It was a night of joy as nearly 300 people gathered at St. Michael Hall Jan. 11 to celebrate Malanka, the traditional Ukrainian New Year.
Organizer Mae Adamyk reflected on how meaningful the New Year’s song, “Peace in the Family,” is.
At a later point in the evening, a choir made up of volunteers from the kitchen, sang the Ukrainian version of the song, before singing the more traditional New Year’s song Auld Lang Syne.
Adamyk said she felt the song Peace in the Family was appropriate in light of the times.
“I feel there's an absence of God or spirituality in the homes and the families don't stick together. They're so busy doing things, they forget what the family unit is,” she said.
“I think it's so important that we have things like this, like we're having in St Michael when the families are included. You can just feel love radiating from their children. Everybody looks after each other's children, and that's such a good feeling. And I think that's basically what the communities really need to emphasize now, is families.”
Adamyk has been organizing Malanka since 1985. The annual event begins with dinner, prepared by Ironwood Catering in addition to local volunteers, music, a mixture of country, classic rock and traditional Ukrainian, courtesy of the local Joe Hrycyk Starlight Band, Ukrainian dancing performances by the Lamont
Veselka Dancers, and a special parade of characters known as the Malanka Cast. Each member of the cast dons a costume recreating a legend, as shared by Adamyk with the crowd, where townspeople dressed in different costumes, depicting spirits and animals, and paraded through town until midnight believing the good spirits would stay and the bad would disappear New Year’s Eve. Meanwhile, children gathered at the edges of the dancefloor, excited to see the 16 costumed characters
“ You can just feel love radiating from their children - Mae Adamyk
emerging one by one from a back room while Adamyk emceed the parade and explained their significance. Among the cheeky troupe was a man in long underwear wearing an old man rubber facemask and carrying a candle, signifying the old year leaving, a gypsy, complete with shawl and head scarf, carrying a ‘crystal ball’ to bring good fortune for 2025, and a devil in a red costume with horned facemask to remind people of the naughty things they did last year. The parade’s finale was a volunteer dressed in
”
an exaggerated nurse costume and pushing a wheelbarrow with the New Year’s ‘baby’ nestled inside.
Each actor, volunteers who were recruited from the crowd, unveiled themselves at the parade’s conclusion revealing their true identity.
Attendees reacted with laughter and cheering before the old man character pulled down the net from the ceiling to instigate the annual drop of dozens of balloons. Children squealed and giggled gathering as many balloons as they could and popping them to the chagrin of some standing nearby.
Adamyk said the Malanka Cast originally had 14 characters before Millie the Bear was added in 2000 to mark the millennium, and Pany Kalyna joined the cast in 2005 to mark Alberta’s centennial.
Although Adamyk was under the weather fighting a virus for the past month and a half, she said she could not imagine missing one year of Malanka.
“I was sick for almost a month and a half. I was weak, and didn't care if anything happened or not. And then all of a sudden, the phone calls kept coming in. And I said, Yes, we’ve got to do this,” she said.
“It's seeing the people coming into the door and the smiles on everybody's face, and it seems like everybody knows someone, and it's just like family. Seems like there's no strangers here. Everybody's happy.”
MORE PHOTOS PAGE 6
Malanka celebration welcomes the Ukrainian New Year at St. Michael
A line of children from Veselka Ukranian dancers perform for the crowd at Malanka. Jana Semeniuk photo.
Vehicle and catalytic converter thefts dominate first weeks of the new year for police
BY JANA SEMENIUK
Several stolen and attempted thefts of vehicles, as well as catalytic converter thefts have kept police busy the first two weeks of the new year.
Fort Saskatchewan RCMP issued a press release after a slew of thefts from vehicles occurred the first week of 2025.
At least five complaints were made to police of catalytic converters being stolen from vehicles in daylight hours at several locations in Fort Saskatchewan as well as five other reports of thefts from vehicles, including fuel, during the same time.
Police said they are actively investigating all of these incidents to see if they are connected. Additionally, police are asking for the public to check their security cameras for suspicious activity after footage from one incident has been circulating on social media.
Meanwhile, a stolen truck was recovered in Chipman on Jan. 5 after a witness contacted Fort Saskatchewan RCMP at approx. 9 a.m. According to a press release, the witness physically engaged with the male suspect who was trying to get into the stolen truck and drive away. He finally fled into a nearby residence and was arrested by police when they arrived.
RCMP charged Tyler Belcourt, 28, with possession of stolen property over $5,000. Belcourt was taken before the justice of the peace and released from custody with his next court date for Jan. 30 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Fort Saskatchewan.
In Bruderheim, a truck was stolen from outside a man’s home at 7:30 a.m. Jan. 12 while he was away at work. The man, Bruderheim resident Jason Jacobs, said by telephone interview that a neighbour alerted him to the theft by text after seeing his truck was gone. Jacobs said he
reported the theft to the police.
An email to RCMP with questions around this incident were not responded to by press time.
Meanwhile, RCMP advise residents to follow some guidelines to help reduce crime. They include keeping your property well-lit and installing outdoor motion sensor lights, keep vehicles parked in a locked garage if possible and if not, park in a visible well-lit location, never leave your vehicle running with the keys inside, remove garage door openers, house keys and any valuables from your vehicle when
unoccupied, and if you see any suspicious activity in progress to call the police immediately.
Additionally, if you have any information regarding these incidents, call the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP at 780-997-7900. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.
Fort Saskatchewan RCMP released this still shot, with their press release, from security footage captured of suspicious activity around a vehicle in Fort Saskatchewan on Jan. 4.
