Moose Jaw Express February 15th, 2023

Multicultural Council and Rotary clubs present ‘Evening Around the World’ fundraiser

Moose Jaw’s local Rotary Clubs have combined with the Moose Jaw Multicultural Council (MJMC) to present a fundraising dinner featuring food, music, dancing, and fashion from the city’s diverse cultures.

The dinner takes place Friday, March 10 at St. Andrew’s United Church. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with the event starting at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $35 each, available online from SaskTix.ca or in-person from the Moose Jaw Events Centre Box Office.

Dinner guests will experience some of the diversity that newcomers to Moose Jaw bring, with the goal of appreciating their contributions and uniqueness. For an additional cost, guests will also be able to participate in a silent auction, 50/50 draw, and a Sudanese Coffee Experience.

A sneak peek of menu items includes Somalian Sambusa, Ethiopian Injera and Lentils, Ghanaian/Congolese Meat Stew, Afghan Rice, and Syrian Pistachio Raha.

The entertainment lineup will include dancing, music, and fashion from countries such as the Phillipines, Ghana, Sweden, Colombia, Peru, Nigeria, and Ukraine.

“They love sharing their cultures,” said Stefanie Palmer, executive director of MJMC. “We’re all proud of where we come from, right? And for newcomers to be able to showcase that to others, any chance they get is very exciting.”

“You need to bring it down to a personal level,” said Glen Blager, a member of the Moose Jaw Rotary Club. Blager noted that Canadian culture is inherently a melting pot, and said that his own family’s experiences — they lived and travelled extensively in South America, particularly Brazil — have enriched their lives.

“Finding out what other people do and how they eat and celebrate, it helps right down to a personal level — my life and my family’s life and our city’s life. It’s amazing.”

The MJMC has hosted six previous international dinners, but this will be the first in three years because of the pandemic. The funds raised will help newcomers with costs that fall outside the MJMC’s regular funding, such as emergency situations, Christmas presents, basic necessities, or transportation.

Glenn Hagel, a member of the Moose Jaw Wakamow Rotary Club who is also a former mayor of Moose Jaw and provincial politician, pointed out that in addition to the benefits of being multicultural and appreciating diversity, immigration is also essential for Canada’s future.

“There’s lots of room for growth for Moose Jaw people’s consciousness of the multicultural presence we already have in our city,” Hagel said. “But also, just in the context of Canada, it’s becoming more and more obvious that the future well-being of the nation economically and culturally has to do with being open and having people coming in.”

Palmer agreed and said that Canadians need to be practiced in accepting, learning about, and building communities with newcomers.

“When you talk about economics and things like that, I mean, it’s immigrants who are going to be filling many of these jobs, right? We don’t have the Canadian-born population to keep up, so if we don’t get ahead of the game, we’re going to fall behind.”

“This event will be valuable in a very immediate and personal way to the people who are coming,” Hagel added, “but at the same time, in a way that becomes increasingly valuable over time to the community of Moose Jaw.”

Moose Jaw’s Rotary Clubs teamed up in April 2022 to host a fundraising dinner for Ukraine. That dinner raised over $12,000 which was sent to Ukraine for humanitarian aid.

Other newcomer communities in Moose Jaw include Somalians, Afghanis, Ethiopians, and Syrians — all countries with ongoing conflicts that have also seen the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of many millions of people.

Those growing communities are a result of Canada’s humanitarian immigration stream, Palmer explained. The economic immigration stream sees mostly people from India, China, the UK, and Nigeria.

The MJMC is currently seeking sponsors and volunteers for the dinner, and item donations for the silent auction. Those interested in contributing should call the MJMC office at 306-693-4677 or email reception@mjmcinc.ca.

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Square One Community Inc Walk for Warmth to be held March 9

Susan Karner is a board member with Square One Community, Inc., a Moose Jaw non-profit working to establish a low-barrier, housing-first women’s shelter and a permanent warming space in the city.

“I do this in my mom’s memory. She was homeless, and I don’t want, you know, homeless people, or their families or friends to have to carry that pain, like I did and do,” Karner said.

Her mother, Brenda Karner, died Sep. 17, 2003, after a lifetime of mental health issues, addiction, abuse, trauma, housing insecurity, and criminal behaviour.

She was 60 years old.

Who was Brenda Karner?

Susan Karner has obtained copies of her mother’s criminal record and the transcription from her last court appearances. Those institutional records are extensive, beginning with Brenda’s first mental health episode at only 12 years old.

“I don’t know a lot about her childhood,” Karner said. “I know it was difficult for her. … She told me that she was sexually assaulted by a paperboy, and that really bothered her. And at the time, I think her parents didn’t really know what to do with her.”

What they did end up doing with Brenda was sending her to a now-closed assisted living facility for people with intellectual disabilities — a place she did not belong, according to their admitting criteria. She went on to be placed at a ‘home’ in Weyburn, was returned to the assisted living facility, and then she was ‘certified’ and admitted to the former Saskatchewan Hospital for the Insane.

She learned a lifelong distrust of institutions and institutional staff. She never voluntarily stayed in a facility ever again.

“My mum talked a lot in her older years about (growing up in an institution),” Karner remembered, “She told me stories about how they got a lot of shock treatments and she was afraid she wouldn’t wake up from some of them, and how she broke a window to try and get out.”

Brenda finally left the hospital she’d been committed to at 19. She got married and had three children.

But in her daughter’s opinion, Brenda had already accumulated overwhelming trauma from systemic physical, sexual, mental, and emotional abuse.

Even then, Susan said, it was not too late. Her mother could have been helped. There could have been programs teaching Brenda how to have healthy relationships, how to parent, how to be stable.

Instead, the next forty years were a revolving door of treatment centres, jail, homelessness, petty thefts, and more. She was sent to any and every available facility, from Moose Jaw to the Battlefords to Prince Albert.

“They said that my mom was hostile, abusive, loud, and demanding, and sometimes violent, and was difficult to get along with,” Susan said. “I believe that wouldn’t have been her true self to be that way, but it was led by being neglected and abused in a system. She had anger if she was pushed and bothered a lot, but otherwise I remember her as very quiet and gentle with few words and spoke only when necessary.”

By her 50s, Brenda was also terribly underweight, unwell, and chronically unhoused. It became clear to everyone familiar with Brenda that without help, she was going to die of exposure.

Where to put people like Brenda Karner?

In 2001, during a sentencing hearing for a probation breach — she drank alcohol —, Provincial Court Judge David Orr said:

Hayden Beattie

March 1, 2022

“I want to say something about this woman because I know something about her, both by personal observation and from the records that I perused. I’ve lived in Moose Jaw for four and a half years, and I have repeatedly seen Brenda Karner on the streets of Moose Jaw, wandering around, pushing her belongings around in a pilfered grocery cart, mumbling to herself or shouting incoherently at people in the street … living in the street, being jeered at by teenagers and cursed at by people in the street … in a fashion more suitable to Calcutta than it is to a civilized city in Canada. And I mean no disrespect to Calcutta because for all I know they’re kinder to people like Brenda than we have been.”

Orr went on to call witnesses from a multi-agency coalition that had been specifically formed to find a place for Brenda Karner. Those agencies included Community Living Division, Moose Jaw Police, Sask. Mental Health, Social Services, and Sask. Justice.

The transcript is an awkward read, as representative after representative explained to Judge Orr that they could not take care of Brenda.

“I’m being told, I mean repeatedly,” Orr states in his conclusion, “that there is literally no facility of any kind in this province, private or public, which will admit (her) … And as I mentioned a moment ago that if I don’t sentence her to jail she’ll die of exposure.

“This is to me a pathetic, sad state of affairs … I also find it frustrating to have reports submitted to me which

imply that Brenda Karner is a unique problem who somehow has arrived the day before yesterday from another planet, because every judge in Saskatchewan … I’ve ever talked to about this issue recognizes that there are in this province dozens, if not hundreds, of people in her plight.” The situation has not improved

Days before she died, Susan Karner had a chance to visit with her mother.

“I don’t share it very often,” Karner recalled, “but I remember my mom saying, ‘Patience is a virtue,’ and I said, Mom, what? Why are you saying that?

“And she goes, ‘Well, when you wait things out, good things happen.’ And I thought, Wow.”

Karner said that those words inspire her, but also make her wonder, because Brenda spent much of her life in a cell of some kind or another, waiting for good things which did not happen.

There is still nowhere for people like Brenda Karner. The days of ‘committing’ people against their will for any unacceptable behaviour — often including unwed pregnancies or being 2SLGBTQ+ — are over, a fact recognized societally as positive.

Nevertheless, no ethical, humane replacement has ever been established. The system is still constructed as though substance abuse disorders and mental health issues are voluntary, and struggling individuals can be cured if only they are punished enough, or as though a six-week stay in a treatment centre with no follow-up will convince such individuals to simply hoist themselves by their bootstraps and get on with things.

“You still have to care for them,” Susan Karner pointed out. “There needs to be some form of community.”

Square One

Karner hopes that her work with Square One will contribute to some kind of lasting change. She hopes to inspire more people to be kind and recognize that everyone has a family and a story.

“Even that judge said, in the courtroom, that he’d see people swearing at her and doing things to her. Our family had a difficult time that way, because you’re not just doing that to my mom, you’re doing it to me, you’re doing it to us.”

Karner also hopes that she, her fellow volunteers, and the community of Moose Jaw might finally establish a women’s shelter and a warming space — there are kilometres of red tape.

Such spaces need security, insurance, staff training, sustainable funding, heating, cooling, locks on doors, and more — it takes money, time, and expertise.

Judge Orr, in 2001, said that he had spoken with people who said that Brenda Karner ‘made her lifestyle choice’ and she should be left to live on the street. Others suggested that Brenda should be allowed to die, and that ‘everyone would be better off’ that way.

“There has to be a solution,” Susan said. “Death isn’t a solution. Freezing to death out in the cold isn’t a solution. … Even if they’ve been systemically abused and they don’t trust the system, let’s at least make sure they’re warm and fed. Then, we can work on building that trust again.”

Learn more about Square One on their website at squareonehousingmoosejaw.com/.

On Thursday, March 9, Square One is holding a Walk for Warmth fundraiser. Learn more about that fundraiser on their website — sign up, collect pledges, form a team, and show up to help Moose Jaw reach net zero homelessness.

CORRECTION:

Re: Additional Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medals awarded at City Hall

In regards to the story that appeared in last week’s Moose Jaw Express issue- Additional Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medals awarded at City Hall, there were actually ten awardees for this investiture, but Wayne Cameron and Carolyn Scidmore were unable to attend and will be presented their medal at a later date.

Born to Jordan Beattie and Ashley Amberson Proud Grandparents: Jim & Jackie Beattie and Mitch & Raye Anne Amberson

Square One board member works in memory of her unhoused mother Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Brenda Karner a few weeks before she died (courtesy Susan Karner) Brenda at around 30 years old (courtesy Susan Karner)

WDM Virtual Coffee Club to host “Black Railway Porters in Saskatchewan” in memory of contributions made by Black people in Canada

In celebration of Back History Month, the WDM will hold Virtual Coffee Club meeting on February 14th at 10:00 a.m. Saddman Zaman - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

February is Black History Month and in recognition, the Western Development Museum (WDM) Virtual Coffee Club will be hosting “Black Railway Porters in Saskatchewan” in memory of the contributions made by Black people in Canada. The event will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 14th at 10:00 a.m.

“We’re looking for things that we can share with folks no matter where they live. The Coffee Club has been a good way for people to join over the internet from anywhere and to bring presentations to life,” Education/Public programs coordinator Karla Rasmussen said.

The presentation is about “Black Railway Porters in Saskatchewan.” This also marks the historical events to recognize people of colour, especially those who are black and their involvement with rail communication.

Folks who are not familiar with the story of Black railway porters in Saskatchewan should know that as the railways across Canada were being completed from as early as the 1880s, they should know that Black railway porters were an integral part of those trains.

These people did all sorts of jobs from cleaning train cars, making beds, stoking fires, to shining shoes. They were almost exclusively Black men or men of African descent.

Historically, they weren’t treated well, which is one of the reasons to tell their stories.

Rasmussen says, “History has a lot of good things, inspiring things, [as well as] darker stories which need highlighting.”

She also says that within the presentation, photographs will be shown from the WDM’s archives, along with documents from that time. Executive Director of the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum, Carol LaFayette-Boyd and Kaiti Hannah, WDM Curatorial Associate will be the co-presenters.

LaFayette-Boyd has been named the 2022 World Masters Athlete of the year and won the same honour in 2018. She was born in 1942 on a farm near McGee, Sask. In 1956, when she was 14 years old,

followed in her sister’s footsteps and studied psychiatric nursing at the Sask. Hospital in Weyburn. She is a descendant of Arnold LaFayette, and her ancestral family ran away from the United States to escape slavery. When the LaFayette family came to settle in Saskatchewan, they soon got involved with railway potters.

Rasmussen believes this presentation will make people who come to the WDM regularly will view trains from a different perspective. She says, “Through everyone’s eyes, a lot of our museum artifacts and exhibits look at things from a western settlement where people come from all over Europe or the United States.”

She believes if people go to the rail exhibits after this presentation, they will look at the train carriages, engines and other sorts of things from the perspective of black men who were working on the trains in this province.

Rasmussen says, “I think that this will bring them a new perspective and gives them a greater appreciation for their lives.”

Registration is free for this virtual coffee club, and anyone can join with a computer, laptop or by using a phone de-

Former resident Kane Fritzler aiming to be winner of hit TV show ‘Survivor’

Phone: 306.694.1322 Fax: 888.241.5291

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Joan Ritchie

Joyce Walter

Ron Walter John Kreutzwieser

Gordon Edgar Randy Palmer Jason G. Antonio Saddman Zaman

What’s love got to do with it?

Apparently, a lot.

When it comes to love… what kind of person are you? What gives you the ‘warm and fuzzies’?

Did you know that individuals are hard-wired differently and not everything speaks ‘love’ to the same person?

It takes years to get to know oneself and as a person who has always been mindful of trying to get to know the real person inside, I finally figured out what exactly it is that I need to have and do that gives me an affirmation of love.

There are a number of books out there on the ‘love languages’ that do help to try and figure out what it is that affirms ‘love’ to us. You can learn a lot about yourself and also a lot about another by examining the different ways individuals speak love.

Specifically, the five ways to show and receive love are: words of affirmation, spending quality time together, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch.

Found at https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/ the-5-love-languages-explained, marriage and family therapist Sunny Motamedi, Psy. D. says, “Discovering you and your partner’s primary love language and speaking that language regularly may [create] a better understanding of each other’s needs and support each other’s growth.”

I guess if you are a lover, many or most of the love languages could and should pertain at one time or another…because in relationships, I think there are always appropriate times to display ‘love’ in certain specific ways. But for all of us, after much self-evaluation, we should be able to figure out the most dominant one that is specific to our person.

I grew up in a household and still hold fast to regularly affirming my love to my loves by speaking it out and saying ‘I love you.’ This does not mean that all ‘I love you’s’ are equal in meaning but are meant to let them know that I love and value them in one way or another… my spouse and offspring and their offspring, my parents and siblings, etc, friends and those others close to me… and the list goes on…

I would say, I’m much more of a lover than a fighter.

And if you have a significant other, it is extremely important to value your relationship by spending quality time together – and I am sure the ‘quality time’ can be defined to mean whatever it is to each of us.

I know of a person who continually receives gifts or tokens of appreciation from their significant other. It’s rather funny, because it’s sometimes an ‘I’m sorry’ gesture, but it works for them. There are always times in our life when we give a gift to show we care, as well.

Acts of affection could include a whole range of acts or things we do, from regularly taking out the garbage to making that morning pot of coffee to share with your love. Some of us like the simple things in life and for me to wake up to a cup of coffee is a good start to the day.

For others, physical touch is what floats-your-boat, and I’m not specifically talking about sex either.

Sometimes, a touch can say what you want to say when words are not enough. I’m one of these ‘touchyfeely’ persons. I’m a hugger…I also like to hold hands, snuggle, touch a shoulder, give a kiss, shake-hands or whatever. I love it - I am what I am and I’ve come to terms with it!

So, from my heart to yours, I love you, appreciate you, and try and do my best in my job to show I care about you and our community, your business, your readership, etc. My gift to you is always to possibly encourage you with my words or give you food for thought, so think of this as a hug from me to you.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

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

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Former Moose Javian Kane Fritzler will attempt to outwit, outlast and outplay 17 other people as he works to win $1 million and become the sole survivor of the hit TV show Survivor.

The show’s 44th season kicks off on Wednesday, March 1, with a two-hour premiere from 7 to 9 p.m. on CBS TV, the CBS app and the streaming service Paramount+.

Stranded on the beautiful islands of Fiji, players must form a society and adapt to their surroundings, which forces them to decide what is more dangerous: the environment or navigating the complex social game and placing trust in their tribemates, according to CBS’s website.

The participants will be divided into three tribes of six and face a faster, more dangerous season upon hitting the beach. The moral dilemmas and mysterious new layers of this complex game will push even the strongest competitors to their limits, while the mental and physical challenges will require players to constantly adjust their strategies to survive another day.

Fritzler, 25, grew up in The Friendly City and is a law school graduate from the University of Saskatchewan. As part of a promotional video, the new lawyer — who will face off against a former NFL player, a NASA engineering student, and a salon owner, among others — told CBS Entertainment that law school shaped him into who he now is, including teaching him to be a solid negotiator and having confidence in himself.

The law graduate described himself as a “big, goofy guy” who moves around “like a Sasquatch.” He indicated that he was a high-achieving student but didn’t present himself in an arrogant way.

“I think I’m going to be on a good vibe tribe because the vibe kind of follows me around,” Fritzler said. “So, if I win this game, it’s going to be because people didn’t know what I was until it’s too late.”

Fritzler didn’t join Survivor to grow as a person or to win $1 million since he has many ways to do that, he added. He came to be the sole survivor and play the game hard and doesn’t need show host Jeff Probst telling him to “dig deep” since he already will be.

In another interview with online entertainment platform Parade.com, Fritzler said he wanted to be part of

Survivor because it’s the best game in which to participate. He is a dedicated gamer — Dungeons & Dragons is his thing — and has watched the show since he “was a wee lad” and is there to play — and win.

“I have my girl watching it, and I have all my friends watching it. I’m kind of the guru that people look to on the couch to explain why there was a bad move or not,” he said. “So, this game has been just something that I followed with my entire life.

One value he wanted to see in a teammate was “pure honesty.”

“The straighter the shooter they are, the better I like them. Preferably they will feel completely unable to lie to me,” he stated.

One of Fritzler’s biggest accomplishments was being recognized as the best negotiator at a national negotiation competition for Canadian law schools, while one thing people wouldn’t know by looking at him is he has a “beautiful singing voice.”

He also expects to be the sole survivor because he believes he’s quick on his feet.

“I think that (attending law school) has put me in a constant state of being underestimated. And I think that the longer people underestimate me, the more they regret it,” Fritzler added. “Because I’m here to play (and) I’m here to fight.”

Icons of Soul tour put on engaging Motown performance in MJ

Feb. 4, 23

Saddman Zaman - Moose Jaw Today

Luke McMaster toured with his band mates Arun Chaturvedi (piano), Quisha Wint (vocals), Selena Evangeline (guitar) and Austin Gembora (drums) for their “Icons of Soul” tour in Moose Jaw at the Mae Wilson Theater on Friday, Feb. 3.

“I fell in love with singing and songwriting probably around 14 years old,” Toronto-based pop and R&B singer-songwriter, producer and performing artist McMaster said.

He started his career when he was 14 years old and started as a songwriter, writing lyrics and slowly started to learn to play musical instruments. He later fell in love with singing and songwriting. His new album “Icons of Soul” was produced with some of the industry’s Motown legends and created music that he always loved. “I was working with these guys to bring all their music and stories right onto the stage with me.”

He says he enjoyed performing in Moose Jaw and finds the city charming.

For this new album, he worked with Lamont Dozier who is one of the industry’s iconic songwriters from the 1960s. McMaster says, “It was just a super fun learning experience for me.”

He says, their lifestyle, the way they loved their life and wrote musical pieces, that kind of reflects their timeline, which is inspiring.

He also enjoyed his time with Berry Gordy (R&B, pop, rock n’ roll and soul music composer), Smokey Robinson Jr. (American singer, songwriter, record producer, former executive director, and the founder and frontman of Motown vocal group the Miracles), Stevie Wonder (American singer-songwriter and record producer) and the inspirations of Marvin Gaye (American singer and songwriter).

McMaster says, “The music that came from one small little house in Detroit turned into a studio was amazing, and it turned out wild.”

He also shared his plans about working on another new album and will also be performing some of the new songs during this tour, which he and his band have been working on for quite some time.

The Prairie debut evening tuned out quite fascinating for Moose Javians with lots of Motown and splashes of soul music. The band continues their performances in the province with shows in Yorkton, Regina and Manitoba.

Joan Ritchie EDITOR

Former resident Kane Fritzler will attempt to outwit, outlast and outplay 17 other contestants as he attempts to win $1 million and become the sole-surviving winner of hit TV show “Survivor.” Photo courtesy CBS

(l-r) Arun Chaturvedi (piano), Luke McMaster (vocals & guitar), Austin Gembora (drums), Quisha Wint (vocals), and Selena Evangeline (guitar) performing at Mae Wilson Theater in their “Icons of Souls” tour on Friday, Feb. 3, 23.

Saskatchewanians packed more than 19,000 Christmas-related shoeboxes last year to support underprivileged children worldwide, while Moose Javians contributed over 1,000 shoeboxes as part of the charitable endeavour.

Residents across the province packed 19,004 shoeboxes in 2022 as part of Samaritan’s Purse annual Operation Christmas Child program. Of that number, residents in The Friendly City donated 1,046 boxes. In comparison, Moose Javians packed 2,674 shoeboxes in 2021.

Overall, Canadians packed 415,072 shoeboxes last year — 1,000 more than in 2021 — with toys, hygiene items, school supplies and other items despite the challenges posed by inflation, supply shortages and the war in Ukraine.

Samaritan’s Purse has already begun distributing shoeboxes around the world. In the next few weeks, children in Ukraine, the Philippines, Central America and West Africa will receive the packages Canadians put together.

The number of boxes that Canucks donated last year — including tens of thousands of boxes stuffed online at PackaBox.ca — were part of a worldwide total of nearly 10.6 million collected in the

United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Finland, South Korea, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of Canadians,” said Kendra Shields, director of Operation Christmas Child. “These gift-filled shoeboxes are a tangible expression of God’s love and will provide joy and hope to children, many of whom have never received a gift before.”

Many children who receive shoebox gifts will also enrol in Operation Christmas Child’s 12-lesson discipleship program, The Greatest Journey. This voluntary program teaches children about the Christian faith. Since 2009, more than 26

million children have participated in the program. Every child who graduates is given a New Testament in his or her language.

Year-round option

Thousands of Canadians can take advantage of Operation Christmas Child’s internet option to pack shoeboxes yearround at PackaBox.ca. Canadians can choose shoebox gift items while also uploading personal notes and photos.

Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and hand-delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in over 170 countries hurt by war, poverty, natural disaster, disease, and famine. This year, Samaritan’s Purse collected its milestone 200 millionth shoebox, which was hand-delivered to a young girl in Ukraine.

Operation Christmas Child is a program of Samaritan’s Purse Canada, a Christian relief and development organization that takes its name from Jesus Christ’s biblical story of the Good Samaritan.

Like that Good Samaritan, who found a beaten man and helped restore him, we aid victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. Besides

Operation Christmas Child, our initiatives include providing safe water, vocational skills, and agricultural supplies and training to families in the developing world. Learn more at SamaritansPurse.ca.

Moose Jaw Express staff

Children in Senegal receive their gift boxes through 2022’s Operation Christmas Child. Photo submitted

Children in Costa Rica receive their gift boxes through 2022’s Operation Christmas Child. Photo submitted

From The Kitchen

By Joyce Walter - Moose Jaw Express

Post-Valentine’s Day desserts provide sweet tooth goodness

The sweetness of Valentine’s Day should not be confined to a single day.

This week’s recipes offer three ideas with which to extend the sweetness for a few more days, to make it Valentine’s Week.

• • •

WHITE CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

8 dried apricots, finely chopped

2 tbsps. amaretto or other liqueur

8 oz. white chocolate

1/2 cup finely chopped blanched almonds

8 oz. milk chocolate

1/2 cup chocolate sprinkles

Add chopped apricots to liqueur and let soak for 30 minutes.

Melt white chocolate in the oven at 250 degrees F, watching carefully so it does not get too hot. Add to apricot mixture with almonds and mix together. Refrigerate until firm.

Take teaspoons of white chocolate mixture and form into small balls. Melt milk chocolate and cool. Dip balls into milk chocolate, then roll in chocolate sprinkles. Place on waxed paper and store in the refrigerator. Makes 24 truffles. May be frozen.

ORANGE ALMOND CHEESECAKE

Crust:

1 1/2 cups graham wafer crumbs

1 cup ground almonds

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup melted butter

Filling:

4 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup creamilk

1 1/2 lbs. cream cheese at room temperature

2/3 cup orange juice

1 tsp. vanilla

2 tbsps. amaretto

1/2 tsp. salt

Topping:

1 tbsp. plain gelatin

1/4 cup lukewarm water

1 cup whipping cream, whipped

2 tbsps. sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

orange slices for garnish

Combine crust ingredients and put in a 10 inch springform pan. Press with a spoon over sides and bottom. Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

For the filling, beat eggs and sugar. Beat in cream and cream cheese. Add orange juice, vanilla,

amaretto and salt. Beat well and pour over graham wafer crust. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until set. Remove from oven and cool overnight. For topping, dissolve gelatin in water and cool. Whip cream, add sugar and vanilla. With rubber spatula, fold gelatin into whipped cream. Spread on cold cheesecake. Let set for 2 hours. Garnish with orange slices. Serves 10-12

• • •

MAPLE SYRUP BANANAS

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup brown sugar

4 tbsps. lemon juice

2 tbsps. butter

4 bananas, peeled and halved lengthwise

1 large orange, sectioned, and sections halved

1/2 cup whole pecans

In a heavy frying pan, over low heat, combine syrup, sugar, lemon juice and butter. Bring to a boil. Gently lay the bananas, orange pieces and pecans in hot syrup. Stir gently and baste the bananas. Serve over plain ice cream or top bananas with flavoured whipped cream. Serves 4.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel. net

SaskPower ‘What We Heard’ report outlines public feedback on nuclear sites

SaskPower has selected two areas for further study as potential sites of a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) — the Elbow Study Area and the Estevan Study Area — and engaged with communities, stakeholders, and rightsholders for feedback on the proposals.

The Elbow Study Area encompasses a 40 km radius around the Thomson and Gordon McKenzie Arms of Lake Diefenbaker, while the Estevan Study Area is marked with a similar radius around the Boundary, Rafferty, and Grant Devine Reservoirs.

SMR represent the smallest form factor for permanently sited nuclear power plants. A joint evaluation process with the governments of Saskatchewan, Ontario, and New Brunswick resulted in SaskPower settling on the GE-Hitachi boiling water reactor.

There is no guarantee yet that Saskatchewan will add nuclear power to its baseline grid capacity — the nuclear regulatory process is strict and cannot be shortcut. Now that an SMR tech has been chosen for further evaluation, the next step is the site evaluation.

An SMR site would need the space for up to two reactors; easy access to water for cooling; proximity to the grid for uncomplicated integration; and workforce availability, housing, and logistics will all also come into account.

In this first phase of community engagement on site considerations, conducted between September and December 2022, SaskPower engaged with more than 1,400 participants through a combination of in-person and virtual sessions.

Elbow Study Area feedback

Participants in the Elbow area were primarily concerned with potential interference with Lake Diefenbaker. The lake provides a substantial proportion of Saskatchewan’s drinking water, attracts tourists, and provides yearround recreational opportunities.

The area is also part of Saskatchewan’s irrigation project, which proposes to more than double the province’s irrigable land over the next 10 years.

