Meridian Source - April 25, 2024

Onion Lake welcomes detox beds

A sense of hope was felt throughout Onion Lake Cree Nation with the addition of 15 detox beds to the community’s Ekweskeet Healing Lodge.

“We had lost hope, including our young people, some who have committed suicide, and that’s evidence they’d lost hope,” said Chief Henry Lewis following Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“This is a sense of bringing that hope back. Although we have a lot of hurdles to go through, I know we’ll get there eventually.”

Lewis was joined by members of the Onion Lake community, including the director of the Onion Lake Health Board, Albert Jimmy, local dignitaries, and two members of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), 2nd Vice Chief Edward “Dutch” Lerat and 4th Vice Chief Craig McCallum.

For Jimmy, the Ekweskeet Healing Lodge, which first opened in 1987, holds a special place in his

heart as it taught him an important lesson about substance abuse.

“I was involved as an administrator at the time, and really didn’t know much about the program,” said Jimmy.

“An elder said ‘I think you need to go through the program for 28 days, and then you can come back and talk about it.

“A t that time I had problems with alcohol and thought it was a good time to go in because I’d blend in with the group. Monday morning came, I showed up, and none of

the leaders showed up,” he said with a chuckle.

“I went through it, and ever since then, I’ve quit drinking, so this place is dear to me. I was 42 years old at the time, and the point here is, people don’t have to wait until they’re 42 to start healing.”

McCallum noted the timing of the grand opening couldn’t have been better with the changing of seasons.

“We’re in a time of renewal, and it’s fitting this detox centre is opening during this season,” he said.

TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

Onion Lake Cree Nation welcomed the addition of 15 detox  beds to the Ekweskeet Healing Lodge on Tuesday. Taylor Weaver Meridian Source Photos

FROM PAGE 1

“The people that come here and access the centre, they’re going to leave reborn, renewed, recharged, and go home and create new norms for their families. They’re going to break cycles of trauma for youth, so it’s a really beautiful because of what it means and what this centre will mean for the people that access it,” he said.

“Our people have been dealing with issues we didn’t create, dealing with trauma we inherited, so being able to create opportunities like this to support our people in turning intergenerational hurt into intergenerational healing is a beautiful thing to see.”

Lerat followed McCallum’s remarks in thanking Chief Lewis and council for continuing to be so cultur -

ally focused in everything they do.

“It’s so important to have those ceremonies when watching the future and what the future holds for those that have challenges in different areas,” said Lerat.

“Turning intergenerational hurt into intergenerational healing is a beautiful thing to see.

“This is what our forefathers meant when they said ‘a medicine chest on every First Nation,” he added in relation to the importance of the detox beds.

“Onion Lake is focused on holistic healing; healing the community, and what’s happening here today is one portion of that

healing going forward,” he said.

“Holistic healing starts with housing, our children, ensuring they have a good house, a place to sleep, good meals and has a place in the education system.”

For the Chief, the detox beds aren’t just a sign of hope, they’re also a way of setting a better example for youth.

“We need to work on our youth; the demographics look pretty scary,” he said.

“Youth are going to be taking over, so if we don’t do anything now, I can’t imagine if they all got out of control.”

And when it comes to setting a good example for today’s youth, Lewis explained he’s honoured to have people like Albert Jimmy in his corner.

“He’s walking the talk, and that’s very important. He’s been there and he walked it.”

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations’ 2nd Vice Chief Edward “Dutch” Lerat and 4th Vice Chief Craig McCallum speak during opening remarks at the grand opening of Onion Lake Cree Nation’s Ekweskeet Healing Lodge’s 15 new detox beds on Tuesday.

Seniors re-imagine Jubilee Home

If building longterm care beds in Lloydminster were a hockey score, it would be 214 for the Alberta side of the city and 50 in Saskatchewan.

The Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society has prepared a draft proposal to level the playing field and replace Jubilee Home with 180 new spaces.

“The proposal is to get a replacement of the Jubilee Home,” said Seniors Care Society president, Graham Brown at the group’s meeting on April 23.

“We have to get 50 beds there to replace the ones that are now there, but we also need to add dramatically to the long-term care beds in Lloydminster.”

The numbers include the replacement of Jubilee’s existing 50 LTC spaces plus 20 specialty, 20 palliative, 20 respite, 20 transition spaces and 50 new LTC spaces.

The Alberta side of the city has 60 LTC spaces at Lloydminster Continuing Care Centre, 50 at Dr. Cooke Extended Care, 60 at Points West Living and 44 at Pioneer Hours for a total of 214.

Brown says Saskatchewan has not added any long-term care beds in Lloydminster for many years so it’s their turn.

“ So hopefully, they’ll look at this project favourably and we can get moving on replacing that as soon as possible,” he said.

The elephants in the room are competing for new projects in Saskatchewan and the completion of a new Integrated Health Services and Facility Infrastructure Needs Assessment.

That’s the opinion of Neal Sylvestre, executive director of continuing care Northwest with Saskatchewan Health Authority who spoke about the seniors’ proposal at its April 30 meeting.

“Obviously, I don’t

think it would be a surprise for anyone in this room to know that there probably isn’t going to be movement until such time as the needs assessment is done,” said Sylvestre.

However, he added, “I think this work promotes and advocates what the community wants and provides that evidence.”

Brown thinks the Saskatchewan Minister of Health will be receptive to the proposal after a tour of Jubilee Home last year and telling the seniors group, he wasn’t going to put more money into the aging facility.

“When we suggested replacing it, he kind of said, ‘yes, I guess’,” recalled Brown.

“They kind of said ‘yes it’s our turn to build something in Lloydminster’. So, they were kind of giving us the green light to get moving on this thing and get it together.”

Alberta Health Services and Saskatchewan Health Authority met with the Long-Term Spaces in Lloydminster Working Group in late 2023 to confirm 148 spaces are needed by 2035 within an 87-kilometre radius of the city.

