Meridian Source - December 3, 2020

Thursday, December 3, 2020

VOLUME 3 I ISSUE 23

Lloydminster council ratifies budget 2021 TAYLOR WEAVER

EDITOR

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Lloydminster city council approved the 2021 Operating and Capital Budget at Monday’s regular meeting of council.

Operational highlights include a 3 per cent increase to the municipal tax levy as well as a 3 per cent increase in utility rates.

Increases will affect both commercial and residential properties.

This will result in a tax incease of roughly $47 for homes valued at $250,000, for example.

There will also be a 1 per cent contribution to operating and capital reserves.

The budget will include a focus on infrastructure priorities established in the City’s multi-year maintenance and capital plan.

Going into uncharted territories in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Budget aims to find a balance between supporting the

evolving community needs and delivering essential municipal services, while also advancing council’s priorities in the face of COVID-19.

The first draft of the budget was presented to council during the Oct. 1 Governance and Priorities Committee meeting. At the Oct. 5 meeting, council was provided with the opportunity to further discuss the proposed draft 2021 Budget.

Operating budget revenues were listed at $83,030,871, while expenses were $82,988,284 leaving a surplus of $42,587.

The capital budget came in at $57,672,463 in approved projects.

Roughly $8 million was cut after council’s budget revisions, with the demolition of the Lloydminster Cultural and Science Centre on the deferred list.

“No one was prepared for COVID and the effects,” said Mayor Gerald Aalbers. “Here

we are now nine or 10 months into it and we’re still facing it head-on.

I think every business appreciates the newsletters that are sent out regularly by our staff and trying to maximize other opportunities to pursue economic development at the same time.”

Coun. Jason Whiting pointed out it’s tough to provide those services without a tax increase, but council found a common ground.

“It’s a challenging time, and I don’t think there’s anyone out there that wants to see a tax increase, of course, there are increases through inflation and other things,” he said. “By bringing forward a 3 per cent increase we won’t lose any services.

“We’ll still have the same amount of services when it comes to our recreational facilities, snow removal, all those pieces, and I’m glad to see we’re not losing anything.”

MERIDIANSOURCE.CA

“Stop the Reset” rally rolls through Lloyd TAYLOR WEAVER

EDITOR

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Members of the Facebook group “Canadians Against The Great Reset,” were rallying outside of Lloydminster City Hall on Tuesday morning.

Several attendees offered muddled messages rather than a clear purpose.

“Today is a freedom stand,” said organizer Reeta Ali. “I’m a part of a Facebook group of over 8,000 people, and we’re having a rally across the country. We feel like we don’t have a voice.

“The government is not listening to us, and their agenda is being pushed, and people think this is a conspiracy theory, and it’s not.”

In November, after a video of one of his speeches went viral, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had to address a growing controversy over “The Great Reset.”

The term can mean different things to different people. To the World Economic

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

Lloydminster resident Liette Martens attended Tuesday’s rally as she feels “the government is taking away our rights, right down to the right to breath unrestricted.”

Forum, it’s a blurred goal to make the world more equal and address climate change in the wake of the pandemic.

To Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre, it’s evidence of a “power grab” by “global financial elites.” And to others, it’s part of a baseless and wide-ranging conspiracy theory.

The rally started at 11 a.m. and by noon there were roughly 10 people in attendence, without masks and without social distancing.

“I’m not saying the virus is not a real thing, but I feel like we’re outside, we’re mostly social distanced, but I guess that’s a risk we’re willing to take for our freedom,” said Ali. Premier Jason Kenney did not condemn weekend anti-mask rallies, but was quoted saying “we ask Albertans to be responsible in their actions … obviously when it comes to the constitutionally protected right to protest,” said Kenney.

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Thursday, December 3, 2020

Thursday, December 3, 2020

MERIDIAN SOURCE

FirstOnSite eyes growth in Lloyd

File Photo GEOFF LEE

WRITER

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Bigger is better when it comes to disaster restoration companies.

That was the mutual thinking behind the plan by FirstOnSite Restoration to acquire the assets of Spectrum Restoration based in Lloydminster and Cold Lake.

The transaction closed on Dec. 1 and strengthens FirstOnSite’s presence in Alberta and Saskatchewan while gaining the large-loss commercial expertise of Spectrum’s co-owner Travis Stieb.

“By adding Travis to our commercial loss team, we gain a very talented project manager with a reputation for doing what’s right for customers and employees,” said a FirstOnSite statement.

Stieb says Spectrum worked together with FirstOnSite on previous large loss commercial files and they sold Stieb on the benefits of joining a bigger company.

He said when they got busy in the past, his project managers would get overwhelmed because the work would come in and they had to train new people and that takes time.

“Now, if we do have some extra claims, we can bring in some staffing from all over the country so our staff doesn’t feel overwhelmed in a disaster like they have in the past,” said Stieb.

“There’s no loss that this company can’t take care of if there was a

major disaster,” he said.

With FirstOnSite, they have the ability to quickly scale up for large loss projects with the systems and infrastructure of a large corporation.

FirstOnSite joined forces in 2016 with Interstate Restoration, a leading disaster restoration services provider for commercial enterprises in the U.S. They assist property owners and businesses in recovering from fire, flood, natural and human-caused disasters.

Stieb says COVID-19 clean-ups are also driving the growth of restoration companies this year.

“Even before the FirstOnSite deal, our company here in Lloyd did COVID clean-ups,” he said.