While nuclear power would not affect water quality, intake and outlet pumps could have an effect on the local ecosystem, and the temperature of water at the outlets is higher.

Nevertheless, participants noted that adding a clean power plant to the area could help its growth, provide jobs and economic development, and complement spinoff benefits from the irrigation project.

Some people from the region said their location was an advantage over Estevan because of their proximity to Moose Jaw, Regina, and Saskatoon. That proximity would make the plant’s logistical concerns easier to handle. Others noted gaps/opportunities such as the region only having seasonal services, lacking local first responders, and having poor roads.

Estevan Study Area

Participants in the Estevan Study Area were primarily eager at the potential of an SMR site to generate jobs and economic opportunities.

Residents fear that the federally regulated phase-out of conventional coal-fired power plants by 2030 will have a devastating economic impact on their region. Some commenters emphasized that they would prefer to keep existing coal jobs.

Other participants saw a chance to re-train coal workers and provide educational opportunities for young people to work in the nuclear power field, thus helping to securely transition the local economy away from coal.

Recreation, fish, and wildlife concerns came last on the list of priorities. Residents focused on fishing and ice fishing in the three water bodies encompassed by the study area. The warmer water temperatures caused from cooling the existing Boundary Dam coal plant are seen as a benefit at this point, attracting geese all year round.

Approximately 90 per cent of community engagement participants said the event was a good use of their time and were mostly or very satisfied.

SaskPower is currently preparing a report detailing the most frequently asked questions and providing expert answers.

A water valuation survey is open now at saskpower. com/watersurvey.

More information is available from saskpower.com/ nuclear. To participate in future community engagement events and/or sign up for project newsletter, visit engage. saskpower.com.

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com Boiling Water Reactor X-300 small modular reactor artist’s rendering (GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy)

Reflective Moments

By Joyce Walter - Moose Jaw Express

Calculator not needed to compute OAS raise

I was delighted to receive a new purse for Christmas.

This cross-body design is small enough not to slump my shoulder, but spacious enough for some credit cards and a driver’s licence, a cellphone, a bit of folding money and a change purse for the coins that are needed at obscure moments.

I had figured I would set the purse aside for holiday use, for making those walking excursions more enjoyable without the heavy weight of my small suitcase-sized purse I use in other seasons. That purse contains many necessities of daily life, including a rain bonnet, extra glasses, toothbrush, wet wipes, tissues, plastic cutlery, small paper plates, headache pills, a folder for gift cards, another for essential cards like CAA, Blue Cross and an assortment of loyalty cards, a SaskTel calling card that hasn’t called anyone for years and other varied but essential items.

The change purse in my new tiny piece of luggage will be just large enough to hold my latest windfall received courtesy of my friends in Ottawa.

Let me explain: several times a year senior citizens receive an increase in their old age security cheques. The raises usually come in January, April, July and October so of course there’s a rush to the bank during those months to see just how much the increase is going to be for the next three pay periods.

I, of course, studied my bank account print-out carefully on that pleasant day in January. First the increase in the Canada Pension Plan brought a smile to my face. The return on all those years of my investment was finally starting to show some noticeable upward trend.

My other mini pension from a past employer showed no change, nor did I expect it to.

Then the OAS amount showed up. I

checked the amount twice thinking I had misread the numbers. I checked the figure from December and then referenced it with this new total. What the heck! What kind of joke was this? Was my bank spoofing me?

Some rapid Grade 1 math in my head produced the startling revelation. My raise was for the minuscule amount of $2.06. Cue the disbelief. $2.06. That means rounded down, it will be $2.05. Times three for payments in January, February and March. The generosity of the pension planners is underwhelming.

By the time I got home I was in full outrage and Housemate endured the first rant of the year regarding the unfairness of the payments coming through OAS. It is ugly enough that some seniors are too young to be treated equally and don’t receive that $500 top-up. But $2.06 is another whack in the head.

So, I will put $2.06 in my new change

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

purse and look for ways to spend this largess. I could get a $1 cup of coffee at a fast food restaurant for a few more weeks. I don’t drink coffee. And I suppose there would be tax applied, leaving me without enough to buy a second cup for a friend.

My best bet is to save the increase for three months so I have $6.18 to spend. Imagine what I will be able to buy then. Just imagine, alright.

I’d call my MP to complain but he likely wouldn’t return my call. And I already know where his party stands on pensions.

Instead, I might just buy two extra tickets at the next meat draw. Winning a package of hamburger or holding a winning 50-50 ticket would help ease my latest federally-induced pain — and give some value to that two dollars and change.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net

Snowed In Comedy tour brings internationally successful Canadian comics to Moose Jaw

The Snowed In Comedy tour is now in its 14th year of coast-to-coast Canadian laughs and will be the biggest comedy tour in Canada in 2023, performing in 70 cities across the country.

The tour stops in Moose Jaw for one night only on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre’s Mae Wilson Theatre.

Tickets are available from Sasktix.ca or from the Cultural Centre Box Office.

Snowed In will present four internationally successful comedians in 25-minute sets. Moose Jaw’s performers will be tour founder Dan Quinn, Paul Myrehaug, Damonde Tschritter, and Erica Sigurdson.

In 2022, the tour was forced to face down challenge after challenge, from ever-changing provincial health restrictions to performers testing positive for COVID to the disaster in B.C. that cut roads and flooded venues. They did it, but it was difficult.

With the tour’s reputation growing, and with help from some viral TikTok videos from last year’s sets, 2023 stands to be a substantial improvement.

MooseJawToday.com chatted with

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

veteran comedian Damonde Tschritter about special moments in his career, his time with Snowed In, and his visits to Moose Jaw.

Tschritter’s career has taken him to comedy festivals across North America. He’s shared the stage with dozens of other comedy legends and had his TV specials aired on CTV, HBO, Comedy Network, and Comedy Central. He’s the only Canadian in 35 years to win the Seattle International Comedy Competition, the largest of its kind in the United States, and he was awarded the Gold Medal Performance for top comedic act at the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver.

Interview with Damonde Tschritter

How long have you been with the Snowed In Comedy tour?

“Hmm, I have been with Snowed In since… 2015? 2014, 2015? Whenever the first time was that we expanded and went past B.C. If you want confirmation of that, I’ll tell you what, just find out when Deadpool came out, because I went to see that movie on, like, the second night of the tour.” [Editorial note: Deadpool was released in 2016]

NOTICE OF POLL

PUBLIC NOTICE is here by given that a poll has been granted for the By-election of:

Board Memb er: Prairi e South School Division No. 210

Subdivision No. 6: One Position (Subdivision 6: City of Moose Jaw)

Voting will take place at the polling places listed below on

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2023 FROM 9:00 am to 8:00 pm

Subdivision No. 6 (Ci ty of Moose Jaw residents):

#1: Riverview Collegia te – 650 Coteau Street West, Moo se Jaw

#2: A E Peacock Colle giate – 145 Ross Street East, Moo se Jaw

#3: Sunningdale School – 530 Wood Lily Drive, Moose Jaw City of Moose Jaw residents can vote at whichever location is most convenient for them. Be sure to bring proper identification when you come to vote!

I will declare the results of the election at the School Board Office, 1075 9th Avenue N.W., Moose Jaw, SK on the 10th of March, 2023 at 2:00 pm.

Dated this 6th day of February, 2023

Heather Boese, Returning Officer

Have you enjoyed being with Snowed In?

“I love it! It’s my favourite tour of the year. You get to go with a couple of other comics and you’re doing theatre shows across the country. It’s the best comedic thing you can do — best way to do comedy is in a theatre.” How many times have you visited Moose Jaw?

“It’s hard to tell, because the COVID stuff took out, I think, two of our tour stops there. So probably five or six times? … And I love it, like, last year was the first time back since 2019 … And I was up third, and when I finished I was saying goodbye for the night and someone in the crowd was like, ‘Hey, you can do longer!’ And I said Nah, I gotta go, and then everybody cheered and asked me to stay. So, I got an encore, basically!” How do you get on with your fellow comics?

“Well, Paul Myrehaug, who’s closing the shows this year — hilarious guy, one of my oldest friends in comedy, I’ve known him for years, met him when he was starting out — we do a podcast together called The Microdose Podcast. … The idea is that you’re getting a little dose of Damonde and Paul every week. … Every Wednesday it’s a brand-new episode and you can listen and laugh for an hour.

“Erica Sigurdson is probably the funniest woman in Canada right now … and one of the funniest comics in Canada. … She’s very in-demand right now, so for her to come on this tour is big. I’ve known her for years.

“Dan Quinn, known him since I started doing comedy. He was one of the first people I got to know, and there was even a point where he was a semi-roommate.

… And he’s the guy who put together this tour … And now he’s probably the best showrunner/promoter of shows in the country. … He’s brilliant.”

You’ve performed at many, many comedy festivals, what’s your favourite part of that scene?

“Oh, festivals are like, a comedian’s high school reunion, or something like it. … The most fun thing about a comedy festival is you run into all these other comics that maybe you haven’t seen for years, or maybe you’ve heard about them and admired them but you haven’t worked with them yet.

“All of a sudden you’re like, Oh, I didn’t know I would be on with Arj Barker or Trevor Noah or … you know, Zach Galifianakis. He’s there with you and you’re doing a little show in a basement and then two years later, he’s the guy from Hangover.

“The first time I met Flight of the Conchords, it was at a small comedy festival and I was the host. I was opening for them and didn’t know who they were. And there were, like, 22 people in the venue.” Can you share a funny story from an encounter like that?

“Oh man, so, my first time getting to headline, where I was, like, the main guy on the show. … I finished my show, and the host came back out, everybody was cheering and I thought, Man, I’m fantastic at comedy. And the host said, ‘We got a special guest here who’s gonna come up,’ and I thought, Who’s going to go on after me? And I had a bit of an attitude, like, I thought I was good.

“Then Robin Williams walked past me, said ‘Good show, kid,’ and went on stage and destroyed for 40 minutes, he was in the crowd, he was doing all these things. I was erased from memory.” What should Moose Javians know about the Snowed In Tour coming here?

“People in Moose Jaw should know that this show coming here is rare. You could probably get just one of these four comics to come and do a show if you were lucky.

“It’s just non-stop great comedy, so, you don’t get shows like this often. … The people doing this show, what they do for a living is stand-up, and it’s all new, so everybody who came to the show last year — come back, it’s a completely different show, you’re going to laugh about a whole new bunch of stuff.”

Damonde Tschritter on stage (Snowed In Comedy Tour)

Fundraiser for baby boy with rare genetic disorder to

be held March 16

By MooseJawToday.com Staff - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

When Chaydin was 39 weeks pregnant, she and her partner Lane found out their baby boy, Wells, would be born with a rare genetic disorder that would severely affect his development and require ongoing therapy and specialist appointments.

Friends of the family Taylor Birkenshaw and her mother Nicole Birkenshaw have organized a Rib & Caesar night at Bugsy’s/Smitty’s in the Town ‘N Country Mall in Moose Jaw on March 16.

The fundraiser is from 5 to 9 p.m. on the Bugsy’s side and 5 to 7 p.m. on the Smitty’s side for the kids.

Tickets are $20 each and can be purchased from Taylor at 306-230-2692 and from Nicole at 306-631-0542. There will also be a 50/50 draw and a raffle table.

A family GoFundMe set up for Chaydin, Lane, and Wells provides an alternative way to help for those that can’t make it to the fundraiser: https://gofund. me/3dc1634e.

“Wells was diagnosed with a genetic condition when Chaydin was 39 weeks pregnant. So, he’s about 15 months old now, and he’s not meeting any milestones,” Taylor Birkenshaw explained. “He’s only the 74th reported case worldwide with this specific condition, and it causes a lot of issues with speech delays, you know, other developmental delays, walking. … He’s over a year old and is still very fragile.”

Wells’ condition is called MPPH (me-

galencephaly-postaxial polydactyly-polymicrogyria-hydrocephalus), a developmental brain disorder that causes various complications. Wells spent four days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) immediately after being born and continues to require a lot of care.

Wells’ care team includes genetic specialists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, ophthalmologists, oncologists, physio-

therapists, occupational therapists, speech/ language pathologists, and his pediatrician.

Every two to three months, Chaydin, Lane, and Wells must travel for MRIs and ultrasounds. Sensory Motor Integrated Learning Experience (SMILE) therapy in Calgary is a cutting-edge program that could help Wells achieve his best outcomes, but the cost of the travel and ther-

apy is steep.

“They have to do intensive therapy programs that cost about $2,000 each, which is out of pocket,” Birkenshaw said. “They have to do three to four a year to really get the benefits of it. Then, any specialized equipment is out of pocket, as well.”

Wells also has a higher risk for certain kinds of cancers. After his parents discovered a Seattle Children’s Hospital study revealing potential tumour sites, Chaydin and Lane were referred for a kidney ultrasound that revealed a mass on Wells’ right adrenal gland.

Further investigation showed the mass is a stage one neuroblastoma. The cancer requires frequent travel to Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon for monitoring.

The family and organizers of the fundraiser hope that their efforts will raise awareness of MPPH and the challenges faced by families affected by the condition.

“We’re just trying to do what we can to support them financially,” Birkenshaw added. “That’s what they really need, is financial support.”

Everyone is welcome at the fundraiser and the family and organizers hope to continue to see the community rally to help baby Wells.

Downtown Association holding inaugural ‘Snowtorious’ Family Day on Feb. 20

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

The Downtown Moose Jaw Association (DMJA) will begin a tradition this year with the first Snowtorious Family Day on February 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Crescent Park, in front of the Moose Jaw Public Library.

“It’s the Downtown Moose Jaw Association’s first-ever Snowtorious Family Day, and we’re doing that actually on Family Day, on Monday, Feb. 20 in Crescent Park,” said Craig Hemingway, the DMJA’s marketing co-ordinator.

“Most of the events are going to take place in front of the library and the museum and art gallery, but we will have horsedrawn wagon rides that will go through the rest of Crescent Park as well.”

Sponsors of the event include the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Club, who are paying for the wagon rides, the Tunnels of Moose Jaw, Tim Horton’s, the Moose Jaw Co-op, and the City of Moose Jaw itself.

“We’re going to have all-ages street hockey on Langdon Crescent,” Hemingway continued. “In front of the library, we’re going to have some snow painting and other outdoor games there.

“We’re going to have free hot dogs from the Moose Jaw Co-op from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Tim Horton’s is providing free hot chocolate. Indoors, there’s some entertainment from the Moose Jaw Public Library and the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery … They’re going to have

NOTICE OF ADVANCE POLL

PUBLIC NOTICE is here by given that an Advance Poll has been granted for the By-election of:

Board Memb er: Prairi e South School Division No. 210

Subdivision No 6: One Position

(Subdivision 6: City of Moose Jaw)

Voting will take place on MONDAY, FEBRUAR Y 27, 2023 between th e hours of 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm at the School Board Office, 1075 9th Avenue N.W., Moose J aw for voters in Subdivision No. 6 (City of Moose Jaw residents).

Be sure to bring proper identification when you come to vote!

Dated this 6th day of February, 2023

Heather Boese, Returning Officer

3D printing and short movies, and the MJMAG has a new exhibition.”

The public library and the MJMAG would not normally be open on Family Day, but they have decided to open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. to help with the Snowtorious Family Day.

The Moose Jaw Warriors will be visiting the park on the day, and the Moose Jaw Fire Department will be on hand to visit and help manage the fire pits that participants will be able to warm up around.

“Hopefully it’s not too cold, but you never know,” Hemingway said cheerfully. “We thought it’d be nice to have a winter event for families, and having something free, well, it’s always nice when you can do that.

“We also like to showcase all of our downtown assets, and Crescent Park can sometimes be forgotten, as close as it is to Main Street. We want people to rediscover the park that day and show that it’s a beautiful place to be even in winter!”

February 20th, 2023

11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Crescent Park

Presented by the Downtown Moose Jaw Association

Free hot dogs from Moose Jaw Co-op (11-2)

Free hot chocolate from Tim Hortons

Wagon rides sponsored by the Moose Jaw Kinsmen

Visits by the Moose Jaw Firefighters & Moose Jaw Warriors

3-D printing activities and movies in the Moose Jaw

Public Library

Fire pits & warm up locations

Snow painting

Street hockey for all ages

Chaydin, Lane, and Wells (Taylor Birkenshaw/Facebook)

Prairie South buses travelled over 18,000 km daily last year, report shows

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

With buses in Prairie South School Division travelling more than three million kilometres every year, the organization is looking to attract more regular and spare drivers to keep those wheels rollin’.

There were 106 regular bus drivers during the 202122 school year, compared to 113 operators during the 2017-18 year, according to the 2021-22 transportation accountability report presented during the Feb. 7 board meeting.

Furthermore, there were 49 casual (spare) drivers last year, compared to 93 operators during 2017-18, a decline of nearly 50 per cent.

Meanwhile, the division transported 2,655 students last year, with buses travelling 18,087 kilometres daily on 106 routes throughout 19 communities.

This is equivalent to driving across Canada two-anda-half times daily.

The transportation department is working with human resources to find ways to retain its spare drivers and build up that group so it doesn’t have to cancel regular routes, manager Todd Johnson told trustees.

Furthermore, the department provides regular training to new drivers, with the safety officer providing pretrip circle-check and in-bus training, he continued. The officer meets with drivers for a minimum of three hours, while operators are encouraged to practice driving on their own before the road test.

The accountability report showed that Prairie South trained 20 new drivers last year, offered refresher training to 15 operators, recertified 40 drivers and had 40 operators take First Aid recertification classes.

The department plans to have more contact with new drivers by encouraging them to continue studying and to work with more experienced drivers to ensure they at least become casual drivers, Johnson said.

“We’re really trying to take a proactive approach to this and continue to engage the people that are applying.

And hopefully, get more people to apply as well,” he add ed.

Numbers of students

The division transported 908 urban students on 27 routes in Moose Jaw and drove 1,747 rural students on 79 routes throughout the division.

In 2021-22, the average urban ride time was 15 min utes and the average rural ride time was 33 minutes. In comparison, those numbers were nine minutes and 35.5 minutes, respectively, in 2017-18.

Johnson noted that 21 routes are dedicated solely to transporting pupils to Lyndale School, while four are committed to Mossbank School.

Charter trips for curriculum and sports activities restarted last year after the province lifted pandemic restrictions, he continued. The data showed there were 1,301 charter trips in 2021-22, compared to 18 in 2020-21 and 958 trips in 2019-20.

“We’re predicting that the numbers will be right around that 2017 number (1,838 trips) at the end of this year … ,” said Johnson.

Number of buses

The data showed that the bus fleet consists of 145 units, with 106 vehicles used on regular routes and 39 units used as spares. In comparison, there were 155 vehicles in 2017-18.

The age of buses is also a factor in attracting and retaining drivers since some older buses may not have adjustable seats or telescopic steering wheels or pedals, Johnson said. Purchasing new buses is attractive since people want to sit in — and operate — new vehicles.

Data shows that the oldest buses in Prairie South’s fleet are 16 years old; there are 28 such vehicles.

Data also showed that the department conducted 1,024 inspections and repairs last year, while there were 17 vehicle accidents during that time, with the division assessed $700 in damage costs. Of note, six incidents were

PRAIRIE SOUTH SCHOOL DIVISION

The next PSSD board meeting is TUESDAY MAR 7.

parents when forced to drive their kids if there’s a bus cancellation and whether people take advantage of that opportunity.

Johnson replied that the department makes parents aware of that opportunity by sending them forms to fill out if it must cancel buses for long periods. About 70 per cent of parents complete the documents.

When asked about the proposed in-house driver training program, Johnson explained that having knowledgeable on-site people is a selling point to attract and retain new drivers. Furthermore, it gives the division a chance to engage with people, send them training and reading materials, provide road tests, conduct in-person safety walks and then drive with them.

The goal is to bring everyone together to train onsite, which could help people learn from others while also creating relationships, he continued. PSSD would reimburse them after they’ve passed their road test, while it would only hire them once they’ve attained their licence.

As for casual drivers, the department attempts to attract people to places with no spare operators, Johnson added. For example, there are seven spares in Moose Jaw but none in Mankota. Therefore, the department aims to have training hubs so drivers can cover places without extra operators.

New provincial education plan to focus on province’s diversity, reconciliation efforts

After nearly three years of pandemic learning, the Ministry of Education is preparing to create a new provincial education plan to guide students’ learning until 2030.

The ministry relied on an Education Sector Strategic Plan to guide learning from 2014 to 2020. That plan focused on reading, writing and math; building First Nations and Metis graduation rates; addressing all grad rates; ensuring kindergarten students had the necessary skills for Grade 1; and operational spending.

According to the working document, the new plan is intended “to reflect the diversity of the province and ensure the presence of First Nations and Metis education organizations as part of the journey towards reconciliation. At the same time, it will respect and acknowledge First Nations jurisdiction over schools on reserve land.”

Furthermore, the new plan is expected to build upon

Humane Society

Pet of the Month Sage

Sage is a 3-4 year old neutered male. Sage is enjoying his time in the o ce and loves to keep us all company. He keeps us entertained with his chatter and would be sure to update his new family on everything that happened while they were at work each day. He loves love and is always ready for a chin scratch and a cuddle. He is okay with dogs and other cats. Sage's adoption fee is $75, he is neutered, started on his vaccination schedule and micro-chipped. If you are interested in meeting Sage, please go to our website at www.mjhs.ca and click the Adopt tab, then Adoptable Animals and scroll to his handsome face to submit your application. Once your application has been approved we will contact you to come spend some with Sage so you can see if he is the right t for you. We look forward to hearing from you! Can't adopt Sage yourself but still want to help? You can make a donation toward his care by clicking the following link. Thank you for your support! https://checkout.shelterluv.com/donate/mjaw

For more info contact the Humane Society (306)692-1517 | www.mjhs.ca

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

the previous plan’s successes, recognize that the improved results cannot be accomplished in isolation, respond to pressures that society is facing and prepare students for the future by ensuring they are well-educated and active citizens.

Division administration with Prairie South School Division (PSSD) presented the proposed provincial education plan (PEP) during the Feb. 7 board meeting. Trustees later voted to endorse the document’s initial priority actions and milestones.

The new document establishes four priority actions to undertake over the next decade, with each action containing milestones — or steps — that will be accomplished, explained Amanda Olson, superintendent of learning. The ministry will revise the actions and milestones during the plan’s life as work progresses and circumstances change.

The four priority actions — all equally important — include:

Improving student outcomes through effective as-

sessment practices that guide and strengthen responsive instruction

Enhancing opportunities for learners and their families and support transitions as learners enter and progress through school to graduation and determine a life pathway

Enriching and enhancing mental health and well-being capacity in students

Instituting the vision and goals of “Inspiring Success: Prek-12 First Nations and Metis Education Policy Framework,” which aims for more inclusion of Aboriginal peoples

Meanwhile, the plan’s goals for students include ensuring they learn what they need for their future, feel safe and supported, and ensure they belong, feel valued and can be themselves.

Four interconnected areas of focus include skills and knowledge for future learning, life and participation in society; mental health and well-being; creating connections among people and relationships between systems and structures; and providing inclusive, safe and welcoming learning environments.

Trustee Robert Bachmann wondered if the first priority included departmental exams. He noted that the Saskatchewan School Boards Association doesn’t believe such exams are positive or effective. Moreover, departmental exams don’t fit into a provincial assessment plan considering only 30 per cent of students write them.

The PEP implementation team has discussed those exams and whether they’re effective, culturally appropriate and responsive, and fit into the long-term plan, said Olson. However, the team has not made any decisions yet.

The mental health priority intrigued trustee Crystal Froese, who said that local and provincial inter-agency partnerships are important so divisions can access those supports. However, divisions need more resources to fill those supports.

“We’re a fairly large school division with a lot of diversity in there. In order to achieve that and measure that, we definitely have to have stronger support from our province and Sask. Health,” she continued, “because we just don’t have the capacity with the current budget we have to carry on that.”

Prairie South’s board took on more responsibility with decision-making during the pandemic that the health authority would have handled, Froese added. So, she thought the province could better support this priority in the new plan.

Nine candidates confirmed for Prairie South’s byelection in March

The nomination process has closed for Prairie South School Division’s upcoming byelection and nine people have thrown their hats into the ring to become the next board trustee.

The deadline to submit names was Thursday, Feb. 2, while the final day to withdraw was Friday, Feb. 3. As of Monday, Feb. 6, none of the nine people had pulled out of the race.

The people interested in becoming a trustee for subdivision 6 (City of Moose Jaw) include Brian Martynook, Shelley Jones, Tony Dreger, Zachariah Bachmann, Karli Amundrud, Sommer Amare, Sandra Kitts, Patrick Boyle and Bruce Fritzler.

The Moose Jaw Express will attempt to speak with each candidate in the coming weeks so ratepayers can better understand why each person wants to be a trustee.

The byelection is Thursday, March 9 and is being held after former Moose Jaw trustee Todd Johnson resigned in November 2022.

Below are brief biographical profiles that each candidate submitted.

Brian Martynook was born and raised in Moose Jaw and is currently retired. He did serve as CEO of the chamber of commerce for 15 years, while before that, he owned and operated MM Construction — in operation for more than 50 years — with his father and brother.

“Serving my community has always been an integral part of my life … ,” he wrote.

His community work has included being a director on the boards of the Five Hills Health Region, Habitat for Humanity, Moose Jaw Literacy Network, Hillcrest Sports Centre, the Regina Airport Authority and Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan.

He has also completed educational and examination requirements to achieve his professional director designation to bring more value to his role as a board director.

“I look forward to the opportunity to serve my community by providing oversight and contributing to the strategic vision of Prairie South School Division,” Martynook added.

Shelley Jones says she is passionate about agriculture, education and the community. She is semi-retired from a career in agriculture and post-secondary education and is self-employed as a consultant and trainer.

Jones served two terms as a trustee for the Moose Jaw Public School Division before the creation of Prairie South. Moreover, she has board governance experience elsewhere and sits on the 4-H Canada board of directors.

As a volunteer, she supports fundraising campaigns and mentorship programs, most recently with STARS Air Ambulance’s Field of Dreams and Saskatchewan Women in Ag. She has also been recognized as Moose Jaw Citizen of the Year and awarded a Canada 150 medal.

Jones grew up on a ranch near Crane Valley and has lived in Moose Jaw for more than 35 years. She holds a bachelor of science in agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan and a faculty training certificate from the University of Regina and SIAST.

Tony Dreger, who has worked at Henderson Insurance for the past 15 years, was born and raised in Moose Jaw and has volunteered on many boards and with numerous events, while he served as a city councillor from 2003 to 2006.

In 2010, he was chair of the Moose Jaw-based Sas-

katchewan Winter Games and sat on the board of direc tors for the 2014 Telus Cup. He also has 18 years of board experience with Moose Jaw Little League, including five as chairman.

“Coaching and mentoring youth is a passion of mine and I be lieve this is a great next step to con tinue helping youth in our commu nity,” he said. “If (elected), I look forward to adding value to our com munity and our children by provid ing a strong vision for the Prairie South School Division.”

Zachariah Bachmann brings a “youthful perspective” and five years of experience working with students at Briercrest Christian Academy and William Grayson School. He also has experience in team management and inclusive programming through his leadership role at Inclusion Moose Jaw.

These opportunities helped Bachmann gain experience and perspective about the need to advocate for students of all ages and abilities, he said. He believes in being an authentic representative of the students and staff with whom he has worked.

Bachmann’s current role with Golden West Broadcasting has helped him engage with organizations to help implement strategic plans and develop teams and leaders. He believes his experiences inside and outside the division have equipped him to under Prairie South’s social climate and how it intersects with and influences schools’ daily operations, wellness and direction.

Karli Amundrud was born in Davidson and raised in Moose Jaw, where she attended King George Elementary School and graduated from Central Collegiate in 2004. Today she has three kids enrolled in PSSD.

