Thursday, June 17, 2021
MERIDIANSOURCE.CA
VOLUME 3 I ISSUE 51
Skye’s the limit for Skills teens GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. Holy Rosary High School is celebrating a golden moment in national Skills Canada competition. The milestone kicked in Tuesday night after school hours in the communication’s media lab. That’s where Grade 12 students Sierrah Bennett and Mackenzie DeCrescenzo and their teacher, Skye Ferguson, learned they had won the gold medal while watching the award ceremony live streamed from Quebec City. “I was shocked. Sierrah got up and hugged me. I couldn’t even move. I was just stunned,” said DeCrescenzo during a media event at the school Wednesday morning. Bennett notes she was equally spellbound upon hearing the news. “I went and I slammed both of my hands on my lap and I jumped up and I started cheering and I’m like ‘let’s go!’” she said. The gold medal was the school’s first-
ever win and first-ever win for video production, taught by Ferguson, who was super pumped but not surprised when the award was announced. “We set this goal for them when they were in Grade 10. I was very proud; I knew they could do it. It was great to see it come to life,” she said. The students’ gold at nationals, follows gold medals at the regionals and provincials in 2021. The best friends have amassed a total of 11 gold medals in individual and team competitions in three years. DeCrescenzo is the on-camera talent while Bennett masters all the filming and editing. At the virtual nationals on May 26, they were tasked with planning, filming and editing a video that explained five ways the education system h as c hang ed in C anada since the COVID-19 outbreak. “So we really want to make the video fun and engaging,” said DeCrescenzo.
“We thought why not clone myself and give each of the five points their own personality.” The end result is a 1:28 minute video telling the story of the impact of COVID with the lack of extracurriculars, limited motivation, technological advancements, access to resources and physical isolation. “We actually did get word from one of the judges they got a perfect score—the first perfect score at the nationals,” said Ferguson. “It’s a great accomplish to have in my teaching.” The video can be viewed at https://youtu. be/WZnG45H3-W0. The national gold medal is a bit of bittersweet victory for the two friends who will no longer compete together as high school students. “As happy as I am to win this national competition, it’s also sort of sad it’s all come to an end; at least we can say we did it together,” said DeCrescenzo. The grads will attend a one-year program in
Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Holy Rosary High School students Sierrah Bennett and Mackenzie DeCrescenzo flank the school’s media teacher, Skye Ferguson on Wednesday morning as they celebrated their Nationals Skills competition gold medal.
film production at the Vancouver Film School this fall. “My ultimate goal is to be a director or a producer,” she said. Bennett says Skills Canada has been such a great journey for her over the years. “I’ve put in a lot of
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hard work and dedication into this competition and it’s just so rewarding to see this hard work pay off,” she said. Bennett plans to pursue post-secondary education this fall and become a teacher. “Ideally, I would love
to teach video production and photography because that is my passion. That’s my true calling,” she said. “I would love to share my talent with other people and have other people discover their talent and passion through that.”
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Thursday, June 17, 2021
Outdoor pool scheduled to open Pre-booking required, COVID-19 guidelines in effect MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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The opening of the Border City’s 25-metre outdoor six-lane and leisure pool took place on Wednesday, June 16, weather permitting. Located at 4713 57 Ave, the outdoor pool features two waterslides and offers various programs, including Red Cross swimming lessons and water aerobics for swimmers of all ages. The opening of the tot pool will be announced later. Weather permitting, the pool will be open from 4-8:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 12-7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Following the Canada Day long weekend, the outdoor pool will operate daily, 12:30-7:30 p.m., weather permitting. Public washrooms are available. Family swim bookings can be made 24 hours in advance. To book a time, visit Lloydminster.ca/register. The pool office will
Meridian Source File Photo be open June 14 and 15 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Anyone wanting to purchase a seasonal membership is strongly encouraged to do so during this time. Outdoor pool membe rsh i p s c a n al so be purchased at the Bioclean Aquatic Centre between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Patrons are reminded to follow the public health guidelines while using the Outdoor Pool: • Individuals who are sick are asked to stay home. • Patrons can only remove their face masks before entering the pool. • Maintain a phys-
ical distance of two metres between people not from the same household or extended household, including when in the pool. • Individuals should wash or sanitize their hands before and after using the facility. Avoid putting their unwashed hands to eyes, nose or mouth. • Avoid overcrowding. Groups must not exceed the restrictions on public gatherings. • An adult should accompany children to ensure compliance with physical distancing. To learn more about the pool’s offerings and rates, visit Lloydminster.ca/ODP.
Thursday, June 17, 2021
MERIDIAN SOURCE
Lloyd rallies to condemn hate He was one of many in attendance wearing a purple and green ribbon, with purple being the favourite colour of t he f amily ’s t e e nage daughter and green representing the fight against Islamophobia.
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Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
Imam Saqib Mahmood Zafar speaks during Monday night’s anti-hate rally, held at City Hall, as MLA Colleen Young and attendees look on. GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. Lloydminster is united against hate. That was the message delivered by more than 100 people who gathered at City Hall Monday night to condemn a fatal hate-motivated truck attack on a Muslim family from London, Ont. The vigil in honour of the Afzaal family was organized by the Lloydminster Muslim Community with many attendees carrying placards advocating peace. The show of solidarity was led by dignitaries Imam Saqib Mahmood Zafar, city councillor Michael Diachuk and Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young.
“We condemn this heinous attack that took place last week in London, Ont. on an innocent Muslim Afzaal family,” said Zafar. He says it is horrible and agonizing to even think about this especially for the nine-yearold child who lost his entire family and was treated for injuries in a hospital. The Lloyd vigil was one of many held across the country after a 20-year-old male intentionally drove his truck into the family of five who was out for a walk on June 6, killing four and injuring the boy who was released from hospital this week. “Such attacks are only caused by hate, which is
a result of ignorance. It is ignorance that gives birth to hate. We must condemn hate in all forms and promote love for all and hatred for none,” said Zafar. The d e ce ase d have been identified as 46-year-old Salman Afzaal, his 44-yearold wife Madiha, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna her 74-yearold grandmother, Talat Afzaal. The couple’s injured son, Fayez Afzaal, is currently recovering with relatives. Coun. Diachuk expressed condolences to the Afzaal family on behalf of the city and its partners, adding his voice to condemn acts of hate.
Such attacks are only caused by hate, which is a result of ignorance. It is ignorance that gives birth to hate. We must condemn hate in all forms and promote love for all and hatred for none.
“Violence in any form has no place in our community, province, country and world. We must and we will continue to unite our communities in peace, mutual respect and kindness as one,” said Diachuk. Young also told the crowd there is no place for hatred in Lloydminster, or anywhere else, but noted it exists and needs to be addressed. “With diversity and difference can come insecurity and misunderstand the real21063KK0 21063KK1
ity is racism, hate and discrimination,” said
Young.
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Thursday, June 17, 2021
LCSD gifts scholarship to “above and beyond” student TAYLOR WEAVER
EDITOR
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Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
Holy Rosary High School’s Nathan Eckel was surprised by the LCSD board on Tuesday with a $500 scholarship as a way of saying thanks for all of the work he has been doing on the school’s expansion project.
The best gift is always an unexpected one. That’s how Nathal Eckel, a Grade 10 student at Holy Rosary High School, was feeling on Tuesday when he was surprised with a $500 scholarship from the Lloydminster Catholic School Division (LCSD) board. Eckel has been playing a pivotal role in the school’s upcoming expansion project since day one, working alongside staff, students, and the project’s architects to help bring the school’s vision to life. “It feels pretty good,
to actually make stuff that will be in the school in the future,” he said. “I never expected this, that’s for sure. “I’ve been taking the plans from the architects and making 3D renders of the spaces that are going to be built,” said Eckel, adding how a lot of his computer skills are self-taught, but HRHS’ media teacher, Skye Ferguson, has been helping him along the way. “I’m using SketchUp to model all of the interior areas, and then once I’m done modelling I put the model in Blender to make it look all nice and rendered out.”
With Eckel being a Grade 10 student, the Catholic school division will be holding on to the scholarship until he graduates, and hopes he will use the money to pursue post-secondary education. “It honestly feels good, and when everyone gets here, I can say, ‘oh yeah, I helped design this space,” he said, adding he is still thinking about turning this passion project into a career. LCSD deputy director of education, Glenda Kary, couldn’t hold back a big smile while talking about Eckel’s accomplishments on Tuesday
and noted the school division is blessed to have talented and passionate students within their classrooms. “When we’re given a talent, God asks us to let it shine, not to hide it under a bushel, and Nathan is a shining example of that,” she said. “He took the opportunity to have student voice in a project and he grew it. He brought things to life that I didn’t know how they would look. “He’s really used his talent in ways a lot of people have benefited, and I see it going forward for the next two years.”
