Thursday, October 1, 2020
VOLUME 3 I ISSUE 14
MERIDIANSOURCE.CA
‘Fiscal reckoning’ may hit Lloyd GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. The City of Lloydminster will have to sharpen its pencils to deliver a balanced budget for 2021 with the province of Alberta warning of a pending ‘fiscal reckoning.’ Mayor Gerald Aalbers says the city “will have to be creative” with its accounts. The city is tabling the first draft of the 2021 budget today. Aalbers learned from provincial officials there will be less money available from the province, while attending the Alberta Urban Municip a l i ti e s A s s oc i a t i on (AUMA) convention in Calgary Sept. 24-25. Premier Jason Kenney reminded municipalities the province is facing a $24 billion deficit. “With the collapse of revenues and the huge increase in spending to support people through the crisis, we as a province have now gone into deep financial crisis,” Kenney told AUMA. Kenney says the challenge is for all levels of
government to operate as efficiently as possible. New Municipal Affairs Minster, Tracy Allard, left little doubt municipalities can’t expect much new financial relief from the province. “There is a fiscal reckoning coming. We will all be forced to make changes as we deal with this very challenging reality,” said Allard. The province has lost more than $12 billion in revenue from the pandemic, the global economic contraction and low energy prices this year. “As anyone can appreciate, it’s not going to be an easy budget process by any means,” said Aalbers, who attended some virtual and live AUMA sessions. A resolution to generate revenue with a one per cent Provincial Sales Tax was defeated by AUMA delegates, however; leaving municipalities to look elsewhere for revenue sources. “It’s a challenge for
municipalities because our major income source is property taxes and user fees that are attached to certain services and facilities with the city,” said Aalbers. He said after that, the lion’s share of funding comes from federal and provincial government grants. Aalbers says that challenges the city each and every day to try and find the money to provide the services and maintain the services, including big-ticket infrastructure. “It gets more expensive the bigger the facility,” he said, using the city’s new wastewater lagoon as an example. The city has received about $2 million in Alberta’s Municipal Stimulus Program funds to rebuild the intersection of 62 Ave. and 44 St. with a concrete roadbed to be extended west to 75 Ave. The city is also getting a total of $2.8 million from the recent federal Safe Restart Agreement with provinces to cover
some municipal costs associated with COVID19 in 2020. “This will ensure we finish 2020 with a balanced budget,” said Aalbers, noting any Restart funds leftover can be allocated as reserves for 2021. He says AUMA is also urging the province to take on the responsibility of collecting the Education Property Tax, to save cities like Lloydminster the cost of collecting the tax for the province. Alberta has frozen a scheduled 3.4 per cent increase in the education portion of property taxes this year, to 2019 levels, due to the burden of the pandemic. Aalbers says taxpayers wrongly think the city is taking that money but stresses none of it goes into city coffers. Municipalities also want the province to change legislation during the ongoing Rural Assessment Review to allow local government to collect property taxes for regulated oil and gas
Mayor Gerald Aalbers. File Photo properties when companies go bankrupt. “We haven’t had any losses due to any companies in the city go bankrupt, but our rural neighbours namely, the rural County of Vermilion River, stands to lose $4 million in taxation revenue,” said Aalbers. “It gets to be a very challe ngi ng so l u ti o n to make up tax money to provide the services that everyone enjoys each and every day.” Kenney’s UPC government is looking to cut property taxes for oil and gas infrastructure, but says municipalities need to take further actions to cut red tape to stimulate economic growth. “Do everything you
can at this time of crisis to strip away unnecessary rules, red tape and costs that may be impeding investment and job creation,” Kenney told municipalities. Albers says the city has been working on streamlining its business licensing processes and other business-friendly processes, including city planning, to quickly accommodate new or expanding businesses. “That’s why we are moving forward with area structure plans, so if someone comes by and wants a quarter section of land for an industrial purpose, we would be able to meet those needs,” said Aalbers.
