Moose Jaw Express, March 27th, 2024

The Moose Jaw Salsa Club is announcing its first-ever upcoming dance event to take place Saturday, April 6th with the aim of formally establishing the club in the community and bringing a spicy sense of Latin culture to the Notorious City.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and everyone over the age of 16 is invited to come watch the dance performance at Against the Grain Studios.

“We are going to make our first Moose Jaw Salsa Club a reality – a place to go to dance Salsa, share with people from other cultures, and enjoy life,” announced Marcela Borrero Cruz, founder of the Moose Jaw Salsa Club.

“Our main focus is to promote multiculturalism and spread our Latin roots and, of course, to leave high the name of my (birth) country, Columbia.”

The event will also help determine the club’s potential for success, and the dance is set to formally announce the establishment of the Moose Jaw Salsa Club. In addition to this, Cruz is hoping to build a community in her new home.

The night will feature a live dance performance, some important mentions of the club’s supporters, a Salsa class raffle, and Cruz promises “a series of surprises.”

Cruz is originally from Columbia and, along with her husband Danilo Bravo, the couple wanted to find a way to share and enjoy their culture with their second home in Moose Jaw.

“Just as we came here with the idea of improving our lives, we want to contribute something to the community and grow together,” she said.

The Moose Jaw Salsa Club has been holding regular belly dance and rumba classes since August 2022. Classes are currently scheduled for Saturdays from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Against the Grain Studios.

The next Salsa class starts Saturday, April 20, and will run for six consecutive Saturdays so students can achieve an intermediate level of experience.

Classes will not be held in June and July to make time for other community engagements but are set to resume this August.

The official poster for the event mentions a special performer who is now re-

vealed to be none other than Cruz herself.

Cruz is a dancer and instructor with more than eight years of experience in Latin dance formats that include belly dance, Salsa, Bachata, Champeta, and Columbian folklore.

“(On) the day of the event I will perform a fusion of belly dance with Salsa, (and it will be) full of energy and Latin flavour,” she confirmed.

“I think dance is one of the most beautiful ways to feel alive, and dancing with other people gives us happiness and enthusiasm for life. We must be united to move forward and enrich ourselves with all that we are.”

When asked why someone should consider attending the upcoming dance, Cruz replied by saying everyone needs to have entertainment in their life, and take a break from work, daily problems, and all of life’s worries to go smile and dance.

“You are going to meet new people, (learn) new languages, new dances, new cul-

tures, and you are going to leave this event full of energy and smiling,” she added.

If the inaugural dance proves successful, the local Salsa Club is set to continue hosting similar events.

“(W)e hope (our first event) will be the first of many,” Cruz said. “So, we hope that April 6th will be a representative date for Moose Jaw, creating a footprint of love for dance and love for the culture in this region.”

All attendees will be able to select from a variety of snacks and beverages available for purchase on site, and the cost of admission is $7 per person.

The Moose Jaw Salsa Club’s first dance event is scheduled to take place at Against the Grain Studios, located at 33 High Street West.

For more information, Cruz can be reached by phone at 639-538-0062 or preferably by email at MarcelaBorreroC.Dancer@gmail.com.

City announces upcoming National Indigenous People’s Day celebration

The City of Moose Jaw has announced that it will host a National Indigenous People’s Day (NIPD) event on June 21, made possible through a partnership with the Holy Trinity Catholic School Division and local sponsors including the Moose Jaw Co-op.

The celebration will be held at the Moose Jaw Events Centre on the annually observed Indigenous Peoples Day. Here, a number of Indigenous speakers, storytellers, and performers will take to the stage and share their story.

“This NIPD event is an important step in the City of Moose Jaw’s Truth and Reconciliation journey,” said Moose Jaw’s mayor, Clive Tolley. “We look forward to celebrating our Indigenous culture in such an exciting and inclusive way.”

Hayley Hart-Rushinko, the city’s acting communications and stakeholder relations manager, helped set up the event with the help of Vivian Gauvin.

“This event has a long history thanks to the Holy Trinity Catholic School Division, and I’ve had the privilege of being a part of it over the years…,” said Hart-Rushinko.

“Previously, (it) has been geared towards educating our youth and helping them continue on with their Truth and Reconciliation journey,” she said in her address.

“But now, thanks to this new partnership, we are happy to share that all schools within Moose Jaw, as well as the general public, are invited to attend this full day event…”

Since employed with the city, Hart-Rushinko has made strides in the effort to bring the City of Moose Jaw, its residents, and the Indigenous community closer together. She is also Métis on the

This April, three-time world champion hoop dancer, speaker, musician, and Indigenous storyteller Dallas Arcand will be visiting three local schools during his tour across Saskatchewan to engage and educate students about Indigenous culture.

The performances will take place on Friday, April 19 at Riverview Collegiate starting at 1:30 p.m., with two separate acts taking place on Monday, April 22. Monday’s performances will take place at King George Elementary School starting at 9:30 a.m., followed by École Palliser Heights starting at 1:30 p.m.

Arcand’s upcoming performances will showcase a demonstration of Indigenous hoop dance, along with drumming, singing, and a recital on the flute, a traditional Indigenous instrument. He’ll also speak on the history and cultural origins of Canada’s Indigenous peoples.

“After 24 years in this business, I have been humbly referred to as the ‘Hoop Master.’ It’s been a worldly, spiritual, and educational journey of self-discipline and of guidance through ceremony and practice,” Arcand said on his personal website.

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

side of her grandmother and Nakota/Lakota on her grandfather’s side.

The celebration of Indigenous culture is done out of respect, Mayor Tolley noted.

“All people… contributed to the development of our community,” Mayor Tolley said, noting that this began long before the first Europeans arrived.

“We want to show respect for the people that were here before us.”

Last year’s celebration had two sessions with over 400 attendees, and Mayor Tolley is hoping to see a greater attendance this year as more people understand the importance of celebrating our First Nations history.

“Moose Jaw has been a meeting place for many, many generations – way before Europeans arrived here,” he said.

Many Indigenous peoples viewed the junction of the Moose Jaw River and Thunder Creek as a traditional meeting place and its history extends back through countless generations.

Mark Salinger spoke on behalf of Holy Trinity as Ward Strueby was unable to attend the announcement.

“(T)his partnership underscores our commitment to promoting reconciliation, understanding, and inclusivity both within our community and the Holy Trinity Catholic School Division,” Salinger said.

