Advance Southwest | Vol. 107 | Issue 49

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VOLUME 107 | ISSUE 49 | www.advancesouthwest.com

Snuggling in the Snow These two young ladies were finding a way to keep each other warm on a very chilly evening on December 8th. Shaunavon's annual fireworks display kicked off the festive season in the southwest community along with the Parade of Lights. Photo by Kate Winquist

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3

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

ARTS & CULTURE

Tribute to Ray Charles Kicks off the New Year for Stars for Saskatchewan Contributed kate@advancesouthwest.com

Fans of Ray Charles will eagerly anticipate the next “Stars for Saskatchewan” concert, slated for January 14, 2017 at the Sky Centre. The Ray Charles Tribute Orchestra is a nine-piece ensemble performing the hits penned by the legend himself. “The show pays homage to a great musician, but these are talented musicians in their own right,” notes Melanie Friesen, Swift Current Arts Council President.

Formed by Musical Director John Gray(bassist and a leader on the Calgary Jazz scene) who toured with the Ray Charles Orchestra, the ensemble of the city's finest musicians recreate the one-of-a-kind sound of Ray Charles. Featuring Grammy Award Winner Donald Ray Johnson on vocals, the group includes a solid rhythm section, a killer horn section and two backup singers known as the "Donald Raylettes".

Fans can expect to hear Charles’ greatest hits including “Georgia On My Mind”, “Mary Anne”, “Hit the Road Jack” and “Let the Good Times Roll”. Tickets are $45 each and are available at www.ticketpro. ca (Swift Current Arts Council link) or by calling 1-888-655-9090. “We are also promoting the concert as a great Christmas gift idea for the music lover on your list this season,” says Friesen.

These two youngsters were appreciative of a ride during a chilly evening at the Parade of Lights in Shaunavon. Photo by Kate Winquist

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Ryan McKellar, Curator of Invertebrate Palaeontology at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM), has co-authored a paper in the prestigious journal, “Current Biology”. The paper outlines the first discovery of a dinosaur tail preserved in amber and provides insight into the evolution of feathers. Discovered in Myanmar in 2015, the specimen was originally destined to become a curiosity or piece of jewelry.

It was purchased from an amber market by McKellar’s colleague Lida Xing, China University of Geosciences, who recognized its potential scientific importance. Within the amber, visible to the naked eye are a dense covering of feathers protruding from a tail segment which includes eight vertebrae and part of a ninth.

Colleagues in China used a Synchrotron Radiation (SR) X-ray scan which enabled them to identify soft tissue, likely muscles, ligaments, and skin, as well as trace amounts of ferrous iron indicating that relics of hemoglobin remain trapped within the tail.

“We used the specialized photography and microscopy setup at the RSM to do most of the detailed specimen study, while the bones and specimen chemistry were studied using synchrotrons in China,” McKellar said.

“The synchrotron scans allowed us to see the outlines of the bones, and

how the feathers attached to the skin.

The bone shapes showed that this tail was long and flexible which is unlike the tail type present in modern birds and their close relatives.”

What makes this specimen particularly unique is that although these feathers are not the first to be found in amber, most other discoveries have been challenging to link to their source animal. This specimen unquestionably represents the feathered tail of a non-avian dinosaur preserved in the amber from about 99 million years ago. The RSM is one of only a few facilities in the world where this type of fossil feather research is taking place.

McKellar and his colleagues at the museum, work on amber from dinosaur bone beds across the prairie provinces. They are looking for insects and ecological details and hope to someday find comparable specimens.

McKellar has broad interests in palaeontology, however his current research is focused primarily on amber inclusions and composition.

He believes there is tremendous value in amber as a supplement to the fossil record of dinosaurs.

“This is a new source of information that is worth researching with intensity, and protecting as a fossil resource,” McKellar said.

This project was funded in part by a National Geographic Expeditions Council grant.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

H O M E & GA R D E N

Rosemary for the holidays

Sara Williams

By

A

romatic, space-saving, easy care and with a long afterlife, here is a "Christmas tree" with a difference. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), a member of the mint family, is a woody plant native to the Mediterranean region and long used as a culinary herb. Its common name is derived from the Latin words for dew (ros) and sea (marinus), meaning "dew of the sea", a reference to its habitat by the seaside Legend tells us that the Virgin Mary spread her blue cloak over a white-flowered rosemary bush when she lay down to rest. When she arose, the flowers were blue. It was then called the Rose of Mary.

Thus, its link with the Christmas season. Through the Middle Ages, it was associated with love and often worn by members of a wedding party. It has also long been seen as a symbol of remembrance, as Ophelia suggests in Hamlet.

Rosemary has fragrant (often described as "piney"), needle-like, evergreen leaves with a green topside and white underside. It is much used for Italian cuisine and stuffing as well as roast meats and vegetables. The leaves, stems and flowers are all edible. There are various cultivars of assorted sizes. The two-lipped flowers are mainly blue but also white, pink, and purple.

Indoor plants and those grown in northern areas such as the Canadian prairies may not bloom. Flavour is at its peak just prior to flowering.

Excess leaves may be dried or frozen for future use.

Although up to 5 ft. tall in its native habitat, as a temperate garden plant or indoor herb, rosemary plants are generally much smaller. It has been shaped into topiary forms for centuries. In recent years during the holiday season, it has become readily available as a trimmed topiary shrub resembling a miniature Christmas tree - ideal for a smaller living space or as additional decor.

Once you get it home, think of where it came from: well drained soil on sea cliffs in full sun and often enveloped in mist or fog. Place it in a sunny, cool position. It is quite drought-tolerant (water-logging will do it in) but don't let it dry out either. Misting the foliage every week or so will imitate its position by the sea. Water it regularly and thoroughly but remove water that accumulates in the saucer. If it needs repotting, use a well-drained media. It's pretty much disease and insect resistant and, given the proper conditions, should last a long time. When it begins to outgrow its tree-shape, you can let it develop into its natural shape. Use it for cooking through the year, and re-trim it into a topiary Christmas tree in time for the next holiday season.

Once all danger of frost is past, rosemary may be placed outdoors in well drained soil in a sunny location for a summer holiday. Repot it using a clay pot and return it to a cool sunny window in early September. It is only hardy to zone 6.

If you wish to increase your number of rosemary plants, it is easily propagated by stem cuttings taken in early spring when new growth appears. Simply take a cutting from the new growth about 4 to 6 inches long. Remove the leaves from the bottom third of the stem, dip it in a rooting hormone and plant it directly into well drained soil kept evenly moist. Keep it in indirect light until it is rooted, about 6 weeks.

Sara is the author of numerous gardening books, among them the revised Creating the Prairie Xeriscape. And with Hugh Skinner: Gardening Naturally; Trees and Shrubs for the Prairies, and Groundcovers & Vines for the Prairies. Expect Fruit for Northern Gardens with Bob Bors in November, 2017.

Sara is the author of numerous gardening books, among them the revised Creating the Prairie Xeriscape. And with Hugh Skinner: Gardening Naturally; Trees and Shrubs for the Prairies, and Groundcovers & Vines for the Prairies. Expect Fruit for Northern Gardens with Bob Bors in November, 2017. This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (www.saskperennial.ca; hortscene@yahoo.com; www.facebook.com/saskperennial). Check out our Bulletin Board or Calendar for upcoming garden information sessions, workshops, tours and other events.

Merle Collier and Shirley Stevenson are part of the Gull Lake Community Choir. Photo by Kate Winquist.

16123DS2

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southern Saskatchewan communities throughout his adult life.

There is a publication ban in place to protect the5 identity of the victims, and Chamberlin’s next court a L I T T L E appearance bit W E S T E R N will be April 13 at 9:30 a.m.

The investigation is ongoing, and investigators invite people with additional information to come forward.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

~ Brian ZinChuk ~

Shaunavon Arts Council

Sugar and Spice D. Wayne Elhard, MLA REGINA Would Obama be a slave today?

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doesn’t seem that long ago when I wrote a coldevelopment of a greater national spirit rather than P.O. Boxabout 308, Eastend, SK. S0N 0T0 looking back at her his month our daughter Jaime odd gate, but mostly staying warm, worried n about a remarkable series published since 2011 an emphasis onturns “states’ rights,” which was one of Phone: 1-877-703-3374 four years old. In several visiting, and eating all the snacks. old ma. Her dad and grandpa were Sunday March 5, 2017 cypresshills.mla@sasktel.net he New York Times on the U.S. Civil War. Now, the causes ways of theshe war. close attention to how she follows in the footsteps My Other Half stopped us part of paying 3:00 PM was doing and her brother, with the way home and asked Jaime if of her older twin brothers but in www.wayneelhard.ca pears, that series will soon come to a close.

It’s hard, in our current 21st century context, to his advanced age and experience, she wanted to switch her brother many other ways, she is blazing a Centre Street United Church alled Disunion, the collection of pieces folbelieve that men would volunteer to can fight,out. andI in made a few feeble protests, gave her plenty of instructions to trail all of her own.

To me, she Adults-$30; 12 in & under-$5 ed the developments of Student-$10; the Civil War somemany cases, for theupcause “states’s In mentioning the fact that follow too. including bedie summed neatlyofwith Shake-rights.”