“The next step is for Saskatchewan Health to green-light the project. Then, it would come

Graham Brown, president of Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society,

Neal Sylvestre, executive director of continuing care Northwest with the Saskatchewan Health

Okrainetz, director of Central Zone continuing care Northeast from Alberta Health Services talk about the

replacement timelines at Tuesday’s meeting.

back to the design phase and I would hope there would be some input,” said Brown.

“We’ve got a nice proposal together. That’s just a starting point. There’s a lot of work to do yet.”

The draft proposal will be further tweaked by Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers, Stephanie Munro, CEO of Lloydminster Region Health Foundation, and Paul Richer, chair of the Lloydminster and District Health Advisory Council and other politicians.

“I appreciate the course you took as well in terms of sending this to the health advisory

committee and putting it in the hands of leaders both on the health side and government side to try to move this agenda forward,” said Sylvestre on Tuesday.

It’s also been approved by members of the seniors’ care society.

“There’s been a lot

of work done on what we’re proposing with a lot of comparisons with other communities and with some provincial and national averages to come up with the number of beds we should be getting,” explained Brown.

North Battleford, for

and

example, has a population of 13,836 with 253 LTC spaces or 18.29 spaces per 1,000 residents compared to Lloydminster SK with a population of 11,843 and 50 LTC spaces or 4.22 spaces per 1,000 residents.

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

left, listens to guest speakers

Authority

Deborah

Jubilee Home

Kids help kick-off pitch-in week

It’s Pitch-In Week in Lloydminster, and to help kick things off, the city once again teamed up with GFL Environmental Inc. to educate Grade 8 students at Bishop Lloyd Middle School on the importance of proper trash, organics and

recycling disposal.

Presented by Mary Brown’s, the annual campaign runs from April 29 to May 5 with the annual household recycling roundup taking place this Saturday at the Lloyd Ex. “Today is a great day because it’s important we engage the youth of our community to help

clean up, and that’s what Pitch-In Week is all about. It doesn’t matter what community you live in, it’s important we take that time,” said Mayor Gerald Aalbers.

“Engaging the Grade 8s, they’re our future,” he said. “We’ve got GFL explaining all of the pieces behind our

garbage and waste program, including recyclables as well all organics and trying out where things need to go; (sometimes) we all need a little help.”

For Brett Chambers, operations manager, GLF Lloydminster, the timing couldn’t have been better after noticing contamination in resident’s waste.

“The green bins we have at every house, people are starting to think that’s recycling, but it’s actually organics, so anything that can be eaten goes

Maidstone has a population of 1,209 and has 24 LTC spaces or 19.85 spaces per 1,000 residents.

The data seniors included in the proposal indicates Saskatchewan has not added any new LTC

Above: Mayor Gerald

principal at Bishop Lloyd, with a Pitch-In Week plaque of appreciation on Monday morning before students heading out to clean up trash surrounding the school.

in there,” explained Chambers.

“With recycling, we’re starting to see some waste items such as shoes and clothes, and that’s unfortunately not recyclable and goes in the waste stream.”

Student Ruby Lancaster said the pitch-in event was fun and educational while spreading a positive message.

“It’s important to keep the community

spaces since Jubilee Home was first built in 1958 with 50 LTC beds and replaced in 1985 with 50 beds.

“We’re heading into a time when there’s more and more baby boomers aging all the time,” said Brown.

“We know the

clean because it helps everybody; the animals, us, and it also makes the community look nicer,” she said, explaining cleaning up the community is everyone’s responsibility.

“Even the kids that don’t want to clean up, it’s important to encourage them,” she said. “It helps them learn and spread the message of cleaning the community up.”

demand for long-term care beds in our community is going to grow exponentially.”

Brown says he expects the Saskatchewan government will listen to their proposal and identify the need and identify ways they can move the project forward.

JUBILEE FROM PAGE 3

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

Left: Grade 8 students at Bishop Lloyd Middle School play the GFL Environmental recycling game on Monday morning to help kick-off Pitch-In Week in the Border City.

Aalbers presents Aaron Canfield,

TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

Local lawyer joins King’s Counsel

Lloydminster lawyer, Andrea Fox, who goes by AJ. Fox professionally, can add the title of King’s Counsel (KC) to her credentials at Fox Wakefield in the coming weeks.

The big push right now is trying to make sure access to justice is readily available, and that’s a bit of an uphill battle.

She is one of 103 Alberta lawyers to recently receive the honourary KC designation in recognition of outstanding contributions to the legal community.

Fox is also believed to be the first female lawyer in Lloydminster appointed KC.

“The King’s Counsel designation is a prized distinction within the Canadian justice system. By making positive contributions to the profession, these honourees represent the legal profession at its best,” said Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General in a statement.

Fox specializes in real estate and estate planning and has become a champion of alternative dispute resolutions

to ensure everyone has access to justice.

“The big push right now is trying to make sure access to justice is readily available, and that’s a bit of an uphill battle. That’s an important part of today’s legal world,” said Fox.

“It’s always in the back of my mind. Certainly, access to justice is a really important element that I’m concerned about.”

Fox says the court system is so clogged right now, that it can take three or four years to get something to trial.

That prompted her to seek a Master’s degree online from Osgoode Law School in Toronto in alternative dispute resolution, which she says is a burgeoning and exciting field.

“I’m convocating in June,” she said. Fox says alternative dispute resolution focuses on arbitration and mediation as ways to settle legal disputes and can save clients time and money.

She says it’s an area that has a lot of potential.

“That was part of the reason I did my Master’s degree to potentially switch the focus of my practice to what’s called a ‘neutral practice’ where I’m acting as mediator or arbitrator,”

Supplied Photo

she said

“That’s something I’m looking at.”

Fox says alternative dispute resolutions are mandatory in some jurisdictions now.