“(NIPD) provides us with a significant opportunity to recognize and honour the invaluable contributions of Indigenous peoples to our society, while also deepening our understanding of Indigenous history, culture, and perspectives.”

Geoff Anderson, CEO of the Moose Jaw Co-op, also shared a few words and said his attendance at last year’s Indigenous celebration – which was his first such event – opened his eyes.

“I reflect on the profound experience that I had last year, (and it was) one that opened my eyes and touched my heart in many ways that I couldn’t even imagine,” Anderson recalled. “I couldn’t help but be captivated by the stories passed down through generations, each one carrying profound wisdom and timeless lessons.

“Our (Moose Jaw Co-op’s) involvement is not just a gesture, but a commitment – a commitment to embrace diversity, promote inclusivity, and (to) honour the traditions that enrich our communities.”

Mayor Tolley said he hopes everyone who attends will leave with “an appreciation and acknowledgement that all people are the same and (that) all people deserve respect.”

“Let’s make this a big event – an annual event, and (let’s) celebrate our shared history with our First Nations people,” Mayor Tolley announced.

The upcoming NIPD celebration is open to everyone in the community and further details will be provided in the weeks to come. Seating will be provided in the hockey arena bowl and the centre’s concessions will remain open during the event.

The Moose Jaw Events Centre is located at 110 First Avenue Northwest.

arts across all age groups and through a wide variety of genres and disciplines for over 50 years. The organization presents more than 300 live performances each year and claims to host around 75,000 attendees.

Every year, an estimated 600,000 people attend programs initiated by OSAC and its partners with a resulting $1 billion generated in new economic activity and the sustainment of around 23,000 jobs in the province.

Funding for OSAC comes by way of its partner organizations including Saskatchewan Lotteries, SaskCulture, and Canadian Heritage, who also support Arcand’s upcoming tour.

Arcand, whose Indigenous name is “Dancing Buffalo Man” or “Nimihto Paskwa Mostôs Napew” learned about his history as he studied the evolution of the dance. A student of the circular lifestyle, Arcand’s many successes have resulted from the linked sense of self-discipline and reverence for education.

Arcand has been performing now for 25 years, and his skills in singing, dancing, and playing the traditional flute have earned him numerous accolades.

Originally from Edmonton, Alta., Arcand is a registered member of the Alexander First Nation. His passion for arts and culture have always been a prominent part of his upbringing, and he credits his success as an entertainer to these roots.

March Specials:

MON: $20 O 60/80 Minute Pedicure

TUES: $20 O 60/80 Minute Pedicure

WED: $20 O 60/80 Minute Pedicure

THURS: 20% O Relaxation Massages (excludes RMT)

FRI: $99 - 60 Minute Facials

In early 2018 Arcand released a documentary called “Hoop Life” where he showcased his work and shared his personal story along with providing a look at the history behind the art of hoop dancing.

During his noteworthy career, Arcand has been a featured artist on the Calgary Stampede’s Grandstand Stage for eight years, was featured on “Canada’s Got Talent,” earned his diploma in behavioural sciences, and gained a basic knowledge of the Spanish language after dancing overseas in Spain for eight months.

His upcoming presentations are supported through a partnership with the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC).

OSAC has nurtured a long-serving tradition of excellence in the performing

“Our ancestors always lived off the land and were in balance with the seasons as they changed,” Arcand explained.

“Indigenous peoples of their continents and countries had to be master stewards of the land, its ecosystem, (and have) knowledge of medicine plants, herbs, natural foods, and animal proteins.

“The circle of life teaches us and reveals our sacred connections to the world around us, the energies in divine beings, and about (the) balance of the universe.”

For more information about the Indigenous entertainer Dallas Arcand, visit DallasArcand.ca.

Arcand maintains a YouTube channel showcasing a selection of his performances that can be found by searching for “Dallas Arcand.”

The announcement for this year’s National Indigenous People’s Day event took place at the Events Centre. Left to right: Geoff Anderson, Hayley Hart-Rushinko, Mark Salinger, Mayor Tolley, Vivian Gauvin, and Shaunna Fritzler. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Dallas Arcand (pictured) during one of his hoop dance performances. “And I saw that the sacred hoop of my people as one of many hoops that made one circle.” –Black Elk Photo by: Dallas Arcand

What legacy will you leave BEHIND? legacy behind

Please include the Moose Jaw Health Foundation in your estate plan.

Moose Jaw’s art community honours the memory of Ross Melanson

It was with great sadness that Moose Jaw’s artistic community acknowledged the death of artist, poet, and close friend John Ross Melanson on March 2nd following his battle with cancer.

Melanson’s career brought him to the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJMAG) where he spent 20 years positively influencing countless individuals through his own unique perspectives, inquisitive personality, and his “mind of a philosopher and heart of a poet.”

Christy Schweiger is the education co-ordinator at the MJMAG and has worked with Ross Melanson for her entire career. Their close friendship from being co-workers spanned at least 20 years.

When Melanson first started at the MJMAG, both he and Schweiger were working as gallery greeters.

“He was an artist. He was a philosopher. He wrote articles, he wrote books, (and) he did artwork,” Schweiger said.

“He was well loved by the staff and the community at large that surrounded the (MJMAG).”

After starting his career as a gallery greeter, Melanson went on to teach art classes with his wife who still teaches at the MJMAG’s art classes. From there, he moved into an administrative role encompassing a wide range of jobs including the curatorial assistant.

His last role at the MJMAG was to serve as the gallery’s operations manager and Schweiger noted that his work supported much of the background behind the gallery’s success.

One of Melanson’s last projects was his research role for the 1954 plane crash exhibit which will be on display at the gallery this April.

Before his passing, the staff at the MJMAG put together an exhibition in honour of his work at a time when he was still on his journey through cancer treatment. Melanson was able to attend the re-

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

“There’s an empty spot that we have here at the (MJMAG) for him,” Schweiger said with a heavy heart. “We do feel his presence here, every day (and in) every moment.” Photo by: Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery

ception and share in the commemoration of his work and his life while being “surrounded by art” – a setting that meant the world to him.

“He loved art (and) he loved working with people. There are so many people that have reached out and shared their love and admiration for him,” Schweiger said.

“He was a good mentor and colleague, and he was always very caring,” she added. “He always carried a smile and a positive attitude in his life and (with regard to) everything around him.”

