Meridian Source - February 2, 2023

Hindley health visit proactive

notes and was very interested in what we had to say.”

Those priorities included a need for mental health stability beds, a new health services and facility needs assessment plan, biprovincial medical file sharing and renal dialysis relocation.

Richer says they also plan to follow up during an upcoming BiProvincial Health Services Committee on April 21.

The committee is chaired by the assistant deputy ministers of health from Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Mission accomplished. A four-person team from Lloydminster plans to keep an open rapport with Everett Hindley after briefing him on the top four of 12 health service priorities in Regina on Jan. 25.

Hindley is Saskatchewan’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors, and Rural and Remote Health, who invited the group to his office after touring some Lloyd -

minster health facilities last June.

“We spent about 45 to 50 minutes with him,” said Lloydminster and District Health Advisory Council chai,r Paul Richer, who led the local contingent.

“The idea of our presentation was to talk firstly about our historical context, in other words, how long we’ve waited for a lot of things around Lloydminster. We were able to get through four points and he took

It includes Richer, Lloydminster Region Health Foundation CEO, Stephanie Munro, and Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers, who met with Hindley, along with former Lloyd Ex, manager Mike Sidoryk.

“The bi-provincial chairperson from Saskatchewan will probably be hearing from minister Hindley, so I am hoping for an uptick in some of the messaging that we’re going to get,” said Richer.

In the meantime, Richer says the Lloyd group found it encouraging to hear Hindley was surprised there was an issue where the renal dialysis may be going, and he wanted to hear more from administrators on what was going on with that.

Richer says the advisory council only learned the Prairie North Plaza is not an acceptable location following a facility inspection in December.

Munro says she has been advocating for dialysis relocation very strongly at every level of government she can and everyone at Saskatchewan Health Authority because she is accountable to her donors for the money the foundation has in a fund for dialysis.

“I need to know where that dialysis relocation is happening and where it is going to be going,” stressed Munro.

She called the Regina meeting with Hindley very proactive on all the issues they presented to him.

“He was very recep -

tive to the concerns we brought forth from Lloydminster as a whole from the Lloydminster and District Health Advisory Council,” said Munro.

Ditto says Richer about Hindley’s willingness to make progress.

“He really felt we could get a couple of wins, meaning we should be able to accomplish something out of what we talked to him about,” said Richer.

Health Minister Paul Merriman also joined Munro and the heads of other health foundations in the province while in Regina to hear their concerns.

“He really took into consideration what the foundations had to say and was really appreciative of all the work we do to enhance health care with our province,” said Munro.

She says in the past two years up until last May, the foundations raised $182 million towards health care in the province.

“That’s very substantial. We just want to be heard and have a voice

and say ‘this is what we are willing to fundraise for,’ and minister Merriman was very receptive to everything we had to say,” said Munro.

Aalbers noted the Lloyd group also learned about the potential for more federal health care dollars for the provinces when premiers meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Feb. 7.

He says premiers are currently looking for an increase to 35 per cent from 22 per cent.

Aalbers says he encouraged Hindley to continue to work with the health minister in Alberta because working together results in complete dollars spent on healthcare if they do it in a partnership.

“That’s the important piece to this, working together with Alberta to ensure we see seamless health care,” he said.

In the meantime, Sidoryk, who set up the meeting with Hindley, is also hoping to set up a meeting with Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping to discuss similar issues.

Geoff Lee Meridian Source Paul Richer, chair of the Lloydminster Health Advisory Council, briefed the Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society on Tuesday about a group health services meeting he led to Regina on Jan. 25. The group presented the package he holds in his hand to Everett Hindley Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors, and Rural and Remote Health.

GEOFF LEE WRITER

Chamber’s food trade pilot a first step

and this issue came out,” explained TeriLynn MacKie, executive director of the chamber.

“We should be able to sell our products in all of Lloydminster, not just one side or the other without it being inter-provincial trade.”

The chamber hosted a question and answer meeting about the Lloydminster food trade pilot in the OTS Room at the Servus Sports Centre on Jan. 26 with all of the key players on hand, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Red tape, be gone. That’s the rallying

cry of the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce that is leading a twoyear pilot to make inter-

provincial food trade seamless throughout the city.

“We had a round table

“To make Lloydminster one city for trade is a huge accomplishment and we are super

excited to partner with Alberta and Saskatchewan and CFIA to make this happen,” said MacKie.

The CFIA published a notice of intent on Jan. 16 to amend the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations to address Lloydminster’s unique situation.

The goal of the pilot is for safe food to move into and within the city as if there were no provincial border.

Natasha Richard, manager of food safety requirements and guidance with CFIA in Ottawa, called the pilot a great milestone for Lloydminster.

“The food pilot is open to all types of food, but there are certain types of eligibility the provinces have set,” she explained.

Currently, in the safe food regulations, any food that moves across a provincial or territorial border would need to have a Safe Food for Canadians licence.

“By the end of the pilot project, the regulations will have been amended and there will be a permanent solution to the issues for Lloydminster in terms of interprovincial trade,” said Richard.

Diamond 7 Meats coowner, Aron Lundquist, was buoyed by what he learned at the meeting.

“Having the freedom to move within our own city trade region is going to be an enormous step and it will be the first step, of hopefully many, to improve the quality of trade within Lloydminster,” said Lundquist.

He says the amendment will provide clarity to allow for the resale of their products to other businesses within the city of Lloydminster.

“It’s a great day. Anytime we can improve our relations inter-provincially and have it recognized federally as well, it’s a huge step,” he said.

“We applaud the Chamber of Commerce for their hard work in making this happen on our behalf.”

Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright MLA, Garth Rowswell, called the pilot a big deal and hopes it will lead to even fewer trade barriers.

“If this works well, maybe we could expand it and cover a bigger area and try to harmonize the regulation between Saskatchewan and Alberta,” said Rowswell.

“If we could create a free trade zone between Saskatchewan and Alberta, wouldn’t that be nice?”

Katlin Ducherer, economic development officer for the City of Lloydminster, is also hopeful the pilot will morph into something bigger.

“It’s one step right now to help quantify and grab the data that’s required to hopefully make further change,” she said.

Ducherer says what the pilot will do is allow businesses that register on the chamber website to take part, and come into Lloydminster and trade within the boundaries of the city.