“Before you can proceed further in court, the rules of court demand that you proceed with judicial dispute resolution and mediation. It’s something most courts are really in favour of,” explained Fox.

She says she was “greatly surprised” by her inclusion to the list of King’s Counsel appointees.

“I’m humbled to think I’m part of that group. I

am very thrilled about it,” said Fox.

The selection committee is made up of representatives from government, the three levels of Court, the Law Society and the Canadian Bar Association.

Fox was nominated for the KC distinction by her firm and two supporters.

She is currently a member of the Practice Review Committee for th e Law Society of Alberta and has served as a board member on the Environmental Appeals Board of Alberta and the Public Lands Appeal Board of Alberta.

Lawyer A.J. Fox at Fox Wakefield is believed to be the first female lawyer in Lloydminster to receive a prestigious King’s Counsel (KC) designation. Fox will also receive her Masters degree in alternative dispute resolution in June. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Hyland teaches canoeing to celebrate

like that. I’m not alone in the work that I do and there’s a lot of teachers who do a lot of amazing work,” said Hyland.

An Arbos is the highest honour the STF can bestow upon a teacher or individual working in education.

Jason Neville, director of education with the Lloydminster Public School Division says the award underscores Hyland’s “profound impact” through the land-based learning program.

ation’s annual meeting of council luncheon in Saskatoon on April 25.

Fox grew up on a farm just outside of Lloydminster Saskatchewan and after graduating from Lloydminster Comprehensive High School, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and a law degree from the University of Tasmania in Australia.

After practising law

with the following procedures in place.

The Chief Justice of Alberta will call each counsel individually, in order of seniority, directing him/her to come forward as his/her name is called.

Students are always top of mind for Derek Hyland, who teaches the Grade 8 land-based cultural leadership program at Bishop Lloyd Middle School.

That’s why he seemed more focused on backing up a canoe trailer at school last Friday than he was on the prestigious Arbos award presented to him by the

Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) the day before.

“We’re going canoeing at the pool this afternoon with the Grade 8s. There’s never a dull moment,” said Hyland less than 24 hours after receiving an Arbos for Contributions to Education and the Teaching Profession.

He is one of three teachers to receive an Arbos this year and the

only teacher awarded in the Lloydminster public and Catholic school divisions.

An Arbos award honours Saskatchewan teachers who have made outstanding contributions to education and the teaching profession that are broad and significant in their scope and impact.

“It’s a pretty cool thing to be nominated and receive an award

“His innov ative approach engages and connects students with their environment and deepens their understanding of our cultural heritage,” said Neville.

“This award highlights his exceptional dedication and significant contributions to teaching.”

Each Arbos includes honorary life membership in the STF and an Arbos statuette, presented during the feder-

“Down Under” for a while, Fox returned to Lloydminster to pursue a career close to home.

She and lawyer Jeremy Wakefield took over the firm as partners 20 years ago from former owners and have since added associate lawyer Jordan Bolt and articling student Spencer Bossaer to the staff.

Fox will receive her KC designation in a ceremony at the Law Courts Building in Edmonton on June 5

The new King’s Counsel will move to the front of the courtroom, bow to the Court and then to the other King’s Counsel and then proceed back to his/her assigned chair in the inner bar.

Coun sel is required to gown in either their silks or, if not available, in a regular gown for this ceremony.

The tradition of appointing lawyers to be King’s Counsel dates back the 16th century England. In Canada, the practice predates Confederation with the first KC appointees admitted in Upper Canada in 1841.

KINGS COURT FROM PAGE 5

Supplied Photo

Derek Hyland, third from left, received an Arbos award from the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation on April 25 for Contributions to Education and the Teaching Profession. On his left is Meaghan O’Grady (LTA councillor) and his wife and teacher, Leslie Hyland, and on his right are Samantha Becotte (STF president), Derek Armstrong (LTA president), Carla McPherson (LTA vice-president) and Pam Newman (LTA councillor). Derek teaches at Bishop Lloyd Middle School.

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Keeping your farm animals safe

During escalating challenges such as wildfires, flooding, extreme temperatures and the threat of viruses, the well-being of your animals is important.

From comprehensive

emergency planning to biosecurity measures and careful feeding practices, here are five tips to keep your animals safe and healthy.

Have an emergency plan

Establish an emer -

gency plan to keep your animals safe. Include details like transportation and evacuation routes when possible, along with copies of important documents like veterinary records and property maps.

Ensure you have a two-week supply of feed, water and medications for your animals. By planning ahead you’ll be able to make quick and effective decisions during a crisis.

Biosecurity is not a buzzword

Strong biosecurity measures are an important way to prevent the spread of diseases and contaminants to your flock or herd year-round.

They typically involve steps such as isolating new animals from others for two weeks, establishing visitor protocols, and ensuring proper procedures for boot and handwashing, as well as equipment cleaning.

When travelling abroad, ensure you

follow protocols so diseases aren’t accidentally introduced to animals.

Given the global risk of diseases like African swine fever (ASF), biosecurity is the most important measure to stop the spread if it is ever detected in Canada. While this viral disease cannot be transmitted to humans and is not a food-safety risk, it is almost always deadly for pigs.

They could catch it from an infected pig or through contact with contaminated clothing and farm equipment.

Caution with food scraps as feed Food recycling programs that gather surplus food from grocers, and repurposing kitchen scraps may seem like practi -

cal ways to reduce food waste, but it’s important to exercise caution.

Avoid feeding scraps to animals because the food could impact their nutrition or be contaminated. For pigs, ASF can be spread through small amounts of contaminated pork product which is why it is illegal in Canada to feed pigs meat.

Wild animals are not friends

While your animals may spend time outside, it’s important to protect them from potential disease carriers like birds, foxes and wild pigs.

Despite not being traditional predators, birds can spread avian influenza, and wild pigs can transmit ASF if it spreads to Canada. Ensure your animals do not have contact with wild animals.

Monitor your animals closely

Regularly observe your animals for any behavioural or physical changes.