“Considering the oil price was low and the economy was in the state it was with the COVID shutdown, I was the busiest I’ve even been,” he said.

He says climate change is also driving business to the door.

“There’s definitely a change in the frequency of natural disasters that’s for sure,” he said.

Stieb says FirstOnSite has an emergency response program in place with a lot of companies and they’ll be

reaching out to a lot of local ones to have the plans in place before a disaster hits.

He says being a FirstOnSite company provides his 40 full-time employees with room for advancement and career opportunities within the North American-wide company.

“Our staff is ecstatic right now. There’s a lot of new programs to learn, so there’s some challenges that way.

As far as the opportunities they are been given, it’s’ really great for them,” said Stieb.

FirstOnSite Restoration and Interstate have more than 2,000 employees in more than 75 locations, New corporate signage is up at the 640566 St. Lloydminster building built in 2014 with 22,000 sq. ft.

In Lloydminster, Stieb is taking on the role of senior project manager, complex commercial division, covering the whole Prairies.

“When a job comes in I’ll be needing to go out and take care of the situation,” he said, noting he specializes in health care and large loss commercial restorations.

Rick Stephens, with his expertise in operations management, will be assuming the role of branch manager for both the Lloydminster and Cold Lake locations.

The closure of the deal with FirstOnSite, opens the door for Stieb’s dad, Greg who co-founded the company in 2006 to finally retire.

“It will be good for

him. He gets to focus on some of his new passions,” said Stieb.

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“I’ll get to remain in the company and focus on the jobs I love doing.”

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Thursday, December 3, 2020

Inland Steel to recycle in Lloyd GEOFF LEE

WRITER

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Inland Steel Products is already having a positive impact on the Lloydminster economy in advance of the opening of their new multi-million dollar metal recycling facility.

The Regina-based, family-owned business is the main sponsor of the Lloydminster AAA

Bobcats hockey team with more community involvement to come when the facility opens.

“

Number one, just knowing how pro-business the RM of Wilton was to deal with, and it was just an area we were servicing already and we have so much demand there that we felt there was a need for a recycling facility in the city.

“That’s a big part of our business,” said Inland’s president Matt Ditlove, who provided some preliminary details about their corporate values along with a construction update.

“We’re going to be hiring local people

and we are planning to open in the first quarter of 2021,” he said in a phone interview on Nov. 26.

The site is located south of 12 Street, facing Veikle Agro Inc. in the RM of Wilton and includes a rail spur.

“A lot of the work is done. The rail is in, the pavement is done and they’ve started putting up the building,” said Ditlove.

“All the trades that we could, we used local.

We’re going to outline a list of all the contractors we used in our press release.”

He expects to issue a detailed announcement closer to the completion date and says the facility is going to be a state-of-the-art metal recycling facility with access to rail and roads.

“It will be a worldclass recycling facility,” he said.

The business is going to be open to the public

and all industrial customers in the area.

“We’ll deal with someone at the facility with one-time use, to someone that’s generating scrap on a regular basis. We have a fullservice metal recycling facility.

“We process it and recycle it and it goes all over the world.”

Inland Steel also has a recycling facility in Saskatoon with several reasons at play behind their decision to expand to Lloydminster.

“Number one, just knowing how pro-business the RM of Wilton was to deal with, and it was just an area we were servicing already and we have so much demand there that we felt there was a need for a recycling facility in the city,” explained Ditlove.

Inland Steel has been in business for 53 years and was started by Ditlove’s grandfather Dennis Ditlove in 1967.

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Sask provincial COVID update MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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The following statistics were published on Dec. 1, 2020.

Four residents who tested positive for COVID-19 in the Saskatoon (3) and South (1) zones, have died.

Three individuals were in the 80+ age category. One individual, from the Saskatoon zone, was in the 60-79 age category.

There are 181 new cases of COVID-19 to report in Saskatchewan on Dec. 1, bringing the provincial total to date to 8,745 cases.

The new cases are located in the Far North West (12), Far North East (15), North West (10), North Central (8), North East (1), Saskatoon (41), Central West (3), Central East (2), Regina (67), South West (5), South Central (4) and South East (7) zones and six (6) new cases have pending residence information.

Three cases with pending residence information were assigned to the North West (2) and Central East (1) zones.

The seven-day average of daily new cases is 264 (21.8 new cases per 100,000 population).

Of the 8,745 reported cases, 3,819 are considered active. A total of 4,875 people have recovered.

One-hundred and twenty-one people are in hospital.

Ninety-seven people are receiving inpatient

care; one in the Far North West, seven in the North West, seven in the North Central, one in the North East, 33 in the Saskatoon, one in the Central East, 26 in the Regina, three in the South West, one in the South Central and 17 in the South East zones.

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As of Nov. 29, when other provincial and national numbers were available, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 222,074 people tested per million population.

Twenty-four people are in intensive care: four in the North Central, 13 in the Saskatoon and seven in the Regina zones.

Of the 8,745 cases in the province: - 479 cases are travelers; - 3,717 are community contacts (including mass gatherings); - 1,914 have no known exposures; and - 2,635 are under investigation by local public health.

Overall in Saskatchewan to date: - 261 cases are healthcare workers; however, the source of the infections may not be related to healthcare in all instances.

- 1,807 cases involve people 19 years of age

and under, while the remainder are adults.

- 3,112 cases are in the 20-39 age range; 2,337 are in the 40-59 age range; 1,156 are in the 60-79 age range; and 328 are in the 80-plus range.