Tickets are available at the Grand Couteau Heritage and Almost three hours later, the she didn’t speare’s famous quote: “and though g akin ultural to real time, albeit 150 years later. As this context, those rights had a lot to do with slav- pack ski pants (“she can Centre (306) 297-3882 or Online at www.ticketpro.ca wear her brothers,” my husband rea- cows arrived home, and only then she be but little, she is fierce.” nts unfolded throughout the course of the war, ery. But can you imagine anyone here today volunWhile many of our children’s soned) and my concern that it was could I pry her off her horse. But I STOCKING STUFFERS! orians andGREAT analysts discussed what impact they teering to milestones stop a bullet for provincial in and snowing too hard for couldn’t pry the smile off her face. too cold are typical to those of rights This isn’t exactly an earth-shata three-year-old to be out riding. others, is one milestone thatacross Canada? Or eventhere North Dakota rights the tering but raising kids Those excuses fell on many pairs is unique to some ranch kids.

A kids’ The Town of Gulladmission, Lake is accepting isunion can be found at opinionator.blogs.ny49th? The whole concept seems absurd. of deaf ears, however. After some is not easy. As a parent, I worry that first solo horse ride is the milestone applications for student employment with the

s.com.

I still trythat to wrap head around the key issue horse trading between her brothers, we’re not hard enough on our kids, gets memy in the feels every time.

Town Department or maybe we’re being too hard on andlong a mutual agreement that left Maintenance don’t know if it’s because ust realized that in a few weeks the 150th anof the CivilI War, slavery.

How is itI’m thatnotnot-so them.

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long the United to have slavery today? it yet extend all the even wayharder, to but Jaime didn’t notice. have so much fun while they’re at it, around, andWould unsaddle one more ofIGull Lake maybe should learn a thing or two Sheitfollowed the herd, grinning, Town thatwhat makeswould me misty-eyed, hanistan, the nation’s longest war in its history, California?horse If not, have caused to Box 150 but probably not, that’s a small and learned to ride down into the from them.

Iraq. Iraq is not as wrapped up as we thought end? Would a Spartacus-like slave revolt have been 12-2eow Regardless, this1A0 month will see ditch to bring up the odd slow cow.

Gull Lake, SK. S0N

price to pay.

as, as the U.S. and numerous allies, including inevitable? Would the North have taken another our daughter celebrate another horse We were on the second leg of She would sneakily hold her gulllaketown.admin@sasktel.net back a bit so she could trot just birthday and gain a bit more indecows home the other day,there ada, are getting pulled into to thespecially Syria/Iraq ISIS toshot at it, trailing 10 to 20 years later?

Would have it requires plans designed a little ways in order to catch up. pendence. And our ranch gains when Jaime’s golden opportunity lict. been a series of continental conflicts for decades?

Sometimes she would hang back another willing cow hand, one that to ride came along.

Up until then, meetoutyour think that’s what stands the needs. most for me, If the U.S. had remained into the 20thcould talk to me but more is made of sugar and spice, with a so she Jaime and I had beenfractured travelling with often than not, she would stay sev- shot of perseverance and some grit the herd in the truck and trailer, ng lived during at time&when the U.S., and by century, what would the impacts have been glob• Dwellings Outbuildings • Contents eral yards stopping cows from going in the • Machinery & Produce nsion, Canada, has been at• Livestock continual war since ally? Would it have tipped the balance in the First ahead, and wasn’t too for good measure.

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REDCOAT DRIVE• g we are seeing today. Modern war may be Italy? n” in the opening weeks, but then drag on forAnd would there be a black president now? Or GORDON KOZROSKIwould Barack Obama have belonged to some mas.

REALTOR beginning April 17th deed, today’s posting ponders the question of ter, with a whip in hand?

FARMLAND WANTED ther the Confederacy could have won the war.

Coming soon ... Do You Believe? & Boy Choir Call today! “what-ifs” range from increased cotton sales Brian Zinchuk is editor of Pipeline News.

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ADVANCE SOUTHWEST

Commentary Send me on my way

By Megan Lacelle megan@advancesouthwest.com

Since I could read I’ve been fascinated with history and culture. When I was little it was princesses in castles in far off lands, when I got older it was average people in far off countries. I’ve been spellbound with the idea of travel, and as someone who finds a lot of comfort in home, I’ve also been tentative to stretch my wings.

But no more.

Come January, I will be boarding a plane to Sweden and studying in Europe until June. The process started a year ago, but has been something I’ve been interested in since childhood. In my undergraduate studies I considered doing a semester abroad, but always chickened out last minute. So, when I was accepted into law school it was a second chance to take the risk.

My law school offers exchange programs with a number of schools around the world, including Finland, Iceland and England.

However, Sweden seemed to call my name.

I’ll be living in Lund, a city of a comparable size to Lethbridge, Alberta.

I’ve put a deposit down on my apartment, purchased health insurance, applied for a visa, picked out my classes and booked my flights.

I leave in less than a month.

I’ve been asked numerous times why I would want to do such a trip – especially with such deep roots at home. But the answer is always easy for me – why not?

The University offers ample financial assistance and taking courses in Sweden still allows me to graduate on time with my fellow classmates. Sweden is known for its excellent environmental policies and its safety for visitors. It also doesn’t hurt that Sweden is a gateway to travel the rest of Europe.

I’m more than willing to hop the train on weekends to Germany, Denmark and Austria or catch a quick flight to England, Scotland or Greece.

I may be a walking cliché, but I can’t wait to board a train with my favourite novel and lose myself in its pages as I roll from country to country.

I’m excited to try new foods, experience new traditions and overall broad-

en my perspective moving forward in life.

For me, it’s not about leaving Saskatchewan behind, it’s about growing outside the influence of what feels comfortable to me. It’s about taking an experience and manifesting it in my everyday life.

Plus, when else can you spend six months living in Europe in your 20s?

My boyfriend and family have been incredibly supportive – some even promise to make the flight over.

Aside from family, I’ll also be meeting up with fellow columnist, Cleo Morvik, for a couple weeks in March and another childhood friend in May. The only thing I’m awaiting at this moment is my residence permit visa, which the embassy has assured me will arrive in ample time for me to catch my January 9 flight.

I’m nervous to be completely alone in a new country, but I’m excited at the prospect of experiencing new cultures and meeting new friends from across the world.

I’ll be studying Maritime and Laws of the Sea – classes I’m sure will prove interesting considering my limited naval experience.

I’ll also be taking a Legal History of Minorities class.

Before you ask, no, I do not speak any Swedish.

From what I’ve seen it looks massively complicated, but I’m sure I will catch on quick out of necessity.

Regardless, I’ve heard they speak great English and have been assured my classes will be taught in my native tongue.

The only thing that stands between me and a European adventure is three final exams and the Christmas holidays – a time I plan on spending exclusively with the most important people in my life.

I love Saskatchewan and I love the friends and family I have here – I’ll miss them tremendously, but it’s only six months.

You know what they say, time flies when you’re having fun. And, just like everything I do in life, I want to test myself and prove I can do this.

So if you see me in the meantime just say “lycka till” – which, Google tells me, is “good luck” in Swedish.

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

|

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

OPINION

There’s something missing on a lot of cars, it seems in my own memory, she was wearing runners, a bunnyhug, and that’s

By Brian Zinchuk brian.zinchuk@sasktel.net it. No jacket, no mitts, toque, gloves, shovel, tow strap, nada. I sent her scurrying home, three doors down, Oh, it may not have seemed like to get some proper clothes on while much snow compared to someone I secured the car to be towed back. who grew up in the mountains, but Her dad, who came out to help, was the walloping Estevan got in one week covering Nov. 28 to Dec. 6 was appreciative. “Always more authoritative when it's not a parent and the memorable one for us prairie chicksituation demonstrates its necessiens. ty!” he posted later on Facebook.

The week started with a three day When I saw her in her bunnyblizzard which dumped four inches hug and runners, what I actually of snow on the Monday, and another saw was not the neighbour, but my four inches the next day, then blew own 12 year old daughter afflicted it around on the third. The followwith teenageritis, thinking that ing Monday resulted in roughly she doesn't need to dress up for another foot of snow. The few days the weather. It may have been the prior to the first blizzard, it was +7 neighbour, but to me, it was Katrina, C and everything was nicely brown. 4 years from now, in a car stuck in a Winter struck with a vengeance. snowbank. While this was going on The valiant efforts of the City of I had Katrina get out of our truck to Estevan crews to clean up the first see how I hooked up the tow chain. snowfall were blunted by the secSeeing me scold the neighbour, and ond. Our street had been bladed her coming back fully dressed this over to form a three foot tall, eight time, I think my message to my own foot wide windrow of snow in the daughter got through very clearly. centre. Unfortunately, before they And this is where I was somecould collect it with the giant snow- what astonished. This recent model blower and trucks to haul it away, Chevy did not have anywhere a tow the foot of snow arrived. chain or strap could be attached to I spent the morning snowblowing the rear of the vehicle. Not even one and acting as taxi and tow truck of those tie-down loops you see on helping pull out whoever I could the front and back of some vehicles. with my wife’s Ford F-150 4x4. But Zero. I ended up wrapping the chain the tow that stuck out in my mind around the lower A-arm of the rear happened almost directly in front of wheel suspension. our house.

Half an hour later, I was trying A teenage girl from down the to attach the same chain to an older Chevy minivan. Again, there block had gotten stuck in the drift was nowhere to attach a chain to, along the side of the road. Despite this time from the front. Again, the the blizzard being one of the worst

chain was threaded through a lower A-arm. She was stuck so bad, it took a front end loader pulling me, pulling her, to get her out.

Earlier that morning, I simply could not get my chain hook or clevis through the tie down on a small import hung up on snow. Someone else with some magic chain work succeeded, however. I ended up buying looped two straps for each of our trucks later that day. That won’t happen again.