This will help you spot subtle signs of poor health before issues become more serious or illness spreads further.

Learn more about how to protect your animals from ASF on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website at inspection. gc.ca/asf-biosecurity.

File Photo

Nurse quizzed by young podcaster

Stephanie Derkach was none the worse for wear after being peppered with probing questions about her job by Grade 7 students at College Park School.

The grilling took place on Friday as part of individual student podcasts featuring interviews with guests like Derkach, who is a nurse on the surgery floor at the Lloydminster Hospital.

“It was really fun. I wasn’t quite sure what kind of questions they would be asking me, but it was really fun. They seemed pretty engaged,” said Derkach.

She was the podcast subject of choice for student Declan Morgan who calls her aunt Steph at home and knows her from church, too.

“She was the one who got my stitches out. She did it at home,” said

ARBOS FROM PAGE 6

Hyland received the award with his wife Leslie on hand to lead the applause as a Grade 8 teacher herself at E.S. Laird Middle School.

Declan, who moderated the interview and asked most of the questions.

Derkach was temporarily stumped when Declan asked her what she remembered about Grade 7—way back in 2002.

She found it easier to explain what she does as a floor nurse.

“I give medications, I do vital signs, I get people moving after their surgeries, wound care, dealing with the doctors and processing orders,” she said.

Derkach graduated as a licensed practical nurse from Lakeland College five years ago. She initially worked at Jubilee Home, then briefly at Lloydminster Hospital and Home Care for two years before landing her current job at the hospital this past October.

Derkach says she’s loving every minute of being on the surgery floor.

“It’s a totally differ -

The recipient of this award is selected from nominations submitted by local associations, professional growth networks, teachers, trustees, directors of education, teacher educators or officials in educa -

ent place to be to getting people better to go home,” she said.

“They are in and they’re out in a couple of days and they can’t even believe they’re standing up walking after they’ve just had surgery a couple of hours ago, but it’s a blessing to be part of that process.”

Throughout the podcast, Declan read from a script and kept an eye of the soundtrack of the video.

Teacher Cornelius Krahn says this is the fifth season of Grade 7 Talks to Experts podcasts with students such as Declan getting to choose their own guests to learn more about them or their line of work.

“These kids were engaged; they were asking questions. There were questions Declan asked and the last half was all impromptu questions,” explained Krahn.

tional organizations.

A selection committee of teachers forwards the name of one of the nominees to the STF executive as the recommended recipient for this award.

He says it’s teaching them communication skills and it’s teaching them confidence.

“To sit in front of your entire class and lead discussions for 35 to 50 minutes is a really good way to become an adult and to have conversations with people,” said Krahn.

“Declan did an amazing job and what I like is, whatever the students need, we are able to adapt the podcasting program for that student,” said Krahn.

“We have students who are super shy, so we organize it in a way

He says it’s also great for students like Declan who have some learning challenges.

that maybe they are not physically in the room, but the entire class gets to participate in it.

“It’s absolutely inclusive. That’s one thing about podcasting, anybody can do it.”

When asked his opinion of podcasts Declan quickly said, “I think they’re awesome.”

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Lloydminster Hospital surgical floor nurse Stephanie Derkach answered questions about her job from Grade 7 College Park students on Friday to assist Declan Morgan, seated, with his podcast. Each student is making a podcast with their own invited guests.

PAGE 10

Thursday, May 2, 2024

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Viewpoint

OP-ED: THE ANNOYING CHILDREN

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Editor Taylor Weaver taylor@meridiansource.ca

In many ways, our Canadian federation is much like a family.

We have mom and dad who set the rules and run the place whether we, the kids, like it or not.

Sometimes they get along really well and they pay attention to us in ways we like, and at other times, they squabble and fight and we’re not sure exactly what is going to happen. Oh, and of course, they have control of the money, even though we have to do chores.

ince”, and each province has a municipal government Act in one form or another.

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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

Sometimes they listen to what we have to say and sometimes not even a little bit.

In this example, the cities, towns and rural municipalities are the children. The provincial governments are “mom.” Municipal governments are, quite literally, children of the provinces.

Section 92.8 gives the

The feds have no legal authority to become involved in making laws affecting municipalities. The feds can, however, direct federal funds to those municipalities, which involves all sorts of agreements and arrangements that may or may not involve the particular provincial government.

Going back to our family example, when mom and dad are fighting, the kids can some -

ily though, the bigger kids (Calgary/Edmonton) seem to be able to get more attention and favours than the smaller kids.

Especially if one of those smaller kids happens to have two moms and a dad.

If you think this makes for a weird family dynamic you can appreciate how complicated it gets for Lloydminster having to contend with two provincial governments as well as the Feds in order to get anything done.

What is the direct impact of those “family” relationships between the two provinces and the Feds to those of us

in Lloydminster?

The capital budget for 2024 will be approximately $64.5 million. Of that money, $15,420,205 or 23.7 per cent, will be grant money from mom(s) and dad. That is just for one year.

When the mayor, councillors and city officials spend a few days in Regina or Edmonton attending municipal conventions with each of our provincial governments you can see the stakes are high. Additionally, we compete with all of the other “kids” and every one of them has an ask.

- Darrell Dunn

File Photo

Opinion

Leeway from Lloyd: How to build an arena on the cheap

A recent news report that Edmonton homeowners are facing a huge property tax rate hike of 8.9 per cent reminded me how lucky neighbouring Sherwood Park residents are to be getting an $86 million arena with a minimal tax impact.

By contrast, we taxpayers in Lloydminster are on the hook to pay for a big chunk of the estimated $93.9 million cost of the Cenovus Energy Hub.

While the Energy Hub is largely funded by a $33 million loan and grants from the federal government and the province of Saskatchewan, the Sherwood

Park arena is being mostly financed by the owner of the Crusaders hockey team.

