Meridian Source - November 22, 2018

Thursday, November 22, 2018

VOLUME 1 I ISSUE 21

MERIDIANSOURCE.CA

WE’RE GIVING YOU FOOD BANK DRIVE Bring your non-perishable items for the Salvation Army.

INTERVAL HOME LLOYDMINSTER FRIENDSHIP NATIVE Help women and children in crisis by donating your unwanted clothes and toys.

GIFT WRAP SERVICE! Donations to MS Society and their partners.

This holiday season, make a difference to someone you care about…a stranger… and even yourself.

At LloydMall we’ve got so many ways of giving you that warm and fuzzy feeling!

warmer or fuzzier than Santa!

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There’s no one

November 22 to December 23 Thursdays 4 pm - 8 pm | Fridays 4 pm - 8 pm Saturdays 11 am - 5 pm | Sundays 12 noon - 5 pm

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CONTEST ENDS DECEMBER 20, 2018.

Get Warm. Get Fuzzy. #WarmAndFuzzyLM

Thursday, November 22, 2018

MERIDIANSOURCE.CA

VOLUME 1 I ISSUE 21

See pages 21-32 for our Black Friday Pullout Feature

National Child Day proclaimed in Border City TAYLOR WEAVER

EDITOR

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Story Telling was the theme as local parents, caregivers, the Lloydminster and Area Early Years Coalition and the City of Lloydminster proclaimed National Child Day at Mother Theresa Early Childhood Education Centre.

National Child Day is celebrated in Canada on Nov. 20 in recognition of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

One of the main messages of the celebration is all children have rights no matter who they are, where they live, what their parents do, what language they speak, what there religion is, whether they are a boy or a girl, what their culture is, whether they have a disability, or whether they’re rich or poor.

The day was kicked off at Mother Theresa school by Mayor Gerald Aalbers and members of the early years coalition with the signing of the proclamation and the reading of a children’s

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

Mayor Gerald Aalbers was one of many guests of honour to help proclaim National Child Day in the Border City on Tuesday morning at Mother Theresa Early Childhood Education Centre.

book to students by the mayor himself.

“National Child Day is in recognition of the children, and

those children are our future where ever they are around the world, and (I was) asked to speak about the United

Nations convention on the rights of a child because we’re very fortunate here,” said Mayor Gerald Aalbers.

“Our country has been a great place to live for a long time (and in) other places it’s not as comfortable and I

think it just helps bring it home and bring the recognition to it.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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Thursday, November 22, 2018

Thursday, November 22, 2018

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First draft of 2019 budget tabled TAYLOR WEAVER

EDITOR

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Lloydminster city council was presented with the first draft of the 2019 budget during Monday’s Governance and Priorities Committee meeting with a second draft expected during the Nov. 26 council meeting.

“

The bottom line is when people get a service and we get that level of expectation, to decrease that service there would be money saved but there would also be less services, so to save money the only thing we can do is to eliminate services

Community engagement and resident input through events such as the Your Voice Open Houses, online surveys and the Pancake Breakfast Jellybean Survey, played a significant role in the development of the budget to ensure balance and fiscal responsibility.

A highlight from the first reading includes a 2.7 per cent municipal tax increase which will have an impact on residential and commer-

File Photo cial properties, something “which allows the City of Lloydminster to keep pace with inflationary costs, sustain service levels and continue to build important operational and capital reserves,” the draft read. “(With) the first read of the budget we’re addressing some of the issues we heard from the public, and certainly traffic is always an issue, roads are an issue, and recreation used to be an issue, and as I said in the meeting people want to have the services we have maintained, and if we can improve we certainly will do that,” said Mayor Gerald Aalbers.

Challenges and

opportunities outlined in the budget included catching up on reserves, provincial and federal grant funding, infrastructure deficit, minimal assessment growth, the wastewater treatment plant, winter road maintenance, public safety, and establish or build good relationships with stakeholders.

“Capital items are important because we have to replace water and sewer lines. That’s an ongoing process that’s going to be going on for some time. In the same token can we set some money aside to plan for the future?

That’s what this budget has, and (that) started last year, and I’m glad to see that.

“Having an operational reserve and a capital reserve are very important because we don’t know what Mother Nature is going to throw at us on the operational side.”

Snow removal has been a hot topic in the city throughout the last number of years and was not something that went unnoticed.

“I think Mayor Aalbers laid it out very clearly around the different between snow removal and snow clearing. There are many areas in the city, certainly downtown, where there’s no place to shovel the extra snow, so in those instances we have to look at removing the

snow completely,” said Coun. Michael Diachuk.

“When we look at the budget, in order to remove snow from all of the streets it costs between $1.3 and $1.6 million,” he added, also noting removal of snow from city streets was something many residents addressed during public engagement events.

The 2.7 per cent municipal tax increase would mean a $60 increase for residential properties valued at $350,000 and a $309 increase for commercial properties valued at $1 million.

Both assessments do not assume changes in market value or school taxes.

“Two point seven per cent is an easy number and one way to say very quickly for a tax increase the first round, and the first draft we’ll be looking at it,” said Aalbers.

One point the mayor addressed during the meeting was the fact taxes are increasing to keep up with city growth and maintain services residents have grown accustomed too, and if taxes aren’t increased those services are much more difficult to provide.

“The bottom line is when people get a service and we get that level of expectation, to decrease that service there would be money saved but there would also be less services, so to save money the only thing we can do is to eliminate services,” he said.

News revolving around the Wastewater Treatment Plant is still at a standstill as the multi-year construction project is expected to cost $80 million, with $9 million coming from the 2019 budget and $40 million coming in after a borrowing bylaw was passed in July.

Overall gross revenues totalled just under $82 million and expenses sat at roughly $83 million leaving a deficit of $946.465.

Updates on the 2019 budget will be provided as they are made available.

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Thursday, November 22, 2018

Kettle Campaign kickoff Look for the THREE FRENCH HENS & FOUR CALLING BIRDS in today’s paper for the 12 Days of Christmas Contest.

Taylor Weaver Meridian Source

The Salvation Army has officially kicked off this year’s Kettle Campaign and Mayor Gerald Aalbers was the first to make a donation at a luncheon to thank community partners last Thursday at the Salvation Army.

TAYLOR WEAVER

EDITOR

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The kettles and bells are about to hit the streets of Lloydminster and the Salvation Army is ready for another busy

season leading up to Christmas.

Mayor Gerald Aalbers at t end ed a lu ncheon last week to help kick off the campaign and got the ball rolling with

a $20 donation.

“For some $20 is more than they can give and for others they’ll be able to top it and I hope they’ll give from their heart,” said Aalbers.

“The kettles have been around for a number of years and they’ll take whatever you have.”

Border City residents can expect to see kettles around town starting on Dec. 1 and are encouraged to help out in any way they can as funds raised through the campaign helps the Salvation Army provide food and programming for families in need, especially around the holidays with their Christmas Hampers. “ Last y e ar w e p r o vided over 300 Christmas Hampers and this year we’re not sure what kind of numbers to anticipate, but we’ll be ready for them either way,” said Major Lisa O’Doherty.

“The funds help us provide the multiple programs we offer for people of all ages, especially youth.”

For more information about the campaign or to help the local community call 780-875-9166.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Two charity splashes floated File Photo GEOFF LEE

WRITER

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Mayor Gerald Aalbers won’t be jumping into a tank of cold water at this year’s Here Comes Santa Claus Day downtown— but he might be asked to double dip in 2019.

Aalbers willingly jumped into a icy tank last year wearing a suit and tie to help Border City Connects raise funds for its handivan transportation fleet.

Glenn Fagnan, executive director of Border City Connects Society says there wasn’t enough lead time this

year for what they had in mind to hold the splash during the upcoming Dec. 8 festival.

“We’re putting it into Winterfest at the Servus Sports Centre on Family Day,” he said.

“We have got a nod from the city that we can hold it there.”

Plans are being floated to run the Polar Splash on the Feb. 18 holiday with a core of 15-20 sponsored celebrity jumpers, then have a second dunking during next year’s downtown festival.

“Hopefully, we’re going to get in there

next year,” said Fagnan, who says they were rushed last year too.

“I had big plans for that with special prizes and things like that—an opportunity for somebody to win five or 10 grand if they were lucky enough—that’s going to have to have to wait until next December.”

He said they purchased new software last month that will be up and running soon to allow people to donate online for their chosen celebrity jumper and get a receipt.

“That’s the whole idea behind it—it will all be automated to sponsor celebrity jumpers,” he said.

He is also talking with Hobblestone Plastics about a deeper tank, but he has secured use of the tank provided last

year from the Britannia Fire Department.

“I think it will be good—we might have a motorhome on site for people to change in and we can schedule them as well so that it’s organized and spread over an hour or so,” said Fagnan.

“The beauty of doing this one is you are doing celebrities— we would be encouraging people to go online and sponsor these folks and also have a challenge amongst them as well,” he said.

Border City Connects gets a $20,000 grant each year from the Government of Saskatchewan through the City of Lloydminster and has to earn the balance of its operating budget through donations or fundraisers like the splash.

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MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Gastrointestinal illness circulating Edmonton

National Child Day in Lloydminster

Residents reminded to take precautions to reduce spread of illness MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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A recent increase in the number of gastrointestinal illness cases in the Edmonton Zone of Alberta Health Services (AHS) has prompted AHS to remind residents and visitors of important precautions to reduce the spread of illness.

Since Sept. 1 there have been 47 gastrointestinal outbreaks reported in the Edmonton Zone.

During the same period last year, there were 18 gastrointestinal outbreaks.

Gastrointestinal illness is common yearround although it is more likely to occur in fall and winter.

Individuals can be exposed to illness through ill individuals, food prepared by anyone with poor

hand hygiene, improperly handled or cooked foods, or swimming in contaminated water.

Symptoms almost always include diarrhea and/or vomiting and may include stomach cramps, muscle aches and low-grade fever.

Symptoms usually last 48 to 72 hours and, in most cases, require no special treatment.

