The Advance | Vol. 106 | Issue 47

Local Cop to Take Drug Training

Diamond J Performance Horses Read the story on Page 12

Read the story on Page 18

Monday, December 14, 2015

VOLUME 106 | ISSUE 48 | www.gulllakeadvance.com

The Gull Lake Sparks and Brownies brought the house down with their rendition of Jingle Bells at the 61st annual Carol Festival on December 6th. Photo by Kate Winquist

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

Shaunavon Industries Limited sold to JayDee AgTech

BY J O R DA N PA R K E R

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

J

Gull Lake Legion Band members Ken Jensen, Floyd Collier and Dave Munshaw. Photos by Kate Winquist Shirley Stevenson and Dave Klassen of the Gull Lake Community Choir.

Community Sings

ayDee AgTech announced that they’ve recently taken over Shaunavon Industries Limited, an acquisition that has pushed the company’s John Deer properties in Saskatchewan to double digits, with 10.

The company, owned by Vancouver-based Jim Pattison Group, finally completed a deal that has been a long time coming.

“This is just fantastic to get this done. We’ve been working on this for a while, and there have been ups and downs. But this is all possible,” said JayDee President Darrin Didychuk.

The purchase encompasses the operating assets, land, inventory and the building at the Shaunavon location. Shaunavon Industries Limited specializes in the sale of new and used John Deere equipment.

“This goes back since my first involvement here.

There have been a lot of moving parts, and after 40 years, it takes time to get through all the details,” he said.

“We are growth focused, responsible and we’re adding to our profile and the area here.”

Didychuk says the deal has been greatly beneficial for his company.

“This gives us an expanded area and customer base. If anything we’ll have more employee,” he said.

“That completes our area from a John Deere perspective and gives us a completion in this corner of Saskatchewan.”

He said the change of ownership will not lead to employee layoffs.

“We’ll be adding to our employee base and we are working on bringing in technicians or mechanics to continue or growth. We’re working to invest in our community,” he said.

“Our businesses are similar. We run some longer hours to support our customers, we invested planning systems and computer systems and have implemented some things.

“This feels fantastic. We are strong supporters of the community, and this is a reward. We are focused on growth and looking to help our communities.”

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

Maple Creek nursing home shut down to visitors due to virus outbreak

BY B E T H JA R R E L L

beth@gulllakeadvance.com

C

ypress Health Region has issued a press release warning visitors and families alike of a disease outbreak at one of their facilities.

The Prairie Oasis (Blue) LongTerm Care House, located in Maple Creek, was recently found to be carrying the Entera Virus. As such, restrictions have been put in place for visitors.

“Until further notice, visitation to the Prairie Oasis (Blue) House will be restricted. The only exceptions to these restrictions will be in the event of an ‘end of life’ situation, where the nurse in charge at the facility can be contacted to discuss the options that are available for the family members to visit their loved one,” the press release said.

The release also added that the restricted visitation was because the nature of what Cypress is calling an “unconfirmed enteric illness.”

“Presently, there are 4 long term care residents within the Prairie Oasis House who have been identified as meeting the signs and symptoms of this illness. Several other residents are being closely monitored,” it read.

Dr. David Torr, who works for

Cypress Health Region, says that tests are being done on the illness in an effort to learn what it specifically is.

“We’re looking at the pattern of the illness and seeing what we can learn from how it is spread. We have learned that it started in one individual, and the others who got sick are the ones who were in close proximity to them,” he said.

“Everyone is on the recovering side and we have had no further spread. All but one have made a tremendous recovery, and the (origin) one is going more slow, but still recovering.”

While it may sound very serious, measures are being put in to ensure the outbreak doesn’t spread, he says.

“We always want to make sure we have contained the infection before we reopen the home and ensure cases won’t spread to anyone else. We will review over the weekend and on Monday, so we’re getting there.”

“The most important thing- and this is what we all should do- is wash our hands. Christmas-time is especially precarious, because it’s easy to shake hands with people then pick up a cookie, without knowing what you picked up.”

Dr Torr says that while the source of the illness is still unknown, many things can be

ruled out.

“We know it didn’t start in the kitchen, for example, because more people would be sick,” he said. “Because it stuck with a group who all spent time together, we can rule out many possibilities.”

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, Enteric disease is the presence of pathogens found in food and water. Salmonella, E.coli, Listeria, Norovirus and others are examples of enteric diseases.

They estimate that one in eight Canadians get sick with a food born illness each year. Most cases are mild and don’t require much medical attention. However, young children and senior citizens may have a harder time fighting the illness.

Cypress reminds families that visitations to the Paradise Pines and Prairie Meadows long-term facilities are still allowed. Visitors to those homes are encouraged to wash and sanitize their hands in an effort to stop the disease from spreading.

“The most important thing is to remember in the community is to hand wash,” Dr. Torr said.

“We forget to wash before we start grabbing at stuff, even if there are cookies to be eaten- and that goes for Santa, as well.”

Conner, Kaden and Jocelyn Strutt visited Santa in the Great Sandhills Railway caboose at Leader’s Santa Night on Dec. 3. Photo by Shelley Drever

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

Gull Lake prepping for fine dining Chamberlin experience faces further charges in sex crimes case GORDON KOZROSKI REALTOR

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TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015

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SERVING SOUTHWEST SASKATCHEWAN

Cell: 306-672-7463 Office: 306-821-6112 OR 780-875-5581

As a result of the ongoing investigation against him,

By Jordan Parker

These are on top of the sexual assault, invitation to

This has been a two year time in Mexico. He lived there a Chamberlin has seen additional charges, including sexual touching, sexual interference and sexual exlot of years.

He worked construcendeavour, and he’s constantly Cabri man Ryan Chamberlin was arrested again two sexual assault charges, an invitation to sexual ploitation charges laid against him in late February. tion, got laid off every winter and working.

Friday, March 20 and charged with additional crimes been touching charge, and a count each of sexual interferHe appeared in Swift Current Provincial Court yan LeFaive has been dream- he’d go there with his buddies “I was even considering turnas more victims came forward in the case against him. ence, sexual exploitation and a corrupting children March 23, and was released on an undertaking before ing of opening a restaurant and come back and work sum- ing my house into a restaurant, charge. a judge on conditions. since he was 16, and he never mers. like Redmond House. I thought Chamberlin, 39, was a hockey coach in several imagined Gull Lake would be the “With his authentic Mexican about it and I was exploring every southern Saskatchewan communities throughout his place he brought fine dining to knowledge, we were introduced option,” he laughs.

Located on the corner of 1st St. & 8th Ave. East, Shaunavon adult life. under his own signature style. to a lot of cool cuisines at a young “You know, I was really trying There is a publication ban in place to protect the The new restaurant, opening age. My mom was Italian, my dad to get the old brain working. I • Stained Glass • Leather Works identity of the victims, and Chamberlin’s next court up in the old Quilts & Treasures was French, and wasn’t totally ~ went to Tompkins, and looked at ~ Bitrian ZinChuk • Pottery appearance will be•April Knitting 13 at 9:30 a.m. building on Proton Ave. in the traditional.” buildings all over.

I looked high • Paintings • Quilting The investigation is ongoing, and investigators inLeFaive has three kids with his new year, is set to let Gull Lakers vite people with additional information to come for• Photography • Soaps and Body Butters give their taste buds a sensory wife, and as soon as the building and low for a while.”

He can’t wait to finally get the • Jewelry ward. ... ALL HANDMADE came open, he knew it was time explosion.

“When we moved here seven to put his long-gestating business doors open.

“Costs are going up, the bank years ago, I noticed right away D. Wayne Elhard, MLA this town lacked that higher end Cypress Hills Constituency casual fine dining, and even a Making your voice heard in Regina. drinking establishment,” he said.

401 Redcoat Drive LeFaive’s history in town It doesn’t seem that long ago when I wrote a coldevelopment of a greater national spirit rather than P.O. Box 308, Eastend, SK. S0N 0T0 goes back hundreds of years, umn about a remarkable series published since 2011 an emphasis on “states’ rights,” which was one of Phone: 1-877-703-3374 so although he’s from London, cypresshills.mla@sasktel.net by the New York Times on the U.S. Civil War. Now, the causes of the war.

Ontario, the place has always www.wayneelhard.ca it appears, that series will soon come to a close.

It’s hard, in our current 21st century context, to been near and dear to his heart.Called Disunion, the collection of pieces folbelieve that men would volunteer to fight, and in “My grandfather was born lowed out the developments of the Civil War in somemany cases, die for the cause of “states’s rights.” In here and migrated to Ontario. thing akin to real time, albeit 150 years later. As this context, those rights had a lot to do with slavMy sister moved her 16 years events ago. unfolded throughout the course of the war, ery. But can you imagine anyone here today volunSUMMER STUDENT My wife is from Costa Rica, historians and and analysts discussed what impact they teering to stop a bullet for provincial rights in EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY when we got her papers to come had.

Canada? Or even North Dakota rights across the here, I heard about the casino The Town of Gull Lake is accepting Disunion can be found at opinionator.blogs.ny49th? The whole concept seems absurd. in Swift Current and their great applications for with the All handmade bystudent localemployment artisans. times.com.

I still try to wrap my head around the key issue Town Maintenance Department cooks wages, ” he said.

UR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER TUESDAY, 2015 5 I just realized that in a few weeks the MARCH 150th31,anof the Civil War, slavery. How is it that not-so long OPEN ‘TIL 8:00 PM Thursday nights for the summer of 2015.

LeFaive began working at niversary the of the Confederate surrender at Appoago, slavery was a common practice? (In some parts Call or text Kylie 306-297-9078 Applicants must: Living Sky Casino, but something mattox Court House will come up. It seems of the world, it still is).

Follow us on Facebook for hours.

• be self-motivating nagged atAs him.

By Jordanalways Parker a result of the ongoingremarkably investigation against him, that These are on top ofonly the sexual assault, invitation short, the war lasted four to Let’s consider some other what-ifs. What if the Chamberlin has seen additional charges, including sexual touching, sexual interference and sexual ex• require minimal supervision “I always wanted to open someyears. n Chamberlin was arrested again two sexual assault charges, an invitation to sexual ploitation charges laid against him in late February. Confederacy did win the war, not conquering the • have a valid driver’s license thing here,crimes but there wasand never a of sexualitinterferand charged with additional touching charge, a countPerhaps each He appeared Provincial seems so short due intoSwift theCurrent contrast withCourt North, but successfully succeeding? Would we still me forward in the case against him.

Apply in writing stating experience to: ence, sexual exploitation and a corrupting children March 23, and was released on an undertaking before building. We looked at somehow old long the United was deployed to have slavery today? Would it extend all the way to charge. a judgeStates on conditions.

Town of Gull Lake Chamberlin, 39, was a hockey coach in several houses and stuff, but it would Afghanistan, the nation’s longest war in its history, California? If not, what would have caused it to Box 150 southern Saskatchewan communities throughout his have been so much becauseandofIraq. Iraq is not as up as we thought end? Would a Spartacus-like slave revolt have been adultwrapped life.

12-2eow Gull Lake, SK. S0N 1A0 There is a publication ban inincluding place to protect the inevitable? Would the North have taken another the conditions,” he said. it was, as the U.S. and numerous allies, gulllaketown.admin@sasktel.net identity of the victims, and Chamberlin’s next court ~ B“I rian ZinChukhad ~ my eye on Canada, always this are getting pulled shot at it, 10 to 20 years later? Would there have appearanceinto will bethe AprilSyria/Iraq 13 at 9:30 a.m. ISIS The investigation is ongoing, and investigators inbuilding, and I knew it was aconflict. bar a series of continental Ryan LeFaive is finally livinginformation out his to dream bybeen opening a restaurant in Gullconflicts Lake. for decades? vite people with additional come forand grill before. I worked here I think that’s whatward. stands out the most for me, If the U.S. had remained fractured into the 20th when it was Whisky’s. I lovedhaving the lived during at time when the U.S., and by century, what would the impacts have been globD. Wayne war Elhard, MLA account’s building and the character.extension, As plan Canada, has been at continual since ally? Would it have tipped dwindling and the no balance cash in the First to use.

Cypress Hills Constituency soon as things were moved out 2001I (As we’ve withdrawn from Afghanistan, it World War in favour of the Allies? is coming in.

But I’m hoping forWould it have Making your voice heard in Regina.

“This was a lounge before. I MOVIE INFORMATION LINE • (306) 297-2241 • SHAUNAVON 401 the Redcoatpeople Drive called building. take long to deploy To been the decisive player in the Second World War, early January, ” he said. m that long ago when Iabout wrote a col-thedevelopment of a ” greater didn’t national spirit rather thanthis want to betoa Iraw). casual fine din“Movie Presentation at its Finest!”

P.O. Box 308, Eastend, SK. S0N 0T0 markable seriesCooking published since 2011 emphasis on “states’ rights,” was one of has become the newPhone: 1-877-703-3374 and anthe culinary arts of ourwhich time, this normal. leading to its superpower status,and or would it have “The equipment is sorted ing lounge.

We have a bar here cypresshills.mla@sasktel.net k Times on the U.S. Civil War. Now, the causes of the war.

May not be exactly as show staple in 21st his It century wasn’t always like In most cases wars coming. been tooThe concerned a future conflict with its www.wayneelhard.ca series willhave soon comealways to a close. beenIt’sahard, in our current context, to liquorabout license is probut they don’tthis. really serve food. nion, the life. collection of pieces folbelieve that men would volunteer to fight, and in Disney shows off its old-fashioned magic with this traditional tale, were relatively short and often brutal.

One way or southern neighbour?

