Meridian Source - July 4,2024 by Meridian Source

Canada Day rolls on by

Parade to kick off fair

CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER

This year’s Lloyd Ex Fair promises to bring in plenty of exciting new experiences for attendees. The event kicks off July 10 and runs until the 13.

The parade begins all the festivities on July 10 from 10 to 11 a.m. It starts at the Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds before heading through downtown and circling back to the exhibition. This year it will be a packed parade.

“We’re around 70 floats and I’m gonna guess in total we’ll have around 100 by the time the parade starts,” said Jackie Tomayer, Lloydminster Exhibition general manager.

For this year’s exhibition there will be plenty of new things to experience including new acts, musical performances, shows and events.

“We have four new

concerts, one each night and we’ll have an inflatable corn maze for the kiddos,” said Tomayer, “We have an ABBA tribute, Charles Peachock is coming from America’s Got Talent, we have extreme dogs, that’s agility… a new poultry show, that’s chickens and hens that’s new.”

Musical performances this year include, Joey Stylez, Matthew Good who fair-goers will have to buy tickets for, Rivertown Saints and the ABBA show. There will also be comedy performances and much more.

This year’s midway is also sure to keep ridegoers on their toes with everything from Ferris wheels and rollercoasters to fun games the whole family can enjoy.

The Lloyd Ex Fair is a staple in the community and Tomayer says support has been amazing.

Canada Day was celebrated with a parade through Sandy Beach Regional Park on July 1. Some people decorated their golf carts and ATVs, some ran alongside, and some just came out to give friendly waves to those watching the parade go by. Photo by Jason Whiting

Dual food drive set to refill shelves

CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI

STAFF WRITER

The Olive Tree and the Salvation Army Community Food Drive are looking to drum up some support to restock the shelves.

“We are struggling to get donations right now,” said Jana

Suspect

Thompson chief operations officer with The Olive Tree.

From July 8t to the 20t, the drive will take place at the LloydMall and aims to help meet the rising demand.

“There is a very big demand right now it seems the cost of food is higher and we are getting new hamper requests,” said Thompson.

arrested for theft of RV

CHRISTIAN

APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER

RCMP say a suspect has been arrested after they stole an occupied RV and drove it towards an officer.

A member of the Lloydminster RCMP Crime Reduction unit was investigating a weapons complaint on June 29. According to an RCMP press release,

a foot chase ensued into the Weaver Park Campground where the suspect stole an occupied RV and drive it towards the RCMP officer. The officer then discharged his service pistol, the suspect collided with civilian vehicles while attempting to escape disabling the RV before being apprehended.

“Police recognize the trust placed in them to

She goes on to say they’ve adapted to meet demands by adjusting how much they’ve been putting into hampers.

People can donate directly to the food drive during mall hours where you’ll find The Olive Tree and Salvation Army set up across from Shoppers Drug Mart.

Donations of, canned

use force that is necessary, proportional and reasonable, in an effort to provide the best protection to the public and to police officers in dangerous and dynamic situations,” said RCMP.

The suspect was not injured. RCMP say several civilians were injured as a result of the collision as a result of the collision. The officer involved also sustained minor injuries according to RCMP.

RCMP were directed by the director of law enforcement to investigate the circumstances of the incident.

meat, meal in a can, soup, cereal, peanut butter, jam, canned veggies, spaghetti sauce, rice, pasta and more will be accepted.

People can also support by giving money if they choose.

The Olive Tree recently received $13,672 as part of the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie fundraiser.

Innisfail RCMP lay charges

On June 25, Innisfail RCMP, with assistance of the RCMP Red Deer Crime Reduction Team and Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit, were conducting surveillance on a known drug trafficker and repeat offender. The suspect was observed driving a vehicle and was known to police as a suspended driver. The suspect was arrested by police and search

incidental to his arrest resulted in the seizure of: $3,000 cash, Methamphetamine, Oxycodone, Cocaine, Psilocybin.

The suspect was also believed to be driving the vehicle while impaired by drugs and subsequently failed a drug recognition expert impaired examination. After his arrest, RCMP obtained a search warrant for the hotel where the suspect was residing. Search of the hotel

room resulted in the seizure of a loaded 12-gauge shotgun, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and other items associated with drug trafficking. The suspect has a lifetime firearm prohibition.

David Samuel Reid, 42, a resident of Innisfail, has been charged with drug and firearm offences.

Reid was released by a Justice of the Peace to appear at the Red Deer Court of Justice on July 11.

Supplied Photo

Turtleford author has more to write

connections that resonant with Geunther.

The “that’s all she wrote” saying doesn’t apply to Turtleford area author Lisa Guenther.

She is currently promoting her second novel, All That’s Left as a sequel to her first book, Friendly Fire and has plans for a prequel as well.

Guenther talked about her latest fiction book in advance of a recent book signing at Coles in the LloydMall.

All That’s Left picks up on the story of character Darby Swank in Friendly Fire when her life changes with the murder of her Aunt Bea in their rural Saskatchewan community.

“She really is trying to heal from the trauma inflicted in the first book,” said Guenther.

Swank does that in the book partly through art and music and building

“I’m really interested in how people survive and heal after experiencing severe trauma. I explore themes of domestic violence,” she said.

