September 27 Lamont Leader

Protest billed as anti-2SLGBTQ+ by EIPS carries strikingly different message according to protestors

BY JANA SEMENIUK

An email from Elk Island Public Schools was sent to families around Sherwood Park on Sept. 19, warning them of an anti-2SLGBTQ+ protest planned for the following day.

“As some of you may be aware, there is a group planning an anti2SLGBTQ+ march on Wed. Sept. 20 in several communities across Canadaincluding Sherwood Park,” read the email.

“At this point there is no indication of any related events in other communities served by EIPS, but the Division is prepared should this occur.”

The email went on to explain that EIPS was working closely with the RCMP to ensure safety for school grounds and for the school day to proceed uninterrupted.

The following day, however, hundreds of grandparents, parents and children gathered behind the Sherwood Park Mall for the 1-Million March-4-Children in protest of the SOGI123 (sexual orientation and gender identity) program used in 61 school divisions in B.C. and six Alberta school divisions including Elk Island Public Schools, Edmonton Public School Board, Sturgeon School Division, St. Albert Public Schools, Aspen View School Division and Fort McMurray Public Schools.

The weather was chilly and rainy, but the crowd gathered and numbers swelled to between 300-400. Their signs included slogans such as ‘Stop SOGI123’ and ‘Let Kids Be Kids’.

According to their website, the SOGI123 program is in its fifth year of operation and supports an inclusive environment which encompasses several 2SLGBTQ+ themes by way of using toolkits for classrooms, 2SLGBTQ+ themed books and celebrating different 2SLGBTQ+ days

throughout the year.

The program also promotes different policies such as allowing students to use the bathroom or changeroom that coincides with their gender identity in addition to privacy policies that, for some schools, exclude a parent from being informed if their child changes their pronoun or preferred name at school. The website says the program is used for kindergarten children up to grade 12.

In addition to the SOGI123 protesters, up to 50 others gathered at the opposite end of the parking lot to counter protest. Their signs included slogans such as ‘Hate Has No Home Here’ and ‘Good People Don’t Harass Marginalized Communities’.

Counter protest organizer Brandie Harrop said that what the protesters are worried about, sexualization of children, is not happening in schools.

“I have volunteered in my kid’s classroom. I know what they think is happening is not happening at all in any way, shape or form,” she said.

“We're here (counter protesting) because our LGBTQ2+ community

deserves to have a safe place. They deserve to feel safe at their school. They deserve to be themselves.”

The other counter protestors declined to be interviewed for this article.

Meanwhile, protest organizer and former Bruderheim resident, Willie Ferguson, 74, spoke to the crowd on a PA system that sat snug in the back of an SUV.

She told those who gathered to remain peaceful and not to engage with the counter protestors. An RCMP officer came by to reassure Ferguson that he spoke to the counter protestors who agreed to stay on their side of the parking lot, however their chants could be heard loud and clear; ‘Hey Hey, Ho Ho, All This Hate Has Got To Go…’.

One woman stood up and used Ferguson’s microphone to read a book titled ‘I Identify’, a children’s book about kids who identified with their characteristics such as brave, or friendly. All ten copies of the book sold instantly.

Ferguson said that she was a teacher for a number of years and does not like

where the education system is going. She said she felt the need to speak out.

“I'm organizing this because I've been a teacher for 34 years, and now I'm seeing stuff being taught in schools that is just not appropriate,” she said.

“I see the erosion of parent control over what their kids can be taught in school. We don't like the agenda in the school, where our kids are being taught this stuff without the parents’ knowledge. That is not appropriate in my eyes.”

Several Sikh families also joined the protest. Most could not speak English and had their children translate for them, indicating they did not feel that SOGI123 respected their religious identity.

“We just don’t believe that. God gave us two genders,” said one 11year-old child of a Sikh family. “And if we change it then that’s being disrespectful to God.”

Sherwood Park parent Leah Carch said she worries about her four children at school after several disturbing incidents.

“School doesn’t feel safe anymore. At school they are learning about sexuality and it doesn’t feel ok for a sixyear-old,” she said.

“My daughter and her friends wanted to do a friendly competition at school, boys against the girls, and the teacher said ‘there’s no such thing as boys and girls. Gender is fluid and we will not be dividing.’ This isn’t antiLGBTQ, it’s not anti. It’s just let kids be kids.”

RCMP and local Peace Officers blocked streets so the protestors could march unimpeded. They played music such as Tom Petty’s ‘I won’t back down’ and the 80s U.S.A. for Africa song ‘We are the world’.

Continued on Page 15

Former Bruderheim resident and 1 Million March 4 Children organizer, Willie Ferguson, 74, addresses the large crowd of protestors in Sherwood Park on Sept. 20.

Photo: Jana Semeniuk

No ice logo inlay for local Elk Island Wild in Bruderheim arena this year

BY JANA SEMENIUK

The Bruderheim town council have voted to forego installing a logo on the arena ice this year for the local Elk Island Wild, a minor hockey association that serves both Bruderheim and Lamont, due to time constraints and unknown uninstall procedures.

Instead, the council have opted to revisit the motion next year with the only opposing vote being Mayor Karl Hauch who wanted the logo installed this year regardless.

Bruderheim chief administrative officer Phyllis Forsythe said the president and ice allocator for the association made the request to the Town for the logo to be laid in the ice for the upcoming season.

She said the reusable logo inlay the association wanted them to use was time consuming to install and uninstall and she was only made aware of the request last week.

“The ice is going in this week with a target date of Oct. 6 for commencement of ice use. Inlays are very labour intensive on both ends of the season, and this will delay the seasonal ice start up by one or two days,” she said.

“(It) will also increase the amount of time to remove the ice by approximately five days. This procedure is quite a bit different than what we do now.”

Deputy mayor Wayne Olechow pushed for more details, asking how much planning it takes to adjust for the logo and what the additional cost would be.

Bruderheim director of

public works Dennis Tomuschat said that adding in the logo at this time would cost approximately $3,600 in labour and delay other projects already scheduled, such as hydrant flushing in the spring.

“These reusable logos have to be misted in which delays us making the ice on the rest of the surface,” said Tomuschat.

“If we put an ice logo in there, especially the reusable ones, we have to melt out the entire ice area, which now leaves us a rink full of water.”

Tomuschat said a ‘rink full of water’ was a red flag because of the chance the water could seep out from under the edges of the boards.

“(It’s going to take a lot more) manpower to maintain (the water) from getting out and a lot of man time to get rid of all the white that's in the ice that we usually take out with the ice,” he said. “So it's a tremendous labour intensive procedure when we have to melt out the whole arena.”

Mayor Hauch brought up several concerns in support of the logo inlay for this year, including the local team that call the Bruderheim arena their home arena.

“The president of Elk Island Wild told me he spoke to administration in June and (was told) that something would be brought back to him,” said Hauch. “They paid $1,100 for those inlays. They bought one for the Town Lamont and they bought one for Bruderheim. Lamont has their ice in already so they weren't aware of that and they didn't get it

in Lamont but they would like to have it in Bruderheim. That's a not-for-profit association and there's approximately 20 kids that play in that association from Bruderheim (and) I’d like to see us supporting local kids that are in that association.”

Tomuschat said regardless, the time constraint could not be accommodated.

“When we're taking the ice out, it comes out in slabs, we don't cut a chunk out that we want to remove, we have a loader in there and we push,” he said. “And once we start pushing, we don't stop. It’s a process. To try to navigate around the centre that's another time constraint. And then if we damage (it) who's responsible? The town or (the association)? I don't want to be responsible for an $1,100 logo, when I'm trying to get rid of ice. It’s very difficult.”

Deputy mayor Olechow said that although he echoed Mayor Hauch’s statements and wanted to see the logo installed this year, he felt hesitant due to the unknowns of the uninstall procedure described by Tomuschat.

“I would like to see it in this year. (The) delay isn't the issue, that can be worked on. It's the cleanup at the end I think might be the (problem),” he said. “I would hate to rush this and get it in. (It’s the) cleanup. If the water goes under the bleachers, I think there's some prep work if I'm understanding you right. I'd hate to wreck what we have to rush something. I would like it in this year, but I see why

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

you're saying that.”

Councillors Ashley Carter and George Campbell were absent from the meeting, making the final vote three to one to forego the install this year and revisit it for next year.

Infant Eye Care

Doctor’s Note:

,

Would you like to volunteer in the construction of the Tawaw Park playground on Thursday, September 28 and/or Friday September 29?

All volunteers must register with the Town of Lamont by calling 780-895-2780 or emailing general@lamont.ca

The Alberta Association of Optometrists

The Lamont Leader (Lamont, Alberta), Wednesday, September 27,

Hard to be a proud Canadian when politicians continually embarrass us

BY JOHN MATHER

What is it with our politicians?

And I can’t paint all of them with the same brush, but some seem so out of touch with reality it scares me.

In Ottawa, the Liberal government can’t seem to go a day without embarrassing us as a country on the world stage.

Last week, Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of aiding in the killing of Sikh extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Sikh temple in B.C. in June.