Fort Saskatchewan RCMP tightlipped on possible mugging
BY JANA SEMENIUK
Fort Saskatchewan RCMP would not confirm or deny reports of a senior woman mugged in the parking lot of a Fort Saskatchewan shopping center Jan. 9.
When emailed by the Lamont Leader around the allegations filtering on social media and shared by an anonymous tipster, media representative for the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP would only confirm an attempted vehicle theft.
“I can confirm RCMP were called to an attempted theft of vehicle on January 9 at 22:10 hrs. The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made,” the media spokesperson replied.
injured victims during the attempted theft and
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Opinion
A frightening period for Canada
BY JOHN MATHER
We’re heading into a very worrying period in Canada’s history.
With the soon to be departure of Justin Trudeau, we have the lamest of lame-duck prime ministers sitting there occupying the seat of leadership in Ottawa.
Or maybe he’s decided to hide out in his cottage for the duration.
No matter how you look at it, he’s no longer really fit to lead, as if he ever showed much in the way of leadership skills anyway.
Dominic LeBlanc has stated he won’t seek the leadership of the failing Liberal party. Now, he can probably see that leading this sinking ship isn’t a positive career move, but he states and rightly so, that his main reason is he wants to remain in his cabinet position to help carry the fight to the Americans.
LeBlanc it turns out isn’t alone in not seeking the golden chalice to replace Trudeau.
Cabinet minister Melanie Joly, Anita Anand, and others have stated emphatically the position holds no interest for them, even though you can see it does.
Joly joined LeBlanc in stating it was more important to fight for Canada.
That’s because President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods on his first day in office on Jan. 20 unless Canada tightens border security, with an emphasis on fentanyl trafficking and illegal crossings.
Now Trump, with full bluster, has also threatened to use economic means to take over Canada and force it to become the 51st state.
Stomping his little pointy feet clad in flashy socks, Trudeau tweeted out “Not so fast…
“There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States.”
A rare occasion that I actually can agree with Trudeau. Did I really say that?
Trump should study his history, in the only time the U.S. challenged Canada (now this was before Canada was a sovereign nation in 1812) Canadians troops went to Washington and burnt the city down.
CONTINUED
Further Trump should give some thought to his pronouncement that Canada must tighten its border security on both the illegal drug trafficking and illegals crossings fronts.
If we were all one country you wouldn’t have a border to challenge either of these.
And then of course, he couldn’t bitch about our not measuring up to our NATO commitments when it comes to military spending. That would fall on his defences, adding to U.S, military spending.
Right, Donald?
Trump misguided musings while on the main section of the world stage are frightening.
He may be joshing us. He may not be.
He states he may use the military to secure both ends of the Panama Canal and to take over Greenland, a sovereign territory of Denmark.
Both these musings have sparked worldwide debate.
Is Trump all about just seeking worldwide attention to himself?
Or is something else happening in the background of his administration while he throws out these bombastic red herrings?
I guess all (maybe) will be revealed following his inauguration Jan. 20.
But meanwhile Canada flounders like a dead minnow swirling in a toilet bowl as Trudeau waits out the final days of his term
in office.
It’s time for Canada to have a strong national leader!
The next Liberal leader will be pummelled in a Federal election. These Liberals are so toxic they are unelectable.
In a perfect world Jagmeet Singh would step up to try to lead the Liberals in the next election.
He’s been in Justin Trudeau’s pocket for the past several years so it would be a simple switch from NDP leader to Liberal leader.
That way Canadians could get rid of two losers, Trudeau and Singh at the same time. Right now, the provincial premiers have to take the reins.
They have met virtually to form a united front in dealing with Trump, and led by Danielle Smith and Doug Ford in Ontario, they have been making the rounds of U.S. mainstream television outlining why Trump’s tariff restrictions would hurt the U.S. economy as much as it would hurt Canada.
Smith met with Trump in person over the past weekend making her case for oil and gas to his face.
Whoever takes over for Trudeau on March 9, we can only hope they call an election immediately.
This country needs to put in a government with a majority mandate to work with the U.S. to build the North American economy together, rather than fight each other.
Kerry Anderson Publisher John Mather Reporter Jana Semeniuk Reporter Crystal Moren
BY HAZEL ANAKA
Well, well, well, isn’t 2025 off to a stellar start….as far as dumpster fires go? A good 6 to 12 months too late, Justin Trudeau finally decides to step down as Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader. Sort of. We were still in Denver when we heard the leaked news the day before the big announcement.
Much like we all gawk at motor vehicle crashes and other unspeakably tragic scenes, I knew I wanted to watch his press conference announcement live. Not because it would be sad but because it would surely be a spectacle of some kind. So, I streamed it live in the car on the way home. And it didn’t disappoint. He managed to throw his caucus under the bus. If it weren’t for those squabbling idiots distracting him, he woulda,
FROM WHERE I SIT: Can’t take much more
coulda stayed on to fight and win another day. This narcissist was delusional to the bitter end. Clearly, Justin is not humble or big enough to acknowledge his culpability in this prolonged fiasco. And just for good measure, he’s kicking around another two months until his successor is chosen. If it walks like a lame duck and quacks like a lame duck, chances are, it’s a lame duck.
In addition to waiting for the worst possible moment to finally resign, he also prorogued parliament which essentially freezes all political activity in the house. Bureaucrats who haven’t already fled the sinking ship will keep the lights on and routine things moving along at their customary lightning speed. Not.