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Thursday, October 1, 2020
Bi- provincial ministers visit excites divisions TAYLOR WEAVER
EDITOR
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It’s an exciting time to be a student in the Border City. Last Thursday, Saskatchewan Minister of Education, Gordon Wyant, and Alberta’s Minister of Infrastructure, Prasad Panda, met in Lloydminster to announce the bi-provincial government’s financial contributions to the Lloydminster Public School Division (LPSD) and Lloydminster Catholic School Division (LCSD) for expansion and improvement projects. Talk of provincial funding and expansions to Border City schools has been going on for some time now, but after Thursday’s visit from provincial ministers, it’s all about looking to the future. A total of $25 million has been pledged to expansion work at the LPSD’s Comprehensive High School, and an additional $10 million
Taylor Weaver Meridian Source Saskatchewan Education Minister Gordon Wyant, and Alberta Minister of Infrastructure, Prasad Panda, were in the Border City last week to announce provincial funding that will benefit the Lloydminster public and Catholic School Divisions.
has been pledged for expansion and renovations at the LCSD’s Holy Rosary High School. The costs associated with renovations will be split between both provinces, based on student population, with roughly 55 per cent coming from Alberta and 45 per cent from Saskatchewan. Aside from highlyanticipated improvements to both schools, Minister Wyant noted the local economy will also benefit. “To the greatest
extent possible, we’ll be working with the Government of Alberta to make sure it’s the local economy that benefits,” said Wyant. “Part of the significant capital commitments that both provinces have made is to enhance the economic recovery in our respective provinces.” The expansion projects will also allow both schools to increase the overall population, which will in turn help each division continue to grow.
Thursday, October 1, 2020
MERIDIAN SOURCE
BPC treads lightly at Mount Joy
Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Cody Bolt, the horizontal directional drilling operations manager for BPC Services Ltd., checks the fuse butting process for a section of water line pipe at Mount Joy Snow Resort, installed last week with trenchless drilling. GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. BPC Services Ltd. completed the main part of a $36,000 expanded snowmaking system at Mount Joy Snow Resort with minimal ground disturbance. Only a few holes were dug to connect risers or hydrants to a new water line crews installed using trenchless horizontal directional drilling (HDD) at a depth of more than 8 feet. The job took just two and a half days with three to four-man crews operating a low-impact Ditch Witch 4020 driller, a small trackhoe and two pickup trucks. “We have a very
small footprint, one trail in and out for the pickup trucks and equipment,” said BPC’s HDD operational manager, Cody Bolt, on a site tour Sept. 24. The project involved the installation of a special 3-inch diameter poly pipe. “It’s good for water oilfield applications and it’s got a high-pressure rating they need for the constant pressure of the pumps downhill,” explained Bolt. The boring process starts with a small pilot hole then drilling up the hill with a six-inch bit. “Because of the pipe size being so small, we are just able to pull it
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back with the small size tool,” said Bolt. Aecon crews will be on site next to install shallow trenchedin power lines to the hydrants, but the lowimpact drilling and all of the hydrant tie-ins will be completed by BPC this week. “At the end of this project, there will be seeded spots of dirt and that’s it. You won’t even know we were here—just a couple of paint dots that will wash away with the snow or rain that comes, that’s all you see from us,” said Bolt. He says BPC does a lot of trenchless drilling for landowners who don’t want to disturb a steep hill. “It’s hard to dig trench down a big sidehill or if a landowner has obstacles in the
way, so the trenchless pipeline way is definitely the right way to go,” said Bolt. The project adds about 600 metres of new water line to 840 metres of line BPC installed in 2017, and will increase the skiable area by about 30 per cent on the north and south sides of the T-bar. “It will give us an opportunity to make more snow, better snow with a lot less work than we’ve had to do in the last three years,” said Mount Joy president, Ray Tatro. He says trenchless drilling allows them to complete projects like these with minimal ground disruption. “Part of it is just respect for the land, but also the erosion factor that happens on any
kind of a slope when you disturb the sur-
face,” he said.
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Thursday, October 1, 2020
Snowmaking improvements aid volunteer crews FROM PAGE 5
Tatro says they chose BPC for the latest project knowing they were good to work with in the past. “When we approached by them again a year ago, they were very accommodating with the pricing and when they could do it for us,” he said. BPC’s community relations manager, Tricia Hunter, says they are always looking for ways to give back and improve the communities where they do business and raise their families. “The majority of the staff have young families, who all utilize the ski hill,” said Hunter. “Myself, my boys utilized the ski hill many years ago … and now that they are grown, I look forward to volunteering out there.” Bolt says he was personally motivated to lead the project as a Mount Joy skier himself. “It’s one of those rare ones that I actually benefit from. I can bring my family and friends here now and go down this hill,” he said. “It really expands the operation’s capability of the ski hill a lot too.” He says having two new hydrants up towards the middle of the hill and one at the top of the hill means resort
Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) crew members from BPC Services from left: Dwayne Wright, hole operator, Kevin Shulz, locator driller and Cody Bolt, HDD manager, fuse butt a section of poly pipe that will attach to the drillhead to install a new water line for snowmaking at Mount Joy Snow Resort. Looking on is resort president Ray Tatro.
