The annual mini-building-block extravaganza of all things LEGO will once again be held at the Western Development Museum (WDM) where, in partnership with the Saskatchewan LEGO Users Group (SLUG), creative minds from across the province will visit Moose to showcase their talent and hours of dedication at BRICKSPO 2024.
BRICKSPO will take place on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28 and runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on each respective date at the museum.
At BRICKSPO 2024, members of SLUG and other groups from across western Canada will display some of their own original designs built exclusively from LEGO bricks. Some of these creations have been built specifcally for the show with the aim of showcasing each creator’s skillset.
Just a few of the themes that guests can expect to see include science fction, the Medieval age, celebrity portraits, and plenty more.
After eight years, BRICKSPO has showcased thousands of creations which have been seen by tens of thousands of spectators, according to the SLUG website. This year, as with every other, organizers hope to build the show to be bigger and better than it was the year before.
The two-day event will take place as follows:
Saturday, July 27
• LEGO yard sale: will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Education Room
• Speed Build: Brickspo Builder’s Challenge: will begin at 10 a.m. in the Aviation Gallery
• Brick Talk 1: LEGO for Life; How a Simple Hobby Equips you with Transferrable Skills: will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Feature Gallery
• Brick Talk 2: Building Nostalgia; Creating Builds for Pop Culture: will begin at 1 p.m. in the Feature Gallery
• Wacky Races: will begin at 2 p.m. in the Rail Gallery
• Brickspo LEGO Draft: will begin at 3 p.m. in the Aviation Gallery
Sunday, July 28
• LEGO yard sale: will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the museum’s Education Room
• No Instruction Build: will begin at 10 a.m. in the Aviation Gallery
• Brick Talk 3: Building Versions of Real-Life Things: will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Feature Gallery
• Left Hand/Right Hand Build: will begin at 1 p.m. in the Aviation Gallery
• Wacky Races: will begin at 2 p.m. in the Rail Gallery
• Brickspo LEGO Draft: will begin at 3 p.m. in the Aviation Gallery
Once the show is concluded and after several member events and contests, guests will have the chance to vote on their favourite builds. These winners will be given bragging rights for the year.
To vote, look for the BRICKSPO Building Challenge and numbered title cards on eligible builds to vote for Best in Show during the event.
An on-site concession will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., although visitors are advised that the concession will only be accepting cash payments.
Regular museum admission rates apply for the BRICKSPO event, and admission is free for members of the WDM. There is no additional cost to attend the program. For more information about memberships, visit WDM.ca/Membership.
For more information, contact Alexis Jones at 306-693-5989 or by email at AJones@wdm.ca. You can also visit the museum’s website at WDM.ca/Moose-Jaw.
For more information about SLUG, visit Sasklug.org.
The Western Development Museum is located at 50 Diefen-
BRICKSPO will return to the Western Development Museum on July 27 and 28. Photo by: Western Development Museum
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City manager refects on her frst year guiding the City of Moose Jaw
It’s been more than a year since Maryse Carmichael took over as city manager, and in that time, she has come to understand better what makes Moose Jaw tick.
“I love seeing the real city because before, (it was) limited to what I was doing mainly with the base (at 15 Wing), but now to understand the entire city and to see everyone is what I love,” she said.
“What I love about and what I understand about the city is how vibrant it is and how active people are in the city. And so many people talk about … Main Street and the tourism and all that,” she continued. “(So) absolutely, that’s something that now I understand more.”
Conversely, Carmichael has also learned how the decisions that city councils made 20 to 30 years ago affect the city today, particularly the no-tax increases in the 1990s and early 2000s. She compared that time to failing to upgrade a home over 30 years and letting lightbulbs burn out and sinks plug up.
The city may have performed the minimum amount of maintenance during those 15 years, but that wasn’t enough because the infrastructure — from roads to pipes — required preventative maintenance to ensure it worked properly.
Carmichael says addressing roads and underground infrastructure is equally
Jason
G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com
challenging.
“I would say the issue is that residents don’t see what’s underneath (the ground). So they’ll push to fx potholes or fx something (visible) … when they don’t know the full story of what’s underneath and what’s more pressing,” she added. “And that’s why the administration sees the entire story.”
Enjoying the new role
Overall, Carmichael says she has greatly enjoyed being city manager — she started on May 16, 2023 — and being part
CITY OF MOOSE JAW HAS SCHEDULED A PUBLIC MEETING FOR: Monday, July 29, 2024 Moose Jaw Events Centre, 2nd Floor 6:00 p.m.
At the July 8, 2024 meeting of City Council, the following motion was passed:
“THAT a public meeting be held with City Administration, City Police, City Council, MLA’s and the public to discuss shelters, addiction services and safety in the City of Moose Jaw.”
The purpose of the public meeting is to invite voters’ comments regarding shelters, addiction services, and safety in the City of Moose Jaw.
City of Moose Jaw voters wishing to have their voice heard during the upcoming meeting can register to speak by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at cclerk@moosejaw.ca or (306) 694-4426.
of a team. Moreover, she believes Moose Jaw is the “perfect size” entry-level city for her as a new city manager.
What Carmichael has enjoyed the most is discovering different parts of the city, what employees do daily and how the community interacts with each other.
She acknowledged that there have been some challenges that she never thought she would experience, such as working on a new solid waste management venue.
“Those are the great projects that you do once every 80 to 90 years. And … it’s a great challenge for me to lead the team and to work with the team on that … ,” she said. “I’ve learned lots about something I didn’t know too much about.”
Garbage is a fact of life, so the city must decide how to handle it while determining who may be affected by the new landfll’s location, the city manager continued. Also, the current landfll is 100 years old, while the city has exhausted all possible options to expand it.
Teambuilding
Coming from the private sector has been relatively easy for Carmichael, who said she is now responsible for a corporation and managing what happens to it and its employees. Moreover, she must also manage customer support and interactions with residents.
“The one aspect that’s different is politics and the relationship with council. I’ve worked with a board before, so I understand that relationship … ,” she said. “So that has some specifcs that are different, but not overall unmanageable.”
Carmichael has appreciated the support that council has given her, especially since councillors wanted a leader to work with them and guide the city’s operations, employees and projects. With a laugh, she acknowledged that she is technically council’s only employee — all city staff work for her — which is something most people don’t know. Yet, she doesn’t feel any pressure being council’s sole employee.
Challenges
Finances are the No. 1 challenge Carmichael faces, whether it’s the cost-of-living expenses everyone faces or fnding the money to build a new Crescent View Lift Station. She pointed out that that project is the most challenging to pursue because its cost has doubled.
Moreover, with the available funds, she must balance other projects with the city’s day-to-day operations.
Safety is another focus for Carmichael, whether it’s protecting employees, residents or visitors to Moose Jaw. She pointed to the conditions at the Stadacona Street West apartment building, where community stakeholders realized it was unsafe and acted to protect tenants.
“That is not something you plan; it (just) happens. And we reacted, and I’m happy to see that it was successful,” she said.
City hall is applying to the province to take ownership of the apartment building and will likely sell it as it does with other properties acquired through tax enforcement because it has no use for the structure.
“I think it’s a beautiful building. I think it should be used commercially or for another apartment building,” Carmichael added.
Internal changes
Adjusting city hall’s organizational structure has been one big change Carmichael has made during the past year, while she expects to make several more changes to other departments soon. She made these changes because she thought some departments — such as engineering and public works — worked better together.
She also created a department focusing on strategic growth and stakeholder relations, which she believes is important for the city’s future.
Perhaps the biggest change Carmichael is leading is with the culture among city employees. She believes that if she cares for staff properly, they can better address residents’ needs.
“We talked about those 15 years of nearly zero (per cent) tax increases … (and) I see the impact of that (because) the departments have had to almost survive for some of those years where there were some real budget constraints,” she said.
“I don’t want people to just have to survive; I want them to thrive and to work together and to serve the residents of Moose Jaw … ,” the city manager continued.
One internal cultural change Carmichael has made is hosting employee town halls twice a year. The most recent one attracted 100 staff, where senior leadership discussed ongoing projects, passed on updates from human resources and answered staff questions.
Short-term goals
Carmichael’s short-term goals include preparing city administration for the municipal election in November and readying staff for the 2025 budget discussions immediately afterward. Moreover, she will speak with the new council about where it wants to take the city over the next four years.
She acknowledged that holding budget discussions immediately after a municipal election may be diffcult for the new council, but she pointed out that city administration needs to line up contractors for a busy construction season in 2025. Therefore, it’s important to complete the budget by Christmas.
City manager Maryse Carmichael speaks in her offce about her frst year of guiding the City of Moose Jaw and the challenges and successes she has experienced. Photo by Jason G. Antonio
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Moose Jaw’s
It has been described as a Disney experience right here in Moose Jaw, and now the magic includes the women’s health unit at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital thanks to a generous donation from the Little Princess Ball Committee following the April 27 and 28 Little Princess Ball fundraiser.
The cheque, which was donated on July 4 to RN (registered nurse) Jeanette Hewsun to accept on behalf of the hospital, was made out for $35,551.91.
“If the (health) foundation did not have the overwhelming support that we do in the community, most services would not be available in Moose Jaw,” said Kelly McElree, the executive director of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation.
“The Little Princess Ball is truly a magical event in Moose Jaw,” he added. “And for many years, the princess ball has transformed the women’s health unit of the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital.”
This support, he said, includes all areas of the hospital from women’s health and pediatrics to surgery, medicine, and entails everything from fetal heart monitors to mattresses thanks to the yearly fundraiser.
“When we say this is a community hospital, it really is a community hospital,” he said. “If the community hadn’t rallied to have a new hospital built, there wouldn’t be a new hospital. And the people in Moose Jaw… recognize how vitally important health care is and they support it wholeheartedly.”
The Little Princess Ball raises funds
Donna Fritzke, the Moose Jaw Humane Society’s fundraising co-ordinator, has been spotted almost everywhere in Moose Jaw — and even in Mortlach — as she spread awareness for the shelter’s 4 Paws Lottery this summer.
On July 8, the lottery closed and the results are now in: $22,090 was raised for the shelter and four lucky residents won the lottery’s $500 cash prize with one resi-
Gale Toews, Financial Advisor
Gale Toews Private Wealth Management of Raymond James Ltd.
annually on behalf of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, which is itself a non-proft organization supporting and advocating for Moose Jaw’s hospital.
McElree said this year’s donation will be used to purchase additional Panda beds
for newborn babies.
These Panda beds, he said, resemble an isolette (a clear, plastic crib used in hospitals) with a light on the top.
“What that does, is it allows healthcare professionals to assist the baby with
any intervention or treatment that is needed,” McElree explained. “The beauty of the Panda bed is that it’s multifunctional and is right beside the mom, so that baby never leaves the mother’s side.”
Thanks to the Princess Ball fundraiser, which is now in its 13th year, McElree pointed out that each of the hospital’s labour and delivery rooms — of which there are four — is now equipped with one of these specialized pediatric care beds, thereby enabling Moose Jaw’s hospital to deliver state-of-the-art care.
With over 500 babies born each year at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital, a contribution of this nature is certainly of high value.
“We are so grateful (here) at the (health) foundation for the level of support from the Princess Ball Committee,” McElree said, with a special mention for the families, businesses, and sponsors who attend the fundraiser each year. “Everyone who comes to the Little Princess Ball is helping each one of those new babies in our community.
“It’s a Disney experience right here in Moose Jaw. It’s truly a magical event,” he added. “And we’re so thankful for what this has done in our community to help our hospital’s youngest patients.”
To learn more about the yearly Little Princess Ball, visit ‘The Little Princess Ball’ on Facebook or reach out by email to MJPrincessBall@gmail.com.
For more information about the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, visit MJHF.org.
“That’s fairly typical of this economy,” she said. “A lot of organizations are (similarly) seeing a bit of a decline in their support (right now).”
The 4 Paws Lottery has been a 20-year tradition and is one of the non-proft shelter’s longest running sources of income. The lottery has also remained relatively unchanged over the years.
“The prize values have increased, and the number of draws has decreased,” Haukaas explained.
dent taking home the $10,000 grand prize. This year’s winners are Jocelyn Bouchard, Jeanne Marchessault, Megan Keller, Gloria Caine, and Rod O’Byrne. Dana Haukaas, the shelter’s executive director, described this year’s lottery as a success, but also noted that ticket sales were down slightly compared to 2023.
“But it seems to be a steady fundraiser for the shelter.”
It wasn’t by accident that the shelter’s annual lottery was planned for the summer months.
“It’s very important for us to have those extra funds in place during the summer, because every humane society in Canada has the same problem,” Haukaas said. She explained this further by saying that kids are out of school during the summer and a lot of families are out of town traveling.
“They don’t necessarily want to… add a pet to their family if they’re planning to go on a two-week vacation,” she added.
As a result, the seasonal trend is for adoptions to go down during the summer before increasing again in the fall. This trend, Haukaas confrmed, is cyclical and doesn’t indicate any cause for concern.
The shelter currently has 53 cats and kittens in its care, along with 17 dogs. Because of this high number of cats in particular, the shelter is currently under an intake freeze until more space is available.
Meanwhile, the 4 Paws Lottery allows the shelter to provide for the animals under its care during these downward trends.
Haukaas extended an invitation for local businesses to consider partnering with the Humane Society in support of programs such as this.
“If you’re a local business interested in partnering with the Humane Society to help… provide funds for these fundraisers… please reach out…,” Haukaas said. Plus, she added, the shelter provides advertising opportunities for its sponsors during events and through its social media channels.
Thanks to Fritzke, Haukaas said all the awarded cash prizes were covered by sponsorships from local businesses —
meaning that the entire $22,090 raised in the lottery will go toward the shelter.
“All of that money stays with us. She (Fritzke) did a great job,” Haukaas said.
“The most amazing part of the whole lottery was having all the cash prizes be sponsored by our local businesses,” Fritzke added. “That, to me, was phenomenal.
“So, a huge thank you (goes out) to the entire community for purchasing tickets and for the people (and businesses) that have sponsored (the lottery),” concluded Fritzke.
To adopt or foster a pet, you can contact Giving@mjhs.ca or call the shelter at 306-692-1517.
The Moose Jaw Humane Society is located at 1755 Stadacona Street West and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, and is closed Sundays. For more information, visit MJHS.ca or follow the shelter on Facebook at ‘Moose Jaw Humane Society.’
New Mobile Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Our government invested
McLeod, MLA
Photo by: Moose Jaw
Casserole is one of 53 cats currently looking for their forever home at the Moose Jaw Humane Society. Photo by: Moose Jaw Humane Society
JOAN RITCHIEMoose Jaw Express EDITOR
Editor’s Note
A few random thoughts…a little about a lot…
Just perusing through this week’s content in the Moose Jaw Express, a number of things have sparked some thoughts.
Brickspo is coming to Moose Jaw this weekend - July 27 & 28 and will be held at the Western Development Museum. It should be a great event to take the whole family to, from the kids to the big kids. Apparently building with Legos has become a popular pastime for all ages. You should see the incredible creations these Lego geniuses put together for their entertainment and our enjoyment!
Congratulations to the Moose Jaw Health Foundation for their creative fundraising in holding an annual Little Princess Ball. This year’s event with all its fantastical Disney splendour lavished upon ever little princess in Moose Jaw at the ball was also able to provide a magical touch to Moose Jaw’s Dr. F. H. Wigmore regional hospital. In its 13th year, the ball held in April provided a donation of $35,000 to the Moose Jaw Health Foundation for the purchase of more newborn panda beds to deliver state of the art care. Just wondering if our young princes will ever be considered for a special heroes event sometime in the future?
Moose Jaw has a very caring community and as conscientious residents, we don’t only take care of those in the hospital, babies included; we also take care of our animals in the shelter too. The Humane Society’s 4-Paws lottery raised more than $20,000 to assist in caring for the pets in the shelter. Summer is a slower time for pet-adoptions, so understandably the shelter continues to house and feed these precious pets until they fnd their forever homes.
There’s been lots of chatter about taking care of those less fortunate. Moose Jaw City Hall will be holding a Wellness forum public safety meeting on July 29th to discuss shelters, addictions services and public safety in Moose Jaw. The public meeting will be held at the Events Centre at 6pm but there are some guidelines for those who wish to attend. Check out the story in this week’s edition for all the details.
Taking care of those less fortunate also entails making sure there is food in our local food bank to meet local needs. Apparently, the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank is in crisis mode and has declared an emergency. Food banks all around the country are basically in the same predicament with increased food bank usage and decreased food availability due to a lack of donations. Unfortunately, due to the increased cost of living many homes are already struggling to put food on their own tables. The plea is for those that can, please give so that the food bank can provide food one mouth at a time to get the nourishment they need to sustain life.
And who doesn’t love a good book! This year’s Festival of Words has wrapped up so read all about it in this issue, as well as all the other great articles mentioned.
We are Moose Jaw’s locally owned and operated weekly newspaper and we also care a great deal about this community and making sure everyone is well-taken-care-of and well-read in our local news.
Hope you have a great week and make sure to stay hydrated in the expected heat.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily refect the position of this publication.
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 -joan@moosejawexpress.com
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Thank you to all the contributing writers, without your time and support, the paper would not look the same. Send your stories, events and pictures to: joan@moosejawexpress.com
Editor: Joan Ritchie
Neuroscientist launching program to reverse efects of autism in kids, young adults
Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com
A Moose Jaw-born neuroscientist whose research focuses on autism believes the medical technology he invented can reverse the disease’s effects and improve the mental health and well-being of children and adults.
Dr. Dayan Goodenowe will launch the restorative health in autism community program on Wednesday, July 31, at the Dr. Goodenowe Community Health Centre in the Town ‘n’ Country Mall.
The program is the centre’s inaugural initiative and is open to children and young adults from ages two to 30. It aims to “use science, education, compassion and love” to restore health and function in children, adults and families struggling with autism.
The program’s launch also coincides with the grand opening of the community health centre, which will be held from 12 to 4 p.m.
Furthermore, there will be a family festival and information night at Connor Park that evening from 5 to 8 p.m., where families can hear from doctors, parents and patients who have knowledge and experience using Dr. Goodenowe’s medical technology — called plasmalogen precursors — and restorative health protocols and sign up for the program.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, July 30, from 12 to 5 p.m., the physician is having an open house at his restorative health centre at 1350 Lakeview Road. This unique venue is dedicated to restoring the health of nerves in the brain and other neurodegenerative health conditions.
Reducing autism
Dr. Goodenowe told the Moose Jaw Express that he has conducted extensive research into autism and has had reproducible success in reducing its effects while restoring the brain’s proper function and structure.
A core component of restoring the health of brains affected by autism is resolving the infammation they’re experiencing and restoring the protective wrapping — myelination — of the brain’s wires (axons) to undo the disruptions, he continued.
One of the basic natural lipid molecules that the brain produces for normal development is plasmalogens, which are also in human breast milk. Plasmalogens are critical building blocks essential for normal brain development in children
“So, I invented plasmalogen precursors, (which) are natural dietary supplements that restore plasmalogen levels. And when we do this, we help children with demyelinated diseases,” Goodenowe said, noting he was the frst scientist to invent, patent, manufacture and clinically validate this medical technology.