This is a unique, sweet public-private partnership with the municipality providing the land and $990,000 a year for 20 years in operational and maintenance costs as well as an equity investment. The team will return the equity investment of $4 million at the end of the deal.

The Sherwood Park Crusaders will also provide a minimum of 2,430 hours of prime ice time annually to the county for community-based activities in this win-win situation.

The price tag will build an arena in Sherwood Park with seating for 2,600, expandable to 3,500 for concerts along with three other rinks each seating a couple of

hundred people.

Our Energy hub will similarly seat 2,500, expandable to 4,500 with floor seats with two sheets of indoor ice and one outdoor rink. It’s too bad there was no private-public partnership opportunity like this in Lloyd to

build the arena at little or no cost to taxpayers, but obviously, the owner of the Crusaders has deep pockets and the land was donated. How could Sherwood Park say no?

Fortunately in Lloydminster, Cenovus and the Lloydminster and District Co-op are

leading the way with naming rights to share some costs and other sponsors are likely to follow suit.

Local officials are also hard at work to get Alberta to commit their share to the project given the biprovincial usage of the Energy Hub.

Next time Lloydminster needs to replace a new facility such as the pool, let’s hope there’s a billionaire swimmer in town who can cut a similar private-public deal with the city. Don’t bank on me though as I am currently price-checking a new Speedo!

File Photo

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The Meridian Source Calendar of Events is a free service provided for non-profit organizations located within our coverage area. All events are in chronological order, as space permits and at the editor’s discretion.

Passport to YLL

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

Cards, games, food, meetings and live music

BINGO IS BACK!

Bingo is back at the Moose Lodge every Monday and Wednesday. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and play starts at 7 p.m. Must be 18 to play.

Legacy Dinner Theatre Tickets

Available

Tickets are now on sale for the Legacy Centre’s 12th annual Dinner Theatre, featuring the Lloydminster Little Theatre presenting “Barefoot In The Park,” scheduled for April 25-28. Tickets are $55/ person and can be purchased at the Legacy Centre.

Meditation Night

Join Taylor Schneider with Awaken

Medium for an evening of guided meditation and personal transformation. The intention for this evening is a dream state experience. Meditation night is scheduled for May 2 from 7-8:30 p.m. at 5308 57 St. Lloydminster, Alta. Tickets are $55 plus tax each and available on Eventbrite.

Flavour Festival

Flavour Fest returns to the Border City on May 4 and will be hosted at the Centennial Civic Centre from 5 to 10 p.m. This event features live music, drinks, and food, all in one place! Vendors from across western Canada will be bringing their products for you to

try, and the best part is, the event runs as a fundraiser for the Lloydminster Bobcats.

Save The Alcurve Hall Funder

Meet your neighbours at the “Save The Alcurve Community Hall Fundraiser,” taking place on May 4. Doors open at 5 p.m. and beef on a bun is at 6 p.m. Adults are $20, children 6-12 are $10, and five and under are free. Please contribute to the pot luck salads and desserts. Entertainment by the Prairie Dogs. Cash bar available. Silent auction items generously donated by local businesses and friends.

Islay Garage Sale

The Islay community garage sale, sponsored by the Islay Healthcare Authority, is being held on Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Table rentals are $15 per table. For more information, please call Ruth Shaw at 780-5815096. Lunch will be available. All donations gratefully accepted.

Household Recycling Roundup

Formerly known as household hazardous waste roundup, the household recycling roundup is scheduled for May 4 at the Lloyd Ex from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event provides residents from Lloydminster and surrounding area the opportunity to safely dispose of household quantities of hazard -

ous waste.

Potters Guild Sale

The Lloydminster Potters Guild Spring Sale is Sunday, May 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lloydminster Museum + Archives (4207 - 44 Street). Meet the artisans and shop the largest selection of hand-crafted pottery in the region. Cash, credit card and debit accepted.

Cribbage Doubles Tourney

The Lloydminster Moose Lodge, located at 5213 57 Street, is hosting a cribbage doubles tournament on May 5 at 10 a.m. Registration is from 9-9:45 a.m.; 12 games guaranteed. Cost is $25/player, which includes a lunch. Enter as a team or an individual (they will team you up). To pre-register, please contact Bruce at 780-522-6972.

500 Card Game Tourney

The Lashburn Senior Centre is hosting a 500 card game tournament on Monday, May 6 at the Senior Centre. Everyone welcome! Doors open at 12:30 p.m. and the tournament starts at 1 p.m. Cost to play is $10, snacks and beverages are availbale for $5. For more information, please call 306821-2457. The Lashburn Senior Centre is located on Main Street beside the post office. Parking is available behind the building.

Rummage Craft Sale

A Rummage and Craft sale will be held at the Moose Hall on Friday May 10 from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturday May 11 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. There are multiple vendors selling their wares. Room is still available for anyone interested in renting a table. Contact Susan at 780-872-1871 for more information.

Mastering Reels and TikTok

This two part Reel/ Tik Tok course gives you every tip and trick to grow your audience, and blow up on social media platforms. Day one is scheduled for May 16 from 6-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $64.17 plus tax and available through Eventbrite. For more information, visit Eventbrite.com

Classified @

The Civic Canadian rapper and record producer Classified will be live at the Centennial Civic Centre on May 18. Tickets are $45 and available through Eventbrite.

Notorious Football Camp

Welcome to the Notorious Youth Football Camp! Join us on May 25 for a day of intensive training and skill development led by experienced coaches and CFL alumni, including Shawn Gore, Junior Turner and Adrian Clarke. The cost is $81.21 plus tax and tickets are avail -

able through Eventbrite. The training day will take at Holy Rosary High School and will be moved indoors if the weather isn’t cooperating. For more information, check out the event’s Facebook page.

