Meridian Source -June 2, 2022 by Meridian Source

Thursday, June 2, 2022

VOLUME 4 I ISSUE 49

MERIDIANSOURCE.CA

School farm meals food for thought GEOFF LEE

WRITER

.................................. Free Tim Hortons breakfast sandwiches and snacks will help students and staff at Jack Kemp Community School understand where their food comes from. That’s the goal of the Meals from the Farm program running this morning at 11:30 a.m. by Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan (FFC SK). Jack Kemp is one of six schools in the province selected to participate this year to the delight of Lloydminster Public School Division nutrition and wellness coordinator, Elizabeth Denvir. “This is a great opportunity for the students to investigate the farms and nutrition around our area and community so they can learn where our food and nutrition come from,” said Denvir. “When they get their meals, they will be told where each product came from.” FFC-SK represents all grower groups in Saskatchewan that are partners in funding the

farm meals. “So there’s lots of things represented in each meal like milk and eggs and bacon, cheese and wheat and all these great products that we grow in Saskatchewan,” said FFCSK director of communication Dorothy Long from Lloydminster. Long says their mandate is to connect consumers to the food they are eating and help them understand where it comes from. They have also partnered with Ag Saskatchewan in the Classroom with a similar mandate. The partners will offer a series of online webinars with farmers and chefs about farming and cooking with Saskatchewan-grown foods on June 2. It will culminate in the delivery of a free lunch to about 1,000 school kids in the province. “We are reaching out to schools because we feel kids are a great place to share that message and start understanding where their food comes from,” explained Long. Some students like

Emelia, who is in Grade 3, seemed to know where their food is sourced when put to the test earlier in the week. “We’ve been learning about what is local and what is transported,” said Emelia. “Lots of local foods we grow are very delicious like granola bars which are oats, flour which is made from wheat, bacon which is pork from pigs and beef jerky is from cows and milk is also from cows.” She was also looking forward to the sandwich specifying, “the local food that we are getting for meals from the farm because I love bacon, I love eggs and I love sandwiches and breakfast.” Her classmate Grace couldn’t wait to sink her teeth into a granola bar and explained why. “I really like them and it’s not very often that my mom buys them and I think they are very delicious,” she said. She too also knew what granola bar ingredient comes from the farm when quizzed beforehand.

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Dorothy Long, director of communications with Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan, helped deliver tote bags for the organization’s Meals from the Farm program on Thursday at Jack Kemp Community School. All students and staff will enjoy free Tim Hortons breakfast sandwiches for lunch to learn where food comes from.

“Oats,” she said like a TV game show contestant. Students will also get a virtual tour of an egg-laying facility operated by farmer Clint Monchuk. “The kids will be able to tune in and watch that and ask him questions virtually,” said Long. FFC-SK will also provide students with a

bag full of resources about agriculture as well as some other online classes they can go through and a game they can play. “We put the bag together and hopefully it all culminates in a great day for the kids to learn and to feed their minds and their bodies,” said Long. Included is a copy of the magazine The Real

Dirt on Farming that goes through all different agriculture practices and gives information about each of the commodity groups. “Hopefully, it gets kids to realize there is a step before the grocery store where their food is produced,” said FFC-SK digital media and communications rep Angela Larson, also from Lloydminster.

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, June 2, 2022

The going’s good to Edmonton

File Photo GEOFF LEE

WRITER

.................................. It could be smooth sailing this summer for Lloydminster motorists heading west on Highway 16 to Edmonton with a few road construction projects listed in the design phase. That’s the way it looks, according to the 2022 Provincial Construction Program, launched on May 27.

Some of the major capital projects including 75 in the central region are scheduled for the next three years (2022-23 to 2024-25). A plan to repave 32 kilometres of Highway 16 between 7 km west of Hwy 893 and Lloydminster is in the design phase. A scheduled repaving of 19 km of Hwy 41 between the Town of

Wainwright and 1 km south of Hwy 883 is also in the design phase. Design work is also slated for an intersection improvement at Hwy 16 and Hwy 830 west of Elk Island National Park Alberta Transportation typically paves about 1,000 km of highway every year and rehabilitates or replaces about 50 bridges.

City to discontinue residential commissioner for oath services MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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

After careful consideration and reviewing provincial best practices, the City of Lloydminster will discontinue providing commissioner for oaths services effective the end of day the June 10. City administration

learned the majority of Alberta municipalities do not provide such service as staff members can be appointed by the province and receive nil-fee commissioner abilities. Such appointments only allow appointed staff to commission municipal documents.

WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE

Canadian Prairie Pickers are once again touring the area!

Paying Cash For Coin Collections, Silver & Gold Coins, Royal Can. Mint Sets. Also Buying Gold Jewelry

$ $

We purchase rolls, bags or boxes of silver coins

$ $

PAYING HIGHEST PRICES To arrange a free, discreet in-home visit

call Kellie at 1-778-257-9019 Bonded since 1967

In Saskatchewan, some municipalities provide a fee-based service ranging from $10DE $30 per document. City administration considered this route; however, it has opted not to follow suit. T h e C i t y d o e s n o tare on want to compete against nor undercut Pay the already-established commissioner for oaths providers in Lloydminster. The City’s Legislative Services department has provided com- We missioner for oath free or of charge to residents since 2016. Since then, the n u m b e r o f c o m To m i sarrange sioned documents has increased by 200 per cent.

Canadia $

$ $

PAYING

call Kell

Thursday, June 2, 2022

MERIDIAN SOURCE

LCHS reconnects with expansion

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

It was shovels-ready to cap off the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion and renovation at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School last Thursday. Pictured are school officials and representatives, invited dignitaries, and construction project reps. GEOFF LEE

WRITER

.................................. The ongoing $28.8 million expansion of renovation at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School will help the school reconnect with Lloydminster with pandemic isolation in the rearview mirror. An official sod-turning ceremony on the morning of May 26 is the latest step in the process according to LPSD acting director of education, Scott Wouters, one of several guest speakers. “The last couple of years have been interesting, to say the least. We are moving down a period of celebration at the end of May and into June that we all need to be proud of,” he said. Wouters cites a recent powwow, a flagraising ceremony, a district track and field event and upcoming graduation on June 24 as examples of reconnecting along with the construction. “We needed this project. In we, I mean the students at LPSD, the staff at LPSD, and the citizens of Lloydminster,” said Wouters. “We had a goal at the school division at the beginning of the year to reconnect. What we felt with the lifting of restrictions in February, we are getting back to celebrate our students.” He says three things he sees the project helping to bring the LPSD and Lloydminster together again are Truth and Reconciliation, arts

and sports reflected in the project elements. School principal, Dwayne Marciniw, also picked up on that vision.

“

We are moving down a period of celebration at the end of May and into June that we all need to be proud of.

“Those were the three important pillars of the project we brought to the table. Those were the considerations when we were developing the space,” said Marciniw. He says a classroom next to an outdoor courtyard will be a cultural room. “We really look forward to learning about and celebrating Indigenous cultures and being

at one with nature,” he told the audience. Future plans call for a permanent teepee structure in the green space as part of the Truth and Reconciliation process. There will also be flexible space for evolving graphic and visual arts classes. We continue to expand programs at LCHS that kids are interested in,” said Marciniw, including a room for science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM studies. Wouters pointed out the official name of the fieldhouse is Synergy Place, Home of the Barons. “It was passed last night by the LPSD board,” he revealed. “This facility will be state of the art. Our intention is to host provincial events and provincial banners. We see it being a hub for Lloydminster as well.” Architect Tristan

Hawryluk, partner with The Workun Garrick Partnership, says the fieldhouse is going to be a beautiful facility. He says the design challenge was to fit a lot of school programs into a tight footprint with minimal disturbance to existing trees and a courtyard. “We managed to make it all fit and I think it’s going to work well. It’s not just for the kids, but it’s going to be a community space used for many years to come,” said Hawryluk.” The main floor addition will have 3,714m2 of space with 1,579m2 on the second storey. Lloy d minst er MLA Colleen Young described what the finished product will look like with Quorex Construction equipment onsite set to resume earth moving. “Once completed, this school will have a new two-storey expansion with 12 additional classrooms, two science rooms and two multipurpose rooms,” said Young. There will also be a new student services hub inside the existing school. “I hope everyone here is looking forward to seeing the progression of this project as much as I am.” Young is the mother of eight children who attended LCHS that first opened in 1968. Doreen McRobert, constituent assistant representing Vermilion-LloydminsterWainwright MLA Garth