crews can push snow downhill to whatever run they see fit. “It’s way more economic than pushing it uphill for sure,” said Bolt. Tatro says that’s important to make it easier for the resort’s volunteer manpower when it’s minus 20 and the wind’s blowing and it’s not their primary employment. The resort is holding its AGM at the Legacy Centre on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.
Thursday, October 1, 2020
Kids of Steel donate their fees GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. Train, register and donate fees to charity. That was the activity order of the annual ATB Financial Kids of Steel Triathlon after the usual swim, bike, run event was cancelled this year due to COVID-19. The organizing committee offered registered kids the chance to donate their fees to K idSp o r t a nd T h e Olive Tree to complete the event, and most jumped at the chance. “They were given that opportunity and we were able to raise $3,120 for each organization. So that donation was made on behalf of the registrants,” explained triathlon committee rep Cindy Rekimowich during a cheque presentation at the Servus Sports Centre on Sept. 23. “That’s a good news story.” The triathlon attracts hundreds of schoolage kids from 6 to 14 to race in and around the Bud Miller All Seasons Park facilities in June. Triathlete Lynden Bender says he was “bummed out” he wasn’t able to compete this year, but helping others by being able to
donate makes it easier to take. “I think it’s a great idea. I’m proud to say that we get to give that to other people and give the chance and give the joy that I can have to other people,” said Bender. Bender says he has already put next year’s Kids of Steel on his event calendar. “It’s a very fun event and you get to see your friends on a nice day and have fun—try your best,” he said. “I’ve done it every time in Lloyd and I’ve done it in other places like Ontario and Vermilion too.” Alison Fulkerth, chair of Lloydminster KidSport, says the money donated by Kids of Steel will go directly to youth in the community towards registration costs so they can participate in sports. “So the connection for both between the triathlon and connecting with KidSport is just a good mix,” she said. Jana Thompson, assistant executive director of The Olive Tree, says it was amazing to once again see the community come together in uncertain times to donate to the organization.
Geoff Lee Meridian Source
ATB Financial Kids of Steel triathletes choose to donate their fees to KidSport and The Olive Tree charities after the event was cancelled this spring due to COVID-19. Each charity received $3,120 outside the Lloydminster Servus Sports Centre on Sept. 23. From left: Triathletes Kadence Howland, Rees Grassl and Lynden Bender with KidSport chair Alison Fulkerth, The Olive Tree’s assistant executive director, Jana Thompson, and triathlete Ben Grassl.
“It will go straight towards our food bank program. All of our programming is up and running and fully functional, including food
distribution to other charities and organizations in the city— so it will go towards supporting that,” said Thompson.
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Thursday, October 1, 2020
Co-op pharmacy booking flu shots
GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. The Lloydminster
Co-op Marketplace Pharmacy is offering flu shots by appoint-
ment only this season due to COVID-19 safety protocols.
The pharmacy started to book appointments on Sept. 28 in advance of flu vaccination clinics opening in Lloydminster on Oct. 19 with strong interest from their clients. “We’ve got lots of people booked, so there’s lots of people interested and looking to get that vaccine,” said pharmacy manager Michelle Teasdale on the first day of bookings. “They can either give us a call at 780-8082180 or pop in and book those appointments as soon as possible.” Initial appointment options are weekdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and select Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. “The first two weeks we’re doing that full 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. After that it will depend on how many appointments we have,” said Teasdale. The injections will take place in one or two private consultation rooms at the pharmacy
Geoff Lee Meridian Source
The Lloydminster Co-op Marketplace Pharmacy will provide flu shots by appointment only this season due to COVID-19 safety guidelines. Vaccinations begin on Oct. 19, and pharmacy manager Michelle Teasdale says bookings started on Sept. 28 with a lot of early interest from clients. Call 780-808-2180 or drop by to book ahead.
following Saskatchewan COVID-19 guidelines in the Border City. “Any time someone comes in for a flu shot, masks will be required and we’re also going to do some extra cleaning and wiping in between patients,” said Teasdale. Teasdale says having a flu shot won’t protect yo u f r o m CO V ID - 19 , but getting the vaccine will reduce the need for testing for it because some symptoms of both illnesses are similar.
