Meridian Source - March 14, 2024

RM donates $100,000 to health fund

Lloydminster Region Health Foundation CEO, Stephanie Munro, was bowled over by a whopping $100,000 charitable donation from the Rural Municipality of Britannia council.

“We are extremely grateful for the community collaboration that we have with them.

RM Reeve, John Light, presented the cheque to Munro on behalf of the RM’s council on Monday to be utilized by the foundation “as they see fit” as council put it.

“The Lloydminster Region Health Foundation is overwhelmed by the continued support of the RM of Britannia,” said Munro at the RM office on 47 St.

“We are sincerely thankful to the council for acknowledging the value and hard work our organization does

to enhance health care for all residents within the region.”

In turn, Light says the RM council appreciates the work the foundation does and continues to do for the people within the RM and surrounding areas.

“Thank you for all the Lloydminster

Region Health Foundation’s work in providing excellence and innovation for health care service in Lloydminster,” said Light. Munro calls the cheque an ‘extremely generous donation’ to be utilized by their greatest needs fund to purchase enhanced

equipment and resources for the community and region in a timely and efficient manner.

“We often get requests, whether it’s from the hospital or continuing care centres or anywhere in the community for enhancing healthcare,”

explained Munro.

She says the donation by the RM council means the funds are on hand when those large healthcare requests come in.

“We are extremely grateful for the community collaboration that we have with them,” said Munro.

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

The RM of Britannia council presented a $100,000 donation to Lloydminster Region Health Foundation CEO, Stephanie Munro, for the charity’s greatest needs fund on Monday.

Rotary grant empowers applicant

volunteered in 29 different countries. She’s got this big broad cultural awareness.”

Her experience includes work she did in Israel and Palestine.

Magan says her next step is to get more experience in NGOs and join a board to learn how they raise money.

“I also want to get qualified to be a crisis hotline counsellor on a volunteer basis,” she said.

Magan emigrated to Canada and Abbotsford B.C. from South Africa with her family when she was just 10. Her family moved to Lloydminster when she was in college.

requirement is to have international experience and that’s what she’s boning up on at the moment,” he said, crediting Rotary for getting her to this point.

John says if it weren’t for Rotary it would have been way more difficult for Magan to settle in Pennsylvania and the grant also made it possible for her to study in America.

“It’s a very difficult place to go and study for a Canadian, but thanks to Rotary she could do that.

A Rotary global scholarship grant can be empowering.

That’s been the case for former Lloydminster resident, Magan Haycock, who is now a New York City lawyer with Cadwalader’s Global Litigation team.

Her firm represents clients throughout the U.S. and abroad in criminal, governmental regulatory and civil litigation matters. She explained how a Rotary grant has put her within reach of her career goal to be a United Nations tribunal lawyer in a Zoom

talk at the Rotary Club of Lloydminster Monday luncheon.

“It’s been 10 years, which is really crazy because it feels weird I’ve been in the field of law for 10 years,” said Magan.

Barry Davis set up the talk in his introductory remarks with

Magan’s dad John in the audience.

“Next month is 10 years since we signed the application to sponsor Magan through a global scholarship grant,” he said.

Davis recalled the club partnered with the district and Rotary International for matching grants to send Magan to law school at the University of Pennsylvania after her BA from Queen’s University in Ontario.

“Magan was very qualified for that. Her objective of the grant was to work towards the UN in the area of global conflict and resolution and particularly with human rights and conflict resolution for children in those conflict areas,” explained Davis.

“When she came to us, she spoke five languages including Mandarin. She had worked, studied and

After college, she did a transit survey for Lloydminster in 2013, then took a year off and got the global grant as an undergraduate law student at Queen’s.

After she graduated from the U of Penn law school, she worked for a law firm in New York and then moved to San Diego as a prosecutor before landing her current job.

“I learned (in San Diego) about the psychology of violence prosecuting against violence against women and kids,” said Magan as part of her career interest in human rights.

Her dad likes where she’s at now in New York.

“She’s setting herself up close to the United Nations getting into the NGOs. She wants to be on international tribunals. To get there the

“It’s very expensive to go; it’s an Ivy League university and it was a great help to get over the hump. She got a full ride, a full scholarship, but Rotary helped her to make the three years.”

John says in her third year, she went to Paris to study at the Sorbonne which is now the University of Paris and focused her studies on international politics.

“If it weren’t for the support she received she wouldn’t be able to do that. There aren’t many Canadians who are accepted,” he said.

Davis calls Magan’s success wonderful.

“It’s all her. We’re really glad to be able to support her,” he said, adding, “In our case, Magan came looking for help.

“We were able to make a substantial contribution to that scholarship with matching donations.”

Davis noted Rotary currently doesn’t have another application.

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Rotary Club of Lloydminster president, Mike Sidoryk, fields questions for guest speaker Magan Haycock, who used a Rotary global scholarship grant 10 years ago to become a New York City lawyer with a goal to be a UN tribunal lawyer. The former Lloyd resident spoke by Zoom with her dad, John, in the audience at the club’s Monday lunch.

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Battle of Badges game a nailbiter

pretty cool.”

The Todd Gustavson Memorial Battle of the Badges was an intense game this year, coming right down to the wire.

The game heated up in the last two minutes of play as the fire department set off the final siren, outscoring the RCMP 5-4 and defending their title.

Lloydminster fire chief Aaron Buckingham says although there is a great sense of competition on the ice, the real winners are the organizations who benefit from the event.

“At the end of the day

The Olive Tree, the Salvation Army, and Big Brothers Big Sisters will benefit from about 3,000 pounds of food and about $3,000 cash,” said Buckingham.

Const. Melanie Flynn of the Lloydminster RCMP said the school divisions competed to see which could gather the most food for charity.

“After the February break there, they started collecting. The public school division won, they raised over 1,000 pounds of food,” she said, adding the Catholic division was not far behind, with a difference of less than 150 lbs.

“That really helped support the food donations that we brought in for the Salvation Army and The Olive Tree, so that was

The hefty food donations will help those non-profit organizations provide for anyone in need coming into the March break and Easter.

“The food security organizations say that at Christmas there’s a big boom and people kind of forget about Easter,” said Flynn.

“Kids are home during Easter break and so they see a lot of food going out, so obviously they need food coming in up to that point, so it was nice to be able to provide them with that.”

She said the community support was amazing, although they weren’t counting fans she figures there were 600 - 700 people in the stands for the afternoon game.

“It was really great to see that kind of turnout,” she said, adding it was an exciting game.

“I thought we had it there. We were up by two but then ... I think a lot of the young blood on the Lloyd fire team, their endurance might have been a little bit better,” she laughed.

The annual game has been enjoyed by players and fans alike for years, and although the name has changed, the goal has remained the same.

“Both the fire and police are excited to be able to get out to a community event like this that benefits the community overall,” he

done by all the organizers, to continue on his legacy of community involvement.”

He said although it’s a fun event at the core, there is a strong competitive component on the ice as well.

“It’s interesting as an old guy because you know you have a pretty decent crowd there and you want to do well,” said Buckingham.

“There’s lots of get up and go out there, just keeping in mind that it’s all for the charities. But there is some pride involved for sure.”

said, adding the game was renamed due to the untimely death of former Lloydminster fire chief Todd Gustavson.

“It’s nice to be able to honour his memory by having this game for sure.

“I hope that he would be very proud of the work that’s being

He said when the game-winning goal was scored with just a minute and a half left the excitement on the bench was intense.

“There was a lot of joy on the bench because it was a very close game,” he said adding from what he heard people in the stands really enjoyed the game too.

“It’s another opportunity for an event in Lloydminster you can bring your family to

for a fun afternoon and support some local charities—that’s what it’s all about.”

