Murray Green
Tofield RCMP members are asking for assistance in relation to a fire at the Tofield RCMP detachment. The fire is believed to have taken place in the early morning hours on December 2. The RCMP has ruled it an arson after investigation.
Tofield RCMP are on the lookout for the driver of a dark coloured 200912 Dodge Ram 1500 series quad cab who was seen driving in the area at the time of the fire.
Anyone with information on this incident or the driver of the vehicle are asked to contact Tofield RCMP at 780-662-3352.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or online at www.P3Tips.com
Adan Shaikh, Camrose Booster Make your Christmas party interesting by trying a new way to exchange gifts.
STAMP AROUND CAMROSE The 2024
Winner’s name will appear in our December 31 issue
(Draw took place December 23 after the current edition of The Camrose Booster was composed and delivered)
Congratulations to our weekly winners, who each received a $100 Gift Certificate from the participating Stamp Around business of their choosing:
Week 1: Chris Merlin (entered at Wideman Paint & Decor)
Week 2: Randy Lunn (entered at R&D Hot Tubs)
Week 3: Marilyn Murray (entered at Bea’s Blooms)
Week 4: Joanne Grinde (entered at Ken’s Furniture)
DONATION TREE
Murray Green, Camrose Booster St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary members Pat Lyseng, left, Lorri Blumhagen and Shirley Helmig decorate the lobby Christmas tree at the hospital. You can make a $5 donation to the ladies auxiliary and pick a decoration to keep and take home. If the book store is not open, you can put money in a provided envelope and place under the Gift Shop door. The funds will be used for various projects around the hospital. The decorations will be available until January 7.
MEMAW HELP
Murray Green, Camrose Booster Camrose Academy of Dance has contributed to the MeMaw program for the last several years. This year, they adopted a family. Jayne Richardson worked with Battle River School Division for 20 years and in 2013, started MeMaw to assist pregnant girls who have no or little support with vulnerable families. The dancers and families supplied gifts for the family.
THRIFT SHOP
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
Camrose and District Family Thrift Shop member Kati Fischer, centre, donated $500 to the Camrose Kinettes Silent Santa program, represented by secretary Erin Upton and member Karin Walger.
FROM FIELD S AND ST
Protecting yourself from fraud
By Adan Shaikh Camrose
and
District
Chamber of Commerce held their monthly general meeting on December 4. At this meeting, the guests had the opportunity to learn about protecting themselves from fraud. Camrose CIBC branch manager Lawrence Nwangwa shared a very informative presentation highlighting the importance of keeping personal information secure.
He shared the most common ways of financial fraud, cheque fraud and identity theft. “Cheque fraud is less common nowadays, thanks to the new technology; however, we still see it here in Camrose,” shared Lawrence.
The most common type of fraud that people experience is someone contacting them requesting personal information or money. “The most common one is the Nigerian prince scam, where someone emails you, requesting money and claiming to be a Nigerian prince,” he recommends double-checking any correspondence you receive with your bank when someone is claiming to be a relative or a celebrity. “Anyone claiming to be related to you, pay attention to their tone because if it is someone you know, you can tell how they talk, what their general tone is,” Lawrence suggested.
He then discussed how the scammers try to use the emotions of their victims to their advantage and get access to their money. “Another scam that has recently become popular is someone claiming to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
People hear CRA, and they freak out. I had a lady come in who had fallen victim to this; the scammer had emptied all her savings and made her go into debt, it was very sad to see her so distraught,” commented Lawrence.
Here are some ways that you can protect yourself from fraud:
Track transactions
“Use a mobile app or online banking to keep an eye on your accounts; you can view real-time transactions on them,” shared Lawrence. By monitoring your financial transactions, you can report any unknown or suspicious activity to your bank right away.
Intuition
“If something doesn’t feel right, check with your bank. Banks don’t send you links to click on. When you get an email or text asking for sensitive information or to click on something, pay attention to your intuition and check with your bank before giving out any information,” urged Lawrence.
Share
If you fall victim to a scam, share your story to increase awareness about how it happened. This will help others avoid it and be careful in similar situations.
Overall, Lawrence’s presentation focused on the importance of never giving out sensitive information. Fraud is evolving with technology, and there are new ways scammers try to access your identity and finances, but by practicing the advice shared here, you can take the extra steps to protect yourself.
Th e success of BRCF Reading Universi ty an d grow ing this impo rt an t fund continues to be a priority for me
In 2024, th e Foundation’s ef fort s allowed 37 students to at te nd this valuable program over th e week s of summer It ’s an amazin g initiati ve !
The trust granted to me over the past year in purchasing and selling your homes and farms has been both humbling and gratif ying Thank you for counting on me !
One of the most satisf ying aspects of 2024 was fulf illing my pledge to donate to the Battle River Communit y Foundation upon the conclusion of ever y proper ty sale I made. This will continue in 2025.
Wally Wr ubleski Agent for C entral Agencies Realty Inc Cell 780-781-7323 O ce 780-672-4495 but most of all
e grateful for your friendship and suppor especially for the way you helped us make a
a workshop for people to learn bumps, grinds and shimmies,” added Nick.
Grease is the word! The Camrose Churchmice Players will be presenting the musical from February 6 to 16. Both matinees and evening performances will be available throughout the 10 shows.
Ticket to Hollywood will supply music from the movies under the Edmonton Pops Orchestra on Friday, February 21, at 7:30 p.m.
This show will not only have world famous musicians, but also vocalists singing iconic songs. “This is a 10-piece orchestra with four vocalists that will be featuring Hollywood songs from the last 20 years,” said Nick Beach, LPAC manager.
Ukrainian Christmas show held at Lougheed Centre
By Murray Green
The Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre has a great line-up still to
this season.
The Lougheed Centre is celebrating its 10th anniversary. That means some of the hottest acts over the past 10 years will be returning to help celebrate the Lougheed Centre milestone.
Gerdan will be presenting a Christmas show on January 5 at 2 p.m.