Confirmation of age is pending for five cases.

- 50 per cent of the cases are female and 50 per cent are male.

- 51 deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported to date.

Of 8,745 confirmed cases: - 2,644 cases are from the Saskatoon area - 1,763 cases are from the north area (635 north west, 821 north central, 307 north east) - 1,596 cases are from the Regina area - 1,138 cases are from the south area (434 south west, 411 south

central, 293 south east) - 940 cases are from the far north area (612 far north west, 80 far north central, 248 far north east) - 633 cases are from the central area (275 central west, 358 central east) - 31 cases have pending residence information To date, 347,918 COVID-19 tests have been processed in Saskatchewan.

As of Nov. 29, when other provincial and national numbers were available, Saskatchewan’s per capita rate was 222,074 people tested per million population.

The national rate was 305,290 people tested per million population.

On Monday, 2,431 COVID-19 tests were processed in Saskatchewan.

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Thursday, December 3, 2020

Rudolph rallies for Interval Home GEOFF LEE

WRITER

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The 23rd annual Rudolph Round-up is taking place with a COVID twist in the usual spirit of giving gifts and year-round items to Lloydminster Interval Home.

It’s a project run by Grade 11 and 12 Lloydminster Comprehensive High School students in a leadership program

that is inviting more community involvement this year.

Leadership teacher Dwayne Jeffery says one of his students came up with the idea to include a colouring contest for K-6 students, so they’ve signed up all the schools—with some raffles too.

“On Dec. 8 when we go to each elementary school, we will pick up all the coloured pictures, we will also be out there with a box so any student from K-6 can bring an item for the Rudolph’s Roundup and they’ll get a second ticket for the raffle,” explained Jeffery.

There will be one raffle for K-3 and one for K-6, so everyone who enters does the colouring and brings an item to be included in the draws.

The winners will get a $20 gift card to buy themselves a toy at Walkn On Water while helping to supply Inter-

Supplied Photo

Lloydminster Comprehensive High School elves Trinity Jeffery, Keauna Campbell and Lara Grisdale show off some of the items donated for Rudolph’s Round-Up for the Lloydminster Interval Home.

val Home with items needed by women and children sheltering from family violence.

“The need for the personal care items is pretty consistent and the Rudolph Round-up really helps us fill our stock for those items,” said Interval Home’s community program manager Kathryn Ford.

She says the women, children and youth who come to the shelter don’t bring many essential personal items with them.

“That’s everything

from shampoo, toothbr u sh e s, to o th p aste , those types of things, diapers and things like pyjamas, socks and underwear, the types of things that are personal to that type of individual,” said Ford.

“That’s an ongoing need, so having help to fulfill that really makes a huge difference.”

Ford says Interval Home is running at full capacity with COVID stressing their operations.

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Thursday, December 3, 2020

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Thursday, December 3, 2020

Students take over 3D teaching

Supplied Photo

Winston Churchill School Grade 5 students Jayden, left, and Reigen, show off their 3D printed fish skeleton. Both students mentored other students on how to make 3D objects during Education Week in Saskatchewan.

GEOFF LEE

WRITER

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Shelley Merth, an educational technology consultant for the Lloydminster Public School Division (LPSD) could find herself and some colleagues replaced by Grade 5 students.

She used Google Meet to instruct young Jayden and Reigen in Leah Palko’s class at Winston Churchill School how to use a 3D modelling program called Tinkercad.

The two are now mentoring and teaching their classmates

FROM PAGE 6

She says COVID has impacted their other fundraising activities and is grateful for the help from the Rudolph program.

“For me, what stands out is just that positive message about caring and support, and that caring and support is coming from those students, from the school and from the community,” Ford said.

“People are kind of rallying around us and that feels great.”

independently on Chromebooks.

Merth says they are even running virtual Google Meets with students at home due to COVID-19.

“They don’t need the teacher to deliver those lessons; they are the experts in their classroom on this particular product,” she said.

Merth says right now, students are designing anything they want ranging from 3D name tags and key chains to robots and churning them out on her 3D printer.

Jeffery says in most years, his students visit the Interval Home to see what really happens there.

“It’s really powerful to see what our community does for women who are in domestic violence and how many kids are involved,” he said.

He says one benefit of COVID is that kids have realized in ways they haven’t before, how important community is starting with the We Scare Hunger food drive for Halloween.

“They take quite a while to print, so we’re just kind of limiting the size,” she said.

The end product is a biodegradable plastic called PLA. The plans are to partner Palko’s Grade 5 class with a group at Bishop Lloyd Middle School who will do the printing for the Winston Churchill students.

“So it takes me out of the equation and we’ll have middle school students printing for the elementary school,” said Merth.

Jayden and Reigen were anxious to see how their class 3D prints turned out last Thursday with it being Education Week in Saskatchewan.

“I can’t wait to see how the stuff looks and feels when it is printed,” said Reigen in an email comment.

“My favourite part about this project was learning how to design things that can be 3D printed. Then we helped our class.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

This year was the first time they surpassed the goal of one item per student, per school.

“We’re hoping for the same thing with Rudolph because the same challenge is being made that we can bring in one item per kid,” said Jeffery.

“If people want to bring items to be involved that don’t have kids in the school system, they can drop off items in the front of the school. We have a box in the entrance.”

Thursday, December 3, 2020

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St. Joseph students share the Christmas love pening with the virus, and we don’t want to focus on the negative.