Border City unites to condemn hate FROM PAGE 3
“Although we want to say that each person in this province (Sask) represents the true prairie spirit and has a heart of gold, we know that is not always the case.”
Young says the Saskatchewan government condemns all forms of racism discrimination, intolerance and bigotry. “We will continue to work with our partners and neighbours
so that everyone in our province can feel safe and secure as they live, work and raise a family without facing discrimination or racism,” she added. Police have charged
the accused with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in relation to the alleged vehicle attack. He is also facing terror charges.
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Rudolph leads way to LCHS award GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. What goes around comes around. That is one of the lessons students at Lloydminster Comprehe n s i v e Hi g h S c h oo l learned by taking part in the school’s 23rd Rudolph Round-up. The school captured one of the inaugural Public Schools of Saskatchewan Student Citizenship Awards on June 4 for the student charity drive in 2020. Rudolph Round-up is an annual pre-Christmas program to raise money and items for the Lloydminster Interval Home for women and children fleeing domestic violence. The project was led by a Grade 11-12 leadership class taught by Dwayne Jeffery, and included a Grade 7-9 class and some K-6 students at other schools in the Lloydminster Public School Division. The awards recognize initiatives undertaken by public school student groups or classes that support citizenship or character building within their school and community. The award consisted of a congratulatory letter from the presenters and a cheque for $1,000 to fund a new project at the high school. “We’re going to use it to beautify the school one way or the other,” said Jeffery. He says they might buy a vinyl printer and decorate the remaining stairwells in the school. “I’ll let the kids decide what they want to do, because deep down, it’s more about the kids than me,” he said. “They are complaining it looks like it’s 50 years old, which it is.” The citizenship award and prize money went to three high school projects. Lloyd Comp’s focus on helping the Interval Home was a standout feature noted in the
Supplied Photo
The Grade 11-12 leadership class at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School won a new Public Schools of Saskatchewan Student Citizenship Award on June 4, for an expanded Rudoph Round-up charity program for the Interval Home last Christmas. The winning project included some younger students from other schools in the Lloydminster Public School Division. The award includes a $1,000 cheque, shown in this photo. Right, is class teacher Dwayne Jeffery.
award letter. “What stood out for our’s in the message was the fact we just did something they’d never seen before,” said Jeffery. He says the other two winning projects were awesome and tended to encompass a variety of events, while theirs was strictly focused on the Rudolph Round-up charity. “ T h e y w e r e impressed with just the scope of it and, of course, the cause, which is something that isn’t talked about in society a lot,” said Jeffery. “The fact we have a school doing a fundraiser for that is something they were totally surprised for.” Jeffery says the kids knew they were nominated and the younger ones celebrated the win with fake highfives. “They are already planning how we can do a bigger one this year,” he said. He says next year, hopefully with the COVID rules gone by then, they can be in the schools and enhance it further. “This year, the kids were really gung-ho about this because, of course under COVID times, having talked to the Interval Home, they learned they were really struggling because they couldn’t do any of their usual fundraising,” he explained. He says the traditional fundraising activities of the leader-
ship students morphed to include a K-6 competition with Grade 7-9 classes also getting involved for Interval Home. “So in K-6, every kid got to compete in a colouring contest where they could bring a Loonie or bring any item like a toothbrush
or soap and they could enter their colouring in a draw for gift cards,” said Jeffery. He notes they had a live Google Meet to draw random names for colouring prizes. “We also showed the kids the ones we thought were the nicest,” he said.
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Thursday, June 17, 2021
Area cancer survivors can “Excel” GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. Early bird enrolment is now open for the next intake of free virtual exercises for rural and remote cancer survivors in the Lloydminster area in September. Exercise specialist, Heather Mielke, with the Lloydminster Primary Care Network, is hoping to see more local participants start the second year of the Exercise for Cancer to Enhance Living Well or Excel program, provided by the University of Calgary. Mielke instructs an Excel maintenance class for those who have taken the initial 12-week baseline course. She sees the Excel program benefits firsthand in her role at the care network healthcare team that works with family physicians in Lloydminster to provide support services
to residents. “It’s one of the best things I’ve been a part of in my career,” said Mielke. “It’s very rewarding to work with this group of people to see the benefits and hear how it’s affected their lives and their quality of life for the better,” she said. She says aside from the physical benefits of participating in an exercise routine, Excel promotes better mental health along with a positive social aspect of connecting with other cancer survivors. That’s been the case for Canmore resident, David Foulkes-Jones, who took the program in January and offered to share his testimonial in an email. “Sometimes at the beginning and end of the classes, we chat with other participants, sharing our own journey and supporting each other by listening and
offering positive suggestions,” said FoulkesJones. “I have not only found it beneficial from a physical conditioning standpoint, but just as importantly, increased emotional wellness and peace with myself.” Foulkes-Jones reports he has made friends with other participants and gets together with them occasionally when it’s convenient. He likes the fact instructors are kinesiologists specializing in exercise for cancer patients. “They conduct an excellent disciplined program helpfully instructing us in the proper execution of each exercise,” he added. He not es t hey also suggest modifications to exercises as needed. The program is being delivered twice a week for one hour by Zoom video conferenc-
ing focusing on cardiovascular, resistance training, balance and stretching exercises using available equipment at home. Mielke says the exercises are tailored to each participant’s individual needs and fitness levels, so there is always an easier option and a more challenging option available. “I’m looking forward to continuing to be a part of it and of course, would like to get the word out again to people that live here, so we can get some Lloydminster people participating and benefiting as well,” she said. Mielke says only one Lloydminster resident has attended the program with several cancer survivors from surrounding areas taking part along with participants from right across Canada. “We are definitely looking to get the word
Supplied Photo
Exercise specialist Heather Mielke with the Lloydminster Primary Care Network.
out so that people from around this area can get in and participate. “New participants can contact me at heatherm@lloydpcn.ca or 780-874-0490 with questions. I can also connect them with the research team at the University of Calgary.” The U of C team can be reached at wellnesslab@ucalgary.ca. Mielke says the more
people that register, the more classes they will offer with the possibility of in-person classes once COVID restrictions are lifted. “If a centre such as Lloydminster could recruit enough participants to make it worthwhile to run an in-person class, and there was enough interest, we would certainly do that,” she said.
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Eco9 students provide division office facelift a bit to adapt to the opportunities we have. “We’ve been very restricted this year, and the division has allowed us to start taking the bus to different places, so that’s opened us up to travel within Lloydminster, which opens up a lot of our program. There’s not a lot of school left, so we’re trying to get in as much as we can and be outside.”
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Taylor Weaver Meridian Source Photos
Students from E.S. Laird Middle School’s Eco9 Program were ready to get their hands dirty on Monday morning as they replanted the garden outside of the LPSD office. TAYLOR WEAVER
EDITOR
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When the Lloydminster Public School Division (LPSD) noticed the garden outside of its division office needed some tender, loving care, the first call they made was to E.S. Laird’s Middle School’s Eco9 students. Eco9 students spent some time last week on location as they dug up and cleaned out the garden space. They then returned to the division office on Monday with 25 bags of manure, 25 bags of soil, some gardening tools, and new plants to spruce things up a little. “The garden was overgrown and some of the office staff noticed it needed a refurbishment, so they asked the Eco class if we wanted to take out the garden, redesign it, and put a new garden in,” said Eco9 teacher, Shaun Donald.
“We ripped up that garden last week and had everything taken away, and now we’re turning the soil and putting new soil in to help put the nutrition back into the garden. “We went down to Home Hardware recently and students did a tour there, learned about different plants, what plants would be appropriate for here and how the plants grow. We did that tour so we all knew what we were doing when designing the garden.” Donald said the students were quite receptive to the project and have been having a lot of fun with it. “Now we’re going to be ripping open these 50 bags of soil and manure and adding tons of fresh soil to the garden.” All costs involved in the project were paid for by the LPSD and gave students some-
thing they could work on while also feel proud of. “Basically, instead of hiring a company to do it, they figured ‘we have students who are in a program that could do something with this, so why not do it all inhouse,’” said Donald. The Eco9 class would typically have a much larger-scale agricultural unit built into its curriculum, but with COVID restrictions in place over the last year and change, this was a highly-anticipated project for the students. “We run a hydroponics room in school, so now this is taking what we’ve learned in school with our hydroponics room and bringing it to another medium, into soil,” said Donald. “Although we’re not planting agricultural plants, some of the same concepts still apply, so we’ve just changed our program
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Thursday, June 17, 2021
Community Futures on a roll
GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. Community Futures opened during hard times and it continues to flourish in hard times today. Business activity is booming at the Lloydminster branch in pace with entrepreneurs seeking their small business supports, lending and community economic develop-
ment services. “Hard times create entrepreneurs, and people are getting out there and digging down and making changes and starting new ventures,” said Corrine McGirr, general manager of Community Futures. McGirr provided an update of activities in a Zoom presentation to the Rotary Club of
Lloydminster on Monday, tying the uptick to new strategic goals along with COVID. The goal to provide entrepreneurs with capital through Community Futures’ small business loan program has gone into overdrive during the pandemic. The Lloyd office has a current file of 137 developmental loans. Community Futures
is also rolling out the federal Regional Relief and Recovery Fund in the region to help small businesses during the pandemic. “In the past 10 months, we dispersed 105 loans valued at $3.1 million. We went from a loan portfolio of $1.2 million to $4.3 million in 10 months,” said McGirr. “It’s quadrupled our activity and connection with businesses in just 10 months. We’re so grateful we were part of the solution this past year in terms of keeping some of the small businesses open.” McGirr says beyond that, they are currently processing roughly four new small business loan applications following the same number the previous month. “We expect our regular loan funds to probably double this year,” she said.
