New city manager has impressive record of leadership TRADING THOUGHTS

Moose Jaw City Council made a significant choice when it appointed Maryse Carmichael as the new city manager.

Carmichael has an impressive record of meeting difficult challenges.

She became an RCAF pilot when female armed forces pilots were rare and often faced discrimination.

She became the first female member of the Snowbirds aerial demonstration team and then became its leader.

Once out of the military, she worked in Moose Jaw management with civilian contractors at 15 Wing.

Her record is impressive but one of the interesting features — she is familiar with the community, has a family living here and will appreciate the nuances of issues facing the city.

Ever since Moose Jaw City council dismissed city manager Gary McKay 10 years ago because council “wanted to go in a different direction” we have had career managers.

Those managers saw Moose Jaw as a stepping stone to advance their career goals, without considerations of what was most desirable by residents.

People from cities where the last manager was employed thanked us for hiring him –– something the hiring city council wasn’t able to figure out beforehand.

The new city manager faces a plate full of concerns.

The 20-year water main line replacement is already about five years behind schedule.

The road conditions that gained Moose Jaw the Pothole City nickname need attention.

A long winter with plenty of freeze-thaw cycles aggravated the pothole situation.

What kind of management would allow the city pothole truck to break down on the third day of pothole repairs? The city has had a lot of garbage truck breakdowns too.

It sounds like not enough preventive maintenance has been done.

One recalls the elimination of the fire department mechanic a few years ago to save wages and provide more work for the city yards. Some budget savings come back to haunt.

The “them versus us’’ attitude of some city hall staff and by some city councillors will present a challenge to the new manager.

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Last year the annual street sweeping of our street was a disgrace. Gobs of mud and dead leaves were left in the gutters, hindering flow of water when it rained.

Once upon a time city crews sent someone with a

By Ron Walter For Moose Jaw Express

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.

shovel to loosen debris. Not last year.

This year was a pleasant surprise. The sweeping left the gutters clear to drain water. Great job!

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During intermission at the Brenda Lee Cottrell Legendary Women’s concert I ran into into esteemed steel guitar star Tex Emery, who moved to Moose Jaw years ago.

Tex recalled all the fun he had doing comedy with Grandpa Jones on the long-running Hee Haw TV show. Tex turns 93 this year and hasn’t lost his comedy schtick.

“You know,” he said, “I told my wife the other day I’m going to start chasing women because I haven’t got much time.”

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Moose Jaw breaks ground on first joint-use school project in the city

On May 16, Education Minister Dustin Duncan joined Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence and students, staff and representatives from Prairie South and Holy Trinity school divisions at a sod-turning event to celebrate the construction of a new joint-use elementary school in the Westheath neighbourhood.

“Our government is committed to investing in high-quality infrastructure projects that will support the growth of students, teachers and the entire community,” Duncan said.

“We appreciate and recognize the hard work and dedication of Prairie South and Holy Trinity school divisions, as well as the City of Moose Jaw, for helping make this project a reality. Together, we are laying the foundation for a better educated Saskatchewan and brighter future for our children.”

The Government of Saskatchewan is investing nearly $69 million for the planning, design and construction of the Prekindergarten to Grade 8 school, which is a consolidation of Sacred Heart, St. Mary’s, Empire and Westmount elementary schools from across both school divisions. This is an increase of roughly $19 million since the site was selected in 2019.

This additional investment will help ensure the project is protected against inflationary costs and supply chain pressures.

The building is anticipated to be completed in 2025. When completed, it will accommodate 900 students from

By Patricia Hanbidge

Summer Flowering Bulbs

Now that we are finally seeing warmer temperatures, we are also seeing the signs of spring. When we see the spring flowering bulbs emerge and give the first colour to our gardens, it is time to think about ensuring we can enjoy the colours of nature right through until fall. It’s time to think about planting those more tender bulbs – the summer flowering selections that are not hardy enough to survive our winter.