“I don’t think there’d be a way to know for sure the difference without having a test,” she said. “The big thing is just trying to reduce the number of symptoms that we have because if you do have a symptom that looks like COVID19 you will have to take off from school or from work. So the more we can prevent those symptoms and keep you healthier, the better.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Thursday, October 1, 2020
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Thursday, October 1, 2020
College Park band plays outdoors GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. Outdoor music classes struck a chord with College Park School band students who haven’t been able to practice together due to COVID-19. The first fresh air session for Grade 8 students took place outside the gym last Thursday morning under the direction of music teacher and band instructor Kevin Jones.
“We caught wind that there were other schools in town that found ways to play, and we thought we should jump on that bandwagon,” said Jones. “The kids have been missing it a lot.” He says with COVID, they need 12-foot spacing between players to perform safely. “Playing outside allows for us to have a nice exchange of air so that the aerosols they
are producing from their instruments have a chance to disperse,” he explained. The school held an outdoor rehearsal the pr eviou s d ay , wit h a green light to launch the outdoor class to allow kids to play together again. “It’s been going really well. I’m anticipating moving forward, as long as long as we have good weather we’re going to try to get outside as
much as we can,” said Jones. Grade 8 clarinet player, Lauryn, soaked up the opportunity along with some rays under a clear blue sky. “It was a lot of fun. Since I haven’t played in a while, it’s very much changed from last year playing in a classroom, but I hope we can do it again sometime,” she said. “It’s beautiful out.” She says Jones had them playing some old stuff from Grade 6 just to get used to the fact they’re playing. “We haven’t played in so long.” Jones teaches elementary music for Grades 3-5 and band from Grades 6-9 with simple goals in mind for outdoor practices. “We’re not doing anyFROM PAGE 8
The flu shots are free for Alberta and Saskatchewan residents. The vaccine will also be available through public health clinics across the province, some physician
Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Joah, a Grade 8 trumpet player at College Park School, took part in an outdoor practice last Thursday to enable safe social distancing for COVID-19 safety.
thing complicated yet, we’re just getting everyone together and getting them used to playing together again and have fun as a band again,” he said. Lauryn is happy to be reunited with the clar-
inet that she loves to play. “I like it because it’s like the recorder, and we started with the recorder in Grade 5, so I got the hang of it pretty fast.”
and nurse practitioner offices and in other local pharmacies. Getting vaccinated is especially important for people at high-risk of influenza complications including pregnant women, young
children, elderly and persons with underlying health conditions or immune-compromised. Children 5 years of age and younger must be vaccinated at a public health clinic.
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Thursday, October 1, 2020
Chef stirs up food donations GEOFF LEE
WRITER
.................................. Chef Larry Ireland is doing his part to restock the shelves of the Lloydminster Salvation Army food bank in time for Thanksgiving. The Lloydminster Village resident is asking people to drop off donations of food at his house, located at Unit 40-5308 57 St. His food drive started on Sept. 28 and runs until Oct. 8. “The community is in need for all of these services,” said Ireland. He says the idea morphed from setting up a fall yard display of pumpkin-head figures sitting on bales of hay, when he asked himself, “why not do something for the community?” Ureka! He posted a yard sign and is advertising for donation drop-offs on social FROM PAGE 10
Jones says the school doesn’t have any performances booked at the moment with the immediate goal being to help kids learn how to function better as a team and increase their musicianship. Grade 8 student Joah says sharpening his trumpet playing outdoors is okay by him. “It’s pretty interest-
media and knocking on doors. “I’m going to several stores and outlets and I’ve got a positive response,” he said, noting he delivers the donated goods daily and not just non-perishable goods. “Fresh vegetables are much in need,” he said, while noting meat must go directly to the food bank with a receipt of purchase to ensure it’s fresh and safe. He says gift cards are also welcome since the food bank can purchase what they need for emergencies. Ireland says he has plenty of time to do this after being laid off in March due to COVID19, but has just landed a job with his sister. “She’s going to open up in October for Murphy’s Restaurant,” said Ireland. ing about how things are going. Sometimes it’s pretty windy and it can knock stuff but it’s going pretty well,” he said. “It was really fun.” Joah says he’s been in the band from the get-go and picked the trumpet for the specific reasons. “It’s really fun and it’s a good thing to do,” he said.