Although it’s fiction, Guenther noted Saskatchewan has the highest rate of domestic violence in the country so everyone probably knows people who are affected.

“It’s definitely not a book for young children,” she said with the target audience adults and teens.

Geunther says should someone from the Turtleford area think she is writing about them, she’s not.

“I always say, the people are fictional, but the horses are real,” she joked.

Guenther’s full time job is senior editor of

Glacier FarmMedia.

and talent

“I’m the only writer in the family, but my grandmother was a great storyteller and quite a few people in my family read a lot, so that’s part of where that influence came from,” she said.

readers, maybe some people have read my first book as well and just chat with people” whether or not they’ve read either book.

“We’re also planning a followup event maybe in the fall with the library. We haven’t nailed down a date yet. People can read the book and we can do a Q and A book club later.”

Her first two books are published by NeWest Press and available at Coles and the usual places.

All That’s Left was just released in May to good reviews.

“I’m just happy to get any reviews or feedback and hear from any readers good bad or ugly. I’m just interested in people’s reactions to both books,” said Geunther.

“I’ve been the editor of Canadian Cattleman Magazine and I’m now working with the Country Guide Magazine team,” she said, adding paperback writer to her resume.

“I wanted to be a writer since I was a little kid,” she explained.

“I started working on my first novel Friendly Fire back when I was in university and I was just very driven to write those stories like almost obsessed about it.”

That prequel is also top of mind as her next book.

“I cut about 100 pages from All That’s Left, so I may turn that into a prequel. I haven’t really started yet but I’m planning to start in the winter,” she said.

Geunther says she’s the only writer in the family and mused on the source of her interest

“I’ve had really good support from the Turtleford community and Lloyd.

“Coles was a supporter of my first book and they’ve been great for this event,” said Guenther in anticipation of the book signing that took place on June 22.

Guenther said she was just “hoping to meet

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Synergy awards student scholarships

sue a Bachelor of Commerce degree

in accounting at Lakeland College.

formance and a commitment to their future careers.

Two post secondary students from Lloydminster and one from Lashburn are this year’s winners of the Synergy Shares Scholarship program.

The 2024 picks are Lloyd’s Pyper Bell and Hailey Wenger and Drake Wilson from Lashburn.

According to Synergy, all three students demonstrated exceptional academic per -

Each student will receive $1,000 annually for up to four years to complete their postsecondary education.

“This year there were over 118 applications for the scholarship, which is in its fourth year,” said Glenn Stang, CEO of Synergy Credit Union in a news release on Tuesday.

“At Synergy Credit Union, we believe in the power of education

and the importance of supporting our local students.

“We are thrilled to award these scholarships to such deserving individuals. Drake, Pyper, and Hailey have bright futures ahead, and we are proud to play a part in their academic and professional development.”

Bell from Lloydminster is a Bachelor of Commerce student majoring in accounting at Lakeland College.

She says the scholar -

Church Directory

July 7 – 10 am

#God’sHandsAndHeartAlways

ship will be a positive boost to her full-time college studies, helping her maintain focus and achieve more.

Bell aims to become a certified professional accountant and work towards becoming a chief financial officer.

Lloydminster’s Wenger is enrolled in the university transfer program for a Bachelor of Education in Science at Lakeland College.

She noted the scholarship will alleviate her financial burdens, allowing her to focus

FAIR FROM PAGE 1

“We get tremendous support from the community for the fair, in sponsorship and in donations so we’re very grateful for that,” said Tomayer.

more on her studies and pursue opportunities like studying abroad.

Wenger hopes to earn a Masters in Education and make a meaningful impact on Canadian students.

Synergy notes she looks forward to becoming a high school biology teacher and volleyball coach in a small community.

Wilson from Lashburn is attending the University of Saskatchewan, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of

It also has a major impact on the local economy as it helps boost tourism as people come to Lloydminster to experience the fun.

“It’s once a year it brings something unique to Lloyd, it’s four days

Science in Engineering with a major in civil engineering. As the recipient of the in-house scholarship for children and spouses of Synergy employees and directors, Drake said this scholarship will ease his tuition costs, relieve his parents’ financial burden, and reduce his need for student loans. He aspires to design state-of-the-art structures and eventually own his engineering firm.

of celebrating, it brings millions of dollars to the community every year,” Tomayer said.

The fair wraps up on a Saturday night with the annual fireworks display which is set to begin around 11 p.m.

NOTICE OF DEVELOPMENT PERMITS

Photo submitted

Lloydminster post secondary student, Pyper Bell, right, will apply her four year Synergy Shares Scholarship to pur-

majoring

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

Photo submitted

Lloydminster’s Hailey Wenger, right, is enrolled in the university transfer program for a Bachelor of Education in Science at Lakeland College.

Photo submitted

Meet Synergy Shares Scholarship winner Drake Wilson, right, from Lashburn. Wilson is attending the University of Saskatchewan, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in civil engineering.

Cyclist stops in Lloyd on cancer awareness ride

“There isn’t any family that has not been affected by cancer in one way or another.”