His influence went far beyond the gallery’s staff and included many in Moose Jaw’s art community.

“He was a champion to artists and re-

Club Essay Contest

Submitted by Lynann Pethick

The Friendly City Optimist Club held their annual Essay Contest for 2024, and the winner was Maia Smith from Peacock Collegiate. The topic this year was “Optimism: How it Connects.” Congratulations to Maia on an excellent essay. She is now entered into the district competition.

CORRECTION:

Re: ACT/UCT helps sponsor Kinsmen Speed Skating Club’s 2024 Fish Bowl

The recent article titled ‘ACT/UCT helps sponsor Kinsmen Speed Skating Club’s 2024 Fish Bowl’ misidentified the race where Graeme Fish set the world record in the 10,000 metres, with that event taking place at the World Single Distance Championships in Salt Lake City in 2020. The Moose Jaw Express apologizes for the error.

ally encouraged not only professional artists, but up and coming artists (as well).” Currently, there are no confirmed plans to honour Melanson in an upcoming exhibit or other commemorative gesture. This could change, Schweiger noted, as many in the art community remember him

fondly and his contribution positively impacted many lives.

Out of respect for Melanson’s family, any such gestures will be given their approval and isn’t being rushed.

For the time being, the gallery has a condolence book at the front desk for anybody who wishes to leave a few remarks in his memory. To leave a message in the book, guests are asked to speak with the front desk receptionist.

Schweiger noted that many names in the book and comments on the MJMAG’s social media pages are from people she recognized during his 20-year career.

“He’s left an impression on each and every one of those people.

“There’s an empty spot that we have here at the (MJMAG) for him,” Schweiger said with a heavy heart. “We do feel his presence here, every day (and in) every moment.”

The deepest condolences from the MJMAG, Moose Jaw’s art community, the Moose Jaw Express, and the wider community go out to the family and close friends of Melanson.

To visit the gallery and sign the condolence book, the MJMAG is located at 461 Langdon Crescent and can be reached at 306-692-4471.

To donate to the Allan Blair Cancer Centre on behalf of Melanson, his family is asking anyone interested do so at CancerFoundationSask.ca/Donate.

Picture (l-r): Gayle Jones (club essay chairperson), Maia Smith and Lloyd Pethick (club co-chair)

Joan Ritchie EDITOR

Editor’s Note

I am reading a very interesting book on optimism…Chasing the Bright Side by Jess Elstrom. I came across this read by accident while visiting the Humane Society bookstore. We dropped by to look for some Hardy Boy books from the past that may have been donated to the fundraiser. Our grandson loves to read and his dad (our son Mark) read many of the series when he was a kid. For all these years, those books have been toted around through many moves and safely stored to pass back to him for his boys. We thought we had the whole series, but loand-behold, I think there are over a hundred written so we were trying to find some of the ones to fill in the gap.

Some may say, why bother?

Personally, I have an affinity for books. Stories are timeless and I prefer to read them on paper rather than through an electronic device. Old books that we have read hold a sense of nostalgia and charm that say a lot about the person we are, our likes…fiction, history, reality, self-help, interests, etc.

So, back to the book.

I usually see myself as an optimistic person, as well as sort of a realist (with lots of hope and faith), somewhat of an oxymoron I think. Anyways, I am not too deep into the book yet but within the first few chapters, I am already stirred to embrace the possibilities in life, something I thought I have been doing all these years.

It seems, as we age many don’t want to even attempt to look for future possibilities…the ‘what ifs?’ in life. For me, I’m just pointing the finger back at myself. What if I had said ‘yes’ to doing something I didn’t know how to do and embraced the opportunity, rather than saying ‘no, I am not interested’ or ‘no, I can’t do that.’ For me, this is technology, not really an interest of mine.

What if saying ‘yes’ to something opened a whole new door of possibilities and opportunities.

Somewhere along the way, we seem to lose the internal drive to ‘go for it!’

A couple of nuggets I gleaned from the book so far are:

“Everything wonderful that has been created or achieved had to start with someone who believed it could be better.”

“Let the wonder be bigger than the limits.”

Elstrom says, “A lot of narratives are told about opportunities that just happened to us magically, with no effort at all. To everyone that has told that story, I’m calling BS. If we sit and wait for something to work in our favour, that’s the only thing that will happen: sitting and waiting…

“Experiences can’t happen to us if we’re not present for them.”

And on this note, she says, “Optimism is about spending more time going down the path of ‘yes’ than ‘no’”.

We are never too old to embrace possibility…we just need to go for it and say, ‘”Yes!”

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

‘Back to Basics’: Hysuick looks to establish a basic skills academy in Moose Jaw

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

Laurie Hysuick, the owner of Mitny Refillery and pioneer behind the upcoming ‘Swing into Spring’ initiative is once again flexing her entrepreneurial muscle with the idea of organizing a series of ‘Back to Basics’ classes to teach skills that seem to be lost or undervalued in today’s world.

The proposed classes are not established yet, but Hysuick is currently testing the idea of hosting locally instructed courses that range from home cooking to crafting, gardening, nutrition, and foraging.

“(From) communicating with my customers, we were talking about some of the basic things that were missing from Moose Jaw,” she explained.

“I didn’t realize how many people are interested in doing those programs and (learning how) to can, make dandelion teas or salves… or (how many just have) nutritional questions.”

Although friends and customers who know Hysuick may argue in good humour that her motivation largely comes from the potential to sample some delicious home cooking, she revealed that her inspiration came after the friend a friend stopped by her shop and asked if anyone taught traditional Italian cooking in the city.

It was then through talking with her customers that she realized how many people don’t know how to do canning, or other similar basic skills that can prove to be cost effective, healthy, and practical.

“So… my idea… was, why don’t we create a community and have locals that know this stuff (teach classes so) that it can be accessed,” she said.

Many basic skills from sewing to gardening have been lost due to the advent of new technologies and as a consequence of the rapid pace of societal change. Today, most people have shifted their focus to immediately applicable skills including the use of smartphones, social media, and learning to use cutting-edge technology.

Society is also facing an escalating cost of living, and many goods that would have simply been repaired are now discarded and replaced with a newly manufactured item. Heavily processed foods and chronic disease are similar hallmarks of today’s societal norm.

Much of Hysuick’s focus is on local applications. A couple examples she gave were foraging in Wakamow Valley and learning to cook lentils sourced locally from Simpson seeds. Even dandelions – commonly viewed as a noxious weed – are edible and provide several herbal and nutritional benefits.