How is it that in 2016 the Canadian government allows vehicles to be sold in this country without factory-built tow points on both front and back? Did it slip someone’s mind in Ottawa that we can and do have snow up to six months of the year? A modern car has airbags up the wazoo, daytime running lights, backup radar, antilock brakes, backup cameras, navigation systems, traction control and crush zones, but no one has figured out a simple large loop should be welded onto the chassis both front and back, which might cost all of $10 to incorporate?

This is not rocket science, people!

Tow points should not be optional, like on some trucks. They should be mandatory. They can be hidden below the bumper without too much difficulty. How many vehicles in Canada don’t need a pull at one point in their existence?

Carmakers, you have work to do.

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

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Advance Southwest.

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7

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

T R AV E L S with C L E O

A S K YO U R L I F E

Q: What is your first memory of money?

By Madonna Hamel

madonnahamel@hotmail.com

L

ast Saturday was the annual Lions Christmas Supper and dance in Val Marie. Normally, the supper is free for seniors, but this year everyone ponied up twenty-five dollars a plate to help defer the costs incurred by a local family after a burn accident. There was also an auction that included everything from forty acres of swathing to delivery of a load of cattle to an hour of babysitting to a signed Bryan Trottier Hall of Fame hockey stick. All in all, $62,000 was raised for the family. As I sat watching the bidding I wondered how it must feel to have the kind of money that allows you to bid on a two-thousand pound winch or forty acres of swathing. I have never been able to drop a couple grand at an auction, but I can write a couple thousand words about generosity.

A couple of decades ago a counselor asked me to recall my first experience with money. She claimed that our earliest relationship with money can set in motion our spending and saving habits for the rest of our lives. And by ‘spending and saving’ she didn’t just mean pay cheques; she was talking about energy and time as well. Life is, she warned me, where you put your time and energy. And where else do we spend most of both than at work?

Her intention was not to say that money itself was evil, she was actually a financial planner. Her point was that our attachment to money was blinding her clients to why they were making it in the first place which was most often to enjoy life and share it with their loved ones. Or, as was the case last weekend, to spend it at an auction for a neighbour who had to be airlifted to the Edmonton burn unit. If, however, we must have money to feel secure or gain esteem then we must always be finding new ways to make more money, because true security and esteem is an inside job.

When we need money for money’s sake we are willing to do just about anything to get it, so the idea of finding one’s ‘calling’, one’s vocation, goes out the door. Unless, of course, you are Donald Trump and you believe you are called to ‘make money’.

Trump and his new cabinet are ‘worth’ close to $35 billion. By making Trump the official leader America has made the monetary force behind the presidency the presidency.

The author of “All the President’s Bankers”, Nomi Prin, writes that it’s no surprise that Trump’s cabinet “won’t be focused on public service or patriotism or civic duty, but on the consolidation of corporate and private gain at the expense of the citizenry”.

Maybe none of us should be surprised that things ended up this way: we haven’t actually been ‘citizens’ since the early seventies when the term ‘consumer’ replaced ‘citizen’.

When we became consumers ‘human rights’ became about ownership and property.

To call ourselves consumers is to define ourselves by what we own, not by how we manifest spirit, or share with others. Ultimate consumerism treats everything, and everyone, as a product to be bought and consumed, by any means necessary, even if it means going deep into debt.

My first experience with money taught me never rob Peter to pay Paul. Although I never shop-lifted, I did perform a rash act involving a box of matches and all the votive candles in St. Mary’s chapel when I was ten. Mother Superior, as mothers superiors are wont to do, entered the chapel in total silence and took me by surprise. Ever the pragmatist, she tallied the number of lit candles and handed me the bill. I decided I’d get the money by rifling through the

pockets of all the coats hanging in the front closet one night when my parents were having a bridge party. I never got caught but the suspense- and guilt- near killed me.

Today, according to Trump, if you are poor it’s your own fault. You aren’t willing to work. Never mind that many of America’s poor do work, they just don’t get paid a decent living. What disturbs me even more is how American fundamentalist Christians (authors like Chris Hedges would call them ‘facists’) have morphed Christ from a man of modest means to a CEO who ‘wants us to be rich’.

“

Generosity isn’t always about money- to be generous of spirit is to be giving your time, your listening ear, your smile.

But what does ‘rich’ mean? And who decides? How did we confuse greed with wealth, so that one can never get enough?

Does rich equal successful? How much money do you need to feel rich, secure, good about yourself? Who decides? What about that quote at the end of “It’s A Wonderful Life” when George Bailey gets his family and community back and he realizes what it truly means to be rich: “No man is a failure who has friends”. Note, he did not say: friends in high places.

Ebenezer Scrooge was a rich man. His business of making money occupied him constantly. He couldn’t be bothered to think about the welfare of others- that’s what prisons and work-houses are for. But then the ghost of Christmas Present revealed to him two “ragged, scowling, miserable and abject” children, a boy named Ignorance and a girl named Want. When Scrooge pulls back, appalled and asks, “ Spirit, have they no resource, no refuge?” ,the ghost throws back Scrooge’s own words: “ Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?” Thankfully, A Christmas Carol ends with Scrooge becoming hugely generous, and “as good a man as…the good old world knew.”

Generosity isn’t always about money- to be generous of spirit is to be giving your time, your listening ear, your smile. Americans are a generous people, you see that every time there is a disaster. But, as Bob Dylan sings: power and politics are good at “sucking the blood from the genius of generosity”, leaving a people ignorant and wanting, with no resource, no refuge save prisons and McJobs.

Whose fault is it that we want so much we ignore the danger signs ? How did the super-rich become our heroes? How do Christians justify venerating the rich when their hero reminds us over and over that a spiritual life is not one of addition but subtraction, of removing distractions and cravings, of living simply. Why does ‘poor’ equal ‘bad’ and ‘rich’ equal ‘good’? Why do we say things like: “Well, he may be a dick but hey, he’s made millions, so, more power to him!”?

Nomi Prin writes: “ ‘The one with the most toys wins’ has been at the root of Trump’s ideology all along.” What I want to know is: how many toys does it take? And are we willing, especially at Christmas, to make that a motto for our children. Wordsworth wrote, “the world is too much with us… getting and spending, we lay waste our powers. We look up, unmoved.” I hope never to be unmoved by the simple joys of living, joys which cost nothing. Christmas is a time to renew the ‘powers’ of love, wonder and generosity. Maybe I’m lucky that I’m in no position to let money decide how ‘generous’ I will be.

Nightime view from our 24th floor hotel room. More travel photos from Cleo can be found on Instagram @farmtoforeign

Lazy, with a view By

A

Cleo Morvik

s I write this, I'm sitting on the edge of the window seat in our hotel room that overlooks an absolutely stunning view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Sydney Opera House. I don't mean to brag, but... it's pretty awesome.

Three days ago we said our goodbyes to the remaining members of the harvest crew we were working with outside of the small rural community of Newdegate, Western Australia, and hopped on a bus heading to Perth.

We spent one night at a lovely little Airbnb, and then caught our cheap, red-eye flight to Sydney, New South Wales. Since then, our motto has basically been “treat yo-self,” so that's what we've been doing. Kerry booked us into the fancy hotel we're lounging in now, and yesterday and today have been all about doing whatever we want. Which, honestly, has been not a whole heck of a lot.

Over our 44 days at Woodstock Trading Co we worked an average of 12 or more hours a day, harvested around 10,500 acres of canola, barley, oats, and wheat, and had a total of five days off, with only one of them being a rain day during harvest. We feel a little guilty about not being the energetic go-getting sight-seers we should be right now, but we also figure a couple days of R&R might be just what the doctor ordered.

So far, we've done a couple walks around the neighbourhood, “The Rocks”, and marvelled at the steps of the Opera House. We couldn't resist sitting down at a bar we came across nicknamed, “The Aussie,” and this morning had a late breakfast at a cute little tucked-away French creperie.

Also, we slept for 11 hours and today I had my first massage. We're starting to feel less like harvest machines, and more like civilized people! This also means that we're now starting to make detailed plans for the following days, since that was certainly not a thing we felt like doing while we were relaxing. Planning can be stressful.

Especially when you come to realize that you may have left a few things until the last minute. While we were enjoying our days off, other less lazy people were booking excursions and being productive. Who would have

thought?

This afternoon we started to do a little more in-depth research into what we wanted to do for the weekend, which is visit the Blue Mountains, just west of Sydney. We had picked up a couple brochures the day before featuring several different day tours in the area, so we had a starting place, but we figured our main issue would be actually getting to the mountains. We looked into rental cars, but... driving on the wrong side of the road through mountains? No, thank you. Then we looked into a bus.

With no air conditioning and strangely unclear information about where we would actually be dropped off. So we kept looking. Finally we settled on the train to the mountains, where we would join the hop-on-hop-off bus. It took a bit of research on all the different itinerary options, reviews from other patrons, costs, and add ons, but it would allow us to essentially do whatever we wanted, (we like this,) while still having the benefit of a bus driver/guide who would take us to the best locations and be able to teach us a little about it along the way. Perfect.

Booked. And with that valid bus ticket, you would even get discounts at certain accommodations! Oh right...

Accommodations.

The hop-on-hop-off bus' website had a couple of suggestions, so we found what looked like the best option for us, A.K.A. the cheapest, and I gave them a call. No rooms available, you say? It was at this point that I began to worry. We were looking for a room for tomorrow. Perhaps that is cutting it a bit close. I quickly Googled “Blue Mountains accommodations” and after sifting through a couple spots out of our price range I found the Blue Mountains YHA, the youth hostel. Scrolling down the web page, I saw eight spots available for the female dorms. Great for me, not so great for Kerry. I kept scrolling through the list of non-vacant room options, and then I spotted our golden ticket. One double room available.