Rooted deep in Ukrainian folk music, traditions and carols, Gerdan should guide you through Ukrainian Christmas traditions that begin with St. Nicholas Day through to St. Andrews, Sviat Vechir and even Malanka and the Feast of Jordan.
You will celebrate the season with ancient vibrations and rhythms that Gerdan knows how to create with their mystical and ancient approach to preserving and re-inventing traditions.
Hear your favourite songs and learn some new ones and experience the magic and joy of the season.
Paul Woida will be back on Friday, January 17, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. This Canadian contemporary Christian singer songwriter is a master looper. A looper records sounds in real time and plays back melodies and instruments with his voice.
“When I hear his music, I think of Cold Play. He has this catchy pop sound, who is also a Christian songwriter. He uses rhythms and melodies to create a
full band of music,” said Nick Beach, LPAC manger.
Canadian indie rock band Sloan is ready to join the anniversary party on Wednesday, January 22, at 7:30 p.m.
They have a collection of 250 songs and 30 singles that play on the airwaves today, after 30 years. “They are listed as one of the top 25 Canadian rock bands in our history. They have 30 singles and they are a band we have been requested to bring here,” said Lougheed manager Nick Beach.
Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? That question will be answered in Axis Theatre’s show that includes decades of Métis history on Thursday, January 23, at 1:30 p.m.
“This is a school show as well. We have presented Axis Theatre before and they are very popular,” added manager Nick Beach.
This is a free community event, but you must have a ticket to get in.
Prepare to be entertained during the Burlesque Follies show from The House of Hush Burlesque on Friday, January 31, at 7:30 p.m.
It will take you back to the days of travelling carnivals complete with glitter and feathers.
“We had a burlesque show before and to say the Camrose audience had a fun time would be an understatement. It is so much fun, empowering and an incredible art form. It is very funny, but yet it is done in a tasteful way,” said manager Nick.
“A week before the show we are going to have
“The response last time they were here was super positive (Ticket to Broadway) and we are happy to have them back,” added sponsorship coordinator Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye.
A lot of people have been waiting for this show. The National Dance Company of Ireland presents Rhythm of the Dance on Wednesday, February 26, at 7:30 p.m.
Join the finest dancers and traditional musicians in this two-hour exhilarating performance. “ This is like River Dance, Lord of the Dance and now we have Rhythm of the Dance, they are shows that have really taken off like wild fire. We have one of these giant shows coming and we pulled a Hail Mary and we were lucky to get this show,” said Nick.
The Edmonton Community Presentation will be offering the classic tale of Rapunzel on Sunday, March 2, at 2 p.m. in the family series.
The girl with long hair has been imprisoned. Will her hair or sweet music set her free?
“Their artistic director is brilliant. He writes full brand new musicals for every tour and the music has always been so well written and the adaptation of the story is so good. They are Albertans and I’m really proud of their work,” said Nick.
This is a free community event, but you must have a ticket to get in.
Ivan Coyote’s Playlist will be at the Lougheed on March 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Writer and performer Ivan Coyote has crafted a playlist of stories that sing to us about how they managed to discover a coded but very possible queer future hidden in the music coming out of the AM radio in the kitchen, lurking in their parent’s record collection, and leaking out of the lyrics in their elementary school musical.
The
By Murray Green
Dave Brisson owns a 1939 Pontiac car.
“I traded a car that I had running and driving at the time, but needed a lot of work. I traded for this car that was in a lot of parts,” confessed Dave.
“All of the parts were in boxes and the frame was butchered. The body was half taken apart, but I traded straight across for it. I then started building the frame and built an entire 1969 front clip,” explained Dave. “I added air bags all around and modernized it to drive on the highways. I put in a 305 small block Pontiac engine from 1985. The transmission is from a 1974 C10 Chevrolet truck, a turbo 350. I used four or five different vehicles to make this one,” shared Dave.
“Originally, I just wanted to build it to sell it and then build something else. As I started to put it together, I kind of fell in love with it and wanted to keep it. The more work I put it into it, the more I wanted to keep it. I only drive old cars, I don’t own a new one. I sold off anything that was new and started enjoying the older vehicles. This is my oldest and my newest vehicle is a 1991 Ford truck,” said Dave.
“The old vehicles all have style, a special look to them and they don’t all look
automotive section of
Brisson builds a ’39 Pontiac from parts
Brisson used multiple pieces to put
that came in several boxes. He added
the same like today’s vehicles. I like the rare cars.
This Pontiac was built in Regina. In fact, last summer I drove it back to Regina to the factory where it was built and took a picture of the car in front of the old
FUN FACTS
Information gathered from Wikipedia. For model year 1933, Pontiac introduced the all-new Economy Eight Series 601 with the 223.4 cubic inch (3.7 L) Silver Streak Straight-8 using a Carter one-barrel carburetor and shared the slanting vee-type grille that concealed the radiator used on all GM products and it was built on the GM A platform shared with the Chevrolet Master. As the economy began to recover from the Great Depression, Pontiac, in 1938, began to offer more choices in body styles while keeping the overall retail price of their eight-cylinder products under US $1,500.
The options list continued to grow with such items as a tenite shift lever ball for US $0.50, two passenger compartment heater choices for either the Master or Deluxe trim package, fog lights, licence plate frames, seat covers, floor mats, cigar lighters and the rear view mirror was still an extra cost item at US $2.95.
In 1939, Pontiac offered appearance changes, such as different types of Indian hood ornaments. The heater and windshield defroster was now called Weather Chief, two types of radios were offered and continued to install the radio antenna in both running boards, a retractable metal sunroof called Sunshine Roof was available and the gearshift was now permanently relocated to the steering column.
building where it left in 1939,” shared Dave.
“I did all of my own custom adjustments to the car. The chrome was worn out so I replaced it with black. Everything works and is functionable. I drive this car everywhere I go. It has been to Montana, Saskatchewan, BC and all over. I belong to a world-wide car club out of Vegas and in Canada there are about 14 of us that travel to shows,” continued Dave.
