ARREST MADE IN TRIPLE MURDER
The Lloydminster RCMP held a press conference on Jan. 20 to announce an arrest in the murders of Brent, Matthew, and Brennan Peters.
The father and two sons were murdered in their Lloydminster home in September 2024.
“Today, we are here to announce an individual has been arrested and charged with the murders of Brent, Matthew, and Brennan Peters. On Jan. 18, 2025, the Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit charged Nakota Rayne Pooyak, aged 31, of the North Battleford District, with three counts of second-degree murder,” said Insp. Dean Riou, OIC North Operations Officer, K Division Serious Crimes Branch.
“Mr. Pooyak appeared this morning in Saskatchewan Provincial Court via video from the Saskatoon Correctional Centre and was remanded into custody.”
He also provided details about the police response.
“On Sept. 11, 2024, around 5:50 p.m., Lloydminster RCMP responded to a wellbeing check at a residence near 50 St. and 47 Ave. Inside, officers discovered Brent, Matthew, and Brennan Peters deceased with apparent gunshot wounds.”
The Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit took over the investigation while working alongside the Lloydminster RCMP. Authorities emphasize their commitment to uncovering the full circumstances of the murders and ensuring justice is served. The investigation has required extensive efforts, including meticulous analysis and cooperation with other RCMP units and local police agencies.
Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers commended the Alberta RCMP Serious Crimes Branch and Major Crimes Unit for their diligence in apprehending the suspect involved in the triple homicide.
“I would like to take this time to praise the RCMP for the diligent work in locating and apprehending the suspect in this tragic incident,” said Aalbers.
Acknowledging the community’s shock and concern, he stated, “As we wait for the judicial process to unfold, we hope the arrest brings some sense of resolution for those concerned about the community safety. The violent nature of the incident ... was deeply shocking and unusual for our community.”
Despite the tragedy, the mayor emphasized Lloydminster’s resilience, assuring residents that this “isolated incident does not redefine us” and reaffirming the
city’s commitment to being “a safe place to welcome and call home.”
They also stated Pooyak had an accomplice during the incident. However, According to police, that individual has since died in a “non-criminal nature.” No details will be released about them.
When asked how they were certain there was no threat to public safety, Riou explained.
“On Sept. 16, so within five days of the incident happening, Mr. Pooyak was taken into custody on unrelated matters, which alleviated any public safety concerns we had in relation to him at that time.”
RCMP didn’t inform the public then as they were still putting the case against Pooyak together. They did not want to jeopardize the integrity of the judicial process in the future.
When pressed, Aalbers explained the city’s hands are somewhat tied in such situations when it comes to releasing information to calm the community.
“The words that were spoken by the RCMP and myself after this incident came to light, it was critical, and as much information was shared as possible,” he said.
Aalbers encouraged the community to follow along with the trial.
DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER
Source File Photo
Lloyd CT scanner currently fully staffed
The death of a man has caused the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) to address CT scanner staffing issues at the Lloydminster Hospital.
A post about Roger Ogram’s death after a collision, Nov. 16, 2024 near Alcurve paints a grim picture of the service.
Despite being less than 30 kilometres from the collision, Lloydminster Hospital diverted Ogram to North Battleford.
“I’m writing today to express my extreme concern for the health and safety of all Lloydminster residents,” said Chelsey Lujan, reading from her sister’s letter to the SHA. “My father was refused care by the Lloydminster Hospital due to no CT Scan operator, as stated in the patient care report.”
This deferred him over 130 kilometers to North Battleford for care, which, the family was told verbally after the fact, had no available CT machine that day either.
“Making the additional trip completely unnecessary. The accident occurred at 12:01 p.m. ... dad’s time of death was 2:47 p.m. in North Battleford,” she said. “There are no words to describe how deeply troubling it is to know that dad was never given the opportunity for pain management or a chance to survive.”
James Winkle a spokesperson for SHA says they cannot comment on specific cases.
“Staff and physicians provide that care with patient safety being the top priority, patients require different types of care, some of which is not always available
or accessible in one specific location. In those cases, with patient’s safety first and foremost in mind a transfer would occur,” he said.
Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young identified staffing as the issue in late December.
“Two techs were on leave and a locum (temp worker) was in place until the end of November. The locum chose not to renew the contract,” stated Young. “SHA worked with North Battleford and Prince Albert to try and get coverage, but unfortunately, other health facilities with CT scanners in the province could not offer their staff as they too would have been short staffed (leaves and illnesses). Thus the reduced hours of operation locally.”
However she had some news for our community regarding services this month.
“One tech resumed full time on Jan. 2 and the other one is returning to full time on Jan. 27. They have also been able to hire a third tech who has the basics, but is currently going through a six-week diagnostic training course,” Young explained.
“A contract has also been established with a private local tech for any needed on-call. So, full service has resumed at the hospital for the last two weeks and weekends.”
SHA confirmed these details.
“The SHA is actively working to maintain diagnostic CT services 24 hours a day in Lloydminster,” said Winkle. “We have been able to provide 24/7 coverage of CT services from Jan. 9 through Jan. 25.”
SHA encourages you to contact a Client Concern Specialist if you have concerns about the care provided at one of their facilities. Contact information for those specialists can be found at this link: https://www.saskhealthauthority. ca/contact/patient-or-client-concerns-and-feedback.
Collision near Vermilion injures two
A collision near the scales outside Vermilion has left two injured. Emergency crews responded early Jan. 21 to the collision on Highway 16.
The crash involved a semi-truck and a grader. County of Vermilion River officials confirmed the grader belonged to them.
Firefighters from Vermilion, stabilized the area and managed traf -
fic while extricating one person from the transport truck. Eastbound traffic was reduced to a single lane during the incident. Two people were treated at the scene. One was transported to the hospital in stable condition.
By 8 a.m., County Fire Chief, Kurt Hughes, reported the scene had been cleared, and crews had returned to their halls.
RCMP are investigating the cause of the accident.
DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER
DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER
Source File Photo
Courtesy of the County of Vermilion River
Camping bylaw on review
CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER
Lloydminster is getting camping ready as they review their campground policy.
The bylaw currently pertains to the Weaver Park Campground which has 57 serviced camping lots.
The bylaw defines the campground season, accepted and prohibited behaviours in the campground, and rules around pets and campsite use.
Coun. Michael Diachuk asked if people are meeting at a campground here in Lloyd and they each drove, where the extra vehicle would be parking.
“It’s one vehicle per registered campsite, at the campsite we would only allow the one vehicle that’s really all there’s space for. We would ask the guest to park in the guest parking and then walk to the campsite,” said Jordan Newton, manager of parks and green spaces.
Diachuk also requested clarification on what happens if the people camping have more than the five allowed people. Newton clarified there is a fee for additional campers.
The bylaw states any additional penalties for cleaning or damages will be processed to the credit card and Diachuk requested specifics on how recovering the damage deposit works.
“We did make a change two camping seasons ago where all of our bookings registering and payment service is all online and it’s done through a credit card system that is held within the system for a short amount of time,” said Newton.
The conversation around the council table moved to the specifics of 8.4 in the bylaw which states, “No refunds will be issued for long-weekend cancellations.”