Generally, summer flowering bulbs prefer to be grown in full sun and well-drained soil. They originate in sub-tropical or tropical regions so are used to warmth and humidity. They are not winter hardy and need to be lifted prior to the fall temperatures dropping substantially.

It is these bulbs that are often the “wow” points of our gardens. Who can ignore the tantalizing tropical scent of acidanthera, the wondrous colour of the begonias in the shady parts, or the majestic stature of the the two divisions and include a regulated child-care centre with a capacity for 51 children. Both sides of the building will include flexible state-of-the-art learning environments, separate gymnasiums and a shared community resource space.

The venue will also include learning stairs, which offer a formal and informal area for gathering, teaching, socializing and performing in a flexible, amphitheatre-style environment.

“We are excited to see construction begin for this brand new facility, which will provide an innovative, modern learning environment for our students and teachers,” Prairie South School Division board chair Giselle Wilson said. “We want to thank and recognize the Government of Saskatchewan’s additional investment into this project which will help support families well into the future.”

“We are filled with immense pride and excitement as we begin construction for the new joint-use school project in Moose Jaw,” Holy Trinity Catholic School Division board chair Joann Blazieko said.

“This facility will not only nurture the academic growth of our students but also benefit the surrounding community for many years to come. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of Saskatchewan and our partners for their support in making this project a reality.” gladiolus? If you are not yet growing some of these less hardy bulbs, then maybe this is the year to begin.

Since 2008, the Government of Saskatchewan has committed approximately $2.4 billion toward school infrastructure projects. These projects include 60 new schools and 30 major renovation projects, with an additional five projects approved through the Minor Capital Renewal Program.

Acidanthera are exotic members of the iris family. They have a delicious scent that will waft over your outdoor areas if planted close. They are white (perfect for night gardens), grow about 24 inches high with a white star-shaped bloom with a centre of deep purple. They are naturally found in semi-alpine conditions in Ethiopia so do not need a really rich soil. Plant them about 3 inches deep with about 5 inches between bulbs.

Begonias are gorgeous in the shady areas of the garden. They come in a range of colours from reds to pinks, yellows and whites and even a number of purples and apricots. The pendulous types are great in hanging baskets while the uprights are good in beds or containers. Plant in partial to full shade and be sure you do not plant them too deeply as they are a shallow-rooted plant.

Caladiums are a showy plant that will give any landscape a tropical flair. They are actually grown for their large colourful leaves. They come in multi-colours with swirls and splashes of red, green, white and pink. Plant them in the shade and even bring them in as a house plant as summer wanes.

Canna lilies are beautiful everywhere. Their bloom colours range from white to orange, yellow, pink red and even bi-colour. They are native to the West Indies and South America so are considered not hardy. They are superb summer bloomers with not only a great bloom but often have coloured and textured leaves. Do not plant these plants in windy areas as the foliage will be damaged. Some species can grow up to 10 feet in height but can also be as small as 2 feet. Plant in full sun and remove spent flowers to encourage more bloom.

Dahlias are from Mexico and are easily one of the top selling summer flowering bulbs. There are literally hundreds of selections to choose from with all the colours of the rainbow. Many gardeners will pot up their dahlias a good six weeks prior to going outside to ensure the longest, loveliest period of bloom. They are long blooming so can be planted in borders, beds or containers and even make a great cut-flower. Just a word of caution – once you begin to grow dahlias you might get addicted to trying them all!

Gladiolus are another very popular summer bulb as they come in almost all colours. They are a superb cut flower and can be grown easily in beds or borders. They often need some support due to their height.

Make this summer the year you make your garden a bit more exotic by growing at least a couple summer flowering bulbs.

Hanbidge is the Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at www.orchidhort.com; by email at info@orchidhort.com; on facebook @orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort. Tune into GROW Live on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/orchidhort or check out the Youtube channel GROW https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzkiUpkvyv2e2HCQlFl0JyQ?