Supplied Photo
Lloydminster Village resident, Larry Ireland, is into the Thanksgiving spirit and is accepting donations and gift cards to help restock the Lloydminster Salvation Army Food Bank. Anyone can drop off food at Unit 40-5308 57th St.
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PAGE 12 Thursday, October 1, 2020 MERIDIAN SOURCE
Viewpoint Leave it to Weaver
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 Ashley Miazga ashley@meridiansource.ca
Publisher Reid Keebaugh
What if, oh what if, we were all perfect? EDITOR Taylor Weaver
misprinted, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. But when these things
happen, I try to learn from them. It’s also a great reminder I haven’t
transformed into a complete keyboard robot ... yet. Until next week.
Have you ever wondered what life would be like if nobody made a mistake, ever? We all make mistakes. Some of these mistakes just so happen to be more public than others. A perfect example of one such mistake can be found right below this column in the form of a clarification notice. Last week’s paper contained the misidentification of one of our own team members ... how embarrassing! Many sets of eyes looked at the paper before it was sent to press, but we all make mistakes. This wasn’t the first time something was
Clarification Notice The Meridian Source would like to apologize to our very own receptionist, Tracy Wickett, as she was identified as Tracy Block in last week’s special Evolution section of the paper. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused, especially to Tracy’s husband, Mike!
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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
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
Leeway from Lloyd: Can’t get past writer’s cramp STAFF WRITER GEOFF LEE
“After stabbing the old man and his yappy dog, it was time to kick back with a cold one.” Catchy eh? I’m thinking of writing the great Canadian novel and I need an attentiongrabbing opener. “It was a dark and stormy night” is already taken. I can’t begin to count the number of journalists, including myself, who have announced to others they plan to write a novel—usually with glassy eyes in a pile of empty beer cans. Back in university, I did write out a chapter-by-chapter outline for a Canadian political novel loosely based on the FLQ terrorists and the War Measures Act in October 1970. It was a good exercise in thinking
through a novel logically, but the subject and style weren’t me. I’m more of an experience kind of guy better suited to reading books than writing one. Back then I could never see myself banging out 100,000 words on a manual typewriter into a best-seller while chain-smoking my face off in a drunken stupor as novelists do in Hollywood movies. I did, however, selfpublish a book in 1986 called the Kootenay RunAround – A Daily Training Diary for runners in the East and West Kootenay areas of B.C. I did it as a project while studying electronic publishing in Castlegar, B.C., designing the pages on PageMaker 1.0 and using an early generation Mac Plus computer with a tiny 9-inch or so wide monitor. The school’s
laser printer cost $20,000 at that time! I published it using a one-time paper plate method and sold copies by mail order to all runners like myself in the area and did my own marketing plan. Yes, it has an ISBN number for published books. Self-publishing is still the way to go, even for first-time novelists. Even if it sucks, it will get published and can be bought online by your grandmother if no one else. If you just do it as a regional book, as I did, the sense of accomplishment is worth the effort. As for writing that great Canadian novel, I am still trying to nail the opener. Here’s another stab at it: “Forgetful Frank forgot to the turn the gun around before trying to shoot Thelma in the neck.”
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Notice of impending four-week intersection closure
Vermilion RCMP investigate aggravated assault MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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In the early evening hours of Sept. 26, Vermilion RCMP responded to reports of an injured male in Innisfree. On arrival, a 55-yearold male victim was located with serious injuries. The male was treated by EMS and transported first to Vegreville Hospital, and then to the University of Alberta hospital in Edmonton. The victim remains in hospital recovering from multiple stab wounds and other soft tissue injuries. File Photo MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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The City of Lloydminster is advising motorists that the intersection of 40 Avenue and 36 Street will be closed for four weeks starting Monday, Oct. 5. The City, in con-
junction with Rusway Construction Ltd., will rehabilitate the existing culvert that crosses 40 Avenue at 36 Street as part of the City’s East Drainage Channel. During construction, 40 Avenue between 31 Street and
41 Street and 36 Street between 41B Avenue and 40 Avenue will be closed. Construction is expected to take four weeks to complete, weather permitting. Motorists and pedestrians are asked to follow the marked traffic and detour signage.