However, this illness can be debilitating for the very young, the very old, and those with weakened immune systems.

To avoid illness: - Always wash your hands after using the bathroom; after providing care to an ill person; after handling soiled laundry; and before handling food.

- Clean bathrooms and other household areas more frequently when people are ill to

FROM PAGE 1

prevent the illness from spreading.

- Anyone who is vomiting and/or has diarrhea should avoid the following activities until the symptoms are over: - Attending schools or child care facilities (until two days after symptoms stop).

- Attending recreational facilities, including swimming pools (until two weeks after symptoms stop).

Attending work.

Visiting friends and relatives in seniors’ residences, continuing care facilities or hospitals.

Pr epar ing f ood f or others.

“Our community is diverse. We have a strong mix of ethnic backgrounds and we have immigrants coming to our community and (they) come from places where children’s rights are not freely given or accepted, so it’s great the kids get to understand that this is a free country.”

Aalbers added he firmly believes it’s terrific to recognize National Child Day and that it’s there and provides opportunities for children to be recognized, something often taken for granted.

Mother Theresa Early Childhood Education Centre principal Sheila Jurke echoed Aalbers’ sentiments as she has seen the importance and positive effects of initiatives such as National Child Day throughout the walls of the school.

“Because we do have so many children in our school– we have 250 this

year under the age of seven – we deal with a lot of the every-day issues that children are experiencing in today’s society so it’s very important for us to recognize the importance of this day for kids,” said Jurke.

“The children are quite aware of what’s going on around them and they understand they have rights because we teach them that at school that it’s OK to ask questions and have an opinion on something that’s different from other people, and we talk about how we can deal with those differences and opinions.”

To add to the proclamation, a celebration is being held this Sunday at the Servus Sports Centre from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. with no cost of admission.

There will be fun for the whole family including Our family story, button making, a box maze, dress up, PlayDoh, a parachute and homemade games to name a few.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

MERIDIAN SOURCE

BCMInns reopens at no vacancy

Geoff Lee Meridian Source November 16 marked the grand re-opening of BCMInns with general manager Roger Hicks as the tour host. Major renovations have taken place since last spring with more tweaks to come over the next two years. The grand re-opening included a chance to win the “Ultimate Staycation” prize.

GEOFF LEE

WRITER

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The grand re-opening of the Lloydminster BCMInns was well timed with a surprise same-week request for all available rooms

over the winter from a new client.

General manager Rick Hicks couldn’t name the company, but was thrilled by the news at the re-opening of the renovated 96

room inn last Friday.

“Because we were so full and we are booked throughout the winter and spring we can only accommodate about 50 to 55 rooms for those and the rest will be

spread out through the community,” said Hicks.

The booking focused attention on the refreshed renovated exterior and pool area, the addition of 10 king size rooms and upgrades to the floor and kitchen of Rusty’s Grille and Lounge among others.

“Since the renovation, we went up towards 80 to 100 per cent occupancy,” said Hicks.

The inn is located on 44 Street across from Husky Place and well positioned to attract business from the soon-to-open Gold Horse Casino and other new developments at the east side of the city.

Hicks noted the decision to renovate was made two years ago, but he’s excited to see those new businesses come to the area to create a buzz.

“We’re really excited because it’s going to create traffic down in

Church Directory Call our sales team if you would like to advertise your church in our directory

306-825-5111

Saturdays 6:30PM Sundays 10:30AM

this area and make us busier—it’s well timed

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for sure.”

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Thursday, November 22, 2018

Lloyd Fire members ready to brave elements MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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Members of the Lloydminster Fire Department will once again brave the elements during the sixthannual ALS Rooftop Campout from Nov. 23 to Nov. 25 to raise funds and awareness for ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

Members of the community are encouraged

“

Having lost a friend and fellow firefighter to ALS in 2013, this cause has been a unifying force for our members and our community

to stop by Fire Station No. 1 (5013 49 Ave.) to

make a donation, have a coffee, and cheer on the firefighters as they camp out on the roof of the fire hall.

“Having lost a friend and fellow firefighter to ALS in 2013, this cause has been a unifying force for our members and our community,” said fire Chief Jordan Newton.

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease where

File Photo the nerve cells that control muscles die.

ALS is a terminal disease with no cure or effective treatment.

In Canada, approximately 2,500-3,000 peo-

ple are living with ALS. A patient’s lifespan after diagnosis is on average, two to five years.

“Each year, the support we receive from residents warms our hearts

in the cold conditions,” said Newton. “This weekend, we encourage all Lloydminster and area residents to stop by Fire Station No. 1 and join the fight against ALS.”

Thursday, November 22, 2018

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Danish exchange student warms to Lloyd

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Sarah Svenningsen, a Rotary exchange student attending Lloydminster Comprehensive High School, made a presentation about Denmark and her personal life at the Monday Rotary Club of Lloydminster meeting.

GEOFF LEE

WRITER

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Sarah Svenningsen delivered what she would describe as a “hygge” presentation at the Rotary Club of Lloydminster’s Monday lunch meeting.

“

I feel really welcome here.

I’m really glad I did it—just the experiences that I’ve already gotten— people have been really generous.

Sarah is a Rotary exchange student from Nibe, Denmark, who spoke about hygge as being a unique Danish feeling of contentment from doing easy things like introducing herself to Rotarians.

“I’m going to talk about Denmark and where I come from and a bit about myself,” she said in fluent English that Danes study as early as Grade 3.

Sarah grew up in the nearby rural town of Bislev and has a 13-year-old brother.

She noted the area is famous for unearthing the skeleton of a 10,000 year man in recent years, but joked he was no longer alive.

Sarah also generated a few unintentional laughs by tell-

ing Rotarians the most hated word in Denmark is Skat—

meaning taxes with everyone taxed at 50 per cent.

Sarah works in an ice cream store in Nibe, a town of just 7,000 people and didn’t know much about Lloydminster before her departure, other than it was a border city in the Prairies.

The teen is enrolled in Grade 11 at Lloydminster Comprehensive High School until June and is loving every minute of it.

“I like meeting all the people there; it’s been really nice like getting into a new social life and hanging out with new people. I like that,” she said.

“People have been preparing me a lot for the cold here.”

She said the coldest it’s ever been in Den-

mark was -20C back in the 1980s.

She arrived in Lloydminster on a warm Aug. 16 day and is living at the home of Dave and Ardelle McLennan who are members of the Border City Rotary Club.

Since her arrival she’s had plenty of hygge moments from the reception she’s gotten.

“I feel really welcome here. I’m really glad I did it—just the experiences that I’ve already gotten— people have been really generous,” she said.

Sarah plays handball in Denmark and planned on turning up for school basketball tryouts after her presentation at Rotary.

PAGE 10 Thursday, November 22, 2018 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Viewpoint

5921-50 Avenue, Lloydminster, SK S9V 2A4 Phone: 306-825-5111 Toll Free: 1-800-327-3899 Fax: 306-825-5147 meridiansource.ca Mail: Box 2454, Lloydminster, SK S9V 1W5 Hours: 8AM to 5PM Monday to Friday The MERIDIAN SOURCE is published once a week, on Thursday.

All material printed in the Meridian Source is copyright and may not be copied or reproduced without the express permission of the publisher. The Meridian Source reserves the right to refuse publication of any advertising or editorial material at its discretion.

Columns and letters are the expressed view of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Meridian Source.

Editor Taylor Weaver taylor@meridiansource.ca Staff Writer Geoff Lee geoff@meridiansource.ca Sports Editor Jamie Harkins sports@meridiansource.ca

Marketing Manager Deanna Wandler deanna@meridiansource.ca Marketing Consultant Catherine Kruining catherine@meridiansource.ca

Marketing Consultant Susan Cross susan@meridiansource.ca Marketing Consultant Carmen Kimball carmen@meridiansource.ca Publisher Reid Keebaugh Production Manager Amanda Richard Classified advertising admin@meridiansource.ca Newspaper delivery If you’ve missed a paper, to start or stop delivery, or for carrier applications, please call 306-825-5111 for information.

2017

Free workshop can help parents make mealtime easier

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arents of young children who may be facing challenges with young picky eaters can get learn valuable strategies and tips for making mealtimes happy times for the whole family through a free workshop offered by Alberta Health Services.

Led by a Registered Dietitian and a pediatric Occupational Therapist, the Goodbye Mealtime Struggles workshop helps parents learn how to overcome mealtime conflicts with children from six months to five years old.

Over the course of the two hour workshop, discussions focus on the growing and developing eating skills of children, exploring the reasons behind mealtime struggles, the importance of setting a consistent mealtime routine, portion sizes and how to introduce healthy new foods.

Parents will learn a number of strategies to take to their

own dinner tables and will also have the opportunity to connect with other parents facing similar mealtime struggles.

Goodbye Mealtime Struggles will be offered in Vermilion on

Monday, Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. until noon at the Vermilion Provincial Building - 4701 52 Street.

Parents can register by calling 780-853-5270 or online at www.fsca.ca.

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

PAGE 11 Thursday, November 22, 2018 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Opinion

Through the reader’s lens

Leeway from Lloyd: Calgary will miss its podium STAFF WRITER GEOFF LEE

Mike from Canmore Submitted to the Meridian Source

Louise Lundberg Submitted to the Meridian Source If you would like to see your photographs here, please email them to taylor@meridiansource.ca.

The International Olympic Committee needs to change its bidding process quickly to make it affordable for a host city or country.

That’s clear after Calgary’s non-binding plebiscite went 56 per cent against a winter Olympic bid for 2026 leaving Stockholm, Sweden and Milan-Cortina in Italy as the only two possible bidders.

With huge cost overruns for past host cities for summer and winter Olympics, it’s no wonder Calgary doesn’t want to grab the torch.

The time is right for the IOC to institute a user pay system for participating countries to contribute to the financial pot based on a fraction of their Gross Domestic Product.

18113CA0

For the sake of argument, the world could pay for up to 50 per cent of the projected budget with the host country on the hook for the balance.

That would mean rich countries with the bulk of competing athletes would pay the most with poor or developing countries beyond a GDP threshold getting a free pass.

