Moose Jaw Express, December 13th, 2023

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Volume 16, Issue 50 | Wed., December 13, 2023

Christmas campaign gives seniors in care homes a gift for the holidays Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

Many seniors residing in care homes are alone during the holiday season. During this time, few get to experience the simple gesture of receiving a Christmas present with their name on it.

This all changed thanks to a generous Christmas elf by the name of Ashley Armstrong.

Now in its eighth year, the ‘Christmas Spirit for Seniors’ initiative began when Armstrong and her family were looking for a way to honour the memory of her brother, Craig Althouse, who died in 1990.

“He had a really big soft spot for seniors. It sort of was a remembrance of him, and his birthday was on Christmas Eve,” she recalled. “We’ve always tried to do something special for him and just acknowledge his love for seniors, and then

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recognized there was an absolute need for (this idea) in Moose Jaw.” Armstrong started by asking local care homes about seniors in their care who would be alone for Christmas, and for those seniors to submit a wishlist.

The project was then supported by the Moose Jaw Public Library, the Sahara Spa, and the YMCA. “When I first started the program what I needed was a public space that people could come and sign out these wishlists, and then a place to bring them back.

That’s where Sahara Spa has come in and has been a wonderful venue since this happened,” she said.

At the end of October, Armstrong reaches out to update the list. With everyone reached, she prepares hand-written tags to drop off at the Sahara Spa for their Christmas tree.

The public can then come in, grab any tag from the tree, and shop for one or more items on the list.

These gifts are returned to the Sahara Spa with the tag, and in a lot of cases, items on the list including ‘Warm Buddy’ robes, lotions, or other skincare products are available right at the spa. “A lot of (Sahara Spa’s) care line is super good for senior’s skin,” she noted.

This year’s campaign kicked off on Nov. 25, and Armstrong and her mother spent most of the following day hand-writing the names on each of the 353 tags. “I feel like it’s… more special (that way),” she said.

“Every year has been a success. We’ve never not sold a tag – it’s been really cool,” Armstrong said, noting that the project has been well-received by the community and took off by word of mouth. Last year saw a record 481 gifts received.

In 2021, Barb Jackman with Dance Images by BJ assisted, and her dance group did a little number for the seniors.

Last year, the U13 AA Warriors hockey team offered their help.

“Every place that we stopped they sang a Christmas carol, and the seniors loved it,” she said about the team. “They loved it so much and loved helping with

Gifts are being distributed at Providence Place during the 2022 ‘Christmas Spirit for Seniors’ campaign. Photo by: Facebook/Christmas spirit for seniors the delivery so much that they’re going to mentioned her mother, Leona Althouse, be my buddies again this year.” That group and her son, Brenton Armstrong, who has now plays in the U15 Warriors league. helped sort and deliver presents. “(The seniors are) so elated and grate“We would not be eight years running ful,” Armstrong said. “The seniors know with this program if it wasn’t for the abme now… and they’ll call me ‘Santa’ or solute humongous heart of the people in ‘Mrs. Claus’.” (this) city,” she acknowledged.

“Every single year when I walk in to To sign up for the program next year, do the delivery, we see an extreme amount reach out through the Facebook page, of gifts sitting there. Again, to see peoples ‘Christmas Spirit for Seniors.’ faces light up – from the seniors to the To stop by the Sahara Spa and purcare workers to everybody involved – it chase a gift for a senior, the location is 341 just makes the season so much better,” she Stadacona Street East, and the number is said.

306-692-1012.

Armstrong wanted to thank everyone The gift-giving deadline is Dec. 20 – past and present – who has helped. She and gifts will be distributed on Dec. 22.

Stocking Fund Campaign ensures families can celebrate Christmas their way Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a joy-filled Christmas, so the Salvation Army hopes residents will be generous again this holiday season and support its Stocking Campaign now initiated by the Moose Jaw Express. Although the Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign wraps up on December 24th, the Christmas stocking continues to run until the first week of January.

The community has been generous in supporting the Stocking Campaign for several years stretching back to when the Times-Herald promoted the event for more than 40 years.

The Salvation Army are good stewards of the money entrusted to them trying their best to meet the needs of the community and the Express works as the middle man by accepting the donations by cash or cheque at the Moose Jaw Express office located at 468 High St West where individuals are issued receipts. The lock-box safe supplied by the Salvation Army is then picked up and income-tax receipts are issued to the donor; contributors will be recognized in a future publication of the Express.

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PAGE A2 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

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Health Foundation lights up 18-foot Christmas tree in hospital lobby Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

The Moose Jaw Health Foundation (MJHF) brightened the lobby of the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital for yet another December, lighting up the giant ‘Rockefeller’ Christmas tree on Dec. 5 thanks to a $26,000 sponsorship from Charles Vanden Broek and Carolyn McDonald of Murray GM. “The tree is, once again, sponsored by Charles Vanden Broek and Carolyn McDonald with Murray GM, and we want to thank them so much,” said MJHF executive director Kelly McElree after turning on the lights. “The tree has raised over $166,000 for the hospital. It first came here 9 years ago.

“It means so much to the patients and families. Oftentimes, when people come to the hospital, it’s during a difficult time, and especially if it’s over the holidays, which can be extra difficult. So, when they see the Christmas tree — and it’s really the community’s tree — it brings a sense of hope and happiness to them and brings back Christmas memories. And many staff and families come here every year to take photos with the tree.”

The tree is designed after the famous New York City Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza, and is 18 feet high, 8 feet wide at the base, and is lit by nearly 3,000 LED lights.

The tree sponsorship is bid on as part of the annual MJHF Festival of Trees,

(l-r) Kelly McElree, Cam Howe, Monica Reich, Brenda Bumphrey, Glenda Bailey, Bobbi Goodison, Katie Flegel, Tracy McDowell (photo by Gordon Edgar)

which was held on Oct. 21 this year and raised over $237,000 toward diagnostic and surgical equipment for the hospital.

“I love Christmas trees, I have since I was a child,” said Cameron Howe.

Howe is a board member with the MJHF and co-hosted the 2023 Festival of Trees with his daughter, Dr. Caitlyn Howe, who works at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore hospital.

“People don’t come to the hospital unless they’re either sick or they’re visiting somebody that’s sick, or they’re here for a medical procedure. To me, (the tree) makes me feel warm, it makes me feel a little bit of happiness, and you know what, if we can give a little bit of happiness to the community that are unfortunately having to come here, then that’s good. And big thanks to Charles and Carolyn, again.”

McElree and Howe were joined for the occasion by Tracy McDowell from the x-ray/diagnostic imaging department; Katie Flegel, manager of medical imaging; Bobbi Goodison, working supervisor in x-ray; Glenda Bailey, diagnostic imaging and x-ray porter; Brenda Bumphrey, RN; and Monica Reich, diagnostic imaging porter.

Staff and patients in the diagnostic imaging department will benefit from the purchase this year of an MRI coil specifically for breast cancer, funded by MJHF events.

MJHF Little Princess Ball confirms April 2024 return; tickets on sale soon Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

The Little Princess Ball, an annual fundraiser on behalf of the Moose Jaw Health Foundation (MJHF), is confirmed for April 27 and 28, 2024, according to the event’s official Facebook page, with tickets going on sale December 8.

The event is a Disney-themed, resplendently decorated dress-up ball for young ‘princes and princesses,’ and is always massively popular. It will be held in the Moose Jaw Events Centre in 2024, with both day’s activities running from 3 to 7 p.m.

The ball was cancelled last year when the previous organizing committee opted to step down. Although a search was initiated for replacement committee members, the timeline turned out to be too short, leading to the cancellation announcement.

Kelly McElree, executive director of the MJHF, said at the time that he understood the volunteer committee’s decision

The Heritage Inn ballroom was completely transformed into a magical, sparkly, glitter-drowned place for the 2022 Little Princess Ball (Randy Palmer) because the Little Princess Ball took so 2023. “We’re just eternally grateful that much time and effort — long-time chair they’ve been able to have such an impact Elaine Crocker had compared it to an on the Women’s Health Unit at the hospiover-the-top wedding, taking six months tal, and pediatrics in general. … It’s such for a group of 10-12 people to put togeth- a magical event for parents and their chiler. With the added strain of the pandemic, dren.” it became too much.

“So, I am involved again for this year, “(The outgoing committee) put their co-chairing to help (the new committee) hearts and souls into the event, and for so settle in,” Crocker told the Moose Jaw many years,” McElree said in February Express shortly after the news was an-

nounced. “When we decided as a committee to step back (last year), I had always been searching for people to take over, because I feel this is something that should always continue.

“It took a while, but I managed to find some girls who are very, very excited to bring the Little Princess Ball forward.

As usual, this will be full-on glitter and magic. We’ve been planning for a couple of months now and we’re ready to get going.”

Tickets will be available starting Friday, Dec. 8 at 10 a.m., through Sasktix. ca or in-person at the Moose Jaw Events Centre box office.

With a way forward found, it’s time to follow along with preparations for the 13th Little Princess Ball at facebook.com/ thelittleprincessball and be ready for the tickets to go on sale — they don’t usually last long.

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MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A3

Thank you for your continued support!

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Superstore’s Holiday Food Drive critical for food bank seeing 39% increase in clients Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

With the Moose Jaw and District Food Bank seeing a 39-per-cent increase in client numbers over last year, this year’s Superstore-sponsored Holiday Food Drive may be more critical than ever.

Superstore kicked off its annual event on Nov. 30 and will collect food until Sunday, Dec. 24. The grocery store acquired $6,336 in food and money last year and, based on the donations that customers have contributed so far, will likely bring in more.

In conjunction with Canadian food banks, the national office changed up the Holiday Food Drive by creating pre-packaged food bags for $5 and $10 that customers can purchase at the tills and deposit into a bin, explained Lesslie Ross, manager of Moose Jaw’s Superstore.

These bags contain either three items — such as a rice staple and two cans of lentil- or bean-type food — or multiple items of pasta, rice, canned meat or beans.

“This year, we’re already over $3,000 one week into the event. And honestly, (with) a lot more of the event, we’ve been focusing on the bags, which gives a little better value than the product shown,” he said, noting while the company introduced the bags in 2022, the store is pushing them harder this year.

“It’s done really well this year, way better than last year … . The bags are a better way to do it.”

Lesslie Ross, manager of Superstore, holds a bag of food that customers can purchase to help support the food bank, as part of the store’s annual Holiday Food Drive. Photo by Jason G. Antonio Ross praised Moose Javians for being generous in their donations, noting that this year’s campaign has already collected 50-per-cent more donations than in 2022 despite being only one-third of the way complete.

Both organizations also held a mini food drive in late October/early November

— the food bank was running low — that generated $2,800 in supplies and donations, with food bank staff on site talking with customers about the most-needed items, he continued. He hoped the food bank could return for another day at the store.

“Our customers seem to really appre-

ciate being able to see them in person …,” Ross added.

Terri Smith, operations manager with the food bank, said the organization is excited for the return of Superstore’s Holiday Food Drive since the donations are a great help. Furthermore, it informs the public that the charity needs help supporting its clients, of whom there are 39-percent more than in 2022.

“This food drive is a big deal for us,” she stated.

The food bank’s “most wanted list” of supplies includes canned meat, canned fruits and vegetables, pork and beans or beans in tomato sauce, canned soups, cereal, oatmeal, Kraft Dinner, Sidekicks, Hamburger Helper, Ichiban noodles and rice.

The organization is also accepting diaper sizes three and up and baby formula.

“We’re doing OK so far. With numbers climbing the way they are, it’s a little bit scary (and startling compared to past years),” said Smith. “(We) won’t know for a couple more months how our food supply’s going to go because this right now is our busiest time of year … .

“We’ve had so many more clients that need help. There’s a lot of people really struggling with … all the rising prices.”

Visit https://mjfoodbank.org/ to donate to the organization.

Santa’s helper Corey McDonald needs your help to spread Christmas Cheer Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

A local welder by the name of Corey McDonald wanted to do something special for the Christmas season. Being without children of his own, he felt the best way to give back would be to put a smile on the faces of less fortunate children and their families in the community.

“I am without kids, so I have a bit of extra money kicking around and just want to… see people smile, especially the kids,” he said.

His Christmas Cheer fundraiser works by individuals nominating a child or family who they understand to be in a challenging situation and deserving of support. Nominations have come from friends and family members who made suggestions, and several of last year’s candidates have stepped up to nominate a deserving family they know of.

“Anybody that could use a helping hand (is a good candidate)… they don’t even have to be hard up for cash,” McDonald said. “I just want to see the kids smile.”

Ideally, McDonald would receive a voluntary cash donation in any amount.

“I’m not going to say no to (a toy

Help support McDonald in his campaign by nominating a deserving child or family before the Dec. 19 deadline.

Photo by: Facebook/Christmas Cheer! or other donation), but cash is ideal,” he confirmed. “I don’t know what I would do with a pair of size 11 men’s skates (for instance).” Still, McDonald said he won’t turn down toys that are donated in good condition.

After the deadline on Dec. 19, McDonald will take the amount raised and double it using his own personal funds.

“So many kids out there (aren’t) able to see Santa; so many families (aren’t) able to put gifts under the tree,” he said.

Saskatchewan Breaks Surgical Volumes Record Saskatchewan’s surgical system achieved the highest volumes ever recorded from April to September 2023, with a total of 47,748 procedures performed. This is an increase of 10.4 per cent over the same period last year.

Hon. Tim McLeod, MLA for Moose Jaw North (306) 692-8884 | mjnorthmla@sasktel.net

“Christmas is a beautiful time of year, and also the most stressful time for a lot of families.” His goal is to alleviate some of this stress by helping as many families as he can with the gift of a Christmas present.

McDonald said he’s received a lot of positive feedback from the program, and in his first year he helped roughly 40 families, which translates into 60 – 65 kids.

This marks his second year running the program, and as of Dec. 10, McDonald has raised enough to help around 45 kids.

The goal is to raise $4,000 by this year’s deadline, for a total of $8,000 with his personal contribution added. “The more, the merrier,” he said. So far, $2,300 has been raised.

He is currently running his charitable program in Moose Jaw, Regina, and Saskatoon, with proceeds going toward the community it was raised in.

To nominate a child or a family for McDonald’s program, the best way to contact him is either through his Facebook page, ‘Christmas Cheer!’ or by email at coreyweld@gmail.com.

The fundraiser will continue until Dec. 19. Following this deadline, McDonald will begin distributing toys and gift cards with the proceeds. He will start in Saskatoon, then Regina, and on Dec. 23 and 24, he will visit families nominated in Moose Jaw.

Wilson’s Watch, Clock & Jewelery Repair & Coins

RETIREMENT SALE I will be retiring and closing my store The last day open will be December 31st, 2023 Retirement sale starts now All items must be gone by Dec. 31st Basement of the City Square Mall 361 Main ST 306-691-0646

PAGE A4 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Editor’s Note

If you want to see the same old results in your life, business, organization or community, continue down the same old path and the results will be exactly the same…

It has been said that, “if you want change, you have to make changes.” To embrace change, one has to do Joan Ritchie something they have never EDITOR done before.

Old ways of doing things were great in old days but nowadays with new ideas, innovations and strategies, change is normal. It’s not that the minds of yesterday have gone stale; it’s that the new minds of today embrace change, diversify and make changes! Although our children are a generation younger than us, in many ways they are much smarter, quicker and more skilled at certain things than we are. That’s just the way it is.

In life, there are both leaders and followers, and for most, everyone can see the difference!

Who would have thought that Wilbur and Orville would launch what today we now enjoy as flight?

Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and Beethoven were a little extraordinary in that they all had learning disabilities but demonstrated that they were driven by genuine and rare intellectual curiosity. They kept on regularly searching, striving and wanting to learn more and create in their fields of expertise. Edison shed a little light on the situation, Bell opened up lines of communication while Beethoven still soothes our tired souls. Thank God for great thinkers that embrace change and make changes!

Moose Jaw has gone through some transition too. New development and new businesses have popped up. The wheels of technology are changing. Artificial intelligence has become the buzz word of the day but we can either run from it or embrace it, because it won’t be going away anytime soon. It is an amazing tool to use in education for conscientious educators to catch cheaters that think they are scamming the system. Who wants to go to a professional that really hasn’t earned their degree with the level of education that is necessary to get there? But unfortunately, there probably are some educators who aren’t interested because it would require them to be a little more responsible to make sure the students they are educating are actually educated.

Soon 2024 will be here and undoubtedly it’s going to be a new year with new developments, technology, business endeavours, events and maybe even new discoveries on the horizon.

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

Send your letters to the editor to: 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.

The contents of this publication are the property of the Moose Jaw Express. Reproduction of any of the contents of this publication, including, but without limiting the generality of the following: photographs, artwork and graphic designs, is strictly prohibited.

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

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

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

Downtown announces late-night shopping event; Christmas Ambassador volunteers wanted

By Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com staff The Downtown Moose Jaw Association (DMJA) and Tourism Moose Jaw have announced the annual late-night Christmas shopping hours will take place on Thursday, Dec. 14 this year, with another date possibly to follow.

The event started in 2021 as a way to give shoppers an extra day to shop local for the holidays. Participating businesses are encouraged to stay open until 9 p.m. for the occasion.

Tourism Moose Jaw (TMJ) and Downtown Moose Jaw lit up with Christmas lights for the holiday season the DMJA will help promote busi- (DMJA/Facebook) nesses that participate. Businesses days during the day, and during the 2024-25: should contact Tourism Moose Jaw at late-night shopping on December 14. • Returning: 306-693-8097 to let them know.

They will be wearing Santa hats and Matthew Brewer, Little Chicago ‘Christmas Ambassador’ vol- reindeer headbands, shaking jingle Entertainment unteers bells, holding open doors, helping Lindsay Curties, Golden West Another reason to call TMJ is if shoppers carry purchases to their cars Marta Woodrow, DevPro you are interested in being a down- (if they want), and handing out candy ª New Members: town Christmas Ambassador this hol- canes.

John Iatridis, The Mad Greek iday season.

Local businesses are encouraged Cory Olafson, Heartland Financial The Christmas Ambassadors are to support these volunteers by giving Tanya Veroba, Veroba’s Family a volunteer initiative co-ordinated by them a space to warm up if they need, Restaurant the Good Neighbours Group and sup- as they are volunteering to support TMJ thanks Yvette Moore and ported by TMJ and the DMJA. the downtown and increase every- Alex Carlton for their six years on the These volunteers will be a posi- one’s holiday spirit.

TMJ board, and Corey Nyhagen for tive and festive presence downtown, TMJ governing board changes his two years on the board, and wishas schedules and volunteer availabilTourism Moose Jaw has an- es them well. ity allows, Thursdays through Sun- nounced the board members for

Heartland Hospice lights up Pioneer Lodge garden with Christmas decorations Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

As part of a new initiative they’re calling ‘Light up the Lodge for Christmas’, Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw has filled the Pioneer Lodge Serenity Garden with Christmas decorations and are hoping to build the collection each year.

“Heartland Hospice’s vision is to create ‘An end-of-life haven in Moose Jaw for individuals and their families, supported by a circle of compassionate care.’ That circle of care is not only within the walls of the care facility, but in the space that lies beyond the windows and doors as well,” explained Sara Bryan, a Heartland Hospice board member, in an email announcing the initiative.

“Since its inception in 2020, (the Pioneer Lodge) Serenity Garden has blossomed into a beautiful tranquil space where patients and families can enjoy nature’s therapeutic effects every summer. Our hope is that the sparkling Christmas lights in the Serenity Garden will have a similar effect during December on those in the hospice room and the residents of Pioneer Lodge.”

Kicking off the decorating, Moose Jaw Co-op donated a Christmas tree from the Rotary Club of Moose Jaw Wakamow, and Canadian Tire contributed several festive lawn decorations.

Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw is a non-profit, community-based

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

Publisher: Robert Ritchie - rob@mjvexpress.com Editor: Joan Ritchie - jritchie@moosejawtoday.com Sales: Wanda Hallborg - mjexpress7@sasktel.net Gladys Baigent-Therens - gbaigenttherens@moosejawtoday.com Kevin Ogle - kogle@moosejawtoday.com Thank you to all the contributing writers, without your time and support, the paper would not look the same.

Send your stories, events and pictures to: jritchie@moosejawtoday.com

Joan Ritchie Jason G. Antonio Joyce Walter Aaron Walker Ron Walter John Kreutzwieser

Gordon Edgar Randy Palmer

Volunteers accept a Rotary Christmas tree donated by the Moose Jaw Co-op. (Photo courtesy Sara Bryan)

‘Light Up the Lodge for Christmas’ will be an annual initiative by Heartland Hospice Moose Jaw to fill the hearts of residents, staff, and visitors with holiday cheer. (Photo courtesy Sara Bryan) organization with a volunteer board.

Founded in 2014, Heartland Hospice’s is working toward a complete palliative/hospice care wing at Pioneer Lodge on Albert St. in Moose Jaw, which is operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA).

So far, they have established one dedicated hospice bed, as well as the serenity garden.

Palliative care is the relief of symptoms and suffering caused by a severe illness — in other words, the improvement of a patient’s quality of life, rather than sacrificing quality of life in order to fight illness. It is a separate concept from curative care. Hospice care is a form of palliative care designed specifically for the final six months of a person’s life, focusing on making them as comfortable as possible in a holistic sense — physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Through their ongoing capital campaign, and with SHA involvement and approval, Heartland Hospice wants 2024 to be the year they complete their renovation goals by establishing: • Three dedicated hospice-palliative bedrooms; • A family resource centre with reading materials and activities for children; • A sacred space for the use of the whole facility;

• A dedicated family entrance separate from the long-term care section; • A serenity garden (much work has already been completed) and; • Essential palliative care training for hospice staff.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to contribute to Light Up the Lodge for Christmas, or to Heartland Hospice in general can go to: heartlandhospicemj.ca/contribute.

‘Light Up the Lodge for Christmas’ decorations are up now at Pioneer Lodge in Moose Jaw. (Photo courtesy Sara Bryan)

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A5

REPORT from the Legislature

Moose Jaw North MLA

Tim McLeod Saskatchewan continues to receive good news on its economy. Our province ranked first in the nation in month-over-month retail trade growth, increasing by 3.0 per cent from August to September 2023. That’s a growth rate of five times the national average! The total value of retail trade was more than $2.1 billion in September 2023. These numbers are proof that Saskatchewan’s economy continues to grow and that our province has the resources the world needs.

Our government continues to work to build and protect our economy so that it can continue to grow. Recently, our government announced the team of experts who will make up the Saskatchewan First Act’s Economic Assessment Tribunal.

The tribunal’s first referral for economic analysis and consideration is the federal government’s Clean Electricity Regulations (CER). The CER was published by the federal government this past summer. In the months

ahead, both the federal oil and gas cap and Federal Fuel Standard will also be referred to the tribunal.

No other province has an independent tribunal whose exclusive role is to analyze and quantify the dollar figure harm of federal policies and legislation. The Saskatchewan First Tribunal will help protect the economic future of families, communities and businesses.

As we continue our plans to build and protect Saskatchewan’s economy, our government recently invested $80 million in the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) to pursue the development of a microreactor in Saskatchewan. SRC will apply the research and knowledge gained from this initial microreactor project to support our province’s nuclear industry and better understand the potential for future microreactor projects.

This first microreactor is expected to be operational by 2029. This project will create economic development opportunities and jobs while helping to provide a custom solution for our province’s unique energy needs.

As our provincial economy continues to grow, so does our province’s critical minerals sector. Saskatchewan is home to 23 of the 31 critical minerals on Canada’s list, plus the world’s largest deposits of potash and highgrade uranium.

This year, we have seen great progress toward our goal to increase Saskatchewan’s share of Canadian mineral exploration spending to 15 per cent by 2030. In 2023 alone, our province’s share of the national total in mineral exploration is projected to increase to over 12 per cent.

More than 100 companies are actively advancing mineral projects in our province, from early-phase explo-

ration to larger scale projects such as BHP’s $6.4 billion Jansen Stage 2 expansion. Our government will continue to work with resource sector partners and stakeholders to grow our critical minerals sector.

A strong and growing economy allows our government to invest in programs and services that matter to the people of Saskatchewan. Our government is working to ensure patients have access to urgent breast cancer diagnostic procedures. A new initiative will accelerate urgent diagnostic breast cancer procedures, including breast mammograms and biopsies.

To help increase accessibility to breast cancer diagnostics, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has implemented improvements including extended hours of service and performing additional volumes in Saskatoon.

A centralized booking system for breast imaging and 3D breast imaging will also be implemented across the province.

The highest-risk patients are now receiving diagnostic care here in Saskatchewan. Eligible patients on an urgent wait list will receive procedures at a private medical facility in Calgary with travel and accommodation expenses reimbursed to a maximum of $1,500. To learn more about the out-of-province breast cancer diagnostic initiative, please visit www.saskatchewan.ca/medical-imaging.

As we near the end of the fall session of the legislature, I look forward to hearing from you. Your questions and concerns help me represent your best interests in the legislature. Feel free to reach out to my constituency office at 306-692-8884 or mjnorthmla@sasktel.net.

Central Collegiate student named to provincial youth council

By Moose Jaw Express staff

teer roles within the school, and helping stores thrive by working and purchasing from them.

Furthermore, Afolabi believes some of her accomplishments — such as participating in the Model United Nations Assembly and taking an active role in the city’s youth advisory committee — will give her a good insight into how to participate in the provincial youth council properly, her biography said.

She has also worked within larger groups, such as the school’s Student Lead-

The provincial government has named Central Collegiate student Momore Afolabi to its provincial youth council for the 2023-24 school year.

Afolabi is one of 12 students from across Saskatchewan who will join this body, which will provide feedback and insights on education policies, curriculum, programs, or priorities in response to requests that the Minster of Education, ministry staff and sector partners make.

Throughout the year, the students will come together to build leadership skills, improve knowledge application and problem-solving skills, and contribute to promoting and understanding change in the education sector.

“The City of Moose Jaw is a small but welcoming city. Living in the city for 12 years has introduced Momore to the pleasantries of living a quiet life,” the Grade 12 student’s biography said. “The community is surrounded by beautiful sights, like stargazing, sunsets and clean parks, while also having various thriving local businesses.

Afolabi takes part in several activities that connect her to the community of

23123PS0 23123PS1

Grade 12 student Momore Afolabi from Central Collegiate has been named to the provincial youth council for the 2023-24 school year. Photo submitted Moose Jaw. This includes the city youth advisory committee, attending MJ RADAR meetings (for racial discrimination), volunteering for community events like Sidewalk Days, taking on several volun-

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The youth is very passionate about living in a discrimination-free society and appreciates communities with a diverse collection of people with open minds.

That is why Afolabi is passionate about being on the youth council and learning about different experiences and observations throughout the province.

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PAGE A6 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Kinsmen sponsor Learning Centre at Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

The activities room at the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJMAG) is officially the Kinsmen Learning Centre for the next two years thanks to a $10,000 sponsorship from the Kinsmen non-profit service organization.

“Our learning centre is now the Kinsmen Learning Centre for the next two years, and those sponsorship dollars will go towards helping us expand on the programming we’re doing and make that programming more accessible,” explained Jennifer McRorie, director and curator of the MJMAG. “We’re looking at some of those dollars going toward buses because there are some schools that might not be able to afford the cost of transporting kids to our gallery.

“We’re still doing virtual programming, but it will be great to get more kids

Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery in Crescent Park (staff file photo)

(l-r) Christy Schweiger, Cody Sharpe, and Jennifer McRorie outside the Kinsmen Learning Centre, where instructor Ward Schell was teaching an adult painting class (photo by Gordon Edgar) in the building, in front of the artworks sive and accessible.”

The learning centre holds regular and responding to art and creativity here in this space. The sponsorship will also classes, such as painting instructor Ward help people who otherwise couldn’t afford Schell’s watercolour classes. Classes in to participate in our classes, so there will other mediums include basket weaving, be a couple of spots in each class that will printmaking, pottery, beading, mixed-mebe sponsored. That could be anyone from dia, sculpturing, drawing, and more. The seniors to youth, just to broaden our out- space is packed with art supplies.

“We’re really happy to sponsor this reach and make our mission more inclu-

initiative, because it’s a new way to provide opportunities for kids in our community,” said Cody Sharpe, representing the Kinsmen Club. “When Jennifer came and pitched the idea to our committee a few months ago, what impressed us was how many more children they’re going to be able to serve with our sponsorship — especially kids who probably couldn’t afford to enjoy the programming here, both at an individual level and at a school level.”

Christy Schweiger, the MJMAG’s education co-ordinator, said the sponsorship will also help the museum reach more newcomer and immigrant families. The museum and art gallery are a city-funded cultural resource and artistic centre, and she said they are always trying to expand their reach and increase awareness of their educational opportunities.