“We have so much around here that we can utilize to help people,” she said. “And I mean, there’s tons of recipes, it’s nutritional, it’s cost effective – and it’s local stuff, so it’s pretty amazing.”

If there’s enough interest in the idea, Hysuick plans to go ahead and hopes for it to gain traction and become a regular program and perhaps even a local non-profit organization one day.

If you’re interested in teaching classes for the Back to Basics program, Laurie Hysuick can be reached at 306-694-6330 or by visiting Mitny Refillery. Photo by: Laurie Hysuick

Although no specific venue has been established yet, Hysuick said she’s searching for suitable locations and, aside from cooking classes that require a kitchen, her storefront could host many of the classes.

“It would be neat to see these (back to basics classes) in our community,” she said, noting that Regina and Saskatoon already have similar programs that are proving to be successful.

Hysuick would like to extend her offer to any local businesses, non-profits, or individuals who may be willing and able to provide a kitchen facility, home economics room, or other spaces that would make the idea possible.

As well, the offer is extended to anyone in the community who has knowledge in areas like canning, cooking or baking, arts and crafts, gardening, or almost any other skillset that would be considered “back to the basics.”

If you are interested in applying to teach classes in the upcoming Back to Basics program, Laurie Hysuick can be reached at 306-694-6330 or by visiting Mitny Refillery at 5 Manitoba Street East.

For more information about Mitny Refillery, visit MitnyRefillery.ca.

Grocery shopping patterns changing with inflation

Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

Grocers like to know the shopping habits and attitudes of their customers, especially in these inflationary times.

The Canadian Grocer’s annual survey of shopping behaviours and attitudes indicates three-quarters of shoppers have changed their habits with inflation.

Shoppers averaged $114 per visit, up from $109 last year - a four per cent increase.

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 - mjexpress2@sasktel.net

Kevin Ogle - kevin@saskpromo.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

Joyce Walter

Ron Walter

John Kreutzwieser

Jason G. Antonio Aaron Walker Randy Palmer

Half of them buy items with reduced prices while 44 per cent make fewer impulse buys and 37 per cent buy fewer groceries.

Almost one-third shop more often at discount stores.

Only 18 per cent have not changed their shopping behaviours at all.

Shopping at specialty fruit and meat stores has increased with 15 per cent going there, up 11 points from last year.

Top four places for shopping are super-centres by 23 per cent; drug stores, 27 per cent; dollar stores, 25 per cent; and clubs, 18 per cent.

Some shoppers buy luxuries more often.

Fifty-one per cent are buying confectionery items, up from 31 per cent in 2023. Frozen foods are in 63 per cent of shopping carts, up from 58 per cent.

Forty-two per cent buy prepared food, up from 34 per cent.

Within the shopping cart, fresh produce declined three per cent to 83 per cent while dairy fell four per cent

to 82 per cent.

Coffee declined nine points to 50 per cent.

Over the counter medications dropped four points to 32 per cent, perhaps reflecting the mild winter.

Purchase of prepared foods was up three points to 66 per cent. Pizza, fried chicken, rotisserie chicken and sushi were the most popular.

Purchase of cooking oil and butter is down four points to 64 per cent.

Almost three-quarters do not want any extra items offered in stores but 29 per cent wanted extras, most notable booze, pharmacy, or in-store cafes.

Price and reduced sales prices are the strongest factors in making a purchase decision.

Shoppers identifying as health conscious dropped to 68 per cent from 73 per cent with Quebecers the most health conscious.

Two-thirds of shoppers come with a list but only one in five sticks to the list. Twenty-two per cent just wing it when shopping for groceries.

Brick and mortar stores will be sticking around.

Ninety-seven per cent of the 1,000 survey respondents shopped in stores within the last month, up one point from last year.

Delivery and in-store pickup each gained four per cent to 17 and 14 per cent respectively.

Almost half read a flyer before shopping. Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

PHumane Society expands reach of bookstore with new outlet at spa’s Morningsides Café

The Moose Jaw Humane Society is a local non-profit specializing in the care of abandoned, stray, and surrendered pets that operates with the aim of finding them a loving new home.

To support the shelter, a number of fundraising initiatives have been established with one of the more prominent examples being the onsite bookstore. As it stands, there are five external outlets supporting the main location with one of those added recently in Moose Jaw’s downtown.

Nearly two weeks ago, the first pages were turned in the newly established reading section at the Morningsides Café located within the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa.

“Temple Gardens, up in the Morningsides Café, (has) decided to sell books for us, which is amazing because they don’t keep any of the profits – it all goes directly to the shelter,” said Donna Fritzke, the shelter’s fundraising co-ordinator.

The latest bookstore outlet at Temple Gardens currently has one large shelf and contains approximately 50 – 60 books. Fritzke herself visits on a weekly basis to replenish sold copies and to rotate the selection – a process she gladly repeats at each of the six locations.

All these books are donated by generous community members, and Fritzke was pleased to note that many are virtually indistinguishable from brand new editions.

Books at each location follow the same pricing system and typically sell for $2.50 apiece with children’s books going for only $1 each.

In one previous example, Fritzke said that the Tourism Moose Jaw kiosk at 450 Diefenbaker Drive saw one lady visiting from Alberta purchase $70 worth of books to take home to her kids.

This is great news for the shelter, which Fritzke said earns an average of $500 each month just from these off-site outlets. The shelter’s combined bookstore initiative brings in nearly $2,000 each month, and all said, approximately $26,000 was raised for the shelter in 2023 alone.

The fundraiser is possible thanks to the countless hours donated by the shel-

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

ter’s dedicated team of volunteers who deserve a special acknowledgement.

Fritzke said the first external outlet opened approximately three years ago in the Starlight Handmade Market at the Town ‘N’ Country Mall.

What led to the decision, she said, was finding a solution to the problem of an overwhelming supply of books and other materials that still continue to fill a semi trailer adjacent to the shelter.

To resolve this issue, Fritzke spoke with several businesses about the possibility of hosting an outlet.

“Everyone said they’re more than willing to help,” she said. “The fact that I find incredible (is that) people are willing to volunteer their space, and they volunteer their time… allowing us to sell our books. It has gone over very well.”

The Moose Jaw Humane Society is always on the lookout for new opportunities to expand its fundraising efforts, and as a non-profit, these measures have proven to be invaluable.