McGirr says another goal to be a collaborative partner in economic development is working well with ongoing projects such as the Alberta iMarket, Think Lloyd First and upcoming youth entrepreneurship programs. “We’re putting some final touches on some programming that introduces technology to youth and turning that into a business,” said McGirr. “So we are going to be running a weekend entrepreneurship camp this summer as well as weekend sessions in August.” McGirr says it all fits with the Community Futures’ mission to make business dreams happen and grow communities one idea at a time. That’s in keeping with another new strategic goal to be a pathfinder in support of entrepreneurs.
“We work with as many different business resources as possible in order to share with and inform entrepreneurs,” explained McGirr. Local connections include groups like the Lloydminster Construction Association, our Chamber of Commerce, the economic development at the City of Lloydminster and StartUp Lloydminster. McGirr says Community Futures’ niche is to provide the financing to launch businesses on a path by bringing all levels of government together. “We are really passionate about long walks on the beach and long talks about businesses,” said McGirr. Another key goal for Community Futures is to continue to support the economic empowerment of women. CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Land sales revenues plummet File Photo MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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Revenue generated for Saskatchewan in this month’s public offering of Crown petroleum and natural gas rights dropped significantly from the previous sale. The June 2 sale generated $516,069.98 in revenue for the province compared to more than $1.9 million in the April sale. The latest sale is the second of six oil and gas sales scheduled for the 2021-22 fiscal year with bid activity noticeably lower in the Lloydminster area than the previous sale. The bid activity generated just $15,003 in
FROM PAGE 8
In 2019, they received a four-year grant from Western Economic Diversification to directly support female entrepreneurs through Project Gazelle, which involves 15 of Community Futures’ bi-provincial partners. Project Gazelle pro-
revenue for an average of $38.62 per hectare. This compares to $64,574.16, an average of $153.43/ha at the last offering All three leases p o sted in th e Llo ydminster area received a bid of $5,001 or $38.62 per ha. These leases are located 33 km northwest of Unity, near the Winter Cummings Oil Pool. These leases were awarded to Synergy Land Services Ltd. The Estevan area was, again, the major focus for bid activity, bringing in $438,874 for 16 parcels totalling 1,519.862 ha. The highest bonus bid received on a parcel
was $226,911.20 for a 129.500-ha lease in the Estevan area. This was also the highest dollars per hectare received on a parcel in this offering at $1,752.21 per ha. The lease was award ed t o Crescent Point Energy Corporation and is prospective for oil in the Bakken Formation. Of the total 42 parcels posted in the June sale, 24 parcels received acceptable bids. These bids covered 3,814.759 ha and the average bonus bid was $135.28 per hectare. The next public offering is scheduled for Aug. 10.
vides coaching, mentoring training and incubation for rural and remote female entrepreneurs with StartUp Lloydminster, the local incubator. The program has reached nearly 2,800 women in a grant goal of 3,300 while providing training to 1,200
Gazelles in a project target of 1,500. “We are seeing Gazelles coming from every walk of life. COVID has only enhanced the need for women entrepreneurs to have a side hustle or two or three or four,” said McGirr who notes the programming is free.
38 th
Annual General Meeting
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JUNE 23, 2021 6:30 PM
to be held via virtual meeting If interested in attending, please email info@libbie.ca and a link will be sent to you.
Everyone Welcome!!
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5921-50 Avenue, Lloydminster, SK S9V 2A4 Phone: 306-825-5111 Toll Free: 1-800-327-3899 Fax: 306-825-5147 meridiansource.ca Mail: Box 2454, Lloydminster, SK S9V 1W5 Hours: 8AM to 5PM Monday to Friday THE MERIDIAN SOURCE is published once a week, on Thursday. All material printed in the Meridian Source is copyright and may not be copied or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. The Meridian Source reserves the right to refuse publication of any advertising or editorial material at its discretion. Columns and letters are the expressed view of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Meridian Source.
Editor Taylor Weaver taylor@meridiansource.ca
Staff Writer Geoff Lee geoff@meridiansource.ca
Marketing Manager Deanna Wandler deanna@meridiansource.ca
Marketing Consultant Ashley Miazga ashley@meridiansource.ca
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2017
Viewpoint Op-ed: Why we’re taking the Trudeau government to task JAMIE IRVING SPECIAL TO THE MERIDIAN SOURCE
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The hundreds of publications that belong to News Media Canada are in the business of reporting the news – not making it. But this week, we’re breaking that rule by bringing together our disparate, cross-Canada member publications to speak in one united voice – in both official languages – in an unprecedented open letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which has been given prominent place (in print and online) in our member publications. We wish it didn’t have to come to this. It wouldn’t have if the Prime Minister and his government had kept their word. But when the future of local news is at stake in Canada, we won’t hesitate to put aside our usual differences and take a strong public stance to hold the government to account. For months now, the Prime Minister and his Minister of Canadian Heritage, Steven Guilbeault, have promised legislation to rein in the monopoly abuses of Google and Facebook and their attack on local news in Canada. It’s part of a relentless onslaught by the two web giants around the world. They exploit their position as de facto gatekeepers of the Internet to hoover up the lion’s share of online advertising and distribute the work of hardworking, professional journalists without compensation. News media are choked off from the financial resources they need to report the news. And the news media ecosystem is shattered. All the while, Google and Facebook use these syphoned-off revenues to increase their own wealth and consolidate their power. It’s a vicious cycle that results in shuttered newsrooms and the silencing of credible local news. Canada is one of the countries where the web giants’ stranglehold is the tightest – they divert 80 per cent of online advertising revenues in Canada into their own coffers. Last fall, we issued a comprehensive report on the crisis,
titled Levelling the Digital Playing Field. We called on the government to follow Australia’s example, which is standing up to Google and Facebook, requiring them to negotiate collectively with that country’s media over fair compensation. And they’re backed up with tough, effective enforcement.
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Until all news media in this country can negotiate collectively with Google and Facebook, the two multinationals will continue to use their power and market dominance to drive terms that are in their interests.
In effect just a few months, it’s already having a significant positive impact in Australia, reversing the two behemoths’ control and financing precious local journalism jobs across the country, in media large and small. Importantly, none of this requires new government funds, or fees, or taxes for the general public. Nor does it require government to step in and regulate news content – something we, like most Canadians, vehemently oppose. In talks with the government, over the subsequent months, we were promised similar action in Canada. The government made the same commitments publicly, with Mr. Guilbeault promising – several times – legislation this spring. We’ve also been talking to all the opposition parties in Ottawa – and they have all expressed support for reining in the web monopoly. Well, spring has come and (almost) gone, with no legislation. Not even the hint of it. The government’s clear commitments of recent weeks have given way to silence. A deeply disturbing silence. We’re not the only ones who have noticed it. Facebook recently pressed their advantage. Late last month, they signed
File Photo short-term commercial arrangements with a few Canadian media outlets. Until all news media in this country can negotiate collectively with Google and Facebook, the two multinationals will continue to use their power and market dominance to drive terms that are in their interests. Far from contributing to the resolution of the problem, this approach only deepens it. And as long as there is a vacuum of government action, Google and Facebook won’t let up. Parliament will be rising for its long summer break in a matter of days. Less than two years into its mandate, the air is filled with talk of a snap fall election. Meanwhile, the day-to-day struggle against the monopoly abuses of the two U.S.-based multinationals will go on in newsrooms across Canada. How long it can go on without the government doing its job is an open question. The COVID pandemic has proven once again how vital local news media is in keeping the public informed and in holding governments at all levels accountable. It’s literally made the difference between life and death. Now we must face another life and death struggle – for the survival of local news. We’re fighting it with everything we’ve got. But in order to push back foes this big and powerful, we need the government in our – and Canadians’ – corner. Jamie Irving is Vice President of Brunswick News Inc. and Chair of News Media Canada.