Amundrud believes all students deserve an exemplary education and the ability to gain knowledge and skills for success today and tomorrow. Moreover, she believes the voices of teachers, students, parents and residents are necessary to ensure that public education is strengthened, transparent and accountable.

As a long-time resident, former PSSD student and mother, Amundrud says she would bring a strong voice and be a fair representative at the board table.

Sommer Amare describes herself as a well-rounded person with a passion for education. She graduated from Peacock Collegiate and later Calgary’s Mount Royal University with a diploma in music. She later continued her education in ethnobotany and now runs her own traditional herbal product business.

She has two kids in Prairie South and has been a member of her children’s school community council for six years. She has also been involved in developing programs to meet the needs of pupils and teachers.

Amare’s focus on mental and physical well-being in education is important to her, considering the challenges of the last three years. She is also committed to creating a supportive environment for teachers and students and is determined to make a difference.

Public school division issued over $400K in construction tenders last month

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Prairie South School Division issued more than $400,000 worth of construction tenders in January, including for projects to upgrade infrastructure at two Moose Jaw schools.

The division (PSSD) issued $404,274 in tenders from Jan. 4 to Feb. 1 for four projects throughout the division, according to a tender report presented during the Feb. 7 board meeting. Those projects included:

A tender for $121,315 before taxes to Regina’s Ainsworth Inc. for controls replacement at Rouleau School

A tender for $19,950 before taxes to C&S Builders for sidewalk repairs at Lafleche School

PRAIRIE SOUTH SCHOOL DIVISION

The next PSSD board meeting is TUESDAY MAR 7.

during the amalgamation of 40 schools. That time gave her the experience and knowledge of working with students, staff, boards and communities throughout the division.

As a superintendent, she attended and contributed to board meetings for eight years. Recently, she served on boards with Conexus Credit Union (six years) and the University of Regina Alumni (four years).

Kitts has also completed bachelor, master and doctorate of education degrees, with majors in organizational leadership and curriculum. She has presented and consulted in several Canadian provinces and American states on school improvement.

She currently operates a small business that coaches and consults with business leaders. She also holds international certifications with the International Coaching Federation and Global Team Coaching Institute.

“As a keen educator and learner, I appreciate the possible opportunity and responsibility to serve in this position,” Kitts added.

Patrick Boyle is a long-time resident and former city councillor from 2012-16, while he and his wife Alyssa have three kids in Prairie South. He is the executive director of communications and client services with the Water Security Agency in Moose Jaw.

With more than 20 years of communications and public engagement experience and 18 years of experience with provincial and municipal governments, Boyle believes he is best positioned to represent residents as a trustee.

Some of his volunteer activities include minor hockey, minor baseball, minor girls’ fastball and youth flag football. Boyle says he believes in giving back to residents by serving in the community.

Bruce Fritzler taught for 31 years in Prairie South — retiring in 2020 as principal at William Grayson School — with 22 of those years as a school administrator in five schools in the division. Since 2020, he has been a part-time sessional instructor and supervisor with the U of R’s education faculty.

He served on various committees within Prairie School while working as a school administrator, such as teacher wellness, professional development, pre-kindergarten to Grade 8 cluster lead and teacher supervision.

Fritzler says he is committed to enabling and supporting all students and staff, while he is an open and transparent communicator with progressive values and principles and believes in responsibility and integrity. He also says he can work with others and promote good governance, procedural fairness, and accountability.

· A tender for $31,200 plus taxes to C&S Builders for sidewalk repairs at A.E. Peacock Collegiate

· A tender for $231,809 to Leeville Construction for paving at École Palliser Heights School. The division could recover $60,500 of that tender depending upon the condition of the sub-base.

The board report explained that competitive bids are required for the purchase, lease or acquisition of an interest in real or personal property, for the purchase of building materials, for the provision of transportation services and other services exceeding $75,000. Furthermore, bids are required for the construction, renovation or alteration of a building or capital works that exceed $200,000.

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Brian Martynook.

Shelley Jones.

Tony Dreger.

Zachariah Bachmann.

Karli Amundrud.

Sommer Amare.

Sandra Kitts.

Patrick Boyle.

Bruce Fritzler.

Sask Polytech students express desire for improved transit, snow clearance

Improved transportation, better snow maintenance and more availability of latenight restaurants are some changes college students would like to see city hall address when updating its Official Community Plan (OCP).

The City of Moose Jaw organized an interactive pop-up display at Saskatchewan Polytechnic on Feb. 8 to inform students about changes the municipality could make to its OCP and zoning bylaw early next year. The city is receiving feedback from residents and stakeholders about what changes they might like to see in those updated documents.

The OCP is supposed to reflect a community’s values and desires for the future and offer the city’s long-term vision — 10 to 20 years — for growth and development. Meanwhile, the zoning bylaw implements the OCP’s policies.

Sask Poly students were encouraged to place plastic chips in bowls connected to trends they thought were important and on which city hall should focus, such as remote work, wellness economy, localism, green economy, industry 4.0, winter city, heritage and regional planning.

Industry 4.0 and remote work seemed to have the most chips, while the green economy appeared to have the fewest.

Students could also comment on transportation and transit options and ways to keep Moose Jaw affordable.

“Revitalize downtown!! Not everyone has a vehicle (I don’t) so everything on Thatcher is not easy to get to. And big (not local) stores,” one student wrote on a sticky note that also received three red agreement stickers from other students.

Another student wrote that she wanted bus transit to be more frequent and occur on Saturdays and Sundays. The student also wanted more transportation op-

tions in general, such as Uber.

“I think transportation is really important. When it’s too much snow, the bus routes are covered in so much snow and the buses are not available for our transit,” Adarsh Ashok told the Express.

“And we need to make more walkable pathways during the snowy days. It’s too much ice, as you can see outside,” he continued. “It’s so difficult for us to walk; it’s so slippery. … Those are the things I think they should change here.”

The first-year technology management student from India pointed out that services, shops and amenities in Moose

Jaw are too spread out, which doesn’t help since he lives downtown and must walk everywhere. Furthermore, many businesses are closed after he comes home from work after 10 p.m., which prevents him from purchasing groceries.

“I guess shops should be open until 11 or 12,” Ashok added.

Meetee Dave, a first-year safety technology management student from India, wants to see more international food and snack options available for immigrant students since many — like her — are vegetarian or have special dietary requirements. She would also like to see restaurants offer more international foods.

“There are not much varieties for vegetarian people … ,” she added. “We miss home. But before missing home, we miss the food. The taste buds change after coming here.”

The public can continue to provide input about any proposed changes to the OCP by visiting moosejaw.ca/ocp. That is also where residents can find a schedule of open houses and stakeholder workshops.

Tourism Sask. offers free webinars targeted at tourism professionals

Tourism Saskatchewan is offering tourism professionals a chance to develop their essential skills by attending free online webinars hosted by industry experts.

“We’ve launched a new series of webinars ... to provide some advice on marketing, social media, worker recruitment, and other topics of interest for people working in the tourism and hospitality sector,” explained Tracy Breher, Tourism Saskatchewan’s VP of destination and workforce development. “Last year, we did a webinar series that focused more on leadership skills.

“This year, our topics are a little bit broader in terms of content. And the registrations are exceeding our expectations.”

Tourism Saskatchewan will train approximately 10,000 people this year in the province’s tourism sector. Their programs range from free webinars to nationally recognized certifications for specific occupations, and they have two provincial apprenticeship programs in partnership with the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission.

Most courses are offered online, with longer workshops taking place in person. Breher noted, however, that the one-hour webinars are increasingly popular because they don’t take long and are convenient to

attend. “We’re targeting a lot of the training resources right now on high-in-demand,

transferable skills, so with a focus on people up-skilling or re-skilling,” she added. “Those are for things like digital or interpersonal skills, those sort of career pieces that, once you have them mastered, you can take to all kinds of places.”

Free webinar course topics and titles for February and March include:

• Building your Business with International Visitors, Tuesday, February 14; 10 a.m. Full — registration limit reached

• Top Tips to Market Your Business on Social Media in 2023, Tuesday, February 14; noon

• Handling Difficult Conversations, Tuesday, February 21; 7 p.m.

• Online Reputation Management, Wednesday, March 1; noon

• Traditional Marketing and the Growth of Digital, Tuesday, March 7; 7 p.m.

• Discover the Employer Services Branch of SaskJobs, Wednesday, March 8, 10 a.m.

• Recruiting with Diversity in Mind, Wednesday, March 15; 2 p.m.

• Handling Difficult Conversations, Tuesday, March 21: noon

• Building an Online Presence, Tuesday, March 28; 11 a.m.

• Top Tips to Market your Business on Social Media in 2023, Thursday, March

30, 2 p.m.

“The other kind of investment in professional development is that not only do you help people already working within the industry, acquiring new skills and knowledge so that they can do their jobs better,” Breher said, “but it also helps with recruiting and retaining employees when they know you’re investing in their professional development.”

Breher noted that labour shortages are increasing competition between employers. That means employees are looking more closely before accepting jobs — and could prioritize working for businesses that value them long-term.

See the full list of training opportunities from Tourism Saskatchewan at business.tourismsaskatchewan.com/en/courses-and-workshops.

“We’ve got five sections within the tourism industry: accommodations, food and beverage, recreation and entertainment, transportation, and travel services. Everybody working in those areas is very welcome to come and sign up,” Breher added. “We’re just really excited to be able to have members of the industry engaged with us.”

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

A display asks for feedback about students’ vision for the community.

Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Conor Britton (left), a consultant with firms Crosby, Hanna and Associates and Wallace Insights, speaks to Saskatchewan Polytechnic students about the purpose of the display.

Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Meetee Dave (left) and Adarsh Ashok drop plastic chips into bowls to indicate the possible trends upon which city hall should focus on in the future.

Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Mac the Moose (Tourism Moose Jaw)

Business Excellence Awards open nominations process with category switch-ups

By MooseJawToday.com Staff - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

The Moose Jaw Business Excellence Awards (MJBEX) are an annual production by the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce that celebrates community businesses that have had a special impact, been particularly civic-minded or innovative, pitched in for a good cause, and more.

Nominations are submitted entirely online at mjcc.awardify.io. Answers to all questions about specific categories and eligibility criteria are found on the site’s categories page.

Last year, the MJBEX Awards Gala returned to in-person celebrations for its 20th anniversary. The gala saw 15 awards presented in 13 community-nominated categories and two additional awards — Business Leader of the Year and Business of the Year — presented after receiving the community’s overall input.

Some changes have been made to the categories for 2023. The Environmental Steward, Job Creation, and Newcomer Entrepreneur categories are gone, and two new categories have been introduced.

This year’s categories are:

• “Hell Yeah!” Award (NEW)

• Agricultural & Agri-Business Excellence Award

• Business Innovation Award

• Business Leader of the Year (chosen by the Chamber of Commerce board)

• Business of the Year (awarded to the business with the highest number of points across all categories)

• Community Involvement Award

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award (NEW)

• Impact Award (non-profit)

• Marketing Award

• New Business Venture Award

• People’s Choice Award (selected by open online voting the week before

the Awards Gala)

• Pillar of the Community Award

• Service Excellence Award

• Young Entrepreneur Award

That means one less category in 2023 for a total of 14.

Any business in Moose Jaw and surrounding area is eligible, with the exception of Crown Corporations and the City of Moose Jaw itself. A business cannot be nominated for an award it has already won within the last two years.

Nominees can submit their own applications or be submitted by a third party as long as that third party obtains permission from the nominee.

Businesses can submit nominations for a maximum of two awards categories.

All nominations, applications, and business submissions are kept confidential and secure during the process. The Chamber uses an independent judging process to keep things fair.

The submission deadline is March 10. Judging will follow in the month of March before the Awards Gala on April 19 at the Heritage Inn.

Moose Jaw Elks continue support of Trudie Temple Music Scholarship with donation

Proceeds from Gutheridge Field concession help local service club, Prairie South School Division offer prestigious award Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

In today’s somewhat difficult economic climate, it would be easy for service organizations who support educational ventures through scholarships to scale back their efforts, and most folks would be completely understanding.

The Moose Jaw Elks Lodge is having none of that, though, with the Trudie Temple Music Scholarship offering the latest example.

The Elks recently presented the Prairie South School Division with a cheque for $2,864.83 to help bolster the Temple scholarship’s coffers and help ensure the annual award will be presented for many years to come.

“The Trudie Temple Scholarship has been awarded since 1978, so it’s been going on for a long time and we’re happy to be able to help,” said Elks public relations director Harold Claffey during a special cheque presentation Friday afternoon at the PSSD office.

The money goes into a general fund, with the interest from that being used to support the scholarship, which has been in the $500 range in recent years.

The majority of the funds came from the Gutheridge Field concession, which operates throughout the South 5A Rural Football League season selling such popular fare as ‘the best hot dogs in southern Saskatchewan’, hot chocolate and coffee to the thousands of fans who take in games every week.

“It’s really good, they do all this work every year at the concession and it really benefits the kids because they get a better scholarship every year,” said Ron Purdy with the PSSD. “There’s a lot of history in Temple Gardens, too, that’s an important part of Moose Jaw’s history, so it’s nice to see that carried on as well.”

Trudie Temple is one of the namesakes behind Temple Gardens. Longtime patrons of the arts in the community, Trud ie and Cal Temple built the wildly popular event venue in 1921 and saw it become the hub of social activities in Moose Jaw. Their continuous dedication to music in the Band City eventually saw the Elks es tablish the scholarship in Trudie’s honour, and the award has been presented ever since.

Students have to be moving on to post-secondary education, have high ac ademic standing and be involved in their

community and school programs in addi-

to plenty of talented individuals over the years, including recently to “one young lady who could play 11 instruments”, as noted by Elks member and longtime high school football scorekeeper Art Watson.

The plan is to keep offering the scholarship as long as they can, with the goal of preventing a decline in funds that eventually sees it fall by the wayside.

“That’s why we do this, we want to keep it in good shape,” Watson explained. “Some scholarships get so low they have to be combined with other ones, and then the name is lost. We don’t want that to happen and we’re going to do what we can to continue this support.”

As for the Elks themselves, they continue their service club efforts and are always on the lookout for new members.

“We’re all getting a year older, and we’re always trying to attract more members to the community service way of life,” Claffey said. ‘It was really popular 40 years ago and has dropped off now, but we’re always hoping to see more people get involved.”

Be sure to check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MooseJawElksLodge and check out their website at www.moosejawelks.com for the latest

MJBEX 2022 (photo by Gordon Edgar)

The Moose Jaw Elks Lodge continued their support of the Trudie Temple Miusic Scholarship on Friday afternoon, presenting a cheque for $2,864.83 to help ensure the award will be presented for years to come. Pictured are Ron Purdy (Prairie South School Division), Bonnie Bender (Moose Jaw Elks), Harold Claffey (Moose Jaw Elks), Ken Mathers (Moose Jaw Elks) and Art Watson (Moose Jaw Elks. Randy Palmer

Is it Alberta drivers flaunting the passing on the right traffic law?

It seems there has been an epidemic of vehicles passing on the right in Moose Jaw recently.

The experience of having a vehicle passing on the right is frustrating and dangerous. The danger is partially the surprise to the driver being passed.

Saskatchewan traffic laws state clearly that passing on the right is illegal except on multi-lane highways such as Highways One, 11 and 16 in this province.

The assumption has been that most drivers passing on the right are flaunting the law, or just plain stupid.

Passing on the right traffic laws aren’t standard across Canada. Several provinces have different laws than Saskatchewan.

Ontario allows passing on the right. The Ontario Highway Traffic Act allows passing on the right in any of three conditions: the vehicle being passed must be signalling a left turn; or the road must be wide enough for two lanes, or designated for one-way traffic only.

Our next door neighbour to the west, Alberta, allows passing on the right as long as it is safe. Passing is allowed from the right if the left lane is obstructed, if there is adequate space, and if the right lane ahead is not obstructed.

Alberta drivers and Ontario drivers could be the un-

Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners Notes

The next Board of Police Commissioners meeting is Thursday, Mar 9, 2023

Moose Jaw’s Board of Police Commissioners plans to review its bylaws and procedures after experiencing confusion during its January meeting electing a new chair and vice-chair.

Commissioners had to elect new leadership because the City of Moose Jaw’s Bylaw No. 5599 — which governs the police board — says since members are appointed for one-year terms, they must select a chair and vice-chair at their first meeting.

However, the bylaw does not state how either is selected nor what happens during a tie vote.

After four of five commissioners were sworn in during their January meeting — new commissioner Kim Robinson was absent — they submitted three candidates for chair.

Commissioner Clive Tolley nominated Commissioner Doug Blanc, Commissioner Darryl Markin nominated Commissioner Mary Lee Booth and Booth nominated Markin.

A 2-2 tie between Blanc and Booth prompted Destiny Gibney, legal counsel

TRADING THOUGHTS

witting traffic culprits passing on the right in this province.

Incidentally experts in Alberta and Ontario say passing on the right is not a safe practice.

_____

For years the traffic on First Avenue Northwest was been a concern with two lanes driving north and one southbound.

The most danger exists at the intersection of Caribou Street and First Northwest.

Long hanging overhead signs were removed and for a few years a temporary wooden sign was placed on the north side when the centre lane became a left turn only lane. Still, countless drivers went through the left turn lane.

Eventually the temporary sign was removed and the east lane was turned into right turn only.

Much of the traffic on First totally ignores the right hand lane, choosing to drive on it, even passing on it.

City council is trying to tackle the issue by turning a large part of the east side lane on First into paid parking spaces.

Hopes hinge on the one-year pilot project curbing drivers from using the lane.

By Ron Walter For Moose Jaw Express

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

Don’t expect many cars parked in the new spaces. The city isn’t installing coin operated parking meters, instead choosing the new smart app meters.

City managers suggested this might help the slow uptake of the smart phone app to pay for parking. The smart app will take a long time to become accepted in Moose Jaw. This is a city where change is not easily accepted.

There are still locals who call the site of John’s Music store the Christie Grant store, even though that department store has been closed over 60 years, Drivers in the Fairford Street parking lot have gone elsewhere when they encountered that smart app meter. Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Confusion with electing new chair prompts police board to review bylaws

for the Moose Jaw Police Service, to request a 10-minute recess to research what to do.

Gibney later determined that Robert’s Rules of Order (RRO) was “the standard that should be recognized,” so the chair could not vote unless there were a tie. However, she did not state the section from RRO she used to make her decision.

Furthermore, Gibney said Tolley, the meeting chair during the vote, should not have cast a ballot. Since the vote had not occurred under RRO, Gibney said a new election was required, with Tolley prohibited from voting unless there was a tie.

Booth was elected chairwoman during the new vote, while Blanc was elected vice-chairman.

Board discussion

Blanc raised the issue of the inconsistent voting process during the Feb. 9 board meeting. He was OK with how some of the processes occurred but believed changes were required.

Blanc pointed out that Tolley should not have been chair at the January meeting because he hadn’t been sworn in yet. In-

stead, the recording secretary should have been interim chair and conducted the vote for chair and vice-chair. She would then turn over the meeting to the chair.

Blanc’s research also indicated that if the chairperson can’t vote in elections, that person can’t vote on anything for the year.

“And because we’re such a small committee, that’s a little weird,” he said.

Robert’s Rules of Order says the chair can vote in a group with fewer than 12 people, while there shouldn’t be any ties on the police board since there are five members, Blanc continued. A second vote should have occurred after the tie to see if members had changed their minds. If another tie occurred, an interim chair should have been nominated until February’s meeting.

“I’m not interested in upsetting the cart and doing anything different. Let’s just carry forward,” added Blanc.

The police board planned to discuss a similar topic after the public portion concluded, Booth said. She agreed they needed to discuss a governance policy and appreciated Blanc bringing up the information.

Booth reviewed the board’s bylaws and discovered they are silent about the issues Blanc raised. However, they say the board must appoint a chair at its first meeting.

While she wasn’t sure what The Police Act, 1990 said about voting, Booth knew the board couldn’t change that document — even if it needs updating — because it is provincial legislation. If the act says a chair is required at the first meeting, the board must determine how to address tie votes.

The board’s bylaws should supersede Robert’s Rules of Order, while RRO should only take effect when the bylaws are unclear, said Robinson. Meanwhile, he thought the voting process should be corrected, otherwise, the board would set a precedent by letting this issue slip through.

“I don’t know if it’s beyond rectifying that, but I think we should do it per policy or bylaw or whatever is taking precedent,” he added. “And if it requires a re-do, then it requires a re-do.”

High call volumes to police show no signs of slowing, data suggests

Police responded to 19.3-per-cent more calls for service in 2022, and even with the start of a new year, that call volume shows no signs of slowing down.

The Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) handled 1,495 service calls in January, compared to 1,115 calls during the same time last year, a jump of 34.1 per cent, the

Jason

January statistics report shows.

Not every service call is crime-related because the data also shows crimes against people declined 19.4 per cent year-overyear and crimes against property declined 2.4 per cent year-over-year.

“… what we have had reported so far this year are fewer crimes pretty much

Vehicle check by police turns into drug and gun bust

By Moose Jaw Express staff

Moose Jaw police arrested a man who was in possession of a stolen vehicle, weapons and drugs and had allegedly violated a probation order out of Regina.

Officers located a stolen vehicle on Diefenbaker Drive around 3:15 a.m. on Feb. 9 with a man — Mathew Kostiuk — at the wheel who appeared to be asleep. They created a plan to prevent the vehicle from fleeing, and after implementing it, arrested the driver.

Inside the vehicle, police found a shotgun, replica handguns and a machete, along with methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl.

The man provided officers with a false name before they were able to identify him by using his tattoos and photos on social media. Once they identified Kostiuk, police also learned that he was wanted for several crimes in Regina from the previous days and was also allegedly in violation of a probation order.

Kostiuk has been remanded into custody and is expected to appear later in provincial court.

across the board. And that’s always a good sign, but again, it is a very small window,”

Police Chief Rick Bourassa said after the Board of Police Commissioners’ Feb. 9 meeting.

“And when you have smaller numbers, what you get are larger percentages. So a 19-per-cent decrease sounds like an awful lot, but it might just be one incident in there because the numbers are so small,” he continued.

“As the year progresses, we do get a larger sample size and then we can start making some assessments. But we do watch not only the (statistical) extract, but we know what’s happening and we do keep an eye on those sorts of things, and it is important.”

Overall, the data is not showing anything that concerns the police, again because it’s difficult to gauge crime trends when looking at a small slice of the year, Bourassa added. The agency will watch for areas of concern and update the board if anything changes.

Crimes against people

Data for crimes against people from January 2023 versus January 2022 show: Homicide: 0 / 0

Attempted murder: 0 / 0

· Assaults (sexual, common, with a weapon, aggravated, against police): 24 / 23

Robbery: 0 / 1

Total: 29 / 36; a 19.4-per-cent reduction

Crimes against property

Data for crimes against property from January 2023 versus January 2022 show: Break-ins (business, residence, other): 14 / 23

· Motor vehicle theft: 2 / 9

· Theft over $5,000: 1 / 0

· Theft under $5,000: 61 / 50

· Arson: 0 / 1

· Mischief under $5,000: 17 / 14

· Total: 121 / 124; a 2.4-per-cent reduction

Other violations

Impaired driving: 5 / 9

Failing to comply with a court order: 33 / 66

· Threats under section 810: 1 / 7

· Domestic disputes: 6 / 5

· Provincial liquor infractions: 11 / 11

· Vehicle collisions over $1,000: 20 / 35

· Drugs (cocaine, marijuana, meth, other): 2 / 5

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Crime Stoppers had successful 2022, with growth in tips, award money, online followers

Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers received 33 more tips last year than in 2021, with most tips coming through its webpage, while it also approved more award money than in previous years.

The crime-fighting organization received 209 tips from the public in 2022, compared to 176 tips the year before, Const. Branden Hoggins reported during the organization’s annual meeting on Feb. 7. Most tips — 154 — came through the Crime Stoppers webpage, while the rest arrived via the mobile app, call centre or in-house reports.

Meanwhile, most tips — 34 — were related to drugs, similar to the year before, while 27 tips were about thefts, the data showed. Tips also led to the recovery of two vehicles stolen from Moose Jaw worth $30,000 and recovered elsewhere; police laid eight charges with those offences.

The number of followers on Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers’ (MJCS) Facebook page jumped to 5,400 people, an increase of about 400 people from the year before, Hoggins noted.

“The Facebook way to communicate is still quite effective. That is our primary way of communicating with the general public,” he said, with “Warrant Wednesdays” and “Can you identify this person?” the most popular features. “I feel like it’s quite successful doing that.”

The organization approved $1,500 in awards money based on all the successful tips — compared to $900 in 2021 — but tipsters only collected $150, Hoggins add-

ed. The onus is on the people providing the tips to collect that money since he can’t hound them. Instead, they must check the app or web page to see if they’ve won.

Other data shows more than 50 per cent of tipsters do not claim their reward money since they would prefer Crime Stoppers use it for different initiatives.

Chairman’s report

Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers is celebrating its 38th birthday this year and is the oldest Crime Stoppers group in the province, said Lyle Johnson during his chairman’s report. The group was incorporated one day before the City of Regina’s association began, about which former Moose Jaw mayor Louis (Scoop) Lewry always enjoyed reminding people.

Crime Stoppers began in the United States 40 years ago, while Calgary was

Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners Notes

The next Board of Police Commissioners meeting is Thursday, Mar 9, 2023

For years the Board of Police Commissioners prohibited media from asking questions after meetings and forced reporters to wait days later, but a new pilot project could change that process.

During their Feb. 9 meeting, commissioners voted 3-1 to allow the media to ask questions of the police chief and a board spokesperson immediately after the meetings as part of a three-month trial period.

Commissioner Kim Robinson was opposed, while Commissioner Clive Tolley was absent.

The board discussed allowing media scrums to happen after meetings during its in-camera — behind closed doors — discussion in January, Commissioner Doug Blanc said.

He thought it was “very important”

the first Canadian municipality to adopt the program, he continued. The program arrived in Moose Jaw two years later after a Calgary officer arrived in town to be the new police chief.

The program has recovered $838,233 worth of drugs and property since it began here in 1985, while it has processed 4,407 tips, paid out $39,400 in tips out of $56,565 in approved tip money and arrested 503 people, Johnson said. These numbers show how successful the program has been and reflect the good co-operation between the police and residents.

Crime Stoppers has also seen how useful social media has become and how it has evolved over the years, he continued.

The program started with a phone number of 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), followed by a webpage on the Moose Jaw Police Service website, followed by a phone app and social media pages.

“We try to keep pace with the technology of our society, so that’s a good thing,” Johnson remarked.

The chairman also thanked the Moose Jaw Police Service, the media and the board for working together to make the program successful.

MJCS also thanked several long-standing sponsors for their donations during the annual meeting, including the Early Bird Lions with $800, ACT/UCT with $2,000, the Kinsmen with $880, SaskTel with $1,250 and SaskPower with roughly $600.

The board noted that Crime Stoppers receives no government funding and relies on donations and sponsors for its revenue. Internet exploitation

Members of the police service’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit gave a presentation about their work during the Crime Stoppers meeting. It was similar to the one the unit gave the Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC) in March 2022.

Doug Blanc, a city councillor and a BOPC commissioner, praised the police service’s efforts afterwards. He noted that council supports the police, as evidenced by the budget increase it provided the agency for this year. He also acknowledged that the community has problems, which officers are attempting to address.

Pilot project will let media ask questions after police board

for the board to allow such events to happen so the public and journalists know what’s happening. Moreover, while he understood media usually spoke to the police chief days afterward, he thought allowing them to ask questions immediately was better.

“I personally feel it would be good for us to hear the questions because maybe it’s something we didn’t think about,” Blanc continued. “One thing we’re trying to do at the police commission is improve our public relations. And this is an excellent way to do it, is to have a media scrum.”

Blanc — also a city councillor — contacted communications manager Craig Hemingway about how media scrums work after city council meetings.

In a letter, Hemingway said the city

meetings

lets each media outlet ask three consecutive questions before circling back to allow for one to two follow-up questions. If there is a request for a longer interview, then city hall schedules that later.