Would a slave-nation like the to people, they’re starv- cessing. Four to six weeks in the lopments of the Civil War in somemany cases, die for the cause of “states’sTalking rights.” In HOME FURNISHINGS told in a new, re-visionary presentation. awith person could out. expect end at live some window. confederacy have looked kindly on Fascism? Perme, cooking and eateal time, albeit“For 150 years later. just As this context, those rights another, had a lot to doing slav379 CENTRE SHAUNAVON for a night I’llanprovide Thurs., Fri., Sat., Mon., AprilSTREET, 2, 3, 4, 6 - 7:30 297-2141 PM Rated G d throughout the course of the war, ery. But can you imagine anyone here today volunSUMMER STUDENT point, withrights someone “winning.” That’s not somehaps it would have even allied with German and ing brings people together. I realnalysts discussed what impact they teering to stop a bullet for provincialmusic in and give a place for Gull LeFaive, not one to shy away EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Canada?you Or evencan North thing Dakota across weLake are the seeing Modern warsaid. may be from Italy? ly love the feeling get rights to calltoday. their own, ” Lake he sentimentality, smiles when The Town of Gull is accepting be found at opinionator.blogs.ny49th? The whole concept seems absurd. “won” in the opening weeks, but then drag on forAnd would there be a black president now? Or from people when you see their applications for student employment with the I still try to wrap my head around the key issue “The bar, high end food and he says he named his dream Lily’s Town Maintenance Department d that in a faces few weeks when the 150th an-they of theeat Civil War, slavery. ever.

How is it that not-so long would Barack Obama have belonged to some massomething are needs for thethat summer need of 2015. to e Confederate surrender at Appoago, slavery was a common practice? (Incatering some parts Kitchen & Bar, after his youngest beginning April 17th Applicants Indeed,be today’s ponders the question of ter, with a whip in hand? you There’s better House will comeprepared. up. It seems of the world, itno still is). filledposting here right now. ” must: • be self-motivating child. ort, that the war only lasted four Let’s consider some other what-ifs. the What Confederacy if the whether have won the war. feeling,” he said.Confederacy Coming soon ... Do You Believe? & Boy Choir • require minimal supervision LeFaive sayscould the focus on interdid win the war, not conquering the “Then, because people •increased have a valid driver’s licensesales Thea“what-ifs” range from cotton Brian Zinchuk is editorask of Pipeline News. ms so short due to the contrast with North, but successfully succeeding?

Would we still “I’m a musician, and I play national foods Applyand in writingsourcing stating experienceof to: United States was deployed to slavery today? Would it extend all the way to two, I at named the Town of Gull Lake before theingredients blockade tookwill hold to General Robert E. about the Heother can be reached brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net Check out our NEW website! get ahave reaction.

That’s set him apart. e nation’s song longest warand in its history, California?

If not, what would have caused it to Box 150 washrooms Julie’s and Johnny’s s not as wrapped up as we thought end?

Would a Spartacus-like slave revolt have been would like to take this opportunity to say Lee’s style of“My command.

One what-if centred sort of the feeling, it’s wonderGull Lake, SK. S0N 1A0on the stuff will be hand-picked .S. and numerous allies, including inevitable? Would the North have taken another www.plazatheatre.ca for my other kids. My wife is part gulllaketown.admin@sasktel.net Food brings people ting pulledful. into the Syria/Iraq ISIS shot at it, 10 toand 20 yearsfamlater? Would from there have suppliers … There will be a series of continental conflicts for decades? ily together andbeen sparks conver- Italian, Latin-American, French owner, she’s 50/50. She has what what stands out the most for me, If the U.S. had remained fractured into the 20th uring at time when the U.S., been globsations. ” and by century, what would the impacts have and obviously some meat and she needs,” he jokes. da, has been at continual war since ally? Would it have tipped the balance in the First to anyone and everyone who “I think because of the huge Plaza Cooking was always something potatoes.

You gotta Theatre have your e withdrawn from Afghanistan, it World War in favour of the Allies? Would it have MOVIE INFORMATION LINE • (306) 297-2241 • SHAUNAVON sacrifice this can put on my famig to deploythat to Iraw).

To the people been to the decisive player in the Second World came natural the chef.

“Movie Presentation at its Finest!” volunteered and/or donated to our beefWar,here,” he said. s has become the new normal. leading to its superpower status, or would it have Subscribe Now! profile “I’llits put a twist.

Maybe some ly life, I want to make it as family ways like this.“Learning In most cases warsyour been flavour too concerned about a future conflict with Cinderella 2015 Homecoming, Disney shows off its old-fashioned magic with this traditional tale, oriented Makes a Great short and often brutal. One way or southern neighbour? Would a slave-nation like the as I can for them.Gift Idea! and stuff was always pretty nat- braising, risotto, makepresentation. fresh told inI’ll a new, re-visionary on could expect an end at some confederacy have looked kindly on Fascism? PerThurs., Fri., Sat., Mon., April 2, 3, 4, 6 - 7:30 PM “Your Southwest Community Newspaper” making it a huge success!

Mail this form want with payment to Winquist Ventures Ltd. “I literally people to come meone “winning.” haps it would have even allied and Depending how the busiural.That’s Mynot somegrandmother and mywith German pasta. eeing today. Modern war may be Italy?

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Mypresidentness pening weeks, but thenreally drag on for-influenced And would there be a black now? Orgoes, my goal for the next one year ($23 off wall the cover price) am and who my family is. People Phone: (306) 672-3373 wouldwere Barack Obama have belonged$42 toyear somefor masis to cut out the in the grandma and mom amazing beginning April 17th and a Happy New Year!

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Fax: (306) 672-3573 kitchen and putsoon in...aDobrick pizza andthebakers, ” he said. nfederacy cooks could have won war.

Coming You Believe? & Boy Choir need to feel like this is a second email: kate.winquistventures@sasktel.net range from increased cotton sales Brian Zinchuk is editor of Pipeline News. oven. ” two years “But my dad, he spent a lot of $80 home.” __________________________________ for www.gulllakeadvance.com kade took hold to General Robert E. He can be reached at brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net Check($40/year) out our NEW website!

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

THE ADVANCE

Billets offer safe haven for youngGULL Broncos LAKE MERRY CHRISTMAS from all of us at

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2014

Dear Santa reindeer. Tell the elfs and the reindeer I My name is Serenity and I am 7 years old. said hello have a good night. Merry ChristI have been good this year by listening to mas Santa. my teachers.

This year I would like a spiLove

BY J O R DA N PA R K E R “The kids are one of our own. To see age group andJessintha they mesh well with the same thing,” she said. dermaneditor@gulllakeadvance.com toy. Thank you for the toys last them excel from one year to the next is kids. Swift Current is lucky to have this Greke laughs when asked about some unbelievable. You get connected to these team.” of the captains quirks. She tilts her head year. Say hello to the elves and reindeer.

Dear Santa Claus ollin Christmas!

Scheck sits in his office at Creskids. It’s like a dad My watching kids on sits on the couch in his billet up, and rolls out the secret.

Merry namethese is Will and I Jon amMartin 7 years old.

I Dear and Santa, “He doesn’t watch sports. You’d think cent Point Energy in downtown Swift the ice, ” he said. home and speaks to The Advance, Love Serenity XoXoXo have been good this year by listening to my Current, his eyes shielded by a ball cap.

Can you a please answer these The two decided to take two Broncos it almost feels eerie to see the Broncos hockey player wouldsome watch of sports.

It’s parents.

Thisdecision. year I would like a LEGO red resting on his funny but it works for me, because we The loudest thing in the room is the this year, and don’t regret their captain without that jersey questions I have? When did Christmas Dear Santablue claus, hulk.

Thank youother. for theshoulders. toys last year I play emblazoned horses on the Broncos “With two, they just feed off each interests in reading love start? Whyhave does Rudolph have aand redwenose? jersey he’s worn to work, a sure sign of his My name is Brooklyn and I am 7 years old. withhaving iron an man. will put The outfact some milk family and see and treat non-fiction and investigations. SomeHaving one is like only Ichild. his billet Where did you find all of the reindeer? the team.

But now a brother them 8 carrots him like any is one of the many you and forother the kid reinIsupport have ofbeen good this year by cleaning mythey have cookies forbeside times it leaves Tyler out,” she said.

Santa for Christmas could my dad survive If theup.

Jake IDeBrusk jersey -- signed, and it’s a better deer. atmosphere, ” he said.

Flynn looks up, smiles and says, “I don’t Merry Christmasreasons Santa.the program is needed so badly. mess been getting good marks and at that -- wasn’t enough of a tip-off as “Thelike players really loveyou coming to a It’s a safe space where hockeylonger? is not the like that crap,” grinning ear to ear. watching me.

This year I would Thank elfey is to how Scheck feels about the team, the Could momsayplease have a necklace? home that is a home. It’s not just a place be-all end-all. It’s a break from the game my They Martin has a fantastic sense of agame chapster school play Willand some relief calendar doll, taped a onto the side of hisseattofor stay,my and that’s what we push for. This the players love so dearly Could my brother a 3ds?

Could humour, please and the have dynamic hasn’t change dolls, a camra. hi away to Mrs. desktopand computer will surelySay scurry is aClaus. place they come back after a strenufrom the pressure that can come it. have too much in the house.

I with please a ginger bread house and a any disbelievers. thank you for the presents last year. willtrip orDear Santa Claus, ousIroad harsh training schedules, “I mean, there are good billets and necklace bad “We’re more conscious where we’re nice please and thank of you.

Butsome not only does Scheck have and can a big I billets.

I’ve hadgood my fair share of both. But put cookies out for youa pasand some milkjust relax.

MyThey’re nameunder is Peyton have been this going and when,” said Flynn. They note From: Marianne Park sion for all things Broncos, he has a paswork schedule, year and I don’t if everyhaving a for goodthe billetelf here for you and some carrots for the reindeer. but know a little bad. Thanks onin Swift Current it’s given Flynn’s daughter someone to sion for his community. So he and his look up to. the shelf. These are things I want I would wife, Noel, spend eight months axoxoxo year Brooklyn Dear Santa, “We eat better. We were simple mashed like to get this year but I don’t know what. billeting Broncos players, providing them I am 8 years old and andmeat in Grade Are you potatoes people.3.But there’s safe homes away from home while they’re Dear Santa Claus, So here is what I want - the Skate board cooking done now. ” busy making toys? I will leave you milk. I in My the southwest name is city.

Lodgemer. I am 7 years old I from the Wish book and a Lakings case and Greke said you realize thesea kids are would like a remote control car and purple “The like valueawe get outcontolled of billeting is for Christwould remote car a BMX. One more thing a remote control real people when you billet. teddy bear. Don’t fall off the roof Santa about giving back to the community. It’s “When you’re a fan, they’re just your mas please. Thankyou for my cell phone toy car. Did you have fun with my dad a couple a nice way for us to not only live here, but Claus local players. You can’t personalize it. You of years ago.

Tell the reindeer and the elfs. from last year.

I will leave out cookies and give support. The added bonuses we get don’t know their quirks. Honestly,Keagan the fact Merry Christmas. milk fortheyou andthemselves, carrots ”for the reindeer. are with players he said. he plays for the Broncos is just a bonus “We build good relationships with love Peyton I love you very Santa.

Dear Santa,now. We just know this wonderful kid,” the players, and also tend to Love get to Lodgemer know XoXo Greke. get his red nose? How How did said rudolph their parents. It’s a very addicting sort of Dear Santaclos Flynn saidis billeting opens up a whole How your Christmas?

How are the elves? experience. They’re with you all year, and new world when they take on these roles.

My name is Hannah I am 7 yers old I have Dear Santa Claus, they’re gone for the summer. And you just can you eat all the cookies? I want an Xbox “It’s so interesting to see the people you ben good by vacuming the floor. this year I Mywait name is Jessintha and I am 7 years can’t for them to come back. one. I want PS4. meet once you start this. You know famiwould like a Bike and sand alive. Thanks for old. have good this months year by emptying “WeIhave thebeen Broncos for eight LoveYou Davan lies and players. get to Krogsgaard know people. out ofdish the year, then all our the kids come the toysNoel last yer. calas this I’llyear. leve cookthe washer time from and I listen to and Collin Scheck his wife have takenSanta in two Broncos Some billet families -- Glenn Gawdin’s university for four months, and then ies and milk. tell Mrsrs clous I said Hi. my mom and dad. This year I would like a Dear Santa,specifically -- just bond. We just bonded,” Broncos come Thank back. Weyou always Merry Chrismas to everyone in the North didgebird. forhave thea full toys last year said. one understands it’s a full-time job at a makes it easier,” said Martin.

How are she the reindeer? Are you doing house, and it’s a full house full of laughs.” milk pole.

I really like them.

I will put out some “It’s funny, Jon’s 10 years younger but young age.

The forward was feeling nervous after Scheck and his wife’s decision three good? I hope you and all the reindeer are he’s like my kid. His parents are fantastic and cookies for asyou and 8 carrots for theof these kids are away from Love being Hannah XoXoXoXoXo “Some traded from Kootenay ingood.

October,I hope years ago was made a way to give back. you can getwith methem what I want and we’ll get along forever. ” home for the first time, and they need to but having billets Tyler Flynn and Lynd“With my job in particular, I can’t do this year.

I want a Littles Pet Shop Bakery Greke said there are money bonuses for feel comfortable. ” saye Greke made it easier. major items like coach a minor hockey Santa Claus, Dear and a Little’s Pet Shop Totally Talented set. him here.

Scheck generates the atmosphere that “It’s your second home, so you need a team. I can’t make those commitments.

My name is tyler and I am 7 year old. I “He’s told us about experiences in KooSincerely, the kids can feel welcome and can talk good place, good people and everything,” But between us two, we could make this have been a good friend.