Nijjar was an advocate for a Sikh independent nation to be located in northern India, something very much opposed by the Indian national government.

But Trudeau offered no facts to back up his assertions. He claimed he did mention it to the Indian prime minister during recent G20 meetings in India and it was also softly reported the U.S. may have made small mention of the claim also.

But the fallout has been immediate and continues to escalate.

Indian newspapers have laughed at Trudeau and called him an embarrassment to Canada.

Well, it does seem whenever Trudeau sets foot in India, he embarrasses this country.

And then with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy standing in parliament, the Liberal appointed Speaker of the House invited 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka to receive recognition for being “a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service.”

Yes, that was Speaker of the House Anthony Rota introducing Hunka who lives in his riding. Then it came out Hunka was a member of the Nazi 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Galician).

Really, doesn’t anyone do some research and vetting of these guests of parliament? Apparently the prime minister’s office does. But either they didn’t do a good job or Trudeau simply didn’t read the memo and allowed Hunka to receive a standing ovation from all members of parliament and guests during Zelenskyy’s visit and speech.

CONTINUED

And then there was the 1-Million-March-4Children held in various communities across Canada last week as parents marched opposed to the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identification programs being taught in public schools in all provinces.

There was Trudeau calling the parents “hateful” while NDP wannabe Prime Minister Jagmeet Singh marched with those in favour of the programs being taught in schools.

The counter protesters showed up to undermine the parents’ protest, echoing false accusations that the marchers were bigots and haters who pose a terrible threat to –and target – sexual minorities.

Yup, there was Singh chanting, lecturing and clutching a rainbow flag that said Pride not Prejudice.

It was enough that one organizer of the Ottawa march Kamel El-Cheikh to single Singh out directly to his face.

“I said ‘Shame on you, you piece of sh*t. I said that to him!” El-Cheikh told the Western Standard. “He didn’t say anything. He was scared. Jagmeet Singh looked me in the eye, but he couldn’t look at me too

much, looking down, looking everywhere, of course, rich boy himself.”

“I said to him ‘Man, you’re supposed to represent all Canadians. You are only representing the minority class.’”

In Edmonton, Singh’s Alberta lieutenant Rachel Notley demanded Alberta Premier Danielle Smith turf Red Deer South MLA Jason Stephan for speaking during the parents’ march in Red Deer.

Smith just said not going to happen.

As well she should. You don’t see Notley condemning her MLAs when they march with the alphabet people in their various marches across Alberta or when Drag Queens campaign against people opposing them reading to children in public libraries.

I agree with the parents on this issue.

They should be the ones involved in bringing up their kids. Schools shouldn’t be instructing children that if they want to change their names or pronouns, then suggesting it should kept from parents.

And I expect the vast number of people, aka the silent majority, also agree with the parents.

Far too often are politicians and unions are trying to regulate our daily lives and I think the silent

majority is starting to wake up to this.

They aren’t going to tolerate it much longer.

It points out the difference between rural and urban centres when the parents’ rights marchers are supported locally, but Edmonton MLAs, the mayor and union leaders condemn them. And obviously the same thing happens in other large urban centres.

Those union leaders fail to recognize they have rural members and it could come back to haunt them.

I was surprised Trudeau didn’t invoke the Emergencies Act when the parents marched in cities across the country. That’s his style.

But for the most part, as all this nonsense that appears in the news day in and day out does nothing more than diminish Canada’s reputation on the world stage.

Our reputation on the world stage used to be very commendable. I can remember Liberal Prime Minister Lester Pearson being highly perceived by the world.

He was leader and his cabinet was respected for their abilities. Governments of all levels were respected.

What the hell has happened?

BY HAZEL ANAKA

First of all, can we all pause and take a moment to say a prayer of thanks for the incredible harvest weather? I, for one don’t remember such a glorious autumn. If I had to register one itty-bitty teeny-weeny complaint, I would say I wished the breezes would continue a few hours longer in the evenings. The nights have been frost-free and the mornings dew-free. But the minute the sun sets just before eight each evening, the wind drops off and the going gets tougher.

Of course, anyone who’s been farming longer than a week will know the true definition of tough. Tough is when the ground is cold and damp, the grain isn’t drying, the days are short and cool, heavy frosts and /or showers keep interrupting the work, the machinery is groaning or breaking

FROM WHERE I SIT: That’s A Lot

down, and the plans for putting the grain through a dryer or into aeration bins are kicking into action. That’s tough. So far, harvest hasn’t been without some drama. Someone left a park brake on in one of the combines… innocent mistake. Someone else drove that machine because no warning buzzer came on… innocent mistake. to the point the brakes were blackened and hot. There appears, touch wood, to be no evident lasting damage. To my horror, I noticed something wrong with the canvases on my header. I can’t name all the parts of a combine so let’s just say one of the shafts that turns the belts broke. That necessitated a house call from a welder. And a trip to Vegreville to get another pickup shaft repaired when it appeared ready to crap out as well. Two new canvases, a few bearings, and many hours of work by Roy and Hilary eventually got it back together. I helped too. Having a heavy steel bracket land on my toe was one reason for some ice and some swearing. Luckily,

it wasn’t broken. In all, my combine was down for two and a half days. A service call to repair the air conditioning in my combine at the start of harvest kept me from dying in that glassed-in box.

I had been listening to a CBC radio program explain how the prolonged heat waves across Canada this summer have led to several deaths. A study showed that those units without air conditioning reached highs of 28 or more degrees with no palpable relief at night. In a study even the healthiest, most robust people began losing mental function and had measurable scary changes to their vitals as the exposure to heat continued. With global warming only getting worse the study proposes retrofitting old buildings to address concerns. Overheating residents to the point of death is as urgent an issue as having people freeze to death.

Back to the field. Because I detest mice, I was disappointed not to see even one hawk this fall. However, there were a couple coyotes chowing down. They’re quite

graceful as they pounce. On our final wheat field there was a murder of crows overhead and sitting on swaths. As much as I admired their size, blue-black feathers, and flight styles, I was annoyed with them until I realized that they too were feasting on mice. Their approach to catching them is more subtle than a hawks but it’s the results that count. Way to go, birds. To my disappointment I saw neither deer nor moose during all these days of work.

So far, touch wood, the yield has been impressive. That probably means prices will be crappy, right? A heavy crop means slow going. I have never combined so slowly for so many days on so many fields ever in my life. And didn’t lose my cool. Ahhh, Hazel’s growing up.

What’s made this harvest harder so far is that it’s interrupted my physio therapy appointments and recovery from a knee, hip thing. Suddenly, I’d been unable to step up onto a curb because of pain. Stairs were an impossibility unless I did them toddler-style. Sitting for

so many hours in an unergonomic situation has worsened things. Stealing time for heat application and my strengthening exercises has been hit and miss at best.

But there have been periods of joy and gratitude as well. Hilary has been stellar in her contribution to Harvest 2023 often spending the night to help us or squeezing business meetings in before starting to combine. She did one phone meeting from inside the combine and now has cohorts trying to one-up her for even more unusual settings. Another pleasure was crossing the 500 YouTube subscribers of my channel threshold on September 14th. Knowing how many people were pulling for me and thrilled with the mile-

stone made my day. I did a short Good News-Bad News video announcement thanking subscribers and telling them about my sick combine. It warms my heart to think about these American women urging me to take care of my knee, stay safe, and hoping my combine is back running. Friendship and support can come from the most unlikely places and for that I’m grateful. As pleasant as harvest has been so far, I still want it to be over. October is shaping up to be an exciting but very busy month. I’ve got to return to my online presence, a couple October weddings to officiate, my annual retreat at our Canmore time-share, more physio appointments to schedule, and finally helping Hilary and Ash pack and move into their new home. That’s a lot, from where I sit.

Mundare to provide retaining wall to ease flooding concerns

BY JOHN MATHER

Mundare Council agreed to build a retaining wall along the backyard along Whitetail Cove to help ease the potential for flooding in the area.

Treena Dickson appeared before council to explain the situation to the council at their Sept, 5 meeting.

Chief Administration Officer Colin Zyla told council there was an existing six-metre easement along the rear yards of Whitetail Cove.

“It has a six-metre easement for natural gas, electrical and a drainage ditch but we’ve had issues with flooding in the past,” he said.

“Dickson said they had brought their concerns to council in June about flooding.

“We’ve be told it’s the golf course pumping water but others said it’s not,” she said. “But

sometimes it dries out and other times it gets very deep. There were some engineers and others came out to look at the problems.”

Council was told a couple of the culverts in the areas were plugged solid.

Zyla said when the engineers came out to inspect the area they said the slope of the drainage in the area was very shallow and made a couple of suggestions.

“A couple of options were identified,” said Zyla. “One was to grade the easement so water would flow better, but it was felt it would then just gather in the wooded area just beyond.”

He said if the lots further to the east of the area were developed in the future then the easements would have to regrade to accommodate the new lots.

“The second option

Caught in the act

BY JANA SEMENIUK

A criminal has been caught in the act of committing a crime on a rural property in Lamont County.

Alberta RCMP media relations officer Lauren Mowbray said few details are available.