Those were the words of 80-year-cyclist Art Brochu, who recently made a pitstop in the Border City as part of a 2,000 km journey from Fort McMurray to Medicine Hat to raise awareness and funds for the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

Brochu’s ride started on June 10 with an anticipated finish date of July 29, and throughout his 2,000 km journey, he’ll be stopping in 17 communities through -

out Alberta to raise awareness and support for Albertans facing cancer. The journey combines his love of cycling with his commitment to helping those affected by cancer.

He visited the Lloydminster Cancer Care Centre on June 24.

Brochu, who spent 27 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, is no stranger to the effects of cancer, and this ambitious pursuit is deeply rooted in his personal encounters with the disease.

Brochu has lost his grandmother, mother and sister to the disease. He also sup -

ported his son during childhood cancer, and as of late, he’s been fueled by his close cousin’s ongoing cancer journey.

“Thousands of people are suffering from so many different types of cancers and are going through fear, pain and the unknown of what the future may have in store for them, even if there is a future. It’s my wish we all come together and help do whatever it takes to find the cures and treatments so all cancers can be eliminated,” said Brochu.

All funds raised through Brochu’s journey will support the Alberta Cancer Foundation and local cancer centres, improving the patient experience through new medical equipment, enhanced treatment and care services, wellness initiatives and specialized training for oncology staff.

“What Art is doing to shine a light spotlight on cancer and support those affected by the disease is truly phenomenal,” said Alberta Cancer Foundation CEO Wendy Beauchesne.

“His dedication and passion inspire us all to give back in any way we can, whether through donations, sponsorship or simply spreading awareness. Together, we can create more hope and make a difference in the far too many lives that have been touched by cancer.”

This isn’t the first time Brochu has embarked on a long-distance fundraising ride as he completed a 9,500 km ride in support of the Children’s Wish Foundation in 2014 at age 70.

As of June 27, Brochu fundraising total was just shy of $4,000.

Geoff Lee Meridian Source Art Brochu made a recent appearance in the Border City during his 2,000 km trek from Fort McMurray to Medicine Hat to raise awarness for the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Health ministers meet in Lloyd

APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER

In what is being called a significant move towards strengthening health care collaborations, ministers from Alberta and Saskatchewan and their respective MLAs met in Lloydminster.

Saskatchewan’s Minister of Health, Everett Hindley was joined by Tim McLeod, Sask’s Minister of Mental Health and addictions along with Colleen Young, Lloydminster MLA on June 25.

From Alberta, Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Mental Health and Garth Rowswell, MLA for Vermillion-Lloydminster-Wainwright were in attendance. Mayor Gerald Aalbers and members of coun -

cil were also in attendance to share their perspectives from the local level.

Aalbers thanked the ministers for their visit and their ongoing commitment to improving healthcare services in the region.

“Tuesday’s discussions are a testament to our shared dedication to enhancing the wellbeing of our residents and surrounding communities,” said Aalbers in a news release on Tuesday.

The tri-party meeting focused on critical health initiatives and strategies aimed at improving health services in the region.

LaGrange says residents deserve highquality, accessible health care services regardless of the provincial borders.

“We will continue to seek improvements to service delivery and access to information to support positive health outcomes,” LaGrange said.

The Lloydminster Hospital, which serves an area of roughly 180,000 people was a key talking point. Local officials are seeking an updated facility needs assessment and a longterm capital plan.

A review of the 2021 bi-provincial memorandum of understanding was at the top of the discussions including issues impeding the effectiveness of it in advancing local healthcare priorities.

These initiatives and plans aim to ensure local health-care infrastructure meets the growing needs of the population.

Upgrades welcome ‘site’ at Meadow Lake Campground

Campers may have noticed significant additions in both Meadow Lake and Makwa Lake provincial parks this year, including the opening of a new campground loop with many amenities at Waterhen Lake Campground (Meadow Lake) and the new service centre at Stabler Point Campground (Makwa Lake).

“We are excited to provide more beautiful spaces and facilities that every camper can enjoy,” said Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross. “With the recent investments in both Meadow Lake and Makwa Lake, along with many others expected this year, we are enhancing the visitor experience and providing more opportuni

•A new campground loop, which includes 42 electrified campsites, a four-bay-service centre, additional flush washroom facilities, and a water treatment system within the Waterhen Lake Campground in Meadow Lake Provincial Park. Reservations can be made on a walk-in, first-come, first-serve basis by contacting the park office.

•New service centre with conventional, family, and accessible spaces at Stabler Point Campground in Makwa Lake Provincial Park.

“These new capital projects at Meadow Lake and Makwa Provincial Parks reflect continued investments made by our government to build a strong and competitive tourism sector across the Province,” said Minister

“Saskatchewan’s tourism industry is seeing record growth in visitor spending. Projects like this ensure our northern parks have the infrastructure and capacity to accommodate the growing number of visitors while benefiting local economies.”

Some of the major projects recently completed across the province include:

•Wastewater system improvements at The Battlefords Provincial Park and lagoon upgrade at Danielson Provincial Park.

•Potable water system upgrades at Candle Lake and Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park.

•These investments are part of the Government of Saskatchewan’s $13.8 million for capi

CHRISTIAN

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

Library governance may turn the page

ipal library.

A new chapter in the governance of the Lloydminster Public Library could be written soon.

The City of Lloydminster and the public library are mulling over transitioning the library as a current member of the Lakeland Library Region in Alberta to a municipal library in the Saskatchewan system.