Using plasmalogen precursors in a super-concentrated volume “dramatically improves life for children,” while the program will target the brain with improved nutrition, supplementation and education so doctors can restore brain function and children can return to a proper neuro-developmental path, he continued.
Goodenowe — a scientist for over 30 years — says he has had 100-per-cent success rates using plasmalogen precursors to reduce autism in children and help children lead a more normal life. Moreover, more than 2,500 oth-
er doctors and practitioners use his technology in routine care and can replicate his success.
“… (we’ve) seen some pretty dramatic things happen,” Goodenowe added.
Autism is a controversial topic since many factors could contribute to it, from genetics to environmental toxins, the neuroscientist said. However, regardless of its cause, it’s important to improve brain health for better well-being.
“We’re not playing God … . All we’re doing is restoring the normal physiology and operation of the brain,” Goodenowe added. “If we give those cells the ingredients to do their job, they will do their job, and the brain will heal itself.”
Improving community health
The physician is launching this program in Moose Jaw because he says it’s the right size, is in an ideal location, and has a representative demographic of ages. Furthermore, he plans to expand his services to seniors and pregnant women and bring in more magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines — all part of the millions of dollars he’s investing through these two health centres.
Goodenowe wants to improve community health because the larger health-care system is “broken,” “dehumanized” and “fragmented.” While the system provides good care for broken bones, it fails to address chronic diseases and is energy-intensive and time-consuming.
“Our infrastructure is really not designed for that. I think we really need to think at a community level how we do that in a more systematic way,” he said.
Goodenowe says it’s exciting and a privilege to open these two health centres because he wants to help residents improve their health through restorative practices instead of pharmaceutical methods.
Moreover, it’s been his dream for over a decade to open such venues because he is passionate about community medicine, believes many illnesses can are preventable and can be reversed and believes these centres can reduce the load on the health-care system.
City hall to hold community wellness and public safety meeting on July 29
By Moose Jaw Express staf
On Monday, July 29, the City of Moose Jaw will host a public meeting to discuss community wellness and safety.
At the regular meeting of Moose Jaw city council on July 8, the following motion was approved: “THAT a public meeting be held with City Administration, City Police, City Council, MLAs and the public to discuss shelters, addictions services and safety in the City of Moose Jaw.”
The July 29 meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, will provide Moose Jaw residents an opportunity to publicly express their views on wellness and safety matters in Moose Jaw. Members of city council and administration will be present, but residents are reminded that the event is not a council meeting at which motions are debated and decisions are made.
All members of the public are invited to attend, but
only eligible Moose Jaw voters can register to speak.
Eligible voters must:
Be a Canadian Citizen.
Be 18 years of age.
Have resided in Saskatchewan for at least six (6) consecutive months.
Have resided in the City of Moose Jaw for at least three (3) consecutive months; or be the owner of assessable land in the City of Moose Jaw and have been so for at least three (3) consecutive months.
Eligible voters wishing to speak at the meeting are asked to register with the city clerk’s offce. You may email cclerk@moosejaw.ca, call 306-694-4426, or visit the city clerk’s offce, 2nd foor Moose Jaw City Hall, between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Regular Contributors: Jason Antonio Randy Palmer Joyce Walter Ron Walter John Kreutzwieser Patricia Hanbidge
The storefront location in the Town ‘n’ Country Mall of the Dr. Goodenowe Community Health Centre. Photo by Jason G. Antonio
B.C. business wants to build $3B clean fuel refnery and solar farm near Belle Plaine
A Vancouver-based company focused on developing renewable energy projects plans to construct a $3-billion refnery and solar farm east of Moose Jaw that integrates some of the newest green technology available.
Eaglesledge Energy Ltd. (ELE) recently announced that it wants to build a clean fuels refnery and solar facility near Belle Plaine, located on the edge of the Bakken Oil Formation. Phase 1 is expected to cost CDN $640 million, and phase 2 is expected to cost CDN $2.5 billion.
The company has not yet submitted its development permit to the Rural Municipality of Pense. However, once it does and the RM approves it, the company expects to start moving earth before winter and then begin construction next spring.
One interesting feature of the ini-
Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com
tiative is it will use carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to retain more than 90 per cent of the venue’s carbon production and reduce its environmental footprint.
Furthermore, the company says the refnery is expected to generate high-quality products, minimize carbon emissions and meet local and regional needs, all while using the most modern technology and refning processes.
The planned refnery will produce 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) of ultra-low sulphur diesel, gasoline and jet fuel, while the modular design can expand to increase capacity up to 85,000 bpd.
The company also says the refnery size is uniquely designed for construction effciency and can cost-effectively and sustainably produce supply for local demand.
Hay
crops yielding much better in 2024
Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express
Twenty-eight per cent of the initial hay crop is rated excellent, according to the weekly crop report by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.
Sixty-fve per cent is rated good with seven per cent fair.
Hay yields are way above average with estimates at 1.73 tons per acre compared with the fve year average of 1.1 tons per acre.
Silage is yielding 4.98 tones an acre.
Across the province 26 per cent of hay was cut by July 15 with 32 per cent cut and curing while 42 per cent was still standing.
Further, ELE plans to build a 125-megawatt (MW) solar farm to provide additional power to the refnery, although the bulk of the electricity will support the provincial power grid and regional companies.
The Vancouver-based company has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Ochapowace First Nation’s business development corporation, which will see the corporation acquire a 35-per-cent stake in the project.
Boris Weiss, CEO and chairman of ELE, told the Moose Jaw Express that this project is “a fantastic opportunity,” especially since ELE has been looking for a location and strategizing on this project for years.
There were two locations where Eaglesledge Energy wanted to build, but one site did not meet the criteria, so Belle Plaine became the fnal destination, he continued. Meanwhile, after former premier Brad Wall convinced the company to enter Saskatchewan, ELE began working with the government to fnd a site and create a relationship with SaskEnergy.
“We’re excited for the opportunity,” Weiss added.
ELE chose Belle Plaine because of its proximity to Regina and Moose Jaw, while the company wanted a site along the Highway 1 corridor that had access to regional industries, trucking, rail lines, water sources, gas lines and utilities, he said.
The preferred site — on six quarters of land adjacent to the highway and south of the Co-op ethanol complex — meets those requirements.
In Phase 1, ELE will construct a 30,000-bpd clean-fuel refnery, a 125MW solar farm and a rail loop that connects to the Canadian Pacifc Kansas City rail line, Weiss explained.
This phase should cost $640 million.
In Phase 2, after the refnery and solar farm are operational, the company will integrate carbon capture and storage technology to turn carbon dioxide and hydrogen into saleable products, he continued.
ELE may construct a 400 MW solar farm to power the CCS technology because it is “extremely energy consuming.”
This phase will likely cost $2.5 billion.
In total, the entire project could be worth CDN $3.1 billion and employ 1,500 to 1,700 people.
Weiss pointed out that 30,000 bpd produces 125,000 tons of carbon dioxide, while converting that CO2 into marketable methanized gas requires more than 80 MW of energy. Therefore, this project would not be economically viable without a solar farm and CCS technology.
There are only about 20 conversion plants worldwide that use this type of CCS technology, but none are tied to a refnery like this one, which makes it unique, he said.
Weiss added that through this project, ELE intends to be a national and international leader in helping meet long-term environmental goals.
In the southeast, which includes Moose Jaw, yields range from 1.58 tons for alfalfa to 1.6 for brome. 1.48 for tame hay and 2.31 for green feed.
Crops were beginning to show stress from the heat and no extra rain.
Four per cent of cropland moisture was surplus, 77 per cent adequate, 17 per cent short and two per cent very short.
Normal crop development ranged from 78 per cent for pulses to 90 per cent for fall cereals.
Crops most behind normal growth were oilseeds at 30 pet cent behind, spring cereals, 27 per cent and pulses, 18 per cent.
Hay yields in the southwest range from 1.1 tons for alfalfa to 1.15 for brome to 1.35 for tame hay and 2.5 for green feed.
A site plan of the proposed project, which is outlined in red at left. Photo courtesy Eaglesledge Energy
Contractors prepare to drill for oil in
feld. Photo courtesy Eaglesledge Energy
Spring rains created the conditions for a good hay crop in the province.
From The Kitchen
By Joyce Walter - For Moose Jaw Express
Homemade jam, chutney made from in-season fruits
A day’s goodness will be preserved for winter enjoyment as seasonal fruits are turned into homemade jams and chutneys.
Bernardin, a well-known expert in canning and preserving, offers many ideas for the novice and experienced homemakers engaged in the longtime methods of making sure dreary winter months are brightened by summer in a jar.
• • • CITRUS-RHUBARB JAM
8 cups prepared rhubarb
2 oranges
1 lime
6 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup juice from oranges and lime
2 tsps. grated ginger root
Trim rhubarb and cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Remove rind from oranges and lime using a zester or grater. Squeeze juice from oranges and lime to measure 3/4 cup, adding water if necessary. Combine rhubarb, rind, juice, sugar and ginger root in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue boiling gently, stirring frequently to prevent scorching until
mixture thickens and reaches gel stage. This will take 30-35 minutes.
Sterilize jars and lids in boiling water for at least 10 minutes.
Ladle rhubarb mixture into the hot jars to within 1/4 inch of the top rim. Remove bubbles of air by sliding a rubber spatula between glass and jam. Place lids in place and return to water in the canner and process for 5 minutes.
Remove jars and cool for 24 hours. Label and store in a cool, dark place. Makes fve half-pint jars.
Combine apricots, water, onions, apples, sugars, garlic, vinegar, raisins, ginger root, mustard seed and spices in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan..
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Continue boiling and stirring frequently for about 45 minutes or until mixture is thick.
Sterilize jars and lids in a canner of boiling water.
Ladle chutney into hot jars to within 1/2 inch of top rim. Remove air bubbles and wipe rims clean. Put lids in place.
Place jars in canner of water, cover and boil for 10 minutes. Remove jars and cool for 24 hours. Store in cool place. Makes seven half-pint jars.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel. net
Western Development Museum announces July and August programming
Moose Jaw’s branch of the Western Development Museum (WDM) is announcing the event lineup for July and August as part of its ongoing programming that offers something for everyone.
The WDM remains open throughout the year for self-guided visits and holds regular programs to support its mission of sharing Saskatchewan’s history and bringing new life to the people who helped shape the province.
Exhibits
In addition to several permanent exhibits focused on transportation including the Aircraft Gallery, Rail Gallery, Snowbirds Gallery, and 100 Years of Saskatchewan History, the museum occasionally hosts temporary exhibits with artifacts from across the province.
• Upcoming exhibits: There are no new exhibits for July and August. Upcoming events
• Brickspo: The Saskatchewan LEGO Users Group (SLUG) returns to showcase extravagant and detailed LEGO creations with talent from across the province on July 27 and 28.
• From Coast to Coast: A Pilot’s Journey: Lucas Dejmek, a 19-year-old pilot who is fying from coast to coast will stop by the museum to deliver a presentation about his adventures on Aug. 8 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Regular programming
• Blow Off Some Steam: Learn about the history of the railroad and experience frsthand the raw power of steam including the fully restored 75 Case steam traction engine on Aug. 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Seek and fnd
The museum regularly holds seek and fnd events to encourage interactive learning. The program includes an activity sheet and visitors search through the galleries for clues that can be found on interpretation signs or display cases.
• Where the Wildfowers Grow: Learn more about native Saskatchewan fowers. Runs through to July 31.
• 75th Anniversary Accession Numbers: Learn more about the Western Development Museum Act. Runs through to July 31.
• 75th Anniversary Timeline: Learn more about the museum’s history. Runs from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31.
• Yellow and Green: Learn about the offcial fag of Saskatchewan. Runs from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31. Courses and workshops
Several educational courses are offered seasonally and teach skills ranging from blacksmithing to steam traction engine operation, with certifcates typically earned on completion.
• Upcoming courses: There are no courses available in July or August, however the Saskatoon branch will be holding a summer camp program.
Summer gallery pop-ups
The museum’s pop-up programs allow its galleries to come to life with activities, demonstrations, crafts, and games that refect a given aspect of Saskatchewan’s shared heritage.
• Sunday, July 21: Learn how ice cream was made throughout Saskatchewan’s history.
• Monday, Aug. 5: Learn about the symbols that represent the province.
• Sunday, Aug. 11: Learn about the ground support crews that keep the Airforce running.
• Sunday, Aug. 18: Learn more about the history of harvesting in Saskatchewan.
K+S Short Line 101
To showcase the raw power of steam energy, the WDM showcases its
fully operational K+S Potash Canada
Short Line 101 steam train each summer and guests can catch a ride on a piece of Saskatchewan’s history. Operating since 1978, this is Saskatchewan’s only operational steam locomotive.
• Upcoming train schedule: Contact the museum for an updated schedule.
Virtual Coffee Club
The Virtual Coffee Club offers museum patrons the opportunity to learn more about the history of the province from home through an online presentation with a chance to ask questions. To attend meetings on the Zoom app, visit WDM. ca/CoffeeClub to register or call Alexis Jones at 306-693-5989. A full archive of presentations can be found on the museum’s YouTube Channel, ‘WDM Coffee Club.’
• Next Virtual Coffee Club meeting: The museum’s Virtual Coffee Club is no longer continuing. Reminiscence Kits
The museum’s Reminiscence Kits are meant to bring generations together and ignite new friendships through the sharing of memories. Containing day-to-day artifacts from the ‘50s to the ‘70s, these kits can be rented by care homes and other organizations over two weeks for $75. Visit WDM.ca/Reminiscence to book your kit.
Teacher resources
Several resources are available to teachers from information packages to feld trip arrangements at the WDM. Visit WDM. ca/Moose-Jaw/Learn/For-Teachers for more information.
• Upcoming educational events: Educational programming will return in September with the introduction of a new, curriculum-based museum quest program. Look for additional details later this year.
History album
The museum’s history album tells the story of Saskatchewan’s past though the stories of families, small towns, and community organizations across the province. To view the album, visit SaskHistory.ca.
Birthday parties
The museum may just be the perfect venue for your child’s upcoming birthday party. For a fee of only $200, children ages fve to eight can experience a twohour transportation-themed party and up to seven friends are included in the price. You can book by calling the museum.
Volunteering
The WDM is always looking for volunteers to help make programming, summer events, and numerous specialized roles at the museum possible. At the museum’s regular volunteer intakes, volunteer co-ordinator Alexis Jones will provide a tour of the facility, review safety protocols, and fnd suitable opportunities for everyone’s training and interests.
• Next volunteer orientations: Thursday, Aug. 22 at 10 a.m.
Don’t forget to stop by the museum’s gift shop for several great gift ideas.
The WDM is the largest human history museum in Saskatchewan and features a collection of over 75,000 artifacts across four locations. The Moose Jaw branch specializes in the history of transportation.
The museum is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer.
For more information, visit WDM.ca/ Moose-Jaw or reach out to Alexis Jones, the museum’s program and volunteer coordinator at 306-693-5989 or by email at AJones@wdm.ca
The Western Development Museum is located at 50 Diefenbaker Drive.
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
The Western Development Museum is located at 50 Diefenbaker Drive. Photo by: Aaron Walker
By Patricia Hanbidge
Soil – the Heart of Life in the Garden –
Part I
Like plants – soil is essential to life as we know it. Everything in the garden starts from the ground up… which means soil is a most integral part of gardening. The soil, whether it is a patch of ground, a raised bed or a container, is the home of your garden plants. To ensure the best growth and successful results of your efforts, a soil that provides all the needs of the plant is best! The soil will hold and provide the water and nutrients to your plants, will provide anchorage and support to their root systems and will provide long term garden bounty if developed and cared for appropriately.
So what is soil? It is the thin, uppermost layer of the Earth’s crust containing solids, liquids and gases which can support the growth and life of organisms. It is composed of mineral and organic matter arranged in horizons, and is under a constant state of change.
Your soil holds air, water, nutrients, organic matter and a variety of benefcial organisms. Plants depend upon these resources for their nutritional needs, and their
roots use the soil as an anchor. In turn, plants infuence soil development by breaking down large clods with their roots. Plants increase soil fertility by releasing by-products during their growth and by being recycled by soil microorganisms when they die.
Soil is formed by two processes – by the decomposition of rock, or by the decomposition of plant material. Soil that is formed over a millennium from a parent material of rock is what we generally see in our soils unless you are gardening in the Canadian shield country of our north, is made up of mineral particles of different sizes – known as sand, silt and clay. Sand particles are the largest. Sand has lots of air space and doesn’t compact easily, so water drains quickly out of sandy soil and nutrients are quickly washed away. However, in spring it is the soil type that will warm most quickly. Clay particles are the smallest and are visible only through a microscope. Water penetrates and drains from clay very slowly. Clay holds the most nutrients, but there is little room for air so it compacts easily. Clay is the soil that will take the longest time to warm up in the spring. Silt particles are smaller than sand particles but larger than clay particles. Silt in soil is characterized by somewhere in the middle of clay and sand. Most soil is made up of a mixture of different particle sizes.
The texture of a soil is determined by the percentages of sand, silt and clay. Soil with a balanced
mix of these three particle sizes is called loam. A loam soil is the desired soil for any horticultural purposes. It is best for the plants….and for the gardener. Coarse soils have large pore spaces; fner soils have fewer large pore spaces but more capillary spaces. Water and air move easily through large pores, whereas water is retained in the smaller pores. The smaller the pore size the more tightly the water is held in the soil.
The structure of your soil is important for a number of reasons. If you are blessed with a soil that is less than perfect, you will need to take steps to improve the soil to ensure your landscape is able to be the best it can be. The most diffcult soil to manage is one that is high in clay. However, there is hope as the addition of lots and lots of organic matter over many years will transform this soil into a great horticultural media.
Hanbidge is the Lead Horticulturist with Orchid Horticulture. Find us at www.orchidhort.com; by email at info@orchidhort. com; on facebook @orchidhort and on instagram at #orchidhort. Tune into GROW Live on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/orchidhort or check out the Youtube channel GROW https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzkiUpkvyv2e2HCQlFl0JyQ?
Three Moose Jaw reservists deploy to Latvia to support NATO battle group
Three reservists with the Moose Jawbased Saskatchewan Dragoons have deployed to the Eastern European country of Latvia to support that country in the face of potential Russian threats and reinforce NATO’s collective defence.
Cpl. Myra Szabo and brothers Trooper Walker Demanenko and Cpl. Garrett Demanenko deployed recently to Camp Adazi as part of Operation REASSURANCE. They are working with Task Force Rampart as part of the enhanced forward presence battle group Latvia.
The three men are the second group from The Friendly City to deploy to Latvia after three other members were sent to Eastern Europe two years ago for a sixmonth deployment.
“It’s a good opportunity because it’s what we’ve trained for, (which is) to deploy and be useful to the (regular) force,” Garrett said before the trio left.
While the soldiers were not 100-percent certain what they would be doing, they knew they would be part of “A echelon” and help supply the fghting troops while the latter conducted their training.