The CFIA amendment, however, would not apply to Saskatchewan or Alberta businesses that prepare food for export or interprovincial trade outside of the city limits.

“We know our retail trading area is 136,000 in our primary area. If we are not allowing trade within that trade area, then Lloydminster business could be at a disadvantage,” said Ducherer.

Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers said in a phone interview, the city believes there’s a potential for resolution, noting it’s important for both provinces to work with the federal government on this file.

“As the provincial minister of agriculture said to me ‘once you guys open the gate would swing open for the rest of Canada.’ That’s a really important piece, and what we’re doing here will have a direct impact on our city, but we are setting the trend for Canada.”

Geoff Lee Meridian Source Natasha Richard, left, national manager of food safety requirements and guidance with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), in Ottawa, led a presentation of a Lloydminster food trade pilot at the Servus Sports Centre on Jan. 26 with CFIA Alberta reps, Mohammad Arit and Brad Parker along with Danielle Walsh, CFIA Ottawa.

GEOFF LEE WRITER

HRHS welcomes media for sneak peek of expansion

spring starting in February,” said McCarthy.

“We’re excited about the new opportunities that’ll be brought to students, not only for career development but also, hopefully for some national and international competition.”

The Truth and Reconciliation Centre will open in the near future and will house a birch tree harvested by the school in the fall.

There’s a lot to talk about at Holy Rosary High School (HRHS) with the official grand opening of the school’s new expansion only a week away.

The Lloydminster Catholic School Division (LCSD) invited members of the media for a tour of the new wing last week for a progress check before the classrooms are filled with students after the Feb. 10 opening.

“The entire space is built like a Venetian square, and at the centre, we have a film space,” said LCSD director of education, Nigel McCarthy.

“The centre of the square is a large-scale film projection system where you could gather 100 or 200 students, on two levels, and view a film or perhaps talk to someone overseas and communicate in those sorts of ways.

“We’ve made use of every area in the building as an educational space.”

Since the early planning stages of the expansion, the LCSD has been very serious when it comes to student input.

Students throughout the entire LCSD were asked what they wanted to see in the new wing. Those ideas were then taken to the architects working on the project and turned into a reality.

“Principal Jeremy Blais and Mr. (Vince) Orieux, and so many of the leaders in our school division, really made a conscientious effort over the last three years to

work with students and go out and talk to them about what their vision was. When we presented that to the architects, their reaction was ‘we can build this,’ and really, from that, we have.

“It’s a pretty magical space and a great building project to participate in.”

For McCarthy, one of the most impactful elements of the expansion comes down to classroom design. Each “standard” classroom in the new wing is equipped with three large TV screens, which students can control with their personal computers for presentations and group activities. Classrooms are also much more open concept.

“I think the basic

design of every classroom teaches people how to cooperate in the pursuit of a common goal and allows them to compete amongst groups or see the accomplishments of others, in real-time, I think some of those foundations really make this a unique set of spaces, and I think our teachers are excited to take them on.”

A few major highlights of the expansion include the Truth and Reconciliation Centre, the Kinesiology Lab, a state-of-the-art Arts Centre, the Innovation Centre, and more.

“The Innovation Centre is going to host our video game design programming as well as video editing, and a new Esports team, which will be competing this

“It will be a space to accommodate the learning all Treaty People have to do and really responds to the Truth and Reconciliation calls-to-action, especially number 64.”

Call to Action #64 states: “We call upon all levels of government that provide public funds to denominational schools to require such schools to provide an education on comparative religious studies, which must include a segment on Aboriginal spiritual beliefs and practices developed in collaboration with Aboriginal Elders.”

McCarthy also noted the focus of the school’s new art centre was all about natural light and allowing students to work on different mediums of art

at the same time.

“Students should be in their classes (here) for the second semes -

ter on time, and we’re really looking forward to opening up our new space.”

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source LCSD director of education, Nigel McCarthy, talks about the new Truth and Reconciliation Centre at HRHS while taking teachers on a guided tour of the expansion last week.

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

Work on the new expansion wing at Holy Rosary High School has been non-stop since the project was first announced in September 2020.

TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

RCMP theft investigation ends on positive note

On Jan. 24, between the hours of 3 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., an unknown person stole approx. $250K worth of tools from a vehicle that was parked overnight at a local business in the area of 44 Street and 56 Ave.

After reviewing video surveillance, Lloydminster RCMP determined

a lone person dressed in black clothing entered the parked vehicle, took the tools, then drove away in a vehicle. The licence plate of this vehicle was not observed in the video surveillance.

Later that day, the business received an anonymous phone call stating the tools had been returned and were then located beside

truck where they had originally been taken from. The complainant was very happy to receive the good news of the recovered tools, as it would have been detrimental to their small business to have to replace them.

Lloydminster RCMP continue to search for a suspect in this matter.

If you have any information regarding this

crime, or have information on the identity of anyone involved, please contact the Lloydminster RCMP at 780808-8400. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477(TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

Supplied Photo Const. Glen Gabruch of the Lloydminster RCMP returns stolen tools to their rightful owner.

Maidstone RCMP investigating sexual assault of minor

On Jan. 29, Maidstone RCMP received a report of a sexual assault at the Lashburn Sportsplex. Investigation determined an adult male

sexually assaulted a female child, who is under the age of 10, in a dressing room at the rink sometime between noon and 1:30 p.m. that day. The child reported the sexual assault to her parents, who contacted

police. Officers responded immediately. The adult male suspect was not located and a significant police investigation is active and ongoing at this time.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

Kiwanis music festival going live

The Kiwanis Lloydminster and District Music Festival will be live this year for the first time since 2019, but the number of entries is still up in the air.

tle kids all dressed up. These children need to learn to perform in front of somebody to be comfortable with being on a stage,” said Taylor.

“So, I am really looking forward to it.”

Taylor, however, went on to say “this is an iffy year because we don’t know where we stand. We have no idea what we’re going to have for numbers.”

She expects to at least equal the 375 entries that took part last year in a video format.

they are getting ready to register their bands.”

The Lloydminster public and Catholic school divisions are also donating some of their theatre rental days to the festival.