“One of the other areas becoming a bigger part of our community is bringing newcomers to the (MJMAG),” Schweiger explained, “offering them a chance to engage with a new part of their lives and making them feel welcome. So, between increasing our accessibility for kids, for seniors, and for others in our community, this is a wonderful opportunity and we really thank the Kinsmen for their support.”

Learn more at about art education programs at www.mjmag.ca/artclasses.

‘These are my great-grandparents’: Ferguson family visit Lakota beadwork exhibit Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Members of the Ferguson family from Saskatchewan’s Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation visited the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJMAG) to see the Wakšúpi: Lakota Beadwork exhibition — an exhibition drawn from their own family history.

“That’s my daughter’s namesake, right there,” said Lita Ferguson, pointing to a rare historic photograph of ‘Big Joe’ and Katherine Ferguson. Lita helped historian (and relative) Dr. Claire Thomson, the exhibition’s curator, to identify artifacts and photographs and tell the stories of every piece they could identify. She also sits on the MJMAG Indigenous Advisory Committee and the Wood Mountain Historical Society board. She visited the MJMAG with her daughter, Katherine Robichaud.

“These are my great-grandparents, and they raised my dad, until he was sent to residential school. They were camped here (in Moose Jaw). This is ‘Big Joe’ Ferguson ... and he’s first cousin to Sitting Bull. ... He was a warrior and then in his later age became a medicine man. And he helped negotiate our reserve south of Assiniboia. A few remnants now reside there, but (back then) they lived here in Moose Jaw, camping in the valley.”

Lita and Katherine were joined by

Katherine Robichaud and her mother Lita Ferguson; Andy Ferguson-Lafferty and his mother Jackie. The family see their own personal history in the exhibit, along with that of their nation (photo by Gordon Edgar) Jackie Ferguson-Lafferty and her son Andy, who are also Lakota. Jackie’s grandfather was a step-brother to Lita’s father.

“It’s very moving, because I really enjoy seeing our history and being able to teach our descendants,” Ferguson-Lafferty said. “Also, a lot of this stuff has never been shown for the public, so it’s, I don’t even know how to say it, it’s touching. I’m glad it’s on display.”

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Asked about any significant highlights of the Wakšúpi exhibit, the family noted the stories of Big Joe, who was raised as a brother to Chief Sitting Bull, and his wife.

Katherine was a horsewoman, a warrior, a beadwork artist, a holy woman, and a healer. After bravely saving the lives of several children during a raid by soldiers, Katherine won the right to wear a headdress, carry a ceremonial whip, and sit

with the men, where her word was highly respected.

“She lead the raiders away from the children and drew their fire, and she was wounded, she lost part of her foot,” Lita explained. “That’s where she won the right to wear a headdress. And she was a medicine woman as well, working in coalition with her husband and the other medicine leaders. They were the last ones.

“Big Joe was a butcher, because of the slaughtering of the buffalo at that time, and he was a big man, too. He could cut the head off a cattle with one blow, and they were so fast at skinning, because of a whole lifetime doing it. And they sold (Katherine’s) beadwork and other stuff, and this is where they lived until they died.

He passed in 1953, and my dad was the one that looked after him.”

The family said it was a bit sad to think that the long history of their people in the area isn’t known, and is in danger of being forgotten without active work.

Nevertheless, they are glad to see the MJMAG’s Lakota artifacts being examined, catalogued, and accurately described for the community to see and learn from — and for them to bring their children to.

Wakšúpi: Historic Lakota Beadwork will be exhibited at the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery until May 5, 2024.

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MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A7

Fulfilling province’s flag mandate could cost PSSD $313K to purchase supplies Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

The Saskatchewan government has mandated that school divisions fly the provincial flag at all schools, but for Prairie South School Division (PSSD), the cost to fulfill this directive may be too expensive.

The directive was part of the provincial government’s Bill 137 — known as The Education (Parents’ Bill of Rights) Amendment Act, 2023. The act requires children under 16 to have parental consent to use a different gender-related name or pronoun at school.

Subsection 184(1) of the act reads: “Subject to the regulations, every school shall provide for the display of the flag of Canada outside and inside the school building.”

An amendment adds “and the flag of Saskatchewan” to the section.

The Ministry of Education said it would work with school divisions to determine flag inventories and next steps to assist in ensuring the provincial pennant is flown across the province.

“The development of attitudes, understandings and skills that support active and responsible citizenship is foundational to Saskatchewan curricula, and the provincial flag is an important part of our history and culture,” the ministry said.

During PSSD’s November board meeting, a trustee inquired about how many schools have the Saskatchewan flag on display inside and outside their buildings and what the cost would be to install flags.

Division administration provided an answer during the December meeting, saying 31 of 34 schools do not

have the provincial flag outside their buildings and 14 do not have the flag on display inside.

As for expenses, one flag costs $80, an in-ground pole costs $10,000 and a roof-mount flagpole costs $300.

Therefore, it could cost $2,480 to purchase outdoor flags for the 31 schools, $1,120 to purchase indoor flags for the 14 schools and $310,000 to purchase 31 in-ground poles. However, if schools don’t want ground-based poles, then 31 roof-mounted poles could cost $9,300.

Therefore, it could cost PSSD between $12,900 and $313,600 to purchase the necessary supplies.

“I’m not sure how we’re going to approach this whole process. This is a pretty significant amount of money (the ministry is) asking us to spend on flags,” said trustee Crystal Froese. “We’re struggling already, so … do we know if they’re going to cost share on this initiative they have?”

Froese added that a lack of partnership is a shortfall of the mandate, while this issue has nothing to do with not wanting to fly the Canadian or Saskatchewan flags.

The division is unsure if the ministry will share costs since the latter has not committed either way, said education director Ryan Boughen. Meanwhile, some PSSD schools have wall plaques with the Saskatchewan flags on them, while the division can’t even acquire flags because they’re on backorder.

Boughen pointed out that while the division office has flag poles for the Canadian and Saskatchewan flags, it also has three roof-mounted poles to fly other pennants.

“People have commented that that looks nice, it’s

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appropriate (and) it’s economical,” he said. “So we are examining other options.”

Senior administration is accountable for ensuring schools follow these directives, but since it just acquired the necessary information, the division isn’t doing “too bad” on this issue, Boughen added.

Since this is a government mandate, trustee Lew Young wondered what the repercussions were for not following its orders, especially since the division is policing itself. Moreover, there is the cost to consider.

“We are asked to educate students, not put up flags on poles,” he said, pointing out that the province is refusing to hand over carbon tax money to Ottawa. “Hopefully, we (PSSD) can find a solution.”

Trustee Patrick Boyle thought it was ironic that if the division did not pay $480,000 in carbon taxes on its natural gas consumption, it could afford these supplies.

Also, he thought the flags should have been flying at these schools “since day 1,” noting the American flag flies at all schools with “no questions asked.”

Two Moose Jaw schools continue to operate at overcapacity, report shows Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Two schools in Prairie South School Division operated over 100-per-cent capacity and 12 operated under 50-percent capacity last year, although the division has worked to alleviate pressures at the overcapacity buildings.

There are 31 schools in PSSD and the average space usage in the division is 58 per cent, according to the 202223 buildings accountability report presented during the recent board meeting. Ten underused schools are rural, while the others are Empire School (33 per cent) and Riverview Collegiate (21 per cent).

In comparison, the usage rates of those two city schools during the 2021-22 year were 31 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively.

Meanwhile, the two schools that were overcapacity last year were King George School (107 per cent) and Sunningdale School (103 per cent). In comparison, their usage rates during the 2021-22 year were 102 per cent and 105 per cent, respectively.

The space usage rate is based on a Ministry of Education formula that uses kindergarten to Grade 12 enrolment as of Sept. 30 of a school year and a school’s capacity number, the report said.

Trustee Lew Young spoke about the two schools being overcapacity and several rural and urban schools hovering around 20 per cent. He wondered if anything had changed significantly in the last year that concerned division administration.

Buildings manager Darren Baiton replied that the data has been “pretty consistent” lately. The division has

applied to the ministry for portables at King George (two) and Sunningdale (one) but has been unsuccessful. The province is only providing portables to schools at 115 per cent overcapacity, although that’s come down from 140 per cent.

Baiton added that that overcapacity will continue until the division can secure portable classrooms.

According to the buildings accountability report, Empire and Central Collegiate are the two oldest PSSD schools at 114 years old, while the newest is seven years old. Meanwhile, the average age of schools is 67 years.

Utility consumption Prairie South used just under 400,000 kilowatt hours (KWH) of electricity in 2022-23 and paid roughly $1.14 million for that, the report showed. Meanwhile, it consumed nearly 2.1 million cubic metres of natural gas (NG) and paid nearly $700,000 for that.

In comparison, it used roughly 200,000 KWH more in electricity and roughly 50,000 cubic metres less in natural gas in 2021-22.

A.E. Peacock Collegiate used the most electricity per day at roughly 2,000 KWH, while Riverview consumed the most natural gas per day at over 15 gigajoules.

Trustee Crystal Froese wondered how the division was managing its energy needs since utility costs are “crazy” and how PSSD was handling its natural gas bulk purchases since the contract expired in 2026.

Prairie South was forced to pay $480,000 more on natural gas this year because of the carbon tax, which was

Prairie South board appoints three new directors to oversee annual bursary fund

not included in the original delivery contract, said Baiton.

Provincially, every division is attempting to bulk buy at the various manufacturing plants, although that’s difficult since each organization is at a different point in their contracts and the cost per gigajoule fluctuates.

“We don’t know at this point what the current contractors are going to offer us,” he stated, adding the division acquired the previous contract through a tendering process.

Trustee Patrick Boyle highlighted the consumption rate versus the total cost for electricity and how the carbon tax is having a “real-life impact” that is causing “a massive hit” to expenses. He also noted that the division is being asked to “eat” those costs over time.

Infrastructure projects The division spent $4,384,332 to complete 41 infrastructure last year, the report showed. Initiatives ranged from washroom upgrades at Assiniboia Elementary School for $3,656 to washroom/change room upgrades at Mossbank School for $482,939.

With the new joint-use school, Baiton said construction is proceeding well and the warm weather has assisted contractors and helped save costs. He noted that the division website features daily photos from the site, which should allow students to follow the project’s progress from the ground up.

He added that the school should be open by September 2025.

YOUNG & YOUNG AUTOMOTIVE Expanded to 10 bays

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Prairie South School Division (PSSD) has added three new directors — and reappointed several others — to a committee that manages a bursary fund carried over from the former Moose Jaw school division.

During their recent board meeting, trustees voted to have Jeff Feeley, Mary Jukes, Al Kessler, Aline Kirk, Pam Ludwar, Doreen Majeran, Darcy Dumont, Amanda Olson, George Patterson, Ron Purdy and Greg Veillard serve on the Moose Jaw School District No. 1 Bursary Fund Inc. for 2024.

This is the first year that Kirk, Majeran and Dumont will serve on the committee. They replace outgoing members Patti Rodger, Jan Stewart, Claude Duke and John Livingston.

Purdy, PSSD’s business superintendent, said Majeran is a former education superintendent, Dumont is a community lawyer and Kirk was a manager in the division office.

“We have some good experience coming on,” he said. “We’ve actually got to the point now that it’s not ex-

actly 50/50 (with urban and rural representatives). (But), we have a nice mix of urban and rural.”

According to a board report, the fund is a separate legal entity that the former Moose Jaw School Division No. 1 established to collect and invest money donated to provide scholarships to deserving students. PSSD’s board of education is now the sole member of the fund and must appoint directors.

The bursary fund has registered the business name of Prairie South Schools Bursary Fund so that it can be seen as more than just a City of Moose Jaw fund. The money held in trust by the school division for scholarships has been transferred to the bursary fund.

It is important to understand, said the report, that the transfer of funds does not change anything for any individual scholarship except where the money is housed and accounted for and the interest return it earns.

The report did not mention how much money is in the fund.

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PAGE A8 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners Notes THE NEXT POLICE BOARD MEETING IS TUESDAY, DEC. 19.

Police board amends proposed 2024 police budget by removing nearly $500K Moose Jaw’s Board of Police Commissioners has approved a revised 2024 budget for the police service that will see nearly $500,000 removed from the organization’s operational funding request and pulled from another account.

The board held a special meeting at the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) headquarters on Dec. 7 to discuss the changes after receiving information from city administration that money existed in a control account that the agency could use instead of requiring more money from city council.

The police service had asked for a net operating budget increase next year of $1,181,355 (10.26 per cent).

Since city administration says one percentage point of taxation next year is worth $352,449, that means the police request could have translated into a 3.35-per-cent mill rate hike.

Acting board chairman Doug Blanc explained that there is $450,514 in a major equipment control account that is unassigned. Since the police service requires new

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express in-car reporting software and computer-assisted dispatch technology for roughly $445,000, it can use that surplus and reduce its budget request.

A police report noted that there is $1,391,758 in that control account; using it to support the software upgrades would reduce that fund to $941,244.

“The discussion (the board had in private) was fairly clear that the money was there, and rather than ask for it, again, we’ll use what’s in reserve,” said Commissioner Kim Robinson.

The board then approved motions to remove the $445,000 from the computer software category in the operating budget request, take the money from the major control account and forward the amended budget back to council.

By removing that money, the police service’s new proposed increase to council is $736,355 or 6.4 per cent.

Therefore, this could translate into an overall mill rate hike of roughly 2.09 per cent — on top of city administration’s proposed 4.13-per-cent municipal tax hike — if

council approves it.

The board also discussed the MJPS’s capital budget, which asks for $1 million starting in 2025 to help build a new headquarters.

Blanc pointed out that The Police Act says a municipality must supply its police agency with a building in which to operate. Moose Jaw’s council is aware of this and plans to assess all city-owned buildings next year as part of a 2024 budget initiative.

During council’s budget discussion on Dec. 6, finance director Brian Acker explained that it’s the municipality’s responsibility to plan and build a new police headquarters, said Commissioner Clive Tolley. Further, that money should be put into a city budget account and not a police service budget line.

The board then approved a motion to remove the $1 million request from the 2025 capital budget and all future years.

UPDATE

UPDATED: Police respond to 911 call involving forcible confinement, robbery, extortion on Nov. 28 – one individual has turned himself in and appeared in court Dec. 4 – two remain at large Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com staff

The Moose Jaw Police Service has issued an update on the incident that took place on Nov. 28.

Owen Kretsch, 43, has since turned himself in to the police after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Kretsch first appeared in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on Dec. 4. As a result, Kretsch has been charged with one count each of Extortion, Forcible Confinement, and Robbery.

He has been remanded and will make his second court appearance at a later date.

Kretsch is one of six people involved in the Nov. 28 incident that saw a victim be pulled out of their vehicle, taken into a

nearby residence, and threatened.

Joseph MacDougall, 41, and Morgan Maier, 21, both remain at large.

The incident remains under police investigation. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

At approximately 2 p.m. on Nov. 28, the Moose Jaw Police Service received a 911 call reporting an individual who was being held within a residence and being prevented from leaving. The incident took place at a Moose Jaw trailer court which remains undisclosed.

It was reported to the police that the victim was pulled from their vehicle and taken into a nearby residence at the trailer

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While in the residence, the victim was threatened by approximately six individuals who brandished weapons and used violence.

After a short period of time, the victim was able to escape from the residence and suffered no injuries from the encounter.

Police later learned that the victim and the six individuals are known to one another, and this attack is not random in nature.

Following the incident, the Moose Jaw Police Service’s Criminal Investigation Section (CIS) and Community Policing Division executed a search warrant on the residence. As a result, three individuals

were arrested and taken into police custody.

The three arrested individuals were Jeffery Stuart, 37, Jeremy Fisher, 44, and Marnie Hayter, 47. The individuals were each charged with one count of Robbery, Forcible Confinement, and Extortion.

Stuart, Fisher, and Hayter made their first court appearance at the Moose Jaw Provincial Court on the morning of Dec. 1. As a result, Stuart and Fisher have been remanded, while Hayter was released with conditions.

The Moose Jaw Police Service has issued an arrest warrant for (...) Joseph MacDougall, 41, and Morgan Maier, 21.

Police seize over $2K in counterfeit American and Canadian cash

By Moose Jaw Express staff

The Moose Jaw Police Service has arrested a 34-year-old male after a vehicle search resulted in the seizure of counterfeit Canadian and American currency.

On Dec. 6, members of the Criminal Investigation Section (CIS) and community policing division located and arrested the male for active warrants issued by the Regina Police Service for break and enter, along with possession of stolen property.

The police learned the male was on a conditional release from a previous incident. As per his conditions, An example of counterfeit cash. Photo courtesy he is subject to a mandatory search Moose Jaw Police Service at any time.

During a search of the vehicle, police discovered and seized over $2,000 of counterfeit American and Canadian currency. This included 17 US$100 bills, one US$50 bill, seven US$20 bills, 10 CDN$10 bills and 13 CDN$5 bills.

As a result, the male has been charged with one count of possession of counterfeit money. He has been released with conditions and will make his first court appearance in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on Jan. 24, 2024.

The possession, use, and creation of counterfeit money is illegal in Canada, according to the Criminal Code.

In recent weeks, the MJPS has seen an increase in the use of counterfeit currency at businesses. This Christmas season, the MJPS is urging businesses to check all banknotes diligently.

The Moose Jaw Police Service reminds the public that anyone who discovers that he/she is in possession of counterfeit currency should report it to the Police.

The Bank of Canada website series at www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-noteseries/ has information on current and previous banknotes and counterfeit prevention.

Anyone with further information should contact CRIME STOPPERS at 1-800-2228477 or the Moose Jaw Police Service at 306-694-7600.

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A9

Local dog Marshmallow is on a mission to spread positivity around Moose Jaw Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

After being surrendered to the Moose Jaw Humane Society this year, a local canine hero by the name of Marshmallow (now Ghost) has been spending time touring the Notorious City. During one of his most recent excursions, he stopped to visit residents at the Chateau St. Michael care home.

The purpose of his visits has been to assist the Moose Jaw Humane Society with its mission of spreading a little positivity around the city.

“Everybody loves him once they meet him,” said Dana Haukaas, the executive director of the Moose Jaw Humane Society. “I chose Marshmallow because he’s the perfect height and nobody has to bend over (to pet him). He’s got a big fluffy soft head, and he loves to be pet, so it’s a winwin for everybody.”

It wasn’t long until Marshmallow got adopted by his new family, who is finishing up their move to a new acreage close to town where he’ll be able to roam freely with his new dog sister and two children.

“They were in the process of moving, so we just held on to him, partly because I wanted to take him to City Hall with me.

He’s a great boy,” Haukaas said. This was the same day that Marshmallow visited Chateau St. Michael, along with a few

Marshmallow during his recent excursion to visit residents at Chateau St. Michael’s. Photo by: Facebook/Moose Jaw Humane Society other half-hour stops at the Crescent Park Villa, Capilano Court, Pioneer Lodge, and one local elementary school.

Marshmallow’s gig won’t have to come to an end, however, as his loving new family has agreed to let the Humane Society borrow him from time to time to partake in his social visits around town.

His future outings will take place on

more of a spontaneous basis, as the Humane Society often responds to requests from the various care homes and schools in the city. One frequent stop is the Pioneer Lodge, which is handily close to the shelter.

The Humane Society also likes to visit elementary schools on a regular basis.

“We try to talk to (the students) about being safe around dogs and cats, and how to be kind to dogs and cats,” Haukaas said.

Marshmallow has proven to be the perfect candidate for this gig, as most shelter dogs aren’t utilized for this type of assignment. Haukaas said most of the shelter’s animals get uncomfortable around people they don’t recognize, and the shelter won’t put them in situations that makes them nervous.

For the white, fluffy Great Pyrenees however, his breed is well-renowned for their gentle disposition and mild temperament around people. “He wasn’t nervous (to see) wheelchairs, canes, walkers – he didn’t care. He just walked up to everybody and let them love on him,” Haukaas said.

Marshmallow will be heading to his forever home on Dec. 1, and this coming January he will be turning two years old.

He will be in good hands too, of

course. His new mom has plenty of experience working at and volunteering for the Humane Society and an animal clinic after that. “She’s got lots of animal experience,” Haukaas confirmed. “He will be well taken care of.”

Marshmallow has found his forever home and will be turning two years old this coming January. Photo by: Facebook/Moose Jaw Humane Society

Support programs for young parents to continue, thanks to Carpet One Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

Moose Jaw Family Services Inc. plays a vital role in the community, and much of the organization’s programming helps support young parents who would otherwise be without valuable resources and information.

One space the organization regularly uses is its kitchen, where new parents learn the basic skills of food preparation, cooking, and nutrition.

Last December during Christmas break, a pipe burst in the kitchen causing the room to fall out of use while the non-profit worked out a way to renovate the space. With no budget for emergencies such as this, the repair had to be delayed, causing the young parent’s program to be temporarily cancelled.

After reaching out to Carpet One, the local business came through and agreed to donate new flooring without cost to help get the Family Services programs back in operation.

“We reached out to Carpet One to see if they would be willing to donate anything for us. They said, ‘yes, of course, sure,’ right off the hop,” said Tara Jones, the executive director at Moose Jaw Family Services Inc.

“They were able to donate this product for us, and just contribute to us having this kitchen which is integral to our programs,” she said. “We heard they are incredibly generous, and I will tell you that is the truth.”

The project was also supported by C&S Builders Ltd., who assisted with the sink, painting, and sub-flooring on the insurance claim. On Dec. 7, another party donated a couch to be used in the organization’s board room.

“We are strong believers in community, and I think that a lot of community revolves around the kitchen table. So having a kitchen table here where employees can have coffee… together, and we can have clients come in and sit down, is just really important,” Jones said.

The young parent’s program is a weekly program that runs all year. The program is designed to assist parents aged 13 to 19 with a variety of essential skills, including the fundamentals of cooking.

The space is also used by the dad’s group that runs on Tuesday evenings so new dads can socialize and learn tailored content such as positive parenting.

“Because they didn’t have a kitch-

Rosie, one of the dogs who frequent the Family Services office, investigates the new flooring donated by Carpet One. Photo by: Aaron Walker en this year, that (program) hasn’t been allowed to work. We’re just back (as of) about a month or so,” she said. “Until we had the kitchen, we couldn’t make that happen.”

“Every dollar we save goes back to supporting the community in a different way,” she said. Such efforts can include a variety of programming and the purchase of food for the organization’s emergency hamper. The hamper supports new parents in a tough situation and without food.

Moose Jaw Family Services ran a

clothing drive earlier on Sept. 21 and 22.

Afterwards, several men’s winter jackets were left over. The organization decided to donate those jackets to the John Howard Society, and they found their way to those in need. In another instance, the Transition House had many diapers that Family Services distributed to new parents.

“The non-profits in this community have so much support that goes between them all that it’s amazing,” she said.

“Moose Jaw amazes us all the time with their generosity.”

“I would like to give a big thank you to Carpet One for the support they gave us, so we can get our programs back up and running,” Jones said.

“We want the community to know they’re not just a business – they (staff at Carpet One) actually are caring people who care about the community and want to do good things.”

The young parent’s program and dad’s group are back up and running. Moose Jaw Family Services is looking for those in the community who need the support offered by either program. Family Services is located at 200 Main Street South and can be reached at 306-694-8133.

A Legendary Retirement at Agribition International Stock Dog Trials

By Eugenie Officer

This year’s Agribition International Stock Dog Trials marked Bob’s final competition before his well-earned retirement, evoking an emotional response from his handler, Peter. As a four-time champion of the Stock Dog Event at Agribition in 2014, 2021, 2022, and 2023, Bob leaves behind an impressive legacy, inspiring future generations of stock dog enthusiasts.

A total of 45 dogs participated in this year’s Agribition Stock Dog Competition.

However, it was Bob, a 12-year-old cattle dog from Outlook, Saskatchewan, who secured the championship for the fourth time. Bob is owned and trained by experienced cowboy and well-known trainer Peter Gonnet.

Bob spent his life working in the community pasture with Gonnet. His exceptional skills and strong work ethic earned him a special place in Gonnet ‘s heart. Bob’s journey was far from straight-

forward. Gonnet sold him to someone in California as a puppy, but Bob would often escape and herd neighborhood cattle.

He was eventually sent back to Gonnet to work with, who decided to repurchase him. At the age of 5, Bob had a serious accident while working, but he still returned to work and loved it even more. Throughout his career, Bob fathered several hundred puppies.

Jack Regier, a respected figure in the world of stock dog trials, judged Bob’s final competition at Agribition. Regier described Bob as a “one-of-a-kind” dog, praising his presence and confidence in effortlessly guiding the sheep. Despite the sheep’s limited exposure to dogs before the show, the event ran smoothly. Driving the sheep required a special kind of dog that could maintain control without hesitation.

Spectators of the event described

Courtesy of Peter Scoular (Dog at 2023 International Stock Dog Trials at Agribition) Bob’s winning run as picture-perfect, with the sheep responding flawlessly to his commands. Gonnet expressed how smoothly the run went for Bob, saying, “He just had a really good time.”

The Agribition International Stock Dog Trials and Cattle Dog Competition

showcase the impressive abilities of stock dogs and their handlers. The objective is to guide the dog and cattle or sheep through a pre-set course within five minutes, demonstrating the dog’s skill in controlling and driving livestock.

Marcel Vermette, a competitor in the Agribition Cattle Dog Competition, shared that Agribition is a favorite annual event, where handlers can showcase the invaluable role that working dogs play on ranches. Spectators can experience the intelligence and work ethic of these dogs firsthand, emphasizing their importance in ranching operations. He explained, “These guys just work their hearts out for you.”

As a four time Champion at Agribition, Bob’s last appearance marked the end of an era. This dog’s journey perfectly showcases the dedication and heart of these dogs and the bond they share with their handlers in the world of ranching.

PAGE A10 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

From The Kitchen

By Joyce Walter - Moose Jaw Express

Pie recipes for large or small scale servings

One of my favourite cookbooks, A World of Baking, has many stained pages from continued use over the past many years.

Several of the recipes inside have been used on a regular basis for pies to be served at family dinners or pot luck meals.

The three pie recipes featured today may be converted from large pies into single-serve tarts, reducing the baking time accordingly.

••• CHERRY MINCEMEAT PIE pastry for a 2-crust, 9 inch pie 1-16 oz. can unsweetened pie cherries, drained 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 cups mincemeat, homemade or commercial 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 large egg Combine drained cherries and sugar. Combine remaining ingredients and stir the two mixtures together.

Pour into the pastry-lined pie plate. Arrange crust over the top. Seal and flute the edges. Cut vents in the top crust.

Bake at 425 degrees F for 35-40 minutes. Do not let pastry burn. Cover edges with pieces of foil.

May be served warm, or chilled, with ice cream.

••• EAGLE BRAND PUMPKIN PIE 10-inch pie shell, unbaked 2 cups canned pumpkin puree 1 can Eagle Brand milk, diluted with whole milk to make 1 1/2 cups 1 cup light brown sugar 5 large eggs 1 1/2 tsps. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. cloves 1 tsp. ginger 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 cup brandy, optional Combine pumpkin, milk, brown sugar, brandy and eggs and beat well. Combine flour and spices and mix then stir into egg mixture.

Pour combined mixture into pie shell.

Bake at 450 degrees F for 10 minutes then reduce heat to 325 degrees F. Continue baking until filling is firm, about 40-45 minutes longer. A knife inserted into the centre should come out clean.

Cool on rack. Serve with whipped cream. Store in refrigerator.

•••

CREAM CHEESE SWEET POTATO PIE 10-inch pie shell, unbaked 6 oz. cream cheese, softened 2 1/2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes, cooled 1/4 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup brown sugar 2 large eggs 2 tsps. vanilla extract 1/4 cup brandy, optional Cream the cream cheese. Add the prepared potatoes, cream, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla and brandy. Beat thoroughly with an electric mixer.

Pour into the pie shell.

Bake at 450 degrees F for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F and bake for 30-40 minutes. A knife inserted in the centre of the pie should come out clean.

Cool on rack. Cool completely then chill in refrigerator. Before serving spread whipped cream over the top then slice.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel. net

‘Fear & Trembling’ short wins Technical Achievement award for Moose Jaw filmmaker Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Moose Jaw filmmaker Jeremy Ratzlaff and his crew won the Technical Achievement at the 10th annual Saskatchewan Independent Film Awards (SIFA) on Nov. 25 at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina.

Ratzlaff said the award reflects the deep craftsmanship of the crew he worked with on the film (which was also nominated for Best Short), with particular praise for the extensive post-production cinematography, lighting, and audio design of the finished product.