While Szabo has served fve years in the reserves, Walker 3.5 years and Garrett 1.5 years, this will be the frst time any of them has travelled overseas with the military. So, this will be an opportunity to grow together.
“It will be nice to have some experience under our belt and let us actually do our job. That’s the whole point of this,” said Walker. “I’m excited right now, but I know that once I get there, I’m going to be
Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com
a nervous wreck!”
None of the soldiers was concerned about being stationed close to the Latvian-Russian border or the potential threat the latter poses. Walker pointed out that NATO has a strong presence in the small European country and is there to be a deterrent.
“I’m not worried. We’re ready if anything like that happens,” he added.
Besides serving as temporary fulltime regular force members, the trio is also excited to explore the country and all it has to offer, including local architecture,
old Soviet bunkers, the people and the language.
Since the task force is a multinational unit, they will also interact and network with military personnel from all over the world while at the base.
Walker pointed out that half the base is Spanish, although he has not done anything to learn the language since he must still learn Latvian frst.
“They’ll provide us with some basic language skills, but it will obviously be on (our) own time to learn more and speak to locals,” he added.
According to the Government of Canada website, roughly 1,000 CAF members are deployed to Central and Eastern Europe as part of Operation REASSURANCE, making it Canada’s largest current international military operation.
The military has deployed 540 Canadian army members to Latvia since June 2017, where they lead a NATO Battle Group that forms the backbone of the Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia and provide support capabilities to this Allied force.
This group comprises personnel from over one-third of all NATO nations, including Albania, Canada, Czech Republic, Iceland, Italy, Montenegro, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
TAX ENFORCEMENT LIST THE RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF BAILDON NO. 131 PROVINCE OF SASKATCHEWAN
Notice is hereby given under The Tax Enforcement Act that unless the arrears and costs appearing opposite the land and title number described in the following list are fully paid before the 30th day of September 2024, an interest based on a tax lien will be registered against the land.
Note: A sum for costs in an amount required by subsection 4(3) of The Tax Enforcement Act is included in the amount shown against each parcel.
Cpl. Garrett Demanenko, Cpl. Myra Szabo and Trooper Walker Demanenko pose for a picture in front of the Lt.-Col. DV Currie VC Armoury, just before they deployed to Latvia for six months. Photo by Jason G. Antonio
For Moose Jaw Express
MOOSE JAW NORTH
Police Association’s bike park receives a fresh lift in third maintenance project
Cyclists and BMX enthusiasts have something to look forward to this summer as the Moose Jaw Police Association Bike Park has undergone signifcant maintenance upgrades by the city’s contractor, Edmonton-based Hoots Ltd.
“This year, when we came back (after the pandemic), we… (lifted) pretty much the entire park as it was built originally,” said Jay Hoots, president of Hoots Ltd.
“It was a great opportunity to not only come back and work in Moose Jaw, which we love, but to (practice) cost effectiveness and work on a project we know intimately,” he added.
Planned maintenance takes place every two years to ensure everyone’s safety and maintain the park’s features which are prone to erosion over time. Since frst opening in 2016, this was the third time the park was maintained by the contractor.
The park links municipal walking trails and is constructed on approximately one acre of land. It includes a start and return hill, drops, beginner to advanced level jump lines, pump tracks, and technical skill and balance components for experienced riders.
Recent upgrades include a rebuild of the park’s jump lines and the roller lines that connect the starter hill to the jumps. The starter hill was reshaped and recompacted, and the wall ride was shaped for easier access.
“Before,” he said, “(the wall ride) had a little bit of a crazy hump to get onto it. Now it’s opened up and running pretty good both ways.”
The company fully reset the pump track, which now includes “some sweet angles,” the ladder and log bridges
were inspected and tidied, and the forested skill area and children’s oval and mini-BMX features were also tidied.
After each project, the team —themselves avid bikers — will personally test out the course. This includes employees Braden Langford and Michael Killbraeth, who both had bike parks built in their hometown of Hinton, Alta. by the company before they were hired.
“We’re all riders,” Hoots said. “I rode for Norco for 23 years as a professional mountain biker… If one of us is a little banged up or injured, then the rest of us try to test (the course).”
Hoots said he’s received a lot of positive feedback,
Provincial Court Report
including a warm reception from numerous bikers eager to ride during the project’s 12 consecutive days. He said he’s also seeing more riders with each visit.
“(A few folks) were super stoked that it was up and running again, and everybody was excited that everything had shapes again,” he said.
Hoots said he’s grateful to have been chosen as the park’s developer.
“We (were) really excited,” he said. “Our specialty is what we do — bike parks, and especially community parks…” When the project was concluded, Hoots Ltd. even gave the city a detailed maintenance manual to help with upkeep.
There are currently no further projects lined up for the company but Hoots said his original design included a phased expansion plan — should the city decide to expand on the park.
“This was one of the greatest community projects that we did,” Hoots explained, describing it as one of the company’s top builds. “It was certainly in the top fve for the amount of people that came out, and for how giving the community was for our crew to be there.”
This hospitality was demonstrated by at least one Moose Jaw family who provided the Hoots crew with a homemade meal during their visit.
To learn more about the contractor and its past projects, visit Hoots.ca/Projects.
The Moose Jaw Police Association Bike Park is free to use and is located next to the Yara Centre at 1220 High Street West.
Syringe stabber sentenced to nearly two years in jail for attack
Brandon Bluecloud’s attack last fall on a bank patron with a syringe may have been random, but his actions were serious enough to send him to jail for nearly two years.
Bluecloud, 29, appeared in Moose Jaw Provincial Court recently, where he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, three counts of mischief and three counts of breaching an undertaking for offences that occurred on Oct. 3, 2023.
At roughly 9:11 a.m. that day, offcers responded to a report of a suspicious occurrence at TD Bank. Once there, offcers learned that Bluecloud had approached a customer from behind, stabbed that person multiple times in the lower back region with a syringe, and then fed.
With the help of the business’s security camera, police confrmed that the weapon in question was a syringe
Jason
G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com
and that Bluecloud was holding it.
Bluecloud and the victim were unknown to one another, while the attack appeared to be random.
As part of a joint submission, Bluecloud was sentenced to 16 months in jail and 18 months of probation afterward. However, because he spent 288 days in custody, the court credited him with 432 days, which means he has 48 days left to serve.
Crown prosecutor Monique Paquin presented an agreed statement of facts during the sentencing and pointed out that the Crown wanted to send a message of denunciation and deterrence for a seemingly “random attack.”
Meanwhile, defence lawyer Deanna Harris told Judge Brian Hendrickson that Bluecloud has a history of drug addiction and mental health challenges, while he
was in a “drug-inducted” haze when he commenced the attack.
Harris added that doctors have diagnosed Bluecloud with schizophrenia, and he cannot use drugs that a physician has
The judge accepted the joint submission, noting that while little information was available about how much medical attention the victim received, this stabbing was still serious, considering the victim did not know whether there was anything in the syringe or if it was a dirty needle.
In a similar situation, Judge Hendrickson recalled a past case where a police offcer was accidentally stabbed with a needle during a search and had to undergo treatment to ensure he wasn’t infected with anything.
Lawyer for MLA Greg Lawrence withdraws due to alleged confict of interest
Moose Jaw lawyer Estes Fonkalsrud has withdrawn as defence counsel for outgoing MLA Greg Lawrence because of a supposed confict of interest, while a trial date has been set to hear the alleged offences.
Fonkalsrud appeared for Lawrence in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on July 16 and told Judge David Chow that he appeared to have an issue with one Crown witness that could cause a confict of interest. While he had reviewed the situation and didn’t think he was in confict, he had nevertheless told Lawrence that he should fnd a new defence lawyer.
Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com
However, the lawyer still thought the court should set a trial date for the outgoing MLA’s charges and suggested Monday, Nov. 18. Meanwhile, he would remain on the record for Lawrence until his next court date on Wednesday, July 31.
Crown prosecutor Rob Parker said his offce had no issue with Fonkalsrud staying on as defence counsel and didn’t see any reason to remove him from the fle. However, since Fonkalsrud was withdrawing, the Crown thought the court should put pressure on Lawrence, 58, to fnd a new lawyer.
Judge Chow accepted Fonkalsrud’s withdrawal and
agreed to the July 31 adjournment date, which should give Lawrence time to fnd a new lawyer and the court time to confrm the November trial date.
According to previous information, the Moose Jaw Police Service charged Lawrence with assault on Jan. 31, after it began an investigation on June 27, 2023, into complaints of assault during an interaction between two people.
Specifcally, police charged Lawrence with assault, contrary to section 266 of the Criminal Code, and choking, contrary to section 267 of the Criminal Code. Lawrence had announced on Jan. 30 that he was resigning from the Saskatchewan Party caucus after it became known that he was the subject of a police investigation.
Lawrence, who had previously announced he would not seek re-election following a single-vehicle motorcycle collision in August 2023, now sits as an independent Member of the Legislative Assembly for the remainder of the term.
He has been the MLA for the Moose Jaw Wakamow constituency since 2011, winning by 201 votes over NDP incumbent Deb Higgins. Lawrence then won by 695 votes over NDP candidate Karen Purdy during the 2016 election and won by 822 over NDP candidate Melissa Patterson in 2020.
The next provincial election must occur on or before Monday, Oct. 28, according to election rules. In the Wakamow constituency, Sask. Party candidate Megan Patterson will face off against NDP candidate Melissa Patterson; neither is related.
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
A look at the upgrades made to the Moose Jaw Police Association Bike Park earlier this summer. Photo by: City of Moose Jaw
Two new ofcers sworn in to serve with the Moose Jaw Police Service
In a swearing-in ceremony at the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) on July 19, two new offcers — Daniel Heimbecker and Jackson Anderson — have taken their oath to serve and protect the community and will add to the service later this year.
The ceremony began with a few opening remarks by Jay-D Haughton, the police department’s public information manager, an invocation by DJ Kim, the police chaplain, and remarks from Board Commissioner Chair Crystal Froese and MP Tim McLeod.
The Honourable Brian Hendrickson, judge of the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan, led the swearing-in ceremony.
“I congratulate Moose Jaw’s two newest constables for this major achievement in your professional and personal lives,” Judge Hendrickson said in his opening remarks. “No doubt the selection process has been hard and you must feel justifable pride in being selected as police offcers.
“I also want to acknowledge the efforts and sacrifces of your parents, life partners, family, and friends,” he continued. “They have, in so many ways, contributed to the success of our two newest offcers.”
The badges awarded at the ceremony were symbolically presented and will be fully earned after an additional 21 weeks of training.
Both Heimbecker and Anderson have been hired to work primarily with individuals who are undergoing poverty, abuse, family transfers, and similar domestic issues within the scope of the police department.
“As police offcers, I know you will emphasize with those results, and circumstances (that) are different from your own circumstances,” Judge Hendrickson said, pointing to the crest of the MJPS that reads “Integrity, Vision, and Community.”
To become a police offcer in Saskatchewan, each recruit goes through an application process and a series of
interviews and assessments. Following this they attend a police academy and are then required to take a 21 week training program. Once this is complete, offcers will earn their badge and enter a probationary period set by the police service.
“You are fundamental in ensuring that the rights enjoyed by citizens, victims, and accused persons under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and other statues and laws are followed and maintained,” Judge Hendrickson stated.
Hendrickson said the mark of a good police offcer is often discerned by their motivation to join the service.
“When I ask police offcers what attracted them to their profession, they never say they want to write tickets or arrest people,” he said. “Most often I get two responses: ‘I wanted to help people’… and ‘I wanted to make a difference’.
“First and foremost,” he continued, “a good police offcer is a good citizen, a good neighbour, a mediator, a problem solver, and an ambassador of the police force to Saskatchewan, Canada, and to the wider world.”
The two offcers, he said, have been chosen due to their suitability for the role.
“You would not have been selected if you were not seen as being an excellent candidate.”
Hendrickson’s statement was backed by Police Chief Rick Bourassa who delivered the ceremony’s closing remarks. In his statement, Bourassa spoke of the new offcer’s role which he described as “fundamentally important in our society.”
“What we discovered through the (vetting) process is that you’re both people of great character and integrity,” Chief Bourassa said.
When training has concluded, a second ceremony will be held to mark the offcer’s graduation from police college. Both offcers will offcially receive their badges after graduation and are expected to begin their duties with the MJPS in December.
Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners Notes
Search for Glen Bell was largest since Tamra Keepness disappearance, MJPS says
The search for resident Glen (Archie) Bell involved hundreds of people spending nearly 2,000 hours looking for him, while it was also the largest since Tamra Keepness’ disappearance in 2004, police say.
Bell, 80, went missing on June 26 around 11:30 a.m. after he wandered away from his home because he had dementia.
Between June 26 and 28, 82 professionals—military, police, and search and rescue—and 335 citizen volunteers combed the city, with the trained search members contributing 551 hours and walk-on residents providing 1,303 hours.
All efforts totalled 1,854 hours or 77.25 days.
Searchers eventually found Bell deceased in a remote greenspace area within city limits at around noon on June 28.
Deputy Chief Rick Johns and Const. Jeremy Anderson summarized the search efforts during a presentation to the board of police commissioners at its July meeting. It became quickly apparent to police that Bell was a vulnerable person, so the agency “stood up” its critical incident command centre at headquarters and brought together a team of people and resources, explained Johns.
Supt. Taylor Mickleborough and acting Supt. Cam Lewis spearheaded the police service’s involvement in the search, while Staff Sgt. Chad Scheske and Anderson were search-and-rescue co-ordinators, he continued.
Hundreds of volunteers also stepped forward, including groups that provided drone support.
“Sadly, it didn’t have the outcome (as) the missing person was found deceased … ,” said Johns. “We needed a great deal of support from the community, which (it) delivered in spades.”
Search teams began looking for Bell around Wolfe Avenue since that was his last known location, and while he had wandered away at 11:30 a.m., the agency activated its search and rescue procedures at 8 p.m., said Anderson. Since he suffered from dementia, Bell had walked away from his residence before with his small dog, Alfe, but was always found safe and sound, the constable continued.
The frst operational period on June 26 included the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) and the Moose Jaw Search and Rescue (MJSAR), which organized its staging
Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com
area at 9 p.m. at Ross School before moving to Chateau St. Michael. The team then searched the area from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
The second operational period on June 27 launched at 8:30 a.m. and continued until 11 p.m. Besides the MJPS and MJSAR, the fre department, provincial search and rescue members and volunteers also pitched in, while other resources used included drones, dogs, boats and horses.
“The response we got was overwhelming … ,” Anderson said. “This was the biggest search I’ve ever been a part of. And the members from search and rescue were saying this is the biggest search they’ve been a part of since Tamra Keepness went missing.”
The third operational period on June 28 kicked off at 7:20 a.m. and continued until 1 p.m. when searchers found Bell’s body — with his dog watching over him — about 250 metres from where he was last seen, the constable continued. Footage from a business’ security camera helped identify the man’s location.
While fnding a dead body was not ideal, Anderson added that this was still a successful search because they found Bell and brought closure to the family.
Supt. Mickleborough said it was “overwhelming and awesome” to receive so much support, especially since people acted quickly and the organization had more volunteers than it could safely deploy.
Moreover, the MJPS mobilized all its resources to support the search, while there were many moving pieces to keep under control, he added. Also, the family appreciated the support the community offered.
The way this search was conducted was “second to none” and was pursued exactly how it should have been, even with its complexity, said Chief Rick Bourassa. Also, the community’s commitment was amazing and should be highly praised.
PUBLIC NOTICE
RM OF RODGERS
NO. 133
Notice of Discretionary Use Application
Pursuant to Section 55 of the Planning and Development Act 2007, the Council of the R.M. of Rodgers No. 133 gives notice that discretionary use applications have been received and the details are as follows:
Discretionary Use Permit:
Description: ILO Expansion
Location: NW 9-14-3-W3
The applicant would like to expand the current ILO.
Public Hearing: Council will discuss the above noted Discretionary Use Permit at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 15th, 2024, in Board Room #2, 1410 Caribou St W, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. For further information please call Colleen Ferguson, Administrator at 306-693-1329.
Dated at the City of Moose Jaw in the Province of Saskatchewan, this 24th day of July, 2024. Colleen Ferguson, Administrator
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
Daniel Heimbecker (left) is presented with the badge of the MJPS by Police Chief Rick Bourassa (right) on July 19. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Jackson Anderson (left) is presented with the badge of the MJPS by Police Chief Rick Bourassa (right) on July 19. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Reflective Moments
By Joyce Walter - For Moose Jaw Express
Childhood vacations were sparse and short
Summer holidays of today bear little resemblance to the summer holidays of years gone by.
Because my Dad ran a gasoline business and spring, summer and fall were his busy times, our summer holiday period for travelling time was restricted to a day or two when someone could be found to supervise gas deliveries.
Vacations of those years were usually spent in the company of relatives or long-time family friends. I do not recall if we were invited, phoned ahead or just dropped in. I only recall one time when we were not invited to pull up a chair at the table even though we knew there was a turkey cooking in the oven.
Despite the cold shoulder from the Aunt and Uncle, we did not starve. Mom always had a sandwich or snack in the cooler in the car — just in case.
Because I was almost an only child because of the age difference to my siblings, I was a bit timid around some of
my cousins. At another Aunt’s home, we were made welcome and we stayed overnight. To my consternation, I didn’t want to use the bathroom on my own because the door didn’t go to the top nor the bottom of the frame.
I believed that the boys in the house would either be looking over the top or underneath while I was in there doing my business. So Mom tagged along with me and stood watch against Peeping Boy Cousins. I’m sure they would have laughed and made fun of me if they had only suspected my fears.
I can still imagine the older boy claiming: “Nothing to see there.”
The longest holiday I ever recall was a trip to return my Great Great Aunt Jennie to her mountain-side home in Idaho, a spot I’d only heard of because she lived there and sent interesting Christmas gifts for a youngster she had never met.
Her letters were long and a challenge to decipher in her tiny, spidery handwrit-
ing.
For the most part of my childhood vacations were made up of several day trips, or maybe an overnighter. I found myself envious of my classmates who told glorious stories of amazing adventures on trips with their families. One friend’s family always went to Candle Lake to a family cabin. On one hand, I wished I had been invited along, but on the other, if there were a lake that meant there was water and even then I had an unhappy relationship with large bodies of wetness.
After my parents retired, they hit the road and travelled and saw the sights and spent weeks and weeks away from home. They always returned with happy stories about enjoyable visits with friends and family.
I wonder if they had such good times because they didn’t have a kid in the backseat, reading a book and ignoring the scenery. Or complaining about hav-
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily refect the position of this publication.
ing to eat homemade sandwiches instead of fast food hamburgers.
The sight of a top-over camper on the back of a three-quarter ton truck on a city street the other day brought back memories of the camper the Parents took on many of their excursions, the latest one being larger and more elaborate than what they owned when I was still at home.
Imagine their expressions if they could see today’s recreational vehicles going down the road, taking along everything including the kitchen sink, indoor bathroom facilities, microwaves and televisions.