So, when that nutbar president-in-waiting down south is sworn in and slaps those threatened 25% tariffs onto everything Canada ever made and exports, our government will be playing party games. The list of potential contenders to replace Trudeau gets shorter by the day. It’s really really really a
sought-after job. Honest. In a gift with purchase type scenario, win the
From
leadership race and we throw in the title of Prime Minister. The two
the files of the Lamont Leader
Lamont hunter earns Fish and Game Master Trophy
Feb. 13, 2007 edition of the Lamont Leader: Master Trophy winner Doug Butler with the big horn sheep he tracked and killed this past hunting season. He was recently presented with the Lamont Fish and Game Master Trophy at the fish and game supper.
Lamont and Area
LAMONT UNITED CHURCH 5306 - 51 Ave., Lamont, AB 780-895-2145 Rev. Deborah Brill
SUNDAY
AA Meetings Thursdays at 8:00 pm
weeks or so you are the prime minister will be a mere footnote in history because all the other parties are mad as hell and they not going to take it anymore. The government will fall as soon as possible after parliament resumes sitting on March 24th through a non-confidence vote Liberals are sure to lose. The writ will be dropped and the election campaign will begin.
It's quite apparent that seasoned Liberal members of parliament considering a run for the top job will have some ‘splaining to do to Canadians. I can hardly wait to see them contort themselves into pretzels distancing themselves from all those things Justin did that make the majority of Canadians hate him. Candidates will throw out their backs trying to pretend they hadn’t drunk the Kool-Aid and supported every single decision taken by their party and government. It will be a sight to behold. As Poilievre has already pointed out, it doesn’t matter whose name is on the ballot, it’ll still be all about Justin; that changing the leader changes
nothing.
It's going to take a helluva lot of delusional self-confidence on someone’s part to think that he or she can save the Liberal party from annihilation in the next election. The last time the Liberals parachuted a big-name outsider (remember Michael Ignatieff) in to save the day, it didn’t end so well. The guy was an academic who’d left the country for 20+ years to seek fame and fortune elsewhere. Talk about being unable to read the room and determine what Canadians wanted and needed. I lump Mark Carney, former Bank of Canada governor into that same category. Yet, the Liberals are caught between a rock and a hard place. An insider like Chrystia Freeland was there for every damn poor decision so she has to wear them. An outsider like Carney is likely to be perceived as a knight in shining armour ready to save us…. if we want more out-of-touch elitism at the top. Throw Trump’s unstableness into the mix and you have a recipe for disaster and chaos for years to come. I, for one, can’t take much more of the insanity, from where I sit.
Family the key to Malanka
Chipman CAO Pat Tomkow laughs as she removes her facemask
reveal she played the part of the groom in the wedding duo
Cast parade. The wedding couple represents love,
The bride was played by Scott Weleschuk.
Jim Nemersky (L) stands with former Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach tending the bar.
Malanka organizer Mae Adamyk (R) stands with her friend Karen Bohaychuk
Two Hills RCMP Sgt. David Henry takes time to enjoy a dance with his wife, paramedic Sharene Henry, at the Malanka celebration.
Bruderheim council will direct development proposals in-house
BY JOHN MATHER
Bruderheim Council gave second and third reading to its Subdivision and Developments Authority Bylaw at its January 7 meeting.
Chief Administrative Officer Phyllis Forsyth told council they had passed first reading of the bylaw Dec. 11.
But council wanted more control over the development process and also sought public input on the proposed bylaw.
Forsyth told council, comments from the public indicated that the CAO shouldn’t have the authority to make development decisions, the council should discuss and determined future development in the town and that having residents involved in the
decision-making process would be good.
Forsyth told council she didn’t have the authority to make development decisions.
“You have given that power to a corporation outside of the community,” she said.
Councillor Dayna Jacobs asked who it was currently set up with.
Forsyth explained the outside contractor, Municipal Planning Services (MPS), was responsible for developing the development agreements and then the final decision to proceed with developments was brought back to council for approval.
“I’m not educated enough to feel comfortable making that decision,” said Jacobs.
Mayor Karl Hauch said the role of council
was to take the information the planners brought back to council and make the final decision.
George Campbell asked if the outside contractors were involved with council, and Forsyth said they hosted the open houses providing information to the public and also hosted any public hearings.
“So we would be well informed to make the planning and development decisions then,” he stated. “Then I would be quite comfortable making that decision.”
Forsyth added this information from public meetings and hearings, plus how it conformed with municipal bylaws and plans, was presented to council for discussion in conjunction with the municipal planner.
Councillor Len Falardeau was also supportive of the council making the decision.
“I think it's a great thing,” he said. “I support it.”
He said everything would be done according to existing bylaws and regulations.
“Finally council will be making those final decisions. I’m fully supportive of that.
“When the planners have previously brought things to us we haven’t had much discussion about it, but now we will be more involved. I think it's a great thing.”
Jacobs wanted clarification about the outside contractors doing the legal preparation and then council discussing the proposal that the outside contractors brought to them and then making
Bruderheim to consider erecting billboards for professional hockey star and Olympic gold medalist Maschmeyer
BY JOHN MATHER
Bruderheim will study erecting some billboards to announce Bruderheim as the home of Olympic gold medalist Emerance Maschmeyer.
Mayor Karl Hauch suggested they should do this during the Jan. 7 council meeting..
“We’re a small town and not many small towns have an Olympic gold medalist who grew up there,” he said.
“Other towns recognize famous citizens so why shouldn’t we?”
He suggested two billboards be erected, one on
Highway 45 and another along Highway 15.
Maschmeyer, a goaltender, won an Olympic gold medal during the Canadian Women's Hockey team’s gold medal performance at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
She also competed early in her career in the Brick Invitational tournament, where she stopped a shootout shot from her brother Brock who played for a Fort McMurray team.