69th Annual Lea Park Rodeo

The 69th Annual Lea Park Rodeo will be held on June 7 at 6:30 p.m. and June 8-9 at 1 p.m. with the dance in the Marwayne Arena to follow at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Win a 2024 Dodge 3/4 ton. Truck tickets are $100. Call 780-2059010 or 306-821-6352 for more details.

Hotel California at The Vic Juba VaughnCo Entertainment is excited to bring the original Eagles tribute, Hotel California, to the Vic Juba Community Theatre on Sept. 20 for a 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $60 each and available online or at the theatre’s box office. Call 780-8727400 for more info.

Taylor Swift Tribute

The Vic Juba Community Theatre is excited to bring a Taylor Swift Tribute featuring Katy Ellis to the Border City on Wednesday, Nov. 13 for a 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $39 each and are available online or at the theatre’s box office. Call 780-8727400 for more info. - Have something you’d like listed in our community calendar? Email it to taylor@ meridiansource.ca

Wellspring supports cancer patients

Wellspring Alberta, a non-profit charity based in Calgary, doesn’t want anyone to face cancer alone.

Rebecca Perkins, an outreach manager for Wellspring, ended her second tour of the province in Lloydminster last Thursday to promote awareness of their mental health, wellness and community support for anyone living with cancer.

“We know that accessibility and availability of cancer support differ greatly across the province from community to community,” said Perkins.

“So, as outreach manager for Wellspring Alberta, we’re really trying to help build stronger cancer support communities in our regional areas.”

Perkins set out in Lloyd to connect Wellspring’s services with the cancer team at the Lloydminster Cancer

Centre at the hospital, the Primary Care Network and Family, Family Community Support Services and some local medical clinics.

Wellspring is the only organization in Alberta dedicated to providing the non-medical needs cancer patients face including help with distress and workplace challenges.

Their diverse programs include peer support groups, nutrition and financial support workshops, yoga and art therapy.

“All of our programs are available free of charge for patients and caregivers. We have a wide variety of programs online,” said Perkins who notes there are more than 70 programs available.

Wellspring also runs programs at centres in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and Red Deer.

“We welcome anyone who is travelling for treatment, maybe from

Lloydminster, to stop in our centres,” said Perkins.

Wellspring has volunteers throughout the province to connect cancer patients and their families to their services and is looking for a connector volunteer in Lloydminster.

“We are a provincial organization and we look forward to connecting with anyone who is supporting anyone living with cancer or has had cancer themself,” said Perkins.

“Everything we do is based on the premise you do not need to face cancer alone.”

Perkins says Wellspring programs are about reducing isolation and improving skillsets and strategies for coping with cancer.

“We have a lot of fun in our programs too. We make people laugh and enable people to live a high quality of life through their cancer journey,” she said.

Perkins says she

Lee Meridian

Rebecca Perkins, an outreach manager for Wellspring Alberta, met with the cancer team at the Lloydminster Cancer Centre at the hospital last Thursday to spread awareness of free non-medical cancer supports for those living with cancer. Perkins also visited a few other community service groups in the city to wrap up her second tour throughout the province.

encourages people to look at their website at WellspringAlberta.ca or call their toll-free number Monday to Friday.

“We welcome the opportunity to speak with you,” she said.

Wellspring relies heav-

ily on donations with their big funder being the Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge to the top floor of Calgary’s tallest building on June 9.

Lloydminster Fire Department chief Aaron Buckingham said they don’t have anyone participating in the stair climb at this time. Those who do are tasked with climbing 1370 stairs and 57 storeys of Brookfield Place in modified firefighter gear.

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Geoff

Source

Council okays new retailer

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Lloydminster City Council has approved the development application for a retail store located at the old Canadian Tire store at 4215 70 Ave.

The store is located in Direct Control District 3 zoning with Councillor Michael Diachuk mak -

ing the only comment about the development at the April 29 session.

“I’m excited to see those spaces will be used and filled with businesses and it mean there will be some people working in there and people coming to shop in those areas,” said Diachuk.

“Hopefully, we can

add to the economic development and growth of the city. This is great stuff to see that building which has been vacant for a couple of years.”

Council also delegated the city’s development officer to review and approve any sign permit connected to this appli -

cation that complies with Land Use Bylaw 5-2016 requirements.

The retailer has yet to announce themselves, but the site map shows the 65,109 sq. ft. space divided into three stores.

The building is leased by Canadian Tire Real Estate Investment Trust.

Border City to boom with Upgrader retooling

The Cenovus Energy Lloydminster Upgrader will be undergoing a maintenance turnaround from early May to midto-late June with roughly 4,000 contractors expected on site.

The company notes this seven-week turnaround is a large maintenance and capital project, which includes the safe and orderly shut-in of production at the facility to inspect, clean, modify, repair, and upgrade its equipment.

“As with all of our oper ations, our priority during the turnaround will be the safety of our people, the community and the environment,” said Cenovus in

The Cenovus Energy booth at the bi-provincial Try-A-Trade Career Expo at Lloyd Ex on Tuesday attracted a lot of students interested in oilfield trades.

a statement on Tuesday. The company says there may be an increase in vehicle traf -

fic around the site as additional workers will be at the Upgrader during peak times.

The previous home of Canadian Tire. File Photo

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Each month, the Source highlights one member of the community as a fun way to bring us all closer together! This month, we featured Lloydminster Catholic School Division’s director of education, Nigel McCarthy!

If you didn’t do what you do for a living, what would you be doing?

It’s tough to imagine not being a teacher, but being an astronaut sounds like a great adventure!

It’s Sunday morning, what are you having for breakfast?

Dad’s Sunday pancakes and bacon, crispy bacon!

If you could see one concert, what would it be?

The family answer would be Taylor Swift these days, but without the kids I would go hear Tom Petty live.

If you could have one super power, what would it be?

Time travel – Back to the Future, without the DeLorean. First stop, the seven wonders of the world.

What is your favourite TV show?

Ask my kids, they have the remote.

What’s your dream car?

A shiny red 1962 Corvette.