Blanc then introduced a motion to let the media ask questions after meetings. He thought the media should only be allowed to ask questions about the meeting, not about anything happening elsewhere.

When asked if this was something the media wanted, reporters in attendance gave a thumbs up and replied affirmatively.

“I’m reluctant to support this because I don’t think that we need it put into a rule because what if (in) extenuating circumstances we can’t hold one that time?” said Robinson. “I’d rather see us … invite them.”

He added, “I don’t think we should bind anybody (such as the police chief) to have to do it. It (the motion) could be an instruction rather than a policy.”

The board needs to look at its bylaws and governance documents, so this issue could also be reviewed, said chairwoman Commissioner Mary Lee Booth. Furthermore, the board needs to discuss who will speak on behalf of the board.

“What I like about it is it gives the media access right away so they can go finish their stories now and put it on their sites … right away and so it’s fresh news,” said Commissioner Darryl Markin.

“Sometimes I see stories that are a week old. They’re busy too. I don’t think I’d have a problem letting them have access for five (or) six minutes with the chief to ask questions … . I think it’s fair.”

Police to commit over $400K to equipment reserve to replace obsolete gear

The Moose Jaw Police Service plans to contribute over $400,000 to its equipment reserve budget this year so it can replace gear that is nearly finished.

The equipment reserve budget is based on the depreciation of inventory items, with the police service funding the amortized amounts yearly as an operating expense. The 2023-27 equipment reserve budget lists items that are fully amortized and due for replacement or are new to inventory this year.

According to a report the agency presented during the Feb. 9 police board meeting, the 2023 contribution requirement from the operating budget for the major equipment reserve account is $307,703. Furthermore, the agency will contribute $110,419 to the small equipment reserve

account.

These two figures total $418,122, but after the police service applies a credit of $17,022 from interest on the control account, the total contribution to the equipment reserve will be $401,100. This amount, the report noted, is up $68,720 from last year’s contribution.

Deputy Police Chief Rick Johns told the board that when the police service purchases a new cruiser, it starts putting away money every year to replace the vehicle in five to six years. Once the cruiser reaches its full appreciation, the money is available to buy a new one.

The MJPS will continue to monitor inflation and how it affects the reserve budget even though it’s a guessing game with how much gear like computers will

cost, he continued. The agency must also understand the future purchases it may have to make because of technological changes and community expectations with policing.

“Maybe one example might be body cameras going forward. … we would look at incorporating that into the equipment reserve, depreciating it as necessary, so we can continue to rotate new equipment in as they (body cameras) become old and obsolete,” Johns said.

The police service opens the equipment reserve annually, so if it sees costs rising on an item that is amortizing over five years, it can put away more money, he added. Then when it must buy a new item, there will hopefully be enough money to cover the purchase.

The finance department has noticed that tenders for projects and purchases are coming back higher than pre-pandemic levels, including for regular police gear, said Lisa Renwick.

“The supply of it is taking a lot longer to arrive and the price of it all has gone up — like substantially,” she added.

“Those are the realities of a postCOVID world,” observed board chairwoman Mary Lee Booth.

After the meeting, Renwick said there was $4,300,398 in the major equipment reserve account. This amount is what it would take to replace everything in the building. Therefore, the $307,703 from the operating budget will be added to that amount.

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Jason G. Antonio Moose Jaw Express

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Lloyd Luhning (left) with the Early Bird Lions Club presents a cheque of $800 to Lyle Johnson, chairmain of Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers, after the crime-fighting organization’s annual meeting on Feb. 7. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Pat Carle with ACT/UCT (left) presents a cheque of $2,000 to Lyle Johnson, chairmain of Moose Jaw Crime Stoppers, after the crime-fighting organization’s annual meeting on Feb. 7. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

TO THE EDITOR LETTERS

Guidelines for Submitting Letters to the Editor:

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

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

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

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

Send your letters to the editor to: jritchie@moosejawtoday.com or 888-241-5291

All columns, letters to the editor and editorials are solely the personal opinions of the writers themselves and not necessarily the opinions of The Moose Jaw Express

RE: WHY ARE CITY EMPLOYEES ALLOWED TO DRIVE COMPANY VEHICLES HOME – BACK AND FORTH TO WORK – ON CITY TAXPAYER’S MONEY?

Just wondering why city employees are allowed to take city vehicles home. We all have to drive our own vehicles to work and spend our money on fuel but the city let’s their city employees take the vehicles home and spend our tax dollars on fuel for them to drive…But Raise Our Taxes More. I know some are on call, but do like the rest of the people do in this city, drive to your work place and pick up the company vehicles from there.

Jered Greg Sisetsky

RE: LOVE HOT SPOT PARKING APP

I have read of the poor uptake of the city’s parking app in several news articles lately. I was quite surprised. In this day and a, there seems to be an app for everything. Most seem to use up valuable phone storage and are seldom used. I have been using Hot Spot parking app since it was available and I love it. I would like to encourage the people of Moose Jaw to give it a try.

RE: IS CITY HALL BREAKING THE LAW ?

I wonder if City Council & City administration are breaking their own law when they don’t want to respect their bylaw No.5642 in regard to public consultation about the Westheath joint-use school project because the planning Public Policy stipulates such a measure.

As we know, Mr. Jan Radwanski went to City Council on January 23 to ask council why they we’re not following their policy and hold a public information session about the proposed change to the Westheath concept plan in relation to the joint-use school project. Our City Council didn’t even respond

How many of us have parked at a meter and then found we only had enough change in our pocket for a few minutes or maybe no change at all. We look up and down the street for a parking enforcement person then cross our fingers and head off to do our business. The app can eliminate that worry. Are you running behind schedule? You can add time to your meter. Did you pay for two hours and your appointment only ended up taking fifteen min-

to any of his concerns and neither did they ask him any questions. They just voted to receive & file his presentation.

I admire Mr. Jan Radwanski for his dedication to the well being of our children s and of our community. I don’t know if he supports some of my points of view or none of it. I just know that he is a great citizen of Moose Jaw. I am also very appreciative of his new web site that offers simple and short information about this whole situation in regard to this Joint school project in Westheath. He sure knows much more than I do about this project.

I do invite anyone to look at his web site to learn about this project of the join-use school & about

utes? You can credit the extra time back to the app.

The app also allows you to purchase parking permits for city lots and fares for the bus, although I haven’t used these features.

Do you want worry free parking? Get the Hot Spot parking app. Try it. You’ll like it.

Darren Pecusik

this bylaw 5642. See what he believes we should be doing about our school needs. You can also add your name to the petition he started. If the future of our children, our school & our community are truly dear to your heart, please check the web site out. Change.org /janradwanski then click on oppose rezoning / closing of Westheath Park in order to.

I do hope that we will stop this joint school project in the Westheath area for the well-being of our City.

Thanks again for taking the time to hear my point of view.

Michel Labonte

Resident creates petition opposing closure of Westheath Park, area rezoning for new school

Frustrated that city council refused to hold public hearings on the proposed joint-use school location, Jan Radwanski has started an online petition opposing the rezoning and closure of Westheath Park.

Radwanski created a petition on change.org titled, “Oppose rezoning/closing of Westheath Park in order to build a 1,100-student mega school.” The petition explains the history behind the desire for a new South Hill school — planning started in 2014 — and outlines the negatives of constructing it in the Westheath neighbourhood.

It also highlights how the project contradicts the City of Moose Jaw’s Official Community Plan (OCP), specifically sections 7.2.2(b), 7.2.2(d) and 13.2(a).

Prairie South School Division and Holy Trinity Catholic School Division

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

plan to close two schools each — Westmount, Empire, Sacred Heart and St. Mary — as part of the project.

“Our community needs to be consulted on such an important choice of what elementary school renewal is for South Hill and where the new facilities are to be located,” the petition concludes.

Radwanski planned to present the petition at council’s regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 13 during public hearings on the area’s rezoning and closure of Westheath Park.

Council’s decision to not hold public consultations about the project’s location — as Bylaw No. 5642 dictates — and to fast-track the rezoning and closure procedures prompted the petition, Radwanski said by email. He believes the petition allows residents to voice their concerns

Local house values increase over five year period

Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

An average home bought in Moose Jaw five years ago has gained 5.77 per cent in value since then, according to data from the Saskatchewan Realtors’ Association.

The association’s benchmark price, which is an average over 12 months, was $228,200 in Moose Jaw at the end of December 2022, an increase of more than $14,000.

The benchmark price tacked on 2.2 per cent in January.

Prices varied among different categories of housing; $272,600 for a three bedroom bungalow, $225,800 for a

one-storey, and $215,766 for a two-storey house.

The average price of a house across Saskatchewan fell four per cent in January to $229,800.

Five regions experienced price gains in January: Prince Albert, up 55 per cent; Swift Current, up seven per cent; Saskatoon, up two per cent; and Moose Jaw up 2.2 per cent.

Largest decreases were 14 per cent in Regina and 12 per cent in Southeastern Saskatchewan.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net

about the planned rezoning and closure of Westheath Park.

An online petition is the best way the community can collectively show its opposition, considering the city’s timeline to submit comments allows only two weeks for responses, he continued.

By raising awareness and creating a petition, Radwanski hopes city councillors understand that this issue needs to be better reviewed.

“City council needs to stand up for Moose Jaw and see that the spirit of the community plan is followed,” he said. “This project goes against that plan, (which) asks that schools that serve more than one neighbourhood be centrally located, so we don’t have to bus 750 students and create traffic congestion in this hard-to-reach site.”

The OCP states that schools must be located next to parks and municipal reserves, but this proposed site will be an island in southwest Moose Jaw, Radwanski remarked. The site will be fenced, have zero parks, and not be adjacent to existing parks such as Smith, Optimist and Parkhill “that offer a superior environment for activities and learning.”

The former PSSD trustee is hopeful his petition will make a difference. He noted that this is the first attempt by both school divisions and the Ministry of Education to construct a new school in Moose

Jaw using this process.

The three educational parties believe the school will cost about $44 million to build, while Radwanski expects it to cost $50 million.

“… (that) is an important expenditure in our city. Those are taxpayer dollars that are paid by Moose Jaw residents and we need to see if this project is not only a good idea but is of good value to our community,” he said.

The project proposes creating “a huge 1,100-student campus” with two pre-kindergarten to Grade 8 schools — public and Catholic — on a hard-to-reach site with no amenities such as parks, ball fields, soccer pitches, playgrounds, tracks spray parks or paddling pools, Radwanski continued.

He pointed out that during the only public consultation meeting held — in June 2019 — residents ranked Westmount and Sacred Heart as the preferred sites. However, a KPMG report — that the public has never seen — presented to PSSD trustees received in September 2019 proposed only Westheath.

“Are we making Moose Jaw an attractive place to raise a family by closing four long-standing schools and merging them at one isolated location with 21 buses and a tiny schoolyard with no adjacent facilities like Smith, Optimist and Parkhill?” Radwanski added. “Moose Jaw needs a say!”

Here are some recent examples of city vehicles parked for the night in front of residences in Moose Jaw

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

The next regular council meeting is MONDAY, FEB. 13. Developing another major attraction to bring in more tourists and ensuring the downtown remains viable are some suggestions residents want the new Official Community Plan (OCP) to address.

The City of Moose Jaw has been hosting stakeholder sessions to acquire feedback about what people want to see in an updated OCP and zoning bylaw. One recent workshop — held at the Grant Hall Hotel on Feb. 9 — focused on tourism, services and shops.

Consultants Brenda and Allan Wallace with Wallace Insights hosted the workshop and explained how Moose Jaw could look in the future. Afterward, attendees viewed interactive display boards and offered suggestions on affordability, transportation, natural resources and future trends.

The tourism and visitor economies are vital to Moose Jaw’s economic well-being and are the biggest employers here, David Wood, general manager of Temple Gardens Mineral Spa and member of Visit Moose Jaw, told the Express.

Tourism is one reason people come here for the first time, while the industry is a small ecosystem where all businesses hurt if one suffers, he continued. The community is worse off when a shop or café sits vacant or closes. Conversely, coffee shops, restaurants and stores usually flourish when Temple Gardens is full.

It’s important for the OCP to address tourism and the service industries because that process shouldn’t be haphazard, Wood stated. A new tourist-focused hotel should be constructed where there are attractions, while space should be set aside for another major anchor attraction. Thus, the zoning bylaw should help facilitate those issues.

When asked what major attraction he wanted to see, Wood chuckled and said that’s for more creative minds to determine, considering he’s more of an accountant.

“If there is a great idea out there that somebody has, Moose Jaw is a great place to bring it. You’ve got the spa, the casino, the tunnels, but another anchor attraction would help,” he added.

Creating another tourist attraction and keeping downtown viable important, residents say

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

that gets done instead of piecing it out like it is now.”

Discussions about future trends also interested L’Heureux-Mason, who noted the community no longer has the luxury of being left behind.

“I think we have to be rowing the boat in the same direction,” she remarked, noting focusing on industry is important since the community could attract more young people by offering $50-an-hour jobs.

While transportation may not be important to tourists since they drive here, what is important is their ability to walk downtown, which is one of the community’s best assets, said L’Heureux-Mason. She normally tells visitors they can park their vehicles all day and not have to move them while wandering downtown.

Besides building up the downtown, city hall should consider developing more attractions on Thatcher Drive so tourists can enjoy that area if they stay in nearby hotels, she added. Also, by improving tourism-employed workers’ lives, they will enjoy their jobs more and develop new ideas to benefit the city.

Moose Jaw is already a great community, so the municipality should ensure the updated OCP doesn’t lead to unnecessary wholesale changes, added Wood. Furthermore, discussions about having higher population density would require the construction of tall tower blocks, making Moose Jaw look quite different and requiring a community discussion.

Jacki L’Heureux-Mason, executive director of Tourism Moose Jaw, thought it was great that these stakeholder meetings were future-focused. One comment from the Wallaces that caught her attention was how city council believes the population is unlikely to grow anymore.

“I completely disagree. Just because we haven’t doesn’t mean we can’t. And I think that conversations like this really allow people to start thinking about ways we can really, seriously grow our population,” she said.

“I don’t think any of us want an 80,000-person city, but a 50,000-person city sounds like a lot of infrastructure

Jacki L’Heureux-Mason, executive director of Tourism Moose Jaw, gives her opinion on how to keep Moose Jaw affordable.

Budget rewind: New bridge for

won’t happen until population grows

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

It would likely cost $130 million to construct another bridge that connects South Hill to the north side, but such a project hinges on a larger population and upgrades to Highway 1.

During a May 2022 regular council meeting, city council approved a motion to discuss during its 2023 budget meetings the possibility of constructing a new bridge that joined Coteau Street West with Thatcher Drive Northwest along 16th Avenue Southwest.

The 2012 transportation master plan discusses building a bridge at 16th Avenue Southwest, but population growth — 45,000 to 70,000 people — and future connections or interchanges with Highway 1 must first occur, a budget report explained. The investment would only occur once officials had decided to connect the Trans-Canada Highway to 16th Avenue Northwest, 24th Avenue Northwest or 32nd Avenue Northwest.

The plan indicated it would cost $101 million — in 2012 dollars — to build a new bridge, but inflation has pushed that cost to $130 million without factoring in contingency funding, the report continued. City hall would require financial support from the federal and provincial governments to make this bridge happen.

The cost to build just the bridge itself is significant, while it doesn’t include other related road renovations and width upgrades necessary to support such a project, city administration told council during the budget meeting.

Mayor Clive Tolley appreciated learning what it would take to grant more access to southwest Moose Jaw, pointing out that traffic is regularly congested at Coteau Street West and Ninth Avenue Southwest and people often ask him about another route.

He noted that the city would have to grow significantly to attract attention and money from other levels of government.

“We’re not that far away from getting to 45,000 people, but we need to get there and to have those people in place in this community before we are even in a position to build this bridge,” he added.

The Ministry of Highways is performing a corridor study of Highway 1 through the community, so council needs to see the report’s results and what areas are picked for improvements before making any decisions about bridges, said Coun. Crystal Froese. Moreover, this initiative would be a “generational project” because of its cost.

This report is good to remind council and the pub-

sale of the above lands acquired through tax enforcement proceedings.

The Village reserves the right to reject any or all bids received.

Tender packages can be picked up either at the Village of Marquis’s o ce, or at the law rm of Grayson & Company.

Tenders must be submitted to the law rm of Grayson & Company.

The deadline for receipt of tenders is Friday, March 10, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.

Forward tenders and inquiries to:

Idowu F. Adetogun Grayson & Company Barristers and Solicitors 350 Langdon Crescent Moose Jaw, SK S6H

lic that it’s not just what’s happening on South Hill that matters, but also what’s happening on the surrounding highways, said Coun. Heather Eby. This will be a much bigger project than simply making a faster way to reach South Hill.

“I really appreciated the report … . Maybe we’ll see a bridge in the future,” she added.

Coun. Doug Blanc thought residents should use 24th Avenue Southwest more often but acknowledged that the problem with that road is trains regularly slow down to half a kilometre an hour and block the crossing for long periods.

“Yes, residents have to stop if there’s a train there, but it still is another access to get to South Hill,” he said, adding once the ministry has completed its report, council could look at upgrading that road.

Council then voted to receive and file the budget report and moved on to another topic.

Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Consultants Allan Wallace (foreground) and his wife Brenda speak to residents about the process for updating the Official Community Plan and the desired feedback the city wants from residents. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

BIZWORLD

By Ron Walter For Moose Jaw Express

Some thoughts on RRSPs or TFSAs for retirement planning

February is the month when some savers take the last minute to put money into their retirement plans.

Aside from how much one can save and the limits allowed, savers have two main options – Registered Retirement Saving Plan (RRSP) or Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA).

Both are vehicles intended to encourage saving for retirement. The question arises which one is the best?

Analysts suggest the RRSP, which offers an immediate income tax break with taxes paid when money is withdrawn in retirement, is best for low income people who don’t expect much higher income during their career.

The TFSA, according to analysts, is better for people expecting higher income in later years.

Taxes are already paid on money put into a TFSA so no taxes are owed on withdrawal. Withdrawal from a TFSA can be made at any time for any reason. Withdrawals from RRSPs are limited in scope with eventual minimum withdrawals required.

The tax argument makes sense on paper. But low income earners have difficulty salting away any money. Few of us can predict how high income will become over time.

Saving for retirement with one of these plans re-

quires thoughts on which is best or your personal situation. If one can afford savings for both that would be ideal.

The TFSA is more flexible on withdrawals and offers tax free income. Speaking personally, if my retirement had been with a TFSA my standard of living would be much higher.

Another option worth investigating is the Saskatchewan Pension Plan, which was set up in the 1980s for people who had no pension plan but wanted something more than the Old Age and Canada Pension Plans.

Once the decision, RRSP or TFSA, is made the concern becomes where do I place the money to earn the best return.

Safe Guaranteed Income Certificates (GICs) are offering four per cent interest, sometimes better, but no gain on the principal.

Putting money into risky stock market, especially for younger savers, might be a good idea. The market return has been terrible this last year and may not be any better in 2023.

One of the investment companies recently sent clients a graph that shows $10,000 invested at Dec. 31-2001 to Dec. 31-2021, and how major stock markets averages have performed.

Canada’s S&P TSX index went from $10,000 to $40,300 in that 20-year period. There were ups and downs. The biggest down was the 2008 crash when the $20,000 gain went back to $10,000. The loss was recovered in two years.

The stock market is the best bet for the biggest gains, but also the riskiest. Get a good adviser, one you trust, not one who is a friend.

A few possibilities chosen from the S&P TSX index follow.

For income, some long term growth and stable companies: Telus, $28.07, yield 4.9 per cent; Enbridge, $54.63, yield, 6.5 per cent; Imperial Oil, $68.57 yield, 2.6 per cent

For growth consider online bank, Equitable Trust, $66.05, yield, 1.9 per cent; clothing retailer Aritzia, $47.52, no yield; Parkland Industries, $30.62 yield, 4.1 per cent; and Pet Valu, $40.12 yield .6 per cent.

Be sure and do your homework first and get a knowledgeable trusted adviser.

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

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Hometown Fair Planning Well Underway

Hometown Fair To Be A Four Day Event After A Successful Trial Run Last Year.

With just over four and a half months until the gates open for the 2023 version, the Moose Jaw Hometown Fair is starting to take shape.

The Hometown Fair will be a four-day affair running from June 22nd - 25th.

The decision to have a four-day Fair in 2023 came after an initial four-day trial run in 2022 that was a success, said Moose Jaw Exhibition Company general manager George Fowler.

“Last year’s four day Hometown Fair was trialed after a request from the midway operator West Coast Amusements,” he said.

West Coast Amusements will once again be the Midway operator with a similar number of rides as last year.

“We were satisfied with the number of rides last year and we will get an equivalent number of rides this year.”

Fowler said last year’s trial four-day run spread the number of Fair attendees out over the four days but overall there were more people through the gates.

By Robert Thomas

“Although there were more people through the gates, a four day Fair does add costs.

More must be spent on entertainment and security,” he said.

The other trade off is an extra day potentially allows

for making up a day lost to weather.

“If you lose a day to weather you hopefully have an extra day to make it up.

“Rain and wind is the enemy of the whole fair,” Fowler said.

Getting food vendors with a four day fair is not a problem.

Presently, the Hometown Fair is just starting to look at booking the entertainment.

So far, the only confirmed entertainment is the highly popular K-9 stars that will be returning.

Additionally, a hunter jumper horse series event will be held in conjunction with the fair.

The majority of entertainment - including the marquee main entertainment is yet to be booked.

As in was last year, the Hometown Fair will be a family friendly event.

https://www.mjindependent.com/lifestyles/2023/2/10/ e1k0oz591wogwyejxwx0kyx2g4wj14

The 2022 Hometown Fair - Mj Independent File Photo

A Special Pull-out Feature

Six money moves for a successful 2023

This year can be an opportunity to either right the ship or continue building on your momentum.

Last year hit Canadians pretty hard. Depending on your situation, you might have slid further into debt, or simply failed to save as much as you wanted to. If you were one of the lucky ones, you were able to buy a house or pay down debt. Whatever your situation, there are likely some short- or long-term financial goals you want to achieve in 2023.

Whether you’re worried about a recession or you’re looking to plan for your retirement, the money moves you make now can have a significant impact on your finances in the new year and beyond. Here are six tips to help you get started on the right path in 2023.

Focus on debt repayment

Getting ahead is impossible if you have consumer debt, especially with interest rates rising like they have in 2022. As a general rule, you should always focus on high interest debt first, such as credit card debt and consumer loans. One way to bring your balance down is to take out a line of credit from your financial institution. This will allow you to transfer your credit card debt to your line of credit, which typically has a lower interest rate. Since interest rates have been rising in Canada, the rates offered with lines of credit have also increased. That said, they’ll still be lower than most credit cards.

Set

some realistic savings goals

Generally speaking, you want to set some short- and long-term goals. Depending on where you are starting from, this could be building an emergency fund or investing for the first time. The idea here is that by having financial goals in place, every money decision

By Barry Choi, Moneywise.ca

you make moving forward will make a difference. For example, if you know you want to save a down payment for a home, you may decide to eat out less since every dollar spent is being taken away from your ultimate objective. Also, make sure you’re using the right accounts for your goals. The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) contribution limit for 2023 is $6,500. Check your contribution room with the Canada Revenue Agency, as you may have more contribution room you haven’t used yet. TFSAs are a great place for both short and longterm investing. If your focus is on retirement planning, use your Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). For those planning to buy their first home, keep an eye out for the new Tax-Free First Home Savings Account, which should be available in the spring of 2023.

Buy in bulk

Canadian food inflation has been down month-overmonth, but it’s still up more than 10% compared to the same time last year. To combat this inflation, consider buying in bulk whenever certain items go on sale. Some of the more expensive items you should target include meat, coffee, pasta, and butter. Pasta alone saw a 44% price increase.

addition, some libraries offer transit cards, and attraction passes for free.

If that wasn’t enough to bring you back, note that many libraries also offer free on-site education programs and activities for kids and adults. It’s worth checking to see what yours offers, as there might be things you would never have expected.

Put a stop to your impulse buying

Whether it be a $5 or $500 purchase, impulse buys can destroy your wallet. If you find yourself pulling out your card far too often, set a purchase limit for yourself that requires you to wait a certain time before you buy something. For example, you could tell yourself that you’ll wait a week before buying any non-essential item that costs $100 or more. If that week passes, and you still want the item, then buy it. That said, there’s a good chance you’ll realize that you don’t actually need the purchase. If a week seems extreme, set a 24- or 48hour rule instead.

Even though you may have already set a goal to reduce your impulse buys, you may need to take things a step further. It might be a good idea to ban yourself from certain stores or aisles. For example, the record shop, Amazon, or the snacks aisle. Let’s be honest, there are just some things we can’t resist. Once the item is in front of us, we find ways to justify the purchase. If you don’t expose yourself to these situations, you’ll end up spending less.

Don’t be afraid to spend a little

Use your local library more

Without a doubt, libraries are the single best resource to save money. These days, libraries offer more than just books and free newspapers. You can now get ebooks, DVDs, and even video games, often digitally. In

While the focus of this list has been saving money, it makes sense to dedicate some of your funds to hobbies, activities with your family or things that will be meaningful to you. There’s no point in working hard and hoarding all of your money if you can’t enjoy yourself. If you keep your short- and long-term financial goals at the forefront, you can responsibly set money aside to go out with friends, or take a long awaited vacation. With some discipline and planning, you can enjoy your money while also watching it grow.

https://moneywise.ca/managing-money/budgeting/ money-moves-2023

How To Teach Your Kids Good Money Habits

By Cameron Huddleston

As a parent, you want the best for your children and you want to lay a foundation that they can build upon to do well in life.

If you want to play a key role in shaping your children’s feelings, thinking and values about money, you need to give them the gift of financial literacy from an early age. Here’s how.

Start With the Basics at a Young Age

The earlier you start a child’s financial education process, the better. Lessons should begin before age seven, because research shows that money habits and attitudes are already formed by then.

Once your kids are old enough to know they shouldn’t be sticking pennies in their mouths, you should introduce them to coins and cash. Explain what money is and how it is used. Actually, showing them how money works is more effective. So let them see you making purchases with cash.

Instill a Habit of Saving

Your kids’ early interactions with money will likely involve spending. They see you using it to purchase things, including things for them. So it’s important to teach them from a young age that money isn’t just for spending—they should be saving money regularly, also.

Learning to save isn’t just an essential money habit. Saving teaches discipline and delayed gratification. Saving teaches goal-setting and planning. Saving stresses being prepared. Saving builds security and independence.

Help your kids get in the habit of saving by giving them a piggy bank or savings jar where they can deposit coins or cash. Then use short, simple messages to encourage your kids.

With young kids, though, you’ll likely have more luck teaching them to save for short-term goals—such as a toy they really want—rather than for the future. Parents also can encourage their kids to save more by

agreeing to match the amount they save dollar for dollar or by a certain percentage.

Create

Opportunities to Earn Money

Kids need to have money of their own so they can learn how to make decisions about using it. An allowance can accomplish that. However, you should consider requiring your kids to do certain chores to earn their allowance, although kids should do other tasks without compensation as being a part of the family.

Learning how to budget now will help them when they enter the real world. Allow your kids to make decisions about their money as soon as they begin to earn an allowance and help them understand that they only have that much money to spend so they need to make good decisions. For every choice they make, there will be a repercussion. Personal finance is about decisions.

Show Kids the Value of Giving

If you value giving to others, you can instill that value in your children by helping make it a habit for them from an early age. Help your children plan their giving by discussing what groups or causes they want to support.

Model Good Financial Behavior

Canada Pension Plan

Includes the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) retirement pension and disability, children’s and survivor benefits.

February 24, 2023

March 29, 2023

April 26, 2023

May 29, 2023

June 28, 2023

July 27, 2023

August 29, 2023

September 27, 2023

October 27, 2023

November 28, 2023

December 20, 2023

Old Age Security

Includes Old Age Security pension, Guaranteed Income Supplement, Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor.

