Moose Jaw Express December 22nd, 2021

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Volume 14, Issue 51 | Wed., December 22, 2021 WELL WRITTEN WELL READ!

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HEATING • PLUMBING COOLING • BOILERS

The lights of the ‘Light Up The Holiday Tree’ are officially shining

By Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

SALES • SERVICE • INSTALLATION For seven years now, the 18-foot “Rockefeller Tree” has been purchased by Murray GM at the annual Moose Specialized in Jaw Health Foundation fundraiser (MJHF) - Festival of Energy Efficient Furnaces Lights auction.

Custom Sheet Metal Work It is beautifully decorated and glitters with over We Service ALL Makes and Models 2900 lights.

Always Fully Stocked!

Again this year, staff at the hospital were excited to participate in turning the lights on.

The “Light Up the Holiday” Christmas tree will stand stately in the lobby of Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital throughout the holiday season. For those that are unable to go home to enjoy the season due to their health or working schedule, as well as for visitors to the hospital, the lit tree will provide a little holiday spirit for all to enjoy.

The Festival of Trees fundraiser, an annual event held by the MJHF succeeded in raising over $94,000 this year. Much of that money will go toward buying training simulation mannequins for the regional hospital.

The amount is enough to fully fund the purchase of two SIMM dolls, and the training of staff in how to THE WEARHOUSE use them. One will be an adult doll, the other a child for pediatric simulations.

The dolls come with software capable of an incredible variety of situations. They are specific to Code Yard Goods $3.00-$6.00/yard Blue training, which simulates a medical emergency Variety of Notions requiring immediate life-saving measures.

Vital signs such as heart rate, breathing, lung sounds, drug reactions, airway issues, intubation complications, and more can be trained in realistic ways.

The clinical education staff at the hospital are very excited and grateful for the donations from the community of Moose Jaw. The Rockefeller Tree alone has raised over $118,000 for healthcare initiatives over the past seven years.

Every donation makes a difference, said Kelly THE WEARHOUSE McElree, executive director of the MJHF. He added Buy 1 Pair of Pants and Get once more how grateful the MJHF is to every donor The 2nd Pair for 1/2 PRICE! who contributes. Special thanks goes once again to Bring this coupon to purchase 1 pair of pants at our Charles Vanden Broek at Murray GM for the annual ‘regular’ low price and buy the second pair for 1/2 price (of equal or lesser value) purchase of the Rockefeller Tree.

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Hours:

Wed & Sat 10am-5pm Thurs & Fri 10am-7pm 429 River St. W. Moose Jaw

Kelly McElree, executive director of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation; Dr. Oluwole Oni, pediatrician at the hospital; Maggie Robertson, RN, clinical integration manager; Brittany, RN in the ICU; Taryn Pierce, RN, clinical nurse educator

SALVATION ARMY STOCKING FUND: DONATE NOW

Please make your Salvation Army Stocking Fund Donations at Moose Jaw Express office located at 468 High St. W. Tax receipts will be issued if required. All monies donated at the Express will go to the Salvation Army Stocking Fund, to help support the needs of the community.

Goal $5000

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PAGE A2 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021

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Honour the memory of a loved one with a memorial gift to support the Moose Jaw Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital Please include the Moose Jaw Health Foundation in your estate plan.

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(306) 694-0373 • www.mjhf.org

Sask Polytech receives $25,000 from Burns & McDonnell toward scholarships and support

By Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

struction of the Great Plains Power Station southeast of the city.

Burns & McDonnell has also locally donated $17,000 donation to Joe’s Place on November 18th.

Two of the four $5,000 scholarships have been specifically earmarked to help Indigenous students. Rosemarie Zaba Stewart, Indigenous student advisor for the Sask Polytech Moose Jaw campus, and Marlene DorDan Bechard, academic chair of the School of Natural muth, the campus’ IndigeResources and Built Environment; Rosemarie Zaba nous students’ centre coorStewart, Indigenous student advisor; Brad Butcher, dinator, were present for the project manager for the Great Plains Power Station cheque presentation. construction site; and Marlene Dormuth, Indigenous “It’s huge for students,” students’ centre coordinator, in Sask Polytech’s instru- Dormuth said. “Any type of mentation lab (photo by Greg Olson) scholarship that you’re giving students only encourages The donation will create four $5,000 scholarships for Saskatchewan Polytech- their willingness to be within the education nic students in STEM-related courses. An system and (to continue) a lifelong learnadditional $5,000 will be used for career ing pattern of education.”

Zaba Stewart said that “sometimes exploration in STEM programming.

Burns & McDonnell are the Missou- scholarships make the difference between ri-based engineering, procurement and students being able to stay or not… For construction contractor leading the con- this campus, most of our Indigenous stu-

dents are from nowhere near here. They be able to continue their education, better come from all over and sometimes it’s the themselves, provide for their families, and first time they’ve been away from family. contribute to their communities.

The extra $5,000 above and beyond So it’s really quite a significant undertakthe scholarships will go toward developing for them.”

Brad Butcher, project manager for the ment of exploratory programming though Great Plains Power Station construction Sask Polytech’s Women in Trades and site, presented the $25,000 cheque on be- Technologies (WITT) division sometime half of Burns & McDonnell. Afterwards, this spring.

Dan Bechard, academic chair of the he was given a short tour of some of the campus, including the instrumentation lab School of Natural Resources and Built Environment, also expressed his deep appreand the civil engineering department.

“When Burns & McDonnell comes ciation for the generous donation by Burns to a community like Moose Jaw,” Butch- & McDonnell. er said, “we always look for opportunities to make a difference in the lives of people in the community.”

“One of the big things we believe in is education, especially STEM programs, you know, science, technology, engineering, and math,” Butcher continued. “And that’s what Sask Polytech does here, so we got with them and talked about the best way to benefit them and their students.”

Dan Bechard, academic chair of the School of Natural Butcher added that Resources and Built Environment, receives the cheque Burns & McDonnell hope from Brad Butcher, project manager for the Great that the impact of their dona- Plains Power Station construction site, in the instrution will be that students will mentation lab at Sask Polytech (photo by Greg Olson)

Eleven-year-old ‘Lil Poomba’: Young rapper from Moose Jaw recently releases CD Hoop Dreams

By Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Call in or order online, Pick up, Delivery www.southhillfinefoods.ca HOURS OF OPERATION December 23rd 8am–10pm December 24th 8am–5pm December 25th & 26th Closed December 27th - 30th 8am–10pm December 31st 8am–5pm January 1st Closed January 2nd 10am–8pm January 3rd 8am–10pm

See us on Facebook 468 Lillooet St W, Moose Jaw 306-692-1516

Eleven-year-old Roque Spaan-Murray is an aspiring rapper here in Moose Jaw with big dreams of making it in the music industry some day. He has just recently released 100 copies of his very own CD; the album is called Hoop Dreams.

Roque’s favourite rapper is Eminem, and he’d love nothing more than to walk in Slim Shady’s shoes.

“It would be awesome to make a full career of rapping,” Roque told the Express.

He decided on his rap name by using the family nickname for his little sister, whom they call Poomba.

‘Lil Poomba’ has turned out about 30 songs so far. The album Hoop Dreams has 15 of his favourites.

Roque was inspired by an app called Groovepad which makes it easy to produce beats. His dad encouraged him to start rapping over the songs he was making. Roque said that once he did, he “started to get better and better.”

“My style of rap is more…fast and short lines,” he continued, “I think of it as my style of rap, because every rapper has a style.”

He writes his lyrics by thinking of events in his life. If he gets stuck, he says, he’ll read the back of a book or something similar until the words start flowing again.

Roque’s family members are very supportive of his rapping. His dad helps

‘Lil Poomba’ with CDs of his debut album Hoop Dreams (from Facebook)

him shoot and edit his music videos, of which he has several, featured on his YouTube channel.

He describes his music as positive, and confirms his album has no swearing in it because of his age. Hoop Dreams is available at Vintage Vinyl, John’s Music, and Comic Book Guy Pop Culture Shop.

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • PAGE A3

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510 Home St W. Moose Jaw • 306-693-0955

Province reminds drivers to be more cautious when driving this winter

By Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

The province released an advisory on driving cautiously around snowplows. MooseJawToday.com spoke with Taylor Elder of the Moose Jaw Police Service about safe city driving.

“Be aware, pass with care” when overtaking highway snowplows 300+ provincial snowplow operators cover a network of about 26,000 kilometres and sometimes encounter drivers whose impatience drives them to make reckless choices.

Steve Shaheen, senior communications consultant at the Ministry of Highways, said the number of incidences in the province of private vehicles hitting snowplows is trending in the right direction.

Over the past five years, there have been a total of 18 collisions, versus 33 in the five years before that.

So far this winter, there’s been only one collision involving a provincial snowplow. That collision occurred on Dec. 2.

With an average of 4.5 hits per year, more collisions may occur before spring. Motorists who exercise reasonable caution around snowplows reduce their chances of becoming part of that statistic.

“We’re hopeful drivers will be more aware, attentive, and (will) drive with care,” Shaheen said. “We want all drivers and snowplow operators to get home safely.”

Snowplows use blue and amber lights when plowing, salting, or sanding to increase their visibility and heighten awareness. The province provides these safety tips for sharing the road with a plow: Plan ahead using the Highway Hotline www.saskatchewan.ca/highwayhotline or by calling 511; Slow to 60 kilometres per hour when

Car accident on the highway (Getty Images) highway equipment or other emergency vehicles are stopped with warning lights in operation; Stay back and stay safe – snowplows can create mini-blizzards known as the “snow zone”; Allow snowplows time and space.

They will pull over about every 10 kilometres or when safe to do so; Drive according to weather and road conditions; and Pass only when safe to do so.

“Public safety is a top priority,” 11year snowplow veteran Jarrod Klassen said during a provincial media event. “My job is to clear the roads to keep people safe and the public’s job is to drive with care so I can get home safely to my family.”

Safe driving within the city of Moose Jaw Staff Sergeant Taylor Elder of the

Moose Jaw Cycle Assoc donation Submitted

The Moose Jaw Cycle Assoc’s Annual Toy Run was another success after 33 years. Murray Roney, representing the MJ Cycle Assoc. presents Lt.Ward of the Salvation Army with toques and mitts as well as a cheque, proceeds from Toy Run steak night and Swap meets. Many bike enthusiasts support various Toy Runs to assist the Salvation Army in making Christmas memorable for children and families. Thank you to Giant Tiger for their continued support.

Moose Jaw Police Service says that most snowplow collisions occur on the highway. Within the city of Moose Jaw, motorists drive slower and it is typically easier to see the flashing lights of the plows.

However, Elder says MJ police do see an increase in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) during the winter months.

“For example, in the month of June, the Moose Jaw Police attended 19 MVCs,” Elder told MooseJawToday.com. “In the month of November, (we) attended 33 MVCs.” Elder has been a police officer for 13 years. Most of his time has been spent in patrol, and he has responded to many MVCs. He shared some best practices for avoiding expensive damage and injury in the winter: Snow tires are far superior to all-seasons for driving in slippery winter conditions Many MVCs occur because people are driving too fast for conditions – give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination Do not follow too closely. Section 225(1) of the Traffic Safety Act designates “following too close” as an offence accompanied by a $125 fine. Beyond the fine, Elder says “a lot of collisions are from people following too closely and not leaving time and space to react.”

More winter driving tips can be found on the Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) website.

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PAGE A4 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Phone: 306.694.1322 Fax: 888.241.5291 468 High St. W., Moose Jaw SK S6H 1T3 www.mjvexpress.com

Publisher: Robert Ritchie - rob@mjvexpress.com Editor: Joan Ritchie - editor@mjvexpress.com Sales: Wanda Hallborg - sales@mjvexpress.com Bob Calvert - sales@mjvexpress.com Gladys Baigent-Therens - Sales2@mjvexpress.com Kevin Ogle - kogle@moosejawtoday.com Steve Seida - Special Sales Thank you to all the contributing writers, without your time and support, the paper would not look the same.

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Joan Ritchie Joyce Walter

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- Guest Editorial -

Old friends bring comfort and joy

By Joyce Walter - Moose Jaw Express

A local pastor in his recent ser-

mon warned that Christmas is not always a season of comfort and joy, said in such a way to make one pause to reflect on that comment.

In this particular Christmas season, this community is facing increased addictions and mental health concerns, a rise in homelessness, more demand on food banks, increased requests from agencies such as the Salvation Army, and a decline in the money collected to help meet the needs of local families as they try to provide a Christmas celebration for their children.

While Moose Jaw residents are known to go above and beyond expectations in helping others, the past two years have acknowledged that sometimes there is despair in knowing that even more efforts are required, that a community can only do so much before hopelessness becomes a recognized reality.

Despite these conditions, there is still hope that just a bit more effort will relieve some of the tension of a Christmas season that falls below some of the traditional prospects of comfort and joy. And so the community digs deeper and somehow through a single-minded perseverance, brings a hopefulness that is contagious.

Through all the disappointments of this and any season is the knowledge that old friends will somehow lighten the load, will again offer their hands in comfort and return joy to our celebrations.

Singer Ben Rector’s message in his song tells us there is nothing like old friends because they know us like no one else can. “You can’t make old friends,” he sings to four of his old friends.

Another song, Old Friends, by Chris Stapleton has a similar message: “Old friends, they shine like diamonds. Old friends, you can always call. Old friends, Lord, you can’t buy ’em. You know it’s old friends, after all.”

While it is possible to make new friends through the Christmas season as we attempt to help others in need, it will be old friends who work alongside to share both the despair, and the resulting comfort and joy.

May this Christmas season bring at least a small measure of comfort and joy to new friends and to those extra special old friends we all hold dear.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.

Send your letters to the editor to: letters@mjvexpress.com or 888-241-5291 All columns, letters to the editor and editorials are solely the personal opinions of the writers themselves and not necessarily the opinions of The Moose Jaw Express.

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There shall be no reproduction without the express written consent of the publisher. All ads in the Moose Jaw Express are published in good faith without verification. The Moose Jaw Express reserves the right to refuse, classify, revise or censor any ads for any reason in its sole discretion.

This paper may include inaccuracies or errors.

The Moose Jaw Express does not under any circumstances accept responsibility for the accuracy or otherwise of any ads or messages in any of the publications editions. The Moose Jaw Express specifically disclaims all and any liability to advertisers and readers of any kind for loss or damage of any nature what-so-ever and however arising, whether due to inaccuracy, error, omission or any other cause.

All users are advised to check ad and message details carefully before entering into any agreement of any kind and before disclosing personal information. If in doubt, please take legal advice.

Western Development Museum technology upgrades to be expanded

By Gordon Edgar = Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Provincial funding online programming, will be provided to including a course the Western Develoffered to students opment Museum in grades 10-12.

(WDM) to expand The course is titled Wi-Fi connectivity, “Think Like a Histoupgrade IT equiprian” and focuses on ment, and improve sources of informathe visitor experition used to compare ence. the 1918 Spanish Flu WDM CEO Pandemic with the Joan Kanigan said modern COVID-19 that this funding will pandemic. go a long way to adLaura Ross, dress a significant Minister of Parks, technological gap in Culture, and Sport, both Moose Jaw and said “The governSaskatoon locations. ment is pleased to The Western The Western Development Museum’s Moose Jaw location contains a provide additional Development Mu- Norseman CF-SAM model plane, made originally to promote the air funding to the Westseum website states ambulance service at fairs throughout Saskatchewan. (Photo courtesy ern Development that WDM is the Western Development Museum) Museum. This inlargest human histovestment will allow ry museum in Saskatchewan. The Moose Jaw location fo- the museum to acquire the technology, equipment, and cuses on the history of transportation in Saskatchewan, in- internet bandwidth necessary to improve services and including exhibits like a CF-SAM aircraft, which pioneered teract with communities throughout Saskatchewan.” the first non-military, government-operated air ambulance The following upgrades will be completed in the service in the world.

2021-22 fiscal year: “The improvements to our Wi-Fi connectivity and • Improvements to Wi-Fi access points ability to live-stream tours and programs will benefit vis- • Enhancements to live streaming equipment and interacitors, students, and educators across the province,” Kanitive video conferencing ability gan said. “We are very grateful for the support we receive • Interactive whiteboards, portable stands, and other asfrom the Government of Saskatchewan through the Minsociated equipment istry of Parks, Culture, and Sport.”

Another focus of the funding will be to modernize The WDM has adapted to the pandemic by offering meetings rooms and rental spaces at WDM locations.

Province plans to permanently increase ICU capacity and decrease surgery wait times

By Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com Moose Jaw’s MLAs provide their comments on the province’s plan to eliminate the surgery backlog caused by COVID and to permanently hike intensive care unit (ICU) numbers.

The Government of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) recently announced their plan and issued a Request for Information (RFI) to test the market for additional third-party surgical providers. They will publicly fund the use of third-party facilities for day procedures, overnight inpatient surgeries, and post-operative care, including therapies and home care.

The province has recognized that preCOVID facilities were inadequate and is not intending on returning to pre-COVID numbers. The stated goal is that by 2030, surgery wait times should be three months at most. The province and SHA want 110 Intensive care unit bed (Getty Images) ICU beds as well – however, no timeline intensified, allowing for more surgeries and more types of has been set for that objective.

Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence said, “It surgeries in private surgical suites.

The province and SHA are also planning on increashas shown us that just in case something like this happens again, we need to expand ICU availability. So we’re ex- ing the recruitment and training of healthcare professionpanding the ICU beds from 79 to 90 by June 2022. And als.

Tim McLeod, MLA for Moose Jaw North, said this is the first step to achieving 110 ICU beds in the prov“We’re actively looking to recruit and train healthcare ince.”

Targets have been set to perform an additional 7,000 professionals to fill those needs. That can be done both surgeries in 2022-23 over and above pre-pandemic levels. through immigration of trained professionals from outside Volume targets will grow by an additional 6,000 in 2023- of Canada, and we’re working together with the Ministries of Health and the Ministry of Advanced Education to 24 and 5,000 in 2024-25.

“Delays in surgeries and medical procedures have ensure that we have the training spaces available to train taken a heavy toll on quality-of-life for thousands of our own homegrown healthcare professionals to fill that Saskatchewan patients,” Premier Scott Moe said. “Since need.”

The Saskatchewan Health Authority has seen turmoil March 2020 we know there were a large volume of surgeries that were delayed due to COVID-related surgical over the last couple of months with the unplanned departures of three of its most senior board members. At the slowdowns.”

The emphasis during this catch-up plan will be on end of October without any announcement COO Suann procedures with higher numbers of patients dealing with Laurent retired. CEO Scott Livingstone was fulfilling the long wait times, including hip and knee replacements, ear/ COO duties until his abrupt resignation effective December 2nd. Board member Dr. Janet Tootoosis, a founding nose/throat, dental, and general surgeries.

To achieve their intentions, the province has made ag- member of the SHA board and its only physician, resigned gressive plans for the return of COVID-redeployed SHA essentially at the same time as Livingstone. The SHA and staff to their home positions. SHA facilities will expand Premier Scott Moe have insisted that the resignations are operating room hours and make greater use of regional not necessarily related and that no services or plans will surgical sites. Relationships with private providers will be be affected.

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • PAGE A5

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Wishing you a peaceful holiday season

Feeling the pulse of a giving heart

by April Meersman - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

AGRIMART

EXPRESS The holiday season can be challenging for many families who find themselves struggling through the holiday season.

Farm2Kitchen is an innovative movement of farmers and producers along with companies involved in milling, processing and distribution of oats.

The Farm2Kitchen initiative brings together the best of our oat producers and their families along with driven partners to fulfill a family promise this holiday season.

In 2021, Roy Klym, his wife Lois, sons Tyler and Dustin, and their families collectively made the decision to donate 40 tons of oats to support food banks and families in need. Roy and his family hope their donation will inspire others.

The donation was inspired by his time as a student at Scott Collegiate in Regina.

As a value-driven family business, they wanted to give back by donating 42 metric tons of oats.

“We as a family believe in ‘field to fork.’ By partnering with other parts of the production, right here at home, we can take our modest donation and multiply the value many times over,” said Klym. “The producers I know are community-minded people and when they see a need in their community, they will stand tall to meet that

Photo supplied. need. I am sure we will see a great uptick to support the program”. Moreover, Klym believes the connection between farm and city is more important than ever. “I hope this tightens the connection between city and rural. This crop that you see could be on your table next month once it matures and is processed right here at home in Saskatchewan. Hopefully, it gives both sides, the producers, and the community respect for each other.”

Starting off with a donation of $300,000 of oats, their goal is to fill hungry tummies this Christmas. Farm2Kitchen starts with an initial run of 67,000 bags of oats slated to be delivered to families, schools and community organizations including the Moose Jaw Food Bank this

winter. The plan is to create a long-term solution to food insecurity using food grown in Saskatchewan for Saskatchewan.

“There is no shortage of food in this world. Farm2Kitchen shows that all we need is creativity, collaboration and generosity to feed our neighbours. We need to feed over 10,000 people a month, and we are proud to use food grown in Saskatchewan for Saskatchewan,” said David Froh, Vice President, Regina Food Bank.

“The goal is to expand the program. Avena Foods is recruiting producers in their network. We will provide a tax receipt and distribute the goods, ensuring this is a winwin for all involved” Saskatchewan is Canada’s leading oat producer and our exports feed families

around the world. Farm2Kitchen encourages producers to donate a portion of their oat crop and in return, receive a tax receipt and the gift of giving at such a special time of year.

Partnered with Avena Foods & CanMar, who are also donating their time and products, will clean, transport and package the oats. Then, the packages will be distributed by food banks throughout southern Saskatchewan.

Avena Foods Limited is a pulse and oat miller based in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. “Avena Foods partners every day with farmers and other food processors and packagers to provide safe, nutritious food around the world,” said Gord Flatten, CEO, Avena Foods. “We are happy to help feed local Saskatchewan and Manitoba families through the food bank network”.

CanMar Foods, the largest processor of food-grade flax and hemp seeds in Canada and North America, has been based out of Regina for over 15 years.