“We’re always looking for new part-

CORRECTION:

Re: École Ducharme to create second daycare to handle growing Francophone community

Incorrect information appeared in the March 20 story about the new Francophone daycare. It was the Pomme d’Api board of directors that purchased the second location for a daycare and not École Ducharme, even though a daycare does exist in the school. We apologize for the confusion.

nerships in our community,” said Fritzke. “All you have to do is ask.”

On behalf of the shelter, Fritzke extended her message of thanks to everyone who has helped assist the animals in its care.

“If we didn’t have a community (of supporters), we couldn’t do what we do,” she said.

“There’s something about fundraising for the pets in our community – everyone wants to help. If there’s some way that they can help, all they have to do is ask.”

Bookstore outlets

Starlight Handmade Market is located in the Town ‘N’ Country Mall at 1235 Main Street North.

The Wandering Market is located at 461 Athabasca Street East.

Tourism Moose Jaw’s information centre is located at 450 Diefenbaker Drive.

Spike Dog & Cat Grooming is located at 817 High Street West.

The Morningsides Café is located in the Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa at 24 Fairford Street East.

The Moose Jaw Humane Society is located at 1755 Stadacona Street West and can be reached at 306-692-1517. If you wish to add an outlet at your place of business, simply give the shelter a call.

The Morningsides Café is located in the Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa at 24 Fairford Street East. Photo by: Moose Jaw Humane Society

Reflective Moments

By Joyce Walter - Moose Jaw Express

Will Easter outfits include a frilled gardening hat?

One day recently a friend posted a photograph on Facebook that showed the way it used to be, back in the olden days of Easter fashion.

The photograph could have been taken from my own family photo album. In this particular moment in time, three young girls, maybe around Grade One age, were dressed up and ready to head to church on Easter Sunday.

These youngsters had on what appeared to be new spring time dresses, with spring coats, their feet covered with one-roll socks and stuffed into brand new oxfords, flowery hats on the tiny heads. And purses over their bent arms, carried just like their mothers and grandmothers carried their own purses.

The caption on the photo asked: “Does this bring back memories?” Of course the answer was “yes.” In fact, I had just been going through some of the boxes of photos in the closet, and saw for myself what I, as a child, wore on Easter Sunday.

In this particular photo, I looked prim and proper, standing there in the yard where I had likely been told to stay put, not to get my clothes and shoes dirty, for there in the yard was a sandbox, a three-wheeled tricycle, some

small chairs and a table where great tea parties were often held. There was temptation at every glance, but from recollections I knew my Mother would not have been amused if one speck of dust settled on my new outfit.

That outfit, if I recall, was a dusty-orange (black and white photos don’t provide those colour-related details.) It included a double-breasted coat with puffy shoulders and trim that was matched on the sleeves. The skirt was flared and the collar was buttoned right to the choking point. My exterior ensemble was topped off with a hat with matching detailing on the brim. I had my hands folded neatly at the waist. It appears I was wearing brown shoes with leggings instead of rolled white socks. Under the coat was a spiffy top and skirt in lighter tones, made by the in-house seamstress from material stored in mothballs in the trunk.

No doubt about it — I was ready to march proudly into the school house where Sunday services were held. In my pocket would have been a clean Kleenex and a dime to put into the collection plate.

In another Easter-related photo I am wearing a flowered dress with puffed sleeves trimmed with ribbons.

Prairie South seeing post-pandemic increase in kindergarteners’

physical, mental, linguistic skills

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

With the COVID-19 pandemic now in the rearview mirror, Prairie South School Division is seeing seven-percent growth in evaluation data of its kindergarten students and their physical, mental and linguistic skills. Kindergarten educators administer the provincial

PASTURE LAND FOR SALE BY TENDER

Surface and Mineral interest rights included, if applicable Includes all steel corrals and cattle oilers on the property AS IS

The total annual rent for 2023 was $1,178.00 (excluding GST)

Conditions:

1. Submit bids to Grayson & Company Law rm as below on or before 12 o'clock noon, MONDAY APRIL 1st, 2024.

2. A cheque for 3% of the amount of the bid must accompany the tender.

3. Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted.

4. No tenders shall be accepted which are subject to nancing.

5. Persons submitting a tender must rely on their own research and inspection of the property to con rm condition, other particulars, and acreage; Land is o ered for sale is o ered for sale as is and where is. There are no warranties or representations of the Vendors expressed or implied and should seek their own legal and accounting advice.

6. Purchases is eligible for the lease and to pay the lease transfer of all Crown Leases. Lands will be transferred free and clear of all encumbrances save except Crown leased land and all Conservation Easements.

7. The closing Date for the sale shall be on or before April 15, 2024, or as mutually agreed to between the Vendor and the Purchaser.

8. The Purchaser will be responsible for all legal costs associated with the title transfer.

9. For all inquiries please contact Walter Forman at 306-630-5060.

FORWARD BIDS TO:

Grayson & Company Law Firm

P.O. Box 908 Stn Main

Moose Jaw, SK S6H 4P6

Again I wore those horrid leotards on my legs with brown oxfords. Atop my head it appears I am wearing my mother’s gardening hat but I had a huge smile on my face so maybe the hat wasn’t from the garden.

The photo box also yielded a third photo that might have been from a long-ago Easter. Again I have on a spring dress but this time I have on white socks with the required single roll-down, brown shoes and no hat. There’s a tiny purse on the ground beside me as I hold up a plaque reading “May the Lord bless you and love you.” I cannot recall the significance of the plaque nor where it might have ended up after all the years that have gone by.

Fast forward to the present day and I wonder what children in this decade will be wearing to Easter Sunday services. I will find out by standing at our kitchen window watching the congregation enter the church across the street.

Certainly they won’t be singing about their Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it. And I’m positive no one will be wearing their Mother’s gardening hat.

Early Years Evaluation Teacher Assessment (EYE-TA)

each fall, while they reassess students in the spring who struggled during the first test, a board report explained.

The six skills — or domains — that teachers assess include:

· Awareness of self and environment

· Social skills and approaches to learning

· Cognitive skills

· Language and communication

· Physical development (fine motor)

PRAIRIE SOUTH SCHOOL DIVISION

The next PSSD board meeting is TUESDAY, APR 9.

an increase of 6.9 per cent

· Language and communication (Domain 4): 83.2 per cent / 85.6 per cent; a jump of 2.4 per cent

· Physical development (gross motor)

Based on how students do, they may be placed in tier 1, tier 2 or tier 3, or categorized as appropriate development, experiencing some difficulty or experiencing significant difficulty.