“It is wonderful that we have that venue where the kids can be on stage with a proper band shell behind them for the sound and the adjudicator can hear them well,” said Taylor.

to get back to the 800plus entries involving about 2,000 children, including group bands and choirs, at the last live festival.

“People got away from it. People weren’t doing lessons. It’s been three years without a live festival, so we’ve got a bit of a challenge ahead of us, but we’ll get there.”

The deadline for registration is extended to Feb. 3, with the festival itself tentatively set to run from April 23 to May 6, depending on the number of entries and how many days an adjudicator is needed.

That’s the latest news from music festival president, Kerry Taylor, who briefed a recent Lloydminster Lions Club meeting on the revival of a live festival after disruptions from COVID.

“This year we are doing a full live festival. I need to see those lit -

This year’s festival will include a lot of first-time entries to add to the excitement.

The vocal, piano and instrumentals will take place at Grace United Church, and Vic Juba Community Theatre is rented for three days for the school bands.

“We generally have 25 school bands going back three years ago,” said Taylor.

“It looks like we’re going to have that number again this year. There’s some new bands here in the public school system. I’ve been in contact with them and today, I think

This year’s festival promises to be a new normal and a relief for organizers to see kids perform in person again.

Taylor said they were set to go live last year when the Omicron variant hit Lloydminster hard prior to the registration deadline in January, so they went back to a video format.

“We found it very difficult to keep our enthusiasm up when we were not meeting as a committee. Everything was by Zoom,” lamented Taylor.

“It was really difficult to not speak with children in person.”

Taylor says it will also be an uphill battle

Taylor told Lions they had a tremendous turnout last year compared to the 345 entries for a video format in 2021.

“We had a number of children from Lloydminster who were recommended to nationals and another thing called Western Canadian Finals, which is a variation of the national festival,” said Taylor.

“I believe we had 17 children take part in 30-something classes provincially. We had some provincial winners and we had some take part in the Western Canadians and we had some winners there.”

The provincials and the Western Canadians were held live in Saskatoon in June.

FROM PAGE 4

The suspect is described as a male in his 40s, with dark hair. He was clean-shaven and was wearing a black jacket.

“We want to assure the public that we are dedicating all possible resources to this investigation. Members of the public can help

progress this investigation by reporting all information about this incident, and by contacting us if you took any photos or videos in the lobby of the Lashburn Sportsplex between noon and 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 29,” said Maidstone RCMP Sgt. Jolyne Harrison. “We are also interested in

any home security footage that captures the roadway in the arena area, from the same timeframe.”

“We want parents and guardians to be aware of this incident and the suspect’s description, so they can take safety precautions and have conversations with children about it, as they deem

appropriate.”

To report information or for information on submitting photos/ videos, call Maidstone RCMP at 306-8934800. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222TIPS (8477) or www. saskcrimestoppers.com.

GEOFF LEE WRITER

This year we are doing a full live festival; I am really looking forward to it.

File Photo

Girls crack the code at workshop

(built-in codes) and then transferred code to a microprocessor called a Micro: Bit they each got to keep, after programming it to perform various functions.

They started off making a simple flashing heart animation to the relief of 11-year-old Maddy, a Grade 6 student at College Park who thought it might be rocket science.

“I expected it to be so crazy and hard, but it made a lot more sense the way you put the blocks together and they gave us a little device you code and command,” she explained.

actually,” said another 11-year-old Grade 6 College Park student named Scarlett.

She says she liked putting animation, sound and LED lights all together best of all to create emotions.

ing for girls like Scarlett who see the value in them.

“It’s just great that they offer you this because it gives you a new experience to do and thoughts about your future, maybe using the program,” she said.

Krahn says the thing about block coding is anyone can do it, and the girls did a fantastic job.

“We started with something simple and I would add a complication to that. They kept up with me the entire day,” he said.

About 50 young girls from Grades 4 to 8 in the Lloydminster Public School Division (LPSD) have discovered coding is for them, too.

That was the goal of a

coding-for-girls workshop at College Park School last Saturday.

“Studies have shown the earlier girls are introduced to coding, the more likely it is they will pursue a coding career,” said instructor and LPSD education

technology consultant Cornelius Krahn.

“This coding is just an introduction to tell them how simple it is and how capable they are in pursuing coding.”

In a nutshell, the girls used Chromebooks to code using blocks

At the end of the day, the girls ended up coding an indoor and outdoor thermometer that communicated with each other via radio signals.

The girls also created a step counter, a magic 8 ball, a random number generator and a rock, paper and scissors game using block coding, among other coding projects.

“It was really fun

“We made this project called Scream; it’s a like a dude and when you shake him, he screams,” she said.

The Micro: Bit has built-in components such as a radio antenna, thermometer, accelerometer Bluetooth antenna, LEDs and a speaker/microphone.

The College Park workshop was the third of eight workshops being held for cod -

“They never said ‘this is boring’ or ‘I don’t get this;’ they were doing some pretty complicated stuff by the end.”

Maddy says when she got home she added another emotion to her own Scream character.

“It’s easy for me to understand the program that you use,” she said.

As for pursuing a career in coding, she said, “It’s definitely something I’ve thought about.”

Supplied Photo

Grade 5 College Park School student Kacie was one of 50 girls who took part in a coding workshop at the school last Saturday to get girls interested in coding at a young age.

GEOFF LEE WRITER

It’s just great that they offer you this because it gives you a new experience to do and thoughts about your future, maybe using the program.

Alpha betcha say Mother Teresa kids

GEOFF LEE WRITER

The letter A was top of mind for Nigel McCarthy during a fun alphabet-themed event at Mother Teresa Early Childhood Education Centre during Family Literacy Week.

objects on his creation, including a stuffed giraffe, a packaged gift and a green gadget.

“I did it with my mom,” he said. “My mom is going to be here today to see it.”

The youngster also said it was lots of fun learning the alphabet— with some prompting from Pitts.

“We read a story for each letter. We had to find all the letters in the book,” said Bishop.

Pitts says her students’ hard work and excitement were so amazing.

“They are so proud of everything they’ve done and it’s something we really want to encourage,” she said.

in French.

McCarty notes Family Literacy Week is happening across the whole division at the elementary level and celebrates how one step leads to the next in the literacy process.

Mother Teresa was also set to host a celebration of learning the very next day.