The Moose Jaw Food Bank has found a steady increase in the number of families who use the food bank over the last 5-6 months. “Last year we handed out 3,067 hamper boxes. This year we are predicting over 4,000 hampers,” Terri Smith, Operations Manager Moose Jaw Food Bank. For direct donations to the Moose Jaw Food Bank, please call 306-631-7650.

Any farmers or producers who want to donate to Farm2Kitchen can contact Avena Foods at info@avenafoods.com

The Next Generation Agriculture Mentorship Program continues to receive government support in Saskatchewan

By Eugenie Officer, Ag Journalist; Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

AGRIMART

EXPRESS The Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship Program is Saskatchewan’s most comprehensive industry-wide mentoring program.

Canadian Western Agribition delivers the mentorship program in partnership with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and the Government of Canada.

The program accepts eight (8) successful applicants for an 18-month mentorship program focused on: Industry knowledge, advocacy, business education, networking, and board & governance training.

Canadian Western Agribition organizers say the Next Gen Agriculture Mentorship is designed to help graduates understand agricultural business, community, leadership, and advocacy.

The successful mentees were announced at this year’s Canadian Western Agribition. Participants in the program will be matched with a mentor beginning in February 2022. As part of this round of mentoring, the federal and provincial governments will contribute $100,000 to help mentees grow as agricultural leaders.

The Canadian Agricultural Partnership funds this program, a three-year investment of $3 billion by the provinces, territories, and the federal government to strengthen and grow Canada’s agriculture, food, and agri-product sectors.

“Ensuring security in the sector and contributing to economic growth is best

This cohort of the Next Gen program will commence their work in February of 2022. Applications for the 2023 cohort close on January 10th of 2022. achieved by mentoring future leaders,” Agriculture Minister David Marit said.

“This program builds leadership capacity through knowledge and first-hand expe-

riences, which is critical to a strong agriculture industry in Saskatchewan. Our government is proud to support such an important initiative.

The group of 2022 Mentees includes: Alexandra Clarke, Anna Karlsson, Blaine Lamontagne, Grayson Berting, Megan Roger, Morgan Follensbee, Ryan Grabarczyk and Sandra Hessdorfer.

Mentors for this cohort are: Gerry Hertz, Heather Deobald, Danny Petty, Joe Barnett, Brett Halsteadm Kim Keller, Sara Shymko, and Moose Jaw’s own Shelley Jones.

Shelley is the Manager of Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Knowledge Centre.

She also contributed to creating the Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan program, promoting agriculture awareness among the public, and extending Agriculture in the Classroom Saskatchewan programs to teachers and students in the province.

Shelley is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture, and she grew up on a ranch near Crane Valley, SK. Since then, she has been an active community member and has been honored with the city’s Citizen of the Year Award and the Canada 150 Medal.

Although the 2022 cohort has just been announced, online applications for the 2023 cohort are now available and close on January 10th, 2022. Applicants should demonstrate strong leadership abilities and clearly articulate their developmental goals. For more information, visit saskatchewan.ca/CAP or agribition.com/ get-involved/next-gen-program.

PAGE A6 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021

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From The Kitchen

By Joyce Walter - Moose Jaw Express

Beef takes away monotony of all those turkey meals No matter how much the family loves the smell of turkey roasting in the oven and the taste of all that turkey meat with dressing, cranberries and all the other trimmings, the plaintive cry will come a day or two after Christmas: “Oh no, not turkey again.”

The person in charge of meal planning over the holidays will have many options to offer hungry guests or family members, options that won’t involve turkey. Beef could be one of the alternatives to turkey stew, pot pies and soup.

This week’s recipes from a “Make it Beef” brochure offer ideas for holiday beef options.

••• SLOW COOKER PULLED BEEF 2 tbsps. vegetable oil 4 lbs. boneless cross rib or blade pot roast 1 pkg. Knorr beef broth 1-28 oz. can crushed tomatoes 1-28 oz. can whole tomatoes 1 pouch onion or oven roasted garlic soup mix 2 tbsps. tomato paste 2 tbsps. chili powder 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper 2 tbsps. all-purpose flour Heat oil in a large pot or a heavy, deep skillet over medium high heat. Brown beef all over, turning with tongs. Drain fat and transfer meat to a slow cooker.

Reduce heat under skillet to medium. Add broth, tomatoes, soup mix, tomato paste, chilli power, and peppers. Bring to a boil, stirring up any brown bits.

Turn off heat and pour mixture over beef. Cover slow cooker and cook on low setting for 8-10 hours until beef is fork tender.

Skim fat from liquid. Remove meat. Whisk flour into 1/4 cup cold water and whisk into sauce in slow cooker. Cover and cook on high, stirring once, until thickened, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, use two forks to pull the beef meat into shreds. Return to thickened sauce, reduce heat and keep warm. Makes about 12 cups.

Serve in taco shells or flour tortillas with favourite taco ingredients such as salsa, sour cream, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce and shredded cheese.

Shredded beef and sauce may be frozen.

Note: if a slow cooker isn’t available, simmer roast, covered, for 2-3 hours in a 325 degrees F oven with all ingredients the same as for a slow cooker. Thicken the sauce, shred the meat and return to the thickened sauce.

••• SZECHWAN BEEF 3 green onions 2 cups sugar snap peas, trimmed 2 sweet red peppers, cut into chunks 2 tbsps. hoisin sauce 2 tsps. rice vinegar

2 tsps. minced fresh ginger root 2 tsps. minced garlic 1 lb. grilling steak, 3/4 inch thick 1/2 tsp. Chinese five-spice powder 1/2 cup unsalted roasted peanuts, chopped Sesame Noodles: 1 pkg. whole wheat linguine 1 tsp. sesame oil 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes Slice green onion tops and set aside. Cut remaining onion sections into 2 inch lengths. Toss together together with peas, peppers, hoisin, vinegar, ginger root and garlic on a large rimmed foillined baking sheet. Set aside Rub beef all over with five spice powder. Grill over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes per side.

Cover with foil and let rest for 10 minutes, before thinly slicing.

Broil vegetables for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly charred.

Cook 1 pkg. whole wheat linguine noodles according to package directions. Drain and toss with sliced green onion tops, sesame oil and red pepper flakes.

To serve, mound noodles on plates. Top with broiled vegetables and beef slices. Sprinkle with the peanuts. Makes 6 servings.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel. net

Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners Notes The next board of police commissioners’ meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 18.

Police board member concerned about increase in arsons, thefts, sexual assaults Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

A year-over-year increase in certain crimes involving people, property and drugs has caused one police board commissioner to wonder if these issues also plague the rest of Saskatchewan.

The Moose Jaw Police Service presented November’s crime statistics during the Dec. 14 meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners.

Police Chief Rick Bourassa highlighted some areas that stood out in November and have stood out since January. This includes an increase in residential breakins and crimes against property, including arsons.

Break-and-enters Total break-ins — businesses, residences, and other — from Jan. 1 to Nov. 30 were 293 incidents compared to 254 during the same time last year, the report said. Residential break-ins stood at 154 incidents year-to-date (YTD) compared to 99 incidents YTD last year, an increase of 55.6 per cent.

“We continue to work on those. We have solved a number (of them),” said Bourassa. “Last year we saw a significant number of residential break-ins largely connected with just the change in be-

haviour patterns with the pandemic.”

Property crimes Meanwhile, total YTD crimes against property stood at 1,398 episodes compared to 1,198 incidents YTD last year. In particular, there were 26 incidents of arson as of Nov. 30 compared to 16 episodes by the end of last November.

The police service’s criminal investigation section is looking into these arsons and has noticed a pattern on South Hill and the east side of the community, said Supt.

Taylor Mickleborough.

The agency has asked for outside assistance to help identify patterns and follow those leads, he added. Police are finding good evidence and pursuing those angles, although that data cannot be discussed since investigations are ongoing.

Board concerns Commissioner Doug Blanc expressed concern that many areas had increased year-over-year, particularly with sexual assaults, assaults against police, thefts and arsons.

Crime data showed there have been 53 sexual assaults YTD compared to 32 incidents YTD last year; 11 incidents of assaults against police YTD versus seven

episodes YTD last year; 15 incidents of thefts over $5,000 YTD compared to 10 episodes YTD last year; and 657 incidents YTD of theft under $5,000 versus 524 episodes YTD last year.

Total YTD crimes against people stood at 496 incidents compared to 517 episodes YTD in 2020.

Arrests for methamphetamine possession also increased an “unbelievable” 285.7 per cent — 27 incidents YTD versus seven episodes YTD last year — which elicited a “wow” from Blanc. He wondered if these problems were common across the province.

Following trends “We are not unique in these trends.

There is always some local nuance, but these are patterns that we see in other jurisdictions … ,” said Bourassa. “We did see some increases in interpersonal conflicts during the pandemic (and) the stressors that were there.”

The agency is tracking sexual assaults and conducting extra work in that area, especially since those numbers are disturbing, he continued.

Bourassa planned to provide a report in January about a new related program

but couldn’t reveal any details. Meanwhile, he noted that the agency is working with the Regina Sexual Assault Centre to help survivors.

Moose Jaw is now a satellite location for centre staff.

Drug problems As for drugs, most charges are enforcement-driven, he continued. Police know that crystal meth is prevalent here but realize enforcement will not solve this problem.

Bourassa praised the now-defunct crystal meth strategy committee for producing two videos and the effect those films have had.

The first video surpassed the committee’s expectations since it now has more than 10,000 views on YouTube, said Commissioner Mary Lee Booth, who served on the committee. The videos were initially for residents, but they are now being shown in both Saskatchewan correctional centres and in other provinces.

While the committee’s awareness campaign is finished, many of its tools and informational pieces are still online, she added.

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • PAGE A7

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Prairie South School Division

The next PSSD board meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 11.

PSSD trustee concerned about 14 schools operating under capacity Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Two schools in Prairie South School Division (PSSD) are operating over 100-percent capacity and 14 schools are operating under 50-per-cent capacity, leading one trustee to wonder whether those underused buildings are needed.

There are 31 schools in PSSD and the average space utilization in the division is 58 per cent, according to a buildings accountability report. Twelve of the underused schools are in the rural areas, while the remaining two are at Empire School (31 per cent) and Riverview Collegiate (19 per cent).

Meanwhile, the two schools that are overcapacity are King George School (102 per cent) and Sunningdale School (105 per cent).

The space usage rate is based on a formula that uses current kindergarten to Grade 12 enrolment and a school’s capacity number, Darren Baiton, buildings department manager, said during the December board of education meeting while discussing the 2020-21 facilities accountability report.

In schools where the Ministry of Education funds pre-kindergarten programming, those students are included in the formula, although the formula does not consider division-funded pre-k programs.

This results in lower usage rates in several schools.

“The ministry provides us with these space utilization numbers. The pre-k does bring it down a slight bit,” he said.

It is concerning to see King George and Sunningdale on the list in the overcapacity category, said trustee Lew Young.

However, he was also worried about those underused schools that ranged from 19 per cent to 31 per cent.

He noted that the buildings department once looked at decommissioning space in schools and wondered if that option was still viable. The division normally talks about expenses and how much it costs to have buildings, but it would likely save money if certain areas in schools were closed.

“We still have those same areas of decommissioning,” said Baiton. “We haven’t

addressed it from that current decommissioned space.”

It would cost more to decommission some areas of a school because of how heating systems are constructed, with those “heating loops” providing warmth similar to radiators, he continued.

Meanwhile, in Riverview, much of the space there is used for programs and extra division office space. Moreover, other underused schools have computer labs in rooms that fill up space.

“The ministry funding, they haven’t reduced it due to utilization,” Baiton added.

After the creation of Prairie South following amalgamation in 2006, the board used the decommissioning document to review buildings and the number of students in those venues, said Young. While he knew that trustees no longer had the “appetite” to close schools, he thought future boards would have to review whether some schools were viable and justify keeping them.

Buildings statistics

During the 2020-21 school year, the buildings department completed $5,075,561 worth of infrastructure projects throughout the division, the report said. Projects ranged from upgrading lights in schools to LEDs to removing asbestos from buildings.

The department responded to 8,247 maintenance tickets during the previous school year. It closed 7,472 tickets, while 123 are still pending, 572 are still in progress, and 80 were denied.

In comparison, it received 7,341 maintenance tickets during the 2019-20 school year, 6,595 tickets in 2018-19 and 6,295 in 2017-18.

The volume of those maintenance tickets last year included 123 urgent requests, 3,474 high requests, 4,082 medium requests and 197 low requests, the report said.

It took three days to complete the urgent requests, 15 days to finish the high requests, 14 days to complete the medium requests and 16 days to finish the low calls.

BIZWORLD

By Ron Walter For Moose Jaw Express

Will Cannabis stock performance give investors euphoric ‘high’?

Three years ago when Canada legalized recreational weed and investors’ enthusiasm was higher than a weed party, a Bizworld column pointed out the pitfalls of investing in marijuana stocks.

Canada’s 17 marijuana stocks were overvalued at $3.5 billion with a mere $30 million total sales. None were profitable.

Not much has changed in the profit ledger.

The top 11 as selected by Investopdia and cantechletter.com have increased sales but still bleed red ink like an atmospheric river.

Between them these companies are on track for $3.7 billion sales in the current fiscal year with losses of $3.9 billion. Hardly inviting to investors.

Together they have accumulated deficits of $2.25 billion since starting.

Only two are showing a profit. Canopy Growth and Grow Generation are making money.

With investment from booze maker Constellation Brands, Canopy is on track for $388 million profits this year. At $9.15, shares are near their low and one-fifth of the year’s high.

Grow Generation is on track for $14 million profit supplying cannabis producers with the tools to grow product. At $13.45 US it is near the low and one-fifth of the high price.

Grow Generation might be the best bet on industry growth.

Aurora Cannabis is on track to lose $12 million. Priced at $7.53 the shares are near the low and one-third of the high. The company is paring back over-built operations.

Tilray will lose $740 million this year.

Priced at $10.35 near the low, it is at 38 per cent of the high price. A merger with Aphria gives some hope.

Cronos Group looks like it will lose $151 million this year. Priced at $5.23 it is one-fourth of the year high. Tobacco’s Altria owns 45 per cent and should keep the company afloat.

Hexo Corp. is on track for a $468 million loss. Priced at $1.11 it is near the year high and low. A new CEO is working to digest three acquisitions.

Organigram faces a $131 million loss, is priced at $2.31 near the low and one-quarter of the high. With a good market share it has Imperial Tobacco as a backer.

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High Tide should lose $32 million this year. The $6.27 price is just over one-third the year’s high.. High Tide’s hopes are pinned on the retail model with discounts like Costco.

Village Farms International will lose $14 million this year. Priced at $7.67 it is one-quarter of the high. Village is a big greenhouse operator in tomatoes and recently marijuana and hemp.

Curaleaf is looking at a $100 million loss this year. The $11.95 price is less than half the high price. The company operates in 23 states down south as well as Canada, France and Israel.

Too many companies are still chasing the market. Operators have made many mistakes in this new industry by over-building and over-estimating revenues.

Regulations hinder the branding of products and advertising to become dominant.

These 11 stocks are worth putting on the watch list.

CAUTION: Remember when investing, consult your adviser and do your homework before buying any security. Bizworld does not recommend investments.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net

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PAGE A8 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021

REFLECTIVE MOMENTS

By Joyce Walter - Moose Jaw Express

Apologies to Clement Moore with this new rhyme

Joyce Walter For Moose Jaw Express

There’s a few hours yet until Christmas and in some rooms ronjoy@sasktel.net in our house The views and opinions ex- there’s no evidence of dust pressed in this article are bunnies, cobwebs or even that those of the author, and do pesky mouse. not necessarily reflect the po- These rooms have been presition of this publication. pared for possible viewing and examination by family and friends and others who might drop in for a short visitation.

The Christmas card lines are rapidly filling with greetings from far and near, coming from reliable correspondents who keep in touch at this time of year.

There was a frenzy in late November when greeting card boxes were missing from shelves of local shops, deliveries late and shoppers hopefully wishing.

Finally some boxed selections appeared, with Santa and angels and bells, even reindeer and Snoopy with Charlie and carollers wishing us all well.

This year’s family letter was short, with non-pandemic news hard to find and we refrained from listing all our other aches and pains, just to be kind.

It was fun to receive newsy letters from friends we haven’t seen in awhile

but someday soon hopefully we will see them again in the grocery store aisle.

Buying suitable Christmas gifts this year has proven to be quite a chore but we persevered and now hope the recipients don’t wish we’d shopped more.

We’ve been out to see the lights, going east and south and then north and west until we’ve seen many Santas, and reindeer, Mary and the Baby and all the rest.

Santa drove some of those same streets and gathered food so families can feast on turkey and chicken, ham with a yam, maybe even a roast from a bovine beast.

Christmas music plays non-stop on the radio and carollers still go door to door, where they receive egg nog and chocolates but are too polite to ask for more.

As the days go by and time slips away, floors are swept and new towels put out.

The best dishes are prepared and brown stains are washed from that teapot spout.

Christmas cakes have aged a few weeks despite a friend’s hint for an early bite.

Patience, he was told, is a virtue and so he will wait until Christmas Eve night.

Christmas tables will groan with all sorts and varieties of traditional food but empty chairs for much loved deceased family mem-

bers dampen the mood.

But we keep their memories close and remember good times of years gone by, thankful we had them for awhile and realizing life can change in a blink of an eye.

So dear readers, friends, family, strangers and all: my best wishes go your way, Merry Christmas, festive blessings and Happy New Year is what I say today.

•••••••••••••••••• Last year at this time we were reconciled to the orders that our Christmas celebrations would be reduced in size and limited to our own homes. We grumbled and mumbled about the restrictions but followed directions because there was hope that 2021 would bring an end to the need to keep our distance from family and friends.

Now a year later we are still governed by some limitations and remain cautious about what format Christmas celebrations will take.

Regardless of the format, the true meaning of Christmas cannot be quelled by world affairs and inevitable shopping frenzies. We hold family and friends close to our hearts and embrace them when we are able. They bring us joy and that joy awakens memories of Christmases years ago when we gathered in large groups and held our doors open for anyone dropping in to exchange greetings.

However and wherever you observe this special day, may you have a very Merry Christmas.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Provincial libraries working together in collaboration

By April Meersman

The completion of the province’s first-ever 2022-2027 Provincial Public Library Sector Plan has been finalized.

This plan was created in collaboration with Saskatchewan’s 11 public library systems, representing more than 300 public library branches around the province. The plan will support the library systems working in collaboration with each other and the Ministry of Education to meet the needs of Saskatchewan residents now and into the future.

“I am pleased to see the advice given to the government through this comprehensive plan,” Education Minister Dustin Duncan said. “A stronger Saskatchewan library system means easier access to critical resources for the public.”

The Library Sector Plan consists of five main priorities: ● System Sustainability: Libraries are an ever-changing environment that needs to reflect current and future

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needs of Saskatchewan residents with programs and resource assistance as well as continued growth. ● Technology: Provide staff training in technology that will be utilized by the residents to shape a positive technological future. ● Reconciliation: Build and develop library services and programs with Indigenous peoples in the spirit of reconciliation. ● Literacy: Support the literacy of all Saskatchewan’s citizens so they can actively achieve participation in social and economic development. ● Infrastructure: Provide an accessible and welcoming community space through infrastructure development to meet the current and fu- Upgrades coming in the future. ture needs of Saskatchewan residents. systems by defining future resource needs of public liThe Public Library Sector Plan was developed in consultation with Saskatchewan public library brary systems and services and work with regional syssystems. In 2019. Feedback was gathered from over tems to determine strengths and weaknesses of the current 5,800 Saskatchewan residents who provided their input regional funding formula. This may include working on a on a library engagement report. That report was devel- new or revised formula.

Over 3 years: Work as the provincial public library oped after meetings with public library stakeholders and the majority of respondents supported the themes identi- system to identify future challenges and opportunities at a provincial level and conduct a review of the Public fied in the report.

2022-2023: Complete jurisdictional analysis to com- Libraries Act, 1996 with input from Boards and Library pare funding levels for public libraries in Saskatchewan; Directors.

For more information on The Public Library Sector analyze the impact of the variance in funding between library systems and research alternative and innovative Plan, please go to: saskatchewan.ca/government/governmethods of collaboration and resourcing between public ment-structure/ministries/education#annual-reports.

Results of the public survey can be found on saslibraries.

2023-2024: Plan for future sustainability of regional katchewan.ca.

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MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • PAGE A9

City Hall Council Notes The next regular council meeting is Monday, Jan. 10.

Garbage pickup in October will shift to weekly from biweekly, council decides Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Homeowners with excess yard waste in the fall will be pleased to hear that city hall plans to extend weekly garbage pickup into October.

During the 2022 budget discussions, city council voted 6-1 to move October waste collection to weekly from biweekly pickup for an extra municipal expense of $22,013 per year. Households will pay $9.99 per month for this extended garbage pickup, an increase of 22 cents.

Coun. Kim Robinson was opposed.

The municipality currently runs garbage pickup biweekly and increases that to weekly in June, July, August and September. Meanwhile, curbside recycling collection occurs biweekly throughout the year.

Background City hall sees higher landfill use in May and October, but this is because consumer habits have shifted from preserving and reusing items to throwing away single-use products made of cheap materials, said Darrin Stephanson, director of public works.

These habits create challenges for municipalities attempting to manage residential waste, he continued.

Based on information from Statistics Canada from 2018, Saskatchewan had the second-worst waste generation per capita in Canada after Quebec.

In Moose Jaw, data for 2020 show 8,222,429 kilograms of residential waste went to the landfill while city

hall diverted 1,353,060 kilograms of recycling from the landfill. However, 1,022,455 kilograms of recycling still went into the landfill, while 901,140 kilograms of other divertible materials went to the landfill.

“This shows that nearly two million kilograms of material sent to the landfill by homeowners can be diverted through existing recycling and diversion programs available in the city,” said Stephanson. “Even more alarming is that improper disposal of these materials increases by 70.6 per cent when the waste collection schedule switches to weekly from biweekly.”