“I cannot provide any details as the matter is

now before the courts. I can confirm an adult male is facing charges in relation to the incident,” said Mowbray by email. She also confirmed the incident occurred in Lamont County on Sept. 22 and the male was arrested on the scene and later charged.

was to install a two-foot retaining wall,” he said. “With the retaining wall there would be no back up into the properties.”

He said the golf course did pump some water into the easement ditch area.

“He said the cost was estimated at about $15,000,” added Zyla.

He felt the retaining wall was the best way to go, but council had to decide whether to complete it this year or wait until next year.

He suggested it be done this year before winter and potential problems from spring runoff set in.

He told Dickson the slope in the backyards would be built-up to become close to flush with the retaining. It should clear up any erosion issues that the yards may have had, he added. Zyla said the wall would be built along the six existing lots and then added to as additional lots were developed.

He added the swale would have a rock cover to further promote drainage.

Councillor Rick Patrie said he lived at one end of the drainage ditch and the home’s previous owners had dumped their grass clipping into the ditch, “so it is a mess, but I don’t have any

flooding issues.” He agreed a retaining wall was the best option.

KNYSH, Dennis

Council passed a motion to build a retaining wall by the end of this year with the approval of the landowners.

Dennis Knysh peacefully passed away on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at the age of 67 years with his children by his side.

Dennis is survived by his children, Nathan (Carrie) Knysh, Gregory (Rebeckah) Knysh and Penny (Jason) Price; grandchildren, August, Miles,

Henry, Carson, Trinity and Kaydence Knysh, and Emma, Allison and Jesse Price; mother, Albina Knysh; brothers, Darrel (Bonnie) and Terry; niece, Ashley (Jesse); and nephew, Ryan. He was predeceased by his father, August Knysh; and best buddy, Rusty.

The family is eternally grateful to the Cross Cancer Institute and the staff of the Lamont Health Care Centre.

A Prayer Service will be held Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 7 p.m. at St. Michael Recreation Centre, St. Michael, AB.

A Divine Liturgy will be held Friday, September 29, 2023, at 10 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church, 565075 RR 180, Limestone, AB. Basilian Fathers officiating with interment in Church Cemetery.

Vichnaya Pamyiat Photos, memories, and condolences may be shared through www.parkmemorial.c om.

Park Memorial Lamont 780-895-2157

Family-Owned Funeral Home And Crematorium

- The Lamont Leader (Lamont, Alberta), Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Premier Smith predicts sunny days ahead for AIHA

Heartland a big part of goal to be carbon neutral by 2050 plus preferred supplier of petroleum products

BY JOHN MATHER

Premier Danielle

Smith wasn’t shy when it came to praising the companies and administrators of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland during the organization’s annual stakeholders meeting Sept. 14.

In introducing Smith, Lamont County Reeve David Diduck, chairman of the AIHA said, “Danielle fiercely stands ready to solidify our position as a world leader in sustainable energy development.”

She began by saying she had taken a helicopter tour of the Heartland area and “it was amazing to me just how much development is concentrated into all those different sites.”

She added the stakeholders would find no bigger advocate for the infrastructure improvements in the area including the Vinca Bridge refurbishment and the interchange at Highway 15 and Secondary Highway 830.

She added Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong Homeniuk, who was in attendance at the Edmonton Convention Centre, was a huge advocate of the region.

“There are a number of energy conferences going on in our province currently which is just a testament to the amazing projects going on in our province.

“Alberta is Canada’s leading and most reliable economic engine and the Heartland is at the core of our robust economy,” she stated. “The cluster is Canada’s biggest hydrocarbon processing region, home to world scale refineries creating more than 30,000 jobs and more than $40-billion in investments.”

She said it certainly was part of the provincial government’s planning long term and they wanted to build on its successes.

She added the zone was founded on speeded up approval processes and clear expectations on the environmental outcome.

“Our goal is to continue to bring in additional investment,” she said. “To enable these additional targets to be met we’ve developed the Alberta Petrochemical Incentives Program (APIP).”

It provides rebates to encourage private sector investment in new or expanded Alberta based petrochemical facilities. Any petrochemical project using natural gas as a feedstock is eligible for the rebates, she said.

She added the program has attracted interest from around the world.

“APIP is turning Alberta’s Industrial Heartland into a destination for world leading projects such as Air Products Hydrogen facility, and Dow Chemical’s $13-billion expansion.”

“We’re giving investors confidence that Alberta’s Industrial Heartland is the right place for their investment dollars,” Smith said. “And it shows just how successful APIP has been.”

She further stated she would be personally attending the COP28 conference in November and she expected to have some announcements coming from that conference.

“Our goal is to be carbon neutral by 2050 and remain the world’s preferred supplier for responsibly produced oil, natural gas and minerals.

“Alberta will be a glob-

al leader in every respect.”

She said the Province was laying the groundwork right now.

Smith said the government was investing millions in carbon capture and storage.

“Alberta is the only jurisdiction in Canada putting carbon away in sizable quantities right now with millions of tonnes stored safely.”

“All this will lead to the cleanest energy resources available any-

where.”

She said ammonia was a big product and Alberta was one of the largest suppliers.

“And there is increasing demand for ammonia, especially from the Asian countries.”

“Alberta’s got what it takes,” she said, “to innovate in every facet of energy production. Amazing things are in store for Alberta’s Industrial Heartland.”

The Lamont Leader (Lamont, Alberta),

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith

Lamont Reeve David Diduck

No town endorsement for Bruderheim mayor in his bid for director in Alberta Munis election

BY JANA SEMENIUK Bruderheim Mayor

Karl Hauch will be campaigning for the Director of the Towns East position with Alberta Municipalities (AB Munis) without the endorsement of his town council.

Without two members of the council present, councillors George Campbell and Ashley Carter, the remaining four members voted in a tie when deputy mayor Wayne Olechow made the motion for the endorsement of Mayor Hauch in the upcoming election.

Prior to the vote, councillor Dayna Jacobs asked if the motion was necessary in order for Hauch to run for the position, and Bruderheim chief administrative officer Phyllis Forsythe said the motion would show support for Hauch’s nomination.

“It's just to endorse (him) so that council is supportive of Mayor Hauch running,” she said. “There's no conflict of interest or anything like that, just that you're supportive of his running for Director of Towns East.”

Mayor Hauch added that an endorsement was not required.

“It's actually not required of AB Munis, but it's a good practice to

get the endorsement of the council,” he said. “I was nominated by two other mayors.”

When the vote was called, those opposed to the endorsement were councillor Len Falardeau and councillor Jacobs,

tion are to be an elected official of a regular member in good standing, submit the completed nomination package and be nominated by two other elected representatives of regular members in good standing.

task force and reimbursed for expenses incurred on the Association’s business. Board members also receive an allowance for professional development. The amounts for each were not disclosed in the package.

Hauch said in a later text message that he is retiring Sept. 30 from his long-time employment with nearby Shell, which he said will give him plenty of time to devote to his mayorship of Bruderheim in addition to the position of Director of Towns East if he is elected.

He said he did not place too much emphasis on the outcome of his council’s vote regarding his endorsement.

by council. It was brought forward as a formality for our council to be included.”

Alberta Munis positions are being held during their annual convention Sept. 29.

Notice of Nomination Day

Local Authorities Elections Act (Section 26)

LOCAL JURISDICTION: Town of Bruderheim, PROVINCE OF ALBERTA

Notice is hereby given that Nomination Day is October 12, 2023 and that nominations for the election of candidates for the following offices will be received at the location of the local jurisdiction office set out below within the period beginning on July 5, 2023 and ending at 12:00 noon on Nomination Day.

Location (address) of Local Jurisdiction

Office:

Bruderheim Mayor Karl Hauch

leaving only Mayor Hauch and deputy mayor Olechow in support of it.

The resulting tie vote is a defeat of the motion.

The position of Director of Towns East for Alberta Municipalities is a two-year term and encompasses 34 towns. Hauch is running for the position against the incumbent Trina Jones, mayor of Legal.

The eligibility requirements to run for the posi-

Commitment requirements for the position, according to the nomination package, is each board member is expected to also serve on one board committee in addition to attending board member meetings which are each held once a month lasting between five and six hours.

In terms of compensation, board members are entitled to receive honoraria for their services on the board, committee or

Join us in recognizing the 3rd annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Event to be held at Tawaw Park. ^ Saturday, September 30, 2023 1:30 p.m. 54 Avenue and 46 Street

“It is a decision of council. My intention is to carry on and be elected,” he said. “It is not a requirement for this position to be endorsed

Town of Bruderheim

5017 Queen Street Bruderheim, Alberta T0B 0S0

DATED at the 5017 Queen Street of Bruderheim, in the Province of Alberta, this 05 day of July, 2023.

Mixed messages from elected officials and EIPS on gender ideology protest

BY JANA SEMENIUK

The 1 Million March 4 Children drew thousands of people across Canada on Sept. 20, including several families from Lamont County who brought the total in Sherwood Park up to 400 people to protest the use of the program SOGI123 (sexual orientation and gender identity).

