The Advance | Vol. 107 | Issue 17

HARNESS FOR SPEED We speak to Naomi Elford about her passion for horse racing

ADVANCE DOES WELL AT SWNA 3 AWARDS

10

VOLUME 107 | ISSUE 17 |

www.gulllakeadvance.com

Monday, April 25, 2016

READY TO RUMBLE! Tyler Myers and Dylan Cooke of the Gull Lake School Robotics Club showed off the robots they built last Wednesday. Both grade 10 students will be back with the club next year. See the story on page 8.

Photo by David Zammit

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THE ADVANCE

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

HEALTHCARE

The Stark & Marsh firm made a big donation to the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation on Thursday afternoon in Swift Current. The donation was to the tune of $100,000. Left-to-Right, Stark & Marsh Partner Terri Olfert, Foundation Board Chair Karen Schaitel, Stark & Marsh CEO Elden Moberg, and Foundation Executive Director Clay Thompson. Photo by David Zammit

Generous donations to Healthcare Foundation

BY DAV I D Z A M M I T

david@gulllakeadvance.com

SWIFT CURRENT – The Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation obtained some big help on Thursday afternoon at their annual general meeting. The Foundation received two cheques totalling $275,000 towards their goal.

The first cheque was from the Swift Current Elks Lodge in the amount of $175,000. The second cheque was for $100,000 presented to the foundation on behalf of Stark & Marsh.

The President of the Swift Current Elks Lodge Clint Terlson was in attendance to present the Foundation with this generous donation. The Elks Lodge is a fundraising organization located in Swift Current.

Terlson believes the donation was a great investment made by his organization that will payoff for them in years to follow.

“The main reason is our (the groups) age is getting pretty at our lodge and we may need to use this facility in years to come, we had some spare money so we thought it would be a very appropriate place to put it,” Terlson said.

The money was raised through variety of fundraisers the Elks Lodge is involved in. Their suppers they host at Easter & Valentines are among some of the fundraisers the organization has.

The donation by the Elks Lodge is the largest they have ever contributed to one project.

The second donation was made by Stark & Marsh the firm that is located in downtown Swift Current. Elden Moberg, CEO, and Partner arrived to deliver the good news and giant cheque to the Foundation. He recognized all of Stark & Marsh employees played a big role in allowing the firm to make this large offering “The reality is we have 80 people working at Stark & Marsh and they all are really part of this in making the donation because they are the ones that enable us to have the funds to be able to do this,” Moberg said.

He also mentioned that the money being donated would be utilized in a particular manner inside the long-term care facility, and how the facility will be used by almost everyone at some point.

“Our donation will be used superficially to help furnish the 225 resident rooms in the 22 home complex,” Moberg said. “Not only is it extremely important for the community overall but it will also serve many of our individual interests as family members, friends, and current, or former clients require these facilities down the road.”

Executive Director of the Foundation, Clay Thompson was appreciative of the donations, but noted that it’s starting to

15 TUESDAYS

get into crunch time for this project.

“It was very nice to have the Elks Club and Stark & Marsh come forward today and make a very nice contribution to the welcome home campaign it helps us towards our ultimate goal, as I’ve recently said the window of opportu-

“

Not only is it extremely important for the community overall but it will also serve many of our individual interests as family members, friends, and current, or former clients require these facilities down the road.”

nity is getting closer and closer,” said Thompson.

The Foundation is now just over the halfway goal as the opening of the facility is within reach. Thompson stated that the Foundation recently had a fundraising committee meeting in which all of the members had been in touch with residents that are thinking seriously about participating.

The facilities expenditures changed from the $8 million that the health region had previously approved now to $5 million to revamp all the equipment in the new establishment. They were able to transfer some of the old equipment over to new long-term care centre.

The Swift Current Elks Lodge made a huge contribution to the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation on Thursday afternoon in Swift Current. The donation was for $175,000 making it the biggest donation ever made by the Elks Lodge. Left-to-Right, Foundation Board Chair Karen Schaitel, Elks Lodge President Clint Terlson, Elks Lodge Colin Cowan, and Foundation Executive Director Clay Thompson. Photo by David Zammit

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kate@gulllakeadvance.com

The annual Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association awards were handed out on Friday evening in Saskatoon.

The Advance represented southwest Saskatchewan very well, receiving 3 first place awards, 4 second place and 4 third place finishes.

1st Place Best Sports Story: River Rats a community team Writer: Megan Lacelle Best Saskatchewan Cultural Series: Art Beats - Art House, Raene Poisson Writer: Megan Lacelle Design: Max Gilchuk

Best Tourism Story: Ghostown Blues Writer: Jordan Parker Photographer: Kate Winquist Design: Max Gilchuk

2nd Place Best Special Section: Lest We Forget Advance Staff: Jordan Parker, Beth Jarrell, Megan Lacelle, Max Gilchuk, Shelley Drever, Kate Winquist Salute to Veterans: Advance Staff: Jordan Parker, Beth Jarrell, Megan Lacelle, Max Gilchuk, Shelley Drever Kate Winquist Best Recreation Story: District Opportunities Inc. provides disabled residents purpose

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

PROVINCIAL

Eventful March for the CBSA in Saskatchewan OFcrimes THE WEEK Chamberlin faces further chargesTOOL in sex case FALL & WINTER HOURS Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM Weekend & Holidays Always on call 24/7

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223 - 2nd Ave. W., Shaunavon • 306-297-4080 TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015 5

YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

As a result of the ongoing investigation against him,

By Jordan Parker

These are on top of the sexual assault, invitation to

devices were turned over to the under the Criminal Code.

Chamberlin has seen additional charges, including sexual touching, sexual interference and sexual exThe largest enforcement action Canadian Mounted Police.

Rototillers Cabri man Ryan Chamberlin was arrested again Royal two sexual assault charges, an invitation to sexual ploitation charges laid against him in late February. of 20 the month also took place at On March 7 at Estevan HighFriday, March and charged with additional crimes touching charge, and a count each of sexual interferHe appeared in Swift Current Provincial Court The Canada Border Services North Portal oninMarch when officers refused entry toaacorrupting U.S. as more victims came forward the case 24, against him. way, ence, sexual exploitation and children March 23, and was released on an undertaking before Agency (CBSA) is pleased to share officers offloaded a commercial man with a conviction for possescharge. a judge on conditions. a sample of March highlights from trailer and found 1,612 switchsion of cocaine with the intent Chamberlin, 39, was a hockey coach in several its border crossings in Saskatchblade knives. Penalties are pendto distribute. At West Poplar southern Saskatchewan communities throughout his ewan: ing, and the knives were seized River on March 13, CBSA officers adult life.

On March 23, Neal Ainsworth Jr with no terms of release as they There is a publication ban in place to protect the refused entry to a U.S. woman who was fined $10,000 after pleading are prohibited in Canada. identity of the victims, and Chamberlin’s next court had charges and convictions for Brian ZinChuk guilty to CBSA Criminal InvestigaOfficers at ~ North Portal made ~ embezzlement, battery, and false appearance will be April 13 at 9:30 a.m. tions charges stemming from an two suspected child pornography The investigation is ongoing, and investigators inpersonation.

At Oungre on March incident at the North Portal borseizures – the first on March 8 and vite people with additional information to come for21, officers turned away a U.S. man der crossing. On March 21, 2016, the second on March 26. In the ward. with a conviction for aggravated Ainsworth was referred for a secfirst instance, officers detained a assault. On March 22, officers at ondary examination after declarUnited States (U.S.) man bound North Portal refused entry to a ing no firearms. As he was driving for Alaska after finding a suspectD. Wayne Elhard, MLA Street Banner U.S. commercial driver convictto the examination area, he tossed ed prohibited image on his cellCypress Hills Constituency Photo Contest ed of multiple charges including a loaded .45-calibre handgun onto phone. After consulting with law Making your voice heard in Regina.

Gull Lake Communities In Bloom sexual misconduct with a minor. the pavement. Officers also locatenforcement partners, they seized 401 Redcoat Drive Committee is looking for photos It doesn’t thatfor long ago when I wrote a col- On development a greater nationalPorspirit rather than March 11,ofalso at North P.O. Box 308, Eastend, SK. S0N 0T0 ed a prohibited switchblade knife theseem device further examination which showcase the great umn about a remarkable since 2011 tal, an officers emphasisrefused on “states’ rights,” of about Gull Lake and the Phone: 1-877-703-3374 entry to which and was onethings in the vehicle console. In Carand allowed series the published subject to consurrounding area. The photos will cypresshills.mla@sasktel.net by the New York Times on the U.S. Civil War. Now, the causes of the war. issued a deportation order against lyle Provincial Court, Ainsworth tinue into Canada. In the second it appears, that series will soon come to a close.

It’s hard, in our current 21st seekcentury context,betoused on 30” x 72” vinyl banners www.wayneelhard.ca a foreign national who was pleaded guilty to making false case, officers arrested a U.S. comand hung throughout Gull Lake.

Called Disunion, the collection of pieces folbelieve that men would volunteer to fight, andObviously in vertical pictures will work ing permanent resident status, as statements under the Customs mercial driver after finding imaglowed the developments of the Civil War in somemany cases, die for the cause of “states’s rights.”better In and feel free to crop your he had previously been convicted es of suspected child pornography Act and unauthorized possession images to fit better on a banner. thing akin to real time, albeit 150 years later. As this context, those rights had a lot to do with slavon his laptops. The man and his of a handgun in a motor vehicle fraud $5,000 in Canada.

Please do not submit photos of events unfolded throughout the course of the war, ofery.

Butover can you imagine anyone here today volunCONTRIBUTED

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

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historians and analysts discussed what impact they teering to stop a bullet for provincial rights in CBSAhad. officers in Saskatchewan process an average ofCanada?

64,271 Or travellers in 15,789 even North Dakota cars, rights across the This is a civic beautification 12,424 commercial trucks, and 263 flights every month (based on 2015 statistics). program to engage The community Town of Gull Lake is accepting Disunion can be found at opinionator.blogs.ny49th? The whole concept seems absurd. members and showcase thefor student employment with the applications times.com.

I still try to wrap my head around the key issue beauty of our region.

Town Maintenance Department 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 RALPH GOODALE'S REPORT Photos can be emailed to:for the summer of 2015. niversary of the Confederate surrender at Appoago, slavery was a common practice? (In some parts Applicants must: gulllaketown.admin@sasktel.net mattox Court House will come up. It seems of the world, it still is).

• be self-motivating

By Jordan Parker As 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 years.

Confederacy did win the war, not conquering the n Chamberlin was arrested again two sexual assault charges, an invitation to sexual ploitation charges laid against him in late February.

• have a valid driver’s license and charged with additional crimes touching charge, and a countPerhaps each of sexual He appeared itinterferseems soHorizons short due infunding toSwift theCurrent contrast withCourt North, successfully succeeding?

Other but vital players federally willWould we still new New toProvincial supA commentary by the Member of 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 how longport the four United was deployed today?

Would itCouncil, extend all the way to organiza-to behave Parliament for Regina-Wascana charge. aSaskatchewan judgeStates on conditions. the slavery National Research Town of Gull Lake Chamberlin, 39, was a in hockey in several California? If not, what would have caused it to Afghanistan, thewhich nation’s longest wartogether its coach history, tions are working on the Natural Sciences and EngineerBox 150 southern Saskatchewan communities throughout his and Iraq. innovative Iraq is not as wrapped upseniors as we thought end?