PAGE 11 Thursday, June 17, 2021 MERIDIAN SOURCE
Opinion
Leeway from Lloyd: Lloyd needs to fight for Court STAFF WRITER GEOFF LEE
The loss of the only Provincial Court in the city is a blow not only to the Saskatchewan Court employees who are losing their jobs, but also to our city’s reputation as a regional service centre. A decision was made by Saskatchewan’s Chief Judge, Shannon Metivier, on June 7 to convert the Provincial Court into a circuit court based in North Battleford effective Sept. 1. Metivier stated in a memo sent from her office in Regina, “While not an easy decision, this move will strengthen the Court’s capacity to bet-
ter serve communities throughout the Midwest region.” Designating the court as a circuit court really won’t improve customer service with expected reduced hours of operation, service levels with travelling staff and judges from North Battleford.
It’s not likely to improve the city’s ability to respond to community needs and decide cases in a timely manner either, as Metivier believes it will. The most troubling part is the decision to convert the Provincial Court to a circuit court was made without any
consultation by the province’s top judge, with cost-saving as the main rationale behind it. You would think if efficiency and cost-savings were the heart of the matter, that user groups would have been asked for their input with the goal of
keeping the doors open. The end result boils down to a loss of a basic public service with no public input. While the court on the Alberta side of the city is also a circuit court, the Provincial Court on the Saskatchewan side has been serving residents for more
than 50 years. In other words, it’s a community pillar that can’t be replaced with a circuit court. Since Lloydminster was designated as the logical centre for the Provincial Court more than 50 years ago when the city was much smaller, it doesn’t make sense to downgrade it now that Lloyd is that much larger today. It’s a backwards step. Let’s hope the legal community can rally support from residents, city officials, business owners and other powers that be, to restore the Provincial Court and the jobs and services that are being lost. The court of public opinion is now in session. All rise!
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Legion raffling off “She Shed”
Taylor Weaver Meridian Source
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #39, Lloydminster vice president, Vince Scott, was in the parking lot of the Border City’s Home Hardware Building Centre on Sunday selling tickets for the Legion’s upcoming “She Shed” raffle. TAYLOR WEAVER
EDITOR
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It’s not just the men in the Border City who can reap the benefits of having a place to call a “man cave,” as the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #39, Lloydminster is currently hosting a She Shed fundraising raffle. A “she shed” is a female man cave. It is a d ed icat ed space in the home set aside just for the woman of the house. It can a place for recreation, rejuvenation and enjoying personal activities. “Out on the east coast, She Sheds are very common, but it’s basically a shed that’s geared towards the lady of the household,” said Lloydminster Legion vic e p r e s id e nt Vinc e Scott, who was selling raffle tickets in the Home Hardware Building Centre parking lot on Sunday. “With COVID and what have you, we can’t have our usual fundraisers and we can’t be open all of the time,” said Scott. “We’re trying to keep our doors open while helping the community
out, so we do these little raffles and draws whenever we can.” This is the first time the Lloydminster Legion has raffled off a She Shed, and Scott said the community interest has been great. “This here is just a display model,” he said, pointing to the shed on display at Home Hardware, “but whoever wins the raffle will actually have a brand-new shed built right in their own backyard by us Legion members. This is mainly due to the fact not everyone has the ability to move a prebuilt shed of this size into their backyard.” Scott explained the Legion teamed up with local business Your Backyard Builder to get the project off the ground, and how the partnership has been nothing but positive. “Your Backyard Builder owner, Stan Parke, donated this shed here to be used as a display model and we bought the shed that’s going to be built for the winner from him at a discounted rate, so he’s really helped us with that.” The draw for the She
Shed is taking place at 3 p.m. on July 1 at the Lloydminster Legion, which is located at 4505 49 Ave. “With the lifting of some of the public health restrictions, we’re going to host a Canada Day celebration at the Legion on July 1,” said Scott. “There’s going to be live music, hotdogs and hamburgers, and all sorts of stuff going on over there.” Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased from any Legion member. Scott invites anyone interested in purchasing a ticket to come down to the Legion on Fridays and Saturdays when they’re open for business. Tickets are also available at Coldwell Banker, Cliff Rose for Clothes and Midway Towing. “We’re not out of tickets yet, but they’re moving,” said Scott. The winner will re c e i ve a sh e d p ac k age from Your Backyard Builder valued at $10,000. The second prize is for a merchandise package valued at $500, and the third prize is a merchandise package valued at $250.
Thursday, June 17, 2021
MERIDIAN SOURCE
Toyota steers moviegoers to flick GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. A comedy film and the Lloydminster Public School Division wellness program go hand in hand. All of the donations to see the drive-in laughter movie Jumanji: The Next Level, at the Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds on the evening of July 14, will go to the school charity. The Wednesday night
event is billed as a free movie night presented by Silverwood Toyota in partnership with Free Air Cinema as part of Prairie Toyota Dealers Reel on Wheels program. The Next Level is a 2019 A m e r i c a n f a n t a s y a d v e nture comedy film for a family to enjoy on a four-storey screen. While the movie night is by donation, admission tick-
ets are required with no purchases allowed at the gate. The suggested donation for the school charity is $30 per vehicle with a minimum donation of $1 to qualify for a ticket. Tickets are available at the eventbrite.ca website. The gates open at 7:30 p.m with the movie starting around 9:30 p.m. at sundown and ending before midnight.
Literacy kits to get kids reading this summmer MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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Some Saskatchewan students will be able to get wrapped up in reading this summer, thanks to summer literacy kits provided by their schools. This marks the second summer that eight school divisions will provide literacy kits and programming for students, to help pique their interest and strengthen their skills in literacy over the
summer months. Frontier College is preparing about 1,055 of these kits, which school divisions will distribute to students aged five to 12. “These literacy kits encourage parents to spend time reading with their children, and support children’s interest in reading by providing books for their home,” said Education Minister Dustin Duncan. “This worthwhile
investment will help keep reading skills sharp over the summer, allowing students to get a jump-start on the new school year.” The kits will contain books and activities to engage families in literacy-building activities. Some school divisions will customize kits to include additional items to encourage physical activity and reading in French or an Indigenous language, as well as T-shirts and snacks.
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Thursday, June 17, 2021
Working together to prevent elder abuse Alberta govt. taking stronger action to help communities prevent and address elder abuse MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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The Alberta government is providing $750,000 to the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council to sup port elder abuse prevention and intervention initiatives. Approximately $650,000 of this funding will help coordinated community responses (CCRs) increase supports for seniors subjected to abuse. CCRs are multidisciplinary partnerships that can include a range of partners, such as local governments, non-profit organizations, businesses, health service providers and police services. Elder abuse is currently defined as any action or inaction by self or others that jeopardizes the health or well-being of an older
adult. Prior to 2020, it was estimated nearly one in 10 Alberta seniors may be abused in some way. The council will use the remaining funding to provide ongoing support for grant recipients, explore best practices for data collection and provide enhanced elder abuse awareness training for service providers and responders. “Seniors built this province and are the strength of Alberta,” said Minister of Seniors and Housing Josephine Pon. “Unfortunately, they are not always treated with the respect they deserve. Elder abuse is not acceptable, for anyone, and in any form. These new initiatives will unite Alberta’s government with community organizations across the province to
take stronger action against elder abuse.” In addition, Alberta’s government is undertaking an engagement with stakeholders and Albertans on elder abuse. This dialogue is intended to update elder abuse responses through better understanding, recognition and prevention at the community level. The first step will be to seek input on a revised provincial definition of elder abuse. Stakeholder engagements will take place over the next few weeks and a public engagement will launch later this year. “Elder abuse is a complex issue that requires a coordinated, collaborative response,” said Shantel Ottenbreit, chair, Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Coun-
cil. “Through case management funding, we can support the great work already going on in communities and ensure response services are available for seniors experiencing elder abuse.” Grant recipients - Healthy Families Healthy Futures Society: Athabasca, Westlock, Barrhead – $50,000 - Family Violence Action Society: Camrose and District – $50,000 - Calgary Rural Primary Care Network: Claresholm region – $50,000 - Vulcan Regional Response to Elder Abuse Council: Foothills and Nanton CCRs – $37,000 - Hinton Family and Community Support Services – $21,678 - Kerby Centre: Calgary Elder Abuse
Minister of Seniors and Housing Josephine Pon. Flickr Photo Response – $49,907 - Lamont County Region Family and Community Support Services – $50,000 - Lloydminster Interval Home Society – $45,000 - Medicine Hat Family Services – $36,000 - Edmonton Seniors Protection Partnership – $35,000 - Stop Abuse in Families (SAIF, St. Albert) –
$20,000 - St. Aidan’s Housing Society (Fort McMurray) – $39,256 - Siksika Health Services – $46,000 - Stony Plain Family and Community Support Services – $50,000 - Greenwood Neighbourhood Place Society (Sundre and region) – $15,950 - Enoch Cree Nation – $50,000
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Contest open for snap-happy Sask residents MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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Tourism Saskatchewan’s annual ExploreSask Photo Contest is officially underway and accepting entries as of June 15. Enter photographs of your favourite Saskatchewan adventures for a chance to win great prizes. Amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to submit their most striking images that capture the natural wonders of Saskatchewan and tell stories about its people and communities. The contest runs until Sept. 15. The six contest categories are: People (#ExploreSaskPeople) - Portraits of Saskatchewan people from all walks of life enjoying indoor or outdoor activities. Places (#ExploreSaskPlaces) - Photos that portray the community spirit and live-
liness of Saskatchewan cities and towns, cityscapes, local attractions, dining and urban life. Prairie (#ExploreSaskPrairie) - Scenic photos from prairie regions; hidden treasures such as valleys, hills and badlands; other natural features displaying the province’s diverse geography in any season. Water (#ExploreSaskWater) - Photography that features Saskatchewan’s abundant lakes and rivers. Wildlife (#ExploreSaskWildlife) - Images that showcase Saskatchewan’s beautiful wild animals, birds and insects. Woods (#ExploreSaskWoods) - Photos that highlight Saskatchewan’s diverse forests and trees, from lodgepole pine and aspen groves in the south to the boreal forests of the north.