February 24, 2023

March 29, 2023

April 26, 2023

May 29, 2023

June 28, 2023

Help

Kids Learn to Make Smart Spending Decisions

In addition to wanting kids to understand that money is earned, they need to learn how to live within a budget.

Just as important as the lessons you teach your kids about money are the ways you discuss and handle money when you’re around them. For example, if you complain about having to spend too much on certain things and then take your kids on a shopping spree, you’re sending mixed messages. Instead, make sure you model the behaviors around money that you want your children to adopt.

If you want your children to develop good spending and saving habits, they need to see you making smart spending and saving choices. In short, practice what you preach. And preach with consistency. Educating your children about personal finance is a process that can take time. But if you put in the effort and continuously communicate a clear message about money, you will instill good habits that will serve your children well.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/personal-finance/ how-to-teach-your-kids-good-money-habits/

2023 Benefit Payments Calendar

July 27, 2023

August 29, 2023

September 27, 2023

October 27, 2023

November 28, 2023

December 20, 2023

Goods and Services tax / Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) Credit

April 5, 2023

July 5, 2023

October 5, 2023

Veteran disability pension

February 27, 2023

March 30, 2023

April 27, 2023

May 30, 2023

June 29, 2023

July 28, 2023

August 30, 2023

September 28, 2023

October 28, 2023

November 29, 2023

December 21, 2023

Canada child benefit (CCB)

February 20, 2023

March 20, 2023

April 20, 2023

May 19, 2023

June 20, 2023

July 20, 2023

August 18, 2023

September 20, 2023

October 20, 2023

November 20, 2023

December 13, 2023

Saskatchewan Social Services

The new Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) program allows clients to select different payment frequency options, such as monthly, twice per month or weekly payments, to better align with their needs and when their payments are due.

The following 2023 dates apply to Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID:

February (cheques mailed Jan. 25, direct deposit Jan. 30)

March (cheques mailed Feb. 22, direct deposit Feb. 27)

April (cheques mailed March 27, direct deposit March 30)

May (cheques mailed Apr. 24, direct deposit Apr. 27)

June (cheques mailed May 25, direct deposit May 30)

July (cheques mailed June 26, direct deposit June 29)

August (cheques mailed July 25, direct deposit July 28)

September (cheques mailed Aug. 25, direct deposit Aug. 30)

October (cheques mailed Sep. 25, direct deposit Sep. 28)

November (cheques mailed Oct. 26, direct deposit Oct. 30)

December (cheques mailed Nov. 27, direct deposit Nov. 29)

Pre-Retirement Planning - Are you ready?

These volatile markets are giving all investors pause for thought, but for those approaching retirement, they underscore the importance of implementing a solid pre-retirement plan.

Estimate your retirement cost of living

Now is the time to make a realistic assessment of your anticipated retirement living expenses, both essential and discretionary. Even though assets such as your home and cottage contribute to your net worth, they won’t normally contribute to cash flow and so should be left out of any calculations except as a source of expenses. A comprehensive estimate would also include anticipated lifestyle expenses and annual budgeting for travel, club memberships and so on.

Identify Your Retirement Income Stream

It is important to not only understand where your income will come from, but also to identify whether your income sources are exhaustible or lifelong. You may have income streams from non-registered trading and savings accounts, your TFSA, your registered

retirement plans (RRSPs and employersponsored pension plans), and income from existing insurance policies and annuities. Don’t forget your entitlement from the Canada/Quebec Pension Plan and other government supplements (OAS/GIS). Remember: with the possible exception of insurance benefits, most other income will be taxable.

The estimates of your monthly and annual cash flow needs plus your anticipated after-tax income from all sources will give you an idea of how prepared you are to finance your retirement. If your estimates show more money going out than money coming in, then the next step is to start closing that gap.

Curb Your Liabilities

There is good debt (mortgages) and bad debt (credit cards), but it’s all a drain on your finances in retirement. Inflation and cost of living expenses will fluctuate. Eliminating credit card debt should be a priority. It’s the highest cost debt any consumer has. Work towards paying off the balance every month. Accelerate paying down the mortgage. Use windfalls such as a tax refund, inheritance, bonuses or bi-monthly payments.

Strengthen Your Savings

Once your liabilities are under control, get into the habit of building your financial base by automatically diverting a portion of your income each month into a savings or investment program –

such as your Registered Retirement Plan (RRSP) and/or your Tax Free Savings Account.

Cover Your Insurance Bases

Review your coverage, considering possible life events and potential health care eventualities that may occur between now and your retirement. Prepare for the possibility of catastrophic illness or home care and nursing costs.

Take control of your investments

The stock market ultimately determines whether your investment portfolio can successfully finance your retirement years, but make no mistake—you do have control in terms of the structured diversity and asset allocation that define your portfolio.

The Help of an Experienced Professional Haphazard planning rarely works. Everyone needs a retirement plan that

evolves with changes in their personal lives.

If you would like more information please contact Gale Toews, Financial Advisor, at Gale Toews Private Wealth Management of Raymond James Ltd. at (306)693-4430 to review your total pre-retirement savings and investment program. It’s never to early or too late to start planning for retirement.

This material was prepared by Raymond James Ltd. for use by Gale Toews, Financial Advisor of Raymond James Ltd. It is provided for informational purposes only. Statistics, factual data and other information are from sources Raymond James believes to be reliable but their accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Securities offered through Raymond James Ltd., member Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Insurance products and services are offered through Raymond James Financial Planning Ltd., not a member Canadian Investor Protection Fund

Article supplied by Gale Toews Private Wealth Management of Raymond James

What is the actual cost of preparing my own taxes?

“Tax accountants are expensive and can be intimidating.” “Online and store bought programs are cheap, I’d rather do it myself.” “My tax situation is very simple, it can’t be that hard.”

These are common thoughts among Canadians across the country, and although there are some tax returns that are simple enough to be done on a program bought at Walmart or Staples, far too many individuals who attempt to file their own taxes miss out on hundreds of dollars of potential tax savings, or run into situations they didn’t expect. These people unknowingly pay the government much more than their required share of the tax burden and have no idea they are doing it. Having helped over 12,000 individuals file their taxes accurately, here are a few of the many things we see on a regular basis:

Missed Credits:

With continuously changing tax credits, rules and programs, the do-itat-home programs often miss some of the potential credits you might qualify for. We find this to be especially true in Saskatchewan, as most of these programs are designed to be dispersed country wide and put more emphasis on the tax credits for the larger population provinces.

One such credit that was commonly missed by individuals in Moose Jaw

By Mike Biette, CPA, CMA

and small neighboring communities over the past few years is the extra 10% supplement on the Climate Action Incentive (Carbon Tax Rebate). If you live in Saskatchewan, but not in or close to Regina or Saskatoon you likely qualified for an extra 10% bonus on your Carbon Tax rebates. This could amount to as much as $176 for an individual and up to $440 for a family with 2 kids – of extra money voluntarily donated to the government, by not properly completing this section of your tax return. Other tax credits often missed or claimed incorrectly include: the Saskatchewan Graduate Retention Program, Child credits, the home renovation tax credit, and the recently re-introduced Sask Child Arts Credit for qualifying families. We have also helped several tax payers who didn’t realize they may qualify for the Disability Tax Credit, and have seen them receive a one time reimbursement of up to $20,000 for extra taxes they didn’t need to pay, and save over $2,000 each year going forward.

Mis-Applied (poorly timed)

Deductions:

Overclaimed RRSP’s are one of the most

D. B Cr ook Acc ou ntin g C PA Pr of . C o r p .

common mis-applied deductions that if done properly could save individuals large amounts of tax. There are several critical thinking steps that go into determining the right amount of RRSP’s to deduct each year. While you have to report each year how many RRSP’s you contributed, you are not required to “deduct” them all in that year. The right amount to deduct in a year may be determined by such things as the current tax bracket you are in, expected income in the following year, as well as if there are children it can even increase your CCB payments if you qualify.

‘But the Government will fix it for me’ “If I make an error on my taxes, the government will just fix it for me, won’t they?” News Flash - CRA DOES NOT have your back!! While they are great at catching when you miss reporting a T4 or other similar income on your return, it is very common for them to add the income but not give you credit for the income tax that was deducted even though this information was available to them on that very same slip.

Save your TIME and unneeded Stress

“But I enjoy doing my taxes”…. Can you think of something you might enjoy

doing more than taxes? Preparing your own taxes not only takes up your time, it can create stress and future headaches hoping you got it all correct. Then if CRA comes back with questions or needs additional information, this can once again consume a substantial amount of extra time during your summer months. Some tax professionals will include this service at no additional cost and deal with the CRA on your behalf.

What to look for in a Tax Professional?

• Years of experience

• Do they stay up to date with training on new tax changes?

• Do they have a second expert to review each file?

• Do they guarantee their work?

• Do they explain your tax questions in simple easy to understand language?

• Do they support you with CRA after your taxes have been filed?

If you’re looking for friendly, local, experienced, and affordable tax professionals to be on your side against CRA, consider trusting the accountants at TaxTeam. With over 125 combined years of tax experience – our team would be glad to help you.

So, what’s the actual cost of doing your own tax return? Well, it changes for each individual, but the benefits and potential savings of finding a trusted tax pro cannot be understated.

too many individuals who attempt to file their own taxes miss out on hundreds of dollars of potential tax savings, or run into situations they didn’t expect.”

Traditional Chinese Lantern Festival held to mark the end of the Chinese New Year

Event held at Grant Hall Hotel on Saturday, Feb. 4 featured buffet, traditional songs and dancing to support Chinese community

Saddman Zaman - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

A Chinese Lantern Festival was hosted by The Moose Jaw Chinese Community Network, along with The Grant Hall Hotel and was held on Saturday, Feb. 4. The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese celebration to mark the end of the Chinese New Year (the Spring Festival).

“People came here to support and enjoy the Chinese Lantern Festival,” CEO of Grant Hall hotel Terry Tian said. “We appreciate all the Chinese Community Network and also the Saskatoon Chinese dancing club.”

Tian’s vision has been to become a bridge between the Chinese community and the rest of the people of Moose Jaw, and offer entertainment for people to enjoy at The Grant Hall hotel.

He says his friends within the community helped him to make the event happen, where people could gather and have a buffet and enjoy the evening.

“I only planted a seed and it’s my friends and staff who have supported me to achieve this,” he said.

Tian said that this is only the second time they have held a Lantern Celebration in Moose Jaw, the last being in 2020. He said it was overwhelming to see so many people gather since the pandemic. “I’m very excited, shocked and surprised that so many friends have come to enjoy with us.”

Mayor Clive Tolley said, “To be invited to this Chinese Lantern Festival hosted by the MJ Chinese Association Inc. and the Grant Hall hotel is very nice. The staff and management here are very welcoming.”

One of the founding members of the Saskatoon Chinese Dance Club Hong Jing said, “The Lantern Festival is very important for the Chinese people. This is our second time coming here after COVID and we’re happy to come.”

Jing says they are enjoying the city, the people and the 100-year history of the hotel.

President of the MJ Chinese Community Network Kelvin Hu said,“I’m glad to see the big turnout for tonight’s event. We were really surprised to see so many people actually came to join us for the celebration.”

After a delicious buffet, a traditional dance was performed and violin and Erhu performances were performed by Andy

Zhang and Jenny Liu, as well as other song performances. All the dance performances were performed by Saskatoon Chinese Dance Club members

The event was planned by Wilson Fang, Kelvin Hu, Shirley Harrison, Tao Lin, Yanxia Liu, Ning Long and Terry Tian.

Supporting sponsors included the Delight Café & Wok, Grant Hall Hotel, Fifth Avenue Collection, Landscape Restaurant, Murray, Primary Eye Care Centre, Suza, RBC Dominion Securities, Tunnels of Moose Jaw, The Mad Greek, Jade Garden Restaurant, Rodos Pizza, Prairie Bee, Envi Jewellers and Realty Executives.

“I’m just grateful for this celebration of the Chinese Lantern Festival [and it] will bring luck in 2023; [I] wish everyone good fortune and health for themselves and their families.”

Rapid Access Counselling by Family Services offers drop-in sessions at library

Moose Jaw Family Services (MJFS), which provides a wide range of support services in the city, now offers Rapid Access Counselling sessions at their Main Street office and at the Moose Jaw Public Library (MJPL).

“The RAC (Rapid Access Counselling) program came to be about four years ago. It’s new to Moose Jaw, Gravelbourg, and Assiniboia as of this past July 2022,” said Kandice Hebert, a social worker who is the counselling co-ordinator at MJFS. “It’s a partnership between Family Services Saskatchewan and the health region, and funded by the health region.”

Services provided by the program are completely free, Hebert said, with 30 service partners across the province providing in-person and virtual counselling services.

Counselling works best when the client and counsellor can meet consistently and build a relationship. However, that often involves long waitlists — if an emergency session is needed, the RAC program can connect a client online with any service provider in the province to minimize delays.

“People are able to connect with the service and book themselves by going to counsellingconnectsask.ca. Our services are prioritized for individuals who do not have access to workplace benefits, live on a fixed or low income, or who otherwise would experience long waits to use another local service. But, it’s open to everybody,” Hebert explained.

Potential clients can also call 306-

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

630-8325 to book a session or find a dropin location. Drop-in sessions in Moose Jaw are Mondays and Wednesdays at the MJFS office at 200 Main Street East, and Fridays at the Moose Jaw Public Library.

Moose Jaw Family Services is a community-based non-profit that has been operating since the ‘70s. They offer diverse family support options including supervised visits, active parenting classes for all ages, a resume program, and more.

MJFS workers are experts who use research-based methods to strengthen their clients’ relationships. Hebert said that the range of services at MJFS is so broad that they can find a way to help virtually anyone struggling with their relationships or with basic life skills.

“If anyone ever has any questions about how we might help them, we definitely encourage them to reach out and connect with us. That’s what our agency is about, is looking at what gaps exist in the community here and trying to find the right programs to … best support and build a stronger and healthier community.”

For example, MJFS offers a young parent program that teaches expecting or new parents between the ages of 13 and 21 the skills necessary for independent living and parenting, promoting normal development in their babies, and stabilizing and improving their own situations.

Another program is LIS, a six-week Living Independent Skills course for 15to 19-year-olds either living on their own or preparing to live on their own. LIS teaches topics like budgeting, opening a

bank account, finding an apartment and understanding renter rights, nutrition, and many more.

“A lot of our referrals come from the high schools, and from the Section 10 program at the Ministry of Social Services as well,” Hebert added. “Some of those most basic skills, they seem simple, but they can be the most difficult and daunting things for teenagers to figure out.”

The MJFS agency and its provincial associates have seen a strong increase in use of the RAC program since it began. Hebert noted that unlike many other mental health programs, RAC is able to grow with need — if Moose Jaw’s Rapid Access Counselling client base continues to grow, more counsellors will be hired.

“Right now, we only have one RAC counsellor, but there’s always room to add more to the team based off of utilization,” she explained. “Things are getting full across the province, but the really beautiful thing about the RAC program is that we monitor that growth and the health region and the provincial government have really been good at supporting it.”

MJFS also has a new program coming in April called the Nobody’s Perfect Parenting Course. Developed by Health Canada and facilitated in Saskatchewan by the Sask. Prevention Institute, the Nobody’s Perfect course meets the needs of young, single, low-income, socially or geographically isolated parents, or parents with limited formal education.

Call 306-694-8133 to see if Moose Jaw Family Services can help you.

Saskatoon Chinese Dance Club came to perform Chinese traditional dances

Andy Zhang playing the violin.

Saskatoon Chinese Dance Club performing ‘Faraway’

Caroline singing.

Jenny Liu playing the Erhu.

The Rapid Access Counselling information booth at the Moose Jaw Public Library on Fridays. Counselling sessions are available by appointment or drop-in (photo by Gordon Edgar)

The Moose Jaw Family Services office at 200 Main Street East (MJFS/Facebook)

Remembering the Fallen, Squadron Leader Hugh W. Horsley, AFC, RAFVR

By Richard Dowson, Moose Jaw

Researching is fun. It’s like going on a Road-Trip and visiting all the second hand stores and museums in Saskatchewan. The topic never matters – the journey of ‘discovery’ does.

I try and confine my research to Moose Jaw and Saskatchewan but every once and a while I find stuff that is too interesting to overlook. Like this photo of three young girls standing on the remains of crashed RAF Lancaster Bomber QR-K, serial number LM718.

The children are the van Hock girls. Their parents owned the farm where the bomber crashed.

The story of RAF Lancaster Bomber LM718 is fairly straight forward.

On the night of September 23, 1944 it took off from RAF Squadron 61 Base at Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire at 19:17 in support of troops and operations in Europe.

The Pilot was Squadron Leader Hugh Wilkinson Horsley, AFC, 68786 RAF. An experienced, dedicate and decorated airman.

The mission was “… to breach the Dortmund- ems Canal at Ladbergen just to the N of Munster.” (RAF Command).

At 22:40 their Bomber was seriously damaged by a Luftwaffe Heinkel He 219 A-2 Night-Fighter crewed Hauptmann (Captain) Modrow and Feldwebel Schneider and operating out of an airfield at Mun-

The photo appears in an incredible little Blog that can be found at: https://bakelin-ww2.blogspot.com/p/lancaster-lm718-information.html

ster-Handorf, Germany.

The order was given to abandon the aircraft by the Captain, Squadron Leader H. W. Horsley.

Of the seven-man crew, two were unable to bail out and were killed when the Bomber crashed on the farm van Hock near Deurne, Holland. Two were taken prisoner and three; S/L Horsley, P/O C.A. Cawthrone and Tail Gunner Sgt. R. T. Hoskisson survived; evaded capture and got back to allied forces. The three were

returned to 61 Squadron in England.

P/O C.A. Cawthorne, DFM survived the war. Tail Gunner Sgt. R. T. Hoskisson rejoined S/L Horsley on more operations.

Sergeant R.T. Hoskisson was aboard Lancaster NF912, 61 Squadron on the night of Feb 1, 1945 when they took off from RAF Skellingthorpe at 15:42. They were fully loaded with bombs. Shortly after takeoff the outer port engine quit. The pilot, S/L Horsley brought the aircraft around to the Base for a belly landing on

grass. They slid across the grass and then hit a taxi-way. The bomb load exploded.

Rear gunner Sergeant R.T. Hoskisson was badly burned but thrown clear. He recovered and survived the war. All others on board were killed.

Squadron Leader Hugh Wilkinson Horsley, AFC escaped to fight another day and died tragically doing so. Such was the character of so many in World War Two.

Credit: Aircrew Remembered MJ Story Squadron Leader Horsley RAF 20230130 02 file

Warriors spit pair of games in WHL action over past week

Moose Jaw takes 6-3 home ice win over Edmonton before falling 8-4 in Regina

The Warriors rolled to a 6-3 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings at the Moose Jaw Events Centre on Wednesday, Feb. 8 before dropping an 8-4 decision to the Regina Pats on Saturday in Regina.

Those results weren’t the main topic of conversation surrounding the team by the end of the weekend, though.

Mere hours prior to the game in Regina, the WHL announced that four players -- goaltender Connor Ungar, defenceman Max Wanner, defenceman Marek Howell and forward Lynden Lakovic -- had all been suspended pending an investigation into potential violations of team rules and the WHL Standard of Conduct.

The foursome sat out their first game

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

on Wednesday night, and will remain suspended indefinitely pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The Warriors were able to get along fine without them against Edmonton, as Jagger Firkus put up his first hat trick of the season and Moose Jaw would roll to a comfortable win.

Edmonton’s Loick Daigle scored the game’s opening goal midway through the first, but the Warriors didn’t panic and just kept plugging away until they broke through.

“When they score a goal I think that’s when a lot of us put pressure on ourselves to go out there and do our job,” Firkus said of the quick response. “There have been a lot of games where we’ve been down and come back to win, and while a lot of teams would give up a bit after getting down like that, it’s great to see that we don’t give up.”

Logan Dowhaniuk, Brayden Yager and Atley Calvert scored the other goals for Moose Jaw, who led 2-1 after the first and 3-2 through two before pulling away in the final frame.

Ryder Korczak had three assists on the night, Denton Matecyhuk added a pair of helpers.

Mason Finley and Gavin Hodnett had

the other goals for the Oil Kings.

Jackson Unger turned aside 17 shots while Logan Cunningham had 36 saves for Edmonton.

It was a far different outcome a few days later in Regina, as despite goals from Yager and Martin Rysavy and a 2-0 lead in the first period, the Pats were able to take control of the game in the second period and cruise to their lopsided win.

Connor Bedard played a huge role in that, picking up a hat trick and five points on the night as Regina scored four second-period goals and added another three in the third.

Rysavy scored his second of the game in the second period and Eric Alarie had the Warriors’ other marker.

Tye Spencer, Zane Rowan, Alexander Suzdalev, Borya Valis and Tanner Howe had Regina’s other goals.

Unger stopped 19 shots, while Drew Sim was solid at the other end of the ice, stopping 39.

The Warriors are now 33-17-0-3 on the season and three points back of Saskatoon for third in the Eastern Conference, seven points up on fifth-place Lethbridge. Moose Jaw returns to action on Friday, Feb, 17 when they host the Winnipeg Ice. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

Winmar Warriors continue winning ways with victories over Regina, Notre Dame

Moose Jaw takes 4-3 overtime win over Pat Canadians on Feb. 8 before overcoming 3-0 deficit, taking 5-3 victory over Hounds

-

The Moose Jaw Winmar Warriors have suddenly become an absolute nightmare for teams in the Sask Male AAA Hockey League.

How else do you describe a team that just keeps finding a way to win, no matter what kind of a lead you might have on them at any point in a game?

Case in point, their two contests this past week.

The Warriors scored the tying goal late and took a 4-3 win in overtime at home against the Regina Pat Canadians on Wednesday, Feb, 8 before overcoming a 3-0 first-period deficit and going on to a 5-3 win over the Notre Dame Hounds in Wilcox on Saturday.

The two victories saw the Warriors extend their winning streak to five games and improve their record to 20-16-0-4, moving into a tie for sixth place in the 12team league with Notre Dame. The victory also gives Moose Jaw wins in nine of their last 10, with eight of those by two goals or less and three coming in overtime.

The fact the contest against Regina got to overtime at all was a product of the kind of desire to win the Warriors have shown throughout their run of success.

After Matthew Ronn gave Regina the lead 21 seconds into the third period, the two teams battled back and forth the rest of the frame before Austin Woodley was finally able to break through for Moose Jaw, scoring the tying goal with 1:04 remaining and goaltender Ryan Bain pulled for the extra attacker.

That set the stage for Liam Fitzpat rick, who would score the game-winner

1:32 into the extra frame.

The contest was tight-checking in the early going, with neither team creating a lot of zone time in the first period. Dylan Duzan was able to break through late in the first period, though scoring the opener with 5:13 to play.

Noah Amundson got that one back for the Pat Canadians 3:34 into the second period, Jake Britlz restored Moose Jaw’s lead three minutes later and Steven Steranka sent the two teams into the third tied 2-2 with a goal at 10:07.

Bain turned aside 29 shots to claim the win, while Tabashniuk had 22 saves at the other end of the ice.

Things were ugly between the War-

not been playing one of the hottest teams in the league.

Connor Miller got one back for the Warriors with a power play goal with 5:22 to play in the first and Liam Fitzpatrick would score the lone goal in the second as the Warriors clawed their way back within one.

That set the stage for the final period, and it was all Warriors.

Miller tied the game with another power-play goal 50 seconds into the proceedings, Grady Hoffman gave Moose Jaw their first lead of the game at the 8:06 mark and Fitzpatrick would finish things off with an empty-net goal with 51 seconds to play.

Fitzpatrick now has a league-best 32 goals on the season and has moved into a tie for the league-scoring lead at 63 points with Saskatoon’s Raiden Zacharias. Miller and Hoffman find themselves tied for sixth overall as Miller has 22 goals and 51 points, Hoffman 18 goals and 51 points. Fitzpatrick has also extended his point streak to 16 games, dating back to Dec. 17.

After the tough start, Warriors goaltender Ryan Hicks was solid for Moose Jaw, turning aside all 17 shots he faced in the final two periods and finishing with 28 saves on the night. The Warriors had 34 shots on Mariko Bercier.

The Winmar Warriors are back in action on Wednesday night when they host Notre Dame. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

tickets at

Randy Palmer

Moose Jaw Express

Denton Mateychuk leads the rush up ice alongside Tate Schofer on Wednesday night. Nick Pettigrew

Lucas Brenton had to show off his agility to corral this puck in front of goaltender Jackson Unger during the game against the Oil Kings. Nick Pettigrew

Brayden Yager and Atley Calvert were all smiles after Yager scored the Warriors’ fifth goal against Edmonton. Nick Pettigrew

Dylan Duzan avoids the check of Regina’s Casey Brown during first-period action.

Warriors goaltender Ryan Bain makes one of his 29 saves on the night against Regina.

Dylan Duzan scores the opening goal on Wednesday on a partial breakaway…

Moose Jaw teams set for upcoming Hockey Sask provincial playoffs

City champions to advance to playdowns beginning next month across province

The Moose Jaw Minor Hockey provincial qualifiers have been completed, with a full slate of teams set to move on to the next round of competition.

In the U13 AA Tier II division, the Warriors White took an 8-2 win over the Warriors Red and followed up with a 4-1 victory to win their qualifier series. They’ll now face Regina in their provincial semifinal, while Saskatoon takes on Prince Albert in the other semi.

The Crushed Can Mighty Ducks had a bit of a battle to emerge as Moose Jaw’s representative in the U13 AA Tier III division. The Ducks opened with an 8-2 win over the Crushed Can Royal Rage and 7-1 victory over the Crushed Can South Stars to advance to the qualifier series against the Crushed Can Predators. There, the Predators took a 4-2 win in the opener before the Mighty Ducks rebounded with

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

advance to the Moose Jaw final, where they battled to a 5-5 tie with the Mad Greek Stealth in the first game. That set up a winner take all battle to decide the spot, and the Mafia would edge the Stealth 2-1. The Stealth will now play Saskatoon in their SHA semifinal, with the winner advancing to face Regina for the provincial title.

6-1 win in the rematch, setting up a winner-take-all mini-game, where the Ducks would come away with a 1-0 victory.

They follow the same schedule as the Tier II division, facing Regina in the semifinal.

The U15 AA Tier III tournament was another close one, with the Mad Greek Mafia punching their ticket to the Sask Hockey playoffs. The Mafia opened with a 2-1 win over the Mad Greek Hornets to

The U15 AA Tier II Warriors received a bye to provincials and will face the winner of Regina and Saskatoon for the championship.

The aforementioned first-round playoff series all have to be completed by Mar. 13, with dates to be scheduled.

In the U13 A Female Division, both the Carpet One Mavericks 1 and 2 should have a legitimate shot at contending for the provincial title, with their first-round series having already been scheduled. The

Mavericks 2 face the Weyburn Wings in their quarter-final, with the first game set for Thursday, Feb, 16 at 7 p.m. at the Bert Hunt before reverting to Weyburn on Sunday, Feb. 26 for Game 2. The winner of that series moves on to face Swift Current in the semifinal.

The Mavericks 1 join Warman in receiving a bye to the semifinal, with the opening game of that series taking place on Saturday, Mar. 4 at 2:45 p.m. followed by Game 2 in Warman on Saturday, Mar. 11.

In the U13 AA, U15 AA , U18 AA and U15 A Female divisions, the Sask AA Hockey League and Sask Female AA Hockey League champions will also claim their respective provincial banners. For updates on all the series as they progress, be sure to visit www.hockeysask.ca.

Central Captures City High School Boys Curling Crown In Dramatic Fashion

“Wow. Whoever said curling is boring needed to watch this game,” one of the spectators said as Central Collegiate captured the Moose Jaw high school boys city curling championship in a dramatic come from behind victory.

A win that came down to the final end, the final rock, the final push of the brush in what was a highly competitive matchup.