Would a Spartacus-like revolt have been adult life. to help ways deal Nearly 40 years ago, as a rooking Research Council, theslave Social 12-2eow Gull Lake, SK. S0N 1A0 There is a publication ban inincluding place to protect the inevitable? Would the North have taken another it was, aswith the U.S. and numerous allies, James G. Anderson, Q.C. loneliness isolation. ie MP representing the sprawling gulllaketown.admin@sasktel.net identity ofand the victims, and Chamberlin’s next courtSciences and Humanities Research ~ Brian ZinChuk ~ Canada, are My getting pulled ISIS Council, shot at it, to 20 yearsInstitutes later? Would 51 - 1st Ave. N.W., Box 610 appearanceinto will bethe AprilSyria/Iraq 13 atthe 9:30 a.m.

Neil G. Gibbings congratulations to SasSaskatchewan riding of Assiniboia, the10Canadian of there have Swift Current, SK. S9H 0M5 investigation is ongoing, and investigators inconflict. katchewanviteThe been a series of continental conflicts for decades?

Morris A. Froslie Seniors Mechanism, the it was my pleasure to work with people with additional information to come for-Health Research, Genomics CanaPhone 773-2891 Fax 778-3364 I thinkAlzheimer's that’s whatward. stands outthe the Red most Cross for me, da, Sustainable If the U.S. had remained fractured email: anderson.company@sasktel.net James M. Peltier Society, the colourful and energetic Health Development Tech- into the 20th at time when the U.S., They and by nology century, what would impactsSuchave been globErin A. Connick Gull Lake Office andduring the University of Regina. and Welfare Minister of that having era, lived Canada, and the others.

2391 Proton Avenue D. Wayne Elhard, MLA ally? Would it have tipped the balance in the First extension,are Canada, has beenthe at continual war since Tyler McCuaig continuing New Horizons' the Honourable Monique Begin, Phone 672-4442 Cypress Hills Constituency cessful science will be a major driv2001 (As tradition we’ve withdrawn fromgood Afghanistan, it erWorld War infuture favourprosperity of the Allies?

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P.O. Box 308, Eastend, SK. S0N 0T0 well-being. markable series since 2011communities. an emphasis on “states’ was one 1-877-703-3374 of ourwhich time, thisoftohas become the newPhone: normal. leading to its provided superpower status,illusor would it have offer Canadian seniors. in published their local Itrights,” was Last Friday a good cypresshills.mla@sasktel.net k Times on the U.S. Civil War. Now, the causes of the war.

It wasn’t always like this.

In most cases wars been too concerned about a future conflict with its www.wayneelhard.ca Another excellent example of the called the "New Horizons" program. series will soon come to a close.

It’s hard, in our current 21st century context, to tration. On behalf of federal Science nion, the collection of pieces folbelieve that men would volunteer to fight, and inshort and often brutal. One way or Say ‘Thank You’ with ormagic a gift Disney shows off itsflowers old-fashioned withcertificate! this traditional tale, were relatively southern neighbour?

Would a slave-nation like the enduring success of good public That program provided seniors lopments of the Civil War in somemany cases, die for the cause of “states’s rights.” In Minister Kirsty Duncan, I was hontold in a new, re-visionary presentation. person could expectFoundation an end at some confederacy have looked kindly on Fascism? Pereal time, albeit 150 years later. As across this context, those country rights another, had a lot to doa with slav- is the policy Canada for organizations the Thurs., Fri., Sat., Mon., April 2, 3, 4, 6 - 7:30 PM Rated G oured to announce federal funding d throughout the course of the war, ery. But can you imagine anyone here today volunSTUDENT point, withrights someone “winning.”

That’s not somehaps it would have even allied with German and (CFI).SUMMER It was created in withwhat a impact bit of nalysts discussed they money teering toto stopbuild a bullet and for provincialInnovation in from the CFI for four important EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Canada?centres Or even North Dakota rights across thing we1997 are the seeing Modern Italy?

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Chretien and war Paulmay Mar-be operate local activity where The Town of Gull Lake is accepting projects in Saskatchewan - one in 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 tin as a vehicle by which the federseniors could gather, socialize and applications for student employment with the I still try to wrap my head around the key issue physics at the University of Regina, Town Maintenance Department d that in a host few weeks the 150th an- range of the Civil War, slavery. ever.

How is it that not-so long would Barack Obama have belonged to some masal government could invest in the a broad of community for the summer of 2015. e Confederate surrender at Appoago, slavery was a common practice? (In some parts another in community health and beginning April 17th Applicants must: Indeed,physical today’s posting ponders the question of ter, with a whip in hand? and intellectual infrastrucfunctions.

It was aworld, huge House will come up. It seems of the it stillsuccess. is).

• be self-motivating wellness at First Nations University, ort, that the war only lasted four Let’s consider some other what-ifs. the What Confederacy whether have won tureif thenecessary could for Canada tothe bewar. a We established vibrant New HoriComing soon ... Do You Believe? & Boy Choir • require minimal supervision Confederacy did win the war, not conquering the and two more at Zinchuk the University •scientific have a valid driver’s licensesales The increased cotton Brian is editor ofofPipeline News. world leaderfrom in research, ms so shortzons due to the contrast withCentres North, butin successfully Would we stillrange Seniors citiessucceeding? and“what-ifs” Apply in writing stating experience to: in reached the fields of food United States was deployed to slavery today? Would it extend all the way to Town of Gull Lake thus attract and retain the bestE. Saskatchewan before theand blockade took hold to General Robert He can be at brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net towns allits history, across have Canada, and Check out our NEW website! e nation’s longest war in California?

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

STEP Celebrates 20 Years of Advancing International Trade CONTRIBUTED

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Eastend Hall Board Ladies presented a cheque for $5000 to the Memorial Hall. Giving donation Margaret Topham and Ron MacRae. Photo Contributed

POLITICS

New session of Legislature to begin May 17 CONTRIBUTED

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Premier Brad Wall announced that the first session of the newly-elected Legislative Assembly will begin on Tuesday, May 17 with the election of the Speaker in the morning followed by the Throne Speech that afternoon.

Wall said the government will focus on its election commitment to keep Saskatchewan strong.

“Earlier this month, Saskatchewan people gave our government a renewed mandate to keep Saskatchewan strong during this challenging time caused by low oil prices,” Wall said. “In the upcoming session, we will focus on doing just that in three key areas: keeping our economy strong, keeping our provincial

C A R E E R

finances strong and keeping Saskatchewan’s place in Canada strong by always standing up for Saskatchewan’s interests.”

Wall said the government is currently working to prepare its legislative agenda and the provincial budget, which will be based on its platform in the recent provincial election.

“We made only a few new spending promises during the campaign and we intend to keep those promises,” Wall said. “Obviously, the budget will be tight as we work to keep our provincial finances strong and get back to a balanced budget by 2017.

“In terms of legislation, we will be moving forward on our election promise to remove the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority from The Crown Corporation Public

Ownership Act. This will enable us to fulfill our promise to convert 40 government-owned liquor stores to private stores and add 12 new private liquor stores.”

Wall also announced that the work on the new dome of the Legislative Building is nearing completion and will be unveiled in a public ceremony on Monday, May 16 – the day before the beginning of the new Legislative Session. More details will be announced at a later date.

“The new dome represents renewal on the outside of the Legislative Building and the new session will represent renewal within the Legislative Building,” Wall said. “I am looking forward to the new session as our government continues with the work of keeping Saskatchewan strong.”

The Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP) turns 20 this year and is celebrating an exceptional track record of helping make our province an even stronger force in international trade.

“The past two decades have seen exponential growth in the global demand for the goods and services of Saskatchewan exporters,” Minister responsible for Trade Jeremy Harrison said. “Our export success has come from the incredible hard work and outreach of Saskatchewan companies and from the support they received from STEP, their innovative market development organization.”

First established as an industry-government partnership, STEP has evolved into a non-profit membership-based organization whose mission is to work with Saskatchewan exporters and emerging exporters to enable their commercial success. STEP has more than 400 member companies and provides a range of trade development and market intelligence services to them.

From 1996 to 2015, Saskatchewan exports have grown to just under $32.8 billion – an increase of more than 250 per cent. Saskatchewan is the number one per capita exporter among the provinces and is Canada’s top agri-food exporting province. One in five Saskatchewan jobs depends on international exports.

While the United States remains Saskatchewan’s most important international market, Saskatchewan exporters have been experiencing strong growth in emerging markets such as China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Turkey. Saskatchewan is by far Canada’s top exporter to India, with 43 per cent of our nation’s total exports to that country.

STEP members have benefitted from trade missions led by their organization and the various trade agreements Canada has signed. The new Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Trans Pacific Partnership are expected to provide even more export opportunities for Saskatchewan producers and STEP members.

“Exporting can be challenging, yet it is critical to the growth and success of Saskatchewan business,” STEP ViceChair and Scoular Canada Ltd. Chief Operating Officer Anthony Kulbacki said. “As a member of STEP, our company has received invaluable services and timely advice that has helped us market our products around the world.”

STEP will hold a number of 20th anniversary celebrations throughout the year, including on the anniversary of its August 21, 1996, launch and at its 2016 trade conference October 18-19 in Regina.

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, 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.

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.

Kate Winquist, Publisher sales@gulllakeadvance.com

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

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: April 30, 2016 NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

6

THE ADVANCE

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Commentary You win, mom

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

megan@gulllakeadvance.com

I

’ve lived with roommates for the past five years of my life.

Well, if you want to get technical, I’ve lived with roommates my whole life. I used to share a room with my sister when I was really young and eventually graduated to having my own room which I proceeded to fill with a mighty fine rock collection, numerous loose leaf pages with scribblings, treasures like kinked sticks, lost marbles or things I’d found in abandoned areas.

In essence, my room was the worst nightmare of a person with any sense of tidiness. Over the years battles were fought with my mother about the state of my room. My mom is an exceptionally tidy person – so the mere sight of my room practically threw her into a tizzy.

Over the years, my room has become less of a hoarder’s paradise. I no longer collect rocks and twigs and I keep the number of dirty dishes to a minimum. However, I still have piles and piles of newspapers, loose leaf, notebooks, novels, trinkets, and clothes haphazardly strewn about my room.

I frequently awake next to a Contracts textbook or on top of a coil notebook.

I mean, I keep common spaces relatively clean. The fact that I’ve lived with roommates so long means I understand the importance of keeping the living room, kitchen, bathroom, etc. clean of unnecessary clutter. But my room is the last domain I have to dwell in my own form of organized chaos.

To my mother’s dismay, I would often go into a fury if I found she had cleaned my room – how was I supposed to find anything? Why couldn’t I just have my own space? Why couldn’t she just accept me for the hoarder I was? None of these arguments ever deterred her from entering my room, garbage bag in hand.

But the time has finally come – after five years of declaring my right to sovereignty over my room – I officially have to share my space with another human.

My boyfriend and I are going to live together this summer.