The prize-winning photographer, in each category, will receive a $500 Visa gift card. The grand prize winner, selected from the six category winners, will receive an additional $500 Visa gift card. There will also be up to five honourable mention prizes in each category. In addition, category winners and a selection of other entries that showcase our beautiful provincial parks will be displayed in the Legislative Building. Photographers may also submit entries through Instagram and Twit t e r by u sing t he #ExploreSask category hashtags. Submissions will be displayed in an online gallery open for comments or to share with friends. Tourism Saskatchewan understands that COVID-19 has changed the way Saskatchewan residents enjoy travel-
ling. Please continue to practice physical distancing and follow public health guidelines as you visit the province’s great destinations. For complete contest rules and to submit your entry, visit TourismSaskatchewan.com/ Photo-Contest or call
File Photo Tourism Saskatchewan toll-free at 1-877-237-
2273. The deadline for entries is Sept. 15.
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Thursday, June 17, 2021
It’s time for Show and Share! PRAIRIE WOOL HELEN ROW TOEWS
Before the final pencil is sharpened and the last eraser drops, I wish to take you inside a school classroom for my play-by-play glimpse of that well-known, but seldom witnessed time of day called, “Show and
Share.” Here we go. Johnny sidles to the front of the room holding a plastic grocery bag. His eyes shift furtively from his classmates, to the inner sanctum of his sack as he prepares an accurate description of its contents for the multitude. (Th is audien c e m u st correctly identify the
hidden item.) “It’s white and it has teeth,” Johnny says, checking the sack once more for accuracy’s sake. He believes in brevity. No other clues are given. Hands shoot up all over the room. “Is it a dinosaur?” “A dog?” “No, it’s a rabbit,” yells a tiny girl, leaping from her chair with glee. “Can I hold it?”
“Nope,” Johnny says with quiet triumph. He rustles in the bag, preparing for his big finish. “You’re all wrong.” In a perfect parody of the finest circus showman, he draws forth the prized possession with a grand flourish, and lifts it far above his head. “It’s the jawbone of a dead coyote!” he shouts. (Several decayed teeth clatter to the floor.) A hush falls upon the crowd. With great ceremony Johnny then paces past the desks of his classmates, treating them to a glimpse of this rare find, (also scrambling under desks after further mouldering molars that tumble to earth). Marcia steps forward, clutching her backpack. The teacher holds up a hand. “Wait till Johnny is through showing us his dead coyote teeth, dear,” she says. Her eyes swivel to meet mine, and she
whispers hoarsely, “What did I just say?” Marcia begins. “It’s purple and hard,” she says softly. This time it’s something small enough to fit in her clenched fist and she peeps at it through her fingers to ensure her description is precise. “Is it a spaceship?” “A turtle?” “An old grape,” hollers the last
to guess. I marvel at their imaginations. She opens her tiny hand for all to see and be amazed. “No! It’s a rock wrapped in a shoelace! I found it on the road.” Dutifully, even though it holds little of the dead animal’s charm, each child inspects it carefully. CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
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Protecting vulnerable Albertans from hate crimes MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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Starting this fall, religious and ethnic organizations and Indigenous groups that are at risk of being targeted by hate-inspired violence or vandalism will be able to apply for grants for security and technology improvements. Funding for upgrades
PRAIRIE WOOL FROM PAGE 18
We move on to Sam. Sam smiles smugly to himself as he shuffles into place backwards, both hands gripping his backpack tightly. Suddenly he whirls about on one foot and rams his entire head inside the voluminous pack. One can only assume this head-in-the-bag move is calculated to ensure the precision of detail. “Shufnig huffle tuff,” he says. Further incoherent mumbling issues
to facility infrastructure, including security and monitoring systems, will help protect both individuals and property from vandalism and other criminal acts. The program will be flexible and accessible enough to address a range of protective measures, such as security planning, educa-
tion and training. “As we tragically witnessed this week, religious and ethnic minorities in Canada remain at risk of being targeted with hatemotivated crime,” said Premier Jason Kenney. “These cowardly acts of bigotry have no place in our province. Alberta’s government stands shoulder to shoulder
from the interior of the sack. “Sammy,’ the teacher says patiently, “we can’t hear you.” His head reappears. Old cookie crumbs trickle from his hair and topple lightly to the floor. “It’s green and it has a light,” he cries. Then, even as his friends raise their hands to guess, he yells, “It’s a watch!” The bag falls, disregarded to the floor as he capers about with the timepiece held on high. Robbed of his guess, a
friend asks a reasonable question. “What do you do with it?” Sammy pauses, considering this weighty matter. “I use the light under the blankets at night ‘cause I’m scared of the dark,” he answers with refreshing candour. The end. And there you have it. An exceptional classroom moment brought directly to you by a woman who truly loves, “Show and Share.” You’re welcome.
with these communities and is proud to deliver on our election commitment to help keep them safe.” The initial call for grant applications will take place this fall. A total of $500,000 will be available, with applicants eligible for up to $10,000 to assist with training and security assessments, as well as up to $90,000 for security infrastructure. More information on program eligibility and
File Photo the application process will become available in the coming months. “The Alberta Security Infrastructure Program will empower these Albertans and their communities by
providing additional layers of protection for those in need. Empowered communities are safe communities.”said Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kaycee Madu.
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WHISPERS OF THE PAST SANDRA L. BROWN
Area communities enthusiastically celebrated Alberta and Saskatchewan’s Golden Jubilees in 1955. After all, 50 years is reason enough to celebrate! The Marsden branch of the Canadian Legion sponsored their doublecelebration on July 1 at the Manitou Lake Picnic Grounds. Oldtimers were invited back for a homecoming. Historical photographs and items were on display. Led by the Lashburn Band, a March of Timethemed parade included different modes of transportation. A fashion show portrayed various clothing styles. A cairn was dedicated with a brief official ceremony. Men played baseball and children enjoyed games
Thursday, June 17, 2021
A reason to celebrate
on the sandy beach. There were water sports, a picnic supper, musical performances, a souvenir booth and an evening dance to enjoy. Lone Rock held its day of celebration on July 7. Due to rain, all the scheduled sports day activities were postponed until the following week. The afternoon parade included “floats, decorated cars and bicycles, riders on horseback and on ponies, the boy scouts, cubs, girl guides and school children.” Dressed in a majorette uniform, this parade was proudly led by Linda Crush. The opening ceremonies were held in the Community Hall. Chairman of the Jubilee Committee, Ronald Kenyon introduced the speakers and school children proudly sang afterwards. Refreshments were
served to the Oldtimers by the Nunebor District Ladies’ Club. The lunch counters were looked after by the Ladies’ Auxiliary and Homemakers’ Clubs. As honoured guests, the oldtimers enjoyed this historical day. The rescheduled sports day activities included baseball games for all ages. As expected, the highlight game of the day was between the two oldtimers teams. Players had to be 50 years of age or older to qualify. Their agility surprised the spectators who offered plenty of sage advice during the thrilling game. Children enjoyed participating in numerous races as did the ladies. Men enthusiastically played horseshoes. An interesting competition was pillow fighting. Participants sat astride on a pole and tried to knock their opponent
File Photo off with a pillow. Two booths on-site provided delicious home cooking. Attendees could also sit down in a tent and reminisce with district oldtimers. The day’s delightful festivities ended with a dance. Sefton Park School was the location of this district’s celebration on July 13. Guests included members of the Rivercourse Ladies’ Club, McLaughlin Willing Workers and the
Golden Valley Ladies’ Club. Attics and the contents of trunks were searched through for pioneer clothing. The warm weather was made even hotter from the layers of petticoats, bustles and hoop skirts worn by the ladies. Each arriving guest received a corsage. Photographs were taken by Reg Quarton to record the day’s activities. Interestingly, the Paradise Valley guest speaker spoke of Egypt
and shared tales of Arabia. Tea was served and attendees each received a party favour. Two decorated birthday cakes in the shape of bells were inscribed with 1905 on one and 1955 on the other. Folks appreciated their history and the camaraderie of socializing together and sharing stories from the past. These provincial milestones were wonderful reasons for celebrating as a community.