JEANNETTE BENOIT-LEIPERT STAFF WRITER

Jeannette Benoit-Leipert Meridian Source

The firefighters take control of the puck and head toward the RCMP goal in the third period of the Battle of the Badges game, ending in a 5-4 victory for the fire department.

Health input tour lands in Lloyd

The Alberta government can check Lloy -

dminster off its list of completed in-person engagement sessions across the province,

with plans to create a new health system.

The local meeting was held at Border Inn

and Suites on Friday with government facilitator, Sarah Murrant, explaining what the government hopes to achieve with the tour.

“We are in the process of conducting more than 60 in-person engagement sessions across the province. This is session 39 in Lloydminster,” said Murrant.

“All the information from this, as well as from other streams of engagement, will all be collected and analyzed and presented to the decision-makers to help them form the way we’re going to refocus the health care system.”

The public engagement tour follows the province’s plan announced in November to create a unified health system focused

on primary care, acute care, continuing care and mental health and addiction.

“

We are in the process of conducting more than 60 in-person engagement sessions across the province.

This is session 39 in Lloydminster.

The presentation in Lloydminster kicked off with greetings from Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright MLA Garth Rowswell, with provincial health minister Adriana LaGrange in attendance.

The event included a short presentation from assistant deputy

health minister, Matt Hebert, to bring the audience up to speed on what the health system changes are going to involve.

“The bulk of the conversation is about the government listening, providing feedback, solutions and ideas from health care professionals and Albertans to help them make decisions on how the system will be refocused,” explained Murrant.

She said many decisions are being made now.

“It’s ongoing, we can’t slow down to wait and we have to make sure we’re getting every detail just right, so some decisions are ongoing and others will continue on a regular basis in the future,” she said.

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Garth Rowswell.,Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright MLA, led the opening remarks at a well-attended public engagement meeting at Border Inn and Suites Friday regarding plans to refocus Alberta’s health system into four areas.

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

Donut donations done

JEANNETTE BENOIT-LEIPERT STAFF WRITER

The third year of the ‘Sprinkle Kindness, Spread Sweetness’ campaign is in the books, with nearly $6,000 allocated to local non-profits.

The cheque presentations were made at Mother Teresa School Friday morning, along with a fun donut-eating challenge which sparked a lot of laughs.

In the three years the campaign has run, with Sobey’s Lloydminster as their partner, they’ve sold over $30,000 in donuts and donated about $15,000 back into the community.

“I brought it forward to Michelle (Rusteika) and we had no idea what we were getting into … We blew our projections for the whole project in just three days our very first year, so that was really cool,” said Grade 1 teacher Paige Kindopp, who came up with the idea during the pandemic.

“It was more just to connect our families with the community and really teach our students about these local organizations and how they help people and animals here in Lloydminster.”

The program is directed by the students. Each classroom designs a donut, and

then they learn about different non-profit groups and decide which groups will receive the proceeds.

Kindopp says the project wouldn’t be possible without the kindness shown by Michelle Rusteika and family, who own Sobey’s Lloydminster.

“The students are so invested in it. They are so excited! They’re excited to go visit their donut at Sobey’s, they’re excited to participate in creating the donut. They’re so excited to have their ideas accepted and developed into something true,” said Kindopp.

“If it wasn’t for Sobey’s this project wouldn’t be possible at all.”

Rusteika says they are happy to help, and she’s really impressed

by the collaboration of the students to design the donuts and decide together where the funds will go.

“I can’t tell you how much I love this whole campaign. The kids get so involved, and it really does create little leaders,” said Rusteika.

“The courage it takes to create and to have those discussions with your peers on ‘but I want this, and you want something different’

and then to respect each other’s decisions. It just creates little people that are responsible.”

She said the students are passionate about their designs too, which keeps her and her daughter on their toes.

“This year my daughter Rose and I were up early every morning, usually a 5 a.m. start, to get fresh donuts out and we would do their designs,” said Rusteika. 24033CC2

CONTINUED

Jeannette Benoit-Leipert Meridian Source

Grade 2 student Daryn Harper goes head to head in a no-hands donut eating contest with Lloydminster Rescue Squad chief, Norm Namur, before cheque presentations were made using proceeds from this year’s donut campaign.

Sweet deal for local non-profits

“And it’s funny, because six-year-olds will very quickly let you know if you have not created the donut design correctly, so they’re very particular on what it looks like and that it brings their creation to life.”

She said the support from the community has been amazing, and donut sales have boomed throughout the threeweek campaign.

“We had some businesses that really stepped up. Agland had a competition going, they did the coolest pictures

with the donuts on their equipment and stuff and that really got the ball rolling,” said Rusteika, adding Cenovus is a big supporter as well.

“They’ve been fantastic and we’re very thankful for that.”

This year’s fund allocations, a grand total

of $5,701.57, are as follows: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lloydminster: $570.18, Lloydminster Rescue Squad: $1,140.30, Border Paws Animal Shelter: $1,140.30, Lloydminster KidSport: 570.19, The Olive Tree: $1,140.30, Lloydminster Public

Library: $1,140.30.

As for the future of the campaign, Kindopp says it’s such a win-win situation, she’s hoping to continue spreading the kindness.

“It was very evident after year one that we were going to keep building this project and

hopefully we can reach out to other communities as well,” she said.

“Kind of challenge them to do a similar project or support them in a project just like this, and see if we can kind of spiral and domino effect other schools and communities.”

DONUT FROM PAGE 5

Jeannette Benoit-Leipert Meridian Source

Mother Teresa School and Sobey’s Lloydminster partnered to create, make, and sell donuts during February, raising nearly $6,000 for local non-profit organizations. Cheque presentations were made on Friday with representatives from each of the organizations present in the school’s gym.

Celebrate everything equine!

The 3rd Annual Everything Equine on the Border Show is back from April 12-14.

Join us for three action-packed days of Everything Equine! Our lineup features topnotch clinicians like Geoff Hoar (working cow horse with live cattle), Jill Barron (working equitation), and Connie Dorsch (jumping clinic).

Clinician Profiles

Geoff Hoar- Geoff has a proven track record of training horses to compete and win in cutting, cow-horse and roping events. Solid horsemanship is the backbone of his training program and allows him to get the best out of each horse. Geoff has winnings in the snaffle bit,

hackamore, and bridle competitions. Geoff also brings a unique perspective and trained eye as he is a NRCHA judge.

Jill Barron - Jill has held a life-long passion for horses and education. She has been able to marry her passions, which is a rare occasion. Completing her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Alberta and spending five years in the classroom elevated her teaching skills in the arena. Her love of horses soon won her over, and she travelled the world training horses, spending most of her time in Italy and Australia.

With this incredible line up of Clinicians ready to pass their knowledge on to you, it was no surprise we brought in a great line up of Trainer’s Chal -

lenge Competitors as well!

This year we are welcoming back 2023 Defending Champion, Braden Bernier! Along side Braden competing will be Rod Olsen and “Extreme” Wylene Wilson.

This year we would like to welcome Roger Johnson as one of our “Official Judges.”

Roger comes from a strong ranching background, and is very involved in 4-H. Roger enjoyed a successful 30-year career as a horse trainer focused primarily on colt-starting and Reining CowHorse. Roger earned many National and Regional Champion titles in competition himself, plus coached, taught regular clinics, and judged CowHorse and Ranch Horse

events. He retired from full-time training in 2019 but continues to remain active as a performance horse breeder.