We’ve been together for about a

year and a half and this will be the first time we’ve lived in the same city, let alone the same house.

He, astoundingly similar to my mother, is an exceptionally tidy person. His room, common spaces and even vehicles are kept relatively immaculate. Not to be confused with how I like to keep my vehicle which currently houses a tripod, figure skates, a harness from when I was a zip-line guide three years ago, a winter jacket, two pairs of high heels, an extension cord and any Christmas cards I’ve received in the past two years.

This raises some concerns for me. After years of asserting my independent right to live in clutter, I may have to compromise on a habit that I have no interest in breaking.

Sigh.

What’s the big deal, you may ask. Why can’t you just keep your room tidy? My only answer: I’m inordinately stubborn. I like to do things if they’re my idea and not at the bequest of someone else. Another reason my mom asserts I was such a joy to raise. Aside from my messy room, I was also exceptionally uninterested in following rules “just because.”

So I’m about to hit a crossroads. Now that my room is no longer mine exclusively I’m going to have to compromise.

My piles of books and notebooks will have to find a home elsewhere and my trinkets may just get packed up for good.

It feels like the tiny child in me is taking a hit. I fought for so many years to assert my right to a messy room and now I have to eat my words and clean my room – the whole relationship/ mutual respect thing makes it a pretty hard to stick by my guns.

I’ve discussed my messy habits with my boyfriend before.

He tries to reassure me that it wouldn’t be a problem, but I can hear the smallest amount of strain in his voice. As obstinate as I am he is my equal. He just approaches these things in a much calmer manner.

I guess this is really just me admitting defeat to my mom – you win mom. My hoarding days are over.

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.

FROM THE TOP OF THE PILE

Realizations over sushi

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

brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net

I

n the past few months I’ve taken up listening to audiobooks. They keep my mind awake when doing woodworking, editing photos or driving. I recently downloaded two, Helmet for My Pillow, by Robert Leckie, and With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, by Eugene Sledge.

You might not recognize these books, but they were the foundation for about three-quarters of the HBO miniseries The Pacific. With Tom Hanks as executive producer, that miniseries gave the Band of Brothers treatment to the Pacific theatre of the Second World War. It was one of the finest examples of historical television ever produced, in my eyes.

Last night I downloaded these two books so I would have something to listen to on the way to Regina. These days I am making regular trips to Regina, taking No. 1 daughter to her braces appointment. To make this more of an adventure than a chore, I told her we’re going to try to go to a different restaurant every time.

For the second visit in a row, we found ourselves in a sushi restaurant, thoroughly enjoying the exquisite cuisine. We don’t get to partake of raw fish very often these

days, since the short-lived (and expensive) sushi place four blocks from our house closed a few years ago.

As I sat there, sipping my miso soup, I glanced up at the lady who seemed to be supervising the whole shebang. She hovered at the entrance to the kitchen area as two men prepared sushi at the open sushi bar. I presumed they were all Japanese in origin.

How incongruous this scene was to the very graphic detail I had been listening just an hour before regarding the opening battles on Guadalcanal. (Don’t worry, Katrina was plugged into her iPad.) The war in the Pacific was probably one of the most vicious this planet has ever seen, with the Japanese fighting to the last man in nearly every battle. They often sacrificed themselves in huge numbers in suicidal Bonsai charges, or flew into ships in Kamikaze attacks.

A close friend had a grandfather who was a Canadian veteran who was captured in Hong Kong and suffered as a POW for several years until the end of the war. Few words can describe how horribly POWs captured by the Japanese were treated, since their belief system was that death was preferable to surrender.

Yet here I was, 71 years later, eating at a Japanese restaurant, and probably not one person in the building

had given a thought that day as to how much hatred there once had been between Japan and the Allies. They just ate their sushi as best they could and enjoyed their small talk with friends and colleagues.

In a similar manner, a trending show on Netflix right now is called Secrets of Great British Castles. It’s well worth a binge watch. But at the conclusion, one must realize that pretty much everyone in the British Isles had several hundred years of very good reason to hate the English, including some of the English themselves. The most recent example in the series was Northern Ireland, where Carrickfergus Castle was used for hundreds of years to oppress the Catholics. It has only been in recent years that peace has come to Northern Ireland.

And that’s the whole point.

If the Japanese and Americans (and by extension, Canadians), and all the assorted folks in the British Isles can come to peace, maybe, just maybe, there might be hope for some other parts of the world, too.

Like the Middle East, perhaps?

Food for thought. Pass the ginger.

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

THE ADVANCE

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FARMLEAD

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

CEREALS CANADA

Facts And Rumours

BY B R E N N A N T U R N E R

b.turner@farmlead.com

G

rain markets have enjoyed a bullish push over the past week or as bearish North American Plant 2016 headlines have been trumped by bullish South American production headlines. Soybeans have been the leader of this running of the bulls, thanks to persistent rains in Argentina that are suggesting up to 10% of the crop there could be lost. With less soybean production in Argentina, this means less soymeal production for the country, which in turn, suggests some of the global demand could switch to the U.S., a consistent supplier. More acutely though, this current rally from November lows for soybeans is mostly attributed to technical momentum shifts and strong buying by hedge funds getting longer (albeit the fundamentals of some lower-than-expected ending stocks and U.S. acreage are hard to ignore as well). Looking deeper, with the known fact that corn planting ahead of pace in the U.S., there’s rumours building as to just how many acres has this current rally has been able to buy for soybeans?

On Thursday, April 21st, we got StatsCan’s estimates for what Canadian farmers are planting in 2016. The most noticeable item was for pulse crops as the Canadian government is calling for 5.14 million acres of lentils to get planted, up a massive 30% from last year and almost 70% (or 2 million acres) from just 2 years ago AND the 5-year average. The biggest provincial increase is expected in Saskatchewan, up 31% from last year but Alberta’s lentils area is expected to be almost 122% higher than the 5-year average. The area getting seeding into peas is also up by 16.3% from last year to 4.28 million acres, with Manitoba taking on a lot more this year, up 121% from last year and 177% from the 5-year average to 1.55 million acres.

More soybeans are seen going into Manitoba soil as well this year, up 10% year-over-year and 50% from the 5-year average to 1.525 million acres. Conversely, almost 8% less acres of Ontario soybeans will be planted this year, with 2.675 million acres going in there.

Giving up acres to the pulse crops include flax (-32% from last year but just 7.3% lower from the 5-year average with 1.115 million acres) and oats (-11% from last year but just 4% lower than the 5-year average to 2.97 million acres). For oats, the notable decreases is in Saskatchewan (-16.5% to 1.51 million acres) whereas oats acreage is actually seen climbing in Alberta by 9% from last year to 730,000 acres. As for the big crops, canola acreage across Canada is expected to be 3.7% lower than last year, contrasting pre-report expectations for a 1.5% increase (Alberta’s the big dropper, down nearly 8% from last year to 5.63 million acres). On the wheat side of things, all acreage is expected to be just 1.3% lower this year at 23.9 million acres with Ontario winter wheat acres (up 48% from last year to 1 million acres) offsetting losses in the west.

Looking deeper, just 7.05 million acres of spring wheat will get planted in Saskatchewan (-9.6% from last year and 15.3% lower than the 5-year average) but durum acreage in the province is estimated at 5.275 million acres, up 5.5% from last year (+25% from 5-year average) and accounting for 86% of all Canadian durum acreage.

Overall, StatsCan confirmed what we thought we knew – that more pulse acres were going in at the expense of less popular oilseeds and cereals. As Plant 2016 gears up, the usual suspects of poor weather slowing pace and acreage unknowns, which will create some volatility, but as we say here at FarmLead, “sell on the rumour, profit on the fact.”

To growth,​Brennan Turner President, FarmLead.com Brennan Turner is originally from Foam Lake, SK, where his family started farming the land in the 1920s. After completing his degree in economics from Yale University and then playing some pro hockey, Mr. Turner spent some time working in finance before starting FarmLead. com, a risk-free, transparent online and mobile grain marketplace (app available) that has moved almost 180,000 MT in the last 2.5 years. His weekly column is a summary of his free, daily market note, the FarmLead Breakfast Brief. He can be reached via email (b.turner@farmlead. com) or phone (1-855-332-7653)

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Fixing Grain Transportation – Finally?

BY C A M DA H L

President of Cereals Canada

We are in the midst of a great shipping year for the Canadian grains industry.

Canadian grain and oilseed exports will be at near record levels. There have been no big winter hiccups with transportation. Customers are happy and farmers’ bins will be empty by the time the crop year comes to an end.

Some might think that this is an odd time to be talking about the systemic problems in grain transportation.

"Some" would be wrong. This is exactly the right time to finally put the right fix in place to ensure that Canadian agriculture can meet the growing demands of our customers.

In the 2013/14 crop year the grain industry was hit with the transportation crisis impacted the entire value chain.

Not only were sales lost that year, but the transportation failures damaged Canada’s brand and reputation.

Quite rightly there has been a great deal of focus on that year – what went wrong and how to fix it? What is sometimes lost in the discussion is the fact that this is not the first time the transportation system failed Canadian farmers and exporters.

A crisis led to the creation of the Grain Transportation Agency (GTA) in 1979. A crisis led to the dismantling of the GTA in 1996. Some of our best minds in the country have authored reports on fixing grain transportation.

The Hon. Emmett Hall, Dr. Clay Gilson, Justice Willard Estey, and Arthur Kroeger are just a few examples. In fact, the books written on this subject could fill a library. The latest edition of the volume of work is contained in the review of the Canada Transportation Act by the Hon. David Emerson.

Grain transportation has been an unsolved intergenerational issue because the underlying problem of railway market power has never been addressed. Often policy discussions begin on the wrong foot with the basic assumption that there is a competitive transportation environment.

We see that in the review of the Canada Transportation Act, an underlying assumption that competition exists where it does not. This assumption does not apply to Western Canadian grains because most shippers are served by one carrier and are subject to monopolistic pricing and service strategies.

Because competition does not exist the government has a role to play in establishing a regulatory structure mimics a truly competitive and accountable system.

A hallmark of any modern commercial relationship is that parties are held commercially accountable to each other for performance. Grain shippers are bound to performance standards with financial penalties through tariffs. But the accountability equation is currently one-sided. There is no mechanism for shippers to hold railways commercially accountable for their level of service.

This needs to change.

Canada exports over 20 million tonnes of cereal grains every year, worth about $10 billion. Virtually all of this grain moves to export position by rail.

Every commodity value chain is engaged in significant investments in innovation designed to drive production up. But this will be wasted investment if we don’t have the ability to move grain to market. The profitability of every part of the Canadian agriculture value chain depends on our critical rail link.

In the mandate letters given to both the Minister of Agriculture and AgriFood and the Minister of Transport, Prime Minister Trudeau has directed a full review of grain transportation.

The work is to follow the tabling of the Emerson report on the Canada Transportation Act. This is the opportunity to finally fix the underlying issues that have led to recurring logistics failures.

Canada needs appropriate, reasonably-crafted legislation and regulation that increases railway accountability.

Without this, there is little that can be done to systematically address service failures. Mutual commercial accountability between shippers and railways, backstopped by legislation, is the prerequisite to preventing another grain transportation crisis.

