BBBS pumped for return of Poutine Week

It’s almost Poutine Week in the Border City, which means it’s time to stop counting those calories and think of the good that comes from plowing through a plate of poutine.

Poutine Week takes place from April 11-17 with 10 different local restaurants offering featured poutines.

For every featured poutine sold throughout the week-long campaign, $3 will be donated to support Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Lloydminster mentoring programs.

Lloyd’s first Poutine Week in support of BBBS was held in 2019, and since then, Jacqueline Weed, the organization’s director of service delivery, said the community support has consistently increased.

“The reception the first year we hosted it was great,” she said. “We had six restaurants over eight days and everyone was super excited. With 10 restaurants on board this year, it’s great to see it grow.”

Featured poutines can be found at Cedar

Kabob, Flavours and Rolls, Wing’n It, Rolling Green Fairways, The Proper, Cheers Restaurant and Lounge, Mr. Bills Family Restaurant, Rusty’s Grille and Lounge, Spiro’s, and Osmow’s Shawarma.

“Each restaurant offers a different poutine, and some even offer up to four different kinds to choose from. It’s great that everybody is so excited to jump on board and support us by donating $3 from each of those featured poutines,” said Weed.

The Proper will feature Sheppard’s pie poutine, Spiro’s will feature Yiama’s poutine, Wing’n It will feature a loaded poutine, Osmow’s will feature chicken, beef, lamb and mixed shawarma poutines, Rusty’s will feature cheeseburger, cheese steak and BBQ beef poutines. Flavours and Rolls will feature perogies, beef brisket and mac and cheese poutines, Rolling Greens will feature brisket and Mexi poutines, Mr. Bills will feature BBQ roast beef and bacon mushroom burger poutines, Cheers will feature a classic, chicken tender and steak and onions poutine, and Cedar Kabob will feature a chili poutine.

Weed also explained the timing of the campaign couldn’t be better as there’s a constant need for funding in the community.

“We always have a waiting list for kids wanting to meet and spend time with a mentor,” she said. “The funding also supports

Elm Pruning Ban now in effect

The annual ban on pruning elm trees in Saskatchewan began April 1 and runs until Aug. 31.

The ban is in place to protect the province’s elm trees by helping stop the spread of Dutch elm disease (DED).

DE D is caused by a fungus that’s spread by elm bark beetles. With warmer weather, these tiny beetles become more active and are attracted to fresh cuts on trees, making an infection more likely.

In addition to respecting the pruning ban, there are other things you can do to help protect your community’s elm trees.

Pruning your trees before or after the ban period helps keep them healthy and better able to resist all kinds of diseases, including DED.

Elm bark beetles breed in dead and dying elm wood, so eliminating their habitat with proper pruning helps reduce beetle numbers.