“The film is called Fear & Trembling, and we shot it in September 2022 in

Ratzlaff’s short film ‘Fear & Trembling’ was filmed entirely at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre. (Jeremy Ratzlaff/ Facebook)

Moose Jaw, at the Mae Wilson Theatre,” Ratzlaff told MooseJawToday.com. “The part I’m proudest of is, we worked with people from all over the province — Saskatoon, Regina, Weyburn, Yorkton, Prince Albert — and everyone came to Moose Jaw to do this work, and we just won at the Saskatchewan Independent Film Awards.

“We were nominated for ‘Best Short Film’ as well, and this was in a pile of some of the best independent short films I’ve seen made in Saskatchewan in the last 10 years, which is how long SIFA has been around. ... Just about everyone who was responsible for the camera and sound elements, which is what won us our award, was able to be there, and I got them all to stand up during the acceptance speech and there was huge applause, which means a lot in a crowd of professionals who really understand what went into this.”

Ratzlaff is a self-taught filmmaker who got his start creating artist showcase videos for CBC Arts. He founded Lampblack Studios in Moose Jaw in 2019.

Lampblack was recently acquired by Tandem X Visuals out of Regina, making Ratzlaff a partner and the production company’s Director of Photography.

Fear & Trembling is the second instalment in what Ratzlaff hopes will be a three-part series about a young woman named Kit. In the first (By Faith, Denis),

Jeremy Ratzlaff and several cast and crew members with their award. (Jeremy Ratzlaff/Facebook) COVID-era short (completed in 2021), Kit becomes upset and leaves an awkward bible study group during a discussion of sexual purity. Against the backdrop of personal abuse and a stifling community, Fear & Trembling is about Kit’s attempt to produce a stage play adaptation of the biblical story of the ‘binding of Isaac.’

“These shorts are an opportunity to sort of learn filmmaking from the director’s seat, and so I was keen on hiring a

cinematographer, who is also a colourist, who’s much more experienced than I am, so not only would my film look really good, but I could learn along the way. The colouring process is a massively significant step that a lot of people don’t know about.

“The Mae Wilson also now has a 5.1 surround sound system, so we took full advantage of that, and Fear & Trembling was mixed for the full 5.1 experience. So, in the film, there are these long camera takes, with multiple characters — we had 12 characters mic’d simultaneously at one time — and the camera going through and around them, and there is just so much thought and intention and expertise that went into the sound design.”

The full list of cast and crew is available on the short film’s IMDB page, but Ratzlaff gave a special shout out to colourist Jason Rister and his crew, audio engineer Kyle Parkinson and his crew, and editor Jason Hamill.

“I’m so proud of Moose jaw and I want to see more stuff happening here,” Ratzlaff added. “In the whole province, there’s a movement to try and put more money back in and shoot big movies and shows here again, and I’m advocating for Moose Jaw as a location at every opportunity I get.”

Festival of Words releases Cineview film lineup for winter/spring 2024 MooseJawToday.com Staff - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

The Saskatchewan Festival of Words has released the winter/spring 2024 lineup for its Cineview film series, which screens films from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) which would otherwise likely never be seen in a smaller city like Moose Jaw. The films are showcased in the Mae Wilson Theatre at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre (MJCC), and are $10 individually, or $30 for a full season pass to watch all five movies. Cineview passes can be purchased at a Cineview screening, from the Festival of Words Office (2nd floor of the MJCC), or from Post Horizon Booksellers.

The upcoming season’s Cineview films are: • The Miracle Club (2023) Showing January 17 at 7 p.m.

Synopsis: “There’s just one dream for the women of Ballygar to taste free-

dom: To win a pilgrimage to the sacred French town of Lourdes. With a little benevolent interference from their local priest, a group of close friends get their ticket of a lifetime.”

Starring Laura Linney, Dame Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, and Stephen Rea • Anatomy of a Fall (2023) Showing February 21 at 7 p.m.

Synopsis: “A woman is suspected of her husband’s murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the sole witness.”

Starring Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, and Milo Machado-Graner • Frybread Face and Me (2023) Showing March 20 at 7 p.m.

Synopsis: “A Navajo boy from San Diego experiences a cultural awakening when he spends summer vacation with his precocious cousin and their relatives on the reservation.”

Saskatchewan Festival of Words releases schedule for winter/spring 2024 Cineview films Starring Keir Tallman, Charley Hogan, and Sarah H. Natani • Monster (2023)

Showing April 17 at 7 p.m.

Synopsis: “A single mother demands answers from a school teacher when her son begins acting strangely. A fight at school causes even more trouble.”

Starring Sakura Andō, Eita Nagayama, and Sōya Kurokawa • Solo (2023) — Winner of Best Canadian Film at TIFF 2023 Showing May 29 at 7 p.m.

Synopsis: “Emerging Montreal drag queen Simon must deal with two impossible loves: a passionate, yet destructive affair with Oliver, and a cold relationship with his mother, who’s just returned after a 15-year absence.”

Starring Théodore Pellerin, Félix Maritaud, and Anne-Marie Cadieux The Cineview film club is part of the year-round events put on by the Festival of Words. Learn more at www.festivalofwords.com.

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A11

Secondary suites offsetting owner’s mortgage costs can have pitfalls A news article recently noted demand in Canada for houses with suites has increased.

The increased demand, obviously, comes from the suite providing income to offset ballooning mortgage interest rates.

The article pointed out homeowners with a suite in the building may experience some conflicts from noise complaints and/or temperature differences.

The advice from one expert was to install sound proofing and separate temperature controls for secondary suites.

The article did not deal with the possibility the owner may find sharing the home with strangers unsuitable.

Nor did the article delve into the landlord-tenant relations that happen when renting a secondary suite in your home.

Let me tell you the experience my wife and I had with a secondary suite to illustrate the issues that may arise.

We bought a bungalow with a basement suite on Second Avenue Northeast where the Peacock Collegiate parking lot now sits.

We went from paying $90 a month plus utilities for a one-and-one- half storey house on Coteau Street to a $150 monthly mortgage payment on this bungalow within walking distance of work.

The $70 a month rent from the suite would offset the

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MON, DEC. 18.

City council’s 2024 budget discussions have barely begun, and already, city administration wants to add an extra day because of the report’s length and “a few difficult” items that require discussion.

During its Dec. 4 regular meeting, council 6-1 to change the start time of the Monday, Dec. 18 regular meeting from 4 p.m. to 2 p.m., with the executive committee meeting to follow afterward.

The mayor will then direct the assistant city clerk to call a special council meeting immediately following the executive meeting to address — and hopefully finish — next year’s budget.

Coun. Kim Robinson was opposed.

City administration had already set the budget deliberation meetings weeks ago, with those dates including Nov. 29, Wednesday, Dec. 6, Monday, Dec. 11 and Wednesday, 13.

However, an additional special meeting is required to cover the “number and complexity” of reports that city administration is putting forward and that council must adopt before the 2024 fiscal year, a council report said. Regular and executive council meetings are already scheduled for Dec. 18, so administration wants to start them earlier to facilitate the extra special budget meeting.

In an email attached to the report, finance director

higher mortgage cost for us.

A presentable young man attending STI, now Sask Polytech, applied and we rented to him. He had two roommates —one attending Central Collegiate, one attending Riverview Collegiate.

About two weeks after he moved in my partner called me down to the basement. Lying on top of the furnace was a hash pipe. At least we thought that was what it was.

We took it to the police station where the item was identified as a hash pipe.

The police said they could not take action as the pipe was in a common area and the tenant could claim it was ours.

We had been wondering about the strange smelling cigarette smoke drifting from the basement suite.

We also noticed heavy visitor traffic to the suite during lunch hour. It was in and out traffic, seemingly by students.

It sure seemed odd to us. Why were they visiting in such numbers for such little time?

One day a few weeks later I received a phone call from Detective Stan Montgomery, who later became chief.

“Anybody home at your house?” he asked.

“Yes, Joyce, my wife is there. Why?” I replied.

“Tell her to be careful. We will be raiding the base-

TRADING

THOUGHTS

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.

ment suite.”

I phoned her and told her what was happening.

A while later she phoned me, terrified.

Several men with rifles in hand had come into the back yard, grabbed a package from under the back step and drove off.

The police arrived minutes later.

It was a scary situation.

We learned later that a car was driving up and down in front of the police station all morning until an RCMP cruiser arrived.

In those days no drug bust in Moose Jaw was made unless an RCMP officer was along.

The point of this story is: be sure you know who you are renting to and know what your rights are if you need to kick them out.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

‘Complexity’ of 2024 budget forces council to add extra budget meeting Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Brian Acker told city manager Maryse Carmichael, “Given the length of our agenda and a few difficult agenda items, I think we may need some additional meeting time.

“I am wondering if we couldn’t keep the agenda short for the Dec. 18 council and exec meeting and follow it with a special council meeting to finish off (the) budget,” he added. “I would suggest we start early (at) 2 p.m. with (a) regular meeting and then go right into budget once complete … .

“If you don’t think this works, then likely we will need to push (completing the) budget into January 2024.”

Council discussion Coun. Crystal Froese thought adding a fifth budget meeting made sense.

“I know we’ve got lots to debate in this budget and I think that it’s good that we plan this,” she said.

While Coun. Dawn Luhning was OK with 2 p.m., she pointed out that early meeting times are difficult for her because of her full-time job. She also understood that it is budget season and that, as a councillor, she may have to attend meetings that potentially run until 10 p.m. or 11 p.m.

“That’s fine. It’s not a hill I’m going to die on,” she added. “(But) I know I’m not the only one working fulltime around this table. … If everybody is OK with (2

p.m.), then so am I.” Robinson — who also has a full-time job — agreed with Luhning about accepting late meetings, while he thought council seemed to have more public meetings that started earlier in the day, which made it difficult for residents to attend. Thus, he opposed the motion.

Coun. Heather Eby was glad that council was being proactive and planning for a longer meeting, while she thought they would be fine with any start time. Moreover, she wanted to ensure they approved the budget before Christmas.

Conversely, she also agreed that 2 p.m. made it tough for the public to watch or listen. However, she hoped that anyone interested would attempt to tune in.

Reflecting on the “olden days,” Eby said council started its meetings at 6:30 p.m. and sometimes went until midnight. While it was the same length as now, going that late made it difficult to make good decisions. So, starting earlier allows council to have a clear mind, while city administration won’t have to spend over 12 hours at city hall.

“We need to finish this budget before Christmas. In past years, it’s dragged into January,” said Mayor Clive Tolley. “… I do not want to hold this over until the new year.”

Former Hillcrest Sports Centre fully recovered from damaging 2022 blizzard Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

The former Hillcrest Sports Centre has recovered from a major snowstorm in fall 2022 that damaged the venue and successfully held numerous camps and secured several partnerships since then.

The snowstorm on Oct. 23, 2022, caused significant water damage to the now-named Golden Ticket Sports Centre because contractors were replacing the roof when the blizzard hit. The liquid forced the closure of the second-floor lounge until April 1 and made the gymnasium floor unavailable to the public until May 5 — a seven-month closure.

The parks and recreation department handled the insurance claim by working with the municipality’s insurance provider to recover the damages through the roof contractor’s insurance provider.

All major issues have now been repaired, while it was “business as usual” at the centre this fall, Derek Blais, director of parks and recreation, said during city council’s recent executive committee meeting while discussing a mid-year update report that Tanner Brightman, co-owner of Golden Ticket Sports Inc., submitted.

The city signed a five-year lease and operating agreement on June 1, 2021, with the sports-focused business for the building’s operations.

The agreement allows the municipality to broaden public access to the venue while providing a needed community indoor gym and multipurpose recreation space.

“While being out of the Sports Centre for nearly seven months, we are grateful to be back and grateful for the investments put into the physical space to ensure that the space is used for many years to come,” Brightman wrote.

“Our membership usage and recurring membership … (took) a hit; we can only assume people … found other options or other ways to stay active while we were closed for the stretch we were.”

His report also noted that: 100 youths participated in camps and programs in July and August The high school flex program began in September with nine registered students The volleyball club started on Oct. 7, with 110 students from grades 7 to 12 participating In partnership with the Saskatchewan Volleyball Association, Golden Ticket will host three Sask. Cup competitions next year, which should draw over 450 room nights in Moose Jaw The Moose Jaw Minor Basketball (MJMB) season started on Oct. 29 with 150 registered participants The venue continues to assign an average of 25 hours per week for drop-in community basketball and volleyball activities, with 40 monthly members between ages 12 and 45 using the centre Golden Ticket secured long-term leases with the tennis club, Sowden Flanagan Baseball Academy, Holy Trin-

ity Catholic School Division/Global Sports Academy and Gottselig Athletic Performance Regular leases have been signed with the Moose Jaw Adult Volleyball League, Sask. Stealth Volleyball and MJMB Golden Ticket has developed a new partnership with Sask. Dodgeball to offer adult activities Golden Ticket Sports is required to provide an annual contribution of five per cent of gross annual revenues as part of its agreement, but such income was down “quite a bit” this year because of the gym closure, said Blais.

In 2022, the business had $181,480.27 in gross revenue and contributed $9,074.01 to the city, a council report said. However, this year, those numbers were $115,960.42 and $5,798.02, respectively.

Since 2021, Golden Ticket Sports has contributed $455,105.25 to building improvements, while the parks and rec department has provided $1,545,256.29 during the same period.

The department plans to spend $705,000 on the venue during the next five years, including completing the final phase of the roof replacement project in 2025 and replacing the exterior in 2027.

“We … have been incredibly fortunate to work with the great members of the City of Moose Jaw (and) each and every one of those we have worked with has been first-class from start to finish,” Brightman added.

PAGE A12 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Reflective Moments

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

By Joyce Walter - Moose Jaw Express

Surprise party might go ahead without my presence Planning ahead does not take into account the ways one’s life might change before those plans are executed.

For instance, if Statistics Canada is to be believed, I might not be around to celebrate my surprise birthday party, the one I am planning in years to come for a future major milestone celebration.

I have most of the details worked out in my advance visualization of how my surprise party will take place. I have a location in mind and the menu is coming together. I have a friend who will most likely be receptive to handling the decorations, another friend will be asked to design the invitations, and I have names for the guest list.

So what could go wrong with my plans? Well, perhaps the venue I have in mind will be pre-booked for my date or maybe that venue won’t exist when the year comes.

I envision the menu including a lovely dinner with a prime rib buffet with the meat sliced in front of all the guests. But by then, with the increase in the cost of beef,

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT BUDGET MEETINGS ARE MON. DEC. 11, WED. DEC. 13 AND MON. DEC. 18.

City hall’s general capital budget — which funds major construction, renovation and rehabilitation projects — is facing a nearly $60-million deficit over the next half-decade, with few new revenue sources in sight.

From 2024 to 2028, the general capital reserve is expected to have $59,026,687 to fund projects, while the total funding required to support those initiatives is expected to be $118,938,617 — a deficit of $59,911,930, the budget report shows.

The reserve provides funding for all core infrastructure projects, such as sidewalks, pavement rehab, bridges, building improvements and general park upgrades.

The sources of funding for the general capital reserve include municipal surcharge money from SaskPower and SaskEnergy, municipal taxation, investment income, housing reserve, CP Rail, parks and recreation infrastructure levy, parks dedication reserve, third-party funding, the Events Centre and Yara Centre reserve and traffic safety reserve, the document added.

“There are some significant challenges in that budget next year and over the next five years … and not a lot of additional revenue sources,” finance director Brian Acker said during the Dec. 6 budget meeting.

Acker noted that Moose Jaw does not receive much provincial federal grant funding, which contributes to the shortfall. He recalled reading an article about how 60 per cent of all Canadian land is municipally owned, but Otta-

perhaps a tiny hamburger on a Buddy Burger-sized bun might take the place of my choice of tender prime rib.

Such a disappointment if that happens.

Perhaps I should politely ask my friends if they are willing to commit their talents to a to-be-determined date sometime in the long-distant future. I should not assume they will be jubilant to get themselves involved in this odd project.

So what else could possibly skuttle my birthday party plans?

Well, let’s see: The guest list might require some revisions as the years pass, especially considering what StatsCanada recently reported.

That agency, in a newspaper headline, boldly stated “life expectancy for Canadians fell in 2022 for the third year in a row.”

That could mean, literally, the death of my party, especially considering the average Canadian’s life expectancy dropped to 81.3 years last year, taking it down from

82.3 years in 2019.

By the time the year comes around for my celebration, many of my proposed guests might no longer be with us. And that means, I too might by then have gone on to my Heavenly reward. Gasp.

What a way to throw cold water on one’s plans to celebrate in style with friends and family.

With all of this information available, and with gut-wrenching disappointment, there seems to be two solutions: have my surprise party for myself sooner rather than later; or disregard the news from Statistics Canada and continue to make my unusual plans.

I just hope my favourite singer/band leader will save the date for me and that he will remember the words to Happy Birthday.

Maybe he could phone and sing to me right now as I’m afraid if Statistics Canada’s numbers prevail, my partying days will soon come to an unexpected end.

Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Budget ’24: City faces $60M deficit over next five years to fund capital projects Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

wa only provides four and eight per cent of tax revenues to maintain that property.

Finding ways to tap into that money is crucial since that funding ensures the municipality can complete projects, he continued. One thing they could do is have third-party community groups pay a percentage for projects since the city shouldn’t be expected to pay 100 per cent.

While CP Rail’s $8,939,500 contribution is listed in the budget, that number is “imaginary right now” because the company hasn’t given it yet since the business and the city are going through mediation over the Fourth Avenue (Thunderbird Viaduct) bridge, Acker said.

City administration hopes that the rail company funds 50 per cent of the bridge’s rehabilitation costs, which are expected to be $22 million.

The most significant growth in capital project needs recently has been in the parks and recreation department, which pushed off renewal and maintenance of its venues for years — similar to the cast iron situation — and is now attempting to catch up, Acker said.

In 2018, the department’s five-year capital request was $7.3 million, while next year, the five-year request is $36.1 million, the report said. The estimated replacement cost of all venues, buildings and green spaces is roughly $500 million.

Acker noted that the outdoor pool is expected to cost

$12.5 million, although its expenses continue to increase daily.

“We’re not capable of funding that right now, not without provincial and federal grant funding,” he said.

The engineering services department also requires increased funding to address areas of transportation, storm sewers and slumping areas since the estimated cost to replace these assets is roughly $1 billion, the report said.

The department’s five-year capital funding request in 2018 was $45.2 million, while next year, that half-decade request is $69.1 million.

The land development reserve is also part of the operating capital budget and funds land development projects. This reserve requires $18,452,029 over the next five years.

Land sales, however, have dropped off during the past four years even though they usually generate about $1.5 million annually, said Acker. It is administration’s priority to get this area back on track since it’s a good revenue generator.

The major land projects that city hall is pursuing next year include servicing phases 5 and 6 of the Westheath subdivision —the sale of 36 lots should generate about $3 million — and spending $1.3 million in the agri-food industrial park to build a road to the lift station and service lots adjacent to that road, he added.

Privacy issues prevent city from divulging payment deal with Co-op, city hall says City council has agreed to reimburse the Moose Jaw Co-operative Association — Moose Jaw Co-op — over a

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Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express “consumption error,” but any hard details about the deal are being kept confidential.

During its Nov. 27 executive committee meeting, council voted during a closed-door — in-camera — session to give utility account 45160011.002, under the association’s name, a 50-per-cent credit to address “the actual consumption error,” the minutes show.

When the minutes were brought up during the Dec. 4 regular meeting, Coun. Heather Eby asked that the motion be voted upon again. She said she voted against it during the previous meeting because she thought council should have given a higher percentage or amount to the organization.

While Eby was unable to say more about the topic because council had discussed it behind closed doors, she brought it up because she wanted members of the association and taxpayers to know about this.

Coun. Kim Robinson said he voted against it during the in-camera executive session because he thought council should have followed its bylaw that says it can only go back a year when offering reimbursements.

Council then asked city solicitor Andrew Svenson for legal advice about how much information members

could say in public about a business they had discussed privately.

“What you say in a public meeting is no longer in-camera,” he replied.

Unsatisfied with this answer, Eby asked finance director Brian Acker how council should proceed since he had the most seniority.

In cases such as this that involve a utility account, that data is private information, which means city hall is not allowed even under Local Authority Freedom of Information Act (LAFOIP) legislation to release information to the public less the account agrees to it, said Acker.

Therefore, council and city administration are “really, very limited” in what they can say or release.

Council then voted 5-2 to re-approve the motion; Robinson and Eby were opposed.

The Moose Jaw Express attempted to ask city hall for more information about the matter, such as when the consumption error happened, how it happened, whether it was a power or water error, and how much money the Co-op would receive as a credit. However, a spokesman confirmed that the municipality could not divulge any more details.

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A13

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT BUDGET MEETINGS ARE MON. DEC. 11, WED. DEC. 13 AND MON. DEC. 18.

City administration is pitching the 2024 budget as a “status quo” document that provides the same programs and services as this year, even though operating revenues and expenses are still expected to increase.

Next year’s budget proposes total spending of $158,992,450, as compared to $139,661,592 this year — a 14-per-cent increase, the report shows. Spending differences between this year and next year show: - General operating budget (including transit): $57,931,465 / $61,564,980 - General capital budget spending: $13,700,930 / $20,627,989 - Land development capital spending: $827,536 / $1,675,000 - Equipment reserve budget spending: $5,449,646 / $1,135,235 - Utility operating budget: $30,666,447 / $31,462,053 - Utility capital budget request for new spending: $31,085,568 / $42,457,193 The budget document shows that revenues for the operating budget — used for day-to-day activities — are expected to increase by $1,429,641 — or 2.46 per cent — to $59,428,318, while expenses are expected to increase by $2,884,103 — or 4.97 per cent — to $60,882,780.

The hike in expenses is due to negotiated collective agreement increases, inflation on non-salary budget areas, funding for the police service and a higher subsidy for the Events Centre, the report continued. Inflation is expected to be three per cent, which will affect all city budgets.

The general capital budget — which includes

Budget ’24: Total proposed spending to increase by almost 14% next year Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

$16,196,678 in carry-forward funding — proposes: - $18,205,550 for transportation - $6,579,776 for parks and recreation - $3,326,618 for other services - $80,000 for the police service - $1,927,839 Moose Jaw Events Centre - $2,293,000 for storm sewers - $4,411,884 for land development The equipment reserve budget — which includes $4,894,272 in carry-forward funding — proposes: - $287,282 for parks and recreation equipment - $341,647 for Information Technology equipment - $506,306 for all other departments and third-party groups The utility operating budget consists of the waterworks and wastewater utility and the solid waste utility.

The waterworks and wastewater utility proposes spending $14,928,186 in the waterworks division and $10,454,441 in the wastewater division; city administration is asking council to approve four-per-cent increases in each division.

The solid waste utility proposes spending $6,079,426, which includes a proposed increase to garbage and recycling collection fees of $4.68 annually and an increase in landfill tipping fees.

The utility capital budget — which includes $24,579,710 in carry-forward money — proposes: - $19,533,193 in the waterworks division - $40,698,000 in the wastewater division - $6,805,701 in the solid waste utility Municipal taxation is the largest revenue source of

the operating budget at 57.4 per cent, with city hall expecting to collect $34,100,000 next year compared to $33,561,707 this year — a 1.60-per-cent increase, the report said.

Meanwhile, the document noted that commercial property appeal losses were not as bad this year as in the past since successful appeals led to a loss of municipal tax revenue of $182,528. In comparison, past years saw losses of $400,000.

“As you can see, it (this year’s loss) is a much more reasonable (and manageable) number than we’ve had in the past,” finance director Brian Acker said during the Dec. 6 budget meeting, noting it doesn’t cause city administration any concern.

City administration is continuing to shrink the tax gap between residential and commercial properties as council requested in 2017, Acker continued. While the final mill rate increase will determine next year’s number, the goal is for it to reach one; this year, it is 1.83.

Of the revenue line items, Acker highlighted the provincial revenue-sharing category, which the city expects to increase by $988,000. “(That category) is a rollercoaster; it’s up, it’s down.

It’s up, it’s down,” he said, noting the increase is significant to the bottom line.

While city hall considers the budget to be status quo, it does cost more each year to provide the same program and services, so Moose Jaw is not immune to inflation, Acker added. Therefore, city council will have to either approve or deny new projects.

Budget ’24: Big, fluffy shelter dog makes council meeting interesting Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

While there was no cute burrowing owl to see during city council’s first 2024 budget meeting, a big, white fluffy shelter dog offered the most entertainment for those in attendance.

The Moose Jaw Humane Society and Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre (SBOIC) spoke on Nov. 29 during a 2024 budget meeting focused on third-party groups.

The humane society wants $254,915 for next year, which is $1,633 more than this year. It also wants $15,000 for its spay and neuter program. The owl centre is asking for $6,956, which is $202 more than this year.

Marshmallow, a two-year-old Great Pyrenees, accompanied his handler and was content to stand or lay down during the presentation.

The SBOIC normally brings a burrowing owl but kept the bird at home because of the ongoing avian influenza.

Humane Society Dana Haukaas, executive director of the Moose Jaw Humane Society, spoke about the shelter’s activities and services.

The organization took in 266 stray dogs and 366 stray cats this year — last year’s numbers were 244 and 477, respectively — along with 16 stray rabbits and two caged rats from the courthouse, she said. The decrease in cats is due to the subsidized spay and neuter program, along with the venue pausing cat intakes because of space issues.

To neuter a cat is $127 and to spay is $230, while an initial animal vaccination is $66 and subsequent ones are $74.

The organization attempts to reconnect strays with their families regularly and scans the animals for microchips, which is the most effective way to prove identity and ownership, she noted.

The Humane Society works closely with the provincial animal protection services unit, while it also partners with the police service and health region when the latter removes an animal owner from the home and the pet must be relocated, Haukaas continued.

The situation at many shelters has changed recently, because most places couldn’t keep a dog or cat for long during the pandemic since house-bound people want companionship, she added. Now, many are giving up their animals — especially cats — and the animals are staying longer at shelters.

When asked about a new building, Haukaas said the organization has nailed down a design, a location — west of the current location — and a rough project cost. They also hope to hire a fundraising co-ordinator to acquire funds.

Burrowing owls George Fowler, general manager of the exhibition association, spoke for bird handler Lori Johnson, who was absent due to the human flu.

The owl centre had a soft opening this year because of avian influenza and moved its birds outside in June, while visitor numbers returned to pre-pandemic levels, he said.

The centre’s Owls on Tour program continued to visit schools, although there were fewer tours because two ambassador birds died and it takes time to train a new

bird.

The breeding season was quiet because most birds were too young to participate, although a bonded pair aged eight and nine laid two eggs that hatched, which shows it’s never too late to make babies, said Fowler.

The centre added two males and two females and hope their genetics will lead to a successful breeding system next year, he added. It also hopes to grow its inhouse visitor numbers and touring program and continue educating people about “Canada’s most unique and endangered species.”

Coun. Crystal Froese recalled riding horses on the exhibition grounds years ago and seeing burrowing owls everywhere. However, that’s not the case anymore because of development there, while the birds’ only presence is through the centre’s sound stewardship of them.

“They are the coolest owls. So tiny, but so very important to our environment,” she added.

The centre is fortunate to have acquired birds from Manitoba this year because the organization there closed, said Fowler. It’s a shame that centre shuttered because Moose Jaw had a good relationship with the Assiniboine Zoo. Fowler added that Johnson is speaking with similar groups in Western Canada to acquire more birds, while Moose Jaw is willing to fund a catch and release program but has failed to convince the province to support it.

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PAGE A14 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MON, DEC. 18.

Fewer water main breaks in Moose Jaw and Regina and less customer demand for water are two reasons why the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation (BPWTC) had reduced operating revenues this year.

The corporation expected water revenues this year to be $14,470,000 but now estimates that figure will be roughly $273,000 less than expected, according to its semi-annual report.

Meanwhile, the business had thought expenses would be $14,430,000 but now estimates that figure will likely be $870,000 more than expected. This increase is due to the disposal of sludge from its lagoons into the Moose Jaw Landfill.

Therefore, the corporation expects the operating reserve deficit to be $1.1 million this year. This account — forecast to be $1.1 million by year’s end instead of the targeted $2 million — is a cushion in years when water sales are below forecasts or unanticipated costs exceed budget.

Ryan Johnson, president/CEO of the BPWTC, told city council during its recent executive committee meeting that water sales this year were 1.9 per cent below target. However, the organization has reserves to cover this shortfall and neither Regina nor Moose Jaw will be affected.

The company completed a two-year budget last year and set its water rates for 2024 and 2025, he continued.

Water treatment plant renewal project 40 per cent complete, Buffalo Pound says Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

This year, water rates are $388 per megalitre (ML), while next year, they will increase to $400/ML, and then in 2025, they will jump to $440/ML. “The increases help us service the $55 million in debt we took out last year for our plant renewal project,” said Johnson.