City hall offered two free yard waste weekends this fall, which saw 476 residents — four per cent of all residential waste collection customers — use the programs, he continued. Council also waived fees for a second waste bin in October, but city hall received only four requests for this service.

“What the data is telling us,” Stephanson added, “is (that) better waste management is needed from citizens and not enhanced collection.”

Council discussion “It’s really great to see these statistics and numbers because it tells a deeper dive of what people are actually doing out there,” said Coun. Crystal Froese, who wondered if recycling pickup could move to weekly to encourage better habits.

City hall would have to speak with its provider about that since it’s not part of the contract, said Stephanson.

However, it’s probably not worth it since recycling bins are not full now and city hall does not receive requests for second blue bins.

Residents can also use the bulk recycling bins near the city yards on High Street West.

Residents usually ask in autumn for the continuation of weekly garbage pickup, especially people who live in the avenues and have mature trees that don’t shed leaves until October or November, said Coun. Dawn Luhning.

While free yard waste weekends are great for people with vehicles, not everyone can haul waste to the landfill.

Garbage pickup and snow removal are the two issues residents complain about the most, she continued. Waste collection is a no-win situation because while she wants weekly pickup in October, she doesn’t want more costs for residents.

Coun. Doug Blanc has heard many complaints about the need for weekly pickup in October. He pointed to statistics that show the average household produces 56.1 kilograms of waste in October compared to 43.6 kgs in September.

Blanc added that residents need to be better educated about what goes into recycling bins and what can be diverted from the landfill.

High price tag deters council from enhancing snow hauling policy Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

City council knows that snow removal is one of the biggest issues residents complain about — after garbage pickup, of course — but it will not enhance that cold service because of the high price tag.

The current winter maintenance policy — structured around five annual snow events — calls for plowing and hauling of snow from four priority routes when snowfalls exceed five centimetres (about two inches). The policy ensures 123.7 kilometres of roads are cleared, with snow completely removed from 25.4 kilometres of roads.

Snow hauling covers downtown commercial zones, school frontages for enhanced visibility and high-traffic roadways where storage is not possible, such as Ninth and First avenues northwest.

Premium service “Snow hauling is a premium service and is four to five times higher in cost and service deliverability than conventional snow plowing. The current snow haul costs an average of $3.03 per metre and takes four to five days to complete, dependent on the quantity of snowfall,” Darrin Stephanson, director of public works, said during a 2022 budget discussion meeting.

A combination of municipal and contractor units — semi-trucks and trailers, graders, front-end loaders and flagging vehicles — is required to complete this work.

There are 28.2 kilometres of priority 1 and 2 routes

where hauling is unnecessary since the snow can be pushed into ditches, he continued. Meanwhile, 33.2 kilometres of roads could be considered for extra snow hauling, although most of these streets are residential, making it difficult to send in heavy equipment.

Normally there are three to four major snowfalls a year, with one big blizzard usually dropping over 15 centimetres of snow, Stephanson added.

Costs to upgrade service Stephanson presented two options for increasing snow hauling on the 33.2 kilometres of roads.

The first option is the “lowest level of service at the lowest cost,” with snow windrows hauled away 18 days after a major snowfall. This would add an extra $603,575 annually to the operating budget.

The second option would see more crews and equipment remove windrows nine days after a major snowfall.

Four major pieces of equipment would have to be purchased for $1.55 million, while an extra $916,794 would be added annually to the operating budget for this work.

Additional employees would also have to be hired.

Since option 2 totals $2,466,794, that would equal a tax increase of eight per cent in 2022.

Neither option was acceptable to council, which voted unanimously to receive and file Stephanson’s report and maintain the existing snow clearing policy.

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Council discussion The most recent snowfall forced city crews to pile snow in the centre turning lanes of First Avenue Northwest and on Main Street, Coun. Dawn Luhning pointed out. She didn’t think snow should be piled on these streets because of how narrow they are and because of the centre lanes.

Crews will, in the future, push snow into the parking lanes on First Avenue Northwest, which shouldn’t affect the centre lanes, replied Stephanson.

Residents complain about snow removal in the winter and garbage pickup in the summer, but there isn’t enough budget to add this extra cost, said Coun. Doug Blanc.

“But I think snow removal is very, very important because it’s something the citizens can see. It’s something that they can grasp onto,” compared to work with the cast iron replacement program, he added.

Residents would be dissatisfied with option 1, while option 2 would bring a major tax hike, which means council must defend the existing policy and say that staff must work within budget and available equipment, said Coun.

Heather Eby. Meanwhile, she thought city staff was doing as well as possible clearing snow given the conditions in Saskatchewan.

PAGE A10 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021

City Hall Council Notes The next regular council meeting is Monday, Jan. 10.

City’s investment portfolios generated nearly $10M this year in interest Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

The City of Moose Jaw’s investment portfolios generated nearly $10 million this year in interest, while the portfolios have created over $20 million in additional revenue since their inception two years ago.

During city council’s Dec. 13 regular meeting, council received the investment committee’s report for 2021.

From Jan. 1 to Nov. 30, the municipality’s medium-term and long-term portfolios had generated $9,255,474.49 in interest.

There was $29,806,075.08 in the medium-term portfolio and $82,061,692.44 in the long-term portfolio as of Nov. 30, for a total of $111,867,767.52. In comparison, by the end of 2020, those portfolios were $31,279,510.67 and $75,367,454.91, respectively.

Since 2019, the portfolios have generated a combined $20,945,110.87 in interest.

Council later voted to receive and file the document.

Medium-term portfolio During the shortened fourth quarter, the medium-term portfolio saw a negative return of 0.44 per cent. However, year-to-date, the portfolio achieved 6.35 per cent, while it has seen returns of 6.4 per cent since inception in 2019.

In comparison, the expected return of this file was 4.25 per cent.

Long-term portfolio During the shortened fourth quarter, the long-term portfolio saw a negative return of 1.12 per cent. However, year-to-date, the portfolio has achieved 9.70 per cent, while it has seen returns of 9.88 per cent since inception two years ago.

In comparison, the expected return of this investment file was six per cent.

Committee comments The investment committee continues to overweight both portfolios in equities by about five per cent, a decision made to offset historic lows in fixed income markets that are seeing negative returns due to inflation, said Coun.

Dawn Luhning, a member of the investment committee.

The committee’s decision to sell the city’s bond portfolio and reinvest that money into guaranteed investment certificates (GICs) is proving to be a good decision, she added, given the near-negative — or in some cases, actual negative — returns of current bond opportunities.

Investment outlook The economic rebound from last year’s recession is now past and some of the “extreme dislocations” resulting from the pandemic are moderating, the Royal Bank of Canada said in its global investment outlook that was part

of the investment report.

“While the economy is slowing, growth remains robust and consumers are well-positioned to support the expansion. Bond yields remain unsustainably low and we continue to prefer equities as surging corporate profits have pushed the bull market to new highs,” the report continued.

RBC forecasted that real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in many developed countries would be about four per cent, nearly double the pre-pandemic levels. While the pandemic remained a risk and government stimulus money was still floating around, one factor that could offset those risks is the trillions of dollars that consumers had saved and that could boost the economy through increased spending.

Inflation was expected to return to pre-pandemic levels once the “distortions of the pandemic” had faded, while the U.S. greenback was expected to see a long-term downward trend with further weaknesses in the coming years, the report added. Meanwhile, soaring corporate profits were contributing to an extended bull market in stocks.

Council approves 2022 budget with tax hike of 5.45 per cent Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

City council has approved the 2022 budget, which includes a tax hike of 5.45 per cent and increases in the water and sewer utilities by three per cent each.

Council voted 6-1 to approve the operating, capital and equipment reserve budgets during the Dec. 13 budget meeting.

Coun. Dawn Luhning was opposed.

The mill rate increase of 5.45 per cent will generate $1,692,933 in revenue for the operating and capital budgets. The mill rate is composed of a municipal tax hike of 3.84 per cent and an increase of 1.61 per cent for the Moose Jaw Police Service.

The mill rate increase means taxpayers will pay an extra $81.12 per year or $6.76 per month on their property bills.

One percentage point this year equalled $310,755.26 in municipal taxation.

In comparison, there was a mill rate increase of zero per cent in 2020 and 1.86 per cent in 2021.

Council voted 5-2 to increase the water and sewer utility rates by three per cent each, or six per cent combined.

This means taxpayers will fork over an extra $45.12 per year or $3.76 per month.

Councillors Luhning and Crystal Froese were opposed.

Furthermore, council voted 5-2 to increase the infrastructure levy by $35 to $100 per taxable property, with

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that money funding the cast iron water main replacement program next year. Increasing the levy to that amount will generate an extra $1.6 million per year for this project.

Luhning and Froese were opposed.

With the increase in the mill rate, water and sewer utilities and infrastructure levy, taxpayers will pay an extra $161.24 next year on their bills.

Meanwhile, council voted 6-1 to take $500,000 annually from the solid waste reserve and put it into the general revenue fund to fund maintenance costs with that utility.

Luhning was opposed.

Furthermore, council voted unanimously to take $1.6 million from the traffic safety reserve and allocate it to the general capital reserve capital budget, with $1.1 million directed toward the replacement project of the Thunderbird (Fourth Avenue bridge) Viaduct and $500,000 for traffic control intersection upgrades.

Also, council voted unanimously to designate the sewer main lining program and South Hill pumphouse upgrades as the City of Moose Jaw’s 2022 municipal gas tax-funded program. The city usually receives $2 million annually through this program.

Lastly, council voted unanimously to approve the 2022-26 capital and equipment reserve budgets and authorized city administration to tender and award the capital and equipment purchases for next year from those reserve budgets, subject to limitations laid out in the municipality’s purchasing policy and administration bylaw.

Budget components The City of Moose Jaw’s 2022 budget consists of the operating, capital and equipment components, which together total $132,823,244 in spending that will support

various programs, services and renewal of capital assets, the budget report said.

The general operating budget — which provides funding for programs and services, including transit, snow removal and recreational programs — projects revenues of $59,913,312 and expenses of $53,924,656. This represents an increase from this year of $444,680 and $1,456,024, respectively.

The transit and paratransit services will receive a combined subsidy of $1,457,822 next year, or about 70 per cent of overall costs. This year’s subsidy was $1,230,715, or 65 per cent of costs.

The general capital budget — which funds major construction, renovation and rehabilitation projects — requires $14,062,616 in funding in 2022, with $14,433,070 in capital funding available, the budget report said.

Meanwhile, next year’s funding request from the equipment reserve is $2,655,294. Most equipment purchases will be in public works, transportation, parks, and recreation.

Capital spending on land development will be $9,333,286.

City hall also expects to spend $29.3 million in the utility operating budget and $22.8 million in the utility capital budget.

All these figures added up to $132,823.244 in spending next year. This is an increase from $119 million this year.

The Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com will continue to report on projects and initiatives in the 2022 budget during the next few weeks.

Council approves bylaw to borrow $8M for pumphouse project Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Funding for the high service pumphouse replacement project is one step closer to reality after city council approved a motion during its recent meeting to officially authorize the borrowing of $8 million.

During its Dec. 13 regular meeting, council gave three unanimous readings to a borrowing bylaw that would enable city administration to acquire the funding through a bankers’ acceptance interest rate swap loan. The interest rate swap loan will be signed at the banker’s acceptance rate of two per cent plus 0.59 per cent for 15 years.

Council authorized the director of finance during the Nov. 22 regular meeting to negotiate, approve and enter into all necessary agreements with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and execute all documents, certificates and

other agreements necessary to facilitate the borrowing of $8 million from RBC. City hall will use the borrowed money to partially fund the planned expenses for the project, while $2 million will come from federal Gas Tax funding and $4 million from provincial Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) funding.

The City of Moose Jaw’s debt limit is $95 million, while current outstanding debts total just over $67 million. Adding the $8 million will increase the outstanding debt to $75,074,380. Meanwhile, an interest rate of 2.59 per cent over 15 years of the loan will add another $1.68 million in costs.

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • PAGE A11

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City Hall Council Notes The next regular council meeting is Monday, Jan. 10.

Mosaic Place wants over $220K next year to upgrade old equipment Mosaic Place is 10 years old and is showing its age, which is why it wants more than $220,000 in capital funding next year to upgrade several items.

Spectra Venue Management Services — which oversees the building — wants to develop a new website for $37,100, retrofit all lights to LEDs for $64,706.64, upgrade all food and beverage equipment for $42,400, undertake deferred repairs for $52,000 and upgrade ticketing equipment for $24,200. These items total $222,406.64.

It also wants to add new rigging steel to the venue’s five-year capital plan. The projected project cost is $994,217.

During the second 2022 budget meeting, held on Dec. 13, city council voted 4-2 to fund the website project; voted unanimously to fund LED retrofits; and voted 5-1 to fund food and beverage equipment upgrades.

Council also voted unanimously to fund deferred maintenance repairs; voted 5-1 to purchase new ticketing equipment, with the funding to come from the DFFH equipment reserve control account; and voted 5-1 to include new rigging steel in the five-year capital plan.

Councillors Jamey Logan and Dawn Luhning opposed the website; Logan opposed the rigging steel; and Luhning was opposed to the food and beverage equipment and the ticketing equipment.

Ryan MacIvor, general manager of Mosaic Place, presented the capital report during the meeting.

Councillor’s concerns “There’s a lot of expense here. I have some issues with a few things, but I understand the challenges that you’re faced with over there with capital upgrades … ,” said Luhning, who noted council gave the venue plenty of money this year. “But again, challenges around the budget.

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express We’ve got to be realistic with what we can pay for now and pay for in a couple of years.”

Luhning thought using investment income to fund some projects would be a better option. This would also be preferable than moving $500,000 from investments into the operating budget to mask an increase in that budget’s equipment reserve, which will “come back to roost with us next year.”

Website The website was built in 2011 and has not been updated since, while it is outdated, difficult to maintain and cumbersome to use, said MacIvor. Furthermore, the website puts Mosaic Place behind its competition, while there is no flow through the site.

The system’s backend is problematic since whenever problems arise, most building staff don’t have the skillset to solve them because of the system’s age, he added.

LED lighting More than 1,840 incandescent lightbulbs need to be changed to the more energy-efficient LEDs, although since Spectra took over in 2019, over 463 bulbs have changed to LEDs, saving $5,322.30 in utility costs, said MacIvor.

Also, building staff have replaced 101 exterior building lights with LEDs, saving $4,267.95 in utility costs.

Meanwhile, the federal government has provided funds to the municipality to install a solar array on Mosaic Place, which should save roughly $21,900 in annual utility costs, he added.

Food and beverage Much of the food and beverage equipment came from the former Crush Can stadium and is at least 15 years old, said MacIvor. The major items that need replacing include two keg units, three merchandising fridges, and two stand-

up freezers that either are inoperable or work intermittently.

The current eight-ounce kettle popcorn machines are also from the Crushed Can and are undersized, old, and cause quality issues, he added. This has forced Spectra to rent two used 32-ounce machines to cook more popcorn and provide a better product.

Deferred repairs Several mechanical and equipment items failed this year and need to be replaced, MacIvor said.

Some include a commercial hot water tank, carbon dioxide sensors, a fire suppression system in the concessions and kitchen, hydraulics in the overhead fire doors and west bay doors, flooring in the showers in the curling locker rooms and family bathrooms, and the public address system.

Ticketing equipment Council purchased new ticketing equipment this year as part of the SaskTix.ca program. MacIvor indicated that this project will transfer the assets from city hall’s financial books to the equipment reserve of Mosaic Place “to clean up assets.”

Rigging steel Installing rigging steel would make Mosaic Place more cost-effective and competitive with other venues, said MacIvor. Most large touring shows require one full pre-production day to hang the equipment here; it takes a few hours in venues with rigging steel.

It also costs $2,500 to rent one boom lift to install that equipment, although four units were required to hang equipment during the 2020 Brad Paisley show, he added. Three lifts are normally required for most shows; five shows a year equals $37,500 in extra costs.

Council approves subsidy increase of eight per cent for Mosaic Place Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

The organization that manages Mosaic Place expects the live events and concert industry to improve next year, which is why it wants a subsidy increase of over eight per cent.

City council provided Mosaic Place with a subsidy of $864,307 in 2021. However, after including $275,000 in bailout money, a $100,000 loan for food and beverages, and the equipment reserve account of $205,000, total funding jumped to $1,444,307.

Spectra Venue Management Services believes this year it will see revenue of $2,162,986 and expenses of $2,848,753 based on projected paid attendance of 95,500 and 127 events.

If its management and incentive fees of $157,677 are included, along with the food management fee of $42,000 and loan repayment of $50,000, then the subsidy Spectra wants next year is $935,444. This is an increase of $71,137 or 8.23 per cent from this year.

However, if the equipment reserve is included, the actual subsidy totals $1,135,444.

During the Dec. 13 budget meeting, city council voted 5-1 to approve the 2022 Mosaic Place budget and allow the venue to repay the food loan over two years.

Coun. Dawn Luhning was opposed.

Mayor Clive Tolley was absent.

Council discussion It will be imperative to receive timely quarterly updates next year on how Mosaic Place is doing because while the industry might not return to normal for another six to eight months, said Luhning. She didn’t know how long council could continue to “toss” the venue huge

amounts of money without revenues picking up.

“There are all kinds of other priorities and responsibilities at the city, and it’s tough — for me — to continue to keep funding,” she added. “I’m going to need some indepth reporting … to know where we’re at.”

The subsidy request of $935,444 is always what Coun.

Heather Eby thought Mosaic Place needed to run effectively, she said. She accepted that number, noting there is no room for error in the venue’s budget next year; events and concerts must be full even during poor weather.

It would be a good news story next year if the venue recovered 70 per cent of its costs as predicted, she added.

Meanwhile, providing the loan is really the city giving itself a loan since Mosaic Place is a municipal building.

Two-year repayment The idea that Spectra could repay the $100,000 over two years came from city manager Jim Puffalt, who told council that customer numbers have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Deferring the repayment ensures that Mosaic Place can repay the remaining portion in 2024, when customer numbers should return to normal.

The in-house food and beverage operation is a “profit centre” that could generate more than $110,000 a year in revenue, but once crowd sizes improve, that service could generate another $200,000, Puffalt added. This is all dependent on external factors such as the pandemic and people attending events.

Opportunities for growth Ryan MacIvor, general manager of Mosaic Place, said that while revenues have increased this year, there is room to grow those finances and opportunities to grow services

and activities. He acknowledged that that is dependent upon people coming back to the venue.

Some variables could affect Mosaic Place and the live concert/event industry next year, he continued. These include public health orders, consumer confidence, food costs, labour shortages, asset management, inflation, supply chain issues, pandemic costs, advertising and sponsorship rights, the carbon tax, increased utilities, salary increases, and revenue increases in ice rentals, tickets, food and naming rights.

MacIvor added that Spectra has secured three concerts for Mosaic Place next year and could acquire more.

PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF MOOSE JAW All Departments in City Hall will be closed on:

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2021 (From 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2021 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021 (All Day)

PAGE A12 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021

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City Hall Council Notes The next regular council meeting is Monday, Jan. 10.

New policy will guide decision-making around requests for public art, murals Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

With the collapse of the murals advisory committee, city hall plans to develop a policy to guide decisions about public art and create a new committee focused on this area.

The murals management committee has had difficulty finding and keeping members over the years. There were two citizens on the committee in January, but both quit this year, leaving Coun. Heather Eby as the remaining member.

Other than the murals program, the City of Moose Jaw does not have a formal policy to acquire and maintain public art, said Derek Blais, director of parks and recreation, during the Dec. 13 executive committee meeting.

“Over the past year, we’ve received a few different public art requests. A policy would provide us with a consistent approach to the acquisition and placement of all public art through purchase, commission, or donation for municipally-owned buildings, assets and properties,” he con-

tinued.

An example of a public art initiative this year was the Downtown Moose Jaw Association’s walking art tour, which saw 33 public assets painted with colourful and kid-themed pictures. Another initiative was the Crescent Park tree carving project, which the Crescent Park Foundation and museum and art gallery sponsored.

Restructuring the murals committee to a public art committee requires city council to repeal an existing murals bylaw and replace it with a new public art committee bylaw, Blais said. That bylaw would also serve as the terms of reference for the new group, composed of people with experience in the arts field.

Meanwhile, members of the parks and recreation advisory committee, staff from the museum and art gallery, and community murals artist Grant McLaughlin provided feedback about the proposed policy.

The next steps include having council repeal the murals committee bylaw and

Snowbirds technician charged with firearms offences after search of Bushell Park home Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Saskatchewan RCMP have charged Corporal Rhys Paradis with four firearms offences after a Dec. 10 search warrant was executed at CFB Moose Jaw. Paradis is a 13-year veteran of the Forces who began his military career in the army as a weapons technician in 2008. He made the switch to the air force in 2015 as an aircraft structures technician.

Paradis was posted to 431 Air Demonstration Squadron (the Snowbirds) Moose Jaw RCMP headquarters is on Saskatchewan in 2017 and completed his street (photo by Jason G. Antonio) trade apprenticeship at CFB The charges laid against Paradis are: Moose Jaw. He is listed on the Snowbirds team 1 count, manufacturing a restricted weappage as the Lead Aircraft Structures Tech- on, Section 99, Criminal Code 1 count, unlawful possession of a restrictnician.

On Dec. 10, the RCMP Crime Re- ed firearm, Section 91(1), Criminal Code duction Team (CRT) searched Paradis’ 1 count, unlawful possession of a prohibhome in Bushell Park with the assistance ited device, Section 91(2), Criminal Code of Moose Jaw RCMP, Saskatchewan RC- 1 count, unlicensed possession of a reMP’s National Weapons Enforcement stricted firearm with readily-accessible Team, and the Moose Jaw Police Service. ammunition, Section 95(b), Criminal Code He will appear in Moose Jaw ProvinGun parts were seized along with two cial Court on January 5, 2022. over-capacity magazines.

adopting the new public art committee bylaw and public art policy in the new year, with everything implemented by March, Blais said.