One. I have never clicked so fast.

We'll chalk this up as another lesson learned. If you have a plan, get it booked. And don't be lazy humans.

8

ADVANCE SOUTHWEST

AGRICULTURE

FCC expands support for young farmers Contributed kate@advancesouthwest.com

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is increasing its support for young farmers, doubling the amount of credit available under the FCC Young Farmer Loan.

“A big focus of FCC’s mandate is to provide innovative financing products and knowledge to assist the next generation of Canadian farmers,” said Michael Hoffort, FCC president and CEO. “Changes to the Young Farmer Loan recognize the rising cost for young farmers to become established in the industry.”

In addition to doubling the credit limit to $1 million from $500,000, FCC has lowered the possible minimum down payment required for a Young Farmer Loan to 20 per cent from 25 per cent of the value of the loan, which supports the purchase or improvement of farmland and buildings. This potentially makes more working capital available to qualified producers, under age 40, as they look to enter the industry or grow their business.

FCC will continue to offer a variable lending rate at prime plus 0.5 per cent, as well as offer a special fixed rate if producers choose that avenue of repayment. No loan processing fees are charged on the Young Farmer Loan, which was introduced in 2012.

“Our customers benefit when we effectively manage risk at every stage of their business lifecycle, whether they are just beginning to pursue their dreams or preparing to leave the industry,” Hoffort said. “Our lending decisions are based on sound business plans, strong relationships with our customers and taking the time to understand their business.”

The loan fills a gap in the marketplace by enabling young farmers to access the credit they need to get started and grow in the industry.

“Young farmers tell me about their concerns and aspirations for their future in the agriculture sector, and access to capital is definitely one.

Doubling the amount of credit available to young farmers helps them to successfully make their careers in agriculture,” said Lawrence MacAulay, minister of Agriculture and AgriFood Canada. “I applaud FCC’s commitment to taking a long-term view when it comes to agriculture, so that they can support the next generation of farmer through every stage of their career.”

“The future of the industry depends on attracting the next generation of young, bright entrepreneurs to careers in agriculture, as well as helping those already in the industry realize their dreams of eventually taking over the family farm,” said Ron Bonnett, president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, representing more than 200,000 farm families through its member organizations.

“Access to capital through fair and flexible financing helps ensure a smooth and successful transition for the next generation of farmer.”

In 2015-16, FCC overall approved more than $2.6 billion in financing – including the Young Farmer Loan – to farmers under age 40, representing more than one-quarter of the $9 billion in disbursements last year to help customers expand or start their operations.

The Young Farmer Loan enhances FCC’s suite of existing products and services that support young producers, such as the FCC Transition Loan, FCC Ag Knowledge Exchange events, FCC Publications and FCC Management Software for both accounting and field management. For more information on the FCC Young Farmer Loan, visit www.fcc.ca/youngfarmerloan or producers can call the local FCC office at 1-800-387-3232.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

COMMUNITY

Public Offering of Petroleum and Natural Gas Rights for December Raises $14 Million Contributed kate@advancesouthwest.com

December's public offering of Saskatchewan's Crown petroleum and natural gas rights on Tuesday raised $14 million in revenue for the province, bringing the total for the fiscal year to date to $48 million with one sale remaining.

This is the second-largest revenue for a single public offering so far in the 2016-17 fiscal year, and the current total has now exceeded the amount of $43 million for the previous fiscal year.

“This increased investment shows that the petroleum industry continues to recognize the opportunities that exist in Saskatchewan,” Energy and Resources Minister Dustin Duncan said. “More oil wells were drilled in Saskatchewan in the first 11 months of 2016 than in Alberta, an indicator that our province is setting the pace in Canada in terms of both industry activity and policy attractiveness.”

Tuesday's public offering occurred on the same day that the Fraser Institute released its 10th annual global survey on barriers to investment in oil and gas exploration and production facilities. According to the 2016 survey, international petroleum industry executives and managers now rank Saskatchewan as the fourth most attractive jurisdiction for investment in the world, rising from seventh place, and number one in Canada, while Alberta fell 18 spots in the world rankings to 43rd.

One exploration licence and two leases located west of Estevan received bonus bids in Tuesday's public offering, totalling $7.6 million for 1,554 hectares. Stomp Energy Ltd. was the successful bidder of these parcels that are prospective for multiple targets, including the Midale and Frobisher Beds of the Madison Group, the Bakken Formation, the Three Forks Group/Torquay Formation and the Red River Formation.

The next public offering of petroleum and natural gas rights will be held on February 7, 2017.

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Over 200 people attended the Val Marie Lions Club annual Christmas supper which helped to raise over $60,000 for Laurent Paradis. Photo courtesy Val Marie Lions Club

Val Marie Lions Club annual Christmas supper turned fundraiser

By Kailey Guillemin guillemin.k@gmail.com

Val Marie has shown that it doesn’t matter what the size of the community is, they are here to help.

On December 2, the Val Marie Lions Club hosted their annual Christmas supper for the community. This one, however, was a little different.

This year’s Christmas supper turned into a fundraiser for community member Laurent Paradis.

Paradis was in an accident which caused his close to half his body to be burnt.

“When we were planning our Christmas party, one of the other members said you know, they’re spending a lot of time in Edmonton trying to get him recovering and they’ve got a long road ahead of them,” Jessie Grant, the Lions Club President explained how the supper turned into a fundraiser.

“We should have a fundraiser, give to the Paradis family as kind of behalf of the community.”

The event was a community supper, along with a live auction and ending with a dance. During the auction part over 200 people were in attendance – that is over

what Val Marie’s population is. in the community, especially The auction brought in around when it involves a person in your $60,000. community, it hits really close to “It was incredible,” Grant said. home and everyone is concerned “The generosity of people that and people want to help out anycome out to donate money, it was way they can.” unreal. Even if people didn’t buy The auction itself had over 90 auction items, they still made a items which took over two hours donation to the Paradis family.” to complete. Items and work Members of the Paradis family were donated from the commuwere able to attend the Christ- nity as well as the surround area. mas fundraiser. Laurent was Businesses from Swift Current unable to attend but passed helped out with some donations. along a message of gratitude and If the time came that anoththat he was overwhelmed they er community member needed would do this for him. help, the Lions Club would do it “After we concluded the auc- all over again. tion part and we found out what “It’s one of those things you we raised for the Paradis, [Lau- hope you don’t have to do, but rent’s wife] said [she] had to get definitely if the situation ever up and say thank you,” Grant comes again, we would in a explained. “They were just so heartbeat do it for sure,” Grant appreciated that the community said. comes together like this to supGrant acknowledges and port them in a time of need.” thanks all the community supGrant himself is blown away port and volunteers for helping by the support the community to make the evening such a sucshowed, although not surprised. cess. Many people volunteered NOsupper, CHARGE As unfortunate circumstances it to help cook serve DIESEL the Now On 2015 2500 & 3500 Models is for, for Grant it goes to show food and bring in items for the 2015 RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4WD 2015 RAM 2500 CREW CAB 4WD what a small community is capaauction. ble of accomplishing.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

C E L E B R AT I N G the S O U T H W E S T

“I still don’t consider myself a hero”

Story by Megan Lacelle & Kailey Guillemin

The Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada was in Edmonton on December 8, 2016. to recognize remarkable Canadians with awards and honours, including Terry Palaschak (far right).

T

erry Palaschak is known for his quick humour and his provincial, national and world competitions in arm-wrestling. However, Palaschak is more than a good friend or neighbour, last week he was one of 70 Canadians recognized nationally for their courage or excellence.

On July 4, 2012 Palaschak was welding in his shop when he heard his brother radio over that he thought there had been an accident about a mile south of the farm. Palaschak, 49, lived by the No. 4 Highway between Cadillac and Val Marie all his life; he grew up farming there with his family. So he quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher and headed out to see if he could help.

The accident was less than 500 metres from the home he shares with his wife, Mona.

When Palaschak arrived at the scene flames were engulfing the front of the vehicle and Palaschak could hear the driver inside.

“I took the fire extinguisher and I smashed out the driver side window and, just like you see in movies, when you open a door and the flames come shooting out, that's basically what happened,” he said. “I blasted into the car with the fire extinguisher to knock the flames down then I was going in.”

He managed to get the driver out of the car shortly before Palaschak’s brother and wife arrived to help.

They put the driver in the truck, phoned 911 and headed towards Swift Current where STARS ambulance picked the driver up and took him to Regina.

The driver, 20-year-old Jacob Whitney, had lived in Presscott Ontario before moving to Val Marie to work

“

“I don't consider myself a hero,” he said. “I was just there, suddenly thrust into a situation and I was just flying I guess.” with his cousin at her restaurant.

Whitney had a passion for cooking and his family described him as a strong and determined young man.

Palaschak knew Whitney. Val Marie is a small community and Whitney had cooked supper for Palaschak the Wednesday before.

Sadly, Whitney succumbed to his injuries, but not before his mother could make it to say good-bye.

It’s been four years since the accident and Palaschak still gets choked up talking about it.

“I told everybody, I told them I just did what I hope somebody would do for me, if I was in the same spot,” he said.

Three months after the accident Palaschak was given an award from

Terry Palaschak was humbled and honoured to receive the Medal of Bravery from the Queen, but would give it back in a heartbeat to change that day. Submitted photos

the Canadian Humane Society, but last week he received the Medal of Bravery from the Queen.