“Families are going to come back after school,” said Pitts.

“We have centres set up that they’ll be going through where kids can show them all the amazing things they’ve learned so far this year.”

The director of education at the Lloydminster Catholic School Division helped to cheer on a colourful alphabet parade and fashion show by kindergarten students at the school last Wednesday.

“When I was in Grade 1, A stood for apple, but today, I think it stands for the A-plus that Mother Theresa is getting in its pursuit of literacy,” said McCarthy.

Heads were in swivel mode as waves of kids displaying alphabet poster capes paraded around the hallways before gathering in the gym for an assembly with parents on hand.

“Today, we are having our alphabet fashion show celebrating the fact our students have finished learning the whole alphabet,” explained kindergarten teacher Brea Pitts.

“We started in October and we were able to finish all 26 letters before Christmas.”

Pitts says they sent home all supplies, so students could work with their families to create alphabet posters.

The letter G covered everything it could on a poster made by a young boy named Bishop, including his last name, Gadwa, along with G-words such as giraffe, God, groceries, gift and green gadget.

For extra emphasis, he affixed some toys and

Pitts says the alphabet is a big focus of literacy in kindergarten so they thought Family Literacy Week would be the perfect opportunity to start celebrating.

“We read every single day and we encourage students to love reading and choose their own books and really find enjoyment in it,” added Pitts.

The kindergarten students also helped to make alphabet soup to enjoy with their families.

“Yesterday they started preparing the vegetables for the soups,” said principal Sheila Jurke.

“So today, together with their families, they will be taking part in having alphabet soup for lunch as well as our other Grades 1 and 2 families.”

McCarthy says the highlight of literacy week is having parents, staff and the board of trustees get to visit the schools and be part of the literacy process.

“And it’s not just them, it’s athletic teams coming in and it’s all sorts of community members who get to play a part in the most important building block of all learning, which is literacy,” he said.

“At the end of the week, we get to celebrate with the opening of Carnival, which is another form of literacy

Geoff Lee Meridian Source Kindergarten students show off their alphabet posters during a school assembly to celebrate their learning of the alphabet during Family Literacy Week last Wednesday.

We read every single day and we encourage students to love reading and choose their own books and really find enjoyment in it.

ASK THE MONEY LADY

rates at 18 per cent.

Dear Money Lady, I am in my 70’s and remember when rates were 18 per cent. I wondered if you think we are headed for a recession in 2023?Norm

Dear Norm – to answer you honestly – I’m not sure. Let me tell you why.

Currently no one knows for sure where inflation is headed or whether it will continue to be volatile.

The three-month trend is averaging 5.8 per cent so there is no denying that it is a force to be reckoned with in 2023.

Basically, economists and analysts, have very little experience with true inflation other than what we witnessed in the late 70s and early 80s, when you witnessed interest

I will agree, Norm, Canadians should indeed brace themselves for continued instabilities in the markets for the beginning of next year; but it seems hard to predict which way inflation, rates and the financial markets will go in the latter part of 2023.

There are many bullish and persuasive commentators that took the CPI results, (Consumer Price Index) as a positive sign that we had reached the peak; however, we are still experiencing continued price increases on services, food, and energy.

With that being said, it generally takes 12-18 months for interest rate increases to fully impact the economy, so your question is on a lot of people’s minds: Are we headed for a recession? Maybe.

There is no doubt that we are in a market slow-down and will continue to be so in 2023 however the “R” word (recession) may not need to be considered as a true reality – as yet.

Interest rate hikes definitely signal tougher economic times for everyone however historically we base recession trends on global markets.

Oil prices, a typical inflation driver, peaked over $90, however, now have receded below $80 which was below one year ago levels at one point for the first time in almost two years.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the growth in Canada is doing well.

Employment is up and the reports on wholesale and manufacturing was up 1.3 per cent. The housing market on the other hand is not

doing so well. We now see would-be home sellers holding onto their properties for more favourable future market conditions and the prospective buyers, plan to wait out the rising interest rates due to their continued reducing purchasing power.

This high interest rate market of increased borrowing costs will most likely lead the continued phenomena of lukewarm buyers which in turn leads to unmotivated sellers and stagnant sales activity.

Now is the time to create a spending budget for next year, to eliminate consumer debt and try to save more.

Remember, lifestyles absolutely cannot be supplemented by credit.

Track your expenses for 2023 and be more accountable to your financial goals.

Of course, if any of my readers have questions about saving for the future or need specific advice about how to retire debt free and wealthy, you can always email me your questions on my website at: www.askthemoneylady.ca

*Editor’s Note: this article was written for print in December 2022.

- Christine Ibbotson is a national radio host and author of three finance books plus the Canadian Best-Selling Book “How to Retire Debt-Free & Wealthy.” Visit www.askthemoneylady.ca or send a question to info@ askthemoneylady.ca.

CHRISTINE IBBOTSON SPECIAL TO THE SOURCE

WestEd’s Mindbender closes after 37 years

The Mindbender roller coaster at Galaxyland has been shut down, West Edmonton Mall announced on Monday.

We are working on plans that will immerse our guests in an out-of-this-world experience.

The redevelopment of the area is already underway, and the roller coaster is being decommissioned and removed.

“The iconic Mindbender has been the park’s premier thrill ride since the grand opening in 1985,” said Lori Bethel

of WEM in a statement.

“While the Mindbender will be missed, we are excited to announce that we are

working on groundbreaking new plans for family thrills that will immerse our guests in an out-of-this-world

experience.”

Three people were killed on the rollercoaster in a crash in June 1986.

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MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

Thursday, February 2, 2023

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Leeway from Lloyd: Community newspapers aren’t dodos

When I graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in 1976, print journalism was in its heyday on multiple fronts.

Two years before that, U.S. President Richard Nixon resigned for his role in ordering the break-in and illegal wiretapping of the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Washington, D.C., Watergate complex.

The plot was uncovered and reported by Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward which led to Nixon’s downfall.

Since then, it’s been the turn of print journalism and reporters to take a fall with the rise of digital communications and social media, in terms of timeliness, profitability, influence and job security.

Postmedia announced last week it is laying off 11 per cent of its 60 editorial employees in Canada due to rising costs, and declining advertising and circulation revenue.