The program, which promotes inclusivity by introducing 2LGBTQ+ themed materials, books and policies, is used by six Alberta school divisions, including Elk Island Public Schools.

According to the SOGI123 website, the program is used from kindergarten to grade 12.

While the Lamont County school trustee Colleen Holowaychuk declined to comment on the protests, EIPS Communications Director Laura McNabb issued a statement by email on behalf of EIPS.

“Sexual orientation and gender identity principles focuses on ensuring all students are safe, welcomed and valued at school. Like other forms of inclusion in schools, the goal is for everyone to understand the diverse society in which we live and to feel safe, valued and respected,” she said.

“There is no attempt to encourage, convince or convert student’s beliefs

about their sexual orientation or gender. It is our responsibility, however, to ensure the school environment is safe for students who do choose to express their sexual orientation, gender or gender identity—and that they, like all students, can learn, grow and thrive in a positive and caring school environment.”

McNabb added that school divisions are legislated to uphold the tenants of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Alberta Human Rights Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act.

EIPS board votes for trustee raises

EIPS classified staff, including educational assistants also received raises

BY JANA SEMENIUK

Elk Island Public

School Board has voted for a raise this year of two percent for their board of trustees during its Sept. 21 board meeting effective as of Sept. 1, 2023.

EIPS Secretary

Treasurer Candace Cole said the annual trustee compensation adjustment is stipulated in their board policies and relies on a formula to arrive at the increase amount which cannot exceed the raise also given to EIPS classified staff, which include educational assistants.

“The methodology to be used is the average percent change in the average index of the Alberta consumer price index and the percentage change in the Alberta average weekly earnings, which is not to exceed the increase given to EIPS classified staff and not less than zero,” she said. “On Sept. 1, classified staff did receive a two percent increase.”

According to the EIPS

remuneration chart, all trustees are paid a base amount of $36,908 this year, up from $36,184 last year. The board chair and vice board chair have additional allowances of $13,178 and $6,409 respectively, up from $12,920 and $6,283. In terms of travel allowance, the board and vice chairs receive an additional $1,405 and $702 on top of the $3,363 base amount given to all nine trustees.

Total amounts of travel allowance vary for each trustee with former board chair Trina Boymook (Sherwood Park) and trustee Don Irwin (Sherwood Park) receiving the base amount of $3,363 while Trustees Jim Seutter (Strathcona County) and Jacqueline Shotbolt (Fort Saskatchewan) receive $4,764.

Trustees Colleen Holowaychuk (Lamont) and Randy Footz (Vegreville) receive $8,293 in travel allowance.

Meanwhile, overall, including travel

McNabb would not address questions around whether the EIPS board would consider discontinuing their use of SOGI123 in light of the large turnout of families concerned with the sexual component to the program.

Meanwhile, the Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie ArmstrongHomeniuk indicated her support for parental rights in an email.

“As primary caretakers and legal guardians for the well-being of their children, I support parental consent,” she said adding that her caucus is having ongoing discussions on this mat-

ter. “I believe all children should feel safe.”

The Canadian provinces of SK and NB adopted gender and pronoun policies earlier this year stipulating that children under the age of 16 require parental consent before changing their names or pronouns at school.

Currently, Alberta has no such laws and school divisions are allowed to create their own privacy policies, including ones that prevent parents from being informed if their children change their preferred names or pronouns.

EIPS’s policy upholds the students’ right of pri-

vacy although legal names can only be changed with parental consent and documents from vital statistics.

According to reports from a July online Angus Reid institute survey, 43 percent of Albertans wanted to be informed and give consent before their children changed their pronouns at school while 35 percent only wanted to be informed if their child identified differently. Of the remaining respondents, 14 percent supported the idea of not being notified first with the remaining indicating they were not sure on the issue.

allowances, Trustee Boymook’s compensation amount dropped by more than $13,000 this year, from $53,778 last year to $40,271 this year as she stepped down from the board chair position after 10 years.

New board chair Cathy Allen’s (Sherwood Park) compensation has increased from $39,481 last year to $54,854 this year while previous vice chair Colleen Holowaychuk’s amount dropped from $51,285 last year to $45,201 this year.

New vice board chair Susan Miller’s (Strathcona County) compensation increased from $40,855 last year to $48,783 this year. The remaining trustees’ remuneration are Don Irwin, $40,271, Jim Seutter, $41,672, Jacquieline Shotbolt, $41,672, Ralph Sorochan, $41,672 and Randy Footz, $45,201.

Last year the board approved a 1.76 percent increase for their board of trustees.

Lamont County backs resolution for road weed control program

BY JOHN MATHER

Lamont County council has endorsed a motion from its Agriculture Service Board and will present it for approval at the ASB Provincial Committee to collaborate with the Ministries of Transportation and Agriculture to implement a vegetation management plan along Alberta’s primary highways.

“There were some serious comments, not just in our County, but province wide regarding weed control on our secondary highways,” said Terry Eleniak, Lamont County Agricultural Fieldman speaking to council, Sept.12.

“The only way we can get some traction is to develop a resolution.”

He said the resolution could be presented in October at the provincial ASB meeting.

In reading the proposed resolution, Eleniak told council the local and provincial highways have the potential to spread invasive plants due to the types of commodities carried on the highways. In addition, the province is responsible for weed management on provincial highways and the current lack of weed control is causing landowners to be upset because of the encroachment of weeds into their fields.

Eleniak, also said RCMP had concluded the lack of control of noxious weeds and brush regrowth in the highways rights of ways and medians had resulted in increases in wildlife collisions due to visibility being blocked by the height of the weeds. He said in 20017 the province had developed

a three-tier vegetation management program to control weed growth but it was never implemented.

The final motion to go to the provincial ASB meeting reads,

“Alberta’s Agricultural Service Board request Alberta Transportation to increase funding of spraying and mowing of

plan in place. We need to take a proactive approach to the weed control issue.”

He said even prior to 2017 the provincial ASB had Alberta Transportation meet with municipalities on a rotational basis.

“We knew what roads were getting sprayed and mowed and we were able to be part of it.”

He said while the roads were getting mowed now, they've been out mowing the highways when there’s snow on the ground in November in the past.

Division two Councillor Aaron Wick asked if they had a timeline in the motion to the province so the weeds could be controlled before they went to seed or the snow fell.

weeds along the highways in the summer and that further Alberta Transportation enhance their current vegetation management strategy to mange noxious weeds, prohibited noxious weeds, and any unsafe vegetation on the full rights of way of all primary and secondary highways.

Reeve David Diduck agreed this was a major problem, but he noted that mowing was now being done on roads in the County.

“And they’re doing an exceptional job,” added Councillor Daniel Warawa. “They’re mowing fence to fence.”

Councillor Neil Woitas said not all the highways were being cut and he had a list of deficient areas within the County.

“The unfortunate part of mowing now is the weeds have gone to seed, so cutting them is also spreading the seeds,” added Diduck.

“We could have one thousand times the problem next year.”

“In supporting this resolution,” said Eleniak. “It will allow us to put a

Eleniak said he was sure that if the resolution was approved at the regional ASB meeting it would be supported province wide because he doubted the weed issues were isolated to the northeast.

“Like the Rural Municipalities Association, the provincial Agriculture Service Board has delegates who do talk to the province and they can discuss guidelines for a program.”

“The Ministers of Agriculture and Transportation and their associates will know weed control is a major concern across the province,” he said.

Chief Administrative Officer Peter Tarnawsky agreed with Wick’s comment on a timeline for weed control and suggested they amend part of their resolution to reflect vegetation management be done before the vegetation has a chance to go to seed.

Council passed the amended motion which will be presented at the ASB regional conference in October.

Lamont Ag. Fieldman Terry Eleniak

The 1 Million March 4 Children drew up to 400 people in Sherwood Park on Sept. 20 to protest the SOGI123 (sexual orientation and gender identity) program being taught in six Alberta school divisions, including Elk Island Public Schools.

Photo: Jana Semeniuk

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COMING EVENTS

Sunshine Villa Autumn Pie Social, Saturday, September 30

from 2 to 4 p.m. 5834 51st Street, Tofield. Admission $5. Pie, coffee, tea, etc!

Silent Auction at the Social. All proceeds to the Residents Association Fund.

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Brian’s U-Pick Fruits and Berries and Vegetables has tons of Tomatoes available for sale! All sizes! Many different Varieties! Contact Brian at 780-678-0053

Tuesday - Thursday 10 - 5, Friday & Saturday 10 - 6, Sunday 10 - 5. Closed Mondays. For Pick-Upby appointment only.

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Ravenhill Agencies Ltd. GRAND REOPENING! Coming in October! We look forward to seeing you! Contact us for all your insurance needs. 5109 50th St. Tofield. 780-662-0330.

Brian’s U-Pick Fruits and Berries and Vegetables is taking orders for any Fruits, such as Saskatoons, Blueberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Apple Trees, or any other Fruit Trees. Order now, Pay later!

Payments are required when the orders are confirmed. All ordering must be done by appointments. The number to contact for appointments is 780-678-0053 from Tuesdays-Thursdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Closed Mondays.