“It's just a little more prestige behind it because now I can put the letters MB after my name if I want,” he said. “Don't think I ever will because I still don't consider myself a hero.”

Palaschak, who attended the ceremony on December 8, said he was humbled and honoured to receive the award, but would have given it

back in a heartbeat to change that day.

Of the 70 Canadians who were recognized at the Edmonton ceremony, only 10 received the Medal of Bravery from the Governor General. Some for rescuing someone who was drowning, fending off a bear to protect a co-worker or entering a burning home to rescue the woman who lived inside.

“For me, that is way more amazing than what I did,” he said. “It's an honour to be in a room with several other people who just did it.”

Other southwest award winners were Miles and Sherilee Anderson were awarded Meritorious Service Medal, civil division, for protecting the habitat of the Greater Sage Grouse and former Gull Lake resident Dixie Leah Fenwick received the Sovereign Medal for her volunteer work with the Red Cross during the Fort McMurray fire.

Palaschak, now semi-retired, moved away from his home between Cadillac and Val Marie. He and his wife now live at Buffalo Pound Lake.

He said their new home is heaven on Earth for them. And, although he’s honoured to receive the award, Palaschak still does not believe he deserves it.

“I don't consider myself a hero,” he said. “I was just there, suddenly thrust into a situation and I was just flying I guess.”

ADVANCE SOUTHWEST

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

|

11

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

ARTS & CULTURE

Lyric Theatre hosts 8th annual Christmas Matinee Contributed kate@advancesouthwest.com

Are you looking for a special afternoon to spend with your children or grandchildren to celebrate the Christmas season? The Lyric Theatre is the place to be on Saturday, December 17 or Sunday, December 18 for the eighth annual Christmas matinee.

The Christmas Matinee is an action packed afternoon filled with Christmas traditions. The audience will listen to a Christmas story, watch the play, You Can’t

Teach an Old Elf New Tricks, take part in a singalong and make a Christmas craft.

Santa will take time from his busy schedule to have a visit with each child and to give them a small gift bag.

The matinee is a very affordable $5 thanks to the Lead Sponsors: Kal Tire, Kiwanis Club of Swift Current, and Pioneer Coop. Tickets are available at Pharmasave. Children under 2 are admitted free. For more information, check the Lyric website lyrictheatre.ca or our Facebook page, The Lyric Theatre or call 306 773 6292.

POINT OF VIEW

Time to question government subsidized culture

by Aaron Wudrick Federal Director

This column originally appeared in the Financial Post on December 8th, 2016

The Parade of Lights would not be complete without a visit from jolly old Saint Nick. Photo by Kate Winquist.

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This past June, Heritage Minister Melanie Joly announced a sweeping review of the federal government’s Canadian content policies. “Everything is on the table” declared Joly – except the possibility of a so-called “Netflix tax” on the popular streaming service which would likely hit consumers squarely in the pocketbook.

Unfortunately for Canadian consumers, it’s not the only new tax being contemplated by the Trudeau government.

At the time of her announcement, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) had just completed several weeks hearing from dozens of stakeholders as part of its review of basic telecommunications services. A recurring theme were concerns about the cost and accessibility of broadband internet, especially in remote parts of the country.

Predictably, the first reflex of most stakeholders when confronted with high prices was not to ask whether they could be driven down through, say, more competition, lower taxes or smarter regulation. Instead there was much talk about the possibility of imposing a brand new tax (pronounced: “revenue stream”) on one group of people in order to better subsidize services for another.

Fast forward to this fall, with Joly entertaining the possibility of a new internet service provider (ISP) tax as one possible way to generate cash for the “Canadian cultural community”.

In effect, the government spent weeks examining the challenges of expensive internet access – and then floated a proposal that would make the internet more expensive for everybody.

Perhaps these types of policy contradictions are inevitable when the default view is that the best thing a government can do to solve any problem is squeeze the public just a little bit more.

But is it true that our cultural industries are bereft of government sup-

port? Consider that the Department of Canadian Heritage already has a budget of $1.4 billion. That doesn’t include the CBC. Or any of the federal museums. Or the National Film Board.

Even lesser-known bodies like the Canada Media Fund (CMF), an entity which 99 per cent of Canadians have likely never heard of, has an annual budget of $366 million – money all cribbed from taxpayers either directly ( from a government subsidy) or indirectly (through the cable companies who pass on the costs to consumers). The CMF then turns around and hands this money back to the large cable companies (the CBC, Bell and Shaw are the three biggest recipients) to produce government-approved “Canadian content”.

As others have argued, having official government criteria for defining Canadian content is in many ways a misguided endeavour. But even if it were not, we are left with two possibilities for this type of subsidized content: there is either sufficient public demand for it, or there is not.

If there is sufficient demand, why do we not expect producers to use their own money to produce it, and consumers to spend their own money to consume it?

And if there is not sufficient demand, why are we siphoning hundreds of millions of dollars out of the pockets of all Canadians to pay for it, when they have no interest in consuming it – especially at a time when we are running massive deficits and have countless other priorities?

Whether a “Netflix tax” or an ISP tax, the unstated assumptions are the same: we absolutely must have government directing the creation of official Canadian content; Canadian taxpayers must be forced to pay for it; and however much we’re spending on such initiatives now, surely more would be better.

It’s well past time these sacred cows were challenged. If Minister Joly really wants to do a review of Canada’s cultural policy where “everything is on the table”, confronting these assumptions should be right at the top of her list.The next public offering of petroleum and natural gas rights will be held on February 7, 2017.

12

ADVANCE SOUTHWEST

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

|

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

Paint and wine and a whole lot of fun!

By Kailey Guillemin kate@advancesouthwest.com

It’s been taking social media by storm this past year. Pictures of a ladies night out, couples on date night all holding their masterpiece for all to see.

Paint Nite is sweeping the southwest corner of the province.

Started back in 2012 by a couple of artists serving wine and beer at their studio, it continued to grow across America and up into Canada Brenda Spagrud is an artist in Shaunavon who hosted her first Paint Nite in November after a friend gave her a little nudge to do one.

“I just threw the idea out there on Facebook and I had 33 people I think say they wanted to come,” Spagrud said.

For Spagrud’s night, each ticket you buy gets you your own canvas to paint on, the supplies needed, the instruction by Spagrud and last but not least, a glass of wine.

These paint events allows the community to get together in a different way, opening up new opportunities for adults in the area.

“It’s kind of nice fun for adults to do,” Spagrud said. “So many times nowadays we’re running for our kids for them to have these fun things. This way it gives us a sort of entertainment as well.”

Back in June, Connie Phillips hosted her first Paint Nite in Maple Creek. Owner of the Art House, her and her husband are

both artists and enjoy the idea of Paint Nite and showing people how to express themselves through paint.

“I encouraged one lady last month to stay and paint your feelings, paint how you’re feeling,” Phillips explained. “She made this abstract painting and everybody came over to say hi to her and they loved it.”

Phillips supplies all the items needed to create your painting along with instruction by herself and her husband. She was recently in Gull Lake hosting another Paint Nite.

Phillips has noticed the growth of this event so much, she’s had to open up more nights for the demand.

“I think it is partly too…once they realize it’s not so scary and they can do it, they’re actually all interested in seeing what are we going to paint next,” Phillips explained. “How am I going to be able to do that and what have I learned so far that’s going to help me do that painting better?”

The fun doesn’t stop there! Trea Jensen is an artist in Eastend who has been doing her own Paint Nite which she calls Paint and Wine. Although this isn’t something new to her, the idea of using a different venue like a restaurant or a bar is something she started doing in September.

It all started for Jensen when a friend wanted art lessons from her and threw the idea of Paint Nite her way.

“Within 24 hours I had 12 people sign

It’s wonderful to see all of the different interpretations on the canvas - all great works of art. Photos courtesy Brenda Spagrud

up to do a paint and wine night,” Jensen said. “Everybody really enjoyed it, they just had a blast.”

Jensen notices about these night outs how relaxed everyone is. It’s a fun way for people to challenge themselves to something new but kick back and enjoy a carefree evening. “[They] get out of that day to day mind where you’re worried about what happened yesterday and what’s going to happen tomorrow,” Jensen explained. “Worry about what you’re doing on paper rather than what happened yesterday.”

So if you haven’t tried a Paint Nite yet and want to see what it is all about – create your own work of art, relax with some friends (old and new) while enjoying a nice glass of wine – all three ladies will be continuing to host more events in the new year.

To sign up with Spagrud in Shaunavon you can email her at brendaspagrud@ sasktel.net.

To sign up with Phillips in Maple Creek you can email her at maplecreekarthouse@yahoo.com.

To sign up with Jensen in Eastend you can email her at artmakingstudio@gmail. com.

AGRICULTURE

Feeding Fusarium Damaged Grain

By Travis Peardon Regional Livestock Specialist

When it comes to feeding grain to livestock, the concern is not necessarily about Fusarium; the issue is with the mycotoxins that F. graminearum may produce. This particular species produces a number of mycotoxins, including zearalenones and trichothecenes. Zearalenone is a compound similar to estrogen. Its presence in feed can disrupt the estrus cycle. It has been associated with early embryonic death in some cases.

Trichothecenes are comprised of several metabolites, including deoxynivalenol (DON or vomitoxin), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), T2 toxin and HT2 toxin. By far, DON is the toxin most commonly produced. In fact, the industry uses DON as a marker. It is an indicator that other toxins may be present. DON is a relatively mild toxin. Animals consuming feed containing high levels of DON may have a reduced immune response. Feed refusal is common. DON is found in the infected grain and chaff covering that grain. Little, if any, is found in the straw and leaves of the plant. Studies have shown that DON is rapidly metabolized in the body. DON does not accumulate in meat, milk or eggs. Tissue residues are not a concern.