In Alberta, Postmedia is switching 12 of its Alberta community newspapers to digitalonly formats and laying off workers in a bid to manage costs.

Personally, though I think digital media is the real dodo bird when it comes to community news coverage in smaller communities

like Lloydminster. There is a lot to be said about printed community newspapers as they, along with ads and content, have a long shelf life to give advertisers and readers a good bang for their buck.

The Meridian Source also includes a lot of flyers that shoppers like and you can’t get in digital media or classified ads either.

The Source has an online paper too for breaking news or updating stories reported in the print version but it doesn’t hang around your kitchen for repeated reference.

When a printed newspaper suddenly goes online, it’s in danger of falling into the out-of-sight, out-of-

mind trap, since you have to know what the website is or you can’t find it.

In digital media, you won’t see many community feature stories that thrive in print media. People won’t read them online with so many online distractions and you may need a paid subscription to access all the content. There is less sense of community online too as digital media tends to also cover provincial, national, and international news or links to these stories to look authoritative or complete.

Riddle me this: What’s black and white and read all over?

Answer: Newspapers. Read us next week, too, for free!

Through the reader’s lens ...

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SHIRLEY L. SCOTT SPECIAL TO THE SOURCE

The changing seasons’ experience of fog has been a numberone weather topic for a while now. When you think of fog, you might reflect on the following:

- You can’t see through it and travel is difficult.

- You can’t see clearly ahead, and you feel anxious about the unknown ahead.

- Travel must be slower, and you must be more cautious.

- The obstacles ahead can’t be seen.

- It is difficult trying to follow a light or a sign ahead.

- The darkness causes a feeling of gloomy depression.

- When the fog lifts, there may be a bit the delight with the glimpse of light.

I pondered the effects of the fog on a person and found the comparison of the fog around us to living in

Pushing through the fog of grief

“the fog” of grief. When someone in your life dies, it can put you in a fog. The fog of grief rolls into your life causing you to be unable to see the journey ahead, and you must pause to grasp the change and the unknown ahead.

The dark fog of grief can commonly lead to experiencing a range of emotions, such as sadness, anxiety, or depression. When it is impossible to see through the fog where we are going and what is ahead, there is a need to follow a light in the darkness.

This may be the light of someone else on the journey ahead of you.

What about the obstacles of the fog? We might experience several obstacles in our healing journey as we try to make sense of a well-wishing friend’s advice, depression and anxiety, fears, guilt, anger, blame, loneliness, isolation, decisions, and adjustment

to change.

We may question, will there ever be light again or will the cloud of grief ever pass?

With the weather’s experience of fog, we eventually find a glimpse of light.

In the fog of grief, that small light ahead to follow may be support from a trusted friend, a counsellor, or perhaps a support group of those who have travelled the road of grief through the fog.

These supporters may help guide you through the fog and help find ways to cope with the new and different life you have now entered. There will come a time when the fog of grief will gently lift and light and direction will be able to be more easily seen.

There will be a new and very different life ahead. You may be navigating this life with deep scars of such deep emotional pain; however, you are still navigating it

the best you can.

As in weather, the fog lifts and light shine on the trees and snow and gives a different kind of beauty, that same light will be found in the supports you have found on the journey and the awareness that there is hope and light after the darkness of loss.

Skills will be learned to move through the fog of grief, and you will now seek to find ways to honour your loved one

by how you are living your life.

May you find your fog lifting and if you wish to comment please email wtgriefsupp@xplornet.ca.

The Walking Through Grief Society believes grief is normal and affects people of all ages

and from all walks of life. They serve Lloydminster, Kitscoty, Vermilion, Wainwright and surrounding areas and are funded by FCSS County of Vermilion River, FCSS Town of Vermilion, FCSS Village of Kitscoty, and FCSS Village of Marwayne.

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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.

Square Dancing Introduction

NEW LOCATION!

Intro to square dancing will be held on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at City Church, 5115 - 49 Street. Walk to the beat of music by following simple instructions from the caller. Come alone or bring a friend. Wear whatever is comfortable.

First evening is FREE!

Bingo at the Moose

The Moose Lodge, located at 5213-57 Street, Lloydminster, hosts bingo nights every

Monday and Wednesday. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and play starts at 7 p.m. The Moose also hosts crib tournaments every second Sunday of the month. Start time is 10 a.m. The cost to play is $10 and lunch is $12.

Kaiser Tourney

The Legacy Centre is hosting a Kaiser tournament on Feb. 2. Play begins at 10 a.m. and the cost is $10/person. Lunch is also available for $12/person. Everyone welcome. Contact the Legacy office at 780875-4584 for more info.

To place an event, email taylor@meridiansource.ca or fax 306-825-5147

Jake Vaadeland & The Sturgeon River Boys at the Vic Juba

Jake Vaadeland & The Sturgeon River Boys will be taking the stage at the Vic Juba Community Theatre on Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $34.20 and available online or at the Vic Juba box office.

Legacy Supper and Dance

The Legacy Centre is hosting a dance/supper on Feb. 3. Doors open at 5 p.m., supper is at 6 p.m. then dance the evening away to the tunes

of “Blue Sky Country Boys.” Cost is $25/person (please reserve or purchase your tickets before noon on Feb. 2

Diabetes Education Classes

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is hosting session one: An Introduction to the Basics” Diabetes education class on Feb. 7 from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. in the Klinger Conference Room of the Prairie North Plaza. To register, please call 306820-4887.

Spades Tourney

The Legacy Centre is hosting a Spades tournament on Feb. 9. Play begins at 10 a.m. and the cost is $10/person. Lunch is also available for $12/person. Everyone welcome. Contact the Legacy office at 780875-4584 for more info.

Cribbage Tourney

Shine Christian Acacedemy is hosting a cribbage tournament at the Streamstown Hall on Feb. 11. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. with games starting at 10 a.m. Enter as a team. Twelve games guaranteed. Entry is $30/person, lunch is included.

Lloydminster Career Fair

Lakeland College is hosting a career fair at its Lloydminster campus on Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hear from employers who are looking forward to connecting with you. The career fair is free to attend for Lakeland students and alumni. Register at http://

bitly.ws/z74M.