Mom could have cooked her own turkey and she certainly would have invited the unfriendly relatives to pull up a picnic table.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net
Food Bank declares emergency, asks for public support to avoid temporary closure
Moose Jaw’s food bank is facing a potential temporary closure due to rising costs and a lack of donations this summer, which aligns to a nation-wide trend of increased food bank usage and decreased food availability affecting around 800 local households.
In response to the crisis, the food bank has reduced its hamper program from two hampers to one per household each month — a move that executive director Jason Moore is hoping to reverse as soon as he can.
“We’re hoping that… by Aug. 1 we can change that policy…,” Moore said. “We’ll see what happens over the next couple of weeks.”
The food bank is a non-proft that relies solely on limited grant funding and support from the community it serves.
Usually, through donations and annual food drives in October to November, Moose Jaw’s food bank can keep the shelves stocked until the following Octo-
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ber. These shelves may run empty by late August this year.
“We may get lean come close to October, but we have never in 40 years of operation run out of food,” Moore said.
In June 2022, Moose Jaw’s food bank served approximately 400 households. Two years later in June 2024, that number increased to 800.
The trend isn’t limited to Moose Jaw, Moore said. From what he’s learned, the crisis is “100 per cent the result of our economic situation.
“We’re seeing more… families come in as frst-time users that are working, (but they) just cannot afford to pay the bills and buy all their groceries,” he said. “That’s an unfortunate situation our country is in.”
Now, more than ever, the food bank is asking for support from the community — although not exclusively through food donations.
“If you’re at the grocery store and you’re thinking about purchasing a can of
RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF PENSE NO. 160 PUBLIC NOTICE
Public Notice is hereby given, pursuant to The Planning and Development Act, 2007, that the Council of the Rural Municipality of Pense No. 160 intends to amend the Zoning Bylaw as follows:
Description
1. To amend Zoning Bylaw No. 02-2013, Section 7.1. Permitted Uses in the Agricultural Resource District, is amended by repealing and replacing subsection 7.1(i) with the following:
i) Oil, gas and CO2 wells, but excluding intensive oil, gas or CO2 processing development.
2. Section 7.6, Supplementary Development Standards for Agricultural Uses in the Agricultural Resource District, is amended by repealing and replacing subsection 7.6.5(f) with the following:
f) 1.0 kilometre from sour gas wells and 75 metres from other oil, gas or CO2 wells.
The intent of this amendment is to give the Council of the Rural Municipality of Pense No. 160 authority to include CO2 wells in the Agricultrural Resource District (AR).
Any interested person may inspect the bylaw at the R.M. O ce during normal business hours from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Thursday (excluding holidays). Copies of the bylaw are available at cost.
Council will be holding a public hearing on August 14, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers of the Rural Municipality of Pense No. 160 O ce at 324 Elder Street, Pense, S0G 3W0 to hear any person or group that wants to comment on the proposed amendments. Council will also consider written comments received at the hearing, or delivered to the undersigned prior to the hearing. The o ce email is rm160@sasktel.net.
Issued at Pense, Saskatchewan
This 11th day of July, 2024
Cathy Ripplinger Administrator
beans… consider donating that dollar instead…,” Moore said.
Monetary donations are valuable as the food bank can utilize bulk purchasing power to stretch each dollar and potentially end up with more food as a result.
New shopping model
Moore is looking at a few options that can put the food bank on a better footing.
One idea is to move from a hamper-based service to a shopping model, similar to what’s now used in centres like Regina and Medicine Hat.
“We’re moving to a client choice model,” Moore announced. One thing he said is unique about the model is that it allows clients to shop for only the items they need and will use.
The system aims to reduce food waste and will provide greater variety, notably for newcomers who often rely on the food bank. They’ll soon have the option to select from the foods they’re accustomed to.
— low income, people with disabilities, (and) single moms…”
Moore said it’s simply a matter of signing your name and only takes one minute.
“We need the government to step up and do something or this isn’t going to end,” he added.
Moore has been working with the
If additional support isn’t received in the upcoming weeks, the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank may face a temporary closure until October. Photo by: Moose Jaw & District Food Bank (2023).
“Medicine Hat’s (food bank) has shown … that they’ve reduced food waste by 30 pounds per person annually, which would be well over 30,000 pounds of food…,” Moore explained.
To establish this system, the food bank is searching for a local contractor and Moore is asking retailers for excess shelving units and around six shopping carts.
The new service will be at the site of the current hamper pickup and should be available by Oct. 1.
Government petition
Food Banks Canada has put together a nation-wide petition and the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank is asking for signatures.
“We’re asking the government to step up and provide struggling families with some beneft… that would be seen in their GST returns,” he said, summarizing the petition.
“If the government responds positively… it’ll have an immediate impact on households that are struggling… the most
Moose Jaw & District Food Bank since May 1, but his previous experience as its development manager has proven insightful.
“One thing I noticed immediately was the incredible support from our community,” he said. “Moose Jaw has always stepped up every time there’s been an issue. I don’t think it’ll be any different now.”
If there’s no response, the food bank will be forced to close its doors until the next food drive in October.
“I don’t think that will be the case — I really hope that it won’t be.”
To sign the Groceries and Essentials Beneft in Canada petition, visit FoodBanksCanada.ca/Advocacy-Government-Relations/Petition.
The Moose Jaw & District Food Bank is located at 270 Fairford Street West and can be reached at 306-692-2911. For more information, visit MJFoodBank.org or ‘Moose Jaw and District Food Bank’ on Facebook.
Regina’s Folk Festival to hold the Skygazer Soiree in place of this
Organizers of the Regina Folk Festival are taking a year off to rebuild and make changes as they revisit the festival following a slump brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, but residents from Moose Jaw still have an opportunity to catch a limited concert that will be held in lieu of the full fedged festival.
The 53rd iteration of the Reigna Folk Festival won’t happen this year, but a simplifed placeholder program will begin on Aug. 8 and conclude with the Skygazer Soiree concert on Saturday, Aug. 10.
“The Skygazer Soiree is a special marquee concert celebrating the Regina Folk Festival in its fallow year,” announced Amber Goodwyn, artistic director of the Regina Folk Festival.
The Regina Folk Festival is a Regina-based non-proft held in Regina’s Victoria Park for at least the past 40 years. Held annually after the August long weekend, the festival is a much anticipated celebration of music and community.
In between the major acts at the soiree, Goodwyn said the set will transform in a nod to the sky gazer theme by transitioning from a bright blue sky to a sunset and fnally into a starry nighttime sky.
The Skygazer Soiree will feature three renowned artists: Chantal Kreviazuk, Aysanabee, and the Great Lake
Ruck It Up for Mental Health is a local charity that raises money to support Journey to Hope Moose Jaw in its effort to promote mental health initiatives. Funds are raised through an annual rucking march that takes place in Moose Jaw’s scenic Wakamow Valley.
Following its fourth annual march on June 1, Ruck It Up delivered a cheque for $5,337.52 to Journey to Hope on June 28.
Brett Hagan is one of the three founders of Ruck It Up and said this year’s ruck had 66 participants.
“I would say the most we’ve had was close to around 80 (participants), then we’ve had (around 45 on average),” Hagan said. “So, this year was defnitely another solid year.”
year’s annual festival
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Swimmers.
Chantal Kreviazuk is a Winnipeg-born and internationally celebrated singer-songwriter with three JUNO Awards. She’s also a musician, classically trained pianist, actress, movie producer,
philanthropist, humanitarian, and proud wife and mother. Kreviazuk has recorded 10 albums and written global hits for such names as Drake, Pitbull, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, and Kendrick Lamar.
Aysanabee is a two-time JUNO award-winning Oji-Cree artist. His sound is described as “a swirling mix of indie, soul, and electronic sound with pulse-quickening fngerpicking”. Aysanabee made history as the frst Indigenous artist to win the JUNO Awards for alternative album of the year and won songwriter of the year for his “Here and Now” album.
The Great Lake Swimmers hail from Toronto and feature a blend of acoustic instruments, rural soundscapes, and wistful vocals. The critically acclaimed indie-folk group is led by songwriter and vocalist Tony Dekker, and are renowned for their homespun folk and lush, intimate Americana themes.
There will also be two teaser performances by Belle Plaine and Merv XX Gotti.
Belle Plaine, known off-stage as Melanie Hankewich, is a Saskatchewan singer-songwriter raised on her great-grandparent’s homestead near Fosston, Sask. She draws from country, blues, and folk tradition to tell her stories which feature
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“the benefts of putting on that rucksack, and (realizing) what the rucking workout does for both your body and your mental health.”
Support for Journey to Hope came about as the group wanted to help someone local, and Hagan said his personal journey inspired the connection.
“I’ve dealt with some mental health issues (involving) myself and my family members,” he said. “(It is the) same with Chris and Tyler — they both experienced it through family members. So,” he continued, “mental health was kind of our go-to.”
To date, Ruck It Up has raised around $25,000 in support of Journey to Hope.
the heart and soul of the prairies.
Merv xx Gotti is an award-winning Canadian multi-genre artist known for his “androgynous, dreamy vocals” and “vulnerable, sincere songwriting”. He is well known for his dream-pop project, “Guitar Songs,” which was released in March with over 200,000 streams on Spotify.
“We want our Folk Festival to exist for another 50 years,” Goodwyn said. “We strongly encourage people to join us and have a good time. (Don’t forget to) buy (your) tickets in advance and donate (to the festival) if you can.”
To complete an unforgettable experience, Rebellion Brewing, the Bar Willow Eatery, Crave Kitchen + Wine Bar, and Pile O’ Bones Brewing and Oxpecker will be offering special Skygazer-inspired dishes, drinks, and discounts for ticket holders on Aug. 9 and 10.
For more information, visit ReginaFolkFestival.com or ‘Regina Folk Festival’ on Facebook.
Tickets can be purchased online at ConexusArtsCentre.ca/Folk-Fest.
Next year’s Regina Folk Festival is expected to proceed as planned and will run from Aug. 8 to 10, 2025 in Regina’s Victoria Park as per tradition. The Conexus Arts Centre is located at 200 Lakeshore Drive in Regina.
community partners that are willing to do something to break the silence,” said Della Ferguson, the chair of Journey to Hope Moose Jaw.
The funds, she said, enable Journey to Hope to offer ongoing suicide awareness training, community resources, and enables those in need of help to fnd the lifeline they may need.
To learn more about Ruck It Up, email RuckItUpMJ@gmail.com or follow them on Facebook at ‘Ruck It Up.’
For more information about Journey to Hope, visit JourneyToHope.Synthasite. com, email Info@HopeSummit.ca, or follow them on Facebook at ‘Journey to Hope Moose Jaw Inc.’ Ruck It Up raises
Ruck It Up is a charity based around suicide prevention and awareness, which is why it formed a natural partnership with Journey to Hope Moose Jaw.
Rucking, Hagan explained, is a military workout where participants don a weighted backpack with fve to 20 pounds or more and walk for a set distance.
“It’s less invasive than running and has less impact on your joints,” Hagan said. “Basically, it’s a nice… in-between combo for… people who may not like running but want to get a little bit more out of walking.”
The symbolism of carrying a load on your back also refects the weight carried by those who suffer with mental health issues and represents the frequent exposure of frst responders — who comprise a large percentage of the yearly participants — to diffcult and traumatic circumstances.
Ruck It Up was founded four years ago by Hagan, Tyler Simpson, and Chris
Robart.
“We came together four years ago and wanted to do a fundraiser to get people outside and to understand the benefts of what… being in nature has on both your physical and your mental health,” Hagan explained.
At the time, Hagan was working parttime at a local gym and Simpson and Robart were doing a program called 75 Hard. Part of their routine involved talking to strangers which became increasingly diffcult during the pandemic.
As a result, Robart fell back on his military background and suggested they take a shot at rucking in “the hidden gem” of Moose Jaw’s Wakamow Valley. Ruck It Up immediately gained a foothold and became a tradition ever since.
The connection to mental health developed naturally as the trio refected on
“We’re so honoured that we have
Local charity Ruck It Up presented Journey to Hope Moose Jaw with a cheque for $5,337.52 after this year’s ruck in Wakamow. Photo by: Ruck It Up
CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES
THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MON, JULY 22.
Residents know that many roads are in rough shape, but the new transportation master plan (TMP) has confrmed that fact with hard evidence and has rated each street from excellent to very poor.
The City of Moose Jaw manages 227 kilometres of roads, and three future trends that could negatively affect that infrastructure include a growing population, a growing economy and Moose Jaw’s growth as a regional business hub, the TMP says.
The TMP also says city-wide traffc volume projections are expected to increase by two per cent annually over the next decade due to new schools and infll developments. The growth also accounts for residents travelling for work, school, recreation and daily needs.
Consulting frm KGS Group included the growth of several residential and industrial developments in the 10-year traffc forecast, including West Park Village, Iron Bridge Estates, the re-development of Valley View Centre lands, Westheath and the agri-food industrial park.
Road network
KGS Group assessed every road last summer to determine the extent of the pavement’s distress and then rated each street according to its severity, the report said.
Many roads in Moose Jaw in fair to poor condition, transportation report says
The assessment found that the overall road network has seen improvements, especially on arterial roads, where the percentage of road segments categorized as “good” doubled between 2018 and 2023. Furthermore, local and collector roads saw improvements, while the “average pavement condition” for the total network is in “fair condition.”
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Bruce Belmore, with KGS Group, told council during a recent regular meeting that the consulting frm rated each road from excellent (fve) to fair (three) to very poor (zero) and assigned each a corresponding colour—from green to purple to red—to accompany the rating.
“While a road in fair condition is OK, it’s also at a tipping point of not being a very good road in short order. You can see that a lot of the roads (on the map) are purple, amber and a few red ones,” he said.
Preventing deterioration
Preventative maintenance is important because road conditions can change from good to requiring replacement, Belmore pointed out. Therefore, the city should spend slightly more on its roadways budget to reduce long-term costs and decrease the need for costly reconstructions.
A chart shows three categories of costs the city should or does make for preventative road maintenance between 2024 and 2034.
The TMP suggests that the municipality should invest roughly $3.75 million annually into road renewal between 2025 and 2031 and roughly $2.25 million annually between 2032 and 2034.
Meanwhile, the city’s planned capital budget average over that 10 years is roughly $2.75 million annually, and its average projection is roughly $3.4 million annually.
“It’s an eye-opener and a slap in the face when you realize that (many of) our road conditions are orange, so they’re in poor condition,” said Mayor Clive Tolley, while
a sidewalk inventory map shows that hundreds of locations have severe tripping hazards.
The city last assessed its 240 kilometres of sidewalks in 2019, the TMP said. The assessment identifed more than 6,500 defect points, with roughly 25 per cent of the sidewalk network having tripping hazards.
Three areas representing 50 per cent of the sidewalk network with a high concentration of tripping hazards are:
• Ninth Avenue Northwest to Main Street from Saskatchewan Street down to Manitoba Street West
• Main Street to Eighth Avenue Northeast from Saskatchewan Street East to Fairford Street East
• Ninth Avenue Southwest to First Avenue Southeast from Home Street West down to Grandview Street West
“I … think we need a full transportation master plan, so we’re working with established priorities, and we’re working smarter and spending money smarter,” Tolley said, adding the city should also add more bike lanes for annual use.
It’s important to remember that minor resurfacing can save money and extend roads for years, which some residents don’t understand because they criticize city crews for fxing streets that appear to be in good shape, said Coun. Heather Eby.
Eby added that while the total cost to implement everything in the TMP — between $22 million and $28.4 million — “is ridiculous” and will likely never happen, it’s still good to have goals and plans.
City’s WCB insurance premiums have jumped nearly 300% since 2018, report says
Since 2018, the City of Moose Jaw has paid the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) nearly 300-per-cent more in premiums, with the Moose Jaw Police Service having some of the highest claim costs.
In 2018, the WCB charged the municipality $1.19 per $100 of salary for the industry rate, while it offered a 24-cent discount and a net frm rate of 95 cents, a recent city council report said. All these factors led to the City of Moose Jaw paying $232,260.60 in net premiums.
In 2023, the WCB charged the city $1.55 per $100 of salary for the industry rate and offered a two-cent discount and a net frm rate of $1.53, which resulted in the city paying $446,685.04 in net premiums.
This year, the board has charged the municipality $1.66 per $100 of salary for the industry rate and charged a 45-cent surcharge and a net frm rate of $2.11, resulting in an estimated expense to the city of $629,521.50 in net premiums.
If that premium holds until Dec. 31, the City of Moose Jaw’s net premiums since 2018 may increase by $397,260.90 or 271 per cent.
The discount or surcharge that the WCB offers or imposes is based on an organization’s average costs and
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claims over a three-year period, TJ Karwandy, director of human resources, explained to the Moose Jaw Express. So, if premiums exceed costs, an organization receives a discount, while it receives a surcharge if costs exceed premiums.
Meanwhile, the premium number is a WCB estimate based on the city’s payroll — provided at the start of the year — so the actual amount may differ by the end of 2024 based on what the total payroll is, he continued.
Karwandy acknowledged that the city’s premiums have risen by 271 per cent since 2018, although he pointed out that such numbers have been rising across all forms of insurance recently.
Karwandy’s report to council also included total claims that the City of Moose Jaw made to WCB.
In 2018, there were 39 claims, with 10 resulting in lost-time days and 29 resulting in no lost-time days; those 10 people missed a combined 368 days of work.
In 2023, there were 25 claims, seven of which resulted in lost-time days and 18 of which resulted in no lost-time days; those seven people missed a combined 683 days of work.
The report also provided a table showing the costs
that the WCB incurred between 2020 and 2023 to cover the claims from the City of Moose Jaw.
In 2020, the WCB paid out $237,031.64 in total costs incurred by the city and police service, including:
• $75,766.64 in total costs to the municipality based on 25 total claims, 12 lost-time days, 13 no lost-time days, and 231 total days lost
• $161,265.50 in total costs to the police service based on 11 total claims, four lost-time days, seven no losttime days, and 337 total days lost In 2023, the WCB paid out $324,421.91 in total costs incurred between the city and police service, including:
• $159,390.06 in total costs to the municipality based on 15 total claims, fve lost-time days, 10 no lost-time days, and 422 total days lost
• $165,031.85 in total costs to the police service based on 10 claims, including two lost-time days, eight no lost-time days, and 261 total days lost Karwandy added that when WCB covers costs, it usually reimburses the organizations for things like medical appointments, coverage, treatments or days lost.
City’s ad and sponsorship program has generated over $500K in revenue since
City hall’s advertising and sponsorship program has generated more than $500,000 in revenue since launching in 2019, with most of that money supporting operating and programming costs at recreation venues.
In April 2019, the City of Moose Jaw adopted an advertising and sponsorship policy to create a consistent approach to soliciting advertising and sponsorship opportunities at recreation venues and creating agreements, a city council report explained.
City council then offcially adopted that policy during its regular meeting that June.
The municipality has an agreement with EMJ Marketing to source advertising and sponsorship opportunities for city-operated recreation venues, parks and programs. The current contract, signed in 2021, is set to expire on Saturday, Aug. 31.
As part of the agreement, EMJ Marketing receives a 20-per-cent commission on all sales.