The report noted that when comparing pre-pandemic data from November 2019 to November 2023, Prairie South saw an increase of seven per cent in total data, while it saw growth in all six domains. In particular, the division saw “significant growth” in the areas of cognitive skills, physical development and language and communication.

The data shows that in November 2019, the overall percentage of students in tier 1 was 57 per cent, while in November 2023, that number rose to 64 per cent, a sevenper-cent jump.

Furthermore, other tier 1 data from those two timeframes show:

· Awareness of self and environment (Domain 1): 86.1 per cent / 88.8 per cent; an increase of 2.7 per cent

· Social skills and approaches to learning (Domain 2): 78.9 per cent / 81.9 per cent; a jump of three per cent

· Cognitive skills (Domain 3): 61.1 per cent / 68 per cent;

· Fine motor physical development (Domain 5): 74.4 per cent / 75 per cent; an increase of 0.6 per cent

· Gross motor physical development (Domain 6): 79.6 per cent / 88.6 per cent; an increase of nine per cent

The division assessed 396 kindergarten students in fall 2023 as part of the EYE-TA program, with data showing the number of children experiencing appropriate development was:

· 350 pupils in domain 1

· 324 students in domain 2

· 268 pupils in domain 3

· 337 students in domain 4

· 297 pupils in domain 5

· 350 students in domain 6

In comparison, data from fall 2022 show that of the 426 kindergarten students assessed, the number of children experiencing appropriate development in the respective domains was 368, 342, 271, 352, 300 and 347.

After reassessing 161 youths in spring 2023, the number of students demonstrating proficiency (tier 1) in those six domains increased to, respectively, 407, 394, 396, 391, 403 and 409.

“I really appreciate the chart that shows the pre- and post-pandemic (data), because I think it really shows we’ve bounced back from things,” said trustee Crystal Froese, pointing to the “significant increase” in the data from 2022 to 2023.

“It shows you how important it is, the interaction students receive in the classroom environment, (and) how it has an overall positive impact in so many ways,” she continued, adding the education sector learned what students lost when the pandemic hit.

2024.

A bylaw pursuant to Section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.

Any person who wishes to appeal against the assessment is required to file a notice of appeal by May 1, 2024 with: Kristen Tokaryk, Secretary to the Board of Revision, Box 149 Meota, SK S0M 1X0

A $25.00 appeal fee is required, payable to: The R.M. of Moose Jaw No. 161, #3-1410 Caribou St. W., Moose Jaw, SK S6H 7S9. The fee will be returned if the appeal is successful.

Dated this 27th day of March 2024

Mike Wirges

Assessor

The next Prairie South board meeting is Tuesday, April 9.

RM of BAILDON and RM of TERREL:

Senior’s association creates new art exhibit in an unexpected downtown venue

There’s a new artwork exhibit in what may be considered an unlikely downtown venue as of March 13.

Utilizing an otherwise underappreciated space at the Timothy Eaton Gardens building, the Moose Jaw & District Senior Citizens Association (MJDSCA) made the decision to revamp its onsite lounge with a bright, colourful, and inspirational new display featuring works from its own weekly art program.

The room now contains a few select paintings made by local artist Barb Markewich during her enrolment in the MJDSCA’s painting and crafting group, which is held year-round on Mondays through Thursdays.

The exhibit first opened on March 13 to coincide with the birthday of Markewich’s mother who teaches classes at the association and who inspired her daughter to take up painting once again.

Markewich used to paint regularly back in her 20s and has since been kept busy in her role as a nurse, wife, and mother.

As of 2017, Markewich retired from her nursing career and her son also graduated from university. Both developments allowed her more time to return to her former hobby once again.

“I could finally do what I wanted,”

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

Markewich said. “In 2017 I joined (the) Timothy Eaton’s art class and was taught by my mother, Lorraine Fish. It was an accomplishment re-learning how to paint.”

Fish teaches art classes at the association and prefers watercolour paint as her medium of choice.

Markewich quickly discovered that she held a strong preference for a style that’s different from that of her mother. As she began to once again cultivate her talent for painting, Markewich found herself branching off into uncharted territory using a big, bold, and bright style that focuses on the use of Prismacolor pencils and acrylics.

“I love nature, animals, flowers, and trees; it doesn’t matter,” she stated.

Using a unique, vibrant style, Markewich strays from the norms of contemporary style and instead focuses on capturing the essential nature of her subject in a manner that proves to be harmonious.

Without the concern for a strict adherence to true-to-life colourization, her works bring together a blend of sometimes unexpected hues to best highlight a given texture, mood, or sense of feeling contained within a complex and dynamic subject.

What is perhaps the flagship of her personal style is the blue-and-white portrait of a dog currently on display at the centre. Although these colours stray from the natural environment, the subjective nature of art is expertly demonstrated

without doubt as to the mood, feel, and intention of the work.

After refining her own technique since 2017, Markewich was satisfied and temporarily pulled down paintings from her home to establish the inaugural exhibit at the MJDSCA.

“Now here I am, showing my art. I was against the idea at first, but I remembered my mother. She loved to paint and was happy and proud to show it.”

Many of the paintings now on display at the association are available for purchase.

Markewich is also open to the idea of commissioning a painting of your pet, and to date she has completed a number of these works. The blue and white portrait of a dog now on display is a reproduction

of one of these paintings.

To view the new exhibit or to contact Markewich, stop by the MJDSCA or call 306-694-4223.

The senior’s association is open from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Fridays.

After a window of around two months, the exhibit is expected to rotate and will feature a new artist to be announced at a later date.

Timothy Eaton Gardens is located at 510 Main Street North.

Markewich’s expert handling of mood, expression, and personality – not to mention an unconventional colour selection – can be seen here in her portrait of a dog. Photo by: Aaron Walker

Originally painted with a light backdrop, “Sunflowers for Ukraine” was given a blue background in a symbol of support for Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia. Photo by: Aaron Walker

“Peony” displays Markewich’s use of bright, vibrant colours. Photo by: Aaron Walker

A look inside the MJDSCA’s new art gallery at the Timothy Eaton Gardens.