Also, the capital water rates this year are $287.50/ ML, while next year they will rise to $361.50/ML, and in 2025, they will jump to $365/ML. The operating budgets for 2024 and 2025 are similar to this year’s budget, although they do include some inflationary adjustments for utilities, chemicals and fuel, his report said.

Meanwhile, the electrical rates are based on the corporation moving to 100-per-cent renewal power this year, with the water treatment plant generating roughly 10 per cent of power on-site from solar and the rest coming from SaskPower.

The electrical rates in 2023 were roughly 16 cents per kilowatt hour (KWh), while they will jump to 16.9 cents/KWh next year and then increase to roughly 18 cents/KWh in 2025, the document added.

The total overall cost for water next year will be 76.15 cents per cubic metre and 80.5 cents per cubic metre in 2025, said Johnson. After the plant renewal project is completed, the corporation will only increase costs using the consumer price index (CPI).

The plant renewal project was progressing well by Aug. 31, while construction crews had completed 40 per cent of it after 14 months of work, he continued. There are 14 sub-contracting companies on site and 180 total people working; they have contributed roughly 410,000 man-hours out of an expected one million man-hours of work.

The project is three months behind schedule, but installation of all critical items is on track, Johnson stated.

While all the additional sub-contractors have disrupted everyday operations, the corporation has had good communications with the main contractor to avoid conflicts when possible.

Overall, the organization has spent $142 million out of a budgeted $325 million, Johnson added.

Coun. Jamey Logan noted that the BPWTC’s income was down this year because of the decreased water use, pointing out it was a “pretty dry year.” He wondered if there was a specific reason why consumption had dropped and whether the corporation was worried that this was a trend.

Johnson replied that there have been fewer water main breaks in Moose Jaw and Regina this year, which affects how much water the company sells. Also, customer demand for water goes down whenever there is a rate increase. Yet, the organization usually sees a rebound of 90 per cent afterward.

City hall updates HR policies for easier understanding, more efficient administering Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

City hall has amended three human resources (HR) policies to ensure they are up to date, easy to understand and can be more efficiently administered.

The HR department reviews policies regularly to ensure they remain current and recently looked at the conflict of interest policy, employee training and development policy and the employee code of conduct. It then submitted the amendments to a recent city council meeting, where members unanimously approved the changes.

Conflict of interest The conflict of interest policy outlines the expectations and process for preventing and managing conflicts that may arise between employees’ private interests and their duties with the city, an HR report explained.

The department had not amended this policy since 2016 and changes were required to ensure it was updated, that the process for disclosure and approval was clearly laid out, and that items that department managers had not contemplated in the existing policy — such as vendor-sponsored travel — were included.

While most principles in the existing policy remain relevant and are included in the proposed policy, the HR department recommended “a fairly significant re-write” since the policy had many deficiencies, the report continued.

Some deficiencies included not being clearly organized, not clearly outlining a process to disclose and receive approval for conflicts, possessing duplicate language already covered in other policies like the Employment of Relatives policy, not having guidance on how to assess or address potential conflicts, and not speaking to vendor-sponsored trips.

The major changes the HR department made included: - Adding clearer definitions of what a conflict of interest is and the types of conflicts that may arise - Clearly outlining expectations for employees and supervisors - Creating a process for disclosing conflicts and clearly

outlining who has the authority to approve matters - Including general guidance for assessing many common situations where conflicts may arise - Adding vendor-sponsored trips as a consideration - Outlining potential means to address identified conflicts of interest Coun. Doug Blanc said he was glad to see these changes, noting there was one paragraph in the original policy that talked about two different topics in the same paragraph.

Employee training and development The employee training and development policy — which the department last updated in 2018 — outlines the rules and procedures for payment for staff training and development, a council report said.

In simplifying the document, the department will maintain most of the content from the previous policy.

However, it has reordered or reworded some portions to make the document simpler to read and understand.

The changes include: - Defining and differentiating mandatory training from developmental training and outlining who has the authority to approve expenses in each category; this is largely the current practice, but the policy does not explicitly speak to it - Clarifying the expectations about employees’ time off work to participate in developmental training; this is largely the current practice, but the policy does not explicitly speak to it - Removing the $300 annual training maximum for non-permanent employees; the report noted that training non-permanent staff to move into permanent roles ensures the organization’s future needs, while the current maximum created an internal barrier to developing this group of employees - Clarifying the requirement to submit proof of completion of training and outline the consequences if staff fail to complete training in a timely manner

- Adjusting the return-in-service commitment levels; currently, there is no commitment required for any training under $1,000, so the city believes it’s reasonable that if it is investing in staff, then at least a oneyear commitment to the organization is required.

- If staff voluntarily quit before completing the required service, they must refund the amount expended on a pro-rated basis.

“The proposed policy will not result in any additional costs. It will simply govern how approved training budget dollars are spent,” the report added.

City hall needs to recruit, train and retain staff, so this updated document is a positive move in that direction, said Mayor Clive Tolley.

Said Coun. Crystal Froese, “I think training is a really key component to not just succession planning, but also safety. We don’t want any barriers to staff.”

Employee code of conduct The HR department regularly reviews the employee code of conduct — the last one was in 2021 — and likes to keep it current, a council report said. The most recent review produced only two minor changes.

The first change is adding a general statement that the code does not cover every specific situation since such codes of conduct are intended to be general guiding principles and consciously do not contemplate every possibility, the document continued.

The second change removes some details where there is an already-existing policy and adds a reference to that policy. Moreover, rather than duplicate language from other documents, the code highlights the high-level expectations and, where further detail is needed, specific policies can supplement the code and add extra clarification.

Of note are three updated sections entitled “Fit for Duty,” “Acceptable Use of Information Technology (IT),” and “Criminal Activity.” These, respectively, relate to the city’s drug and alcohol policy, its IT policy and criminal record checks.

The 2024 budget proposes adding over $70 to taxpayers’ annual bills for the municipal tax hike, but if other utility and infrastructure levies are included, that number jumps to over $300.

City hall is proposing to increase municipal property taxes in 2024 by 4.13 per cent or adding $5.89 per month or $70.68 annually for the “average homeowner,” the budget report says.

Furthermore, taxpayers will still be paying the waterworks infrastructure levy of $8.33 per month or $100 per year to support the cast iron replacement program and the parks and recreation levy of $5.41 per month or $65 per year to support the department’s efforts to maintain its

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express many venues.

The proposed municipal tax hike and both levies add $19.63 per month or $235.56 per year to property bills.

Meanwhile, the Moose Jaw Police Service is asking for an operating budget increase of 6.4 per cent, or an extra $736,355. Since city administration says one percentage point of taxation this year is worth $352,449, that means the police request could translate into a 2.09-percent mill rate hike.

The budget also proposes increasing waterworks utility rates and sanitary sewer utility rates by four per cent each, for a total of eight per cent.

For the “average property taxpayer,” this equates to

an extra $5.35 per month or $64.20 annually for both utilities.

Furthermore, the solid waste garbage collection rate will increase by 30 cents a month or $3.60 annually and the recycling fees will increase by nine cents per month or $1.08 annually. Therefore, this will add an extra 39 cents per month or $4.68 per year in total.

Combining the proposed municipal tax hike, the water and sewer utility increases, the waterworks and parks and recreation infrastructure levies, and the garbage and recycling fees — but excluding the police service request — the total increase homeowners could face next year would be $25.37 per month or $304.44.

Budget ’24: Proposed tax hike and other fees could add over $300 per year to bills

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A15

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MON, DEC. 18.

Moose Jaw’s two main seniors’ groups are always looking for new members, and because of the age of some people on city council, they attempted to recruit municipal officials during a recent meeting.

The Moose Jaw and District Seniors Association and Cosmo Senior Citizens Association were two of 15 third-party community groups that spoke to council during its first budget meeting on Nov. 29.

The district association is asking for $70,000 next year, which is $33,229 more than this year, while Cosmo wants $15,652, which is $107 less than this year.

Moose Jaw and District Seniors Association The association’s expenses have increased, including salaries for its six full- and part-time staff, food, cleaning products, utilities, and maintenance for its aging building.

In particular, the venue needs a $50,000 air conditioner and new flooring.

Extra funding would make it possible to improve the building and offer more programs to grow the membership and meet existing demands.

Dave Pelletier, vice-president, said he joined this year because his mother-in-law used to teach classes at the Timothy Eaton Gardens. Since joining, he has seen how busy the venue is, from its arts and crafts to other programs that challenge people physically and mentally.

The association hit 500 members this summer, while it was 583 at the end of November, which shows how hard the group is working, he said.

Pelletier recalled the actual Eaton’s Store operating there — now a heritage building — in the 1960s and how it anchored the downtown shopping district. He also re-

Budget ’24: Seniors’ groups attempt to recruit council members at budget meeting Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

called its earliest founders, Tom Gill and George Terry, the latter most decorated Saskatchewan Aboriginal veteran and a Citizen of the Year.

Pelletier promoted the venue’s coffee shop, its breakfast, and its “great cook” before encouraging council members to attend. While most looked “considerably youthful,” he joked that there could be a few older than 50 who would enjoy being a member, prompting chuckles from council. “… it builds a community. We’re a family. Once we get to know each other, we encourage people to come back,” he said.

If Moose Jaw wants to be “notoriously competitive,” then the community needs a seniors’ organization, added Pelletier. He noted that a 2021 demographic snapshot shows people between ages 55 and 84 comprise 34 per cent of the population.

Mayor Clive Tolley said the venue’s history is a “tremendous story of adaptive reuse” and that the association has successfully managed the building. He also commended the board for increasing membership — which included himself as a new member.

Cosmo Senior Citizens Association Treasurer Robert (Bob) Cobbe said the Cosmo Centre is starting to return to pre-pandemic normalcy, but there are still many seniors who worry about congregating in large groups. To address this, the group is working to reduce that isolation and alleviate fears.

Volunteers keep the organization going and offer their time to fix equipment or refurbish the building, which keeps expenses down, he continued, before listing

off examples of Cosmo’s many programs — particularly pickleball — in which the roughly 250 members participate.

Cobbe highlighted the April performance by Puerto Vallarta, Mexico-based band The Lovers, which netted Cosmo $4,000. That was “a real eye-opener” for the board since it only expected 100 people. Instead, hundreds turned out and the dance floor was packed.

Thus, the board has booked The Lovers again for next summer.

At one point, Cobbe invited everyone to become members and attend the organization’s Thursday, Dec. 7, Christmas supper.

The Cosmo Centre appreciates the municipal funding since it covers ongoing expenses with utilities and insurance, said Cobbe. Meanwhile, with future challenges like upgrading old equipment, the board wants a cost-sharing agreement since the building is city-owned, but the organization pays for all repairs.

“We did finish in the black last year, but if even one of those pieces of equipment goes, we’re gonna be way in the hole,” he added.

The mayor commended the Cosmo board for working diligently to acquire more events to increase revenues.

He visited the hall recently and saw that it looked good and was well used, while it’s always busy when he drives by.

Coun. Crystal Froese thanked the Cosmo Centre for its programming, for helping fight isolation and for supporting seniors’ mental health needs.

Budget ’24: Inflation, aging infrastructure biggest issues affecting budget, city says Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

City administration is dedicated to monitoring how it spends every penny in the proposed 2024 budget even though increasing costs and crumbling infrastructure are the biggest issues affecting the community, the city manager says.

“As we embark on another fiscal year, our commitment to responsible fiscal management remains unwavering, even in the face of evolving challenges (of rising worldwide inflation and mounting costs of addressing aging infrastructure),” city manager Maryse Carmichael said during a recent budget meeting.

Rising inflation rates is a trend that affects economies and communities alike, while the City of Moose Jaw is not immune to these challenges, she continued. The increased cost of goods and services has direct implications on the city’s ability to provide essential services and invest in initiatives.

“We remain committed to navigating these economic headwinds with prudence and resilience, ensuring that your tax dollars are invested wisely for the benefit of our shared community,” Carmichael remarked.

Moose Jaw, like any “living entity,” transforms over time, which means its infrastructure — the community’s

backbone — has aged and the costs to maintain, repair and modernize those assets have escalated, she said.

In attempting to address those challenges, city administration is aiming to not only preserve the community’s “historical charm” but also modernize and build for the future by creating a sustainable and safe environment for generations to come, the city manager stated.

“Whether it be roads, bridges, water systems or public facilities, we are committed to ensuring that our infrastructure meets the demands of a growing and dynamic city,” she said.

It’s crucial to understand where Moose Jaw stands in comparison to its other municipal neighbours so it can make informed decisions, and during recent meetings with 15 other city managers, the group discussed the pressures everyone is facing, Carmichael recalled.

During its budget discussions, city hall analyzed its budget priorities alongside those of other Saskatchewan cities, and this comparative approach allowed staff to identify best practices, learn from others’ experiences and “collectively strive for excellence in providing essential services and fostering community well-being,” she continued.

In its commitment to “transparency and effective governance,” city administration will introduce for 2024 an integrated risk management framework to empower city council to assess and manage risks systematically, Carmichael explained. This ensures that every future financial decision aligns with the shared vision for Moose Jaw’s future.

“By adopting this forward-looking approach, we aim to enhance our ability to respond to unforeseen challenges and uncertainties with resilience and adaptability,” she remarked, noting everything in the proposed budget aims to address the challenges of inflation and the “growing imperative” to invest in aging infrastructure.

“Your city government remains steadfast in its dedication to transparency and responsiveness to the needs of our residents,” she continued. “Your input is crucial in this process. As stewards of public funds, we value your perspective on the budget priorities and choices presented (in the report).”

Carmichael added that residents should actively engage in public forums and hearings when council discusses the budget since their feedback “is essential in shaping the financial roadmap for our city.”

Budget ’24: Cost to run regular bus system to rise almost 11% next year Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

The cost to operate the regular transit system will jump by nearly 11 per cent next year, while the cost to run the para-transit network will likely increase by almost 15 per cent.

The 2024 budget proposes $1,744,285 in revenues and expenses for the regular bus system, which is an increase of $170,973 — or 10.9 per cent — from this year, the budget report shows.

Meanwhile, the budget proposes $654,462 in revenues and expenses for the para-transit system, which is an increase of $82,642 — or 14.5 per cent — from this year.

Finance director Brian Acker said during the Dec. 6 budget meeting that the subsidy the city contributes to operating the transit system has increased since 2019. That year, the municipality subsidized both systems to the tune of $1,230,715 or 65 per cent of costs, while next year, those figures increase to $1,716,547 and 72 per cent, respectively.

“A dilemma we find ourselves in as a city with our transit is we’re big enough that we require a transit system, but we’re not big enough to have an efficient transit system … (or) even to be able to attract ridership,” he said, adding it will be a challenge for council to determine

the kind of transit service it wants for the community.

Other budgets Acker highlighted the budgets for the City of Moose Jaw’s three utility divisions: wastewater (sanitary sewer), waterworks and solid waste (landfill).

The wastewater division expects to see revenues and expenses next year of $25,382,627, which is 3.6-per-cent more than this year.

The challenges facing this utility are operational and maintaining and repairing distribution mains, hydrants, valves and house connections, the report said. An aging infrastructure has greatly increased the maintenance demands on the utility, which requires more resources to maintain.

A “positive note” is that the number of water main breaks has declined significantly since the city commenced the cast iron water main replacement program in 2016, the document continued. As this trend continues, it will result in decreased resources being directed to repair and the savings will flow into other capital infrastructure projects.

City administration is recommending a waterworks utility rate increase next year of four per cent, which in-

cludes three per cent for inflation and one per cent for additional financing costs for the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant renewal project.

City hall also wants a wastewater utility rate hike of four per cent to help fund the rehabilitation of the Crescent View Lift Station. The city has submitted a federal grant application to help fund this project; construction is contingent on the success of the request.

Also, the water and wastewater utility has $153.4 million in planned spending over the next five years.

Meanwhile, the solid waste utility is expected to see revenues and expenses of $6.09 million next year, which is a year-over-year increase of 0.4 per cent, the report said. This utility has $26 million in planned spending over the next five years; the biggest project is a new landfill.

The revenues in this division have been “very stable” over the past few years, mainly due to fees acquired from garbage collection, recycling and landfill use, said Acker.

He noted that Moose Jaw’s rates for recycling and collection are “very, very competitive” with other municipalities, while residents have an efficient service.

PAGE A16 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

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CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MON, DEC. 18.

• • • • •

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City hall honours 24 employees with service awards, retirement gifts Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Recognition was the day’s theme as the City of Moose Jaw honoured dozens of employees with service awards and thanked several who are retiring.

The municipality held an awards luncheon on Dec. 6 at the Events Centre to recognize 24 people — with 458 years of combined employment — including 15 employees for years of service, eight for retirement and one for a special achievement award.

Appreciation of staff Mayor Clive Tolley thanked staff for attending since it was a good occasion to recognize their service and to socialize. He noted that public criticism can sometimes make their jobs difficult, but city administration and city council appreciate their work.

“I just want to remind everybody to watch each other’s back. Take care of each other, be kind to each other, look after your teammates, look after yourself and try and enjoy your work … ,” he added.

City manager Maryse Carmichael said employees are at the heart of municipal operations, something she discovered after visiting every department when she

started. She also lauded them for leaving a positive mark on the community.

“I see your passion for the work that you do for this city. And for that, I’m grateful and I’m honoured … ,” she added.

15 years Staff whom the city recognized for their 15 years included Jesslyn Moore from finance; Jared Mickleborough and Koel Nerland from the fire department (absent from the luncheon); Sherry Ward from human resources; Nigel Lang from information technology (absent); Taylor Dobrescu, Kim Elkin (absent) and April Rubbelke from parks and recreation; and Justine Deets from public works and utilities (absent).

20 years Staff whom the city recognized for their 20 years of service included Kathy Abbott and Allison Saemann (absent) from parks and recreation, and Dan Chapman from public works and utilities (absent).

25 years Staff whom the city recognized for their 25 years of service included Curtis Beler with the fire department.

30 years

Staff whom the city recognized for their 30 years of service included Neil Willford from public works and utilities.

40 years Staff whom the city recognized for their 40 years of service included Sharlene Pascoe from finance (absent).

Retirements Retiring staff whom the city recognized included Shannon Drake (absent; nearly 14 years) and Brenda Hendrickson (almost 24 years) in finance; Chris Ozog (absent; 34 years) with the fire department; Bob Duchak (over 38 years) and Daily Lennox (absent; 24 years) with parks and recreation; Les Coglin (absent; over 15 years) and Mark Stevenson from public works and utilities (roughly 10 years); and Darryl Howse (absent; 18 years) from transit.

Special achievement award The city recognized Stephanie Meyer with the special achievement award.

This award honours an employee who has contributed to the City of Moose Jaw or the community. The employee is to have provided exemplary service and dedication to the municipality or have extensive

community involvement as a volunteer.

Hendrickson, the former city treasurer, presented the award to Meyer and described her co-worker as someone who is incredibly energetic, determined, can complete a voluminous number of tasks quickly, is helpful, team-focused and enjoys volunteering.

Further, Meyer works full-time while acquiring her diploma in accounting and is completing her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) certification.

“Her thirst for knowledge and learning has brought her a long way and she has been a huge benefit to the city,” added Hendrickson. “… (Meyer) is one the future leaders of this city as both an employee and as a citizen.”

Meyer said she was surprised to receive the accolade but appreciated her peers voting for her. She also appreciated Hendrickson presenting the honour since the latter hired her 13 years ago.

Meyer recalled Hendrickson telling her that she was “too smart to stay where you are” and to make a career plan and stick with it. She now feels she is where she should be in life.

Jesslyn Moore from finance (second from right) receives a 15-year award from Mayor Clive Tolley, finance director Brian Acker and city manager Maryse Carmichael. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Firefighter Curtis Beler (second from right) receives a 25-year service award from Mayor Clive Tolley, Fire Chief Rod Montgomery and city manager Maryse Carmichael. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Sherry Ward from human resources (second from right) receives a 15-year award from Mayor Clive Tolley, HR director TJ Karwandy and city manager Maryse Carmichael. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Taylor Dobrescu from parks and recreation (second from right) receives a 15year award from Mayor Clive Tolley, recreation manager Scott Osmachenko and city manager Maryse Carmichael.

Photo by Jason G. Antonio

April Rubbelke from parks and rec (second from right) receives a 15-year award from Mayor Clive Tolley, recreation manager Scott Osmachenko and city manager Maryse Carmichael. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Kathy Abbott from parks and recreation (second from right) receives a 20year award from Mayor Clive Tolley, recreation manager Cory Oakes and city manager Maryse Carmichael. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Justine Deets from public works and utilities (second from right) receives a 15-year award from Mayor Clive Tolley, director of operations Bevan Harlton and city manager Maryse Carmichael.

Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Neil Willford from public works and utilities (second from right) receives a 30-year award from Mayor Clive Tolley, operations director Bevan Harlton and city manager Maryse Carmichael. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Brenda Hendrickson from the finance department (second from left) receives a retirement gift from Mayor Clive Tolley, finance director Brian Acker and city manager Maryse Carmichael. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Bob Duchak from parks and recreation (second from right) receives a retirement award from Mayor Clive Tolley, parks manager Cory Oakes and city manager Maryse Carmichael. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Mark Stevenson from public works and utilities (second from right) receives a retirement gift from Mayor Clive Tolley, operations director Bevan Harlton and city manager Maryse Carmichael. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Stephanie Meyer (second from right) receives the special achievement award from Mayor Clive Tolley, co-worker Brenda Hendrickson and city manager Maryse Carmichael. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

CITY HALL COUNCIL NOTES

THE NEXT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING IS MON, DEC. 18.

Retiring city treasurer Brenda Hendrickson enjoyed her 23 years working at city hall and thought the municipality had experienced plenty of progress and change since she started in 2000.

“The city’s a great place to work. The staff … in finance really pull together as a team to get things done for the city,” she said on Dec. 6 after the conclusion of the 2023 service awards luncheon at the Events Centre.

Hendrickson was one of eight retirees whom the municipality recognized, while 16 others were honoured for their continued service.

“I’ve never been one for attention, but it’s very nice to be appreciated and recognized for the years of service with the City of Moose Jaw,” she told the media afterward.

In retirement, Hendrickson hopes to travel, volunteer and pursue more rest.

When asked who’s worked the longest in the finance department, she replied that it was “hands-down” director Brian Acker, who has spent nearly 40 years — if not more — with the city.

A recurring joke at the banquet has been that Acker and other finance staff have been employed for decades but never recognized for their service because the HR department allegedly caps the awards at 40 years.

It was Acker who spoke about Hendrickson’s service during the introduction of retirees. He said her duties included deputy comptroller, acting city assessor, and finishing as the city treasurer. However, her contributions are more than just what’s on her resumé.

He recalled former mayor Glenn Ha-

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A17

Retiring city treasurer likely collected over $1 billion in municipal revenue Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Brenda Hendrickson reflects on her career with the city as the treasurer. Photo by Jason G. Antonio gel, who valued public service and worked to thank city employees for their daily contributions.

“Because without us, you turn on your water, there is no water. Nobody picks up your garbage, nobody collects your taxes,” Acker continued. “And that’s something, Brenda, that, over the 24 years, you’ve been instrumental in revenue collection for the city. We certainly appreci-

ate that.”

The finance director noted that, based on his math, Hendrickson likely collected over $1 billion in municipal revenue during her career.

Acker added that everyone in the department would miss her since it was easy to send her a message and ask for feedback on an idea.

“Holy moly!” Hendrickson exclaimed

about the $1-billion figure after receiving her retirement plaque. “That’s a lot of money.”

The former city treasurer said she had a wonderful time working for the municipality and learned many things, while she would miss her co-workers and other city hall staff. She added that she met some “strange people” during that time, such as residents who brought urns with their pets’ ashes.

Cory Oakes, a manager in parks and recreation, next lauded retiree Bob Duchak, saying the city hired him as a temporary employee in 1981, and he held various positions in the engineering and parks and rec departments for the next eight years. In 1989, he attained a permanent position as parksman 1 arena attendant and held that until he retired this past summer.

“So, he became a very familiar face in the city arenas and our park spaces during the summertime,” said Oakes, noting working in arenas for several decades required technical knowledge, dependability, flexibility, good communication skills, problem-solving, attention to detail and initiative — which Duchak possessed.

Duchak was also patient, which he ably demonstrated during the winter while dealing with hockey-related parents and kids, Oakes continued.

“Thirty-four years of dealing with that requires a superhero badge, for sure,” the parks and rec manager joked, adding Duchak will probably enjoy retirement on his riding lawnmower without people yelling at him about ice time.

PAGE A18 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 Share your team’s news, pictures and results with us! email: editor@mjvexpress.com

Warriors losing streak hits three after pair of blown third-period leads Moose Jaw falls 5-1 to Red Deer before dropping 5-4 decision on road to Brandon and losing Teddy Bear Toss Game 4-3 to Saskatoon Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Despite generating chance after chance and having every opportunity to win all three of their games in Western Hockey League action this past week, the Warriors were only able to pick up a single point while posting three straight losses.

As a result, Moose Jaw has started to fall out of contention in the race for first place in the Eastern Conference, as their 17-12-0-2 record sees them four points back of second-place Medicine Hat and now seven points back of first-place Saskatoon.

The Warriors opened the week on Wednesday, Dec. 6 with a 5-1 loss to Red Deer Rebels at the Moose Jaw Events Centre before falling 5-4 in a shootout to the Wheat Kings in Brandon on Friday and dropping a 4-3 decision to the Saskatoon Blades Saturday on Teddy Bear Toss Night.

Kalem Parker looks on as his shot from the face-off circles finds the back of the net.

Red Deer 5, Moose Jaw 1 The first game of the week was essentially a one-goal game, as Frantisek Formanek scored the game-winner with 10:15 gone in the third before Talon Brigley and Kai Uchaz added empty-net goals and Evan Smith scored in garbage time.

The Warriors got off to a slow start but did everything they could to tie the game, only to run into a stellar showing from Rebels goaltender Chase Wutzke, who stopped 21 shots and was named the game’s first star.

“I think we waited a little too long to

“I got a nice pass from Ats (Atley Calvert) there, just ripped a shot on goal and the next thing I knew it was in the back of the net,” Parker said in describing his goal. “It was pretty cool, the benches clear and it feels pretty good to get one for the boys and it all goes to a good cause, too.”

The hundreds of bears go to the Salvation Army for those less fortunate during the Christmas season.

The game itself was a broken record.

The Warriors once again had all the chances in the world to win and once again came up short, as Morgan Tastad scored the game-winner for Saskatoon with 4:07 remaining in the third period.

The Moose Jaw Warriors gather for the customary Teddy Bear Toss team photo.

Firkus had given the Warriors a 2-1 lead with the lone goal of the second peget going, we needed to jump on them and Calvert and Schuurman less than a minute riod, but Fraser Minton and Easton Armcheck a little harder early on, but we wait- apart early in the third period to take a 4-2 strong scored in the first 3:19 of the third ed and waited and waited until it was just lead, but a small letdown later in the frame to give Saskatoon the lead. too late,” said Warriors forward Brayden saw the Wheat Kings tie things up.

That set the stage for Calvert -- playSchuurman, who himself had a few opporJaxon Jacobsen and Brett Hyland tunities as the game progressed. scored a minute apart late in the frame ing his 200th WHL game -- to score the “We get on them early and it’s may- to tie the contest 4-4 and Jayden Wiens tying goal with 12:06 gone in the frame.

Younger brother and Blades forward be a different story and we don’t have to scored in the ninth round of the shootout Rowan Calvert drew an assist on Hudson climb back into it.” to give Brandon the victory.

Kibblewhite’s first-period goal and was Jagger Firkus scored the Warriors’ also playing in his 100th game. lone goal 1:59 into the third, while Dwayne Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk Jean Jr. had Red Deer’s other marker in the was held off the scoresheet for the first first period. time this season and saw his franchise-reJackson Unger did what he could to cord scoring streak come to an end after hold the fort for the Warriors with 27 saves 22 games. but didn’t have the offensive support on Unger had 26 saves, Evan Gardner the night. stopped 33, including an unbelievable Brandon 5, Warriors 4 cross-crease glove save on Brayden Yager The Warriors had goals from Atley Warriors forward Martin Rysavy bat- in the game’s final minutes. tles for the puck with Saskatoon’s FraThe Warriors are back in action on ser Minten in front of goaltender Evan Tuesday, Dec. 12 when the Kelowna Gardner.

Rockets are in town, Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

Warriors forward Brayden Yager helps a young fan with her giant bear.

Firkus opened scoring 45 seconds into the game before Schurrman and Nate Danielson exchanged goals in the second.