“Long weekend cancellations, if you book a long weekend, two three months in advance, or it opens Feb 1 for reservations, if you book a long weekend but something comes up change of plans two to three months in advance, that is a non-refundable booking then?” asked Coun. Jason Whiting
“That is correct, councillor, what had happened previous to me coming into this position is we would have individuals book long weekends for maybe there’s a sporting event, they’d book it right in February as soon as possible and they would cancel the week of and we weren’t able to rebook it and the campground is always full on long weekends,” said Newton.
Whiting said it might be a good idea to have some leeway for cancelling. Newton was open
to the idea saying they could add a 30 to 45 day notice. He wants the proper amount of time to rebook the campground if there is a cancellation. Coun. Michele Charles Gustafson pointed out if anyones unsure about booking a penalty could deter them.
“I do agree with Councillor Whiting about the long weekend bookings, I know Parks Alberta and certain other camping websites will give you a 45-day window or a 60-day window before you’re penalized I think that could be a revisit,” she said.
“If you say no refunds, the person who is even 80 per cent sure they’re coming they’re not booking. We don’t want to turn away that potential business.”
Coun. Jim Taylor chimed in on the conversation making the point that these policy’s and rules should be clear to the person booking.
“We don’t get to book online, I don’t think a lot of us are booking in camping. My only comment is as long as this stuff is easy, clear and easy for the booking customer to find it I think it’s in front of them and there are no surprises. As long as you feel the website or the booking agent works well and it’s clearly communicated and there are no surprises,” he said.
Newton clarified the information would be on the landing page for customers to view when booking.
The Weaver Park Master Plan was adopted in September and it proposed some changes while setting up an operational frame work for the future of the park. Deputy Mayor David Lopez says if changes are made to the park that may be something to review within the camp ground policy.
“If they’re making changes to the camp ground area, they would have to come back and review this. If they got rid of the picnic area, or added to a different area that would have to be possibly added to the policy,” he said.
Administration will be reviewing 8.4 and bringing the bylaw back to council for decision.
HEALING ALL LEVELS OF THE HORSE Alignment, Massage, Cranial Sacral + Reiki
Vic Juba Community Theatre is seeking applications from those interested in joining the volunteer Board of Directors.
The Board is primarily a governance board and is responsible for:
1.Ensuring the organization achieves its mission and strategic plan.
2.Developing policies to be followed by management for the operation of the theatre.
3.Supporting the general manager in continuously driving the success of the organization.
We are seeking individuals who possess the following attributes:
1.An interest in performing arts and previous board experience, would be an asset.
2.Ability to attend board meetings on the last Tuesday of every month from 3:30 to 5:30 pm and committee meetings as required.
3.Availability to participate at up to three annual fundraising events and two volunteer events.
Applications can be emailed to board@vicjubatheatre.ca prior to February 7, 2025
Please include the following in your application:
• Letter or video-recording indicating your interest in our community theatre. (Why the VJCT? How do you feel you may best contribute? What changes do you see that you may assist with implementing?)
• Short biography, resume or similar.
(Current employment, past or present organization a liations or board appointments)
• Any other information you feel would allow the Nominations Committee to get to know you.
Source File Photo
Council gets quarterly update
details as to when future documents will be completed.
have something, the land use bylaw where it was supposed to be adopted in November and then changes came at the last minute and now we’re looking at quarter two of 2025 for that to come to council,” he said.
Lopez says it’s more of a planning policy.
“Keep the council up to date as to where and when they’re anticipated to be done,” he said.
Some notable bylaws coming up for completion in the early part of 2025 include the land use bylaw which is anticipated to be completed in Q2. The land use bylaw was previously under review in midOctober when a surprise motion by Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers put a hold on the process.
The amendment moved secondary suites, twounit dwellings, and additional units into discretionary use for low-density residential districts. Three or more units have been removed from low-density districts.
The unit number in low-density districts was a debated topic from the inception of the updated bylaw.
Lloydminster Council heard an update regarding governance documents.
The report outlines the 2024 review schedule, all reviews completed within Q4, as well as any new policies and bylaws that have been established within this quarter. The document also gives information into the upcoming year.
The document which gives information on all governance documents reviewed, created or amended in the final quarter of 2024 also gives
Deputy Mayor David Lopez says the anticipated completion dates aren’t always accurate and some projects get pushed back.
“That’s sort of a timeline as to when they are, but sometimes due to manpower due to unforeseen circumstances you just can’t get them done in that time,” he said.
He spoke about a recent example of this as the land use bylaw had its completion date pushed back.
“They’ll get deferred till the next quarter, you
T he change to the bylaw put the process on ice until after the election, saving the council of the time from making a decision prior to heading into their campaign trails.
The downtown area redevelopment bylaw is also anticipated to be completed in Q2.
The Martin Browne Area redevelopment plan bylaw is also still listed under review with its expected completion being Q2 2025. The plan was previously adopted by council. It highlighted what the city would be using the vacant land for after acquiring the plot when Martin Browne school closed. The Q4 Governance Document update was accepted by council as information.
CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER
Deputy Mayor David Lopez filling in for the top seat at the Jan. 13 GPC meeting. Christian Apostolovski Meridian Source Photo
Get ready, the donuts are coming
Dan Gray Meridian Source Von and Anna attempt a “high five” during the kickoff to this year’s Kindness Donut Project at Mother Teresa Early Childhood Education Centre.
Lloydminster’s about to go crazy over kids’ designed donuts thanks to Kindergarten through Grade 2 students at Mother Teresa Early Childhood Education Centre.
The school is launching their 4th annual “Kindness Donut Project” with the help of Sobeys. Heading the campaign this year is Kindergarten teacher Brea Pitts.
“It’s a special tradition at our school that helps connect our students to organizations in our community,” said Pitts.
“Each class designs a donut, and Sobeys makes and sells those donuts in their bakery. Half of the money earned from the donuts goes to local organizations, which our students choose.”
Border Paws Animal Shelter, The Olive Tree and others have benefited from this fundraiser in the past. It comes full circle as the kids get to choose where the money goes when the campaign is over.
“They choose everything about the donuts—what
they look like, the icing, the toppings—and they also choose the organizations to support,” said Pitts.
“At the end of January, we hold a local organization fair where students and their families can learn about different groups. Then, we vote and decide who will receive the donations.”
“My favourite part of the donut is the icing,” said Von, a Grade 2 student at Mother Teresa who also said they like helping people in the community.
Grade 1 teacher Paige Kindopp explained more about the organization fair being held on Jan. 29.
“They get to bring things the kids can play with, for example, KidSport set up a little hockey net, the public library set up a little check-out etc.,” said Kindopp. “It’s just teaching and educating our families about the local organizations that we have here in Lloydminster, which we can access.”
The campaign runs from Feb. 2 to Feb. 22. Over the past three years it has raised $14,700 for local organizations. To order, email donutsbringjoy@ gmail.com, call Sobeys at 780-871-0955.
Lloyd RCMP to host town hall
The Lloydminster RCMP invites residents to a town hall meeting to discuss policing priorities and answer community questions.
The event will take place this Thursday, Jan. 23, at 6 p.m. in the OTS Room at the Servus Sports Centre on 12 St.