Rowswell, noted the expansion will allow LCHS to enrol an addi-

tional 900 Grade 9 pupils. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Dream catcher raising a step in right direction TAYLOR WEAVER

EDITOR

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

École St. Thomas took another step towards truth and reconciliation on Tuesday morning as a dream catcher was permanently raised in the school’s foyer. “This is important because our students are so curious about what happened. There’s

been a lack of teaching in certain age groups, so this is very new to some of them,” said Lloydminster Catholic School Division’s (LCSD) Aboriginal Program Coordinator Cynthia Young. “It’s important we teach the truth and guide them the right way because they have a lot of questions. We

have to be nurturing with that curiosity.” Young explained how, since last December, she has spent time in every single one of St. Thomas’ classrooms to teach students about dream catchers, the path to reconciliation, what happened, and what can be done to move forward. “My daughter asked me what a dream catcher is for and I told her it was to remember all the kids that didn’t come home from residential schools,” said Young. “It’s very important for us to keep our culture going because we’re at a pivotal point where we have to rejuvenate it; we’re starting to lose it. Our elders are our libraries and we’re already starting to lose those things.” Seb McCarthy, a Grade 7 student at St. Thomas, had the honour of gifting the elders and drummers in attendance with tobacco, a tradition he learned from Young’s husband, Mike. “I helped make the dream catcher and I’ve been working with the Young family for a few years now. We always do activities together and her husband tries to teach me,” he said. “It’s better if we learn (about this stuff) at a young age.

EXPANSION FROM PAGE 5

“We can look forward to the opening ceremony planned for 2023,” said McRoberts. The school’s valedictorian Jennifer Wald was also on hand rep-

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

École St. Thomas vice principal, Anthony Bender, permanently raises a dream catcher in the school’s foyer on Tuesday morning as the school takes more steps toward truth and reconciliation.

LCSD Director of Education, Nigel McCarthy, was pleased to see more steps being taken toward truth and reconciliation and is looking forward to more in the future. “For me, it’s a physical reminder of what

we’ve been tasked to do in both Alberta and Saskatchewan in terms of the educational agenda for the next 10 years,” said McCarthy. “I know our board of trustees and staff have been working for many years on truth and rec-

onciliation and opportunities for our creative Metis students. “I think our city is at the leading edge of some of those changes, and the work that’s been done here is a great foundation for the future of our students.”

resenting the student population. “That’s what this is about. the hub of this is serving students,” said Marciniw. Wald thinks the new addition will give incoming students lots

of opportunities. “It’s really exciting for them to have new things to look forward to. I like to see that everyone’s so onboard and working really hard to get this done for the students,” she

said. “It will be a big part of the community for sure definitely with the sports I’m thinking.” Wald is enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan this fall in civil engineering.

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Faces of Lloydminster in works

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

Local artist Graham Flatt paints the first of hopefully many Faces of Lloydminster on Sunday afternoon at the Legacy DIY Maker Fair and Street Market as Mick Classen looks on. TAYLOR WEAVER

EDITOR

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

What began as an artistic dream is starting to take shape as local artists push to turn the Faces of Lloydminster project into a reality. Local artist, Mick Classen, came up with the idea to have painted “faces” throughout the Border City some time ago and produced his first face last June. The face, which is roughly nine feet in diameter and weighs upwards of 400 lbs, was constructed from GFRC (glass fibre reinforced concrete). Classen explained that GFRC is a special type of concrete that’s impervious to moisture, which is perfect for outdoor art pieces such as the faces. “I liked the face but I didn’t know what to do with it,” he said. “Local artist Michelle Lake said she was interested in painting one of the faces, and it was actually her husband who gave us the idea to somewhat replicate what they did in Calgary with the cows. “They had 72 cows, all painted by different artists, and I thought something like that would be a cool idea for us here.” Classen wasn’t sure about producing 72 faces, but after posting about the project on the Lloydminster & Area Artists, Artisans And Creatives’ Facebook page, it wasn’t long before he had 27 artists lined up to paint a face

of their own. Classen also presented the project to the Lloydminster Public Arts Advisory Committee and is awaiting to hear back for approval. To get the project off the ground, Classen needed more than just artists and City approval, and that’s when the community stepped up. “Mayor Gerald Aalbers actually told me

I should contact Residents in Recovery, so I got a hold of their director, Tyler Lorenz, and told him what I had planned,” he said. “He told me we could use some of the space at Residents in Recovery, so now we have a spot to build the faces, and what a gift that was.” With a place to build the faces taken care of, Classen then needed somewhere to display them. “I phoned Synergy Credit Union asking if they’d be interested in having the faces on display inside their location and they loved the idea. I also called the LloydMall and they too loved the idea,” said Classen. “That’s where we’re at right now, we’re just waiting on the City.” Classen and local artist, Graham Flatt, had the first face on display at this past Sunday’s Legacy DIY Maker Fair and Street Market while

Flatt was painting it. “The great thing about this is you’ve got standard form,” said Flatt. “Everybody’s starting on even ground and only two things are going to change. One being your pallet and the other being subjective colours. “Every person will have a different conversation about the faces. Art is like a Prince, you have to let it speak to you first.” Despite his wait for City approval, Classen is hoping to see 27 different Faces of Lloydminster throughout the Border City in the near future. “I thought they’d look great simply angled places throughout the city such as walkways,” he said, adding the fact anyone interested in supporting the project can reach out through the Lloydminster & Area Artists, Artisans And Creatives Facebook page.

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Council approves mill rate increase

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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

On Monday, Lloydminster city council approved the 2022 mill rates resulting in a residential increase of 1.94 per cent and a nonresidential increase of 2.68 per cent compared to 2021. Defined in the 2022 Property Tax Mill Rate and Taxable Assessment Bylaw, mill rates are calculated based on the final assessment roll and the 2022 budget requirements. The total taxable

assessment, including assessment revisions, for the 2022 tax year is $4.505 billion, which is up from $4.438 billion in 2021 or a 1.5 per cent overall increase. In 2022, with the assessment and proposed mill rate changes, the tax levy will collect an estimated $38,746,085 for municipal purposes, as approved in the 2022 Budget revisions on May 9. Tax notices will be printed and mailed out on June 10, and

are due upon mailing. Under the Penalty Bylaw, the last payment date before penalties is July 25. Payments can be made at City Hall, through a financial institution, or online banking. For more information, visit Lloydminster.ca/payments or LloydTaxes.ca. Approval of the bylaw is required to begin the levy process and ensure 2022 tax notices are delivered to property owners in a timely manner.

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Author reinvents self publishing GEOFF LEE

WRITER

.................................. Lloydminster author Mike Champagne is reinventing how to write books. He’s just completed three books in his self-published fantasy series, The Stones of Mana Saga, using a stream of consciousness approach to get a start during the pandemic. “I was bored. I just sat down at my computer. I had an idea of a story and I just started writing and I just kept going and going with it. Eventually, it sort of built itself onto it,” said Champagne. He creates fictional Mana worlds, which are places in the universe with magical stones that enemies fight for. The 43-year-old courier with Purolator talked about his unorthodox technique during a book signing at Coles in the LloydMall Saturday afternoon. His three books, The Prophecy Stone released in 2020, The Focus Stone in 2021 and the Wisdom Stone released a month ago, prove ‘how to write a book’ is not etched in stone. “I started off without the usual discipline of writing out an outline and creating characters and establishing all their relationships and all of those things upfront. I just started writing and building it from there,” explained Champagne. He says it was a bit of a challenge because he didn’t do that and had to remember all the storylines, as opposed to having it all laid out in front of him. “Once I got through the first book, I got a lot of response from family and other people that had read it saying I should continue on with it,” he said. He wrote the second book and decided he needed to wrap up the series with The Wisdom Stone. His next idea is to write a book about the magical places his characters have visited in

keeping with his favourite fantasy genre. “It’s probably the genre that I relate the most to. I enjoyed those kinds of books when I was younger and I enjoy those kinds of movies,” said Champagne. “I find it gives you much more freedom because you can invent your own rules.” The experience has him stoked to aspire to be a full-time writer of best-selling books. “It’s got me pumped up. It was a challenge and pleasure at the same time to learn how to self-publish. I’ve got a taste for it now,” he said. He typed his stories on Pages, a word processor on a Mac computer, then logged on to the Lulu.com self-publishing website with printon-demand format. “Basically, you just put it all together on their website and they print it for you,” said Champagne, who used Photo-

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Lloydminster self-published author Mike Champagne held a book signing at Coles on Saturday.

shop for his covers. His first book is for sale for $15 at Coles and various online booksellers, while books two and three going for $25 apiece. You can also special order all three books in an omnibus for $6o through mikechampagne78@gmail.com. Champagne studied broadcasting at Mount Royal College in Calgary and mastered in creative writing and television commercial production. He came to Lloydminster about 20 years ago to produce

ads for CKSA Television and worked a couple of years as a graphic designer for Reid and Wright Advertising and the Meridian Source, known as the Lloydminster Source back then. “From there I just jumped around jobs due to the economy. I needed to find a job that made a decent amount of money to support a family,” he said. His job with Purolator is current putting beans on the table. “It’s a good job for being union; a lot of security, we’re always busy,” said Champagne.