Connie Dorsch - “I started in Pony Club in Regina and attained my ‘A’ Level. I started teaching pony club, giving clinics, and testing ‘B’ Level Pony Clubbers as well. In 1973, I was on the original founding committee of The Saskatchewan Horse Federation. I served as President of that Federation from 1994-1999 and then again from 20002002. In 1978 I was on the founding committee of the Saskatchewan Hunter Jumper Association and served as president from 19802004. I served on the Equine Canada executive committee for six

years as well as an additional three years on the human relations committee of Equine Canada. I have been a Senior judge of hunters, jumpers, hack and Hunt seat equitation for over 20 years. I am also a large RUSEF judge in all those divisions. I actively judge and give numerous riding and judging clinics across Canada as well as the U.S. Over the years as co-owner of Dorsch Farms, I sold horses that went to compete in the Olympic Games as well as the World Champions. Many horses were sold to junior and amateur riders that competed at high levels. My students have competed up to the highest levels with excellent results.”

Trainer’s Challenge Competitor Profiles

Braden BernierBraden Bernier and his wife, Kelsie, own a ranch in Red Deer Hill, Saskatchewan, where he trains horses and provides various equine services. Braden grew up in a family where horses had a job and a purpose on the ranch. From a young age, he started horses with his mother, father, and grandfather. Later he took a job starting colts for a well-respected horseman and horse trainer at the age of 15. It was then he started riding horses for the public.

The following years he rode community pasture, started colts, and attended horse shoeing school all while finishing high school and achieving his Bachelor of Education degree.

LLOYD EXHIBITION

After university, Braden moved away for a few more years to ride in a different country and attend further schooling in Idaho. In Idaho he was fortunate to meet someone who became one of his best friends and helped shape some of his style of horsemanship.

Horses and horsemanship are a large part Braden’s life. Having horses interwoven into his life has instilled an unwavering passion to help horses find their greatest success and talents. His entire focus

when working with horses is to ensure they can take on any task at their best. Getting one confident and willing to demonstrate “try” is Braden’s main goal with the horse. He believes the horse needs to be allowed to search to find the right answer in their own way. Braden takes pride in being a horseman and giving horses a skill set for a productive future no matter their discipline.

Rod Olsen - Rod is an accomplished Farrier and Horseman, training many horses in a variety of different disciplines.

If there is one thing that all of Rod’s horses have in common, it’s that they all have a great start to them. His love for the trade is evident. Passion and determination make sure that he never tires of the challenges. He lives by the principle of, “leave ‘em better than you found ‘em,” whether it be towards the humankind or the four-legged.

Rod is a very decorated horse trainer with a lot of accomplishments under his belt, including winning many challenges, and we’re proud to have him be

a part of our Trainer’s Challenge this year!

“Extreme Wylene”

Wilson - Wylene Wilson grew up in Arizona riding any and every horse that came through her mother’s boarding facility. She took every opportunity she could to work with and learn from “problem” horses and made a name for herself in the community as a true horsewoman. She has been a professional horse trainer for over 20 years and is no stranger to competitions. She’s competed in rodeo circuits, Extreme Cowboy races, and has developed a strong presence in the Mustang Heritage’s programs. To date she has participated in over 14 Extreme Mustang Makeovers, where she captured three Makeover Championship titles and many top finalist positions. She has also had the opportunity to judge the

competition.

Her fearless, daredevil style and effervescent personality garnered her the name “Extreme Wylene.” She has been featured in films such as “Wild Horse, Wild Ride” and NatGeo Wilds “Mustang Millionaire” three-part series where she was able to showcase her training style.

While she still competes, she spends most of her time traveling and teaching confidence building and horsemanship clinics, for both horses and riders, using her own unique approach. She focuses on motivating each to excel and be their very best, safely, and confidently.

Wylene is passionate about helping others develop a different frame of mind by building their confidence and offering them lifemanship skills. She loves teaching people how to become their

own trainer by helping young girls and boys rise in the horse industry. She is fearless and fun, and you will walk away with a smile on your face that you can’t erase. Her leadership ability helps to not only guide horses that are deemed untrainable and unrideable but also riders that are fearful or lack confidence, in turn helping both go to the next level. Her objective is to create a ripple effect that will touch the lives of many with her Soul Search Equine Retreats and Surf and Saddle Events.

This year’s Everything Equine on the Border is expected to be one of the best yet!

Don’t forget to get your tickets early! VIP Weekend Passes on sale now with limited quantities available so be sure to secure your unlimited access ticket today! Visit www.lloydex.com/ everything-equine for more details.

EQUINE FROM PAGE 7

File Photo

Collectors gather in Border City

JEANNETTE BENOIT-LEIPERT STAFF WRITER

Collectors from near and far gathered at the WLS convention centre over the weekend to show or sell their wares.

The annual Border City Collectors show and sale, put on by the Lloydminster Collectors Club, was a success and the spring-like temperatures didn’t hurt.

“Things went really well. The weather cooperated. Even after 30 years, it’s still a work in progress because we never know what’s going to come through the door. It’s kind of been evolving,” said co-organizer Brad Bogucky.

He said last year a couple of local gaming businesses decided to join in the fun, and that attracted a whole new generation of collectors.

“They were totally amazed at how many people came through, and it brought a whole

different dynamic to our show,” said Bogucky.

“We had so many younger people come in, and people that would have never thought of coming to a collectors show before. It was awesome.”

He said the fact that they have a big space to work out of helps a great deal as well.

“We had a lady that called on Friday morning, who owns a small antique shop not far away, and we were able to get her in the show.

“That’s the thing with a big, beautiful facility and lots of room—we’ve got the availability to do that.”

Another aspect of the show is their commitment to giving back to local non-profit organizations.

“Lloyd Museum and Archives are always near and dear to our hearts because that’s kind of part of where everything started from.

“We’ve donated to a

lot of different charities in Lloyd over the years,” said Bogucky, adding this year one of the recipients was

a Grade 9 class from a local middle school who helped them set up tables and chairs for the event.

“We held a 50/50 for all the exhibitors, and they (the students) are going to get $230 to go on a field trip,” he said.

“It gets the class out in the community and gets their feet wet in volunteering and that’s what it’s about.”

Jeannette Benoit-Leipert Meridian Source

Jesse Myskiw-Hinz and his son Logan, decided to get a table at the collectors show for the first time this year, and take the opportunity to network with other collectors while spending some quality time together.

Thursday,

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Editor Taylor Weaver taylor@meridiansource.ca

Border Banter with Benoit-Leipert: Teachers need support

It is a strange time to be an educator.

I completely support the Sask. teachers in their battle to get the resources they need to better the lives of their students, and in turn, improve their working conditions.

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At the core of all of it, I believe, is a shift in parental priorities.

Despite what some parents think, learning should NOT start in kindergarten. I am not claiming to be a perfect parent— there’s no such thing.

When they were preschoolers, my kids watched TV sometimes

and didn’t always have a perfectly timed daily routine, they may have even heard mom or dad utter a bad word every now and then. Oops!

But we read to them whenever possible, built puzzles, and played board games. Man, I miss playing Candyland with my little sweeties!

We sent them to school knowing the basics: colours, letters, numbers.

But hands-down, the most important thing we taught them, which has helped them more than anything else, is respect.

When they got on that bus on the first day they knew their manners, they knew the teacher was in charge and should be listened to, and they were taught the golden rule, above all.

My teens rarely talk

back to me because they were taught to respect me … by me. Don’t sell yourself short, parents. You’re not being mean; you’re probably just drawing a much-needed guideline. Stand your ground.

Your kids will thank you for it when they become parents because they too will have learned how to enforce rules while respecting their children, and in turn, be respected.

I thank my parents every time I witness a child/teen sass or verbally abuse their parent in public. It takes everything I’ve got in me to hold my tongue.

I’m not saying all kids these days are like that. I know some amazing kids and teens, too! But I have seen an increase in that type of behaviour in public in the last decade or so.

Add the lack of discipline at home to the confusion about identity and increasing class sizes to an unmanageable number. That would be just about enough to push anyone to the edge. It’s amazing how well teachers are coping, in my opinion.

Schools definitely need more funding to provide support staff and reduce class sizes, but they also need some (not all, but some) parents to wake up, put down their smartphones, and teach the most important life skills before their child sets foot in a classroom.