Photo by: Aaron Walker

TO THE EDITOR LETTERS

RE: EDUCATION MATTERS

I would like to take a moment to share with you my thoughts on teachers striking outside the legislative building during the budget release.

Today, I acknowledge that preparing a budget for a province with diverse needs can be tricky. Let’s take a moment to bring awareness to a few of the demands and supports needed to make our province strong. Based on the 2023-24 budget, these are the top 5 primary expenses (rounded down):

• Health - 7 billion

• Education - 4 billion

• Social Services and Assistance - 1.6 billion

• Agriculture - 1.4 billion

Protection of Persons and Property - 9.6 million I don’t think anyone would argue that Healthcare and Protection are important to all individuals in the province. Saskatchewan also significantly advocates for Agriculture, although only a small portion of the province sees direct benefit. Where do Education and Social Services and Assistance fit into our needs-based view?

RE: CARBON TAX

by Ronald J. Yaschuk

Forcing a confidence vote to increase a carbon tax April 1 will be the Liberals death knell and would certainly change Canadas political history.

Prime Minister Poilievre has a nice ring to it rather than the fatigued old Liberal retreads “we have more work to do”. Liberals had 9 years and failed miserably to carry out the required tasks, so it is beyond belief they now solicit an extension to accomplish the mandatory elements that should have already been accomplished. Not an exemplary track record by any standard to manage an election on.

A drug addiction prompted Dalton James Cameron to engage in a four-month stealing spree around Moose Jaw, criminal activities that will see him spend the next nine months in jail.

Cameron’s first offence occurred on Nov. 25, 2023, when he grabbed a shopping basket after walking into Walmart and filled it with consumable goods worth $47.22 before leaving out an emergency exit, Crown prosecutor Rob Parker said while reading the facts in Moose Jaw Provincial Court recently.

The store was unable to recover the items.

The 23-year-old’s second theft occurred a few weeks later on Dec. 4, 2023, when he walked into Canadian Tire and grabbed some chocolates and a knife sharpener — worth $20 — and put them into his backpack before fleeing, Parker said.

“According to the (police) statement, when he came up (to customer service),

Moose Jaw Wakamow MLA Greg Lawrence has had his court charges adjourned to Monday, April 15, so his defence lawyer can acquire more information about his case.

Lawrence, 58, was not present in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on March 18 when his matters were discussed. Instead, defence lawyer Estes Fonkalsrud appeared on his behalf and asked that the matters be adjourned for a month so he could receive and review video disclosure from the Crown.

Crown prosecutor Rob Parker agreed

They, arguably, are some of the most debated topics when it comes to funding.

As a teacher of about 20 years, I feel comfortable sharing an educational perspective. For many of those years, I was a career counsellor who worked very closely with students in understanding course needs and preparing for future goals. I loved what I did because students got excited about what they could achieve. I helped them to see that they could make things happen, even when the odds were stacked against them.

A number of years ago, my school administrator came up to me and said, “I can hire three of you for the salary I pay you.” This put everything I did, thrived on, into simply monetary terms. It communicated so much in that single sentence and reflects the problem in our system today. While I was replaced by a cheaper individual (just one, not three), that individual was not prepared to do the job. Her training took more than a year, and to this day more than 4 years later, she still asks me questions. She has learned a lot and definitely knows more than me about what is happening now within this

On Wednesday evening March 20, 2024, the House of Commons voted on the Israel and Palestine conflict on a paper submitted by NDP MP Heather McPherson, but the vote was insignificant, and be mindful it is (non-binding). Debate on the motion took place Monday morning of which many MP’s were conspicuously absent. Three Liberal MP’s, Anthony Housefather, Marco Mendicino and Benn Carr all voted no against the motion as did the Conservatives.

Mr. Housefather was interviewed by Vassy Kapelos on CTV news PowerPlay and she queried him outright if he was contemplating crossing the floor to the Conservatives, but Mr. Housefather was elusive

role, since I have been away from it so long, but she fully acknowledges that there is a lot of learning needed to be a proper support for her students.

The education system has had to make a lot of decisions over the years in order to get by with the budgets available. Some of the decisions worked out after a time, but many have resulted in chronic problems, including the ones the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation is fighting to have implemented today.

Four billion dollars does seem like a lot, but it is important to keep in mind the sheer magnitude of resources that are needed to make education effective for all students. As we learn of the upcoming budget details, I encourage people to keep in mind that all parts of the education system need to be properly funded so that each student has the chance to reach their goals.

Sincerely,

Renee Harrison A Proud Teacher

on the question. Will the LPC act to quell the 3 MP’s who have dared to rebel and vote in their own manner. No doubt the clandestine flunkies are scrambling to curb the flare-up.

Provincial premiers are in harmony so there is little doubt this is journeying to a “carbon tax election.” Even the PBO who is explicit on his exhaustive investigation which is crystal clear. Pierre Poilievre is exact in coercing a non-confidence vote but the PM and Liberals are not equal to the challenge because they dread defeat and being incarcerated.

Jason

he asked if he could place the items in his backpack before paying,” the Crown continued. “One of the clerks said yes; he then zipped up the bag … and left out the door without paying.”

On Dec. 7, 2023, he walked into a marijuana shop on Main Street and stole five brown goodies bags and other cannabis paraphernalia worth $437.35 before running out without paying.

Nearly two months later, Cameron walked into the Union Grocery Store on Jan. 28, grabbed a box of chocolate bars valued at $39.95 and left without paying, Parker said.

The Moose Javian’s thievery ended on Feb. 5, after he walked into the Circle K Convenience Store and grabbed food items before leaving without paying. A staff member followed him outside and demanded that he pay, but he turned and threw a cup of hot coffee onto the employee; there were no injuries as the liquid landed on the staffer’s stomach and arm.

Jason

to the adjournment and told Judge Brian Hendrickson that he would proceed on the alleged charges summarily or a less serious route.

Lawrence’s alleged offences are said to have occurred in 2019.

According to previous information, the Moose Jaw Police Service charged Lawrence with assault on Jan. 31, after it began an investigation on June 27, 2023, into complaints of assault during an interaction between two people.

Specifically, police charged Lawrence with assault, contrary to section 266 of the

“So essentially, he assaulted (the employee) with the coffee to facilitate his escape with the otherwise fairly inconsequential items that he had stolen,” said Parker.