The Vanier team, skipped by Kendall Ebbett, had come that close to being crowned city champions.

A matchup Vanier Collegiate made possible by engineering a convincing fifth end handshake victory the day before.

Vanier opened the scoring in the first end when Ebbett, who had the hammer, drew for two.

Vanier would steal a pointing the second end on a clean miss. A shot which if it hadn’t missed could have meant two points for Central as they had second shot in the house.

The third end saw Central score a sin-

By Robert Thomas

gle point with the score now 3 - 1 in Vanier’s favour.

Vanier would pick up a point in the fourth end to make the score Vanier 4 and Central 1.

The fifth end would see Central draw to make the score Vanier 4 and Central 2.

In the sixth end, Vanier would once again take out a Central stone to score one and make the score Vanier 5 and Central 2.

The seventh end came down to a measurement - after Vanier just missed a double - as to who had third shot.

By just a smidgen Central had third shot to score three.

The game was tied 5 - 5 with Vanier having the hammer heading home.

In the final end, Central managed to put one rock in the house and them a log jam developed.

Vanier tried to break up the log-jam but was unsuccessful as Central simply plugged the hole.

Ebbett would throw his final stone be-

City High School Boys Champions Central Collegiate (Left To Right) Skip Lane Burnham, Third Dante Cornea, Second Kai Gauthier, Lead Bradley Murrell, Lead Ryan Kennedy And Coach Arnold Cornea.

ing unable to remove Central’s rocks and punch his way into the house for the win.

Central would win the championship defeating Vanier 6 - 5.

“It was close and we pulled it together in the end,” winning skip Laine Burnham

said in a post game interview.

Burnham said each end was close and competitive which is exactly what Central had expected from Vanier.

Despite trailing throughout the majority of the game, he said he was confident Central could still win.

“It was kind of slipping away but I knew we could get it back.”

The team comes from various grades with the majority in junior high school.

Third Dante Cornea is in Grade 12, second Kai Gauthier is in Grade 10, lead Bradley Murrell and lead Ryan Kennedy are both in Grade 9.

He said with the majority of the team likely back next year there is a great future ahead for the group.

Both teams are off to district play in Gravelbourg this weekend.

https://www.mjindependent.com/ sports/2023/2/7/t7abyzatbv6syf4l62bl3tad813gb3

South Central teams qualify for high school curling regionals

Rinks advance to provincial qualifier tournaments in Moose Jaw during Mar. 3 weekend

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

There was a time when rinks from Moose Jaw and area stood over the provincial high school curling scene like an iron colossus.

Teams skipped by the likes of Joel Jordison and Brock Montgomery would win SHSAA titles year in and year out, with the string of banners in the Moose Jaw Curling Centre offering an idea of just how dominant curlers from the Friendly City were in those days.

Rinks emerging victorious out of the South Central district championship this past weekend will be hoping to repeat those kinds of results in the coming weeks, and will undoubtedly have Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association gold on their minds.

The Avonlea Eagles and Vanier Vikings advanced to regionals in the senior boys division, with Avonlea booking their spot with a 5-4 win over Avonlea in the ‘A’ final and Vanier taking a 12-7 win over

Eyebrow in their qualifier.

The mixed division saw Glentworth roll to a 10-5 win over the Peacock Toilers in the first qualifier, but Peacock was able to rebound with a 10-6 win over Central to move on to the next round of playdowns..

The girls division was played as a round robin, with Peacock posting a 2-0 record thanks to a 7-6 win over Avonlea and 12-7 victory over Cornerstone. The Falcons defeated Avonlea 7-5 to finish 1-1 and land the other regional berth.

The teams will now have a bit of time off to prepare before the regional tournament, which takes place at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre during the Mar. 3 weekend. The top teams there will advance to provincials during the Mar. 10 weekend.

Sask Hockey playoffs logo

Avonlea took first place in the senior boys high school district curling championship.

Vanier finished second in the senior boys high school district tournament.

Peacock will be the top South Central representative in mixed girls at regionals.

Cornerstone finished second in districts and will also advance to regionals

Glentworth claimed the mixed championship at high school curling districts this past weekend.

Peacock were the silver medalists in mixed curling and also move on to the next round

Moose Jaw wrestlers pick up host of medals at O’Neill Titans Classic

Peacock’s Ross, Babich lead way with gold, local competitors bring home eight medals from tournament

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Moose Jaw competitors could find themselves in serious contention for medals at the Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association provincial wrestling championships in a month’s time.

Competitors from Peacock, Central and Vanier brought home eight medals from the O’Neill Titans Wrestling Classic in Regina during the Feb 3-4 weekend, taking a solid step in the right direction toward provincials in just over a month’s time.

Leading the way was Peacock’s Brady Ross in the male 77-kilogram division, as the reigning SHSAA silver medalist would go undefeated on his way to winning gold.

Ross opened the tournament in style, needing only 31 seconds to get past Matthew McConnell from Winnipeg St. Paul’s and followed with a 1:42 pinfall win over Wilkie’s Odin Kent. That sent Ross to the gold medal match, where he’d face a rather familiar opponent -- none other than Toilers teammate Kingston Usher, who had also won his first two matches. Ross would emerge with an 18-7 technical fall to claim gold.

Usher had just as comfortable a run to the title match, rolling to a 10-0 win over O’Neill’s Karl Lopez and needing only 54 seconds to pin Kai Gee from Regina Bal-

four in his semifinal.

Peacock’s Kruz Babich also went undefeated on his way to winning gold in the male 55 kg division, posting a 4-0 record in the process. Babich opened his round robin with a 48-second pinfall win over O’Neill’s Ezrah Rabaya before downing

O’Neill’s Logan Phipps 10-0, pinning

Top teams emerge with wins on second last night of Original 16 Cash League regular season

Protec Studios, KMS Construction, and Team Froehlich all victorious as playoffs near Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

After seeing a handful of upsets in the previous night of action, things were back to normal in the Original 16 Cash League on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre.

All of the league’s leaders who took the ice emerged with wins, and with the playoffs set to begin on Feb. 22, first round matchups are quickly becoming more and more clear.

Protec Studios (Tyler Krupski, 11-5) maintained their hold of sole possession of second place thanks to a 6-5 extra-end win over Rod Montgomery (7-10). As the score would indicate, things were close through the first five ends as the two teams were tied heading 3-3 heading into the break. Krupski picked up points in each of the next two ends, but Montgomery was able to get his deuce in the eighth to tie things up 5-5. Krupski was able to make good use of the hammer in the extra end, though, picking up his one and the win.

Things weren’t quite as close for KMS Construction (Ben Gamble, 10-3) and Pup’s Parlour (Jaedon Miller, 8-8), though you wouldn’t have known it in the early going. Miller picked up a pair in the fourth end to take a 3-2 lead, but Gamble tied the game in the fifth, stole one in the sixth and then put up a five-spot in the seventh to secure a 9-3 win.

Matt Froehlich (10-6) had a solid night against Pro-Tec Electric (Stan Barnsley, 7-8), rolling to an 8-0 victory.

Froehlich picked up single points in each of the first two ends, and after Barnsley blanked the third, went right back to work with deuces in the fourth, fifth and sixth ends to bring things to an early end.

A big end made all the difference for KalTire (Dustin Woloschuk, 9-8) in his matchup with John’s Music (Ryan Wenarchuk, 8-9), leading to Woloschuk jumping three spots in the standings into fourth place. Wenarchuck got off to a great start, putting up two in each of the first and third ends and leading 5-1 through four. Woloschuk got all that back and then some in the fifth, scoring six to put up one of the biggest ends of the season and taking a 7-5 lead. The teams exchanged deuces the next two ends before Woloschuk ran Wenarchuk out of rocks in the eighth.

The other contest on the night was a quick one, as Fountain Tire (Barry Silk, 7-10) put up four in the second end and five in the third on his way to a 9-4 win over R.K. Sunview Farm’s Dayne Heisler (0-16).

The game between BTN Chartered Accountants (Penny Barker, 14-0) and EMJ Marketing (Joe Gunnis, 4-12) was cancelled.

The final night of the regular season takes place on Wednesday, Feb, 17 at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre, with action kicking off at 7:30 p.m.

Outlook’s Julian Senek in 22 seconds and wrapping up gold with an 11-0 win over O’Neill’s Ashton Sloman.

Vanier’s Wyatt Behiel won Moose Jaw’s other gold in the Novice male 106114 kg class, needing 1:10 to pin Carrot River’s Matthew Edwards in his opener and winning gold with a three-second pin

in the rematch.

The Toilers’ Akela Sand was one of a trio of competitors who came within a single win of increasing Moose Jaw’s gold medal totals. Competing in the female 64 kg division, Sand defeated Regina Martin’s Viola Ali by pin in 2:01 to open her tournament, but lost her second match by fall in 1:25 to Regina Riffels Brooklyn Dieter. That set up a battle with Carrot River’s Fallon Head for a spot in the medals, and Sand would take no chances, claiming silver with a 15-second pin.

Peacocks Tanner Kivol finished fifth in the male 53 kg division, while Central’s Nigel Fang went 0-2 in the male 69kg class.

The Cyclone’s Eisa Tondevold went 2-2 to finish second in the Novice Female 51-52 kg class, while teammate Aurelia Eros won her first three matches before settling for silver in the Novice female 56-58 kg division. Central’s Evelyn Eros had a 3-1 record in the Novice female 6670 kg division and landed third. Vanier’s Liam Palmer had a fifth-place finish in the Novice male 54-56 kg division.

A total of 27 teams and 311 wrestlers took part in the tournament.

You can find all the results from the O’Neill Titans Classic at https://bit.ly/3YFBupP.

Moose Jaw To Have Strong Representation In Wrestling At Winter Games

Submitted

The Moose Jaw Kinsmen wrestling club is proud to announce that 9 of our wrestlers have made the South West District team for the upcoming Sask Winter Games that will be held in Regina on February 22-25 at the University of Regina.

Wrestlers from Moose Jaw traveled to Swift Current at the beginning of January to battle for a spot on the team.

There are a total of 13 spots on the team and Moose Jaw took nine of them.

The wrestlers that are going to represent Moose Jaw are Arianna Skeoch, Aurelia Eros, Eisa Tondevold, Evelyn Eros, Brady Ross, Kingston Usher, Kruz Babich, Tanner Kivol, Teegan Kivol. https://www.mjindependent.com/ sports/2023/2/5/94gonn90hbnsnn329s4gzkfn0v5p9a

Photo

Moose Jaw high school wrestlers posted a string of impressive results at the Saskatoon O’Neill Titans Wrestling Classic over the weekend.

The Nine Wrestlers From Moose Jaw Heading Off To The Saskatchewan Winter Games - Submitted

Moose Jaw competitors bring home medals from U.S. Box Lacrosse Winter Nationals

Clark wins gold with Shattler Academy, U18 Mustangs bring home silver from elite event in Tempe, Ariz. Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Things turned out exceptionally well for local crews at the U.S. Box Lacrosse Winter Nationals in Tempe, Ariz. during the Feb. 4th weekend.

Mustangs standout Lachlan Clark led the way, as he suited up with Saskatoon-based Shattler Academy and helped his crew claim gold in the High School Elite Division. Shattler Academy went undefeated through the tournament, posting a 4-0 record to the championship final

where they defeated Minnesota for the title.

The Moose Jaw Mustangs U18 squad -- including Cashton Seaborg, Mason Williams,Colton Ebbett, Josh Johnson and Luke Andrews alongside a host of elite players from throughout the province -- came within a single win of matching Shattler’s achievement but ended up settling for silver after falling to Minnesota in their championship game. It was as close

as things could be, too, with the Moose Jaw crew losing 6-5 in overtime.

Team Saskatchewan and captain Mykenzie Shymko came within a single win of bringing home a medal of their own but settled for fourth place after losing to Team Manitoba in the High School Elite bronze medal contest.

The Moose Jaw U13 Mustangs, who took the floor with Chase Folk, Kashton Smith, Caiden Arnott, Luke Turner, Riley

Bender, Cooper Bruce, Bentley Messner and Cruz Seaborg, finished in fifth place in the Bantam Division.

Registration is now open for the upcoming lacrosse season, with games beginning at the end of April and running through to the end of June. Visit www. moosejawmustangslacrosse.ca for more information and to sign on.

Dorrance joins list of Miller Express returnees for upcoming WCBL season

If Moose Jaw Miller Express fans are wondering why so many players from the Arkansas Monticello Weevils are signing on with the Western Canadian Baseball League franchise, they only have to look at who their starting third baseman is.

It turns out word of mouth can play a big role in getting players from U.S. teams to make their way north, and sophomore infielder Parker Dorrance has undoubtedly had good things to say about Moose Jaw.

Dorrance was recently announced as the fourth Weevil to sign on with the Miller Express while also continuing the recent string of returning veterans announcing their intention to play in the Friendly City this summer.

After getting off to a bit of a slow start to open the 2022 WCBL campaign, Dorrance started to heat up at the beginning of July, and by the time the Express reached the midpoint of the month, the Arvada, Col. product was hitting over .300 and would remain in that range the rest of the season.

A big part of that surge was a 10-game hitting streak that saw Dorrance record at least a pair of hits in eight games and two three-hit contests, with a 3-for-6, two-run, two-RBI showing against Weyburn on

July 17 one of his best showings in that stretch.

Dorrance would save some of his best work for the final week of the regular season, racking up three straight three-hit

games from July 29 through July 31 and hitting .482 through his last six games with the team.

The traditional WCBL late-season player purge brought Dorrance’s campaign

to an end after Moose Jaw’s final regular season game, though, as he had to return home to prepare for the Weevils’ season.

All told, Dorrance would hit .313 with 45 runs scored, eight doubles and 33 runs batted in. His average was sixth best on the team, while he’d finish fourth in both runs scored and RBI.

Dorrance joins pitchers Rigell Robinson, Adam Armstrong and catcher Chaz Poppy in having signed with the Miller Express out of Arkansas Monticello.

The NCAA Division II squad plays in the Great American Conference and got their season off to a good start during the Feb. 3 weekend, taking a three-game sweep over Mississippi College. Dorrance -- who played for juco Northeast Community College in Norfolk, N.E. last season -- made his debut for the Weevils and is hitting .154 with two runs scored.

You can follow along with Dorrance and his fellow future Miller Express teammates at www.uamsports.com/sports/ baseball.

The Moose Jaw Miller Express open their 2023 WCBL campaign on Saturday, May 27 when they host the Weyburn Beavers at Ross Wells Park.

Saskatoon-based Shattler Academy -- including Moose Jaw’s Lachlan Clark -- won gold in the High School Elite division at the U.S. Box Lacrosse Winter Nationals over the Feb. 4 weekend.

The Moose Jaw U18 Mustangs won silver in the Midget division at the USBOXLA Winter Nationals.

The Moose Jaw U15 Mustangs finished fifth in the Bantam division at the U.S. Winter Nationals.

Mykenzie Shymko captained Team Canada to a fourth-place finish at the U.S. Winter Nationals during the Feb. 4 weekend.

Arkansas-Monticello third baseman emerged as one of team’s top hitters during 2022 campaign Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Parker Dorrance sends a base hit down the first base line during action from last season.

Infinity Athletics come away with host of awards from Best of the West Cheer and Dance Championships

Moose Jaw crew claim three first-place, two outstanding performance awards during elite competition at Moose Jaw Events Centre

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

When you have more than 1,400 cheer and dance athletes competing on over 120 teams across all age and skill divisions, it can be rather difficult to figure out where you might fit into things when it comes to the calibre of competition.

For Infinity Athletics at the Best of the West Cheer and Dance Championships on Saturday at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, it all turned out great.

The local cheerleading crew picked up a trio of first-place finishes to go along with two outstanding performances at the event, which ran throughout the day in front of a packed house.

“It went awesome, it was so much fun,” said Infinity Athletics coach Melissa Marzolf. “It was really amazing to see all the talent in the building and it was such a great day.”

Claiming first place in their respective divisions were Interstellar (U18 Level 2 NT), Shooting Stars (U16 Level 4 AG) and Supernovas (U12 Level 3), while the Twinkles U6 Novice and Starlites Prep Level 1 both took home Outstanding Performance honours.

Infinity also had a pair of top-three finishes to go along with a fifth-place and seventh-place showing from their teams, all results they were more than proud of.

“The last few weeks when you’re prepping for a competition, you’re tweaking things, you’re changing things and then you go out there, and you can see

afternoon.

their faces light up as they hit each stunt,” Marzolf said. “It doesn’t matter how many routines you’ve seen or been a part of, those butterflies you used to get when you used to perform, you still get them any time you see the kids out there. And that little adrenaline boost when they do well at the end of it all, it’s all just so exciting.”

As for the competition itself, like the first Best of the West in Moose Jaw in

2022, it all ran like clockwork. Marzolf gave a lot of credit to event director Alissa Stewart, who she credited as “running a tight ship”, to the point that performances were spot on to the minute of their scheduling.

“She got together all the staff and crews, and from the backstage to the warm-ups to the judges up above and our

DJ and announcer, it was a well-oiled machine,” lauded Marzolf. “Everyone kept it fun and exciting and it turned out amazing, they all worked so well together and it was a great day.”

The event also featured opportunities for teams to earn bids for the IASF Cheerleading Championships in Orlando in May. Defending world champion Regina Cheerleading Athletics Smoke picked up the paid bid and $5,000 toward their trip south, while Warman Ultimate Cheerleading Peridot joined Winnipeg’s Central Cheer 5RAWR and RIO7 in claiming At Large bids.

Now, it’ll be matter of taking feedback from the Best of the West judges and putting their advice to good use heading into the remainder of the season.

“It’s all about doing what you can to improve and get that ‘hit zero’ (no deductions) at the next meet,” Marzolf said. “That’s one thing we always look at and work towards, and there’s so much other information on the scoresheets that we can use. From the comments, what we can do here to tweak this a bit or move someone around who might work better in this area... It’s a big puzzle and we’re always trying to solve it.”

Infinity Athletics are next in action at the three-day Warman Cheer Classic during the Mar. 10 weekend. You can keep up with all their activities at www. facebook.com/moosejawcheer/.

The Best of the West defending Grand Champion U8 Comets from infinity Athletics show off their skills on Saturday

The Infinity Athletics Supernovas -who are off to Orlando for the Allstar World Cheerleading Championship in a month’s time -- perform at Best of the West.

Peacock JV Boys Lose A Heartbreaker To Caronport

Fueled by a trio of wins in Swift Current at the weekend of February 2nd, a highly confident Peacock Toilers Junior Varsity (JV) boys team burst out onto the court firing on all cylinders this past Thursday evening.

It all came down to a couple of missed baskets bouncing off the rim that decided the game’s final outcome.

The First Quarter score was Toilers 15 and Cougars 10.

The score at Half-Time was Toilers 35 and Cougars 33.

The Third Quarter score was Toilers 50 and Cougars 54.

The Final Score was Toilers 67 and Cougars 71.

Caronport Coach’s Comments

Cougars head coach Perry Martens commented on the vastly improved Toilers team.

“I thought Peacock played very well. I thought they have really improved since

the last time we saw them. So kudos to their coach and for the work they put into that group,” Martens said.

He thought the Cougars did not play up to their potential against the Toilers.

“Our group today didn’t defend the way they did in the past. We had some good spurts (on defense). We had some good spurts on offense, but not quite the way in the level we are use to.”

Despite the win, Martens said the Cougars would still continue to improve their game.

“We were happy with the result. We have work to do to be where we want to be but the team has generally been improving

this season. So we will keep trying once we get in the stretch run to see if we can keep it going.”

Top Scorers for Caronport

Josh Thiessen - 23 points

Ian George - 17 points

Oscar Ng - 14 points

Kam Ratzliff - 12 points

Peacock Toilers Coach’s Comments

Despite the close loss, Toilers head coach Danny Mullens said he was proud of his team’s play.

For many the JV Toilers boys are hands down the most improved local high school basketball team throughout the season.

“I am so impressed. I just can’t believe how good they played. I know they are hard on themselves because they want a W (win) everytime but they have come so far in such a short time,” Mullens said.

The team’s almost daily practices have been intense with the focus on improving offensively. The team is strong defensively.

Mullens said the Caronport team was strong. “They played well against our boys. Ìt was just a well fought game.”

Top Scorers for Peacock

Athan Avery - 24 points

Jayden Lobb - 15 points

Keaton Doerksen - 13 points

The Toilers played off in an out-oftown tournament this past weekend hoping all of their hard work pays off in more wins.

https://www.mjindependent.com/ sports/2023/2/10/pl4grl0fxxwij4bsn5ega3olz0923x

Western Hockey League announces indefinite suspension of four Moose Jaw Warriors

Unger, Wanner, Howell, Lakovic all sidelined as league conducts investigation

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Warriors

The Moose Jaw Warriors will be without two of their key veterans and a pair of upand-coming rookies for an undetermined number of games pending an investigation into possible violations of team rules and the WHL Standard of Conduct policies.

Overage goaltender Connor Ungar, defenceman Max Wanner, defenceman Marek Howell and forward Lynden Lakovic have all been suspended indefinitely as the WHL conducts their investigation.

All four players missed the Warriors’ most recent contest, a 6-3 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings on Wednesday, Feb. 8, meaning the situation took place prior to that contest.

Warriors general manager Jason Ripplinger had no comment when contacted on Saturday afternoon, saying “the WHL has advised us and we’re not making a comment at this time”.

The WHL Standard of Conduct covers a number of issues that have been a concern for the league in recent years, including racial and derogatory comments, abuse bullying and harassment, social media and networking conduct, personal conduct detrimental to the WHL and diversity

and inclusion so participants are respected, valued and welcomed at all times.

The Standard of Conduct states that all participants are obligated to report violations, and all participants are required to cooperate with investigations initiated by the WHL.

Forward Owen Berge (Northern Alberta Xtreme U18), defenceman Brady Ness (Edmonton Jr. Oilers U18 AAA) and Justen Maric (SJHL Battlefords) have been recalled by the team and will play Saturday night in Regina.

Be sure to check back as more information becomes available.

Photos and Story by Robert Thomas

Clipper men’s and women’s volleyball wrap up regular season, playoffs on horizon

Men’s hockey splits with NAIT, women’s basketball sweeps

The Briercrest College Clippers wrapped up their Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference men’s and women’s volleyball regular seasons over the weekend and will now be turning their attention to the playoffs.

Both teams will need to find a bit of momentum, though, after falling in both of their matches this past Friday and Saturday.

For the Clippers men’s team, that translated into a 3-1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-18, 25-16) loss to the Keyano College Huskies in their weekend opener before dropping a 3-1 (25-16, 25-27, 25-15, 25-22) decision to Lakeland College on Saturday.

Karym Coleman led the way with 15 kills on Friday, while Brady Wachtel had 10 digs and Jeremy Martens 25 assists. Coleman had 17 kills Saturday, while Jackson Anderson added 11 to go along with 11 digs. Martens capped his day with 41 assists.

The Clippers women’s team took a pair of three-game losses, falling 25-19, 25-20, 25-16 to Keyano Friday and 25-7, 25-16, 25-16 to Lakeland Saturday.

Julia Beer and Faith Buhler had nine kills apiece in the opener, while Buhler also led the defence with seven digs. Jess Zacharias had 18 assists. Buhler added six more kills to her totals in their second match, Zacharias had 11 assists and seven digs.

The Clippers men’s team finish with a 10-9 record and in fourth place in the South Division, and as a result will host Ambrose College in the play-in game,

Keyano and Lakeland, men’s basketball lose pair

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

minutes apart to tie the game in the third, though, and overtime would be needed to solve things. There, Campbell Ens finished things off only 13 seconds into the proceedings to give Briercrest the win.

Dominik Tmej had 36 saves to earn the win.

Saturday’s contest saw NAIT score three times in the first 8:32 before going to their two-goal win. Colton Aikens, Ryan Miley and Brandon Kelly scored for Briercrest, while Colter Pawlick turned aside 14 shots.

The Clippers -- 9-11 and in fifth place in the ACAC standings -- are back in action during the Feb. 17 weekend when they travel to SAIT for a two-game set.

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while the Briercrest women also ended up at 10-9 and will host SAIT in their play-in contest.

The date and time for both playoff matches had yet to be determined as of press time, check www.acac.ab.ca for updates.

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The Clippers women’s basketball team continued their solid season, extending their winning streak to eight games with a 66-61 win over Keyano and 61-59 victory over Lakeland at Margaret P. Reimer gymnasium in Caronport.

Brooklyn Martens led the way in the opener with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Dori Sunderland scored 14 points and Melissa Ellis 12. Amber Fichtner had 12 rebounds.

Against Lakeland, Fichtner put up 17

points and 11 rebounds, while Martens had 11 points.

Briercrest is now 13-7 on the campaign and tied for third in the South Division. They wrap up their regular season Saturday when they travel to Camrose to face the Augustana Vikings.

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The Briercrest men’s hockey team split their two games in Edmonton, battling to a 3-2 win over the NAIT Ooks on Friday before dropping a 5-3 decision in the rematch on Saturday.

The Clippers looked to have things in hand heading into the final period in the weekend opener, as Colton Aikens scored the lone goal in the first period and Alex Pellerin the only marker in the second for a 2-0 lead.

NAIT scored twice less than two

It was another tough weekend for the Briercrest men’s basketball team, as they fell 95-62 to Keyano on Friday and 101-58 to Lakeland on Saturday.

Oroma Bongomin was the lone Clipper to break double digits in points in the opener, putting up 12. Matthew Bryant and Zach Martens had eight points each, while Moose Jaw’s Riley Seaborn put up seven, Danny Mullens six and Kayden Banilevic a pair.

Seaborn, Bryant and Bongomin each scored 11 points against Lakeland, while Mullens had eight points and eight rebounds.

The Clippers are 2-18 on the season and close out their campaign against Augustana on Saturday.

Clippers file

If you would like your notice or event added to this list, contact us at: jritchie@moosejawtoday.com

NAFR branch 23 ( Nat. Association of Federal Retirees) General meeting Feb 23 ( Thurs) at 7 pm in the card room in Tim Eaton’s building , 510 Main St N. Those interested in joining welcome! We are retired members of the Military,RCMP, Fed office workers.( and their spouses) We lobby to protect pensions, health benefits, more. Currently planning our AGM/Recruitment drive meeting with Supper on March 15( Wed) in main hall in Tim Eaton’s. Arranging a guest speaker as well. Topic: Scams. Members and guests must preregister for that supper/AGM by March 9, by calling 306-693-0717. The Moose Jaw Art Guild is having an Art Creation Time on Fri., Feb. 17, 2 - 4 pm in the Hands-On Room of the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery. Members and persons interested in art and possibly joining the Guild are welcome to attend. Call 306-692-6667 for information.

Minto United Church and Alliance Church 13-week Grief Recovery Support Groups in Moose Jaw – in person or online - using the GriefShare program which can be viewed at GriefShare.org. Leone Townend has been leading the Grief support ministry at Minto United for several years/Ralph Magnus recently moved to Moose Jaw and brings to the Alliance Church his experience of leading a Griefshare ministry from the Edmonton area. All are welcome from any faith background as well as those who have no religious affiliation. GriefShare provides three opportunities for participants; 1. video teaching by pastors and counsellors, 2. a weekly group discussion and 3. individual workbooks with self reflection exercises for participants to complete during between meetings.

Anyone continuing to struggle with grief weeks, months or even years after the death of a significant loved one could benefit from participating in a GriefShare group. While each 13 week group has a start date, new participants are welcome to join at any time.

Please contact either or both for more information. Minto United Church Online group beginning Monday Feb. 20 at 7:00 pm - Leone Townend, Co-ordinator @ 306-6319044 or Moose Jaw Alliance Church (MJAC)

In person group meeting at MJAC beginning Wednesday Feb. 22 at 6:30 pm - Ralph Magnus, GriefShare coordinator @ 780-456-6487 (cell).