File Photo

Leeway from Lloyd: Growing up with no vaccines

STAFF WRITER GEOFF LEE

Measles is one of the world’s most contagious viruses and it may be quietly spreading within parts of Canada as health officials brace for more imported infections during the March break travel season.

There has been a handful of outbreaks of measles in the country including Saskatchewan but none in Alberta so far.

More outbreaks remain a possibility if infections strike communities where vaccination uptake is lower.

Measles can be a serious disease. In rare cases, measles can trig -

ger long-term vision problems and even blindness, so vaccination is the best way to prevent it.

Anyone over the age of 70 like myself who grew up in the 1950s and early 60s will remember there were no vaccines for measles until 1963.

There were no vaccines for the mumps either until 1967 and there was no chicken pox immunization until 2000. Vaccines for polio weren’t available in Canada until the mid 1950s.

As my older sister noted in one of her Facebook postings, it was no joke getting measles, chicken pox, or whooping cough, as she did.

My sister wrote:

“Measles, we were told to stay in a darkened room to help not get eye damage to light. Whooping cough, I was quarantined. I could hardly breathe through the coughing fits. You can’t get your breath. It was frightening. It is like being choked.

“Chicken pox is relentless itching. If you scraped off a scab,

Letter to the editor ...

The letter published in last week’s edition of the letter to the editor section was appalling, to say the least.

Initially, I had hoped it was a piece of juvenile satire, crafted to provoke thought and perhaps a wry smile.

The more I read it, though, the more I realized, no, this was no satire. The author was serious.

Which begs the question- Huh? What world do you live in, friend?

I am an active parent body member in my child’s school, and I can 100 per cent prove teachers need help. And ours is a school district that’s fairly well

supported. Imagine the plight of teachers in underfunded, overcrowded schools!

Class sizes are ballooning, schools are closing with no replacements (case in point, our very own Barr Colony) and teachers are under-supported in the classroom. It’s one teacher to about 20 to 28 children. Try that on for size without in-class assistants. Classrooms today look very different from classrooms even a decade ago. Without proper support, teachers are unable to support children who need just that bit of personal direction like children who are new to English, high achievers and

those unable to cope with classwork. Is it not our duty, then, to help get proper support to the classroom?

I argue that it is. As taxpayers, as parents, as citizens, we must. It is in school, after all, that the foundation of any country’s future starts. Ignoring education has massive consequences.

The author highlights the complexity of modern classrooms by referencing an incident with a Tim Hortons cashier who struggled to calculate the correct change. This is a direct result of teachers being overwhelmed by ever-expanding class sizes, leaving them with insufficient bandwidth

your body was marked for life with pockmarks.

“Get educated. There should be no one in this country with these diseases. It is your child who should be protected by the parent.

“Get vaccinated, chicken pox can lead to shingles in later life. That is a very painful disease. I got vaccinated for that.”

I can’t recall if I had measles or chicken pox too, but I got one vaccination for shingles just in case. I did get whooping cough at the same time as my sister and we were quarantined for a week.

I was never vaccinated for the mumps and bingo, I got that a few years ago.

Vaccinations work,

for personalized attention.

Further, to the point of parenting, it is disheartening to witness the perpetuation of tra -

ditional gender roles in raising children. Statements such as, “Look at some of these mothers out there ... no clue how to raise a child” and

and even if you contract one of these diseases after being vaccinated, the symptoms are likely to be far less severe.

Polio was one of the most fearful diseases in the 50s. Rotary International has reduced polio cases by 99.9 per cent worldwide with immunization programs. That’s what vaccines can do.

references to “Marxist mothers” do a disservice to contemporary parents.

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

Dewberry Cutter Rally

The Dewberry Chuckwagon Racing Heritage Society is excited to host the 6th annual Cutter Rally on March 16. Register at the Dewberry Community Hall from 10 a.m. to noon. Chili supper and halfway-point hot dog roast included with driver, rider and ghost hands. Lots of silent auction items as well as extra prizes. Contact Buddy Bensmiller 780-871-1016.

Hillmond 4-H Pancake

Supper/Dessert Bingo

The Hillmond 4-H Pancake Supper/Dessert Bingo is being held on March 16 at the Hillmond Hall. Pancake supper is at 4:30 p.m., dessert bingo starts at 5:30 p.m. Every bingo wins a choice of dessert item! There will be pies, cakes, cupcakes, tarts and more to choose from. Fun for the whole family!

Parenting does not come with a manual, and derogatory comments only demean rather than empower. And let’s not be that person. Also, the author asked Are you kidding? Fathers? is appalling. Yes, Fathers! They contribute 50 per cent to the making of the child after all, then why not the raising?

With that statement, you’ve undermined all the wonderful fathers out there who are active partners in raising their children. Including mine.

Lastly, I believe this whole letter was a prime example of ‘mansplaining’. By spewing vitriol on traditionally female roles, such as mothers (in this context, 100 per cent female) and teachers (about 70 per cent female). Eye rolls are imminent. Besides, it took

Islay Jamboree

There will be a jamboree on March 17 at 1 p.m. in the Islay Community Hall. Admission $15, participants free. Everyone welcome. Lunch served. For more info call Dixie at 780-744-2204.

Moose Breakfast

The Lloydminster Moose Lodge, located at 5213 - 57 Street, is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day breakfast on March 17. Members eat for $10, non-members for $13. Kids ages six-12 eat for $5, and six and under eat for free.

Spades Tourney

The Legacy Centre is hosting a Spades tournament on March 21. Play begins at 10 a.m., cost to play is $10/person, lunch is available for $12/ person. Everyone welcome! Call the Legacy office at 780875-4584 for more details.

away from the larger, more serious issue at hand. Our teachers need our support, and contrary to the author’s belief, not all is going to hell.

We, as parents, doing our best to raise our children and championing robust schooling systems is one way to do it. We don’t do it to pass the buck onto teachers, but so that our children thrive in the shadow of subject matter experts.

The author’s perspective is likely not an isolated one. Education has been long ignored, and it’s no surprise that teachers are now retaliating. If addiction prevention programs and mental health can get $5.3 million allotted to them in the budget, education certainly deserves a seat at the table.

- Evert Chandra

Strawberry Tea/ Bake Sale

The Lloydminster Girl Guides are excited for the upcoming Strawberry Tea and Bake Sale from 2-4 p.m. on March 23 at St. John’s Anglican Church –4709–49 Ave., Lloydminster, Sask. Tickets are $5 for adults and children and are available from Guides and at the door. Door prizes to be won!

Cribbage Tourney

The Hillmond Hall is hosting a cirbbage tournament on March 24 starting at 11 a.m. MST. Registration starts at 10 a.m. Cost is $10 to play and lunch is available for $15.

Walking Through Grief Society AGM

The Walking Through Grief Society is hosting their AGM on March 25 at 7 p.m. in the Kitscoty Community

Church (lower hall north door), located at 5014–51 Ave. Everyone is welcome to come and learn what the Society has done in 2023.

FUBAR Live in Lloyd

Just give’r as Terry, Trish and Shank from FUBAR Live makes a stop in the double L on March 30. Presented by The Diamond Mine Agency, the show is being held at Cheers Live from 8-10:30 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are $32.21 and available on Eventbrite.

D12 & Obie Trice at Cheers Live

D12 with Obie Trice will be performing live in Lloydminster April 5 at Cheers Live with Robbie G. Tickets are $42.46 and available on Eventbrite. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m.

Marwayne PBR

The 12th annual Marwayne PBR, with all proceeds going to the Marwayne Arena, is back on April 12 with wild pony races at 6:30 p.m. and bulls at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 at the door with live music provided by The Prairie Dogs (dance-only tickets are $20 ... there WILL be an ATM on site). Get yours today!