Vermilion RCMP were assisted by the St Paul Forensic Identification Section as well as the Edmonton General Investigations Section. O n Se p t. 28 p o l i c e arrested Alexander Taylor (35) of Innisfree, he is currently charged with the following offences: - Aggravated assault - Obstruction of a peace officer - Fail to comply with a Release order At the time of the arrest, Alexander Taylor was wanted by B.C. RCMP for weapons
related offences. Taylor appeared before a Justice of the Peace and remains in custody. He appeared in St. Paul Provincial Court today. If you have information regarding this offence, please contact Vermilion RCMP at 780-853-4441. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips. com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
General election called in Saskatchewan MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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At the request of Premier Scott Moe, Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty has dissolved the Legislative Assembly and issued a proclamation directing the issuance of the Writs of
Election commencing Saskatchewan’s 29th General Election. Election day for Saskatchewan’s 29th General Election is on Monday, Oct. 26. Details regarding the Saskatchewan election can be found by visiting https://www.elections.sk.ca/.
PAGE 15 Thursday, October 1, 2020 MERIDIAN SOURCE
Sports
Rustlers partner with Meridian Soccer Academy
File Photo
Zach Wagner, a fifth-year Rustlers goalkeeper, will join his teammates as a mentor to young athletes participating in the Meridian Soccer Academy. JAMIE HARKINS
WRITER
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The Lakeland College Rustlers men’s soccer team will be providing opportunities for skill development growth in the younger generation, all while learning to become better citizens themselves this season. The Rustlers have announced a partnership with the Meridian Soccer Academy that will see the players act as mentors to the young athletes looking to improve their play
on the pitch. The Academy as well as the regular Meridian Soccer indoor fall programming is set to start the week of Oct. 4 with limited registration space still available. Kevin Wagner, head coach of the Rustlers, said economic constraints due to COVIDrelated issues have led Meridian Soccer and the Academy to come up with different ways to facilitate quality programming while continuing to offer their members a good
price point. He said the Rustlers come into every new season with the goals of community partnership and support, classroom productivity and competitiveness on the field, so having the chance to combine work with area youth while adding to the Meridian Soccer experience makes for a win-win. “This commitment, it’s in our players’ gearbox,” said Wagner. “And, it provides an opportunity for Meridian Soccer to have a group of young people who are going to encourage and help the players as well as provide support for our head coaches within regular programming.” Wagner said they’d like to get upwards of 200 kids playing soccer this fall. He said registration is going well so far and they will continue to add anyone looking to join until the allocated number of participants in each age division is filled. “We would prefer that everyone is registered by Oct. 4, which is our first day of programming,” he said. “However, if someone phones us two weeks later and wants to get into our Phase 1
of programming, which is until Christmas, we’re not going to turn them away as long as we have room.” The Rustlers men’s soccer team is operating as if it’s business as usual, noted Wagner, despite not being able to play any league games due to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference cancelling the fall 2020 sport season. He said they’re doing regular video review along with strength and fitness work on Mondays, tactical training from Tuesdays to Thursdays, corner kick and set-piece practices on Fridays, and intrasquad games or contests against a local club team during the weekends. “I had to be clever and creative in this phase to engage players, but really, our programming has become about longterm growth,” added Wagner. “We want them to have a good experience as an athlete, but most importantly, once they’re done with men’s soccer, my hope is they leave as being better and more advanced with time management, decision making and dealing with people.”