“Driving the car is a bit of a challenge. It doesn’t have cruise control so you have to pay attention to how fast you are going. It doesn’t break or steer great, so it is an adventure every time that you drive it,” added Dave. “Little things break down. Last year in Montana, the starter went. I found a little shop that helped me out. I worked together with the shop to get it replaced and running again. You need to know a few things about the old cars if you are going to take them out and drive them a
lot,” mentioned Dave.
“I receive a lot of attention with this car. You go to the grocery store and 10 people stop and want to talk to you.,” Dave stated.
“I built my own running boards. In certain years, they didn’t actually have running boards. When the war started they stopped producing parts for them. Although most of the cars in this year had running boards, this one actually never did.”
Car or Truck
Perhaps you own vintage automotive repair or diagnostic tools Tell us what you have. Or perhaps you have terrific memories or tales from being in the trade Allow us to share your stories Contact Murray Green, News Repor ter Phone 780.672.3142 Email murrayg@camrosebooster.com
PIECED TOGETHER
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
Dave
together this 1939 Pontiac. He traded another running car for this vehicle
running boards to his model that didn’t have any.
C AMROSE
ADDS ANOTHER SALE PROFESSIONAL TO THE TEAM
We are thrilled to welcome TINA SROKA to our tight-knit Camrose Toyota family Tina vividly recalls watching the ground-breaking of our amazing new building and kept tabs on the construction progress, almost weekly, as she commuted to Camrose from the family farm near Kelsey. Over the years, Tina has accumulated plenty of experience in business, with career stints in sales, management and administration. In addition, she has served as a school bus driver and is presently a respected voice on Camrose County Council.
The timing of a brand-new dealership, the relative age of her and husband Grant’s three children and the reality that it was “her time for a new and interesting challenge” prompted Tina to apply for this opportunity at Camrose Toyota. Tina notes: “I have always known Toyota to be one of the world’s most preferred and most reliable brands and that’s the kind of vehicle I want to represent in my sales role. I love that they hold their value almost like no other vehicle manufactured” She did plenty of homework on the Legacy Auto Group before applying to Camrose Toyota: “Everyone I talked to mentioned a positive and honest work environment, and a place where people are treated more like family than customers. I could tell this was sure to be a refreshing place for me to help people”.
Kodiaks record two straight shutouts
By Murray Green
The Camrose Kodiaks exploded for four goals in the middle frame and went on to win 7-4 over the Devon Xtreme on December 17.
Captain Owen Lansing led the team with a goal and three assists to help the Kodiaks record its third straight win.
Devon jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first period. Will Jamieson scored his first goal as a Kodiak.
The middle frame was all Camrose as Sam Lozinski notched his 12th and 13th tally of the season.
AJ Schaaf (10) and Lansing (5) also scored for the Kodiaks, while Devin scored once.
In the third period, Tyson Murray (5) and Bowen Grycan (10) added insurance markers.
Newcomer Wilson Maxfield was in net for the Kodiaks. He stopped 22 of 26 shots he faced. Camrose fired 48 shots on goal.
Camrose recorded two straight shutouts, 2-0 over Drumheller and 3-0 over Bonnyville, to move into a second place tie with
Even if you’re not ready to jump into a new Toyota (yet), stop by to have a co ee, check out our amazing new home and help us welcome Tina to our team.
Canmore in the south division of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. On December 7, AJ Schaaf (9) notched the winning tally in the opening period and Owen Lansing (4) secured the victory in the third period for all of the offence the Kodiaks needed.
Goalie Carter Capton returned from the Western Hockey League to turn away all 36 shots fired his way. The Kodiaks counted 27 shots on goal.
The script was almost identical in the 3-0 win over the Pontiacs.
Camrose scored a marker in each period to control the game. Again, Schaaf started the offence on the right track with his eighth of the year. Luka Taylor, with his second of the season, and Cole Barrett with his first, wrapped up the scoring in the contest.
Goalie Capton stopped all 21 shots fired in his direction, while Camrose counted 29 shots on goal.
Bear facts
The Camrose Kodiaks made a trade with the Devon Xtreme to acquire vet -
erans Wilson Maxfield and Dylan Bidyk. The Kodiaks have sent defenceman Michael Gallant and a player development fee to Devon in return.
Maxfield played with the championship winning Brooks Bandits in 202223. The goaltender has a career .904 save percent -
age and was brought in to give the Kodiaks more depth in the goaltender position.
Bidyk as a defenceman, has 12 points in 25 games this season.
The AJHL Defensive Player of the Week is Camrose Kodiaks goaltender Capton with two shutout
victories upon his return from the WHL’s Vancouver Giants. He was awarded the Player of the Game in both victories.
Capton is tied with a league-leading three shutouts and has a 2.57 goals against average with a .920 save percentage.
equipment that our customers, from acro ss Western Canada had hoped to find. If you were a client in 20 24 thanks a bunch. If not,
Highway 21 petition to add passing lanes, takes a step forward
By Adan Shaikh
The Highway 21 petition, started by Parampreet Sainbhee, urges the government to add passing lanes on the busy Highway 21. This highway connects to various range roads and highways. The petition received immense support from the community, surpassing its required amount of signatures by a whopping 1716.
“MLA Jackie Lovely, contacted Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen directly to discuss about the Highway 21 improvements. He was informed that 2,216 people signed the petition. He has made it a priority and I was informed by Mr. Mike Damberger, Regional Director, Alberta Transportation, that the ministry has hired an engineering consultant named CIMA+ to review the Highway 21 corridor from Highway 13 up to Highway 625, with the specific direction to identify improvements that can be implemented,” shared Sainbhee.