Gord Bamford in Turtleford

Gord Bamford is bringing his Canadian Dirt Tour to the Turtleford Commnity Centre on April 12 with special guest Dallas Alexander. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., tickets are available at showpass.com

- Have something you’d like listed in our community calendar? Email it to taylor@meridiansource.ca

Local fire fighters recognized

Geoff Lee Meridian Source L-R: Lloydminster firefighter Ritchie Chua, fire chief Aaron Buckingham, fire chief Trevor Grant (County of Grand Prairie) and Lloyd firefighters Justine Boisson, Annie Fourie and Ryan Noeth-Timmins (missing) were recognized by Grant on Monday for helping to contain a 1,500 hectare grass fire in the Grand Prairie area last May. Grant is touring Alberta to present awards to other firefighters involved in the co-ordinated effort. See next week’s Source for more details.

Beauty showcase coming soon

ness department at Lakeland College have been busy planning a brand-new event.

The Border Beauty

Showcase, set for March 25, is a chance for hairstylists, estheticians, and students to network and compete for some

great prizes.

“Competitions like this have not been around, especially in Canada, in a really long

time,” said hairstyling instructor Michelle Beal.

“I used to compete, right out of school … and I loved competing, and the students seem to be passionate about it.”

Students in the hairstyling and esthetician programs have taken the reigns in planning and executing the event.

“It’s kind of designed to be a model where they are in charge of basically all of the areas. Hair and esthetics are building teams together for hair and make-up,” said hairstyling instructor Daphne Thompson.

“They’re going to be in charge of the day … showing the competitors where to go, taking care of the judges.”

The first-ever event is funded through the annual Feast on the Farm, which was held in August.

“We are thrilled that these Feast on the Farm funds are allowing our hairstylist students to

enhance their skills and create an attractive community event that showcases the program, students, and talent,” said Beal.

The day will feature a live barber competition, a high-school formal hair and make-up competition, wellness trade show, a jingle dance performance by one of the college students and her sister and will wrap up with the avant-garde competition.

“Avant-garde is basically out of the box. It’s more art. The whole concept—head-to-toe concept. It is walking art,” Thompson explained.

“You wouldn’t see it on the street, you wouldn’t see it at a wedding. Their inspiration often starts with like a piece of nature or a piece of art and then they grow it and they create a look.”

For more information about the event visit lakelandcollege.ca/border-beauty.

Students and staff in the Health and Well -

JEANNETTE BENOIT-LEIPERT STAFF WRITER

Supplied Photo

Cenovus drills into investor value in Lloyd

and put it into our business plan,” he said.

Cenovus Energy didn’t have to drill down too deep to unlock the potential value of its Lloydminster assets for the company’s investor day presentation.

Drew Zieglgansberger, Cenovus’ executive vice-president and chief commercial officer, told investors the company’s upstream Lloyd thermal business and conventional heavy oil area has billions of barrels of resources in place.

“Our conventional heavy oil production has only extracted about five to eight percent of the reserves,” he said on the March 5 webcast.

“This leaves us with a large opportunity to grow this business.”

Cenovus is also seeing a strong product market for diesel, asphalt and synthetic crude to sustain their business values for decades, either from Lloyd thermals or from growth from its conventional heavy oil portfolio in the region.

Zieglgansberger is stoked over Cenovus’ profit potential from diesel produced at the Lloyd Upgrader.

“This is an exciting growth area for the company and we have yet to realize the full potential of these assets

Investors learned Lloyd diesel volumes are distributed through 170 Cenovus-owned commercial cardlock locations across Canada.

“We are also advancing a diesel expansion project at the Lloyd Upgrader, enabling us to expand margins and unlock incremental diesel production during the blending season,” said Zieglgansberger.

He also pointed out Cenovus is the largest producer of asphalt in Canada with its Lloyd refinery, to serve the domestic market directly.

He noted a debottlenecking project that will add 3,000 barrels a day of crude processing capacity at the refinery is expected to be completed in the near future.

“Because of this vast opportunity and the ability to support our Lloydminster complex with decades of crude, we are no longer pursuing our Rewire Alberta project in line with our evolving view of the Lloydminster regional strategy,” explained Zieglgansberger.

The rewire project was a plan to displace Saskatchewan heavy oil feedstock at the upgrader with bitumen sourced from Christina Lake and Foster Creek.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

City scopes AI as a disaster tool

of AI in emergency management last Thursday.

“Disasters are becoming more frequent, they’re becoming more complex. They are harder to make sense of, they are harder to respond to,” said Snair in a webinar.

Snair is the founder and managing partner of SGNL Solutions who spoke remotely about AI from his home in Colorado.

GEOFF

Artificial intelligence is being looked at as a new tool to prepare the City of Lloydminster’s emergency management team for potential disasters on the horizon.

To that end, the city hosted a Bordering on Disaster lunch and learn presentation by AI consultant Justin Snair on the promise and perils

“So a lot of the processes we are doing could very much benefit from artificial intelligence. If we could use AI to take over some of the processes as a partner, we could be free to do things machines couldn’t do,” he said.

“That would put us in the community more.”

Andrew DeGruchy, the city’s manager of emergency management says since 2007 there has been a significant hazard every year in Alberta, but emergency

management structures and resources aren’t keeping up.

“It’s nice to know this tool is coming out for us that can empower us a lot better,” he said, adding he is cautious about using it right now.

DeGruchy thinks there are benefits to using AI to analyze data and craft disaster messaging for different audiences and for predictive weather pattern modelling and things like that.

“We’re seeing a lot of AI usage right now coming into a drought season in Alberta and what that means for our ‘hazardscape’ this year,” he said.

Snair says AI can be used beyond just generating images, text or video to predict power outages in ice storms by looking at a combination of tree foliage and the age of infrastructure for example.

He says it’s very accurate at determining the likelihood of power out-

ages and it’s already being used to pre-position utility repairs.

Other emerging uses of AI are flying drones for mass casualty triaging by determining from the air who might be hurt and for assessing damages after a disaster.

“We need better data to get to advanced uses,” said Snair.

Snair also admitted AI is not a safe technology right now in the wrong hands, but users have to decide what their level of risk tolerance is.

“Some versions of AI are available to malicious actors. The train has already left, everyone around us is going to be using it for good and bad,” said Snair.

“We’re going to have to figure out how to navigate AI for governments.”

He cautions emergency managers may have to deal with cyberattacks through AI and learn how to mitigate

threat actors from using it.

“AI is a new thing, If you approach it in the same way with adaptability, curiosity and

CENOVUS FROM PAGE 15

Keith Chiasson, executive vice-president and chief operating officer, says the fiveyear upstream plan will increase production from 800,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day to 950,000 boepd by 2028 with most growth coming from its oil sands operations.

“In addition, we continue to improve our cost structure through better operating practices, more efficient execution and innovation. This results in operating margin growth of approximately five per cent a year,” said Chiasson. He also touched on the optionality of growing conventional oil

caution that you have with every other threat you’ve ever faced, you’re going to be fine,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE19

production in the Lloyd area.

“Today, this business produces about 19,000 barrels of oil a day of lighter, non-thermal oil with no steam required—a perfect fit for our Lloyd Upgrader and assets in the region,” said Chiasson.

Historically, the recovery rate of conventional oil lies between five and eight per cent, but that number is on the uptick.

“With the advancements in horizontal drilling techniques, we’re seeing significantly improved results. We are confident this is a highreturn opportunity in our future portfolio,” said Chiasson.

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Supplied Photo Colorado based consultant, Justin Snair, delivered a Bordering on Disaster conference talk on the promise and perils of artificial intelligence for emergency management teams.