RCMP members will ask for suggestions from the community to help shape priorities for the next fiscal year. Citizens will also hear updates from various RCMP units and have the chance to ask questions about detachment operations and community safety.
The Lloydminster RCMP encourages everyone to attend and share their views.
DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER
DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER
Gun show success in new, old location
The Lloydminster Gun & Outdoor Sportsman Show drew over 2,300 outdoor enthusiasts and firearm collectors to the Lloyd Ex over the weekend.
The event returned to the location this year after being held in the Servus Sports Centre.
“We’re supporting the gun industry in the outdoor sportsman aspect of it,” said Dwayne Davison, president of the Lloydminster and District Fish and Game Association (LDFGA) “There’s a whole bunch of other things here that any outdoor person would certainly enjoy.”
Davison hopes the event gave visitors a chance to connect.
LAND FOR SALE ORGANIZED HAMLET OF LITTLE FISHING LAKE
Land Description: Lot 13 Blk/Par 2 Plan 60B093202 Ext. 0 Surface Parcel #130129354
Conditions:
1. For sale by tender subject to the reservations, exceptions and encumbrances contained on the existing certificates of title, but free and clear of any mortgage encumbrances.
2. Mineral titles not included.
3. All offers to be in writing in the form provided and accompanied by a certified cheque in the amount of 20% of offer amount payable to Battle River Law in Trust. Cheques will be returned without interest if offer is not accepted.
4. Balance of the purchase price of the successful offer, plus GST (if applicable), to be paid to Battle River Law in Trust by the Possession Date or the deposit will be forfeited.
5. Highest or any offer not necessarily accepted.
6. Purchaser will be responsible for payment of any applicable GST.
7. Property taxes to be adjusted as of the possession date.
8. Property sold “as is”. Bidders are assumed to rely solely on their own inspection of the land and the titles.
9. Possession date: Within 30 days of acceptance.
10. Lot includes abandoned cabin.
11. Successful offeror(s) to enter formal purchase agreement following tender.
12. Minimum Bid: $60,000.00
The Form of Offer to Purchase to be used by bidders, as well as pictures of the property, can be found at www.battleriverlaw.ca under the tab “Land Tenders”. For more information contact: The R.M. of Loon Lake No. 561, 306-837-2076.
Offers must be received no later than 12:00pm on February 7, 2025. All Tenders must be placed in a sealed envelope marked “Do Not Open: Organized Hamlet of Little Fishing Lake – Land Tender” and delivered to: Battle River Law, #201, 1291 – 102nd Street (Box 905), North Battleford, SK, S9A 2Z3, Attention: Michelle Spence
“It’s a gathering for people all over Western Canada. Various vendors come a long way to sell their wares,” he added.
The show’s move to a new venue also proved successful.
“Lloyd Ex has been very hospitable,” Davison said. “We’ve been here for decades, and working with the Exhibition’s been great.”
With more than 70 vendors, the event offered something for everyone.
Antique firearm collector Greg Illerun shared his thoughts on the event.
“It gives you a chance to meet other like-minded people,” said Illerun, adding “The guns aren’t all that scary. They’re just tools.”
To highlight that statement, Illerun shared the various uses for firearms.
“There’s trap shooting, hunting,
target shooting, and more. It’s very diversified,” he said.
When asked why he collects antique guns, Illerun explained, “I’ve been fascinated with them since I was a kid. There were a lot of westerns on TV back then, so now I collect Winchesters.”
Proceeds from the event support local projects.
“We send kids to camp and have a youth outdoor activity day,” Davison said. “It’s a pretty big deal for us.”
The show offered a wide range of items and educated attendees on the safety and history of firearms. Many visitors left with new gear, knowledge, and an appreciation for the outdoor lifestyle. With the event wrapped up, the club now looks forward to its annual banquet this weekend.
DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER
Dan Gray Meridian Source Photos
Bonnyville library gears up for 2025
The Bonnyville Municipal Library is continuing to reap the benefits of the Northern Lights Library System.
James MacDonald, executive director of Northern Lights Library System, gave Bonnyville council an overview of the past year and what intiatives they’ll be tackling this year.
Northern Lights is one of seven regional library systems operating in the province. They serve the northeastern portion of Alberta and operate out of Elk Point. They have 60 participating municipalities and 50 public libraries.
B onnyville also gets some benefit from a close neighbour being a part of this program.
“Because the MD is a member of Northern Lights, the library also gets what they call the rural services grant of $48,000,” said MacDonald. “You may be spending $35,000 to be members but with that MD participation with Northern Lights as well, your book allotment alone is $33,000 as well,” he explained.
“It’s quite the partnership, intermunicipal partnership, I don’t think there’s anything else quite like it.”
The library saw success in eBook circulation. They circulated 9,562 materials at a value of $709,512.
“This doesn’t include eMagazines, LinkedIn learning, and other electronic resources, it’s just eBooks and audiobooks. This is a pretty easy number for us to grab,” said MacDonald.
He says they’ re always adding to online resources by purchasing all comics access this year.
According to MacDonald, there are over 4,300 active library cards in the community.
Reflecting on the year, libraries across the Northern Lights system, including Bonnyville, received new websites in 2024. A self-registration site was also launched named GoLibrary.
A major initiative being launched in 2025 for the library is wireless printing.
“Wireless printing, this is a big one. What happens right now is, people come into the library, they love to print at the library, it’s a great resource for the community. But often it’s on their phone or their laptop, ‘How do I get that to the printer,’ they usually email it to library staff,” said
MacDonald.
“Now they should be able to print wirelessly from their phone or whatever it may be. Gets some added privacy, got some cyber security going on there. You can actually print from home and then go to the library and pick it up.”
Bonnyville Mayor Elisa Brosseau was happy to hear library printing was going wireless.
“It’s so nice we hear sometimes people don’t really use the library; they don’t really understand the different things that the library does for the community, and printing is a huge one,” she said. “Great initiative on the part of your team to notice that many people in the community use the library specifically to print out a resume, as you said taxes, all those important taxes.
“T hey don’t have that technology at home.”
MacDonald commended the work of the library staff and thanked the library for piloting the printing program in 2024.
T he upcoming year will also see updates to the library catalogue and a pilot program for enhanced efficiency.
Coun. David Sharun thanked MacDonald and his team for their efforts.
“I just want to tell James and his team thank you for all the successes over the last couple of years, and initiatives for 2025. I just wanted to commend you and your team for your financial position and the steps that you’re taking to get there,” he said. “Being a representative from the town I see it firsthand and just wanted to congratulate all of you for an excellent job.”
In late 2024 the library welcomed Jill Tercier as its new library manager with assistance in the hiring process from Northern Lights.
Insurance losses hit record high in 2024
CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER
The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is officially marking 2024 as the most expensive year of severe weather-related losses in Canadian history.
The record stood for a number of years, 2016 was the second most costly year at $6.2 billion in total loss. The over $6 billion in losses happened following the Fort McMurray wildfires.
In 2024, there were $8.5 billion in losses according to Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ).
“Sadly, beyond the staggering financial losses are hundreds of thousands of Canadians whose lives and livelihoods have been upended,” said Celyeste Power, president and CEO of IBC. “Canada’s property and casualty insurers have been there every step of the way, and continue to be on the ground, helping their customers rebuild and recover. The industry is doing its part, but it’s time for governments to take decisive action to protect Canadians from these escalating and dangerous events.”