The agreement with the marketing frm is a non-exclusive licence, which means the city can also pursue ad and sponsorship opportunities at locations that the city’s marking proposal identifes, the report said.
The city also has an agreement with the WHL Moose Jaw Warriors for advertising at Pla-Mor Palace and Kinsmen Arena, with the club giving back 50 per cent of all
2019
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revenues. However, a new agreement will see the hockey organization contribute 80 per cent of ad and sponsorship revenues.
The parks and recreation’s other source of ad revenue is from naming-rights sponsorship at four sports venues, including $500,000 over 10 years for Yara Centre; $100,000 over 10 years for Kinsmen West Park; $100,000 over 25 years for Kinsmen Regal Heights Park; and $100,000 over 25 years for the Kinsmen Sports Complex.
Last year “was a record year for advertising and sponsorship” revenues, Scott Osmachenko, recreation services manager, said during the recent city council executive meeting. Furthermore, this year “will probably be another strong year” for revenue generation.
The city received $504,001 in net revenue between 2019 and 2023, with last year generating $183,364, a 71-per-cent increase over the year before, he continued. Meanwhile, year-to-date, the city has received $107,723 in net revenue, which is almost equal to the revenues received midway through last year.
Therefore, the total revenue the city netted between 2019 and early July 2024 has been $611,724.
Osmachenko’s report showed that, since 2019, the city has received $71,491 in net revenue from EMJ Marketing’s advertising sales, while the frm has taken
$16,873 in commission.
Furthermore, the city has received $40,233 in net revenue from the Warriors’ advertising sales efforts, while the team has taken the same amount.
Also, from the four main sports venues, the city has netted $245,000 in ad sales revenue.
City hall directs most net revenue toward the operating and programming costs at the recreation venues from which the money came, which helps reduce the annual subsidies that the municipality provides for those locations, the report said.
For example, revenue from Kinsmen West Park supports the city’s capital budget to offset the costs of the playground expansion, installation of a new spray park and construction of a new sport court in 2020 and 2021. Furthermore, revenue from Kinsmen Regal Heights Park offset upgrades to the Blackwell baseball diamond in 2022 and the construction of a new spray park in 2023.
Also, revenue from the Kinsmen Sportsplex supports upgrades to Elks Field and Eddy Moore Park and their respective buildings.
“We would welcome any sized business to contribute to our facilities,” Osmachenko added.
CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES
THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MON, JULY 22.
City hall is pouring millions of dollars into upgrading Coteau Street East from Ninth Avenue Southwest westward, but despite an increase in area traffc, it may not enhance any surrounding roads.
During the recent regular city council meeting, Coun. Doug Blanc pointed out that the city has closed Coteau Street West from Ninth to 11th avenues as it continues its cast iron replacement program and wondered whether city administration planned to perform extra maintenance on surrounding streets like Iroquois or Lillooet to address the detoured traffc.
“I did receive a call and did walk to the corner of 10th and Iroquois, and boy, there are some major craters up there you could lose a car in,” he said.
Bevan Harlton, director of operations, explained that the city’s normal process for capital projects is not to apply those dollars to address possible area road deterioration. However, he would determine whether the councillor’s concern is something his department can address.
“We had extra eyes on the alley on the north side of Coteau. I can follow up operationally and see how the roadway has changed and whether road repairs can be done,” he added.
City hall is speaking with the contractor about extending the workday so employees start working earlier, not only to expedite the work but to protect them from the heat, said city manager Maryse Carmichael. The city will inform residents if it decides to repair and fx the surrounding roads; council approved that extension back in February.
Homeowners
City to consider repairing side streets near Coteau Street construction project
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City administration responded to an inquiry Coun. Dawn Luhning submitted in June, where she asked about the road conditions on Thatcher Drive West between Ninth and 11th avenues.
In his report, Harlton said line painting on the westbound lane requires adjustments to the road’s 3.7-metre width to match the eastbound lane width. Currently, traffc is travelling too close to the pavement’s edge, which is causing cracking along the road’s north edge. Therefore, public works staff will make adjustments to the line painting when they paint this area.
“Engineering services has engaged with Cypress (Paving Ltd.) to address road structure defciencies from the 2022 resurfacing project. The defciencies will be corrected this year,” Harlton added.
In response, Luhning said she wasn’t sure if the report answered her concern since there was “some vagueness” when she submitted that initial inquiry. Instead, she planned to submit a picture so administration knew what she was talking about.
Harlton said he thought about including a picture in his report’s response but decided against it. However, such a picture would show that there are four locations with “alligator cracking” that is also causing a seam to open on the north side of Thatcher Drive.
Parking tickets
Harlton also provided another response to Blanc’s inquiry about when police issue parking tickets in proposed street cleaning locations.
He explained that the roadways crew lead determines the week’s street cleaning locations and posts that infor-
paid roughly $11K last year for water/sewer connection upgrades, report says
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City hall replaced nearly 130 sewer and water connections last year, while affected homeowners paid almost $11,000 to cover part of those upgrades, a new report shows.
Coun. Kim Robinson asked city administration during the June 10 regular city council meeting for information about labour and materials for excavation, backflling and surface work to complete sewer line replacement projects in northwest Moose Jaw and the interest rate and extended expenses that this replacement costs the city and proper owners.
Administration provided an answer during the recent July meeting, saying the operations department calculates the costs for the external portion of sewer and water service connection replacements using three scenarios: open trench, common-trench pipe burst and non-commontrench pipe burst.
Common-trench pipe burst is when the water and sanitary mains are in parallel alignment within 2.4 metres of each other, while non-common-trench pipe burst is when the mains are not within 2.4 metres of each other.
Since 2019, the operations department has completed these projects using the pipe burst method because it provides additional benefts, the report said. These include less damage to homeowners’ yards, the replacement of pipes goes into the house rather than just one metre from the outside wall, and the city can install a backfow valve.
Last year, city crews replaced 126 sewer and water connections, with 111 of these replacements performed using the pipe burst method. Meanwhile, four were open trenches, nine were riser-only replacements, and two were partial replacements.
“When replacing service connections using the pipe burst method, homeowners also receive a separate invoice of approximately $3,500 to $4,000 before taxes from the contractor for the internal portion of the work,” the report said.
Only the cost of the external work is eligible to be repaid through property taxes over seven years at seven per cent interest, the document continued. Meanwhile, the average costs for sewer and water connection replacements last year were:
• Excavation: $6,609.48
• Backflling: $1,590.84
• Materials: 678.32
• Surface work: $1,966.34
• Pipe bursting (exterior): $4,594.82
• Overhead and admin charges: $1,840.96
• Subtotal: $16,704.43
After excluding $6,059.37 as the city portion, the average cost for property owners’ portion was $10,885.61. The city portion is comprised of material costs for the
city-owned portion of the water line replacement — shutoff valve to the main — and costs shared for the excavation, backflling and surface work, the report said.
Homeowners are responsible for the water line from the home to the city shut-off valve and the sewer line from the building to the sewer main, the document continued. The costs of replacing the water connection are shared with the municipality, considering part of the line is the latter’s responsibility.
“The area of the city is not a factor in determining replacement costs,” the report said.
Estimates are specifc to each property, while the city prepares those estimates using many variables, such as:
• Vertical depth of water and sewer mains
• Length of trench or laterals from the house to the main(s)
• Removal of trees
• Use of one or more trench cages
• The size or number of excavation(s) required for crews to access the underground infrastructure
• Distance between sewer, water and storm mains
• Other utilities
• Landscaping on city-owned property
In the northwest corner, multiple locations have sewer and water mains in opposite boulevards that create price differences between neighbouring properties
The report added that city hall reviews and updates labour, equipment and material rates annually and will review this process further in the third quarter.
mation to the City of Moose Jaw’s website the Friday before. The city’s communications department also emails locations for street cleaning and road closures to the parking enforcement supervisor.
Roadways staff hang signs in the locations a minimum of 72 hours before the scheduled cleaning day, Harlton said. Those signs show a “no parking” symbol with wording indicating that a street-cleaning day is coming.
“The Moose Jaw Police Service also confrmed that they have been enforcing no parking restrictions in the street cleaning areas all over the city, including South Hill, for over four years,” he continued.
Police visit these areas when they can and attempt to co-ordinate with crews, which means they can’t ticket every area all the time, Harlton said. Police estimate that they have issued more than 100 tickets this year, which is down from past years.
Staff remove the “no parking” signs once sweeping is concluded, while the city reschedules areas that it missed future sweeping programs, he added.
Public Notice is hereby given that the Council of the Village of Tuxford intends to adopt a bylaw, under the Planning and Development Act, 2007 to amend Bylaw 02-2020 known as the Zoning Bylaw of the Village of Tuxford
The following changes to the Zoning Bylaw are proposed:
5.6.4 Accessory Uses
a) Any buildings, structures, or uses, which are accessory to the principal use of the site, but only after the principal use or discretionarv use has been established.
b) Two (2) detached sheds or accessory buildings greater than 9.5m2(102.27 f2), accessory to the principal dwelling unit on the site wil be allowed up to maximum site coverage and setback requirements with the exemption of Parcel A Block 7 Plan 75MJ07126.
5.6.6 Accessory Buildings
c) All accessory buildings shall not exceed 111.5m (1200 f2) or 75% in area of the principal building area, whichever is greater in area and shall not exceed 5.0 metres (16.41 ft) in height.
INTENT:
The proposed amendments, permits the Village of Tuxford to manage the land uses within the municipal boundaries and amend zoning.
REASON:
The reason for the amendments of the Zoning Bylaw is for the changing needs of the community, and to be accountable to the residents of the community of Tuxford and surrounding area.
AFFECTED LAND:
The amendments will a ect all land within the boundaries of the Village of Tuxford.
PUBLIC INSPECTION:
Any person may inspect the bylaw at the Village O ce located at 5-1410 Caribou St W in Moose Jaw, SK, between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday.
PUBLIC HEARING:
THURSDAY, July 25th
Council wil hold a public hearing on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at the Village O ce to hear any person or group that wants to comment on the proposed bylaws. Council will also consider written comments received at the hearing or delivered to the undersigned at the Village O ce before the hearing. Mailing address is 5-1410 Caribou St W Moose Jaw SK S6H 759. Issued at City of Moose Jaw on July 17, 2024 Raena Wilk-Morhart, Administrator
Thatcher Drive conditions
VILLAGE OF TUXFORD PUBLIC NOTICE
Festival of Words turns its frst page with nine events in
downtown Moose Jaw
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
The Saskatchewan Festival of Words brought the power of the written word to Moose Jaw’s literary community through four days of readings, workshops, and discussions starting July 18 and featured a captivating lineup of Canadian authors, poets, and wordsmiths.
The festival’s frst day included nine events in downtown Moose Jaw at the Moose Jaw Public Library, the Cultural Centre, and the Mae Wilson Theatre.
Starting at 9 a.m., the public library was host to a three-hour presentation titled “Outlining Novels” by Premee Mohamed in the Herb Taylor Room, as well as a concurrent workshop led by Victoria Koops in the library’s South Room.
The Cultural Centre hosted the “Reading for Writers Workshop” starting at 9 a.m. and, later, the Saskatchewan Writer’s Guild began its reception at 9:30 p.m.
The afternoon’s events included a science fction presentation by author Robert Sawyer in the library’s South Room and a three-hour sold-out discussion about the book Moon of the Turning Leaves moderated by Jael Richardson and led by author Waubgeshig Rice.
At 6 p.m. in the Mae Wilson Theatre, a presentation titled “Café Daughter” was held by Yvette Wong who shared the story of her struggles growing up in the ‘60s as a half-Chinese, half-Cree woman. Following Wong’s presentation, READception ran for one hour starting at 8:30 p.m. with readings from authors
The 9 a.m. event in the library’s South Room led by Koops was titled “Kids Ink: Bardic Inspiration.” The workshop ran for two hours and brought new inspiration to children and teens who worked on developing their storytelling skills through hands-on activities resembling the gameplay for Dungeons and Dragons.
Starting at 10 a.m., a group of around 25 children and their parents met on the library’s front lawn for “Storytime for
Little Ones” led by renowned author Candace Savage. Savage, who referred to the outdoor reading program as one of her favourite events, was born in Grande Prairie, Alta., and began her career in the ‘70s as a news editor with the Sun Color Press. She later became an editorial assistant with the CoOperative Consumer It was through her career and role as a freelance book editor with The Western Producer in Saskatoon that she frst discovered an interest in authoring books. Today, Savage has published more than
two dozen books and has earned multiple Saskatchewan Book of the Year awards.
During Thursday’s park program she read aloud from two of her recent children’s books, Always Beginning and How to Know a Crow
Always Beginning told the story of how everybody came to be, staring with the theoretical Big Bang and progressing through the various stages of history to arrive at the modern day. The book included captivating pictures that seemed to spark the imagination of many children who were eager to learn more.
“The most amazing thing about this story is… everything from the Big Bang to now has led to you,” she said as she fnished the book.
To make the most of a beautiful morning in the shade of Moose Jaw’s Crescent Park, Savage included a third reading of the book Mina by awardwinning author and illustrator Matthew Forsythe.
To learn more, Savage maintains a personal website at CandaceSavage.ca.
You can purchase her books through Post Horizon Booksellers, another local bookstore of your choice, or online at GreystoneBooks.com/Collections/ Candace-Savage.
For more information about the Festival of Words and the lineup of literary talent that toured Moose Jaw this past weekend, visit FestivalOfWords.com or follow ‘Saskatchewan Festival of Words’ on Facebook.
Political: Festival of Words panel discusses the impact of political messages in books
During the 2024 Festival of Words, a July 19 panel discussion titled “Let’s Get Political” featured writers David A. Robertson, Katherena Vermette, and S. Bear Bergman with moderation by Jael Richardson.
The one-hour discussion began at 4 p.m. in the Mae Wilson Theatre and explored the consequences of books that become political in their message.
Consider the impact
“What can this do? What impact can this have?” Vermette challenged writers to ask.
By considering this simple question, writers can avoid many negative consequences of the written word that may not be intended or that may have been
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written with the best intentions in mind.
The thought experiment helps make better decisions, not just for your writing, but throughout your life and even on a national level.
Her challenge was to “Make better decisions than we made in the past and make this a country we’re proud of.”
One of the most important audiences, she said, is children. Children represent the future and can one day make the needed changes to create a better world.
“Work for children, because children are the answer,” she said.
Find balance
When asked how the group fnds balance between writing and their personal
lives, Vermette was the frst to answer by saying she spends a lot of time at home with her dog — but she also does what she believes is right to sleep at night.
“I do believe we have a responsibility… to walk in this world with compassion,” she said. “To sleep at night in this horrible world, we have to do what’s right… It’s a duty that we have to constantly aspire to.”
When it comes to, for example, a nonIndigenous person speaking on behalf of the Indigenous community, the concept of balance also applies.
“I think we have to know what our place is when we say something and know when we should let someone else speak
and be allies,” Bergman explained. He said a non-Indigenous writer — simply to use one example from his area of expertise — can write an accurate, respectful story and be genuinely caring and concerned, but sometimes the most respectful gesture is to ally with an individual or a community.
“Don’t speak for other people who can speak for themselves,” he suggested. It would be far more powerful for an individual to share their own voice and explain their story as seen through their eyes. The rest of us, then, could learn something we may have never known.
For more information about these authors, visit FestivalOfWords.com.
Author Candace Savage (pictured) reads aloud from her recent children’s book, “Always Beginning,” in front of the Moose Jaw Public Library on the morning of July 18. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Left to right: David A. Robertson, S. Bear Bergman, Katherena Vermette, and moderator Jael Richardson. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Oh Clark’s
Premee Mohamed, author and scientist, helps writers in ‘Outlining Novels’ workshop
One of the frst events at this year’s Festival of Words was a presentation about the creation of literary outlines led by author, scientist, and speculative fction writer Premee Mohamed.
The workshop, titled “Outlining Novels,” began at 9 a.m. and ran for three hours in the Herb Taylor Room at the Moose Jaw Public Library.
Where to start
Many writers are often stalled when it comes to fnding a starting point. To help overcome this writer’s block, Mohamed offered a few words of advice during her presentation.
“A good time to start is wherever a pattern breaks,” she said. In such a case, the writer has the liberty to introduce a “new normal” for their character and can readily cover their transition from one point to the next.
She gave an example where a gardener went outside to water his roses. Nothing interesting came from that, and the sentence almost guaranteed a lack of momentum. To overcome this, she re-read the statement adding that the gardener found a human hand in his fowerbed — although extreme for demonstrative purposes, that’s exactly what a pattern break looks like.
Blending the seams
Next, Mohamed recommended several apps including Google Keep, Scrivener, Scapple, and Plottr for writers to develop a plot outline. For linear thinkers, Scrivener is a great recommendation, and an app like Plottr is best for non-traditional timelines
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
and handling multiple overlapping lines.
However the writer decides to proceed, Mohamed said the exercise is valuable because it allows the story to fow better by discovering plot holes — events that don’t lead to the next development.
The summary, she continued, should include both active and emotional aspects. Action points include things that happen, whereas emotional points cover the unseen feelings and inner struggles that drive the characters.
Stories typically follow the setup,
twist or reversal, and then resolution format. By mapping out this progression, the story’s main points will be easier to develop and it’s simply a matter of blending the seams from one event to the next.
“As long as you hide the seams, your outline will not get in the way — I promise you,” she said.
The cauldron
In order to capture the protagonist in a story that’s engaging for the reader, Mohamed introduced the “cauldron”
concept.
“The cauldron makes it so that when things heat up, the character cannot simply climb out,” she said.
To achieve this, the writer has to basically “trap” the character in a story that guarantees their involvement. Using Luke Skywalker’s saga in Star Wars, she said Skywalker was trapped when the Empire destroyed his family farm, leaving him nowhere to go, and his involvement was necessary because he was being hunted down relentlessly.
To establish a cauldron scenario, Mohamed said the character has to be “too invested in the plot” to simply walk away. This can be achieved through their personal faws, the actions of other characters, a sense of responsibility for family, fnancial stability, threats, or even blackmail.
“The walls of that cauldron have to be high and curved,” she explained.
Mohamed is a Nebula award-winning scientist and speculative fction author based in Edmonton, Alta. She’s the assistant editor at the short fction audio venue, Escape Pod, and in addition to several published novellas, she authored the “Beneath the Rising” novel series.
For a glimpse into her most recent book The Butcher of the Forest and to learn more, visit PremeeMohamed.com.
For more information about the Festival of Words, visit FestivalOfWords. com or follow ‘Saskatchewan Festival of Words’ on Facebook.
Brent Butt visits the Mae Wilson Theatre to introduce his new novel, ‘Huge’
During this year’s Festival of Words, Brent Butt delivered a two-hour talk at the Mae Wilson Theatre starting at 8 p.m. on July 20.
Butt’s discussion opened with live comedy — including a consistent intermixture of his natural comedic talent throughout — and touched on his newest book, “Huge.” Following the presentation, he opened up the room for a brief question and answer feature.
Q: Who are some of your favourite authors?
A: “I’m a big fan of Linwood Barclay. He’s great at creating suspense and read,” Butt said. “But more so than most thriller writers; he has an ability to combine dread with… tearing through the pages. He’s one of those writers who really pulls me along.”