I build a house, tenay. I could tell you the minute he to him. he said. workable solution,” he said.

Jaidyn Winquist help my dad in the shop by giving him the walked in, I wasn’t going to get attached, “Every once in a while it’s a nice soundMartin has found himself in a good “I don’t know whether you call it vets but we saw how the trade impacted him. thisthecrisistmas I vant in crayola point ing board. It’s tools. like raising average position Swift Current. or rookies, but we’re somewhere in the teenager, whether they request feedback, “When people middle.” and markers.

I want a nintendo DS reach and out a and want to I immediately just cared and we wanted him to feel safe,” she said. the option is always there, ” he can said. go up totake you levels. in, it’s a great thing. You learn a Collin and Noel had Brycen Martin game that high I will “We don’t talk hockey or Broncos “You provide leave a homemilk to a teenager who lot and gain some great life experience. ” first. They had Jordan Thomson, who and cookies for you. I will leave unless he brings it up. We treat him like isn’t at his home. You need to be in tune Martin’s billets talked about helping just got traded, and currently host Jornine reindeer elves. our kid. We worry about how he’s doing, to what they like, likecarrots meals forfor example. outand in the community, and this is their dan Harris and Mark Taraschuk, a recent Love, tyler and we’re Broncos fans, but that’s not the You can cook what they like, but you need first year billeting. trade acquisition. They’re pleased to have

GRADE THREE

C

focus. There’s no pressure.” to see them react to what they’re eating.

“This has been good. I wanted to do it them in the house, and Scheck sees the Greke says the best part about billeting It takes some time to get in tune, because because I have a maternal side to me. I importance these kids and the team bring Dear Santa is gaining of a family. they want to beMy as respectful as possible, ” don’t have to deal with diapers this way. ” to this place. name is Cohen and I am 7 years old. I “From what I’ve seen, all billets are he jokes. said Greke with a smile.

“Swift Current is extremely fortunate have been good this year by cleaning the families now, and the families of these “Some other key things are making “It got thrust upon us quickly. We talkto have a WHL team. I can’t say enough I would a zoomer di- they were des- kids are connected to the billets. And the ~ Fine Art Photography the atmospheredishes healthy,this and year the Broned, like wanted to do it, but aboutAl theHartley organization and what they do Thank worst you to all going our customers forheads Minecraft.

Merry Christmas www.alhartleyphotography.ca thing through billets’ cos have given nosaur us guidelines on what to perate for billetsSanta so we built a bedroom foralhartley@sasktel.net the community. They~bring a lot of revXoX pretty Love quickly.

Cohen are the possibilities a trade, ” she said. provide and we follow those closely. It’s downstairs enue in. There’s lots of people who come the past year!

- Bobofand Deb “You attach to this kid like he’s yours. working excellent.” from out of town to the game and spend The two go to games regularly and It would be heartbreaking to experience money here,” he said.

He says it’s just an amazing experience enjoy the experience.

Scheck has grown attached to kids who that. He’s part of this family andorhe’s a to have.

“I’m so invested. To me, he’s my kid. I 306-672-7543 Gull Lake, SK kid. We’re lucky to be able to do he’s billeted, and has loved to watch them “This is an opportunity that fits our life fantastic see Jon and I’m like ‘that’s my boy!’ I don’t 306-672-4452 grow and change. and our family. We have two boys in that even hide it. All the billet moms say the this.”

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6

THE ADVANCE

Commentary FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

|

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

FROM THE TOP OF THE PILE

Prust spearing fine The 95 theses for high-impact sports should have been an W example-setter

BY B R I A N Z I N C H U K

brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net

BY J O R DA N PA R K E R

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

B

rad Marchand is a goon. There, I said it.

The Boston Bruins winger was a pest and agitator when he was living in Halifax, N.S, and it’s no different now that he’s in the NHL. He’s a dirty, rude and distracting player. So I guess it’s not surprising, that in a karmic blow of force, he himself was the recipient of an unethical play recently.

In a 4-0 rout of Vancouver, Boston’s Marchand was speared right in the chest by Brandon Prust, a move that got the skate a 10-minute misconduct penalty.

When asked what he thought about his $5,000 fine for his actions, you’d think Prust would be apologetic.

But his intentional spearing of Marchand -and the subsequent time he had to think about it -- hadn’t softened him.

“Best money I ever spent,” he replied during an interview. Clearly, there’s no love lost between the two NHL’ers, but Prust’s action, and subsequent comments, go a little too far.

Marchand, for his part, Hockey has always been a crushing, bruising kind of sport. The kind of activity where fans get up and celebrate big hits, and relish in the glory of a fistto-cuffs.

But there’s a difference between the grinning, toothless grinders of the old hockey days and the relentless, senseless crash-

ing, banging and charging of today’s physical forces.

There are players in this current league who aim to hurt. They go for the head.

The play dirty, and they do all they can to knock premiere players cold out of the game.

Brandon Prust’s cheap shot is no different, and signifies a startling trend in today’s hockey world.

To intentionally hurt a person in everyday life has, and always will be, unacceptable. We as people are held to a code of honour, ethics and morality.

So why is it that players hit that ice surface and think regular decorum doesn’t apply?

There are rules in hockey just like there are rules in life. If you sucker punch someone in the real world, it throws them for a loop, they’re likely to be angry and seek some form of an apology.

On the ice, if you spear someone in the chest, you should be sorry and you should feel remorse.

Morality and ethics are fickle things, and having neither won’t get you far in life or in your career.

Maybe these players should think of the personas they are pushing out into the world before they take that first penalty.

Maybe they should consider the way they represent themselves when they speak to others.

There’s nothing more important than reputation, and these two professional hockey stars should know better by now.

We’d love to hear from you.

Letters to the Editor are always welcome The Advance welcomes letters to the editor of up to 400 words.

The deadline for submission is 4:00 p.m. on Thursday for the next edition.

All letters must be signed and include a phone number for verification plus the name of the writer’s hometown. Unsigned letters will be discarded. The Advance will not publish phone numbers and addresses. Letters may be subject to editing for length, clarity, grammar and legality. The Advance reserves the right to decline to publish letters. Letters are the opinions of their writers only and do not reflect the opinions of The Advance.

hen it comes to high-impact sports, Dr. Bennet Omalu has done the equivalent of Martin Luther posting his 95 theses. In the Dec. 7 New York Times, his op-ed piece called for all kids, anyone under the age of 18, to not be allowed to play high-impact contact sports. It ran under the headline, “Don’t let kids play football.”

He comparedsour society’s growth in knowledge about the harmful effects of smoking and asbestos, and subsequent moves to eliminate those threats to our health. He equates those two to the threat to people’s health when they play football, hockey, mixed martial arts and boxing.

For those who haven’t heard of Dr. Omalu, you will. He’s portrayed by Will Smith in the upcoming Hollywood film Concussion, due Dec. 25. The movie is about his efforts to get the NFL to realize the impact it is having on its players.

Essentially, it’s destroying their brains. He would know. He’s dissected many of them, and discovered the related disease.

How much of our society is hinged around impact sports? While reading Omalu’s’ article, I thought immediately of the $22 million hockey arena Estevan built a few years ago. Watching the evening news, the mayor of Regina was talking about that day’s budget deliberations and subsequent tax hike that was expected. Behind him was a large

artist’s rendition of the new Mosaic Stadium.

Each and every one of us is paying each and every day for facilities whose primary purpose is for people (mostly young people) to knock heads in.

Omalu writes, “If a child who plays football is subjected to advanced radiological and neurocognitive studies during the season and several months after the season, there can be evidence of brain damage at the cellular level of brain functioning, even if there were no documented concussions or reported symptoms. If that child continues to play over many seasons, these cellular injuries accumulate to cause irreversible brain damage, which we know now by the name Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or C.T.E., a disease that I first diagnosed in 2002.

“Depending on the severity of the condition, the child now has a risk of manifesting symptoms of C.T.E. like major depression, memory loss, suicidal thought and actions, loss of intelligence as well as dementia later in life.

C.T.E. has also been linked to drug and alcohol abuse as the child enters his 20s, 30s and 40s.”

The stereotype is that the jock in high school or university isn’t all that bright. Maybe there’s something to that, if they’ve been accumulating brain injuries since a young age.

I was photographing football a few years ago, when something I heard a coach say to an 9-year old caught my attention. “Go out and hit someone!” he said.

Football is nothing without hitting.

Omalue writes, “As physicians, it

is our role to educate and inform an adult about the dangers of, for example, smoking. If that adult decides to smoke, he is free to do so, and I will be the first to defend that freedom. In the same way, if an adult chooses to play football, ice hockey, mixed martial arts or boxing, it is within his rights.”

Children, however, should not be allowed to play these sports, he says.

He’s not talking about concussion awareness, but an outright end. No more kids hitting each other. As for adults, well, it’s their own issue.

There’s a fundamental issue with this assertion. You don’t get to play football in the NFL or hockey in the NHL unless you spend basically your entire life as a child and teenager developing the skill.

No kids playing means no more professional leagues, unless flag football is going to be expected to fill Lambeau Field. What Omalu is proposing is an end to these sports, the biggest sport in the U.S. and Canada.

Will that happen?

Was your house built with asbestos?

Does anyone smoke indoors, besides their own house, anymore?

These changes did not take place overnight, just as the Protestant Reformation did not happen overnight.

But will big sports succeed where big tobacco has failed? In many ways, sports today is the religion of yesteryear.

The question is, are we sacrificing our children on its altar?

Brian Zinchuk is editor of Pipeline News. He can be reached at brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net.

POINT OF VIEW

On heart, home and holidays

BY S H E R I M O N K

sherimonk@gmail.com

F

amily vacations are not always the easiest things in the world to actually pull off. I know this because I have two sons AND I have done the epic summer vacation road trip thing and survived. Twice.

You’d think that I’d have learned my lesson after a 10,000 km 10-day road trip one summer, and a 14,000 one the next. But not so much.

Like some sort of masochist, I started planning a new family vacation, but this time, I wanted to up the ante.

This time, my self-flagellation would involve airplanes, pesos, and what the hell – just in case the stakes weren’t high enough, I’d throw in a new family member. And that’s how I, my girlfriend Alyssa, and my two sons ended up together in Mexico.

Now, I did briefly consider the all-inclusive resort option briefly before I rejected it. I know – you’re probably thinking that the WIFI, relative safety and free food for two teenagers seemed like a smart idea. But unlike what I have believed my entire life, all-inclusive resorts are not cheap. I know there are people who apparently fly to these places for like, $10 and that includes all the free alcohol they can drink, but every single place I checked was about a billion dollars – probably because of the two teenage boys.

And none of the resorts near Cabo had options that allowed for a separate bedroom. Which, frankly, is crazy because how is it even possible for two, crazy-in-love adults to sleep two feet away from their children for TEN DAYS?! This was supposed to be a vacation, not Guantanamo Bay for God’s sake. So, we needed to be able to rent some kind of house where the grownups had privacy, and the teen-

agers had a kitchen to keep food costs somewhat reasonable. Plus, we had to be in a safe enough area where we could go exploring to find rattlesnakes.

And that’s how we ended up renting a car and driving two hours away from the airport to a quiet little village on the ocean, home to Baja’s only corral reef.

Folks, I had done my research and this little vacation was on a shoestring budget, in lieu of Christmas presents this year. I found a place in the vicinity of sharks, three species of rattlesnake, snorkeling and kayaking. (My girlfriend is an avid kayaker, the oldest loves sharks, the youngest loves the water, and I love finding new species of rattlesnake to photograph.) Additionally, Cabo Pulmo is safe. The kids can wander around the village and go down to the beach alone, and I don’t have to worry. In fact, right now, the boys and Alyssa have taken the car to another nearby town to get groceries so I can attempt to get the remainder of my work done and sent off. I tried exceptionally hard to complete everything before I left, but sometimes I bite off more than I can chew.

Everything seems perfect from the outside looking in, doesn’t it? And thanks to Facebook, we ALL know what perfection looks like from the outside… but we also all know that reality is much, much different.

Alyssa hates travelling. Hates it. And she hates camping or having to go without the normal everyday luxuries of our modern First World living. She’s a complicated, but addictive enigma.

She hates planning and she loves the unexpected adventure, but she hates not being in control of her environment. Oh, and she is arachnophobic neat-freak adrenaline junkie risk taker.

It’s a good thing I like a challenge.

My two sons are as different as they come. The oldest despises sports and most things outside. He likes safe

predictability, and he’s been a gamer since he was five-years-old, despite my efforts. His attitude toward the great outdoors is this, and I quote, “I’d like the outside more if it wasn’t outside.”

The youngest loves sports, all activities and the outdoors, but he hates bugs and insects, which is apparently my fault because of the tarantulas and insect collections we’ve had over the years. And he is currently obsessed with football after playing his first season, and none of us know anything about it.

There is no TV in our little house. We have no access to WIFI unless we go to a nearby café. There are enormous bugs everywhere. We have hot water and a shower, but it’s outside. There are lizards all over the inside of the house, which is awesome, but I suspect they make their living by eating spiders.

In other words, there is something to horrify each and every one of us as we spend 10 days together in a tiny (and as it turns out, not at all sound proof – sorry kids!) bungalow.

I have moments when I think this was the worst decision in the world, and I have others when I’m so happy I made this happen, I feel like I can accomplish anything. I do know that whether we realize it right now or not, we’re making fabulous memories. Years from now, when my kids have their own kids that are driving them crazy, they’ll remember these trips and they’ll know they’ll get through it too. I know that Alyssa will reflect on this one day and know that despite the discomfort and the annoyance that comes from such close quarters, I wanted her to be here, how much a part of the family she is, and how much we’ve come to need her. And maybe most of all, I needed this to show myself how far we’ve come… and sometimes, you have to travel pretty far for that kind of perspective. I’m extraordinarily grateful.