We want to focus on reminding the seniors that we do love them, care for them, and pray for them.

“The kids agreed with

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

St. Joseph Elementary School student Ester Omorodion writes a note in a Christmas card to a local area senior.

TAYLOR WEAVER

EDITOR

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Students at St. Joseph Elementary School were getting ready to share the Christmas love with local seniors last week as the finishing touches went on student-made holiday cards.

“Today we’re making Christmas cards,” said St. Joseph Elementary School Grade

7 teacher Ashlee Foster last Thursday.

“We saw Billi J Miller was advertising on Facebook about making Christmas cards for seniors and thought ‘wow, I have 20 students that I could easily make Christmas cards with and we can spread the love even faster to more seniors’ homes

to help put a smile on their face during this Christmas season.’”

Foster noted her students were excited about the opportunity to spread the love to area seniors and some even asked if they could make more than one card.

“There’s more of a need this year because we all know what’s hap-

Lakeland’s global gold winner

Supplied Photo

Karen Harris, a learner success strategist at Lakeland College, earned a 2020 Gold Award of Excellence from the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) in an online ceremony last week. The award celebrates excellence in provision of services that support students throughout their college experience.

me and wanted to put a smile on people’s faces, especially with all of the restrictions that are in place.”

Cards were being dropped off at Musgrave Agencies, Addilynn Apparel and the

Lloydminster Exhibition in Lloydminster, The Blonde Door in Kitscoty, EH Walter School in Paradise Valley, and Northern Lights Realty in Vermilion. Card collection took place this morning.

PAGE 10 Thursday, December 3, 2020 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Viewpoint That mo had to go, for a cause!

5921-50 Avenue, Lloydminster, SK S9V 2A4 Phone: 306-825-5111 Toll Free: 1-800-327-3899 Fax: 306-825-5147 meridiansource.ca Mail: Box 2454, Lloydminster, SK S9V 1W5 Hours: 8AM to 5PM Monday to Friday THE MERIDIAN SOURCE is published once a week, on Thursday.

All material printed in the Meridian Source is copyright and may not be copied or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. The Meridian Source reserves the right to refuse publication of any advertising or editorial material at its discretion.

Columns and letters are the expressed view of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Meridian Source.

Editor Taylor Weaver taylor@meridiansource.ca

Staff Writer Geoff Lee geoff@meridiansource.ca

Sports Editor Jamie Harkins sports@meridiansource.ca

Marketing Manager Deanna Wandler deanna@meridiansource.ca

Marketing Consultant Catherine Kruining catherine@meridiansource.ca

L

loydminster resident Wendall Elford went allin this past November in support of Movember and men’s health.

Elford got his son, Tyrell, and his U11 Lloydminster Blazers team 4 on board in the fundraising and the grand total raised by

the team was $150.

Elford then matched the funds for a total of $300. “ I was ext r em e l y h a p p y to say our team still contributed money right up until today,” said Elford on Monday.

All proceeds went to movember.ca, which will be divided

between an assortment of men’s health issues.

“Unfortunately, our kids on the hockey team could not be involved in shaving my mustache off due to COVID, but we appreciate all their support.”

Great job everyone!

Through the reader’s lens

Marketing Consultant Ashley Miazga ashley@meridiansource.ca

Publisher Reid Keebaugh Production Manager Amanda Richard CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING admin@meridiansource.ca NEWSPAPER DELIVERY If you’ve missed a paper, to start or stop delivery, or for carrier applications, please call 306-825-5111 for information.

Shawna Chernichen Meridian Source Graphics Department

Thanks, Shawna, for sharing this beautiful photo with our readers! Shawna is a member of the Meridian Source graphics team, and isn’t she lucky to have such a great view from her bedroom window?

If you would like to see your photos in the Meridian Source, please email them to taylor@meridiansource.ca

2017

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

PAGE 11 Thursday, December 3, 2020 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Opinion

Leeway from Lloyd: Fitness goes home and outdoors STAFF WRITER GEOFF LEE

Masking rules at indoor fitness facilities are helping to drive individuals to invest in home fitness gear and winter outdoor recreation gear.

City-run facilities are noticeably quieter since the rules came into effect as no one wants to wear a mask skating or running on an indoor track.

It isn’t healthy for one thing and a lot of individuals who arrive for a workout are fed up being told what to do by the “fitness police.”

It just adds to stress, which exercise is supposed to relieve.

You don’t need a mask or anyone’s permission to exercise in your home, or in most situations, outdoors either and that’s what a lot of peo-

ple are doing.

There is a lot more freedom and safety from COVID too, to run, skate, crosscountry ski or sled by yourself or in small socially-distanced groups outdoors.

Many retailers are reporting record sales of everything from outdoor sports equipment including fat bikes and snowmobiles to clothing and wearable technology.

Indoor fitness restrictions are a great excuse to reconnect with the outdoors with a lot of fresh air activities free of charge too.

The home fitness market is also reaching stratospheric heights with the likes of the Peloton bike and its immersive online fitness classes.

A lot of us cyclists in Lloydminster have put our road bikes on indoor trainers and some folks hold small training ride “meet ups” on the Zwift app.

File Photo I prefer watching TV or a taped sports show to an online app basically because I don’t want to pay subscription fees, don’t want to fiddle with technology and I don’t need it to be motivated.

Sorry Zwift and Peloton, but I won’t be customers unless I win the lottery.