In addition, the IOC should only accept bids from wealthier countries to prevent egotistical dictators or politicians from bankrupting their own countries for a couple of weeks of glory.

Better yet the IOC should start recycling the Games to host cities from the recent past that still have their Olympic infrastructure in place minus the need for upgrades and new venues for new sports.

That would have been

the case for Calgary that had a good budget in place, but it came too late for people to give it the thumbs up.

By not hosting the Games however, Calgary loses out on millions that were earmarked for upgrades that would help keep us on the podium for Games to come.

Some people argue against the Games citing poverty and other social ills that have been part of the world since Adam and Eve. People also deserve to celebrate sports on the world stage.

With the deal dead, Calgary can now sit back and enjoy its current and future poverty and high unemployment and loss of federal and provincial funding and watch everything it built for 1988 fall apart while a cheer goes up in Sweden or Italy.

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Thursday, November 22, 2018

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

EVERY TUESDAY — VOLLEYBALL Drop in volleyball from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Takes place at the Servus Sports Centre and everyone is welcome, noncompetitive and no experience is necessary. Come for fun and exercise and meet some great people.

dminster.ca/winterspectacular.

NOV. 24 – HEROES FOR THE HUNGRY Heroes for the Hungry is being held at the Legacy Centre this Saturday with a prime rib dinner and great entertainment.

There will be a 50/50

EVERY TUESDAY — ADAPTED YOGA From 10 – 11 a.m. at the Community Service Centre. For more information please contact AnnDee at 780-871-0513.

EVERY TUESDAY — DIABETES 102 The new schedule for PNRHA Diabetes Education Classes is ready! Everyone starts with Diabetes 101 and then follows up with Diabetes 102 (people on diabetes pills) or Diabetes 103 (people on insulin). All classes are scheduled on a Tuesday morning from 8:15 a.m. to noon. Please contact Nancy Johnston at 306-820-6096 or Helen Rogers at 306-820-6291 to pre-register.

EVERY TUESDAY — SENIORS MEET The Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society meets at the Legacy Centre from noon - 1:30 p.m. Lunch is available for $8.

Please reserve before Tuesday morning

Submitted

Lakeland College celebrated their 105th anniversary as an educational institution last week with a cake cutting at both the Lloydminster and Vermilion campuses.

at 780-875-4584.

Everyone welcome.

EVERY TUESDAY – DIABETES CLINICS The new schedule is out for Diabetes Education Classes with Saskatchewan Health Authority. Everyone starts with Diabetes 101 and follows up with Diabetes 102 and 103. All classes are scheduled on a Tuesday morning from 8:15 a.m. until noon. To register call Janis at 306-820-4887.

EVERY WEDNESDAY — CRAFTERNOON Join Midwest Family Connections

at the lower level of Prairie North Plaza and bring your budding artist to explore and create with materials in the craft centre.

EVERY TUESDAY & SATURDAY — FARMER’S MARKET Downtown Farmer’s Market at the Fred North Community Centre (5002 - 51 Avenue, Lloydminster) from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Tues) 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Sat) We’re on Facebook.

NOV. 24 – ALCURVE CRAFT FAIR The Alcurve Craft Fair will be held on Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Located

26km north of Lloydminster on Highway 17. Admission is free with consession on site with lunch available. Santa pictures also available for a small fee.

NOV. 24 – CHRISTMAS BAKE SALE & MORE Lloydminster St. Anthony’s Catholic Womne’s League is hosting their annual Christmas Bake Sale, noon luncheon, mini trade show, Afghan and quilt raffle and much more. Everyone welcome. Event will be on Nov. 24 at St. Anthony’s Parish Hall, 2704-56 Ave. West of Home Hardware from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

NOV. 24 – WINTER SPECTACULAR The Lloydminster Cultural & Science Centre is hosting Winter Spectacular presented by Willow Creek Clothing and Collectables Saturday, Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The annual celebration features a variety of wintertime activities including visits with Santa, horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowshoeing and free snacks while quantities last. Attendees are advised to dress for indoor and outdoor activities. Outdoor activities are subject to change pending weather. Admission is by donation, for more details visit www.lloy-

draw held throughout the fall and the winner will be announced at the dinner. Do not have to be present to win.

Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased by calling the Men’s Shelter. Doors open at 6pm. Cocktails at 7 p.m.

Tickets: $60/person or $480/table of 8. For tickets call the Men’s Shelter at 306-8253977. All the money raised goes towards Shelter operations, programs and services.

DEC. 8 – CRIB TOURNEY The Paradise Hill Senior Crib Tournament is being held on Dec. 8 and start time is 11 a.m., 10 a.m. Lloyd time at the curling rink.

No partners needed.

Crib is $10, lunch $10 with prize money and 350 guaranteed payout 50/50. Loonie pot prize for 24, 28 and 29 hands.

For more info call Karrie at 306-344-7372.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Canadian Blood Services require a volunteer organization to sponsor their visits to Lloydminster when they come to collect blood. Contact morstana@telus.net or call 780-871-2220.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Christmas Craft Fair 30 years strong

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Left: Aaron Marco from Leather Better in Ontario shows how the beeswax based product cleans, conditions and waterproofs with a demo on this woman’s boots at the 30th Annual Christmas Craft Fair at the Lloyd Exh last weekend.

Top: Anita Abricott was caught with her hand in the cookie jar at the Christmas Craft serving a customer some chocolate chunk cookies from the aptly named Caught in the Cookie Jar business.

Right: Test driving powered wheelchairs at the MEDIchair Christmas Craft Fair booth were Ryan Oborowsky, left and Matthew Fallscheer while their buddy Malakia Zwiers held up a pair of walking sticks.

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Thursday, November 22, 2018

Thursday, November 22, 2018

MERIDIAN SOURCE

It’s a Wunderful life

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

Deb Wunder, centre, is living proof that organ transplants save lives as a double liver transplant recipient. She and her husband Dave, left, have stepped up to lead this year’s host family for the fourth annual Transplant Trot on Jan. 26. Organizer and long-term kidney recipient Donna Krilow-Lorenz regional coordinator of the Canadian Transplant Association hosted a pre-Christmas social for donors and recipients at Harvest to Home on Monday night.

GEOFF LEE

WRITER

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In this seasonal spirit of giving, the simple act of signing your provincial organ and tissue donor card can wind up saving someone’s life.

That is one of the messages double liver transplant recipient Deb Wunder and her husband Dave from Lloydminster want to impart as host family leaders for the 2019 Transplant Trot at the Servus Sports Centre on Jan. 26.

“I t’s th e m o s t s p e cial gift you can give to a person,” said Deb at a pre-Christmas get together with other donors and recipients at Harvest to Home on Monday night.

Donna KrilowLorenz, the Lloydminster regional coordinator for the Canadian Transplant Association organizing the fourth annual Trot, says Deb is living proof of the power of signing that consent card.

“For some of us, we get our second chance at life—if it doesn’t work out sometimes we get a third chance,” she said referring to Deb’s backto-back liver transplants.

Deb was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a chronic or longterm disease that slowly damages the bile ducts.

In August 2013, her daughter Breanne Lazerte donated a huge part of her own liver in a life saving transplant operation that didn’t go well.

“In that liver transplant my pancreas ruptured so with the bleedout it did a lot of damage to that new liver,” said Deb. “I actually bled out twice in that operation and after that it was many trips back and forth to the city.”

The complications led to a second liver transplant from a cadaver donor four years later in July 2017.

“It was high risk, but we went for it and I had an amazing doctor,” said Deb, who wants people to know she is fine now and happy.

Dave says it’s been a long road but they’ve had good support along the way from family members.

“The end result is so overwhelming; we are thankful everyday to the donor that gave her the liver and gave

her a chance at life,” he said, adding their daughter Breanne is doing well too.

“She’s had her second child so everything has gone well.”

The Wunders will share their story of hope at the Trot and take part in an initial recognition lap for transplant recipients, living donors and deceased donor families.

The event aims to raise awareness for organ and tissue donations.

“We’re here today because of a donation and a transplant—we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that,” said Dave.

Krilow-Lorenz says an organ transplant is a tender subject to talk about because at times you are dealing with life and death.

“That can be hard for people. We as recipients or donors put ourselves out there and if you want to talk about it just come and see us,” she said.

Krilow-Lorenz received a new kidney nearly 14 years ago and says longterm recipients like her can give hope to people who are on the wait lists.

Duncan MacDonald, the face of last year’s

Trot, was sidelined in the hospital that day but he says the Trot is an event that helps to get the word out so other people can be as fortunate as he has been.

He has been to the Trot before and plans to take part in the 5 kilometre walk or run in January.

“It’s everything we can do to promote organ and tissue donation for everybody and trying to get the word out there, that a lot of people don’t think it might be something that will save someone’s life,” he said.

MacDonald says he is doing well after getting a transplanted kidney in July 2017 from his donor girlfriend Ceanna Moan who is now his fiance.

The couple plans to get married in July 2019 two years and a day after their shared transplant experience.

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Thursday, November 22, 2018

Mobil gas bar a new convenience GEOFF LEE

WRITER

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Lloydminster’s new rebranded Mobil fuel outlet is providing motorists with top tier gasoline and loyalty card points at the pump.

The Mobil @ Superstore gas and convenience bar near Real Canadian Superstore served its first customers on Nov. 9.

The facility occupies the same footprint as the former Gas Bar with the same contract retailer, Humza Jutt, running the business.

Hutt has three longterm staff members that were kept on during the construction and remain employed at the rebranded Mobil gas bar.

The Lloydminster facility is one of 212 former Loblaw-owned gas bars converted to Mobil following the $540 million sale of the network to Brookfield Business Partners in July 2017.

“Mobil is a national brand with top tier fuel along with the PC Optimum rewards program that our local customers have grown accustomed to,” said Brian Magdee, vice-president of

Geoff Lee Meridian Source

The newly rebranded Mobil @ Superstore gas bar and convenience store reopened Friday, offering loyalty card points and high quality Synergy gas and diesel fuel while retaining retailer Humza Jutt and three of his long-term employees from the former Loblaw-owned gas bar near Real Canadian Superstore.