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Opinion and speculation from one hockey fan SPORTS EDITOR JAMIE HARKINS
The question swirling through everyone’s mind as players on the Tampa Bay Lighting skated around the Rogers Place ice while hoisting the Stanley Cup on Monday is, what will the 2020-21 season look like and when will it start? For the past few weeks, my eyes have focused on the TSN website searching for stories and columns addressing the issue. I know Sportsnet is the network that’s televising the return-to-play, but Frank Seravalli and Bob McKenzie don’t work for Sportsnet. Seravalli brought up the idea of four to six hybrid bubbles set up among NHL cities that can allow some fans in the stands where teams could fly in, play for two weeks, fly home for a seven-day rest and do it
all over again. He states there would likely be one in a Canadian city serving as the venue for teams located north of the 49th parallel. That sounds good to me. Gary Bettman, commissioner of the NHL, noted they are planning for a full 82-game schedule plus the usual four-round best-ofseven playoffs. He also speculated that the season won’t start until late December or early January. A normal NHL season begins in early October and ends with the awarding of the Stanley Cup sometime in June. That schedule would move to between January and August if 82 games plus playoffs are contested. The problem is the Tokyo Olympics that are supposed to run in late July and August. Awarding the Stanley Cup during the Olympics is a no-go if for no other reason than NBC,
which holds the NHL’s American television rights, will be covering the events in Tokyo at that time. The World Juniors are set to be hosted in the Edmonton bubble from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. This may not be the same for everyone, but my hockey attention moves from the NHL to Team Canada when the tournament is on. So, I’d be fine with the pros starting mid-January and finishing midJune. This means cutting two months of the regular season leaving teams with a 60-game schedule. One interesting thing among many that came from the recent returnto-play format is the idea of having 24 teams earning a chance at making the playoffs. The best-of-five series among the bottom 16 teams at the start of this tournament might be the highlight for me. CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
Last week in the field MERIDIAN SOURCE STAFF
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Combines were rolling in the region for most of the week, but the weekend rain did cause delays for some farmers. Forty-three per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 18 per cent last week and now ahead of the five-year (2015-2019) average of 33 per cent. An additional 42 per cent of the crop is swathed or ready to straight-cut. A lot of the crop is coming off tough and being placed in aeration bins and grain dryers. Warm, dry weather is desired to mature and FROM PAGE 16
The Montreal Canadiens surprising the Pittsburg Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks getting past the Edmonton Oilers, even though many people around here aren’t looking back
dry down crops. Areas in Crop District 9AW received over half an inch, whereas most of Crop District 9B received less than 5 mm. The area west of Mayfair received the highest amount of rainfall in the region this week with 42 mm. The Hafford area received 22 mm, the area west of Prince Albert 20.1 mm, the Glaslyn area 14 mm, the Pierceland area five mm and the Lloydminster and Frenchman Butte areas one mm. The St. Walburg area has received the most precipitation in both the region and the province since April 1
with 486 mm. Moisture conditions reduced slightly in the region this past week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 65 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and nine per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture are rated as 62 per cent adequate, 31 per cent short and seven per cent very short. The majority of crop damage this past week was due to wind, frost, wildfowl, wildlife and lodging due to heavy rain. Farmers are busy combining, swathing, grain drying and moving bales.
very fondly at it, were wonderful to behold. You can say the Canadiens and Blackhawks didn’t deserve to be there based on their regular-season records, but it still provided great theatre.
The NHL should keep that format and could make an argument for it if 82 games can’t be played. Oh well, I guess we’ll find out sometime among all the pandemonium that this off-season promises.
Thursday, October 1, 2020
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September 24 Answers
ACROSS 1. Leap headfirst 5. Literary work 9. Fore’s opposite 12. Point-scoring serves 13. Volcanic liquid 14. Recognize 15. Golf-ball stands 16. Bone-dry 17. Female fowl 18. Catch 20. Allowed to borrow 22. “____ So Cold” 24. Abilities 27. Yellow-pages fillers 30. Hard wood 31. Separated 32. Say yes to
33. Wrecks 35. Senate vote 36. Overhead 38. Kind of room 39. Studio decor 40. Garble 41. Pairs 43. Fling 46. Gooey 50. Owed 52. Object 54. Naught 55. Beast of burden 56. Body of knowledge 57. Got taller 58. Ante 59. Unbarred
September 24 Answers
60. ____ out (barely manages) DOWN 1. Computer fodder 2. Froster 3. Swerve 4. Roadway hazards 5. Raised flatland 6. Rowing implement 7. “____ Woman” 8. “____ in Heaven” 9. Smokers’ receptacles 10. Toll 11. Years in a decade 19. Brief 21. Afternoon sleep 23. Kilt, e.g.
25. Shade source 26. At once, to a doctor 27. Cry of dismay 28. Small valley 29. Plumpest 31. Neckwear 34. Correspondents 37. To’s counterpart 42. Burn, in a way 44. Farm structure 45. Eight-sided sign 47. Bulletin-board material 48. Place for a jeans patch 49. Some evergreens 50. Pinch 51. Put to good ____ 53. Before, to Shelley
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