DON is not carcinogenic.

Agriculture and AgriFood Canada has regulatory guidelines for maximum tolerated levels of DON in livestock diets.

Rations for beef cattle and poultry may contain up to 5 parts per million (ppm) DON or 5,000 parts per billion (ppb).

Diets for swine, young calves and lactating dairy animals may contain up to 1 ppm or 1,000 ppb DON. If a mature beef cow was fed 5 lbs of grain that contained 20 ppm DON and

30 lbs of hay and other forage, the cow would be eating a total of 2.8 ppm DON (total diet) which is well within the regulatory guidelines.

Keep in mind that other factors come into play. Poor health, stress, inadequate feeding programs, over-crowding and other things may make animals more susceptible to the effects of DON. As was mentioned, other mycotoxins may be present. The effects of the mycotoxins are, at least, additive, and some may act in a synergistic manner.

If Fusarium-contaminated grain is going to be fed to livestock, it is advisable to have it tested at a feed testing laboratory for the presence of mycotoxins. A number of labs, elevators, terminals and pelleted feed companies are using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays) tests to measure DON levels in suspect grain samples. This technology is relatively inexpensive, quick and accurate.

It does not detect the presence of other mycotoxins when using the test strip for DON. For example, HT2 can be present at high levels in infected grain with no DON in the sample. It is recommended to have a complete mycotoxin panel screen performed, as other mycotoxins may be present.

For complete mycotoxin analyses, producers should contact one of the laboratories listed in the Ministry of Agriculture’s list of feed or water testing laboratories and companies. The list can be found at www.saskatchewan.ca/agriculture by searching for “Feed Testing Laboratories.”

For more information, please contact your Saskatchewan Agriculture Regional Office or the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at1-866-457-2377

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth … exclaimed the Gull Lake Sparks and Brownies group, much to the delight of the audience at the annual Christmas Carol Festival in Gull Lake. Photo by Kate Winquist.

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hwest.com 49 | www.advancesout VOLUME 107 | ISSUE

Snugg ling in the Snow on December on a very chilly evening keep each other warm t community along were finding a way to season in the southwes These two young ladies fireworks display kicked off the festive Kate Winquist Photo by 8th. Shaunavon's annual with the Parade of Lights.

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Shelley A. Leedahl

T

here's much talk these days about mindfulness, and truth be told, this reviewer has signed up for a class on that very topic. I'm also starting to hear that mindfulness-or "living in the moment"-is being taught in some schools, and I can only imagine how much this will benefit students who adopt the practice into their daily lives. Perhaps you remember some of the worries you had as a child, or you recall how stressful teenage years can be.

Maybe you have a son or daughter who is fearful or anxious, and you don't know how to help them. Let me introduce you to Good Morning, Sunshine! (A Story of Mindfulness), a gently-told (and sweetly-illustrated) children's book by Regina teacher, speaker, and writer, Trina Markusson.

Drawing from her youngest son's experience, as well as her own, Markusson, has penned a sensitive story about Zachary-a boy old enough to play football but young enough to enjoy the company of a teddy bear-that demonstrates how hanging on to the past or worrying about the future prevents us from enjoying the present, and can even manifest in physical ailments.

Speaking of the “what-ifs" ( future thoughts) her son's experiencing, ie: doing poorly on a spelling test, public speaking in class, missing his bus, his mother says "Most of the time, the what-ifs never come true, but we spend so much time worrying and it makes our bodies worry too! We might get a tummy-ache, feel panicky or even make our hearts beat faster."

Fortunately, the family keeps a shoebox with mindfulness tools (six simplyillustrated cards that symbolize keys to practicing mindfulness) on hand to help Zachary focus. As the worrying boy goes through each of the cards, he practices the steps, ie: when he draws the Five Senses card, he feels his pillow, listens to the

chirping birds, and smells "the coffee Dad was making in the kitchen."

The Gratitude card reminds him to name three things he's grateful for, including his brothers and "the blue-sky day!"

The book ends with an encouraging note to caregivers and teachers re: the benefits of practising mindfulness, and encourages these adults to "model the use of these tools," as children learn most via observation.

Child-geared language, ie: "His eyebrows squinched together" and "His tummy flippity-flopped” help keep the message fun, and the repetition of the phrase "Everything was all right in this moment" helps underscore the story's upbeat message.

Calgary illustrator James Hearne has created a series of colourful and darling images for the story. The little bear appears on each illustrated page, and his expressions match the child's: nice visual touch. And even big people (like yours truly) will appreciate the six, punch-out-able cards at the back of the book … to help keep us peacefully present.

This book would fit well into the library of any child, and any adult who cares about a child's lifelong well-being and happiness … parents and grandparents, counsellors, teachers, etc. For more information about the author, see www.presentmomentliving.ca.

14

ADVANCE SOUTHWEST

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

|

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

RU R A L RO O T S

Diversity for dinner By

Christalee Froese

T

he only thing better than having my Kindergarten-aged daughter sitting at our supper table nightly is having some of her friends sitting with her.

I simply can’t get enough of dinner conversation with kids of any kind. I love to listen to their pint-sized logic and the magical way their brains work.

I relish hearing my daughter explain things like the existence of dinosaurs, and even more confounding, the extinction of dinosaurs. I like how she talks about her favourite times at school— recess, gym and free time. I hang on every ‘l’ and ‘r’ sound that comes out as a ‘w’ sound—like when she declares, ‘I’d wike to have Wowan over to pway.’ (translation – I’d like to have Rowan over to play).

One of the best supper-table conversations of all time occurred spontaneously last week as I dined on bow-tie noodles and microwave-heated corn with my six-year-old daughter and her two five-year-old friends.

The three sweet girls were famished after dance class which afforded us an extended amount of table time to discuss important matters like how many times their fellow dancers had to go pee during dance class and how long it would be until their first tooth fell out.

As Lilyana made it around to her third helping of bow-ties, the conversation landed on babies. We discussed the new babies that would be welcomed into the homes of the two visiting girls and came up with some very interesting names.

Alexis thought ‘Fifi’ might be a good name for her baby, while Lilyana decided that Lullaby would certainly be best if her mom had a baby girl. My daughter Journey chimed in quickly with a second name for Lullaby—Harmony.

We all agreed on Fifi Siwy (a nice ring I think) and Lullaby Harmony Thomson (another nice ring and a wonderful play on musical words, if that’s what you’re going after in a baby’s name?)

The conversation than switched to

Lilyana’s Kohkum, which led my particularly outspoken daughter to declare, “What’s a Kohkum?”

I explained to the girls that Kohkum is grandmother in Cree, after which time Lilyana counted to seven in her native language.

I was just about to gush all over little Lilyana’s profound display of First Nation’s culture and launch into a diatribe about how each of our histories and languages and cultural ways are distinct and important and how they all need to be respected and preserved.

But Journey cut me off saying, ‘I can count to four in Chinese.’

And she did.

Since we seemed to be taking turns counting in different languages, we all decided Alexis should count to 10 in her native language—English, to which dear Alexis replied, “But I don’t know English.”

We assured her that she did indeed know English, after which time she counted to 10. I then counted to 10 in French.

So there we sat, the four of us girls just talking in four different languages and eating bow-tie noodles and niblets of corn from the freezer.

My heart swelled, I got tears in my eyes and I thought to myself, ‘this is what mutual understanding and respect is all about.’

As my teacher husband so eloquently says about trying to integrate Canada’s cultural history into the classroom, “my goal is simply for all of us to be proud of one another.”

Boy was I proud!

I was proud of those three little girls who showed more compassion, understanding and wisdom in the course of one pasta dinner than many people show over a lifetime.

Can’t wait for the next dinner with Journey’s friends—I wonder what we’ll talk about?

Email comments to LCfroese@sasktel.net and follow Christalee Froese’s 21days2joy Blog at 21days2joy. wordpress.com.

SWAC BASKETBALL SCHEDULE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13th

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

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15th Junior Girls Maple Creek @ SC 7:00 PM Frontier @ Herbert 7:00 PM Shaunavon @ Gull Lake 4:30 PM Junior Boys Maple Creek @ SC 5:30 PM Frontier @ Herbert 5:30 PM

The Knox United Church Choir performs. Photo by Kate Winquist.

Whitemud Hockey League

DECEMBER SCHEDULE Schedule subject to change without notice

DECEMBER 16 (Friday)

8:00 PM at Frontier Rink Complex 8:00 PM at Shaunavon Rink Complex

DECEMBER 17 (Saturday)

7:30 PM at Cabri Rink Complex 8:00 PM at Maple Creek Rink Complex

DECEMBER 18 (Sunday)

2:30 PM at Gull Lake Rink Complex

DECEMBER 23 (Friday)

7:30 PM at Cabri Rink Complex 8:00 PM at Shaunavon Rink Complex

DECEMBER 30 (Friday)

8:00 PM at Cabri Rink Complex 8:00 PM at Gull Lake Rink Complex

Maple Creek Hawks at Frontier Flyers

Gull Lake Greyhounds at Shaunavon Badgers

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

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

Shaunavon Badgers at Gull Lake Greyhounds

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the WMHL!