“The study work will begin in coming days and a kick-off meeting has been scheduled with representatives of the local municipalities, includ-
ing City of Camrose and County of Camrose. We anticipate the study will be completed by March. At that point, Transportation and Economic Corridors will be able to take those recommendations and include the resulting projects for consideration in our upcoming planning cycle. Depending on the details of the improvements, the schedule for construction will be considered, depending on land requirements, permits, and engineering efforts to plan and contract the various work. Regardless, the next step of conducting the study is a positive step forward and will set the stage well for future decisions,” she concluded. This update brings hope to everyone who signed the petition and is a great example of what it means to come together as a community to address issues. The support Sainbhee has received for this change has helped her voice be heard and if the changes are implemented, it will increase highway safety for many, reducing the risk of accidents on Highway 21.
Me y Christmas!
East End Fountain Tire Team
“With the Camrose Police Service 911 Centre’s implementation of this system, residents can have peace of mind that when they call their local emergency number for assistance, highly trained emergency dispatchers will
om Left to Right, Jason, Jason, Dominic, Derrick , Taylor, Mat thew, S teve, Sloane, Sharmane, Randy, Corey, Dallas , Billie, Cody, George, Kolton, Jamin, Je , Dylan, Nick Downtown Camrose Crew
Left to Right, Chris, Jordan, Ethan, Dillion ont Left to Right, Lorne, Bella, Randy
All the best to you and yours this holiday season, and in the new year!
left, (back row) Miyah
Ryder Sampson, Lawson Rinas, Zaidee Sampson and Emmi Rinas. Front row from left, Nathan Lunty, Baukje Sampson, Crystal Yaremcio, Laura and Logan Rinas.
CHRISTMA S LIGHTS TOUR
by Andrea Uglem
of the residents of ose have done it again, g the City shiny and with lavish, sparkling of Christmas lights. ese are only a few of the set-ups that can be ed around the Ci ty on your annual ligh t tour
Grab some hot cocoa, your car, put on some mas music and tour the joying an in expensive, and fun thing to do
CHRI MA S LIGHT-UP
The home of Ja ck and Judy Lowe 5802-54A Avenue, Camrose
“It’s the kind of Christmas display that makes you take a long second lo ok to make sure you didn’t miss anything.”
This is the judges’ comments per tinent to the winning home in this year’s Central Agencies Realt y Light-Up Contest
With a new team of judges in place for this year’s Light-Up Contest, this couple chose class and charac ter, calming and coordinati on as the basis for their decision in choosing the rst-place winner
Having said this, though … they readily relay that a couple of dozen other wonderfully decorated homes could easily have been equal winners of this sought-after annual recognition
This residence, located on the east edge of V ic toria Park at 5802-54A Avenue, C amrose, is owned by Jack and Judy Lowe. Also contributing to the design and outdoor decor for the holiday season was their son, Adam. T he trio star t preparing for the Chris tmas holiday immediatel y after Halloween but hold o with any lighting until after Remembrance Day. Each year, their display grows in complexit y and magnitude. T hey per fec t their annual display over a couple or more weekends, depending on the weather. Driven by the oppor tunit y to brighten their neighbourhood and a love for the holidays, they work hard to achieve the right balance while not going overboard with an overwhelming quantit y of decor items
For their win, Central Agencies Realt y donates a $20 0 prize to the charit y of the winners’ choosing. The Lowe family chose the Merr y Christmas Fund for this much appreciated gif t.
The Camrose Booster pledged $10 0 to help o set the winner’s December electric bill, however the Lowes also generously regif ted this same amount to the Merr y Christmas Fund. Merr y Christmas to all! And thanks to everyone who transformed Camrose into a look of wonder for the season.
USA wins World Junior Challenge
By Murray Green USA beat team
Sweden 7-4 in the final match to earn gold medals at the Junior A Hockey World Challenge Alberta on December 15.
Will Zellers scored twice to lead the Americans in the last contest at the Recreation Centre.
Canada West, the home team in the tournament, won the right game, its first victory of the Challenge with a 5-2 win over Canada East to earn the bronze medals.
Koen Senft scored twice to lead the offence and Camrose Kodiaks player Garrett Thom garnered the last West goal to secure the bronze medals.
Canada West started the scoring just over seven minutes into the opening period. Ellis Mieyette netted the tally.
East tied the game on a goal from Parker Forlin before Koen Senft scored back-to-back markers in just over five minutes in the middle frame.
Jack Plandowski and Thom notched third period goals for West between an East tally from Cameron Menard.
The Americans now have 16 medals (10 gold, one silver, five bronze) at the Junior A World Challenge.
Ivar Stenberg of Sweden led all scorers with seven goals and 11 points in the tournament. Ben Kevan had six goals and two assists. Lucas Van Vliet and Luke Osburn of USA led with seven assists each. Van Vliet was second in points with 10 and Osburn recorded nine points.
Caleb Heil of USA led all goalies with a 1.33 goals against average and a .931 save percentage.
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
Will Zellers of team USA slides the puck past Sweden netminder Love Harenstam in the gold/silver game as the Americans won 7-4 to win the junior challenge on December 15 in Camrose.
Murray Green, Camrose Booster A shot rings off the post in the Canada West and East match. The East won the first game, but West won the bronze medal game.
Adan Shaikh, Camrose Booster Team USA finished in first place in the round robin series.
Murray Green, Camrose Booster
Filip Ekberg looks for the puck behind him after a save by Caleb Heil of Team USA in the final.
Murray Green, Camrose Booster Garrett Thom of the Camrose Kodiaks helped Canada West earn bronze medals at the international tourney.
Because th e CUSTOMER
Because
Because
Because
Because
Because
Because
Because
Non-profit groups play a big role
By Rick Wilson, MLA Wetaskiwin Constituency
Non-profit organizations play a big role in the culture of Alberta. Often, they are the groups who work quietly in the background to bring so many community events and programs to life, to keep community facilities in operation, and to enhance community engagement.
The Alberta government, through the Ministry of Arts, Culture and the Status of Women, supports the work of such non-profits by making grants available to organizations that meet specific criteria as set out by the ministry. There are capital grants through the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP), non-capital grants through the Community Initiatives Program (CIP), and other grants.
Five very deserving community volunteer groups in Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin were approved for provincial grants recently. Lakedell Agricultural Society has big plans to design and construct a new curling club. Their application was approved, and they will receive provincial funding to help with this project.