LEE STAFF WRITER

Come give’r with the FUBAR fam

Ever wondered what it’s like to give’r with Terry Cahill from the Canadian cult classic film FUBAR? Find out for yourself on March 30 as Cahill brings FUBAR Live to Cheers Live with special guests Trish and Shank as part of the Western Canada Tour.

For those unfamiliar with the film, FUBAR, a ‘mockumentary’ released in 2002, explored the world of hard rock headbangers in Calgary through the eyes of Terry Cahill and Dean “Deaner” Murdoch. Shot on a home movie camera with little to no money, FUBAR became much bigger than ever anticipated with audiences still discovering the film today.

A sequel, FUBAR 2, was released in 2010 with the boys trying to cut it on the rigs in Fort Mac before a bit of mayhem and a heart-warming tale are told.

Despite “The Mac” being described as a cruel mistress who will freeze you if you don’t love her in the film, it

was there, at a strip club called “Peelerz” (a former strip club located in Nisku that actually changed its name to Peelerz after the film came out) where Terry met the love of his life, Trish, and the rest is history. They may be on-again, off-again, but Terry and Trish are excited to bring their unique show to the Border City for a night to remember.

The Source caught up with Cahill last week, as well as Dave Lawrence, Cahill’s creator and the man who’s been playing him since he was 15 years old.

“I can’t wait for the show,” said Cahill while travelling last Friday. “I’ve never been to Cheers Live, but apparently it’s a good place to go.”

Cahill explained FUBAR Live consists of stories from his, Trish’s, and Shank’s life, and since these are fictitious characters, everything is improvised on the spot.

“We’re going to tell some stories from our lives, and we’ll be getting the crowd involved

“I don’t see emergency managers sitting on the sidelines saying ‘AI is going to happen to me, I’ll just see how it goes.’ I’m very optimistic you guys will figure stuff out.”

Snair’s webinar is the lead-up discussion to the city’s annual Bordering on Disaster Conference on Sept. 19-20 with both parts sponsored by Cenovus Energy.

to play characters who come up through these stories … maybe someone plays one of my neighbours, and maybe that neighbour happens to love shotgunning beers … and then we really gun beers with them.”

“We’re going to tell some stories from our lives, and we’ll be getting the crowd involved to play characters who come up through these stories.

Shank, who Cahill described as his blood cousin, is another member of the FUBAR family hitting the road this month to add an extra twist to the show.

“Shank was in the show we did for Vice called ‘Age of Computer,’” said Cahill. “He’s a bit f-ed up in the head, so I wouldn’t look him in the eye for too long. He’s got one witchy eye that’s all foggy … I think he was welding galvanized steel or something.”

Cahill explained March 30 is also Trish’s birthday, so the trio will be doing some karaoke with great prizes up for grabs.

The Source also had a couple of questions for Lawrence, and when asked, this was the response we heard.

“Hold on, Dave’s in the car, let me just get him, hold on, just wait,” said Cahill as he audibly fumbled with his phone.

“Oh, hey, Taylor, sorry, Terry was really excited to talk to you, so I let him call the number,” said Lawrence.

Lawrence explained

“We have a two day event where we will be hosting 12 speakers throughout different disciplines of emergency management,” said DeGruchy.

“New this year is a three day preconference workshop where folks can attend and work through a functional exercise in a large incident management team involving a community hazard.”

when the film was released 22 years ago, he and Paul Spence, who played Deaner, never thought it would reach the heights it has today.

“Being from Calgary, we thought we were just portraying Calgarians, bangers we’d seen in high school or bangers we met through the pipeline, so we thought we were portraying local Albertans, but as the film spread, people

started to realize they all knew people just like the guys in FUBAR,” said Lawrence.

“Even bangers from Australia, where AC/ DC is from, even they know bangers like Terry and Deaner. We quickly realized it resonated quite wider than we ever thought it would.”

Lawrence also explained the reason he and Spence decided to start their own project

was due to the fact that Canadian actors weren’t getting much work at home at the time.

“Most of the productions in Calgary were American films, so for local guys, the only jobs available were for the crew, or a role with very few lines. There wasn’t anything juicy for local actors, so we thought we might as well make our own movie,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

Synergy retains top employer status

“Since we didn’t have a lot of money, we knew it had to be a documentary because that’s the only thing we could possibly afford, so I used my credit cards to rent the cameras. The biggest expense was the

hair extensions. We had relatively long hair, but not full mullets, so the hair extensions were $800 a piece.”

To cover the costs involved in finishing the film, Lawrence maxed out his credit cards; his dad even refinanced the

Synergy Credit Union is on a roll.

The Lloydminster-based company was recognized this week as a top employer in Saskatchewan for the seventh consecutive year by Mediacorp Canada Inc., the organizers of Canada’s Top 100 Employers project.

Mediacorp Canada Inc. evaluates organizations based on various criteria, including workplace environment, employee benefits, community involvement, and employee communication.

Synergy’s consistent recognition is a testament to its continuous efforts in creating a supportive, inclusive,

family home. “That scene where Deaner’s out in the rain, we wrecked our camera shooting that, and then the bus shelter (we smashed), we had to pay The City of Calgary to break that,” said Lawrence. “We maxed out

and rewarding workplace for its employees, according to Mediacorp.

This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to our employees and our community.

“We are immensely proud to be recognized as a top employer in Saskatchewan for the seventh consecutive year,” said Glenn Stang, Synergy’s CEO.

“This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to our employees and our community. At Synergy, we believe that our people are our greatest asset, and we

my credit cards, then we got into the Sundance Film Festival.” Lawrence also addressed the elephant in the room, the void created by the lack of Paul Spence, A.K.A Deaner. “In 2019, Paul sold his shares to the FUBAR

remain dedicated to providing them with a fulfilling and supportive work environment.”

Synergy attributes its success to its steadfast focus on employee growth with inhouse and online training, tuition subsidies, retirement planning, and a defined contribution pension plan.

In addition, employees are afforded financial perks like discounted auto insurance, low-interest home loans, and reduced auto lease rates.

With a hybrid approach to home and office work, Synergy provides necessary furniture and assesses positions for hybrid suitability, potentially attracting talent nationwide.

brand, so he stepped away,” said Lawrence.

“So, he’s not part of the FUBAR brand, but he’s working on a film called Deaner ’89, which is coming out soon. It’s a project Paul made in Manitoba with the Indigenous Screen

Institute.”

Want to hear these stories and more like them live and in person? Make sure to get your tickets for FUBAR Live at Cheers Live on March 30. Tickets are available through Eventbrite for $32.21.

FUBAR FROM PAGE 19

Synergy Credit Union CEO, Glenn Stang.File Photo

GEOFF LEE STAFF WRITER

City closes outdoor skating surfaces

The City of Lloydminster has closed its city-maintained outdoor ice surfaces for the season due to the fluctuating temperatures causing difficulty in maintaining a safe surface for all to enjoy.

This closure in effect includes the speed skating oval at the Servus Sports Centre and the Bud Miller All Seasons Park Lake. Still interested in skating? Visit Lloydminster.ca/register for free, public indoor skate times.

Stormwater Retention Ponds

Although the water’s sur -

face may appear frozen, as warmer temperatures arrive, the ice thickness becomes less predictable, and its strength is unsustainable.

Ice thickness on retention ponds is not monitored, except for the Bud Miller All Seasons Park lake.

Also contributing to potential dangers is continual water movement, and fluctuating water levels as stormwater retention ponds are designed to help prevent flooding.

Each retention pond has an inlet and outlet, connecting one pond to the next, meaning water is constantly flowing underneath the ice surface.

Canmore RCMP respond to fatal avalanche

On March 10 at 8:24 p.m., Canmore RCMP received a report of an avalanche east of the Mount Engadine Lodge on Tower Peak in Kananaskis. Investigation revealed that at approximately 1 p.m., two adult males were skiing in the back country when an avalanche occurred. One of the males was able to escape by digging himself out of the snow, however, the second male was buried.