What’s your fast-food guilty pleasure?

Definitely an Oreo Blizzard from Dairy Queen.

Last book you couldn’t put down?

Green Eggs and Ham, with our Grade 1 students.

Which person, alive or dead, would you like to have dinner with?

Magellan or Captain Cook, the explorers who made the voyages of discovery.

What’s the one thing you haven’t done that you’d love to do?

The walk of St. James from France to Santiago de la Compostella.

What’s the best thing about Lloydminster?

Our volunteers! All the sport and programs for children to be involved in and the spirit of volunteerism that makes so many of these programs possible is remarkable.

If we’re buying you’re having....

Something cold on the deck at Three Trees on a sunny day.

What’s your favourite vacation destination?

Tanzania and the drive down the Ngorongoro Crater. There is a hotel at the edge of the crater, and you can have coffee and watch the morning mist rise while the animals wake up for the day.

What’s your weirdest habit?

Double tying my dress shoes in fear they might fall off.

What’s currently playing in your car or on your smartphone right now?

new album, what else? Ask my daughter …

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Getting locked out after three incorrect passwords. Why does that always happen?

What are your words to live by?

Treat others as you would like to be treated, it’s a simple rule and I am always amazed at how well children do it.

Who’s your hero?

People whose courage allows them to change the world peacefully, Mother Teresa, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King.

What was your most

embarrassing moment?

When my kids get asked if they are having fun with grandpa and they answer, “Yes, but he is my dad.”

Fun Facts About Nigel!

- He has been to over 100 countries.

- He has been in education for 28 years!

- He spent three years circumnavigating the world in a sailing ship.

- He worked at clinics, orphanages and on development projects around the world.

- He loves a strong Pike Place Roast from Starbucks.

- He is passionate about coaching.

Taylor Swift’s

Source File Photo

Try-A-Trade opens eyes to future careers

Top

Blaine Stephan, co-owner of Guardian

ing and Heating, helps College Park student

Naidoo complete some pipe welding at the bi-provincial Try-A-Trade event at the Lloyd Ex on Tuesday. The event attracted more than 1,600 students. Above: Lakeland College hairstyling student Emily Shepansky, left, applies tinsel to the hair of E.S. Laird Middle School student Alexandria Trahan. Bottom left: It was hammer time at the Lakeland College carpentry trades demo for willing students.

Geoff Lee Meridian Source Photos

left:

Plumb -

Kamren

Raiders set bar for sportsmanship

It may not be a medal, but the Holy Rosary High School Raiders senior girls basketball team recently returned from Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association (ASAA) provincials with something even more meaningful, a sportsmanship banner. Under the direction of coach Ashley Fullarton, the Raiders received the

ASAA Set The Bar banner, something she’s quite proud of.

“It’s a true testament to who the girls are, not only as players and students, but who they are as people. They’re the best group of people you could ever ask for.

“This is also a banner for the parents, they’re celebrating with us too after being so supportive. They’ve raised 12 amazing humans and

now we have a little hardware to show for it.”

Only one sportsmanship banner is awarded each season, and the team receiving the award represents the true spirit of sportsmanship, integrity, ethics and fair play.

“The values and ideals of sportsmanship are such an important part of a positive sporting experience for our student-athletes and

it is a real honour for a team to be selected to receive the sportsmanship banner at a provincial event,” said the ASAA in a statement.

“This is awarded by the organizing committee,” added Fullarton.

“The refs get a say, the opposing coaches also get a say in who wins. After every game, you fill out a rubric based on the players and coaches, and the

refs do the same, and it then goes to a vote.”

For graduating captain Norah Matthews, the banner means a lot.

“I think it’s really awesome as it shows how well our team gets along, as well as how well we can represent our school while being kind one another, teammates, refs and other coaches,” said the multi-sport athlete.

“I know some people

have a hard time with that, and with the award being called ‘Set The Bar,’ I think we really did set the bar for future teams and coaches.

“No matter the game, I think sportsmanship is important.”

For Grade 12 guard Chloe Dorchak, who’s also finishing her high school basketball career, it doesn’t get much better.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

The Holy Rosary Raiders senior girls basketball team recently returned from Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association provincials where they were awarded the Set the Bar Sportmanship banner.

TAYLOR WEAVER

AJHL welcomes NAX in expansion

The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) has awarded an expansion franchise to the

Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) Athletics Group and community of Devon, Alta. for the 2024-25 season.

The AJHL franchise will play at a new rink currently under construction in the Dale Fisher Arena and scheduled to open in June 2024.

The facility will feature a regulation sized ice surface alongside a two-storey hockey training facility that will be one of the best fully-integrated training facilities in Alberta.

Attached to the Dale Fisher Arena, the facility will provide worldclass training and devel-

opment opportunities for it’s athletes.

The NAX Training Centre is currently home to six NAX Hockey Academy teams and two elite hockey development programs.

Additional information on NAX can be found at www.naxhockey.com

The NAX Athletics Group was previously part of the Whitecourt Wolverines ownership group.

The Alberta Junior Hockey League is in the process of evaluating new ownership opportunities to continue a successful AJHL program in Whitecourt.

Raiders’ badminton provincials bound

The Holy Rosary High School (HRHS) Raider senior badminton team is fresh off a successful zone championship last Wednesday in Fort McMurray.

The Raiders finished with a gold in Sr. boys doubles, a silver in sr. girls doubles, a bronze in sr. mixed doubles, and two teams in fourth

RAIDERS FROM PAGE 17

“I was really excited when I found out because we played with such a great group of girls this year. I had so much fun, and this being my Grade 12 year, we kinda went out with

place, intermediate mixed doubles and intermediate boys singles.

HR HS is proud to be sending four athletes (one boy’s doubles and one girl’s doubles) to Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association High School Provincials this weekend in Edmonton.

The tournament is be ing held at the Saville Center, with 384

a bang,” said Dorchak. “To get a banner at provincials shows a lot about our school, a lot about all of the girls individually and as a team, as well as about our coach.”