BG Fuels in Calgary that owns the assets under the Brookfield partners umbrella.

The Mobil gas bar provides motorists with a higher grade Imperial Oil Synergy gasoline and diesel than the former Loblaw unbranded fuels.

“Our Synergy gasoline features seven key ingredients for greater cleaning power and is engineered to help improve fuel economy and performance,” said Magdee.

Under the Mobil brand customers can continue to receive PC Optimum Points when

using PC Optimum cards (35 points per litre which is the equivalent value of 3.5 cents per litre).

Customers who use their PC MasterCard along with their PC Optimum card will receive a total of 70 points per litre or the equivalent value of 7.0 cents per litre.

There is no grand opening planned at this ti me , al th o u gh Magdee says there is a lot of work to celebrate that went into the rebranding construction.

The work included

the installation of new tanks, new underground product distribution lines and new dispensers (pumps).

“The kiosk and canopy were upgraded and rebranded; the underside of the canopy will be closed in and will receive upgraded LED lighting in the near future,” said Magdee.

MI Petro Construction and Supply was the contractor for the petroleum work and Phoenix Petroleum was the contractor for the canopy and kiosk rebranding work.

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Thursday, November 22, 2018

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Journalism needs public support DAWNA FRIESEN

SPECIAL TO THE MERIDIAN SOURCE

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The business aspect of journalism is seriously under threat.

The model of the traditional newspaper, radio and TV station is broken. Advertisers are going elsewhere — mostly online.

The way we consume news has changed rapidly.

I grew up on a farm just west of Winnipeg, and we got a grand total of three TV channels.

Watching the news was a family affair. We all gathered in front of the TV to find out what happened in the world.

And if you missed the ne ws, you missed it.

You’d have to wait until tomorrow to read it in the paper.

Contrast that with my son, who is 13. Much as I would love to say he’s my biggest fan, he doesn’t really watch the news. He’s on Ins-

tagram and Snapchat, and spends more time on YouTube or Netflix than watching broadcast television.

In one generation, how we connect to the world and how we consume news has been utterly transformed.

Now, you can say, “Hey, that’s business.

You adapt, or you die.”

And journalism is adapting.

But here’s the thing about journalism. It’s more than a business.

It’s a pillar of democracy.

J o u rn al is m u n d e rpins every free society.

It informs, it uncovers truth and it holds power to account. Without knowledge about what’s happening in your town, your province, you country, you can’t be an informed citizen.

And if you aren’t an informed citizen, you can’t make informed decisions about the kind of community you want to live in, and the kind

of political leaders you choose to represent you.

Right now, journalism is under assault not just because the business model is broken, but because there are political forces actively working to undermine it and discredit it.

An army of online trolls and activists question the veracity of stories they don’t like, attack individual journalists they don’t like, and ridicule institutions that for decades have been trusted sources of news.

State-supported trolls from places like Russia and Saudi Arabia seed our news feeds with false stories and conspiracy theories, and actively work to undermine western liberal democracies.

I never imagined an American president — the leader of the free world — would call the media the “enemy of the people.” He’s said it so

many times, we don’t even blink anymore.

It’s having the insidious effect of eroding t ru st in all t he news media. We have reached the point that people don’t know who or what to trust.

I think we are living in a dangerous time.

We’re not Americans, but we’re not immune to the rancour and the division and the political dysfunction that we’re watching unfold.

So here’s my message to you: be an active part of the solution.

Don’t be drawn into partisan ugliness that paints political opponents as traitors and the enemy. Support quality journalism. Think of it as a public service.

Journalists used to be seen as the public watchdog. Don’t fall for the line that we are the enemy of the people. That’s the talk of a dictator, who wants to silence those who ques-

tion him.

Quality journalism increases public knowledge, political participation and engagement.

It helps reduce corruption, expose the nefarious. Just look at the power of the MeToo movements, which was driven by strong women who came forward, and journalists who told their stories.

And here’s my most important point: don’t expect to get quality journalism for free. It’s not a giveaway. You need to pay for it.

The big failing of the Internet — which gave us access to the world — is that we expect to get it for free. Unless news organizations are owned by a billionaire like Jeff Bezos, that’s not sustainable.

So pay for news, subscribe online. Demand quality. Consider the source of what you are reading and watching.

Don’t get sucked in by

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clickbait. It just panders to sites that thrive on viral video.

The vast majority of journalists are driven by the desire to inform the public, to get the facts and to bear witness to events — sometimes risking our lives to do it.

So please, support quality journalism, because quality journalism underpins a healthy democracy.

Dawna Friesen, who is from Manitoba, was previously a foreign correspondent for NBC News, and is currently the chief television anchor and executive editor of Global National, working out of Vancouver. She recently spoke on the importance of journalism during an address at the Manitoba Business Awards banquet, put on by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce.

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FROM AROUND THE PROVINCE

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Post-secondary education more affordable MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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Alberta students will continue to have affordable tuition and fees and better access to post-secondary opportunities thanks to legislative amendments.

An Act to Improve the Affordability and Accessibility of Postsecondary Education has passed third reading, setting the stage for a revised tuition framework and a more accessible system.

The amendments to the Post-secondary Learning Act will protect students from unfair tuition spikes by aligning increases to Alberta’s Consumer Price Index, and allow the minister to order tuition

freezes to ensure affordability for students. The changes also tie mandatory non-instructional fees to the actual cost of the services, and ensure they can be frozen to ensure affordability.

“Post-secondary education is one of the best investments people can make in their lives,” said Minister of Advanced Education Marlin Schmidt.

“Extending the tuition freeze and implementing a revised tuition framework makes this investment more affordable so every Albertan has access to a good education and, ultimately, good jobs.”

For a fifth consecutive year, tuition and fees will remain frozen

to ensure more students can afford a university or college education.

University students taking an averagepriced undergraduate program would save almost $2,000 on a four-year degree.

In addition to predictability of tuition, students will have increased say in decisions that affect them with the requirement of written consent for new mandatory non-instructional fees.

“Students across Alberta have been asking for these changes for a long time and we are happy that our voices and concerns have been heard,” said Andrew Bieman, chair, Council of Alberta University Students.

“This is a milestone for Alberta’s post-secondary system in cre-

Government of Alberta Flickr ating a framework that works for students.”

In addition, with the passing of the bill, postsecondary institutions across Alberta will be more collaborative and accessible for students moving across various institutions.

This includes ensuring post-secondary institutions can transition to universities to meet the needs of learn-

ers in every corner of the province.

“Alberta students are happy that Bill 19 passed third reading,” said Garrett Koehler, vice-president, External, SAIT Students’ Association.

“This bill, that legislates tuition, will ensure post-secondary education remains affordable for all Albertans in the years to come. Investments in education have always had a positive return for society.”

Once the bill receives royal assent, regulations will be brought forward to further gov-

ern mandatory noninstructional fees, provide increased predictability for domestic and international students, and foster more collaboration between institutions and students.

Changes to the Postsecondary Learning Act will take effect Feb. 1, 2019.

The changes are the result of consultations with students, faculty and staff.

The consultations involved an online survey, which received more than 4,000 responses, and a number of focus groups.

BCMInns ready to serve FROM PAGE 9

BCMInns has hired about eight more employees since the reconstruction began with Bexson Construction as the contractor.

“They were 100 per cent amazing, then we had Harris Electric throughout helping us with our renovation and security cameras,” said Hicks.

“We bring everybody local—that’s what we’re all about, community involvement, and making it better for everybody.”

There is more contract work to be done to fit the master plan.

“We’re continuing the renovation right through the next couple of years,” said Hicks.

“We are getting a whole new roof started in two weeks, so we’re

still ongoing.”

Crews will also convert some of the ground floor smoking rooms into non-smoking kitchenettes starting in January and February.

The top floor rooms will offer smoking for guests who want smoking.

“We are probably one of the only hotels that offers smoking and nonsmoking rooms,” said Hicks.

“You would never know it in the building because the air exchange is so good.”

Hicks says the main reaction staff get from guests about the new look is a general comment that it’s about time.

“We stepped up to the plate and did what was needed for the guests; we’re here to stay,” he said.

FROM AROUND THE PROVINCE

Thursday, November 22, 2018

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A day to remember victims of transphobia MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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Government of Alberta Flickr

The Alberta government raised the Transgender Pride flag to commemorate victims of violence who were attacked for identifying as transgender.

On Nov. 20 each year, flags are raised around the world on Transgender Day of Remembrance to memorialize those who have been assaulted or had their lives taken from them because of transgender hatred or prejudice.

“Our government stands with all victims of violence. We join the millions of Albertans who believe in communities that are diverse and inclusive,” said Minister of Culture and Tourism Ricardo Miranda on Tuesday.

“Today, we raise these flags to underscore our determination to end violence based on hatred and prejudice

against our transgender population.”

The first Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony was held at Lakeland College in the Border City on Tuesday.

“

Our government stands with all victims of violence. We join the millions of Albertans who believe in communities that are diverse and inclusive

The province is committed to protecting all genders and sexually diverse Albertans and will continue to work to advance LGBTQ rights.

In November 2017, the legislature passed An Act to Support GayStraight Alliances,

ensuring students can join a GSA without fear of being outed. In addition the government: - Introduced an “X” marker on official documents, such as driver’s licences and ID cards, and made the application process easier for Albertans looking to change the marker on their identification.

- D e v e l o p e d LGBTQ2S Youth Housing and Shelter Guidelines, the first of their kind in Canada.

- Required all publicly funded schools to create welcoming, caring and respectful policies, and to make GSAs publicly available.

- Amended the Alberta Human Rights Act to include gender identity and expression.

- Raised the Transgender Pride flag at the Alberta legislature for the first time in 2015 – an annual event at McDougall Centre and the legislature.

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Thursday, November 22, 2018

Pass the spuds PRAIRIE WOOL HELEN ROW TOEWS

Snow swirls outside my window this grey morning as I write and reflect upon the previous day when our family shared in a belated Thanksgiving meal.