The summer of 2024 is the most destructive season in Canadian history resulting in over $7 billion in insured losses.
The single most destructiv e
weather event in the year was the August hailstorm in Calgary causing $3 billion in insured losses in just over an hour, flooding caused significant damage in nearly every region across the country.
Other notable weather events saw Quebec getting hit by the remnants of Hurricane Debby causing $2.7 billion in insured losses. The Jasper wildfire caused just over $1 billion in insured losses while flooding, storms, ice and hail wreaked havoc on the rest of the country.
“Canada is clearly becoming a riskier place to live, work and insure. As insurers price for risk, this increased risk is now impacting insurance affordability and availability,” said Craig Stewart, vice-president, of climate change and federal issues, IBC. Stewart is calling on the government to manage risk.
“Canadian governments must be more proactive to properly manage and mitigate risk. Governments need to invest in infrastructure that defends against floods, adopt land-use planning rules that ensure homes are not built on flood plains, facilitate FireSmart in communities in high-risk wildfire zones and implement long-delayed building codes that better protect homes and livelihoods,” he said.
CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER
Choose to Include next weekend
TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR
Special Olympics Alberta and Tim Hortons locations across Canada encourage patrons to Choose to Include to support Special Olympics’ athletes next weekend.
The #ChooseToInclude Donut for Inclusion campaign runs from 9-11 a.m. on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 at Tim’s restaurants throughout Canada, including Lloyd locations. Proceeds from donut sales will support over 42,000 Canadian Special Olympic athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Locally, Special Olympics Alberta Lloydminster
Affiliate supports 90 athletes.
Local chair, Mark Witzaney, is hoping for a doughy campaign.
“What’s really good about Special Olympics is athletes become team players. They become part of an organization where they have physical activity,” said Witzaney. “We all need to be physically active to be part of society.”
Witzaney and his wife, Marianne, are parents of a local athlete and have been involved with Special Olympics locally for over a decade.
“These athletes are involved in society in many ways, and the great thing about physical activity is it’s great for athlete’s mental health,” he said.
Lloydminster prepared for emergencies
The City of Lloydminster council heard some updates regarding their emergency management bylaw.
The bylaw creates structure and a framework for the Lloydminster Emergency Management Program. The program is required to create mitigation and preparedness efforts throughout the municipality to respond to and recover from any hazard onset.
“Let’s say there was something that happened at the refinery or something that happened at the ADM plant and it was causing an
environmental hazard or a hazard to the community that we could gather the people together to make an emergency response team and have a plan in place to make sure the community and the people in the City of Lloydminster are safe,” said Deputy Mayor David Lopez.
A state of local emergency can be declared only when council believes the powers of the minister under the Emergency Management Act are required and essential to provide life safety, property conservation or incident scene stabilization.
Coun. Michele Charles Gustafson asked for clarity from administration regarding newly introduced
Bonnyville utility rates increase
some specifics pertaining to the bylaw.
special powers in the bylaw.
“The Emergency Management Act updates through Bill 21, none of the special powers of the minister were updated. We’re just including them in our bylaw for transparency. The special powers are given and granted to a municipality when a state of local emergency is declared,” said Andrew DeGruchy, senior manager, public safety.
He explains what the additional powers may be used for.
“For when a hazard is overwhelming its current structure and current resources. They’re additional powers we may utilize to try
to contain the emergency that’s ongoing,” said DeGruchy.
Some key changes to the bylaw include the updated appointment of the director of emergency management and deputies as well as the introduction of the Alberta Incident Management System as the Command, Control, and Coordination structure that the city will utilize throughout a hazard response.
An emergency management agency will also meet twice a year reporting the status of the city’s emergency management program.
Council gave first reading to the bylaw at the Jan. 20 meeting.
The Town of Bonnyville voted to increase utility rates by two per cent.
During 2025 budget deliberations, administration suggested a change to utility rates for the upcoming year as part of the interim budget.
The utility service fee was $13.67 per month in 2024 increasing to $13.94 with the two per cent bump. While the consumption fee went from $2.75 per cubic metre the previous year to $2.81 this year.
T he increase represents an additional revenue of $105,443 to the 2025 operating budget.
Coun . David Sharun asked for
“Item number six and number eight, it says there for the bulk water consumption and the sewer lagoon effluent disposal. It says the rates will be amended from time to time?” he asked.
Administration clarified the sewage lagoon rate for commercial customers has never been increased and is priced at $18 per cubic metre, and $90 per disposal. Item number eight in the bylaw pertaining to effluent disposal was increased around June of last year, according to administration. Bonnyville council gave all three readings to the bylaw increasing the utility rate by two per cent.
CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER
CHRISTIAN APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER
Supplied Photo
Thursday, January 23, 2025
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Leave it to Weaver: Court drama, a victim’s emotional rollercoaster
EDITOR
TAYLOR WEAVER
Do you remember my column from the July 13, 2023 edition of the Meridian Source ? Well, I sure do.
The article recounted Chels waking in the middle of the night to find a masked man in our kitchen. The man took off, jumped off our balcony and disappeared into the night. The Lloydminter RCMP had 18-year-old Victor Mendez in custody a couple hours later. Mendez has called a Saskatchewan remand centre home since.
Over a year and a half later, and after changing his plea multiple times, Chels and I were scheduled to testify against Mendez in court last Thursday as he was sticking with his non-guilty plea.
The week leading up to court was stresssful. Chels and I had a two-hour court preperation meeting with Midwest Victim Services the Friday prior, and although we felt ready to face the man
who broke into our condo, the days leading up to court were sleepless, especially for Chels.
We arrived at the Sask court house on Thursday morning to learn Mendez had changed his plea to guilty, meaning we didn’t have to be there. We didn’t have to relive the experience and continue to ride the emotional rollercoaster many victims of crime do.
The kicker was, the arresting officer found out about the plea change the Monday prior to trial. Having this information the same day the officer knew would have alleviated an incredible amount of stress and saved taxpayer dollars on Victim Service’s and the RCMP’s time.
Having said that, Chels and I are extremely grateful to Victim Services as well as members of the Lloydminster RCMP for admitting a mistake had been made and putting practises in place to prevent this from happening to others in the future.
We all know the justice system isn’t perfect, but having compassionate and caring people in your corner can make a huge difference.
Word on the beat: Calls for service
Staff Sgt. JERRY NUTBROWN SPECIAL TO THE SOURCE
In a recent two-week period, the Lloydminster RCMP Detachment responded to 659 calls for service, but this does not include traffic ticket files.
Some of these were proactively generated by officers while most are calls from the public regarding various events and issues. In order to provide our city residents with a bit of insight into what police are doing, here is a summary.
Officers responded to 33 wellbeing checks. These are often due to someone not hearing from a family member or friend and fear something has happened to them. These types of reports can often take many hours and sometimes morph into a missing-persons investigation. In all but rare cases, the person is located as they went somewhere and for one reason or another, didn’t inform family or friends they were leaving.
A total of 48 traffic collisions were reported in addition to seven hit-and-run incidents.