However, I am linked to Garmin Connect where everyone posts all their daily workouts and you can post fun or complimentary comments to your fitness associates.

I think when COVID is finally over, a lot of people will continue to choose

their own path as to how, when and where they will be active.

Their facility of choice could be the great outdoors or the comfort of the home where you can do jumping jacks naked—but wear a mask for your neighbour’s sake!!!

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Thursday, December 3, 2020

Thursday, December 3, 2020

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Student mentors bring tech expertise to class

Supplied Photo

A class of Grade 5 students at Winston Churchill School is shown working on a Tinkercad 3D design lesson with instruction from Shelley Merth using Google Meet during Education Week in Saskatchewan.

FROM PAGE 8

Jayden says he also liked the designing part of the project.

“I like to build stuff and it is fun to design in 3D on computers,”

he commented.

Merth says the project was very exciting and fun for the students and cool to see the leadership skills of the two boys come through.

“ When I was vie wing some of the products students made, I found some mistakes, so I just tell Jayden and Reigen what the mistakes are and if they can help those students and fix them,” said Merth.

She says everyone is looking forward to the next stage in 3D design and printing.

On tap is a geography and mapping project with Jayden and Reigen as the student mentors again.

The idea is to compare 2D mountain images from Google Maps to 3D images in Google Earth and then use Terrain Generator to construct 3D images of the mountain ranges that can be 3D printed.

“It will bring the curriculum to life,” said Merth, who will prep the two students this week to teach the class.

“I’m going to work with them first so that I build capacity in

them and they’re going to be to help their classmates.”

Merth says the 3D printing project is an example of leveraging technology at the LPSD

for students to connect and learn, especially during the pandemic.

“We delivered a similar product as if we were there in person. The technol-

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ogy just helped us out immensely,” she said.

“We were able to reach all the students at home and in the classroom. It’s working really well.”

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Thursday, December 3, 2020

No recliner for furniture dealer in 2020

GEOFF LEE

WRITER

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Quick delivery times for customers seem to be the bane of brick and mortar furniture retail-

ers during the COVID19 pandemic.

That’s been the case for Calvin Pittao, owner of Border City Furniture on 50 Avenue, who

spoke about his 2020 sales experience at the Rotary Club of Lloydminster’s Monday meeting via Zoom.

“It’s been a challenge for all of us, no question. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, we’re all facing unprecedented times and we’re no different,” said Pittao.

“We’ve gone from very quick order times, to not-so-quick order times.”

He says some orders are taking up to six months to arrive, but the demand for furniture from his U.S. and Canadian suppliers is booming, especially in the U.S. Pittao says his recliner manufacturer in the U.S. is getting twice as many orders a week than they can produce.

“It’s insane how far behind they are getting because of the amount of orders they are getting,” said Pittao.

“We’ve gone from four to six weeks with them to 16 to 20 weeks, whereas my Canadian companies have gone from six to eight. I have one company that was four to six and they’ve gone to 12 weeks.”

“

It’s been a challenge for all of us, no question. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, we’re all facing unprecedented times and we’re no different.

While sales of online furniture retailers like Wayfair are way up for home office furniture and home renovations during the pandemic, e-commerce is out of the question for Pittao.

“We do have a website and we understand online is a very moving trend. Unfortunately, it’s very difficult in my business,” he said.

“I’m not a big box store. I can’ t stock 10,000 chests of drawers in 20 different

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Border City Furniture owner, Calvin Pittao, chats about sales in 2020 with the Rotary Club of Lloydminster on Zoom.

colours in the back. Our inventory is limited.”

Pittao’s secret sales sauce in 2020 is to be upfront with customers on delivery times.

“Through all this, I can’t complain other than order times are the biggest challenge right now, and some customers are great,” he said.

“As long as we are open and honest with them on these order times, that’s all we can do.”

The formula works as Border City Furni-

ture was chosen for the downtown business of the year award at this year’s Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.

“We’ve been here for 15 years and we really focus on community—a Canadian-made product, a quality product that’s affordable,” said Pittao.

He was also asked about his Black Friday sales, although he thinks some of them are gimmicky.

“I have the sale that never ends,” he said, before adding, “we did have a good Black Friday, I will say that.”

Border City Furniture defines a local business with Pittao born, raised, and educated in Lloydminster.

“I started working for someone else and then 10 years ago, I purchased it and I’ve grown it to what it is today,” said Pittao.

“It was one of the best decisions I made other than having a wife and kids. It’s been really good for us.”

The couple has been married for 11 years raising three young boys in the family with their roots firmly planted in Lloydminster.

“I plan on being here another 20 odd years and then it’s up to my kids whether they’ll continue to be here or not,” said Pittao, who bought the building that houses his store a few years ago.

Thursday, December 3, 2020

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Lloyd fan band to play live stream

File Photo GEOFF LEE

WRITER

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The Derina Harvey Band (dHb), who has played at Station 51 in Lloydminster, is set to perform a global livestreamed concert from a COVID-19 bubble in Edmonton.

The concert will take place at Production

World in Edmonton on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. on a pay-what-you-can-basis for an online ticket.

“We know that times are hard for everybody, COVID-19 has affected all of us,” said dHb’s front-woman Derina Harvey.

“We wanted to make sure that everyone who

wants to join us for the show could do so and have some fun relaxing without worrying about how it will affect their budget.”