“

We each have our specialties.

Linda prepares delicious perogies, cabbage rolls and pumpkin pie.

We often wait until harvest is over and calves are weaned before partaking in the celebration.

Happily though, Bill got in the last of the bales yesterday, and gratitude was felt as we sat around a table laden with steaming bowls of food.

Linda (sister-in-law), my brother Bill, and I, always share in food preparation, which makes cooking a large meal much easier.

We each have our specialties. Linda prepares delicious perogies, cabbage rolls and pumpkin pie.

Bill, while able to turn a hand to most anything, usually roasts the meat and creates a tasty stuffing, and I consult recipe books for new salad ideas and some stupid potato dish.

As you may surmise, I’m not exactly fond of the humble spud.

When I was a kid we ate the bloody things every flipping day.

Plain, dry and lumpish, they tumbled across my plate, dealt out by the generous hand of my father, along with stern warnings to, “Eat up Helen.”

Any whiny plea to pass on a helping of the unpleasant tuber was met with crushing reprimands for my thankless attitude, along with vig-

orous reminders of starving children in far off lands who would doubtless be ecstatic to receive this scorned luxury.

The luxury of a boiled potato? I would think incredulously.

“Let ‘em have mine,” I re m e m b e r o f f e rin g hopefully, as I prodded the lifeless husk with a fork, but apparently that wasn’t the point of the lecture, and I was irritably required to choke them down anyway.

I also recall vowing to forever avoid the blasted vegetable once I was older – which brings me back to last night’s supper, my efforts to disguise the offensive vegetable, and my consuming hatred for it.

However, I realize that in saying this, I’m probably alone.

As also mentioned, I scour cookbooks for innovative salad recipes. I didn’t hate salads when young, like potatoes, but they were a trifle boring.

Lashings of Miracle Whip, a head of iceberg lettuce, one sliced tomato and a fistful of chopped green onions rounded out the list of ingredients.

To say my mother and her family were fond of onions, and that they

(the onions) influenced my life on a daily basis, would be an understatement (you may have read an earlier column featuring uncles and peanut butter/onion sandwiches).

As children, we built a tolerance to them I suppose.

The salad in question wasn’t horrible, but it can be stated as fact that the onions therein interfered greatly with my ability to win friends, gain social standing, or find a general public willing to breathe in my presence.

OK, stop the presses – that bit about social standing can’t be blamed on onions.

In any case, last night’s meal was great.

After all, family dinners aren’t as much about the food being eaten, as they are about simply being with one another.

Whether or not my childhood memories are seared with nasty recollections of pale, starchy potato hunks lingering on my plate as I sat with them “… till you damn well eat them!” or whether we suffered a lack of comrades due to toxic fumes and offensive breath, we remain a family that is happy and grateful – together.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

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Thursday, November 22, 2018

Soil spectacular

GREEN FILE MARK & BEN CULLEN

Can you feel the earth move under your feet?

Maybe you could if you were barefoot, or if

you put your ear to the ground and listened close enough.

In one teaspoon of soil, there are billions of living organisms.

We t e nd t o a s s o c i ate the green growth above ground with “life,” but the fact is, it all begins with the rich soil underfoot.

Doug Young, a soil specialist at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus, wants people to understand just that.

On a recent call with Ben, he was adamant: “Soil is a living thing!

And like most living things they have basic needs, starting with food, water and air”.

We like to pretend Ben learned it all from Mark, but there are others who helped.

Doug Young was one, he taught Soil Science to Ben while he was working towards his Diploma in Agriculture.

Young has a few rules he thinks we should live by, when stewarding the soil: “Organic matter is good” This might be old

news to some experienced gardeners – but it bears repeating.

Nutrient supply, including the majors – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium – right down to the micronutrients such as copper, iron, manganese and zinc are supported by healthy organic matter content.

Water holding capacity is improved as organic matter behaves like a sponge, absorbing up to 90 per cent of its weight in water.

This helps support the plant during times of drought and minimizes erosion during times of heavy rainfall.

It also improves soil structure, that is the way the soil holds together.

Improved soil structure helps water flow, reduces erosion and makes more oxygen accessible to the root.

In chemistry, “organic” generally refers to “carbon-based”, which takes us to the last point – soils rich in organic matter are proven to hold more carbon in the ground and out of the atmosphere.

“Think about the living soil in terms of its needs.” Food, water and air.

Soil’s favourite food is organic matter, which comes in many forms. Compost is the best option by far, something you can produce in your

own back yard using kitchen scraps and fallen leaves. Now is a good time to pile leaves onto your beds as mulch, which will break down over the winter in time for spring.

Manure is good, too, and can be purchased economically by the bag.

It doesn’t matter what animal it comes from, as long as it’s an herbivore.

When rainfall fails, watering the soil deeply during a drought can help maintain microbial activity that keeps the whole show going – moving nutrients to plants and breaking down organic matter.

Air-supply in the soil is best served by building a healthy soil structure. See below.

“Don’t beat the soil up – rent a rototiller for the day, but don’t use it that long!”

Excessive tillage is the biggest enemy to soil structure – exposing the organic matter to too much oxygen accelerates its decomposition, releasing carbon into the atmosphere as CO2 and increasing the likelihood it can be washed away by erosion. Let the soil dry out a bit in the spring before tilling, and don’t break up the clumps any smaller than you need to.

“Disease doesn’t

come back automatically every year- but a drainage problem will.”

Rather than fight disease with fungicides, address the most common root of the problem: excess soil moisture.

For farmers, this means tile drainage, but most gardeners can resort to raised beds or amending soil with organic matter.

Doug Young advises against adding sand to the soil, which can bind to clay in a way that makes the soil less penetrable.

“Plants don’t care where the nutrients come from, they just want to get fed.”

For heavy feeding plants such as tomatoes, there might be a benefit to adding additional nutrients.

A healthy soil can make the addition of synthetic fertilizer more effective, by making it more accessible to plants by way of microbial activity and a healthy root zone.

The trick is not to over-apply, which can in turn damage soil health and fertilizer efficacy.

For all the lifesupporting, carbon sequestering miracles that happen in the soil, it would be an insult to call it dirt.

“Dirt,” as Young likes to say, “is a fourletter word”.

FROM AROUND THE PROVINCE

Thursday, November 22, 2018

MERIDIAN SOURCE

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North Battleford receives $770K for policing MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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The Government of Saskatchewan is helping to keep North Battleford safe with funding through Municipal Police Grants.

This provincial contribution of $770,000 will fund seven existing North Battleford RCMP positions in 2018-19.

“We are proud to help support the dedicated RCMP members in North Battleford through the Municipal Police Grant,” Battlefords MLA Herb Cox said on behalf of Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell.

“This funding enables officers to have

a more visible role in the community.”

The Municipal Police Grant supports work to ensure a safer community, which is a top priority for the Government of Saskatchewan.

“The ongoing support to our city though this Municipal Policing Grant is critical to the success of our community safety strategy,” North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater said.

“We are grateful for this investment by the province of Saskatchewan to enhance the work of our RCMP detachment, which will provide seven existing officers to focus on serious and

organized crime within the city.”

The Ministry of Corrections and Policing provides funds to

urban police services across Saskatchewan to support 128 municipal police positions and policing initiatives.

Second highest wholesale trade increase in Canada MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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Wholesale trade in Saskatchewan jumped 11.4 per cent in September 2018 (seasonally adjusted) when compared to September 2017, the second highest percentage increase among the provinces.

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This leading indicator signals that businesses are looking for products for future sales to consumers, showing confidence in our economy

“This is very good news for Saskatchewan wholesalers,” said Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison.

“This leading indicator signals that businesses are looking for products for future sales to consumers, showing confidence in our economy.”

The value of wholesale trade totalled $2.3 billion in September 2018, up from $2.1 billion in September 2017.

Nationally, wholesale trade was up 3.8

per cent year-over-year (seasonally adjusted).

On a monthly basis, wholesale trade value remained steady in Saskatchewan between August 2018 and Sep-

tember 2018 while the national average dropped by 0.5 per cent (seasonally adjusted).

Major gains for yearover-year figures were

reported for machinery, equipment and supplies, up 12.4 per cent and miscellaneous merchandise, up 11.7 per cent (seasonally adjusted).

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Thursday, November 22, 2018

Funding for CWA to develop market opportunities MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF

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Earlier this week federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit announced up to $500,000 for Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) to support its work with international buyers and developing markets.

“Our government is committed to investing in essential market growth programs, like the Canadian Western Agribition’s Market Development Program, that help farmers promote Canadian beef around the world,” said MacAulay.

“This program will help with beef and livestock market expansion and attract international business, which are both vitally important to the continued growth and prosperity of the Canadian agri-

cultural sector.”

The agreement will see up to $100,000 provided annually for 2018-23.

Agribition’s market development program goals include increasin g re g iste re d in te r national buyers at the show and conducting outgoing missions to high-value markets.

The Canadian Western Agribition’s annual trade show brought in 365 international buyers in 2017 and attracted 1,250 international guests from 86 different countries.

“Canadian Western Agribition’s plan for growth aligns with the government’s own goals,” Marit said. “As an export-based province, this is an excellent investment for the future of agriculture in our province.”

Saskatchewan is one of Canada’s leading agri-food exporters with international sales of $13.6 billion in

File Photo 2017, revenue accounting for 47 per cent of the province’s total exports.

“CWA is appreciative of the support and partnership we have with all levels of government,” CWA President Bruce Hol-

mquist said.

“Market development and trade advocacy is not only a shared goal, it’s a priority for Agribition and our exhibitors. Today’s commitment means CWA will be able to continue to

open doors for international trade for years to come.”

The federal-provincial funding is provided through the Product2Market: Industry Association program, which is part of the Canadian Agricul-

tural Partnership suite of programs.

The Product2Market program supports industry organizations to increase the domestic and international trade capacity for Saskatchewan agricultural products.