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HELP WANTED

The Andrew Community Center Association is looking for a janitor/caretaker to maintain the hall. The job entails washing/waxing floors, deep cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms, maintaining supplies such as toilet paper, paper towels, dishwasher supplies, etc. It also entails prepping the hall when rentals have been booked and thorough cleaning when the event has concluded. Applicant should be able to do small repairs when required. Paying a competitive wage. Please forward resumes to barb@barpek.com.

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Tofield Skating Club is in need of a Star Skate Coach for the 2023/24 Skating Season. Volunteer Executive members are also needed. Call 780-918-6760, or email tofieldskatingclub@gmail.com

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Members of the Lamont Lakers Senior Girls volleyball squad go high to block a shot in volleyball action in their own Lady Lakers tournament Sept. 25. The girls had a strong weekend, but eventually had to settle for third place in their tournament.

Andrew council meetings to resume this week

JANA SEMENIUK

After a month-long hiatus, the Village of Andrew will resume their council meetings this week on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

The last regular meeting of council, Aug. 23, was cancelled and a special meeting of council occurred instead on Aug. 31

Protest march

Continued from Front

The huge group marched for an hour throughout the neighbourhood, past Festival Place and even past Salisbury Composite High School where a small group of students stood next to the sidewalk and shouted at the

Junior Lakers off to Fort Sask. for volleyball action

BY JOHN MATHER

The Junior Lamont Lakers volleyball teams will head to Fort Saskatchewan this weekend to play in the SouthPointe Sharks Invitational 2023 Sr. Volleyball Tournament.

The girls will begin play against the SouthPointe hosts at  4 p.m on Sept 29, while the boys will play the SouthPointe team at the same time.

The boys will then go up against Fort Sask. Christian School at 6 p.m. Sept, 29, while the girls take on FTV.

The boys will then play Fort Sask. Christian in their final round robin game at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 30.

Playoffs begin at 11:30 a.m. among the four groupings of teams leading up to the championship game which will tip off at 5:30 p.m Sept. 30.

The last regular meeting was held on Aug. 9.

Mayor Merwin Haight said he arranged earlier in the summer for a month-long absence from the council to accommodate his Sept. wedding, but when former councillor Benny Dubitz resigned in Aug., all council meetings had to be cancelled until

protestors with one student repeatedly showing the middle finger.

When the march concluded, Ferguson rested and said she was astonished at the large turnout.

“It was just awesome. A real mix of people and it was mostly word of mouth,” she said. “I still have a stack of posters on my dining room table I never got out.”

Meanwhile, Director

Haight’s return.

“I had requested a leave of absence back in July for my wedding and with the second councillor resigning, it left the Village without quorum,” he said.

Haight added that items on the agenda for this week will include setting a date for an organizational meeting

of the Alberta Parents’ Union, Jeff Park, said parents spoke out strongly with their protest and some misinterpreted their message.

"On Wednesday, September 20th, huge numbers of parents across Canada marched with a very simple message. They want to be informed before their kids are taught about human sexuality at school and before their

in addition to setting a date for the council byelection to fill two seats left vacant by former councillor Benny Dubitz in Aug. and former councillor Evan Genung in May.

The Village is also currently undergoing a municipal inspection.

kids change their names and pronouns at school,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the political left, both elected officials and media, simply lied about this very simple message, and the political right did not clear up the record.”

The 1 Million March 4 Children held over 100 marches across Canada with 16 in Alberta to protest on Sept. 20.

The Lamont Leader (Lamont, Alberta), Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Community Services: Serving Lamont County, Lamont, Bruderheim, Mundare, Andrew & Chipman Access current monthly services & programs information for FCSS, CALC and KFRN on each of the services’ Facebook pages: FCSSlamontcountyregion | LamontCountyAdultLearns |groups/1922602184662497, or scan the QR code:

For more information, scan the QR code or visit lamontcounty.ca/community-programming

ASSESSMENT INSPECTIONS – October to December

Lamont County's assessor (Accurate Assessment Group Ltd.) is starting annual inspections during the months of October to December.

These inspections are for new construction, unfinished construction from past permits, and status changes (farm versus non-farm). He (Sean) will be driving a white 2018 GMC truck with Lamont County logos on both doors.

Register ASAP (before Thursday, Sept. 28)! (Contact Hannah at 780-899-8176.)

Next Agricultural Service Board (ASB) Meeting

The next scheduled ASB meeting is (tentatively) on October 11, 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 Meeting

The next Regular Council Meeting is on Tuesday, October 10, 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/governance/agendas-minutes.

Please Note –inFocus is alsoavailable for viewing online at: www.lamontcounty.ca/communications (for those wanting to view the weekly submission as fullsized PDF and to access hyperlinks).

A farmer between Holden and Daysland straight cuts his barley at the beginning of the harvest season.

A farmer bales the straw dropped by the combine in a field east of Tofield.

Beary Berry Honey branches out; introducing Aspen Grove Meadery

Kari Janzen

Beary Berry Honey near Tofield has recently branched out and has begun making and selling mead.

“Mead is wine made from honey instead of sugar as a base,” said coowner Sandra Thiessen.

Under the parent company of Beary Berry Honey Inc., Aspen Grove Meadery has been up and running for the last year and half.

The ingredients of a basic mead is honey, water, and yeast, and more complex meads can include fruit, spices, or hops.

The meadery currently has five meads available, including Apple Pie Mead, Blackberry Mead, Black Currant Mead, Cherry Hibiscus Mead, and Red Raspberry Mead.

“We experimented with many flavours. Some worked, and some didn't work. The first flavour that my husband (Sam) made, actually won a national bronze award,” Thiessen

said. Although Sandra, Sam, and their son Matthew had no previous experience making this type of alcohol, Thiessen said her husband did a lot of research.

“(Sam) did a lot of reading, and then he just decided one day to try it and it worked. And that's the one he won (with).”

The Blackberry Mead was awarded a WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada bronze medal in the mead classification for 2023.

The family started out with a small operation and equipment, but have since expanded.

“We first bought the smaller equipment, 20 litre carboys, then we moved up, and now we have 1,000 litre stainless steel tanks,” Thiessen said.

Mead can be considered a niche taste, but it hasn’t always been that way.

“A lot of people haven't heard of it. It's actually the oldest alcoholic drink, because that's what they had back then, honey, and yet,

it's the least known-about drink,” said Thiessen.

The mead-making process takes time, and the success of flavour experimentation is a monthslong wait.

“(First you) add the honey, fruits, water, and yeast. And then it ferments for two weeks. After that it ages in the tank, ideally for nine months.

“It's quite a long process,” Thiessen said.

Thiessen said that one of the challenges was waiting, just to see if their new venture was effective.

“It was over a year before we could start marketing it. (One of the) challenges in that year was just waiting to see if the recipes actually worked,” she said.

“Licensing is always a challenge. It's just a lot of paperwork getting it running,” Thiessen said.

They were working to get the licensing for the new business complete, all for a product they were hoping would be marketable.

“We already had an existing business, but when you make alcohol, it has to be a business of its own for AGLC (Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis). So, we had to form a new business and keep everything separate (from Beary Berry Honey) and that’s why we had to start Aspen Grove Meadery,” said Thiessen.

Now that the business and meads have been established, the drink has been selling well at markets, as well as at local businesses.

“Tofield Spirits carries it, Country Garden Liquor Store in Camrose, they carry it as well. We're in the Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival this fall under the Sobey’s banner, so we're hoping that Sobeys might pick it up, (too),” Thiessen said.

Andrew area woman grows incredible blooms

Crystal Moren

Sarah Laudin, of Andrew, grew up with a love for flowers and turned that love into Sunshine Blooms Farm; a cut flower farm.

Her grandmother and mother always had flowers growing on the farm. Sarah has carried that forward; in beautiful perennial gardens surrounding the front of her home, and more specifically in three different types of perennials planted on another piece of land for retail purpose.

Sarah has focused on Gladiolus, Sunflowers, and Dahlias, and for the first time, Sunshine Blooms Farm hosted tours of the Dahlia Fields this September.

Guests met at the farm, heard a bit of information about Sarah and her business, and then they were invited to stroll amongst

the many rows of plants and view all of the gorgeous blooms. At the end of the tour, guests could purchase a fresh cut bouquet prepared by the host.

Sarah grows some 1,300 Dahlia plants, which include over 110 varieties. These flowers require their tubers to be hand-dug-up every fall, and properly stored for the winter and then replanted every spring. Sarah was eight months pregnant last fall and dug 700 tubers out of the ground.

A few years back, Sarah decided to start up a Coop for sale of her flowers, where today, along with a handful of local growers, they supply fresh cut flowers to some Edmonton and local stores.

"Some mornings, I am out here in the dark at 5 a.m. with a headlamp, cutting flowers to haul

into the city"

It is important to get them in fresh, as they don't have a long vase life once cut; hence the reason they are not readily available as an order-in flower unless there are local suppliers.

Sarah's main job is working on the family farm. She also has two young children and spoke of opening a Farm Stand in the near future, to sell fresh cut bouquets to locals.