A report made by both parties was presented to City Council on June 24 outlining what it might look like if Lloydminster’s public library became a munic-

“Through the development of this report, the working group comprised of City of Lloydminster and Lloydminster Public Library representatives have suggested to Council that the library’s unique and complex governance requirements as a biprovincial operation could be better managed under a municipal model,“ said Mayor Gerald Aalbers in a news release.

“Since its relocation to the LloydMall in 2022, the library has experienced grow -

ing pains as throughthe-door visits and collection borrowing have surged beyond our expectations.

“As a Council, we aim to support this positive momentum and provide the best possible library service for our community.”

Currently, the Lakeland Library Region, provides administration, processing and management services to 32 libraries across west-central Saskatchewan including the Lloyd library.

Under the proposed municipal model, Lloy -

dminster’s library director would continue to be responsible for the facility’s day-to-day operations, including the management of staff and resources, like the current model.

If the boundary change is approved by Saskatchewan’s Minister of Health, the Lloydminster library board may require new bylaws and policies currently developed and maintained by the Lakeland Library Region.

Transitioning to a municipal library model will remove the requirement to have representation on either of the Lakeland region boards, and Lloydminster’s library representatives will not be required to attend any Lakeland meetings.

Operationally, the Lloydminster library will not be affected by the change.

By remaining within the Saskatchewan library system, the same services will be offered

to patrons through the province-wide interlibrary loans system and resources will continue to be shared to other libraries and patrons within the province.

In the meantime, the City is setting aside a four-week opportunity for those affected by the proposed change to write a submission to Office of the City Clerk at cityclerk@lloydminster.ca.

In addition, a public meeting on the proposed change will be held at the Servus Sports Centre on Aug. 8 from 3 to 6 p.m.

Following the meeting and after all submissions have been resolved, the City will apply for the boundary change to Saskatchewan’s Minister of Education.

The City of Lloydminster provides an annual operating grant to the Lloydminster Public Library, which is subject to City Council approval. In 2024, the library’s operating grant

from the City was just over $1.2 million, 76% per cent of its annual operating revenue.

Lloydminster’s public library currently provides audited financial statements to the City every year in March as per the agreement between the two parties. The library manages its budget and finances internally, with approval from its board.

Additionally, the library receives grant funding from the Government of Alberta for the Alberta population of the City of Lloydminster currently 119,000.

Funding for Lloydminster’s Saskatchewan residents is provided by the Government of Saskatchewan and is distributed directly to the Lakeland Library Region.

If the Lloyd library becomes a municipal library, the grant funds from the province of Saskatchewan will be provided directly to the library.

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

File Photo

Sask ends 2023-24 with $182M surplus

With the second-fastest growing economy in Canada in 2023, the province finished the 2023-24 fiscal year with a $182 million operating surplus. Saskatchewan’s financial status was highlighted in today’s release of

Volume 1 of the 202324 Public Accounts.

“We experienced significant increases in revenue from the third quarter to yearend across all sources except for federal transfers,” said Deputy Premier and Finance Min -

ister Donna Harpauer.

“At the same time, there was also a substantial increase in expenses throughout the year. This investment is necessary to support our growing province and the things that matter the most to Saskatchewan citizens – classrooms, care and communities.”

Total revenue of $20.99 billion was up by $1.32 billion, or 6.7 per cent, from the 2023-24 Budget. It included significant increases in taxation and other own-source revenue, driven by a growing population and economy.

challenging situations around the world and issues closer to home, such as weather events, led to some extraordinary fluctuations over the course of 2023-24,” said Harpauer.

Included in the revenue changes were significant increases in corporate income tax from improved profitability in 2023 and continued prior-year adjustments from the strong resource-sector performance in 2022.

Similar to revenue, total expense of $20.81 billion was up by $2.15

billion, or 11.5 per cent, from the budget. Agriculture saw the most notable increase, as continued drought conditions in some areas of the province resulted in higher crop insurance payouts, while health expenses were higher due to increased demand for services. Non-cash adjustments related to inflation indexation of pensions also contributed to increased expense.

Compared to the third-quarter update, total expense was down $55 million while revenue increased $610 million.

Saskatchewan has the second lowest net-debt to GDP ratio in Canada and continues to have the second-highest credit rating in Canada when ratings from the three key rating agencies – Moody’s Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Morningstar DBRS –are combined.

The year-end surplus is an improvement of $664.7 million from the $482.5 million deficit that was forecasted in the third-quarter update.

“Our budget forecasting follows best practices from the public and private sectors, but

“Fortunately we were able to finish the year in a surplus position due to the strength of our economy, which continues to see increased growth across a wide range of sectors.”

The 2023-24 Public Accounts Volume 1 provides a complete and accurate view of the Government of Saskatchewan’s finances.

Last week in the field: Sk crop report

Conditions across the province were variable this past week with some regions receiving limited rainfall and others experiencing heavy storms that brought wind, significant rainfall over a short period of time and hail resulting in damage to crops, buildings and machinery. Producers continue to assess crops for hail recovery which varies based on the type of crop and its developmental stage.