History shows that if the underlying structural issues are not addressed, transportation failures will recur. Canadian agriculture and the Canadian economy cannot afford for this to happen again.

RURAL LIFE

Are You Lonely Farm Wife?

BY N ATA S H A M A R T E N S

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

Are you lonely farm wife? A year ago, I came across an article written by blogger and author Kristen LaValley titled “Are You Lonely, Mama? (to read it visit kristenlavalley.com). In her article, LaValley talks about the loneliness and isolation she has felt as a mother of young children, something I can relate to with two girls ages one and three.

However, as I she described her feelings I couldn’t help thinking “This is sometimes how I feel as a farm wife too.”

In 2009 I married my kind and loving husband Derek and moved out to the farm with him to an old yard that needed some major TLC. I was excited to be on the farm and loved our little fixer upper home. Looking back though, I didn’t have an honest clue what I was getting into. I had grown up a city girl and although I had frequently visited a great uncle’s farm during my childhood I wasn’t aware of what living on the farm would really be like.

During the “busy season” (April to October) Derek would leave the house by 5:30 or 6 and not return until 9 or later. Of course, during seeding and harvest Derek’s hours were even longer. The

life of a farmer is hard work and long hours – that’s the reality and I must say I’m proud of my husband for all he does.

Meanwhile though, I had plenty to do on the farm too with yard work, cutting the grass, gardening, making meals for the work crew, cutting the grass, cleaning the house and oh did I mention cutting the grass?! (For our first four years of marriage we only had a push mower to mow our ginormous yard so my life pretty much consisted of cutting the grass. Another article for another day…)

Being a teacher, I also had summers off so unless I went to town my only human contact came in the form of listening to talk radio and trying to get the bunny ears positioned just right so I could see Dr. Phil’s fuzzy face on the one channel we could get. I wouldn’t have admitted it then but I was lonely.

Even now, despite the fact I have to lock myself in the bathroom just to be able to go to the washroom without having my two children hanging off me, the farm can still feel like a lonely place.

Just the other day I recognized the yearly subtle shift towards gearing up for seeding, Derek was heading out the door saying he probably would be home late, and I felt that old familiar loneliness envelop me for a moment. I feel it when I put the kids to bed by myself almost every night

during the summer. I feel it when I am trying to get a seeding or harvest meal ready and I could just use two minutes of someone not crying while I try to get food and children out the door. I feel it when the sun has set and I sit on the deck with the only sound being the old owl hooting in the trees, or when I walk through the cows behind our yard and think of the beauty of the moment but yet lack someone to share it with. Sometimes I love the isolation the farm brings and sometimes I hate it.

Over time I’ve come to learn to live with the loneliness. It’s just part of life on the farm and because the farm offers a lifestyle I love for so many reasons, a bit of loneliness seems like a reasonable price to pay. So are you lonely farm wife?

If so, you’re normal. It comes with the territory so to speak. However, I must add go easy on yourself. Take an extra trip to town once in awhile to meet up with a friend or invite people out. We were made to connect with others – in my case specifically, this includes others who can dress themselves and are potty trained – so don’t drown in the loneliness. I love the farm but trust me when I say I’ve come to enjoy it so much more since acknowledging the loneliness I sometimes feel, and making more of an effort to interact with others.

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ON NOW at

COLLIER’S AUTOMOTIVE Oil drums can now be filled at the shop!

PHONE 306-672-4414 SALE ENDS MAY 15th

2274 Proton Avenue, Gull Lake

8

THE ADVANCE

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

A LITTLE BIT WESTERN

Farmer’s License

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

lonesomedoveranch@sasktel.net

N

Dylan Cooke of the Gull Lake School robotics club reaches for the losing robot on Monday afternoon in Swift Current. The Gull Lake School students made a presentation about robotics to the Chinook School Board at their monthly meeting. Photo by David Zammit

A New Generation

BY DAV I D Z A M M I T

david@gulllakeadvance.com

GULL LAKE – With technology constantly advancing in this world, Gull Lake School has been following suit with their Robotics club. The robotics club offers students something outside-ofthe-box compared to your traditional high school sports club.

The club consists of teacher, Reece Digney and four students that are broken into pairs to work together on their robots.

Digney has been the director of the program for four years now, after taking over for Marla Poisson. He is able to lean on past experience in helping his students design the robots they envision.

“I was always into automotive mechanics and computers. I was a mechanic before I became a teacher and when I was exposed to robotics it kind of combined that love of computers and the skill I had of mechanics into one direct application,” said Digney, who worked on robotics during his internship at Yorkton.

He is intrigued by the program and how many real world objects there are that run off similar applications to the robots his students build for battle.

“There is a lot of application to real world things compared to robotics of the past. I mean we have robotic vacuums and smartphones … the technology is really moving in the direction of robotics,” Digney said.

Grade 10 student, Tyler Myers has only been able to enjoy the robotics club for a year but learned how much hard work goes into making the robots battle ready.

“It’s a pretty fun thing to do,” Myers said. “All the work that has to go into programming it and get it to work and build it to the extent that you can.”

Myers has really grown fond of the whole robotics process and after only being around it for a short period of time is already looking ahead to a future.

“Yes I do,” Myers replied when asked about a future in the robotics field. “I’ve started to (look into schooling) a little bit, but not a lot yet.

Dylan Cooke, is also a grade 10 student in his second year with the robotics club. He thoroughly enjoys one specific aspect of the club.

“I basically just like the robots battling, it’s entertaining,” Cooke said, while recognizing it doesn’t always go as planned. “It’s really

complicated in getting it (the robots) to work properly.”

Digney acknowledged there hasn’t been many students to go on looking for jobs in this growing field, but certainly believes there are opportunities out there to be had.

“Skills Canada and a lot of different universities are offering different robotics programs, so it is something that is definitely in the works now,” Digney said.

Digney, realizing the potential for students to further their education in robotics, has made a proposal to his superintendent about possibly taking a step further.

I am looking to do robotics as a class at our school now.

It hasn’t been instituted yet, but where I interned in Yorkton they have a robotics course as a pure course kids can take from grade nine and up and they build robots and later go onto the sumo bots competition and a lot of them move onto skills Canada,” Digney said.

The students recently competed in Regina at My Robot Rumble, finishing fourth in their division. The students will now get to relax from robotics battles and spend their energy helping Digney build a 3D printer.

ot too many people farm in Canada, yet everyone needs to eat. And these days, you don’t have to look very hard to find a conversation about food or farming.

Almost everyone has an opinion on at least one of those topics, and whether or not the opinion is well-informed seems to be of little consequence.

Conversations about food and how it is produced are fraught with a complex list of terms and buzzwords. Sustainability, social license, local, welfare-friendly, antibiotic-free, corporate farming, stewardship, back-to-the-land, free range, Big Farms, labelling, public trust, Big Pharma, certified, natural, eco-friendly, organic, genetically modified, free-from-added… the list goes on. And on. Restaurants and retailers employ no shortage of marketing schemes to promote their products as superior, and in my opinion, sometimes exploit consumers’ lack of understanding or underlying guilt in order to sell food.

In the past, Canadian farmers had an implicit “social license to operate,” meaning the public trusted farmers to produce food without asking too many questions. Perhaps stakeholders and consumers placed their trust in farmers because more people had stronger connections to rural roots and they had an intrinsic understanding of agriculture. Now, thanks to advertising and media as well as a large volume of information available on-line, much of which is unscientific and even downright false, it seems as though the public trust in Canada’s food production systems need to be maintained, and in some cases, earned back.

The concept that farmers need to maintain or work to earn a social license to operate really used to (pardon the agricultural pun here) get my goat. Who do these people think they are, telling me what to do, how to make my living and how best to care for my land and water? Don’t consumers understand how hard farmers work? Doesn’t the public get that we are doing everything in our power to produce safe, high quality food to feed their families while hardly making our own ends meet? Don’t they realize the challenge farmers have to produce more food with fewer resources?

Nope.

The reality is, most consumers don’t understand modern agricultural production practises because only 2% of Canada’s population is actually tied to the agricultural sector. That leaves 98% of our country’s people whose main interaction with food is through purchasing it at the grocery store, where confusing campaigns, guilt, and buyer’s remorse thrive. No doubt consumers have questions.

But what’s a farmer to do?

It’s hard to expect consumers with no agricultural context to understand what farmers do, unless we explain it to them in a concise and respectful manner. We should not just wait until there is a crisis to address, we need to start initiating regular, everyday conversations with regular, everyday consumers. Start a conversation at the rink, in our schools, at a restaurant, during music lessons, in the waiting room at the dentist’s office, in a grocery store, and with our non-farming friends and family. These visits won’t be loud and they might not make any headlines, but these conversations are the ones that count. Rather than defend our production practises, we need to explain them, and share the benefits that they offer the environment, our animals, our land, and our water.

When it comes to social license, some would argue that the consumer with their almighty dollar is in the driver’s seat. But farmers shouldn’t be content to ride shotgun.

Farmers can and should start navigating the road to respectful and productive conversations about food with the public. There is simply too much as stake and we can’t afford to lose our social license to operate.

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Losing a loved one is a time for family. It’s been our privilege to serve the families in our area for generations past. And generations to come.

Warren’s Funeral Home

126 2nd Ave N.E, Swift Current, SK S9H 2C7

306-773-8831 1-800-267-6606

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

n e d l o G On nd Po

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1974 South Service Road W. SWIFT CURRENT, SASK S9H 5J4

Office: 306-773-2383 Fax: 306-773-2392

Roger Mangin, Manager Cell: 306-741-3766 roger.renu@outlook.com

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Custom Land Rolling Service available in South Western Saskatchewan Phone Jerry at 306-741-9801 for more details

AGRICULTURE

The Importance of Compensation and Benefits A M A N DA R I C H M O N D

Farm Business Management Specialist Sask. Ministry of Agriculture, Kindersley

Compensation refers to how much employees are rewarded in return for their contribution to the business. How much employees are compensated can affect the performance of the business.

When deciding what to compensate employees, it’s important to develop a consistent and fair approach that helps attract and retain the right people for the business.

It is important for employees to perceive that their compensation is fair in relation to their co-workers and to the industry. It isn’t always possible to provide employees completely equitable compensation, but it is important to consider when hiring new employees or increasing wages for existing employees.

Compensation doesn’t just come in the form of wages. There are two forms of compensation monetary and non-monetary. Monetary compensation can take on different forms but refers to wages paid. Non-monetary compensation is other forms of compensation that have a positive effect on the health and general well-being of employees.

The different forms of monetary compensation are hourly wages, salaries, piece-work pay or bonuses. Non-monetary compensation can come in many forms and could be tailored to the preferences of the employee. Some examples of non-monetary compensation are recognition, employee involvement in decision making, discounts, training

in other business areas, work/life balance and benefits packages.

There are two kinds of benefits that can be provided to employees: statutory benefits and optional benefits.

Statutory benefits are mandatory benefits such as employment insurance and Canada Pension Plan. Optional benefits are benefits that the employer can choose to offer to employees. Optional benefits can help attract and retain employees.

Optional benefits packages can be tailored to meet the needs of the employees and can vary from one employer to the next. The most common benefits offered are health and dental plans, life insurance, short and long term disability plans and employee assistance programs.