Butt also mentioned Steven King as an inspiration. “Because he’s so popular… people start to poopoo what he does… I think, as a writer… he’s underrated,” he said. “It’s hard to say a guy like that is underrated, because he’s, you know, (almost a) billionaire…
“Steven King, more than anybody else that I’ve read, has the ability to just make me think about that damn story all day long.”
He also mentioned UK-based author Belinda Bauer. “She writes thrillers,” he
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began. “They usually have a bit of a creepy bend, a creepy angle through them.”
Q: Do you regret ending (Corner Gas) so soon?
A: “I think ending (the show) when we did was… the right thing to do,” Butt said in his reply. “When I felt like the show wanted to wrap up… I would heed that, because it was too special to me to let it wither and die on the vine. I didn’t want
to be that show that was like, ‘Why is this thing still on the air?’
“You know, I’ve been to house parties where they handed me my coat — it’s not a good feeling!”
Q: How can I become even funnier than I am now?
A: “Once you know the rules (of comedy), it’s the best time to break them. Breaking the rules before you know them
— probably unproductive.
“Like anything,” he continued, “(it’s just about) doing it lots and studying.
“I frst saw stand-up when I was 12. I didn’t even know it existed before that,” he said. “I became obsessed with it and watched everything I could.
The one caveat, he warned, was “the more you… try to be funnier… (the more you will be) incredibly annoying to the people around you.”
Q: What did your family think of you entering the feld of comedy (as a career choice)?
A: Butt said he felt blessed to grow up in his family, who he described as creative and close.
“My parents were like two of the funniest people… and were generally the happiest (most) well-balanced people I’ve ever known,” he said. “For them, that notion of happiness (had) no equation to money, status, or anything. It was really like, ‘Find what blows your hair back.’”
And, when asked in a fnal question whether the title of his book was intentional, Butt pointed to the library search term, “Huge, Butt,” and said, “it was defnitely something we all talked about.”
To learn more about Butt and his new book, visit BrentButt.com.
Premee Mohamed (pictured) delivers her ‘Outlining Novels’ presentation at the Moose Jaw Public Library on July 18. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Brent Butt announces his new novel, “Huge,” during the Festival of Words at the Mae Wilson Theatre July 20. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Moose Jaw U15 A Ice go undefeated to win Softball Sask provincial championship
Ice continue incredible season of success with 8-1 win over Regina Fighting Saints in gold medal game, of to Canadian championship in Quebec in August Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.om
The Moose Jaw U15 A Ice put together an incredible 43-9-1 record through tournament and league competition throughout the spring and summer, the Ice went into the Softball Sask provincial championships this past weekend as prohibitive favourites.
And other than a close call in the quarter-fnal, they’d get the job done with fying colours.
The Ice went undefeated through the weekend in Prince Albert, eventually going on to an 8-1 victory over the Regina Fighting Saints to claim the provincial title.
As a result, the Ice will now be the top seed from Saskatchewan at the Softball Canada U15 Championship beginning Aug. 14 in Ile-Perrot, Que.
Moose Jaw made short work of their opponents throughout the round robin, winning by mercy rule in each of their three games. That included an 11-0 win over the Regina Royals Elite, 12-2 win over the Saskatoon Lasers and 10-2 win over the East Central Wolverines.
Then came their closest call of the weekend, and at a critical juncture -- the Ice eked out a 4-3 win over the Twin City Angels, where a loss would have seen them knocked from contention for a berth in Canadians.
The Ice didn’t leave anything to chance from there.
Moose Jaw made quick work of the White Butte Storm in the semifnal, taking a 12-3 win in fve innings.
Every member of the Ice had at least a base hit in the game, lead by Avery Gar-
thus with a 3-for-3 outing that included a pair of runs scored and four runs batted in.
Callie Bell went 3-for-4 with three runs and a triple, while Tara Ball also went 3-for-4 with a three-bagger and a pair of runs. Charlize Hillmer had a pair of hits and knocked in three runs.
Garthus had a solid game in the cir-
cle, holding White Butte scoreless until the ffth inning, by which time Moose Jaw was up 12-0. She ended up allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out eight over her fve innings of work.
That sent the Ice into the championship fnal against the Saints, and it was more of the same.
A four-run frst and three-run second gave Moose Jaw a 7-1 lead through two, and with Taryn Friesen in the circle, things were all but academic from there. Friesen would hold Regina to a single run on seven hits over six innings, striking out fve, as the Ice once again took a mercy-rule win.
Tara Bell paced the offence, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and a pair of RBI. Garthus and Callie Bell each hit triples and knocked in a pair of runs, while Georgia Fowler was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Friesen 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
The Ice will be joined by the Saints and White Butte at Canadians after the Storm took an 18-7 win over the Regina Lazers in the bronze medal game. The Lazers, Twin City and Prince Albert Aces advance to Western Canadians in the Battlefords during the Aug. 2 weekend.
Moose Jaw Canucks reach semifnal at Baseball Sask provincial championships
Canucks go unbeaten in both 15U AA Tier II and 11U AA Tier I round robins before falling in semis at provincial tournament Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com
A pair of Moose Jaw teams came a single win away from reaching the gold medal fnal during the Baseball Sask provincial championships this past weekend.
Both the Moose Jaw Canucks 15U AA Tier II and 11U AA Tier I teams went unbeaten through their respective round robins before eventually falling short in the semifnal.
The Canucks were the host team for the 15U tournament and made good use of their home feld advantage, taking wins out of a pair of barnburners in their frst two games.
That included an 8-7 victory over the Battlefords Beavers in their opening
contest Friday afternoon, followed by an impressive come-from-behind 21-20 win over the Saskatoon Blue Jays in their frst
game Saturday.
That gave Moose Jaw a chance to guarantee themselves a spot in the semifnal with a win in their fnal round robin game, and they’d make no mistake, rolling to a 16-4 win over the Saskatoon Black A’s.
Unfortunately for the local crew, they were unable to keep the roll going, dropping a 13-2 decision to the Weyburn Beavers in the semifnal on Sunday morning.
The Beavers would go on to defeat the Blue Jays in the fnal.
At the 11U tournament in Prince Albert, the Canucks had a close call in their opening game before emerging with a 2119 win over the Prince Albert Royals on Friday afternoon but had an easier time of it in their next two contests.
That included a 19-8 win over the Kindersley Royals on Saturday morning, followed by a 7-0 win over the Southern Aces to cap their round robin with a 3-0 record.
Like their older counterparts, things didn’t work out in the playoff round, as the Canucks fell 8-2 to the Humboldt Dodgers.
Humboldt would go on to a 16-5 win over the Unity Cardinals in the gold medal contest.
***
At the Baseball Regina 13U AAA league playoffs, the Canucks also reached the semifnal before being eliminated from the tournament.
Moose Jaw won their opener 15-13 over the Lumsden Cubs and defeated the Yorkton Cardinals 12-6 to reach the playoffs, where they lost 14-1 to the Weyburn Beavers.
Weyburn then defeated the Regina Wolfpack to claim the Baseball Regina title.
The Moose Jaw U15 A Ice -- here after a tournament win earlier this season -- went undefeated to claim the Softball Sask provincial championship over the weekend in Prince Albert. Action from
game between the Moose Jaw Canucks and Saskatoon Blue Jays.
The Moose Jaw 15U A Canucks reached the semifnal of the Baseball Sask provincial championship over the weekend.
Miller Express looking to right the ship as losing streak hits fve games
Back-to-back losses in Okotoks see Moose Jaw fall below .500 and into third place in East Division Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com
The Moose Jaw Miller Express haven’t had a lot of luck as of late, with the results from their recent Western Canadian Baseball League contests in Okotoks offering the most recent example.
After falling 14-1 to the Regina Red Sox and 11-6 to the Medicine Hat Mavericks in a pair of contests earlier in the week, the Express saw their losing skid hit fve games thanks to back-to-back loss to the Dawgs, dropping a 4-3 decision on Thursday and falling 16-3 on Friday.
Moose Jaw has now dropped a game below .500 in the East Division standings at 21-22 and have a single win in their last 10. They’re now 8 ½ games back of the Regina Red Sox for frst and a game back of the Saskatoon Berries for third in the division, while remaining eight games up on the fnal playoff spot.
Okotoks 4, Moose Jaw 3
The Dawgs scored a pair of runs in the frst inning and built a 4-2 lead through six before Moose Jaw got a pair back in the seventh, but they’d get no closer on their way to dropping a 4-3 decision.
Adam Christopher got the start for Moose Jaw and turned in a solid performance, allowing four runs on seven hits over seven innings to keep his team in the hunt. Takeo Cookson tossed a scoreless
eighth, but the Express would be unable to fnd the tying run in the top of the ninth. Okotoks ended up using six pitchers on the night, all of whom were effective.
Garrett Maloney saw the lion’s share of work, going 4 ⅔ and allowing two runs on four hits and striking out four. Ashton Luera earned the save, striking out a pair while retiring the side in order in the ninth.
Nate Mensik led the Miller Express offence, going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored, while Thomas Soto was also 2-for-4 with a double, Connor Crowson had a solid game at
the plate for Okotoks, going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in, Jarrett Burney was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Okotoks improved to 29-11 and sit a 1 ½ games back of Sylvan Lake for frst in the West Division.
Okotoks 16, Moose Jaw 3 Okotoks wasted little time getting going, taking a 4-1 lead out of the frst inning and keeping the pressure on from there, going up 7-1 through three and 9-1 through fve before tacking on seven more runs the next two innings. The Express got two back in the eighth but would get no closer.
Moose Jaw had only fve hits on the night, with Thomas Soto getting a pair of them. Nate Mensik was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a run batted in.
As the score would indicate, It was a tough night on the mound for the Express pitchers. Ethan Merk got the start and allowed seven runs on six hits over 2 ⅓ before Westin Walls tossed the next three and gave up six runs on six hits. Drew Sorrentino went 1 ⅔ and allowed three runs and three hits before Jacob Quiles fnished things off with a scoreless eighth.
Brock Townsend started for Okotoks and allowed a run on three hits over fve innings before four relievers combined to shut things down the rest of the way.
Barry Eiseman, Connor Crowson and Lou Anderson all hit home runs for the Dawgs, with Anderson knocking in four runs and Crowson and Eiseman three apiece. Tucker Zdunich crossed the plate three times.
The Miller Express were in Swift Current on Tuesday before heading to Lethbridge for a pair of game Wednesday and Thursday. Next home action is Friday when the 57’s are in town, with frst pitch at 7:05 p.m.
Miller Express leave their mark on 2024 WCBL All-Star Game
Gurney reaches fnal of home run contest, Mensik has key play as Team East takes 13-6 win over Team West Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com
The Moose Jaw MIller Express had a solid showing during the Western Canadian Baseball League All Star Game on Saturday night in Okotoks.
Six members of the team made the trip west for the contest, with pitchers Matt Vasquez and Takeo Cookson, outfelder Nate Mensik, infelders Austin Gurney, Nate Houston and Thomas Soto all taking part in the annual showcase of the WCBL’s elite talent.
The East Division would prove superior this year, taking a 13-6 win over the West Division in front of just over 6,000 fans at Okotoks Seaman Stadium.
Before the game itself, the SR Bats Home Run Derby took place, with Gurney representing the MIller Express and turning in an impressive performance.
The third-year veteran -- who had nine home runs on the season heading into All-Star weekend -- fnished second among East hitters in the frst round of swings, launching seven round trippers. Only Carter Beck of the Saskatoon Berries had more with 11, sending both players into the fnal round.
There, Gurney would hit fve more, fnishing a single home run behind winner Peyton McDowall of the Fort McMurray Giants. It was a touching win for McDowall, who had lost his grandmother only a couple of days earlier.
As for the All Star Game itself, Mensik left his mark in dramatic fashion in the fnal inning. Team West looked to get a rally going in the ninth and had put two runs across when the Doane University senior
unleashed a cannon from the outfeld and gunned down a runner trying to score at the plate. A few moments later, the contest was over and East had their win.
Beck was named the All Star Game MVP after going 3-for-3 with a run scored and three runs batted in, immediately after his 16 homers in the Home Run Contest.
Four East Division pitchers didn’t allow a run in the contest, with Josh Landry (Medicine Hat), Daniel Crabtree (Regina), Jaylen Gutierrez (Swift Current) and Klevert Martina (Swift Current) shutting down the West’s potent hitters.
The Miller Express are next at home on Friday night when the Swift Current 57’s are in town. Game time is 7:05 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.
Miller Express fle
The Moose Jaw Miller Express East Division All Stars stopped by the Rod Pederson Show booth at the Western Canadian Baseball League All Star Game on Saturday afternoon. Pictured are Matt Vasquez, Nate Mensik, Austin Gurney, Takeo Cookson and Nate Houston. Missing is Thomas Soto.
Moose Jaw well represented on Team South West roster for Saskatchewan Summer Games
Close to 180 athletes from the Friendly City and area set to compete in major multi-sport event that began on Sunday in Lloydminster Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com
Team South West is well represented by athletes from Moose Jaw and area taking part in the Saskatchewan Summer Games currently underway in Lloydminster.
Close to 180 athletes from all over southwest Saskatchewan are taking part in the massive multisport event, which began on Sunday, July 21 and runs through Saturday, July 27.
Local competitors are among the medal favourites in several sports, as well. Track and feld standouts Ademide Adewumi (shot put and discus), Zayden Anderson (sprints and hurdles) and Hailey Roney (high jump) -- all of whom were recently selected for the Canadian Legion Track and Field Championship in a couple weeks time -- will be among the ones to watch in their respective disciplines.
Track and feld takes part during the second half of the games beginning Thursday and running through Saturday, July 27.
The reigning provincial champion U13 A Moose Jaw Ice will make up the bulk of the girls softball team, automatically making the squad a heavy medal favourite.
Tournament play began Monday, with the gold medal games set for Wednesday
afternoon.
Among the athletes to watch in the pool will be Moose Jaw Kinsmen Flying Fins competitor Cole Hrechka, who recently put together a multi-medal-winning performance at the hyper-elite ManSask Championships in Regina.
Action in the pool began Monday and runs through to the end of the frst half of the Games on Wednesday.
Joining softball and swimming in the frst half of the games were archery, canoe/kayak, golf, Special Olympics bocce, swimming and volleyball. Soccer began Monday and runs throughout the week, wrapping with gold medal games on Saturday.
The second half of the games begin Thursday and include track and feld, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball and triathlon.
For everything you need to know about Team South West, visit www.gosouthwest.ca and for the entirety of the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games check out https://saskgames.ca/summer
Moose Jaw Tennis Club hosts Provincial Senior Open tournament
Close to 100 players from throughout province take part in annual showdown for players 30-and-over Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com
The Moose Jaw Tennis Club was a busy place during the July 14 weekend, as close to 100 players from throughout the province took part in the annual Provincial Senior Open.
Here’s a run down of all the fnal results, and for a complete list of all the matches from the weekend, be sure to check out the Tennis Sask website at www. tennissask.com
Men’s Singles 30-plus
Robert Park (Saskatoon Riverside) def. Dan Nguyen (Saskatoon) 7-6, 6-1
Men’s Doubles 30-plus
Gabe Rosescu (No club) and Rui Shi (Burnaby, B.C.) def. Thuy Van Ha (No club) and Victor Phung (No club) 6-3, 6-2
Men’s Singles 35-plus
Chris Korbel (No club) def. Robert Park
6-1, 6-1
Women’s Doubles 35-plus
Gayle Dodds (Saskatoon Lakeshore) and Pricilles Pierce (Saskatoon Lakeshore) def. Tammy Lynn Kleisinger (Moose Jaw) and Megan Smith (Moose Jaw) 6-4, 6-1
Mixed Doubles 35-plus
Scott Evans (Moose Jaw) and Megan Smith (Moose Jaw) def. Wilfred Olson (No club) and Ingrid Fernandez (Saskatoon Lakeshore) 7-6, 7-5
Men’s Singles 40-plus
Rui Shi def. Chris Korbel 6-2, 6-0
Men’s Singles 45-plus
Alex Chavez (No club) def. Neal Wasylyshyn (Moose Jaw) 6-4, 6-3
Men’s Doubles 45-plus
Corey Huber (Saskatoon Lakeshore) and Nathan Morrison (Saskatoon Lakeshore)
13 Moose Javians Representing Team SouthWest Basketball at Sask Summer Games
Submitted
The boys team included eight Moose Javians, while the girls team has four. 11 of those kids played for Spartans Basketball before trying out for and making Team SouthWest.
def. Alex Chavez (No club) and Ray Jacoby (Saskatoon Lakeshore) 6-7 (7), 7-5, 10-8
Women’s Doubles 45-plus
Ingrid Fernandez and Ethel Koh (Saskatoon Lakeshore) def. Angela Chavez (No club) and Valerie Hagen (Saskatoon Lakeshore) 4-6, 7-6, 10-5
Mixed Doubles 50-plus
Dale Johns (Saskatoon Lakeshore) and Sandra Lee Harazny (Saskatoon Lakeshore) def. Aaron McDougall (Saskatoon Lakeshore) and Ethel Koh 1-6, 6-2, 10-8
Men’s Singles 55-plus
Mike Denne (Moose Jaw) def. Robert Tan Espiritu (Filipino-Canadian Tennis Sask) 6-4, 7-6 (3)
Sheila Kobitz (Estevan) and Angie Wiebe (Estevan) def. Carolee Beaulieu and Joan Boyle (Moose Jaw) 4-6, 7-5, 10-5
Mixed Doubles 55-plus
Tim Makahoniuk (Saskatoon Riverside) and Katie Omoerod (No club) def. Sean Rong (No club) and Anita Brockman (Saskatoon Lakeshore) 6-1, 6-2
Men’s Singles 60-plus
Ray Jacoby (Saskatoon Lakeshore) def. Gilbert Lee (Wheat City) Walkover
Men’s Doubles 60-plus
Derrick Lamb (Saskatoon Lakeshore) and Terry Tuharsky (No club) def. Kit Harrison (Wheat City) and Gilbert Lee 6-3, 6-3
Women’s Doubles 60-plus
Sandra Lee Harazny and Marcia Jackson (No club) def. Patrice Krueger (Saskatoon Lakeshore) and Rose Marie Macdougall (Saskatoon Lakeshore) 6-0, 6-0
Mixed Doubles 65-plus Lloyd Rey (No club) and Marcia Jackson def. Gerry Gieni (Moose Jaw) and Joan Boyle 6-0, 6-1
The Team South West tennis team gathers for a group photo after a recent practice. Tennis began Monday at the Saskatchewan Summer Games and runs through Wednesday.
Boys and Girls team’s representing Team SouthWest Basketball are headed to Lloydminster to participate in the Sask Summer Games taking place from July 21-27.
Back Row: (l-r) Coach Brian “BA” Adams, Coach Ben MacDonald, Rob Salise, Dylan Ward, Alex Fraser, Sam Gaucher, Jensen Larochelle, Ainsley Scott, Scarlett Zoerb, Kirsten Millar, Coach Alisha Amey, Coach Kailee Seidlitz,
Action from the Tennis Sask Provincial Senior Open tournament held at the Moose Jaw Tennis Club during the July 14 weekend.
By Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express
How big has the millionaire population become? BIZWORLD
Back when I was a kid on the farm, there were a lot of discussions about a wealthy few who supposedly ran the country from their large estates.
The general saying was that 56 millionaires ran things by pulling political strings.
My limited research hasn’t been able fnd any evidence of that claim, except that Conservative Prime Minister R.B. Bennet (1930-1935) of Calgary was a millionaire who lived it up while one-quarter of the labour force was unemployed. Many of them were in hard labour work camps.
There is a belief among some academics that extravagant lifestyles by the rich was one cause of the Great Depression in the 1930s with an inequality of wealth.
The rich accounted for one-third of wealth while the poor had no savings at
all. Sounds familiar.
Last year the richest 10 per cent in Canada had 66 per cent of the wealth. The bottom 40 per cent had 2.7 per cent of all wealth in Canada.
That led to the question just how many millionaires and billionaires are there in this country and across the globe?
A recent report by The Visual Capitalist lists countries with the most millionaires and billionaires.
Canada is rated ninth with 371,200 millionaires and 52 billionaires in US dollars.
If we get 56 billionaires will they run the country? Just kidding.
Even laws federally and in most provinces, except Saskatchewan, that limit political contributions by the wealthy, still have considerable infuence through paid lobbyists.
Canada’s millionaire population is equal to one-third of Saskatchewan’s population.
United States millionaires lead the pack with 5,492,000 — that’s more than the population of 78 countries and greater than Ireland.
With 862,000 millionaires China ranks second, followed by Germany, 806,100; Japan, 754,800; United Kingdom, 602,500; France, 506,000; Switzerland, 427,700; Australia, 383,300, and then Canada.
A 2023 study by investment banker Credit Suisse showed more millionaires than the Visual Capitalist but rankings were the same.
Just under one per cent of Canada’s population are millionaires.
When it comes to billionaires, the United States leads with 788, followed by
China, 305; Germany, 82, United Kingdom, 75, France 55; Canada, 52; and Australia, 48.
In 2021 the top one per cent of income earners paid 22.5 per cent of all income taxes and had 10.4 per cent of Canada’s income.
The top 10 per cent paid 54.4 per cent of all income taxes and had 34.4 per cent of all income.
Interesting! That explains the protests when capital gains over $250,000 were taxed at a higher rate.
One more comparison. A 2022 study by Advisor savvy indicated the average net worth of Canadian millionaires was $9.2 million while the average Canadian family’s net worth was $329,000 — about one-thirtieth of a millionaire. Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net
Upcoming Events in Moose Jaw
If you would like your notice or event added to this list, contact us at: jritchie@moosejawtoday.com
Women “Fore” Women Golf Tournament will be held on August 10 at Hilcrest Golf Club. Register your 2-person teams at the Hillcrest Golf Course, Moose Jaw or call 306 693-1921. Payment due upon registration
Moose Jaw Lawn Bowling - The sport for ages 6-106. Often referred to as curling on grass. Regular scheduled play on Mon thru Thurs @ 6:30 pm. On Extremely hot days the time will be later. Tuesday and Thursday @9:30am (The Coffee League). Other days and times can be scheduled. Website is moosejawlawnbowling. com; Text 306-690-8739 for more info.
The Moose Jaw Stamp Club will not be meeting over the summer. The next meeting will be in September.
New Youth Pipe Band in Moose Jaw “The White Heather” for youth aged 8 to 12. Further information may be obtained by contacting Michelle Carline at mcarline@hotmail.com
Scottish Country Dance Classes for all ages on Thursdays at 7pm at 510 Main St. N (T. Eaton Bldg). No partner required. Call Val @306.630.5790.
Nature Moose Jaw will hold their meetings on a once-a-month basis to take place on the third Friday of each month.
Church of Our Lady Bingo takes place at the Church of Our Lady Community Centre, 566 Vaughan Street on Tuesday evenings. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Bingo begins at 7:00 p.m. Are you struggling with addictions? Do you know someone who is? Or do you want to learn more about overcoming addiction to help others?
Pastor Cory Havanka and his wife Brenda will be offering an in-person, small-group, course that will explore how to overcome addiction that is based on Biblical foundations. For questions - Call or text Cory at 306-684-1464 or email frmfoundationministries.inc@gmail.com Firm Foundation Ministries provides other services as well:-Bible study - Monday evenings at 630 p.m/ Prayer meetings - Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m/ Pastoral counselling. Check Facebook or Instagram for updates on services, events, bible study notes and words from the Lord.
Nar-Anon Meetings every Monday 7—8pm (Moose Jaw Nar-Anon Family Group) is a twelvestep program for relatives and friends affected by someone else’s drug use and is in-person at Moose Jaw Alliance Church, 14 Neslia Place. Come in Main Doors – Meeting Rm 103. Your anonymity and what you say at meetings will be carefully guarded.
Toastmasters is an internationally recognized education program providing experiential communication and leadership training. For better listening, thinking & speaking skills Toastmasters myriad of programs can be utilized to facilitate your goals. Moose Jaw has 2 clubs. Summer programing will be: BIG COUNTRY club will meet in person July 24, Aug. 7 & 28; zoom meeting Aug 14. TAP club meets each Tuesday @7pm on Zoom. Contact 306-630-7015 or email lorna.e.arnold@ gmail.com for more info
TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) weight loss support group meets every Wednesday evening at the Alliance Church, 14 Neslia Place. (Corner of Thatcher Drive W. & 9th Ave.W.) Please enter through the west-facing door, turn right and go to end of the hallway by the library, to room 105. Weigh-in takes place from 6:30-7:00 pm. Meeting to follow. TOPS can help you reach your weight loss goal by providing you with tools, information and support to be successful. The group shares friendship, weight loss tips and offers encouragement to one another. New members are very welcome. Scale weighs up to 500 lbs. Wednesday Night Ladies Business League (9 Hole) at Lynbrook Golf Course at (306) 692-2838 for more information or if interested in
joining. Hours of play have to cross over within time frame of 4-6pm. Registration fee: $25.00 (cash or cheque) to be paid at Pro Shop; Sign-up sheet on bulletin board by Ladies bathroom.
Aug 14 – Fun Night Tournament- 5:30 pm - Shotgun (sign up sheet will be posted prior week)
Sept 11 – Year End Tournament – 5:00pm - Shotgun (sign up sheet will be posted prior week)
Sept 18 – Year End Banquet (cocktails 6:00 pmsupper 6:30 pm)
Moose Jaw Public Library (MJPL), 461 Langdon Cres. Phone 306.692.2787. Visit their website at https://www.moosejawlibrary.ca or visit ASK@MOOSEJAWLIBRARY.CA
Some library programs require registration by calling 306-692-8210 or emailing nsetter@moosejawlibrary.ca
FESTIVAL OF WORDS SPECIAL PRO-
GRAMMING:
MJPL BOOK CLUB Tuesday, July 30/Time: 7:00 pm/Location: South Meeting Room/Ages: Adults Drop-in program/Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
JANE AUSTEN TALK Guest Speaker: Dr. Alexis McQuigge - University of Regina Sessional Lecturer/Date: Monday, July 29 at 7:00 pm/Location: MJPL Theatre/Free Admission
TEDDY BEAR PICNIC Saturday, July 27/Time: 10:30 am/Location: Children’s Room/Ages: Ages 2 and up/Registration required/*Teddy’s can participate in the sleepover even if the program is full.
PRIDE + PREJUDICE + ZOMBIES Saturday, July 27/Time: 2:30 pm/Location: MJPL Theatre/ Ages: All ages/Drop-in program/*This movie is rated 14A - under 14 must be accompanied by an adult
ADULT PROGRAMMING:
TECH TIME Available by appointment/Time: Open hours/Location: Main Library/Ages: Adults By appointment only - please call the Library at 306-692-2787 to schedule an appointment.
MAGIC THE GATHERING Saturdays, July 27/ Time: 2:00 pm/Location: Reading Room Ages: Ages 13 and up/Drop-in program
MJPL DOCUMENTARY NIGHT Thursday, July
25/Time: 6:00 pm/Location: MJPL Theatre Ages: Adults/Movie: Minding the Gap/Drop-in program
HOOPLA BOOK CLUB July 1 to August 31/ Check out hoopla’s spotlight title for July & August Grey Dog by Elliott Gish. This title is available in eBook and audiobook formats.
DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH ON KANOPY
Kanopy has curated a collection of thoughtful documentaries and narrative flms featuring those living with disabilities. You can access the collection for free with your Library card.
SUMMER READING CLUB FOR ADULTS 18 AND UP Read books…Audiobooks count too! Earn ballots towards weekly $10 gift card prizes for every book read (maximum 1 book/ ballot per day). Earn an additional ballot for the weekly draw by completing a brief book review for our wall! Each ballot will also earn participants a chance to win the grand prize draw (valued at approx. $150). You can pick up your book review forms at the Library or download and print at home.
TEEN PROGRAMMING:
TEEN D&D: CAMP GOODBERRY Tue/Thu in July & August/Time: 6:30 pm/Location: MJPL Archives/Ages: 12 to 16/Registration required
TEEN ANIME+ CLUB Wednesday, July 24/ Time: 6:30 pm/Location: MJPL Theatre/Ages: Ages 12-19/Snacks provided/Drop-in program/ Featuring: Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion
DIGITAL D&D Fridays/Time: 4:00 to 6:00 pm/
Location: MJPL Youth/Discord Channel/Ages: 16 to 25. Registration required/Email youth@ mjlibrary.ca to inquire.
TABLETOP TUESDAYS Tuesdays, July 23/ Time: 6:30 pm/Location: Herb Taylor Room/Ages: All ages/Snacks provided/Drop-in program
SUMMER READING CLUB FOR YOUTH
AGES 12-19. Pick up your Summer Reading Club brochure at the Circulation desk in the Library. Participate in challenges, track your reading, attend Teen programs at the Library, and more. Receive scratch tickets for your participation and win prizes!
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING : L’HEURE DU CONTE (FRENCH STORYTIME) Lundi, 29 juillet ; 10h30 à la chambre des enfants pour les 0-5 ans et leurs soignants. All levels of French language are welcome.
BABY STORYTIME! Tues, until Aug 27/Time: 10:30 am/Location: Children’s rogram Room/ Ages: 0 to 2 and their caring adults! Drop-in Program STORYTIME IN THE PARK! Weds until Aug 28/Time: 10:30 am/Location: Children’s Program Room/Ages: 2 to 5 and their caring adults! Drop-in Program
LEGO WEEKENDS: SUMMER EDITION! Fri, Sat & Sun in July/Time: Open hours/Location: Children’s Department/Ages: 4 and up/This is a self-guided activity
TAKE ‘N’ MAKE KITS Available Thursday, July 25/Time: Open hours/Location: Children’s Circulation Desk/Ages: 4 to 12/Craft: Pool Noodle Monsters/This is a self-guided activity
SK SCIENCE CENTRE AT MJPL Monday, July 29/1:00 pm - Fly Me to the Moon/2:00 pmDisaster-Defying Architects/3:00 pm - Backyard Biodiversity/ Location: Herb Taylor room/Ages: 6 to 13. Registration required – registration opened on July 2 for all three programs. Separate registrations required for each program.
SUMMER READING CLUB FOR CHILDREN 0-12. Visit the Library to register at the Circulation desk. Use your clock bookmarks to track the number of minutes you spend reading or listening to stories over the summer! You can pick up your instructions and bookmarks at the Library or download them and print at home from the website. You can pick up your brochure and reading logs at the Library or download the brochure and print it at home.
The Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 59 Moose Jaw, 268 High St W Moose Jaw Contact: 306-692-5453
Facebook @ ROYAL CANADIAN LEGIONBranch 59 Moose Jaw
CRIBBAGE –Tuesday @ 1:30 pm - Please sign-in by 1pm
MEAT DRAW & CHASE THE ACE - Saturday @ 3pm - Everyone welcome Legion Money Raffe Draw – Final Draw Dec 21 @1:30pm 3 Early Bird Draws Oct 5 @1:30pm for $1000each. 200 tickets available @$20each. 19+ to purchase tickets. Total retail prize $23,000. Tickets available at Legion. Call offce at 306.692.5453 or 306.693.9688 to pay Visa or Mastercard.
Aspira West Park Crossing “Retirement Living” Open House Saturday, July 27th 1pm4pm RSVP 306-694-4744
Moose Jaw and District Seniors: For more information Call: 306-694-4223 or Email: Email: mjsenior@shaw.ca The centre is now open MonThurs 8am – 8pm. Fitness Level & Indoor Walking Track open M-T and Friday’s 8am-8pm/ Lounge – Friday’s from 8am-4pm. Wood working area – Mon- Fri 8am – 4pm/Timothy Eaton Cafe open Mon-Fri, 8am – 4pm. Timothy Eaton Cafe open Mon-Fri 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cinnamon Buns on Thursday’s. Tuesday is pie day. Everyone is welcomed.
Fitness- Chair/Low Impact Fitness Mondays 11:30 & Thursdays @ 1:00 p.m. Cribbage – Wednesdays @ 1 p.m.; Whist –Tuesday @ 1pm; Hand & Foot Card Game for Beginners – Thursday @9:30 am.; Mah Jong –Wednesday @1 p.m. Beginners is Monday @1pm; 500 Cards – Thursdays @ 1 p.m.; Spades – Tuesday and Fridays 1pm Full Body work out – Monday’s 10am & Wednesday 9:30am
Scrabble – Monday’s at 1pm
Line Dancing – Tuesdays @ 10 a.m.
Intro to Line Dancing – Wednesday’s @ 11am Art & Crafts – Monday, Tuesdays & Wednesdays @ 1 p.m.
Floor Shuffeboard – Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 1 p.m.
Paper Tole – Tuesdays @ 1 p.m.
Nickle Bingo – Fridays @ 1 p.m.; New to the Centre is BINGO every Monday at 1:30pm Quilting – Every Friday 9am to 4pm Lounge – Friday’s from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jam Sessions – Friday’s 9 a.m.
Teaxas Hold’em - Thursday @ 6:30pm
Floor Curling – Wednesday and Fridays @1pm
Cosmo Senior Citizens’ Centre Weekly Activities – 235 3rd Ave. N.E. Phone 306.692.6072 or email cosmo@sasktel.net. Check them out on Facebook.
Monday: 9:30am-Pickleball/1pm-Floor Shuffeboard/7pm-Camera Club – only on the 2nd Monday of the month Tuesday: 9:30am-Jam Session/1pmPickleball/7pm-Friendship Bridge/7pm-Beginners Only Pickleball
July 18th Cosmo Barbeque Fundraiser from 5-6pm. Hamburgers, hotdogs, beans, salad, coffee & tea. Cost $15.
Moose Jaw ANAVETS: Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit #252 – 279 High St. W, Moose Jaw. 306.692.4412 or anaf252@sasktel. net
Every Wednesday – open 12-6 pm: Smear Every Thursday – open 12-7 pm: Regular Crib (ends June 13th) and Smear
Every Friday – open 1-10 pm, 7 pm: Darts and Pool
Every Saturday – open 1-7 pm: Meat Draw starts at 4:30 pm. 10 meat draws, 4 free draws, gift card and 50/50. Everyone welcome. FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES #3395 EVERY THURSDAY: Ladies Auxiliary “Meat Draw” – ticket sales start at 5:30 pm, draws start at 6:00 pm – Meat Draw, 50/50, “Chase the Ace” EVERY SUNDAY: Aerie “Meat Draw” – ticket sales start at 2:30 pm – Meat Draw, 50/50, Mystery Draw, “Chase the Ace” MONDAY THRU SATURDAY – DROP IN POOL – 1:00 pm to 1:30 start time. Singles and Doubles. Partners draw from those attending to play.
FIRST AND THIRD SUNDAY – Aerie meeting – 11:30 am FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY – Ladies Auxiliary meeting - 7:00 pm Western Development Museum; 50 Diefenbaker Drive, Moose Jaw. For more information, visit the museum’s website at WDM.ca/Moose-Jaw. Call 306-693-5989 or email ajones@wdm.ca
ACROSS
1. Be suspended from above
5. Din
10. A bushy hairdo
14. Margarine
15. Angers
16. Snare
17. Gloomy ill-tempered feeling
19. Canvas dwelling
20. Finish
21. Bird sound
22. Haven
23. Delivers from danger
25. Farm
27. Unusual
28. Bad loser
31. Opium source
34. Prolonged loud noises
35. North northeast
36. Follow orders
37. Pleasantly without extremes
38. Bristle
39. 2000 pounds
40. Shoestrings
41. Birch relative
42. Reversals
44. Infuenza
45. Hawaiian greeting
46. Recidivate
50. Melodies
52. Large Asian country
54. Fifty-two in Roman numerals
55. Seaweed
56. Shivering
58. Hide
59. Durable fabric
60. Carve in stone
61. Former spouses (slang)
62. Aromatic compound
63. What we walk on
DOWN
1. A 4 base hit in baseball
2. Companionless
3. Geeks
4. Sticky stuff
5. Imbued
6. They connect points 7. Away from the wind
8. Toilet rooms 9. S 10. Affx 11. Refreshed
12. Hindu princess
13. Chooses 18. Examine
22.
24. Replicate
26. Military
28. Undersides
29. Anagram of “Neat”
30. Darling
31. Flower holders
32. Double-reed woodwind
33. A star with 5 points
34. Lumbagos
37. German baroque composer
38. Aspersion
40. Neighbor of Vietnam
41. Seaweed
43. Sheepish sounds
44. Wheel cover
46. Chain of hills
47. Gentry
48. Subsequently
49. Spectacle
50. Adhesive strip
51. Genus of gorse
53. Ache
56. South southeast
57. Type of umpire
Moose Jaw Truck Shop
WANTED
Seeking Born Again Christian Business partner with potential ownership in Second Hand and Flea- Market business. Male, Female or Family must be interested in Salvation, Healing and Deliverance Outreach Ministry . Serious enquiries only please. 306-684-1084, 5 pm- 8pm ONLY (because of scam calls)
Looking to buy Canadian (1967 and prior) and American (1964 and prior) silver/ coinage. Can contact with other interesting fnds. Contact Robert @ RK Coin, 306-631-8399
SERVICES
Moving jobs done reasonably: appliances, furniture, dump runs. Call to do it all. $45.00 a load. 306-630-2268
Need work done? Contact Bill at 306-630-2268 . Interior/exterior, renovations, formwork, framing, fnishing, tiling, painting and all construction, roofng/ siding- no job too big or small.
Reasonable rates, 30 years experience. Cleaner available, call for details 306-990-0348
LOST & FOUND
Senior has lost remote start and my only mailbox key on Saturday, June 29th. Could be at Co-op, Superstore, Peavey Mart, Wal-Mart, either in the stores or the parking lot. First digit of mailbox key is 8. Phone 306-526-0016.
AUTOS
Used Car 2004 PT Cruiser GT Turbo Edition, fully equipped, 192,000 KMs, AC, sunroof, intermittent miss on #3 injector, everything else works. Best Offer 306-526-0016.