Rainfall var -

ied across the province over the past week with areas in the southwest region receiving no rainfall to areas in the northeast and southeast regions receiving significant rainfall. The St. Brieux area received the highest rainfall at 76 mm recorded for the past week followed by the Carnduff area at 70 mm. The Langenburg area reported 68 mm and the Rosthern area reported 57 mm for the week.

Although rainfall increased topsoil moisture in some regions,

others experienced a decrease this week.

Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate and nine per cent short. Hayland topsoil moisture is reported at six per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate, 12 per cent short and one per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is three per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate, 17 per cent short and one per cent very short.

Cooler temperatures continue to slow crop

NOTICE OF DEVELOPMENT PERMITS

The City of Lloydminster Council has designated lands as Direct Control of which Council may regulate and control the use and development of the land or buildings in any manner they consider necessary. Section 641 (4a), Despite Section 685 of the Municipal Government Act, if a decision with respect to a development permit application with respect to a direct control zone is made by Council, there is no appeal to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.

However, if you believe the Development Authority misinterpreted the decision of Council, you may have grounds for an appeal. You must submit your appeal in writing within 21 days from the date of issuance along with the processing fee of four hundred dollars ($400.00) to the following:

development. Spring wheat and oilseed crops are still the furthest behind the normal stages of development for this time of year. Crops in the southwest region of the province are the furthest advanced while crops in the central

and northern regions are falling further behind in development. Warmer temperatures are needed to help crop development progress. While crop conditions vary, the majority of crops are rated as in good condition.

Pastures are reported in good condition overall. Livestock producers rate hay quality as 31 per cent excellent, 62 per cent good and seven per cent fair. Haying operations are just beginning in the province as the weather allows.

Various causes of crop damage were reported over the past week. Producers report excess moisture, which has been rated as severe in some regions, as water is accumulating in areas of the field and contributing to crop stress. These areas will remain unseeded and the areas that are

seeded may not be able to recover from the current moisture stress. The frequent rainfall and the moisture-stressed regions are also contributing to leaf disease and root rot development. Some areas experienced minor to severe hail and wind damage with producers still assessing which crops will be able to recover. Frost was also reported but overall was rated as minor. Gophers continue to be a problem with areas of severe damage that need to be re-seeded. Flea beetles and grasshoppers are persisting with producers taking control measures when needed.

For many producers, this is still a stressful time of year and they are encouraged to take safety precautions in all the work they do. The Farm Stress Line can help by providing support for producers toll-free at 1-800-6674442.

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

PAGE 10

Thursday, July 4, 2024

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Editor Taylor Weaver taylor@meridiansource.ca

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Staff Writer Christian Apostolovski christian@meridiansource.ca

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

We welcome letters to the editor. Letters should be 500 words or less. A name and daytime phone number is required for verification. Priority will be given to letters exclusively written for the Meridian Source. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, brevity, spelling, grammar, punctuation and libel. Unsigned letters will not be published. Use of pseudonyms will only be allowed in special circumstances, at the discretion of the editor and the publisher, and only if the author’s identity is known to the editor. Publication of a letter does not imply endorsement by the Meridian Source. Send to taylor@meridiansource.ca

APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER

I’m Christian Apostolovski, or just Chris, I know my last name’s a mouthful.

Moving to a new city is an amazing experience, one that I’ve had the privilege to do multiple times. I am very lucky to have arrived in Lloydminster and begun working with the Meridian Source.

Prior to coming here, I was a reporter, editor, news anchor, creative writer, I did pretty

much everything that media had to offer.

I was living in beautiful northwestern B.C. in a city named Terrace. I spent five years there; I loved seeing the mountains every day and enjoying that fresh northern air. But me and my fiancé decided it was time to head east and close that chapter of our lives.

Her family is from Alberta and the decision was made to move to Lloydminster. Now here I am, excited to meet the community and share stories and

issues that matter the most to you.

My passion has always been storytelling, in my free time I enjoy writing and coming up with new and interesting ideas.

During my work hours I prefer to listen to the community and connect with individuals to share their stories. In the past I did plenty of feature writing sharing people’s journeys through life.

I’ve always believed that everyone has a story to tell and learning about your neigh -

bours, friends and loved ones brings everyone closer together.

I’ve reported on various topics that affected the communities that I was a part of. I’ve never shied away from any topics and I am always eager to learn.

If you have any story ideas or just want to connect feel free to email me anytime, christian@meridiansource.ca.

I’m looking forward to chatting with you and telling your stories!

Source summer student ready to write

JOHNTSON JUNIOR STAFF WRITER

I am thrilled to introduce myself as a new member of Meridian Source for the summer!

My name is Presley Johnston, and I am going into my first year at Toronto Metropolitan University to study

journalism and play for their softball team.

I just graduated from Holy Rosary High School with my French diploma.

At Holy Rosary I was a part of the senior basketball team, the junior varsity volleyball team and the rugby team, but outside of school sports

I am most passionate about softball.

I have played here in Lloydminster for the Liners nearly my whole life and just finished two years with the 222’s program based out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

I also hope to write about the Teira Thomson annual grassroots tournament that happened here over Father’s Day weekend. I wanted to work here at Meridian Source to gain experience and knowledge to prepare me for university in the fall and eventually my future career.

I plan on entering the world of sports journalism once I earn my degree from TMU. I love writing about absolutely anything, but writing about sports is my favorite thing.