Maschmeyer won a gold medal at the 2011 Canada Winter Games.
Maschmeyer is currently the starting goalie for the Ottawa Charge of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
The team will play an exhibition game in Edmonton on Feb. 16.
On July 1, 2022 the town named the road outside the Karol Maschmeyer arena after her.
“I never thought I would ever get a street named after me, especially one which runs past the arena that honours my grandmother,” she said at the time.
She stated that was the rink where her hockey dreams began and where her father watched her play her games.
“Bruderheim has always been my home and I owe it so much for helping to shape my hometown values,” she stated.
Council voted unanimously to proceed with looking into erecting the billboards at no cost to the town.
Councillor Arlie Young spoke for all council stating, “It is a great idea.”
Maschmeyer picks up win as Ottawa spits opening games of 2025
BY JOHN MATHER
Ottawa went to New York to play its first game of the New Year and skated to a 3-2 win as Bruderheim’s Emerance Maschmeyer picked up the win.
Playing in front of 1,500 fans at the Prudential Centre, New York got on the scoreboard first when Ella Shelton found the back of the net less than five minutes in.
Ottawa stormed back a minute later when
Danielle Serdachny scored her second of the season from Victoria Bach.
At the 10:07 mark of the first Shiann Darkangelo scored her third of the year to put Ottawa up 2-1. In the second frame Emily Clark picked up her third of the year with assists going to Brianne Jenner and Zoe Boyd. New York closed the gap to one midway through the third period but Maschmeyer stood
tall between the pipes for the rest of the game for Ottawa.
She faced a total of 23 shots in the game.
The Charge played their first home game of the New Year Jan.11, and dropped a 2-1 overtime loss to the Boston Fleet in front of 8,200 fans.
Maschmeyer had the night off and Gwyneth Philips took the loss for the Charge.
Both teams scored in the first period with Victoria Bach giving
a decision.
When she was told that was it, she stated she was comfortable with the bylaw and would support it.
Campbell asked if final decisions had to be made in one meeting or they could have multiple dis-
cussions and he was told they could take their time.
“It puts the onus on council to make the decisions,” said Forsyth.
Council then passed the second and third reading of the amended bylaw.
Ottawa the early lead when she scored from Jocrlyne Larocque and Ashton Bell.
The 1-0 lead held up until the 15-minute mark of the first when Sidney Morin scored from Jessica Digirolamo to tie the score.
The two teams battled it out for the remaining regulation and then in overtime, Boston’s Sidney Morin picked up the winner and her second of the game from Hannah Brandt.
IDYOU HAVE A BABY IN202
We will celebrate the babies born in 2024 in our Feb. 5th, 2025 issue. Your baby’s photo will appear in our special BABIES OF 2024 feature for FREE!
Send a clear photo of your baby, email to: lmtleader@gmail.com, or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the LAMONT LEADER, Box 1079, Lamont, AB. T0B 2R0, or you can also drop it off in person.
Remember to add baby’s name, birth date, and the names of the proud parents and mailing address.
Monday, Feb. 3rd @ noon
Your baby will appear in the paper! Your baby will automatically be entered for a draw for a gift from Lamont Value Drug Mart and the winner will also receivea gift from the Lamont Leader!*
*Winner is chosen by randon draw - there is no judging of photographs or participants.
Snow removal contractor explains procedures to Bruderheim council after terrible results
BY JOHN MATHER
A representative from Ledcor Industries, snow removal division, appeared before Bruderheim council Jan.8 after the company had received several complaints about snow clearing along Highway 15 following a major snow event in December.
John Hopkins told council Ledcor had just received the contract to clear and maintain Highway 15 from Range Road 220 to 205 last August and they were still in a learning process.
“We didn’t do a good job during the Dec.7 to 12 snowfall,” he said.
“And we’ve learned from that and made adjustments.”
He said highway maintenance was a small part of the Ledcor group. He said the company maintained four different regions of road networks in the province.
He said the scope of their work is snow removal and ice clearing
in the winter and highway maintenance such as road repairs in the summer.
He said they didn’t maintain the roads in Bruderheim or Highway 45, adding the company had a maintenance shop in Fort Saskatchewan where they utilized 14 plow trucks with sanding capabilities and two spares.
He said road crews were available on a 24hour rotational basis.
During the storm in question he said there had been freezing rain followed by four days of snow.
“We had a drop in temperature and the roads got icy and then cold with snow on them which is a worse case scenario for us,” he said.
He said the company had GPS and weather technology which allows them to recreate their response to weather events and, after using this for the December storm, they had deter-
mined several areas where improvements could be made.
“We weren’t satisfied with how we performed during that event,” he said. “It was a difficult event but we weren’t happy with what we did.”
He admitted there were poor conditions on the highway for a few days until they were able to catch up.
He did say they were training a new workforce and working the bugs out of their new equipment but ruled that out as excuses for the problems during the December storm.
He said about half the staff were seasoned, hired from the previous road contractor, and the other half were new staff still being trained.
He said since the storm they had improved their response.
“We take our job very seriously and we take public safety very seriously,” he told council.
Elk Island Public School Division affected by Canada-wide data breach
BY JANA SEMENIUK
Families with children in the Elk Island Public School Division were notified on Jan. 8 of a data breach affecting students and staff across Canada that use the third-party software PowerSchool.
EIPS are users of the software which stores personal information including names, birthdates, Alberta student number and mailing address.
According to reports, the breach occurred between Dec 19 -23 and was the result of a cyberattack which EIPS said did not originate from their system.