In addition to wages and benefits employers can offer perks to their employees. Perks would be additional compensation either monetary or non-monetary that would generally be offered due to exceptional performance or as a long service reward.

As an employer you do not need to include all these forms of compensation, but these are options that employers can use to create a competitive compensation package that will help with recruiting and retaining the right people for the business.

For more information stop by the Kindersley Regional Office or contact Amanda Richmond at (306) 463-5446 or by email at amanda. richmond@gov.sk.ca or contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

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10

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| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Naomi Elford and her horse Sugar Ray practice for their next competition. Elford will take to the course in Maple Creek for the Southwest Qualifier and Fundraiser event. Photos by David Zammit

Harness for Speed

BY DAV I D Z A M M I T

david@gulllakeadvance.com

SHAUNAVON – Growing up in a small town just south of Regina, Naomi Elford found one passion that ignited a fire inside of her that still burns today, horses and more specifically racing them. Elford grew up on a ranch in Milestone, Saskatchewan with plenty of open fields to train and learn how to ride horses.

Since she was born she has always had the opportunity to work with horse and spend copious amounts of time learning how to ride and race them. Alford’s first rodeo was when she was only nine-years-old and she certainly hasn’t held back since.

“I’ve always loved it, I’ve loved horses since I was a little kid and when I entered my first rodeo I was just hooked,” Elford said.

Since that first rodeo she has gone through a slew of horses keeping things interesting. With every new horse comes different challenges, one thing you need is patience - the more you have the better the overall outcome will be. A second hurdle to overcome is to instil a routine and work ethic into the horse that you will expect on a regular basis.

“I started to train my own (horses),” Elford said, recognizing “When they have the lightbulb moment (realizing what to do) or when a good horse works well for you and he’s trying that is probably the coolest part, that’s the part I keep coming back for,” Elford said.

She likes having multiple options at a time giving her a choice while giving the horses a bit of a rest. She is the benefactor of having multiple horses in the stall by getting them experience while learning which one to rely on in different situations.

“I will haul two at anyone given time, I like to have a project horse, like he (Sugar Ray) is my project horse right now and Jag is a little more seasoned and I will cycle through them like that,” said Elford.

She has owned the six-year-old Sugar Ray since August 2014 after buying him from Cody Rood in Bengough. She then acquired the 12 year-old Jag from Betty Ameel in Estevan in the fall of 2014. Having spent well over a year with both horses and countless hours working with them, she has formed a bond with them.

“Knowing your horse, once you spend enough time on them is big,” Elford said. “You start to know what they like and what they don’t like, what their anxiety level is and how they learn, that is the best thing for yourself is to know your horse.”

Elford 25-years-old has been fortunate enough to travel all over Western Canada and the United States for barrel races. Most of her races have been in Alberta and Saskatchewan, but she has travelled to Texas, Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, and British Columbia.

Having recently reached sponsorship deals with Broke Rodeo Mom Beaded Tack and Equine Light

Therapy the future is looking bright for her in the sport. One thing she can’t seem to shake are the strong visions of being further down the road.

“I have a lot of crazy goals and dreams of this kind of stuff, but I guess I will just see where it takes me,” Elford said. “Hopefully just being able to keep competing and compete at a high level and keep getting better horse and riding those horses.”

Elford will take to the track next in Maple Creek on April 30th at the South West Qualifier and Fundraiser event.

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11

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

ARTS & CULTURE

Blenders Music Photos By David Zammit

Taner James was the opening act for the John Wort Hannam concert at the Lyric Theatre in downtown Swift Current on April 16. Blenders presented the concert.

John Wort Hannam puts on a show April 16 at the Lyric Theatre in downtown Swift Current. The concert was a Blenders presentation, drawing a full house for the show.

Motherless Daughters Day Luncheon

Bob Hamilton plays the lap steel guitar during the John Wort Hannam concert at the Lyric Theatre.

Hamilton travelled all the way from the Yukon for the concert.

May 1, 2016 at 11 am

Redmond House 309 Marsh St., Maple Creek Email Tracy at bowie72@gmail.com or Call 306-558-4408 to register.

Deadline is April 27th Cost: $40.00 Advance tickets only. Seaing is limited.

This event is open to any woman who has suffered early mother loss and who would like to connect with others who understand their unique grief experience.

There will be a guest speaker as well.

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12

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Chayten Pawlukanderson shows off his archery skills Tuesday evening at his family farm near Webb. Pawlukanderson won first place recently at the Saskatchewan Indoor Target Provincials & Junior Olympic Program Championships. Photos By: David Zammit

BY DAV I D Z A M M I T

david@gulllakeadvance.com

WEBB – Chayten Pawlukanderson sets his stance while pulling an arrow from his quiver. Deftly raising the bow upward and drawing the bowstring and arrow back to his anchor point, he settles his sights on the target and releases the arrow, which propels effortlessly through the air, reaching its’ destination the bullseye. Perfect shot!

Pawlukanderson, a 16 year-old native of Webb, has been drawn towards archery since grade two when he glanced over a photo of a bow compressing on the limbs of a body. Although he wasn’t able to get his hand on a bow until he was older, he continued his research about the sport.

“My mom never really let us (me and my brother) have anything more than a water pistol, so she finally crashed one day and bought me a little Walmart bow and I shot that for a while,” Pawlukanderson said. “It was just amazing (using the bow the first time) I fell in love with it right on my first shot.”

Pawlukanderson has now been actively involved in the sport for five years. He spends every day shooting for a minimum of an hour and follows a guideline he learned from a top bowman.

“Practice doesn’t make perfect, it’s perfect practice,” he said. “Meaning don’t just go fling arrows for the heck of it, you shoot arrows and every shot should be perfect.”

Pawlukanderson recently found someone to help give him an advantage over his competitors, coach Gary Higgins from Lethbridge. Higgins might not be better than his protégé but he is able to give valuable guidance while helping with the mental portion of the sport.

“Like my coach always says, to win a tournament it’s one perfect arrow at a time, you don’t shoot 30 at a time you shoot one at a time, you focus on one and once you shot it let it go (onto the) next one, don’t even worry about where it went,” said Pawlukanderson.

He has searched all over for the right coach to help

The Perfect Shot him excel, having just found Higgins within the last year. Pawlukanderson’s main focus on finding a coach was someone who was willing and able to help him, not someone who would use his talent for their gain.

He recently showed his skills off at the Saskatchewan Indoor Target Provincials & Junior Olympic Program Championships claiming first place in the 14-17 age category, out of 70 competitors. He ended up in a shoot off to place first by narrowly edging out the second place competitor.

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

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“It was amazing, the pressure in the shoot off going head-to-head with the other competitor, it’s overwhelming sometimes,” Pawlukanderson said with a big smile.

Pawlukanderson has set his sights high on some goals but at the rapid rate he is improving, and focusing on the key aspects like form, physical, and mental focus, his dreams are starting to become within grasping reach.

“I look forward to maybe winning the World Championships, and being the top shooter in the world,” Pawlukanderson said. “Maybe by the time I’m 25, but it is hard to predict something like that.”

For now he will spend ample amounts of time dedicating his energy and focus to the sport which he is attached to. Looking for any kind of advantage he can gain on his competitors, while making sure he enjoys himself.

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“

Practice doesn’t make perfect, it’s perfect practice,” he said. “Meaning don’t just go fling arrows for the heck of it, you shoot arrows and every shot should be perfect.”

Chayten Pawlukanderson draws back on the bowstrings while aiming for the bullseye on his family farm near Webb Tuesday night. Pawlukanderson won first place recently at the Saskatchewan Indoor Target Provincials & Junior Olympic Program Championships. Photo By: David Zammit

Arnal Boys Memorial

Bursary For Young Farmers BURSARY PRESENTATIONS will be held

SUNDAY, MAY 1st @ 2:00 PM Eastend School Open to the public.

THE ADVANCE

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

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BOOK REVIEW

“Laying the Children’s Ghosts to Rest: Canada’s Home Children in the West” by Sean Arthur Joyce R E V I E W BY K E I T H F O S T E R

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

Even the best intentions can be paving stones to hell. In most cases, well-intentioned people like Thomas Barnardo thought they were helping homeless British children by sending them across the “golden bridge” to new homes in Canada.

Their lives, however, were anything but golden.

In Laying the Children’s Ghosts to Rest, Sean Arthur Joyce serves up some startling statistics. From the 1860s to 1967, “some 130,000 children were scooped up from the mean streets” of Britain “to be used as slave labour.” Conditions for homeless children in Britain were barely tolerable. In the East End of London, four out of five infants would die before their fifth year. Barnardo and Annie Macpherson started “ragged schools” - so named because the children were literally in rags - that provided them with at least one meal per day.

Shipping excess children to Canada was a cornerstone of Barnardo’s policy.

One recent widow, who could no longer afford to feed five little mouths, gave up two of her sons to Barnardo’s care, knowing that she may never see them again.

She spent many nights crying herself to sleep. Readers themselves may wish to keep a box of tissues handy.

Laying the Children’s Ghosts to Rest is thoroughly researched, meticulously documented, and powerfully written in the style of a well-versed storyteller. Although essentially non-fiction, parts of this 351-

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

page book read like fiction. Dealing with a neglected and sad chapter of Canadian history, it's a book all Canadians should read.

The legacy of these home children is that Canada is a better and richer place because of them. In 2010, Canada Post issued a postage stamp honouring them, but there was no apology for the abuse they suffered. Until we can heal the children’s ghosts by acknowledging past wrongs, they will continue to haunt us.

Gull Lake, Saskatchewan,

Old Stories and Fibs

BY T O M F R O O K

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

Good Morning Gull Lake. It is a beautiful Friday morning in downtown Central Grove. We've not a cloud in the sky and hardly a breath of wind, maybe, just maybe we may finally have Spring.

Yesterday we had to make a trip to Digby to a Doctor's appointment and when we got home and pulled up our driveway we were greeted by two fellows and a trailer full of gear, the seamless rain gutter installers that we'd been waiting for had arrived while we were away. A very short while later the new gutters were up and they were gone, leaving our house looking like new and much better protected from the weather.

I remember a story from Gull Lake that involved much the same sort of maintenance work being accomplished on our old house on the corner. My dad wasn't a carpenter or a mechanic, he and Charlie Bradley were partners in the Ford shop and each had their role to play. Charlie knew his way around a tool box, I doubt very much that dad knew which end of a hammer was the business end.

Our old house was in need of some rain gutter repair. The water had run around and over the top of the old gutters for years and the soil around the foundation was showing signs of having way too much moisture on certain years. My father decided that he would attempt a repair to fix the problem. Ladders have never been something that my family do particularly well, it is probably something genetic, but the Frook family probably should have a “rider” put on their birth certificates to the effect that they are not designed to climb ladders. I can't do it, and, actually have been banned from even thinking about climbing up a ladder. In any event, I suspect John Freddy visited the lumber yard and got whatever parts and pieces he needed, I don't know for certain just how rain gutters even were sold in those days, and he got a ladder up to the eaves to begin the repair.

The job didn't go very well, I'm told, he had no more than begun the repair when down he came, ladder and all. He broke his heel and for the rest of his days he was forced to wear tall, lace up boots to get around. He, of course, declined a visit to Dr. John Mathieson for help.