Power forward Pre -

athletes participating representing eight Zones in the province. KC Reyes and Justine Mendoza won gold in sr. boys’ doubles at districts and zones after going undefeated all day. Andrea Castelo and Loriss Baluyot won silver at districts and followed up with a silver at zones in Fort McMurray sr. girls doubles.

sley Johnston, who’s also graduating this year, would have loved to return to Lloyd with some shiny new hardware, but she knows the importance of a sportsmanship award.

“Even though we didn’t medal, I think it was a really good representation,” said Johnston. “We still showed great sportsmanship, tried to represent Holy Rosary, and all the hard work we put in, we still got something out of it.”

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

Stop right now, thank you very much

SGI spotlight right-of-way and traffic control devices

SGI’s May Traffic Safety Spotlight focuses on being alert regarding the right of way and paying attention to traffic control devices.

“Collisions occur frequently at intersections, during turns and lane changes,” said JP Cullen, Chief Operating Officer of the Auto Fund. “We’re asking drivers to remain alert and aware of the simple actions they can take to help keep themselves and others safe on the road.”

Drivers are encouraged to take extra care at intersections and always look both ways before entering any intersection. Anticipate the traffic light changing to avoid running through an amber or red light. Always signal and use correct pro-

cedures for turning – don’t rely on other drivers to execute their turns correctly. Avoid collisions by being alert and yielding the right of way:

- Be alert and eliminate distractions. Driving requires your full, undivided attention. Keep your focus on the road.

- Always come to a complete stop before the crosswalk or stop line at stop signs and red lights and proceed when safe.

- If the intersection allows right turns at a red light, ensure you come to a complete stop. Wait for approaching traffic and pedestrians to clear before proceeding into the first available driving lane.

- When turning left on a green light, ensure oncoming traffic and

pedestrians have cleared before proceeding.

- At uncontrolled intersections, always yield to the vehicle on the right.

- Ensure there’s room for you to merge into a lane before making your move.

- Watch for pedestrians. Give them the space they need to cross safely and yield to them where appropriate.

Drivers receive a $230 ticket and four demerits for failing to come to a stop at a red light or stop sign, or failing to yield to a pedestrian at a yield sign, or in an uncontrolled intersection.

File Photo

Sask taps into nuclear industry expertise

To help enable nuclear development in Saskatchewan, SaskPower and the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) have joined the CANDU Owners Group (COG) as members.

B oth SaskPower and SRC will gain access to research, technical workshops and peer groups focused on environmental and regulatory affairs, nuclear safety, used fuel management and emergency planning.

In 2018, COG expanded its mandate to include advanced technologies, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and micro reactors, in recognition that its collaboration model is beneficial to nonCANDU technologies.

“Leveraging nuclear expertise and industry experience is an important part of SaskPower’s SMR development work,” Minister Responsible for SaskPower Dustin Duncan said.

“The insight provided by other Cana -

dian nuclear utilities and key international nuclear organizations will be incredibly valuable ahead of our decision in 2029 whether to proceed with nuclear power from SMRs.”

SaskPower has been a participant in COG’s SMR Technology Forum since 2019, and through that participation, has collaborated with Canadian nuclear utilities on various topics including regulatory considerations, licensing, fuel supply, used fuel management and nuclear power plant safety.

“Today’s announcement is another milestone for Saskatchewan in advancing the safe

and sustainable introduction of nuclear technologies into the province, including SRC’s microreactor project,” Minister Responsible for SRC Jeremy Harrison said. “SRC’s decades of experience in the nuclear sector, coupled with access to the experience and resources of Canada’s leading technical nuclear experts, will be of significant benefit to our province.”

SRC is pursuing the licensing and demonstration of a microreactor in Saskatchewan. Microreactors can be deployed in remote areas to generate industrial heat and electricity for vari -

ous applications. SRC will work with communities, industry and Indigenous groups to advance microreactors in the province.

SaskPower and SRC are the first new utility members of the CANDU Owner’s Group in over two decades and join other Canadian organizations including Ontario Power Generation, Bruce Power, New Brunswick Power and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories.

“With four decades of experience fostering nuclear industry collaboration, COG looks forward to helping Saskatchewan achieve their clean energy

goals,” COG President and CEO Rachna Clavero said.

“Through these memberships, SaskPower and SRC are gaining access to the most innovative research along with industry intelligence, best practices and supply chain development, while enabling cost savings through resource pooling.”

COG’ s 40 years of expertise and experience will enable SaskPower and SRC to collaborate on potentially developing new technologies, evaluate new approaches and participate in providing unique perspectives into the Canadian regulatory framework.

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

The Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. File Photo

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ARIES

Try for this week to slow down, recuperate. Take time to re ect on yourself and be content with what you have.

TAURUS

This will feel like an exhausting week. You let things pile up and are overwhelmed. You know better, get to work!

GEMINI

For a week remember, when your smiling the whole world smiles with you, it’s contagious and starts with you.

CANCER

New fresh spring=New fresh friends. Quit being shy, get outa your shell and meet new people. You have something to offer.

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VIRGO Life, bills, weather, gov’t, work, tra c, all making you itch this week, nothing seems to go in your direction -hopefully it will pass soon.

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SCORPIO Yes, you are the pioneer type, old school mentality. This week see if you can in uence other’s to spank their kids or say yes MAM.

SAGITTARIUS Try for a week not to be so sympathetic and understanding of other’s problems – Don’t be ignorant but let them gure it out.

CAPRICORN

Feeling alone this week, it’s because you won’t give yourself permission to need someone else. Only you can change that!

AQUARIUS It would be best for you this week to be alone. It’s not a bad thing, take time for “YOURSELF”. Learn to live with you.

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Work this week will be a breeze, things will nally come together and you will be noticed. Enjoy, but check your EGO!

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