MERIDIAN SOURCE

PAGE 10 Thursday, June 2, 2022 MERIDIAN SOURCE

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

Viewpoint Through the reader’s lens

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

Publisher: Reid Keebaugh Production Manager: Amanda Richard CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING admin@meridiansource.ca NEWSPAPER DELIVERY If you’ve missed a paper, to start or stop delivery, or for carrier applications, please call 306-825-5111 for information. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We welcome letters to the editor. Letters should be 500 words or less. A name and daytime phone number is required for verification. Priority will be given to letters exclusively written for the Meridian Source. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, brevity, spelling, grammar, punctuation and libel. Unsigned letters will not be published. Use of pseudonyms will only be allowed in special circumstances, at the discretion of the editor and the publisher, and only if the author’s identity is known to the editor. Publication of a letter does not imply endorsement by the Meridian Source. Send to taylor@meridiansource.ca

2017

Top: John Van Cleemput Submitted to the Meridian Source

Thanks, John, for sharing your “shot of the day” with us!

Right: Mike From Canmore Submitted to the Meridian Source Thank you, Mike, for sending in another great shot from the mountains!

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

Letter to the editor ...

often think it was a good thing Jesus wasn’t born in Canada … they’d have never found three wise men in the east! Not on parliament hill, anyway. Well, there they go again, still trying to make our lives more difficult. Interesting that criminals are totally exempt from this new Liberal gun registry. To quote Peter Worthington, co-founder of Sun Newspapers, … “Criminals break the laws and gun laws apply only to people who don’t!” Anyone with a functioning

brain knows that guns, knives, two by fours, or golf clubs don’t cause crime any more than cars cause crashes. I believe, as do many, that the Marxist–Liberal crowd may have a darker motive … Hitler pretty much disarmed Germany just before unleashing his Gestapo. Let’s back off our tunnel vision for a bit. If the government cared about crime, criminals would actually be punished and put in rehab programs that work, but that doesn’t happen here. Also the many computer

games of killing, killing, killing would be outlawed. The latest one being killing peaceful protestors. Millions of young people spend thousands of hours engrossed and steeped in these ‘games.’ This is potentially dangerous and is being promoted. One needn’t be a genius to see what’s happening here. I like the bumper-sticker that says, “They’ll have to pry my gun from my cold dead fingers!” I hope we never need that attitude. Ross Hingston, Landis, Sask.

Opinion

PAGE 11 Thursday, June 2, 2022 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Leeway from Lloyd: Lloyd could draw climate migrants STAFF WRITER GEOFF LEE

A local Realtor recently told me some people in British Columbia have inquired about properties in Lloydminster because of climate change concerns. It flies in the face of B.C.’s net migration of 100,797 people in 2021, the most since 1961— due to outstanding job opportunities. The inquiries, however, make sense when you realize tens of thousands of B.C. residents have been displaced from their homes because of wildfire and floods in the past five years, as climate crisis-related disasters become more intense.

Climate migration is a growing trend as many homeowners in B.C. and elsewhere want to get away from high-risk locations with frequent and costly natural disasters. The town of Lytton B.C. burned to the ground not long ago and is largely uninhabited today. Some people in Canada are even paid to move away from areas at risk, often very reluctantly, or even against their will. Less than two weeks ago, a tornado devastated parts of Ontario and Quebec forcing dozens of residents from their homes, too— and possibly rethink where it’s safer to live in the long run. Lloydminster could become a haven for climate migrants with our

extremely low housing prices compared to major centres and a lower risk for natural disasters. Of course, some residents want to leave Lloydminster in the winters that are long and cold, but mainly just for holidays rather than over fears of climate change. We’ve had smoke issues from forest fires elsewhere, but these are few and far between, and flooding tends to be mainly related to storm runoff issues in the city. Lloydminster is more of a viable option than ever for climate migrants knowing people can work remotely at home with our 5G internet. Someone moving from a pricey house in B.C. to Lloydmin-

Paddlin’ on the pond!

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Floyd Lopez goes for a test paddle at Bud Miller pond on Saturday to launch the trial of a new Kayak for Fun rental business with his business partner, Noel Geollegue. Kayaks are for rent daily until Sept. 30.

File Photo ster could afford to get away in the winter, or even buy a vacation rental property as well. A few homeowners in B.C. may even feel some urgency to get out

now while the going is good. You can’t get full price for a house in a recurring flood zone or a sinking oceanfront property. Climate is another

tool for Realtors to consider to woo outside buyers to our area. We could become the Goldilocks City th at is ju st th e ri gh t for everyone.

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, June 2, 2022

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.

Playschool Pre-registration Southridge Playschool & Kindergym has opened up their registration for the fall 2022-2023 classes. They offer one day a week for three-year-olds and one or two days a week for four and five-year-olds. They have also qualified for the Affordability Grant! For more information please call Mrs. Pat 780872-9523. Bingo at the Moose The Moose Lodge, located at 521357 Street, Lloydminster, hosts bingo nights every Monday and Wednesday. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and play

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

starts at 7 p.m. The Moose also hosts crib tournaments every second Sunday of the month. Start time is 10 a.m. The cost to play is $10 and lunch is $12. Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic Direct from Australia, Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic, is back by popular demand this Summer for their first Canadian national tour in four years! The show is set to again immerse fans in the spectacle, grandeur and extravagance of Queen and Freddie Mercury, but with incredible new star Dominic Warren on board, things are looking bigger and better than ever! The show is taking place at the Vic Juba Commu-

nity on June 5 for a 7 p.m. show. Adult early bird tickets (good until May 6) are $53.20, Adult tickets as of May 7 are $63.20. Students 12 and under get in for $34.20, and groups of six or more are $58.20 each. Kaiser Tourney The Legacy Centre is hosting a kaiser tournament on June 2. Cost to play is $10 and begins at 10 a.m. Lunch is available for $12. Everyone welcome! For more info contact Legacy office at 780-875-4584. Spring Garage Sale/ Soup/Sandwich Lunch Bar St. Anthony’s Catholic Women’s League Lloydminster will be hosting a spring garage sale at St. Anthony’s Parish Hall, 2704 – 56 Ave. Lloydminster, on Friday, June 3 from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as well as a soup and sandwich lunch bar from 11:30-1:30 p.m. You never know what treasures you may find. All proceeds support the local projects of St. Anthony’s CWL. Senior Week Celebrations! The Legacy Centre is hosting Senior Week Celebrations from Monday June 6 to June 10. There’s a pancake breakfast on Monday from 9 -11 a.m. Afternoon tea with the Lloydminster Choir will take place on Wednesday starting at 2 p.m. There will be an ice-cream social (with entertainment) on Thursday at 2 p.m. The Legacy’s last monthly supper until the Fall will be held on Friday at a cost of $25/person. Please reserve your spot for dinner by Thursday. All events during Senior Week are free to attend for all seniors (excluding our Tuesday Outreach Lunch and Friday Legacy Supper). Donations are gratefully accepted. For more info contact Legacy office at 780-875-4584 Border City Metis #76 AGM The Border City Metis #76 is hosting its annual general meeting on June 12 at 2 p.m. at 5009 48 Ave., in the downstairs auditorium. Refreshments will be served. Spades Tourney The Legacy Centre is hosting a Spades

tournament on June 16. Cost to play is $10 and begins at 10 a.m. Lunch is available for $12. Everyone welcome! For more info contact Legacy office at 780-875-4584. Jamboree/Dance The Legacy Centre is hosting a jamboree/dance on June 17. Admission is $15/person at the door. Doors open and dancin’ at 5 p.m. and supper will be served at 6 p.m., then the jam begins! All interested musicians are invited to call Bonnie at 780-8084034. All members and guests welcome! Call the Legacy office for more info at 780-875-4584. RCMP Musical Ride The Lloyd Ex is proud to present the RCMP Musical Ride on June 18 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and June 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $6 for kids and are available at the Ex or Cliff Rose for Clothes. Senior Citizens Society AGM The Legacy Centre will be hosting the annual general meeting of the Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society on June 20 at 10:30 a.m. in the main hall. All members are encouraged to attend. For more info contact the Legacy office at 780-8754584. Criggage Doublers Tourney The Legacy Centre is hosting a criggabe doubles tournament on June 23. Cost to play is $10 and begins at 10 a.m. Lunch is available for $12. Everyone welcome! For more info contact Legacy office at 780-875-4584. Fort Pitt Fall Supper The Fort Pitt Fall Supper is being held on Sunday, Sept. 25 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. More details to follow closer to the event. Hillmond Hall Turkey Supper The Hillmond Hall is pleased to annouce they have selected a date for their annual Turkey Supper. The supper will be held on Oct. 2. Details to follow closer to the event.