But, there had been a lot of water over the years that had managed to run down the exterior of the old foundation. By this

time, I'd come along and I can remember the thin concrete walls in the basement showing the beginnings of cracks and some shifting taking place. One weekend, following a particularly violent thunderstorm, a large piece of the basement wall finally had enough, down it came together with what seemed like a mountain of mud and water into the basement.

The word must have gotten around Town very quickly, much as I described when I was telling the story about people in Gull Lake coming to the aid of someone else. Before long all sorts of people appeared, shovels and buckets in hand to help father clean up this terrible mess.

There was no exterior entrance to our old basement, everything had to be carried up through the kitchen and out the back door. It seems to me that this process went on and on, but really it probably was only a day or so, I recall my mother fretting about just how she would be able to keep ahead of the mess on the floor and just how could she possibly know just how many extras there would be for coffee break and lunch, because, of course, there was an unwritten law that you had to make certain that the work crew was looked after.

When the mess was finally tidy there was a need to have the wall fixed. This wasn't going to be a job that dad could undertake, and, sadly I don't remember just who did it, I do remember a tractor and bucket excavating a new foundation, maybe Kirwan Construction and someone came to install a new wall. It was all very exciting for a youngster.

So, the mess was finally gone and everything put back in it's place. The biggest part of the disaster, however, was that with the collapse of the ten, or twelve feet of basement wall went about 25 years of kid's drawing on the old concrete, drawings done in chalk by both my siblings and now, of course, gone forever.

The lesson I took away from this whole thing is that if something appears to be broken, that it probably is and that it is likely the best thing if I just stay out of the repair and call the experts right at the start.

So, with no rain in our forecast for a couple of days, I'll have to sit and patiently wait to be able to see just how the new gutters will work. It should tell you a great deal about the pace of life in Central Grove, Nova Scotia, when your day's highlight is getting excited about rain gutters.

14

THE ADVANCE

HOME & GARDEN

Drought Tolerant Perennials

BY S A R A W I L L I A M S

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

If you’re looking for dependability and durability, and you have limited water or you’re looking to cut your water bill, here is a sampler of the more than one hundred drought-tolerant perennials that you can count on in the prairies.

European Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) is closely related to our native prairie crocus (P. patens). Just as prairie dwellers ritualistically seek out the prairie crocus each spring to assure themselves that winter is indeed over, so do plant lovers in Europe go trooping after the pasque flower with similar hopes. One of the earliest spring flowers, the European species has larger flowers with brighter, more intense colours than the prairie crocus. More importantly, it is much better adapted to a cultivated garden environment. Large fuzzy buds precede the purple, red, pink or white flowers, which in turn are followed by attractive, silky seed heads. The low plants are ideal for rock gardens or the front of the border with a height and spread of 6 x 8 in. The foliage is attractive and very finely cut.

Plant in full sun in well-drained soil.

Peonies (Paeonia spp.) have graced Saskatchewan gardens since before the WWI. As a testament to their durability, they can still be found blooming in long abandoned farmsteads where no one has tended to them in decades. Most garden peonies are hybrids of the Chinese peony (P. lactiflora), native to Siberia and northern China. It flowers in late spring with white, yellow, pink, red or purple blooms in single to fully double forms. Plants range from 2 to 3 ft. in height and spread with bright green, glossy foliage. The single forms are lovely in their simplicity; the flowers weigh less than double forms meaning that plants have no need for supportive hoops. Plant them in deep, welldrained soil in full sun. Ensure that the buds on root divisions of newly acquired plants are planted no deeper than 2 in. below the soil surface. Deeper planting will delay flowering. Once established, they are extremely drought-tolerant.

Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.) produce a myriad of tiny pink bells held on wiry stalks above a rosette of dark green scalloped leaves that turns bronze in winter. With the deluge of newer introductions featuring purple or variegated foliage, some of the hardiest, toughest and best of the older cultivars are unfortunately no longer widely available. These were bred and introduced by Dr. Henry Marshall during his prolific career at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Morden Research and Development Centre. He crossed the bright red but tender H. sanguinea with our native H. richardsonii, a tough plant with non-descript greenish flowers.

The result? Three excellent cultivars that bloom for over four weeks and live for over 30 years: ‘Brandon Pink’ (coral pink), ‘Ruby Mist’ (reddish pink) and ‘Northern Fire’ (dark scarlet red). All are about 20 in. tall and bloom in June and July.

Giant white fleeceflower (Persicaria polymorpha) is truly a giant of a perennial, growing to a height of 6 ft. or more. In spite of its enormous size, it is clump-forming rather than invasive. It looks like a large shrub and its large white flowers are reminiscent of a Japanese tree lilac. It begins blooming in July and continues through to the end of August. Place in full sun. It is adaptable to various soils. Use at the back of a border or as a specimen plant.

Sara Williams is the author of the newly revised and expanded Creating the Prairie Xeriscape and will be teaching “Drought-Tolerant Perennials” at the University of Saskatchewan on Sunday, April 24, 1-4 pm. To register, call 306-966-5539.

This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (www.saskperennial.ca; hortscene@yahoo.com; NEW www.facebook.com/ saskperennial). Check out our Bulletin Board or Calendar for upcoming garden information sessions, workshops and tours

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

|

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

HEALTHCARE

Take precautions against Hantavirus CONTRIBUTED

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

Saskatchewan residents are reminded to take precautions against hantavirus, as the weather continues to warm up and they resume seasonal activities.

People are most often exposed to hantavirus by breathing in contaminated airborne particles from the droppings, urine and saliva of infected deer mice. Hantavirus infection is rare but potentially fatal. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, cough, headaches, nausea and vomiting.

“Initial symptoms can quickly develop into a very severe and often fatal lung disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome,” Saskatchewan’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab said. “Seek urgent medical attention if you develop a fever, coughing and shortness of breath within one to six weeks of exposure to potentially infested areas.”

People can come in contact with hantavirus when cleaning out enclosed or poorly ventilated buildings (such as grain bins,

sheds, barns, garages, trailers, cottages and homes) that have had mouse infestations. Exposure can also occur when cleaning farm equipment such as combines or vehicles that have been in storage.

“It is important to take adequate precautions to avoid the risk of becoming infected with hantavirus,” Shahab said.

When cleaning rodent-infested areas, people should: • Ventilate the building by opening doors and windows for at least 30 minutes before cleaning; • Use wet mopping methods and wear rubber or plastic gloves; • Wear goggles and a well-fitting N-95 type filter mask when cleaning areas contaminated by droppings in a confined space; • Dampen areas contaminated with rodent droppings with bleach disinfectant and remove droppings with a damp mop or cloth; • Avoid using dry cleaning methods such as dusting, sweeping, vacuuming or air-hosing; • Steam clean, shampoo or spray

upholstered furniture with a detergent, disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water; and • Wash clothes and bedding with detergent in hot water.

• You can also reduce exposure to hantavirus by: • Blocking openings that might allow rodents to enter a building; • Storing human and animal food, water and garbage in containers with tightly-fitted lids; and • Moving woodpiles or other potential hiding places for mice away from your home.

There have been 30 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome reported in Saskatchewan from 1994 to 2015, 10 of which resulted in death.

For more information on hantavirus, visit the Government of Saskatchewan’s website at www. saskatch e wan .ca/resi d ents/ health/diseases-and-conditions/ hantavirus and HealthLine Online at www.health.gov.sk.ca/healthline-online.

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15

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

T H E A D VA N C E

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Cell: 306-264-7559 | Office: 306-672-3373 Email: sales@gulllakeadvance.com SPIRITUAL GLEANINGS

Re-setting Relationships

BY J OYC E S A S S E

www.canadianruralchurch.net RURAL ROOTS

OBITUARIES

BY C H R I S TA L E E F R O E S E

lcfroese@sasktel.net

Please tell me where to go.

Really – you can do it!

In no uncertain terms, just tell me where to go.

I’d like to know where to go on vacation in Saskatchewan this summer.

I’m on a mission to find the ‘Seven Wonders of Sask for families.’

This is a thrilling proposition and one of my dream jobs – traveling around my beloved home province to find places, activities and events that kids of all ages (myself included) will love.

Over the past several years, the Seven Wonders of Saskatchewan have been determined a few times by a few different folks. CBC’s list includes: • Athabasca Sand Dunes • The Snowbirds • The Oil Sands • Grey Owl’s Cabin, Prince Albert National Park • Spring transformation on the prairies • St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church • Qu’Appelle Valley Yet another list, written by journalist Laura Robins for the Canwest News Service, highlights these seven natural features of Saskatchewan: 1. Hills (Cypress and Fort Qu’Appelle) 2. Lakes (Lake Athabasca and Lake Diefenbaker to name just two of 100,000) 3. Golf courses 4. Pelicans 5. Spas and mineral springs (Moose Jaw and Manitou) 6. Wascana Park (2.7 times larger than New York’s Central Park) 7. Gourmet indigenous dining While you might agree with some of the above seven wonders, I’m sure many of you would have your own wonders to add to the list. Particularly when you focus on what the youngsters amongst us would enjoy.

Here’s your chance. I’m looking for concrete ideas to put into my Seven Wonders of Saskatchewan list. It’s not as easy as it sounds.

When I started out, I thought I could come up with an impressive list of wonders pretty easily. I had grand ideas of having supper in the field (that’s one of my fondest memories as a kid). And then I had to include riding horses somewhere, like in Roche Perce or the Cypress Hills.

Then there would be building sand castles on great beaches, but which ones?

And canoeing on spectacular lakes, but which ones?

And observing the stars while camped at fabulous campgrounds, but which ones?

And visiting great summer events, like fireworks shows, outdoor performances and kids’ festivals, but which ones?

Hence, I’m shouting H-E-L-P to my dear readers.

Please email me and let me know what Seven Wonders of Sask for Kids I should add to my list.

Thank you kindly.

G E R A L D D O U G L A S M OAT Gerry passed away too soon on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2016 and will be missed by his partner, Marlyce Searcy; daughters, Donalea and Rhea; son-in-law, Roger; and grandsons, Quinn and Nolan. He will also be remembered by in-laws: Fred and Ilene Peterson, and Everett and Merle Peterson; Marlyce’s children, Todd and Jayna (Michael); as well as extended family.

Gerry was born October 28th, 1941 to Evert and Addie (Jensen) Moat of Gull Lake, SK. He completed his schooling in Gull Lake, and this is where he met Frances Peterson when she joined his class in Grade 4. After a brief stint at university, he returned home to farm and to pursue a relationship with Fran. They were married in the summer of 1963 and started their family. Just short of their 40th anniversary, Fran passed away.

Gerry lived most of his life in Gull Lake and knew the town’s history and surrounding area well. In one of his last days, he challenged himself with the Tom Frook quiz from The Advance…and he was disappointed that answers weren’t included! After farming, working construction with his dad, and bartending, he went on to have a lengthy career in the oil industry. He was very involved in the community, officiating hockey, curling, and being active in Kinsmen. Because he was comfortable and entertaining while public speaking, Gerry was often called on to MC or to announce at community events (regularly resulting in embarrassment for his family members).