You may have heard that the Friends of the Millet Youth Society is working hard to build the Millet Community Skate Park. They received provincial funding to help give youth of all ages and abilities the opportunity to improve their physical and social skills in a recreational setting. Angus Ridge Community Hall’s project was given the green light; watch for interior and exterior renovations coming soon. Falun Skating Rink has experienced theft and vandalism. Pigeon Lake Athletic, Cultural and Educational Society plans to use their grant money to help acquire a storage building to provide security and protection of the equipment used to operate and maintain their outdoor rink. Get ready for a new lighting system at Manluk Theatre for the Performing Arts. The Wetaskiwin Theatre Society’s application for funding to assist with the upgrade of their current theatre lighting to modern LED lighting was successful. Reduced energy consumption and enhanced theatre productions are right around the corner.
I have such respect for folks who contribute to their communities, and I’m especially glad when I can help with their efforts to secure funding for projects that will benefit their fellow community members. If your non-profit could use some help with community projects, be sure to check out the information on-line about grants that are available through the provincial government visit https://www.alberta.ca/ non-profit-and-charitable-organizations-topic
The fall session of the 31st Legislature wrapped up after an evening sitting on December 4. A total of 13 bills were passed this time around, with a focus on the protection and promotion of Alberta’s rights and freedoms. You can keep track of all the happenings at the Legislature by checking out www.assembly.ab.ca.
The next session will likely start up in February when the focus will be government’s upcoming budget deliberations. If you have something you’d like to share about what you think the government’s financial priorities should be, or how we should prioritize spending on health care, education, and other core public services and programs to support Albertans now and in the future, consider participating in an on-line survey, available here: https://your.alberta.ca/budget-2025/ surveys/public. The survey closes January 12, 2025.
If you are interested in receiving news straight from the provincial government, you can sign up to receive emails at: https://www.alberta.ca/news-subscriptions
I was delighted to host a Christmas open house at my constituency office again this year. I appreciate all those folks who took time out of their busy schedules to stop by and share some of the joy of the season–it was really wonderful to connect and catch up. I was grateful, too, that so many of you brought food bank items–thank you for your generosity and kindness. My heartfelt thanks as well to the team of volunteers whose willingness to help brought this event together so nicely–your work and your support are very much appreciated!
It looks rather festive these days at the Legislature. It’s an annual tradition that the grounds are lit up in celebration of the season for everyone to enjoy. If you happen to be in Edmonton over the holidays, bundle up and take a walk through the beautiful lights at the Legislative grounds. Whatever you have planned for this upcoming holiday season, and whatever celebrations engage you, I wish you and yours joy and peace, health and happiness!
Rick Wilson is the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin. His constituency office can be reached by emailing maskwacis.wetaskiwin@assembly.ab.ca or by calling 780-360-8003.
How Christmas or Jul is celebrated in Sweden
By Adan Shaikh
Christmas in Canada is a time of Christmas carols, gingerbread houses, Santa Claus bringing presents and elves appearing on the shelves in random nooks of the home, but in Sweden, Christmas is celebrated differently. While the traditional concept and values of Christmas are the same, some key differences exist in how people in Sweden celebrate Christmas.
“I grew up in a rural area in Sweden, so we did things a bit differently than the people in cities or towns,” shared Elin Laaksonen, a Camrose local who grew up in Sweden.
“Christmas begins on the first day of Advent, which is generally on a Sunday; we have the tradition to light a candle on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas,” shared Elin.
According to sweden.se, lighting candles is a symbol of banishing darkness, as winter tends to get pretty dark in Sweden.
“We didn’t put the Christmas tree up until the 23rd, but the other Christmas decorations would be put out. We would go into the woods on the 23rd and chop down a tree because we lived in the countryside. For decorations, the Christmas star is put up in windows and candles,” commented Elin.
One of the biggest differences between Canadian and Swedish Christmas is the celebration of Lucia Day on December 13th, a tradition Canadians may not know.
“On December 13th, we celebrate Lucia Day, which is part of the celebrations. Usually, the kids dress up in white gowns, and someone dresses up as Lucia and wears a candle crown,” Elin said.
According to visitsweden.com, Lucia Day, also known as Saint Lucy’s Day, dates back to the 4th century. This Christian feast honours Lucia of Syracuse, a martyr who, according to legend, brought food to Christians hiding in Roman catacombs. To light her way, she wore a wreath of candles on her head. December 13, once
Adan Shaikh, Camrose Booster
Elin Laaksonen grew up in Sweden and shared what it was like to celebrate Christmas in the Swedish countryside. Pictured here, she sits next to the Advent candles and the Yule goat which are both central parts of Swedish Christmas traditions.
the shortest day of the year under the Julian calendar, was considered in Swedish folklore as a perilous night when dark spirits roamed.
Staying awake and sharing food became an important tradition that ties closely to today’s Lucia celebrations.
The first recorded observance of Lucia in a Swedish home was in 1764, but it wasn’t until the 1900s that the custom became widely practiced.
“In the morning, we would eat tomtegröt or Santa porridge, which is a rice porridge served with milk,
cinnamon, sugar, and a bit of butter on top. Back when people were still farmers, they used to butcher a pig on Lucia Day, which is why ham was one of the main dishes for Christmas dinner,” shared Elin.
“On December 23rd, we would dress up the tree, and there’s a tradition for the family to gather and stay up late, since the 1960s. There is a TV show on the night before Christmas, 2000, or Uppesittarkväll, a bingo show, and most Swedes watch it,” she continued.
“Our main celebration
for Christmas is on the 24th, which is also different from here. Around 3 p.m., we have a meal, which is ham, pickled herring, meatballs, potatoes and smoked meats. We have a selection of cold foods, and then we have the hot meals,” said Elin. “After the food is when Santa would come in, and traditionally, dad or an uncle would dress up as Santa and bring in the presents in a burlap sack,” shared Elin. The concept of Santa is pretty similar in Sweden today. However, it has
evolved over time.