An officer isn’t required to attend all collisions as some come in to report them afterward. Even if an officer doesn’t attend, there is still work to be done by the detachment support staff on the administration side.
For virtually every collision there is at least one at-fault driver as almost every collision is avoidable. On slippery streets, all drivers need to slow down to a safe speed.
Please remember speed limits only apply to perfect driving conditions. This is why there are a few speed-related offenses drivers can be ticketed for without a specific speed being determined by a speed device.
The less favorable the roads and driving conditions, the slower drivers need to go. Depending upon circumstances, driving within the speed limit can still get you a speed-related ticket. We had 13 stolen vehicles reported and 116 reports of mischief
(See the Nov. 11, 2024 issue of the Meridian Source
for the article explaining mischief).
There were 18 calls involving provincial Mental Health Acts. These can vary widely from officers attending and leaving, to apprehensions and escorts to a mental health facility.
We also had 18 reports of fraud. These can involve money, property or stolen identity related crimes.
Eighteen false alarms were acted upon and 14 break and enters were, or are, being investigated.
There were 37 investigations opened for people failing to attend court as ordered or failing to comply with their release conditions.
The failure to comply with release conditions can often be proactive charges as officers conduct compliance checks such as on someone who has a court ordered curfew and they are not home when checked.
A total of 45 assistance files were opened and 39 files were created due to 911 calls. Calls to 911 are another grouping of calls that can range widely in the reasons for the calls.
Some of these are also pocket dials and other types of accidental 911 calls. Preventing these calls from being made would be greatly appreciated by our call centre staff as they take time and possibly a dispatched officer to confirm the 911 call was accidental.
- Staff Sgt. Jerry Nutbown, is the NCO in charge of the Lloydminster RCMP detachtment’s General Investigation Section. Stay tuned for future articles from the Lloydminster RCMP.
Correction Notice
The Meridian Source wishes to apologize to the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association and Stacy Cadzow for misspelling her name in the Jan. 16, 2025 article “Winning “surreal” when ace was pulled.” The Meridian Source also wants to clarify funds from past Chase the Ace draws have not been used for barn renoviations.
11
Thursday, January 23, 2025
MERIDIAN SOURCE
Opinion
Chris’ A-Z: Planting a legacy in Lloydminster
Weaver Park is a landmark in Lloydminster. It features a dog park and a camping area, it’s a draw for residents and tourists.
This led me to research the namesake, Harvey Clayton Weaver. The man who would eventually be inducted into the Lloydminster Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1976 was widely touted as a horticultural genius. He was notably ahead of his time in the plant game.
Weaver had a basic philosophy that still holds up, “Always leave a place at least as good as, if not better than, you found it.”
He was born in Ohio before homesteading near Swift Current in 1906, eventually re-establishing his family on a farm south of Lone Rock. He built his reputation as a registered seed grower. He was featured in the April 23, 1936, issue of The Country Guide. He received high praise claiming a weed would be lonesome on the Weaver Place.
“Weaver is one of the premier professional seed growers of this country. He is a first-class farmer, a first-class seed grower and a first-class citizen,” the article read. “He is always a little better than his word.”
It was clear earning such high praise from a recognized publication showed his talent for the field.
By 1946, Weaver and his wife Lydia began planting the groves of evergreens we still see today.
Gray Matters: Do something ... anything!
“Don’t just stand there; do something,” said at least one parent, community leader, or elder growing up. I’m sure many of us have heard this refrain numerous times throughout our lives. But that leads to the obvious question: What is there to do?
Let’s meet the local social media variations. “What can I do in Lloydminster?” “Where can I go to make friends?” and we can’t forget “This town is so dead” are not far behind. The answers, which frequently end up with karaoke at numerous bars and game nights in various places, are the same almost every time.
I am new to Lloydminster, and after getting settled in, I have started to wonder what there is to do in our community.
This led to a conversation between my wife and I on how we can give back.
Giving back to the community to make it a better place isn’t foreign. For Boomers and many in Generation X, volunteering is almost as second nature as driving or family dinners. However, that is where it appears to have ended.
According to Statistics Canada, 65 per cent of non-profit organizations across Canada report a lack of volunteers.
Given the “me first” society we seem to have devolved into, that statistic doesn’t surprise me.
Excuses like being too busy, I can’t afford the time, and the best one I’ve heard yet, “What do I get out of it?”
aren’t really reasons not to.
How many hours a day do you spend scrolling social media or watching Instagram and TikTok videos? What is our average daily screen time at the end of the week? You, most likely, have time.
Volunteering can help you understand community needs, develop empathy, and increase your selfesteem. Additionally, it connects you with people who have some of the same interests.
It develops social circles which is critical for mental health and fighting depression. Many of them are types where giving what you can in time and effort is all that is required.
Depending on what you choose to help with, it may end up being a viable career opportunity down the road.
Is there a lot of glory that comes with giving time to organizations? No. Will you be recognized and get the same dopamine hit as you do posting about your perfect life on social media?
Also, no. But, can you walk away and say you accomplished something in your community? Yes. It could be a Christmas light display, toy run, emergency response, or, yes, even helping those less fortunate, but it is something.
I can guarantee you don’t have to be the next winner of the Sovereign Medal for Volunteers. In fact, your accomplishments may never be publicly recognized individually. However, I assure you will walk away feeling better about yourself, making new friends, and knowing you left the community a bit better than when you found it. Meanwhile, the advice most of us got while growing up probably
Weaver also experimented with growing fruit trees, ornamental shrubs, vegetables and of course the rest of his 160 acres was devoted to growing registered seed oats and crested wheat grass.
Eventually, Weaver’s land changed hands and became property of the city, but I’ll delve into that another time.
What interested me the most of Weaver was his mastery of Horticulture. He was praised in his time as being a genius.
To have dedicated your life to something and mastered it shows an unwavering amount of discipline.
In the modern day, you might look at his former property and be happy to walk your dog on it or camp for the weekend but it’s important to remember the man behind the name.
stands true today more than ever.
Don’t just stand there; do something. I have joined a volunteer organization locally. I implore you to do the same. If you want to know where to start, Google is your friend.
Thursday, January 23, 2025
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.
Passport to YLL
To place an event, email taylor@meridiansource.ca or fax 306-825-5147
Cards, games, food, meetings, live music
Intro to Square Dancing
Modern square dancing lessons are being offered every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at 5115 - 49 Ave. 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. For more info, contact 780-872-2493 or visit SquareDanceLloydArea.com
Bingo at the Moose Lodge
Bingo will be held every Monday and Wednesday, except holidays, at Moose Lodge 5213 57 St., Lloydminster. Doors open at 5 p.m. with games starting at 7 p.m. Must be at least 18 to play.
Diabetes Exercise Classes
The Saskatchewan Health Authority is hosting diabetes education classes every Monday and Wednesday from 2-3 p.m. Classes are held in Suite 109 of the Prairie North Plaza. Please call 306-820-2597 to register. This class is free of charge.
Cribbage Doubles Tournament
The Legacy Centre is hosting a cribbage doubles tournament on Jan. 23. Bring your partner for a day of friendly competition around the card tables! Please register by 9:45 a.m. on Jan. 23. Play begins at 10 a.m. Cost to play is $10/person and $12/person for lunch. Everyone welcome! Call the Legacy
office at 780-875-4584 for more details.