TOMPKINS SKATING RINK ICE SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

2:00 - 4:45 5:15 - 6:45 MONDAY 4:00 - 6:00 6:00 - 7:45 8:00 - CLOSE TUESDAY 4:00 - 5:00 5:00 - 7:30 WEDNESDAY 4:00-6:00 6:00 - 7:45 THURSDAY 4:00 - 7:30 FRIDAY 1:30 - 3:00 3:45 - 4:45 5:00 - 6:00 6:15 - 7:00 8:00 - CLOSE SATURDAY 2:00 - 4:00

PUBLIC SKATING MAPLE CREEK BROOMBALL PUBLIC SKATING SHINNY TIGERS HOCKEY ORGANIZED SHINNY (PAUL TONEY) PUBLIC SKATING PUBLIC SKATING SHINNY PUBLIC SKATING SCHOOL SKATING PUBLIC SKATING CANSKATE POWER SKATING TIGERS HOCKEY PUBLIC SKATING

* Public Skating and Shinny times subject to change, dependant on ice rentals.

Please check the Tompkins Skating Rink Facebook page prior to skating to check for changes.

ADVANCE SOUTHWEST

| YOUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

CHAPLIN GRAIN CORP WANTS YOUR BUSINESS!

Looking for Kabuli and Desi Chickpeas ALL GRADES ATTRACTIVE BIDS AVAILABLE

PROMPT DELIVERY TO CHAPLIN OR GULL LAKE

To book call Tempest 1-306-651-1688

|

AdvanceEvents

EASTEND

SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CONCERT • December 15 7:00 pm • Memorial Hall EASTEND SHUTTERBUGS – COMMUNITY PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW • Tea Room at the Memorial Hall • December 17 10:00 am - 4:30 pm.

ATOM HOME TOURNAMENT • Dec 17 & 18 • The Rink.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE • December 24 at 7:00 pm • United Church

GULL LAKE CHRISTMAS COVE 2016 LIGHTS UP AT THE GULL LAKE CAMPGROUND • 5:0010:00 pm. • Every evening until January 1, 2017.

AL-ANON FAMILY GROUP • Mondays at 12:00 Noon at the Gull Lake Seniors Hall.

PRESSURE TRUCK & WATER TRUCK DRIVER Kindersley Area

• Class 3A or 1A license • H2S & 1st Aid tickets required, but can send for training • Oilfield experience an asset, but will provide on the job training SPT offers a competitive salary based on experience and an excellent benefit package.

Forward resume including experience and three references by fax to 306-672-3838 or email doris.spt@sasktel.net or drop off at 5667 Kings Avenue, Gull Lake.

Need Some Ice Time?

The Tompkins Skating Rink

Ice Rental $60.00 / hour $500 / day (tournament) Premium ice times available every day of the week.

Contact Tammy Sloan 306-622-4423 Cell 306-672-8306

Lets us know whats happening in your community Email your community news or stories to kate@advancesouthwest.com

SOUTHWEST.COM

15

MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

December 15 at 7:00 pm at the Hazlet School Gym.

LEADER AL-ANON FAMILY GROUP • December 6 at 8:00 pm at Victory Fellowship Church.

MAPLE CREEK PAINT NIGHT WITH CONNIE & GEOFF PHILLIPS • December 12 • 7:00 pm at the Jasper Lounge & Event Centre.

JASON SCOTT’S DIAMOND FOREVER: A CELEBRATION OF NEIL DIAMOND • December 16 at the Maple Creek Legion Hall.

SONGS TO WARM THE WINTER NIGHT • December 22 • 7:30 pm at Maple Creek United Church.

PONTEIX

BOXING DAY OPEN SPIEL • December 26. To enter a team, contact Jordan 306-671-7557.

CULTURAL CENTRE CHRISTMAS PARTY & SUPPER • December 15 • Cole Boreal School Concert.

HAZLET

CATHOLIC CHURCH MASS • December 18 at 11:00 am

HAZLET SCHOOL K-5 STUDENTS PRESENT THE VELVETEEN RABBIT •

TWINKLE TOUR • December 21 • 2:00-5:00 pm Free Skate • 5:00-6:30 pm Supper • 6:45 pm

Email your events to: kate@advancesouthwest.com Deadline: Thursday at 5PM

Tour Starts.

BANTAM VS SWIFT CURRENT • December 21 at 6:00 pm TRINITY GOSPEL CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT • December 22 at 7:30 pm • Cultural Centre

SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CONCERT • December 19 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm.

CHRIST THE KING SCHOOL CHRISTMAS CONCERT • December 20

CHRISTMAS MASS • December 24 • Hymns 8:30 pm.

Mass 9:00 pm.

CHRISTMAS TEA • December 20 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm at the Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre

SPLITTERS BOXING DAY

SWIFT CURRENT

BASH • December 26 Open at 2:00 pm.

SHAUNAVON RETROSPECTIVE OF LOCAL ARTIST JUNE BUSSE • December 2-28 at the Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre.

AL-ANON FAMILY GROUP YOUNG ADULTS HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW • Tuesdays at 12:00 Noon at The Centre.

AL-ANON FAMILY GROUP FROM A PARENT’S HEART • Tuesdays at 7:00 pm at Alpine Church.

CARING, SHARING & REMEMBERING: A COMMUNITY CHURCH SERVICE FOR THE BEREAVED • December 12 at 7:30 pm at Centre Street United Church • Organized by the Rolling Hills Ministerial Association.

AL-ANON FAMILY GROUP - COURAGE TO CHANGE • Wednesdays at 12:00 Noon at The Centre.

SHAUNAVON CHRISTMAS FOOD HAMPER DELIVERY • December 15 SHAUNAVON PUBLIC

AL-ANON FAMILY GROUP - THURSDAY’S HOPE • Thursdays • 2:00 pm at First United Church Rm 106.

AL-ANON FAMILY GROUP - BE GOOD TO YOURSELF • Wednesdays • 7:30 pm at First United Church.

AGRICULTURE

Off to market we go Cam Dahl, President, Cereals Canada Regional Forage Specialist, Kindersley

The Canadian cereals industry is united in reaching out to international customers. The 2016 Canadian Wheat New Crop Missions run for seven weeks from the beginning of November to mid-December. The sessions kicked off on November 10th with a seminar for Canadian millers, the largest buyer of Canadian wheat. By the time the trek is done the missions will reach customers in 17 countries in Asia, Latin America, Europe, North Africa and West Africa.

Some of our competitors, like the U.S. Wheat Associates, also put on new crop seminars. But Canada is unique because we deliver the entire value chain including representation from farmers, exporters, Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi), and Cereals Canada.

When customers have a question on Canadian production, we have a farmer in the room to answer. When there are questions on supply or logistics, an exporter is there to provide the right information. Cigi and CGC provide unbiased technical information on the grading factors and the technical milling, baking, and pasta and noodle-making properties. This collaborative effort demonstrates the commitment of Canada’s value chain to supporting our customers and providing them with the opportunity to optimize the value and performance of Canadian wheat.

The Canadian missions are about a lot more than industry representatives talking to international buyers. We are also there to listen directly to

our customers’ needs and concerns. Bringing these needs and concerns back to Canada is one of the key objectives and values of the missions. This feedback allows Canada to adjust our grading and classification systems to give buyers what they want and to focus research goals on the traits and qualities that will get the highest return from the market. The recent changes to the wheat classification system are one example of adjustments made in Canada as a result of going abroad to listen directly to the needs of our customers.

Talking to our customers is important in years when everything is going well and high-quality wheat is overflowing. The conversations are even more important in years when things did not go as planned, like the 2016 growing season. Farmers know that the growing season was cooler and much wetter than normal and have experienced one of the most difficult harvests on record. Customers know this too and they want to know the quality effects of the curve balls thrown by Mother Nature.

The news delivered by the Canadian team is better than many customers are expecting.

Over half of the Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) crop is still in the top two grades. The Canadian team is able to assure customers that Canada has good quality to deliver.

But the news is not all good and we can’t hide these facts. The cooler than normal wet summer experienced by much of the Prairies was an ideal environment for the growth of fusarium fungi.

This year fusarium has had minimal effect on the milling, baking and pasta and noodle-making

properties of wheat and durum.

But fusarium also produces a mycotoxin called deoxynivalenol or DON, and there are strict limits on DON in most markets because of food safety concerns.

Fusarium has especially impacted the record level durum crop which has seen downgrades because of the fungus.

Because the Canadian team includes the entire value chain we are able to work with customers to help ensure they can access the Canadian quality they have come to expect while meeting their country’s grain safety regulations.

The missions also allow Canadian farmers to highlight the strong management practices that allow them to consistently deliver high quality grain that is sustainability produced. For example, this year’s missions feature presentations from producers that outline the sustainability of modern Canadian agriculture. Farmers demonstrate how their practices are reducing energy consumption, sequestering carbon, reducing erosion and improving soil health. This is a good news story both here and abroad.

Telling the Canadian agricultural story gives context to our customers about who we are and demonstrates our collective commitment to upholding Canada’s reputation in the global market. Canada is known for quality, sustainability, and the investment of the value chain to ensure we are producing the best product, year after year.

For more information about the New Crop Missions, including the seminars presented and technical data, please visit: www. canadianwheat.ca

16

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Support Cell: 1(306)774-3383 Local. ut our website at www.shawselectrical.ca WE’D LOVE TOjoel.shaw@shawselectrical.ca LikeYOU. us on HEAR FROM Letters to the Editor areFacebook always welcome & annual servicing!

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And stay connected with your southwest

The deadline for submission is 4:00 p.m. on Thursday for the next edition. Email yourcommunity submissions to newspaper kate@advancesouthwest.com

Search “The Advance”

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.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

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Local Classifieds COMING EVENTS The family of Kay Holtby invite friends and family to her 90th birthday celebration on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at Gull Lake Elks Hall, 2-4 pm.