JAMBOREE/DANCE

Passport to YLL Church Directory

The Legacy Centre is hosting a Jamboree/Dance at Feb. 17. Doors open and dancin’ at 5 p.m. and supper is at 6 p.m., then the jam begins! Cost is $15/person at the door. ALL members and guests welcome. All musicians welcome. Contact the Legacy office at 780875-4584 for more info.

Telemiracle “Funday”

Telemiracle “Funday” will be held at the Legecy Centre on Feb. 19. Crib and floor curling tourneys in the morning, then lunch, then a court whist tourney in the afternoon. Cost is $10/ person to play and $10/ person for lunch. PREREGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. All profits go to Telemiracle! Contact the Legacy office at 780-875-4584 for more info.

JAMBOREE

There will be a jamboree at the Islay Community Hall on Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. Admission is $10 and participants are free. Everyone welcome. Lunch Served. For more

information, call Dixie at 780-744-2204. All funds raised support maintenance at the hall.

Cribbage DOUBLES Tourney

The Legacy Centre is hosting a Cribbage doubles tournament on Feb. 23. Play begins at 10 a.m. and the cost is $10/ person. Lunch is also available for $12/person. Everyone welcome. Contact the Legacy office at 780-875-4584 for more info.

Lloydminster Métis Local #18 AGM

The Métis Nation of Saskatchewan Lloydminster Métis Local #18 is hosting its annual general meeting on Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Centennial Civic Centre, Lloydminster, Sask. A meal and entertainment will follow the meeting.

Pancake Breakfast

The Legacy Centre is hosting a pancake breakfast on Feb. 26 from 9-11:30 a.m. Cost is $12/person at the door. ($6/12 and under). Everyone welcome! Contact the Legacy office at 780-8754584 for more info.

Geoff Lee Meridian Source Lloydminster Region Health Foundation CEO, Stephanie Munro, centre, is the newest member of the Rotary Club of Lloydminster after being inducted by Mike Sidoryk, left, and Wendy Plandowski, right, at Monday’s lunch meeting.

Lakeland College named a Top Employer in Alberta

Lakeland College is one of Alberta’s Top 75 Employers for 2023. This designation marks the seventh consecutive year Lakeland has received this accolade.

“Diversity, inclusion and belongingness are the bedrock of our campus culture,” said Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College.

“Together, we excel at providing an awardwinning experiential learning experience to future leaders by continuing to live our mission, vision and values. On behalf of our board of governors and leadership team, I thank and congratulate our team for making Lakeland a top employer once more.”

The list of Alberta’s Top Employers was released on Jan. 31 by Mediacorp Canada Inc.

The annual competition listed the following reasons why Lakeland was selected as one of Alberta’s Top 75 Employers for 2023:

- Lakeland offers a range of amenities for its employees to take advantage of, from a variety of onsite food options to a campus spa and salon with discounted prices -- employees can also make use of the college’s fitness facilities (with bootcamp, yoga, pilates and swimming classes) and even visit the equine centre.

- As part of Lakeland’s health benefits plan, employees can allocate $950 per year to health and/or wellness spending accounts. They’re also encouraged to put their health first with 10 paid sick days per year and up to 12 paid personal days.

- Lakeland helps employees have a

defined benefit pension plan and retirement planning assistance. Additionally, Lakeland offers phased-in work options for those nearing retirement.

“We know our team is our organization’s greatest asset, which is why we continue to grow and develop our people by remaining people-focused. Together, we cultivate an inclusive workplace culture with crossfunctional teams, wellness initiatives, Stay Connected sessions, Employee Recognition events and more,” said Wainwright-Stewart.

Lakeland’s total number of full-time employees is 313. Lakeland’s longest-serving employee has been with the college for 44 years.

Lakeland is one of five post-secondary institutions in Alberta to receive this accolade for 2023.

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

Get the facts straight on space

brokerage can state as square footage in their marketing, can be substantially different.

Saskatchewan regulators simply require agents to make a sincere effort to be knowledgeable about the attributes of a property and should they intentionally mislead or simply ignore, run the risk of sanctions.

I hear more and more prospective buyers or tenants wanting an accurate picture of the number of cultivated acres they can plan for.

Total acres are on the title; so that’s easy enough. It’s the amount of cultivated, pasture, waste, or wetlands, which counts.

certification.

It has long been a standard when preparing leases of commercial or industrial buildings to know exactly how much interior square footage the tenant should be paying for.

On the more intricately-designed structures, this can be somewhat of a challenge, so landlords will often bring in a surveyor to provide a third-party

Gone are the days when you would run a measuring tape down the outside and call it good, however, it’s still important to know the size of the overall footprint, particularly for insurance purposes.

In Alberta, Realtors are required to measure residential housing and provide a sketch with the listing.

Again, with most houses, it isn’t as simple as running a tape around the exterior, as there is a long list

of protocols dealing with stairwells between upper storeys, bay windows, etc.

With condos, townhouses, and other types of “attached” properties, the measurement system moves indoors, literally going wall to wall.

Where it gets confusing is the original developer of the complex may have portrayed the balcony and storage locker as part of the living space, so what the first owner thought they bought, and now a

Personally, I think sometimes the whole measurement scenario is often irrelevant with single-family homes.

I mean, does the house meet your family’s needs or not?

Does 1,400 square feet or 1,460 square feet really impact the quality of life within?

But hey, size does matter to some people, and there have been lawsuits over it.

Lot boundaries are a whole other matter, particularly the placement of any permanent structures within as they must meet the zoning standards of the municipality in which they are located.

A more recent challenge is developing in the agricultural sector.

With farmland values steadily increasing,

Many of today’s grain farmers have a Global Position System on their equipment and actively map the fields as they work.

Most provide this information to their crop insurance provider as well.

However, an existing or outgoing tenant may not want to share this data with the landowner, especially someone who has never farmed the land themselves.

One, because the tenant has historically “shaved” the actual cultivated acreage to save a few dollars on rent.

Two, if it becomes available to purchase, fewer cultivated acres may mean a lower purchase price.

Definitive cropable acres can also become important when using a custom contractor, say

for seeding or spraying, as it may be tempting to bill for work on an inflated number if they think the landowner is unaware of the actual ground being covered.

As a broker tasked with marketing a property for sale or lease, I really have no way of knowing what the truth is on any parcel, so this winter we have engaged in a series of discussions with agronomists and surveyors about a cost-effective way to produce reliable data for our clients.