World Day of Prayer (WDP) – “I Have Heard About Your Faith” - will be hosted at Minto United Church on Friday, March 3rd at 2pm. The Women of Taiwan have put together the theme this year. A coffee hour will be hosted to follow the service. Everyone is invited. Elevator access is available – 1036 – 7th Ave. NW. Offerings during WDP will help transform prayer in action in the form of project grants in Canada for women and children and throughout the world.

“Evening Around the World” International Dinner and Celebration Fundraiser will take place on March 10th to Savour diversity through experiencing cuisine and entertainment from across the globe; in support of the needs of and programming for Newcomers to Canada, and put on by The Moose Jaw Multicultural Council in partnership with the Moose Jaw and Wakamow Rotary Clubs. are excited to announce that we are hosting an international dinner and celebration on March 10 2023. We would love for you to be able to enjoy. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Moose Jaw Event Centre Box Office – 110 1st Ave NW) - only 175 tickets available.

Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan Moose Jaw Branch

Next Luncheon Dates: Wed. March 15/23, and Wed. May 17/23

Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame (Battleford) deadline for submitting nominations is March 15, 2023. Please contact our office by email saskbaseballmuseum@sasktel. net or call 306-446-1983 for further information.”

Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation’s Annual Fish Fry will be held on Friday, March 17th and Saturday, March 18th, 2023 at 1396 -3rd Ave N.E., Moose Jaw. Two sittings each day – 5:00 p.m and 7:00 p.m. Tickets $30.00 each. Take-out meals are

Upcoming Events in Moose Jaw

available. For more information or tickets please call: Doreen (306)6924148 or Sandra (306)692-8848.

The Knights of Columbus Father Gilpin Council 9760 Ham and Turkey Bingo on Sunday March 19. There will be a lunch counter available. Doors open at 6:00 P.M. Games start at 7:00 P.M. It is located at the Church of Our Lady Community Center 566 Vaughan St. Lawn Bowls at Yara Centre for the winter. Lawn Bowling is an activity for everyone from age 5 to 105. It has fiercely competitive elements for the competitive athlete, yet is an inclusive activity for the strictly recreation players. It has been described as a cross between curling and billiards. Admission to Yara centre & no outdoor footwear are the only requirements. Join in Monday night@7:00, Tues am@9:30, Wed. & Thurs @1:30.

For more info call or text 306 690 8739. Drop in EVERYONE WELCOME. www.moosejawlawnbowling.com

Nar-Anon Meetings every Monday 7—8pm (Moose Jaw Nar-Anon Family Group) is a twelve step 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 in Rm 103.

You Are Not Alone! Your anonymity and what you say at meetings will be carefully guarded.

Toastmasters clubs utilize communication skill components to create the smorgasbord of benefits Toastmasters have potential to provide.

Big Country Toastmasters club meets on Wednesdays at 7pm. Regular training opportunities have resumed with in-person @saskpolytech in addition to virtual experience.

For more information text 306-6908739 or email officers-3418@toastmastersclubs.org

TAP Toastmasters will be holding their SpeechCraft until Feb. 28/23 Via zoom link from 7-8:30pm each Tuesday. Please email sherry.ross@shaw. ca to receive the link if you are interested in learning how to speak better in a positive learning environment. This course can help you if you have an upcoming job interview, wedding toast, or just have to make a speech at work.

Moose Jaw Prairie Hearts Quilters

Next Meeting March 02 & 16/April 06 & 20/May 04 & 18 (last mtg until Sept) in the Masonic Temple at 1775 Main Street North. Membership Fee is $50 per year. For more information write Moose Jaw Prairie Hearts Quilters’ Guild Inc., Box 484, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 4P1 or email prairieheartsquilters@yahoo.ca

TRY DANCING Monday Nights–goes until February 20, 2023 - $50.00 per person for 6 weeks at Ecole St. Margaret’s School – 495 5th Ave N.E., Moose Jaw from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. For more information call: Valerie 306-691-0579

Church of Our Lady Bingo tales 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.

The Moose Jaw Stamp Club Meetings are the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 6:30pm at the Lindale School staff room, 1322 11th Ave. NW (north entrance). Call 306-693-5705 for information.

The Moose Jaw Community Choir regular choir practices are on Mondays @ 700-830PM at First Free Methodist Church. Performances in the community may also take place on alternate evenings. New members are always welcome and encouraged (especially tenors and basses) and no audition is required.

New members who are interested should contact the Choir Director Diane Rhodes at 306-640-8098 or message us through Facebook @ Moose Jaw Community Choir. Moose Jaw Camera Club - Interested photographers are welcome and invited to join and Be Focused With Us! For more information: Wanda - 306-693-7440 or Len - 306-6937685. themoosejawcameraclub.com

Line Dancing every Tuesday from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. at St. Andrews Church. Call 306.692.7365 for more information.

Moose Jaw Public Library, 461 Langdon Cres. Phone 306.692.2787; visit their website at https://www. moosejawlibrary.ca/

PERSON & VIRTUAL PROGRAMS

Adult Programming IN PERSON

PROGRAMS

Tech Time By appointment only. If you are having an issue with your device, a program, or an application, or if you are just wanting to learn more about them. When you book an appointment you will get personalized training and teaching. Bring your own device to learn on. To book an appointment call the Library at 306692-2787.

Magic the Gathering Saturdays, February 25 at 2:00 pm every second Saturday in the upstairs South Meeting Room from 2:00-5:00! All experience levels welcome. Bring your own or decks available.

Night Stitchers Tuesday, February 28 at 7:00 pm in South Meeting Room.

MJPL Book Club: “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows Tuesday, February 14 at 7:00 pm in South Meeting Rm- available in print for pickup at the Library or available on Library2go in both eBook and audiobook formats.

Tenille Campbell & Elder Barb Frazier - A Saskatchewan Aboriginal Storytelling Month Reading** Saturday, February 25 at 2:00 pm in South Meeting Rm.

Writing Hot & Steamy Love Poems with Tenille Campbell** Saturday, February 25 at 7:00 pm in WACA officer in Moose Jaw Cultural Centre. Tenille shares her poems for radical self-love and love poems for your beloved. Presented with Wakamow Aboriginal Community Association with the support of the LSSAP (Library Services to Saskatchewan Aboriginal Peoples)

Youth Programming IN PERSON & VIRTUAL PROGRAMS

New Adult Digital D&D Fridays at 4:00-6:00 pm. Meet online every Friday at 4:00 pm. New and seasoned players welcome. Registration required. For more information or to register, email youth@moosejawlibrary.ca. For ages 15-22

Teen Dungeons & Dragons Thursdays at 6:30-8:30 pm in MJPL Archives. For more information or to register, email youth@moosejawlibrary.ca. Location: For ages 12-16

Teen Writers Circle Wednesday, February 15 at 6:30 pm in Herb Taylor Rm. Snacks provided. For ages 12-19

Teen “I Made This” Art Program (doing Origami) Wednesday, February 22 at 6:30 pm in Herb Taylor Rm. doing origami. Snacks provided For ages 12-19

We Say Love with Tenille Campbell** Friday, February 24 at 2:00 pm in South Meeting Rm. Join Tenille Campbell to explore poems that explore ways to positive self-expression, positive sexuality and owning who you are with love. Take some time to explore writing your own poems in response.

Movie Matinee: “Thor: Love and Thunder” Saturday, February 25 at 2:30 pm in MJPL Theatre. Free admission. No food or drink permitted. All ages are welcome Children’s Programming IN PERSON PROGRAMS

Baby Storytime! Tuesdays, January 10 to February 14 at 10:30 am. Caregivers will learn ways to talk, sing, and play with their children to increase early literacy. This is a dropin program, no registration required in the Children’s Program Room For ages 0-2 and their caring adults. Preschool Storytime! Wednesdays, to February 15 at 10:30 am. Drop-in program, no registration required in Children’s Program Room For ages 2-5 and their caring adults Daycare Storytime! Thursdays to February 16 at 10:30 am. Registration required for each caregiver and child in your group to be held in Children’s Program Room For ages 2-5 and their caring daycare providers Lego Weekends! Saturdays & Sundays in February and February 20 to 24 in the children’s department. Build a cool Lego creation to display in the library window. Self-guided activity for ages 4+ Maker Saturdays! Saturdays, February 18 at 1:30 pm in Herb Taylor Rm for kids ages 8-12 - hands-on learning with all the tools for creativity. Registration is required.

Pete the Cat Storytime! Saturday, February 25 at 10:30 am in Children’s Program Rm. Registration required for each child attending. Location: For ages 2 and up.

Children’s Take ‘n’ Make Series until February 14: Cute Valentine Heart!

February 15 to 28: Penguin Collage!

Come to the Library’s Circulation

Desk and pick up a craft kit to take and make at home. For ages 4+ Paper Bag Princess Week - Stay tuned for more info! February 27 to March 4

Literacy Activity Calendars A Calendar Each Month! Inspire your child’s creativity and love for learning with monthly calendars full of activities, songs, games, crafts, and much more! There are two calendars to choose from. Early Literacy (for infants and pre-school children) Children’s Literacy (for elementary-aged children

The Royal Canadian Legion –Branch 59 Moose Jaw, 268 High St W Moose Jaw; Contact: 306-6925453. Facebook @ ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION-Branch 59 Moose Jaw. Instagram: @Royalcanadianlegion59. SHA restrictions in effect at all Legion events.

Bingo every Monday evening in the Lounge. Play starts at 6pm, Paper goes on sale at 5pm. Playing ten regular games with 2 parts each and 3 extra games, all games are cash prizes. Please invite your friends for a fun night out.

Dart League every Thursday starting at 6pm. $25 to enter for the season. No membership required. Cribbage every Tuesday at 1:30pm. Registration at 1pm. Cost $2 and please pre-register your team by calling 306.693.9688.

Drop-in Shuffleboard league every Friday at 7:00pm.

Chase the Ace/Meat Draw every Saturday. To see the total check out Facebook page on Wednesday and Fridays for the upcoming Saturdays numbers.For current listing of events online visit: Monthly Calendar

| Royal Canadian Legion Branch 59Moose Jaw (royalcanadianlegionbranch59moosejaw.ca)

Moose Jaw and District Seniors: For more information Call: 306-6944223 or Email: mjsenior@shaw.ca

Fitness Level & Indoor Walking Track open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Friday’s 8am -4pm

Wood working area – Monday to Friday 8 am – 4 pm

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

Cinnamon Buns are on Thursday’s. Tuesday is pie day. Kitchen is open Monday to Friday. Everyone is welcomed.

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

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

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

- Monday & Thursday evenings @ 7 p.m.

- Wednesday @ 6pm

Fitness- Chair/Low Impact Fitness

Mondays & Thursdays @ 1:00 p.m.

Cribbage – Wednesdays @ 1 p.m.

Hand & Foot Card Game for Beginners – Thursday @9:30 am.

Mah Jong – Wednesday @1 p.m.

500 Cards – Thursdays @ 1 p.m.

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 Shuffleboard – Tuesdays & Thursdays @ 1 p.m.

Paper Tole – Tuesdays @ 1 p.m.

Nickle Bingo – Fridays @ 1 p.m.

Quilting – Every Friday 9am to 4pm

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

Jam Sessions – Friday’s 9 a.m.

Texas Hold’em - Thursday @ 6:30pm

Cosmo Senior Citizens’ Centre

Weekly Activities

Weekly Activities for JANUARY

Monday: 9:30 Pickleball/1:00 Floor

Shuffleboard/7:00 Camera Club

– only on the 1st Monday of each month – except this January it is on the 9th back to normal in February/7:00 Beginner Line Dance (except 1st Monday of the month)

– except this January no line dance on January 9/23 back to normal in February

Tuesday: 9:30 Jam Session/1:00 Pickleball/7:00 Friendship Bridge/7:00 Beginners Only – Pick-

leball

Wednesday: 8:30 TOPS/9:30 Pickleball/1:00 H&F Canasta/ 1:00 Floor Shuffleboard/7:00 Lessons Only for Pickleball

Thursday: 10:00 Line Dance/1:00

Pickleball

Friday: 10:00 Beginner Pickleball/1:00 Regular Pickleball

Moose Jaw ANAVETS: Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit #252 – 279 High St. W, Moose Jaw. 306.692.4412 or anaf252@sasktel. net

Thursday at 1:30 pm Crib

Friday at 1:30 is Fun Shuffleboard

Friday Evening Fun Pool and Darts at 7pm

Saturday At 4:30 pm is our Meat Draw, 50/50, Gift Card Everyone is welcome to join the fun!

Saturday meat draw @ 4:30pm50/50, Gift Card Everyone is welcome to join the fun!

For More Information on anything

Happening at the ANAVETS #252 Call or Text 306-681-5998 or 306692-4412 email anaf252@sasktel.net

Everyone Including Non- Members are Welcome to all our events!!

FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES #3395

MONDAY EVENINGS: (to April, 2023): Drop in Cribbage – registration 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm – play starts at 7:00 pm. $2.00 per person – two person teams. Bring a partner or spare. Prizes depend on number of persons registered. Everyone Welcome.

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS: (to April 2023) - Drop in Darts – play starts at 7:00 pm – draw for partners. $2.00 per person, per night. Everyone

Welcome

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

FEBRUARY 17 & 18, 2023 – - 8:00 PM – Live - Music by Brandon & Company – dance away to great FEBRUARY 18, 2023 – - 7:00 PM –Music Bingo – in the lounge – come on out and play and enjoy a few laughs.

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 - 8:00 PM - –Live - Music by Gary Kincaid and Bill Duncan – in the Eagles Club lounge –enjoy some great music and dance.

MARCH 17, 2023 – 8:00 PM – Come out and dance away to great music –live band – Too Easy

APRIL 14 & 15, 2023 – Live Band – Original Covers – playing in the lounge at 8:00 pm Come out, enjoy the music, and dance.

APRIL 21 & 22, 2023 – Live Band –Brandon & Company – playing in the lounge at 8:00 pm Friday – Jam on Saturday at 4pm to 6:00 pm – then again at 8:00 pm. Come out and enjoy some really great music and dance your socks off.

Western Development Museum; 50 Diefenbaker Drive, Moose Jaw. Please call for more information (306) 693-5989.

You can read more about the upcoming sessions and how to sign up for the free Virtual Coffee Club talks at: https://wdm.ca/coffeeclub/ FLU & VACCINE CLINICS AT Location: Moose Jaw Family Wellness Centre, 1000B Albert St. East, Moose Jaw, SK. Contact Phone: 1-833-7275829. Website Link: 4flu.ca

February 13th: COVID-19/FLU Vaccine Clinic: Appointments and WalkIns Welcome. —East building use main door with 1 on it. 1:00 pm-3:30 pm. Drop in and booked appointments welcome for all ages.

February 15th: COVID-19/FLU

Vaccine Clinic: Appointments and Walk-Ins Welcome. —East building use main door with 1 on it. 1:00 pm—4:30 pm. Drop in and booked appointments welcome for all ages

February 17th: COVID-19/FLU

Vaccine Clinic: Appointments and Walk-Ins Welcome. Get your Flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time! East building use main door with 1 on it. 9:00 am-11:30 am/1:00 pm—3:30 pm. Drop in and booked appointments welcome for all ages

February 23rd: COVID-19/FLU Vaccine Clinic: Appointments and WalkIns Welcome. East building use main door with 1 on it. 10:00 am-11:30 am/1:00 pm—4:30 pm. Drop in and booked appointments welcome for all ages

By Patricia Hanbidge

Begonias

Begonias have been around since Victorian times, and have long been a favourite. They are actually native to South America, and have thousands of species that you might like to grow. They are relatively easy to grow, have attractive foliage and can grace your home in the winter months with relative ease.

Sometimes begonias are a bit confusing as they have actually three types of root structures: tuberous, fibrous or rhizomatous. Tuberous begonias have a fleshy underground root structure and will generally require a rest period at some point during the year. This begonia is not usually grown indoors but is great to have outside in your garden. Rhizomatous begonias have an above-ground or slightly below-ground creeping stem that roots wherever it contacts moist soil. Fibrous begonias have a very fine, dense root system with no taproot, and these have the most variation in foliage and growth habit.

Begonias are grown for a variety of reasons – their

wonderful foliage, their colourful flowers, or sometimes both. The “Rex” begonias are hybrids that are without doubt one of the best foliage plants.

There is also a group of fibrous-rooted begonias, commonly known as Angel wing (due to their leaf shape) that are coveted as houseplants in temperate climates. Angel wing begonias have hanging clusters of white, pink or red flowers that can be up to 30 cm (12 in.) across. The larger the leaves of the cultivar, the larger the flower clusters.

Wax begonias are often considered the bedding plant of begonias. They typically have light green foliage or foliage that is edged with red, or sometimes is a deep bronze colour. There are variegated cultivars as

well. Flowers are numerous and continuous in shades of red, pink or white with some cultivars having double and two-toned flowers.

If you are looking for an ideal houseplant, the begonia is an excellent choice. In your home place your plant in a well-lit area. Rex begonias like a few hours of direct morning or late afternoon sun and a north window with no curtains, trees or overhangs is also acceptable.

Placing your begonias to the side of a window or far back in the room will result in light-starved, spindly plants. This is not conducive to optimum growth. Your begonia will be happy if it receives a few hours of direct sunlight, avoiding hot afternoon sun in the summer.

As long as you have given your begonia adequate light, it will grow quickly. If it begins to seem like it is out of proportion with its pot, or begins to dry out faster than normal, it is time to transplant it into a larger container. Feel free to upgrade the pot size by a couple of inches as begonias are rather forgiving. Give the pot a gentle squeeze to loosen the rootball and gently wiggle the pot away from the soil. Pot up with any all-purpose soil as begonias are not fussy about soil.

Treat as you would any houseplant and water weekly. It might be beneficial to fertilize with a dilute solution of high phosphorus fertilizer to ensure that the bloom occurs often.

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?

Moose Jaw Women Who Care Zoom fundraising and awareness event featuring ECIP

Moose Jaw Women Who Care hosted a webinar via zoom for a fund and awareness-raising event on Wednesday, Feb. 9.

The Executive Director of the Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECIP) Nancy Rosnes was the featured guest.

“We work with the families to enhance all areas of the child’s development and to work on goals that are designed specifically to help that child reach his/ her specific goals and development milestones,” Rosnes said. “We help families connect with other community agencies and provide an important connection and links with professionals, and a smooth transition between schools and other central-based programs required for the child’s development.”

She says the early years of a child’s life are very important for their brain development. A healthy childhood development includes not only the physical developmental domains but also emotional, behavioral, cognitive, language and general learning competencies.

Screening early identification linkage to appropriate services can help prevent children who are experiencing delays from progressing to higher levels of risk. For these groups, early intervention could yield the greatest social and economic returns.

Prof. of Economics, James J. Heckman (Dec. 7, 2012), stated that, “Statistics shows every dollar spent on early inter-

ventions can save eight dollars in the future of every child’s development.”

Rosnes says, “Every child inspires possibilities and uncapped potential, and no one has the right to limit.”

She further said ECIP’s vision is that all families have the capacity to meet the developmental needs of their children within the community of their choice. Parents and caregivers are experts on their children and ECIP acknowledges this and aims to provide additional knowledge about the development of the child’s needs, the child’s abilities and help the

Building permit issued for job-creating industry

Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

While only three building permits were issued by city hall in January, one will have significant influence on the job scene and the local economy.

A building permit worth $685,000 was issued for 76 Lancaster Road, location of the former General Cable plant.

Regina-based Brandt Industries plans a trailer manufacturing operation there. The plant will start with 70 employees, gradually growing to 200 over three years.

A building permit for $70,000 was

issued for alterations at 1150 High Street West, site of Lakeview Transport.

And a $100 permit was issued to a restaurant at the former Pizza Hut location, 815 Main Street North.

The $755,000 permit value is about 10 times last January when $77,000 worth of permits were taken out.

No new dwelling permits were issued in the foggy month of January.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net

family understand the child and connect with them.

ECIP believes children should be provided with appropriate opportunities for education, leisure, recreation and other community activities within the least restrictive environment possible for them. Also, readily available special requirements should be provided.

Shelby Dawn East (mother of a child) supported by ECIP said, “ECIP’s truly been life-changing for our family. With all the support that we’ve had from Nancy and Krista, they became part of our family.”

Her son’s has been diagnosed with nonverbal autism, and she says ECIP is helping her family since they found out. In the beginning, when her son was 18 months old, he never learned how to play properly with other children, let alone his own toys.

She and her husband got their clarity in 2020, and it was the first time since having their son they received proper help and

guidance to be able to [support and help] their son with autism.

She says ECIP was able to provide resources, advice and even recommended special toys that are attractive to be interactive for her son.

Any donation received from this zoom meeting will be to help assist and finance ECIP families with things such as possible transportation barriers, community venues in the Yara Centre, swimming pools, museum and other activities like learners and music groups. Also, funds will be used for children to go to summer camps for developing their learning activities.

“All children need to be seen as children first,” said Rosnes.

If you wish to donate, please send all donations to:

South Central ECIP/Box 55/Moose Jaw, Sk/S6H 4N7 Southcentral.ecip@sasktel.net (auto deposit enabled)

Or call 306-692-2616 or drop by their office at 461 Athabasca Street East.

Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.

Sudoku #5 - Challenging

1 5 6 2 7 3 1 8 8 4 7 2 3 6 1 3 2 8 8 6 1 9 1 5 7 6

© 2023 KrazyDad.com

Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and ea 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9.

ACCEDE, ADMIRE, AFFAIR, ALTITUDE, ANTLER, AVERSE BEDS, BITUMEN, BLUNT, BRIGHT, CALICO, EFFORT, EQUATION, EXODUS, FLEA, FLEET, GOTHIC HUSBAND, IMPRESSIVE, INSANE, INVENT, OASES, PAGER PLUNDER, PROCREATION, PROGRAM, READY, REAR, SHADOW SHUN, SNUG, SOOT, STAPLE, SUIT, TAPIR, VIRTUE, WIFE, WORRIES

If you use logic you can solve the puzzle without guesswork. Need a little help? The hints page shows a logical order to so Use it to identify the next square you should solve. Or use th if you really get stuck.

“The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much.”

-- William Hazlitt --

& GAMES

AUTOS

Wanted, an older truck running or not with little to no rust. Also whatever you might have from an old John Deere LA tractor that was manufactured in the 30’s or 40’s. Call or text 306-641-4447

AUTO PARTS

weatherman 15” all season tire – R195/165R1591T

– like new, only has 3361 miles on or 5400km. cost new was 159.00 – sell for $39.00. fram cabin air filter , new in box, CF11173 –fits Nissan & other vechiles.$12.00.kumho new - 16 inch all season donut tire on rim, tubeless – T125800-15 - also will include new jack, to change tire. $49.00 all. 4 vehicle floor matts (2 front & 2 rear) - reversible for winter & summer - like new, washable, $9.00 all. 306-586-9263

Set of 4 Safari ATR tires on dodge rims, P245/70R17, hold air good, close to new 8/32 - $500. Call 306-681-8749

ter)-made in Germany

$1.00.  T-square$3.00.

Utility work light (bulb included), with 30” cord, $4.00. Austin craft, 4 size socket tool, $1.00. Fuller long nose pliers, with cushion grip handles, $2.00. 306-586-9263

FOR RENT

Looking for 2 bedroom apt that takes pets call

306.690.5326

For Rent- 1 bedroom suite, close to downtown, partly furnished. Available Feb

1st. Call Bob 306-6920000

MISCELLANEOUS

2013 Kasey Kahne #5

farmers insurance Nascar collectible, signed on windshield. 306-681-8749

Wanted John Deere

LA tractor, John Deere

316,317, or 318 or equivalent lawn tractor, and older truck with no rust. Call or text 306-641-4447

For Sale: Bryant Natural Gas Furnace. Input

125,000 BTU Output

95,000 BTU. For more info call 306-690-7227

Looking for the vintage bubble lights in working condition (Christmas lights) 306-681-8749

Assorted electronic cables, selling all together -

$2. 306-681-8749

Large assortment of clean containers including ice cream pails with lids - $3 for all. 306-681-8749

84” – $10.00.     Dk. brown pleated drapes, polyester with back tab panel, insulated foam back 48” x 45” – $14.00. 3 hallmark candle sticks- new $2.00all.

6’”h, hallmark pillar candle & black candle holder$5.00 all. Call 306-5869263

6 room purple Martin birdhouse, easy to clean out$25.00. Call 306-681-8749 Kid’s hoola-hoop also makes a dog tire for agility - $2. Call 306-681-8749

HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

Good condition tires- Nitto Trail Grappler, 6/32 tread, 285/75/16 mounted on Dodge Ram 1500 rims. $400 obo, 306-6319853

Looking for any vehicle non working batteries

306-681-8749

Looking for a set of tail lights and front bumper deflector for a 2017 Ford F-250. Call 306-681-8749

MOTORBIKES & SNOWMOBILES

For Sale- soft top off a 2015 4 door jeep, $2500.00 OBO. Polaris skidoo new only 100kl. $6500.00 OBO. Call 306-639-1926 or 306-581-1926

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

Tools For Sale- floor drill press ,12” delta planer, delta belt & disc sander, 10” radial saw, 125 amp wire welder & helmet, 3” x 12” belt sander, 3” planer, sears 1/2 “ electric drill, socket set, floor jack, 2 hydraulic jacks, 5” bench vise, router & table, Rockwell table saw, dewalt sawsall, 6 “ craftsman grinder. Fixtures 2 each 48” fluorescent 2 bulb, 1 each 4 bulb 48”. Call 306693-7935

1” Irwin drill bit, $1.00.

Glass cutter (diame-

Firearms, I am paying cash for in the Moose Jaw and surrounding area. Any condition, parts, ammunition or anything pertaining to firearms. Call or text

306-641-4447

18” necklace from Hawaii, shell/beads- $4.00.   Firewood – 5 boxes of firewood for stove camping, fireplace/pit etc. $16.00 all.   26 bath towels & 2 face cloths, $20.00 all.

Framed mirror (like new)

371/4” x 44” x 11/1” d.

$25.00.  Photo albumnew $4.00.   COMFORTER, BEDSKIRT & 2 pillow covers, double/queen size, multi-colored, $20.00.

Double size fitted & flat sheets (mushroom color) & 2 pillow covers, $12.00.

1 chocolate brown toss cushion (new), $7.00.

Navy polar fleece blanket 50” x 60” for household, camping etc. $6.00. 12

double sided drape/shower curtain hooks, chrome color, new in pkg. $5.00.

11 egg cartoons .25cents all.    Drapes, dk. brown pleated drape, 96” x 84”, blackout, polyester, pocket rod with back tab panel, new $22.00.   Solid grommet panel drapes, polyester, mushroom color, 50” x 63”, new, 2 for $15.00. Brown grommet panel drape, polyester, 52” x

Red leather look arm chair (like new), at brick is $1600.00, plus taxes, sell for $399.00. Bedroom – brass headboard (double/full size) has been lacquered, so no need to polish $125.00. Steel bedframe on 4 roller casters, adjusts from twin/double or queen size. &17.00. White melamine shelving unit –top & 2 bottom shelves (has backing in). Multiuse, office, shoes, pantry, closet, garage, books etc. 32”w x 32” H x 12” d. $15.00. Pinewood (med .color) shellacked dresser/ buffet, (from meubles gutto Inc. in Quebec), multiuse, bedroom, hall, office, etc. 64”w x 18”d x 31”h. has 4 drawers, 3 with brass handles & 1 with porcelain knobs. And 2 doors with porcelain knobs and inside shelf. $350.00. Pinewood (med. color) shellacked night table or for office etc. with 3 drawers, 2 with brass handles & 1 with porcelain knobs. (From meubles gutto inc. in Quebec) 24”w x 16”d x 25” h. $125.00 or both dresser & night stand for $399.00. Call 306-586-9263

XXL new $12.00. Black male dress slacks, 36w, 34l and can be longer is extra hem, like new$17.00. Female navy dress, cotton/spandex, sleeveless, crochet at front yolk, size med. $5.00. Female dk. green poly coat /rain, size XL, back pleat, attached hood, like new $7.00.   female pantyhose, assorted sizes & colors, navy, white, black, blue, spice etc. new in pkgs. price range from .50cents to $3.50 pr. female poly spandex navy coat, mesh lined, attached hood, size xl, washable, $12.00.  Female navy cotton/spandex slacks, size medium .wider leg, $6.00.  Female aqua color dress, with collar, sleeveless, V-neck, polyester, size 1x, $7.00.   306-586-9263 Free winter jacket, very warm, like new condition, size 5x. Call 306-6933773 LAWN & GARDEN 45 gallon blue plastic barrels, food grade great for rainwater save water rather than pay for it, or raised garden beds - $20 each.