Sarah Laudin, of Sunshine Blooms Farm, holds a variety bouquet of Dahlias she hand cut for tour guests.

Alberta and Prairies storms cause over $300 million in losses

Leslie Cholowsky

According to initial estimates from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc (CatIQ), storms that hit Alberta and the Prairies this summer resulted in estimated damages of over $300 million, just in those losses that were insured.

Out of that figure, it is estimated that 30 per cent, around $90 million, will go toward replacing or repairing stormdamaged vehicles in Alberta.

In the past three years, Alberta vehicles have racked up over $500 million from severe weather claims.

“Unfortunately, residents in Alberta and across the Prairies experienced another summer of extreme weather events that damaged or destroyed homes, vehicles, and businesses,” says Aaron Sutherland, Vice-President, Pacific and Western, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC).

“This is the third straight summer in which Alberta has seen significant insured damage from hail, wind, and rain. The trend is clear, and it's important that consumers work with their insurance representative to ensure they have the right coverage to protect their property or business from the impacts

of these storms.”

A number of this summer’s weather events have been designated as catastrophes by CatIQ, including Central Alberta Flooding from June 18 to 20, resulting from heavy rainfall in the Edson, Whitecourt, and Edmonton area primarily.

Canada Day storms in Alberta and Saskatchewan, including Flagstaff County, caused over $100 million in insured damage. That includes an EF-4 tornado near Didsbury, which completely destroyed three homes, did severe damage to four others, and moderate damage to another five.

Storms with powerful wind gusts brought down trees and damaged structures in Saskatchewan.

A Calgary hailstorm on July 15 resulted in large hail falling on the south central residential area, damaging siding and roofs, denting vehicles, and even broke a glass ceiling at Chinook Shopping Centre.

Other severe prairie storms occurred July 24 to 26, in Alberta and Manitoba, producing grapefruit-sized hail, and violent winds, including at least three confirmed tornados.

This storm system also produced

dented vehicles, cracked windshields, flooded roads and basements, with strong winds that damaged roofs, downed trees, and damaged power lines.

The Town of Tofield experienced severe flooding July 24, as well as some areas of Beaver County due to heavy rains hitting the areas over a number of days.

Damage caused by wind and rain is covered under a standard home, commercial property, and through comprehensive auto insurance policies, says

the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC). Flood damage is not typically covered under standard policies. Hail waivers can be added to home and building policies, but generally come with higher deductibles.

IBC reports that insurance companies are continuing to work through the claims process to help clients impacted through the storms.

The figures quoted do not include figures of insured losses from wildfires which have struck many areas of the province of Alberta.

Local plant providing higher quality grain with new sorter

Kari Janzen

The Beaver County Seed Cleaning Plant in Holden recently installed a new colour sorter in early March of this year. The previous sorter had been in use since 2011, but now needed replacing due to technological advancements in the industry.

“(The new one is) much more advanced and can do a lot more than the old one could,” said plant manager Tyler Suchy.

“With the technology, (the colour sorter) is not like the other equipment. Things (have) advanced, like the computer. It was (becoming) obsolete, and you couldn’t get tech support,” he said.

Purchased from Saskatoon, Sask., the new sorter, with its enhanced features, has more precision in sorting the grain from the impurities.

“It's more precise and we can do a wider variety of separations. It’s more beneficial to the producers because we can do more,” he said.

Suchy and the other cleaning plant staff did much of the installation work, sourcing out help in areas where needed.

“I used a local electrician, a local welder, and the rest, my people (and I) did. We tried to do what we could and got professionals where we couldn't,” he said.

Operation of the plant continued during the set up of the new sorter, with work being done on it consistently a little bit at a time.

“We just chipped away at it when we were working,

as the plant ran. It took longer that way but we saved quite a bit of money (as opposed to hiring) it all out to a contractor,” Suchy said.

The sorter runs for as long and as often as needed, which means it could sit idle for a whole day, or operate nonstop.

“It varies a lot. Today for example, we have nothing booked in so (there is) zero (amount of runtime). (In the) springtime we’ll go around the clock. Basically all cereals go through that machine. It does see a lot of use throughout the year,” said Suchy.

The primary function and purpose of the sorter is to purify the grain.

“It's just an extra tool to take impurities out of grain. So for example, ergot, wild oats, and low percentages of other grains. Most guys are using it for seeding, so the more pure the seed the better, so you're not seeding (anything) other than what you want to grow. And some also use it for upgrading grain. If there (are too many) impurities and it's not going to make a good grade at the elevator, you could clean it up and it makes a better grade,” he said.

The seed cleaning plant can be very busy, but they have a good system for keeping track of everyone’s grain.

“Everything's labeled. You check the bins before you dump in, make sure nothing has been forgotten about in the bin. It's labeled as soon as you dump it, there’s samples taken off the truck, (which) are kept and labeled. And then of course, you clean out between batches, so there's no contamination,” Suchy said.

The Beaver County Seed Cleaning Plant is the only public one in the county, and belongs to the Alberta Seed Processors Co-op, formerly known as the Alberta Association of Co-op Seed Cleaning Plants Ltd.

“We're a cooperative. There are private ones in the county, (but) this is a public one. We are the only coop plant in the county,” he said.

The plant isn’t too busy at the moment because farmers are focusing on getting the crop off as quickly as possible.

“We've been slow for right now because guys are busy combining, but that's fairly normal. We’ll get the occasional guy, if it works out, to bring it in off the combine but most guys focus on combining,” Suchy said.

PetSmart Charities of Canada provides funding to help develop Canada’s first pet food bank

Leslie Cholowsky

A recent survey of pet owners discovered that a majority (77 per cent) would forgo their own food before their pets. Unfortunately, for some, that’s not an option, and pet shelters are seeing record numbers of animals being surrendered and pet rescues bursting at the seams with adoptable animals.

PetSmart Charities of Canada is stepping up to bring more awareness of pet food insecurity by celebrating the first-ever Pet Hunger Awareness Day, which was held Tuesday, Sept. 26.

"We know that circumstances change, but we believe everyone deserves the love of a pet, even when times are tough," said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities of Canada. "We're eager and excited to draw attention to this important issue through Pet Hunger Awareness Day because when families face food insecurity, their pets often do too."

To help those who love their pets but might struggle to afford to feed

them, PetSmart Charities of Canada has committed $500,000 to help end pet hunger.

A sum of $300,000 will go to Humane Canada to help develop Canada's first national pet food banking network, which aims to serve over 21,000 pets throughout the country. The grant supports:

-Identifying pet food assistance programs across Canada and developing an interactive map to connect pet parents in need with local resources;

-The purchase and distribution of pet food for existing pet food pantries and;

-Identifying areas of need and helping increase the number of organizations offering pet food banks and pet food assistance.

"We are so grateful to partner with PetSmart Charities of Canada to ensure families with companion animals can feed their pets and stay together," said Kathy Duncan, Director, National Programs at Humane Canada. "The pet food banking program helps so many vital organizations implement and maintain pet food pantries in animal shelters and human social serv-

ices agencies across Canada."

The additional $200,000 will go towards grant funding through 2024, sent directly to various animal welfare organizations across Canada and helping keep pet food pantries stocked.

Flagstaff Food Bank already accepts donations of pet food. “We never pur-

chase it,” says Flagstaff Food Bank board member Lynne Jenkinson, “but we do accept donations of dog and cat food, and distribute it to those in need.” She says she suspects other food banks do the same.

She thinks the development of a pet food bank is a great idea, and has already registered with the program.

Communities benefit when consumers shop locally

Ideas about shopping are never set in stone, and the pandemic illustrated just how quickly consumer trends and opinions can change.

Many individuals are now reevaluating how they spend their hardearned money, particularly since inflation has affected just how far a dollar can be stretched.

When consumers think about which stores to patronize, locally owned businesses may be the smartest option for a number of reasons - not the least of which is the way such enterprises benefit the communities they call home.

More money kept in the community

Shopping locally

means that more money will stay in the community.

According to recent research from Civic Economics, local eateries return nearly 79 per cent of revenue to the community, compared to just over 30 per cent for chain restaurants.

Overall, for every $100 spent at a local business, around $73 remains in the community, versus roughly $43 when shopping at a non-locally owned business.

Get a personal touch

Local business owners typically are inclined to go the extra mile for their customers and are personally invested in the services and products they are selling. As a result, shopping locally tends to be a personalized experience.

Furthermore, a local business owner may be more amenable to ordering products for specific clientele. Such personalized service is typically not accessible when shopping big box stores or other shops where owners are off-site.

Lines are short

Waiting in long lines

for checkout or to pick up merchandise ordered online can drain consumers’ energy and contribute to stress.

Local businesses tend to have short lines and small crowds, which can lead to a more pleasant shopping experience.

Generates tax revenue

Local businesses generate more tax revenue per sales dollar, according to Rubicon, a digital marketplace for waste and recycling businesses. Taxes paid by local small businesses go to support schools, parks, roads, and other programs that benefit the community as well.

Support nonprofits

Local businesses often support good work in the community, such as nonprofit groups. These can include schools and sports teams, among other groups. Studies indicate nonprofits “receive 250 percent

more support from small businesses than larger ones.”