Seniors Cribbage
The Dewberry Seniors are hosting a Cribbage Tournament on Jan. 26. Registration starts at 10:15 a.m. Cost to play is $25, which includes lunch.
Pancake Breakfast
The Legacy Centre is hosting a pancake breakfast on Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The cost is $12/person or $6 for kids 12 and under. Everyone welcome! Call the Legacy office at 780-875-4584 for more details.
Kaiser Tournament
The Lloydminster Moose Lodge is hosting a kaiser tournament on Jan. 26. The action starts at 1 p.m. at the Lodge. Registration is from 12-12:45 p.m. Bring a partner and enjoy an afternoon of kaiser and fun. Cost is $25/player, which includes chili, snacks and coffee or tea. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. Contact Arne at 306-821-7459 or Bruce at 780-522-6972 for more information.
Respitory Education Class
The Saskatchewan Health Authority is hosting a respitory education class on Jan. 28 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. The class will be held in Suite 115 of the Prairie North Plaza. Please call 306-820-6243 to register. This class is free of charge.
Just Jammin with Greg Lingley
The Dewberry Community Hall is featuring “Just Jammin’”with Greg Lingley on Feb 1. Doors open at 4 p.m. with music at 4:30 p.m. Supper to follow at 5 p.m. and then music continuing after supper. Cost is $20/person with children under 10 free.
Finding Nemo at the Vic Juba
Centre Stage Productions brings Finding Nemo to the Vic Juba Community Theatre from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1. Tickets are $25 and are available online or at the Vic Juba box office. Call 780-872-7400 for details.
Snowed In Comedy Tour
The Snowed In Comedy Tour returns to the Vic Juba Community Theatre on Feb. 27 for a 7:30 p.m. show. This year’s tour features Dan Quinn, Erica Sigurdson, Paul Myrehaug, Pete Zedlacher Tickets are $56.70 for adults, $25.70 for students and $46.20 for seniors.
- Have something you’d like to see in our community calendar? Email the details to taylor@meridiansource.ca
Tractor pursuit leads to multiple charges
A tractor-wielding man faces four charges after an 11 km track and pursuit across remote Saskatchewan.
The incident happened west of Prince Albert, Sask. and gave officers more than they bargained for.
On Jan. 8, officers approached a home as part of an ongoing investigation. That’s when things took a crazy turn.
An adult man driving a tractor spotted the marked cruiser on the property. Instead of stopping, he drove straight at them.
Police say the man tried to ram their vehicle with the tractor. Luckily, the cruiser and officers came out unscathed.
- One count, assault on police officer with a weapon;
- One count, resists/obstruct peace officer;
- One count, flight from peace officer;
- Two counts, fail to comply with undertaking condition
The man then ditched the tractor and bolted into the bushes on foot. Officers called in backup to find him. With help from a police dog, RCMP tracked the suspect for 11 km along the Saskatchewan River. Prince Albert Police Service joined the chase, adding its dog to the search party. Eventually, police found the man in a remote, wooded area. They arrested him without further trouble. Randell “Matthew” Macgregor, 44, of Thompson, Man., was charged with:
25014DS3
DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER
Do-si-do into a new friends group
Members of Lloydminster’s Chain and Circle Square Dance Club danced the night away on Dec. 7, 2024 as part of their year-end Christmas dance and potluck supper. The group meets weekly at City Church in Lloydminster.
first night’s on the house.
The Chain and Circle Square Dance Club do-si-doed into 2025 after celebrating increased membership the year prior.
The club meets on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Lloydminster’s City Church for fun, fellowship, and formation.
Club caller, Kendall Smith, explained 2024 was a great year for growth after COVID diminished numbers.
“Right now, we have about 20 members. Before COVID we had over 30,” said Smith, explaining that 16 of the club’s current 20 members started with the club after the pandemic.
“We have one of the youngest clubs in Saskatchewan. Members range from 22 to 69 years old, and anyone interested in trying it can simply come on out. We’re on Facebook at Square Dance Lloydminster Area.” Interested in giving it a try? The
“It’s cheap entertainment for anyone 12 and up, and if you have kids younger than 12, bring them out and they can play while you dance,” said Smith, noting club fees are $5 per week.
Another byproduct of the club has been members making new friends, and building a better sense of community.
“We become friends with everyone, we know everyone’s names and faces,” said Smith, explaining the club travels to dance with other clubs.
“We also do weekend campouts in the summertime. It becomes a big social event that feels like family, which is what square dancing used to be. Everybody used to know everybody.”
Looking around the room, Smith also noted, “We desperately need men … we have one man and 13 ladies here today.”
Visit Square Dance Lloydminster Area on Facebook For more information on the club.
Taylor Weaver Meridian Source Photos
TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR
15
Thursday, January 23, 2025
MERIDIAN SOURCE
Rustlers silence Thunder in weekend sweep
DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER
The Lakeland College Rustlers men’s basketball team earned back-to-back wins over the Concordia University Thunder of Edmonton last weekend.
On Friday, the Rustlers took an early lead and never looked back, winning 84-72. They followed it up with a dominant 76-55 victory on Saturday at home.
“It was a good weekend for us,” said Rustlers head coach Sheray Thomas. “We needed those two wins to start the new year.”
The Rustlers jumped out to a big lead on the road on Jan. 17, going up by as much as 20 points in the first quarter. Concordia came back in the second half, but Lakeland pulled away late.
Chance Samuel led Lakeland with 21 points. Matthew Bryant added 13 points and eight rebounds. David Dimaano played off the bench to score 11 points, including three three-pointers.
“Chance was our leading scorer, and David gave us a big spark,” said Thomas. “Matt played really well too.”
The rematch at home Jan. 18 was close early, with Concordia leading 18-16 after the first quarter. Lakeland took over in the second quarter, outscoring the Thunder 30-16 to build a commanding lead.
“We held them to 55 points, the least we’ve allowed this season,” said Thomas. “Defense was the key.”
Forward Allayasa Bray had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Riley Rathwell led the Rustlers with 14 points, including two three-pointers.
“Riley hit some big shots and got us going,” said Thomas. “Allayasa led us in scoring and rebounding. It was a much-needed game for him.”
The Rustlers are now 10-3 on the season and in a tight race for first place. They face the defending national champion Keyano Hus -
kies next weekend in Fort McMurray.
“It’ll be a tough battle,” said Thomas. “Keyano is number one in the league and ranked nationally (#9) as well.”
With strong defence and contributions from all players, Thomas is optimistic.
“Good defence leads to wins and championships,” he said. “If we can stop other teams from scoring, we’ll have a chance.”
Due to only the men’s team playing going forward, all evening home games will be played at 7 p.m. instead of 8 p.m.
Dan Gray Meridian Source Photos
Rustlers wrangle Rattlers in 8-0 shutout
The Lakeland Rustlers women’s hockey team defeated the Medicine Hat Rattlers 8-0 at home on Jan. 17.
The Rustlers scored early and controlled the game from start to finish. Asha Petrie opened the scoring at 4:26 of the first. Janay Williams and Claudia Lammers added goals later in the period.