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To see ahead, look back MIDWEST MINUTE VERN McCLELLAND
Eleven years ago this month, I had two gentlemen ask for an appointment at my office. O n e re s i d e d i n t h e Okanagan, the other, a cousin of his came down from his home in Edmonton. The B.C. gentleman owned four orchards and was in the process of liquidating them to wealthy boomers looking to start their own boutique vineyards. Oddly enough, each party in those transactions saw it as a sort of pre-retirement transition strategy; one leaving a business of 30-plus years, the other starting something new and exciting. A farmer to his toes, my client wanted to stay involved with agriculture, and after con-
siderable research, thought farmland in west-central and northwest Saskatchewan would make a good transfer of the dollars gained from those property sales in B.C. His cousin, who had other business interests in Alberta, decided to share the risk, and come along for the ride, so to speak. Together, they grilled me for close to two hours. The partners wanted someone who would scout out opportunities for them, assess the quality of the land, determine the competency of potential tenants, and generally, be a Realtor with some mud on his boots they could trust. It is hard to believe now, but at that time, a lot of local grain farmers were not that aggressive about buying land. First, many of them
had no successor in the pipeline and in a few years, they too would be looking to retire. So, if they wanted more land, all they had to do was look around for some to rent from the preceding generation who had already had their machinery auction sales. Secondly, commodity prices were stable, but not exactly great. They had also come through the high-interest rates of the 80s and were leery about rolling the dice again. The third, and probably the most immediate problem was, how hard it was to find skilled labour when most farms could not compete with wages being paid in the energy sector. So, when these two gentlemen in front of me said they wanted to buy quality land that would return about 2 to 3 per cent annually, not counting any reve-
RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF BRITANNIA NO. 502
OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE The RM of Britannia No. 502 is holding a public open house to outline key provisions proposed for a new Official Community Plan for the municipality. When finalized, this bylaw will provide direction to guide land use and development decisions within the RM of Britannia. Members of the consulting team will be in attendance to discuss and explain what is being proposed and to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to speaking with anyone interested in reviewing and providing comment on the preliminary policies at the open house: June 21st, 2021 Hillmond Hall (Britannia United Services Memorial Hall) #1 Main Street Hillmond, Saskatchewan Come and go anytime between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respecting and observing all applicable COVID-19 Public Health Measures. Alan Parkin Chief Administrative Officer, R.M. of Britannia Phone: 306-825-2610
nue from surface leases, I asked “why?” especially since there were so many other lucrative places to put money in at that time. The response floored me. “You guys (meaning us yokels from the midwest) have no idea what you have around you! The day will come in the not-too-distant future when local farmers are either going to have to step up and reinvest for the future in the land next to them, or forever work for people like us.” And how right they were. The climb in land values this past decade is well documented. But here is my point. The same applies today to housing in this region. In a time where many employees are realizing their work assignments can be successfully completed at home combined with an emotional desire for liv-
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File Photo ing space outside of the confines of an apartment or condo, it would appear to make sense for young adults to start gravitating to singlefamily homes. If you look at the current cost of building a house compared to the asking price of “used” ones in inventory available today at five-year lows, I wonder if we in the midwest once again don’t realize what we
have and if it will take outside influence to make us pay attention? Just saying. 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.
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Thursday, June 17, 2021
Fruiting vines make best use of space GREEN FILE MARK & BEN CULLEN
“Look up. Look waaaayyy up” the Friendly Giant used to say at the opening of his CBC tv show. Not bad advice for gardeners. After all, real estate has shot up in value and every square foot of space in your yard suddenly equals (more) money in the bank. How to make the best use of your garden space? The obvious answer is to grow vines, which produce shade, and flower vertically. But what if your vines also produce food? That would make you a real estate, investment, foody genius, right? Here are our top eight picks of food-producing vines: Runner beans. Ok, we hate eating them, but you cannot deny their ability to cover verti-
cal space fast. They produce an abundance of attractive red flowers, not to mention pollinators including bumblebees. If you happen to like eating the long green bean, so much the better. For added interest, look for purple podded stringless beans, which sound a bit more tempting to us. Minimum 6 hours of sun. Cucumbers. Not all cucumbers climb, but most do. Avoid the newer varieties that clump and are hybridized for use in containers or in a patio pot. Mark grows his English long cucumbers over an A-frame in this veggie garden, but you can train them up a trellis just as easily. The cucumber fruit hangs as you might imagine it in the hanging gardens of Babylon. A crop fit for royalty, especially the burpless varieties: more civilized. Requires full sun. Squash. Members of
the cucumber family (or are cucumbers members of the squash family?). Sow the seeds for autumn squash now in a sunny, hot position. Give their roots lots of space, a square metre or so. Enrich the soil with plenty of compost and give them support using a trellis or series of strings attached to a wall or fence. Be prepared to create a hammock for the heavy fruit when it matures, using thin fabric or a used bra otherwise, the squash may fall off the vine prematurely. Gourds. Italian gourds are quite edible while ornamental gourds are, well, ornamental. Both climb up a wall, fence, or trellis nicely and produce a dramatic display of hanging fruit later in the season. Grow from seed in a sunny position now. Kiwi. We mentioned
FOR RENT
LEASEHOLDS BUILT TO SUIT Call Reid at (306) 821-0530
these a couple of weeks ago, as a novelty plant, but they are so easy and fast to grow that they make a great addition to both the fruit and ornamental garden. Be sure to plant both male and female specimens as they need cross-pollination to produce sweet fruit about the size of your thumb, from the knuckle up. Hops. The flowers of hops are used to make a sleep-inducing tea or, of course, beer. Either way, they grow fast and twine up almost anything vertical. A bit invasive, so keep their growth in check by pruning heavily or planting in a container. Young leaves of hops can be steamed as a veggie dish. Tomatoes. Ever notice how we say “tomato vine” but grow them on a bush? There are varieties that grow vertically very nicely. Look for indeterminate varieties.
File Photo Mark’s favourites are Brandy Wine, Sweet One Million (cherry) and Yellow Pear, all growing in his garden. Tie them up securely as they become top-heavy when they start to fruit in early August. Lots of sun and heat. Peas. Garden peas need support to perform best so why not train them up a trellis, wall, or fence rather than in the middle of your garden? They benefit from the air that circulates around them while off the ground and they are much easier to pick. Minimum 6 hours sun each day. Come to think of it, all fruiting vines ben-
efit from the additional exposure to the sun, the wind moving through their foliage and you benefit from the accessibility of fruit produced off the ground. Not to mention the most efficient use of your garden space. Genius. Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author, broadcaster, tree advocate and Member of the Order of Canada. His son Ben is a fourth-generation urban gardener and graduate of University of Guelph and Dalhousie University in Halifax. Follow them at markcullen.com, @ markcullengardening, and on Facebook.