According to reports, school divisions across Canada were informed from PowerSchool that hackers used a compromised credential to gain access. The reports further stated that PowerSchool claims the compromised data has since been deleted. According to their
website, Powerschool was founded in 1997 and currently a private company. They are a California-based provider of cloud software to over 16,0000 customers in over 90 countries.
A notification letter from superintendent Cheryl Mangin from the Swan Lake-area Prairie Spirit School Division in MB, accessed by CBC, said that Powerschool hired a company called ‘CrowdStrike’ to negotiate with the hackers.
“A fee was paid by PowerSchool SIS to delete the data and keep it from being released,” Mangin was quoted.
EIPS have since added a notice to their website with details around the incident and confirmed the numerous items accessed as a result of the data breach. They added that no photos, documents such as birth certificates, or financial information were accessed.
He thanked the Town for “calling us out” over the response during the December snow event.
Councillor George asked if they had priorities to clear railroad crossing, intersections and on and off ramps first.
He said intersections were icy and slippery, and railway crossings were very rough.
Campbell added plows would plow in the business entrances, but Hopkins said they didn’t come into Bruderheim.
On the intersections and railway crossings, he said the Province designated which sections and timeframes they had, to clear the highway.
“Highway 15 is a class A highway so there are tight timelines to get it cleared to safe driving conditions,” he said.
He added Ledcor knew on and off ramps and intersections were a priority within their company’s policy.
“We want to be on the
In a recent survey less than 100,000 of the responde
road before any accumulation happens so we can stay ahead of the snow and prevent any icy build up in intersections,”
“When freezing rain hits like it did, you really don’t get that opportunity.”
He said following the storm they had optimized their plow routes allowing them to clear some areas quicker than they had.
Councillor Len Falardeau said he had driven the road for 50 years plus and after the storm it was the worst he had ever seen.
He added the shoulders hadn’t been cleared for two days.
“Somebody was sleeping at the wheel,” he said. “I haven’t seen it that bad for years.”
“It was horrendous.”
Campbell asked if they used other equipment beside plow trucks.
Hopkins said they could bring in front end loaders and graders but
those had to be approved by the Province because it wasn’t part of the base contract.
“We have to ask and it’s up to them to approve the use of other equipment,” said Hopkins.
Campbell asked if they used wing plows for where snow could build up along the edges of ditches which then created drifting conditions and Hopkins replied the Province again had to approve that usage.
Campbell said they need the roads cleared to move ambulances and other emergency equipment.
“If the roads aren’t maintained well then those vehicles can’t move.
Hopkins replied he understood that.
Hopkins said as it was the first storm, “there is no place to go but up.”
“We’re focussed on meeting the expectations of the public,” he said.
EIPS’ website stated that those affected by the breach include all current and former EIPS students who attended EIPS from 2009 onwards in addition to current and former staff who held a PowerSchool account from 2009 onwards.
On their website, EIPS reassured families and staff that there are no further concerns of data misuse stemming from the breach.
“We've been informed by PowerSchool that the incident is contained and there is no evidence of continued unauthorized activity in the PowerSchool platform,” the website stated.
“We are not aware of any data misuse at this point. PowerSchool has advised it has received confirmation the data accessed by the unauthorized user has been deleted and that no copies of this data were posted online.”
CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS
COMING EVENTS
A come and go tea will be held for Jean Zimmer to celebrate her 80th birthday. Family and friends are invited to this celebration, on Sun. Jan. 26, 2025 from 1:30- 4:00pm at Our Lady of the Prairies Catholic Church hall, Daysland, AB.
Tofield Golden Club
Soup, Sandwich and Sweets
Thursday, January 23, 2025 11:00 am to 1:00 pm 5004-54 Ave, Tofield. $12 at the door, all ages welcome. Take-out and Gluten Free options available.
Tofield Golden Club 5004 - 54 Ave Potluck and Annual General Meeting 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, January 16, 2025 Anyone 50 and over may become a member for $10 Phone Lynn 780-983-2557 for information
TM01C
The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of the Killam Public Library will be held on Monday, January 20th, 2025 at 7:00 pm. All interested parties are welcome to join us.
Clothing Sale
Friday, Jan. 17 9 am - 4 pm Saturday, Jan. 18 9am-noon Daysland United Church
FOR RENT
One br basement suite for rent available February 1st 2025. $800 per month, utilities included. Separate entrance. Shared washer and dryer. Call or text 780-717-6783 for further details. 01p
FOR SALE
Anyone looking for free firewood...must be cut up and cleaned up in Spring. Call Brian at 780-6780053
Strawberry Plants/Runners for sale. Bare roots or Everbearing. Chemical Free. Orders need to be confirmed by March 31. Call Brian at 780-678-0053.
2019 GM Fuel Pump. Part #13516865. LIke new, asking $300 OBO. Phone 780-895-2408.
Portable, maintenance-free 12’x12’ deck with attached ramp and two steps. (Buyers responsibility to move - must be gone by the spring). Call Brian at 780-678-0053
LOOKING FOR
In search of land to purchase North of highway 14, West of highway 36 and East of Holden. (Bruce area preferred). Want to be near family in that area Call 780 336 1022
HELP WANTED
Part time support/ respite worker for adult male in wheelchair. Home is in the Round Hill area. Valid drivers license, will train, wages to be discussed. Send resume to: broblin.br@gmail.com or text 604-7933756.
START 2025 WITH AN ADVENTURE. In DESPARATE need of two Veterinarians in Yellowknife, NWT. Population 20,000 - approximately same number of small animals. Please call Pat at 867-444-7479.
SEASONAL FARM HELP REQUIRED. Competitive wages and housing will be provided. Help with calving season Feb/ March; or Class 3 driver for seeding and harvest. See www.chinridge.com.