I am so excited to start my professional journey here at Meridian Source!

I am hoping to write about cool events in town including the Saskatchewan Summer Games, the Lloyd Ex Fair and the chuckwagon races!

PRESLEY

CHRISTIAN

Leeway from Lloyd: Thanks for all of your support

I have been spending the past week or so putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. Hello, I’m Humpty Dumpty. Many readers may have heard about the incident I was involved with on my bike recently and some

resulting injuries. I don’t want to repeat any of the incident details at this point, but I am okay and on the mend. I would however, like to thank all of those who were involved starting with the first responders. I appreciate the care and attention I received while being transported to the hospital.

The health care system seems to be work -

ing fine from my perspective as I was attended to quickly and often by nurses and doctors running me through a pile of tests.

RCMP officers were also on hand to take a statement etc and fill me in one some the details of what transpired and charges laid against an individual.

I also have to thank my dwindling number of family mem -

OP-ED: A TICKET TO RIDE

I try not to rant in these columns, but this topic really annoys me. WestJet began life in 1996 as an airline company focused on exceptional customer service. They did it well and built up a tremendous business because of it, along with expanding to over 100 destinations according to their website. Running any airline is not easy.

It is super-highly regulated, airplanes are unbelievably expensive to acquire and operate. Canada has a sparely populated geography making delivery of service to anything other than the major cities a challenge. In short, it’s a tough business. But it is also a necessary service, particularly to a community like ours. Between 2011 to 2014 our local air ser -

vice provided flights for some 17,000 passengers annually. When oil prices dropped in 2014-15 passengers dropped off to a low of about 7,000 by 2017 then began to rise again. When WestJet stepped in in 2018 the market hit a high point of almost 20,000 passen gers.

CONTINUED ON

bers including my sister in Toronto and cousins in Saskatchewan, Ontario and British Columbia. Kudos also go to all of my coworkers who offered me kind words of support and lots of swag as well. That was much appreciated. Hats off also go to some fellow athletes on social media and to The Olive Tree for a pile of free meals. I think I need to be

injured more often! Dealing with the trauma is not as easy as waiting for a bruise to heal as I try to make sense of what occurred. In the meantime, I can let everyone know that bike helmets work, especially those with the multi-directional impact protection system or MIPS for short. It reduces the rotational motion to the brain in the event of

impact. I don’t have a concussion.

All the other safety equipment like lights and reflective gear wouldn’t have helped in my case as a vehicle can move quicker than a cyclist.

I am not a religious person, but I may have had a guardian angel as a wing man that day. What ever saved me, I am grateful and I haven’t felt that for awhile.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Planning and Development Department

Take notice that the following Development Permit Application for a proposed Discretionary Use is being reviewed in accordance with Land Use Bylaw 5-2016.

lloydminster.ca

Public Notice is hereby given that the Council of the Rural Municipality (RM) of Britannia No. 502 intends to adopt a bylaw under The Planning and Development Act, 2007, to amend Bylaw No. 24-2021, known as the Zoning Bylaw (ZB).

INTENT: The proposed ZB amendment (11-2024) would re-zone a portion of NE 31-50-27 W3M, Plan 101928540 from AR – Agriculture Resource District to CR2 – High Density Country Residential District. AFFECTED LAND: A portion of NE 31-50-27 W3M, Plan 101928540 Ext 0.

REASON: The owner of the referenced parcel has requested that a portion of the quarter section be re-zoned so that they may subdivide two additional residential parcels from the quarter section. There are four existing residential parcels that have been subdivided from the quarter, and the AR district will not allow further subdivision.

PUBLIC INSPECTION: Any person may inspect the bylaws at the RM of Britannia No. 502 ofﬁce Monday to Friday, by appointment only during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.), excluding statutory holidays. Copies will be available to the public at a cost, by emailing the contact below. Copies of the proposed amendments are available for viewing here: https://rmbritannia.com.

PUBLIC HEARING: Council will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 11:00 AM at the “new” RM of Britannia No. 502 Office, located at Parcel B on NE 23-50-28W3M (1/4 mile south of TWP RD 504 on RR 3281), to hear any person or group that wants to comment on the proposed amendment. Council will consider written and emailed comments at the meeting, along with in-person representations. There will also be an on-line option for any persons that register to attend in this fashion. Only those who have made arrangements to speak on behalf of themselves or a group may be heard at the public hearing. The deadline for receipt of comments, and requests for in-person representation must be received by the RM office by Monday, July 22, 2024. For additional information, please contact the CAO at (306) 825-2610 or office@rmbritannia.com. Written submissions may be sent to RM of Britannia, P.O. Box 661, Lloydminster SK, S9V 0Y7 or office@rmbritannia.com.

Issued at the City of Lloydminster this 4th day of July, 2024 Bryson Leganchuk CAO RM of Britannia No. 502

RM of Britannia No. 502 Public Notice Zoning Bylaw Amendments

RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF BRITANNIA NO. 502 PUBLIC NOTICE

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The Meridian Source Calendar of Events is a free service provided for non-profit organizations located within our coverage area. All events are in chronological order, as space permits and at the editor’s discretion. To place an event, email

Passport to YLL

Cards, games, food, meetings and live music

Legacy Pub Night

The Legacy Centre will be hosting a pub night on July 24. Doors open and dancin’ at 5 p.m., supper served at 6 p.m., then dance the night away to the tunes of “Blue Sky Country Boys.” Cost to attend is $20/person at the door. All members and guests welcome! Call the Legacy office at 780-875-4584 for more.