Anyone can access satellite imagery and attempt to draw a soil map, but realistically the only sure way to verify is through low level drone flights or onsite measurement.

However, the job gets done, I believe such diligence will become necessary in the not too distant future.

Vern McClelland is an associate broker with RE/MAX of Lloydminster and an active partner in his family’s livestock operation.

Comments on this article are welcome either by emailing vernmcclelland@remax.net or calling (306) 821-0611.

MIDWEST MINUTE VERN McCLELLAND

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Familiar comforts soothe us souls

the awakening land. A smile and a friendly “Hello” can go a long way to brighten someone’s day.

For others, it may be taking the time for a spa day, getting a new hairstyle or a relaxing massage.

As we roll into February, it’s beneficial for each of us to take time for personal reflection with the holiday season still on our minds.

From shopping, decorating, baking, holiday gatherings, concerts, fund-raising and shovelling the endless snow, our lists may have seemed endless these past few months.

It’s fun to celebrate each special occasion, spend time with loved ones and enjoy the festivities of the holiday season including anticipating what the New Year will bring.

Some folks will hunker down for the remaining winter months; others will search out the sales and dream about the arrival of spring.

Gardeners and farmers will be dreaming about planting seeds in

We all have that one place we visit that feeds our soul and gives us pause from our daily activities to recharge; a place which calms our soul.

We never tire of going there and for those brief moments in time, all is peaceful within our personal universe. As a familiar comfort, it provides an opportunity to reflect upon your life and become a part of your surroundings.

This place could be a comfortable chair around a backyard firepit, a cabin at the lake, a park or taking an annual trip to a tropical beach resort. It could be shopping at a favourite local store or getting lost in a book written by a much-loved author.

Some folks may enjoy a scenic drive with the windows down and the stereo blasting tunes.

Bud Miller All Seasons Park is one of my favourite spots in Lloydminster; it doesn’t matter which time of year.

It is definitely a place to recharge, be a part of nature and enjoy all that this park has to offer. Seeing the sun glisten off the freshly fallen snow, watching the birds hop from branch to branch or just smelling the fresh pinescented air is revitalizing. It’s exciting to see families playing shinny or youth speeding down the length of the ice and landing in a snowbank just for the pure joy of it. Whether it’s playing in the playground, sledding down one of the many hills, snowshoeing on a nature trail or taking a walk around the lake there’s an activity for all ages. This park offers something

exciting for each season.

Lloydminster’s first pioneers settled in this area in 1903 which means we now have 120 years of history to be proud of. As we anticipate what the new year of 2023 will bring, my three wishes for Lloydminster folks are really nothing new.

The joy of happiness and fulfillment in all that you do; the blending together of community spirit with the love of friends and family; and the best of good health and wellness.

Each of these works together; without one, it’s a challenge to achieve the others.

WHISPERS

Happiness is a good night’s sleept

utterly relaxed they slither to the floor like gunny sacks of potatoes or nod off during 55 or so rousing choruses of “The Wheels On the Bus.”

Once, as we clattered down a bumpy gravel road, a little girl fell asleep with her head propped on a giant chocolate cupcake, icing side up. Children can fall asleep anywhere.

How do they do it?

Some men I’ve known also have an uncanny knack for sleep. Namely, my son Chris.

which doesn’t sound too bad. I don’t get that much rest.

I’ve been struggling to sleep at night. It’s quite a common problem.

I’ve read that more than 25 per cent of Canadians report having trouble getting to or staying asleep.

Apparently, the average person sleeps about 7.2 hours each night,

I tend to drop off sitting bolt upright during one of the perch-onthe-edge-of-your-seat crime dramas I watch in the evening and then snuggle in my cozy bed two hours later, staring bright-eyed and bushytailed at the ceiling.

The children that ride my school bus don’t appear to struggle with

insomnia. I’m envious.

I’ve seen kids fall asleep on the cold, vinyl seat of a bus in between, pulling away from the schoolyard and reaching a stop sign one block away.

I’ve watched kids fall so deeply asleep that when we arrive at their house, I must stop the bus and physically walk to their seats to rouse them.

Often, they’re so

When he was little, he’d ride in dad’s old Case tractor as my father cultivated fields.

Chris would arrive home filthy but happy after a full day spent recumbent on the cab floor, sleeping soundly as his head slammed against the window repeatedly. Dad would always marvel at that.

As Chris became older, things didn’t change. He snoozed

through not one but two major root canals. Who does that?

When I visit the dentist, I put on a brave face but, in fact, am a stiff and fearful woman with my eyes rolled back in my head, my hands clenched in my lap, and my body taut as a violin string.

Chris, on the other hand, unwinds completely. In this instance, as the chair was reclined, his mouth was clamped open, a 1000watt bulb was trained on his face, and two gowned attendants yanked at his teeth, he enjoyed a blissful time of repose.

Then, after the fearsome task was accomplished, they had to bloody wake him up! Now that’s impressive. The only time something remotely like that happened to me was when I was a teenager, visiting the family of a friend attending college in London, England.

With her mother’s

characteristically generous spirit, the lady insisted I sleep beside her in the only bed while the dad was relegated to the sofa.

During that first fateful night, I fell asleep in a flash, dreamt I was toppling from the peak of Buckingham Palace, and latched onto the poor woman for dear life, pulling her close and clawing mercilessly at her person in an attempt to save myself from an unspeakable death. They couldn’t wake me up.

The next evening my bed was laid out on the sofa. This was as it should have been, to begin with, but it’s also where I started staring at the ceiling late into the night.

Then, because I felt like a fool, but now what’s my problem? Staring at the roof isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. Happiness is a good night’s sleep.

PRAIRIE WOOL HELEN ROW TOEWS

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Sask. proclaims African-Canadian/Black History Month

February has been proclaimed as AfricanCanadian/Black History Month in honour and recognition of the legacy of Black Canadians across Saskatchewan and the rest of Canada. This is an opportunity to learn more about the many accomplishments and contributions made by persons of African-

Canadian heritage in our province.

“African-Canadian/ Black History Month is a time to reflect on the history and legacy that persons of African heritage have had in making Saskatchewan the great province it is today,” said Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross.