“Historically, Santa or Jultomten was a farmhand, and he watched over your land when it was dark, so he did not bring the presents. Instead, he expected to be rewarded for his hard work. The Yule goat used to bring the presents,” said Elin.
“Santa is also pretty small in size; he resembles a gnome rather than the big jolly guy we see here, he was also more serious; I was scared of Santa when I was a kid,” she shared. “Our Santa also didn’t live in the North Pole; he lives in Luppioberget in northern Sweden, and when he is not there, he lives in Rovaniemi, Finland, which is a place called Santa Village,” she continued.
The Yule goat is one of Sweden’s oldest and most interesting Christmas symbols, with roots tracing back to ancient Nordic traditions. Originally, it was tied to pagan rituals celebrating Thor, the Norse god of thunder, whose chariot was said to be pulled by two goats. Over time, the Yule goat became associated with Christmas, symbolizing the spirit of the season and ensuring that holiday preparations were done properly. In some parts of Sweden, the Yule goat was thought to be a magical, invisible creature that would visit homes before Christmas, checking if the household was ready for the festivities. Later, it evolved into a Christmas figure made of straw, decorated with red ribbons, and used as an ornament. A modern take on the tradition is the famous Gävle Goat, a giant straw Yule goat built annually in the Swedish town of Gävle. It has become notorious for frequently being burned down by mischievous vandals.
Although the symbols and celebrations may look different in Sweden, with their straw goats and candlelit processions versus Christmas trees and carolling in Canada, the heart of the holiday remains the same. Both cultures use the holiday to remind us of what Christmas is really about; bringing light to others, finding joy in small moments, and spreading love to those around us.
RCMP offers shoppers a Grinch-free guide
Submitted
The holiday season is a time for giving, but it can also attract opportunistic thieves. From vehicle break-ins to identity theft, shoppers are at risk of losing more than their gifts if they don’t take precautions.
Camrose RCMP urges shoppers to follow these simple safety measures to help ensure a joyful and
secure holiday. Lock your car doors and close all windows, even if you are just running into a store for a few minutes.
Store bags and gifts in the trunk or out of sight. Thieves often target vehicles with visible valuables. Park in well-lit, hightraffic areas whenever possible. Keep your purse
zipped or use a cross-body bag to make it harder for thieves to grab.
Use credit cards instead of debit cards or cash for better fraud protection. Avoid leaving bags in shopping carts unattended. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN at checkouts. Monitor your bank and credit card statements
regularly for unauthorized transactions.
Shred receipts with personal or credit card information before discarding them.
Keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings. Avoid distractions, such as excessive phone use.
If you’re carrying multiple shopping bags, get your keys ready be -
fore heading to your car to avoid fumbling and to quickly secure your items. Constable Cory Schultz emphasizes, “The holidays are a time for joy, but they can also bring risk. By staying aware and taking a few simple steps we can all have a safer, happier holiday season.”
Helpful Tips for Writing Classified Ads Which Get Results!
SERVICES
SELF-INKING STAMPS –Every shape, size, and colour. We deliver, right to your office. Camrose Booster Ltd., 4925-48 St., Camrose. Call us at 780-672-3142.
J.D.’s SMALL ENGINE REPAIR, SALES & SERVICE – Ph. 780-672-7649.
DSS CONSTRUCTION
Don’t put off those projects any longer! Give me a call and we can plan together. Devin Meakins, Ph. 780- 853-1080
McTAVISH DELIVERIES (2023) LTD.
Local and long distance moving Storage
Insured and bonded Where your business is appreciated 780- 672-5242, Camrose
THE SHIRT OFF MY BACK TAILORING in Camrose
Tues. - Fri., 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thurs. Evening and Sat.: By Appointment Closed: Sun., Mon. and Holidays Please call 780- 672-4793
you get the results you deserve.
Call 780-672-3142
4925-48 Street, Camrose ads@camrosebooster.com
PERSONAL
LOST THAT LOVING FEELING? Find it with a personal ad in The Camrose Booster classifieds. Ph. 780-672-3142.
WANTED
2ND BEST PAINTER IN TOWN – 30 years’ experience for all your painting needs. Call Rick the Painter, 780-781-6305.
SNOW CLEARING – Tired of shovelling and need your sidewalks or driveways cleared? Call Shane at 780-781-6420.
FOR RENT
FOR RENT ADS
NOW UPLOADED TO The Camrose Booster Website DAILY!
2-BEDROOM APART-
MENT – In excellent condition!
Perfect for seniors. The suite has stove, fridge, dishwasher, washer and dryer, blinds and one parking stall. Heat, water, garbage pick up, Telus TV and internet included. Building has an elevator and social room. No smoking building. Call 780-233-0224 for more info or to set up a viewing.
ROOMS FOR RENT in the Scotney and Jacqueline character homes. Both are 2.5 blocks from university in Camrose. Clean, quiet and bright. Rent is $495 - $600 monthly plus DD and includes WiFi, utilities, recycle pick-up, yard care and snow removal. Partially furnished w/ shared laundry. (Some rooms are fully furnished for international students.) This is an affordable, quality accommodation that fills quickly. (Some rooms still available.) No partiers, smokers or pets allowed. Reduced rate over the summer for students. Please call Dave P., 780678-6163.
MAIN STREET RETAIL
SPACE – located in high traffic, southerly area of Main Street, Camrose. Generous 1,664 sq. ft. of prime space at 4868-50 Street. Nicely decorated, air conditioned. $2160/mo., triple net. Clean, dry storage space in basement also available. Available immediately. Call Blain or Don at 780-6723142, the fairest, most reasonable people in the business.
ESPECIALLY NICE OFFICE SUITE
Generous 794 sq. ft. suite, suitable for three or more staff. Includes two private offices. Ground floor, easily accessible. Modern building in downtown Camrose. Bright, quiet, air conditioned. $1206.22/mo., plus share of operating expenses. Call Blain Fowler or Don Hutchinson, 780-672-3142 days, two of the fairest, most reasonable fellows in the business.