10,000 sq. ft. or multiples of 2,000 sq. ft. CALL NOW
Thursday, June 17, 2021
MERIDIAN SOURCE
Sask renews interprovincial health science training agreement MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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The Government of Saskatchewan has renewed eight interprovincial agreements (IPAs) with post-secondary institutions in Alberta and British C o l umbia, c re at ing ongoing opportunities for Saskatchewan students to enroll in high-demand health sciences programs that are not available in the province. “These agreements provide our students with the opportunity to access education in specialized health professions that are important for the province,” said Advanced Education Minister Gene Makowsky. “This collaborative approach with postsecondary institutions in Alberta and British
Columbia helps ensure our province continues to deliver high-quality health care to the people of Saskatchewan.” Saskatchewan students enrolled in these programs complete the clinical portion of their training in the province. This helps ensure students can seamlessly transition into the labour market in th e Saskatc hew an health care system after graduation. In 2021-22, the provincial government is investing $2.9 million to secure 106 seats for Saskatchewan learners in eight priority programs that are vital to health care and patient needs. The number of dedicated seats negotiated through the IPAs with Alberta and British Columbia will grow to
110 by 2024-2025. “Training and recruiting health care professionals to meet the health needs of our residents is a priority for our government,” said Health Minister Paul Merriman. “We rely on these out-of-province seats to train professionals in short supply to continue providing high-quality care to Saskatchewan citizens.” The renewed agreements include seats in Respiratory Therapy, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Occupational Therapy, Cardiovascular Perfusion, Orthotics and Prosthetics, Electroneurophysiology, and Magnet ic R esonance Imaging. Programs supported under IPAs provide the
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File Photo health care system with a steady supply of qualified health professionals who provide a range of critical medical diagnostic services, operate heart-lung machines during open-heart surgeries, and treat patients with respira-
tory illnesses and physical and mental disabilities in both hospital and community settings. Students enrolled in these programs are eligible for various financial supports to help fund their education and connect them to
careers in the Saskatchewan health system. Supports include Clinical Placement Bursaries, Return-in-Service Bursaries, the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship and the Graduate Retention Program.
PAGE 24 Thursday, June 17, 2021 MERIDIAN SOURCE
Agriculture
Last week in the field: Sask crop report MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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Seeding is virtually complete throughout the province, with 99 per cent of the crop seeded, with a few fields being seeded for green feed and silage.
This is ahead of the five-year average (20162020) of 97 per cent. Some areas of the northern regions of the province received good amounts of rain due to a thunderstorm on the weekend; unfortu-
nately, it brought some hail as well. The Cando area reported 40 mm of rain, the Kinistino area 37 mm, the Rosthern area 32 mm, the Sonningdale area 27 mm, the Duck Lake and Spruce
Home areas 23 mm. Parts of the southern half of the province saw small localized showers with amounts ranging from two mm to 12 mm. Even with the rainfall over the weekend, the topsoil moisture conditions in Saskatchewan have deteriorated. Higher amounts of rain in the northern regions have slightly improved moisture conditions in the area, but there are more fields rated as having short or very short moisture in the remaining regions of the province last week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, 56 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and four per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture
is rated as zero per cent surplus, 35 per cent adequate, 53 per cent short and 12 per cent very short. Dry conditions continue to delay pasture and hay land growth and have delayed emergence of smaller seeded crops, such as canola and flax. Eighteen per cent of the fall cereal crops are reported being in the shot blade stage and 18 per cent are heading, while 51 per cent of the spring cereals are emerging and 38 per cent are tillering. Forty-two per cent of the canola is emerging and 40 per cent is in the seedling stage, along with 30 per cent of flax being in the seedling stage. Forty-eight per cent of pulse crops are
File Photo emerging and 45 per cent are in the vegetative stage. The majority of crop damage last week was due to strong winds, dry soil conditions and insects (including flea beetles and cutworms). Some producers are reseeding due to flea beetle and cutworm damage. Producers have been busy spraying for weed and insect control, hauling grain and moving cattle to pasture.
PAGE 25 Thursday, June 17, 2021 MERIDIAN SOURCE
Sports
Swimmer laps up Brock scholarship
Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Riptides swimmer and Holy Rosary High School grad Landon Daschuk has signed a swimming scholarship with the Brock Niagara Aquatics at Brock University in Ontario. GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. Landon Daschuk enjoys being a fish out of water, having landed an athletic scholarship for swimming instead of the usual football and
hockey tickets to postsecondary education. The 18-year-old Holy Rosary High School grad will pursue swimming while studying medical sciences at Brock University in St.
Catherines, Ont. this fall. “Swimming has been ‘on the low’ in Lloydminster, but over the years, we’ve seen lots of new swimmers come into the group,” said Dashcuk. “It feels really good to not be in one of the mainstream Lloyd sports and to have actually gone on to the next level.” Ironically, he will be heading to St. Kitts with his 15-year-old hockeyplaying sister, Presley, who will lace up for the Ridley College prep school team. “I’ve been pretty close to my sister for a long time,” said Daschuk. “We’ve always done sports together. I push her; she pushes me and just being in the same place, it’s going to be
hopefully, a fun time.” Daschuk will suit up for the Brock Niagara Aquatic team as a product of the Rebels and Riptides swim clubs in Lloydminster. The phenom hopes to lower his times at Brock from 50m sprint races to the 1,500m to make the national team. “My times are get ting better and better. Every week, I have been taking time trials and every week it keeps getting better and better,” said Dashchuk. The teen says he was reluctantly coaxed into swimming with the Rebels by his mom at age 11, but after he got into it, he advanced quickly to a more competitive age group. “That’s when my coach saw that I really had a talent for it,” said
Daschuk. He has been training at the BioClean Aquatic Centre with the Riptides winter team coached by Cory Totman, with his fastest swim times posted on a Swimming Canada
website. “The faster it gets. the easier it gets, but you feel all of the muscle pain at the end— you just push through it and you feel wonderful afterwards,” he said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
CANADA’S FAVOURITE COLUMNIST Diamond Doctor Matt answers life’s big questions. His passion for his work and his customers continues to change lives daily.
Dear Matt, I long for the good old days. Don’t you? THESE are the good old days, my dear friend. Today is the only day we have. So love each other... really good! And we will cherish and know that these are, indeed, the good old days!
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PAGE 26 Thursday, June 17, 2021 MERIDIAN SOURCE
Careers
Creating jobs by investing in Alberta agriculture MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
..................................
Alberta’s government streamlined its Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) grant process to make it easier for producers and food manufacturers to access funds. Changes include a simplified grant application process that will allow applicants to receive their money faster, enabling companies to more easily create jobs and inject more money into the province’s economy. Funding for the fiveyear $406-million pa r t ne r s h i p r e main s unchanged. This year, Alberta’s CAP funding will focus
DASCHUK FROM PAGE 25
Dashchuk says evershifting COVID rules limited the amount of training time he’s had this year in Lloyd, but says he’s still been able to do tons of swimming.
on investment in agriculture and food processing. Through these changes, the program will encourage innovation and technological advancement on farms and throughout the entire food supply chain. “CAP grants have increased our farmers’, ranchers’ and producers’ competitiveness and this will continue going forward,” said Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Devin Dreeshen. “Value-added processing is so important to the industry and a simplified grant process will help us attract private investment across Alberta and create jobs.”
In 2020-21, the program awarded 989 grants that aim to help farmers and businesses grow and innovate. It is estimated that these grants have led to more than $150 million in investment and created more than 750 jobs in the agriculture and agrifood processing sector. “Through our costshared programming, the Government of Canada and Alberta are working to ensure our farmers and processors can continue to innovate and create good jobs,” said MarieClaude Bibeau, federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “The changes announced today will
help Alberta’s agricultural sector remain competitive by helping farmers and businesses access funding more quickly.” Alberta’s nine programs will be organized under three themes: Growth and ValueAdded, Farm Efficiency and Public Trust.
The Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a five-year $3-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the agriculture, agri-food and agribased products sector. This includes up to $2 billion for programs cost-shared by the fed-
eral and provincial/territorial governments that are designed and delivered by provinces and territories. In Alberta, the partnership is worth $406 million over the five years towards strategic programs and services that align with priorities in the province.
He also loves volleyball and found it “heartbreaking” not to be able to play the game during the pandemic. When it comes to academics, Daschuk has his sights set on
writing his Medical College Admission Tests after his fourth year at Brock and become an anesthesiologist. Daschuk says the source of his motivation
to swim faster and be a doctor is his mom who works in healthcare. “I’ve seen her run around and do a ton of things with COVID now and hearing all kinds of different stories
about stuff in the medical field. It’s just really pushed me to want to pursue medicine and be able to help others,” he explained. He’s also stoked by the stories his Brock swim coach has been sharing about how competitive it is at the university level. Daschuk also can’t
wait to get out of Lloydminster and experience someplace new. “No, I do not want to reword that,” he said with a laugh during a media event at the high school on Tuesday. “Lloydminster is a great town, but there is so much more to see. I am very excited to go out to Ontario.”
File Photo
PAGE 27 Thursday, June 17, 2021 MERIDIAN SOURCE 306-825-5111 admin@meridansource.ca
WANTED
Are you RE-SIDING OR STUCCOING your house? Looking for beveled cedar siding and will remove for the taking. Call Blain 780-808-3471
AGRICULTURE
LAND FOR SALE
Classifieds NOTICE
FEED AND SEED
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
FARMLAND WANTED
1A TRUCK DRIVERS REQUIRED:
I am currenlty PURCHASING single to large blocks of land.