Harvey says some people are comfortable paying a $20 ticket, some folks are comfortable paying less, and some folks are comfort-

able paying more.

A limited amount of tickets are available at the band’s derinaharvey.com website, along with the concert link details.

The venue will provide a high-definition concert experience for the online audience and it can be viewed for 48 hours after the performance with a ticket.

It has been a difficult year for the award-winning Canadian Celticrock act with all of their tours and pubic performances cancelled since March due to COVID restrictions.

A bright spot has been a wave of new online followers from across the globe via TikTok. The band’s recording of Tom Lewis’s “The

Lloyd tops affordable housing list MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

..................................

Lloydminster is the most affordable city in Alberta for buying a home, according to a recent study by real estate broker and data researcher Zolo.

Zolo put our city first because of its $308,909 average home price, $86,127 median income and 8 per cent unemployment rate.

Lloydminster also had the lowest price to income ratio at 3.59 to lead all 27 cities in the rankings.

Zo l o e xp l ai ne d t h e price-to-income ratio is based on the average home price, which was

determined through Zolo’s current trends data (October), and compared this to the average income earned in that city or region (September Statistics Canada).

The ratio reflects how many years it would take to pay off the average-priced home if 100 per cent of householders’ income went to paying off the mortgage.

Once the ratio was calculated, Zolo assigned each city a rank from 1 to 27 with Lloydminster No. 1 as the most affordable city for housing.

Lloydminster also

Last Shanty” was used in thousands of videos on the platform, with many users dressing up as pirates, heralding the hashtag #birate.

Alberta fans may recall dHb won the Peo-

15

ple’s Choice Award at the 2018 Edmonton Music Awards.

The group offers a fresh take on traditional folk songs as well as an increasing amount of original material.

BUILDING OR RENOVATING? We have it all!

Hardwood, laminate, carpet, tile, luxury vinyl plank, lino and all types of natural stone. Installation available.

We are also an ICC member for insurance claims.

File Photo ranked first for the lowest unemployment rate and was given an overall affordable score of 6.0.

The lowest ranks and scores in the study indicate the highest

level of affordability.

2501 - 50 Ave., Lloydminster (306) 825-7847

PAGE 16 Thursday, December 3, 2020 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Sports

AJHL play stopped due to new COVID restrictions JAMIE HARKINS

WRITER

..................................

The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) has placed the 2020-21 season on pause.

T h e l e a g u e announced late in the evening on Nov. 25 that the season has been halted due to Alberta government COVID precaution restrictions introduced the previous day.

The Lloydminster

Bobcats released a statement early the next morning thanking their fans, season ticket holders, sponsors, billets and volunteers for their help, while adding the hope is they’ll be back in the rink soon.

T h e B o b c a t s returned to the Centennial Civic Centre ice on Sept. 15 for a series of practices and off-ice training sessions before engaging

in an eight-game exhibit ion s che d u l e d u r ing the month of October and first week of November.

“

We are working with Alberta Health, our CMO and the Government of Alberta to discuss the safest way to return as a result of the impact of the most recent enhanced measures. When safe to do so, our desire is to return and spark our local economies, creating momentum in our communities while supporting the development of our athletes.

They got into two regular-season games on Nov. 20 and 21 against the Fort McMurray Oil Barons.

When asked for an interview a couple of days after the AJHL announced a pause, Bobcats head coach and general manager Nigel Dube stated they are not able to comment on it or COVID any longer.

Dube referred media requests to the league office.

An email was then sent to AJHL vicepresident, communications, Charla Fleet asking for an interview with either her or commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk.

Instead of granting an interview, Fleet replied with a prepared statement from Bartoshyk.

Bartoshyk’s statement, in full, reads, “As a result of pro-

File Photo

Lloydminster Bobcats head coach and general manager Nigel Dube guides the team through a drill during a 2018 practice at the Centennial Civic Centre.

vincial restrictions announced on Nov. 24, the AJHL season is on pause until existing limitations are lifted and we are permitted to safely return. The AJHL Board of Governors will reconvene on Dec. 19, 2020, to

determine a timeline and updated protocols for return to play.

“We are working with Alberta Health, our CMO and the Government of Alberta to discuss the safest way to return as a result of the impact of the

most recent enhanced measures. When safe to do so, our desire is to return and spark our local economies, creating momentum in our communities while supporting the development of our athletes.”

Thursday, December 3, 2020

MERIDIAN SOURCE

It’s time for a winter hike File Photo

SPORTS EDITOR JAMIE HARKINS

Canada is the envy of other countries around the globe on a number of fronts.

I’m sure one point of their admiration is our incredible landscapes calling out for discovery.

A summer spent under quarantine and the onset of another harsh cold winter is bringing this longing for adventure to mind.

Do you realize we have trails looking out on the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, climbs through the majestic Rocky Mountains here in Alberta and even hikes over meadows and tundra in the far north?

Tragically, I’ve got to admit I have never trekked through either one.

I read stories about people basking in the glory of the wild whenever time allows.

Chris McCandless’ walk into the Alas-

kan bush and Cheryl Strayed’s pursuit of redemption along the Pacific Crest Trail are the two most recent adventures I could hardly put down.

Who doesn’t want to just walk away with only the things you can carry, even if it is just for a day or two?

I only lived out of a backpack without any day-to-day plans or marked out route for an extended period once.

Nine years ago I flew to London at the beginning of March, walked

up to the bus station at a corner of Gatwick Airport and asked for a ticket.