From all of us, happy holidays!

THE ADVANCE

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

|

Battle of the classes

BY M E G A N L AC E L L E

megan@gulllakeadvance.com

U

niversity is not the real world. It’s not.

It’s a faction of society where it’s okay to have commitments for three hours a day, while actually working 10. It’s a land with no dress code and no real standard of behaviour.

It’s like a high school … On steroids and less sleep.

Like high school, however, everyone is still segregated into groups. Instead of jocks, nerds, and partiers you have kinesiology students, engineers and art students. The faculties, especially those at the University of Saskatchewan, are segregated based off these faculties – as would be expected of similar people working to obtain similar degrees, but rivalries run deep.

Take the feud between the agriculture students and the engineers. Its level of pranks is unmatched at the university. Between steal-

7

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

ing cars and stealing people – it seemed no behaviour was off-limits.

Whenever meeting any new students or making new friends one is always asked which faculty they belong to, and similar to the real world, quick judgements are made off their answers – whether they stand to be true or not.

Such was the case this week when a student anonymously posted to a University of Saskatchewan website claiming that Law students at the university were “not special because your parents were rich so you were able to get into law school” and they were “entitled, grown up brats.” Sigh. There was also talk about all the law students having BMWs (I wish.)

It all started after territory feud involving the law library, fondly known as the lawbrary.

Some law students complained to other law students about non-law students using the law library – stating they were using all the plug-ins and taking up unnecessary space.

The non-law students, notified through this

anonymous post, were outraged that the law students would have the audacity to claim the law library as their own.

Watching the faculties rage back and forth, throwing stereotypical insults at each other was a lot like watching people scrap during the election – no one was using logic and everyone was just throwing mud at each other as fast as they could.

I, for one, was a little insulted to be called an entitled brat and found the assumption that I got into law school because of rich parents to be a little pathetic. I mean, I’m typing this on a five year old computer held together with duct tape.

I understood where the law kids were coming from – they do use the library constantly to read hundreds of cases and the law library is used to write our 100 per cent finals in December. But I also understand it’s not a space dedicated to only us; it just happens to be filled with books that no other faculty would be interested in using.

But watching them feud on the internet was a lot like watching “grown-ups” argue about who was right about their political policy; quick answer, you’re both wrong.

You should have the same respect for a janitor as you do a politician; just like you should

have the same respect for an engineer as you do for an arts student. We’re all just people, all trying to cram as much information about law, the human body, teeth, artistic theory and history as we can. The playground of University doesn’t have winners or losers, it has the future; with one faculty not standing out as brighter than another.

So why do you care about this school yard scuffle? Because everyone does it. Every day we judge people based off the life decisions they’ve made. I know I do. I watch reality shows to make myself feel better all the time; but why do I care? What is it about making a quick judgement about someone that makes me feel better? Theodore Roosevelt said “comparison is the thief of joy” and the man had a point.

Stop caring about what other people think of you and stop caring what other people do with their lives. Spend a little more time trying to understand another person and a little less time trying to figure out what stereotype they fit into.

Not all business kids are jerks, not all law students are pretentious, not all arts students are unambitious and not all engineers and cocky – everyone is a little bit of everything, in university and in life.

New reports on senior care homes indicative of big problems

BY B E T H JA R R E L L

beth@gulllakeadvance.com

W

e’ve seen a lot on the news lately about senior care homes, whether it’s here in the southwest or Canada-wide.

Let’s begin right here at home, shall we?

From the delay of the health care facility in Leader (making integrated facilities easier to navigate) to the one-year anniversary of the Ponteix Level 1-2 care home closing, the problem of housing our seniors is becoming more and more prevalent.

I went home to Saskatoon this weekend to visit my Nana, who is 87 and just beginning to think about moving into an assisted living care facility. As we were discussing the possibilities, lo and behold, a report comes on the radio about Saskatoon housing authority homes being riddled with bed bugs, with seniors speaking out about what little they can do.

That’s not all. We’ve heard countless reports from residents across the country saying they only get one shower a week- if that- at some homes.

This week, the big Ontario Auditor General Report came out. It found that in 2014 there were around 1,800 reports that were deemed critical filed for claims of abuse that needed to be addressed. This is way up from the 2013 numbers of about 900.

Clearly, something needs to change.

My grandfather spent the last few years of his life in a care home. The women and men who looked over him were the kindest, most compassionate people. They knew my grandfather and the people like him as if they were family, and it was really touching to see. He was lucky to have such great people looking after him, and the

reality is, he was one of the lucky few.

I get that it can be hard to fill the staff vacancies and other issues that plague care homes. I spent a summer doing personal care when I worked at Camp Easter Seal.

It’s not a fun job, but definitely a necessary one.

People who take care of our grandparents and parents should be hailed, not making minimum wage.

But here’s the thing- to move out and away from these problems, you have to have money, and a lot of it.

Care homes can cost thousands of dollars a month, and let’s not forget that level 1 and 2 homes don’t get any government funding.

A 2014 Sunlife Financial report found that that the provincial median cost for retirement homes in Saskatchewan is $3,266 for a one-bedroom suite. The median cost for a private suite goes for $2,350 a month.

As the baby boomer generation gets older, we as a society are going to face more problems like these, whether it be cleanliness, lack of funding or understaffing. It starts at home, with treating people who take jobs like this with the respect they deserve.

Chances are, they spend more time with our family members than we do.

The system is definitely breaking, and unless something is done to fix it, we’re going to have a whole lot of baby boomers without proper care, and their children in massive debt from trying to support them.

We like to think of Canada as a pretty secure place for all its citizens, but that’s not always true. Let’s not forget the marginalized in our society, starting with those most vulnerable- our seniors.

One step forward, two steps back

BY J O R DA N PA R K E R

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

W

henever something bad happens to you, some well-intentioned, cliche-ridden person in your life will shrug, pat your back and tell you, “when a door closes, a window opens.” What they neglect to tell you -- and what the analogy clearly implies -- is there will be tough times ahead, and nobody ever wants you to know that.

A door is easier to open than a window. It’s easier to manoeuvre.

It’s safe and it’s conventional. I’m a weighty guy, and I can tell you climbing through a window -- for any purpose -- won’t be an easy task. A window is not meant to be a portal to something greater.

When you see that television set in a store window, or someone with the perfect body on a treadmill at the gym, you’re not expected to break through the glass to obtain whatever’s inside. You’re expected to go through the door. Because it’s the way that will always be safest.

So I guess I’ll have to ask forgiveness if I never found this age-old monicker comforting.

The door has been shut on leg-

islation for Gay-Straight Alliances in schools since the summer, when an NDP bill that would make their presence mandatory was shut down.

While many schools in the area would probably just let students form a GSA if asked, that doesn’t keep that fear from creeping into young minds.

Students who have been left out and bullied for years need a safe space. And they shouldn’t have to wonder if they’re going to get that.

It should just be automatic.

To have guidelines and “expect” the best out of people isn’t how governments and schools should be run. Rules and regulations and legislation. That’s how things get done.

You ensure there will be no pushback by making it a legality that these kids, who fight their whole lives, don’t have to fight for this too.

So, back to doors and windows.

To legislate the bill the NDP had put forward and recognize that the safety and security of LGBTQ students and their allies is of the utmost importance is the equivalent of pushing that door open.

It’s the easiest, best and most positive route to take. It’s the right

thing to do.

To make this legislation jump hoops and crawl through windows is the equivalent of showing this community that you don’t care about the rights and freedoms of an entire minority.

The LGBTQ community has become accustomed to taking small steps forward every day, and getting shoved backwards onto their heels whenever they get close to achieving their goals.

Same-sex marriage gets legalized and along comes Kim Davis to thunderstorm on the rainbow parade. Olympic free skier Gus Kenworthy comes out, and the most immediate reaction is, “he doesn’t seem gay,” as if all gay men must conform to a glitter-clad, fingernail-painted stereotype.

It’s always one step forward and one giant societal shove in the wrong direction, and it’s time this community got up, dusted themselves off and refused to be denied the rights they’ve inherently fought for.

Nevermind the handle, if you want something, sometimes you just have to arch your back, ready your foot, and bust that door wide open.

8

THE ADVANCE

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Report from the Legislature

Cypress Hills Constituency Making your voice heard in Regina.

Strong Job Growth in Saskatchewan Compared to the Rest of Canada Saskatchewan remains strong and moving forward with a diversified economy that continues to create new jobs despite the challenges in our energy sector. That’s a big change from a few years ago when a downturn in one part of the economy would lead to job losses in every part of the economy.

Saskatchewan posted strong employment growth numbers in November, especially when compared to the rest of the country. There were 7,200 more jobs year-over-year with a growth rate of nearly twice the national average. Saskatchewan also has the lowest unemployment rate in the country.

Saskatchewan’s First Uranium Shipment Arrives In India India recently received its first shipment of Saskatchewan uranium under the Canada-India Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, an economic milestone for our uranium industry and our province. While all of Saskatchewan benefits from having this major new customer for our resource, this export news is par-

I am confident these priority areas will help us create a Saskatchewan where everyone can be included.

By focusing on these areas first, we can begin building for the future so we can effectively respond to the needs identified by citizens during the province-wide consultations.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this report, please contact our office.

CEO touring shows lack of senior care staff

BY J O R DA N PA R K E R

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

J

ust two weeks after the government voted down Bill 609, which the NDP tabled so minimum standard of care and staffing guidelines would be met in the province, a CEO touring report shows a serious issue with staffing in care homes.

“The recent CEO tour reports continue to highlight there’s a crisis in senior care,” said NDP Health Critic Danielle Chartier.

“Many facilities still have dire infrastructure needs. There are huge concerns about patient care.

People wait a half hour after ringing a call bell.

They’re asking for more baths, better hygiene, podiatry and physical therapy. There just aren’t enough trained staff.”

She said the evidence clearly shows a problem.

“This illustrated clearly a crisis in this province, and the issue has gone to the ombudsman, and people have come forward to talk about loved ones.

Even residents are talking about their experiences,” she said.

“There is a lot of highlighting of short-staffing as a real problem, and it continues to be real. Evidence mounts and the government continues to ignore it. They put money in weird places rather than the front lines.”

She talked about the government’s misplaced priorities when it came to where they spend their money.

“They keep pouring money into Lean, and they have 120 promoters alone. They’ve increased executive pay by 20 per cent across the province, and some regions have gone up as much as 46 per cent,” she said.

401 Redcoat Drive P.O. Box 308, Eastend, SK. S0N 0T0 Phone: 1-877-703-3374 cypresshills.mla@sasktel.net

ticularly welcome for uranium workers, nearly half of whom are First Nations and Métis.

Saskatchewan is the world’s second-leading producer of uranium and is home to 100 per cent of Canada’s uranium mining industry. Saskatchewan’s uranium industry employs more than 4,000 people with almost half of its mining workforce residents of northern Saskatchewan. Our province’s uranium exports add approximately $1.2 billion annually to the Canadian economy.

The Journey Begins: Saskatchewan’s Disability Strategy In honour of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, our government announced six priority areas of focus as we begin work on Saskatchewan’s Disability Strategy.

Taken directly from the Citizen Consultation Team’s (CCT) Final Report, People Before Systems: Transforming the Experience of Disability in Saskatchewan these priorities are: • Availability of accessible and safe transportation in communities; • Respite services for families with children and adults experiencing disabilities; • Improving existing accessibility legislation or the development of new accessibility legislation; • Residential services for people experiencing disability; • Service co-ordination and navigation of services required for those experiencing disability; and • Awareness and understanding of the rights of people experiencing disabilities.

“You have to make sure your loved ones are answered promptly. They need to be helped when they want to use the toilet. Money needs to go to giving this basic care.”

She spoke about the need for legislated minimum care standards.

“What isn’t appropriate is having two care aides for 55 residents at night. We put forward the minimum care standards bill so we’d have a number to land on,” she said.

“The number needed to be beefed up, but it just got eliminated. With increasing demands, it just got cut.”

Minister of Health Dustin Duncan was not available for comment on the CEO tours, but instead Advance staff were told to use archived quotes.

Two weeks ago, Duncan spoke about his feelings on Bill 609 with the paper.

“Bill 609 has everything in it contained in the Special Care Home Program Guidelines. It was a sense from the government that this was nothing new and nothing we don’t have in place,” he said.

“Legislation is harder to change than guidelines … Nothing in the bill would have improved care for seniors.”

Now, two weeks later, no comment was given for this story about the serious issues the CEO touring uncovered with staffing levels.

“Our guidelines run 193 pages, and they lay out the standards we need to operate. They speak to the rights and responsibilities, not only of residents and families, but of the care homes,” he said.

“We do have standards and requirements, and they’re very detailed. Because our care homes operate in accordance, there are rules in place, but they’re easier to change or make adjustments to.”

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

D. Wayne Elhard, MLA

D. Wayne Elhard, MLA Cypress Hills

Moving Forward with Shorter Waits for Surgery In 2007, a Health Care in Canada report revealed that Saskatchewan had the longest wait times for surgery in the nation. Today, the same report shows we have the shortest wait times, thanks to the many health care professionals who continue to work hard on wait time reductions through innovation and putting patients first.

One such innovation in Saskatchewan is the use of private surgical clinics within the public system.

The NDP would cancel private clinics on ideological grounds, forcing the people of our province to languish on longer surgical wait lists. We believe patients will choose timely surgery over ideology almost every time. We’ve got more work to do with wait times, but we are committed to achieving better results.