No additional funding is necessary for the new public art committee since it will use the funding provided to the murals committee, he continued. City hall provided the murals group with about $13,000 in annual funding; $19,675 will be carried forward next year, which means the new committee will only need an extra $6,475 to have a full budget of $26,150.

According to the proposed public art policy, 30 per cent of the public art fund will be allocated to new art and 70 per cent will maintain existing murals and plan for future projects. Therefore, next year $7,850 will be for new public art acquisitions and $18,300 will be for maintenance and planning.

Coun. Doug Blanc thought it was important that the new committee focused on murals and art so that neither area was for-

gotten. He also thought that the art projects completed this year would benefit tourists and residents who visit the downtown or Crescent Park.

“I totally support this. It’s a good evolution of the murals committee … ,” said Eby. It’s positive that there won’t be competition between funding mural repairs and acquiring new art, she continued. Murals degrade over time because of the elements, so she didn’t want to see those repairs stop.

Eby also hoped that this new committee attracted more volunteers, generated new interest in public art and led to more art city-wide.

Council later supported a recommendation to approve the proposed public art policy and public art committee bylaw.

The recommendation must be approved during a future regular meeting to become official.

City cancelling share of environment irrigation project

By Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

A district irrigation project— once hailed for saving Moose Jaw taxpayers millions of dollars — faces an abrupt end next year.

Continued cost-sharing of the 40-year-old project that uses sewage from the city will end on Dec. 31 “The city gave notice and cancelled our agreement at the end of the year,” said Rick Swenson.

Swenson, one of six farmers with 3,300 acres in total under irrigation, said negotiations with the city have gone nowhere.

“This is one of the best environmental projects on the Prairies. We figure we have saved the city $5 million in alum costs (or treatment) alone” plus the costs of a chemical treatment plant for almost 40 years.

Back in 1978, faced with construction of a chemical treatment plant the city saved taxpayers millions by opting for the irrigation project which uses sewage water to irrigate crops.

The project has expanded over the years.

During wet years in the early 2000s, the irrigators didn’t need the water. The city received permits from Sask. Environment to dump sewage in the Moose Jaw River several times.

That led to an order from Environment to build a chemical treatment plant.

The new plant doesn’t seem to be why the city cancelled the agreement of cost sharing, according to Swenson.

Former City Manager Matt Noble and former city engineer Josh Mickleborough decided to avoid liability and risk with the plant and urged cancelling the agreement City officials wanted to eliminate any obligations such as if the pipeline under the river should break, says Swenson.

“We have no other source of water.

There are no other water licences. We can’t go it alone.”

The project is less than a mid-sized farm, he noted.

Over the years, the Baildon Irrigation project has developed “a nice feed industry” growing corn for silage in recent years.

The city saved money on chemical treatment, the farmers saw poor land become productive and local feedlots had a source of feed.

“We can expand that industry.” A local feedlot carrying 10,000 head wants to expand to 18,000 head.

Under the agreement, the city pays for power and has cost-shared irrigation equipment to the tune of about $500,000.

The cost of power is $26 an acre.

The original infrastructure, pipeline, pump house and drainage was built with federal and provincial money.

“They have backed off too.”

Swenson said Moose Jaw Councillor Crystal Froese has been out to look at the project. “She thinks it’s nuts to cancel it.”

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • PAGE A13

City Hall Council Notes The next regular council meeting is Monday, Jan. 10.

Subdivision application will create new non-farm residence south of city Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

A dual-parcel rural property that the City of Moose Jaw annexed in 2017 will soon be separated to address a past mistake that saw a home built on the property line.

During the Dec. 13 regular council meeting, city council unanimously approved a discretionary use application and subdivision application for “non-farm residential” on parcels A and B, civically known as 1301 Ninth Avenue Southeast.

The subdivision application will create a new nonfarm residential property zoned AR agricultural resource district, while an existing residence will be separated from the adjacent agricultural use on the same site. This proposed lot is considered discretionary since it is under a non-farm residential use.

While the city annexed the land four years ago, the property remained under a zoning bylaw designation from the Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw, a council report explained. Therefore, the current applications must be reviewed against the land-use policies of the RM and city.

The layout of 1301 Ninth Avenue Southeast consists

of parcel B, which comprises about 140 acres, and parcel A, in the northeast of the site, comprising 17 acres. A home is located on parcel B, while an equine-related business — including a riding ring — is located on parcel A. “Another residence, which was intended to be built on parcel A, was mistakenly built straddling the north-south property line separating parcels A and B,” the report continued.

The applicant submitted a subdivision application to city hall asking for a third lot — parcel C — to be created.

It would comprise 9.15 acres taken from the other two parcels and be situated between them. The second residence will be fully contained on the new parcel and compliant with all necessary setbacks.

The new parcel will use the existing access road from Ninth Avenue Southeast, but this will cut off parcel A’s access to that road, the report continued. The property owners will maintain legal road access through an existing panhandle south to 14th Avenue Southeast to rectify this problem.

The discretionary classification is to prevent the “suburbanization of arable agricultural land,” ensuring that residences are only built as an accessory to an ag operation until council authorizes something else on an individual basis.

“In this case, the residence is existing and was occupied by the stable manager of the riding facilities, though it’s acknowledged that the new parcel will be sold to a third party and will no longer have involvement with the equine or agricultural activities,” said the report.

All services exist on the property and will not need to be altered to accommodate the proposal. Furthermore, no existing utility easements will be affected by the subdivision.

The report added that the non-farm residential use of the property should not affect the future use of surrounding land. However, the nearby industrial development could make the property less desirable as a non-farm residence.

Despite tax increase, residents should like most projects in 2022 budget, council says Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

enough to find savings in the budget, while the 5.45-percent tax increase was “a little rich for my blood.”

Council won’t be popular with this budget, but even if it reduced the mill rate to three per cent, there would still be disappointed people, said Coun. Kim Robinson.

While there are things in the budget he does not like, he pointed out that council collectively is passing the budget.

“I really believe that if we deliver what we say we’re going to deliver, then people won’t worry about paying an extra ($81.12 per year via the mill rate increase),” he added.

This budget is worth supporting and there are many projects residents will appreciate, such as the humane society’s spay and neuter program, new pickleball courts, a new transit route to Yara Centre and weekly garbage pickup in October, said Coun. Heather Eby. No one will jump for joy at 5.45 per cent and residents will likely verbally beat up council, but the increase “is in the ballpark” and supports the community, she added.

This budget provides “strong direction” as council moves through uncertain times during the pandemic, said Coun. Crystal Froese. Council kept the mill rate under four per cent, while the police will receive needed funding for their work.

City council agreed that residents probably won’t like a tax hike next year of 5.45 per cent but pointed out there are some good projects to satisfy most people.

During the Dec. 15 budget meeting, council voted 6-1 — Coun. Dawn Luhning was opposed — to approve the 2022 operating, capital and equipment reserve budgets.

The increase includes a mill rate hike of 3.84 per cent for municipal programs and services and 1.61 per cent for the Moose Jaw Police Service.

The mill rate increase means taxpayers will pay an extra $81.12 per year on their property bills in 2022. With the increase in the mill rate, water and sewer utilities, and infrastructure levy, taxpayers will pay an extra $161.24 in total on their bills.

Council discussion There are good initiatives in the budget, some of which residents will see daily and some they won’t see that will contribute to the increase, said Luhning. Meanwhile, council decided against hauling away snow or moving to weekly garbage pickup year-round, which are important to people.

“I am not in favour of some things in there because I don’t think they are a priority for us right now,” she continued, adding she didn’t think council worked hard

OPINION/EDITORIAL

LETTERS TO

THE

EDITOR

Guidelines for Submitting Letters to the Editor:

Due to space allotment in Moose Jaw Express for free letters to the editor, we find it necessary to establish some guidelines in submissions that will be in effect as of March 15, 2021.

• All letters to the editor submitted to the Moose Jaw Express newspaper should not exceed 800 words, although they can be much longer to be included in our online daily MooseJawToday.com . In this case, we reserve the right to edit them accordingly.

Re: City and Carbon Imprint I read with great interest the article in December 9th edition of the Moose Jaw Express titled “City begins installing solar panels on buildings as part of $1M project”. The article may illustrate a tipping point. The cost of generating electricity by harnessing sunlight has dropped to the point that it makes sense both from an economic and environmental perspective.

To paraphrase it will cost 1 million dollars to con-

vert Yara Center to LED lighting and install 730 solar panels on Yara Center, Mosaic Place, and the building housing city hall and Moose Jaw Police Station.

The federal and provincial governments will cover $760,120 of the cost and City of Moose Jaw will cover the remaining $238,931.

The project is estimated to reduce the city’s utility bill by $170,000 annually as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 829 tonnes a year.

Now that is a good investment! The entire million

Re: City of Moose Jaw Bylaw #5658 There is a good reason why the fox doesn’t have keys to the hen house. Why? The fox would kill all the chickens.

The City of Moose Jaw bylaw #5658 did just that. By allowing an elected mayor or councillor the privilege to take a leave-of-absence in order to run for federal or provincial elected positions legitimizes ex - Mayor Tolmie’s actions. This resulted in a tax-

payer expense of more than $55,000 to elect a new mayor. In addition, by-law 5658 was passed unanimously.

Furthermore, this bylaw passed first, second and third reading in one sitting which allowed absolutely no time for public input. This destroys the possibility of capturing the cost of a future by-election due to an elected public official resigning.

Our Moose Jaw city council voted seven to zero

There are many initiatives that residents expect council to pursue, such as economic development, infrastructure enhancement, and water security, she continued. She accepted the overall budget increase, even though she wasn’t “super-duper excited about it.”

“I still carry the weight of the fact that people are struggling. So, every penny counts,” Froese added.

Council members will probably lose sleep and wonder if they could have done things differently, but they should remember that they approved many projects that will benefit the future, said Coun. Jamey Logan. After all, the goal is to attract people to Moose Jaw to improve the community and have more taxpayers.

Mayor Clive Tolley thought the tax hike was acceptable, considering the increase in 2020 was zero and this year was 1.86 per cent. This decision was necessary to ensure council didn’t have to play catch-up each year.

“I believe we’re still paying for the fact there was zero-per-cent increases for a long time in this city,” he added.

Coun. Doug Blanc agreed with his colleagues, pointing out people pay more for gasoline and phone, TV and internet bills than they will with this tax hike.

• A full name and contact information will need to be included with each submission for verification.

• Only the name will be included in publication with the letter as the contributor.

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dollar cost will be saved in just 5.8 years and the city’s portion of the cost will be paid in utility savings in just 17 months! Solar panels are projected to last for at least 25 years so the project will save Moose Jaw’s tax payers in excess of 4 million dollars!

That is a really positive outcome; we the citizens of Moose Jaw are collectively not only reducing our carbon footprint we are also saving money.

Robert Bellamy

to approve by-law #5658 even though months earlier they took an oath of office and pledged to perform the duties of their position. This position requires a four year commitment of which remuneration was partially received.

This by-law will essentially allow our councillors to walk away from their moral and ethical commitment.

Art King

PAGE A14 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021

City Hall Council Notes The next regular council meeting is Monday, Jan. 10.

Property tax hike could be closer to 11% because of hidden costs, analysis suggests Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

City council approved a property tax increase of 5.45 per cent for 2022, but with all the money city administration is moving around to fund initiatives, that increase might be closer to 11 per cent, an analysis suggests.

The 5.45-per-cent property tax increase includes a mill rate hike of 3.84 per cent to fund municipal programs and services and 1.61 per cent for the Moose Jaw Police Service’s budget.

Considering a one-per-cent tax hike next year represents $310,755.26, the mill rate increase will generate $1,193,300.19 in extra revenue for the city, while the police service will receive $498,719 more in funding.

That additional revenue from the mill rate increase will help cover the initial budget deficit of roughly $1 million.

It’s when one digs deeper into the budget that one finds there are likely hidden tax increases that are not trumpeted as such.

(Comments from city manager Jim Puffalt about these likely hidden tax hikes are at the bottom of the story).

Components of analysis Council approved a motion to increase the infrastructure levy to $100 per taxable household from $65. This hike of $35 will generate an extra $600,000 in revenue, or equal 1.93 per cent.

The levy will provide city hall with $1.6 million annually to help fund the cast iron water main replacement program.

Meanwhile, council agreed to transfer $500,000 annually from the solid waste utility to the operating budget’s general rev-

enue fund. This money equals 1.6 per cent.

Solid waste utility revenues are supposed to fund the utility itself, not mitigate property tax increases. Moreover, the municipality created the utility to be an independent self-sustaining entity that already pays a franchise-type fee to the operating budget, according to previous council reports.

A franchise fee is where the city taxes itself in the water, sewer, and waste utility to give money to the operating budget.

Besides transferring half-a-million dollars from the solid waste utility to cover part of the tax increase, council also voted to increase homeowners’ garbage collection fees by $9.99 per month or $119.88 a year to cover weekly pickup in October.

Meanwhile, council approved a onetime transfer of $500,000 from the capital budget’s equipment reserve fund to the operating budget to lower equipment contribution levels — an operating expense — next year and allow for self-funding.

That money — originally from investment earnings and that might not be available for 2023 — equals 1.6 per cent.

This is the first time that money from equipment reserves has been used to finance the operating budget in this manner, as usually funds flow the other way: from operations to the capital budget.

“This one-time additional contribution is made possible by the city’s investment portfolio outperforming the targeted return levels in 2021,” the budget report said.

Therefore, the $500,000 from the solid waste utility and $500,000 from investment

funds for the operating budget totals $1 million, or 3.2 per cent. This funding could have been used to reduce the borrowing for the high service pumphouse project, which requires a loan of $8 million.

Furthermore, council members approved a motion to provide 18 out-of-scope (OOS) employees with retroactive and regular pay raises that they originally turned down during 2021 budget deliberations by referring the pay increase to this budget.

The retroactive pay raise for 2021 will total $99,196 — or $5,510.88 per OOS employee — and will come from accumulated salary reserves. The pay increase for 2022 will total $134,896 — or $7,494.22 per OOS employee — and $74,482 be funded from salary reserves and $60,414 to be funded from the operating budget.

The pay raise for the OOS staff next year using reserve funds equals 0.24 per cent.

Therefore, 5.45 per cent plus 1.93 per cent plus 1.6 per cent plus 1.6 per cent 0.24 per cent equals 10.82 per cent — 5.37 per cent beyond the approved tax hike. This also involves $1,674,482 in extra funding.

City manager’s perspective During a post-council meeting news scrum, media asked Puffalt whether the transfer of $500,000 from the solid waste utility and $500,000 from reserves were a hidden tax since property taxes usually fund operations.

“It’s not just the weekly collection fees that are charged … . There are a substantial amount of revenue made from the waste disposal site itself,” he said.

“The premise is that garbage trucks are running up and down the streets. They are causing damages. So, the waste management utility is paying a portion back to the city for those maintenance costs that are associated with it.”

There is more than enough money in reserves for the new landfill to help fund operations, while the utility generates plenty of revenues at the gate, Puffalt continued. Thus, the premise of a hidden tax was in how people perceived the situation, or “dice(d) it and slice(d) it.”

If the investment money — the past three years have produced positive financial returns — was not available next year to fund projects, then city hall would not be able to access it, he said. However, the equipment reserve is starting to fund itself because of the interest being generated from the investment money, which is good news.

Starting deficit When asked about the initial $1 million deficit in the budget, Puffalt said that city administration does that every year.

“We come and we’re saying, this is what is needed for property taxation to balance the budgets,” he stated.

One reason for that deficit is because the city will receive $300,000 less from provincial revenue sharing, while one-time federal COVID-19 restart funding of $2 million is no longer available, Puffalt said.

“It’s a tough budget year, for sure,” he added. “As we talked about, we can’t control inflation, we can’t control carbon taxes, we can’t control power rates. There’s a lot of things we can’t control in our prices.”

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express hike in water and sewer utilities, taxpayers the average tax hike since 2020 has been will pay an extra $161.24 on their bills next about 2.8 per cent, which is roughly in line year. with inflation.

City council held the tax increase in The actual average tax hike during the 2020 to zero per cent after the COVID-19 past three years has been 2.77 per cent. pandemic struck, while council approved For many years there were tax hikes of an increase of 2.86 per cent for this year zero per cent in Moose Jaw, which put the and 5.45 per cent for next year, Tolley said municipality at a disadvantage with comduring a recent media scrum. This means pleting infrastructure work, the mayor continued. Council and city hall are playing catch up to address that work, especially with the cast iron water main replacement program.

“I think all in all, taxpayers will look at this as — over a three-year period of 2.8-per-cent increase per year is — not too bad,” Tolley added.

Use of reserve funding Tolley thought it was a “wise choice” to fund projects from reserve (savings) accounts, especially if those projects were important. The reason reserves were built was to ensure council had sufficient funds for new projects in the budget.

“The good planning that was done many years ago to build our reserves is putting in a position to do that — we’re thankful for that,” he said.

Finance director Brian Acker has done a good job of managing the city’s finances and reserves, while council has invested its money wisely during the past few years and attained solid interest returns, the mayor continued. Residents want to know when Moose Jaw will receive fun “stuff” — such as pickleball courts — so council is responding to those demands.

When asked if council should have cut spending next year — especially when faced with $2.6 million in less funding federally and provincially — Tolley replied

that council views this extra spending as an investment to help the community grow and provide sufficient activities for residents.

New initiatives Many residents “gripe” about municipal services and say they want changes, so council responded by approving several new initiatives, Tolley said.

This includes extending weekly garbage pickup into October, building pickleball courts, helping the humane society with a spay and neuter program, pursuing a green project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from city buildings, modernizing information technology at city hall, providing funding to rehabilitate the Fourth Avenue bridge, and enhancing economic development downtown.

Lack of revenue growth City administration said during the 2022 budget discussions that there was no new revenue growth this year. Part of this was due to less revenue sharing from the provincial government.

During the media scrum, city manager Jim Puffalt said municipalities must be prepared to receive less money from the province during economic downturns. However, this is manageable when agreements are in place versus when the government arbitrarily took away grants in lieu in 2017.

Meanwhile, the federal government provided roughly $2.2 million in one-time restart funding that council used in 2021 but was unable to keep any of that funding for 2022, he added. However, city hall has seen some revenue growth with successful property assessment appeals, which should help the budget.

2022 tax hike ‘not too bad’ compared to past years, mayor says

Mayor Clive Tolley says the 5.45-per-cent property tax hike in the 2022 budget is justifiable, considering city council has held tax increases low during the past few years.

Next year’s tax hike includes a mill rate increase of 3.84 per cent to fund municipal programs and services and 1.61 per cent more for the Moose Jaw Police Service. Along with a combined six-per-cent

Mayor Clive Tolley Holiday Message 2021

The people of Moose Jaw have done an admirable job in 2021, surviving this most difficult pandemic year.

Looking forward, we need to grow our City by investing in our economic growth, expanding our recreation facilities and opportunities, enhancing our customer service and continuing the renewal of our infrastructure.

We can all do our part to help build our City into a place that we all feel proud to say is truly notorious. Notorious for our friendly people, notorious for our attractions, and notoriously welcoming to all. To anyone considering a business development, a move to our beautiful City or simply coming for a visit, we welcome you.

On behalf of myself and my family, our City Council and our City Administration, stay safe and well, and enjoy this special time of year by spending time with family and friends!

Clive

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • PAGE A15

‘Good Buy to Hunger’ campaign sets record this year with community contributions

By Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

event with Gabrielle Belanger, supervisor of support services at CP Rail Moose Jaw. Donations from local businesses always pour in on the last day of the campaign, so Turner and Belanger won’t know for a while just how much food was donated. It’s safe to say, however, that there are many tonnes.

Belanger coordinates the CP Holiday Train in Moose Jaw. The train is strictly dedicated for the holidays, and tours across Canada and into the US, working with local food banks at every stop to maximize donations.

Belanger added that while the Holiday Deann Little – client resource rep at Train stops in many places, Moose Jaw’s the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank stands amidst the shipment of food that food drive is special. “We were number two in all of North America two years ago.” was delivered to the Food Bank.

The Holiday Train will be an online The “Good Buy to Hunger” campaign event again this year due to the pandemic broke its record this year by a huge margin. and was streamed live on December 18th.

Tim Wonsiak, grocery manager at the Running from November 26 to December 16th, the Moose Jaw Co-op Food Moose Jaw Co-op Food Store, said he beStore, CP Rail, Golden West Radio, and gins ordering for the Good Buy to Hunger the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank campaign around late September or early partnered up for the campaign where cus- October. tomers were able to purchase $10 bags of groceries at the Co-op to be delivered to the Food Bank.

Although the campaign officially ending on Dec. 16, the Moose Jaw Co-op will continue selling those food bags until the 24th, and deliveries to the Food Bank will continue until every dollar has been accounted for.

“As of yesterday, we’re at about 1200 bags sold just from customer purchases,” said Michaela Turner, marketing and community relations manager at the Co-op. Tim Wonsiak, grocery manager at “And that’s a new record for us. Last year, Moose Jaw Co-op Food Store, with a few of the pallets he’s been ordering and we were around 700.”

Turner works closely on the annual organizing since late September

“I try to find the best deals I can so the donations we receive go as far as possible,” Wonsiak explained. He said that while customers pay $10 for the bags at the checkout, he leverages the wholesale cost of groceries and the best deals possible in the months leading up to the drive so that the value of food eventually delivered to the food bank is about $16.

“I talk to the food bank as well, and I ask them, ‘what else is needed?’” he said. Sometimes canned fruit is important, sometimes it’s toilet paper or cereal or beans. Wonsiak said the bag customers buy at the checkout isn’t actually what’s delivered – it all translates into pallets of wholesale goods.

bank, using a trailer donated by Ottawa Real Estate Moose Jaw. On Friday morning, Jason Moore, development manager at Moose Jaw and District Food Bank, said that eight pallets have been delivered so far.