PAGE 37 Thursday, November 22, 2018 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Sports

Classroom Champions dream big, commit, repeat JAMIE HARKINS WRITER

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Canadian Olympic snowboarder Calynn Irwin is helping teach Christine Thiessen’s Grade 4 class the hidden curriculum.

An educator rightly focuses on teaching their students math, science and French along with the many other traditional subjects.

But, there has been a push in recent years that perseverance, diversity training and community involvement should also become staples of school curriculum.

Thiessen’s Grade 4 class at College Park School is gaining study time in these last three lessons, among others, through their involvement with the international Classroom of Champions program.

The initiative pairs the students with a Canadian Olympian as a mentor for the school year in an effort to challenge the kids into becoming hard workers who refuse to give up on their dreams.

“We talk about goal setting all the time,” said Thiessen, who became involved with the Classroom of Champions program six years ago.

“Writing about your goals is really important, (but they) are always changing. And if you don’t make a goal, that’s okay. Just make a new

goal. We have Calynn who is backing me up on that.

So, they see someone who is really successful and they’re inspired.”

Thiessen’s 23 students got their first chance to see and meet Irwin through a live video chat on Nov. 8. The kids, who were all sporting ‘Better get better’ or ‘Dream big, commit, repeat’ Classroom of Champions t-shirts, crowded around the smart board set up at the back of the room while they each waited for their turn to sit down in front of a laptop where they could personally interact with Irwin.

“I asked her if she has any pets,” said Addison Lypkie, 9, who noted she presented that question because of her devotion for animals. “She doesn’t have any, but she said when she settles down she might get a dog.”

Liam Watson, 8, showed Irwin a picture he drew of a snowboarder before asking her about any goals that she has set for herself. She told him that her goal is to do well at an upcoming World Cup event in Calgary.

“It was fun,” said Watson.

“We got to meet an Olympian.”

Irwin has been sending a monthly social/emotional video lesson to Thiessen’s students since the beginning of the school year. The kids

Jamie Harkins Meridian Source

Christine Thiessen’s Grade 4 students show Canadian Olympic snowboarder Calynn Irwin the posters they made for her during a Classroom of Champions video chat at College Park School earlier this month.

then complete the lessons and challenges before sending their work back.

Brookelyn Heart, a Grade 8 student at Co llege Park School who participated in the Classroom of Champions program two years ago, said the lesson topics ranged from friendship to teamwork to healthy living. She said their mentor, Canadian Olympian Kieran Block, helped them to get along better with each other and learn about meeting new

people in different ways.

“It was interesting,” said Heart, 12. “He just talked to us about what he did and how he could get through it.”

Thiessen said they are looking for a community sponsor in order to get more Lloydminster classrooms and schools involved in the program.

She said the kids in her Grade 4 class are already showing the benefits of working with Irwin and more learners in the Border

City should have the same chance.

“When we come back after the break we’re going to talk about community,” said Thiessen, noting any individual or business interested in becoming a sponsor can contact her at College Park School.

“So, she’ll be showing us a video on community, talking about what she feels it is and she’ll give us a challenge about the things we’re going to do to promote that value.”

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Thursday, November

Taking on the world’s best JAMIE HARKINS WRITER

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An opportunity to compete against the world’s best fighters at a major international tournament was reward enough for two Lloydminster Fight Farm kickboxing and Muay Thai athletes.

“Getting a medal was just a bonus,” said Izzy Sebree, 10. “I felt proud of myself for just being there making it to worlds because other people don’t even dare to step into a ring. But, then there are fighters who step into a ring and get beat up and still are happy and still move forward.”

Izzy captured a bronze medal in low kick at the World Kickboxing Union (WKU) championships in Athens, Greece, late last month. Her sister Abby, 12, brought home a silver and bronze in continuous and low kick kickboxing from the WKU finals.

“I trained for that and now I’m good for tournaments,” said Abby, a Grade 7 student at E.S. Laird Middle School. “I put in all that work to get that far and I can do it again.”

Izzy and Abby earned their spots at the WKU championships by placing two-top in a Team Canada qualifying tournament at Calgary’s Five Elements Martial Arts club this past March. The girls then upped their fivedays-a-week training schedule during the last seven months in order to prepare for the opportunity.

“It sure made us work,” said Izzy, who is a Grade 5 student at Queen Elizabeth School. “We had a strict diet, not much ice cream.”

Abby said they’ve trained and sparred almost every day since scoring the berth. She noted they also regularly travelled to Cal-

Jamie Harkins Meridian Source Abby, left, and Izzy Sebree competed for Team Canada at the World Kickboxing Union championships in Athens late last month.

gary to practise with the Team Canada coaching staff at the Five Elements Martial Arts club and attended a four-day fighting seminar featuring WKU

rules instruction with their fellow Western Canadian athletes.

The extra training helped the girls get ready to compete, but it didn’t prepare them for

the tournament’s size.

Over 2,000 worldclass athletes and as many fans crammed Athens’ Dais Sports Centre for the Oct. 26 to 30 championships, which proved a bit too exciting at times for the Border City athletes.

Izzy said their parents took them aside during the final day of fighting due to the nerves they experienced watching the competition earlier on in the tournament.

She said they felt overwhelmed heading in to their championship bouts, but the extra encouragement and cool down from mom and dad helped them regain focus.

“I was relaxed (afterwards),” said Abby. “I was ready. I realized that I’ve been training for months for this and I realized I’m good.”

Abby said they don’t plan to scale back their training now that the WKU championships have come to a close.

She said they’ve made time to start and participate in all these extra lessons over the past seven months and they’re going to continue with it because what else would they do otherwise.

“Also, we have another tournament coming up in Calgary,” said Izzy. “We have to train for that one too.”

Thursday, November 22, 2018

MERIDIAN SOURCE

39

Bandits capture first home win under new coach JAMIE HARKINS WRITER

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

The Lloydminster Classic Oilfield Bandits are heading upwards following a turn toward a new direction.

The Bandits (7-71) beat the Vegreville Rangers 6-1 at the Centennial Civic Centre on Sunday afternoon. The win marked the team’s second in a row and first home victory for newly hired head coach Michael Clague.

“We figured it wasn’t going to be an easy task,” said Clague, who took over for Ryan Early on Nov. 6.

“They’re a desperate hockey team. They came and really did w ork hard and p re ssured us. Especially in the first period, we weren’t moving our feet and I think once we started to move our feet as the game went on we played a little better.”

Ba n di t s ri g h t w i n g Tyler Musgrave gave his team an early 1-0 lead on the power play

when he wired a low shot from the point past Rangers goalie Brody Herridge. Musgrave then made it 2-0 about three minutes into the second period on a one-timer from the slot.

Jack Bygrove set up the Bandits third marker while shorthanded through stealing the puck from a Rangers defenceman down low and quickly passing it out front to Mason Grabowski.

After Gage Warrington shattered Bandits netminder Eric Cook’s perfect game late in the middle frame, Bygrove restored the three-goal lead early in the third thanks in part to a nice rush up the middle by Evan Simpson.

Kohl Gregoire put in the dagger midway through the final period with another shorthanded goal.

Jason Busch got the insurance marker in the final minute.

Jamie Harkins Meridian Source

Bandits goalie Eric Cook follows the rebound after making a save against Rangers forward Austin Halliday.

“The boys are just getting used to each other,” said Bygrove.

“The lines got switched up before this weekend and it seemed to pay off. It got us going.”

Bart Prochera, president of the Bandits, said they decided to replace Early on Nov. 5 due to

a perceived lack of communication between the players and coach.

He said the boys didn’t seem focused on playing hockey and the hope was a coaching

change would boost the team’s morale.

“Mike used to coach (jr. B hockey) in Onion Lake and Saddle Lake,” said Prochera. “He knows a lot of people

18113AX0

in the hockey world.

Bringing him in along with Corey Dallyn and Russ Leer, I think we’ve got three coaches there that know their stuff.

There will be more communication on the bench.”

Clague said the coaching staff has been trying to get the boys focused on utilizing their speed, pressuring the puck and not forcing anything during the games. He said the goal is just making simple and easy plays to earn opportunities around the opposition net.

“One of the things that we are trying to instill is coming to work each night for 60 minutes,” said Clague. “We’re a team that needs to come and battle and compete the whole 60 and then when we get our chances to make the most of them.”

40

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, November 22, 2018

September Brooke is on my mind SPORTS EDITOR JAMIE HARKINS

I have managed to acquire only a few useful skills during the six years that I’ve spent as a full-time newspaper reporter.

One of these is the ability to create a story out of basically nothing.

Not fake news, mind you, but an article

about a subject that didn’t seem to be worthy of one.

What you are about to take in, my faithful readers, may or may not be a good example.

Since I first stepped into the Davidson Leader newsroom back in 2013, I’ve written a story on the arguments for and against a new stop sign in front of a K-12 school, cov-

ered a sister’s reaction to her brother’s immediate call-up to the NHL while the two of them toured Switzerland during his participation at the Spengler Cup and captured the essence of an atom hockey team’s sole regular season win.

These stories stand out simply because of the interesting people who I had the pleasure of speaking with when gathering the facts.

I still have absolutely no clue whether a girl actually likes me or not during or after a normal everyday conversation, but I have learned to somewhat figure out the sorts of characters who I encounter while developing a story.

As a reporter, I get to meet the users, cynics, skeptics, comedians, crazies, philanthropists and fighters.

I learned recently that the world has said farewell to one of

the latter.

September Brooke succumbed to cancer about a year after I left Davidson in 2015. I happened to scroll upon her obituary while touring the Leader website in a bout of reminiscence.

I didn’t know September that well, but I could always count on her for a great story.

She served as the head librarian at the Davidson public branch.

September always seemed uncomfortable about having a tape recorder placed in front of her during an interview.

I’m not sure if that stemmed from a fear of sounding dull on the page, but, if so, that never should have been a worry.

Davidson is a small Saskatchewan town of approximately 1,000 residents, so finding eight to 10 stories on a weekly basis to fill the

paper had its challenges.