Jacobson had Brandon’s other goal 2:20 into the final period.

Unger stopped 40 shots while Carson Bjarnason had 27 saves for the Wheat Kings.

Saskatoon 4, Moose Jaw 3.

Kalem Parker was the Teddy Bear Toss hero for 2023, sending the bears and toques flying after scoring on a shot from the left face-off circle with 10 seconds to play in the first period.

Dakota MacIntosh had the Teddy Bear Toss goal on his stick but couldn’t knock the puck home.

A virtual lock to make Team Canada, Warriors captain Mateychuk staying focused on task at hand Cracking roster first order of business for Columbus prospect, with gold medal the main focus Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Moose Jaw Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk will be a member of Team Canada when the World Junior Hockey Championship begins on Boxing Day in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Given the pedigree, skill and notoriety the 19-year-old defenceman will be bringing into selection camp, Mateychuk will not only undoubtedly make the roster, he’ll also be a virtual lock to play significant and meaningful minutes throughout the tournament.

You wouldn’t know it talking to the Columbus Blue Jackets prospect, though -- he’s looking at it like any other player trying to make a highly competitive team, with being one of the names on the roster when camp wraps on Dec. 13 his main goal.

“There are lots of emotions when you get a call like that and a chance to represent your country, it’s a huge opportunity and I’m very excited for what’s ahead for sure,” Mateychuk said. “It’s one of those

things where you never know what’s going to happen, but you always have that feeling that when you get that call, you’re ready, so that’s just what I tried to keep in my head.”

Selection camp will take place Dec. 10-13 in Oakville, Ont., with the team announced at the conclusion of the event.

“The plan is to pretty much just play my game and compete,” Mateychuk said of the three-day sprint. “It’s going to be high competition and everybody is trying to make the team out there and represent our country, so it brings out the best in you and I imagine it’ll be the same for everyone else.”

Mateychuk has been on Hockey Canada’s radar his entire junior career and won gold with Team Canada at the 2021 World U18 Hockey Championship, though he was unable to play in the gold medal game due to injury.

“It was a great feeling winning gold at the U18 and every time you put on that jer-

Moose Jaw Warriors captain Denton Mateychuk is expected to be a key contributor should he crack Team Canada’s line-up for the World Junior Hockey Championship. sey is an honour,” Mateychuk said. “It’ll be amazing if it happens this time and I’ll do everything I can to help us win gold.”

Mateychuk has been a roll since re-

turning to the Warriors from Blue Jackets camp and has set a modern-day Warriors record with points in 22 straight games -every contest he’s played this season.

His six goals and 34 points in that span are second among defenceman.

The camp will include a pair of games against the USports All Stars -- including former Warrior goaltender and Brock University standout Connor Ungar -- on Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 11 a.m.

Canada’s National Junior Team will travel to Malmo, Sweden on Dec. 14 for a pre-tournament camp ahead of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. As part of its preparations, Canada will open its pre-tournament schedule against a U25 team from Denmark on Dec. 19 before facing Switzerland on Dec. 22 and the United States on Dec. 23.

The 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day when Canada takes on Finland at 7:30 a.m. Moose Jaw time.

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A19

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After stellar start to season, Warriors’ Firkus hoping Team Canada in his near future

Former WHL scoring leader looking to make waves in selection camp on way to landing spot on World Junior team Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

If notoriety alone was the main factor deciding who makes Team Canada’s roster for the World Junior Hockey Championship, Moose Jaw Warriors forward Jagger Firkus would be an absolute lock to be playing for Canada in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The Seattle Kraken prospect has become renowned for his flash and dash on the ice, and he has the numbers to show for it -- with 25 goals and 50 points in only 27 games this season, Firkus spent much of November leading the Western Hockey League in scoring.

It’s even got the point that when he puts up three goals or five points in a game, the Warriors sell special edition ‘Firkus Circus’ t-shirts.

But the World Junior selection camp’s history is littered with players who have dominated the Canadian Hockey League in the lead-up, only to fall short when the final roster is announced -- something Firkus plans to do everything in his power not to be a part of.

“Obviously I’m super happy I have a chance to go to camp and when I get there I have to show that I have the skill and work ethic to make the team,” Firkus said.

“But just to have the chance to go there and make the team is a great opportunity for me and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Warriors forward Jagger Firkus will be looking to crack Canada’s roster at the World Junior selection camp beginning Dec. 10 in Oakville, Ont. Firkus came into the season looking to be a league leader in offence and put together the kind of start that any player would dream of. That was the goal all along, with the idea of catching the eye of Hockey Canada always in the back of the mind.

“Coming into the season you want to keep the pro habits I picked up in Seattle and I think I’ve done a pretty good job of that throughout the year,” Firkus said.

“That’s a big reason I got invited to camp, to show that I kept working and they like

to see that, so now I have to show I can do the same on the big stage.”

Firkus isn’t a Hockey Canada darling like many of his potential Team Canada teammates, Denton Mateychuk and Brayden Yager included. But that’s all the more reason to work as hard as he can during the three-day event beginning Dec. 10 in Oakville, Ont. “You have to go in there and treat it like just another camp no matter who you are,” Firkus said. “I always have confidence and am pretty good at keeping my

confidence, so I’ll just do the same, play my game and go from there… I have to go into camp and treat it like I’m on the bubble, make sure I prove myself just like every other guy there.”

To crack the roster would naturally be a dream come true.

“It’s something you dream about since you were a little kid and if I get the opportunity I’ll make the most of it,” Firkus said. “It’s a huge stage, so you have to make sure you’re mentally prepared for it, and if I get the opportunity I plan to make the most of it.”

The camp will include a pair of games against the USports All Stars -- including former Warrior goaltender and Brock University standout Connor Ungar -- on Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 11 a.m.

Canada’s National Junior Team will travel to Malmo, Sweden on Dec. 14 for a pre-tournament camp ahead of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. As part of its preparations, Canada will open its pre-tournament schedule against a U25 team from Denmark on Dec. 19 before facing Switzerland on Dec. 22 and the United States on Dec. 23.

The 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day when Canada takes on Finland at 7:30 a.m. Moose Jaw time.

Warriors’ Yager hoping youth not a factor in quest to crack Team Canada’s line-up Despite entering selection camp as an underage, Pittsburgh prospect confident in chances to crack team Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Yager hopes he’s done enough this season for Team Canada brass to give him a long and serious look when he arrives at World Junior selection camp.

The good news is Yager has been on Hockey Canada’s radar his entire career and even has a wildly successful showing for the national team under his belt.

The World Juniors are often referred to as a 19-year-old tournament, where older players often get the call ahead of youngsters, even ones with impressive pedigrees.

Yager hopes none of that will matter when the time comes, though, and that he’ll have a chance to go for gold when the event begins Dec. 26 in Gothenburg, Sweden “The goal is to make the team and not really worry about how old I am or anything like that.” Yager said. “I’ll work my hardest and leave the best impression possible, and if I make the team the goal will be a gold medal. So I’m super excited for the opportunity and I’m looking forward to it.”

Yager has done his part with the Warriors this season, having put up 17 goals and 40 points in 28 games to sit 10th overall among WHL scoring leaders. The former CHL Rookie of the Year has also

Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Yager has been a member of Team Canada before, and hopes to have that chance again on the biggest stage. continued his commitment to the 200-foot game that has made him such an attractive prospect, to the point the Pittsburgh Penguins selected him with the 14th overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft this past summer.

Continuing that style of play will naturally be a key factor in landing a Team Canada spot, and Yager is more than willing to put in all the effort he can to make that happen.

“I’m not going there just to dip my

toes in the water because I’m 18, I’m going to try and be the best player on the ice and make the team and be a good player on the team,” Yager said matter-of-factly.

“If I do that, hopefully I’ll be there in the end.”

One thing that’s for certain is Yager knows how to get the job done on the national stage. Playing with Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky U18 Championship, Yager was one of the tournament’s scoring leaders with five goals and nine points in

five games and scored Canada’s final goal in their 4-1 win over Sweden in the gold medal game.

More of that would certainly be sweet.

“Not a lot of guys get a chance to represent their country in this tournament, I had a chance to represent my country before and it’s a great feeling, so it’ll be awesome to get that opportunity again,” Yager said. “It was pretty cool to win a gold medal at the Hlinka and the goal will be to do the same this time. It’s something you dream of as a kid, especially this tournament, the World Juniors is the big one.”

The camp will include a pair of games against the USports All Stars -- including former Warrior goaltender and Brock University standout Connor Ungar -- on Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 11 a.m.

Canada’s National Junior Team will travel to Malmo, Sweden on Dec. 14 for a pre-tournament camp ahead of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship. As part of its preparations, Canada will open its pre-tournament schedule against a U25 team from Denmark on Dec. 19 before facing Switzerland on Dec. 22 and the United States on Dec. 23.

The 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship begins on Boxing Day when Canada takes on Finland at 7:30 a.m. Moose Jaw time.

PAGE A20 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Share your team’s news, pictures and results with us! email: editor@mjvexpress.com

WINMAR Warriors pick up three of four points in weekend set with Warman

Moose Jaw closes ground on league leaders after dropping 4-3 overtime decision Friday, rebounding with 5-2 win Saturday Things went pretty well for the Moose Jaw WINMAR Warriors in Sask Male AAA Hockey League action, taking three of four points off a team they were chasing in the standing.

The Warriors dropped a 4-3 decision in overtime to the Warman Wildcats on Friday night but had no such difficulties on Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 5-2 victory at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

As a result, Moose Jaw currently has 13-10-1-0 record to sit in fifth place in the league standings, a single point behind third-place Warman and Regina and five back of first-place Prince Albert and Swift Current.

Given that Warman has been one of the top teams in the league since the start of the campaign, the success was certainly heartening for a crew that continues to claw their way up the standings.

Warman’s Carsen Adair didn’t fair too well after running into Chase Petersen and Jonah Pinel in front of the Warriors’ bench.

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express “Tough teams are when you have to be your best, you have to be ready to go from the start and that’s how it was in both games for us this weekend,” said Warriors captain Dylan Duzan. “We just have to keep doing our jobs all the time, show up at the rink ready to work. Then it’s buying into what (head coach) Trevor (Weisgerber) has to say and playing the best we can and we’ll get the results we want.”

The Warriors could have had a fourpoint weekend if not for a tough ending Friday.

With the game tied 2-2, Duzan scored WINMARWarriors goaltender Ryan a shorthanded goal with 4:38 to play in Bain makes the save during a third-peregulation and the Warriors looked to hold riod goalmouth scramble. on for the win, only for Jack Janzen to tie the game with 1:47 remaining.

1:14 into the second to make it a 2-0 game.

Carsen Adair then scored with 12 secWarman’s Beckett Hamilton and Jack onds left in overtime to give Warman the Lavallee got both those goals back before win. the second was out, though, setting up the Noah Thul scored the lone goal in the third-period dramatics. first period to give the Warriros the lead Ryan Bain had 35 saves for Moose after one, and Keaton Lesperance scored Jaw, while the Warriors fired 36 shots at Corben Schnurr.

The rematch less than 24 hours later was far different, beginning with Kanyan Unger and Gage Nagel scoring first period goals for Moose Jaw as they took a 2-0 lead.

“It was good right from the start,” said Duzan, who scored another shorthanded goal in the second period to give Moose Jaw a 3-1 lead. “The boys were ready to go and we took it to them early and just kept the foot down and stood on them all night.

WINMAR Warriors forward Wade So it was a good win.”

Franks battles with Warman’s CamerDylan Danyluk scored for Warman on Jacobson in the Wildcats zone. on the power play midway through the

third, but Jake Britlz got that back for the Warriors with 2:48 remaining and Cooper Buhay finished things off with an empty netter.

Duzan, Nagel and Britlz all had two points in the win.

Bain stopped 35 shots to pick up the victory, with Moose Jaw firing 34 shots at the Wildcats’ Riley Deck.

Two games, two different results, but two positive results just the same.

“It was just bearing down on our chances since we were all over them yesterday as well,” Duzan said. “We just couldn’t find a way to extend that lead where today we took it to them, stayed all over them and beared down on our chances in this game.”

Liam Bursaw had Warmans’ other goal.

The WINMAR Warriors are back in action on Thursday, Dec. 14 when the Notre Dame Hounds are in town. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

Jake Britlz tucks the puck around Warman goaltender Riley Deck for the Warriors’ fourth goal Saturday.

Moose Jaw, Prairie Hockey Academy well represented in first step toward WHL Cup Two players from Moose Jaw U15 AA Warriors joined by 12 PHA Cougars in reaching Sask First Top 160 Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

For the Moose Jaw U15 AA Warriors and Prairie Hockey Academy U15 Prep Cougars, there could possibly be all sorts of local representation on Team Sask during the 2024 Western Hockey League Cup. A pair of players from the Warriors and 12 from the Cougars emerged from the Sask First regional camp at the beginning of the month and will now see action in the Top 160 Tournament running Dec. 28-30 in Regina.

Hundreds of players from all over the province took the ice in Lumsden and Aberdeen during the Dec. 1 weekend for the first step of the Sask First program, which featured a series of skills sessions and exhibition games designed to whittle down the field to the top 80 players from the south and the north.

Moose Jaw Warriors captain Micah Coupland and assistant captain Rhyen Ubell had made the cut, and were joined by a solid list of their PHA compatriots who hail from Canada’s Most Notorious City.

Ethan Grant, Max Craig, Nixon Friesen and Luke Pratte from the U15

Moose Jaw U15 AA Warriors captain Micah Coupland and assistant captain Rhyen Ubell have passed the first step on the way to suiting up for Saskatchewan at the 2024 WHL Cup. Prep Cougars made the final cut for Team South. They’re joined by PHA teammates Soren Hayden from Caronport, Brady Vi-

pond from Regina, Ramsey Thompson from Assiniboia and Zander Watson from Avonlea.

Four Cougars also cracked the North roster, with Melfort’s Brady Robert, Saskatoon’s Ason Apesis, Outlook’s Noah Gibson and Hudson Bay’s Aaron Kowalyk making the cut.

The next step will see the 160 players broken into four teams from the North and four from the South for the tournament beginning Dec. 28.

Players will then be cut down for the Top 80 tournament Feb, 16-18 in Balgonie, after which the Top 32 will begin preparations in the fall of 2024 for the WHL Cup. The lead-up there will include an orientation camp June 3 in Regina, followed

by Summer camp July 29-30 in Regina and the final Fall selection camp at a time and place to be determined.

Saskatchewan is coming off a stellar showing at the 2023 WHL Cup this past October, where they defeated B.C. in the third-place game to claim bronze.

Be sure to keep an eye on www.hockeysask.ca for regular updates as the Sask First program progresses.

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Share your team’s news, pictures and results with us! email: editor@mjvexpress.com

Cold Lake caps unbeaten week with gold medal in CAF Canada West Curling Championship Walker foursome post 9-1 victory over CFB Shilo’s Edwards in final Friday afternoon Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Heading into the Canadian Armed Forces Canada West Curling championship, 4 Wing Cold Lake skip 2nd Lieut. Kyle Walker felt like he had some unfinished business.

His rink had put together a stellar round robin during the 2022 tournament at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, only to

The Kyle Walker rink from 4 Wing Cold Lake accepts their champions plaque and gold medals after winning the final of the CAF Canada West Curling Championship.

The Jonathan Benson foursome represented 15 Wing at the Canadian Armed Forces Canada West Curling Championship this past week.

fall in the semifinal to eventual champion 17 Wing Winnipeg and finish out of the medals.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for the former USports St. Francis Xavier standout, and one he didn’t want to see in 2023.

Walker and his rink of third Master

Cpl. Andrew Mallard, second Sgt. Adam McAloney and lead Lieut. Colby Evans went unbeaten through the seven-team event at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre, capping their run Friday morning with a 9-1 win over CFB Shilo’s Master Cpl. Malcolm Edwards in the gold medal game.

“Yeah, I was kind of on a bit of a mission to get some redemption from last year,” Walker said.

Walker had put together a remarkable run through the round robin, putting up double digits in offence every game except for a barnburner against 19 Wing Comox that saw his crew squeak out a 5-4 victory.

The semifinal was more of the same, as Cold Lake rolled to an 11-4 win over CFB Equimalt.

Meanwhile, Shilo’s Edwards, third Master Cpl. Alex Arguin, second Cpl. Braiden Mayhew and lead Master Cpl. Andrew Cowper posted a 4-2 record in their round robin to finish third before up-

setting 5-1 Comox in the semifinal Thursday afternoon.

The title game ended up being a stealfest, with Cold Lake picking up deuces without the hammer in every end they scored except the first and seventh ends.

Putting together the perfect week was always a pie-in-the-sky goal, but having accomplished it was most certainly satisfying.

“Going undefeated was cool for sure,” Walker said. “There were definitely some ups and downs, Comox gave us a good run in that game and they’re a really strong team as well. But we were just looking to play a consistent game, kept the hammer down and tried to stay focussed all week long.”

15 Wing representatives Cpl. Jonathan Benson and his rink of third Sgt. Jay McLellan, second WO Robert Cogswell and lead Capt. Jean Doyon just missed the playoffs after putting together a 2-4 record in the round robin.

Wheelchair curling teams in earliest stages of preparing for 2024 Canadian championship Practices and exhibition games the order of the day as players hone game ahead of tournament at Moose Jaw Events Centre in March

The Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship are only a few months away, but things are already in motion as Team Sasd katchewan looks to defend their national e title won at the Moose Jaw Events Centre last spring.

And while the core of the two rinks that represented the province at the event remains intact, there will be some new faces around when the tournament returns to Canada’s Most Notorious City from Mar. 22-29 at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre.

Players both old and new were on the ice on Sunday afternoon for an exhibition game against the Swift Current Special Olympics curling team, with both crews taking the opportunity to work on and advance their games in a competitive setting.

“It’s just good to get out and have a chance to play and practice,” said wheelchair curling veteran Rod Pederson, who skipped Sask 2 at the 2023 nationals. “We’re just here to try and promote and grow the game. There are so many people who could try it and maybe are just scared to come out or something, but try it and you’ll enjoy it. It’s hard, but it’s so much fun.”

Word has gotten out in that direction and

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express -- who played second for Team Sask’s gold medal winning rink this spring -- has decided to step back from the sport, as have Team Sask 2 lead Russell Whitsitt and third Stuart McKeown.

The Pedersons will be back in action, though, as will perennial Team Canada competitors Marie Wright and Gil Dash, who were joined by Bender and Moose Gibson in winning gold with Sask 1 last spring.

Fortunately, in addition to Ehsani and Hess, a couple of players are coming up through the ranks in Saskatoon as well, meaning Team Sask might even have extra players Team Sask veteran Sheryl Pederson when things are all said and done. helps set up wheelchair curling new“Lloyd has worked with (the guys in Sascomer Zahra Ehsani’s shot as fellow katoon) and said they’re good, so it’ll be interrookie Tara Hess and coach Lloyd esting to see where they fit in,” Pederson said.

Thiele look on.

The process of selecting teams will be that’s resulted in some new players taking a much the same as last year. Coaches Lorraine crack at the sport. That includes Regina’s Zah- Arguin and Lloyd Thiele will put together a ra Ehsani and Tara Hess, who joined Rod and pair of rinks with the best fit of players and Sheryl Pederson for the game on Sunday. positions as possible, with the goal of defendTheir arrival on the scene has been timed ing the gold medal on home soil -- and ideally well given recent departures of some veteran creating an all-Saskatchewan final. players.

After skipping Team Sask 2 to a 3-2 reFour-time Canadian champion and 11- cord and just missing the Championship Pool time nationals competiior Darwin Bender in 2023, Pederson will be hoping to take that

next step and hit the playoffs, regardless of who he’s playing with.

“Wherever I end up, I end up and I’m just looking forward to curling and seeing what we can do,” he said.

Santa Claus even made an appearance and handed out candy canes to the youth curlers who were on the ice as the same time as the exhibition game.

Familiar names continue to lead way atop Original 16 Cash League

Defending champion BTN Chartered Accountants holds down league lead, Fountain Tire a win behind through first 10 draws Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

With the Original 16 Cash League hitting the 10-game mark on Wednesday night at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre, familiar faces are at the top of the leaderboard.

Leading the way, Penny Barker’s BTN Chartered Accountants rink. The two-time provincial Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion and her perennial title-contending foursome improved to 9-1 thanks to a 10-3 win over Young and Young Automotive (Stan Barnsley, 4-6).

Barker wasted little time getting going, putting up four in the first end and leading 6-2 through three. After Barnsley got one back in the fourth, back-to-back deuces extended BTN’s edge to 10-3, and the two teams would call it a night after six ends.

Fountain Tire (Barry Silk, 8-2) con-

tinued their stellar campaign with a 7-3 win over Leeville Construction (Curtis Woloschuk, 4-5) to sit in second place. A three-spot in the second end gave Silk a 3-1 lead and they’d hold a 4-3 edge heading into the break. Another deuce in the sixth gave the eventual victors a bit more comfort and they’d add a steal in the seventh to finish things off.

KMS Construction (Ben Gamble, 7-3) kept pace with the leaders thanks to a 7-5 win over EMJ Marketing (Joe Gunnis, 3-7). Things were back-and-forth in the early going, with Gunnis taking a 2-1 lead out of the third end, but three in the fourth gave Gamble control. A deuce in the sixth Action from the Original 16 Cash made it 6-3 and after Gamble stole anoth- League on Wednesday, Dec. 6. er in the seventh, Gunnis would get a pair back in the final end.

John’s Music (Ryan Wenarchuk, 6-4)

moved into the top four thanks to a 9-2 win over Wade Gray (4-6). Deuces in the second and fifth ends staked Wenarchuk to a 5-1 lead at the break, and after Gray picked up one in the sixth, a four-ender in the seventh finished things off.

Ryder Helmeczi (3-6) was the other winner on the night, taking a 7-3 victory over RK Sunview Farms (Dayne Heisler, 1-9). A three-ender got Helmeczi off to a great start, and they’d stake themselves to a 4-2 lead through five ends. A single point in the sixth got Heisler back within one, but Helmeczi would get that back and more with a deuce in the seventh before stealing one in the eighth.

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

PAGE A22 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 Share your team’s news, pictures and results with us! email: editor@mjvexpress.com

Falcons Prey On Hawks

By Robert Thomas

A seemingly unprepared Gravelbourg Hawks found themselves easy prey against the South Hill Royal Falcons on Wednesday evening.

The Falcons were able to take the game to the Hawks winning 73 - 33.

It was a game which saw the Falcons taking an early lead in the first quarter as the Hawks were not able to take advantage of the early scoring opportunities.

“It went pretty good. We haven’t been in the Moose Jaw league for quite awhile.

So we’re all learning,” Jeff Jacobs Gravelbourg’s head coach said.

The Hawks missed a large number of opportunities - 20 points in the first quarter alone - Jacobs said it was nerves and also is something the team is set to work on.

Wednesday night started out with

nerves, Jacobs said.

“I feel in our first quarter it was like a deer in the headlights for our guys because we hadn’t been in Moose Jaw for awhile.

After awhile we gained some steam and played better,” he said.

For South Hill Royal Falcons head coach Kalen Senecal the team had a good night.

“We had a good game; it was nice to see the boys come and pass the ball around. We played very well defensively.

We’re happy how the season stated and they got a good run in tonight,” Senecal said.

For the Falcons, Senecal said the Falcons were focused to work the ball inside.

Something they did successfully.

A major problem the Falcons had were foul problems and discipline.

In the first quarter they hit the five foul mark but the Hawks were unable to take advantage of it.

Apart with through the fourth quarter one of their main players fouled out with five personal fouls.

“We’re going to work on that. We need to be a little bit lower to the ground and make sure we aren’t coming down on guys,” Senecal said.

Jacobs said after a three-year absence, it was decided that the team needed to re-enter the Moose Jaw city league in order to have a place to play.

“We needed a place to play. Down where we were, you need a place to play, adding distance wise that ‘where we live’,

it’s just a way of life.”

Right now the only playing time the Hawks are getting is at tournaments.

Jacobs said Gravelbourg is happy to be back in the Junior Varsity boys league.

It’s a sentiment shared by Senecal who welcomes Gravelbourg’s return.

Jacobs said a big thing for the Gravelbourg team is the six of the players are from Burundi.

“They’ve played basketball before but not in a team setting, so they are all learning the rules. So we’re all learning together,” he said.

The move have been interesting given

there is a language barrier at times.

“They go to the other school in Gravelbourg, Conseils des écoles franskasois, so they needed another place to play and we (Ecole Gravelbourg School) joined up with them,” he explained.

The arrangement is not much different than the one between Cornerstone Christian School and Riverview Collegiate to form the South Hill Royal Falcons.

“There is a bit of a barrier, but there are a lot of bilingual kids in Gravelbourg so they help out.”

Jacob’s said having so many players from Burundi has already been an experience, “but it’s been great.”

Burundi has three official languages Kirundi, French and English.

The First Quarter score was South Hill 17 and Gravelbourg 6.

The score at Half Time was South Hill 42 and Gravelbourg 14.

The score at the end of the Third Quarter was South Hill was 56 and Gravelbourg 23.

The Final Score was South Hill 73 and Gravelbourg 33.

South Hill top scorers: Matt Artavia 18 Cooper Gregor 16 Gravelbourg top scorers: Manny Pagua 8 Alva Burinttonzi 6 Adama Zoundis 6 h t t p s : / / w w w. m j i n d e p e n d e n t . c o m / sports/2023/12/6/eurnwopdztnpqbqvdhkn067u22ttzl

Colts Join League To Improve

By Robert Thomas

There may be some travel involved but it’s something the Swift Current Colts can live with in order to secure competition during the week for the team the coach says.

Colts head coach Phil Braun said the move to play in the Moose Jaw city league was made to give the team more opportunities to play during the week.

The Colts are happy with the move and the opportunity it presents to them.

“This is our first year here and so far it’s been a good experience. We are happy to be in the league and get a few more games during the week and stuff like that,” Braun said.

“We haven’t had league play for a se-

nior team (forever) as far as I know. So we mainly just do tournaments until we get to regional play.”

The travelling from Swift Current to other games throughout the league presents no problem for the Colts.

“It’s not too bad especially when the weather has been as nice as it has been.”

Braun said he did not think the Colts ever competed in the city league.

“No, I don’t think we have. It will be good as a season goes.”

Braun said right now the teams we’re just getting accustomed to participating in the league.

“I think the first few games are you

know figuring out who is who and (who is where), and so it’ll be good.

“Our first two games have been good and gone well for us. But we’ll definitely see some good competition.”

Last year the Colts did not make regional play and they’re hoping by playing in the Moose Jaw city league their game will improve.

“I think will have some good opportunity against a lot of teams. To have games somewhat close to home on a regular basis will be good,” he said. h t t p s : / / w w w. m j i n d e p e n d e n t . c o m / sports/2023/12/6/kips0pn0zilg13glteys8ajehy66zz

KidSport helps children partake in sports with ‘Give the Gift of Sport’ campaign The KidSport campaign will run until Jan. 8, 2024 with the goal of raising $1 million Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

At a time of heightened seasonal spending and inflation driving up the cost of necessities, and in the wake of the global ‘GivingTuesday’ initiative, KidSport Moose Jaw is joining the organization’s provincial and federal counterparts to support the 12th annual ‘Give the Gift of Sport’ campaign that concludes January 8, 2024.

The goal of the KidSport campaign is to remove the financial barriers that keep youths across the country between the ages of five and 18 from joining organized sports. The service provided by KidSport directly benefits children and youths and helps them access the benefits attained through participation in organized sports.

“It directly benefits the kids,” said John Eberl, the chairperson for KidSport Moose Jaw. “We see it as a benefit to a child’s social, mental, and physical well-being. It’s about belonging to a group, playing with your friends, grandma and grandpa coming to watch when you’re

playing another team or practicing…”

Indirectly, assistance offered by KidSport also benefits families and the sports teams themselves.

“If there are financial barriers, sometimes some kids don’t get to play sports. It can affect the overall makeup of some of the teams, in terms of not having enough participants and so on….Any dollar that is raised… goes a long way in the community in terms of family support and mental health support.” Eberl said.

Eberl also noted that many coaches end up becoming a positive figure in a child’s life. These coaches demonstrate the hard work and dedication it takes to organize a team despite their busy lifestyle, and their mentorship helps young people develop into a better version of themselves.

In 2022 alone, more than 270 individual applicants were supported by KidSport Moose Jaw at an average of around $260

KidSport Moose Jaw is asking for donations to help more children and youths access the benefits of organized sports.

Photo by: Facebook/KidSport Moose Jaw per child. “That translates into between $60,000 - 70,000 being given to the sport-

ing organizations in Moose Jaw on behalf of the kids that applied and required support.”