Support other local businesses

Local business support other local businesses by buying and selling

among each other. Small businesses are a boon to the economy, particularly local economies.

These enterprises help their communities in a multitude of ways.

BRSD to mark upcoming dates of significance

Battle River School Division (BRSD) honours National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, acknowledging its significance on Sept. 30 and throughout the year.

Throughout the month of September, Battle River School Division (BRSD) proudly joins communities across Canada in recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. We are dedicated to a journey of understanding, reflection,

and commemoration.

On September 29, staff and students will culminate our month of learning by wearing our orange shirts in honour of Orange Shirt Day. This day serves as a symbol of our commitment to reconciliation, and a reminder that every child matters.

BRSD Superintendent, Rhae-Ann Holoien, emphasized the importance of this learning, which is a significant observance with a much broader

commitment.

"National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day are not just one day events for us,” says Holoien.

“This learning is part of our commitment to reconciliation and understanding that takes place throughout the month of September and beyond. We are dedicated to fostering a culture of empathy, inclusivity, and mutual respect."

Working

together is the quickest most efficient way to get the fall crop off. Here two combines pass each other picking up the fall crop, while a tractor with a grain cart waits to haul away the harvested crop. This action took place just south of Lamont Sept. 22.

JOHN MATHER PHOTO

A swather taking up space on town roads is a familiar sight during harvest season. This one was photographed near Bruderheim in early Sept. JANA SEMENIUK PHOTO

Patricia Hanbidge Lead Horticulturist Orchid Horticulture

It is the end of summer! I always get a little bit sad when the evenings get cool and the days get shorter. In order to stop the autumn doldrums from happening, it is time to plant some spring flowering bulbs! There is a huge selection of hardy spring flowering bulbs that include: crocus; scilla; grape hyacinth; tulips and daffodils.

Spring flowering bulbs must be planted in the fall to allow the bulb to develop a good root system. These bulbs also need a cold period (winter) in order to allow their flowers to fully develop.

For best results plant them well before our ground freezes – now is the perfect time! Spring flowering bulbs are inexpensive, simple to plant and require very little for care. If you choose those that are hardy, then their beauty will increase every year.

When purchasing bulbs, it is important to remember that this is one instance when you truly get what you pay for. The larger bulbs of each flower type will without fail give you a better product. Take time to examine the flesh of the bulb as it should be smooth and free of any blemishes.

Your favourite garden centre should have plenty of stock in now that will ensure you can enjoy the latest bulbs of your dreams come spring.

Bulbs should be planted in an area that is welldrained. The soil should be free of weeds and dug to a depth of about 12 inches (30cm).

If your soil is a heavy clay soil, incorporate equal portions of coarse sand and a suitable organic matter like compost.

A good rule of thumb is to incorporate a good four to six inches (10 to 20 cm) of organic matter prior to planting. Apply a standard bulb booster fertilizer (9-96) or bone meal at planting time to encourage a vigorous and healthy root system.

The planting depth will vary for each type of bulb, but a good rule of thumb is to plant the bulb to a depth of three to four times the width of the bulb. There-

fore, if you are planting a tulip bulb that is two inches (five cm) wide, it should be planted eight inches (20 cm) deep.

After planting, water the soil thoroughly and mulch the surface with leaves or grass clippings to a depth of two inches (five cm).

When planting spring bulbs, you will get the best impact if you group the same type of bulb together. The bigger the grouping the larger will be the impact.

Most spring flowering bulbs are low in stature.

What that means from a design perspective is that they should be planted at the front of the border but also somewhere that enables you to enjoy the show on a regular basis.

Spend a bit of your fall in the garden planning for spring, plant some spring flowering bulbs and enjoy the grand show in the spring!

I have a love of all tulips. You can extend the spring season by planting a collection of early, mid and late flowering selections.

Spring on the prairies is

often short so play with the climate and extend every season by planting for extending the colour.

Do remember that a lot of the exotic tulips are not really perennial in nature and you may need to replant annually. However, if you use some of the old tulip types like Darwin, you should be able to get lots of years of blooming tulips.

Plan for spring... plant now so you can spend the long winter anticipating the show you are creating to be enjoyed in spring.

Farmers show neighbourly support as generations pass the torch

Jana Semeniuk

Lamont County division five councilor, and local farmer, Neil Woitas, 62, is working long hours these days along with several family members and friends who are scrambling to get their 2,900 acres of crops off the fields while the weather is still good. Woitas said they are having a good year this year thanks to an early rain.

“We had the early rain, so our crops are yielding really good,” he said. “We're under the gun here, trying to get it done before it rains. (We) could lose a week (or a) couple of weeks (if it) rains. Before you know it, it’s mid-October and it can snow and you won't get

the crop off.”

Woitas said their fields have 50 percent canola; 20 percent barley, and the rest are wheat.

Historically, Woitas said that although his family settled in the area in 1897, his dad, Mike didn’t have his own farm until he purchased one near Bruderheim in 1954.

Woitas said his dad carried a lot of the workload on his own father’s farm, as Woitas’ Gido (grandfather) was also an electrician who spent a lot of his time working for his neighbours.

“He was an electrician and started Woitas Electric. He wired just about every farm house in division five,” said Woitas.

“My dad quit school in

grade eight to farm so my Gido could do the electricity. (Gido) also fixed furnaces and (did a lot) for everybody. He (Gido) had no time for farming.”

Woitas said his Gido, John, passed away in 1977.

Meanwhile, Woitas’ dad, Mike, filled his own time with much more than farming.

He was elected county councilor from 1966 to 1985, influencing Woitas as he grew up and planted early seeds in him for a future in municipal politics. Woitas was elected as Lamont County division five councilor, just like his father, in 2017, and still serves today.

“When I was little, I spent a lot of time with my dad while he was county councilor,” said Woitas. “Now that I’m a

county councilor I know a lot about our (local) history and they (administration) can’t pull the wool over my eyes.”

While Woitas’ dad passed away at the age of 79 in 2005, his mom, Vickie, only passed away in 2021 at the age of 91. Woitas said his mother stayed on the family farm until right before her passing.

Today, Woitas said his son Jon is poised to take over the land with his fiancé Rachael Melenka as the next generation of Woitas farmers. Jon has been working there alongside his dad since 2006.

“He was seeding with a 60foot air seeder since he was 11,” said Woitas, adding that his other son Alex, also works with the family on the farm.

“Jonathan and Rachel have moved in and are renovating the house. They'll start their family there.”

Woitas said he feels very proud that the tradition of farming will also continue for his family.

“It’s going to be excellent. It was my dad’s dream,” he said adding that neighbours can also be counted on in case help is needed.

“We’ve got a pretty good group (of neighbours). We help each other. Some farmers, as soon as they are done, they clean their combines and put them away (right away).

“We’re lucky because we’ve got good neighbours. We don’t put nothing away until the neighbours are done.”

“We don’t put nothing away until the neighbours are done”

Special farewell for patriarch of century family farm

Jana Semeniuk

The Hrehorets family, originally from Andrew, lost their family patriarch earlier this month when George Hrehorets passed away at the age of 95 on Sept. 10. George is the first family member the Hrehorets have lost in 37 years. Lamont resident and George’s son, Tom Hrehorets, said the family held a fitting tribute to his father who loved horses, hunting, and es-

pecially his farm north of Andrew. George got to spend one last night on the family farm, the place he where he was born in 1928, and then brought to his funeral the next day in a horse drawn wagon.

“(The funeral director) said she never had anyone ask for anything like this,” said Hrehorets.

“She teared up when we said what we wanted to do.”

Hrehorets said he is proud that his parent’s

farm currently houses the fourth generation of Hrehorets just north of Andrew.

“My nephew, Cody, lives on the farm now and he’s the fourth-generation farming (there),” he said. “In 2018 we celebrated 100 years of farming on that property. It was (my grandparent’s) farm first, then my dad, then my brother, and now my nephew.”

Hrehorets said his dad was born the only son

with four sisters and learned how to work hard very early in life.

“He used to tell stories about working with his dad in the field and (how exciting it was) when they got their first tractor,” he said. “He seen it from having nothing to all this new stuff. Farming was in his heart. He always loved farming.”

Hrehorets said his parents married in 1952 when his mother, Elizabeth, was 16 and George was 24. Their union was followed by the births of seven children, with Tom being the youngest. He said his parents lived happily on the farm, raising their family until 1983 when George retired to move into the village of Andrew and open his little shop; George’s Saddlery.

“When they moved to town, mom and dad

would go almost every evening to the farm,” said Hrehorets. “That went on for months, then it was a couple of times a week,

then once a week, then maybe it was once a month. They made their new life.”

Continued on Page 28

Mayor, Council and Staff

Thanking our Farmers for their year round hard work

ThankYou to our local farmers!

Mayor, Council & Staff

Employment Opportunity AGRO/FRONT-END TEAM MEMBER

Beaver Creek Coop is seeking a qualified candidate as an Agro/Front-end team member. This position has become available due to a team member retiring. The main focus will be to carry out customer requests. As well as:

• Provide prompt service and assistance to customers in a friendly manner either in person or over the phone.