The cashier asked me where I was going to which my reply was ‘I don’t know.’

For five weeks, before the money ran out, I travelled across southern England to Cardiff, took a ferry to Cork and zigzagged across the Republic of Ireland.

Apart from a sprained wrist suffered on an inebriated late-night sleepwalk to a hostel bathroom, everything turned out perfectly.

However, the trip didn’t involve any outings in the Emerald Isle’s natural beauty.

Every step I took was on city sidewalks with my only view of the countryside coming through bus windows.

The same can be said for my years spent liv-

ing in Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.

So, I’ve armed myself with a Dummy’s Guide to Hiking book this winter and a list of Canadian destinations ready to be explored.

I don’t really plan on waiting until it heats up a little bit.

With everything on pause, how isn’t this

17

the best time to get outdoors for a solo or cohort hike?

From there, this adventure will move to the Plain of the Six Glaciers near Lake Louise when conditions permit.

Then it’s on to B.C.’s West Coast Trail, Newfoundland’s East Coast Trail and the Yukon’s Grizzly Lake Trail.

PAGE 18 Thursday, December 3, 2020 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Agriculture

Sask leads nation in merchandise export growth

File Photo MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

..................................

Saskatchewan is seeing strong growth in merchandise exports, with a big jump in both year-over-year and month-to-month.

Merchandise exports increased by 19.1 per cent year-over-year in September 2020 to $2.57 billion.

Saskatchewan ranked first in percentage change among the provinces on a seasonally adjusted basis.

“Saskatchewan exports remain strong, which shows our province is in a good position moving forward with our economic recovery,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harri-

son said.

“Even with the challenges facing the global economy, demand has remained strong for the quality products Saskatchewan produces.”

“

Even with the challenges facing the global economy, demand has remained strong for the quality products Saskatchewan produces.

In September, merchandise exports in Saskatchewan increased by 17.2 per cent compared to

August 2020, placing the province second in percentage change among the provinces.

In the first nine months of 2020, merchandise exports in Saskatchewan increased by 1.7 per cent, compared to the same period in 2019, which was also second among the provinces.

Nationally, Canada saw a decrease of 6.2 per cent year-overyear.

Strong export numbers were supported by growth in a number of sectors, including farm and food products, metallic ores and nonmetallic minerals, forestry products, as well as electronic and electrical equipment and

parts, and consumer goods.

International merchandise exports measure the value of all goods leaving the country.

Governments, exporters, manufacturers and

transportation companies use these export statistics to monitor export performance, identify market opportunities, monitor commodity prices, and examine transport implications of trade

flows.

For more information, including on COVID-19 support for businesses and workers in Saskatchewan, please visit www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19businesses.

Thursday, December 3, 2020

MERIDIAN SOURCE

19

PAGE 20 Thursday, December 3, 2020 MERIDIAN SOURCE 306-825-5111 admin@meridansource.ca

SERVICES

NOTICES

SNOW REMOVAL

Estate of ERNEST JAMES HANLON, who died on May 4, 2020.

If you have a claim against this estate, you must file your claim

by January 4, 2021 with LYNN WOODS LAW OFFICE at Box 2335 #101 318 3rd Avenue, Strathmore, AB T1P 1K3

GET BACK ON TRACK! Bad credit? Bills?

Unemployed? Need Money? We Lend! If you own your own home - you qualify.

Pioneer Acceptance Corp. Member BBB. 1-877-987-1420. www.pioneerwest.com.

CLASSIFIED ADS 1 for $15 or 2 for $25

*Based on 20 words additional words 15¢ each Prices do not include GST

FOR SALE

FEED & SEED

VERY INEXPENSIVE 2 QUARTERS OF PASTURE LAND, Central SK, for sale. 8 other good quarters may be available. Requires fencing. Great hunting $74,900. Call Doug at 306-716-2671.

HEATED CANOLA buying Green, Heated or Springthrashed Canola. Buying: oats, barley, wheat & peas for feed. Buying damaged or offgrade grain.

“On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain, 1-877-250-5252.

WANTED

MISCELLANEOUS

If you do not file by the date above, the estate property can lawfully be distributed without regard to any claim you may have. Creditors: you must include a full description and value of the debt you allege the deceased owes you and a full description and value of any of the deceased’s property that you hold as security for the debt. Claimants: you must include a full description of your claim and why you have a right to make such a claim.

780-872-0866

GET YOUR MESSAGE SEEN ACROSS Alberta.

The Blanket Classifieds or Value Ads reach over 600,000 Alberta readers weekly. Two options starting at $269 or $995 to get your message out! Business changes, hiring, items for sale, cancellations, tenders, etc. People are increasingly staying home and rely on their local newspapers for information. KEEP people in the loop with our 90 Weekly Community Newspapers.

Call THIS NEWSPAPER now or email classifieds@awna.com for details. 1-800-2826903, 780-434-8746 X225. www.awna.com.

NOTICES NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND CLAIMANTS

Small Bobcat for sidewalk and driveway snow removal.

Lowest rates in Lloyd.

Great for seniors.

Phone Jim to book now!

CRIMINAL RECORD? Why suffer employment/licensing loss?

Travel/business opportunities? Be embarrassed? Think: Criminal Pardon. US entry waiver. Record purge.

File destruction. Free consultation. 1-800347-2540. www. accesslegalmjf.com

Classifieds

BELIEVE IT? Don’t fall victim to sharing fake news about COVID-19 online.