306-681-8749

ANTIQUES Wanted: signs, toys, sports cards, gold & silver coins & jewellery, firearms, single items to full estates. Call 1-306539-8363

SERVICES

Need work done? Contact Bill at 306-630-2268. Interior/exterior, renovations, formwork, framing, finishing, tiling, painting and all construction, roofing/ siding- no job too big or small. Reasonable rates, 30 years experience. Will pick up, move, haul and deliver furniture anywhere in and around Moose Jaw - $40 and up.

306-681-8749

Will pick up, move, haul and deliver any size of TVs in and around Moose Jaw - $30 and up. 306681-8749

Will pick up, move, haul and deliver appliances in and around Moose Jaw$45 and up. 306-681-8749

Moving jobs done reasonably: appliances, furniture, dump runs. Call to do it all. $45.00 a load. 306-6302268

Will pick up, deliver or haul away BBQ’s in and around Moose Jaw- $40 and up. 306-681-8749

Junk to the dump in and around Moose Jaw - $60/ load and up. 306-6818749

Semi-Retired Contractor

– 47 years in business, residential and commercial. Enjoys small or large projects involving plaster, drywall, concrete, painting, taping, texturing, stucco repair, tile and T bar. I work for the Heritage Society and enjoy beautification projects. Quality work. Free estimates. Discount for seniors. Phone Bob Huston 1-587-8891000.

Small Home Repairs. Plumbing, decks, windows, kitchens, bathrooms etc. No job too small. Phone 306-313-5151

Free pickup of unwanted snow blowers, garden tillers, generators, chainsaws, atv’s, lawn tractors, etc., in Moose Jaw and surrounding area. Call or text 306-641-4447

PERSONAL

CONNECTIONS

Wanted: Ice Fishing Partner, contact Shawn 306692- 0800

For sale: Glass topped coffee table with two end-tables Two foot rests 400$ CALL pp306 692-3401 Want to buy a 16-20 cubic foot chest freezer, older but in good clean condition. Call Elaine at 306475-2640

CLOTHING

Male beige London fog coat (new tags still on), zip-out lining, size 42/44. never worn $24.00.  Male, rubber/water /mud boots, size 10 (Vulcan), like new, 13”h- $10.00. Male Wayne Gretsky top/sweater, #99, navy, 1/2 zip at front neck, l sleeve, size 2xl, new $15.00.  Male hagaar, top shirt/sweater, wine color, l. sleeve, poly/cotton, size

Newly built raised garden beds can send picture$40.00. Call 306-681-8749 Concrete back splash (for under eaves), so water drains away from. Bldg. 29”l x 11”w x 31/2”h. like new $7.00.    2 –20kg. Bags of rocks (natural stone color), for yard garden, etc. $2.00 all. 6 smaller plant pots, includes 1 with drain tray, and pkg. miracle grow, plant food spikes $1.00 all.   5 ft. vinyl scalloped edging, for trees, flower beds, garden etc. includes spikes and connector. $2.00.  Bulbar/ digger garden tool with wood handle, for flowers, garden, plants etc. $1.00.  306-586-9263

4 piece garden hand tools – includes rake, hoe, digger, & shovel with grip handles. $5.00 all.306586-9263 PETS

Newly built dog house, (XL) 36”x48”, insulated with Styrofoam - $150.

306-681-8749

WANTED

Wanted: Carpentry Course materials from SIAST/ Polytechnic. - Books, measured drawings, project plans, hand-outs. Phone 972-2257

GIROUX, BUN

William Albany “Bun”

Giroux, long-time resident of Assiniboia, SK, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 5, 2023, at the Dr. F.H Wigmore Hospital in Moose Jaw, SK with his loving family by his side.

Bun was born on June 22, 1929, in Grande Prairie, AB and moved with his parents to Indian Head, SK and after the war to Dumas, SK. Bun later worked in Regina, SK where he met his soulmate, Edith Stephenson. They were married on April 4, 1953, in Wapella, SK and moved to Assiniboia in 1955, where Bun spent the majority of his career as a carpenter with Leeville Construction. They raised five children: MaryAnn, Janet, Patricia, Garnet and Barbara. Bun took pride in his community and was part of the group that started the Assiniboia Regional Park. He was actively involved with minor hockey, the swim club, and was a member of the Kinsmen. He was a very passionate Montreal Canadien and Toronto Blue Jay fan. He enjoyed spending time in his yard and was passionate about intarsia woodworking, creating beautiful pieces of art. He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, playing cards, playing ball, golfing, and lending his kids a helping hand with their renovation projects. He will be forever loved and dearly missed by his family and friends.

Bun is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years Edith; daughter Mary-Ann (Randy) Fisher; daughter Jan (John) Cooper; daughter Pat (Clint) Sira; son Garnet (Tasha) Giroux; daughter Barb (Greg) McInnis; 14 grandchildren and their partners; 15 great-grandchildren and 2 sisters-in-law. He is predeceased by his parents William “Bill” and Bertha (nee Deschamps) Giroux; brothers Don (Beth) Giroux and Clay (Estelle) Giroux; son-in-law Clint Nicholson.

A Celebration of Bun’s Life was held on Friday, February 10, 2023, 2:00 PM, at Piche Hawkins Grondin Funeral Chapels, Assiniboia, SK. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Bun’s memory may be given to the Assiniboia Regional Park, Box 1224 Assiniboia, SK S0H 0B0 and the Kidney Foundation of Canada, A3116 103 Street East Saskatoon, SK S7N 1Y7. To share online condolences or view a recording of the service please visit www.pichehawkinsgrondinfuneralchapels. ca

AULT, HEATHER MADELINE

Heather Madeline Ault, late of Regina, SK, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2023, at the age of 75 years. She was predeceased by her parents John and Madeline MacCuish. Heather is survived by her son John Ault (Nicki) and their children Samuel and Thomas; son Jason Ault and his child George; and daughter Joann Degenstein (Phil) and their child Dylan.

Family and friends so wishing may make a donation, in memoriam, to the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan, 4545 Parliament Ave #200, Regina, SK S4W 0G3. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com.

STAMM, ELEANOR MAY

March 17, 1926 -

December 9, 2022

Eleanor passed away peacefully while in the kind care of the wonderful staff at The Summit at Quadra Village in Victoria, BC, on December 9, 2022.

Eleanor was born in Moose Jaw, SK, on March 17, 1926 and was raised in a lively, loving family of seven children during the Great Depression. She thrived in the successive roles of educator, wife, spiritual worker, farmer, stepmother, and grandmother before returning to school to obtain her Master of Social Work, Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry degrees. She continued to serve others as a minister, counsellor, and retreat leader. Throughout her career and her life, Eleanor significantly contributed to the greater good of those around her, supporting many individuals and families. She ultimately retired in Sidney, BC, and continued to inspire her community there. She embraced aging and led a mindful spiritual journey towards her heavenly home. Eleanor will be remembered for her enthusiasm for life and her unconditional love for others. With increasing simplicity and contentment, her smile beautifully reflected her core value—the wonderful abundance of God’s eternal love.

Eleanor was predeceased by the love of her life, Stanley Stamm; her stepdaughter, Marcia Craig; her greatgranddaughter Kira Broeder; her parents, John and Barbara McDermit and all six of her siblings. She is survived by her stepson, Garry (Rolly) Stamm; Garry’s three children, Debbie (Rick) Doucette, Corey (Shelley) Stamm, Shelly (Jeff) Boulton, and their families; Marcia’s daughters, Paula Craig and Teresa (Michael) Broeder and their family; as well as many nieces and nephews and their families. In gratitude, Eleanor will be missed by family and loving friends.

Eleanor’s memorial will be attended by a small circle of close friends and family on March 17, 2023, at 2 PM, at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney, BC. The service will be live-streamed through Virtual Memorial Gatherings. She will be interred in Mossbank, SK. We send our condolences to all those who knew and loved Eleanor.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www. mccallgardens.com

DOYLE, JOSEPH ERNEST

It is with saddened hearts that the family announces the death of Joseph Ernest Doyle on Dec 24, 2022 at the age of 76.

Ernie was born April 6, 1946 in Moose Jaw, Sk. He lived his entire life in the Moose Jaw district, on the Doyle ranch until his passing. He attended City View School until the age of 15 after which he worked full time on the ranch always with a dog by his side. He drove the feeder school bus for the Moose Jaw Public School Division for City View for many years, joined the RM of Hillsborogh council in 1979, later becoming the reeve in 1991 until he retired in 2012.

Ernie is pre-deceased by his parents Laurence Doyle, Winnifred Doyle (Wall), and spouse Darlene Horsnall. He is survived by his stepchildren Kirby (Mel) Horsnall, Sandy (Rick) Bell, Heather (Rob) Horsnall, Gary (Jana) Horsnall, Wanda (Fabe) Horsnall. Step grandkids Jamie, Ken, Kyla, Noah, Kalen, Rikki, Tyler, Brooke, Megan, Stephanie, and Arlo. Siblings Margaret McNutt, Danny (Doreen) Doyle and Daisy (Ron) Ismond. Nephews and nieces Patrick (Lindsay) McNutt, Tammy (Boe) Bouget, Sherry (Gareth) Ward, Cindy (Chad) Bilous, Michael (Paige) McNutt, Marcy (Kevin) McNutt, Laurence (Tanya) Ismond, Lee Ismond and all his great nephews and nieces. His friend Edith Zaremba, numerous cousins, friends, and neighbours.

Ernie was a great son, husband, brother, uncle, stepdad, step grandpa and neighbour who worked hard and was never afraid to laugh at his own jokes. His sense of humour, witty remarks, grins, and chuckles will be missed by everyone who shared in his life.

Donations may be made to the Moose Jaw Humane Society or the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Ernie’s name. Pray service was held on Thursday January 5, 2023, at 7:00PM at W.J. Jones & Son Chapel. A Funeral Service was held on Friday, January 6, 2023, at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 1064 3rd Ave NW, Moose Jaw.

In living memory of Joseph, a memorial planting will be made by W.J. Jones & Son Ltd. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.jonesparkview.com (Obituaries). Dayna Chamberlain- Funeral Director

KWAN, LINDA

Linda (Yuk Chi) Kwan, 82, peacefully passed away on Friday, December 16th, 2022 at the Pioneers Lodge in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Born on December 5th, 1940 in Wing On Village, Toisan County, Guangdong Province, China, Linda (Yuk Chi) Kwan immigrated to Canada in 1964. She was predeceased by her parents Tao Ling and Han Ping Lee. Linda (Yuk Chi) Kwan is survived by her husband Wah John Kwan; sons Terry, Eddie and Davin Kwan; daughter-in-law Diana Chen; grandchildren Macy, Tage, and Jasmine Kwan; brothers Henry, Tony and King Lee; sisters Donna Tam, Brenda Chan and Judy Lee; sisters-in-law Karen Lee, Jenny Lee and Wendy Woo; brothers-in-law Dean Tam, George C.H. Chan, and Paul Tutton; nephews Steve, Lorne and Mathew Lee, Brandon Tam, Wilson and Peter Chan; nieces Jeanette Quon, Sharon Wong, Alice, Lisa and Elaine Tam, and Lisa Chan; nephews-in-law Andrew Kossmann, Raymond Quon, Jeremy Wong, Andy Ip, Duncan MacDonald, Eric Juteau; niece-in-law Natalie Nicholson; great-nephews Kalieb Quon, Ryan Wong, Vincent and Kenneth Ip, Jeremy Juteau and Kyle Tam; great-nieces Kaylee Quon, Andra MacDonald, Sarah Juteau and Brianna Tam; and cousin Bin Chen, his wife Angela and their children Nicole and Cyril.

A Celebration of life will be held at W. J. Jones & Son Funeral Home, 474 Hochelaga Street West, Moose Jaw, SK on Friday, February 24, 2023, at 1:00 P.M. Interment to follow in Rosedale Cemetery. The family of Linda (Yuk Chi) Kwan wishes to thank the staff at Pioneers Lodge and medical and surgical units at Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Linda (Yuk Chi) Kwan may be made to Pioneers Lodge by contacting them directly, and to the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital through the Moose Jaw Health Foundation, 55 Diefenbaker Drive, Moose Jaw, SK, S6J 0C2 (or visit www.mjhf.org).

In living memory of Linda, a memorial planting will be made by W.J. Jones & Son Ltd. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.jonesparkview.com (Obituaries).

Dayna Chamberlain- Funeral Director

Funeral home hosting several support groups to help grieving residents

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

The death of a loved one can leave people lost and sad, but a community funeral home is offering support groups to help residents with their grieving process.

W.J. Jones & Son Funeral Services at 474 Hochelaga Street West is holding several grief support groups throughout February to comfort residents dealing with loss.

An in-person hope/grief support group for all bereaved people occurs Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home’s reception centre.

An in-person support group for bereaved parents happens Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the reception centre.

An online grief group for survivors of suicide loss occurs on Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

An online common ground for bereaved spouses group happens on Wednesdays throughout the month, including Feb. 8, 25 and 22, from 10 to 11:15 a.m.

Email Della Ferguson at della@jonesparkview.com for the Zoom link.

The funeral home and crematorium has been holding these grief groups since 1998, while the gatherings have become part of the organization’s continual efforts to support people in a safe space, Ferguson explained.

“Grief isn’t just at the time of the funeral. We understand that grief is an ongoing process, and we want to support folks in their process and know that they don’t have to process it alone,” she said. “And we also know that it helps to understand what grief is and what strategies serve you well.”

There are four groups because each one has specific needs when dealing with death, she continued. It’s important for people having similar feelings to come together since it normalizes those experiences.

There are many commonalities to the strategies the funeral home offers these groups, with the primary strategy to encourage people to understand grief and open themselves to it instead of numbing themselves to the grieving process.

“Self-care is a very important one. Grief takes so much of your energy and adjusting to the new realities,” said Ferguson. “So, self-care is paramount, and it means simplifying life and honouring what you need for your body and mind and spirit.”

There is no specific length of time that people are supposed to grieve and then move on, Ferguson noted. Everyone’s grief journey is different, while people’s personalities, coping strategies, support systems, history of loss and relationship with the person all play a role in the length of mourning.

The research shows that the first year after a loved one’s death can be the most difficult because people experience many “firsts” without that family member or relative, she said. This forces people to battle fresh waves of grief and feel a sense of shock, numbness and lack of energy.

Some “firsts” people might experience after a loss include a birthday, a holiday, driving past the hospital where the death occurred or a site where an accident occurred, walking through a grocery store aisle, or other small things.

“And it is about adjusting to new realities. And so for some … it takes time to make life-altering adjustments (after) living without someone who has been so profoundly a part of your life,” said Ferguson.

One of the best ways to support people grieving is just to listen, she noted. Being fully present and offering a dedicated, trusting, non-judgmental ear goes a long way to helping others.

“Our real goal is to help them find their answers, not to tell them what they should or shouldn’t do,” Ferguson added. “… We don’t want to put guilt trips on people.”

read about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I would like to find news articles that elucidate the news information for my own understanding and clarity for making intelligent decisions and discussions. Elucidation of the news of the day is important for understanding our world and our place in it.

Rev. Dr. John Kreutzwieser is a retired pastor from Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Moose Jaw, SK. He graduated with a doctorate degree in 2006 from the Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Florida.

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

Elucidate

As part of the Glacier Media Group MOOSEJAWTODAY. com, and its print brother Moose Jaw Express, offers information for intelligent decisions. As you scan the Moose Jaw Express you will find articles written by local reporters about community, local people, issues and events. MOOSEJAWTODAY.com provides synopses of local articles, plus some national news and international news. If you desire elucidation on the non-local items, you will have to explore other venues (something I do often). Sadly, it is not easy to discover factual articles that elucidate the news. Many media outlets have become propaganda machines rather than objective reporting. The difference between pieces on different media sources such as CNN and Fox News makes that apparent.

Elucidate means to give a clarifying explanation. There are some online and print venues that provide elucidation on the news of the day, but it seems they are harder and harder to discover. If, as Glacier Media promotes, to offer information for intelligent decisions, then we need good news sources that elucidate the brief news articles.

Elucidate comes from the Latin lucidus, meaning clear to the understanding. We get the word “lucid” from this root. Lucidus derives from the Latin lucere, which means to shine. Thus, when English developed the word elucidate, it’s root meaning is to shine a light on something to make it more visible or understandable. When I

Synonyms of elucidate include explain, expound, explicate, and elaborate, but each with their own nuance. Explain indicates making plain what is not immediately obvious or entirely known. Sometimes I must have someone explain a particular golf regulation to me to properly follow the rules. Expound implies a careful explanation, as when an expert will expound or expand a scientific theory, which can still be unclear to the layman. The presentation of detailed analysis is explication. Elaborate expands the details. An example would be when someone says, “What do you mean you didn’t come home last night. Would you care to elaborate?” Whereas elucidate stresses clarity by offering details or motives that are unclear or only implicit in the original piece.

The government’s new health care offer is explained, expounded, explicated, and elaborated in many news items but it would be beneficial to have good quality elucidation on the subject. It is not always easy to elucidate rather than give commentary or opinion about things. But when it comes to election time elucidation is crucial for decision making, especially since other political parties and leaders have pledged to honour the promised funding.

Whenever I go to work on my computer and fiddle with the cords at the back of the desktop, I need more light to have my eyes see correctly so that I can plug in the cords properly. We need good quality reports elucidating the news of the day so we can live our lives to the fullest.

Columnist John Kreutzwieser loves to research words and writes this weekly Word Wisdom column for Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com. He has an interest in the usage, origin, and relevance of words for society today. Greek and Latin form the basis of many words, with ancient Hebrew shedding light on word usage.

John would like to know if anyone has a sincere interest in a relevant word that he could possibly research for an upcoming column. If so, please send your requests to wordwisdom2021@gmail.com . Words will be selected according to relevance and research criteria. We cannot confirm that all words will be used.

Photo courtesy Getty Images

h AUTO RACING

Thursday

4:00 p.m. FSR NASCAR

Craftsman Truck Series

NextEra Energy 250, Practice.

6:00 p.m. TSN NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen

Vacations Duel 1 At DAYTONA.

8:00 p.m. TSN NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen

Vacations Duel 2 At DAYTONA.

Friday

4:30 p.m. FSR NASCAR Cup Series Bluegreen

Vacations Duel At DAYTONA, Practice.

6:30 p.m. FSR NASCAR

Craftsman Truck Series

NextEra Energy 250.

k HOCKEY

Thursday

8:00 p.m. NET NHL Hockey Detroit Red Wings at Calgary Flames.

Friday

8:00 p.m. NET NHL Hockey New York Rangers at Edmonton Oilers.

Saturday

6:00 p.m. CBKT CTYS NET NHL Hockey Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs.

7:00 p.m. WXYZ NHL Hockey Washington Capitals vs Carolina Hurricanes.

9:00 p.m. CBKT NHL Hockey Philadelphia

Flyers at Vancouver Canucks. NET NHL Hockey New York Rangers at Calgary Flames.

Sunday

7:30 p.m. NET NHL Hockey

Columbus Blue Jackets at Arizona Coyotes.

Monday

6:00 p.m. NET NHL Hockey

Winnipeg Jets at New York Rangers.

Tuesday

8:00 p.m. NET NHL Hockey Philadelphia Flyers at Edmonton Oilers.

Wednesday

6:00 p.m. NET NHL Hockey Winnipeg Jets at New York Islanders.

8:30 p.m. NET NHL Hockey Calgary Flames at Arizona Coyotes.

Best NHL Hockey Detroit Red Wings at Calgary Flames. (N) Sportsnet

25 EDACC Primetime How/Made Big Bang etalk (N) Criminal Minds The Parent Test (N)

26 W Law & Order: SVU Law & Order: SVU Will & Grace Will & Grace Fire Country

29 ENCAV2 (:10) “Leap 4 Your Life” (2013) (:35) “Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride” Nurse Jack Nurse Jack

33 CMT Cheers Cheers Raymond Raymond The Office The Office Frasier Frasier

35 TLC My 600-Lb. Life “Supersized: Latonya’s Journey” (N) 1000-Lb. Best Friends (N) Too Large

38 DISC BattleBots (N) Lego Masters Australia (N) BattleBots

41 COM Big Bang Big Bang Sheldon ’Til Death Friends Friends Friends Friends

42 TCM ›››› “West Side Story” (1961, Musical) Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer. (:15) ››› “Popi” (1969)

47 AMC ›› “Now You See Me” (2013) Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo. ›› “Now You See Me 2” (2016)

48 FSR Off Road Racing Extreme E Champioinship, Final. ARCA Racing Series Daytona.

55 CRV1 ››› “The Batman” (2022, Action) Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz. “Benediction” (2021)

56 CRV2 “Ron’s Gone Wrong” (7:50) ››› “Downton Abbey: A New Era” (2022) Drag Race Belgique

57 CRV3 (6:35) “A Cinderella Story: Starstruck” Doyle (:10) Friday Night Lights Bosch “Past Lives”

58 HBO “Buckley’s Chance” (:05) “King in the Wilderness” (2018, Documentary) C.B. Strike

FRIDAY EVENING

7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30

3 CBKFT Au suivant (N) Les petits

Rescue: 401 (N) Homestead Rescue

41 COM Big Bang Big Bang Sheldon ’Til Death Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang

42 TCM ››› “PT 109” (1963, Biography) Cliff Robertson, Ty Hardin. ››› “Young Mr. Lincoln” (1939)

47 AMC (6:30) ›› “Rocky IV” (1985, Drama) ››› “Rocky Balboa” (2006) Sylvester Stallone. › Rocky V

48 FSR NASCAR Truck Series

›› “Think Like a Man” (2012) Michael Ealy. 26 W Law & Order: SVU Law & Order: SVU Will & Grace Will & Grace “The Love Club: Sydney”

29 ENCAV2 › “The Nut Job” (2014, Children’s) “Drink Slay Love” (2017) Gregg Sulkin “Madea Family Funeral”

33 CMT Cheers Cheers Raymond Raymond The Office The Office Frasier Frasier

35 TLC 90 Day: Other 90 Day: Other 90 Day Darcey & Stacey 90 Day

38 DISC Street Outlaws The 405 faces Texas’ HPP racing. (N) Diesel Brothers (N) Homestead Rescue

41 COM Big Bang Big Bang Sheldon ’Til Death Wipeout Goldbergs Sheldon

42 TCM ›››› “Hoop Dreams” (1994) Narrated by Steve James, William Gates. “The Great Santini”

47 AMC ›› “Days of Thunder” (1990, Action) Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall. ››› “A Few Good Men” (1992)

48 FSR NASCAR Truck Series NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR Xfinity

55 CRV1 Undercover ››› “King Richard” (2021, Biography) Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis. “Wolf Hound” (2022, War)

56 CRV2 (:05) Paseo (:20) “Julia” (2021) José Andrés. Gordita Gordita RuPaul’s Drag Race (N)

57 CRV3 (6:20) › “Space Jam: A New Legacy” Doyle (:10) Friday Night Lights Bosch “The Coping”

58 HBO Chocolate (:20) “Fireheart” (2022) Vincent Cassel We Are the Dream The Last of Us

SATURDAY EVENING 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30

3 CBKFT En direct de l’univers (N) Hôtel Portofino (N) Le porteur (N) Téléjournal Humanité

5 CFRE New Reality Border Private Eyes Nurses News Salvage

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MOVIES SPORTS SPECIALS

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MOVIES SPORTS SPECIALS

MOVIES SPORTS SPECIALS

MOVIES SPORTS SPECIALS

MOVIES SPORTS SPECIALS

Only Moose Jaw, North Battleford saw growth in home sales in January, data shows

By Moose Jaw Express staff

Moose Jaw and North Battleford were the only two cities in Saskatchewan to see growth in home sales in January, while the number of sales was also higher than the 10year average.

There were 24 home sales last month in The Friendly City, an increase from 16 units — or 33 per cent — in January 2022, data from the Saskatchewan Realtors Association (SRA) shows.

The number of homes sold was the only bright spot in the data, considering Moose Jaw saw negative growth in the number of new listings, inventory, months of supply and average home price.

There were 37 new listings in January, a decline from 51 units — or 38 per cent — last January. Meanwhile, inventory levels slipped to 111 units, a decline from 132 — or 19 per cent — the year before.

There were 4.63 months of supply last month, a decline from 6.43 months — a 39-per-cent drop — in January 2022, the report said. Meanwhile, homes stayed on the market for 72 days.

The benchmark price of a home was $221,400, a year-over-year increase of two per cent, while the average home price was $189,679, a year-over-year decline of 20 per cent.

“Benchmark price reflects the price of a typical or average home for a specific location. Average and median prices are easily swayed by what 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 average for January shows there are usually 24 homes sold, 67 new listings, 209 units in inventory, 9.23 months of supply, 71 days for homes on the market, a benchmark price of $220,580 and an average price of $218,638.

Provincial outlook

Pullbacks in the attached and detached sectors resulted in 631 sales recorded across the province in January, a year-over-year decline of nearly 16 per cent, SRA said. While January sales were lower than the activity reported during the past two years, sales remained consistent with pre-pandemic levels.

Despite new listings increasing by 1.1 per cent to 1,381 units, January inventory levels were at their lowest levels reported over a decade, at 5,224 homes. This was a 10-year decline of 27.5 per cent. While inventories improved in homes priced above $300,000, it had little effect on the low inventory situation that continued to occur across the province.

Meanwhile, there were 8.28 months of supply in January, a year-over-year increase of 13.7 per cent.

“Rising lending rates paired with ongoing inflationary pressures are impacting what individuals can afford, and our market has struggled to see improvements in supply levels in lower-priced homes,” said CEO Chris Guérette.

“Prospective buyers impacted by rate hikes are also faced with less choice in the more affordable segment of our market. Without question, these factors are contributing to a pullback in sales activity.”

Following two consecutive years of price growth, the total residential benchmark price remained relatively stable in January at $317,400. However, apartment condominiums reported further gains in benchmark prices due to rising demand, relative to supply, in apartment-style products.

“As our market continues to return to pre-pandemic sales levels, it’s important to remember that we typically see fewer transactions occur in January,” added Guérette. “As higher commodity prices and a strong agricultural sector continue to support our economy, Saskatchewan remains resilient and well-positioned for stable demand in home ownership.”

Local unemployed numbers less than half year ago level — StatsCan

The labour market in the Moose Jaw/Swift Current labour region is getting tighter.

The unemployment rate has hit 5.6 per cent, down from 8.6 per cent one year ago, shows data from the Statistics Canada January labour market survey.

The region’s labour force and employment numbers have increased from 2022.

Unemployment has shrunk from 4,500 persons to 2,200.

The population declined by 600 to 82,700 but the

Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

labour force available popped by 2,900 to 54,500.

Employment increased by 4,900 to 54,500.

Lowest unemployment rates of the five regions in Saskatchewan were Prince Albert Northern and Saskatoon Biggar, tied at 4.1 per cent.

Third lowest was Regina Moose Mountain at 4.2 per cent with Moose Jaw Swift Current and Yorkton Melville tied at 5.6 per cent

The Saskatchewan unemployment rate of 4.4 per cent was down from 5.4 one year ago and is the fourth

lowest of the 10 provinces.

At 4.1 per cent unemployment Manitoba has the lowest. Tied for second at 4.2 per cent are British Columbia and New Brunswick.

Highest unemployment rate is Newfoundland and Labrador at 10.9 per cent

The cross-Canada unemployment rate is 4,9 per cent, down from six per cent a year ago,

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