Donations can be made to KidSport at any time throughout the year, and the current campaign is simply a way to help remind people of the value provided by the organization’s charitable outreach.

To mail a check to KidSport Moose Jaw, the address is P.O. Box 1811, Moose Jaw, SK., S6H 7K8. If you’re mailing a cheque or other correspondence, be sure to put “KidSport Moose Jaw” on the envelope.

To donate online, visit KidSportCanada.ca. On the drop-down menu found by clicking on the ‘Donate’ button, you can select the specific region you want to support.

All donors will receive a registered charitable receipt after making their donation.

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A23 Share your team’s news, pictures and results with us! email: editor@mjvexpress.com

Cyclones win boys basketball league opener after claiming Prince Albert tournament title Cyclones take victory over Lumsden on heels of three straight wins at Crusaders tournament Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

A tournament win in Prince Albert during the high school boys basketball season on Dec. 2nd weekend saw the Central Cyclones in a 109-38 victory over the Lumsden Devils in league action. Tuesday night’s win made it four wins in a row to tip off the campaign.

It’s not too far off with how things went at the beginning of last season for the local crew, and we all know how that ended up: an unbeaten, dominant sweep through regionals and provincials on their way to the SHSAA 4A championship.

Whether or not this year’s team will follow the same path has yet to be seen, but there’s little question the start had been a good one -- especially with the victory in Prince Albert.

“It was a good tournament, for sure,” said Cyclones head coach Barry Seaborn.

“We had a chance to face another good 4A team in North Battleford John Paul, so that was a nice win for the rankings, and then playing some of the big 5A guys in Cartlon and St. Mary’s was a good test, too. So it was a nice way to start the season.”

The Cyclones got things started with a 100-60 win over North Battleford John Paul II and followed with an 88-39 win over St. Mary’s in the semifinal before rolling past Carlton 88-63 in the championship game.

That led into Tuesday’s contest in Lumsden, where Max Simmons led Central with 22 points and Ben Pollack picked

The Central Cyclones won the Prince Albert Carlton Crusaders tournament during the Dec. 2 weekend. up 14 for the Devils.

With the season still so early, Seaborn wasn’t about to make any predictions of success when it comes to the local league this season, especially with the defending champion Peacock Toilers also off to a good start and the 5A Swift Current Colts waiting in the wings.

“We haven’t seen everyone in the league, but Peacock should be the favourites seeing that they’re the defending champions and they should have a pretty good team again this year,” Seaborn said.

“Our goal right now is to get to the city final and see what happens there.”

Then there’s the ultimate goal waiting at the end of the campaign: Hoopla 2024

right here in Moose Jaw. “I don’t think a lot of teams get an opportunity to win it at home,” Seaborn said.

“That would be super exciting and that’s the ultimate goal, but we have to make it there first. We’ve only seen a couple of 4A teams so we don’t know what the landscape looks like, and lots of things can happen before then.”

Central is back in league action on Tuesday, Dec. 12 when they travel to Swift Currrent, after which they’re off the Jasper Place REB Invitational from Dec. 14-16 in Edmonton, one of the highest calibre tournaments they’ll play in this season.

“That’s going to be a real test.” Seaborn said. “It’ll be a lot more physical than

we see around here, and the size is something we really don’t see a lot of in this province, so I think it’ll be really good for the kids.”

Other boys league action Tuesday saw Swift Current (2-0) take a 102-51 win over the Vanier Vikings (0-2). Duncan Gevana led the Colts with 32 points, while Nafyad Eticha scored 16 and Makstr McIntyre added 11. Jared Mana led Vanier with 12, Cruz Pambrun and Carson Gomersall had 10 each.

In girls league action, the Vanier Spirits improved to 2-0 on the campaign with a 55-38 win over Central (1-1). Kate Waldenberger and Ireland Guillaume led the Spirits with 14 points each, Addison Simpson topped Central with 15 points.

The Swift Current Ardens (2-0) kept pace with Vanier with a 100-29 win over the Assiniboia Rockets (0-2). Janelle Stolhandske-Dale and Danica Jackson topped the Ardens with 19 points apiece, Leah Sletten added 14 to go along with 10 each from Kylee Michaluk and Navy Louma.

Khanesia Warken topped the Rockets with 12 points.

No score was reported in the girls game between Peacock and Lumsden.

Girls league action continues Tuesday, Dec. 19 with Peacock at Central (6:20 p.m.), Swift Current at Vanier (5:50 p.m.) and Assiniboia at Lumsden (6:40 p.m.).

Boys contests will see Peacock at Central (8 p.m.) and Vanier at Lumsden (5 p.m.).

Multicultural Council invites the community to a monthly cross-culture soccer match Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

Soccer is the world’s most popular sport with billions of fans across the globe. Due to its international scope, the Moose Jaw Multicultural Council (MJMC) has found it to be one of the best ways to bring newcomers together and help these individuals integrate with the community.

If the weather cooperates, games take place outdoors at Smith Park on South Hill. During the cold winter months, the soccer matches happen indoors at the Yara Centre.

The soccer games organized by the MJMC take place once a month, and the timing depends on several factors including the availability of turf time and what else the organization has planned.

“This is a free activity not just for (our) clients, but (also) for the community.

Everybody is welcome to come and play, or just to come and watch the game,” said Gaby Carmona, the community connections coordinator at the MJMC. “It’s a very popular activity. We usually have between 30 to 40, and up to 50 people every time we have this activity,” she said. Players are typically organized into four teams of 10 if numbers permit.

Experienced players are spread across the teams to provide a sense of balance.

This helps ensure everybody enjoys the game and can participate.

To join, players must be age 14 or older. Minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult if they wish to participate. “But if you’re just coming to watch, you’re welcome to (regardless of age),” Carmona added.

The age limit is an internal rule imposed by the MJMC. “If the kids want to come, an adult has to come and be responsible for them. (This is) because there’s so many people attending… we will need to have somebody at the side to look after the

the MJMC are invited to call ahead as the organization will provide transportation as part of the membership program.

As the soccer games are organized when the time and resources are available, the best way to stay informed is to check the MJMC’s Facebook page, ‘Moose Jaw Multicultural Council,’ or its Instagram

little ones. I don’t think we have the capacity (for this) at the moment,” explained Carmona.

The matches are organized as a friendly exhibition and there’s no tournament or competitive atmosphere, but the matches do follow the rules of the game.

“This program is a community connection program. One of the main purposes is to connect the newcomers with the community,” Carmona explained, noting that the effort includes art workshops and a variety of cultural activities.

“It’s just pretty much to meet other people in the community and just socialize. It’s a very friendly, informal game.

“We see… a great attendance (and) everyone likes to come pretty much from all over. (We have) people from the Middle East, Africa, China, and they all love soccer,” Carmona said. “Even though they don’t (always) speak the same language, they come together as a team and they play a great game.”

Anyone looking to participate is welcome to show up at Smith Field during the summer months or at the Yara Centre during the winter. Registered members of

page. You can also call 306-693-4677 and ask for Gabby Carmona.

The next match will be announced in the upcoming year. To provide a break from the cold weather, this and all upcoming games will take place at the Yara Centre, located at 1220 High Street West.

PAGE A24 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

f you would like your notice or event added to this list, contact us at: jritchie@moosejawtoday.com The Knights of Columbus Father Gilpin Council 9760 Keep Christ in Christmas Lighting Contest: Judging will take place on December 16th.

Prizes will be awarded. Entry forms are available at www.mjknights.ca.

Mulberry Estates Cocoa & Carol-oke Event – you are invited to come join for some hot chocolate, holiday music and some delicious holiday treats on Thursday December 14th at 2p.m. Please feel free to wear your festive holiday attire and sing along to some festive carols.

Limited space is available at the location 220 Mulberry Lane. Please call 306.694.5020 to reserve your spot today.

Highwind from Moose Jaw will be playing with some well-known Saskatoon bands at ‘ONE BAD SON’ I Come Alive Tour in Saskatoon on December 15 at 7pm at Coors Event Centre. The event is for individuals 19+.

Cornerstone Christian School Annual Christmas Concert will be held on Friday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Hillcrest Apostolic Church. The concert, directed by Josh Carley, will feature familiar songs, some of which are done in the gospel and soul genre of music. FREE Admission but donations are gladly accepted.

Lawn Bowls (on turf): Lawn Bowling has been described as a cross between Curling and Pool. Lawn Bowls can be played in a solely recreational style or highly competitive form. The flexibility makes it a game for everyone from 6 to 106. The Yara Centre offers everyone an opportunity to participate in this fun sport during inclement weather. It provide athletes with maintenance of skills & recreational players with a fun alternative to typical gym exercises. Drop in welcomed every Tuesday &Thursday at 9:30am &/or Wednesday at 1:30pm.

For more info www.moosejawlawnbowling.com or text 306 690-8739 New Youth Pipe Band in Moose Jaw “The White Heather” for youth aged 8 to 12. Further information may be obtained by contacting Michelle Carline at mcarline@hotmail. com Scottish Country Dance Classes for all ages on Thursdays at 7pm at 510 Main St. N (T. Eaton Bldg). No partner required. Call Val @306.630.5790.

Town and Country Square Dancing will be held at St. Mary’s School for 2023-2024 season; 7pm to 9pm Monday nights.

The Moose Jaw Stamp Club has resumed meeting the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 6:30 pm at the Lindale School staff room (north door).

For information call 306-693-5705.

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.

Moose Jaw Camera Club meets at the Cosmo Centre- 235 Third Ave NE on the second Monday of each month from 7-9p.m. For more information call Wanda at 306-631-7440

Upcoming Events in Moose Jaw

or Leonard Ber at 306-693-7865.

Member photos and can be viewed at TheMooseJawCameraClub.com.

Membership open to those with an interest in photography; one-time annual payment $50. Additional members in family from same household pay discounted $25 pp/student rate $30.

Nature Moose Jaw will hold their meetings on a once-a-month basis to take place on the third Friday of each month. Next Meeting will be held on Jan. 19, 2024. To contact Nature Moose Jaw, Rich Pickering can be reached at r.pickering@shaw.ca.

Line Dancing every Wednesday from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. at St. Andrews Church. Call 306.692.7365 for more information.

Griefshare support group for those grieving the death of a loved one on Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8:15, until Dec. 6 at Moose Jaw Alliance Church, corner of Thatcher and 9th Ave. W. To register see Griefshare.org/findagroup. For more information email Ralph Magnus, rjmagnuor alls57@ gmail.com Are you struggling with addictions?

Do you know someone who is? Or do you want to learn more about overcoming addiction to help others?

Pastor Cory Havanka and his wife Brenda will be offering an in-person, small-group, course that will explore how to overcome addiction that is based on Biblical foundations. For questions - Call or text Cory at 306684-1464 or email firmfoundationministries.inc@gmail. com. Firm Foundation Ministries provides other services as well:-Bible study - Monday evenings at 630 p.m/ Prayer meetings - Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m/Pastoral counselling.

Check Facebook or Instagram for updates on services, events, bible study notes and words from the Lord.

Nar-Anon Meetings every Monday 7—8pm (Moose Jaw Nar-Anon Family Group) is a 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 Rm 103. Your anonymity and what you say at meetings will be carefully guarded.

Toastmasters provides a learning environment to develop communication & leadership skills which foster self-confidence as well as personal &. professional development. There are 2 clubs in Moose jaw: Tuesdays: TAP club meets on zoom@7pm Soon will offer an 8 week class ‘Speechcraft’ which provides instruction and experiential learning of the basic skills in public speaking. Guests are welcome at all meetings. Phone Cathy 306-630-7015 for more information & zoom link.

Wednesday: Big Country club @7pmCST is in person@Saskpolytechnic & (Hybrid) online.

TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) weight loss support group meets every Wednesday evening at the Alliance Church, 14 Neslia Place. (Corner of Thatcher Drive W. & 9th Ave.W.) Please enter through the west-facing door, turn right and go to end of the hallway by the library, to room 105.

Weigh-in takes place from 6:30-7:00 pm. Meeting to follow. TOPS can

help you reach your weight loss goal by providing you with tools, information and support to be successful.

The group shares friendship, weight loss tips and offers encouragement to one another. New members are very welcome. Our scale weighs up to 500 lbs.

Moose Jaw Public Library (MJPL), 461 Langdon Cres. Phone 306.692.2787; visit their website at https://www.moosejawlibrary.ca/ The schedule for children’s programs and links to register are available at MooseJawLibrary.ca/childrens-programs, and at the MJPL front desk.

The Elf on the Library Shelf is back once again. ‘Elfie’ will hide in a different location each day — kids who find him can enter a draw for an endof-month prize. There is also an ugly sweater contest: Kids 4 to 12 can pick up a colouring sheet at the circulation desk, colour it in, and submit it to enter a draw for an actual ugly sweater prize.

MJPL Adult programs in December Tech Time (ongoing) By appointment only, call 306-692-2787 to book personalized one-on-one session on how to use their devices and apps.

Magic the Gathering For ages 13 and up, all experience levels welcome, drop-in program Saturdays, December 16 MJPL Youth programs in December Teen D&D, for ages 12 to 16, takes place Thursdays in the MJPL Archives Tuesdays, Dec. 12, 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

New Adult Digital D&D, for ages 15 to 22, takes place Fridays at 4 p.m. on the library’s Discord channel.

Registration is required for all library D&D programs by emailing youth@ moosejawlibrary.ca.

Teen Gamers – Game Night Wednesday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Herb Taylor Room, for ages 12 to 19 – card games, board games, and video games in various formats. No registration required; snacks provided.

Teen Anime Club Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2:30 p.m. in the MJPL Theatre.

Snacks provided; for ages 13 to 19 featuring the anime The Great Cleric.

How do I do that?! One-on-one instructional workshop series Tuesdays, 2-4:30 p.m., and every other Saturday 10-12:30 p.m., in the Herb Taylor Room, for ages 15 to 25. Get help with everything from scholarships to resume writing to budgeting.

Drop in or book a time at the information desk.

The Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 59 Moose Jaw, 268 High St W Moose Jaw; Contact: 306-692-5453. 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 at 6pm, Paper goes on sale at 5pm. Playing ten regular games with 2 parts each and 3 extra games, all games cash prizes. · Dart League every Thursday starting at 6pm. $25 to enter for the season. No membership required. · Cribbage every Tuesday at 1:30 pm. Registration at 1 pm. Cost $5; pre-register your team by calling 306.693.9688. · Drop-in Shuffleboard league every Friday at 7:00 pm. · Chase the Ace/Meat Draw every Saturday. To see the total check out Facebook page on Wednesday and Fridays for the upcoming Sat-

urdays 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 .

The centre is now open Mon-Thurs 8am – 8pm.

Fitness Level & Indoor Walking Track open M-T and Friday’s 8am-4pm/ Lounge – Friday’s from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Wood working area – Mon- Fri 8am – 4pm/Timothy Eaton Cafe open MonFri, 8am – 4pm.

Billiards open daily 8am – 4pm, and Mon & Thurs 4:30 – 8 p.m.

Pickle Ball – Mon & Thurs 10 a.m./ Tues, Wed & Fri 1 p.m./Mon & Thurs 7 p.m./Wed 6pm Fitness- Chair/Low Impact Fitness Mondays & Thursdays @ 1:00 p.m.

Cribbage – Wed 1 p.m/Hand & Foot Card Game for Beginners – Thurs9:30 am/Mah Jong – Weds 1 p.m./500 Cards – Thurs @ 1 p.m.

Full Body Work Out Mon 9:30am/ Wed 9:30 am Scrabble – Mon 1pm/Spades Tues & Fri 1pm Line Dancing Tues 10 a.m./Intro to Line Dancing – Wed 11am Table Tennis Mon 1pm/Art & Crafts Mon/Tues/Wed 1 p.m./Floor Shuffleboard Tues/Thurs 1 p.m.

Paper Tole Tues 1 p.m./Nickle Bingo Fri 1 p.m./Quilting Fri 9am-4pm Jam and dancing (New Name Change) Fri 9 a.m./Texas Hold’em Thurs 6:30pm Cosmo Senior Citizens’ Centre Weekly Activities – 235 3rd Ave. N.E. Phone 306.692.6072 or email cosmo@sasktel.net. Check them out on Facebook.

Monday: 9:30 am - Pickleball / 1pmFloor Shuffleboard / 7pm-Camera Club – only on the 2nd Monday of the month Tuesday: 9:30 am - Jam Session / 1pm - Pickleball / 7 pm - Friendship Bridge / 7 pm - Beginners Only Pickleball Wednesday: 8:30am-TOPS/8:30amPickleball/1pm-Floor Shuffleboard Thursday: 10 am - Line Dance / 1 pm - Pickleball Friday: 9:00am-Beginner Pickleball/1pm-Regular Pickleball Military Whist Tournament on December 15 – Register @9:30am/Games begin @10am. Cost $20pp includes muffins, coffee & lunch.

Social Dance on December 16 from 7:30-11:30pm with Band Len Dadica.

Cost $15pp includes lunch.

Moose Jaw ANAVETS: Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit #252 – 279 High St. W, Moose Jaw. 306.692.4412 or anaf252@sasktel.net Open on Wednesdays 12-6pm. Every Wed. 10 card crib and smear.

Every Thursday 12–7pm – crib 1:30pm/Bring a partner or sign up for a spare.

Every Friday 1-10pm. Shuffleboard 1:30pm, pool and darts 7pm. Bring a partner.

Every Saturday 1-7pm. 4:30 pm Meat Draw;50/50;gift card. Everyone welcome.

Last Thursday of every month “Veteran’s Coffee Break” 9:30-11am. All Veterans welcome for coffee and donuts provided by local businesses.

FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES #3395 MON - Drop in Cribbage – registration 6pm/play 7pm. $2pp – two person teams.

Bring a partner or be a spare. Prizes depend on number of persons registered. Everyone Welcome.

WED- Drop in Darts –7 pm – draw for partners. $2pp/per night. Everyone Welcome THURS - Ladies Auxiliary “Meat Draw” – tickets 5:30 pm/draws 6pm – Meat Draw, 50/50, “Chase the Ace” SUN - Aerie “Meat Draw” – tickets 2:30pm; Meat Draw, 50/50, Mystery Draw, “Chase the Ace” MON-SAT – DROP IN POOL 1-1:30 pm. Singles & Doubles. Partners draw from those attending to play.

FIRST AND THIRD SUN – Aerie meeting 11:30 am FIRST AND THIRD TUES – Ladies Auxiliary meeting 7pm NEW YEAR’S EVE - “ORIGINAL COVERS” music playing in the Eagles Hall – More details to follow – watch for club posters.

Seniors’ Centre Without Walls FREE telephone-based program for seniors 55+ in activities, education, and conversation. No internet or computer needed, only a phone. To register for programs, phone 306-631-4357 or email scwwsask2019@gmail.com PIANO FAVOURITES with Lorne Jackson 10 – 11am Fridays through December. To register for this program, phone 306-631-4357 or email scwwsask2019@gmail.com Seniors Art Program Over the Phone: Thursday bi-monthly sessions 1011am - 8 session program running until December 21.

All supplies mailed to you at no cost. December 14 - Winter silhouette Cool and Warm scene study (Oil pastels); For individuals over 60 yrs: Join in to share on the oral history of the farm– Celebrate common stories through farm reminiscing. Free weekly phone sessions Wed Jan. 17 – March 6 at 10am-11am OR 1:30-2:30 for 8 weeks. No computer or internet required. All supplies necessary will be mailed free to you. Registration required – Phone or Email by December 15. 306.631.4357 (No texts please).

Email scwwsask2019@gmail.com 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/ Virtual Coffee Club for a time of visiting and learning through zoom sessions once a month consisting of a presentation and time for questions afterwards. No cost but pre-registration is required on website: Virtual Coffee Club - Western Development Museum (wdm.ca). For more information or to set up an interview call 306-693-5989 or email me at ajones@wdm.ca A Christmas Long Ago public program on Saturday December 16th at 10am and 2pm. Museum-led program, which provides an opportunity for visitors to learn about 1910 settler life and, in particular, abo providing family traditions during the holiday season. Explore holiday traditions - Pre-registration required; tickets available at WDM or call 306-6935989. Ticket prices regular admission.

‘Warm Hearts’ jacket repair project helps keep winter jackets out of the landfill Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

With the goal of keeping textiles out of the landfill, the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council (SWRC) is continuing its ‘Warm Hearts’ jacket repair project after an initial trial run back in 2021. Moose Jaw was added to the province-wide project in 2022.

“The goal of the project is basically to keep textiles out of the landfill a little bit longer by extending the life of some of the jackets (that need only minor repairs), while also getting the jackets into the hands of people who need them in the winter,” said Meg Dorwart, communications coordinator with the SWRC. The project starts on Waste Reduction Week, which began Oct. 16 this year.

“That’s when we launch the project, just to make people think about putting their jackets through this program and catch

them before they throw them away,” she said.

Last year, the project oversaw the repair of 15 jackets, one pair of snow pants, plus 17 jackets in good condition redistributed to those in need. This year’s tally is already at six jackets repaired and 31 jackets to distribute. The project will continue until volunteers run out of jackets, or the project runs out of volunteers.

In total, the project has seen 413 jackets repaired across the province in the past three years.

The SWRC is a province-wide organization focused mainly on waste reduction.

The organization runs several awareness campaigns including Warm Hearts, and its website includes a waste reduction hub.

On the site, visitors can enter their location, search for an item they wish to

get rid of, and it produces a list of places to recycle, compost, donate, or repair that item. The site is SaskWasteReduction.ca. “(We’re) trying to focus on trying to find other ways to keep things working, instead of having to toss them into the landfill,” said Dorwart.

The project takes place at three locations: Moose Jaw, Regina, and Saskatoon.

“In the past we’ve had other communities as well… but we’re at reduced capacity this year. We’re trying to focus and do a few communities well and then hopefully grow again next year,” Dorwart said.

“It’s a project that any community can do. If they want to reach out, we can organize it pretty much anywhere. We just need volunteers and a drop-off – that’s it.”

“They can reach out to me, and we’ll try and find a drop-off location… and then

find volunteers who can fix them… and somewhere the jackets can be donated after. That’s pretty much it,” she said.

To drop off your jackets in Moose Jaw, The Wandering Market is currently accepting these donations on behalf of the project. The campaign is marketed for jackets, but similar winter gear is accepted, including ski pants, winter gloves, and toques.

The project also needs volunteers, especially those skilled in repairing winter jackets.

To apply on behalf of your community or to volunteer, contact Dorwart at meg@swrc.ca.

The Wandering Market is located at 461 Athabasca Street East and can be reached at 306-690-3553.

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A25

Cornerstone Christian School is making plans to celebrate 30 years in Moose Jaw Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

Cornerstone Christian School will be celebrating its 30-year anniversary this spring, with a weekend of events to be announced for the upcoming May long weekend in 2024.

Although planning is still underway, the school’s principal, Lee Behrns, is extending an invitation for Cornerstone’s alumni students to attend the upcoming celebration.

Suggestions include paintball at the Battle Creek Adventure Park and sports in the school’s gym. Battle Creek is a natural candidate as it was founded by students from Cornerstone.

“Those guys were alumni that started the business in Entrepreneurship 30 class when they were here at Cornerstone. The idea came to fruition that we have all this land out here, and we should do something crazy. Those guys did it,” Behrns said.

Cornerstone has another reason to celebrate as it’s now mortgage free. “We just finished paying it (the mortgage) off last year... It was a $1.2 to $1.4 million project,” he said, referring to the land purchase and the school’s recent expansion.

Cornerstone’s story began in 1993.

“We started before my time… with a group of families that thought it’s time to

start a Christian school in Moose Jaw,” Behrns said.

Behrns started his career at Cornerstone in 1998, but the longest-serving teacher is Alan Block who taught gym class since 1997. At the time, the school was in Aldersgate College at the intersection of Victoria Street and Aldersgate Avenue.

“I actually drove by the school a couple times... A school looks like a school, and that didn’t look like a school,” Block recalled. At this stage, he had limited gym equipment to work with and gym classes were held in the school’s common area when it was available. “I had to be very creative…,” he said. “When I first got there, there were three (basketballs) and two of them were flat.”

The school then moved to the International Bible College (IBC) facility overlooking Wakamow valley. “I think we went up from 30 kids to about 80 that year,” Block said.

The 1999-2000 school year was the first spent in Cornerstone’s current building after purchasing the property, including the existing King Edward School building, from the then Moose Jaw School Division.

Cornerstone Christian School is preparing to celebrate its 30-year anniversary, with events to be announced for the May long weekend in 2024. Photo by: Aaron Walker “We were just in the elementary wing (to start). The whole school was in here, so it was tight. I taught a class in the boy’s change room,” Behrns recalled, noting that a whiteboard was set up in the modified space. The expansion was completed in the 2003-2004 school year.

“Of course, here we are today, 30 years later with 265 kids and we’ve maintained our status of top-quality Christian education here in Moose Jaw, so we want to celebrate,” Behrns said.

“I’ve taught here since 1998, so I’ve been a part of every single Grade 12 class

that has existed at Cornerstone,” Behrns said, noting that he oversaw all the school’s 459 graduates.

Starting in September, Cornerstone decided to reach out to alumni on a consistent basis as part of the anniversary planning process. Now, when Grade 12 students graduate, they enter the alumni database to keep in touch.

“I have a connections newsletter that goes out, and I just say, ‘here’s what’s going on at Cornerstone this week’,” Behrns said.

“We are pleased to see… all these people that are contributing to society. At the end of the day, the goal of Cornerstone Christian School has always been our three pillars: to engage the mind, to empower with Christ, and to equip for life.”

An updated anniversary plan can be expected in the upcoming year. Alumni at Cornerstone School will receive further information in the school’s connections newsletter.

“We just want to connect with the community, and let them know we still exist, still need them, still value them, and still want them to come hang out at our events. They’re still… our family,” Behrns said.

Discussions on death and dying at Hospice Palliative Care Assc. Workshop Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

The Saskatchewan Hospice Palliative Care Association (SHPCA) brought its full-day ‘roadshow’ workshops to the W.J. Jones & Son Funeral Services reception centre, giving visitors a chance to discuss death, dying, and end-of-life care in a safe, expert setting.

Facilitator Mary-Anne Parker, an endof-life doula and the administrative and development co-ordinator for the SHPCA, said she was slightly disappointed with the turnout for the Moose Jaw event, but not for the reasons one might expect.

Discussions on this topic have nothing to do with being older; people of all ages have a hunger to talk about these things.

Parker said that her role as an end-oflife doula has been incredibly rewarding, and shown her there is a need for holistic considerations around the process of

dying. It has also shown her that anxiety, misunderstanding, and social taboos keep people of all ages, from children to teens to young and middle-aged adults, from having open discussions on the topic.

A doula is a professional who provides advice, guidance, and emotional and physical support to a person during health-related experiences — most commonly at the beginning of life, but also at its end.

“When you’re talking about end-oflife, (doulas) can’t replace anybody on the palliative care or medical teams. They’re all doing wonderful work that they are qualified to do, and that I am not trying to do,” Parker explained. “I’m filling the gaps by providing holistic, encompassing emotional and informational support, and providing social and emotional context for what people are experiencing.

Participants listen to facilitator MaryAnne Parker as she introduces a discussion topic (photo by Gordon Edgar) “There’s always been a need for a whole interdisciplinary team, which is what we used to see at home before every-

thing became hospitalized. ... In my role, I help people make space for conversations, organize, move forward, normalize death and dying. It really helps them and makes their fear less prevalent, which is why I’m fired up to do what I do.”

The discussion took participants along those same lines. There was laughter and humour, open sharing of difficult experiences and questions, discovery of common concerns (such as the fear of losing dignity, becoming a burden, or not knowing one’s care providers), and answers, suggestions, and strategies resulting from group conversation.

The event was co-hosted by Heartland Hospice, with board members Amanda Dowling and Della Ferguson there to participate.

Learn more at heartlandhospicemj.ca and saskpalliativecare.org.

Winter Tire Sale…

888 Main Street N. “In the heart of Downtown Moose Jaw” 306-691-0080

PAGE A26 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM Wednesday, December 13, 2023 WCB, SGI, DVA, SUPPLEMENTARY• HEALTH

D.&D. Quality Care Inc.

Mobility Foot Care

306-691-0300 (instore)

306-681-3411

& GAM ES

(home visit)

428 Main St. N.

“Each day provides its own gifts.”

-- Marcus Aurelius --

ACROSS 1. Smile 5. A city in Nebraska 10. Border 14. Fair attraction 15. Formula 1 driver 16. Close 17. Spontaneous disease 19. Chooses 20. Bigheadedness 21. Direct 22. Explode 23. Retrieved 25. Feudal lord 27. Possessed 28. Foretell 31. Colorful parrot 34. Call 35. South southeast 36. Swill 37. Regards 38. Facial covering 39. Evening (poetic) 40. Reveals 41. Foot lever 42. Political moderate 44. Farewell

S #5 U D- O KU Sudoku Challenging

WORDSEARCH

Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.