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THE ADVANCE

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

|

MP Anderson not impressed with Speech from the Throne

BY B E T H JA R R E L L

beth@gulllakeadvance.com

M

ember of Parliament for CypressHills Grassland David Anderson has a bone to pick after the Dec 4 Speech from the Throne.

The speech, titled “Making Real Change Happen” , was a 15 minute address delivered to the House of Commons by the new majority Liberal government. Anderson, however, was not impressed.

“Canadians will soon be choking on the thin gruel that was the Speech from the Throne,” Anderson said in a statement released on his website.

“Today’s Throne Speech offers much in the way of spending commitments but little in the way of details,” the statement said. “There was a commitment to higher taxes, legalization of marijuana, and to making the military ‘leaner.’

Other initiatives such as Senate Reform and electoral change will make it more difficult to represent

9

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

rural areas such as south west Saskatchewan.”

Anderson adds that issues relevant to people in the Southwest such as Agriculture were not mentioned, something he believes is a sign of the Liberal Party’s future attitude towards the west.

“The Liberals’ increased antagonism toward the energy sector will be most damaging in Western Canada and especially in south west Saskatchewan,” the statement read.

Finally, Anderson believes that much of the speech, and subsequently new policies, will reflect what he calls the ‘old’ Liberal agenda.

“It’s unfortunate that so much of this is a rehash of old Liberal policies.

The biggest threat is the Government’s determination to run massive deficits and impose huge tax hikes,” the statement said. The one thing they have not said is what this will cost Canadians.

How much is all this spending going to take out of Canadians’ pockets?”

Influenza Immunizations Remain Available Via Drop-in Clinics necessary. Both injectable vaccine and FluMist, a nasal spray option for children aged 2-17, will be available for free. Individuals are reminded to bring their Saskatchewan Health Services card to the drop-in clinics.

Parents with children who are under 9 years of age and receiving the influenza immunization for the first time this year should be advised that their child will require a second dose of vaccine to enhance their protection.

The second dose will be required one month after the first dose is received.

Immunization is the single most effective measure one can take to protect themselves, their family members, and those around them. The influenza immunization is beneficial for the entire population over the age of six months to receive.

Influenza vaccine is also available at many physician clinics and pharmacies throughout the Cypress Health Region.

Questions regarding the influenza vaccine can be directed to your nearest public health nursing office, your family physician, your community pharmacy, or by calling the provincial HealthLine at 8-1-1.

CONTRIBUTED

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

T

he Cypress Health Region has concluded the mass influenza immunization clinic schedule for the 2015 fall campaign. The health region’s Public Health Nursing team provided over 40 clinics in more than 20 communities throughout the region.

With the mass public clinic schedule now completed, the region has moved to the next phase of the influenza immunization campaign. A series of additional clinics have now been made available to provide individuals and families with further opportunities to receive the flu vaccine.

Drop-in style flu clinics have been scheduled and will be offered in the following communities/locations: Swift Current – E.I. Wood Building, 4th Floor (350 Cheadle Street West) Clinic times: 8:30am to 11:30am.

Dates: December 18; January 8 and 22; February 5 and 19; March 4 and 18 Maple Creek – Southwest Integrated Healthcare Facility (102 – 5th Avenue West) December 17 – 1:00pm to 4:00 pm Each of the above-noted clinics is drop-in style with no appointment

The St. Mary’s Anglican Church choral group entertained a large crowd at the Maple Creek Carol Festival. Photo by Shelley Drever.

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|

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

Children of all ages enjoyed the celebration and free candy while their parents caught up and spread holiday cheer

The town of Gull Lake came together Thursday for Old Fashioned Christmas, a celebration of the town’s unity. Photos by Beth Jarrell.

Lots of goodies and lots of fun was had at Gull Lake’s annual Old-Fashioned Christmas last Thursday evening.

Government commits to reducing ER waits

BY J O R DA N PA R K E R

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

T

he provincial government has made a commitment to reduce wait times in emergency rooms across the province down 60 per cent by 2019.

This commitment comes after struggles since 2012 the government has faced. Premier Brad Wall challenged the health care system to provide better care, a challenge the Department of Health couldn’t meet. They are now beginning to push toward a new goal.

Minister of Health Dustin Duncan’s communications department couldn’t co-ordinate an interview with The Advance, but provided scrum audio from last week.

“In terms of moving forward, we wanted to revise our goal. It was pretty evident we wouldn’t achieve what we wanted by our timeline. A 60 per cent reduction is achievable, and even that reduction would make us leaders,” Duncan said during the scrum.

“I think it’s achievable and we can keep the system focused and dedicated to significant reductions on wait-times.

This will put us among the Canadian leaders.”

The provincial budget has provided $4.7 million to reduce emergency department waits, and initiatives include Connecting to Care, Police and Crisis Team and Seniors House Calls.

“It takes time to develop and imple-

ment system-wide change,” Emergency Department Waits and Patient Flow Initiative Team Lead Graham Fast said in a press release.

“The health system is making a concerted and co-ordinated effort to serve patients better and reduce emergency department wait times.”

“Waiting for hours in pain, danger and distress is unacceptable. Making us wait years to see improvements isn’t right.

Duncan said they wanted to set a hard date to achieve the 60 per cent reduction before they went any further.

“Ultimately, that goal is to get down to zero, but we wanted to focus on this hard goal,” he said.

“Putting that date so far out allows us to get to our goals and by 2019, we can re-evaluate and set priorities. At that time we may want to set goals in different areas.”

It’s been said a total re-working of the health care system is needed to improve wait times.

“I think the overhaul is first and foremost a big thing, as we can’t just dump more money into emergency rooms and expect a better outcome. We need to look at best practices and build on

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successes we’ve seen,” he said.

“Part of the problem is population growth areas like Regina are seeing.

Emergency departments are getting used to a greater number, and we were showing successes in the early days, but numbers are up significantly. We are managing growth and demand.”

NDP Health Critic Danielle Chartier has many issues with the way wait times are running in the province.

“The issue coming into my office most across the province is around concerns with ERs. For the minister and premier to walk away from their commitments in the first place, then come back and say 2019 is unacceptable,” she said.

“Waiting for hours in pain, danger and distress is unacceptable. Making us wait years to see improvements isn’t right. We had 18,000 people walk away from emergency without having been seen by doctors last year.

“People are very ill and walking away from emergency because they will self-medicate at greater harm to themselves, or will end up bad into emergency worse than when they left.

The outcome may not be as good and it’ll be at a much greater cost.”

Chartier said the government needs to look into priority spending, and find ways to utilize funds.

“I know if they spent on priorities and people, we’d see the results we need. We shouldn’t be measuring waits

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in hours, but in minutes. Progress shouldn’t be in years, but in weeks and months,” she said.

“The government is willing to spend money on executive pay and the Lean program. But they can’t bring down emergency waits,” she said.

“They talk about senior care, but they need more staff and community services. There are ways to address people in the ER and provide programs and solutions that keep people from ending up back there.”

She said the need to cut wait times is absolutely critical.

“Not only do people deserve it, but there are benchmarks set up for better health outcomes. They need to be met.

It’s about good patient care and the cost to the system if people don’t get proper care is huge,” she said.

“The Saskatoon Health Region has days where ambulances are lined up, and it’s a ripple effect. Ambulances lined up six at a time can’t discharge patients and that means less on the road.”

Chartier is concerned due to longer wait times, and says Regina General can take 4.4 hours on average.

“The minister’s own health report in 2014-2015 said things aren’t getting better. These are big commitments they walked away from,” she said.

“They made bold promises and should have taken steps to meet them.

We would be far better off.”

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11

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

New Disability Strategy targets areas across province

BY B E T H JA R R E L L

beth@gulllakeadvance.com

O

n the same day as the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the government of Saskatchewan has taken a step forward in making the lives of people with disabilities a little easier.

The Social Services Ministry has issued a special statement announcing six priority areas the government will work on in its disability strategy program. The statement comes just days after an investigative body called the CCT (Citizen Consultation Team) issued their final report, the basis for the six priority areas.

The areas, which are transportation, respite for aids, new legislation, residential services, coordinated services and awareness of disability rights are something Amy Alsop, former co-chair with the CCT, says will make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

Transportation was one area specifically that Alsop says she is glad the team delved into.

“It’s a foundational aspect of anyone’s life, to be able to get from point A to point B,” she said. “There are places in rural Saskatchewan where there are no transportation options for people with disability, so it’s

much wider in scope than just the bigger cities.

“If you can’t get to school, how can we expect the education system to work? If you can’t get to your job, how can you be expected to contribute to the economy? It’s foundational to everything we do in our lives.”

Improving respite for care workers is another area that she says will make a big difference to those in the community.

“In caring for loved ones with profound disability, it’s very time consuming and even all-consuming, and we need to make sure we are providing caregivers with the right amount of rest so they can continue to do the best job they can,” she said.

Alsop says the team was formed on a volunteer basis, with members having different specialties across the board.

“We were 16 folks selected by the ministry of social services to come up with recommendations on disability strategy,” she said.

“We worked directly with the ministry as well as others who would be impacted by the recommendations we made.”

Alsop says that the CCT worked directly with education, health, economy, justice and others that would be impacted by their findings.

“We wanted to make sure we were in a position to work with them after the rec-

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The committee has been working on the report for over two years. Alsop says that while it was supposed to be a shorter timeframe, the team ran into a series of complexities.

“It was supposed to be one year, but as you delve into the world it becomes incredibly complex,” she said. “As the complexity came out, we needed to make sure we were doing as good a job as we possibly could.”

“After all the public consultations and the great information we got from them, we felt obligated to make sure we really got it right,” she said. “We all care so deeply about advancing the recommendations we made.

It was a really special group of people who really care.”

She adds that one of the way the group wants to make it right is by making sure the strategy is something that any individual can undertake, not just a government body.

“One of the things we really wanted to make clear is that it’s not just the provincial government dealing with the changes, it’s all of us who can play a role in advancing the strategy.”

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“I think the priorities apply to Swift Current as well, especially in areas of transportation,” Dezan said. “We are directly involved in supplying transportation to our community.”

I think the challenge being is that there’s a little lower population here than some of the bigger areas, so transportation always remains a concern. Services not only in this region, but across the province as well have really responded to the needs of people with disabilities and their families.”

Dezan adds that the biggest priority the organization has moving forward is developing a way to not only be accessible for the community, but also have the members of the community support each other.

“It’s always a work in progress, responding to the needs of people and the community, but the growth within the province has been huge,” she said. “We want to offer all members of our community the chance to get involved as citizens, and that’s really the heart of what we do. Disability should be set aside, we all need services and opportunities, whether it be safe housing, transportation or security.”

“Really, it’s all about community, it’s members and how we support each other than about people with disabilities.”

hat do I want for Christmas?

When I let my greedy self explore the possibilities, the list lengthens with imaginary thoughts.

I’d love a trip. It could be almost anywhere, but since I’m dreaming big, we may as well make it Hawaii.

And after I get back from a few weeks of palm trees, pineapples and pîna coladas, I’d love to go to Thailand. I’ve always wanted to rest on Thailand’s beaches, take in its beauty and eat its fabulous food.

And then there is that cruise I’ve been wanting Santa to deliver. It could be to a Caribbean island, an Alaskan port of call, or perhaps it could even be a Disney Cruise.

But if I want to think more practically, I really need a good pair of mittens.

These wouldn’t be just any mittens, they’d be cold-proof mitts that kept me warm in wind chills, -40 Celsius and during any and all snowman-making sessions.

And I’d also love a good book.

I’m a fan of most Canadian authors so it could be something by Jane Urquhart, Margaret Atwood or Alice Munro.

Or, maybe one of the Giller Prize nominees, like Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis or Arvida by Samuel Archibald. I also love self-help books, so maybe something by Anne Lamott or Martha Beck.

I’d also love a nice cozy sweater in any shade of red, blue or grey.

And if worse would come to worse, I’d take a pair of cozy socks.

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But quite honestly, everything I ever wanted is already here in my heart this Christmas.

There is my 18-year-old son who will be home for Christmas, there is my five-year-old daughter who somehow got here all the way from China four years ago, and there is Mei Chen.

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The smile in her soul and the happiness in her heart is palpable, even in photos.

The only thing I really wanted for Christmas this year was for Mei Chen to have a family of her own.

And since that is now a reality, I can do without trips, mitts, books and even socks for myself.

An orphan having a home is all I want for Christmas this year!

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12

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

LOCAL HORSE TRAINER USES BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

BY B E T H JA R R E L L

beth@gulllakeadvance.com

A

mos Abrahamson has always ridden horses. He didn’t always know he would do t for a living, though.

Abrahamson is the owner of Diamond J Performance Horses, located just outside of Maple Creek. Renowned for breaking young colts across Saskatchewan using a blend of horsemanship and traditional training, Abrahamson recently competed in the Colt Starting Challenge at Agribition.

For him, getting involved with the horse training world came gradually.

“I’ve always enjoyed training horses and riding,” he said. “My Grandfather raised some horses when I was at home, so there was always an availability of younger horses to ride, and that’s how I started off riding younger horses.

“It was pretty wild in the beginning.

I couldn’t get anything done, couldn’t figure out how to communicate with the horse. It took me a long time to get that figured out, but my goal when I started was to be the best cowboy I could be, so I would do anything to get out there, anything to learn more.”

Abrahamson is originally from outside of Saskatoon, where his family runs a ranch. He believes that the foundation behind good horsemanship starts with good training.

“There’s always a need for horses to be trained, and I always felt like if I wanted to be a good cowboy, your horse should work good,” he said. “I’m maybe not the best roper, but I have my horse working above-average, so that makes up for it.”

While he says that he has worked hard to get where he is today, and nothing came easy in the beginning for him.