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Andrew Rural Academy board members meet consultant; make strides toward fall opening
BY JANA SEMENIUK
Andrew Rural Academy (ARA) board members recently met with fundraising consultant Rhonda Newman for a fundraising workshop on Jan. 9 at the village school building.
Nearly a dozen of the fledgling school foundation’s members came out for the session which covered all aspects of fundraising for the upand-coming new ARA charter school.
Project manager Stan Zabrick said the group is currently unsure how much funding they will receive from the Province, but are hoping that the grant in addition to their fundraising efforts will be close to $2 million.
“We know there will be some capital funding from the government and my focus for the next two weeks is to establish that number,” he said by email.
As the session got underway, a local parent, Jennifer McJannet, heard
about the school and came to see what it was all about. She said her family, which includes her husband and three children, moved to Andrew in 2020 hoping to trade city life for a peaceful one in the country.
“My children had two years in the school before it was closed down,” she said, referencing the closure of Andrew School by Elk Island Public Schools in 2023 due to declining enrollment and expensive roof repairs. “I was shocked and confused. It didn’t make sense to me.”
McJannet said she has renewed hope, hearing about the new charter school.
“I'm really glad that the academy is taking steps to make this community whole again. It hasn't been whole when there hasn't been a school,” she said. “(My kids) don't get to go to school here. They don't get to make memories here.”
Between the
ARA is slated to open in Sept. 2025 in the building previously occupied by the old Andrew School, which still houses the Village Office, bowling alley and weight room. The Village bought the building from EIPS for one dollar and has managed to arrange for the repairs on the roof.
Meanwhile, consultant Rhonda Newman, who led the workshop, said in a later interview that she found herself enthusiastic around the idea of the ARA charter school especially after hearing of long bus rides for Andrew students who now attend schools in Mundare and Vegreville.
“I’m very excited for this, because I am a firm believer in making sure that there's quality education and there are not barriers to accessibility,” she said. “Quite honestly, I was incensed right from the get go, when I was like, ‘What do you mean the kids were on the school bus for two
Boards U11 Wild wins bronze!
BY MELISSA
MACINTOSH-YOUNG
Wild had another busy week, developing and playing some great hockey. Elk Island Minor Hockey Association continues to provide weekly player and goalie development sessions to all players.
U18 Wild had one road game this week, defeating the CNN Spurs 7-4, in their own barn. Will Furey had 2g, Kayden Winslow 2g, Rowan Young 3a, Avery Klassen 2a, Camo Olechow 1g, Matthew Iverson 1g,
Jocelynn Cozicar 1a, Ashton Strickland 1a and Nicklas Mehlenbacher 1a.
U13 played two games over the weekend. First game, Wild were defeated 5-3 by Mayerthorpe. Wild goals were scored by Sawyer Hanson with 2g and Denton Holowach with 1g. Their second game ended in a 3-3 tie against Whitecourt. Goals were netted by Jonas Wytrykush 1g and 1a, Jace Zanatta 2a, Mary Sobkow 1g, Sawyer Hanson 1g, Tyson Jonker
1a, Quinn Dickinson 1a, Clark Wilson 1a. Wild goalie, Zachary Vandelannoite, was peppered with 54 shots on net!
This week’s “Shout Out” goes out to the U11 Wild team. The team participated in a tournament in Whitecourt over the weekend. They battled hard and brought home the bronze medal. Way to go Wild!
Tune in next week for more exciting minor hockey action!
hours?’ It's just an unacceptable quality of life for your community.”
The ARA will focus on STEM education for grades kindergarten through to grade 12; science, technology, engineering and math. The concept has been available for older grades through public schooling and recently made available to younger grades.
Thrive Elementary, a new charter school that opened in Edmonton last
year, base their programming on STEM for grades one to six and have been mentoring board members from ARA.
Additionally, EIPS recently announced a STEM kindergarten pilot program that will be offered for the 2025/26 school year at Wes Hosford Elementary in Sherwood Park. EIPS Communication Director Laura McNabb said STEM has existed as
components with other subjects but this is the first time it will be offered at the kindergarten level.
“STEM builds problem-solving and critical thinking skills, teaches students to be curious and ask questions, promotes collaborative classrooms, introduces students to different kinds of careers, and provides a strong foundation for future learning,” she said by email.
EIPS calendar has early out every Wednesday
BY JANA SEMENIUK
Elk Island Public School board approved the division’s calendar for the 25/26 and the 26/27 school years at their Dec. 19 board meeting with one big change; instead of a monthly one-hour early dismissal day on the first Wednesday, it will be weekly every Wednesday starting the next school year.
EIPS Superintendent Sandra Stoddard said the change was made to allow staff more collaboration time which has been shown, through research, to improve student outcomes.
“There is substantial educational research supporting the idea that regular, sustained teacher collaboration is more valuable for improving student outcomes than infrequent, stand-alone professional learning,” she explained.
Stoddard said a survey was put out to staff, caregivers and parents from
Oct. 10-21st, with two calendar options, one showing the weekly Wed. one-hour early dismissal and the other with an alternating Friday two-hour early dismissal. She said the survey elicited 5,850 responses, of which concerns mostly centred around childcare challenges and consistency.
Stoddard said that given the results of the survey, she recommended the weekly one-hour early dismissal.
While some of the seven trustees were in favour of the change, including Lamont County trustee Colleen Holowaychuk, Fort Saskatchewan trustee Ralph Sorochan said he was concerned with the change due to his constituents speaking out against the idea through the survey results and in person to him.