Crib Doubles

Tourney

The Legacy Centre is hosting a cribbage doubles tournament on July 25. Bring your partner for a day of cribbage. Play begins at 10 a.m., cost is $10/person, lunch is available for $12/person. Everyone welcome! Call the Legacy office at 780-8754584 for more.

Legacy Golf Tourney

The Legacy Centre is hosting its third annual Par 3 charity golf tournament on July 31 at Rolling Green Fairways. Registration is from 9:30-10:30 a.m., shotgun start is at 11:15 a.m. Golfers needed!! Breakfast, lunch , supper, golfing and cart included in entry fee. 18 chances at a “Hole-In-One” - a Sponsor for every Hole! Call Legacy office for more

info at 780-875-4584 or Arne Baron at 306-821-7459 for more details.

Hotel California at The Vic Juba VaughnCo Entertainment is excited to bring the original Eagles tribute, Hotel California, to the Vic Juba Community Theatre on Sept. 20 for a 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $60 each and available online or at the theatre’s box office.

Call 780-872-7400 for more info.

Taylor Swift Tribute

The Vic Juba Community Theatre is excited to bring a Taylor Swift Tribute featuring Katy Ellis to the Border City on Wednesday, Nov. 13 for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $39 each and are available online or at the theatre’s box office. Call 780-872-7400 for more info.

July

However, with the prior tight market and the price competition from WestJet, the regional provider, Central Mountain Air, called it a day in September of 2018, leaving the market to WestJet. Competition done, thank you very much.

number of flights to Calgary was reduced and fare prices went up. By 2023 numbers were back up to almost 14,000 but the damage had been done.

Now, in all fairness, Covid kicked the crap out of air travel and passenger numbers dropped 74 per cent to about 5,000 in 2019 and then down to about 3,000 in 2021; at which time service was suspended from March to June of 2021. Changes were made, obviously. The

The airline notified the City that they were done in April of ‘24’. A meeting in Calgary with WestJet by the mayor and administration proved fruitless. The airline stood on the impact of Covid and some other gobbeldy-gook about route linkages and blah-blah. Of course they lost numbers through Covid, but those numbers were coming back.

Management at WestJet is not the same people who started it.

It’s now kids who are all about return-to-shareholders. You do realize that the only time purchasing a share gives the company any money is at an initial public offering. Trading on the stock exchanges generates zero dollars for the company, yet pulling money out of the company for dividends is what public companies are about these days. Translated, that means that only those operations that make a profit are what management worries about, and customer service costs money. Just ask the utility co’s and telecoms. Thanks WestJet.

- Darrell Dunn

New men’s shelter leader sets tone

My name is Kagan Kneen and I was born and raised in the Lloydminster area and happy to be back after 16 years. As the new executive director at the Lloydminster Men’s Shelter, I am very excited and proud to work with and for some incredible individuals. I come from a corporate background and have worked in various industries, but I am proud to be in a sector where I can give back to the community and the people who have given me so much.

Since moving back to Lloydminster and taking on this role, I have seen a lot of goodness, kindness and grace from so many individu-

als, groups and organizations in the community, but I have also seen a lot of anger, hate and biases towards those who are going through a challenging time. It is because of this I wanted to address a common myth we hear in the community regularly. Why did a bus full of homeless people get dropped off here some people might think. This myth could not be further from the truth. There is a seasonality to the visibility the community members see, and those struggling with being unhoused.

In the winter months, many unhoused use our services and we have been able to offer a warming shelter to provide them an area where they can stay warm, have something to eat and drink, and stay safe.

During the summer months, many individuals walk from near and far communities to find a fresh start or new beginning and end up

struggling in the new community and needing our services. Just because someone might hear an individual or two are originally from the same city and end up in Lloydminster ... then the rumour is generated that a bus full of unhoused individuals must have been dropped off here.

There is something I learned while training for marathons, and that is it’s okay to “F.A.I.L” which for me stands for a “First Attempt In Learning.” If everything were easy and never challenging, how do we learn, grow and develop as people and leaders?

Many of us could be one bad decision or challenging situation away from a spiral of hardship and turmoil. In many cases, this is what has happened to a lot of the clients we serve. Many didn’t have the strong family and friend networks so many of us are blessed to have and help us dur-

ing challenging times. I would encourage you to think about the acronym F.A.I.L. when you see individuals on the street; this might be their first attempt at learning some essential skills, even though it comes with hardship.

I know many of you have asked how can we “clean up” downtown and fix the “homelessness issue in Lloydminster.”

Truth be told, as Becky Schille, executive director at The Olive Tree, spoke to in her article a couple of weeks ago, this is a systemic problem and what we need to do is come together as a community to offer proper support and assistance to those who are in need.

The Lloyd men’s shelter is doing our first-ever capital fundraising cam-

paign, which will begin Aug. 1. I will be running from the B.C./Alta border to the Sask/Man. border to raise awareness and funds to purchase a new, larger facility that can offer more beds and additional services to help provide the men with the services and tools to get them back on their feet.