“We are so grateful to the community, once again, for another incredible Good Buy to Hunger campaign,” Moore told MooseJawToday.com. “Just in time for the holidays, we’ve been able to make some very nice hampers of food for those people who need it. We are blessed to live in such a generous community, full of people who help each other out.”

The Co-op also donated 2592 cans of beans ($4500 worth, 3900 lbs/1769 kgs) over and above the results of the campaign.

“We won’t know the final tally for a while,” Michaela Turner added. “We’ve had big surprises in past years, and a lot of it is last minute. It’s an exciting day and it’s always fun.”

Volunteers from the Moose Jaw Fire Department next to the trailer donated for the purpose by Ottawa Real Estate Moose Jaw. The firefighters transported all the food collected so far to the food bank Firefighters from the Moose Jaw Fire Department were on hand at 4:00 pm last Thursday to deliver the food to the food

"Some Christmas tree ornaments do a lot more than glitter and glow; they represent a gift of love given a long time ago.”

- Tom Baker

Call 306-691-0080

Michaela Turner, marketing and community relations manager at MJ Co-op; Darroch Cairns, general sales manager at Murray GM, which made a generous donation; Geoff Anderson, general manager at MJ Co-op; and Gabrielle Belanger, supervisor of support services at CP Rail Moose Jaw

Wednesday December 22nd

1PM to 2PM Christmas Music Performed Live on Cello Lobby of Panda Tire & Auto - Duncan Blackman

888 Main Street

“In the Heart of Downtown Moose Jaw”

PAGE A16 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021

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Share your team’s news, pictures and results with us!

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Warriors home-and-home split with Regina closes out pre-Christmas schedule Moose Jaw falls 6-5 to Pats in Regina before rebounding with 5-3 win at home, fall 5-4 in overtime to Saskatoon Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Robert Baco celebrates after scoring the Warriors’ third goal against Regina.

The Moose Jaw Warriors have had their share of bounce-back performances this season, but their showing this past weekend against the Regina Pats was one of the most impressive.

Not just because it nearly led to a comeback win to open a home-and-home set with their arch-rivals, but how it happened mid-game and eventually led to a solid victory 24 hours later.

The Warriors dropped a 6-5 decision in Regina Friday but rebounded for a 5-3 win back home at Mosaic Place Saturday and will go into the Christmas break with a .500 record at 14-14-2-1.

“Last game we didn’t start very well and this game we played a hard 60 minutes and that was the difference,” said Warriors forward Brayden Yager, who had a goal and an assist in Saturday’s contest and was the first star. “We finished strong last game and kind of built on that, it was a lot better and now we get to go into Christmas with a win.”

Thomas Tien, Nathan Pilling and Robert Baco had three of the Warriors’ other goals. The markers were the third of the season for Baco and Tien and Pilling’s second, bringing some much-needed depth scoring to the team at a time of the season where developing that kind of offence will be key going forward.

“If we can get all four lines moving and scoring goals, it obviously makes us hard to play against,” Yager said. “They can’t match up certain lines if we get all four lines scoring, it’ll be an important part of the team and it’ll help us out a lot if we can keep doing that.”

Of course, the usual suspects were also at it — Jagger Firkus scored his 15th to close out Warriors scoring, Yager’s goal was his 14th of the campaign and Ryder Korczak had three assists, giving him 10 points in his last four games.

The Warriors led 1-0 after the first and 4-1 through two.

Logan Nijhoff, Tanner Howe and Parker Berghe scored for Regina.

Carl Tetachuk made 37 saves in taking the win, Matthew Kieper stopped 27.

In Regina, the Pats took 4-0- and 5-1 leads before the game was 24 minutes old, but the Warriors flipped the script midway through the second, battling back to within one before the second period was out and nearly tying the game in the third before falling by a single marker.

Atley Calvert had a goal and two assists in the near-comeback, while Yager, Pilling, Firkus and Cade Hayes had their other markers. Max Wanner and Denton Mateychuk added a pair of assists each.

Howe scored twice for Regina, while Nijhoff, Cole Dubinsky, Cole Carrier and Layton Feist had their other goals.

Jackson Unger had 21 saves for the Warriors, Drew Sim stopped 32 for Regina.

The Warriors opened the week with another close 5-4 overtime loss to Saskatoon

Warriors forward Tate Schofer attempts to fight through a pair of Regina Pats defenders.

Ryder Korczak (centre) has 10 points in his last four games heading into the break.

on Tuesday.

Korczak enjoyed his best game of the season in the defeat with two goals and two assists. Cole Jordan scored his first of the season and Martin Rysavy had the Warriors’ other marker. Rysavy left the following day to join the Czech Republic for the World Junior Championship in Edmonton.

Tristen Robins scored the overtime winner for the Blades, while Brandon Lisowsky scored a hat trick in a span of just over six minutes in the second period.

Jayden Wiens had their other goal.

Tetachuk had 25 saves in the loss, Austin Elliott 35 for Saskatoon.

The Warriors are now off until Dec. 28 when they host the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Game time is 7 p.m. at Mosaic Place.

Former Warriors standout Halbgewachs makes NHL debut with San Jose Season of success with AHL’s Barracuda leads to call-up for former WHL scoring champion Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

on Thursday night in the Sharks’ 5-2 home-ice loss to the Vancouver Canucks.

The former Western Hockey League scoring champion skated on the left wing alongside Thomas Hertl and Alexander Barabanov and didn’t have a light night in his debut, seeing a total of 16:44 of ice time, including 1:10 on the power play. Halbgewachs finished with three shots total and took his first penalty, a holding call for tying up Canucks Noah Gregor carries the puck up ice for San Jose against defenceman Noah Juulson at 12:58 of the second peVancouver on Thursday night. Amanda Cain / NHLI riod.

Former Moose Jaw Warriors standout Halbgewachs has led AHL Jayden Halbgewachs is now a National San Jose Barracuda in scoring for much of Hockey League player. the season and currently has seven goals And he has a familiar face from the War- and 16 points in 19 games. riors taking the ice right alongside him.

He re-signed a two-year contract with Halbgewachs, 24, was officially called up San Jose prior to the 2020-21 campaign to the San Jose Sharks from their AHL af- and was projected to make his NHL debut filiate on Dec. 13 and played his first game but ended up sticking with the Barracuda

through the whole pandemic-shortened season.

He ended up with six goals and 11 points in 25 games, missing 10 games with a hip injury.

The Emerald Park native’s time with the Warriors is the stuff of legend — he put together a seven-point outing in his final game of the 2016-17 season to finish with 50 goals and 101 points and followed up with a club-record-tying 70 goals and 129 points in 2017-18.

Halbgewachs isn’t the only former Warrior from Jayden Halbgewachs in action with the San Jose Sharks that era in the Sharks line- on Thursday night. Amanda Cain / NHLI up, either. up four goals and 12 points in eight games Noah Gregor — who played alongside before joining the parent team.

Halbgewachs for three seasons before be- Halbgewachs and Gregor are roommates ing traded to Victoria and eventually join- in San Jose alongside yet another former ing Prince Albert for their 2018-19 title run Warrior in goaltender Zach Sawchenko, — was called up from the Barracuda on who is in his third season with the AHL Nov. 20 and has a goal and three points in affiliate.

13 NHL games. In the AHL, Gregor put

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • PAGE A17

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AAA Warriors split with league-leading Warman to close out pre-holiday schedule Moose Jaw falls 6-3 Friday before taking 6-5 win over Wildcats Saturday Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

The Moose Jaw AAA Warriors have had success against teams ahead of them in the standings in recent outings, with this past weekend no exception.

And this time, it was against the top team in the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League.

One night after dropping a closer-than-it-looked 6-3 decision to the Warman Wildcats, the Warriors scored three in the final period to take a 6-5 victory in Warman.

The loss was only the fifth for the league-leading Wildcats this season and came in impressive fashion.

Much like their meeting 24 hours earlier, Warman took a 2-1 lead out of the first period, with Jackson Allan scoring Moose Jaw’s first goal.

The Warriors got things going quickly in the second as Liam Fitzpatrick and Rowan Calvert scored just over two minutes apart to give their team a 3-2 lead. It wouldn’t last long, though, as Warman tied things up only 26 seconds after Calvert’s goal.

It all set the stage for a dramatic final frame — Orin

Olson, Kayden Ostrom and Fitzpatrick scored three times in the span of five minutes early in the period to give Moose Jaw a 6-3 edge. True to form, Warman wouldn’t go quietly and scored twice in the final six minutes to make things interesting down the stretch, but the Warriors would hold on for the one-goal win.

Allan added three assists on the night for a four- AAA Warriors logo point showing, while Calvert also had a pair of helpers.

Ethan Fechter picked up the win with a solid 36-save showing, while the Warriors had 27 shots of their own.

One night earlier, the Warriors saw Warman score

twice in each period on their way to their three-goal win.

Wyatt Lacoste scored for Moose Jaw in the first and Orin Olson tied things up early in the second, but Warman scored twice in the final 1:27 of the period to take a 4-2 lead into the third.

An early Wildcats goal made it 5-2 before Connor Miller pulled Moose Jaw back within two with 5:56 to play.

The Warriors wouldn’t get any closer, though, as Warman’s Rhett Dekowny finished off a hat trick with an empty-net goal with 43 seconds left.

Jaydon Jessiman also scored three for Warman.

Ryan Bain had 32 saves for the Warriors, who had 23 shots on the Wildcats.

The Warriors now head into the Christmas break with a 17-10-0-1 record, good enough for fifth place in the 12 team league, two points back of the Saskatoon Blazers and four points up on the Prince Albert Mintos.

Moose Jaw is off until Jan. 6 when they travel to Regina to face the Pat Canadians.

Total of 19 former Warriors currently putting Western Hockey League scholarships to use WHL as a whole sees total of 365 players currently taking advantage of league’s scholarship fund to pursue post-secondary education

Some are still playing hockey for their respective schools. Others have left the game behind and have moved on with a focus on education. And others are looking to launch themselves into a trade or specialty profession. But all have one thing in common.

They’re all reaping the benefits of the Western Hockey League’s scholarship program.

A total of 365 players from each of the league’s 22 teams are currently attending post-secondary institutions in Canada and the United States, putting to use the popular program that sees graduated players receiving a year of education for every season they play in the league.

That includes 19 former Warriors drawing from the team’s education fund pool this season, who find themselves at schools all over North America.

Like former assistant captain and five-year Warrior Tate Popple, who wrapped up his WHL career in the East Division Hub last season and is currently playing for the University of Waterloo.

Or forward Peyton McKenzie, who played parts of two seasons with the Warriors from 2018-20 and is currently attending the Emergency Services Academy in Sherwood Park, Alta.

And forward Blake Bargar, who suited up for Moose Jaw in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns and is back home in Calfornia attending Los Angeles Harbor College.

It’s all a product of the Warriors’ education fund, which annually covers the wide range of scholarships given to past players — and as one can imagine, it comes with a cost.

In the 2019-20 campaign alone, the Warriors had 16 players activate their fund to the tune of just over $98,500.

At the time, the team’s fund sat at $154,000, giving an idea of just how much has been raised to support the program.

Of course, that money doesn’t magically appear. It’s the product of plenty of hard work by volunteers with a variety of programs throughout the season, with the largest event being the Warriors Alumni Golf Tournament.

The annual shindig sees a full slate of participants, including dozens of former players at all levels of the game take part, and if you sign on there’s a good chance you’ll come across the likes of Tampa Bay’s Brayden Point or Nashville’s Tanner Jeannot or even legends like Theoren Fleury and Mike Keane that weekend at the Hillcrest Golf Club.

While the event hasn’t been held the past two sum-

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Warriors forward Tate Popple lends a hand with the Teddy Bear Toss in 2019. Popple has put his WHL scholarship to use and is playing at the University of Waterloo this season. mers due to the ongoing pandemic, a special horseshoe tournament prior to the Warriors’ opening game of the 2021-22 campaign proved to be a popular event and helped bolster the education fund’s coffers.

Here’s a look at the 19 players who have put their WHL scholarship fund to use this season and where they’re attending school, as well as a handful of former Warriors whose scholarships are covered by other teams.

Player, years played, school and stats if playing (GPG-A-P) Austin Herron (drafted and signed in 2016) - University of the Fraser Valley Tyler Smithies (2016—19) - MacEwan University (6-00-0) Brecon Wood (2016-19) - MacEwan University (8-2-0-2) Cameron Sterling (2018-20) - University of Lethbridge Chase Hartje (2018-18 and 2019-20) - Unversity of Manitoba (9-0-8-8) Kale Clouston (2018-19) - Mount Royal University Matthew Sanders (2017-20) - Mount Royal University Spencer Bast (2016-18) - University of Saskatchewan Tristyn DeRoose (2017-19) - University of Saskatchewan Adam Evanoff (2017-20) - University of Saskatchewan Jaxan Kaluski (2016-18) - University of Saskatchwan (117-2-9) Chantz Petruic (2016-17) - University of Saskatchewan (8-3-2-5)

Get More Colour for Less 468 High St. W., Moose Jaw, SK

Brandon Schuldhaus (2017-19) - Queen’s University Colin Paradis (2015-18) - University of Toronto Matthew Benson (2016-20) - University of Waterloo (40-0-0) Tate Popple (2016-21) - University of Waterloo (9-4-2-6) Brody Willms (2013-18) - BC Institute of Technology Peyton McKenzie (2018-20) - Emergency Services Academy Blake Bargar (2014-16) - Los Angeles Harbor College

Copying Services

Notables (time with Moose Jaw, scholarship team) Brad Ginnell (2020-21, Portland) - University of Calgary (0-0-0-0) Brodan Salmond (2018-19, Kelowna) - University of Calgary (3.13 GAA) Dallas Valentine (2014-2016, Kamloops) - University of Lethbridge Kobe Mohr (2019-20, Edmonton) - MacEwen University (3-1-2-3) Ryan Peckford (2017-19, Victoria) - McEwan University Kyle Crosbie (2019-20, Kelowna) - Mount Royal University Riley Krane (2020-21, Regina) - University of Regina (12-3-4-7) Kaeden Taphorn (2018-2020, Winnipeg) - University of Regina Keenan Taphorn (2018-2020, Winnipeg) - University of Regina Carson Sass (2019-20, Red Deer) - University of Regina Owen Hardy (2019-20, Vancouver - University of Saskatchewan (12-1-3-4) Vince Loschiavo (2017-18, Kootenay) - University of Saskatchewan (7-2-4-6) Alec Zawatsky (2018-19, Saskatoon) - University of Saskatchewan (4-0-0-0) Jadon Joseph (2019-20, Lethbridge) - Trinity Western University (2-0-0-0) Branden Klatt (2016-2018, Edmonton) - NAIT (4-0-0-0) Dalton Hamaliuk (2018-19, Spokane) - NAIT (3-0-5-5) Thomas Foster (2016-17, Vancouver) - Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts Barrett Sheen (2017-18, Winnipeg) - SAIT (3-0-1-1) Brock Gould (2019-20, Victoria) - Colorado State University Luke Ormsby (2018-19, Seattle) - Sierra Charlie Aviation

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PAGE A18 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021

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Moose Jaw’s Nelson taking aim at judo nationals after recent run of success Medal finishes at pair of high-profile events have 13-year-old competitor gunning for Canadian gold this May Randy Palmer- Moose Jaw Express

Moose Jaw’s Paxton Nelson is on a bit of a roll when it comes to finding success on the judo mats as of late.

And if everything goes according to plan, the 13-year-old blue belt is hoping it’ll all lead to a national title in the very, very near future.

Nelson is coming off a pair of medal showings at high-level tournaments in recent weeks, claiming silver at the Quebec Open in Montreal during the Nov. 11 weekend and following up with a gold at the Steveston Judo Shiai tournament in Richmond, B.C. two weeks later.

Positive signs, for sure, and ideally a sign of things to come.

“Quebec is pretty much the best place in Canada for judo, so that was pretty good, and he won gold in Vancouver against some pretty good kids, so those were two important tournaments,” said Jeff Nelson, Paxton’s father and himself a second-degree black belt in the sport.

“He’s facing the people he’ll be facing at the national championships, so I’m guessing he has a chance at a medal (at nationals) in May.” In Quebec, Nelson won his first match in the Under-16, Under-38 kilogram divi-

sion by ippon in 2:45, lost to the eventual Open champion by ippon in 1:20 and secured his silver medal with an ippon at two minutes in his final match.

At the Steveston event, Nelson needed only 26 seconds to win his opening match by accumulation of wazari before going to the time limit and winning by wazari in his second bout. Nelson closed out his gold medal with a 57-second ippon in his final match.

Solid showings all around and the product of plenty of preparation and hard

While teams from all over Saskatchewan were in Regina battling for the final four spots for the Viterra Scotties provincial women’s curling championship, Penny Barker and her Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre foursome were at home relaxing.

That’s because Barker and her rink of third Christie Gamble, second Jenna Enge and lead Danielle Sicinski got all of that

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express qualifying business out of the way quite a while ago.

And how did they do it? Simply by winning. A lot.

The local foursome finished on top of the Sask Women’s Curling Tour standings after the final event of the pre-Scotties season in Swift Current in early December, where they lost to Robyn Silvernagle in

Moose Jaw’s Paxton Nelson (centre) on the podium at the Steveston Judo Shiai tournament in Richmond, B.C. recently.

Submitted.

work.

“The most important thing of course is practice,” Jeff said. “You win in practice, not in tournaments, and Paxton practices a lot… you look at someone like (U.S. Olympic medalist) Travis Stevens; he trained 42 hours a week. Obviously Pax can’t do that much, but he wanted to try and was doing six hours a day, but that was a little much.”

Paxton has started working with the Judo Sask high-performance program in addition to his time at Control Jiu Jitsu and at home -- the Nelsons have a judo dojo set-up in their garage -- and feels that extra work has helped him improve quickly, “I think this year ever since I started going into provincial training it’s been going really fast, exponentially actually,” Paxton said. “The Quebec Open was really the gate-opener for me and showed me what I needed to do, prepared me for Vancouver and that really helped me out.”

Paxton uses a version of seio-nage -a type of shoulder throw -- as one of his main weapons, in part because of the alternative options it gives him should things hit the mat. And once down there, look out, even with the short amount of ground time

allowed to get things finished in judo.

That’s because Nelson is also a rising star in jiu-jitsu under Control black belt Jason Church and was recently promoted to grey-white in the notoriously difficult-to-advance martial art.

“It’s quite good for him because in judo, everyone is going to be afraid to go to the ground with him because he is so good there, so that’s an advantage,” Jeff said.

Now it’s a matter of preparation over the coming months leading up to the Canadian Open Judo Championships in Montreal May 19-22. That translates into at least one high-level tournament and provincial training session a month until taking the mats against the best in Canada.

“Number one is obviously win nationals, and after that it will be to do well at some of the international tournaments and local ones on the side,” Paxton said of his upcoming goals. “But right now, it’s mainly nationals.”

You can follow along with Paxton’s progress on Control Jiu Jitsu’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MooseJawBJJ.

Moose Jaw’s Barker looking forward to Viterra Scotties after pre-qualifying Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre foursome land top spot on Sask Curling Tour standings to earn Scotties berth

Froehlich continues to hold down top spot in Original 16 Cash League Win over Pro-Tec Electric makes league leaders first eight-win team; BTN keeps pace with win over EMJ Marketing Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Matt Froehlich just keeps rolling along in the Original 16 Cash League.

The perennial league contenders improved to 8-1 on the season last Wednesday at the Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre, taking a 7-2 victory over Pro-Tec Electric (Stan Barnsley, 7-3) in a battle of seven-win teams.

Froehlich got things done quickly, too, scoring three in the first end and building a 5-1 lead through three before going on to a 7-3 victory in five ends.

BTN Chartered Accountants (Penny Barker, 7-1) kept pace at the top of the standings with a 6-3 win over Motion-Golden Mobility (Lorraine Arguin, 3-6). Barker did the majority of her damage with a four-spot in the first end, and after Arguin scored a pair, blanked the next two frames before going up 6-2 in the fifth. Arguin got one back in the sixth, but the two teams decided to call it a night, John’s Music (Ryan Wenarchuk, 7-3) also moved into a tie for second, taking a 7-3 win over Fonger Wealth Management (Nick Cornea, 1-8). The two rinks were tied 1-1 through two ends, but Wenarchuk

put up four in the third to take a 5-1 lead.

A steal of two in the fourth further extended Wenarchuk’s lead, and after a Cornea deuce in the fifth, the teams shook hands.

The trend of big ends continued in the contest between KalTire (Dustin Woloschuk, 3-7) and KMS Construction (Ben Gamble, 6-2). Woloschuk got off to a 3-0 lead to open the contest, but Gamble rallied with single points in the third and fourth ends to close ground and then took control with a steal of five in the fifth end.

A fourth straight steal, this time of two, the following frame brought things to a close with Gamble taking a 9-3 victory.

The lone game to go the distance saw Walchuk Masonry (Tyler Krupski, 3-6) take a 9-5 win over EMJ Marketing (Joe Gunnis, 1-9). Deuces in the first and fifth ends saw Gunnis build a 5-4 lead, but Woloschuk took over after the break, scoring one in the sixth and two in the seventh before closing things out with another steal of two in the eighth.

Original 16 Cash League action takes place every Wednesday night at the Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre.

Penny Barker and her Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre foursome are sitting back and relaxing now, but will be kicking into high gear for the Viterra Scotties early in the new year. Curling Canada / Michael Burns the tournament semifinal.

Even that top-four showing could be looked at as disappointing given Barker’s earlier success — they defeated Mandy Selzer in the championship final in Weyburn two weeks earlier and rolled undefeated through a powerhouse field to claim the Moose Jaw SWCT stop on the Nov. 5 weekend.

It all led to Barker finishing with 70.977 points on the Sask team ranking system, with Regina’s Michelle Englot (58.62), Biggar’s Brett Barber (53.15) and Saskatoon’s Jessica Mitchell (48.96) landing the other spots.