• Candidates should possess some Agriculture industry knowledge.

• Basic computer skills would be a requirement. Data entry skills are considered an asset.

• Candidates must demonstrate effective organizational skills and the ability to work well within multigenerational teams.

• Cash handling and previous customer service experience required.

• Warehouse or yard and forklift experience an asset. 1 year experience (preferred)

• Be capable of physical labour; lifting, pulling pushing up to 25 kg.

The work hours are from Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm and every third Saturday.

Please submit resume no later than 4:00pm, October 20, 2023 to:

Kevin Andrychuk

Beaver Creek Co-op

Box 600 Lamont, AB TOB 2R0

Email: Beaver11@telusplanet.net Fax: (780)-895-2052

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those who have been selected for an interview will be contacted.

2023 FALL SECTION, September 27, 2023 - Page 23

George Hrehorets' casket sits in the shop area of his family farm for one final night Sept. 18 before being buried after his funeral the next day.

TOM HREHORETS PHOTOS

The Hrehorets family load George Hrehorets' casket onto a wagon for the horse-drawn ride to his funeral Sept. 19. Hrehorets' nephew Christopher Gow is standing on the rear of the wagon. Front to back on the left carrying the casket are Hrehorets' brothers Tom, Wayne, and Brian, on the right are Len, Darrell, and Wes while standing at the rear is funeral director Maryanne Zarusky.

Is it even possible to not be on social media?

The answer is "Yes," however, the existential question is, "Can you live without social media?"

How social media works:

Me: "I prefer mangoes to oranges..."

Random Person (hiding behind an anonymous account): "So basically, what you're saying is that you hate oranges. You also failed to mention pineapples, bananas, and grapefruits. Educate yourself!"

You can never win on social media. Are there times when you wonder if the benefits, whatever they may be to you, of being active on social media outweigh the adverse effects of being exposed to all the toxicity it manifests? What motivates you to spend as much time as you do scrolling, posting, and commenting on social media? FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)? Wanting to appear relevant? Seeking recognition?

Studies have shown how social media negatively impacts our mood and self-esteem and is creating a generation lacking social skills and unable to develop meaningful relationships.

Many people, regardless of age, find creating a persona on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter much easier than navigating the real world as themselves.

Gen Z has turned being unengaged with their surroundings and community into a Zen-like thing. Today, many people have

the limiting belief they are an introvert and use social media as a crutch to avoid face-to-face interactions.

Without a strong sense of self, it is easy to lose yourself while vying for your place in the world, comparing yourself to everyone's beautiful social media life.

Social media works the way an abuser and manipulator works. Asking if one can live happily without social media implies the person knows social media is hurting them but fears a life without it.

It would be overly simplistic for me to advise, "Deactivate it!", "Delete it!", "Stick to emailing the people who matter to you, asking how they are doing." If you followed this advice, you would be sharing and inquiring without being voyeuristic.

However, we have long passed the point where having a digital presence is optional, especially if you have an ongoing career, a business or are seeking recognition (e.g., artistic endeavour, promoting a cause, running for political office).

Conversely, having a digital "presence," which you maintain occasionally, greatly differs from being constantly "active" on social media.

It has become a familiar sight to see people hunched over their phones in social settings, mindlessly scrolling through their feeds, ignoring everyone around them as if what is happening in the digital world is more

important than what is happening in the real world.

Your life will not implode if you do not have any social media accounts. However, being completely off the digital grid comes at a price. Imagine 30 years ago not having a telephone.

The reason for having one was so people could reach you and vice versa. Nowadays, people prefer to send a message (Facebook messenger, WhatsApp, Twitter direct message, LinkedIn message) rather than call because it is more "efficient."

Think of all the messages you now receive, whether by email, text, or social media, that would have been a telephone call or a letter not long ago.

If you eliminate social media entirely from your life, you offer fewer ways for people to communicate with you. Essentially, you would be severely cutting yourself off from family, friends, professional networks, and the world at large.

Having a social media presence is akin to having a landline telephone back in the day.

I recommend having a presence on LinkedIn and Facebook (other platforms are optional) where you connect selectively and have message notifica-

tions turned on. Consider the notification ping as your telephone ringing.

However, just because you have a social media presence does not mean you have to be active on social media; being inactive offers many benefits.

You free up considerable amounts of time. (Are we not all time-stressed?)

You have more control over your personal information and privacy.

Your mental well-being improves since you will not be comparing yourself to the posturing (flaunting a sugar-coated lifestyle while drowning in debt)

typically displayed on social media, causing feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy.

You will be more social in real life.

You are less in your head and more in the present moment.

In terms of your professional life, having a social media presence is a necessary evil; otherwise, you will miss out on networking and employment opportunities.

Not being active on social media is not an act of rebellion; it is you choosing to prioritize your mental health and time, which

you will likely find liberating.

The key is to convince yourself that not being active on social media will help you follow your own pace of development, with progress and failures. Focusing on yourself first, instead of looking at what others are "supposedly" doing, will foster a sense of self-awareness, which many people lack.

Nick Kossovan, a self-described connoisseur of human psychology, writes about what's on his mind from Toronto. You can follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram @NKossovan

Fall is the time to prepare your fireplace for the winter

As hours of daylight shorten and fall gives way to winter, thoughts shift from fall foliage to spending time cuddling under warm blankets and being cozy indoors. A fireplace can improve the ambiance of any room and help to create a warm and welcoming gathering spot.

Home fireplaces typically are wood-burning or gas. Though maintenance for these fireplaces differs, certain preparatory steps must be taken to prepare a fireplace for winter.

Clear the clutter

Items can accumulate in areas that are not in use, and a fireplace is no exception. Take a few hours to remove any belongings from in front of the fireplace and clean the mantle thoroughly.

Have the chimney cleaned

Hire a professional chimney cleaning company to inspect the chimney and clean it thoroughly before winter. According to BobVila.com, a chimney should be cleaned once a year, or after about every 80 fires.

The National Fire Protection Association says failure to properly clean chimneys is one of the leading contributors to home fires. That’s due to creosote, a highly flammable residue that builds up in the flue that lines the chimney.

Inspect the interior

The interior of a wood-burning fireplace is likely lined with fire bricks. Check for cracks and loose joints. Hire a professional mason to make any repairs, as special materials are needed to withstand the heat of fires.

Install a chimney cap and screen

According to Family Handyman, a chimney cap is a protective covering that goes over the top of the chimney. It is made of steel or copper mesh with a cap on top. This protects the chimney from rain and

downdrafts and keeps animals and debris from getting into the chimney.

Prune overhanging branches

If there are trees close to the home and the chimney, cut them back, as they can be a fire hazard. Branches and leaves also can restrict the proper draft of the chimney.

Assess the outdoor vent

Gas fireplaces typically emit exhaust through a vent in the home. Remove any blockages from the vent, including leaves, cobwebs and debris.

Check glass or other coverings

The glass or face of the fireplace helps regulate carbon monoxide exposure and protects people from the flames. Be sure the glass covering is intact.

Clean ceramic logs

Gas fireplaces use ceramic logs, rocks or beads that can become dusty. Clean them prior to use. Dirty ceramic logs can be a fire hazard and produce an un-

pleasant burning smell.

Check the blower and pilot

If the fireplace has an electric blower, clean and dust it so it doesn’t become clogged. Inspect the pilot light for any wear and tear that includes wiring or structural issues.

It takes several steps to prepare fireplaces for cold weather seasons when they’re most likely to be used with frequency.

Fall

Hrehorets

Continued from Page 23

Hrehorets said George worked in his little saddlery shop until 1998, adding advanced age did not slow George down, even in later years, when it came to hunting.

“He was getting old and his health was failing, but he was 90 years old when he got his last moose,” said Hrehorets. “He had to get my broth-

ers and friends to come because he couldn't drag a moose out of out of the bush, but he got his moose.”

Hrehorets said he was out of town when he got word that his dad passed away. His parents were married for nearly 71 years and he knew they wanted a special send off for him.

“(After prayers, the night before the funeral,) the hearse brought dad to the farm so he could have

one last night there,” he said, adding the casket sat in the farm’s shop area among the machinery George loved so much. “Cars were (lined up for) everybody to come to the farm. We unloaded Gido and put him by the combines and the guys were having drinks and snacks and people were coming to talk and reminisce about (him).”

The next morning, Hrehorets said he and his family, all dressed in red

because it was George’s favorite colour, loaded his casket onto the back of a horse drawn wagon for the long ride to the church and George’s final resting place. His mother rode in a car following the wagon.

“It took an hour and a half to get to the church and we had that (extra time) to be with our dad before we parted ways,” he said. “We reminisced, we cried, we laughed, we joked around and it was just that time that we got

to spend with him, that last little bit as a family. It just meant so much.”

George Hrehorets’ funeral and interment was held at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kahwin on Sept. 19.

Various species of geese including Canada geese, snow geese, and the greater white-fronted geese, stop to rest and feed on any leftover grain in a recentlyharvested field east of Holden.