Gerry was a jack of all trades and we often took that for granted. He could fix or build almost anything, garden, fillet a fish, masterfully carve a turkey, sing a song, complete a challenging crossword and find the perfect spot for picking saskatoons. Later in life, during Fran’s illness, he took up cooking and learned to bake, pickle and make jam.

These new skills served Marlyce well when Gerry left Gull Lake and the two former high school friends bought a new home in Moose Jaw. For the past 10 years, Gerry enjoyed finding new friends and pastimes, trying to improve his golf game and spending time at The Dub. After completing a cardiac rehab program in 2013, he continued with the program by volunteering – he loved to socialize with the new folks, helping to pass the time during their exercise regimen.

Gerry had a boisterous personality, a saying for everything and he never forgot a joke. In his last days, we were happy to see that he retained his humour. And we truly feel this tribute would have read much better if he had written it.

A Time of Fellowship was held on Sunday, March 27th, 2016 at the Moose Jaw Funeral Home. Interment will be held in Gull Lake, SK on June 19 at the Gull Lake Community Hall beginning at 1:00 pm. As an expression of sympathy, donations in Gerry’s name may be made to the Moose Jaw Health Foundation for Cardiaction, 55 Diefenbaker Drive, Moose Jaw, SK S6J 0C2 or to the Gull Lake Cemetery Fund c/o Town of Gull Lake, Box 150, Gull Lake, SK S0N 1A0.

While we were talking about how Canada’s Commission on Truth and Reconciliation touches us, our Zimbabwean minister related a story from South Africa.

At the “end” of apartheid, all South African citizens were invited to make confession of their involvement in racist activities.

One man, who worked for the Secret Service, killed another man because he was an activist. But it was actually because of the colour of the victim’s skin.

The Truth Commission had declared that anyone who confessed his wrong-doing would not be criminally charged, but would have to face those whom he had victimized.

The Secret Agent made his confession, and was sent to face the mother of the young man he had killed. It was not easy.

The first thing she asked of him was where is my son’s body buried – so that I may give those remains a proper burial.

Second, she turned to him, held out her arms and said I want you to become like a son to me so that I can give to you what I could not give to him! (Note: not so that he could take care of her, but so that she might give to him …)

Her act of generosity was so overwhelming for them both that their lives were changed. Forgiveness can do strange things.

The story took me back to my Old Testament class. We were studying the passage about “the sins of the fathers” being visited onto the sons to the third and fourth generations. But our Hebrew professor carefully pointed out the common misunderstanding. While there are those who affirm we are forever condemned because of the misdeeds of our ancestors, there is a tiny syntax phrase here which implies we must add “only until” the third generation (as compared with the tens of generations that make up our future.)

As we consider our own role in Reconciliation between peoples, may it be so that we can re-set our relationships as we move into a new day.

OBITUARIES

C AT H E R I N E M A R T H A W E L L S 1955 - 2016

Catherine Martha Wells of Medicine Hat, passed away on Friday, March 25th, 2016 at the age of 61 years. Catherine leaves her two sons, William "Bill" (Lisa) Wells and Jim (Bri-Andy) Willman; two grandchildren, Logan and Madison; and two sisters, Deborah and Mardell. Catherine was laid to rest in Gull Lake Cemetery on Saturday, April 16th, 2016, with a small family gathering. Condolences may be sent through www.saamis.com or to condolences@ saamis.com subject heading Catherine Wells. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to SAAMIS MEMORIAL FUNERAL CHAPEL AND CREMATORIUM, “The Chapel in the Park”, Medicine Hat, Alberta. Should you wish any additional information, please telephone 1-800-317-2647.

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| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

YOUR SOUTHWEST CLASSIFIEDS & SERVICE DIRECTORY Proudly sponsored by Your FAMILY Ford Dealer ... Cypress Motors Ltd.

SWIFT CURRENT 1-888-875-8188 MAPLE CREEK 1-877-662-2617 OR GO TO WWW.CYPRESSMOTORS.COM CARDS OF THANKS The family of Elaine Sletten would like to thank all our family and friends for all their words of condolences, cards, food and donations in memory of Mom. A very special thank you to Dr. Claire and all the staff at the Gull Lake Special Care Home and Autumn House for all your care and compassion shown to Mom in her final years. - The Sletten Family 17-1c Communites in Bloom is hosting a “Plant your Pots” evening at the Museum on May 10th at 7:00 p.m. Grassyhill Colony will be supplying soil and a variety of plants for you to purchase; empty pots will also be available for purchase. Refreshments will be provided. If you plan on attending, please call the Town Office at 306-672-3361 to register.

FOR RENT GULL LAKE HOUSING (Price & Kings Manor) has suites for rent. All one bedroom. No smoking. No pets. Regular housing $860/month. Senior housing has different rates.

Call 306-672-8058. tn ROYAL LePAGE FORMULA 1 has rental apartments available in Gull Lake. For further details go to www. swiftcurrentsask.ca, call 306773-7527 or email f1@swiftcurrentsask.ca. We are also on kijiji tn FOR SALE 2 Work Bench Vices: 12” $75; 17” $125. (306) 750-7830.

17-1p HELP WANTED Gull Lake Museum Student Employment Opportunity.

The successful applicant will be responsible for the daily opening, operating, and closing of the Museum. Other duties will include routine maintenance, including painting, cleaning, light grounds keeping, and other tasks as assigned by the Tourism Committee. The position will start Monday July 4, 2016.

Hours of work 1 PM to 6 PM Monday to Friday. For More information contact: Peggy Willman (306) 672-4099 or Betzy Cooney (306)-6724168. Send all applications

by May 17, 2016 to: Gull Lake Tourism Committee P.O Box 305, Gull Lake, SK S0N 1A0 16-4c The Gull Lake Campground requires someone to clean up the campground for the season. Job must be completed by May 13th. Please submit applications by May 5th to: Gull Lake Tourism Committee, Box 305, Gull Lake, SK. S0N 1A0. 17-2c

Stitch Master Inc. 33 1st Avenue NE Swift Current, SK S9H 2A9

Serving Southwest Saskatchewan

306.778.6700 www.stitchmaster.ca WASTE DISPOSAL SITE

PRODUCTION AND DRILLING EQUIPMENT RENTALS Low Profile Tank Slip Type Elevators

Flare Tanks Light Towers

Frac Manifolds Shale Tanks

riderenergy@sasktel.net • Fax: 306-672-4082

Call 24 Hours 1-888-71-RIDER (7-4337)

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE For Sale. Purebred Angus Bulls. 2 year olds and yearlings. Sires represented: Final Answer, Pioneer, New Design 878, Special Focus, Prime Cut, Cherokee Canyon (red) and Net Worth $3500. Fleet discounts. 306-672-7786.

13-12p SERVICES Twisted Wind RV & Mini Storage. Units are 10’ x 15’ and rent $80/month or $840/year plus GST. Call 306-297-9382 and ask for Megan. tn WANTED The Gull Lake Heritage Committee is looking for 2 6’ x 6’ windows for the Wong Shoe Shop. Please contact the Town Office at 306-672-3361.

SUMMER EMPLOYMENT The R.M. of Carmichael No. 109 is accepting applications for employment with the municipality’s maintenance department during the summer months.

Applicants must have a valid drivers license, and must be able to operate farm equipment.

Please indicate when you would be able to commence work.

SPRING CLEAN-UP

In order to facilitate spring cleanup and in preparation for the Communities In Bloom competition, fees at the Waste Disposal Site will be waived on

SATURDAY APRIL 23rd AND SATURDAY APRIL 30th.

The Disposal Site hours on these 2 days will be from 9:00 am to Noon and 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Fees will be waived for all garbage originating from within the Town of Gull Lake only (excluding commercial bin garbage).

Please ensure all clean wood and metal are separated from other waste (to be disposed in the wood pile & metal pile).

Yard and garden waste can now be disposed of at the Compost Centre located at the Landfill. Please keep trees separated as they do not go in the compost.

The Town of Gull Lake would like to thank residents for their response to our request to clean up our yards to prevent any rodent problems and making our Town look great. Great job!!

Submit resume by May 6th to: The R.M. of Carmichael No. 109 Box 420 Gull Lake, SK S0N 1A0 Email: rm109@sasktel.net Fax # 306-672-3295 13-3ceow

MissingKevin

Reduce.

Reuse.

Recycle.

Please recycle your newspaper or pass is on to someone else to enjoy.

Taking care of the planet is eveyone's respnsibility!

DOG OBEDIENCE CLASSES Thursday Evenings May 12th - June 16th at Gardner Farms, Shaunavon $100 per dog ALL LEVELS

JAMIE GARDNER - Trainer Call (306) 294-7604 to register

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

Province-Wide Classifieds

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

COMING EVENTS

HEALTH

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DISCOUNT SENIORS MEDICAL ALARM Monitored 24 hours, Free Equipment. Just pay for the monitoring.

Less Than $1.00 per day. Call Toll Free For more Information 1-888-865-5130 or www.LifeAssure.com

STEEL BUILDING SALE ...”CLEAR OUT PRICING IN EFFECT NOW!” 20X20 $5,444 25X26$6,275 30X30 $8,489 32X34 $10,328 42X50 $15,866. One End wall included.

Pioneer Steel 1-800-668-5422 www.pioneersteel.ca

LAND FOR SALE PrairieSky Royalty Ltd. is a publicly-traded company in Calgary that acquires oil & gas fee title and royalty interests at fair market value. To receive a cash offer, call 587293-4055 or visit www.prairiesky.com/ Selling-Your-Royalties.

FEED AND SEED

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available.

Get online training you need from an employer -trusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

AUTO PARTS Wrecking over 250 units... cars and trucks.

Lots of trucks...

Dodge...

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Ford... Imports... 1/2 ton to 3 tons... We ship anywhere... Call or text 306-821-0260.

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FORAGE SEED FOR SALE: Organic & conventional: Sweet Clover, Alfalfa, Red Clover, Smooth Brome, Meadow Brome, Crested Wheatgrass, Timothy, etc. Free Delivery! Birch Rose Acres Ltd. 306-8632900.

CAREER TRAINING H E A L T H C A R E DOCUMENTATION SPECIALISTS are in huge demand.

Employers want CanScribe graduates. A great work-from-home career! Train with Canada’s best-rated program. Enroll today. www.canscribe.com.

1.800.466.1535. info@canscribe.com.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

WANTED: COLLECTOR PAYING TOP PRICES Internationals 1206, 1456, 1026, 1468. Allis D-21, GM Olivers, Cockshutts, older FWA’ s. Old dealership signs, service station items, gas pumps, globes, oil cans. Red Indian, Buffalo, Dodge etc.

(306)221-5908, (306)369-2810.

Need A Loan? Own Property? Have Bad Credit? We can help!

Call toll free 1 866 405 1228 www.firstand secondmortgages.ca

FOR SALE

NORTH EAST PRAIRIE GRAIN INC. Currently Buying: Soybeans, Feed Barley, Wheat and Oats. OFFERING: Competitive Prices, On Farm Pickup & Prompt Payment! CALL: 1-306873-3551, WEBSITE: neprairiegrain.com

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or reliability of such advertisements. For greater information visit our website at www.swna.com.

PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. Reach over 500,000 readers weekly. Call this newspaper NOW or 306-649.1400 or email classifieds@swna.com for details.

REFORESTATION NURSERY SEEDLINGS of hardy trees, shrubs, & berries for shelterbelts or landscaping.

Spruce & Pine from $0.99/tree. Free shipping. Replacement guarantee. 1-866-8733846 or www.treetime.ca.

Stay connected with your southwest community newspaper.

Visit us online!

WANTED

REAL ESTATE 31 FULLY SERVICED LAKE LOTS - Murray Lake, Saskatchewan.

Ritchie Bros.

Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, June 27 in Saskatoon. Lots range from 0.28 +/- to 0.35 +/- acres. Brennan LeBlanc: 306-280-4878; rbauction.com/realestate.

It’s all about OPTIONS

www.gulllakeadvance.com

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

SPORTS

May not be exactly as shown

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FRIGIDAIRE SMUDGE PROOF STAINLESS STEEL 1.7CU FT OVER THE RANGE MICROWAVE S ave $150.00

WALTER’S

HOME FURNISHINGS 379 CENTRE STREET, SHAUNAVON 297-2141

CHAPLIN GRAIN CORP WANTS YOUR BUSINESS!

Looking for Kabuli and Desi Chickpeas ALL GRADES ATTRACTIVE BIDS AVAILABLE

Joseph Duguay puts some force behind a strong elbow as he breaks through the board at The Church of the Open Bible in Swift Current Saturday morning. Swift Current Christian Tae Kwon Do hosted a Breaking Boards and Breaking Chains fundrasier for International Justice Mission. Photos by David Zammit.

PROMPT DELIVERY TO CHAPLIN OR GULL LAKE

To book call Tempest 1-306-651-1688

Support Community.

Support Local.

Like us on Facebook And stay connected with your southwest community newspaper Search “The Advance”

GRASSY HILL GREENHOUSE

Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs, Soil, Hanging Baskets, Containers, Succulents, Veggies, Gift Certificates & more!

BREAKING BOARDS AND BREAKING CHAINS FUNDRAISER

Call Mark: 622-2068 ext. 511

Open 9 am to 9 pm Monday to Saturday Open Sunday 12-5 & 6-9

GORDON KOZROSKI REALTOR

FARMLAND WANTED Call today!

Real Estate Centre

SERVING SOUTHWEST SASKATCHEWAN

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

Kade Stringer punches through one of the hundreds of boards broken at The Church of the Open Bible in Swift Current Saturday morning. Swift Current Christian Tae Kwon Do hosted a Breaking Boards and Breaking Chains fundrasier for International Justice Mission.

A proposal has been received by the RM of Carmichael to install two Texas Gates on the boundary road West of 31-12-21-W3 If you have any reason to oppose please contact the RM of Carmichael at 306-672-3501.

16044SS3

Joseph Duguay stiff kick breaks the board at The Church of the Open Bible in Swift Current Saturday morning.

THE ADVANCE

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Mamba Out OUT OF THE PARK WITH DAVID ZAMMIT

BY DAV I D Z A M M I T

david@gulllakeadvance.com

As the buzzer rang with the score clock ticking down to reach zero, a hero’s career came to an end. On the magical night of Wednesday, April 13th the National Basketball Association bid farewell to one of the greatest competitors the sport has ever witnessed, Kobe Bean Bryant.

Bryant has always had a flare for the dramatics during his illustrious career and certainly didn’t disappoint in his final game against the Utah Jazz. Bryant was firing from angles scoring an incredible 60 points, draining 22 of his career high 50 shot attempts. He led the charge in coaxing the lowly Lakers into an improbable 15-point comeback to win 101-96, while single handily outscoring the Jazz 23-21 in the final quarter.

His 60 point performance was the highest of any player this season, also becoming the oldest player to score 50 points in a game. His teammates were virtually setting him up at every opportunity and Bryant certainly didn’t hide from the spotlight of the Staples Center, with all of Hollywood’s finest in attendance.

It was magical, even to the man himself, having done this countless times over his remarkable 20 year career.

“It’s hard to believe it happened this way,” Bryant said. “I’m still shocked about it.”

It wasn’t the story book ending which Bryant and the Lakers had hoped for, as they finished well out of the playoffs, only winning 17 games.

“The perfect ending would have been a championship,” Bryant said postgame.

“But tonight was (me) trying to go out, play hard and try to put on a show as much as I possibly could. It felt good to be able to do that one last time.”

His teammates continued his farewell tour into the locker room dousing him in champagne, although he didn’t approve of it: “That’s only for championships.”

Over Bryant’s sensational career he won five championship rings, the latest in 2010 at the expense of the Boston Celtics. He has also won 2 Olympic gold medals with team USA at the 2008 and 2012 games.

Throughout his 20 year career, Bryant climbed all the way up to third in the NBA’s history for all-time points, sitting behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone, recently passing Michael Jordan. Bryant tallied up 18 All-Star selections, 11 All-NBA First Team nods, and 9 NBA All-Defensive First Teams choices. The most surprising stat of all was managing to capture only one MVP of the regular season.

On November 29, 2015, Bryant announced he would be retiring at the

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19

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

end of the season on the new media platform The Players’ Tribune, which was founded by former New York Yankee shortstop, Derek Jeter. Bryant’s poem which was posted on the site is called “Dear Basketball”. In the poem he talks about falling in love with the game of basketball when he was six years old.

“A love so deep I gave you my all, from my mind & body, to my spirit & soul,” Bryant wrote. “This season (2015-16) is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding, my mind can handle the grind, but my body knows it’s time to say goodbye, and that’s OK.” His poem couldn’t have said it any better as Bryant’s body was starting to fail him. On April 12, 2013 he suffered a torn Achilles tendon, just eight months later, on December 17th, he suffered a lateral tibial plateau fracture, only playing six games in between injuries. Fast forward to one year later, on January 21, 2015, he suffered a rotator cuff tear ending his season. In his final three seasons he only played 107 of a possible 246 games due to injuries, with 66 of those games played during this past season. Since the 2013-14 campaign his offensive stats were starting to diminish and his great shot had fallen well below his own standards.

It is safe to say, incredible athletes hold themselves to such high standards that it takes a toll on their bodies over time, and then it’s just a matter of time before their skills’ set starts to decline. It truly is sad to see former sports heroes turn into shell of what they once were, with some not knowing exactly when to retire.

Kobe Bryant was the greatest basketball player which I was able to witness, Jordan retired in 2003 and I didn’t start watching basketball until 2001, so he doesn’t qualify.

Bryant’s elite shooting from all over the court, and his ability to single handily lead his team to victory so consistently spanning his career almost makes me wonder if he had a switch inside of his body that he could flip on which made him superhuman. I mean the way he could score at will was almost inconceivable. He certainly had ice in his veins, showing no mercy against his opponents when the game was on the line as he slashed through players with killer-like instincts.

Bryant spent his entire career in the purple and gold the only player to have spent 20 seasons on one team in NBA history and one of only five players to ever play 20 seasons. Bryant wrote a letter to Lakers fans that was distributed on the night of November 29, 2015.

“What you’ve done for me is far greater than anything I’ve done for you. My love for this city, this team and each of you will never fade. Thank you for this incredible journey.”

SPORTS

10th Annual SunDogs Auction Extravaganza continues to support student-athletes CONTRIBUTED

editor@gulllakeadvance.com

The 10th annual SunDogs Auction Extravaganza is set to take place May 13, 2016, and tickets are now available.

More than $100,000 has been raised for the Great Plains College SunDogs Athletics program since the inaugural auction in 2007 thanks to the generous support of local businesses and attendees.

“We can’t thank the community and our sponsors enough for their continued support for this event and the SunDogs Athletics program,” Colleen Ostoforoff, senior consultant, college advancement said. “Proceeds from this event are used to continue enhancing the athletics program and scholarship opportunities for

future student-athletes.”

Some of the big ticket items up for bid at this year’s auction include a 40″ Sony LED Television, a one-week stay at Sunchasers Vacation Villas in Fairmont, B.C., weekend passes to Long Days Night Music Festival, a Cody Snyder PBR Invitational Experience package and signed NHL jerseys.

This year’s event will also feature guest speaker Lisa Thomaidis, Women’s Basketball Coach of the University of Saskatchewan’s national championship winning team.

Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased at Great Plains College or by calling Jody at 306-778-5482. Visit greatplainscollege.ca/sundogs-auction for more information.

SPORTS

Swift Current Comp Callie Macmillan lunges for the birdie in her singles matches on Saturday at the High School senior badminton playoffs. Swift Current Comprehensive School played host to the Rolling Hills region. Photos By: David Zammit.

Ponteix Predators Alexis Stringer preforms a clear during one of her girl's doubles matches on Saturday at the High School senior badminton playoffs. Swift Current Comprehensive School played host to the Rolling Hills region.

Add your own message by selecting: Dealer Messaging Add/Upload your dealerships JPG logo by selecting: Logo Layer Edit/Change your dealership information by selecting: Dealer Name

Gull Lake Lions Quentin Bucheler impresses with his net play during one of the boy's doubles matches on Saturday at the High School senior badminton playoffs. Swift Current Comprehensive School played host to Gull Lake, Herbert, Hodgeville, Vanguard and Ponteix.

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THE ADVANCE

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

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MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016

ZERO-TURN MOWERS

W E NO ABL L AI V A

UBS R E SPIC D CHILI AN

BUY LOCAL

’S S RY CO TION EA CR

EAT LOCAL FRESH MEATS

SAUSAGES AND STIX

Top quality beef, pork, bison, lamb & poultry.

Our local farms & ranches are our suppliers! We also offer full custom cutting services for beef, pork, bison, lamb & wild game!

Hunters are welcome.

•

SEAFOOD & POULTRY

• • • •

INVENTORY SPECIAL

15% OFF

3 Models - Powerful Twin Cyl Engines Cutting Height Adjustment Easy Entry- Wide Foot Pan Smooth Operation Levers 5" Deep Welded Mower Deck

Rugged Hydro Gear Commercial Transmission Large 22" Rear Tires Fora Smoother Ride (Grass Catchers And Mulching Kits Available)

Z125 WITH 54" MOWER DECK $7,600 Z125 WITH 48" MOWER DECK $6,600 Z122 WITH 42" MOWER DECK $5,100

All Store Front Products!! (While Supplies Last)…Meat, Cheese, Sauces, Rubs, Patsy’s Preserves & More (Excludes Custom Orders,

473 CENTRE STREET, SHAUNAVON | 306-297-4050 MON TO FRI: 8 AM TO 6 PM, SAT 10 AM TO 5 PM

• • •

4 YEAR /300 HOUR WARRANTY Plus: 0% for four years with only 10% down!

ARMSTRONG IMPLEMENTS 425 N. Service. Rd. W., Swift Current • 773-8711

www.armstrongimplements.com

SPRING DECORATING SALE CANYON PARADISE

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803 North Railway St. W., Swift Current, SK • PH: 306-773-1529 FAX: 306-773-6213

WE DO INSURANCE CLAIMS - CALL US FOR A QUOTE

Mannington LVS LUXURY SHEET VINYL

$255 sq ft 5 ROLLS IN STOCK

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Hurry In! SALE ENDS MAY 14th