“Back when I was first getting into this business, a cowboy told me that the hardest part wasn’t dealing with horses, it’s dealing with people,” he said. “I was really shy, really a bit of a loner when I graduated school, so it’s been a bit of a stretch for me. I’m working on it.

“Everyone thinks that their horse is the best in the world, and I’ve had to learn how to communicate with them to have the best realistic idea of what they can do with their horse.”

Abrahamson believes that separates him from other trainers is that he’s not afraid to shy away from controversial issues in the horse world, such as at what age a horse should be started.

“A lot of people will say you shouldn’t start a horse until they’re older, but I

really enjoy riding two-year-olds. I ride a lot of ranch horses, but I’m a very firm believer in starting horses early.”

When to start a new horse is a contentious topic in the horse training world.

Some say a horse should be started at age four, but others say it should be earlier.

“There are reasons for both, but we’re not living 20 to 30 years ago when people rode a lot. We have trucks and trailers now, we trailer out to check a field, we don’t ride five miles to check a field.”

“What most people need isn’t a big, strong 5 year old, they need a horse they feel safe on and isn’t going to buck them off. That’s why it’s such an advantage to start them early.”

Instead, Abrahamson choses to focus on making a young horse comfortable in their surroundings before asking more of them.

“I also don’t like to push the two-yearolds, I prefer taking it slow,” he said. “I want them to get used to having me around, getting saddled, and having someone on their back. It’s all I really care about.”

When I start a five year old, it’s a total different thing. He’s set in his ways, and he has so many established habits and ways he relates to the world. The two year olds or yearlings don’t have that, they’re more ready to learn.”

When starting the actual training process and working with young colts, Abrahamson says what separates him is his middle-of-the-road approach.

“There’s the traditional cowboy way of breaking horses, then there’s natural horsemanship,” he said. “I like to think of myself as a little of both, and I think there’s something to be said for both. I give them a little more time to learn, but I also don’t mind showing them who’s the boss when I need to.”

“I really try and encourage my clients to leave their horses with me for at least two months. The thing is, when you’re starting a horse, there are a million expectations that you’re asking from them. The first month for them is like learning a different language, after that it starts to sink in,” he said.

No matter what, Abrahamson says the secret to happy clientele and happy horses is simpler than one might think.

“My main thing with training horses is to keep people safe,” he said. “I don’t want to send their horse home and have them get hurt. IT’s my job to push the horses’ limits a bit, make sure they’re not going to be a danger.”

Amos Abrahamson displays his hybrid-style training with his two-year-old filly. This was the first time the horse has been ridden in a bit and bridle. Photos by Beth Jarrell.

Diamond J specializes in performance horses for ranchwork, cutting, roping and reigning.

Abrahamson learned his skills from travelling and working under different cowboys.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

453 Railway Avenue Abbey Saskatchewan S0N 0A0

453 Railway Avenue Abbey Saskatchewan S0N 0A0 Phone 1-866-746-BONO (2666) or 689-BONO (2666) Phone 1-866-746-BONO (2666) or 689-BONO (2666)

Fran

Lisa

Terry and I along with all the staff at Bono Holdings would like to wish everyone a very “Merry Christmas” and may you have a “Healthy, Happy & Prosperous Terry and2016”.

I along with all the staff at Bono Holdings would like to wish eve-

Simon Alex

ryone a very “Merry Christmas” and may you have a “Healthy, Happy & Prosperous 2016”. Simon

Terry and I along with all the staff at Bono Holdings would like to wish everyone a very “Merry Christmas” Simon and may you have a “Healthy, Happy & Prosperous 2016”.

Terry

Brian Bono Dawn

Renee

15 Great

Valintyn

Bono Holdings is proud to announce that on Dec 31, 2015 we will have completed 15 years of being in business.

It seems like it was only yesterday that we opened our doors to our new venture. Following are the people that I would like to thank, I won’t mention names for fear I may leave someone out. I would like to thank the many customers for their val- ued support over the past 15 years. It is your support that has made our business what it is today and allowed us to give back to the surrounding communities, community events and organizations.

Thanks to friends and customers for picking up freight on their trips to Swift Current and Saskatoon it really is greatly appreciated. Thank you to all the past and present employees that have worked and continue to work for me over the past 15 years. Once again I could not have built the business without your hard work and Bono Holdings is proud to announce that on Dec 31, 2015 we will have completed 15 years of being in business. It seems like it was only yesterday that we opened our doors to our dedication. Thank You to my family for all your help in the many ways that you have, whether it was delivernew venture. Following are the people that I would like to thank, I won’t mention names for fear I may leave someone out. I would like to thank the many customers for their valing or picking up working in the shop, or taking phone for Bono Holdings.

And last, but first, ued support over the past 15 years. It is your support that has made ourproduct, business what it is today and allowed us to give back to thecalls surrounding communities, community events and organizations. Thanks to friends and customers for picking freight on their trips support to Swift Current and Saskatoon really is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to all thepick-ups past and in thanks to my up wife Terry for her and confi dence initme, thanks for the thousands of freight employees have worked to work mehave over the past late 15 15 years.

Once againIin Idid could not have built the without your hard and dedication.

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Following are the like to thank, won’t mention names fear I may leave someone out.working I would to thank the many customers for their valHoldings. mysupport wife Terry support confidence thanks the thousands of freight pick-ups in Swift Current, the many late night meals, ued support overAnd the last, pastbut 15 first, years.thanks It is to your thatfor hasher made our and business what in it isme, today andfor allowed us to give back to the surrounding communities, community events We are very proud of being a part of the surrounding rural communities and Southwest Saskatchewan.

I did notice andThanks I thankto you. and organizations. friends and customers for picking up freight on their trips to Swift Current and Saskatoon it really is greatly appreciated. Thank you to all the past and are very proud of being a part of the surrounding rural communities and Southwest Saskatchewan.

“Believing In Ruralproud isit. our motto and I stand proud behind it.

“Believing Inover Rural is our o and stand behind presentWe employees that have worked and continue to work for me theSaskatchewan” past 15 years. Once againmott I could not Ihave builtSaskatchewan” the business without your hard work and dedication.

“A Huge Thanks to Everyone from the bottom of my heart.”

Thank You to my family for all your help in the many ways that you have, whether it was delivering or picking up product, working in the shop, or taking phone calls for Bono Holdings. And last, but first,Check thanks out the to my wife Terry for her support and confidence in me, thanks for the thousands of freight pick-ups in Swift Current, the many late night meals, My shop guys aren’t doctors but they can Easy Access help you with your bent or out of shape tube.

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14

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

NOVEMBER - Ally Janzen, Rosenhoff JANUARY - Arlene Arendt, Eastend

S

OCTOBER - Terry Martin-Schmunk, Leader

FEBRUARY - Janice Billington, Shaunavon

A

Life On The Farm APRIL - Joan Ortman, Pennant

JU

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

SEPTEMBER - Natasha Martens, Blumenort

Thank you to everyone who submitted pictures for the contest … from the Staff at CPS Shaunavon … looking forward to working with you next year!

Damon Wilkins Colin Haggert Tim Gregoire Tamara Zieger Dan Glas Naomi Fehr Hugh McDonough Ashley Hurriet Joanne Anderson George Wagner Kortney Topham JULY - Lexi Cadieux, Shaunavon

DECEMBER - Brent Wilkins, Shaunavon

AUGUST - Dwane Morvik, Eastend

m Photo Contest Winners

UNE - Stacey Stevenson

MAY - Janelle Buye, Fox Valley

MARCH - Wade Illerbrun, Shaunavon

16

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

Swift Current SPCA pulls big donation from Regina-based organization

BY B E T H JA R R E L L

beth@gulllakeadvance.com

T

Dave Munshaw leads the Gull Lake Community Choir.

he Swift Current SPCA has once again received a big donation from the SSCF (South Saskatchewan Community Fund).

Susan McLaughlin, president of the board of directors for the SPCA, says this is the second year the organization has received the big donation, something that goes a long way towards helping keep the SPCA up and running.

“It’s $10,000 and that is so huge for us,” she said. “To put it in context, our operating budget is close to 300,000.

To get us a substantial grant goes a long way to helping us achieve our goal.”

McLaughlin says that both the previous year’s donation and this one came to a big surprise to the SPCA. “The organization, SSCF has its headquarters in Regina,” she said.”

They match philanthropists with organizations perceived in need, or who will benefit from a donation, and then they match them.

The SPCA has just come through a very difficult financial period. We came very close to closing the doors a couple years ago; we just didn’t have the public support. This news reached a Regina philanthropist, who saw the potential in us and the value SPCAs do for the community.”

Last year’s donation, also $10,000, ended up being dedicated towards staff resources. For the first time, the SPCA was able to offer health packages to employees.

“It’s hard to retain good employees, so it was important to us to take care of the great ones we already had. That was a huge step forward, in that it helped us retain our great staff.”

We gave them a report last year on where we spent the money, and they applauded the decision. It was the right thing to do.”

The money from this year, she says,

may be used as a seed for future money making projects.

“What the SPCA has realized is we need to be sustainable in the future, so we’re looking for additional, stable revenue streams where the activity is repeatable and we can continue it in the future,” she said.

McLaughlin points to the used bookstore in Swift Current as one of these sources. While the bookstore brings in close to $30,000 a year, she says that a second revenue stream is still needed.

“Something with a stable presence in the community that serves a need and allows us to build up a client base that will also provide a revenue stream in the future,” she said. “We’ll be looking at a business plan and talking to other businesses in the region to see where we can fit in. We’ve got a lot of work to do in 2016, but we’re all looking forward to the challenge.”

She says the board is looking at things such as animal boarding facility, or a pet crematorium. McLaughlin adds that while most of the money will be dedicated to the seed, not all of it will go towards a new business.

“We had a change in our veterinary services lately, and it’s costing us a little more money. We run a spay and neuter program, and without it, very quickly we’d have issues with overpopulation and animals becoming wild.”

Public donations go a long way towards not only keeping the animal population manageable, but also keeping the SPCA running, she says.

“I think that perhaps the community doesn’t know that our operating budget is close to 300,000, and roughly 80% of that needs to come from public support and grants,” she said.

“Since we alerted the public to the trouble we were having two years ago, there was a huge outpouring of support for the SPCA. We know the public is behind us and we know that they believe very strongly in our services.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

Horse-drawn carriage rides, free gingerbread cookies and demonstrations by local firefighters were offered at the event.

Cowtown Chistmas

Maple Creek’s Cowtown Christmas took place on Thursday, December 11. Cowtown Christmas celebrates night shopping for residents of Maple Creek and conversations over the fireplace.

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18

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

Rock Solid Bred Heifer Sale readies

BY J O R DA N PA R K E R

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

T

he Rock Solid Bred Heifer Sale, which donated to the Arnal Boys Memorial Bursary, is set to do it again this year.

Consigners chose this bursary to be the landing place for the donation, with Kelly Topham and Top Land and Cattle Ltd. and Donald and Penny Banford with Red Rock Land and Cattle donating heifers.

“This year, two bred heifers will be sold in memory of Blake, Sean and Lyndon,” said their sister, Chantal Henderson.

“The two consigners are both from Eastend, and that just makes it extra special for us.”

She said the response toward the bursary has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Basically of the funds -- the majority -- come from southwest Saskatchewan. It just shows how small communities can come together,” said Henderson.

“It shows the ranching and farming communities how the younger generations have hopes and dreams to continue in agriculture.”

For agricultural and farming families in the southwest, this bursary provides a valuable opportunity.

“We were raised on a farm, and you live and breathe that place. You’re invested in the industry. Many decisions and goals are involved with agriculture,” she said.

“It’s in your blood, and people involved are so into it. You look at people and no one retires. There’s a love for the land, the animals and the way of life.”

The idea to raise money with heifers came up last year, and three were donated to the sale.

“They’ve been a high commodity the last few years. I’m not an expert with cattle, but as a young animal, they have a lot of years to be productive,” she said.

“The offer came up that consigners chose the bursary as a place for funds to go. We made over $47,000 last year, and it reinforced how generous the people around here are.”

She said she’s happy for any money that goes toward the bursary.

“Anything raised, donated or given is all of equal importance, no matter the monetary value. Some of these events or sales make it so much easier to give back to young individuals who want to pursue their dreams,” she said.

“Without money, we couldn’t give out money. We appreciate any donations, and they’re all so important to our bursary continuing to be here.”

She wanted to thank everyone for helping her out along the way.

“I was going through pictures and it’s interesting to see how we’ve progressed in a year,” she said.

“It’s cool to see young people so enthusiastic. We can see through the boys’ memory, we can encourage all that inventiveness and imagination.”

Pictured are the Bircham family, consigners last year at the sale.

Bryce & Lance Weiss of Diamond K Cattle Co. from Maple Creek who purchased a heifer at last years sale.

Pictured is the Richardson family with the heifer that they bought at the sale. All of these kids went to school with Blake, Sean and Lyndon. They named the heifer BLYS with the initals of the boys.

Local cop to take specialized drug training A news release sent to The Advance through Sgt. Hunter spoke about the special training area officers can receive.

BY J O R DA N PA R K E R

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

R

Shari Nickel and Karen Bye scoop out chili samples to warm up customers like these two young gentlemen last Thursday evening. Photos by Beth Jarrell

ecently, officers from the Swift Current Rural/Gull Lake RCMP have been selected for a number of specialized courses. These include courses specific to search warrants, interviewing and impaired driving investigations. Having officers selected for these courses is indicative of the quality of officers posted to the Swift Current/Gull Lake area right now,” it said.

“RCMP officers do not receive automatic training in specialized areas during their career. They have to earn it.