The local school, hockey arena, municipal governance building, RCMP detachment and library provided the avenues toward solving this problem.

The small two-storey library building that rested halfway up Davidson’s tree-lined main street also played host to the local Legion and dance club in its downstairs rooms.

That may seem like an odd combination, but one must remember that everyone takes on extra jobs in a small town.

To give an example, the Davidson Leader office also served as the town’s florist shop and the local Sears pickup outlet.

I never helped my editor clip any flowers while there, but moving coaches and fridges onto the back of pickup trucks did provide a regular break from my

writing duties.

September accepted the pulsating dance music emanating from the library floorboards as just a way of being a good neighbour.

However, she wouldn’t stand for any policies flowing out of Regina that threatened the ability of the library to help its patrons.

Despite her uneasiness with my tape recorder, September always let me know when one of these issues arose.

She’d step up to voice her displeasure despite being a government employee in a town where the local MLA and eventual defendant in my story also resided.

I don’t know if her courage and activism produced any concrete results.

But, the world is certainly a better place because September was a part of it.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

MERIDIAN SOURCE

41

Submitted

The Little Rockers and Junior High curlers will hold their Christmas Extravaganza on Dec. 18 at the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre.

Junior curlers in the house SUBMITTED

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

The Lloydminster junior curling program is in full sweep.

Over 50 kids have registered for the program’s ‘Little Rockers’ beginner curling sessions, which usually include grades four and five children, and its ‘Junior High’ intermediate and advanced practices that normally takes in kids pursuing grades six to nine studies.

Both groups are run entirely by volunteer coaches and instructors who mainly consist of the curlers’ parents.

The junior curling program is run on Tuesdays at the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre.

It begins with a healthy snack courtesy of sponsors Sobey’s Lloydminster, Progressive Fitness and Meridian Law Group.

The participants are then placed into their

respective session for a series of stretches and warm-ups before they head onto the ice.

Once on the sheet, the curlers are given a demonstration-led instruction in a variety of areas including rules of the game, proper etiquette, correct delivery of a stone, sweeping and basic game strategy among other components.

The junior curling program will celebrate their ‘Christmas

Extravaganza’ on Dec. 18 when all activities will be holiday based with each of the athletes encouraged to bring a friend to participate in the fun.

The Viv Backer Junior Curling Bonspiel will be held at the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre from Feb. 1-3.

The program windup, known as the ‘Friendship Windup,’ will cap off the season on Feb. 12.

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MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Bandit Energy midget AAA Bobcats suffer heartbreaker

JAMIE HARKINS WRITER

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

The hockey gods punished the Lloydminster Bandit Energy midget AAA Bobcats for leaving a win up to chance.

The Bobcats (5-7-3)

surrendered three unanswered goals during the final 10 minutes of a 5-4 loss to the Leduc Chrysler Oil Kings (4-11-1) at the Centennial Civic Centre on Saturday.

The boys carried the

play in the opening frame, stumbled in the second period due to a litany of calls against and seemed to back off in the third leading to the Oil Kings rebound.

“Right now we’re in a little bit of a funk,” said Bobcats head coach Taylor Holt. “The bounces aren’t going our way. We just talked about it. The luck isn’t there for us right now,

but you have to create your own luck.”

Drew Harty, Jordan Borysiuk and Mason Ward, with a buzzer beater off on opposition zone face off, staked the Bobcats to a 3-1 lead after the opening 20. Jayven Leslie brought the score to 4-1 about five minutes into the second period on a scramble. Oil Kings forward Noah Hackett

notched his second of the afternoon less than a minute later to bring his team’s deficit back to two.

Carson Baptiste got another one back while shorthanded 11 minutes through the final period on a steal at the opposition blue line, which led to a skate in alone on Bobcats goalie Tristan Martin and a shot into the far side of the net.

Bobcats centre Brady Clayton rushes the puck into the Oil Kings zone.

$

Kaedin Wolfe then tied the game with just over four minutes remaining and Konnor Green potted the winner about 30 seconds later on a twoman break.

“For about 50 minutes we competed really hard,” said Holt. “We sat back a little bit and hoped that luck would go our way and you can’t. You have to work for a full 60 minutes.”

Jamie Harkins Meridian Source

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PAGE 43 Thursday, November 22, 2018 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Agriculture

Smooth succession planning for the family business

S

uccession planning is an issue that is top of mind for many farm owners.

Often the plan is to hand over the reins to a younger family member.

But when family is involved, there can be greater sensitivity amongst the participants and greater potential for differences of opinion.

“It’s only natural that perspectives on succession are significantly different for senior and junior partners as they transition into new roles,” said Ryan Riese, national director of agriculture strategy at RBC. “Even in cases where the younger generation has been part of the operation all

along, their roles and expectations naturally evolve over time.”

Junior partners have their own ambitions and needs that aren’t necessarily what the senior partner had in mind, at least not immediately.

The best way for a junior partner to approach the process is to treat it like they would any other business transaction. While this isn’t always easy, here are some steps you can take: Be patient Sometimes a junior partner comes to the table with plenty of new and innovative ideas.

However, being a little too quick to change things can sometimes put the senior partner

on the defensive.

Start the discussion early Once the senior partner has voiced the idea of retiring or slowing down, ease into the conversation.

If you look too eager or push too hard, the senior partner may start pulling back.

Put your personal feelings aside Emotions can quickly stall progress and create negative feelings among family members.

Keep the discussion within a business framework with specific processes. Include all parties, such as employees and family members.

Conduct a proper business meeting off

File Photo site, where you can talk prof essionally abou t expectations, roles and timelines.

Most importantly, write them down Evaluate your plan annually. Set a time each year to talk about your progress and what

you need to focus on next. Keep that conversation within the guidelines you have written down.

Don’t leave your senior partner out of the picture Together, find a spe-

cific task or a way they can contribute after the transition. Continue to invite them to the more challenging business conversations and/or decisionmaking meetings. Both sides will appreciate the support.

44

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Beef farmers working on sustainability W hen we sit down for dinner, we often take for granted the food security we enjoy.

We enjoy a vast variety of nourishing foods, thanks to the good work of farmers like Sandra Vos. Vos has dedicated her life to caring for others, first as a nurse and now as a beef farmer.

Her background in nursing has shaped how she manages the resources in her care.

Owner of a grassfed beef operation near Paris, Ont., Vos applies the keen observation skills she developed from nursing and the interpretation of scientific research into farming practices that improve her management of the cattle, land and water in her care.

“I learned in nurs-

ing how to access and translate new scientific studies and I transplant that knowledge into what I do on the farm and within my agricultural community,” she said.

“More and more, I find myself in awe of the power of nature and its ability to heal itself. If you’re going to farm in harmony with nature, you must be patient. I feel that if you take care of the land, it takes care of you. That means treating it with respect and working with it as much as you can.”

Vos is a mindful

steward and advocate for consumers, ensuring we have access to high-quality beef from a sustainable farm.

As a result of her hard work she’s been awarded The Environmental Stewardship Award for Ontario.

This award has helped raise the bar for all farmers.

It is a form of mentoring, continued education and peer-topeer knowledge sharing. It also helps to encourage others to enhance their own farming practices and demonstrates by example how to do so.

PAGE 45 Thursday, November 22, 2018 MERIDIAN SOURCE

Real Estate

When your life is at an intersection MIDWEST MINUTE VERN McCLELLAND

When I think about it now, I either was very confident or terribly naive when making decisions as a young adult on what to do for a living.

I changed careers numerous times after high school starting out as an accounting clerk for a local chartered accountant while studying at night by correspondence for a diploma.

One intense tax season convinced me to become a banker instead; which within six years turned into an adult educator role within the same organization.

When we decided to raise our children close to their grandparents, I applied to become a chief executive officer of a new regional home care program; a position which eventually morphed into leading a much larger integrated health care organization.

Three years later I stepped out of my com-

fort zone and became self-employed as a management consultant, a career I thoroughly enjoyed but unfortunately success in it kept me away from home over 150 nights per year.

Not a healthy circumstance for me or my family, and frankly, quite tiring to do when one lives at least two hours from the nearest airport.

One year, I drove to Regina, Moose Jaw, or Edmonton at least once per week to work with clients.

By this time, I was in my late 40s’ and decided to settle in on real estate as my “sunset” career and strive to keep it in balance with my responsibilities in a growing family livestock operation.

The reason I tell you all this is to point out there are “intersections” all through life, where one must decide to go right, left, or straight ahead.

Sitting still means you

are likely in somebody else’s way or at risk of being run over.

A dozen times per week I am asked “is this the right time to sell/ buy?”

Most of the time the person is wanting to know what value they can expect for a particular property.

But more and more, the discussion turns to the reason for the question in the first place.

And there are so many reasons for trades in real estate; all of which have really very little to do with price.

Relationship breakdown, a couple starting out together in life, births, death, change in employment, retirement, health issues, the list goes on.

I have been guided throughout my life by pursuing a more strategic course, instead of worrying about the tactical “how”.

This personality trait could be considered a weakness I guess, especially by those who have never doubted their role in the world.

For example, many of my friends from high school never moved farther than a few miles

File Photo from where they grew up and as it turns out, staying on the family farm has proven quite lucrative for them, especially with strong commodity prices experienced in the past few years.

So, I was quite surprised the other day, when one of those gentlemen said to me that he wished he had taken a different path than the obvious one beckoning to him upon graduation.

“What did you want to be?” was my response.

“A helicopter pilot” said he, “like the man in your last column who sold his trucking business and now flies scientists into remote locations at the North and South Poles”.

“My dad thought I

should learn to captain a tractor instead. He never doubted I would continue the family farm established by my grandparents.”

This conversation got me thinking about the choices we make in life, and what guides us.

Do I have regrets about some of my choices? You bet.

Did those experiences shape me? Yes. I was in Calgary last week representing the Saskatchewan Real Estate Commission at a retirement function of a prominent member of the industry.

There were a hundred or so people in the room. I knew only two at the outset.

So, I did what I learned when consulting. Walk over with a

smile to the group having the most fun, introduce yourself, ask gentle questions, listen closely to the answers.