EXTRA LARGE SECOND
FLOOR OFFICE – on Main Street, Camrose. 340 sq. ft. former broadcast studio, super quiet. Very well-kept property. Quiet, considerate neighbours. $468.63/ mo., including utilities. Call Blain Fowler or Don Hutchinson, 780-672-3142 days. Two of the fairest, most reasonable fellows in the business.
GENEROUS SECOND FLOOR OFFICE LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN CAMROSE
193 sq. ft., extremely quiet building. Fully wired for telephone and internet.
$262.02/mo. plus GST, all in.
Call Blain Fowler or Don Hutchinson, 780-672-3142 days, two of the most reasonable fellows in the business.
CHOOSE YOUR NEW OFFICE
Selection of very nice street level offices in newer airconditioned building in Downtown Camrose
* Single offices from $224.08 per month
* Quiet, considerate neighbours
* Easy access
* Lots of parking for customers
* Energized parking for tenants
* Immediate occupancy
* Come and have a look!
Call Blain Fowler or Don Hutchinson, 780-672-3142 days, the fairest, most reasonable fellows in the business!
PRIME DOWNTOWN SPACE – 4917-50 Street. Second floor with reception area, lunch room and two private rooms. Elevator. $900/mo. includes utilities. 780-679-5085.
TWO-BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE – Newer building, located close to downtown amenities. High efficiency furnace and ondemand hot water offer wonderful savings on utilities. Private balcony, suitable for BBQ. Upgraded fixtures, cabinetry and flooring. 5 appliances, including dishwasher and laundry. Friendly, clean and quiet neighbourhood. Local owner managed, snow removal and lawn mowing are provided. Seeking mature responsible adult tenants, nonsmoking. Not suitable for small children or pets. $1250/mo. rent + utilities (water is included in rent). $800 DD. Available February 1. Phone 780-679-7090.
AVAILABLE DECEMBER
1 – in a fantastic location. New 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom unit with in-suite laundry and dishwasher. 9’ ceilings with modern finishings. Quiet neighbourhood close to most amenities in Camrose. Unit comes with a designated parking stall, snow removal and yard maintenance included. Water included for utilities. No pets, non-smoking unit, $1600/mo. on a minimum one year lease. Call 780-608-8315 for more details.
LOOKING FOR A ROOMMATE? No smoking or partiers. Pets allowed. Close to downtown and the university. Fully furnished apartment. $750-800/mo. Includes utilities and WiFi. Call 780-678-6720 and leave a message.
FOR LEASE
VERSATILE SPACE – just off Main Street. This well-kept, easily accessible ground floor space is 1465 sq. ft. Asking $1,650/mo. plus GST and utilities. Please call 780-672-0900.
HOUSEHOLD
KETTLE SET – Lagostina stainless steel with copper trim. 12 piece set. Brand new! New $799, asking $250. Call Brian at 780-678-0053.
ROASTER – Used very little. Asking $30, no GST. Cash only. Call Brian at 780-678-0053.
AUTO
2007 CHEVY SILVERADO – One owner. 238,000 km. Alison transmission. 587-322-9911.
You suppl y t he photo in person or by email (ads@camrosebooste r.com) and we w ill add it to your classi ed adver tisement at absolutel y no ext ra charge.
ONLY applies to: Auto, Boats , RVs , Motorcycle s, ATVs, Pet s/Pet Supplies, Lost and Found, Ren tals, Livestock , Machiner y, Household, Real E state and Misc.
DADS – LOOKING FOR A CAR WITHOUT A BACK SEAT? Count on our classifieds. We match up buyers and sellers. Phone the Camrose Booster, 780-672-3142. 4925 -4 8 St reet , Camrose, AB T4V 1L7 Phone 78 0- 672-3142 • Fa x 78 0- 672-2518 Email ads@camrosebooster.com
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND CL AIMANTS
Estate of RUTH HELENE MOHLER, who died on December 5, 2024.
If you have a claim against this estate, you must f ile your claim by January 31, 2025, and provide details of your claim with MARG ARE T WEIR ANDRE ASSEN at Andreassen Bor th, Barristers & Solicitors, #200, 4870-51 Street, Camrose, AB T4V 1S1.
If you do not f ile by the date above, the estate proper ty can law fully be distributed without regard to any claim you may have
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND CL AIMANTS
Estate of CHARLES JOHN ALFRED ROBERTSON, who died on December 7, 2024.
If you have a claim against this estate, you must f ile your claim by January 24, 2025, and provide details of your claim with MARG ARE T WEIR ANDRE ASSEN at Andreassen Bor th, Barristers & Solicitors, #200, 4870-51 Street, Camrose, AB T4V 1S1.
If you do not f ile by the date above, the estate proper ty can law fully be distributed without regard to any claim you may have
Missed Delivery Policy
If you do not receive your copy of The Booster or pre-printed inserts, please report this to us by calling 780-672-3142. We will promptly re-deliver these to city households. Note that we do not have access to certain apartment buildings. In these cases, we ask you to contact your apartment manager to request delivery
Rural readers are asked to report missed deliveries and we will consult with your postmaster to ensure future deliveries.
Thank you for being a loyal reader of…
CO-OP SUPPORT
Murray Green, Camrose Booster Camrose branch of the Royal Canadian Legion president Adrian Zinc, left, and Poppy Fund chair Gord Pasiuk received $836 from Camrose Wild Rose Co-op employee Adam Donahue from Poppy sales and customer donations during a Remembrance Day promotion for the Royal Canadian Legion. The funds are used for various community projects.
Central Agencies Realty Home of the Week
Unique home/business oppor tunity
CR SS DO
FOR SALE
Central Agencies REALTORS 672-4495
Turnkey operation fully staffed (non-union), remarkable positive reputation, clients worldw ide and almost unequalled positive reputation from all age groups as ev idenced by 5-star G oogle rating from 191 out of 195 countries around the world. (Only Russia, China, Cuba, and North Korea rate this business lower.)