Learn the four simple steps that will help you SPOT fake news online.

Watch the video at SPOTfakenews.ca

HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF FAKE NEWS! The global COVID-19 pandemic means learning how to SPOT fake news has never been more important.

Protect yourself with media literacy in 4 simple steps.

Watch the video at SPOTfakenews.ca

CAREER TRAINING BLANKET THE PROVINCE with a classified ad. Only $269 (based on 25 words or less). Reach 90 weekly newspapers.

Call NOW for details.

1-800-282-6903 Ext 225; www.awna.com.

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

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Heavy Duty Mechanics required: Late model, clean CAT, JD equip; winch, dump, gravel trucks, and trailers. Both camp and shop locations; R & B provided Wage negotiable.

Clean drivers abstract a must.

Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction Box 100, Arborfield, Sk. S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca

HEALTH / FITNESS

LAND FOR SALE

Star City Meats Christmas Baskets Baskets Include: Sausages and Sticks in a variety of flavours and assorted cheese & pickles * Sausages may vary due to supply

Large: $95.00 Medium: $70.00 Tax included

Order by December 12th for Christmas!

Pick-up available between Dec. 12 - 23.

To place your oder call 306-863-3378 or 306-921-6488

BOSCH Mixers,Ankarsrum Mixers, VITAMIX blenders, LEFSE supplies & more FREE SHIPPING.  Call toll-free 1-888-692 6724  Hometech BOSCH Appl 375 Broad St, Regina www. hometechcanada.ca

HIP/KNEE REPLACEMENT. Other medical conditions causing TROUBLE WALKING or DRESSING? The Disability Tax Credit allows for $3,000 yearly tax credit and $30,000 lump sum refund. Take advantage of this offer. Apply NOW; quickest refund Nationwide: Expert help. 1-844-453-5372.

To ensure efficient newspaper delivery, please make sure of the following:

NORTH EAST PRAIRIE GRAIN INC. BUYING: FEED BARLEY, SOYBEANS, DAMAGED CANOLA. On Farm Pickup, Prompt Payment! PH: 306873-3551 WEBSITE: neprairiegrain.com “In Business to Serve Western Producers”

AUCTIONS

• Sidewalks are cleared and clean • Mailbox is visible

AUCTIONS are our business! Contact Copeland Auctions Ltd. located in Lloydminster, AB for all your auction needs. Call Russ 780-870-1181 or visit our website: www.copelandauctions.co m

• Mailbox is emptied on a regular basis • Pets are tied or in a fenced yard (306) 825-5111

Careers

Thursday, December 3, 2020

In addition to the 40,000 readers you get with advertising your job ad in the Meridian Source, your job ad is posted on our Facebook page for FREE!

Business Directory

BECOME DEBT FREE • Reduce your debts up to 80% • Keep your Car, Home & RRSPs • Stop Harassing Creditor CALLS immediately • Get the largest debt reduction that is fair

Advertise your services in our Business Directory!

Call our sales team today!

• Consumer Proposal, Bankruptcy & Budgeting • Free Consultations • Here to Serve YOU!

306.830.5449 | beth@credit720.ca

Lloydminster’s Leading Waste & Recycling Hauler • Garbage & Recycling Services • Paper Shredding • Temporary Fencing • Portable Toilet & Septic Services

Service by Quik Pick Waste Disposal

KEEP IT LOCAL

www.quikpick.ca 5502 - 59 Ave. (780) 875-4100 Toll Free 1-877-475-4100

306.825.5111

MERIDIAN SOURCE

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22

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, December 3, 2020

Obituaries & Memoriams

Call to place your Memoriam or Obituary.

306-825-5111

Church Directory

dition ssue

r email .ca t tion.

Thursday, December 3, 2020

SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

November 26 Answers

ACROSS 1. False front 4. Posture 8. Hole punches 12. Pigeon’s call 13. Berserk 14. Parcel 15. Lodge 16. Source 18. Downfall 20. Discontinued 21. Switch positions 22. Mr. Boggs 23. Earn 26. Moray, e.g.

27. Tatter 30. Golf club 31. Be in debt 32. Present!

November 26 Answers

33. Hoover ____ 34. Poor mark 35. Healer 36. Partly open 38. “____ and Away” 39. Estate house 41. Steak type 45. Band 47. Fruit juice 48. Looked at 49. Compass point 50. Toll 51. Talk back 52. Handicrafts 53. Feeling low

DOWN 1. Corrosive 2. Ice-cream ____ 3. Lots 4. Father, e.g.

5. Portents 6. Cushy 7. Add to 8. Adjust 9. Nomad 10. Parasites 11. Coaster 17. Genuine 19. Penny, e.g.

22. Petite 23. Halfway 24. Timespan 25. Woos 26. She-sheep

28. Animosity 29. ____ your request 31. Above, to bards 32. Fling 34. Risk 35. Gem weights 37. Travolta et al.

38. Earliest 39. Forest-floor plant 40. Region 41. Celebrity 42. Dunces 43. Thought 44. Poverty 46. ____ urchin

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS Karla Purves (Tole) and Evan Purves would like to announce the arrival of their daughter Madelynn Rose Purves born April 27, 2020 in Saskatoon University Hospital.

MERIDIAN SOURCE

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24

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, December 3, 2020

HOME

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NEW PRICES

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Jennifer Gilbert Associate Broker

Rick Schesnuk Realtor®

Caleb McLean Realtor®

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