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Joyce Sasse

Think of the many teachings we can share with our children and with the new comers in our midst because the Christmas story is set within the background of a rural culture.

When I stood on the edge of the “shepherds’ field” (located near Bethlehem in my trip to Israel), tears came to my eyes. I was reminded that the heaven-delivered announcement was for everyday people as they went about their everyday work. These were people for whom the land was their livelihood. “And heaven and nature sing!”

Recall how the over-worked innkeeper recognized Mary and Joseph’s need for a place where the baby could be safely delivered in a warm space. To this day members of our communities, despite their busy agendas, stop what they are doing to care for each other in times of need. They tend to a grieving family, an abandoned parent, or those left homeless because of flood or fire.

Such cooperation indicates a healthy community.

Furthermore, community members repeatedly recognize those in pain. The Christmas story includes warnings that the child’s life was endangered. The family had to escape to Egypt because evil jealous people threatened to kill Jesus. They hid the family, helped them escape – and welcomed their return years later.

Recognizing pain and offering support is a rural cultural attribute.

The story also talks about accepting “others”. Years ago, when we set up a “Bethlehem Market” scenario in the local Community Hall, one man wanted to hang “the” star. “Which one?” I asked. “A Jewish star? Or a Christian star?” Jesus’ family were Jewish. Our feast is inclusive: of the new daughter-in-law, of children from a blended family, of outsiders who would otherwise be alone. Diversity makes our community stronger.

As you tell the Christmas story, remember to highlight the rural values that lie at the very heart of our celebration.

For more information visit www.canadianruralchurch.net AGRICULTURE

Hutterian Brethren donation drive Contributed kate@advancesouthwest.com

The 19th annual Hutterian Salvation Army Food Bank Donation drive is underway.

A thank you and presentation to the Hutterian Brethren will be made on Tuesday, December 13th.

This event - coordinated by JayDee AgTech Ltd., Pioneer Co-op Agro, Bank of Nova Scotia, and Meyers Norris Penny - is a joint effort by the latter companies and co-operating Hutterite Colonies in the area to ensure southwest families in need do not go hungry at this time of year.

Once again, there are many families requiring the assistance of the Food Bank this year, and we are pleased to work with the Hutterian community in organizing and receiving their contributions for the Food Bank. The sponsoring businesses are also pleased to support the Salvation Army in their efforts through cash donations and staff assistance in distributing hampers on the 19th of December.

At 11:30 am on Tuesday, December 13th, 2016 we will be recognizing those colonies that have participated in this year’s drive. Major Don Grad of the Salvation Army will be making remarks and Colonies will be presented with their annual plaques.

We are also hoping to have 1-2 recipient families present to share their stories of receiving a hamper.

This event will be held at the Salvation Army.

18

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

COMMUNITY

Gull Lake Oilmen helping those in need Contributed kate@advancesouthwest.com Cody Spagrud was been a stand out player ever since he stepped into the SJHL last season as a 17-year-old rookie. Nathan Kanter/battlefordsNOW Staff

North Stars’ Spagrud a quick study

By Nathan Kanter Courtesy NHLPA

Originally published by battlefordsNOW. Reprinted with permission.

The injury was fairly serious – a broken collarbone – and Cody Spagrud was just 15-years-old when it happened. But when the North Stars defenceman recalls the incident, he’s all laughs and smiles.

He was playing in his first season of midget AAA for the Swift Current Legionnaires and went up in the air to catch a puck, only when he did, a Tisdale player saw a perfect opportunity to fill him in.

Or, as Spagrud describes it, he “cranked” him.

“A guy on our team got in my way and then he moved at the last second and this guy came flying in and absolutely cranked me,” Spragrud said with a chuckle. “I got winded, so I was like, ‘oh my god that was bad.’ So I got up, skated to the bench as fast as I could. I was sitting there and I could feel something in my shoulder. I was like, ‘okay, well that doesn’t feel good.’”

When he asked the trainer to have a look on the bench, she was brief.

“She kind of pulled my shoulder pads over and she was like, ‘Yup, you’re going to be done for a while.’”

Spagrud’s shoulder is still not 100 per cent. While he’s not constantly in pain, he sometimes has issues.

“I still kind of feel it now because it didn’t really heal right,” he said. “But physio helps that and I’ve just got to make it stronger.”

The 18-year-old from Gull Lake, which is roughly 45 minutes west of Swift Current, was first put on skates at the tender age of three. He remembers crying the first few times put on the pond near his home, but after that he got used to it and “has loved it ever since.”

While growing up, he had the perfect mentor in his brother Justin, three years his elder and crazy about hockey too.

In fact, if it weren’t for Justin, Cody may have never become a North Star.

“My brother actually got listed to Battlefords here and that was when [ former coach] Kevin [Hasselberg] was here,” Spagrud explained. “He wanted to have supper and meet my family with Justin so we actually met in Swift Current… and then the next year…I turned 15 and he actually just texted me and said ‘we’ve decided to list you.’”

As a “listed” player, Spagrud was now in the system and just had to work his way up.

Evidently, it didn’t take him very long.

The year after breaking his collarbone, he got in a full season with Swift Current but was also called up for his first career SJHL game – a road contest in Weyburn.

Spagrud remembers the game, but only vaguely and doesn’t remember his first shift.

“It was in February some time I think,” he said. “We played them and we ended

up winning 2-1 that game. It was a good game.”

Then last year, he made the North Stars as a 17-year-old rookie.

As a rookie, he did more than just play third pairing minutes. He registered 25 points in 47 games, second on the team in scoring among defenceman.

This year, he’s got 10 points through 29 games and has been playing exceptional defensive hockey alongside partner Levi Kleiboer.

“He likes to play the same style I do so I think we kind of just click,” Spagrud said.

“He’s very smart with the puck, which makes it a lot easier on me. He’s always in the right spots at the right times and he doesn’t mind jumping up.”

“I think they feed off each other,” North Stars head coach Nate Bedford added.

“Pretty much every game they’re both really good defensively. We’re comfortable with that pairing for sure. We might get away from it a little bit moving forward but we know that we can always come back to it and that’s the most important thing.”

Both players have been invited to try out for team Canada West, along with North Stars forward Layne Young – a team that will compete in the Junior A Challenge from Dec. 11-18 in Bonnyville, Alta.

That means Spagrud will miss next week’s game against La Ronge on Dec. 7 because of try outs and if he makes the team he would miss at least four more games.

“We hope that both of them and Layne [Young] make it and we expect that they will,” Bedford said. “They’re that good.”

Even though Spagrud is just 18 and has two more years of SJHL eligibility, he’s already thinking about his future.

And not just whether he wants to go to college or not – which he does – but even what he wants to study.

He’s interested in business because he has always liked math and found it easy in school. Even if he doesn’t get a scholarship, he says getting a degree is important to him.

“I’d like to get an education just in case,” he said. “If hockey doesn’t work out then I do have something to go back on.

I don’t really know much about colleges or anything, like college hockey, because none of my family never really did it or anything like that so I’ve been kind of trying to work with Nate just to try to figure out what the best option for me is,” he said.

Spagrud certainly still has time to work it all out and for now is just focused on helping the North Stars win games.

And he could also find himself representing his country in Bonnyville next month against the best Junior A players in the world. Not bad for a kid who cried when he was first put on skates Nathan Kanter is battlefordsNOW’s sports reporter and voice of the Battlefords North Stars. He can be reached at Nathan.Kanter@ jpbg.ca or tweet him @NathanKanter11

The Gull Lake Oilmen’s is a non-profit group of like-minded individuals who like to have a bit of fun, raise money, and donate the funds to struggling individuals and service groups. Over the years many, many people have been helped. In 2016 substantial donations were given to a family man unable to work due to a severe head injury and a man battling cancer. A large donation went to help put new lights in the skating rink.

Currently they are planning for the curling bonspiel that will be held Feb-

ruary 3 & 4, 2017. By donating to the Gull Lake Oilmen you will help worthy causes and promote your business to a large group of people who work in the oilfield. (All donors will be recognized, so please include a business card with the donation.) Drop off any cash or prizes at Southern Pressure Testers, 5667 Kings Avenue, Gull Lake, SK. Mail any cash or prizes to Gull Lake Oilmen, Box 26, Gull Lake, SK, S0N 1A0. For pick-ups, call Dan McPhee at 306-6727692 or email danmcphee@sasktel.net.

Please have the donations in by January 31. Make cheques payable to the Gull Lake Oilmen. Please help us help the community.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2016

Sensitive Santa welcomes children with autism Contributed kate@advancesouthwest.com

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, some children enjoyed a quiet moment with Santa Claus last Monday evening at the Swift Current Mall. The fourth annual event, sponsored by SaskFEAT (Saskatchewan Families for Effective Autism Treatment) and Tim Bugera, Property Manager of the Swift Current Mall, allows children to visit with Santa Claus in a sensory-friendly environment with lower lighting and quieter surroundings.

After the Mall closed, Santa waited for the children to arrive at their

appointed time.

Arden Fiala, president of the organization, helped organize the Dec. 5 event.

After the stores closed at the Swift Current Mall, the lights were dimmed, the music was turned off and in came a Santa who's a little on the quiet side.

He's also non-smoker, with fresh breath, who doesn't use after-shave, according to Fiala.

"Santa was really in tune to the needs of the children and very mindful that, just to tone down his voice and let the children take the lead," she said.

SaskFEAT is very grateful for Tim and the Swift Current Mall for making this magical evening happen.

Photos by Arden Fiala (snapsbyac)

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