MISCELLANEOUS
Sears 10” Direct Drive Band Saw model #113.244513C asking $110.00. Delta 10” Compound Miter Saw model #36-075C Asking $125.00. Aproximately 75 dolls, assorted sizes, most are of different countries, asking $200. Call 306-693-3129.
By Moose Jaw Express staf
Home sales in Moose Jaw declined by one per cent in June, although sales are up year-to-date and are above the 10-year averages, data indicate.
There were 66 home sales last month in The Friendly City, compared to 67 in June 2023, data from the Saskatchewan Realtors Association (SRA) show.
There were 86 new listings last month, compared to 106 units — a decline of 23 per cent — from last June. Furthermore, there were 152 homes in inventory, a decrease from 193 homes — a drop of 27 per cent — from the year before. Also, there were 2.3 months of supply — a drop from 2.9 months — and homes spent 46 days on the market.
The benchmark price was $244,200, an increase from $229,548 — a jump of six per cent — year-overyear. Meanwhile, the average home price was $268,238, a decrease from $284,332 — a drop of six per cent — last June, the report said.
“Benchmark price refects the price of a typical or average home for a specifc location. Average and median prices are easily swayed by what is sold in that time frame,” the SRA explained.
“As a benchmark price is based on a typical home, price changes more accurately represent true price changes in the market as it is an apples-to-apples comparison.”
The 10-year averages for June shows there are usually 62 home sales, 104 new listings, 298 units in inventory, 5.2 months of supply, 54 days of homes on the market, a benchmark price of $221,700 and an average price of $242,943.
Year-to-date — Jan. 1 to June 30 — there have been 303 home sales, 445 new listings, 133 units in inventory, 2.63 months of supply, 44 days of homes on the market, a benchmark price of $238,217 and an average price of
$260,963.
The 10-year averages for year-to-date data show there are usually 269 sales, 556 new listings, 255 units in inventory, 5.95 months of supply, 60 days of homes on the market, a benchmark price of $214,292 and an average price of $245,976.
Provincial stats
Saskatchewan reported 1,675 sales in June, a oneper-cent year-over-year decrease but nearly 10 per cent above long-term, 10-year averages, the SRA said.
Sales improved in properties above $400,000, which nearly offset the pullback in homes priced below $300,000, as inventory challenges continued to prevent even stronger monthly sales.
New listings dipped by 14 per cent year-over-year and 21 per cent compared to 10-year trends, preventing any signifcant inventory relief, as inventory levels decreased by 19 per cent year-over-year and over 40 per cent versus long-term trends, the report said.
Despite these persistent inventory challenges, Saskatchewan reported above-average sales for the 12th consecutive month in June.
“While the recent Bank of Canada rate decision was welcome news, higher lending rates and rising home prices continue to spur demand for more affordable housing options,” said CEO Chris Guérette.
“This demand, when paired with falling supply in lower price ranges, limits options for prospective buyers and prevents even stronger monthly sales fgures. There simply isn’t enough inventory to service this segment of our market right now.”
Saskatchewan reported a residential benchmark price of $343,300 in June, up from $340,400 in May and nearly fve-per-cent higher than June 2023.
“Housing demand remains strong in Saskatchewan, despite ongoing supply challenges placing signifcant stress on the more affordable segment of our market, especially in our two largest centres,” said Guérette. “While real estate is local and market conditions vary by region, it can be incredibly challenging for prospective buyers right now.”
Obituaries / Memorials
DOWN, AUDREY
Audrey Doreen Down passed away peacefully early Wednesday morning, July 10, 2024, at the age of 92.
Audrey was born in Moose Jaw, SK and raised on the farm near Parkbeg, SK.
She was predeceased by her parents Jabez and Flora (Dobbin) Down and her brother Donald in 2023.
Audrey is survived by two brothers, Dennis (Marlene) and Jim (Sandra); nephews Russ (Nadine) their family Aaron and Brett; Ray (Colleen) and their family Niamh and Devin; as well as numerous cousins.
After graduating from Parkbeg High School, Audrey began her path of becoming a journalist and academic. She enrolled in courses and became a reporter for The Moose Jaw Times-Herald. Later, she moved to British Columbia to be a reporter for The Vancouver Sun. In 1960, Audrey began a fve-year world tour travelling through nearly 50 countries and working in some. After returning to Canada and continuing at The Vancouver Sun, she attended the University of British Columbia to attain a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Political Science. Audrey obtained her master’s degree majoring in International Relations at Carlton University in Ottawa.
Audrey had an opportunity to travel back to Australia to visit. She was able to extend her stay for a number of years, to pursue her career as a journalist and lecturer. During her stay in Australia, Audrey became a dual citizen.
Audrey retired to Moose Jaw in 1995, where she was able to participate in her home community. Over the years, she continued to stay connected with family and friends both near and far.
The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Moose Jaw Special Care Home (Extendicare) for all their wonderful care and kindness over the recent years.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at W.J. Jones & Son Chapel, 474 Hochelaga St. W., Moose Jaw with Capt. (Rev.) Linda Tomlinson-Seebach offciating.
In living memory of Audrey, a memorial planting will be made by W.J. Jones & Son Ltd. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.wjjonesandson.com (Obituaries).
Dayna Chamberlain- Funeral Director
TRINITY UNITED CHURCH
Attending real live farm auction was fun
Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express
Live farm auction sales were replaced by online auctions during the Covid-19 lockdown and haven’t returned.
Seeing an ad in Moose Jaw Express for a live auction where the buyers and tire kickers can mingle, visit. compete with bids and eat good food is all but gone.
The occasional live farm auction is still held in the north country
When a friend and I heard about a real live farm auction near Briercrest we had to go.
Arriving early, we saw the auctioneer Scott Johnstone of Moose Jaw.
“This is a rare occurrence,” he described the live auction. We agreed.
The auction was for Paul and Virginia Tysdal — long time Briercrest farmers who are moving.
Farmers trickled in and inspected items on the block and gossiped.
Small stuff on a trailer sold frst. Three large pails of parts including air seeder pieces sold for $75 followed by $150 for a post hole auger with skid steer attachment.
A Versatile 959 tractor sold for $12,000 while a Gophinator sold for $7,000 and a 55-ton fertilizer bin sold for $2,750.
Trimble GPS sets sold for $1,250 to $2,500.
Before we left, we met two farmers from Cupar, northeast of Regina.
The younger one was happy to see a live farm auction.
“The online auctions ruined auctions,’’ he said, remarking he didn’t like having to make pre-auction appointments to view online auction items.
We left the auction and headed to Rockin Robyn’s in Avonlea for lunch and then south to Ogema, Bengough, and such.
In Bengough we stopped for ice cream at the OMG Coffee and Creamery. While enjoying our treat we overheard a group of old timers one upping each other about their younger days on motorcycles.
Off to the tiny hamlet of Big Beaver where seven lovely horses — two palominos, two paints, two roans and a bay — grazed peacefully as we turned into town.
Crops along the way were awesome, perhaps soon needing rain to fll out to their potential.
Crops further south seemed less advanced than in the northern districts.
One thing that struck us was the absence of waterfowl and songbirds.
On past trips through this country, we were used to seeing lots of ducks and some geese.
We saw maybe 10 ducks in all of the sloughs we passed. No geese.
Songbirds, even yellow-headed blackbirds, used to hang and sing on this route. We saw none and only heard one meadow lark.
We stopped in Willow Bunch to drop off a threshing bee poster and headed home via Crane Valley. Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
Experience hunting down live farm auction
Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express
My friend returned excited from Swift Current where he had found a real live farm auction we could attend.
On the scheduled Saturday we headed for a farm southeast of Hallonquist, following the directions on the auction ad, which said everything from farm machinery, furniture, tools and antiques were on sale
Near where we thought we should turn south we spotted a red and white sign that read “garage sale.” Nope, can’t be. The ad said auction.
We motored on a mile or so and came across another garage sale sign. We decided to retraced our path.
We found the Dennis Unrau farm. He had farmed for 50 years when he died in January at the age of 69. He loved restoring John Deere tractors and volunteered at the Doc’s Town village museum in Swift Current.
About 50
trucks had beat us there.
As we headed for the farmyard, a man with arms full of stuff he had bought told us, “There’s some real bargains here. Get your cheque books out boys.’’
We were indeed at a garage sale with three places manned by family members. Listening to family talk, we learned they were happy with the sales result.
Bargains were in every corner: $2 porcelain crocks, $35 for a rototiller, $120 for a snow blower.
An iron home-built tractor outline decorated with Christmas lights was priced at $200.
Three stained glass windows were $5 each. A crude replica steam tractor was up for sale.
A new John Deere pedal tractor was $400.
The machinery row had three tractors, a like new goose neck trailer and a fat deck. The fat deck sold before we left around 10:45 a.m.
After checking out the Orthodox Ukrainian Church southwest of Hodgeville we had a late lunch at Joe’s Cafe in Morse .
Two nicely breaded veal cutlers with fries and dessert were $13.95 in this family run restaurant.
The day before we paid $16.95 for one pork cutlet in Avonlea.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
Tractor outline
Vintage washer
Pedal tractor
political nonsense. The media reported his rhetoric as a speech of Buncombe. The word buncombe, and its alternate spelling bunkum, quickly caught on as a name for political nonsense speeches. It was not too long before bunkum expanded to include any kind of meaningless, pointless, or insincere talk or action. Eventually, bunkum was shortened to the more emphatic bunk
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 refect the position of this publication.
Debunk
I want to debunk two myths this week. Both are related in a way. One is about Mark Twain. The other is concerning the sport of golf. People have told me that Mark Twain said, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.”
To debunk something is to take the bunk out of it. One can disprove a myth, but if it is debunked, the implication is that the myth was a grossly exaggerated or foolish claim.
The word bunk is a shortened form of bunkum, which was derived from the name of Buncombe County, North Carolina.
Congressman Felix Walker, representative to the United States Legislature from the district in which this county was located, gave a very long and boring speech in 1820 to Congress. His words had nothing to do with the matter under discussion, but he needed to say something on the record to justify his elected position to the voters of Buncombe County. He admitted to his colleagues, ‘I shall not be speaking to the House, but to Buncombe.’ There was nothing of importance in his words, just empty
Thomas Edison was widely quoted as saying ‘Religion is all bunk.’ This caused such an uproar in 1910 that he was forced to clarify that his quarrel wasn’t with the existence of God but with churches.
Henry Ford, a pacifst crusader, argued against U.S. involvement in World War I in 1916, and told an interviewer, ‘History is more or less bunk.’ Ford was responding to the suggestion that a strongly armed US Navy could make a difference in the war and protect America, just like the British Navy protected England from an invasion by Napoleon. “What do I care about Napoleon?” Ford said. “What do we care about what they did 500 or 1,000 years ago? I don’t know whether Napoleon did or did not try to get across and I don’t care. It means nothing to me. History is more or less bunk. It’s tradition. We don’t want tradition. We want to live in the present and the only history that is worth a tinker’s dam is the history we make today.”
In the early 1900s to remove the embellished or ridiculous and get to the truth of a matter was to debunk it.
Mark Twain (1835-1910) was given credit for the saying, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” However, that has been debunked
The quote about golf did not appear in any of his works. The earliest attribution to Twain on the quote was in August 1948. The Saturday Evening Post published an article about the beginnings of golf in Scotland. The frst paragraph of the article assigned the joke to the famous humorist from Hannibal, Missouri. Then in December 1948 the mass-circulation periodical “The Reader’s Digest” printed the phrase and referenced it to Mark Twain, as per The Saturday Evening Post Article. Thus, it became popular to quote Mark Twain as saying, “Golf is
a good walk spoiled.” But that has never been verifed as a quote from Twain.
The earliest appearance of the saying occurred in The Morning Leader newspaper of London, England in 1897. “Mr. Littler, Q.C., is a golf enthusiast. What is more, he believes that golf can be played at as late a period of a man’s life as football or cricket. He does not, in other words, assume that the game is a game of old men. He believes, in fact, that golf is a game which requires, in the word of a well-known golfer, “activity, suppleness, and strength.” He does not assume that a game of golf is a “good walk spoiled.””
I think those reasons suffciently debunk the myth that the saying came from Mark Twain. But I also desire to debunk the saying itself, that ‘Golf is a good walk spoiled’. There are many days on which I think that I played golf so badly that the only reason I was there was for the exercise of a walk in a beautiful park-like setting. And the walk was well worth the effort, even if the golfng was not so good. A wonderful time can be experienced walking through a golf course and playing golf. Not only do you get the exercise of walking but also the physical and mental stimulation of the sport in a exquisite venue. I submit that golf is always a good walk, no matter what the score. As has been quoted, “A bad day of golf is better than a good day at work.” Debunk that, if you can.
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 confrm that all words will be used.
Salvation Army welcomes new corps ofcers in Moose Jaw
The Moose Jaw Salvation Army is welcoming new leadership as it transitions to a new corps offcer this July. Hailing from Newfoundland, Major Byron Kean and his wife, Winnipeg-born Lieutenant Linda Kean are settling into their new home and are eager to continue advancing the organization’s role in the community.
As of July 1, Major Clarence Ingram and his wife Karen concluded their leadership roles in Moose Jaw, and their position has now been flled by Kean and his wife starting July 12.
A transfer like this is typical for members of the Salvation Army. The organization’s Toronto, Ont. headquarters assesses the ministry’s needs at hundreds of locations across Canada and seeks to pair suitable offcers based on their qualifcations, skills, and abilities.
Major Kean and his wife are now the offcial corps offcers for Moose Jaw. The role entails a responsibility for the Moose Jaw Thrift Store, local community programs, and the Assiniboia Salvation Army location.
After a planned one-year term in Moose Jaw, Major Ingram, the former corps offcer, has announced that he’s returned to his hometown of Cutknife, Sask.
“We’re all retired,” he said, “so we agreed to help out (in Moose Jaw) for a year and then move on again when somebody more permanent (was able to come in).”
Now serving the Salvation Army in Cutknife, Major Ingram’s role has changed somewhat and he’ll serve as the area commander. In his new role, he’ll be responsible for overseeing different congregations in the area.
Major Ingram spoke fondly as he refected on his experience in Moose Jaw.
“Oh, we had a wonderful time while we were there…,” he said. “It was very certainly enriching (and)
Walker - Moose Jaw Express
we enjoyed the experience.”
As Major Ingram announced his departure, his replacement, Major Kean, began his role on July 12 after arriving the night before. The journey included a cross-Canada trek of around 6,500 kilometres starting in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Nfd.
“We’re glad to (no longer) be driving every day,” he said. “It (was) tiring, but the drive was worth it.”
Major Kean has been an offcer for 32 years as of next month, was born in Newfoundland, and has spent
Six month construction nears $18 million
Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express
Construction values were almost $18 million in Moose Jaw for the frst six months of the year.
City hall issued permits valued at $17.93 million, compared with $13 million in 2023.
Almost half of this year’s values were for housing construction.
Year to date has seen $9.75 million in housing with 14 projects and 41 units.
Last year there were only three single family residential homes in the frst six months, valued at $886,000.
most of his career in eastern Canada and Bermuda. His wife, Linda, was born in Winnipeg and is already familiar with the prairies. She has served with the Salvation Army for fve years as of November.
“We’re really looking forward to (working in Moose Jaw) and becoming a part of the fabric of the community,” he said.
The couple is getting to know their new community and it’s still too early to confrm any plans.
“We’re looking to concentrate on the church and get the church back to a place where it’s more vibrant within the community — let’s put it at that,” he said.
“I’m going to share something with you,” he continued. “It’s something that my wife said. She said, ‘I know we’ve got a long way to retirement, but I want to retire here.’ This was after only fve days (in Moose Jaw).”
The couple hasn’t determined how long they wish to remain in Moose Jaw, but Kean said he anticipates at least fve years. Terms, he said, usually run from one to around seven years.
“Thank you for welcoming us to Moose Jaw,” Major Kean said. “We look forward to serving Moose Jaw and the surrounding area in the coming years.”
The Moose Jaw Salvation Army has three locations: the Thrift Store, located at 175 First Avenue Northeast, the Donation and Sorting Centre, located at 670 High Street West, and the Salvation Army Church at 2 Wintergreen Drive.
To contact the Salvation Army, call 306-692-5899 or visit SalvationArmyMooseJaw.ca. You can follow the organization on Facebook at ‘The Salvation Army in Moose Jaw.’
The family of
The largest project in June was $1.175 million for an industrial building for Simpson Seeds at 1559 North Service Road.
Permits were issued for $380,000 to alter an offce building at 807 Thatcher Drive East; $53,000 for an indoor recreation building at 1559 Main Street North; and $15,000 for a prefab building at the Crushed Can, 82 Manitoba Street West. One demolition permit was issued. Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net
Permit values of $4.16 million in June were many times the $731,000 of last June. Five homes worth $1.6 million were started in June,
Mark Rudeen
wishes to express their thanks for all the messages of sympathy and condolences on his passing. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated.
Sharon (Rudeen) Oberding
Aaron
Major Clarence Ingram (left) and his wife, Karen Ingram stepped down on July 1, to be replaced by Lieutenant Linda Kean and Major Byron Kean (right) on July 12. Photo by: Moose Jaw Salvation Army
Butt delivered live comedy and answered questions about his new book, “Huge.” Photo by: Aaron Walker
In pictures: Festival of Words brings the power of the written word to downtown Moose Jaw
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
author Brent Butt, as well as Candace Savage, Premee Mohamed, Waubgeshig Rice, and other celebrated names in literature.
Robert Sawyer delivers a presentation on developing plot concepts for science fction writing in the library’s South Room on the afternoon of July 18. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Premee Mohamed (at podium) delivers a presentation during her “Outlining Novels” workshop at the Moose Jaw Public Library’s Herb Taylor Room on July 18. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Robert Sawyer (left) returned for an interview discussion about his works at the Mae Wilson Theatre July 20. The discussion was moderated by Ed Willett (right). Photo by: Aaron Walker
A few highlights from the festival included a busy morning at the Moose Jaw Public Library on July 18, panel discussions at the Mae Wison Theatre including an interview with Brent Butt, READception, Trivia Night at Bobby’s Place on July
19, and several reading sessions in downtown Moose Jaw. For more information about the Saskatchewan Festival of Words, visit FestivalOfWords.com.
Brent Butt, of Corner Gas fame, attends a presentation at the Mae Wilson Theatre on Saturday night. During his presentation, which was moderated by Rob Carnie,
Candace Savage reads aloud to a group of children in Crescent Park on the opening day of the festival. The book, Always Beginning, is one of more than two dozen that she authored. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Victoria Koops (left) guides a group through their Kids Ink: Bardic Inspiration workshop in the South Room of the Moose Jaw Public Library on July 18. Photo by: Aaron Walker
The July 19 discussion, “Let’s Get Political,” covered the topic of books that become political and explored the ramifcations of this subject matter at the Mae Wilson Theatre. Left to right: David A. Robertson, S. Bear Bergman, Katherena Vermette, and moderator Jael Richardson (right). Photo by: Aaron Walker