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Standing up for lawabiding firearms owners MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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

The Alberta government says new federal rules around handguns target law-abiding firearms owners instead of dangerous criminals. The announced measures amount to a federal ban on handguns that puts a burden on law-abiding firearms owners instead of on violent criminals. New limits on magazine capacity for modern sporting rifles also target responsible firearms owners who already follow the rules rather than those misusing guns to commit crimes. Creating a mandatory federal confiscation and compensation system to purchase arbitrarily banned firearms from owners who acquired them legally is an unnecessary and expen-

sive overreach into personal property rights. “Federal Bill C-21 represents a major infringement on the property rights of lawabiding Albertans,” said Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Tyler Shandro. “It fails to address the substantive issues at the root of violent gun crime and does not take meaningful steps to help protect Canadians. The money being spent on this misstep could be used in so many better ways that could actually help keep Albertans safe.” The proposed changes will drastically alter the landscape of firearms legislation and lawful sports and target shooting without offering Albertans any increased public safety. “Once again, the federal government is tar-

File Photo geting law-abiding firearms owners instead of going after the criminals who are the source of Canadians’ public safety concerns,” said chief firearms officer Teri Bryant. “We need to put more boots on the ground to ensure only those fit to possess a firearm responsibly are licenced and to stop the flow of illegal guns at our border. The federal approach does not reflect what Albertans want or need.”

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, June 2, 2022

SPCA adoption charity car show a go! TAYLOR WEAVER

EDITOR

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

The Lloydminster Motor Club (LMC) is going to the dogs with its Cars & Cats (& Dogs) Charity Car Show, taking place on June 12 at Pet Valu in Lloydminster. The LMC teamed up with the Lloydminster and District SPCA for the charity/adoption event as a means to

raise some money for the shelter and hopefully get a few animals adopted. “I don’t recall anything ever being done like this, that being pet adoption and a car show,” said Randy Marsh, head honcho of the LMC. “We’ve been planning this for a couple of months now and there’s rumours the

SPCA just had a bunch of puppies born in the shelter and they’re going to be available for adoption roughly around the time we’re having the car show, so we’re hoping they can bring them down so people can see and play with the pets.” Not only will the event feature a car show and pet adoption, but there will also be a

Meridian Source File Photo barbecue and bouncy houses onsite. “We’re going to have a barbecue on site and All About Bouncing has donated a bouncy house for the kids, or adults at heart,” he said with a laugh. “L&L Oilfield also donated the use of their barbecue.” Marsh explained the motor club, which now has eight years of history in the Border City, is always looking for ways to give back to the community and thought this kind of a car show would be a great idea.

“We’re just going to have a different kind of car show while we’re raising money for the SPCA, and just try to do the best we can to get some extra funds,” he said. “It’s been nice lately without all of the COVID restrictions so we can actually do things like this now.” The event is being hosted in the Pet Valu parking lot and the bouncy house and barbecue will be set up on the building’s west side. “We wanted to do something a little different, and it’s still up

in the air, but I heard the SPCA is going to do their best to bring down some animals, as well as have adopts set up that day,” he said. “The community’s been really good to us since our inception, and we just love giving back as much as we can. It doesn’t cost us much of anything to operate for the year, and over the eight years we’ve been a club we’ve been able to give back over $50,000 to communities and local families, and that’s been really nice.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Watch for West Nile this summer MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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

It’s been 20 years since West Nile virus was first detected in Saskatchewan and while the risk has decreased in the last few years, all residents are asked to continue to use best practices to protect themselves against mosquito bites. “It’s a fact of life that prairie summers include mosquitoes but most of those that find us at our campsites, in our yards and in our parks are merely a nuisance,” Health Minister Paul Merriman said. “Simple preven-

FROM PAGE 14

“I love the fact that we can give back to these programs and to these people, especially the SPCA. It’s such a great organization and needs all the help they can get, and this is one thing we really wanted to do, and we’re so thankful the community is so involved with us so we can be so involved to give back to these organizations.” LMC memberships will also be available for purchase at the event, something Marsh explained isn’t only for automotive enthusiasts. “You can purchase Lloydminster Motor Club memberships for

tion can save you from more than just itchy ankles. Keep West Nile virus in mind when heading outdoors.” “West Nile virus is now considered endemic in Saskatche w an ,” D e p uty C hie f Medical Health Officer for Saskatchewan Dr. Julie Kryzanowski said. “While the number of Culex tarsalis m o sq uito es detec ted in Saskatchewan has declined in recent years, taking precautions against mosquito bites is always a good idea.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

a one-time fee of $20 and it’s actually part of a community discount program where you get discounts at over 40 retailers within the Lloydminster area,” he said. “You even get discounts in Wainwright, Provost, Vermilion, even S askato o n, and so long as the motor club is standing, this discount program is in effect, and we’ve been going for eight years now.” Another benefit to LMC membership is access to the UFA card lock. “You get a UFA card and then you just use your debit or credit card at a UFA location.”

22061KK0 22061KK1

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Four arrested for drug-related offences

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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

Between May 17 and May 18, members of the Lloydminster RCMP General Investigation Section with the assistance of Lloydminster RCMP Police Dog Services executed multiple search warrants and enforcement actions on residences and vehicles, which led to the arrest of four individuals for drug related offences. As a result of the invest igat ion, police seized suspected cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl,

MDMA, prescription drugs, and an undisclosed amount of Canadian currency. Police seized approximately one pound of cocaine and meth, 11 grams of Fentanyl and a variety of over 500 pills. As a result of the investigation, Sara Mckenzie, 32, of Lloydminster is facing the following charges: - Possession for the purpose of trafficking x3 - Possession of proceeds of crime Otis Watier, 42, of Lashburn is facing the followingcharges: - Possession for the

purpose of trafficking x3 - Possession of proceeds of crime Jason Krysta, 31, Lloydminster is facing the following charges: - Possession for the purpose of trafficking x3 - Possession of proceeds of crime - Fail to comply x2 Wesley Wendt, 45, Lloydminster is facing the following charges: - Possession for the purpose of trafficking x3 All have been released from custody and are scheduled to appear in Lloydminster Alberta Provincial Court on June 14.

Thursday, June 2, 2022

File Photo FROM PAGE 15

West Nile virus was confirmed in a dead magpie in Regina in the summer of 2002 with the first human case confirmed in the province the following year. Since 2007, the number of West Nile cases in Saskatchewan has substantially declined. In 2021, there was only one human neuroinvasive disease case and no one has died of West Nile virus in Saskatchewan since 2018. This summer, the Ministry of Health will transition to a more targeted approach to mosquito surveillance. Provincial mosquito monitoring will continue in three communities (Saskatoon, Regina and Estevan) and will be used

in combination with environmental conditions to approximate the threat of West Nile virus provincially. Weekly West Nile virus reports will continue to be posted publicly each week beginning in June on the Government of Saskatchewan website at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/ health/diseases-andconditions/west-nilevirus. You can reduce your exposure to mosquito bites by: - Using appropriate insect repellent when outdoors; - Wearing lightcoloured, loose-fitting, long-sleeved tops and long pants when outdoors; - Reducing the

amount of time spent outdoors between dusk and dawn when Culex tarsalis mosquitoes are most active; - Maintaining door and window screens so they fit tightly and are free of holes; and - Reducing mosquito habitat (standing water) around your home and yard. Most people who become infected with West Nile virus experience no or mild symptoms. A small number of people may develop a more serious condition known as West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease. If you have been bitten by a mosquito and experience fever, confusion, neck stiffness or an unusually severe headache, seek medical attention.