“Going into the season, that’s kind of a mini-goal we set, pre-qualifying for provincials,” Barker said. “There’s a lot of strong teams in the province, so it’s nice to get that out of your schedule… We had a really strong fall and played fairly consistently, so that’s put us in a good position.

Now we can just focus on practicing and little tweaks and getting ready for provincials as opposed to having to play an important event before Christmas.”

Barker’s run of success in the late fall came on the heels of a solid showing at the Olympic Pre-Trials in Liverpool, N.S., where they ended up a single win away from reaching the playoff round. Since

their return to the province, they’ve done little else but win.

“We had a really good week in Liverpool, a couple things here and there and maybe we’d have found ourselves in the playoffs and given ourselves a shot at the Trials,” Barker said. “But we knew if that didn’t go our way, the next one was getting back to the national Scotties and we were able to refocus and keep going.”

Of course, with women’s curing in Saskatchewan being what it is, all that pre-Scotties success is little more than a preview of what they’ll need to put together going forward.

“It’s any given day,” said Barker, who won the Viterra Scotties in 2017. “You have to be on your game at all times because teams are so strong. It helps playing well going in, and I think that’s what we did, but there are still things like capitalizing on chances because you don’t get a whole lot of misses from these top teams.

So it’s focusing on ourselves, making our shots and taking advantage of whenever someone leaves the door open for us.”

For now, though, it’s enjoying the holidays, hitting the ice for a few practices and all-in-all mentally preparing for provincials beginning Jan. 5 in Assiniboia.

“With the Olympic year, things are early with provincials right after the New Year, so we’ll get some family time over Christmas and after that, just gear up and get ready for Assiniboia.”

Barker isn’t the only team with local connections to pre-qualify for the Scotties.

Former Moose Jaw competitor and two-time Viterra Scotties champion Amber Holland, who now plays out of Kronau, was the second-highest qualifier through the Canadian Team Ranking System, which ranks players who take part in national-level events.

She’ll be joined by Regina Highland’s Chelsea Carey, Silvernagle and Saskatoon’s Sherry Anderson, who just last week won her fourth-straight Canadian senior championship.

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • PAGE A19

Share your team’s news, pictures and results with us!

email: editor@mjvexpress.com

GAME ON: High school basketball season launches with full eight-game season After positive results from survey and support from Assiniboia if needed, decision made to go full steam ahead with new campaign Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

In a time where good news surrounding pandemic situations has been few and far between, the Moose Jaw high school senior and junior varsity basketball leagues are happy to bring a bit of respite.

High school teams throughout the city returned to the court last Monday night in junior varsity action and were followed one day later by the senior crews, with all teams in each of the leagues looking forward to a full season of action.

That’s right -- everything has turned out perfectly despite the concerns in recent weeks that things might end up delayed, truncated or even outright cancelled if favourable conditions weren’t met.

“We’re able to run a full schedule, and even this weekend we have a 16-team junior-senior tournament at Peacock, so I think we’re in a good position,” said Derrick Huschi with the Prairie South School Division. “What we know is that we have refs to be able to work all the games and Assiniboia has a good corps of refs this

year, too, so if we run into some trouble we’ll be able to pull from there. So things have gone very, very well.”

An informational meeting last week kicked things into high gear, and long-time local basketball volunteer Rhona Johnson was able to collect vaccine information from each high school team. Once that was in place, schedules were finalized over the weekend, officials assigned and things swung into high gear.

There’s a new look in the senior boys and girls leagues, too, as Notre Dame and Lumsden have signed on and will join Central, Peacock and Vanier in doing battle for Moose Jaw supremacy.

“I think it’s going to be great for the league,” Huschi said. “Any time we go with out-of-town teams, the biggest concern is distance because games run during the week and those two were just natural fits to come in and still make it easy to travel in winter and get home in a decent time.

The Peacock Toilers and Vanier Spirits do battle under the basket in the first meeting between the two senior girls teams in over a year and a half.

“Notre Dame has been in the league in previous years and usually have really good teams, and from what I’ve heard Lumsden is feeling they’re going to be competitive and decent as well, so that’s good to see.”

The key now will be to get through the

campaign unscathed. While there has been little infection in Moose Jaw high schools, that’s not to say things can’t and won’t happen -- and you don’t have to look very far to find examples.

Briercrest Christian Academy’s volleyball teams took a huge hit and missed a large portion of the season when an outbreak occurred in Caronport at the beginning of the campaign. And earlier this month, a high school curling tournament saw a player later test positive for COVID and bring all teams who took part under the category of close contacts. As that took place during the Dec. 7 weekend, games could possibly resume before Christmas, but after the holidays is more likely.

How such an incident will look in Moose Jaw basketball is a case-by-case basis, but basic plans are in place “If something happens and we can reschedule, we will, otherwise we’ll have to see how things turn out,” Huschi said.

Vanier takes sweep over Notre Dame to open high school basketball campaign Busy week of action as teams return to court for first time in over a year and a half Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

The vaccine status of teams is sorted; the schedule is in place and high school basketball is back on the court in Moose Jaw. Teams from all over the city returned to the court on Dec. 13 and 14, with the first slate of senior contests featuring a run of success for local squads.

After taking a fourth-place finish

in the season-opening Carlton Crusader Classic tournament in Prince Albert during the Dec. 4 weekend, the Peacock Toilers rolled to a 96-31 victory over the Lumsden Devils.

Bryce Baumann led the Toilers with a 28-point showing as the Toilers built a 31-11 lead in the first quarter and extend-

Toilers finish second in senior boys draw, Cyclones take top spot in junior draw at annual fundraising event Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

The high school basketwith a 52-40 win over ball season might only Balgonie Greenall in their be a couple of weeks old, consolation game. Caleb but Moose Jaw teams Newkirk and Brayden continue to see impresMcLean each scored 13 sive results. points for the Vikings, The latest casewho led 31-16 at the half in-point came this past against Greenall. weekend during the annuIn junior boys action, al Helping Hoops senior Peacock, Central reach Helping the Central Cyclones took and junior boys tourna- Hoops basketball tournament wins over Regina Johnson ment at Peacock, which finals and Peacock before capsaw a pair of local squads ping the event with the reach their respective championship finals. tournament title, defeating Weyburn 83-48 In the senior draw, the Peacock Toilers in the gold medal game. won their first two contests over Humboldt Gerritt Gulutzan led Central with 24 and Estevan before facing the Weyburn points, while Max Simmons had a 20-point Eagles in the championship final and drop- showing and Javin Boynton scored 16. ping a 70-57 decision.

Peacock and Vanier won their junior Things were close in the early going openers over Balgonie Greenall and Esas Weyburn took a 15-11 lead out of the tevan respectively before meeting in the first quarter, but a 23-11 surge in the second third-place game, where the Toilers would would see them take control of things and go on to a 78-29 victory. lead 38-22 at the half. The Toilers made up Mukungo Mutubazi scored 18 to lead ground in the second half but were unable Peacock, who led 17-4 after the first quarto overcome the early deficit. ter and 45-14 at the half. Luke Andrews Dominick Mall led Peacock with 14 scored 15 and Josh Johnson added 10. points, while Bryce Baumann scored 10 Jared Mana scored 11 to lead Vanier. and Mac Simpson 11. Tensei Lida led WeyThe tournament acts as a fundraiser burn with 15 points. for Riverside Mission, with the tournament The Vanier Vikings lost their opening host Toilers donating proceeds from the match 70-65 to Norquay but rebounded event to the local charity.

ed it to 41-17 at the break. Dominick Mall added 21 points for Peacock, while Tegan Tollefson had a 15-point outing.

Max Pollock lead Lumsden with eight points.

Both the Vanier Vikings and Vanier Spirits also emerged with wins over the Notre Dame Hounds.

The Spirits had 18 points from Piper Olson and a 16-point showing from Grace Waldenberger in addition to having all but one of their 12 players hit the scoresheet as they took a 72-25 victory. Vanier led 40-12 at the half.

The Vikings, meanwhile, had a similar showing against the Hounds, also taking a 75-25 win. Eric Meili led all scorers with 21 points.

No score was reported from girls’ game between Peacock and Lumsden.

Teams were back on the court last Thursday, where Peacock and Vanier battled tooth-and-nail in girls basketball action before the Toilers went on to a 64-60 victory at Peacock.

It looked as if the Toilers were going to run away with things in the early going after they took a 26-11 lead out of the first quarter. The Spirits steadily battled back, though, and would win each of the following frames -- closing to within 10 points at the half and six points through three quarters before falling by four.

Ella Muchowski led Peacock with 13 points, while Kendall Evans put up 12, including a late three-pointer that would help secure the Toilers’ win. Hanna Miller added 11.

The Toilers’ Ella Muchowski fires a cross-court pass over Vanier’s Kate Waldenberger (12) and Feona Tolentino.

Vanier’s Piper Olson goes up for two points during second quarter action.

Olson picked up 11 points to lead Vanier, while Feona Tolentino and Callie Klemenz had nine points apiece.

Things were just as interesting in the contest between the Lumsden Angels and Central Cyclones in Lumsden, as the Angels also built what appeared to be a comfortable lead before a fourth-quarter surge saw things close substantially.

The Angels led 30-14 at the half and 40-26 through three quarters, but Central would chip away in the final frame before eventually falling 50-44.

Scoring information was unavailable.

In senior boys action, the Central Cyclones opened their regular season with a comfortable 90-32 win over the Lumsden Devils.

Ammiel Chin led Central’s impressively balanced showing with 18 points, while Jake Wilson scored 11 and Mo Jabateh added 10 for the Cyclones, who led 53-13 at the half and 73-22 through three quarters.

Pollack led Lumsden with a 13-point outing.

League action continues on Tuesday, Dec. 21 with Peacock at Central, with the boys taking the court at 6:20 p.m. and girls at 8 p.m.

PAGE A20 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Upcoming Events in Moose Jaw If you would like your notice or event added to this list, contact us at: jritchie@moosejawtoday.com For current information on Sask regulations on COVID-19 visit saskatchewan.ca/COVID19.

Wakamow Valley Winter Wonderland Valley of Lights with over 80 trees decorated and 100,000 lights is available for viewing until December 31st in the campground down in Wakamow Valley. Because this is a fundraiser with for Wakamow Valley Authority, they will be asking individuals to donate $10 at the gate to drive through.

Moose Jaw Community Choir regular practice has resumed.

The Moose Jaw Community Choir is an amateur SATB Choir with a mission to have fun, create beautiful music together, and share it with the community. The choir practices on Mondays @ 7PM at Emmanuel Lutheran Church; performances in the community may also take place on alternate evenings (as restrictions allow). New members are always welcome and encouraged (especially tenors and basses) and no audition is required. New members who are interested should contact the Choir Director Diane Rhodes at 306640-8098 or message us through Facebook @Moose Jaw Community Choir.

Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan Moose Jaw Branch Luncheon Meetings at Masonic Temple Hall, 1755 Main St. N on Must show Identification and Provincial documentation for Covid-19 double vaccination. Masks are mandatory when not eating. Please note future upcoming STS Luncheon Dates: January 19, 2022, March 16, 2022, May 18, Line Dancing every Tuesday from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. at St. Andrews Church. Call 306.692.7365 for more information.

The Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 59 Moose Jaw, 268 High St

W Moose Jaw; Contact: 306-6925453. Facebook @ ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION-Branch 59 Moose Jaw. Instagram: @Royalcanadianlegion59. SHA restrictions in effect at all Legion events. · LOUNGE HOURS: Mon to Thurs 9:30-6:00/ Fri 9:30 to 8:00/ Sat: 10:30 to 6:00 · VETERANS’ MORNING COFFEE Monday-Friday @ 10:00 am AND Saturday @ 10:30 · DARTS –Thursday @ 7:00 pm Non-members & New Players welcome · FRIDAY SUPPERS – Friday @ 5:15 pm – Purchase Tickets at the bar or by phone previous Wednesday. Suppers provided by various Moose Jaw Businesses. Price range $10 - $15 depending on menu. · MEAT DRAW FUNDRAISER & CHASE THE ACE - Saturdays @ 3:00 pm - Everyone welcome · SHUFFLEBOARD –Fridays @ 7:00 pm - Drop-in League - Everyone welcome Moose Jaw and District Seniors; For more information Call: 306-6944223 or Email: mjsenior@shaw.ca Fitness Level & Indoor Walking Track open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Timothy Eaton Cafe open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Cinnamon Buns are Monday and Thursday’s. Tuesday is pie day.

Billiards open daily from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. as well as Monday & Thursday evenings from 4:30 – 8 p.m.

Pickle Ball – Monday & Thursday mornings @ 10 a.m.

- Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday afternoons @ 1 p.m.

- Monday & Thursday evenings @ 7 p.m.

Fitness- Chair/Low Impact Fitness Mondays & Thursdays @ 1:00 p.m.

Cribbage – Wednesdays @ 1 p.m.

Hand & Foot Card Game for Beginners – Wednesdays @ 9:30 a.m.

Mah Jong – Wednesday @1 p.m.

500 Cards – Thursdays @ 1 p.m.

Kaiser – Kaiser has been cancelled for the rest of 2021 Carpet bowling – Thursday’s @ 6:30 Line Dancing – Tuesdays @ 10 a.m.

Painting Class – Monday, Tuesdays & Wednesdays @ 1 p.m.

Floor Shuffleboard – Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 1 p.m.

Paper Tole – Tuesdays @ 1 p.m.

Nickle Bingo – Fridays @ 1 p.m.

Lounge – Friday’s from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Jam Sessions – Friday’s 9 a.m.

Technology (Computer) – Questions and help from Ron Smallwood – Tuesdays @ 11 a.m.

Senior in Motion-OPEN HOUSEJanuary 3rd to January 8th Come out and enjoy all our activities.

Chinese Food – January 8th we are having a Chinese dinner that is dine in or pick up. Tickets are $20.00 per person. Get your tickets from the front desk while they last.

Cosmo Senior Citizens’ Centre Weekly Activities Monday: 9:30 Pickle Ball – 1:00 Shuffleboard – 7:00 Camera Club (1st Monday @ month) Tuesday: 9:30 Jam Session – 1:00 Pickle Ball – 1:00 – H&F Canasta 7:00 Friendship Bridge All activities are cancelled if it is a Blood Clinic Tuesday Wednesday: 8:30 TOPS – 9:30 Pickle Ball – 1:00 Floor Shuffleboard Thursday: 10:00 Line Dance – 1:00 Pickle Ball Friday: 1:00 Pickle Ball Moose Jaw ANAVETS: Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit #252 – 279 High St. W, Moose Jaw. 306.692.4412 or 306.681.5998 anaf252@sasktel.net Currently Evening Sports Cancelled Meat Draws – Saturdays @ 4:30pm.

EVERYONE IS ALWAYS WELCOME! Tickets still available on 50/50 Draw - You can win up to $5000 only 1000 tickets to be sold. Tickets $10 available at the Anavets or for sale at the

Town & Country Mall; etransfer can be sent to anaf252@sasktel.net and you will be sent a picture of your ticket Seniors’ Centre Without Walls: To register for any of the SCWW’s upcoming events, call the office at 1 (306) 631-4357 or email seniorswithouthwalls2021@gmail.com.

The Saskatchewan chapter of Senior Centre Without Walls (SCWW) has undertaken a unique project to bring fine art into the living rooms of local seniors - via phone. “A Taste of Art” is a new initiative that uses the SCWW format similar to a “party line”, where participants phone into a common line and participate in an inclusive and accessible audio-only format. Stay tuned for more “over the phone” art programming for seniors in early 2022. For more information contact: Christy Schweiger Educator Coordinator, MJMAG 306-692-4472 educator.mjmag@sasktel.net Western Development Museum: All WDM locations are now open 7 days a week and times for WDM Moose Jaw are 10:00 am - 5:00 pm daily.

Please remember to follow all COVID-19 protocols and procedures. You can review them at www. wdm.ca/covid WDM VIRTUAL COFFEE CLUB – new topics and dates added!

Grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we explore the WDM collection with our Virtual Coffee Club. All sessions will take place via Zoom so you can participate from anywhere in the province (or beyond). You can register for one or for them all and the best part is they are free! Each session will take place from 10:00 – 11:00 am. Following the presentation, share your memories and experiences while connecting with others.

Pre-registration is required. Learn more and register online. https:// wdm.ca/coffeeclub/

A look at COVID numbers from December 11 to December 17 As of Friday, December 17, there are 19 active cases in the South Central 2 subzone. There are 548 active cases in the province overall.

Saturday, December 11: 77 cases reported in the province, 2 in the South Central (2 in the South Central 2 sub-zone).

Zero deaths reported in SK, 137 recoveries.

Sunday, December 12: 37 cases re-

ported in the province, 1 in the South Central (1 in the South Central 2 sub-zone).

Zero deaths reported in SK, 96 recoveries.

Monday, December 13: 35 cases reported in the province, 0 in the South Central (0 in the South Central 2 sub-zone).

Zero deaths reported in SK, 75 recoveries.

Tuesday, December 14: 47 cases reported in the province, 1 in the South Central (1 located in the South Central 2

sub-zone). Four deaths reported in SK, 66 recoveries.

Wednesday, December 15: 62 cases reported in the province, 1 in the South Central (1 located in the South Central 2 sub-zone). Zero deaths reported in SK, 69 recoveries.

Thursday, December 16: 55 cases reported in the province, 0 in the South Central (0 located in the South Central 2

sub-zone). Zero deaths reported in SK, 48 recoveries.

Friday, December 17: 49 cases reported in the province, 1 in the South Central (1 located in the South Central 2 sub-zone). One death reported in SK, 49 recoveries.

Vaccine delivery: 1,781,855 total. As of December 17, 87,996 doses have been administered in the South Central.

Holiday Food Drive Submitted

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Gloria Chartier, former long-time board member of the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank was very happy to have the opportunity to present a box of non-perishablefood items and $270.00 on behalf of her fellow residents, the staff and family members at West Park Crossing. She received an extremely warm welcome from the staff and was thrilled to get a brief tour of their beautiful new facility.

In the photo from L-R are Carol Bachiu, Life Enrichment Coordinator at West Park Crossing, Shirley Gould, fellow resident, Gloria Chartier, and the Food Bank’s Operations Manager Terri Smith.

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • PAGE A21

WE ARE HERE TO HELP! THE WEARHOUSE

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Royal Canadian Legion Branch 59 This Weeks Events:

Lounge Hours: Effective July 2nd Monday to Thursday 9:30 - 6:00 Friday 9:30 - 8:00 Saturday 10:30 - 6:00 Veterans Morning Coffee Monday - Friday @ 10:00am Saturday 10:30 (all Veterans are welcome) Contact us at: 306-692-5453 OR royalcanadianlegion59@gmail.com Instagram: @Royalcanadianlegion59

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Police increase presence downtown after anti-pandemic rally causes problems The Moose Jaw Police Service understands that residents have the constitutional right to demonstrate in public, but a recent demonstration has forced the agency to increase its foot patrols downtown.

A small group of people opposed to pandemic health measures gathered with signs near city hall for a week in early December to express their displeasure with the mandate. Police arrested one woman on Dec. 11 and charged her with two counts of causing a disturbance and one count of mischief for an alleged incident near Main Street North and Fairford Street.

Police Chief Rick Bourassa addressed the issue of balancing residents’ rights to protest versus upholding the law during the December meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners.

There have been many public gatherings since the pandemic began, with most related to protesting pandemic-related health restrictions, he said.

Some freedoms are cherished and embedded within the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, particularly in section 2, which contains fundamental freedoms related to conscience, freedom, thought, belief, opinion, expression, and the media, Bourassa continued. Also included is the right to assemble and associate peacefully.

“Our job as a police service is to ensure we protect those freedoms to the extent that we can. However, we have to be very careful when we talk about freedom of assembly because … there is an adjective there: peaceful assembly,” said Bourassa. “That’s where other legislation comes to play when assemblies are less than peaceful.”

What police have seen during some demonstrations are violations of the law, he continued. Officers use discretion when handling demonstrations but change their approach when actions become criminal. That is when they act since those alleged actions impinge on the freedoms and rights of others.

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express With the recent demonstrations downtown, several incidents occurred that violated the Criminal Code, he stated. This forced officers to make arrests and lay charges.

However, officers regularly attempt to engage with protestors to understand their concerns and inform them about what is expected of them, Bourassa said. Educating people ensures there are no surprises of the outcome.

“We support public assemblies. That’s a fundamental principle in our country … (but) knowing that they must be peaceful,” he remarked.

If anyone feels victimized by demonstrators, they should contact the police, added Bourassa. While the agency has a presence downtown, it can’t see everything all the time. Yet, it will work with people to resolve situations.

Supt. Devon Oleniuk explained that police arrested one of the demonstration leaders on Dec. 11 because of her alleged actions, consistent across several protests during the last 18 to 24 months.

“We do use a very significant amount of discretion before we choose to lay a charge because we want to respect the rights for people to peacefully, respectfully present their position,” he said.

Police will continue to monitor Main Street — more officers will patrol the streets as part of a beat — and will balance people’s right to protest with the rights of pedestrians and businesses to operate safely, Oleniuk continued.

Residents can use the area without being harassed.

Commissioner Doug Blanc appreciated hearing that news since he had received many calls about the rally’s interruptions. He joked that the demonstrators even yelled at him while driving past.

“Residents have the right to walk around that corner without fear,” he added.

Commissioner Dawn Luhning, board chair, works in the Hammond Building and said she heard the demonstra-

Provincial long-term care home inspections program launches

By Gordon Edgar, - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Providence Place. Moose Jaw Express photo.

The province is launching a new program to inspect longterm care homes and ensure they are complying with the requirements set out by regulation and by the Program Guidelines for Special Care Homes.

About 20 homes will be inspected in the beginning, reflecting an urban-rural balance of small, medium, and large homes. Ministry of Health inspectors have already begun, and expect to have the initial inspections completed by the end of March 2022. Long-term care homes will be regularly inspected on a three-year cycle.

Saskatchewan has a total of 151 long-term care homes and 10 other facilities with long-term care beds.