Late model winch trucks and trailers; dump trucks and pups. Hauling heavy equipment, gravel, and camp shacks.
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Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction Box 100, Arborfield, Sk. S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca
Doug Rue, for further information 306-716-2671 saskfarms@shaw.ca www.sellyourfarm land.com
MISCELLANEOUS
HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS REQUIRED: motor scrapers, dozers, excavators, graders, rock FORAGE SEED FOR trucks. Lots of work all SALE: Organic & conven- season. tional: Sweet Clover, AlCamp job; R & B falfa, Red Clover, Smooth provided. Competitive Brome, Meadow Brome, wages. Valid drivers Crested Wheatgrass, license req’d.
Integrity Post Frame Buildings
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SERVICES
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LLOYDMINSTER OUTDOOR FARMERS MARKET Starting May 20th EVERY
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FOR SALE
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GARAGE SALE
MULTI-FAMILY YARD SALE June 17-June 20 Tools, Household, Antiques, Furniture, Banjo, Telescope West of Blackfoot to RRD 23, South to TWP RD 500 Follow signs
AGPRO SEEDS is BUYING: HEATED CANOLA #1 BUYER, TOP PRICE PAID IN SK. On farm pickup! Call: 306873-3006 or email: sales@agproseeds. com. Check out prices @ agproseeds.com
REAL ESTATE
Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction Box 100, Arborfield, Sk. S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca
FOR RENT
MAR-NAN MANOR
1 - 1 Bedroom, JUST LISTED - Estate Sale: 1⁄2 section farm ground level apartment near Eston. Home quarIncludes same floor ter has house, workshop laundry, range, range & shed. $575,000. Call hood, dishwasher, Gerald Muller at C&C partial a/c, 1 parking Realty, 306-570-7743. FARMLAND WANTED: I have a buyer looking for 50-70 quarters of good grain land West of Regina/Saskatoon. Call Gerald Muller at C&C Realty, 306-570-7743.
AUCTIONS AUCTIONS are our business! Contact Copeland Auctions Ltd. located in Lloydminster, AB for all your auction needs. Call Russ 780-870-1181 or visit our website: www.copelandauctions.co m
stall with plug-in 635sq/ft plus utility room. $785/month. Ages 40 plus, couples preferred.
2 Bedroom apartment. Includes washer, dryer, range, range hood, dishwasher, partial a/c, 1 parking stall with plug-in, balcony. 815sq/ft, $875/month. Ages 40 plus, couples preferred. Phone for information 780-870-7226 (cell) 780-875-6226
Advertise your classified in this space. Call 306-825-5111
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MERIDIAN SOURCE
Thursday, June 17, 2021
“What is lovely never dies, but passes into other loveliness.” Thomas Bailey Aldrich
To remember a loved one or share their memories, place a memoriam or obituary in the Meridian Source by calling
306-825-5111
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Church Directory
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MERIDIAN SOURCE
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Local Business Directory NO MORE WEEDS! Lawn spraying, tree spraying, oilfield and commercial spraying Tregan Contracting Ltd. Allen Thor 780-214-9705
Celebrations
Thursday, June 17, 2021
SUDOKU
CROSSWORD
June 10 Answers
ACROSS 1. Naught 4. “Green ____ and Ham” 8. Trim 12. Fruit cooler 13. Uh-huh 14. Thought 15. Foolishness 17. Plushy 18. Singing voice 19. Robbery 21. Bambi’s mom, e.g. 23. Perches 27. Misting device 31. Lap 32. Moreover 33. Snow vehicles 35. Hawaiian keepsake 36. Flight path
June 10 Answers
38. British sport 40. Hoed 42. Building wing 43. Golf clubs 45. Poems 49. ____ tie 52. Optimistic 54. Squadron 55. Parallel 56. Passing through 57. Receives 58. Tall tale 59. Nightmare street
DOWN 1. Grandmother 2. Adored person 3. Advanced, as money 4. Look at 5. Refined 6. Long cut 7. Transparent 8. Revolver 9. Fuss 10. TKO caller 11. Wolf down 16. Cream or baking 20. Dinosaur bone, e.g. 22. Pearl’s place 24. Pout 25. Forest filler 26. Barbecue stick 27. Stash away
28. Skin opening 29. Kimono, e.g. 30. Kind of room 34. Bedroom piece 37. Fools 39. Lump 41. Snow White’s pal 44. Bossa ____ 46. Plunge 47. See no ____ 48. Edge line 49. Insect 50. ____-man band 51. Aglow 53. Motel
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
Introduce your new addition here in next week’s issue for FREE! Come in and fill out a form or email admin@meridiansource.ca Deadline is Tuesday at noon for the Thursday edition.
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Thursday, June 17, 2021
MERIDIAN SOURCE
HOME
AWESOMENESS
INGENUITY EXCELLENCE
NEW PRICES
COME HOME TO THE COUNTRY
TUXEDO CONDO
SK
128,000
$
MLS A1061255
AB
74,500
$
PT SW 30-50-26 W3RD
MLS A1091439
SK
625,000
$
MLS A1071380
PT SW 18-44-27 W3RD
SE 22-50-19 W3RD
SK
460,000 MLS A1099625
$
SK
169,900
$
MLS A1051061
COMMERCIAL LEASE SPACES DOWNTOWN
MERIDIAN PLAZA
PLAZA 44
PLAZA 44 SECOND FLOOR
PLAZA 51
AB $1,050/month MLS A1088633
SK $15.00 SQ. FT. MLS A1044600
AB $14.50/SQ. FT. MLS A1093741
AB $9.50 SQ. FT. MLS A1093711
AB $7.50/sq. ft. MLS A1056182
A LOT TO BUILD ON! BUFFALO NARROWS
COWAN LAKE
MLS A1098129 MLS A1098112 $ SK 49,000 EACH
MLS A1007160 MLS A1007166 $ SK 45,000 EACH
KITSCOTY LOT
$
374,900
MLS A1104171
AB
$
SK
$
199,900
MLS A1101482
AB
$
14,500 TRAILER LOTS $ 7,500 HOUSE LOTS
$
AB
30,000
$
MLS A1101950
SK
19,900
MLS A1018005
$
AB
RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES ALBERTA
MAKE YOUR MOVE
AB
DEWBERRY LOTS
PARADISE HILL
352,000 MLS A1041308
SK
$
278,900
MLS A1041540
195,000 MLS A1091587
SK
$
172,500
MLS A1101704
2917 - 51 Ave 5210 - 50 St 5121 - 50 St. 3315-51 Ave. 5675-43 St. 3009-57A Ave. 2917-51 Ave. 5207-47 St. 5607-31 St. 3009 - 57A Ave. 5110 - 54A St. 4605-56 Ave. 5101-18 St. 6802-42 St. 5213-48 St.
1 bed, 1 bath 1 bed, 1 bath 1 bed, 1 bath 1 bed, 1 bath 1 bed, 1 bath 1 bed, 1 bath 2 bed, 1 bath 2 bed, 1 bath 2 bed, 1 bath 2 bed, 1 bath 2 bed, 1 bath 3 bed, 1 bath 2 bed, 2 bath 2 bed, 2 bath 3 bed, 2 bath
July 1st READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY!
$600 $650 $650 $675 $700 $800 $900 $900 $900 $950 $1000 $1000 $1000 $1100 $1200
SASKATCHEWAN
SK
159,500
$
MLS A1080099
AB
155,000 MLS A1016349
$
SK
155,000
$
MLS A1026036
4513-32 St. 4728 - 18 St. 4008-41 Ave. 4321-32 St. 4738-13 St. 4405-32 St.
4 bed, 2 bath 3 bed, 2 bath 3 bed, 2 bath 3 bed, 2 bath 3 bed, 2 bath 3 bed, 2 bath
$1100 $1200 $1250 $1250 $1250 $1300
READY! July 1st READY! July 1st READY! READY!
APPLY ONLINE TODAY AB
140,000
$
MLS A1072051
AB
124,900 MLS A1103605
$
AB
114,500
$
MLS A1071407
coldwellbankercitysiderealty.com
Brad Gilbert Jennifer Gilbert Broker/Owner Associate Broker
Rick Schesnuk Realtor®
Caleb McLean Realtor®
Each office is independently owned & operated.
3812 - 51 Avenue, Lloydminster, AB T9V 3M7 Sandy Hardy Realtor®
Judy Bexson Realtor®
www.coldwellbankercitysiderealty.com
780-875-3343
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