Lammers struck again on a power play in the second period making it
‘Cats
4-0. Alyssa Shaw scored just minutes later with Addison Eurich adding another before the period ended.
In the third, Keyra Buziak scored on another power play. Olivia Mann finished the onslaught scoring the team’s eighth goal at 10:37.
Lammers led the team with two goals. Hailey Carothers recorded two assists.
Starting goalie Mackenzie GouldSharpe earned the shutout in net.
Head coach, Morgan Mann, said
hoping to capitalize on ‘Yaks
The Lloydminster Bobcats are gunning for the Bonnyville Pontiacs after a lackluster January.
The ‘Cats host the ‘Yaks tomorrow night (Jan. 24) at the Centennial Civic Centre for a 7 p.m. puck drop before hitting the road until Feb. 15 when Camrose is in town.
The boys in black and orange started the month on a two-game win streak before a 6-2 loss to Canmore, a 3-1 loss to Drayton Valley, and a 3-2 home-loss to Camrose.
The ‘Cats are, however, still third in Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) North standings with 40 points, three behind the second-place Grande Prairie Storm.
The Whitecourt Wolverines are still first in the AJHL North with 52 points.
Bandits set for battle on road
TAYLOR WEAVER
The Lloydminster Bandits are set for a triple-header on the road this weekend.
Playing out of the North Eastern Alberta Jr. B Hockey League (NEAJBHL), the Bandits are in St. Paul on Jan. 24, Vermilion on Jan. 25, and Vegreville on Jan. 26.
The Bandits (22-6-1) remain sec -
ond overall in NEAJBHL standings with 45 points, three behind the Wainwright Bisons.
The St. Paul Canadians (18-10-1) find themselves fourth overall with 37 points, two points behind the Vermiion Tigers (19-8-1). The Rangers, however, sit fifth overall with 27 points.
The Bandits return to the Centennial Civic Centre on Feb. 1 to host the Vegreville Rangers.
it was a good game for their team to take some lessons going forward.
“Medicine Hat played hard and they are physical,” said Mann. “We value that because we have to equal that work ethic and physicality during the game.”
With the win, the Rustlers remain first in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference with a 15-2 record. They head into a home and home with the third-place Red Deer Polytechnique Queens this weekend.
You can take in the latter game at the Russ Robertson Arena at 5 p.m. on Jan. 25.
DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER
Dan Gray Meridian Source Photos
EDITOR
TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR
Source File Photo
Thunder clapped by Rustlers volleyball
The Lakeland College Rustlers women’s volleyball team continued their perfect season with two commanding victories over the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder.
The Rustlers hosted the Thunder on Jan. 17 to a packed house and secured a straight-sets win. The set scores were 25-10, 25-17, and 25-10.
The Rustlers travelled to Edmonton the following day for a rematch. They replicated their dominant performance winning 25-24, 25-12, and 25-17.
These victories improve Lakeland’s 11-0 record, keeping them atop the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference North Division standings.
Standout performances have led the Rustlers’ offence from players like Avery Bates, who averages 3.25 kills per set.
“It was a three-set win; we’re not going to complain about that. This was our first weekend back in the second semester, as we started with a bye, so we’ve had some extra time to prepare,” said head coach Austin Dyer after the win Friday.
“Tonight, we got some of our non-starters into the lineup, and hopefully, we’ll do the same thing tomorrow. It’s important to rotate players, and it was nice to see some of our younger athletes get opportunities tonight.”
Ranked #1 in the nation, the Rustlers will look to continue their winning streak this weekend vs. the #5 nationally ranked Keyano Huskies at home. Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. and Jan. 25 at 1 p.m.
The men’s team also won two straight games against the Thunder, extending their winning streak to four games.
On Jan. 17, Lakeland defeated Concordia 3-1 at home. Despite a strong first set from Concordia, Lakeland took control with dominant play. Gabriel Brinchmann Bjorkas led the way with 14 kills, and Brock Tomyn added 13 kills in the victory.
Lakeland triumphed 3-2 in a tough match at Concordia the following night. Despite dropping the first and fourth sets, Lakeland fought back and took sets two and three, as well as the matchdefining set, 15-9. Tomyn stood out again with an additional 14 kills.
Players like Declan Mercer and Elijah Rayner added scoring depth throughout both games. They also take on the Huskies this upcoming weekend at home. 8 p.m. on Jan. 24 and 3 p.m. the following day.
DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER
Dan Gray Meridian Source Photos
County departments value donations
What goes around comes around, Blackfoot Fire and Rescue knows that firsthand after a recent donation.
The Lloydminster Lion’s Club recently needed assistance with an event, and the department stepped up to the plate.
“We are all about community in our club,” said Lion’s vice president Darryl Oster. “In this case, we needed help with a medieval feast, and they came out to help by providing a safe ride home.”
They look for every opportunity to keep money raised in the community. This was an opportunity to help an organization that has specific needs that help protect our community.
Austin Armitage is the County of Vermilion River Protective Services operations officer. He says any money raised goes right back into the department.
“It’s important because it helps with operational costs that every fire department struggles to cover. It doesn’t matter the size of the donation—it goes toward simple things like balaclavas, gloves, and boots,” said Armitage. “Those things take a lot of wear and tear, so they’re always up for replacement.”
However, he wanted to stress departments don’t
expect donations for services rendered.
“A lot of the time, fire departments do things like that without even asking for a donation—they’ll just do it to get their name out there and build goodwill,” said Armitage. “That way, if they ever need help in the future, the community will be there for them. Having a baseline of community support is huge for volunteer fire departments,” he said.
51 Ave. - Queen Elizabeth School 39 St. - Holy Rosary School
65 Ave. - 35 St. St. Thomas School
23 St. - 54 Ave.
15 St. - 52B Ave.
31 St. - Bishop Lloyd School
52 Ave. - Barr Colony School
31 St. - Barr Colony School
52 Ave. - Queen Elizabeth School
51 Ave. - Queen Elizabeth School
39 St. - Holy Rosary School
65 Ave. - 35 St. St. Thomas School
23 St. - 54 Ave.
15 St. - 52B Ave.
31 St. - Bishop Lloyd School
According to Regional Chief Dean Peters, Legacy doesn’t do much fundraising for equipment, thanks to a supportive council. However, the community does support Legacy in various ways.
“We applied for and got some corporate sponsorship from Cenovus, and we received funding for a Side-by-side in 2023,” said Peters. “Cenovus also supports their employees who volunteer, so we have used that money to upgrade laundry facilities in our halls.”
When they get a public donation, they deal with it on a case-by-case basis. They have used them to buy AED’s in the past.
If you are interested in supporting the local departments surrounding Lloydminster, you can contact the municipal offices for Vermilion River, Brittania, or Legacy.
JFO focusing on most harmful offenders
A dangerous Cold Lake woman is in custody as a result of a new initiative.
Alberta RCMP, Calgary Police Service, and Alberta Sheriffs have joined forces in a new initiative to target top offenders. The Joint Forces Operation (JFO) focuses on the most harmful offenders across the province through a warrant roundup.
This effort began when Alberta RCMP recognized inconsistencies in how law enforcement ranked priority offenders. Different agencies used varied methods, which created gaps in enforcement.