Moose Jaw has three long-term care homes: Pioneer Lodge, Extendicare Moose Jaw, and Providence Place.

Pioneer Lodge is operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA). It has 60 long-term care beds. It has struggled with COVID outbreaks during the pandemic, but a report in September of 2019 showed that Pioneer Lodge had the least noted areas of improvement among long-term care homes in Moose Jaw. Extendicare Moose Jaw has 110 long-term care beds.

It is under SHA operation after a damning Ombudsman report on Regina Parkside Extendicare found that the facility had failed in almost every way to protect its residents from COVID-19. The report also stated that the facility had been overcrowded for at least a decade and that Extendicare and the SHA were aware of that issue.

Extendicare Moose Jaw had its own COVID outbreak in November of last year. The province has subsequently ended its contract with Extendecare and taken over the management of its facilities.

Providence Place has 160 long-term care beds. It is owned and operated by Providence Place for Holistic Health, a division of Emmanuel Health, which is a Catholic Health Organization. Providence Place had a COVID outbreak last November. The new long-term care home inspections will build on initiatives that monitor homes’ performance. Ministry of Health inspectors will assess their compliance with guidelines, regulations, and policies, focusing mainly on resident care and resident-centred work.

tor “screaming plain as day” throughout the week. She has received comments from business owners, who have said some customers have been deterred from coming into the store. “(It’s a) busy time of year for downtown businesses,” she added, “and that’s the last thing (they need).”

Police charge woman for allegedly causing disturbance during downtown protest Moose Jaw Express staff

The Moose Jaw Police Service has charged a woman with causing a disturbance and mischief for allegedly creating a scene downtown near city hall.

Police initiated an investigation on Dec. 11 about an incident, which resulted in a 46-year-old Moose Jaw woman being charged. Officers charged her with two counts of causing a disturbance and one count of mischief for an episode at the corner of Main Street North and Fairford Street.

The alleged incident likely took place on Dec. 11 when a handful of people gathered near city hall in a mini-Freedom Rally. The small gathering featured signs that decried pandemic-related restrictions and health orders that the provincial government has imposed.

“The Moose Jaw Police Service respects the right of protest guaranteed by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This right does not allow protesters to infringe upon the rights and freedoms of other citizens in the area. All protests must be done in compliance with laws and statutes,” the law agency said in a news release.

The police brought the woman to a justice of the peace, who released her on an undertaking with conditions. She will appear in court in February.

­ ­ ­

PAGE A22 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021

D.&D. Quality Care ­ ­

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MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • PAGE A23

Moose Jaw Truck Shop

22 Lancaster RD 306.694.4644

we fix everything

MooseJawTruckShop.com or text 306-900-4179 FREE PERSONAL CLASSIFIEDS AT:

COMPUTERS & TECHNOLOGY For Sale- Citizen DVD Player in mint condition with remote, needs patch cords asking $15.00 Plz. call 6923061 MISCELLANEOUS Massive Stamp Collection of Used, Worldwide Catalogue Value Approximately $8,000. Priced to sell at $1,000. firm. Awesome Christmas Gift For Collector Phone 306-513- 6487

For Sale: Sanyo 20 in TV, nice shape, Asking $20 or best offer. Call 972-2257 Moose Jaw. KING SIZE SATEEN SHEET SET- Comes with 1 Flat Sheet, 1 Fitted Sheet and 2 King size Pillow Cas-es.

Easy care and wrinkle resistant. Brand new still in PKG. Would make a nice gift, Paid $40.00 asking $20.00 OBO. Plz. call 6923061

Round And Bench Restaurant Booths And Tables, Various Furniture Antiques, Boat And Motor And Accessories, Pressure Washer, Home Spa, Clothing Racks, Air Purifier, Water Skiis, Vehicle Sunroof Kit, Trailer Hitches, Bike Carrier, Dehumidifier, Air Conditioner, Heaters, Exercise Equipment, Adjusta-ble Mattress, Tree Stand, Latex Varnish, File Cabinet 306642-1365

For Sale: 8 costers on a wooden stand - $5.00 each - Ph. 306-631-3777 For Sale: Crocheted, 3 piece baby sweater set $10.00 each - Ph. 306-6313777

For Sale: Crocheted Afgans - 3 sizes to choose from - Many Colours - $25.00 each - Ph. 306-631-3777 HOUSEHOLD ITEMS double size mattress box spring and frame like new used 4 times $150.00 obo 306- 513-8139 Wood Puzzles- Makes a great stocking stuffer.

Pentominoes $10.00, the ultimate wood puzzle.12 pen-tomino pieces can be put together to make various 1 dimension and 3 dimension patterns.Puzzle dia-grams and solutions included. Text or call 306690-7787 For Sale: Crocheted dish clothes - Many colours to choose from - $1.00 each - Ph. 306-631-3777

Wood puzzles. Makes a great stocking stuffer. $5.00. 6 piece 3 dimension puzzle. Precision machined, solid oak. Take apart and re-assemble.

More difficult to do than it looks. Text or call 306-6907787

306-631-3777 Turbo fire workout set, dvds - $10 306-681-8749 For Sale: double size mattress,boxspring and frame,like new, used only 4 times. $150.00 OBO. Call or text 306-513-8139 Moving must sell- 2 pcs. china cabinet,lighted glass top cabinet,dark rosewood finish- $300.00.Mid tan leather sofa,made for Fiorante Furniture, 3 seater- 76’ long- $600.00.5 drawer armoire, modern de-sign,brushed nickel hardware- $100.00. Entertainment centre; drawers on each side of glass centre cabinet- $75.00.

Amoire- 4 drawers FREE. Call 306-513-8713 Moose Jaw CHILDRENS ITEMS

For Sale: Crocheted hanging kitchen towels, Christmas Theme or Regular - Many patterns to choose from - $2.00 each - Ph.

each - Ph. 306-631-3777

For Sale: Crocheted hats $3.00 each & scarves $1.00 each - Many colours to choose from - Ph. 306631-3777 FARM PRODUCE Mixed Hay, small square bales. Stored inside,not rained on. $4.00 a bale.

306-693-3911 WANTED Looking for any free non working electric motors 306-681-8749 14 Foot Rainbow Type Trailer, Newer Class B Motor Home, Hunting Shooting And Fishing Items. 306642-1365

Wanted: Ice fishing partner.

Call 306-692-0800 Looking for Canadian tire money, will pay up to face value 306-681-8749 Looking for large square or rectangular patio umbrellas min 6 feet. 306-681-8749 SERVICES No jobs too big or small for construction. Call Bill at 306-630-2268 or email robbouchard50@gmail. com.

Roofing/soffit/fascia, painting, renovations - exterior/interior, fences/ decks. Reasonable rates, 30 years experience.

Will pick up, move, haul and deliver furniture in and around Moose Jaw - $45 and up 306-681-8749 Will haul tree branches to the dump - $50/load and up 306-681-8749 Junk to the dump in and around Moose Jaw - $50/ load and up. 306-681-8749 Will pick up, move, haul and deliver appliances in and around Moose Jaw $45 and up 306-681-8749

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T U O W BLO 14.99 sale $ For Sale: Baby Afghans many styles and colours to choose from - $15.00 $20.00 each - Ph. 306-6313777 CLOTHING

For Sale: Crocheted Hooded Sweaters - many colours to choose from - $5.00 each - Ph. 306+-631-3777

For Sale: Crocheted Slippers - Many sizes and colours to choose from - $1.00

Regular $29.99

PERSONAL CONNECTIONS Attention Single Men. Meet the woman of your dreams.

Contact FILIPINA CANADIAN INTRODUCTIONS. We are not a dating site but rather a persoal introduction brokerage agency. Check out our website.

Http://filipinacanadianintroductions.com . Email filipinacanadianintroductions@gmail.com. Phone 306-693-0163 Filipina Canadian Introductions have expanded their service. Due to demand, we now offer a postal service to those clients without internet or email. Mail us your photos and letters to 303- 67 Wood Lily Drive, Moose Jaw, SK. S6J 1G6.

We will photocopy and email them to the Philippines. Replies will be mailed to you. Ladies looking for companions may also use our service. Call 306 693 0163 or toll free 1 877 773 0163

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PAGE A24 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Obituaries / Memorials WALLACE, GREGORY Gregory Maurice Wallace, aged 74 years of Moose Jaw, SK passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 12th, 2021 at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital.

Greg attended King Edward Elementary and Riverview Collegiate Institute in Moose Jaw, then worked in several jobs for a few years before moving to Calgary, AB for work. He returned to Moose Jaw in 1971 to work on the CPR, following in the steps of his father and grandfathers. He retired from the CPR as a conductor in 2004.

Greg coached minor football and ladies broomball, and was an expert dart player representing Saskatchewan numerous times at provincials and nationals. He was also an avid fan of golf, even making his first hole in one this past summer. Greg was also a long-time hockey player, playing with the Calgary Royals and the Crusty Canucks. Greg was a long-time member of the ANAVETS, Eagles and Elks, and a member of the Legion.

He was predeceased by his mother and father, Ella and Bill Wallace, also of Moose Jaw. Greg is survived by his wife of 40 years, Barb; son, Jamie (Amanda); daughter, Connie (George); son, Curtis (Pamela); granddaughters, Kirsten and Kyra; and brother, Terry (Carol). In addition, Greg will be missed by a large extended family.

Due to Covid restrictions, the family will hold a Private Interment Service. A celebration of Greg’s life will take place at a later date. Flowers are gratefully declined. Anyone wishing to honour Greg’s memory may make a contribution to the charity of their choice.

Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. James Murdock, Funeral Director 306-693-4550 www.moosejawfuneralhome. com

ALLONBY, JAMES RAYMOND It is with profound sadness that the family of James Raymond Allonby, known to his family and friends as Jim, share the news of his sudden passing after a short, but courageous, battle with cancer. Jim was born November 7, 1946, in Winnipeg, MB, where he was raised along with his sister, Arlene, before moving to Regina, SK. There, Jim married his first wife Patricia and together they had 2 amazing sons, Craig and Chris.

Jim was an avid technology enthusiast, spending over 25 years working as an IT analyst, consultant, and network specialist for the Saskatchewan government, and met frequently with longtime friends to discuss all things in the computer and cellular spheres. He was actively involved in the community, serving in various offices for the Knights of Columbus, the Saskatchewan committee for Spinal Cord Injury, a loving brother of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the City of Moose Jaw Committee for Human Resources Services. Directly or indirectly, Jim served as a mentor to many and encouraged people to do their best to be proud of their accomplishments and engage with their fellow man. Jim is predeceased by his first wife, Pat, parents Harry and Isobel, and brother-in-law Dan. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Aline Allonby of Moose Jaw SK, his sister Arlene Clarke of Regina SK, his sons Craig (Lenette) of Calgary AB, and Chris (Odette) of Oakville ON, as well as his nieces, grandchildren, extended family and friends, and those he touched during his life. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for the many expressions of kindness and love. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jim’s name to “Memorial Donations: St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Parish Building Fund, 1064 3rd Ave. N.W., Moose Jaw, SK” or to the charity of your choice.

Jane Marie Moore 1948 - 2010

BAYNTUN, KENDRICK Kendrick Walter Bayntun (also known as Kenny Lee Roman), aged 79 years of Moose Jaw, SK passed away on Thursday, November 18th, 2021. Ken worked at a music store in Lethbridge, AB. It was here that he found his love of music and became a drummer, playing in many bands in Moose Jaw and was known as the “Barefoot Drummer”.

Ken is survived by his caregiver, Sharon Nichols; children, Kenny and Jenny; and step-children: Leita Thomson, Leanne Johnson, and Leona Passmore.

In keeping with Ken’s wishes, a Private Family Service will be held. As an expression of sympathy, donations in Ken’s name may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Gary McDowell, Funeral Director 306-693-4550 www.moosejawfuneralhome. com

In tears we saw you sinking, we watched you fade away; You fought so hard to stay you faced your task with courage your spirit did not bend, until the very end. so when we saw you sleeping, so peacefully, free from pain, We could not wish you back in God’s own time We will meet you again Eddy, Joelle, Michael, Brody, Gordon and the rest of the Moore Family

TRINITY UNITED CHURCH 277 Iroquois St W Moose Jaw, SK

• Moose Jaw’s Digital Daily •

Next Service: December 24th, Christmas Eve 7:00pm Rev Doug Shepherd

In Loving Memory of

Don Wilder

July 12, 1936 – December 27, 2020

Until We Meet Again We think about you always, We talk about you still, You have never been forgotten, And you never will.

We hold you close within our hearts, and there you will remain.

To walk and guide us through our lives Until we meet again.

Love always, Betty, Ron, Dave, Darlene & families X0

Please include the Moose Jaw Health Foundation in your estate plan to help your community for generations to come.

Please contact us for more information.

Moose Jaw Health Foundation 55 Diefenbaker Drive Moose Jaw, SK S6J 0C2 Phone (306) 694-0373

www.mjhf.org

Birthdays, Anniversaries, & More!

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Going Warm Wishes from our Families ABOVE and to Yours this BEYOND Christmas and expectations always. is what sets us apart

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • PAGE A25

Obituaries / Memorials Gordon Gabel

May 10, 1931 To Dec 27, 2018

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Brian Yamniuk

September 6th, 1948 - October 13th, 2021

Though your smile is gone forever And your hand we cannot touch, We have so many memories Of you we love so much.

Your memory is our keepsake With which we’ll never part, God has you in His keeping And we have you in our hearts.

Love Jennie Gary & Shirley Cory & Bev

Rev. Dr. John Kreutzwieser is a retired pastor from Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Moose Jaw, SK. He graduated with a doctorate degree in 2006 from the Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Florida.

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

Christmas

Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Próspero año y felicidad Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Próspero año y felicidad I wanna wish you a merry Christmas, I wanna wish you a merry Christmas I wanna wish you a merry Christmas, From the bottom of my heart.

Christmas is a Christian feast day observed each calendar year on December 25th. It is not tied to a particular day of the week but is always celebrated whenever the 25th of the 12th month falls. In the Christian Year Christmas is a 12-day celebration from December 25 to January 5, culminating with the Epiphany (visit of the magi to the Christ child) on January 6. The evening before a festival is often observed in a special way, thus Christmas Eve on December 24 has become a traditional kick-off to the days of Christmas.

The Bible gives no date for the birth of Jesus, nor uses the word Christmas at all. But December 25 has become a day of importance for Christians and many other people around the world.

The word Christmas comes from Old English Cristes Maesse, meaning the Mass of Christ. Sometime in the early 300s AD Christians set aside a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Philocalus, a Greek calligrapher, produced a calendar of important dates in 354 AD. In a portion of the work, dated from 336 AD, he wrote, “on the eighth day of the kalends of January, Christ, born in Bethlehem of Judea.” Although it seems that as early as 200 AD some Christians in Egypt were commemorating the birth of Jesus on May 20th according to the writings

Thinking of you this Christmas and how nothing's quite the same, because there's only heartache when someone speaks your name.

The pain of losing you lingers as silent tears still fall, for Christmas time without you is the hardest time of all.

Love Always, Pauline, Cory, Pam, Dylan, Kyle, Laurel, Jeff, Brittany, Kerby, Grady, Gavin & Harrison I loved you then… I love you now…I'll love you forever….. Love Pauline xxoo

of Clement of Alexandria. The Eastern Orthodox Church used January 6 for the special observance of the birth of Jesus for centuries. Today many Orthodox Christians, following the Julian calendar, observe Christmas on January 7.

Why December 25 for much of the world? There are two theories that together promote Christmas on December 25th. The one is the Roman festival of Saturnalia; the other is the date of March 25 for another Christian observance.

Saturnalia was an ancient celebration of the winter solstice (the shortest night of the year, usually December 21 or 22) and the recognition of the daylight hours beginning to lengthen (Day of the Birth of the Unconquered Sun). It was a festival of the triumph of light over darkness, celebrated by acts of emancipation for slaves and gift giving among friends. Christians may have used the season in a counter-cultural way to focus on the Son of God’s entrance into human history to bring the Divine light into a dark world of sin and the beginning of emancipation from death through the Christ.

In the early Church, writers like Tertullian and Hippolytus, recognized Jesus’ death on March 25. Symbolic numerology led to the idea of the conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary on the same day, March 25th. A ninemonth gestation period would then place his birth on December 25. So, sometime in the early 400s AD the Western Church, based in Rome, established the Mass of Christ on December 25th, based on Saturnalia and the March 25 date.

Feliz Navidad is a Christmas song written in 1970

by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano. It is a traditional Spanish greeting for Christmas in various places around the world. Feliz Navidad is one of the topmost played and recorded Christmas songs.

Aurelius Prudentius Clemens (348-413 AD) penned: Of the Father’s love begotten ere the world began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending he, of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see evermore and evermore.

Oh, that birth forever blessed, when the virgin, full of grace, by the Holy Ghost conceiving, bore the Saviour of our race, and the babe, the world’s redeemer, first revealed his sacred face evermore and evermore.

This is he whom seers in old time, chanted of with one accord, whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word; now he shines, the long-expected; let creation praise its Lord evermore and evermore.

Merry Christmas!

Columnist John Kreutzwieser loves to research words and writes this weekly Word Wisdom column for Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com. He has an interest in the usage, origin, and relevance of words for society today. Greek and Latin form the basis of many words, with ancient Hebrew shedding light on word usage.

John would like to know if anyone has a sincere interest in a relevant word that he could possibly research for an upcoming column. If so, please send your requests to wordwisdom2021@gmail.com . Words will be selected according to relevance and research criteria. We cannot confirm that all words will be used.

If tears Could build A stairway and memories A lane, I'd walk Right up to Heaven And bring you home again.

Missing you terribly Leslie George Farnel Love Always From Diana, Lesley, Jessica, Family and Friends

MOOSE JAW

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We wish all of our family & friends all the magic of Christmas and all the best in 2022!

From Lorne & Judy Tilson

PAGE A26 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021

10:30 p.m. NET NHL Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks.

SportS HigHligHtS d BASKETBALL

e FOOTBALL

Saturday

Thursday

4:00 p.m. WXYZ NET NBA Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns.

7:00 p.m. WXYZ NBA Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Lakers.

10:30 p.m. TSN NBA Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz.

Tuesday 6:30 p.m. NET NBA Philadelphia 76ers at Toronto Raptors.

9:30 p.m. NET NBA Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors.

THURSDAY EVENING 3 CBKFT 5 CFRE 6 CKCK 7 WEATH 8 WDIV 9 CBKT 11 WWJ 12 WXYZ 13 CTYS 19 TSN 20 NET 25 EDACC 26 W 29 ENCAV2 33 CMT 35 TLC 38 DISC 41 COM 42 TCM 47 AMC 48 FSR 55 CRV1 56 CRV2 57 CRV3 58 HBO

7:00

7:30

Saturday 7:15 p.m. CKCK TSN NFL Indianapolis Colts at Arizona Cardinals.

Sunday 7:20 p.m. WDIV EDACC NFL Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys.

Monday

k HOCKEY

Thursday 8:00 p.m. NET NHL Seattle Kraken at Calgary Flames.

8:00

8:30

Wednesday 6:00 p.m. TSN 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship Canada vs Germany.

6:30 p.m. NET NHL Chicago Blackhawks at Winnipeg Jets.

9:30 p.m. NET NHL Edmonton Oilers at St. Louis Blues.

10:30 p.m. NET NHL Vancouver Canucks at Anaheim Ducks.

7:15 p.m. TSN NFL Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints.

MOVIES

Tuesday 6:00 p.m. TSN 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship Austria vs Canada.

SPORTS

9:00

9:30

SPECIALS

10:00

10:30

7:00

7:30

MOVIES

8:00

8:30

SPORTS

9:00

9:30

SPECIALS

10:00

10:30

Rêve “Louis Cyr: l’homme le plus fort du monde” (2013) Gilbert Sicotte Téléjournal TJ Sask “The Santa Stakeout” (2021) Tamera Mowry-Housley. Family Law News Best ›››› “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) James Stewart, Donna Reed.

Big Bang etalk (N) Nature Climate Climate Climate Climate Climate Climate Climate ›››› “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) James Stewart, Donna Reed.

News Christmas Coronation ›››› “White Christmas” (1954) Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye.

The National (N) A Holly Dolly Christmas Kenny Rogers Blue Bloods Big Bang Late-Colbert Olaf’s Shrek/Halls Landing Prep & Shark Tank News J. Kimmel “Christmas Romance” “Toying With the Holidays” (2021) Cindy Busby Food Food Why We Love Sports (N) SC Top 100 Plays of Year SC Bloopers SC Top Must See Plays of the Year Misplays of the Year Plays of the Year Misplays of the Year Cash Cab Cash Cab MasterChef Canada: A Holiday Special “A Christmas Carol” “Time for Us” “Making Spirits Bright” (2021, Romance) Taylor Cole. “Sister Swap: Hometown” (6:45) “How to Train Your Dragon 2” “12 Gifts of Christmas” (2015) ›› “Four Christmases” The Office The Office Frogger King King Frasier Frasier 90 Day Fiancé 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days (N) The Family Chantel 90 Day Gold Rush: The Dirt (N) North Woods Law (N) North Woods Law Road hunting; an injured goose. (N) Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang ››› “The Bishop’s Wife” (1947) Cary Grant. ››› “A Christmas Carol” (1938) Remember “Planes, Trains” ››› “Scrooged” (1988) Bill Murray, Karen Allen.

Drum Boy Xmas Gold Auto Show NHRA Drag Racing NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

NHRA in 30 Craftopia ››› “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” (2010) “Together Together” (6:30) ››› “In the Heights” (2021, Musical) ›› “Valley Girl” (2020, Musical) Vivarium (6:15) “Nomadland” ››› “News of the World” (2020) Tom Hanks.