It’s amazing how many connections you can make if you are interested in what people have to say.

So, if you are at a crossroads please don’t sit too long. Put yourself in gear and move ahead with confidence.

At the very least, activity will absorb anxiety!

Vern McClelland is an associate broker with RE/MAX of Lloydminster. He can be reached at (780) 8082700, through www. vernmcclelland.com or by following the Midwest Group Lloydminster on Facebook.

PAGE 46 Thursday, November 22, 2018 MERIDIAN SOURCE

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PAGE 47 Thursday, November 22, 2018 MERIDIAN SOURCE 306-825-5111 admin@meridiansource.ca

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MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Obituaries & Memoriams

DYLAN COLE MCGILLIS JULY 3, 1986 - NOVEMBER 19, 2006 In Memory of a Special Son

Call to place your Memoriam or Obituary.

They say there is a reason They say that time will heal But neither time nor reason Will change the way we feel For no-one knows the heartache That lies behind our smiles No-one knows how many times We have broken down and cried We want to tell you something So there won't be any doubt You're so wonderful to think of But so hard to be without.

Love you and miss you always,

306-825-5111

Dad, Lisa and Families

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Dylan McGillis July 3, 1986 - November 19, 2006

You forever live within us, you are loved and missed everyday.

Mom,Tim, Marissa, Daelyn, Nicole, Dustin

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50

MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, November 22, 2018

HOROSCOPES CAPRICORN

December 22 – January 19 You’ll need to get some rest to get over a big cold. You’ll stay home for a few days, and you’ll take your work home at the end of the week to catch up. The full moon will stir your imagination.

AQUARIUS

January 20 – February 18 You’ll find it a bit difficult to communicate with certain people. They might not, for starters, return your calls. Don’t be surprised to see them arrive all at once without warning. You’ll get messages and calls nonstop.

PISCES

February 19 – March 20 You’ll lead a really active social life. A lot of people are going to want to see you, and you’ll make the trip to see them. You’ll also have a lot of things to talk about. Your lover may do something extremely generous for you.

ARIES

March 21– April 19 You’ll spend a lot of time shopping this week.

You’ll probably feel inspired to redecorate your home. And you’ll be tempted to put up your Christmas decorations so you don’t have to do it later.

TAURUS

April 20 – May 20 You’ll show a lot of imagination, but will also be guilty of some laziness. You might create a great masterpiece, or merely spend the week thinking about it. The project could be a complete season of an inspiring television series.

GEMINI

May 21 – June 21 You’ll feel somewhat unsettled when you find yourself in the middle of a large crowd. But you’ll cross paths there with some inspiring individuals who will provide you with the motivation you need to overcome new challenges and enlarge your social network.

SUDOKU November 15 Answers

Meridian Source’s Birth Announcements If you wish to have your baby’s birth announcement published in our Thursday edition of the Meridian Source FREE OF CHARGE, please come in and fill out a form or email admin@meridiansource.ca Deadline is Tuesday at noon for the Thursday edition.

CANCER

June 22 – July 22 You’ll allow yourself to indulge in some procrastination. Fortunately, people close to you will help you set your priorities in order. In the process, they’ll succeed at getting you to smile, which will put you on the path to well-being.

LEO July 23 – August 22 You’ll spontaneously decide to take a trip, even if right now the plans are still vague in your mind. At work, you’ll bring together customers from different communities, which will rapidly bring you success and prosperity.

VIRGO

August 23 – September 22 You’ll find that you’ll invariably be left to do everything, both at work and at home. Certain people will recognize your dedication and will reward you for your efforts. You’ll be entitled to some form of recognition.

LIBRA

September 23 – October 22 Big changes are on the horizon. You need only go with the flow and your anxieties will magically disappear. On the romance side, your plans will come to fruition much faster than you could have imagined.

SCORPIO

October 23 – November 21 You’ll need to clear up an issue at work concerning finances. Certain negotiations you take part in might be quite tense. In order to experience harmony, you’ll need to find the right balance.

SAGITTARIUS

November 22 – December 21 Your love life will be front and centre this week, and you’ll experience some beautiful romantic moments. A co-worker might unexpectedly, and perhaps inappropriately, make a clumsy or unreciprocated declaration of their love.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

MERIDIAN SOURCE

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MERIDIAN SOURCE

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Make Your Move!

NEW PRICES KITSCOTY

449,900

MLS 62060

AB

$

389,900

MLS 62610

SK

$

AB

$

SK

$

PENDING

269,000

MLS 61886

SK

$

369,900

MLS 62956

AB

$

319,900

MLS 62503

SK

$

377,000

MLS 62855

AB

$

379,900

MLS 62614

AB

$

SK

$

249,900

MLS 62921

AB

239,900

368,900

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AB

$

269,000

MLS 62105

AB

$

AB

$

$

MLS 62760

349,900

MLS 62929

255,000

MLS 62813

209,500

MLS 62947

ST. WALBURG

AB

349,900

$

MLS 61736

SK

359,000

$

MLS 62587

KITSCOTY

SK

250,000

$

MLS 61739

AB

249,900

$

MLS 60482

AB

HAYTER

AB

204,988

$

239,900

$

164,500

$

AB

208,000

$

PARADISE HILL

MLS 62340

SK

169,900

$

MLS 62757

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169,900

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MLS 60923

AB

159,900

$

MLS 61244

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SK

150,000

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MLS 61219

MLS 61493

MAIDSTONE

SK

168,900

$

LOON LAKE

MARWAYNE

SK

MLS 62928

ISLAY

165,000

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149,000

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$

MLS 61905

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$

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AB

$

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KITSCOTY

AB

149,999

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APARTMENT STYLE CONDO’S

AB

321,900

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MLS 62032

AB

289,900

$

MLS 62742

SK

169,900

$

MLS 62927

AB

139,500

$

124,777

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CITY SIDE REALTY Brad Gilbert Broker/Owner

Jennifer Gilbert Jackie Gartner Associate Broker Associate Broker

Louis de Kock Pattie Todd Associate Broker Associate Broker

Sandy Hardy Realtor

®

780.875.3343

3812 - 51 Avenue, Lloydminster, AB T9V 3M7 www.lloydminsterrealestate.ca www.coldwellbankercitysiderealty.com www.facebook.com/coldwellbankercitysiderealty

Real Estate, Rentals & Property Management

Rick Schesnuk Realtor

Judy Bexson Realtor

Amanda Warner Realtor

Kirby Renton Realtor

®

®

®

®

YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE It seems the holiday season is upon us once again. The anticipation of Christmas being just around the corner gives me the warm and fuzzies and that’s exactly what the LloydMall is all about this holiday season. Here is my LloydMall Holiday Gift Guide for you to find something warm & fuzzy for all your loved ones.

My first gift suggestion will satisfy everyone on your list….BOOKS. Whether it’s kids, parents, siblings or grandparents….Coles has a wide selection of books sure to meet the preferences of all readers. Cozy up with a great book this holiday and if you want to make it extra comfy add in a pair of reading socks.

Although this season requires us to bundle up tight you can do so in style. Eclipse has tons of outerwear accessories to help the ladies on your list stay warm and fashionable all season long. Mix & match their toques, scarves and mitts to complete the perfect winter outfit.

by Lauren from The Style Gap @thestyle_gap | www.thestylegap.com

To go along with that hot drink, stay warm while using a stylish new mug. Whether it’s hot cocoa, tea or coffee for your mom, brother or grandma, Stokes has a wide selection of mugs that are sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Choose from an array of different styles, sizes & colours.

Have a new addition to the family?

Check out Coles for all things baby.

Snuggle up with a plush stuffed animal or welcome the baby in style with these adorable buffalo plaid booties.

For the men try a fun printed sock! Below the Belt has all your sock needs. To make this more personalized, create your own “Sock of the Month” gift. Buy 12 pairs & wrap them individually to be opened on the 1st of each month… .a fun gift that lasts all year long!

My 2nd pick is something that is on my Christmas wish list every year.

Pajamas. To find cute and cozy pajama sets for all the women in your life pop into La Vie En Rose.

Anyone else love getting cozy with a Christmas movie and a hot drink?

David’s Tea is a magical place during the Christmas season; sip on a delicious sample while you shop and start feeling the Christmas Spirit.

Their gift sets are ideal including the 24 Days of Tea Advent Calendar, the Merry & Bright 4 pack or try the Candy Cane Crush Latte. Lots of great stocking stuffers available too!

Nothing says Christmas like the smells that come along with it. You can fill your home with the holiday smells of fresh baking, Christmas trees & hot cocoa with Bath & Body Works 3 wick candles. Need a stocking stuffer?

The single wick candles are perfect for everyone on your list!

Don’t know what to get the men on your list? How about a pair of warm and fuzzy slippers?

Quarks has beautifully crafted slippers in several styles & sizes.

They also have styles for the women and kids on your list too.

Sweater weather is a long season in Canada. For the fashionista on your list Bootlegger has got you covered with warm knitwear. Ladies sweaters are available in multiple colours & styles, and a few for the men too!

My favourite option for HIM or HER: the Fragrance Sampler from Shoppers Drug Mart. This gives you 10 fragrance samples but also includes a gift card. Once you decide which scent you like best you can spend the gift card on your favourite full sized bottle.

I hope you enjoyed my warm & fuzzy gift guide for 2018. Happy Holiday Shopping!

Warm and Fuzzy?

More like Hot and Electrifying!

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23 Open until 9 pm

It’s the greatest shopping day of the year. More time to spend on fabulous pre-holiday deals.

IT’S OUR GIFT – TO YOU.

Even more warm and fuzzy time!

Monday, December 10, 17 Tuesdays, December 11, 18 Monday, December 24 Tuesday, December 25 Wednesday, December 26 Monday, December 31

10 am - 9 pm 10 am - 9 pm 10 am - 5 pm CLOSED 12 pm - 5 pm 10 am - 5 pm

Tuesday, January 1

CLOSED

5211 44 Street Lloydminster, AB T9V 0A7 lloydmall.ca