On March 11 at 9:45 a.m., Canmore RCMP,

with the assistance of Kananaskis Mountain Rescue, recovered and retrieved the body of the missing male. The male has been identified as a 19-year-old from Kelowna, B.C. Kananaskis Mountain Rescue is recommending to always check the Avalanche Canada website avalanche.ca for weather and terrain conditions prior to any winter activities in the backcountry.

RCMP send their condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

Mount Engadine. File Photo

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

File Photo

File Photo

NATIONAL CHAMPS, AGAIN!

They never dreamed it was possible, but the Lakeland College Rustlers women’s volleyball team are back-to-back national champions.

The Rustlers, under the long-time direction of head coach Austin Dyer, headed to Red Deer last week as a favourite in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women’s volleyball championship after winning Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) gold in Lethbridge on Feb. 24.

The Rustlers first took on Winnipeg’s Canadian Mennonite University Blazers on March 6, beating them

in three straight sets, 25-11, 25-8, 25-12, before punching their ticket to Saturday’s championship with a three-set win (25-13, 25-13, 25-8) over the Capilano Blues of North Vancouver on March 7.

The Rustlers were looking across the court at the VIU Mariners to start Saturday night’s final, and with four straight national championships of their own, a streak the Rustlers broke last year, the Mariners were looking for revenge.

The Mariners, however, are not this year’s Lakeland College Rustlers women’s volleyball team, a group that’s dominated the court for two straight years and

holds a 48-2 record.

That two-season record includes league games, conference championships and the national championship.

With history repeating itself, the Rustlers once again dominated, beating the Mariners in three straight, 25-21, 25-17, 25-10.

“Honestly, it’s something I never dreamed would happen; it’s unbelievable what this group and this team has done over the past two seasons,” said Dyer on Monday afternoon.

“Other than losing a match each year, these are two of the most dominant seasons in CCAA history ... it’s been an incredible thing to be a part

of and we couldn’t be happier.”

For captain Kaylie Lueck, the back-to-back national gold is bittersweet as it was her last season as a Rustler.

When asked for her thoughts on the second straight gold, she was quick to credit the people around her.

“Excitement and being so proud of my team and everything we’ve done this year, and over the past two years,” she said, with her gold medal proudly draped around her neck.

“Couldn’t ask for anything better. We’re a family and we went out and did the dang thing; very excited.”

After seven sea -

sons in the green and gold, Lueck explained her most memorable moments took place these past two seasons.

“Last year was the craziest thing, ever, we had the most unreal year,” she said.

“The season we had leading up to ACAC, then winning that national gold was a highlight of my career.

“We did it again this year, but last year was our first.”

As for her part in the Lakeland College athletics’ history books, Lueck was happy to go out on a high note.

“It’s so exciting. Did I ever think it would happen? Don’t know. I knew I wanted a national title before I

left, but to leave with two, it’s a bit of a flex,” she said with a laugh.

For fourth-year outside hitter, Jenay Varga, the repeat championship all came down to commitment.

“(It’s what) everyone puts into the team,” said Varga, while also sporting her medal.

“Once you commit you trust in the process here, this is the result you get. Everybody committed to it, worked hard, and trusted one another.

“We’ve played together now for (so long), so you just know how to play with one another, and I think that really helps.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

Photo courtesy of the CCAA.

Looking back on the win, Varga explained the bench-clearing experience was one she won’t soon forget.

“

We’ve got quite a few veterans now who have been in that national gold-medal final, twice, so I think that will help with that extra experience.

“I think I was thinking, ‘this is so cool, this is what we’ve been working for the year,’ it

was amazing, and it was so cool seeing everyone run onto the court and get to celebrate another gold,” she said.

This wasn’t only Lueck’s last season as a Rustler, it was also setter Jana Laing’s last year, but Dyer has plans in the works as far as filling those big shoes.

“Replacing Kaylie and Jana’s not going to be easy, but we’re still going to have all three of our pin hitters in Jenay Varga, Lana Matthews and Avery Bates, they’re all returning, and our starting libero Seanna Trumier is returning,” explained Dyer.

“Raegan Nicol, who

started to play a lot more this season, has moved into the starting lineup as well, and she would be the replacement for Kaylie heading into next year.

“Now it’s just seeing if we can get one of our young setters up to speed to be ready to do the job for us.”

For Varga, the plan is to return to Lakeland for another season on the court, but for now, it’s time to rest up in the off-season.

“We’ve got quite a few veterans now who have been in that national gold-medal final, twice, so I think that will help with that extra experience.”

Photo courtesy of the CCAA

Top: Setter Jana Laing tees it up for Kaylie Lueck during Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association women’s volleyball finals in Red Deer last Saturday night. The Rustlers beat the VIU Mariners, who are four-time national champs themselves. Bottom: Rustlers head coach, Austin Dyer, rallies the troops on Saturday in Red Deer.

FROM PAGE 23

Hawks lead Flyers in Sask Alta final

a very good season.

TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

Can the Hawks keep the momentum? Will the Flyers find a way to come back and win it all? Find out this weekend as the Hawks and Flyers go at it in Games 3 and 4 of the SAHL finals.

After near-identical regular-season records, the Flyers find themselves down two games to the Hawks with Game 3 scheduled in Paradise Hill tomorrow at 8 p.m. Game 4 will follow on Saturday night in Lashburn for an 8 p.m. puck drop.

Game 1, played last Friday in Paradise Hill, saw the Hawks come away with a tight 3-2 win before a big 4-1 win on Saturday in Lashburn.

With the series at 2-0, both teams know their role, now it’s time to execute.

“

It’s a matter of going out there and containing them and taking care of that each shift.

“The team set the goal of being in the finals at the start of the season, each series win has amped up the excitement and drive for the guys to meet that goal,” said Hawks head coach Greg Young.

“Lashburn is a good team that isn’t done with us yet, we’re going to have to stick with the game plan to meet the goal of winning. This

series has been really exciting and close with lots of physical play, speed and skill.”

For Flyers’ coach, Ryan Early, the secret sauce revolves around containing the Hawks’ defence.

“We knew coming in, that Paradise Hill has a great squad, and the D core they have is elite. These first two games, we’ve had to change our gameplay a bit … their D men are so smart, and with Paradise Hill, it starts at the back end,” said Early.

“It’s a matter of going out there and containing them and taking care of that each shift.”

The Flyers, who lit the lamp 149 times in 16 regular-season games, have solid goal scorers on the roster, but

as previously stated, Early is well aware of the dominant Hawks defence.

“The guys in our room have played good hockey and know what we’re doing is working, but they also know there’s things we need to do better for Games 3 and 4 this weekend,” said Early.

“Hopefully we get the series tied back up by Saturday night.”

Looking back at their own regular-season record, Young explained overall, the Hawks had

“We had solid goaltending and defence to help us out,” he said.

“It took the full team effort to get to the point we’re at.”

Young and Early also both noted the role the crowds have been playing throughout the series.

“The fan support has been awesome with larger crowds with each series win,” said Early.

“It’s fun for the team to play in front of great crowds and the close games also make it exciting for the fans.

“Looking forward to Friday night at home.”

“It’s unbelievable,” echoed Early.

“The fan support we’ve had post-COVID, I couldn’t even put a number on how many fans came out. We also had fans travelling with the team to road games.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen a Lashburn rink filled to capacity like that. It’s amazing for both communities and helping both facilities out financially; the atmosphere is amazing, it’s awesome.”

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

Above: Paradise Hill Hawks’ defenceman Matthew Fletcher celebrates a second-period goal over the Lashburn Flyers last Saturday night in Lashburn as the Hawks secured a 2-0 series lead over the Flyers in the Sask Alta Hockey League (SAHL) championship series. Top Right: Lashburn Flyers goaltender Landon Noyes uses his head to stop a puck on Saturday on home ice during SAHL finals.