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Making the most of summer adventures PRAIRIE WOOL HELEN ROW TOEWS

As I write today, tiny buds form on the poplars outside my window, the birds have returned,

and my thoughts turn to travel. I always feel a wanderlust this time of year. It isn’t certain whether my itchy feet will take me to Eastern Canada, the U.S., or Europe this sum-

mer. Still, I know one thing for sure—I’ll have interesting adventures wherever I go. We can all have exciting experiences when we join a scheduled excursion in a fabulous location, such as the guided tour I took of the Vatican, but I’m thinking of the random, crazy t hings t hat can happen when we’re away from home. Sometimes they’re the most fun of all and usually the most memorable. Like the time my friend Lori and I motored through the Rocky Mountains dragging my parent’s old tent trailer behind a 1973 Ford Comet. I must have done some fancy footwork to get my dad to agree to that harebrained scheme. We were young, penniless, and somewhat unscrupulous girls. However, we were also resourceful, had enough chocolate

almond bark to keep us alive for days, and could imitate a variety of English accents. What possible good could that do us, you ask. Stay tuned. It all started when my car died in downtown Jasper, Alta. Four barking coughs, three chugs, a series of splutters, and the Comet ground to a halt in the middle of an intersection. Lori and I stared at one another in horror. Vehicles behind us honked irritably. Thankfully we managed to push the car to the side of the road, then hopped back inside to plot how to get it fixed. Problem was, the repairs had to cost less than $23.96 since that was the extent of our cash on hand. Did I mention this was a harebrained scheme? Fortunately, there was a garage nearby manned by kindly

young men. They thought we were cute when we sashayed up to their door and described our misfortune in thick Cockney accents. (Enter devious plan.) “We’ ave a wee spot o’ trouble wiv us borrowed car. Could yer ‘elp us, then, guv?” Lori trilled, and I followed with some equally deceptive drivel. We made idle chitchat with the unsuspecting fellows as they pored over the problematic car, all while maintaining our guise as innocent young girls cut adrift in a foreign country with a loathsome loaned automobile. What liars we were! What utter scallywags! What a horrible abuse of feminine whiles. There was a nasty moment when they asked us where precisely in England we were from. And another when they said

we should chat with another of the mechanics who was from Kensington, an area of West London. He’d be back right away, they said. Yikes! Nevertheless, we fibbed our way through that too and were back on the road in half an hour. In conclusion, it would appear as though the theme of this tale is less about the thrill of summer travel and more about how lying through your teeth nets big rewards, but I hope you can forgive me, just this once. Helen lives on the family farm near Marshall, Saskatchewan, where she works as an author, columnist, and in education. Find her online at helentoews.com. There, you can learn more about her humorous Prairie Wool Books, or newly released fantasy series, Runestaff Chronicles.

Thursday, June 2, 2022

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Homesteading news from spring 1907 WHISPERS OF THE PAST SANDRA L. BROWN

Due to the growing demand for space, the Lloydminster Times newspaper expanded to 14 pages in 1907. News from the district’s correspondents would now have their reports included in each issue. The newspaper was printed early every Tuesday morning and all submissions had to be submitted by noon on Mondays. With the changes in postal rates in the United States, the annual price of new subscriptions was increased to $1.50. Folks wondered where the Lloydminster Board of Trade was as they seemed to be absent this spring. Many believed the area was not currently receiving its share of immigration because of the lack of advertising. There didn’t appear

to be anyone around who could act in an official capacity to offer homesteading advice and welcome the arrival of new settlers. Land guides in Battleford were very active in locating settlers within 40 miles of Lloydminster. Homesteading parties were now looking for land northeast of Onion Lake and using Battleford as their headquarters. It would make more sense to use Lloydminster as it was closer, more convenient and offered many advantages. The land between the Gully and Saskatchewan River was often overlooked as immigrants weren’t aware of its availability. Immigrants generally tended to settle south rather than north. They needed to be closer to Lloydminster, especially with the future probability of the new Cold Lake railway.

Folks felt they should be bringing their business here, rather than other towns taking it away. Two chemical fire extinguishers and a tank of water were used to put out a fire behind the Immigration Hall. Sparks from a passing CNR engine started some garbage laying near the fence on fire. A strong northeast wind quickly spread the flames. Folks were thankful the fire hadn’t happened during the night as nothing could have saved the eastern section of town as they would have been sleeping. The new townsite of Messrs. Burdett and Tyler was surveyed. It would be going on the market soon and was a great indication of local expansion. More art ist ic-st y le houses were now being built compared to the basic structures in the early settlement. A few

businesses changed ownership and new businesses opened to meet the increasing demand. The first Eastern Division football match of the Alberta Association League was held in Lloydminster on Victoria Day against Vermilion. Also held was the first baseball game in the Lloydminster, Marshall and Lashburn League. Lloydminster was strong in the field but needed to improve their batting skills before playing against Lashburn in the future. On the evening of Victoria Day, a concert was held showcasing 16 musical pieces. Closing with the singing of the National Anthem and three heartfelt cheers for the King and Country, all proceeds went to the new St. Johns Church building fund. Modern cold and hot water baths, electric

massage, shoe shines and the finest cigars were available at Mr. Adams barbershop on Main Street. Early set-

tlement stores and merchants offered a variety of diverse services to its residents and newcomers.

PAGE 20 Thursday, June 2, 2022 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Sports

Russell pedals again to cure cancer GEOFF LEE

WRITER

.................................. Kids’ cancer fighter Jarrod Russell is upping the ante in this year’s Great Cycle Challenge with a $15,000 fundraising goal.

“

Obviously, Ben’s been in the media a lot. Jarrod has grabbed on to that story. He’s been through it before and to watch other kids going through it, tugs at his heart.

The 46-year-old Lloydminster cyclist plans to ride daily in August and cover 1,200 kilometres in what will be his seventh challenge ride to raise funds to end childhood cancer. This year he is riding for Ben Stetler, an Oiler’s fan who just turned six on Friday and is

undergoing treatment for glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer. Stetler was presented with his own official Oilers’ trading card by Connor McDavid during a game on April 28. “Here’s another story of a family that’s been affected by childhood cancer,” said Jarrod’s sister, Lana Lane. “Obviously, Ben’s been in the media a lot. Jarrod has grabbed on to that story. He’s been through it before and to watch other kids going through it, tugs at his heart.” Russell was diagnosed with a brain tumour when he was just four and is still battling the side effects of his cancer treatment. He has epilepsy and partial paralysis on his right side and limited movement of his arm, fingers and legs, but nothing slows down his commitment to helping kids. “I can’t stop now. The children need money

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Lloydminster kids’ cancer fighter Jarrod Russell is training for his seventh Great Cycle Challenge in August to raise funds for the SickKids Foundation. He and his sister Lana Lane posed for a kickoff photo at Bud Miller All Seasons Park.

for the cancer cure,” said Russell. Lane says Jarrod is totally motivated and wants to help Ben and his family as he did for nine-year-old Braxton Weidman from Alabama last year. Unfortunately, Braxton succumbed to brain cancer in February of this year. “I don’t know what to

say,” said Russell. “Braxton was in my heart. His family has kept in touch thanking me for riding for Braxton. I didn’t get to know him, but in my heart, I knew him just from the e-mails and Facebook.” Lane said her family and friends donated an extra $6,000 to the Weidman family aside from the $30,561.58

Russell raised for the SickKids Foundation from his rides. Lane says they will be looking for sponsors from the community and family and friends again this year. “Sellers RV is back on board again this year. We’re looking at July 23 for the fundraising barbecue in their parking lot,” she said “Right now, that’s the only thing on the radar outside of Jarrod’s everyday riding.” To donate now, visit the greatcyclechal-

lenge.ca website and follow the links to Russell’s page. Russell’s training rides got underway a couple of weeks ago and he says it feels pretty good. “My new bike has a flat. I am using my old bike until the new one gets fixed then I’ll ride it,’’ he said last Friday on a ride through Bud Miller All Seasons Park. “I went for a bike with Lana’s youth group last night and I put on about 13.5 km. The day before I went 15.”