“From my understanding, regularly does not mean once a week. When I had success with
my staff back in St Paul, that was twice a month,” he said. “As a former educator, I know the benefits of what this could be, but I also know that the majority of individuals that I sat and talked to in my community in Fort Saskatchewan, were not in favour of the alternate calendars.”
Sorochan said that there were 2,578 responses to the survey question of what the respondent liked about the calendar and just over 41 percent of them were negative.
“Of those 2,578 responses, 1,061 of those responses, or 41.15 percent said, ‘I don't want this’. ‘Don't give it to me’. So the question was asking for positives and people are giving negative responses,” he said.
Lamont County Trustee Holowaychuk said she had faith in the research showing more collaboration time for teachers meant better outcomes for students.
Continued on Page 15
Fundraising Consultant Rhonda Newman led a workshop at Andrew Rural Academy on Jan. 9 teaching fundraising strategies and concepts to the board members. The K-12 new charter school is aiming to be open this Sept.
Photo: Jana Semeniuk
U13 Wild brought home the bronze medal from Whitecourt this weekend
The Lamont Leader (Lamont,
Large variety of horns at Lamont Fish and Game scoring event
BY JOHN MATHER
A large crowd turned out to the Lamont Fish and Game Association’s horn scoring event at the Lamont Hall on Jan. 11.
According to Fish and Game executive member Doug Butler there were 108 entries including more than 20 photo entries.
The winner and their awards will be handed out during the Club’s upcoming Wild Game Supper and trophy night on February 8.
“We also had 25 other trophies to score from non-members,” he reported. Racks from deer, moose and elk were measured during the day.
Horn scoring is actually quite a complex procedure.
Ethan Radke, from the Lamont area, said, to be a scorer there is a course that all official scorers have to take.
“It organized through the Alberta Fish and Game organization and upon completion you get a certificate and a number,” he said.
“It takes a full weekend to complete the
Birders find owls during Christmas count
BY JOHN MATHER
For the past 125 years the Birds Canada organization has teamed up with the U.S. based Audubon Society to conduct a Christmas Bird Count.
The count ran across Canada from Dec. 14 until Jan.5, and last Saturday it was conducted in the Tofield area.
“We begin using Tofield as our centre point and then have birders spread out across a 15-mile diameter to conduct our count,” said Tofield compiler Irene Crosland.
She has been the compiler (the person who recorded all the numbers) for three years and otherwise has been part of the Tofield count for the eight years prior to becoming the compiler.
“We got out bright and early on Saturday because the birds generally become active about half an hour before sunrise.”
There were 24 people who gathered at the Tofield Nature Centre all set to brave the weather to compile the bird database.
EIPS changes
Continued from Page 14
“I really think that we are at a place where we need to take a bold step and do something to try to increase all results,” said Holowaychuk. “I'm willing to support this as is, and the research is showing us that this works.”
Stoddard said that currently, as per the Education Act, teachers cannot be contracted for
Among the 31 species of birds counted were the Townsend Solitaire, which said Crosland, which sings softly and sweetly almost continuously, often leading to its location, probably feeding on Juniper or Mountain Ash berries.
She added a few hardy birders did go out in the afternoon and were rewarded by spotting a Northern Hawk Owl and two Short-eared Owls.
She said it appears this year is an irruption year, a term for when an unusual number of birds appear because of factors such as a plummet in the vole population, driving to come further south. Where the food is, they will come, she added.
“The Christmas Bird Count is an opportunity for everyone to come together and contribute to a tradition that helps birds” said Yousif Attia, Canadian leader for the Christmas Bird Count at Birds Canada. “Look no further than the recently released State of Canada's Birds report to see how Christmas Bird
more than 200 teaching days at school per year. She said the minimum hours of student education, according to the Guide to Education, is 475 hours for kindergarten, 950 hours for grades one to nine, and 1,000 hours for grades 10-12.
“What I need to highlight is both options maintain the same total instructional hours for students and teachers throughout the year as is currently in place,” said
Count data are used to answer the question: how are the birds doing?”
Close to 100 communities across Alberta take part in the annual count.
In Elk Island the bird count is held on Dec. 26.
Noorm Cameron has been running the Elk Island Park bird count for the past four years.
In an email he said the birders gather at the Tawayik Shelter.
“ It's a great location to sit, visit, and talk about your day birding,” he said. “Volunteers hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, and drive in vehicles along roadways within our 24 km diameter circle that encompasses the Park and surrounding area.”
He added some conduct bird counts on their property or bird feeders that are located within the designated area.
“I collect all the data and submit it to Birds Canada.”
Last year the bird count recorded 717 birds falling into 21 species.
Stoddard. “The difference is that the minutes have been distributed differently throughout the week to allow for early out dismissal days to be used for focused collaboration throughout the year.”
The final vote was four to three, with Trustees Trina Boymook, Colleen Holowaychuk, Chair Cathy Allen and Don Irwin in favour and Trustees Ralph Sorochan, Randy Footz and Vice Chair Susan Miller
course if I recall correctly.” He said he had taken the course several years ago.
He added it’s a one and done course but you do have to keep up with scoring of horns.
He said he takes part in an official scoring event once a year but is often called upon to score for friends and family.
He said scorers measure the length of the tines and the width between the main beams.
In addition circumfer-
ences are measured and there is a formula used to calculate the final score.
If there’s a break on
one of the tines, Radke said, it could mean a subtraction from the score.
Several members and guests at the Lamont Fish and Game horn scoring event held Jan. 11 pose with a variety of racks from deer, moose and elk that were brought to the Lamont Community Hall to be scored. Organizers said 108 entries were scored of which 20 were scored from photos.