When a course is offered, a supervisor considers the aptitudes of the officers under his command and forwards their name to Regina for final selection if an officer fits the criteria. To have so many officers selected from our area is a credit to the officers here.”

He particularly noted Rinholm’s achievement and the trip coming up.

“Cst Rinholm was selected to attend the Drug Recognition (DRE) course in Jacksonville, Florida this winter. He will be training with other officers from all over North America. Few officers are selected from Canada. The course trains officers to recognize and articulate signs of impairment in drivers who have consumed drugs,” said the release.

“When a driver is found driving while impaired by alcohol, they are arrested and taken to provide breath samples into a scientific instrument that provides readings of their blood alcohol level for court. Currently, there is no instrument that provides readings of impairment levels for drugs. The purpose of the DRE course is to train Cst Rinholm to such a degree that he becomes the instrument in drug investigations.”

Rinholm says he isn’t doing this to

further his career; he just wants to keep innovating and finding ways to serve people.

“I’m not so concerned about that. I end up where I end up. Keeping highways and roads safe and dealing with impaired drivers is a passion,” he said.

“They have no reason to be on roads, and we work hard to find, identify and keep them off roads. I have seen far too often the results of drinking or driving.

This is one more tool to get noticing the influence of drugs under control.”

Rinholm has been waiting a long time for this chance, and won’t waste it.

“I’m always looking for new tools and new experiences, and yes, a couple years ago this was something I specifically asked for. The timing didn’t work out.

Every year the RCMP looks to members to provide information on what training they want,” said Rinholm.

“This year went and said this is what I might like. This was an area where we have gaps and where the detachment can improve. I wanted to make sure whatever I did helped the detachment. He saw this as an area where we could do better.”

Rinholm used to be a paramedic, and has seen the ways drugs can affect people.

“I’ve seen so much pain, death and injuries. I’ve seen terrible situations brought about by people who get into vehicles, drink and drive or who are under influence of drugs. People haven’t figured out they’re playing russian roulette, and eventually someone will get killed and it’ll catch up,” he said.

“I’m very excited at the prospect of this opportunity. It’s not something a lot of officers have, and hopefully we can see more of it. Alcohol is always a hot topic, but drugs have slid under the radar for a while. This is something I expect we will take more of an issue with very soon.”

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A LITTLE BIT WESTERN

Picture Perfect

BY TA R A M U L H E R N DAV I D S O N

lonesomedoveranch@sasktel.net

T

MULTIPART FORMS

is that magical time of year when homes are decorated, goodies are baked, families gather, and holiday traditions are upheld. One of my favourite things during the season is receiving updates from friends and family through their annual Christmas cards. It’s fun to open the mailbox and see stacks of notes from loved ones near and far, most of them including the quintessential family photo. You know the kind, the ones where impeccably dressed children beam at the photographer, while parents appear to be in love with each other, their children, and the world in general. Everything is perfect.

We too usually include a family photo in our Christmas card and I can tell you right now, obtaining that pretty picture can be a challenge. Whether you endeavour to get a flawless family picture or simply attempt to have all of your family members in one place at a single time with photographic proof, the process is easier said than done.

The frustration level increases if the ages of the children are five or younger and it multiplies if any of your family members are male. There seems to be a lot of bargaining and organization and gnashing of teeth to get the show on the road.

Sometimes I attempt to capture a Christmas-card-worthy photo of my husband and me with our angelic little darlings and I set up a tripod, explain the process to everyone and hope for the best. Other years I get a photographer who has much more skill and patience than I to take our photos. This involves setting up an appointment, because while our family is often together, we are usually sporting mended chore clothes and dirt-spattered faces, hardly the shared vision that the photographer or I have for a shoot. I schedule a time, but usually have to reschedule at least once before I can finally herd

our family towards our adaptable (and did I mention patient?) photographer.

Immediately prior to our session, I’m compelled to trim our kids’ hair as it grows shaggy seemingly overnight. The children have a (not entirely unfounded) fear that I will accidentally nick them during their trim, which means I usually have to distract them and reassure them that I won’t draw blood. Then repeat the process for all three heads.

Securing an outfit for everyone is the next step. Where are the shirts? Should I iron those shirts? Do I even have an iron? Now I’ve found the iron, but do I have an ironing board? I procure an ironing board but I think I had better dust it before I do anything else. Each child is later clothed in their predetermined outfit, and the real question remains, how do I keep everyone’s freshly ironed clothing clean for longer than two minutes?

After getting everyone else dressed, I quickly dress myself yet all of a sudden nothing fits right, nothing matches and somehow I become the person delaying the process. I quickly throw on a shirt that I purchased from a grocery store four years ago and hope it looks…fresh.

When I take the pictures ourselves, I’m pleased if at least one photo out of twenty captures 80% of the subjects looking sort of happy. I’ll take what I can get.

Photographers however somehow magically capture lots of amazing pictures, probably because they know what they are doing and how to direct us. Lovely photos are the end goal, and yet I’m always drawn to the outtakes. Whether it’s a grumpy toddler photobombing the shot, or someone’s squinty (or angry!) eyes, or a parent embracing-but-really-gently-restraining a child, those photos seem to be the most authentic representations of a picture session. Part of me would like to actually use one such outtake for our Christmas card some year. It would certainly stick out.

From our house to yours, have a wonderful picture perfect Christmas.

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INVITATION TO TENDER GRAVEL HAULING

The RM of Val Marie No. 17 invites quotes for gravel Loading & Hauling for 2016 year.

Please include: • haul rate ($/yd/mile), • loading rate, • minimum haul distance; • and any surcharges or mobilization charges; • Certificate of Insurance, Commercial General Liability $5,000,000; • Equipment Listing.

Conditions: • Hauling must be completed before July 31, 2016; • WCB Clearance to accompanying all invoices.

PRODUCTION AND DRILLING EQUIPMENT RENTALS Low Profile Tank Slip Type Elevators

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19

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

Submit tenders to: RM of Val Marie No. 17 Box 59, Val Marie, SK S0N 2T0 Phone: 306-298-2009 Fax: 306-298-2224 E-mail: rm17@sasktel.net DEADLINE: TENDERS MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE February 9, 2016 @ 12:00 P.M. All tenders will be considered, but not necessarily accepted.

Air ambulance services form partnership

BY J O R DA N PA R K E R

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

A

ir ambulance services STARS and Ornge have combined efforts in order to raise awareness for snowmobile safety and reduce injuries this winter season.

This is the first time the two services have come together for the same cause.

“We have a great collaborative relationship with STARS. We have been sharing ideas back and forth, and there’s a constant cross-pollination,” said Andrew McCallum, CEO and President of Ornge.

“I made sense for Ontario and the three provinces STARS served to come together on this initiative, and bring snowmobile injuries to the fore.”

Since 2013, Ornge has transported over 140 patients related to snowmobile accidents, and STARS has responded to 46.

“STARS and Ornge share a common goal of saving lives across Canada,” said STARS President and CEO Andrea Robertson. “By partnering together we want to increase safety for Canadians who use snowmobiles for work and recreation.”

McCallum says injuries haven’t gone up, but this is about prevention.

“Various trail maintenances tools are helping, and things aren’t as bad as 20 years ago. Really, no injuries should occur. Prevention is key.”

STARS and Ornge developed a a relationship over the years, and this seemed like a great opportunity to come together.

“We worry about water safety, but seasonal changes make a difference too. We need to increase contact with people and push for accident prevention in winter too,” he said.

“The truth is the vehicle, speed, terrain and weather all have a hand in injuries. Frozen lakes and ponds may seem like the best routes, but they are not certain, stable surfaces.

“These are the kinds of things we educate about.

Too often, people are inebriated, and in recent years we’ve tried to show snowmobiles are no different than driving cars when it comes to alcohol.”

The two services are consistently there to lend a hand.

“We’re always at the ready, and we do work in all seasons. I think none of these injuries should occur, and our procedures and tips should be observe. We don’t want anyone getting hurt. There shouldn’t be a need for that helicopter, but if there is, we’re there,” he said.

“Riding at a speed commensurate with the weather conditions is important, and looking at terrain an trail conditions is big. You need appropriate equipment and the right gear, because unfortunately, if you break down you could spend some time in the bush. Have a good GPS and just be ready.”

Most of all, the two services just hope people stay safe when they’re out on their snowmobiles.

“There’s an old adage that you learn from the mistakes of others, because you won’t live long enough to repeat them all. Safety courses let you learn from others’ experiences. I recommend them for anyone doing this, so risks can be managed.”

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

New Premier’s Service Club Cypress Health partners with Award Recipients Announced Great Plains for new classes Humboldt, Leader, Meadow Lake and Swift Current Groups Recognized CONTRIBUTED

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

O

n Friday, four new recipients of the Premier’s Service Club Award were announced, representing volunteer community organizations from Humboldt, Leader, Meadow Lake and Swift Current.

“Congratulations to our latest recipients for the work you do to make your communities, regions and our province a better place for all of us,” Premier Brad Wall said. “Your ongoing efforts are very much appreciated and are another great example of what makes Saskatchewan so special. Thank you.”

The award’s second round of recipients are: • The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Humboldt has more than 40 years of support and service to a wide range of projects. It has helped fund equipment for the Aquatic Centre, Hospital Foundation, Water Ridge Spray Park and playgrounds. JCI, a service club for those aged 18 to 40, is currently working with the region’s municipalities and other partners to develop new agricultural exhibition grounds.

• The Leader Lions Club has contributed to many activities since 1960, offering volunteers and financial support to a community hall, arena, Leader Tourism, Millennium Gardens and the Leader Ball Diamonds. It supports the Friendship Centre, River Ridge Golf Club, Western Senior Citizens Home, Arts Council and a farm safety program. The club was also key in building a new Leader and area swimming pool.

Cowtown Chistmas

• The Meadow Lake Lions Club has contributed to its community and surrounding area for more than 50 years.

It has fundraised for many initiatives, including the Lions Regional Park, a project for which they were the largest contributor. The club is a strong volunteer organization that continues to improve the community’s quality of life and plays a major role in the development of Meadow Lake.

• The Swift Current Kiwanis Club, dedicated to working on behalf of youth by providing leadership training and service opportunities, has supported its community and area since 1921. It has helped build parks and recreational facilities, been a part of community events and worked to support individuals and families.

The Premier credited Saskatoon MLA Corey Tocher for coming up with the idea of honouring service clubs and fraternal groups that contribute a great deal to Saskatchewan communities. The Premier’s Service Club Award was launched in 2013.

Nominations are now being accepted for the next round of this award. Voluntary, non-profit service clubs or fraternal organizations that meet to perform charitable work either by hands-on effort or by raising money for other organizations are eligible.

The nomination deadline for the third year of this award is February 29, 2016.

Nomination forms and a list of eligible organizations can be found at www.saskatchewan.ca/premierserviceclubaward.

BY B E T H JA R R E L L

beth@gulllakeadvance.com

C

ypress Health Region and Great Plains College have come together to gear up for the opening of the 225-bed Swift Current Long-Term Care Facility.

The CCA (continued care assistant) program will be used to get Cypress employees ready for running the care home. Cypress already has one partnership in place with the college, but Scott Matthies, Director of Workforce Planning and Staff Development with Cypress, says this program will be different.

“The part-time program is something we’ve had for awhile now, and we’re really happy to introduce the full-time program,” he said. “With the use of the long-term care facility we have now, there is a need to hire untrained care aids.”

The new partnership allows us to run a partnership from March to July to complete their training in time for the opening of the facility.”

Matthies says that unlike the existing part-time program, the new program won’t be available to everyone.

“The part-time program is on a first-come, first-serve basis, which makes it open to everyone,” he said.

“Our new program will only be available to Cypress Health staff.

“There are two reasons for that.

We wanted to make sure that if we were going to go through the trouble of getting an instructor and setting

the course, our staff would have the proper access to it.

“The other is that so our staff can hit the ground running with this.

We’ll be fully prepared to open our doors with fully-trained staff,” he said.

He said people outside the region could become a part of it at some point.

“If we come to a point if the waitlist isn’t full and we have people wanting to join the program, there’s the option to bring those who aren’t our staff into the program, too.”

The program will run in cohorts of 24, but can be expanded to two or three cohorts should the need arise.

He says the number of new attendees will depend on where Cypress Health can draw employees from.

“We have a current arraignment where staff from Alberta taking the health care program there is equivalent, but if we recruit untrained who haven’t taken a course like this anywhere in the country, that will determine what we need,” he said.

Matthies says the deal to implement the new program has been in the works for two months, something highly unusual for both parties.

“That’s not the way these types of agreements usually go, usually it takes many months,” he said. “Various parties need to be involved between us, the college, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the Ministry, but we had a really short window to put this together, and that’s why it’s gone so quickly.”

More from Cowtown Christmas in Maple Creek. Photos by Beth Jarrell & Jordan Parker.

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21

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

Curling in Swift Current in no danger of shutting down

BY B E T H JA R R E L L

beth@gulllakeadvance.com

C

urlers around the southwest may have found it more difficult to recruit members for their clubs this season, but for the Swift Current Curling Club, it’s business as usual.

Ron Eichel, President of the Swift Current Curling Club, says that despite the tick-down in curlers over the past couple years around Saskatchewan, the club remains healthy.

“I don’t know if our numbers have grown very much over the past couple years, but they haven’t shrunk either, and I know that’s been a problem for a few clubs who have seen a reduced number of members, so I think Swift Current and area is doing quite well,” he said.

“We’re hoping to draw interest across the southwest. Based on the conversations I’ve had with people across the country, I think that the southwest is probably one of the biggest hotspots for curling in Canada.”

Eichel believes that while interest may be waning in some places, the national interest for the sport will always keep it going.