“We thank the Saskatchewan African

Canadian Heritage Museum for the work they do to share the stories of our past while providing education for future generations.”

This year is also the 19th Anniversary of the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum (SACHM).

“We appreciate the Government of Saskatchewan for recognizing and proclaim -

ing African-Canadian/ Black History Month in Saskatchewan,” said SACHM Executive Director Carol LaFayette-Boyd.

“It is important to acknowledge the contributions AfricanCanadians have made to our province and to understand the vital role played in our history. As we near the end of the United

Natural gas rates decline in February

Across the border in Alberta, February’s highest monthly default natural gas rate is $3.715 per gigajoule, a nearly $3 decline from the $6.446 per gigajoule rate in January.

As a result, the natural gas rebate will not be triggered for February, but the program will continue protecting Albertans from price spikes in the months ahead.

Alberta’s government continues to deliver real relief to help people pay their utility bills.

More than 1.9 million homes, families and small businesses will receive another $75 electricity rebate in February, and a temporary price ceiling of 13.5 cents per kilowatt hour will continue helping reduce electricity costs for Albertans on the regulated rate option (RRO).

This is in addition to the many other broad-

based supports and targeted relief being provided to help make life affordable for Albertans. In Alberta, the default regulated rates are set for the entire month and do not fluctuate. Rates are approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission

and not determined by the government. The Alberta government will not send texts or emails about the rebate program and will not ask Albertans to submit personal information via text or email to receive rebates.

Nations declaration of International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024, SACHM is optimistic that the theme of recognition, justice and development is occurring and continues in Saskatchewan.”

SACHM will be kicking off Black History Month through an event held today, February 1, at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina, and will conclude celebrations at the Government House on Feb. 25.

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MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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U15 Bobcats lend helping hand

TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

The U15 AAA Lloydminster Roswell Bobcats had a busy weekend with back-to-back home games at the Centennial Civic Centre, but the team’s off-ice work made a local non-profit the real winner.

The team partnered with the Residents in Recovery Society to help fill their shelves with household items the organization needs to help offset the cost of operating sober living facilities.

“They offered to do a fundraiser for us and reached out to ask what kind of donations we were looking for,” said the organization’s executive director, Tyler Lorenz. “We gave them a list, and a couple different teams today

have been promoting the fundraiser for those coming to the game.

“The opponents also brought in donations, and the local boys did some shopping to make sure we had everything we needed.”

According to the organization’s website, Residents in Recovery champions the cause of individuals marginalized by mental health and addiction issues, by providing judgement-free access to a safe, supportive and therapeutic recovery environment.

Residents in Recovery first opened its doors in downtown Lloydminster on Sept. 4, 2018, and its first sober-living home opened three days later. Since then, the organization has grown

and offers single and family sober living options.

“These items will

get used in all of our homes,” said Lorenz.

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source Donations were pilled high on Saturday night after the U15 AAA Lloydminster Roswell Bobcats collected donations for Residents in Recovery.

Residents in Recovery gets reload

“We go through so many sheet sets, pillows and blankets with clients that come through our programs. When they transition out they also take what they used while they were with us, so we always have a need to replace items. It’s a big cost for us to buy that stuff with every family that comes through, and every bit helps.”

Currently, Residents in Recovery has 23 spots for individuals, nine families, and eight families in its healing centre.

“The need is huge, and we can’t thank these guys enough for the work they put in.”

Lorenz was also shocked when he saw the mountain of donations brought in on Saturday.

“I walked in and couldn’t believe how much stuff had been donated. I had no idea

it was going to be anything like this. This is unreal and will last us a few months, for sure.”

importance of local hockey teams being active members of the community.

“I think it’s important to stay connected with your community and to not just be ‘some hockey player.’ It’s important to also be good humans and always help people when they need it, and just be good citizens.”

good about supporting local sports and teams, we just wanted to give back in a way, and it was important for these boys to give back.”

The team’s captain, Wainwright native Denton Setzer, was also blown away by the success of the fundraising campaign as it was much larger than expected.

“I thought it was great,” he said. “The number of people that wanted to support this cause and help us with donations was amazing. Even the team we were against brought some stuff to donate and help us out; I thought it was great.”

Setzer also noted the

Jen Romanchuk, mother of defenseman Rhett Romanchuk, helped organize the funder and was wowed by the community’s generosity.

“They went to U BET YAH and all the items they picked out there were donated, then they went to the dollar store and the lady in front of them paid for their stuff, so they got to go get more,” she said.

“The KC Squires, who we’re playing today, brought a bunch of stuff for donation as well as a cash donation.

“The community is so

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The need is huge, and we can’t thank these guys enough for the work they put in.

Sask govt. announces $44M for childcare facilities

The Governments of

Saskatchewan and Canada announced three new, one-time grants to

support regulated early learning and childcare centres and homes across the province.

The $44 million investment in one-time grants aims to help offset costs incurred from inflation, support preventative maintenance and repairs of centres, and provide funding for outdoor winter play equipment.

“This additional funding helps ensure our regulated early learning and child care centres and homes continue to operate safe, modern facilities, while encouraging young children to grow, learn and play,” said Education Minister Dustin Duncan.

“Investing in our next

generation is investing in Saskatchewan’s future growth, and that is growth that works for everyone.”

The operating grant to offset inflation costs will provide $15 million to regulated centres and homes across the province.

Centres and homes will receive approximately $750 per eligible regulated childcare space with this grant.

The preventative maintenance and repair grant totals a $27 million investment to assist in the proactive maintenance of regulated centres’ structural, plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems to prolong the life of facil -

ities. Grant amounts range from $1,600 per space to $3,200 per space dependent upon space type and facility’s location within the province.

The winter season grant totalling $2 million will provide regulated centres and homes with funding of $100 per space to purchase equipment and materials to encourage outdoor physical activity and winter play.

More information on the new grants, including eligibility and application

forms, will be distributed to regulated childcare centres and homes by the Ministry of Education Early Years branch in the coming days.

“We want the best possible start in life for all children in Canada,” said Canada’s Minister of Families Children and Social Development Karina Gould.

“These grants will help ensure child care providers can continue to provide access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive early learning and child care across the province.”

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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MERIDIAN SOURCE 306-825-5111

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