Conrad Fennena, left, of Leduc County and Laren Rayment, of Ardrossan, measure a rack during the Lamont Fish and Game horn scoring event, Jan. 11.
- The Lamont Leader (Lamont, Alberta), Wednesday, January 15, 2025 Community Programming
Community Services: Serving Lamont County, Lamont, Bruderheim, Mundare, Andrew & Chipman
(VISIT: lamontcounty.ca/community-programming for full posters & locations, or call 780-895-2233 for info./registration). Current CALC, FCSS & KFRN and seniors activities:
1. KFRN: Let’s Get…Cooking: Registration by Jan 22 at noon: signup.com/go/frXFYYb
2. KFRN: Family Activity Night : Free - Lamont Public Library on Jan. 28 from 5-7 p.m.
3. FCSS: Youth Centres in Bruderheim (Tuesdays), Chipman (Mondays), and Mundare –contact Dayna.J@lamontcounty.ca for more info.
4. FCSS: Parents and Tots: Andrew, Bruderheim (Temporarily closed until further notice) Lamont and Mundare - contact Melissa.S@lamontcounty.ca for more info. (Note: programs typically follow the school calendar.)
ogramsinfor
Access current monthly services & programs information scan the QR code or for FCSS, CALC & KFRN on each of the services’ Facebook pages. For more info., scan the QR code (above): lamontcounty.ca/community-programming | FCSSlamontcountyregion | groups/1922602184662497 & kalynafrn.ca | LamontCountyAdultLearns | | CALC/FCSS/KFRN: 877-895-2233 | 5303-50 Ave. Lamont AB |
5. CALC: (register: 780-895-2233 x233/241 or Cheryl.B@lamontcounty.ca | Cody.O@lamontcounty.ca) for My Journey…Who Am I? | English Language Learning | Kitchens Programs | Digital Skills for Seniors: Thurs. fr. 10-11 a.m. (Mundare & Andrew).
6. Seniors’ Coffee: (Wed.) 10-11 a.m. at Andrew Lions Club, & (Thurs.) 10-11 a.m. at Mundare Sr. Centre. Join FCSS for coffee, conversation, snacks, & assistance with seniorrelated forms/programming. FCSS also offers Seniors Supports from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Mundare (Thurs.) – for more information contact Michelle.A@lamontcounty.ca
7. Meals In Motion: contract Chrissy at 780-975-9592 to order for January (see menu at lamontcounty.ca/community-programming).
Other Items of Interest
Business License Renewals Reminder: Reminder: business licenses issued in 2024 expired Dec. 31 and can be renewed for 2025.
Do you have a business within Lamont County and want to be included in the digital Business Directory, complete your free application: lamontcountynow.ca/businessdirectory. Businesses are added once approved. If you have any questions, contact Economic Development at 780-895-2233.
Save the DATE: Cultivating Resilience Farm Succession Planning Workshop: Wednesday, February 5at St. Michael Rec. Center from 5:00-8:00 p.m. lamontcounty.ca/departments/agricultural-services/workshops
AgKnow “How Are You, Really?”: youtu.be/kr5aFXPNP4E
Lamont County Tax Sale (Auction - 2025) – published in the Alberta Gazette Nov. 30, 2024
Notice is hereby given that, under the provisions of the Municipal Government Act, Lamont County will offer for sale, by public auction, in the Council Chambers of Lamont County Administration Building, 5303 50 Avenue, Lamont, Alberta, on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., the following lands:
[As published in THE ALBERTA GAZETTE, PART I, NOVEMBER 30, 2024; and as amended for redemption (as of January 3 – see Lamontcounty.ca for any further updates at lamontcounty.ca/).]
Each parcel will be offered for sale, subject to a reserve bid and to the reservations and conditions contained in the existing certificate of title. For questions, please contact Lamont County’s Taxation Clerk at 780-895-2233 ext. 264.
The land is being offered for sale on an “as is, where is” basis, and Lamont County makes no representation and gives no warranty whatsoever as to the adequacy of services, soil conditions, land use districting, building and development conditions, absence or presence of environmental contamination, or the developability of the subject land for any intended use by the purchaser. No bid will be accepted where the bidder attempts to attach conditions precedent to the sale of any parcel. No terms and conditions of sale will be considered other than those specified by Lamont County. No further information is available at the auction regarding the lands to be sold.
Lamont County may, after the public auction, become the owner of any parcel of land not sold at the public auction.
Terms: All payments must be made in FULL on the date of the auction by cash or certified cheque. Redemption may be effected by payment of all arrears of taxes and costs at any time prior to the sale.
Dated at Lamont, Alberta, October 8, 2024. See updates at https://www.lamontcounty.ca/public-tenders.
- Peter Tarnawsky, Chief Administrative Officer
Next Agricultural Service Board (ASB) Meeting
The next scheduled ASB meeting is (Wednesday) February 12, starting at 9:00 a.m. The public is welcome to attend at the Lamont County Administration Building or virtually through Microsoft Teams (link): lamontcounty.ca/departments/agricultural-services/agendas-minutes-asb. Next Lamont County Council (Regular Council Meeting)
The next Regular Council Meeting is planned for Tuesday, January 28, starting at 9:00 a.m. The public is welcome to attend at the Lamont County Admin. Building or virtually through Microsoft Teams (link). A link to meetings, agendas and minutes can be found at: lamontcounty.ca/governance/agendas-minutes.
Please Note – inFocus is also available for viewing online at: www.lamontcounty.ca/communications (for those wanting to view the weekly submission as fullsized PDF and to access hyperlinks)