“You look at different events, and the stands are always filled and on national TV. Whenever we’ve had an event in the past, tickets always sell out quickly.

There is a very strong interest in the sport around here, it’s a good place to be for it.”

He believes that the curling dilemma can be attributed to other options those living around the province now have.

“We always curled when I was younger, because all our parents did it and all of our teachers did it, so there was always help and coaches when we needed it,” he said. “I think that’s changed a bit because now there’s so much more to do.”

“We’ve brought some pretty big events to the city that have really brought the interest up, obviously with (Ford World Women’s Championship) coming again to the city in 2016, it will do it again.

For Eichel, curling is more than just a sport.

“I love it for the social aspect. We can chat as we go, and that’s not true for every sport,” he said. “You can also start younger and get back into it in later years, so age and skill levels are really all over the board.”

“People who have never curled before come out, and after a couple games they find they’re throwing pretty well. It’s not a huge learning curve if you want to just play for fun.”

There is also a very rich history behind not only curling in general, but also the Swift Current Club.

“The club is very old,” he said. “Curling clubs all across Canada were amongst the first things set up in a new place, so there’s certainly a lot of history there. Our club is over 100 years old, and it looks like it will keep going for a long time to come.”

Ron Eichel, president of the Swift Current Curling Club poses on at the home of the curling club, the iPlex.

Carharrts & Caviar showing metal as art

BY J O R DA N PA R K E R

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

T

he fourth annual Carharrts & Caviar is set to kick off in Swift Current, and instructor Jared McKenzie couldn’t be more excited.

The welding teacher at Great Plains College has been putting on the welding showcase for a long time, and takes great joy in showing all the ways metal can be used.

“We started this because we didn’t have enough money to buy the things we wanted to upgrade our shop. Budgets were tight, so we did decorative artwork and started this,” said McKenzie. Artwork made of metal and other materials was quickly a hot commodity.

“The first year, we managed to raise decent money and it just exploded after that. It’s one of the city’s most popular events.”

He had nothing but praise for title sponsor Acklands-Grainger.

“They’re just amazing. They’ve been here since day one and they’re always involved. It’s unbelievable, the support we’ve received from all our sponsors, and all the companies wanting to be involved,” he said.

“They see what we’re doing, notice the quality of stuff, and it’s very flattering that people want to be a part.”

The first year saw 120 people, where the last two were totally sold out with 240.

The event was so huge they had to move it into the lounge and gym.

“People just support it and spend their hard-earned money to be here. They believe in our program, and it’s amazing.”

One day, McKenzie and a development officer were sitting around, and came up with the name.

“We picked carharrts because coveralls are a staple of the rough and tough workwear of welding, and caviar because it’s not the typical way you’d think of a welding class auction,” he said.

“It’s very decorative and beautiful, and

SWAC BASKETBALL SCHEDULE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15th

Senior Girls Frontier @ Maple Creek 5:30 PM Gull Lake @ Swift Current 5:30 PM Senior Boys Frontier @ Maple Creek 7:00 PM Shaunavon @ Swift Current 7:00 PM

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17th

Junior Girls Maple Creek @ Swift Current 5:30 PM Shaunavon @ Waldeck 5:15 PM Frontier @ Gull Lake 5:00 PM Junior Boys Shaunavon @ Waldeck 6:45 PM

it ties to the rougher side of welder and the finer side of art.”

The theme this year is ‘The Softer Side of Steel,’ and McKenzie feels it fits perfectly.

“We picked it because in the past we were very specific with the theme. This year, we wanted to leave it open and not be so theme-specific. They think steel is about metal, buildings and roughness.

When people see these attractive pieces, there is a softer side.”

He’s excited for the event and happy to be putting this together.

“It’s a privilege on my part to even be a part of this, and it’s amazing to bring funds to the students,” said McKenzie.

Proceeds from this year’s auction go to an entrance scholarship fund and equipment for the shop.

“The way we look at it is the guys who came in this year received benefits from previous years of this, so this is the chance to give back and shape future industry by getting these guys through,” he said.

“Alumni from the first year still donate their time, they look and help with pieces and they work with us. It’s so inspiring to see that stuff.”

McKenzie has been at Great Plains since 2008, and has watched the welding program steadily grow.

“There’s always a waiting list, and this shop is one of the best per square foot in the country. We’ve grown ten-fold and we’re continually growing,” he said.

“Every year this event seems to get bigger and better, and tickets always sell fast.

This is a great stocking stuffer.”

Pre-Christmas tickets should be bought by 4 p.m. Friday, December 18. The college is closed from December 21 to January 4, 2016.

Auction items will be revealed in the New Year.

The event is Thursday, February 25, 2016. Tickets are $25 and available at the Swift Current Campus.

Whitemud Hockey League

DECEMBER SCHEDULE

DECEMBER 18, 2015 (Friday) 8:00 PM at Cabri Rink Complex 8:00 PM at Shaunavon Rink Complex 8:30 PM at Consul Rink Complex

DECEMBER 19, 2015 (Saturday) 8:00 PM at Frontier Rink Complex 8:00 PM at Leader Rink Complex

DECEMBER 20, 2015 (Sunday) 2:30 PM at Gull Lake Rink Complex

DECEMBER 23, 2015 (Wednesday) 8:00 PM at Shaunavon Rink Complex

DECEMBER 30, 2015 (Wednesday) 8:00 PM at Cabri Rink Complex

Gull Lake Greyhounds at Cabri Bulldogs Leader Flyers at Shaunavon Badgers Maple Creek Hawks at Consul Rockets Consul Rockets at Frontier Flyers Cabri Bulldogs at Leader Flyers Maple Creek at Gull Lake Greyhounds Gull Lake at Shaunavon Badgers Shaunavon Badgers at Cabri Bulldogs

22

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Obituaries

Audrey Eileen Lambie A

udrey Eileen Lambie (nee:Danser), aged 80 years old of Swift Current, SK passed away November 30, 2015 at 12:50 a.m. The Memorial Service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4, 2015 at the Victory Church at 1100 5th Avenue NE, Swift Current, with Pastor Lorne Davis officiating. The organist was Nicole Perrault. Amazing Grace was performed by her grandsons, Mason Bennett and Chris Bennett. The urn bearer was her neighbor and dear friend, Dale Finkbeiner. Over the years, Audrey considered Dale as her brother and they would often solve many mysteries with the repair jobs they would conjure up. The interment service took place at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Audrey is survived by her companion, Vic Pederson, her children, Donna Christensen (Tom) of Standard, Alberta, Rod Bennett (Shannon), Cheryl Bennett of Swift Current and Joanne Bennett of Calgary, her grandchildren, Angie, Terry, Nicole, Mason and Chris Bennett, her brothers and sisters from Alberta and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, Bill Lambie in 1991, her parents, Harold and Eileen Danser and siblings, Bud, Debbie and Donald Danser.

Audrey was a caregiver and she found great pleasure in the simple things - helping others, dancing, laughing, being with family and friends, She believed in repairing, not replacing and could always be found re-upholstering furniture, rebuilding the vacuum, creating tarps for Chuckwagons or sewing, knitting, crocheting and painting pictures to fill the empty moments of her day. No project was too

C A R E E R

23

MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

big and she expressed her love for her family and friends by assisting them in any way she could. Even though health challenges were difficult for her the last number of years, she could always be counted on to hem some pants or knit a sweater for her grandchildren. In her younger years, she was an avid softball player in the summer and curled and ice danced in the winter while raising her young kids. She was always on the go and made long and steadfast friends for life.

She was a social butterfly who loved her family and friends, and she found it difficult to sit on the sidelines when dancing was no longer an option.

She once said that one of the greatest inspirations in her life was “listening to all the elderly people I helped look after for 48 years.” Audrey was born and raised in the Clive, Alberta district. She started a nursing career as an LPN at 17 years old and lived and worked in Ponoka, Calgary, Taber, Gull Lake and finally settled in Swift Current. She worked at the Palliser and Pioneer Lodge for many years and was a life-long member of the Royal Purple. She was vibrant and always had a smile and story for everyone she met. Donations may be made in her memory to the Elks & Royal Purple Fund for Children #100-2629 29th Ave., Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 2N9. Warren’s Funeral Home were entrusted with the arrangements. For further information call 306773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606 or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome. com and express your sympathy to family members in our book of condolences.

SPIRITUAL GLEANINGS

Joseph At the Front of the Stable

Men have much to contribute at Christmas …

BY J OY S A S S E

www.canadianruralchurch.net

M

en have sometimes been labeled as the “stagehands” of Christmas: following through on the orders of their wives, and financing the extravaganza.

But when Ann Weems, in her book Kneeling In Bethlehem, thinks of Josephs place in the stable, she envisions him being more central to the Christmas Story.

“Who put Joseph in the back of the stable?” she asks, to stand as “background for the magnificent light of the Madonna?”

Weems recalls how faithful Joseph as been “in spite of the gossip in Nazareth” and “in spite of the threat from Herod”. Actually “it was he who named the Child Emmanuel.”

He was the kind of person who guarded his family and greeted the visitors whatever their status.

“When he wasn’t in the doorway, he was probably urging Mary to get

some rest, gently covering her with his cloak, assuring her that he would watch the Child.” Can’t you imagine him holding the Baby, walking him and quieting him through the night until he closed his eyes?

“This Christmas, let us give thanks to God for this man of incredible faith, into whose care God placed the Christ Child.”

Notice, too, the way other fathers reach out during the Christmas season to show the love and care they have for their families, and to reflect the deep spiritual truths that makes the season special. Listen to their suggestions, acknowledge their advise, be prepared to even do things in a different way at their behest.

Think of Joseph giving Jesus a grounding so solid that he would later dare to teach others a whole new way of thinking about relationships with each other – and with God. “As a gesture of gratitude, let’s put Joseph in the front of the stable where he can guard and greet and cast an occasional glance at this Child.”

Your southwest community newspaper.

Now available online. www.gulllakeadvance.com

O P P O R T U N I T Y

ADVERTISING & PRINT SALES MANAGER COMPANY / PUBLICATION: Winquist Ventures Ltd. / The Gull Lake Advance JOB LOCATION: Swift Current and Southwest Saskatchewan JOB DESCRIPTION: The Gull Lake Advance is seeking a full-time inventive, innovative sales and marketing individual to join our dynamic team. Our growing newspaper is a unique regional product, rural in its focus, but with an edgy, urban interface. We want someone who can relate to our vision and join in our enthusiasm for delivering an exceptional journalistic product, and a tremendous vehicle for our advertisers to reach their customers.

We are flexible, family-oriented and committed to our communities, our readers, our advertisers and most importantly, our staff.

Your job is simple, but stimulating – you will partner with some of the most important businesses in this corner of the province to advance their marketing strategies. In fact, you’ll help create campaigns, and be a trusted marketing professional.

We offer a competitive combination salary with bonus insentives. Our coverage area features some of the most beautiful parts of Canada’s grasslands, including a national park, the majestic Cypress Hills Inter-provincial Park, and access to two cities and countless backcountry recreational opportunities.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: • Strong organizational skills and presentation skills are a must • Attention to detail necessary for all daily responsibilities • An experienced employee with 2+ years experience in a professional setting • Must be a team player • Advertising and marketing experience is a plus • Must have own vehicle and cell phone Email your resume with your cover letter, related experience and references, but most of all, tell us what you LOVE about sales, marketing and media. We’d love to hear from you.

If you’re results-driven and highly motivated, we’re interested. If you’re also a team player with a creative mind, well, we’re going to get along famously.

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The successful applicant will report directly to the Publisher and Production Manager.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: December 18, 2015 NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

The Advance | Sports

Cassie Jans attempts a shot from the free-throw line against the Frontier Raiders last week in Senior Girls basketball action. Photo by Kate Winquist

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New Tattered Lace Dies in the Scrapbook section Check out all the NEW FABRICS on January 14th, our OPEN HOUSE Enjoy Coffee, Cookies and Discounts!

“The perfec t way to ge t ov er the winte rtim e bl ues !”

MAIN STREET MERCANTILE

111 Maple Street MAPLE CREEK, SASK 306-662-4440 mainstreetmercantile@sasktel.net Open Monday to Friday 8:30A - 5P

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

SCREEN-SHOT!

Hayden Johnston of the Gull Lake Greyhounds provides a perfect screen on a goal scored by Jared Johnston against the Shaunavon Badgers last Tuesday night. It wasn’t enough as the Badgers went on to defeat Gull Lake 5-4 to remain atop the WMHL standings. Photo by Kate Winquist

GIFT YOUR GUY

10% OFF

RADA Knives &

121 Jasper St., MAPLE CREEK 306-662-3190 1-877-643-0285

Gift Sets & Gift Certificates

Late Night Shopping this Thurs!

SHOP ONLINE at www.countrylanekitchens.net

OFF • • • •

My Pakage ® underwear 10-Tree hoodies and tees Leather wallets & so much more

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SHANNONSCLOSET

Shannon’s Closet YOUR GIFT STORE AND MORE!

DEC 14 - 18

Setup a Wish List & receive a FREE Giſt

30%

118 MAPLE AVE. S., EASTEND, SK, (306) 295-4070

Check Us Out For All Your CONVENIENCE item needs:

* Lotto * Magazines * Fresh Subs * Coffee * Pop * Variety of Confectionary items Monday-Friday 6 AM to 9 PM ~ Saturday 7 AM to 9 PM Sunday 6 AM to 9 PM

MAGNUM FABRICATING LTD

www.magnumfabricating.com

113 Hwy 21 North, Maple Creek, SK

306-662-2198

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Christmas$. r fo ra ic M a g in tt ge is ne eo m So cleaner... um cu va a t no , er ak m ee ff co a Not

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2015

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