9 2

6 7 4

5

8

6

1 4 9

Sudoku #7 - Tough 5 3 6 1 9 4 7 2 4 7 5 6 8 9 9 1 8 7 2 3 5 3 9 2 6 4 5 1 6 5 4 8 7 1 3 7 8 1 2 3 9 4 4 2 3 9 5 6 8 8 6 5 4 1 7 2 1 7 9 3 8 2 6

2

6 7 9 5

7 1 2 7 1 5 6 4 9 3 7 6 8 1 4 2 3 8 5

5 6 1 7 9 3 4 5 9

2

8

7

8 2 3 1 6 4

Sudoku #5 - Challenging 9 2 3 8 6 7 4 5 1 4 9 5 2 3 8 6 8 4 3 1 7 9 2 2 6 7 8 1 3 5 5 2 1 4 9 6 8 5 2 7 4 1 3 9 9 7 8 6 5 2 3 6 5 4 9 8 1 7 7 1 2 3 6 4 9

6

7 9 1 5

5

3 4 9

© 2023 KrazyDad.com

Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 3-by-3 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 9.

If you use logic you can solve the puzzle without guesswork.

Need a little help? The hints page shows a logical order to solve the puzzle.

Use it to identify the next square you should solve. Or use the answers page if you really get stuck.

Puzzle Solutions

Sudoku #8 - Super Tough 3 8 1 2 5 6 4 9 7 4 6 2 7 9 3 5 8 1 7 9 5 1 4 8 6 3 2 5 4 8 9 2 1 3 7 6 2 1 3 8 6 7 9 5 4 9 7 6 4 3 5 2 1 8 8 2 4 5 7 9 1 6 3 1 3 9 6 8 4 7 2 5 6 5 7 3 1 2 8 4 9 Sudoku #6 - Challenging 6 4 9 8 1 2 5 3 7 2 5 1 3 7 9 6 4 8 7 8 3 6 4 5 2 1 9 5 6 2 9 8 1 4 7 3 3 9 4 2 6 7 8 5 1 8 1 7 5 3 4 9 6 2 1 3 6 4 9 8 7 2 5 7 5 1 2 6 3 8 4 2 8 7 5 3 1 9 6 4

9

ANGER, ANNOY, ASHES, BLOB, BLOCK, BOREDOM, COMMON, DETRIMENTAL, ELATE, EMBED, EMBOSS, ENCUMBRANCE, EXECUTE, EYEBROWS, GUSTO, INSIDE, JUNIOR, MAST, NORSE, OMEGA, PLANK, QUIET, SANE, SHAME, SHUNT, SIMPLE, SNEER, SOCIETY, SORE, SOURCE, SUBWAY, SWING, TRADITION, TRUCK, TWICE

18. Exclamation of contempt 45. Delete 22. A detested person 46. Longhand 24. Fella 50. Breakfast strip 26. Charged particles 52. Line of poetry 28. Piece of paper 54. Dike 29. Largest continent 55. Countertenor 56. A young unmarried woman 30. Scream 31. Millisecond 58. Condo alternative 32. Away from the wind 59. Pee 33. Something that connects 60. Dam 34. Persist 61. Not his 37. Speaker’s place 62. Discourage 38. V V V 63. Countercurrent 40. Fiber source DOWN 41. Funeral piles 1. Sorrow 43. Soldiers 2. Chain of hills 44. More hectic 3. Blockhead 46. Hag 4. Modern 47. Twiddled one’s thumbs 5. Spoke 48. Legitimate 6. Paired 49. File 7. Dull pain 50. German baroque com8. Passed-down valuables 9. Circle fragment poser Daily Sudoku Puzzles

by KrazyDad, December 6, 202 10. Sufficient 51. Balm ingredient 11. Dispirited 53. Broadcast 12. Handguns 56. Flop 13. Formerly (archaic) 57. Female sheep

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A27

Moose Jaw Truck Shop

22 Lancaster RD 306.694.4644

we fix everything

MooseJawTruckShop.com or text 306-900-4179

CLASSIFIED ADS AUTOS

For Sale- 2014 Chev 1500.

One owner, 4 x 4 crew cab, 172,300 kms, 5.3 engine.

Excellent condition, asking $18,500. Call 306 -6317698 TOOLS & EQUIPMENT For Sale- 12” metal lathe.

Needs a little shim work.

Offers accepted. Phone

306-694-4999 MISCELLANEOUS For Sale - 150 copies Readers Digest $50.00. 61 years Aviation magazines (Flying- Private Pilot- Plane & Pilot) etc., offers. Mens leather coat-black size medium $25.00. Call 306-6924868 Looking for a Handyman or Handylady to do some basement renovations in a vacant house, like building walls, drywalling, laying flooring and doing a suspended ceiling. I will supply

the materials required to do the job, you supply the tools, labour and know how.

Cash paid for work done. If interested please call 306692-2393, for viewing of worksite.

CLOTHING For Sale- Western boots, 15” high, black, size 10.5 D. Alberta Boot Co. Asking $60.00. Very little wear. If interested call 306-6933129 WANTED Looking for stereo cabinet, radio and record player.

Must be in working order.

306- 972-7174 Seeking Born Again Christian Business partner with potential ownership in Second Hand and Flea- Market business. Male, Female or Family must be interested in Salvation, Healing and Deliverance Outreach Ministry. Serious enquiries only please. 306-684-1084, 5 pm- 8pm ONLY (because of scam calls) SERVICES Need work done? Contact Bill at 306-630-2268. Interior/exterior, renovations,

Newcomer Welcome Centre’s next community café meeting to take place Dec. 21

formwork, framing, fin-ishing, tiling, painting and all construction, roofing/ siding- no job too big or small.

Reasonable rates, 30 years’ experience.

Moving jobs done reasonably: appliances, furniture, dump runs. Call to do it all. $45.00 a load. 306-6302268 HELP WANTED Start your way to becoming a Survey Evaluator and earn from $150. for every survey you do weekly. Contact ad.hr@adexec.com

Better Water Solutions for your entire home.

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

The Moose Jaw Newcomer Welcome Centre is holding its next community café session on Thursday, Dec. 21.

The aim of the workshop is to give newcomers to Moose Jaw a platform to meet new people, openly talk about what’s on their mind, and to share their story.

The cafés take place on the third Thursday of each month and begin at 7 p.m. at the welcome centre. Each café runs for a maximum of two hours and there’s no cost to join.

“They (newcomers) can meet new people, network, learn new things from the other people in the group as well, and Canadians can come and learn about different cultures too, and make new friends,” said Melissa Mitchell, the welcome centre’s manager.

“We’re here to support anybody who wants to come out and enjoy themselves for the evening, and have a wonderful time making a connection, working on their language, and networking within our community,” added Robyn Watson, the employment coordinator with the Moose Jaw Multicultural Council (MJMC) and the welcome centre.

The café is organized by the Moose Jaw Newcomer Welcome Centre, which is a branch of the MJMC. According to Watson, the collaboration took place because the MJMC saw the need for newcomers to have a chance to settle in and feel welcome in their new community.

A few additional benefits include a chance for newcomers to feel less isolated in their new home, find access

to ethnic food suppliers, and to help find job opportunities.

“I’ve had the opportunity myself to be able to share my experiences and… my services, between resume writing, cover letter writing, connections to employers, interview skills, and just getting them ready to work. If they happen to get a job offer, I can offer to pay for a bit of training possibly as well,” said Watson.

Another focus of the meetings is to practice the English language.

“Every voice matters. Even if we do make mistakes,

The Moose Jaw Newcomer Welcome Centre is located at 432 Main Street North. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Better water for better living High quality water delivered to your home or office Better water brings out the best in your family

270 Caribou St. W. 306.693.0606 www.culligan.com are they really mistakes? I think they are opportunities where we can grow and change, and we can grow together. I don’t have all the answers either,” added Watson.

There’s no requirement to register or call ahead to attend the community cafés. Any interested guests are asked to arrive early or call if they arrive late, as the doors will be locked once the event begins.

The Moose Jaw Newcomer Welcome Centre is located at 432 Main Street North and can be reached at 306692-6892. To access the building, use the doors facing Main Street.

“That’s what I hope we can all gain from this – that we’re all here together. We’re here to grow and learn,” Watson said.

Sask. Polytech brings the community together to support students on ‘GivingTuesday’ The annual campaign helps promote the school’s emergency fund to help students with increasing expenses Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

On Nov. 28, a global movement by the name of ‘GivingTuesday’ sought to reimagine a world based on the principles of radical generosity and a shared sense of humanity. Participating individuals and organizations dedicate their time to positively transform their communities and the world.

Now in it’s third year of participation, Sask. Polytech has utilized the day to help promote the school’s Student Emergency Fund.

“The Student Emergency Fund supports students when they need it the most and provides them financial stability during a difficult time or an unforeseen circumstance,” explained Sarah Fedirko, the school’s director of alumni and donor engagement.

“It ensures that the students can meet their own basic needs, and they can con-

Sask. Polytech promotes the school’s year-round Student Emergency Fund on ‘GivingTuesday’, which fell on Nov. 28 this year. Photo by: Facebook/Saskatchewan Polytechnic tinue and focus on their academics and studying instead of worrying about how they might be able to afford food, or other

things we would constitute as an emergency item.”

The ongoing emergency fund is offered to students at Sask. Polytech in all four locations within the province on a case-by-case basis, and it’s used for the growing cost of necessities such as food and transportation to and from classes. By offering this support, students can remain focused on their studies as they prepare to enter the workforce.

“Sask. Polytech is a charitable organization. So, generally speaking, charities would utilize this day as an opportunity to promote to their audiences giving back and encouraging them to do so. Sask. Polytech does the same thing,” she said.

This year has seen funding requests increase by over 33 per cent, and to date, over 320 students have benefited from the fund’s critical financial support.

To access the fund, a student would approach an academic counsellor on campus. The counsellor then books an appointment with them which is either in-person or virtual.

Here, the student and counsellor partake in a one-on-one conversation to assess the student’s needs, review their circumstances, discuss alternative resources, and the outcome gives deserving students access to the fund.

Students at Sask. Polytech in Moose Jaw can email counselling@saskpolytech. ca or call 306-691-8311.

“Every small donation adds up to have a really big impact. We look to see our alumni donors and community members come together on this and help our students,” concluded Fedirko.

To make a donation, visit alumni. saskpolytech.ca/giving-day.

PAGE A28 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Obituaries / Memorials DIAKOW, JUSTIN Born February 7, 1988 November 25, 2023 With heavy hearts and sadness, we mourn the loss of Justin Donald Diakow, who left this world on November 25, 2023 at the age of 35 peacefully at his home in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

Justin’s unexpected departure has left an immense void in the lives of all who knew and loved him.

Born and raised in Moose Jaw, SK, Justin was a person who was kind and compassionate. Justin’s love for animals knew no bounds, and he found solace and joy in their presence and leaves behind his dog Polo.

One of Justin’s passions was traveling, which he discovered during his younger years while embarking on adventures with his doting grandparents. As a lover of computer games and card games, he could easily immerse himself in a virtual universe or gather friends for a lively card game, creating memories along the way. Shortly after high school, Justin spent time on Vancouver Island before returning home to pursue a career in the hospitality industry. For the past five years, he dedicated himself to serving others at Mulberry Estates in Moose Jaw, where his love for people and caring nature showed in every action. Justin was liked by both residents and colleagues alike.

He often assisted his family on their farm, helping to plant trees and enjoying it he harvest of fresh garden produce. Justin was preceded in death by his beloved grandfather, Edward Diakow, and great-grandparents Pender and Eileen Smith. He is survived by his mother, Sandra Diakow; his sister, Kaylee Bird and his grandmother, Margaret Diakow.

Justin will forever be remembered as a soul who radiated love, brought joy to those around him, and left an everlasting impact on our lives. His absence leaves an ache in our hearts, but we find solace in knowing that his spirit will live on in the treasured memories we hold dear. May you rest in eternal peace, dear Justin.

Expressions of Sympathy for family may be shared by mail to: Box 361 Assiniboia, SK S0H 0B0 or Eirene.ca SHOPA, THOMAS FRANK Thomas Frank Shopa aged 78 years of Chaplin, SK, passed away on Thursday, November 30th, 2023. A Celebration of Tom’s Life will be held in the spring.

Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Michelle Ellis, Funeral Director 306-693-4550 www.moosejawfuneralhome. com

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.

Repent A while ago Barry asked if I could write about the word repent. It seems appropriate to have a look at this word during the Season of Advent. For most people Advent is the time to get ready for Christmas. However, the Christian focus in Advent is on much more than anticipating Christmas, with its family gatherings, holiday parties, and gift giving. Originally Advent was the time to engage in spiritual preparation for the comings of Christ. Yes, that is right, ‘the comings’ of Christ. Advent remembers the coming of Christ at the end of time, the coming of Christ to His people today, and the coming of Christ at Christmas. The proper response to these comings is to repent.

Repent derived from the Anglo-French word repentir, which came from the Latin repoenitere, meaning to feel regret. It entered the English language in the 1300s as a religious term. Repent meant to turn from sin and turn to the amendment of one’s life.

When Jesus began his teaching in the Roman province of Palestine 2,000 years ago, he started by saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The Bible uses the Greek word metanoeite, meaning to change one’s mind. That idea gets to the concept of repenting in Advent.

The repentance aspect of Advent is often neglected but extremely important. During the festive mood of the Christmas season, does the Church push a wet blanket upon us to dampen our celebrations? That is not the intent of repenting. Repentance is to enhance the joy of the celebration of the Nativity.

Many people have grown suspect of the commercialization of Christmas and the pressure to make the holiday

Please include the Moose Jaw Health Foundation in your estate plan to help your community for generations to come.

Please contact us for more information.

Moose Jaw Health Foundation 55 Diefenbaker Drive Moose Jaw, SK S6J 0C2 Phone (306) 694-0373

www.mjhf.org

Barbara (Beamish) 1935-2013

Although it has been 10 years, it feels like just yesterday that we gathered to celebrate your life and what you meant to each of us. We miss you dearly, but you left us with the gift of many sweet memories of fun and laughter.

You are forever in our hearts.

Your loving family

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.

TRINITY UNITED CHURCH 277 Iroquois St W Moose Jaw, SK Next Service: December 17th, 2023 10:30am Rev. Walter Engel

KIDS HELP PHONE All Ages Welcomed

In Memory Of

Van Koughnett

times just right. Advent repentance is meant to change our minds about the true essence and meaning of Christmas. There are many holiday movies on TV and streaming services that show people rediscovering the joy of Christmas in sharing life and love with family and friends. In essence, they are repenting of previous emphases and turning to the essence of the Christmas season. For Christians it is a call to turn to the central action of God’s gift of the Christ as the meaning of Christmas by repenting of our stresses on the other aspects of the season.

The Church also uses repent as feeling sorrow for one’s sin against God’s ways. This has led to the usage of repent to mean to feel sorry for something one has done, apart from any religious meaning. Synonyms of repent have become; regret, lament, deplore, rue, bemoan, and bewail. He regretted the words he uttered in the heat of the moment. After the accident the parents lamented the loss of their only child with many demonstrative expressions.

Many people deplore the breakdown of family values.

She rued the day she accepted the wording of the contract.

There are many that bemoan the corruption of the English language in text messaging. The fans bewailed the defeat of the home team again.

So, with this concept of repent, when the Church encourages repentance, in these pre-Christmas days of Advent, people consider it a downer. But, if we emphasize the aspect of changing one’s mind, repent can resonate with most people.

We do not have to stop all the practical preparations to celebrate Christmas to repent. It is useful to buy and wrap up presents, plan Christmas dinners and parties, stock up the refrigerator with good food, for Christmas is to be a celebratory feast. We want to observe it well. To do so implies some time to repent and focus on the essence and meaning of Christmas. That is the call to repent in Advent.

May your Advent Season be blessed with repentance and your Christmas celebrations be joyful and meaningful!

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MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A29

Briercrest prof helps re-create exact replica of WWII Caron airbase using computer program Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Historian Joel From has teamed up with a British researcher to re-create the Caron airbase in a computer program to honour the latter’s father, who trained there during the Second World War. Thomas Henry (Tommy) Turner and nearly 2,000 other British airmen trained at No. 33 Elementary Flight Training School (EFTS), which operated from January 1942 to January 1944 as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) and produced flyers for the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Turner learned there from Oct. 1 to Dec. 11, 1943, before subsequently training at No. 41 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) in Weyburn on Avro Ansons.

After graduating, the flight sergeant sailed back to England and flew with 582 Pathfinder Squadron. He survived the war and died in 1994 at age 71.

Turner’s son, Neil, retired a few years ago and began researching his father’s military life, which led him to the Caron airbase, From explained. He also had a side interest in computer flight simulators, specifically XPlane.

“He learned the program and found that it has these quite remarkable building modelling capacities within it, so Neil put together a small team of some other guys

A screenshot from the computer simulator XPlane of the re-created Caron airbase.

Photo by Jason G. Antonio who had worked in that XPlane simulator environment,” the historian continued.

“And he was committed to producing an exact replica of this airbase here at Caron.”

It took Turner nearly two years to complete the project. He reached out to From for help because the Briercest College professor had written a book in 2019 called “In Plain Site: A Biography of the RAF Airbase at Caron, Saskatchewan,” which focuses on the training centre’s complete lifespan.

The professor had acquired a trove of information — pictures and blueprints —

during his research, and with that knowledge, he helped Turner’s team re-create each building exactly in the computer program while Turner added historic planes that could fly over the venue.

From enjoyed working with Turner, saying the man was well-organized and knowledgeable. Moreover, they sent each other about 150 emails as they designed each building.

In the end, the virtual base’s footprint was “dead-on accurate,” while From thought it was impressive to see the venue as it functioned during the war.

Today, only 10 buildings from the

original airbase exist.

While hobbyists have re-created other military bases in computer simulators, From believes this project is the first one — of which he knows — to re-create a historic, detailed Canadian base from the Second World War. Turner finished the 30-minute video about three months ago and released it on YouTube. Meanwhile, people who own the XPlane simulator can download the airbase map for free and fly — or walk — around it.

Furthermore, the team has made the video available for free to museums so they can run it regularly on their in-house TVs. Visit Caron 33EFTS: Story of a BCATP Airbase on YouTube.

The reaction has been positive, especially from former Briercrest College students, who reposted the video on social media. Furthermore, many people in the computer simulation community also appreciate it because of how unique the project was and how accurate the buildings are.

The professor is available to speak to groups about his book and the former airbase. His website is www.caronairbase. com.

Addictions counsellor explains treatment innovations at Estevan hospital Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Square One Community, Inc., a non-profit working to help the unhoused, featured an interview with addictions counsellor Anthony Cafik during the Empty Bowls fundraiser, in which Cafik discussed the successes he and his team are seeing in Estevan.

Della Ferguson, president of Square One, said her interview with Cafik was an emotional and inspiring experience.

“The interview with Anthony Cafik was moving to the core,” she told MooseJawToday.com during the event. “I have a friend who has come through that program. Anthony referenced trust as being the key element making their program so successful, and the fact that people who have been served by it know that they can come back, that they’re referring others to it, affirming it, praising it, that’s the greatest endorsement.”

Cafik had his own experience with addiction, and subsequently became an addictions counsellor, a job he has brought empathy and compassion to for nearly 20 years now. After beginning his career in the private sector, he came to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan several years ago to help with the new Addictions Recovery Centre. Now the program manager, he believes that everyone deserves the same level of care, and is happy to bring that level of care to a public sector facility.

Interview with Anthony Cafik “It’s an honour to be asked about what we’re doing and I’m quite proud of our team and our patients and our alumni who make this all possible,” Cafik said. “I think it’s a dream come true that there is, in the health care system, this level of care and commitment to helping people who in my opinion are afflicted with addiction through no fault of their own.

“I don’t know if anyone has ever woken up one day and decided they wanted to lose their family, their livelihood, their will to live, (in order to) have a life of addiction. I think these things unwittingly creep up on people, and they find themselves in a position where they can’t change. So, it’s important that we look at them with empathy and compassion.

“Our program is roughly three years in the making. We’re currently a 68-bed

Anthony Cafik (Square One Community, Inc.) facility, we have 32 in-patient beds, four rapid-access beds, and 32 sober living beds. ... If you think of addiction as an illness, if you look at any type of illness, you can’t really set a date on when you’re better. So, what we have to do is have a program that can assess and evaluate on individual levels, and move treatment through different interventions to treat the addiction, which would be emotionally, behaviourally, mentally, and so on. And not any one person is going to be the same, so you don’t want the treatment centre to be a factory, right?

“The neat thing about St. Joseph’s is that we’re open-ended. The length of treatment is based on milestones and treatment norms in which our clients progress with the help of a counsellor, and our whole clinical team.

“So, we’re preparing them to leave (treatment), and it’s not that we’re fixing them: We’re partnering with them to help them achieve their desire to change their life. ... It’s a painful path, and they need those supports so they don’t leave early.

It’s too easy to give up and go back to a life of addiction.

“That’s what addiction is. It’s ‘I can’t cope, I don’t know how to cope with pain and unmanageability and difficulty.’ ... As we know, life can be very difficult ... and (our clients) don’t have the skills to navigate that. And the next thing you know, they have a drink, they smoke some pot or use other drugs, and they get relief, and they go, ‘That’s what I want.’

“So, there’s really a spiritual aspect of addiction. I think, like any of us, we’re looking for peace. We’re looking for some sort of relief from the pressures of life.

“What we’re doing is not teaching them just to stop. We’re teaching them not to start — we’re teaching them to reach out to something else they can trust that will support them, because if they don’t use again, they won’t have an issue. So, we really have to look at root causes. ...

All kinds of different things are going on, so we can see those relapse triggers and attitudes, and give them alternative behaviours.”

Cafik used the analogy of a recent knee replacement surgery. The operation was successful, but treatment didn’t stop there. There was rehabilitation, exercise, social support, and recognizing the lifelong work of having an artificial knee.

“That’s the model of recovery-oriented system care. A treatment centre, or more beds, isn’t going to solve the problem. It needs to be a system that looks at the individual (and asks), What do they need? And where are they going back to?

When I left the hospital ... they prepared me to be successful in the environment I was going back to.

“Using social assistance, using the housing authority, and our program with wraparound services, we provide an environment in which they go and be successful. We’re teaching them how to budget, how to cook, how to manage a schedule, we’re getting them back into our program as volunteers so they start giving back, some of them are getting their education, some are getting their legal issues sorted out and working with the local police department.”

Cafik became emotional as he described helping people on their journey from having an unmanageable addiction to taking care of themselves and letting go of deeply entrenched shame and guilt.

“The really neat thing is, we have several of our staff who have come through our program, including counsellors, addiction specialists, (and) support staff.

“And I want to say,” he added, pausing to collect himself, “that we believe in what we do.”

Watch the full interview at www.YouTube.com/watch?v=qy8Og_PQlk8 and learn more about Square One at squareonehousingmoosejaw.com.

Remembering Now & Forever

EMCO

MEMORIALS

LT D

Visit Cheryl at our Moose Jaw Showroom 721 Caribou St. W or contact 306-692-4666 c.richardson@remco-memorials.ca

www.remco-memorials.ca

PAGE A30 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

HOCKEY

SportS HigHligHtS BASKETBALL Friday

6:30 p.m. TSN NBA Basketball Atlanta Hawks at Toronto Raptors.

Saturday 4:30 p.m. WWJ College Basketball North Carolina vs.

Kentucky.

Tuesday 9 p.m. TSN NBA Basketball Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors.

Wednesday 10 p.m. NET NBA Basketball Boston Celtics at Sacramento Kings.

CURLING

Sunday

4:30 p.m. NET Grand Slam of Curling Masters, Men’s Final.

FOOTBALL

Thursday Friday

3:30 p.m. NET Grand Slam of Curling Masters, Draw 15.

Thursday

Saturday

6 p.m. CBKT NHL Hockey Pittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs.

Sunday

7 p.m. NET NHL Hockey San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche.

7:15 p.m. EDACC TSN NFL Football Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders.

7:15 p.m. TSN NFL Football Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions.

7:15 p.m. CKCK WDIV NFL Football Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars.

7:20 p.m. TSN NFL Football Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars.

7 p.m. WXYZ NFL Football Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks.

7:15 p.m. TSN NFL Football Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks.

THURSDAY EVENING 7 PM

7:30

MOVIES

8 PM

Friday

10 p.m. NET NHL Hockey Buffalo Sabres at Vegas Golden Knights.

Monday

4 p.m. NET Grand Slam of Curling Masters, Draw 11.

SUNDAY EVENING

Thursday

9:30 p.m. NET NHL Hockey Tampa Bay Lightning at Edmonton Oilers.

8:30

9 PM

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

6:30 p.m. NET NHL Hockey Montreal Canadiens at Winnipeg Jets.

Tuesday

9:30 p.m. NET NHL Hockey Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks.

Wednesday

6:30 p.m. NET NHL Hockey Detroit Red Wings at Winnipeg Jets.

SPORTS

9:30

SPECIALS

10 PM

10:30

7 PM

7:30

MOVIES

8 PM

8:30

9 PM

SPORTS

9:30

SPECIALS

10 PM

10:30

3 CBKFT (6:30) Découv.. Bébéatrice Le vrai monde? (N) TJSask/ TJ (:35) Infoman 5 CFRE Border Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration (N) Border News (N) Block 6 CKCK Football (N) /(:15) NFL Football Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars (N) (Live) Children 7 WEATH Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature 8 WDIV (:15) NFL Football Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars (N) (Live) News (N) 9 CBKT (6:00) < The Santa Clause <++ Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas The National (N) 11 WWJ (6:00) 60Minut.. Willie Nelson's 90th Birthday Celebration (N) Sheldon News (N) (:35) J. Osteen 12 WXYZ (6:00) <++++ The Sound of Music ('65) Christopher Plummer, Julie Andrews.

News (N) Game Time 13 CTYS Krapopolis Simpsons Burgers (N) Family Guy Hudson & Rex Food Guardians 19 TSN (:20) NFL Football Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars (N) (Live) Jay Onrait 20 NET NHL Hockey San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche (N) (Live) Sportsnet (N) (Live) NHL Hockey 25 EDACC Corner Gas How/Made <++++ The Sound of Music ('65) Christopher Plummer, Julie Andrews.

26 W (6:00) < Time for Him to Co... < Sealed With a List ('23) Evan Roderick, Katie Findlay. < Friends & Family Christm...

29 ENCAV (6:00) < Twilight Saga: Break... <++ The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 ('12) < Where the Wild Things Are 33 CMT The Office The Office The Office The Office King King King King 35 TLC 90 Day Fiancé "For Richer or for Poorer" (N) Sister Wives (N) (:05) 90 Day Fiancé (N) 38 DISC Homestead Rescue "Denali Double Rescue" Gold Rush Outback Opal Hunters 41 COM Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends 42 TCM <+++ The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm ('62) Laurence Harvey. < It Happened on 5th Avenue 47 AMC <++ The Addams Family ('91) Angelica Huston. <++ The Karate Kid Part II ('86) Ralph Macchio.

48 FSR Kevin Harvick NHRA Drag Racing NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals From Bristol, Tenn.

55 CRV1 Movie (:50) <++ Black Adam ('22) Aldis Hodge, Dwayne Johnson.

Julia (N) (:50) DragRace 56 CRV2 (:05) <++ Marry Me ('22) Owen Wilson, Jennifer Lopez. <+++ Barbie ('23) Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie.

57 CRV3 (6:40) < Monster Family (:15) < Monster Family 2 ('21) Emily Watson. <+++ The Blackening 58 HBO (6:10) < Taylor Mac's 24-Dec... Craftopia Craftopia Craftopia Craftopia The Gilded Age (N)

MONDAY EVENING 7 PM

7:30

MOVIES

8 PM

8:30

9 PM

SPORTS

9:30

SPECIALS

10 PM

10:30

3 CBKFT Stat (N) Infoman (N) L'affaire Dupont (N) L'affaire Dupont (N) Le téléjournal (N) 5 CFRE Big Brother Reindeer (N) CSI: Vegas SEAL Team (N) Global News at 10 (N) 6 CKCK CMA Country (N) LEGO Masters (N) (SF) Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang etalk (N) 7 WEATH Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature 8 WDIV That Clip Show (N) SNL A Saturday Night Live Christmas Special News (N) (:35) J. Fallon 9 CBKT Coronation Feud (N) The National (N) <+++ The Polar Express ('04) Tom Hanks.