RCMP’s Strategic Analysis and Research Unit developed a matrix to identify offenders causing the most harm. They applied the Crime Severity Index, a tool usually used for communities, to individual offenders.
With help from Calgary Police Service’s Business Analytics team and other partners, Alberta RCMP can now collect and share data across all agencies. This system creates a clear, province-wide priority offender list.
The new initiative gives Alberta police a powerful tool to improve public safety. By focusing on the most harmful offenders, law enforcement agencies can better protect communities across the province.
Officials realized a province-wide model was necessary because criminals operate across multiple jurisdictions.
Through the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police, law enforcement agencies now share data under a new agreement. This collaboration enables police to identify offenders causing the most harm, not just in local areas but across Alberta.
This shared data allows police agencies to properly prioritize and take enforcement action on the most harmful offenders. It works to ensures the safety of all Albertans.
Alberta RCMP ranks tens of thousands of offenders using a harmbased approach. The
From Nov. 17 to Nov. 30, 2024, the Joint Forces warrant apprehension team hit the streets of Calgary and Southern Alberta, which resulted in the following;
•88 arrests
•177 warrants executed; 44 for Provincial offences and 133 For Criminal Code offences, representing a total of 306 charges.
The Cold Lake resident was one of the highlighted arrests.
-A 28-year-old female resident of Cold Lake had one warrant for her arrest for driving offences. She has had 50 interactions with police in the past 18 months, including for robbery, assault with a weapon, drug trafficking and firearms possession investigations.
“Thanks to strong interagency collaboration and information sharing, there are now fewer dangerous offenders on Alberta’s streets and in our communities,” said Supt. Mike Letourneau of the Alberta Sheriffs.
“The Alberta Sheriffs are proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners as we pursue our shared objective of keeping Albertans safe.”
DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER
Dan Gray Meridian Source Photo
DAN GRAY STAFF WRITER
Thursday, January 23, 2025
MERIDIAN SOURCE
WE ARE HIRING WE ARE HIRING WE ARE HIRING
Local Field Service Technician
Pason is seeking a self-motivated individual to work the front line and provide outstanding service as a Field Service Technician in Lloydminster, AB. We are looking for a local, who is forward thinking, innovative, progressive and possesses a “can do” attitude.
With excellent benefits, competitive pay, and extensive training, Pason sets you up for success. Whether you're coming in with no oilfield experience or decades of knowledge, you have the support of the whole organization behind you.
Visit our website at pason.com/careers for more information.
Local energy companies support oil/gas courses
APOSTOLOVSKI STAFF WRITER
Local energy companies are partnering with Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre (Sask DLC) and Teine Energy to support new online oil and gas high school courses with work placements.
Cenovus Energy, Vermilion Energy and Whitecap Resources are helping to provide support and industry expertise to Sask DLC’s development of new Energy and mines – Oil and Gas 20 and 30-level online courses.
The four energy companies who each have operations in the province, provided a combined $160,000 over two years to support the creation of the new courses. The money will also help fund a coordinator position who will facilitate work placements and industry engagement opportunities.
“The energy sector is an important part of our province’s strong and growing economy - both
WE ARE HIRING
ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE
locally and globally,” said Everett Hindley, the minister responsible for Sask DLC.
“It is exciting to see Saskatchewan students will be able to learn about the career opportunities that exist here in our province and gain the skills and knowledge they need to have a successful future in the oil and gas industry.”
Nicolas Zaher, Cenovus Energy vice-president, Lloyd thermal and conventional heavy oil operations, says it’s the talent of their people that drives their success.
We are seeking a motivated full-time Sales Representative to sell advertising space on our website and in our free weekly newspaper Must be organized, meet weekly sales goals and deadlines. Email your resume to hr@lloydminstersource.ca
“By providing students with accessible courses, Sask DLC is developing a strong pipeline of talent for our company, equipped to take on the energy jobs of today and tomorrow and advance our industry in this important region,” he said.
Dion Hatcher, president and CEO of Vermilion Energy says they are excited to help students gain important skills needed for work in the energy sector.
“At Vermilion, our people are our strength,” Vermilion Energy Inc. President and CEO Dion Hatcher said. “That is why we are excited to work on this collaborative initiative to help students gain valuable skills to help them find a fulfilling career in the energy industry.”
The new Oil and Gas 20 course will be offered in semester two of this school year as part of the pilot for the new online course. The next portion of the course will be available to students starting in the 2025-26 school year.
In the 20 and 30-level courses, students will be taking 50 hours of online theory to learn about the industry, safety and career paths available to them.They will also receive 50 hours of handson learning through an industry work placement. Course registration is limited to ensure all students are matched with work placements.
The courses are available to full-time Sask DLC students or high school students attending local schools throughout the province.
Teine Energy and Whitecap Resources have also agreed to host students work placement hours at their locations throughout Saskatchewan to supplement student learning.
“Whitecap Resources is very pleased to support this initiative, which will give students an opportunity to gain an understanding about the oil and gas sector that provides economic prosperity and energy security to the Province of Saskatchewan and the entire country, and in turn, further economic security of individuals who choose to work in the industry,” said Grant Fagerheim, Whitecap Resources president and CEO.
The four companies also have the opportunity to provide a representative to the steering committee.
CHRISTIAN
File Photo
Thursday, January 23, 2025
bailey@meridiansource.ca
NOW HIRING:
Bryden Construction & Transport Co. requires SHOP LABORERS
Duties involve cleaning the shop and equipment, assisting in the service/ maintenance area, and general laborer duties. Clean driver’s abstract required. Job location is Arborfield, Sask. Room and board provided. Send resume with work references to: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca or fax 306-769-8844
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NEWTEC IRRIGATION. Looking to Hire: Travelling Salesperson. Agricultural Experience Preferred. TOP WAGES. Please call for more information: 306-260-9575.
SOUTHERN ALBERTA NEWSPAPER GROUP is looking for Mailroom evening staff. Lots of room for advancement within the company. Email rturner@ abnewsgroup.com for more information.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND CLAIMANTS IN THE ESTATE OF VERDELLA MARY DODSWORTH late of Lloydminster, Alberta, Deceased, who died on November 9, 2024
If you have a claim against this estate, you must file your claim by: February 14, 2025 with: REVERING LAW OFFICE Barristers & Solicitors 5018 - 50 Avenue Lloydminster, Alberta T9V 0W7 Attention: Donnon F. Revering
If you do not file by the date above, the estate property can lawfully be distributed without regard to any claim you may have
I want to give a very sincere Thank You to all who came to help celebrate my birthday and to my much-loved family for their arrangements, as well as to the Lloyd Ex for their spacious room. Sincerely Appreciated –Terence Bexson
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FIREARMS WANTED FOR OUR 2025 AUCTION PROGRAM: Rifles, Shotguns, Handguns, Antiques, Militaria, Collections, Estates, Single Items. For Auction, or Possible Purchase: Toll-Free 1-800-6942609, Email Us at sales@switzersauction.com or Visit Us @ www.switzersauction.com for Auction Dates & Details.
Your memory is a keepsake, From which I’ll never part. God has you in his arms, I have you in my heart.
My Forever Love – Until We Meet Again From Virginia Brent, Trevor & Erin, Ella and Naomi
HOROSCOPE MOVIE SHOWTIMES