3” wide version

Stay well and independent with

Keeping Well

Get your free copy today. Visit findingbalance.ca, call 780-492-6019 or email info@findingbalancealberta.ca.

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Ask the Money Lady CHRISTINE IBBOTSON SPECIAL TO THE SOURCE

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

Dear Money Lady: Should I collect my government pensions at 60 or delay to when I am 65 or 70 to get a higher monthly amount? Thanks, Jacob. T h a t’s a g r e a t que stio n Jacob – one that a lot of people ask. There are two ways of thinking when deciding to take your government benefits. Most advisors will tell their clients to defer both CPP/QPP and OAS until they are 70 to get the maximum benefit from the Canadian government. And there is quite a difference in these amounts. The maximum annual CPP/QPP benefit (2022) at age 60 is $9,628, at 65 it is $15,043, and at 70 it is $20,512. With OAS, the maximum annual benefit (2022) at age 65 is $7,784.04 and $10,586 at 70 years of age. But can you afford to wait until you are 70 to get more?

The only way to answer this question is to know how long you will live. Everyone’s future is uncertain, so this could be a calculated risk. Delaying the benefit until you are 70 and continuing to contribute, definitely ensures you will receive a larger monthly amount, but that is only good if you live well into your 90s. You see, if you delay your benefit; but die before 85, you have short-changed yourself and not taken advantage of a benefit that you have paid into for your entire working career. The decision to take your government benefits earlier or later should be one that you make when you plan your retirement. Monthly cash flow, overall health, and perhaps even simple genetics all play a part in making your decision. Plan your retirement income needs every year. Create a budget and determine just how much income you will need and how it will be taxed.

Start by counting your OAS + CPP/QPP benefits first; then add on your company pension funds, LIRA/ LIF payments and then your RRSP/RIFs. Additional funds for extra spending should be paid for from your TFSA to avoid triggering clawbacks with the CRA. The clawback income threshold for your 2022 benefits is now $81,761. Today, everyone seems to be living longer and we are continually told that retirement could last 25 to 30 years, but there is no cookiecutter answer here. If you do opt to take your benefit at age 60, you ensure an income for five years before OAS and ultimately reduce the possibilities of an OAS claw-back. You can also apply to assign up to 50 per cent of the benefit to a spouse in a lower tax bracket. This is a great way to maximize tax savings and can be easily changed back at any time. Short of knowing when we will die, there is no real way of knowing whether to delay

Sask proclaims Deafblind Awareness Month MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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

The Government of Saskatchewan, in collaboration with Canadian Deafblind Association (CDBA) Saskatchewan Chapter, has proclaimed June as Deafblind Awareness Month. Individuals are considered deafblind if they have a combined loss of both hearing and vision to the point that neither can be used as a primary source of informa-

tion gathering and communication. “I am pleased to proclaim Deafblind Awareness Month to raise our understanding and awareness of deafblindness within Saskatchewan,” said Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky. “Our government is currently working on accessibility legislation which will help remove barriers for people with disabilities. It is important that we create an inclusive

province where everyone can participate.” Saskatchewan is the first province outside of Ontario to establish Deafblind Community Services in Canada. In the 2022-23 provincial budget, governmentprovided increased funding of $273,000 to fulfill the third year of the four-year commitment to establish and enhance services for people who are D/deaf and hard of hearing or deafblind.

or take your benefits earlier. Some Canadians feel the entire process is too complicated and time consuming to warrant consideration, but do not forget all the years you have paid into these programs. Make sure you plan your retirement strategy wisely and definitely take advantage of all the benefits you are entitled to.

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Good Luck & Best Wishes, ATML - Christine Ibbotson - Christine Ibbotson is a national radio host and author of three finance bo o k s p l u s the Ca na d ia n Best-Selling Book “How to Retire Debt-Free & Wealthy.” Visit www.askthemoneylady.ca or send a question to info@askthemoneylady.ca

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, June 2, 2022

Hillmond 4-H Club Report

File Photo LIAM SMITH

CLUB REPORTER

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

The Hillmond 4-H Club is celebrating its 63rd year! Join the Club for its annual Achievement Day on June 4 at 2 p.m. at the Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds. The Achievement Day Show will include market steer, heifer, cow/ calf and market lamb projects, as well as an archery demonstration. The club has a busy group of 23 members with a total of 41 projects. The reorganizational meeting was held in October. The outdoor project started brand new this year with several activities planned such as archery, curling, crosscountry skiing, trap-

ping, outdoor survival and canoeing. The outdoor project held a bottle drive fundraiser. Thank you to all that donated! In November, the Hougham family hosted the club’s weigh day on a certified scale. The club’s public speaking was held virtually with video submissions at the end of February. Congratulation to all the members! The club was well represented at the district level with Kate Hougham placing 2nd in the Cloverbud category, Hanna Hougham placing 3rd in Intermediate and Shaelyn Shirtliffe placing 2nd in Senior. Kate Hougham advanced to the

regional, and then provincial public speaking competitions where she placed 2nd in both. Also in February, the sheep project members met at Light’s to learn more about lambing and the care of young lambs. In Marc h, th e cl u b hosted a delicious pancake supper and pie bingo fundraiser. Over 60 pies were won by participants with a record number of attendees. On March 5, the club participated in North West 4-H Ski Day at Table Mountain, thanks to FCC 4-H Fund. In April, club members participated in the Arby’s Judging Clinic. The beef project members met on April 30 to weigh their market steers, as well as participate in a heifer judging demonstration and practiced their beef showmanship skills. In May, the Light family hosted a sheep showmanship demonstration. The Hillmond 4-H Club would like to invite buyers to the live sale on June 6 in the afternoon at the Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds. On offer are eight market steers and eight market lambs. Thank you to all the buyers and sponsors.

Thursday, June 2, 2022

MERIDIAN SOURCE

PAGE 24 Thursday, June 2, 2022 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Careers

Mars, Venus, and government MIDWEST MINUTE VERN McCLELLAND

A few years ago, there was a best-selling book called “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.” Reading it was promoted as the best way to understand the opposite sex. There should be a sequel to explain how

government policy on agricultural real estate makes sense. It would make a short story at best. Let me give you an example. Every province has a public guardian tasked with protecting the legal, financial, personal, and health interests of those who lack mental capacity or for children under the age of majority, plus, when

necessary, administer the estates of deceased and missing persons. A local landowner dies leaving property to his mentally challenged adult child. Said estate includes several quarters of medium-quality farmland. Representatives of the public guardian obtain several perspectives on value, along with a recommendation to either tender the property or

at least provide time, for example, 10 business days, for all prospective buyers to submit an offer. There were two reasons for this recommendation. First, to ensure the beneficiary receives full value in the marketplace so they can be afforded full support for the rest of their life. Farmland values are volatile, especially grain

land, and in my experience, the resulting sale price may be higher than sales of comparable properties may indicate in any appraisal. In other words, an acre of similar land may have sold for $3,500 three months ago in the district but today, someone might be willing to pay $4,000. Secondly, it is only fair to the prospective buyers, especially those who live in the immediate area of the subject property. Most knew the family. Some provided ongoing support for them when they were struggling. Everybody understands the concept of “highest bid wins”. Auctions work like that, but at least that process is open to all who attend. In this case, the land was placed on the MLS system with an asking price determined by a non-farming bureaucrat, and within 10 minutes, the listing agent received a full price unconditional cash offer which officials from the public guardian immediately accepted. No exploration of interest from others. No explanation of how the buyer knew when it was coming on the market. Slam, bam, file closed. No one likes it when civil servants pick winners and losers, espe-

cially through a poorly conceived strategy. I maintain a list of qualified land buyers in the region with several hundred names on it. This by itself indicates the current level of interest in grain and pastureland. When land comes available through any source, I send out a courtesy email to the people on the list. Not because I expect to broker every property, but to help farm families grow their businesses. In this case, before the day was out, our team alone had four clients who wanted to submit an offer. All of them were denied the opportunity. Not fair, I say. 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.