Bisons end Bandits’ season early

‘Cats host Canmore in first round

After waiting for the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) play-in series to wrap up, the

Lloydminster Bobcats find themselves hosting the Canmore Eagles this weekend in the first round of AJHL playoffs.

Game 1 is scheduled for Friday night at 7 p.m. with Game 2 being played Saturday night at 7 p.m.

It may not have been the championship ending the boys were hoping for, but the Lloydminster Bandits had a season to be proud of.

Finishing third in the North Eastern Alberta Junior B Hockey League (NEAJBHL) standings with a 21-8-2 record, the Bandits took on the Cold Lake Ice in the first round of the playoffs, ending their season with four straight wins.

For Bandits head coach Jason Ross, the series win over Cold Lake was a big one as it’s the first time the team’s made it past the first round of playoffs in almost a decade.

The Bandits took on Wainwright in the second round after the Bisons defeated the Vegreville Rangers in four games, and what a series it was.

Game 1 was played on March 1 in Wainwright with the Bandits taking a 4-3 win before

the Bisons redeemed themselves the following night with a 3-2 win.

Game 3, played in the Border City on March 5, saw the Bandits take a 2-1 series lead after a 3-2 win.

This loss, however, fuelled the Bisons, who hit the ice on March 7 to beat the Bandits 9-3 to tie the series at two a piece. The boys returned to Wainwright on March 9 for Game 5, losing 11-1 before giving it their all in Game 6, which was played on March 10 in Lloyd with the Bisons winning 3-1.

“We had a good push in the regular season this year and managed to get to third from fifth

in the league standings, made a push in the playoffs and won a round, and took the defending provincial champions almost to the brink,” he said.

“We got up on them early and ended up falling short in the end, unfortunately.”

The Bandits also earned themselves a couple of league awards this season, with captain Joel Webb winning league MVP and Kade Dennett Top Defenceman.

Goaltender Shae Stewart also won the “On Point” scholarship from Servus Wealth Strategies for his efforts this season.

TAYLOR WEAVER EDITOR

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

Above: Bandits defenseman Silas Reeds applies pressure to the Wainwright Bisons forward Keelan Adams during last Sunday night’s Game 6 at the Civic Centre. The Bisons beat the Bandits in the playoff series to take on the Vermilion Tigers in the NEAJBHL championship. Right: Bandits captain, Joel Webb, was all smiles as he received this year’s league MVP award.

Careers

Sask unveils investment attraction strategy

On Monday, the Government of Saskatchewan released Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy

The strategy is Saskatchewan’s roadmap to increasing investment in the province and further advancing Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan goal of $16 billion in private capital investment annually.

“The new strategy builds on Saskatchewan’s many advantages as the best place to invest in the nation,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said.

“This will lead to more opportunities for local, national and international investors while solidifying our province as a national leader in private capital investment. We have seen significant investments in this province over the past several years and this strategy will help build on that momentum. This will create jobs, and grow our economy for a brighter future that benefits all Saskatchewan residents.”

Private capital investment in Saskatchewan increased by nearly 25 per cent in 2023 and is expected to lead the nation with an increase of 14.4 per cent in 2024.

The strategy is built on the Saskatchewan Advantage, which includes a competitive business environment, low tax and utility rates, a transparent and predictable regulatory environment, a strong suite of incentives and a network of nine international offices that connect Saskatchewan to the world.

“Sask’s world-class resource base, highly skilled talent pipeline and stable and supportive regulatory and investment environ -

ment, all gave BHP the confidence to make the largest single investment in the company’s history right here in Saskatchewan,” BHP Potash Asset President Karina Gistelinck said.

“Our Jansen potash mine will deliver responsibly produced Canadian potash to the world. We are proud to support the ongoing economic growth of Saskatchewan and applaud the province for its commitment to responsibly advancing growth and prosperity.”

The strategy focuses on three key pillars:

- Build - creating opportunities in new and emerging sectors to drive investment and diversify the economy;

- Grow - leveraging previous successes and capitalizing on existing strengths in Saskatchewan’s key sectors; and

- Connect - connecting the world to Saskatchewan to ensure the province remains a secure, reliable supplier of goods and services.

As part of the strategy, the provincial government launched a new website, investSK. ca, which will serve as a gateway to the province for international business and investors. It provides an overview of the major economic sectors and the world-class investment opportunities in Saskatchewan.

“Sask’s newly announced Investment Attraction Strategy strikes the right balance between supporting our established industries and encouraging innovation,” Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce CEO Prabha Ramaswamy said.

“We look forward to showing the world what our province has to offer and welcoming new partners both in Canada and abroad.”

To continue to be the best place in the world to invest, the Government of Saskatchewan

is announcing the following new, expanded, or improved incentives.

The new Saskatchewan Critical Minerals Innovation Incentive will support innovation commercialization projects that target emerging critical minerals including helium, lithium, rare earth elements, copper, zinc, magnesium, nickel, gallium, and aluminum through a 25 per cent transferable royalty/ freehold production tax credit.

The new Critical Minerals Processing Investment Incentive will support the development of critical mineral processing in our province, establishing Saskatchewan as a rare earth elements hub.

The program will provide a 15 per cent transferable royalty/freehold

production tax credit to support the development of processing facilities for 10 emerging critical minerals in Saskatchewan.

The new Multi-lateral Well Program will provide an incentive to help jumpstart the use of this new more sustainable drilling technology.

The expanded Saskatchewan Technology Start-up Incentive is a non-refundable 45 per cent tax credit to individuals, corporations, and venture capital firms that invest in eligible technology startups. This program will see a doubling of its annual tax credit cap from $3.5 million to $7 million and expanded eligibility to include clean technology.

Two successful existing incentives are being extended for five more

Position Summary

years to 2029, the Oil and Gas Processing Investment incentive and the Saskatchewan Petroleum Innovation Incentive.

These new and expanded programs

will complement existing successful programs such as the Saskatchewan Value-Added Agriculture Incentive, the Manufacturing and Processing Investment Tax Credit and others.

Gear Energy is a publicly traded E&P company with heavy and medium oil assets in East Central Alberta and Saskatchewan as well as light oil properties in Central Alberta and Southeast Saskatchewan. We are currently ~6,000 boe/d, well positioned for a range of opportunities to grow our company and continue to support our strong dividend. Our strategy for success includes organic growth for which we currently hold a multi-year inventory of prospects as well as employing a calculated approach to new oil play exploration and acquisitions. Decision-making at Gear is value based, analytical, and collaborative. Please see the corporate presentation on the Gear Energy website for additional details.

Gear has an immediate opening for an In eld Water Hauler. We are looking for a Leased Operator to pull Gear’s trailer for water hauling within our Wildmere/Vermillion locations. This is a full-time position, working a day shift 7 & 3, 7 & 4 rotation.

Quali cations

• Class 1 License

• Clean Drivers Abstract

• Fluid Hauling experience

• Company Liability & WCB

• First Aid, H2S, TDG & WHMIS

• Must provide current commercial driver's abstract that will be subject to internal review for hiring approval.

Skills & Abilities Required

• Time management skills

• Ability to communicate and interact effectively

• Mechanical ability to make minor repairs when needed

• Good interpersonal skills and customer service orientation

• Ability to remain alert and maintain a high level of concentration

• Good judgement and the ability to react quickly in emergency situations

Applications are being accepted until March 31, 2024 and can be submitted to droy@gearenergy.com or drop-off a resume at our o ce: 501077 Range Rd 13 & Airport Rd, Lloydminster AB T9V 3A4

Thank you for your interest in Gear Energy – only successful candidates will be contacted.

MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

Saskatoon cityscape. File Photo

Thursday,

admin@meridiansource.ca

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