This is a highly reluctant sale tr iggered by personal physician’s orders. The current owner has advanced and prog ressive cardiovascular disease exasperated by significant obesity, annual binge drink ing, toxic chimney dust and late -night snack ing on unhealthy foods.
This prog ressive, timeless and well-respected business is being off ered only to a carefully screened purchaser and unanimous consent w ill be required by a team representing a company short list.
Preference w ill be given to someone who is already significantly portly, jolly, and bears a head of naturally long, thick hair, hav ing the uncanny ability to g row dense, white facial hair which must be impeccably groomed year-round. Excellent writing and communication sk ills, plus an incredible memory, particularly when it comes to children’s conversations, are absolute musts. Must be good w ith pets ; knowledge of northern species of deer w ill be considered highly advantageous to a successful sale closing.
Note: Before mak ing any offer on
this one -of-a-k ind northern-based enterprise, serious thought should be given to the extensive travel involved, par ticularly in the month of December Any fear of heights, nar row openings, or barking dogs w ill be considered non-star ters for any sale transaction. Being legally mar ried, to someone who is good at gift suggestions, present-w rapping, name tag mak ing and bak ing shor tbread cook ies (w ith a cherry on top) is a must Knowledge in the general av iation field, including night navigation and overseas flight routes, w ill be welcome attributes required for a successful sale transaction; however, the present owner has suggested w illingness to train the buyer for a 365-day per iod of time.
Due to the unique nature of this business, not all aspects of diversity, equity and inclusion may be realistic. For example, the successful purchaser must be capable of lifting loads up to 100 pounds, many times consecutively. It is imperative and unwaver ing that this business must seamlessly continue w ith its present method of conducting worldwide business and honour ing long-standing traditions
Any allergies to nuts or carrots w ill negate an otherw ise potential purchaser The husband-wife buyers must be w illing to wear red and have no reluctance to wear fur-tr immed garments, par ticularly on unique occasions
Give the Central Agencies Realty team a call for more details. All conversations will be strictly confidential.
Please quote Listing number HO672H04495HO Central Agencies Realty, 4870-51 Street , Camrose, Phone 780-672-4495
CDFCSS enhances their services
Continued from page 10
“This initiative was part of the Collective Impact group, and currently we only have five volunteer drivers. We also offer referrals to Neighbor Aid or Rose City Handi-Van because they also offer medical transportation and they also refer people to us, depending on who has drivers available. We started keeping track of the number of requests for rides we were getting through Collective Impact group and just this year from February until the end of September we
had 78 unfulfilled requests because neither of us have drivers available,” shared Kasa.
CDFCSS also offers a wide range of other support options. The organization’s team provides debriefing, information, help filing taxes and referral services to residents seeking guidance “this year we filed about 1,400 volunteer income tax returns, 85 per cent of which were for seniors and the rest for individuals or families that are low-income and don’t have the extra money to pay for
filing tax returns,” added Lyndell.
In addition to their own programs, CDFCSS staff members maintain strong connections with other social and community services, ensuring that residents can access assistance for diverse needs, including housing, government forms, volunteer income tax services, and more. For more information on Camrose and District Family & Community Support Services and its programs, residents can contact CDFCSS at 780-672-0141.
It 's o icially time when you can' t eat anything in the house because it's all for Christmas.
Family on Monday : " What 's for supper ?"
Mom: " You' ll eat on Wednesday."
The most power ful person in any family is the one who tells other family members what they are to bring for Christmas dinner.
Just so you know, nobody is going to say, "I had such a good time on Christmas Day!
Denise's baseboards were spotless!"
I'm prett y excited abou t making a huge Christmas dinner just so my daughter can eat a dinner roll.
At this ver y moment , there is an aunt at the grocery store buying all the ingredients for that Tomato Aspic she brings ever y Christmas that ever yone in the family hates.
I still cook my turke y the old-fashioned way I let my mom cook i t.
Christmas can be stressful because you can' t trust just anyone to make mashed potatoes. I can tell just by looking at a person whether or not the y will use enough butter
Mom: " What kind of rolls are you bringing for Christmas?"
Me : "Eye."
There are two methods of determining whether your turkey is cooked properly
1. Use a handy meat thermometer.
2. Eat it and wait an hour
If you don' t know how to cook, please don' t tr y to learn at Christmas. Just open that can of cranberr y sauce and go sit down
People who make gravy from scratch think they are better than ever yone else.
Tried and True Lutefisk Recipe:
1. Take one lutefisk
2. Get rid of it.
I'm in the kitchen preparing Christmas dinner, so naturally my kids have decided to play tag in here and my husband is standing in front of the stove reading The Booster.
Do other family's Christmas dinners operate they way my family's do where dinner might be ready any time between 2 :00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and the people who are cooking it get ver y angr y if you ask ?
At Christmas time, fruitcakes just show up on my doorstep. But enough abou t my relatives
I don' t want to sit at the adult table at Christmas dinner and talk abou t things like mortgage rates and politics
I want to sit with the grandparents and talk about things like trick knees and how hard it is to drive at night.
This year, my family decided to have octopus for Christmas dinner instead of turke y.
That way more people will get a leg.
This Wednesday, if you see me wearing leggings and filling up two plates with a dinner roll in my mouth, just remember it costs nothing to worry abou t yourself.
Me : " What do you want to eat? We have mashed potatoes , gravy, sweet potatoes , stu ing, cranberry sauce, turke y, roasted vegetables, lettuce salad, cherry cheesecake and pumpkin pie."
Kid : "Grilled cheese. " Christmas pudding is like the family member you have to invite, but whose company no one actually enjoys
Never eat any food o ered to you by an adorable toddler relative. It might look like a pickle or a cookie, but it's actually the f lu.
Eggnog is per fec t when you feel like drinking a glass of pancake batter
Think ahead. The more you eat now, the more your Januar y weight loss will be.
Enjoy those le ftovers I sent home with you, but I better get my Tupper ware back!