I will be running on average between 50-60 km per day and sleeping in a tent to help create more awareness and show the needs so many people face. You can follow me along my journey in August on Facebook under the Lloydminster Men’s Shelter or Instagram and TikTok at RunningForShelterYLL. There are opportunities for you to personally donate and/or to participate as a corporate sponsor to get your

brand and show your support to others in not only our community but through the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. What so many people don’t realize or think about, is that the majority of us in society are closer to becoming unhoused than we are to becoming millionaires, so how can you help out those in need?

I look forward to coming together as a community to better those struggling right now. If you are interested in donating, you can go directly to www.lloydminstershelter.com or if you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor for this event, please email me directly at hfalloydminster@ gmail.com. Thank you for being part of this great community, that I am proud to call home!

Canada Day celebrated at the beach

Season campers, visitors and residents celebrated Canada Day with a parade on wheels through Sandy Beach Regional Park on July 1, while the sun shone.

Other Canada Day activities took place at Bud Miller All Season’s Park, highlighted by a fireworks display after sunset.

Attention now turns to our neighbours to the south, who are taking part in their July 4 celebrations.

Local campgrounds and hotels are expected to be full next week as well, as summer heats up, with the Lloyd Ex Fair, July 10-13.

Photos by Jason Whiting

Organizers pumped for oil show

Plans for the 2024 Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show, a two-part show, are underway. The show is anticipated to showcase exhibits for the oil and gas industries and the public this September in the country’s oil capital of Lloydminster.

“The Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show is a staple in the heavy oil industry, and the committee is excited to

present the 2024 edition of this great biannual show,” said event chairperson, Andrew Oracheski.

The opening ceremony and banquet are scheduled for Sept. 10, 2024.

This year’s show will once again feature a fireside chat during the banquet. This year’s panellists include Jeff Lawson, senior vicepresident of corporate development and acting chief sustainability officer with Cenovus Energy, and Kendall Dilling, CEO of the Pathways Alliance.

From Sept. 11-12, attendees will have the opportunity to explore indoor and outdoor oil-themed exhibits and additional shows featuring oil and gas support services.

On Sept. 11, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe will discuss energy opportunities and issues, while on Thursday, prominent energy service officials will speak on the energy industry of today, tomorrow and the future.

File photo

The upcoming 2024 Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show will attract some high profile visitors with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith replacing former Premier Jason Kenny pictured at the 2022 show with Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers, centre, and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on the right The show will be held Sept 10-12 at the Lloyd Ex.

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

Rustlers set to host 2025 ACAC finals

After an unforgettable 2023-2024 season, Rustlers Athletics is set for another memorable campaign in 2025.

Lakeland College will host two events for the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) next year. Men’s volleyball will host their ACAC Conference tournament Feb. 20-22, while men’s and wom en’s futsal will collec

tively host the 2025 Futsal Championship March 7-9. This will be the first-time hosting men’s volleyball, while Lakeland fans will see futsal for the first time in person since 2018.

“We are very excited to host these events for volleyball and futsal,” said gameday coordinator Josh Ryan. “These programs have earned the right to host a championship and compete at the highest level in front of their fans at

home.”

Men’s volleyball won their bid after a program-best fourthplace finish at the 2024 championship in Olds, where the Rustlers came within a set of qualifying for the gold medal match and within a few points of winning bronze against perennial contender Red Deer Polytechnic.

test in the quarterfinals.

Women’s head coach Doyle Church, also an alumnus of the men’s silver medal-winning team in 2019, noted how special it is to both futsal programs to get the chance to play in their gym, given they play in regional tournaments and their home games during the outdoor soccer season are across town.

Charlee Tapp

is the Meridian Source’s athlete of the month for July. Tapp, a 13-year-old multi-sport athlete who specializes in softball and hockey, just ﬁnished a season with the U13AA Steelers and is currently pitching for the U13 Liners. Tapp also recently returned from California with the 222’s elite travel program, which she described as the best week of her life.

Off the ﬁeld, Tapp’s favourite part of playing ball is being outside in the sun, cheering on her teammates and making new friends.

Head coach, Taylor Dyer, who has overseen a steady improvement in the team since 2018, noted there’s no reason to expect this veteran group won’t rise to the challenge again, especially with the promise of boisterous fan support.

“We had a tremendous season last year and we’re returning almost everyone,” said Dyer. “I think it will really kick in after the Christmas break; that excitement will start to

Men’s futsal has been one of the steadiest programs in the ACAC, winning nine medals in the past 12 seasons, most recently a bronze in 2023. Last year the group nearly made the Final Four despite going through a rebuilding season, losing in extra time.

Ball provincials slide into Lloyd

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source Driven Energy Legion Ball Park hosted the Softball Alberta U11 Advanced Provincials June 29-July 1 involving 19 girls’ teams.

Left: The Leduc Jets, beat the Irma Tigers 13-11 in this game. The Tigers finished last in their pool.

Right: The Lloydminster Liners B team won their game 18-11 against the Sherwood Park Storm helping them to finish third in their pool and third in their championship round. The Liners A team, not pictured, won their pool and finished 4th in the province.

Careers

PAGE 21

Thursday, July 4, 2024

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