Thursday, June 2, 2022

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Alberta Innovates funds Lakeland research projects MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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

The Lakeland College applied research team is pleased to announce that two of their projects have been successful in their bid to receive additional funding from the Government of Alberta through Alberta Innovates. “Lakeland’s agricultural research is a critical part of what we offer to our region and province. Our research team is creating paths for increased productivity and sustainability with the work they do and the partnerships cultivated,” said Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO of the college. ‘“I am so pleased that Alberta Innovates recognizes and chooses to invest in the important work we are doing to present real solutions to

real problems producers face.” The funds are part of the Smart Agriculture and Food Digitization and Automation Challenge (SAFDAC), which awarded a total of $3.19 million to 10 new smart-ag and food projects. Fifty organizations expressed interest in the contest, with 16 submitting a full proposal. Lakeland’s two projects were awarded $497,600, split between them. Lakeland researcher Dr. Susan Markus’ project investigating the use of handheld devices for automatic blood analysis to monitor sheep pregnancy and predict litter size was awarded $145,000. Dr. Yuri Montanholi’s project optimizing non-contact sensing technologies to enhance

sustainability of bison farming was awarded $345,081. “Thank you to Alberta Innovates and the Government of Alberta for investing in these two important research projects,” said François Paradis, Lakeland’s new director of applied research. “With your support, we will be able to advance the industry’s best practices for bison herd management and pursue innovative and practical technology to enhance reproductive management in ewes. We are always proud when our research results in tangible information for the producers we work alongside and can’t wait to see the results from these projects.” SAFDAC’s mission is to support the development of sustainable,

Supplied Photo smart technologies to increase productivity. Projects they chose to support included hyperspectral optics cameras to offer continuous information from Space. Other successful projects included mobile inelastic neutron scattering, an A.I. data

recording kit that automates farm machinery, among others. Lakeland supports applied research to enhance the agriculture industry’s productivity, profitability and competitiveness, support student learning outcomes, and enhance social, environmen-

tal and economic outcomes in Alberta and beyond. Areas of focus include key commercial crop and livestock species, as well as agriculture technology. There are currently 39 active projects and 78 unique research partnerships at Lakeland.

Cheer for Saskatchewan during Tourism Week! MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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

The Government of Saskatchewan has proclaimed May 29-June 4 as Saskatchewan Tourism Week. The week, which coincides with the national celebration of Tourism Week in Canada, will be a time to champion Saskatchewan’s tourism industry - to cheer for chefs who bring the flavour, for guides who know the water, and for volunteers who make it happen. “The Government of Saskatchewan is pleased to proclaim May 29-June 4 as Saskatchewan Tourism Week,” said Minister Responsible for Tourism Saskatchewan Jeremy Harrison. “Tourism is a vital part of the Saskatchewan economy, and the industry has endured unprecedented challenges these past two years. Saskatchewan Tourism Week will be an opportunity to showcase the remarkable travel experiences Saskatchewan offers.” Saskatchewan Tourism Week presents an

opportunity to rally around the tourism sector and celebrate its resiliency. There is great anticipation this year as enthusiasm for travel resumes and operators prepare for a busy summer season. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to the tourism industry. Since the initial fallout in 2020, Saskatchewan has experienced a modest recovery. There is optimism as total visitor expenditures and tourismrelated employment numbers have seen increases. In 2020, Saskatchewan had $1.50 billion in visitor spending. There were 50,000 people employed in tourism-related jobs that year. Tourism expenditures grew to $1.74 billion in 2021, with 57,200 people employed in the tourism industry. Another encouraging statistic included hotel occupancy rates that rose from 32 per cent in 2020 to 41 per cent in 2021.

Estimates for 2022 are not available; however , f u rt her gr owt h is anticipated over the next two years, with full recovery to pre-pandemic levels expected in 2024. Pre-pandemic, tourism spending in Saskatchewan reached $2.7 billion in 2019. Tourism-related

employment hit 71,100, and hotel occupancy rates were 56 per cent. “Each year, Saskatchewan Tourism Week brings attention to the value of our sector to the economy, to employment and to creating entrepreneurial opportunities for Saskatchewan residents,” said Tourism Saskatch-

ewan CEO Jonathan Potts. “This year’s celebration will be particularly important, sig naling the return of many annual festivals and events and generating enthusiasm for road trips, staycations and diverse experiences throughout the province. Our industry has

shown resilience and determination during the past two years.”

PAGE 26 Thursday, June 2, 2022 MERIDIAN SOURCE 306-825-5111 admin@meridiansource.ca

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

SERVICES CRIMINAL RECORD? Why suffer employment/licensing loss? Travel/business opportunities? Be embarrassed? Think: Criminal Pardon. US entry waiver. Record purge. File destruction. Free consultation. 1-800347-2540. www. accesslegalmjf.com GET BACK ON TRACK! Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed? Need Money? We Lend! If you own your own home - you qualify. Pioneer Acceptance Corp. Member BBB. 1-877-987-1420. www.pioneerwest.com. PRIVATE MORTGAGE LENDER. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1-866-4051228; www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY GET YOUR MESSAGE SEEN ACROSS Alberta. The Blanket Classifieds or Value Ads reach over 600,000 Alberta readers weekly. Two options starting at $269 or $995 to get your message out! Business changes, hiring, items for sale, cancellations, tenders, etc. People are increasingly staying home and rely on their local newspapers for information. KEEP people in the loop with our 90 Weekly Community Newspapers. Call THIS NEWSPAPER now or email classifieds@awna. com for details. 1-800282-6903, 780-434-8746 X225. www.awna.com. MISCELLANEOUS

Classifieds HEALTH / FITNESS GET UP TO $50,000 from the Government of Canada. Do you or someone you know have any of these conditions: ADHD, Anxiety, Arthritis, Asthma, Cancer, COPD, Depression, Diabetes, Difficulty Walking, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowels, Overweight, Trouble Dressing... and Hundreds more. ALL Ages & Medical Conditions qualify. CALL THE BENEFITS PROGRAM 1-800-2113550 or send a text message with Name and Mailing Address to 403-980-3605 for your FREE benefits package.

Integrity Post Frame Buildings SINCE 2008

DIY HOME CHRISTIANITY BOOK for sale at ralph757.com. Thorough, simple, brief. No church, no strings. Click white tab at upper right corner of web page.

Built with Concrete Posts Barns, Shops, Riding Arenas, Machine Sheds and More sales@ Integritybuilt.com 1-866-974-7678 www. integritybuilt.com

FEED & SEED

is on social media!

SCAN HERE

www.swna.com

SWNA can take you to every community in the province.

AGPRO SEEDS: BUYING HEATED, DAMAGED CANOLA. On farm pickup, prompt payment! TOP PRICES PAID IN SASK. Phone: 306-873-3006 or Visit AGPRO website for bids: agproseeds.com FORAGE SEED FOR SALE: Organic & conventional: Sweet Clover, Alfalfa, Red Clover, Smooth Brome, Meadow Brome, Crested Wheatgrass, Timothy, etc. Star City, SK. Birch Rose Acres Ltd. 306-921-9942.

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

AGRICULTURE

PERSONALS

NOTICES

PROVINCE-WIDE CLASSIFIEDS. 51 local community newspapers, distributing to over 450 communities, including 14 cities. Reach over 550,000 readers weekly. Call 306649.1405 or visit www.swna. com for details. FOR SALE WHITE SPRUCE TREES. 5’ average $50. Installation ONLY $19. Includes: hole augered, Wurzel Dip enzyme injection, bark mulch application, staking. Minimum order 20. One-time fuel charge: $125-175. Crystal Springs. 403-820-0961. Quality guaranteed.

ALBERTA FEED GRAIN: Buying Oats, Barley, Wheat, Canola, Peas, Screenings, Mixed Grains. Dry, Wet, Heated, or Spring Thresh. Prompt Payment. In House Trucks, In House Excreta Cleaning. Vac Rental. 1-888-483-8789. CERTIFIED SEED. WHEAT – AAC Goodwin, AAC Penhold, AC Sadash, CDC Go, Go Early, Pintail. OATS - AC Juniper, AC Morgan, AC Mustang, Derby, CDC Arborg, CDC SO1 Super Oat, ORE 3542M. BARLEY – Cerveza, CDC Austenson, CDC Maverick, Sundre. Very Early Yellow Pea, Forage Peas. Polish Canola, Spring Triticale. mastinseeds. com; 403-556-2609. WE BUY DAMAGED GRAIN - Heated, Mixed, Tough, Light, Bugs, Spring Thrashed.... Barley, Wheat, Oats, Peas, Flax, Canola. “On Farm Pickup”. Westcan Feed & Grain 1-877-250-5252.