Santa Inc. Santa Inc. 12 Dates of 12 Dates of 12 Dates of Christmas 12 Dates of Christmas Insecure Insecure

SATURDAY EVENING 3 CBKFT 5 CFRE 6 CKCK 7 WEATH 8 WDIV 9 CBKT 11 WWJ 12 WXYZ 13 CTYS 19 TSN 20 NET 25 EDACC 26 W 29 ENCAV2 33 CMT 35 TLC 38 DISC 41 COM 42 TCM 47 AMC 48 FSR 55 CRV1 56 CRV2 57 CRV3 58 HBO

Monday 6:00 p.m. NET NHL Toronto Maple Leafs at Columbus Blue Jackets.

9:00 p.m. NET NHL Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames.

Rêve “Bon Cop Bad Cop 2” (2017, Action) Colm Feore, Erik Knudsen.

Téléjournal TJ Sask “Christmas Waltz” (2020) Lacey Chabert, Will Kemp. Family Law Global News at 10 (N) “A Christmas Village Romance” (2020) Jeni Ross.

Big Bang etalk (N) Letterkenny Corner Gas Nature History History History History History History History 5 More Trolls Young Rock Mr. Mayor Kelly Clarkson Presents News J. Fallon A Very Royal Christmas: ››› “Scrooge” (1951, Fantasy) Alastair Sim. The National (N) Sheldon (:31) Ghosts (:01) Ghosts Ghosts Ghosts Ghosts Big Bang Late-Colbert Santa Is Comin’ to Town A Very Boy Band Holiday CMA Country Christmas News J. Kimmel “Cross Country” “Baking Spirits Bright” (2021, Drama) Rekha Sharma. Paramedics: Paramedics: Pregame (:20) NFL Football San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans. (N) SC With Jay Misplays NHL’s Best NHL Hockey Seattle Kraken at Calgary Flames. (N) NHL Hockey (:15) NFL Football San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans. (N) Corner Gas “Christmas for Keeps” “You, Me & the Christmas Trees” (2021) Ben Ayers Saved-Bell Saved-Bell “Pursuit-Happy.” (:10) › “Wild Wild West” (1999, Action) Will Smith. ›› “Bad Boys” (1995) The Office The Office King King King King Frasier Frasier My 600-Lb. Life Ryan needs to curb his eating habits. 1000-Lb. Sisters (N) Hoarding: Buried Alive Alaskan Bush People (N) Alaskan Bush People (N) Deadliest Catch North Woods Law Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang ›› “It Happened on 5th Avenue” (1947, Comedy) (:15) ››› “The Man Who Came to Dinner” (1941) ››› “Scrooged” (1988) Bill Murray, Karen Allen. › “Surviving Christmas” (2004) Ben Affleck.

DRL Drone Racing Level 11: Biosphere. (N Taped) DRL Drone Racing Level 10 - The Kingdom.

Wonder (:20) ››› “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (2009) And Just Like That... (N) 12 Dates of Christmas 12 Dates of Christmas ››› “The Truffle Hunters” (2020) ››› Pig (6:00) “Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars” (:20) ›› “SCOOB!” (2020, Children’s) ››› “Harriet” (2019) His Dark His Dark Materials His Dark (:10) His Dark Materials The White Lotus

FRIDAY EVENING 3 CBKFT 5 CFRE 6 CKCK 7 WEATH 8 WDIV 9 CBKT 11 WWJ 12 WXYZ 13 CTYS 19 TSN 20 NET 25 EDACC 26 W 29 ENCAV2 33 CMT 35 TLC 38 DISC 41 COM 42 TCM 47 AMC 48 FSR 55 CRV1 56 CRV2 57 CRV3 58 HBO

6:00 p.m. TSN 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship Czech Republic vs Canada.

7:15 p.m. EDACC NFL San Francisco 49ers at Tennessee Titans.

Sunday 5:00 p.m. NET NBA Toronto Raptors at Cleveland Cavaliers.

8:00 p.m. NET NBA Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers.

Sunday

7:00

7:30

MOVIES

8:00

8:30

SPORTS

9:00

9:30

SPECIALS

10:00

10:30

“La passion d’Augustine” (2015) Céline Bonnier.

Le chemin de Noël (N) TJ Cyrano Border Sec. Border Sec. “Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas” (2020) Glbl News ET Canada (:15) NFL Football Indianapolis Colts at Arizona Cardinals. (N) Corner Gas Corner Gas Nature Candid Forecast Candid Forecast Candid Forecast Candid Grinch Stole ›› “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000) Jim Carrey.

News SNL Vanity Fair Vanity Fair Vanity Fair “Once Upon a Murdoch” NCIS: Los Angeles 48 Hours (N) 48 Hours (N) SEAL Team NBA Basketball Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Lakers. (N) black-ish News ThisMinute “If I Only Had Christmas” “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (2019) “Always and Forever Ch” (:15) NFL Football Indianapolis Colts at Arizona Cardinals. (N) Basketball Plays Misplays of the Year NHL’s Best Marathon NHL’s Best One Big Holiday Recipe “Coming Home for Christmas” (2017) Neal Bledsoe “Christmas Lovers” “Royal Queens” “Coyote Creek Christmas” (2021) Janel Parrish.

“Small Town Christmas” (6:35) ›› “Mamma Mia!” (2008) (:25) › “Norm of the North” (2016) “Willy Wonka” Frasier Frasier The Office The Office The Office The Office Frasier Frasier Dr. Pimple Popper Dr. Pimple Popper 90 Day Fiancé 90 Day Fiancé North Woods Law (N) North Woods Law (N) North Woods Law (N) North Woods Law (N) Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang ›››› “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957) William Holden, Alec Guinness.

“Witness-Pros.”

(6:00) “The Night Before” (:15) ›› “The Night Before” (2015) Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Snow Day NASCAR Beyond NHRA Drag Racing NGK NTK NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

Space Jam (:45) ››› “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” (2011) “The Suicide Squad” (:15) ›› “Last Christmas” (2019) Emilia Clarke.

“8-Bit Christmas” (2021, Comedy) Black “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (:40) ››› “Diamonds Are Forever” (1971, Action) Live & Let Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (:15) Friends: The Reunion Just Like Just Like

SUNDAY EVENING 3 CBKFT 5 CFRE 6 CKCK 7 WEATH 8 WDIV 9 CBKT 11 WWJ 12 WXYZ 13 CTYS 19 TSN 20 NET 25 EDACC 26 W 29 ENCAV2 33 CMT 35 TLC 38 DISC 41 COM 42 TCM 47 AMC 48 FSR 55 CRV1 56 CRV2 57 CRV3 58 HBO

7:00

7:30

7:00

7:30

9:00

9:30

10:00

10:30

MOVIES

8:00

8:30

SPORTS

9:00

9:30

SPECIALS

10:00

10:30

7:00

7:30

MOVIES

8:00

8:30

SPORTS

9:00

9:30

SPECIALS

10:00

10:30

Rêve “1987” (2014) Simon Pigeon, Jean-Carl Boucher.

Pêcheurs Téléjournal TJ Sask “Journey of My Heart” (2021) Rhiannon Fish.

Family Law News Beyond the “Oscar Peterson: Black & White” (2020) Holmes Family Effect Big Bang etalk (N) Nature Weather Weather Weather Weather Weather Weather Weather American Grand Crew This Is Us (:01) New Amsterdam News J. Fallon Coronation Family Feud Les Misérables Les Misérables The National (N) FBI FBI: International FBI: Most Wanted Big Bang Late-Colbert black-ish black-ish black-ish black-ish black-ish black-ish News J. Kimmel “You May Kiss The Bridesmaid” (2021) Mom Mom Brainfood 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship SportsCentre (N) SportsCentre (N) Must See NBA Basketball: 76ers at Raptors Sportsnet NBA Basketball: Nuggets at Warriors Primetime Cash Cab Big Bang etalk (N) “Site Unseen: An Emma Fielding Mystery” (2017) “Christmas-Man” “A Nashville Christmas Carol” (2020) Jessy Schram. “Godwink Christmas” (6:10) ››› “9 to 5” (:05) ››› “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006) ›› “Office Space” The Office The Office King King King King Frasier Frasier 7 Little Johnstons (N) I Am Jazz “Raw” (N) 7 Little Johnstons (N) Sister Wives Lone Star Law Lone Star Law Lone Star Law Lone Star Law Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang ››› “Trouble in Paradise” (1932) (:45) ››› “The Shop Around the Corner” (1940) Smiling Lt (6:00) ›› “Pearl Harbor” (2001, War) Ben Affleck. ››› “A League of Their Own” (1992) Tom Hanks.

Motorcycle Motorcycle Race The Auto Show (6:50) “Skyfire” (2019) Jason Isaacs. (:25) ››› “Together Together” “The Suicide Squad” (:15) ›› “Last Christmas” (2019) Emilia Clarke.

“Tremors: Shrieker Island” (2020) Black (6:15) “Let Him Go” (:15) ›› “Last Christmas” (2019) Emilia Clarke.

Dexter: New Blood (6:40) “Baby God” (2020) McMillion$ McMillion$ “Bob Einstein”

WEDNESDAY EVENING 3 CBKFT 5 CFRE 6 CKCK 7 WEATH 8 WDIV 9 CBKT 11 WWJ 12 WXYZ 13 CTYS 19 TSN 20 NET 25 EDACC 26 W 29 ENCAV2 33 CMT 35 TLC 38 DISC 41 COM 42 TCM 47 AMC 48 FSR 55 CRV1 56 CRV2 57 CRV3 58 HBO

8:30

SPECIALS

Rêve “1981” (2009) Jean-Carl Boucher, Claudio Colangelo. Défier Téléjournal TJ Sask “Baby, It’s Cold Inside” (2021) Jocelyn Hudon.

Family Law News In Conver Jann Jann Jann Jann Holmes Family Effect Big Bang etalk (N) Nature Candid Candid Candid Candid Candid Candid Candid ››› “Trolls” (2016) Voices of Anna Kendrick.

That’s My Jam News J. Fallon Coronation Family Feud Victoria Victoria is threatened by a relative. (N) The National (N) Neighbor Bob Heart NCIS NCIS: Hawai’i “Recruiter” Big Bang Late-Colbert Celebrity Wheel The Year: 2021 (N) News J. Kimmel “A Honeymoon to Remember” (2021) Edward Ruttle Mom Mom Brainfood (:15) NFL Football Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints. (N) SC With Jay NHL Hockey: Maple Leafs at Blue Jackets NHL Hockey Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames. (N) Cash Cab Cash Cab Big Bang etalk (N) “Garage Sale Mystery: The Art of Murder” (2016) (6:00) “Holly & Ivy” (2020) “An Unexpected Christmas” (2021) Tyler Hynes “A Timeless Christmas” (6:05) ›› “Blue Crush” (7:50) ››› “Life of Pi” (2012) Suraj Sharma, Tabu.

“Master-Commd” The Office The Office King King King King Frasier Frasier The Family Chantel (N) 90 Day Fiancé (N) (:01) 1000-Lb. Sisters (N) (:01) The Family Chantel Lone Star Law Lone Star Law Lone Star Law Lone Star Law Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang ››› “Breathless” (1959) (:45) ›› “Bright Eyes” (1934) Shirley Temple.

Young (6:00) ›› “S.W.A.T.” (2003, Action) ›› “A Knight’s Tale” (2001, Action) Heath Ledger, Mark Addy.

NASCAR RaceDay Beyond the Wheel NASCAR Beyond New York New York (:05) The New York Times Presents New York Times Presents Valley Girl (:20) ›› “Underwater” (2020) ››› “The Kid Detective” (2020) Tammy (6:10) “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” (2013) My Gift-Carrie Underwood “Prisoners-Ghost” (:15) State of Play (:10) McMillion$ (:05) McMillion$ Landscapers (N)

TUESDAY EVENING 3 CBKFT 5 CFRE 6 CKCK 7 WEATH 8 WDIV 9 CBKT 11 WWJ 12 WXYZ 13 CTYS 19 TSN 20 NET 25 EDACC 26 W 29 ENCAV2 33 CMT 35 TLC 38 DISC 41 COM 42 TCM 47 AMC 48 FSR 55 CRV1 56 CRV2 57 CRV3 58 HBO

8:00

SPORTS

Découverte Bébéatrice Fred Pellerin et l’OSM: la poste Défier TJ La vie “The Angel Tree” (2020) Jill Wagner, Lucas Bryant.

Border Sec. Border Sec. News Block “Midnight at the Magnolia” (2020) Natalie Hall.

Stellar Stand Ups (N) Goldbergs Goldbergs Nature Press Paws Press Paws Press Paws Press Paws Press Paws Press Paws Press Paws Football (:20) NFL Football Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys. (N) News ››› “Knives Out” (2019, Mystery) Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas.

The National (N) 60 Minutes The Equalizer The Equalizer The Equalizer Joel Osteen Celebrity Wheel Supermarket Sweep The Rookie “Breakdown” News Countdown “Deliver by Christmas” (2020) Alvina August.

“A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas” (2019, Romance) 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship United States vs Slovakia.

Basketball Plays-Month NBA Basketball Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers. (N) Misplays Football (:20) NFL Football Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys. (N) Corner Gas “A Dickens of a Holiday!” “Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater” (2020) “Christmas in Vienna” (:15) ›› “The Land Before Time” (:25) ››› “The Neverending Story” ››› “The Goonies” Neighbor Neighbor Rutherford Rutherford Intelligence Intelligence Rutherford Rutherford 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days (N) (:01) Sister Wives (N) 90 Day Fiancé Aussie Gold Hunters (N) Outback Opal Hunters (N) Bering Sea Gold (N) North Woods Law Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang ››› “Yours, Mine and Ours” (1968) Lucille Ball. ›› “Breezy” (1973) William Holden, Kay Lenz.

“National Lamp.” ›› “National Lampoon’s European Vacation” › “Vegas Vacation” Drag Racing Off Road Racing Extreme E Championship, Final.

“Wonder Woman 1984” (7:55) ›› “Spirit Untamed” (2021) VICE (N) Dexter: New Blood (N) (6:55) ››› “The Big Sick” (2017) Kumail Nanjiani. ››› “An American Pickle” (2020) The Hunt (6:50) ››› “Licence to Kill” (1989) Timothy Dalton. (:10) ››› “GoldenEye” (1995) Pierce Brosnan.

Head of (:25) “Bad Education” (2019) (:15) Tiger

MONDAY EVENING 3 CBKFT 5 CFRE 6 CKCK 7 WEATH 8 WDIV 9 CBKT 11 WWJ 12 WXYZ 13 CTYS 19 TSN 20 NET 25 EDACC 26 W 29 ENCAV2 33 CMT 35 TLC 38 DISC 41 COM 42 TCM 47 AMC 48 FSR 55 CRV1 56 CRV2 57 CRV3 58 HBO

MOVIES

7:00

7:30

MOVIES

8:00

8:30

SPORTS

9:00

9:30

SPECIALS

10:00

10:30

Rêve “1991” (2018) Sandrine Bisson, Jean-Carl Boucher.

Rire Téléjournal TJ Sask “Advice to Love By” (2021) Erinn Westbrook.

Family Law “Truthiness” Global News at 10 (N) Howie Mandel All-Star Comedy Gala Holmes Family Effect Big Bang etalk (N) Nature This World This World This World This World This World This World This World Chicago Med Chicago Fire Chicago P.D. “Rage” News J. Fallon Coronation Family Feud Les Misérables Les Misérables The National (N) The Price Is Right Celebrates 50 Years S.W.A.T. “Lockdown” Big Bang Late-Colbert Wonder Wonder Wonder Wonder Wonder Wonder News J. Kimmel The Price Is Right Celebrates 50 Years Mom Mom Brainfood 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship Sweden vs United States.

NHL Hockey Chicago Blackhawks at Winnipeg Jets.

Sportsnet NHL Hockey Sportsnet NHL Hockey Primetime Cash Cab Big Bang etalk (N) “Past Malice: An Emma Fielding Mystery” (2018) “Gift-Hanukkah” “’Tis the Season to Be Merry” (2021) John B. Lowe “Christmas House 2” “Million Dollar Baby” (:15) ›› “Uncle Drew” (2018, Comedy) Kyrie Irving. ››› “42” (2013) The Office The Office King King King King Frasier Frasier My 600-Lb. Life “Lucas’ Journey” (N) Too Large (N) Save My Skin Moonshiners (N) Master Distiller Master Distiller Lone Star Law Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang ››› “Murder on the Orient Express” (1974) (:15) ›› “A Walk in the Spring Rain” (1970) (6:00) ›› “Armageddon” (1998) Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton. ›› “U.S. Marshals” (1998, Action) Drone Racing DRL Drone Racing Level 11: Kingdom.

MotoAmerica Rewind (6:05) › “Cats” (2019) ››› “News of the World” (2020) Tom Hanks. ››› “Harriet” (2019) (6:25) ›› “Wonder Woman 1984” (2020) Gal Gadot. Wellington Wellington Dexter: New Blood (6:35) “Trolls World Tour” (:15) ››› “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” “The Violent Heart” “Oscar Peterson” McMillion$ McMillion$ Succession

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 22, 2021 • PAGE A27

Wishing You a Happy Holiday Season and a Wonderful Prosperous New Year!!

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OPINION/ EDITORIAL

Guidelines for Submitting Letters to the Editor:

Due to space allotment in Moose Jaw Express for free letters to the editor, we find it necessary to establish some guidelines in submissions that will be in effect as of March 15, 2021.

• All letters to the editor submitted to the Moose Jaw Express newspaper should not exceed 800 words, although they can be much longer to be included in our online daily MooseJawToday.com . In this case, we reserve the right to edit them accordingly.

Vaccine passports are not only unreliable, they’re dangerous

By Gwyn Morgan Contributor, Troy Media The creation of multiple COVID-19 vaccines in an astonishingly short period was a stunning achievement by the biotech industry. The vaccines were approved for “emergency use” in just a few months, rather than the eight to 10 years normally required of previous vaccines.

Most Canadians were more than willing to accept that risk.

According to federal government data, over 85 per cent of Canadians 12 and older are now “fully vaccinated,” including yours truly. This has been hugely important in reducing the dreadful carnage in care homes and deaths of others with weakened immune systems.

And yet, we’re not as far along as we had hoped to be. Just last spring, rapidly diminishing COVID infection rates seemed to indicate the pandemic was nearing an end. As summer turned to fall, however, the more contagious Delta variant gained a foothold.

Soon, case numbers and hospitalizations were rising again.

That increase was widely blamed on the unvaccinated, creating a division that’s torn at the social fabric of our nation. These days, you’re either a vaccinated ‘good Canadian’ or a villainous ‘anti-vaxxer,’ forbidden from working in the public service, going to restaurants, gyms or sports events, or using public transportation.

In a flagrant violation of the basic Canadian rights and freedoms that we all cherish, the prime minister issued an edict forbidding air travel, even for those with a negative COVID test.

Increasingly, however, it’s becoming evident that the facts don’t justify a binary, zero-one distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated. As we double-vaxxed are learning, to our disquiet, vaccina-

tion doesn’t provide the protection against the virus we had counted on.

It’s now clear that fully-vaccinated persons are getting and transmitting the virus. A coach and 10 players of the fully-vaccinated Ottawa Senators hockey team tested positive for the virus. These players then infected their families.

Similarly, hundreds of Canadian soldiers who participated in a training exercise at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa had to be quarantined after a COVID-19 outbreak. A spokesman for the military said “everyone participating in exercise was fully vaccinated.”

And fully vaccinated singer Bryan Adams contracted the virus – twice.

Ontario’s Dec. 10 COVID report that the vaccinated accounted for 57 per cent of new cases confirms the stark new reality that vaccine passports are not only unreliable, they’re dangerous. When I began research for this column, I was puzzled as to why those ‘protected’ by being vaccinated would worry about catching the virus from the unvaccinated. Now it’s those vilified unvaccinated who need to worry about the reverse.

Yet the vaccination establishment powers on, with children as young as five being coaxed with candy into rolling up their sleeves – despite the fact that healthy children who contract the virus almost never get seriously ill.

Just 17 Canadians under age 19 have died of the virus in the past 18 months, and most had serious comorbidities. That number is roughly the same as the pre-pandemic 12-month average for the seasonal flu. And we don’t yet know the extent of more serious side effects, such as myocarditis. The virus vaccines were approved for “emergency use.”

Where’s the child emergency?

Meanwhile, startling new research, financed by Pfizer and published in the Lancet Medical Journal, found the protection level of the Pfizer vaccine ad-

• A full name and contact information will need to be included with each submission for verification.

• Only the name will be included in publication with the letter as the contributor.

Send your letters to the editor to:

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All columns, letters to the editor and editorials are solely the personal opinions of the writers themselves and not necessarily the opinions of The Moose Jaw Express.

ministered to most Canadians drops to less than 50 per cent after just five months. Waning efficacy of vaccines has health officials authorizing a third and even fourth booster shot.

No one knows if the protection period will continue to wane, but it seems increasingly clear that trying to hold back the virus with vaccines sets up an endless booster-shot gerbil wheel.

If never-ending booster shots aren’t the answer, what is?

A study published in the journal Nature found that many people who have recovered from SARsCoV-2 will make antibodies against the virus for most of their lives. This ‘natural immunity’ effect is comparable to that developed for measles and other viral diseases. That explains why Germany treats recovered persons the same as fully vaccinated.

That begs an important question I believe health authorities need to answer: Since the vaccinated people who contract the virus experience only mild symptoms, why keep giving booster shots rather than letting the much more sustainable natural immunity effect achieve the ‘normal’ we all long for?

Clear evidence that vaccinated people can and do contract and spread the virus undermines the fundamental rationale of vaccine passports.

And yet, in never-never land, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – fresh from COP 26, where he pledged to lead the world off fossil fuels – has announced he intends to also lead the world out of the COVID pandemic with the creation of a “global vaccine passport.”

The 70 per cent of Canadians who didn’t vote for him might be hoping his quixotic global mission takes him a long way from our shores.

Gwyn Morgan is a retired business leader who has been a director of five global corporations. © Troy Media

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

PAGE A28 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Moose Jaw lights up for Christmas in festive fashion Photos by Ron Walter