11 WWJ Big Brother Reindeer (N) Ghosts UK Ghosts UK SEAL Team (N) News (N) (:35) Colbert 12 WXYZ CMA Country (N) To Be Announced News (N) (:35) J. Kimmel 13 CTYS Hell's Kitchen (N) < Christmas Plus One ('22) Corey Sevier, Emily Alatalo. Paramedics: Paramedics: 19 TSN (:15) NFL Football Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders (N) (Live) Jay Onrait 20 NET NHL Hockey Calgary Flames at Minnesota Wild (N) (Live) NHL Hockey Sportsnet 25 EDACC (:15) NFL Football Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders (N) (Live) Seinfeld Seinfeld 26 W (6:00) < Christmas at Dollyw... < You, Me & the Christmas Trees ('21) Danica McKellar. < Heaven Down Here (P) 29 ENCAV (6:20) < Raise Your Voice (:10) <+++ Gremlins ('84) Phoebe Cates, Zach Galligan. Nurse Jackie Nurse Jackie 33 CMT Cheers Cheers Raymond Raymond The Office The Office Frasier Frasier 35 TLC 600-Lb. Life "Tamy & Karina" 600-Lb. Life "Brianne and Annjeanette" 38 DISC Mayday Aussie Gold Hunters Outback Opal Hunters NUMB3RS "Protest" 41 COM Big Bang Big Bang Jim Jim How I Met How I Met How I Met How I Met 42 TCM < Movie 47 AMC (6:00) <+++ Ghostbusters ('84) <++ Ghostbusters II ('89) Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Bill Murray.

48 FSR Motorcycle Canadian Triple Crown Series, Arenacross: Medicine Hat Motorcycle Racing NHRA in 30 55 CRV1 Movie (:35) < Ailey ('21) (:15) Selena (N) Canada's Drag Race (N) 56 CRV2 Movie (:25) < Kindred Spirits ('19) Thora Birch. <+++ Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse ('18) 57 CRV3 Movie Friday (:20) Parks (:45) Parks CornerGas CornerGas Billions 58 HBO < A Snowy Christmas ('21) Elysia Rotaru. < Merry Swissmas ('22) Jodie Sweetin. Barry Barry

3 CBKFT Un gars Le téléjournal (N) < Le club Vinland ('20) François Papineau, Sébastien Ricard. (P) 5 CFRE Goldbergs Goldbergs Big Brother Reindeer (N) NCIS "Evil Eye" Global News at 10 (N) 6 CKCK The Voice "Live Finale, Part 1" (N) (Live) Password (N) Big Bang etalk (N) 7 WEATH Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature 8 WDIV The Voice "Live Finale, Part 1" (N) (Live) Password (N) News (N) (:35) J. Fallon 9 CBKT Coronation Feud (N) The National (N) <++++ A Christmas Story ('83) Peter Billingsley.

11 WWJ Price Is Right (N) Big Brother Reindeer (N) NCIS "Evil Eye" News (N) (:35) Colbert 12 WXYZ NFL Football Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks (N) (Live) (:15) News (:50) J. Kimmel 13 CTYS Price Is Right (N) < Six Degrees of Santa ('22) Steve Lund, Kathryn Davis. Staying Wild Staying Wild 19 TSN (:15) NFL Football Philadelphia Eagles at Seattle Seahawks From Lumen Field in Seattle. (N) (Live) Jay Onrait 20 NET (6:30) NHL Hockey Montreal Canadiens at Winnipeg Jets NHL Hockey Florida Panthers at Calgary Flames (N) 25 EDACC Primetime How/Made Big Bang etalk (N) Cross Country Cake Off LEGO Masters (N) 26 W (6:00) < Christmas Class Re... < Ghosts of Christmas Past ('21) Annie Clark. < A Tiny Home Christmas 29 ENCAV (:55) < Christmas in Paradise ('22) (:25) <++ Serendipity ('01) John Cusack. <++ Fifty Shades of Grey 33 CMT Cheers Cheers Raymond Raymond The Office The Office Frasier Frasier 35 TLC 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way (N) (:05) 90 Day: Other (N) (:05) 1000-Lb. Sisters 38 DISC Mayday "Ripped Apart" Saving the Gorillas How/Made NUMB3RS 41 COM Big Bang Big Bang Jim Jim Sheldon Sheldon Sheldon Sheldon 42 TCM <++ Miracle on Main Street ('39) (P) <++ Blast of Silence ('61) Allen Baron. <+ Cash on Demand ('62) 47 AMC (5:00) <++ Annie ('82) Movie <+++ Ghostbusters ('84) Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray.

48 FSR (5:00) Motorcycle Racing Inside X Inside X 55 CRV1 (6:35) < Bob's Burgers Movie (:20) < Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine ('21) < Woman in Motion ('19) 56 CRV2 (:05) <+++ At Eternity's Gate ('18) Willem Dafoe. <++ Beast ('22) Sharlto Copley, Idris Elba. Movie 57 CRV3 Movie Friday (:20) Parks (:45) Parks CornerGas CornerGas Billions 58 HBO (6:45) < A.rtificial I.mmortality < Tina ('21) Murder "Reckoning" (N) (F)

FRIDAY EVENING

TUESDAY EVENING

7 PM

7:30

MOVIES

8 PM

8:30

9 PM

SPORTS

9:30

SPECIALS

10 PM

10:30

7 PM

7:30

MOVIES

8 PM

8:30

9 PM

SPORTS

9:30

SPECIALS

10 PM

10:30

3 CBKFT Autour d'une dinde (N) Le téléjournal (N) < La Bolduc ('18) Debbie Lynch-White.

5 CFRE Border Border The 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (N) (Live) Global News at 10 (N) 6 CKCK Shark Tank (N) MasterChef Junior: Home for the Holidays Big Bang etalk (N) 7 WEATH Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature 8 WDIV <+++ Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors ('15) Dateline NBC (N) News (N) (:35) J. Fallon 9 CBKT Coronation Coronation <++ A Christmas Carol ('99) Patrick Stewart.

The National (N) 11 WWJ Christmas Tree (N) The 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (N) (Live) News (N) (:35) Colbert 12 WXYZ Shark Tank (N) 20/20 (N) News (N) (:35) J. Kimmel 13 CTYS < Loving Christmas ('21) Brittany Bristow.

Dateline NBC (N) Paramedics: Guardians 19 TSN (6:30) Basketball Atlanta Hawks at Toronto Raptors (N) SportsCentre (N) (Live) SportsCentre (N) (Live) 20 NET (6:30) NHL Hockey Boston Bruins at New York Islanders Sportsnet (N) (Live) NHL Hockey 25 EDACC Primetime How/Made Big Bang etalk (N) < 'Twas the Night Before Christmas ('22) 26 W (6:00) < Holiday Stocking < Heaven Down Here ('23) Krystal Joy Brown. < Secret Gifts of Christmas 29 ENCAV (6:30) <+ The Nutcracker (:20) <+++ Elf ('03) James Caan, Will Ferrell. <+++ Groundhog Day (P) 33 CMT Cheers Cheers Raymond Raymond The Office The Office Frasier Frasier 35 TLC 90 Day Fiancé "More to Love: For Better or for Worse" (N) 90 Day (N) The Family Chantel 90 Day 38 DISC Mayday "Fatal Distraction" Forensic Factor People Magazine NUMB3RS "All's Fair" 41 COM Big Bang Big Bang Jim Jim How I Met How I Met How I Met How I Met 42 TCM <+++ The Awful Truth ('37) Cary Grant, Irene Dunne. <++++ His Girl Friday ('40) Cary Grant.

47 AMC <++ Prancer ('89) Rebecca Harrell, Cloris Leachman, Sam Elliott. <+ Mr. Deeds ('02) Adam Sandler.

48 FSR Andros Trophy Isola 2023 Indikarts Nitrocross Round 1: Jay, OK 55 CRV1 (6:40) < Fanny: Right to Rock (:20) < Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine ('21) <+++ The Blackening (P) 56 CRV2 (:20) < Coda ('19) Katie Holmes, Patrick Stewart.

Movie <++ About My Father ('23) 57 CRV3 Movie Friday (:20) Parks (:45) Parks CornerGas CornerGas Billions "The Third Ortolan" 58 HBO (6:15) < A Big Fat Family Chr... (:55) His Dark Materials (:55) His Dark Materials (:55) Barry Barry

3 CBKFT Un gars Le téléjournal (N) < Il pleuvait des oiseaux ('19) Gilbert Sicotte, Rémy Girard.

5 CFRE Price Is Right (N) Big Brother Reindeer (N) FBI: International Global News at 10 (N) 6 CKCK The Voice (N) The Voice "Live Finale, Part 2" (N) (SF) (Live) Big Bang etalk (N) 7 WEATH Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature 8 WDIV The Voice (N) The Voice "Live Finale, Part 2" (N) (SF) (Live) News (N) (:35) J. Fallon 9 CBKT Coronation Feud (N) The National (N) <+++ Home Alone ('90) Joe Pesci, Macaulay Culkin.

11 WWJ Price Is Right (N) Big Brother Reindeer (N) FBI True News (N) (:35) Colbert 12 WXYZ Landing Prep & The Great Christmas Light Fight "1104/1101" (N) (SF) News (N) (:35) J. Kimmel 13 CTYS < My Favorite Christmas Melody ('21) Mya Harrison. Chicago P.D. "To Protect" Guardians Guardians 19 TSN (6:30) NBA Basketball Basketball Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors (N) 20 NET (6:30) NHL Hockey Sportsnet NHL Hockey Sportsnet NHL's Best 25 EDACC Primetime How/Made Big Bang etalk (N) Cross Country Cake Off LEGO Masters (N) 26 W (6:00) < Home for Christmas... < The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls ('21) < The Gift of Peace ('22) 29 ENCAV (6:15) <+++ Sing ('16) (:05) <+++ Bend It Like Beckham ('02) <++ Fifty Shades Darker 33 CMT Cheers Cheers Raymond Raymond The Office The Office Frasier Frasier 35 TLC 1000-Lb. Sisters (N) 1000-Lb. Sisters (N) sMothered (N) (:05) 90 Day: Single Life 38 DISC Mayday Gold Rush (:55) Gem "Stone and Water" NUMB3RS "Backscatter" 41 COM Big Bang Big Bang Jim Jim Friends Friends Friends Friends 42 TCM <++++ Going My Way ('44) Bing Crosby. (:15) <+++ High Society ('56) Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby.

47 AMC <+++ Happy Christmas ('14) (:45) <++ Prancer ('89) Rebecca Harrell, Cloris Leachman, Sam Elliott.

48 FSR Off Road Extreme E Championship - Final II: Antofagast.. Motorcycle Racing Motorcycle Racing 55 CRV1 (6:20) <+++ Belfast ('21) <+++ Barbie ('23) Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie. <+++ The Blackening 56 CRV2 (6:30) Underw.. (:25) < Gulliver Returns ('21) <++ Spoiler Alert ('22) Ben Aldridge, Jim Parsons.

57 CRV3 Movie Friday (:20) Parks (:45) Parks CornerGas CornerGas Billions "All the Wilburys" 58 HBO (:10) < Merry Swissmas ('22) (:40) Loudmouth The Last of Us "Infected"

SATURDAY EVENING

WEDNESDAY EVENING

7 PM

7:30

MOVIES

8 PM

8:30

9 PM

SPORTS

9:30

SPECIALS

10 PM

10:30

3 CBKFT Pour emporter (N) < Chasse-Galerie: la légende ('16) Francis Ducharme. TJSask/ TJ (:35) Humanité 5 CFRE The New (N) Border Private "Crimes of Fashion" 48 Hours (N) News (N) SNL (N) 6 CKCK Canada's Walk (N) Big Bang <++ Home Alone 2: Lost in New York ('92) Macaulay Culkin.

7 WEATH Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature 8 WDIV That Clip Show Dateline NBC SNL Austin Butler; Lizzo (N) News (N) SNL (N) 9 CBKT (6:00) NHL Hockey NHL Hockey Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers (N) 11 WWJ Rudolph, Red-Nosed Frosty Frosty 48 Hours (N) News (N) (:35) Paid 12 WXYZ (6:30) College Football LA Bowl: UCLA vs. Boise State (N) (Live) News (N) The Rookie 13 CTYS (6:00) NHL Hockey Hudson & Rex "Jail Break" Food Food 19 TSN (:15) NFL Football Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions From Ford Field in Detroit. (N) (Live) Sports (N) 20 NET (6:00) NHL Hockey Colorado Avalanche at Winnipeg Jets NHL Hockey Tampa Bay Lightning at Calgary Flames (N) 25 EDACC Corner Gas Vintage W5 "No Witnesses" (N) The Original Santa Claus Parade Mary Ma. 26 W (6:00) < Well Suited for Chris... < The Secret Gifts of Christmas ('23) Meghan Ory. < Sealed With a List (P) 29 ENCAV Movie (:45) <++ We Are Marshall ('06) Matthew Fox, Matthew McConaughey. <+++ Dumb & Dumber (P) 33 CMT Cheers Cheers Cheers Cheers Man-Plan Man-Plan Man-Plan Man-Plan 35 TLC 90 Day Fiancé: Other "More to Love: Tell All Part 2" (N) 90 Day "Now or Never" 90 Day: The Single Life 38 DISC Criminal Minds "X" (N) Criminal Minds "Burn" (N) Criminal Minds (N) Criminal "Blood Relations" 41 COM Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang Big Bang 42 TCM <+++ The Great Train Robbery ('78) Sean Connery. <+++ Robin and Marian ('76) Sean Connery.

47 AMC (6:00) < Christmas With the ... <++ The Addams Family ('91) Angelica Huston. < Addams Family Values 48 FSR (6:00) Off Road Racing Extreme E Off-Road Racing Island X Prix Off Road Racing 55 CRV1 (6:45) < Julia ('21) (:25) < Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie <+++ Barbie ('23) (P) 56 CRV2 Movie (:25) < Gulliver Returns ('21) <++ The Flash ('23) Michael Keaton, Ezra Miller.

57 CRV3 (6:05) <++ Sing 2 ('21) <+++ Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse ('18) <++ Crimes of the Future 58 HBO < Stand Up & Shout: Songs... His Dark Materials His Dark "Betrayal" Selena (N) Starstruck

7 PM

7:30

MOVIES

8 PM

8:30

9 PM

SPORTS

9:30

SPECIALS

10 PM

10:30

3 CBKFT Un gars Le téléjournal (N) < Les Pee Wee: l'hiver qui a changé ma vie ('12) Claude Legault.

5 CFRE Survivor (N) (SF) Global News at 10 (N) 6 CKCK The Masked Singer "Season 10 Finale" (N) (SF) Weakest Link Big Bang etalk (N) 7 WEATH Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature Nature 8 WDIV Barry Manilow Christmas at the Opry News (N) (:35) J. Fallon 9 CBKT Coronation Feud (N) The National (N) <+++ The Santa Clause ('94) Tim Allen.

11 WWJ Survivor (N) (SF) News (N) (:35) Colbert 12 WXYZ Movie Mickey Light Fight "All-Stars 2" CMA Country Christmas News (N) (:35) J. Kimmel 13 CTYS < Christmas à La Carte ('21) Dillon Casey, Erin Agostino. Chicago P.D. "Still Water" Food Food 19 TSN (6:30) Basketball Denver Nuggets at Toronto Raptors (N) SportsCentre (N) (Live) SportsCentre (N) (Live) 20 NET (6:30) NHL Hockey Detroit Red Wings at Winnipeg Jets Sportsnet (N) (Live) NBA Basketball 25 EDACC Primetime How/Made Big Bang etalk (N) <+++ Miracle on 34th Street ('94) 26 W (6:00) < All Saints Christmas < Friends & Family Christmas ('23) Humberly González. < Undercover Holiday ('22) 29 ENCAV (6:50) <++ The Nutcracker ('93) (:25) <++ Four Christmases ('08) Heels "Kayfabe" 33 CMT Cheers Cheers Raymond Raymond The Office The Office Frasier Frasier 35 TLC My 600-Lb. Life "Ontreon's Journey" My 600-Lb. Life "Dolly's Journey" 38 DISC Mayday People Magazine People Magazine NUMB3RS "Hot Shot" 41 COM Big Bang Big Bang Jim Jim Friends Friends Friends Friends 42 TCM <+++ Remember the Night ('40) (:45) <+++ The Cheaters ('45) Joseph Schildkraut.

Movie 47 AMC <+ Mr. Deeds ('02) Winona Ryder, Adam Sandler. <+++ Back to School ('86) Rodney Dangerfield.

48 FSR (6:30) NASCA.. Greatest Races: NASCAR NASCAR Race Hub NASCAR Hub 55 CRV1 Movie <++ Jurassic World Dominion ('22) Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt. SmartLess SmartLess 56 CRV2 (:15) <++ A Christmas Story Christmas ('22) <+++ Minari ('20) Yeri Han, Steven Yeun.

57 CRV3 Movie Friday (:20) Parks (:45) Parks CornerGas CornerGas Billions "Icebreaker" 58 HBO (6:25) < Dancing Through C... < Tina ('21) Daniel (N)

MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023 • PAGE A31

of moose jaw

140 Main St N | 306-694-5766

½ duplex condo, downtown. Over 1300 sqft Main floor features spacious kitchen, oak cabinets, eat up snack counter.

Laundry and 2 bedrooms. Lower level nicely finished with kitchen, bedrooms, bath, storage and laundry. Double attached heated garage. Move right in!

Large welcoming entry leads to oversized living room and formal dining area in this 2 ½ storey home. Maple floors, wainscotting, pocket doors and pillars of yester year. 5 bedrooms. Fenced back yard, double garage.

Wendy Hicke REALTOR® 681-7820

Kerry Hicke REALTOR® 684-0730

Brandon Roy REALTOR® 684-5999

Katie Keeler REALTOR® 690-4333

Beth Vance REALTOR® 631-0886

Lori Keeler BROKER REALTOR® 631-8069

Katie Gadd REALTOR® 313-1394

Ready to Sell Your Home and Move On? We Can Help, Call Us!

South hill location. 2 bedroom bungalow. Sunny living room, renovated kitchen with white cabinets and lots of counter space. Large back entry. Basement nicely finished. Heated garage, 24x30, large fenced yard.

Cheery home with newer kitchen, white cabinets, dining area. Good size living room. 2 bedrooms. Main floor family room with door to deck. Basement is ready to be developed.

Single detached garage.

Over 1400 sqft bungalow, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. Open concept living space. Stunning kitchen with ss appliances. Large island breakfast bar, or dining area for family. Main floor laundry. Modern convenience, country side views!

Built in 2017 the well designed floor plan offers relaxation and entertainment spaces. This 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom home located in Briercrest. Open concept kitchen, oak cabinets and plenty of counter space, the living area is perfect for family gatherings. Double detached garage.

Market Place REAL ESTATE

41 Clunie Court

996 Maplewood Dr

$584,900

$699,900

633 9th Ave SE

1255 Maybery Cres

306-694-4747 324 Main Street N. Moose Jaw, SK

Derek McRitchie (306) 631-1161 E.G. (Bub) Hill (306) 631-9966 Bill McLean (306) 630-5409 Tanya Minchin (306) 630-6231 Cassie Nichol (306) 631-0691

REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR® REALTOR®

"New construction” 1420 sq ft, 4 bed, 3 2,418 sq ft, 4 bed, 4 bath, Open concept bath, Open Concept main, good sized main, Living Room with large windows.

Master Bedroom, Walk in Closet, 4 Piece Kitchen with plenty of Cabinetry and En-Suite ,1 additional Bedroom, Den off Counter space, Island space, Pantry, 2 front entry, Large Living Rm. Kitchen with Piece Bath, and Den/Office, upper level, Quartz countertops, Vaulted Main Floor Family Rm Area, Full 4 Piece Bath. Master Ceilings, lower level Family. Gas Fireplace, Bedroom, Full 4 Piece En-Suite Laundry Full 4-Piece Bath, Mechanical Rm, 200 Room. Lower Level is fully developed with Amp Electrical Service, 30 Yr Fiberglass Rec Room, Den or Office space, full 4 Piece Shingles, 24 x 24 Double Attached Garage. Bath and Utility Rm with storage space.

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$345,000

Located at the edge of town, this property offers the acreage experience and the convenience of city water, sewer and garbage pickup, house was renovated in 2008 and 24x24 double car garage built in 2009. Kitchen maple cabinets, built in dishwasher. One bedroom on main floor, two bedrooms and bathroom on second floor. Main floor laundry just off the porch that leads to deck overlooking open fields.

into your life!

$314,900

1369 sq ft, spacious Living Rm area with gas fireplace, Good sized Kitchen space with plenty of cabinets with eat in dining space, 2nd full sized Dining Area off kitchen/living room for larger gatherings, updated full 4 piece bath. 4 BEDROOMS, ON MAIN!!! Lower level has large family rm, small laundry, storage rm, utility area with built in storage shelves, spacious den. Newer Shingles, Natural Gas BBQ.

Cross-country cyclist finds inspiration for book during stop in Moose Jaw Lady JB Owen talks about the lessons she learned during her brief stay in the Notorious City Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

During the pandemic in 2020, a novice cyclist by the name of Lady J.B. Owen and her husband dusted the cobwebs off their tandem bicycle and set out to inspire people at a time when many Canadians were feeling the negative effects of social isolation.

Starting at their hometown of Red Deer, Alta., the team never made it to their goal of Halifax, N.S. due to the Atlantic bubble that moved in during the trip. Nevertheless, she made the most of her situation and was given the opportunity to speak at Parliament Hill, a dream she had since high school.

Lady Owen was then inspired to share the many lessons learned during the 5,000-kilometre trip spanning 56 days in a book she later penned.

The couple made a one day and night stop in Moose Jaw along the way. Lady Owen said the city now holds a warm place in her heart.

“It was so artistic, and at the same time it had this nostalgia and this historical feel to it. I’m from Red Deer, and there’s nothing really historical about it,” she recalled.

“Being there, I was really wide-eyed about all of the… old buildings, and then all of the artwork that was downtown. I just thought it was so cool.”

“It just was like a secret gem – a hidden gem I (never grew) up knowing about…,” she said.

Her brief stop in Moose Jaw would end up playing a major role in her book.

“What I recognized is that there’s a ton of history in Canada we’re really not aware of. When you get outside your city, and you’re willing to be a tourist in your own backyard, you learn so much about your country that you didn’t know you didn’t know.

“From that moment on, every little town we went to I was like, ‘what’s this town’s gem? What’s this town’s secret?

What is this town known for?’”

It’s about being curious and seeing life from a completely different lens. “It’s like seeing life from the back of a bike,” she said. This would become the title for her book, ‘Wisdom from the Back of a Bike.’

Owen found several analogies about

each year’s trip.

Next summer they plan to cycle from Cabos (Mexico) to Alaska, which is approximately 8,500 kilometres and Owen said it’s the equivalent to climbing Mt. Everest seven times.

“It was an idea that everybody said was impossible, and we made it possible

Lady JB Owen (left) and her husband (right) stop in Moose Jaw during their 2020 cross-Canada cycling trip. Photo by: Lady JB Owen cycling are indicative of life in general.

“For example, sometimes you have to let go of the handlebars and trust that the person in front of you has got it.

“And so, sometimes in life you just have to let go of the tight grip you have on everything and expecting everything to be a certain way,” she said.

Her message “is that you have to do something to experience something – you can’t just talk about it, read about it, watch a video, or do a podcast. If you really want your life to change, and you really want to gain wisdom, you have to go out and try things.”

The book talks about strapping on your cleats, grabbing the reigns, or pushing the pedal to the floor – it’s all about doing what inspires you on a personal level and finding the wisdom hidden in that.

“It’s not that cycling is the answer; it’s that doing something is the answer.”

Since that summer, the couple cycled 6,500 kilometres to Alaska. Last year (2022), they cycled 10,000 kilometres across Canada from Vancouver to Newfoundland. This summer, they cycled from Calgary to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. The couple also selects a charity to support on

by believing that we could do it. Giving up was not an option,” she concluded, noting that ‘what you want wants you,’ and that anything is possible.

Lady Owens’ book, ‘Wisdom from the Back of a Bike,’ is expected to launch in spring 2024.

PAGE A32 • MOOSEJAWEXPRESS.COM • Wednesday, December 13, 2023

City, SGI offering free New Year’s Eve bus rides for 34th year

By Moose Jaw Express staff

City hall and Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) are teaming up for a 34th year to provide residents with free bus transportation so they can “Find A Safe Ride” home during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

The program — previously called “Ding in the New Year” — lets people catch the bus without needing to pay after celebrating at a local establishment or a private gathering within city limits.

The City of Moose Jaw’s transit fixed route service will be in effect from 7:55 p.m. on New Year’s Eve (Sunday, Dec. 31) until 3:15 a.m. on New Year’s Day (Monday, Jan. 1) with pickups every 40 minutes.

Residents can view the route map and the bus stop

schedule at moosejaw.ca/transit.

“The new year is a time to celebrate with friends and family, and getting home safe from those celebrations is paramount,” said Mayor Clive Tolley. “We thank SGI and all of our partners for supporting the Find A Safe Ride program and allowing Moose Jaw Transit to offer you a safe, free ride to and from your New Year’s destination.”

Most restaurants, lounges and hotels are located within walking distance of a bus stop; however, additional bus stops have been added at locations such as Brown’s Social House, The Crushed Can Rec Room & Bar/Cask 82, Chiller’s Brew Pub and Dooly’s Billiards & Lounge.

Bus stops have also been added at the Holiday Inn

Express & Suites, Quality Inn & Suites, Ramada by Wyndham, and Best Western Plus to enable visitors to Moose Jaw to take advantage of the Find a Safe Ride service when staying outside of downtown.

Para-transit service is also available free of charge to those with special needs or who may be unable to walk to a bus stop as part of the Find a Safe Ride campaign. To book this service, residents can call Moose Jaw Transit at 306-694-4488 or email transit@MooseJaw.ca before noon on Friday, Dec. 29.

Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com are again happy to be one of this year’s sponsors.

The Grinch is doing a holiday-themed photo shoot at Past Times this December Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

The Grinch has been spotted in downtown Moose Jaw, and on Thursday and Friday nights he’s available from 6 – 8 p.m. for a family-friendly photo shoot at Past Times Old Time Photography & Gifts.

The idea to hire the not-so-jolly green Grinch from Mount Crumpet came after several of the shop’s customers revealed a shortage of places in town where you can buy Grinch-themed gifts.

“It was a new brand for Moose Jaw. There wasn’t a lot of Grinch-areas where you could buy (this merchandise).

We had customers in asking about the Grinch so we decided to go – and when you go, you might as well go big,” said Mike Thul, the shop’s owner.

The photo op began in 2022, and this year marks the second annual visit of the green spoilsport.

“He only works for us. He doesn’t hire himself out to others. We found him, we have the costume, (and) he just uses ours,” Thul said. The Grinch has been quite popular and Thul said the studio has been consistently booked up on each night the photo shoots have taken place.

Due to this popularity, Thul has confirmed the Grinch will continue with his visits next year.

To “go big,” as Thul stated, the shop will be hosting a special Grinch Day on Saturday, Dec. 16. The occasion will be called the ‘Notoriously Moose Jaw Grinch Day,” and everyone is invited to “Get your Grinch on.”

One of the pictures taken this holiday season with the Grinch at Past Times. Photo by: Past Times Old Time Photography & Gifts At the one-day event you can get a picture taken with the Grinch from 12 – 3 p.m. on a walk-in-only basis. There will also be a Grinch-themed craft and a buy one, get one half price or less deal on items of an equal or lesser value.

The store now features a Grinch-themed section and contains several ideal Christmas presents including coffee mugs, cookie jars, and more. In the spirit of the holidays,

the buy one, get one half price deal that starts on Grinch Day will continue until Dec. 24. “(It has) pretty much anything you would want in Grinch,” Thul said about the shop’s selection. “And they make the perfect Christmas presents for those Grinch-eous people.”

The Grinch-themed items have been in demand this year, and Thul said the shop also carries several popular gift items including snow globes. “We’re also selling battery-operated or electrical snow globes. They blow the snow around and light up,” he said.

Shoppers can also purchase a wide selection of novel Christmas-tree decorations right from the branches of the shop’s 15 professionally decorated trees.

“The old-time photography (service) is a great Christmas gift idea for families. We have the 20s, a Western, and a Victorian (theme),” Thul said. Photography sessions take about 20 minutes per group, you keep the pictures, and you can buy as many as you like. This remains a permanent year-round service at the shop, where The Grinch only compliments this service during the holiday season.

To visit with the Grinch, Thul recommends at least a one-day notice as he books up quickly.

Past Times Old Time Photography & Gifts is located at 26 Main Street North and can be reached at 306-6929955.