LIVESTOCK FOR SALE

FINANCIAL SERVICES

REGISTERED YEARLING SIMMENTAL BULLS. Fullblood Fleckvieh, Horned & Polled, A1 Bloodlines, Performance EPD’s. Very Quiet. Simmeron Ranch. Martin 780-913-7963. www. simmeronranch.ca.

Private mortgage lender. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1-866-405-1228 www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca REAL ESTATE

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES 1A TRUCK DRIVERS WANTED: Winch trucks & trailers; dump trucks & pups/ quad wagons. Hauling heavy equipment, gravel, & camp shacks. Wage negotiable. Clean drivers abstract a must. Send resume and work references to: Bryden Construction Box 100, Arborfield, Sk. S0E 0A0; Fax: 306-769-8844 Email: brydenconstruct@ xplornet.ca www. brydenconstruction andtransport.ca

MOBILE HOME

LOTS

FOR RENT IN THE CITY OF REGINA, SK Prices start at $675/month Please contact us for current promotions Tiny Home Lots start at $450/month 306-533-0986

www.sherwoodmodular.com

Thursday, June 2, 2022

LAND FOR SALE

COMING EVENTS

BEST HUNTING IN FIREARMS WANTED SASKATCHEWAN right FOR JUNE 2022 LIVE by Sask River. Very & ONLINE AUCTION: high Deer population. Rifles, Shotguns, Thick pine & poplar Handguns, Militaria. bluffs, close to water Auction or Purchase: coulee. Old yard site Collections, Estates, Inwith old power and dividual items. Contact water. Revenue on Paul, Switzer’s Auction: crop and hayland. Toll-Free 1-800-694East of Prince Albert. 2609, sales@switzer$248,000. Call Doug sauction.com or www. 306-716-2671. switzersauction.com.

WANTED WANTED: Old advertising dealership signs, gas pumps, globes, pop machines, light ups. White Rose, Red Indian, Buffalo, North Star, Case Eagles. etc. Collector paying TOP PRICES. 306-221-5908

CASH for ALL gold & silver! Bullion, coins, bars, jewelry, nuggets, sterling, 999 SILVER +. Also buying COIN COLLECTIONS, ROYAL BUILDINGS FOR SALE CANADIAN MINT COINS & old money. Canada & FARMLAND INTEGRITY POST world collections WANTED. FRAME BUILDINGS Todd 250-864-3521. WANTED since 2008 BUILT WITH WANTED: Old advertisCONCRETE POSTS. ing dealership signs, I am currently Barns, Shops, Riding gas pumps, globes, pop PURCHASING single Arenas, Machine Sheds machines, light ups. White to large blocks of and more, sales@ Rose, Red Indian, Buffalo, land. integritybuilt.com North Star, Case Eagles, 1-866-974-7678 www. etc. Collector paying TOP NO FEES OR integritybuilt.com. PRICES. 306-221-5908. COMMISSIONS

Saskatchewan born and raised, I know land, farming and farmland and can help you every step of the way. Doug Rue, for further information 306-716-2671 saskfarms@shaw.ca www.sellyourfarm land.com

FARM EQUIPMENT / MACHINERY BLANKET THE PROVINCE with a classified ad. Only $269 (based on 25 words or less). Reach almost 90 weekly newspapers. Call NOW for details. 1-800-282-6903 Ext 225; www.awna.com.

NUMISMATIST PURCHASING COIN COLLECTIONS & ACCUMULATIONS! Royal Canadian Mint, Canada & World Collections Wanted. Also buying 9999 bullion, old money, jewelry, nuggets, sterling, gold, silver, coins, bars, monster boxes +++ ESTATES WELCOMED! Todd 250 864 3521

Local Business Directory

Church Directory

MERIDIAN SOURCE

PIKE, MARLENE: Ella "Marlene" Pike passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 22, 2022 at the Pine Island Lodge, Maidstone, Saskatchewan at the age of 86 years, surrounded by her loving family. Marlene is survived by: her children, Lorne (Barb) Pike, Roger (Linda) Pike and Barb (Jerry) Lefebvre; three grandchildren, Kelly Lefebvre, Lisa (Tyler) Edwards and Sheila (Lee) Boucage; nine great grandchildren, Mercedes, Kage, Ethan, Evan, Emma, Hunter, Creed, Suri and Blaze; special niece and

Thursday, June 2, 2022

nephew, Marilyn and Mike; and numerous life long friends. Marlene is predeceased by: her husband, Jack Pike; daughter, Brenda Finley; parents, Ernest and Pearl Bossert; brother, Al (Jeanne) Bossert; as well as numerous beloved relatives. A Graveside Service for Marlene will be held at Maidstone Cemetery, Maidstone, Saskatchewan. Details to be announced at a later date. Donations in memory of Marlene may be made to Pine Island Lodge or donor's charity of choice. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd. of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. CARD OF THANKS A heartfelt thank you to all the staff at Pine Island Lodge for their loving care they gave to “Mom” and the family during her stay there. Everything is greatly appreciated.

Thursday, June 2, 2022

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, June 2, 2022

MERIDIAN SOURCE

HOME

AWESOMENESS

LOOK AGAIN! NEW PRICES!

INGENUITY EXCELLENCE BEAUTIFUL FAMILY ACREAGES

LAKE HOMES

COMMERCIAL

FOWLER LAKE

SK $700,000 MLS A1192323

SK $530,000 MLS A1157222

EXECUTIVE BUNGALOW

BRIGHTSAND LAKE SUNNY ACRES

AB $468,000 MLS A1210860

SK $62,000 MLS A1132580

20004 TWP.RD 502

BRIGHTSAND LAKE

AB $1,250,000 MLS A1213176 AB $799,000 MLS A1215623

NE PT 14-54-20 W3RD

PT SW 18-44-27 W3RD

SK $395,000 MLS A1164892

SK $164,900 MLS A1163592

MAKWA LAKE

ALBERTA CONDOS

424,900 MLS A1209124

419,000 MLS A1213161

BUILD YOUR DREAM

TURTLE LAKE

EVERGREEN PLACE

MAPLES II

AB $359,900 MLS A1170052

AB $227,500 MLS A1175434

MERIDIAN

CORNERSTONE

AB $224,500 MLS A1150665

AB $139,900 MLS A1160458

409,000 MLS A1143839

STREAMSTOWN LOTS 1, 2, 3 & 18

STREAMSTOWN LOTS 13 - 17

AB $224,900 MLS A1141945

AB $89,900 MLS A1141937

COWAN LAKE

KITSCOTY

$ SK 45,000 each MLS A1124696 MLS A1124706

AB $28,000 MLS A1212530

MURPHY LAKE

190,000 MLS A1213158

GUIDING YOU HOME WITHIN YOUR BUDGET

SK $469,900 MLS A1175224

AB $289,800 MLS A1171991

493084 RGE RD 25

360,000 MLS A1188127

AB $335,000 MLS A1213465

276,500 MLS A1152553

SK $235,000 MLS A1192398

RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES ALBERTA 1 Bed, 1 Bath 1 Bed, 1 Bath 1 Bed, 1 Bath 2 Bed, 1 Bath 1 Bed, 1 Bath 1 Bed, 1 Bath 2 Bed, 1 Bath 2 Bed, 1 Bath 1 Bed, 1 Bath 5 Bed, 2 Bath 4 Bed, 3 Bath 5 Bed, 5 Bath

$600 $650 $700 $800 $800 $800 $850 $900 $1100 $1600 $1800 $1800

JULY 1 READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY! READY!

SASKATCHEWAN $1200 4 Bed, 3 Bath 4801 - 47 Ave. $1250 3 Bed, 2 Bath 4008 - 41 Ave.

JUNE 15 READY!

3315 - 51 Ave 2917 - 51 Ave. 5675 - 43 St. 2917 - 51 Ave. 3009 - 57A Ave. 3007 - 57A Ave. 2917 - 51 Ave. 2917 - 51 Ave. 4102 - 69 Ave. 2902 - 55 Ave. 5913 - 41 St. 5907 - 41 St.

APPLY ONLINE TODAY AB $155,000 MLS A1131974

128,000 MLS A1197890

AB $119,000 MLS A1206550

coldwellbankercitysiderealty.com

Brad Gilbert Jennifer Gilbert Broker/Owner Associate Broker

Rick Schesnuk Caleb McLean Realtor® Associate Broker

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

facebook.com/coldwellbankercitysiderealty

instagram.com/coldwellbankercitysiderealty