The police later said — and the Crown agreed — that Cameron’s behaviour escalated with the coffee throwing because he was now resorting to violence when confronted by store staff, the provincial prosecutor added.

During his court appearance, Cameron pleaded guilty to four counts of theft under $5,000, while the Crown stayed several other charges.

As part of a joint submission, Cameron received nine months — or 270 days — in jail, although Parker noted the length could have been more severe had the Crown proceeded on the other serious charges but didn’t because of the agreement with the defence.

While the overall sentence is 270 days, because the Moose Javian had been

Criminal Code, and choking, contrary to section 267 of the Criminal Code.

Lawrence had announced on Jan. 30 that he was resigning from the Saskatchewan Party caucus after it became known that he was the subject of a police investigation.

Lawrence, who had previously announced he would not seek re-election following a single-vehicle motorcycle collision in August 2023, now sits as an independent Member of the Legislative Assembly for the remainder of the term.

He has been the MLA for the Moose

on remand for 43 days after his arrest, the court gave him credit of 65 days served, which meant he had 205 days left in jail.

Cameron “is no stranger to … court” because he has a criminal record, but he has taken full responsibility for these particular actions, which his drug use caused, said Legal Aid lawyer Julie Knox.

“These are not things he’s going to repeat. He’s definitely taken a new leaf while being (on remand),” she continued, noting he plans to serve his time, exit without any lingering prohibitions on his liberty, and start fresh in life by staying away from his past negative influences.

Not only does the sentence denounce his crimes, but it also gives him the opportunity to rehabilitate so he becomes “a new man with a new destiny” when he leaves, Knox added.

Judge Brian Hendrickson accepted the joint submission and agreed to waive the victim fine surcharge.

Jaw Wakamow constituency since 2011, winning by 201 votes over NDP incumbent Deb Higgins. Lawrence then won by 695 votes over NDP candidate Karen Purdy during the 2016 election and won by 822 over NDP candidate Melissa Patterson in 2020.

The next provincial election must occur on or before Monday, Oct. 28, according to election rules. In the Wakamow constituency, Sask. Party candidate Megan Patterson will face off against NDP candidate Melissa Patterson; neither are related.

A Moose Jaw senior thought Bonnie Jean Binner would be a good caregiver and provide helpful daily support, but she abused that trust and stole nearly $8,000 from him.

Binner provided home care for the man by running various errands — like grabbing groceries and medications —between May 1, 2018, and Sept. 7, 2018, giving her the opportunity to use his debit and credit cards because he gave her the PINs, Crown prosecutor Rob Parker said while reading the facts in Moose Jaw Provincial Court recently.

However, between June and August 2018, she used his credit card to buy items for herself and racked up $7,889.17.

Binner wrote the man an email in September 2018 saying she used his card for personal purchases, was sorry and would repay him, Parker said. Police arrested her in December 2020, and she admitted she had stolen the senior’s money; however, she had not repaid him.

The aggravating issue is Binner was

Provincial Court Report

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

in a position of trust because she was acting as a caregiver for a senior, the Crown added. However, the mitigating factors included the guilty pleas, admission of responsibility and co-operation with the police.

While in court, Binner, 58, pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000 and failing to attend court. As part of a joint submission, she received a six-month conditional sentence, similar to house arrest, since she will serve her jail time in the community.

Some conditions include keeping the peace and being of good behaviour, maintaining a curfew of 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., providing breath and urine samples, refraining from possessing alcohol, drugs or marijuana or being in a place that sells such items, and taking programming.

The woman must also repay everything she stole.

Binner suffered two strokes since these incidents occurred, so she could not work and could not repay the man, Legal

Aid lawyer Suzanne Lalonde said. However, she wants to return to work even though her doctor has not yet cleared her; she hopes that is soon.

Meanwhile, her son lives in Moose Jaw, so he regularly picks her up in the morning so she can watch the grandchildren while the parents work, the defence lawyer continued. She wants to continue doing that, which is why the Crown and defence adjusted the curfew times.

“Bonnie is deeply remorseful. The thefts occurred during a time in her life when she was struggling emotionally and financially,” Lalonde said.

The defence lawyer then read an email Binner sent to explain her crimes. In it, the woman said she knew she had to change her life dramatically after she committed the offences. So, she acquired a labour-focused job with a business on South Hill since it was near her home and she could “shape a different lifestyle.”

Since Binner experienced two strokes

in 2020, she has been on disability ever since. Her health began to stabilize in 2022, so she expressed the desire to start with part-time employment and work her way to full-time activities.

“I know I should have handled my legal matters differently. I regret that very much, but I have tried to make meaningful lifestyle changes,” Binner wrote, including taking physical therapy and psychological counselling.

However, recovering from the strokes was difficult because of the isolation from the pandemic restrictions and losing her job, she continued. Yet, she now engages in craftwork at home at a suitable pace and sells her creations online.

Binner added that she has a small circle of family and friends she sees often, while she plans to continue babysitting her grandchildren.

Afterward, Judge Patrick Koskie accepted the joint submission and agreed to waive the victim fine surcharge.

Accused hopes jail time will help him become better father to newborn child

Nigel Evan Wolfe is hoping that a jail sentence of nearly two years will help him rehabilitate his behaviour so he can be a good father to his newborn daughter.

Wolfe, 34, appeared in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on March 19, where he pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, two counts of possessing a weapon while prohibited and one count of possessing a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition.

As part of a joint submission, he received 40 months — or 1,200 days — in jail. However, since he had spent 340 days on remand after his arrest, the court credited him with 510 days, which means he has 690 days — under two years — left in jail.

He was also prohibited for life from owning or possessing firearms, while he forfeited all the items officers discovered on him after his arrest.

Wolfe’s offence occurred on April 15, 2023, when he attended Casino Moose Jaw for some fun, Crown prosecutor Rob Parker said. However, he was on several court orders from different judges that prohibited him from possessing firearms, while he was also wanted on several out-

standing warrants.

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Police learned that the man was inside the casino and, at 2:10 a.m., arrested him on the warrants. After seizing him, they found a nine-round clip of .22-calibre ammunition, a .22-calibre handgun in his pants and meth. They also found bear spray and a knife.

Parker added that Wolfe has a lengthy criminal record with “many concerning convictions.”

There are some significant Gladue factors in Wolfe’s situation because he is First Nations and has connections to the Beardy’s and Okamasis reserve near Batoche, Legal Aid lawyer Suzanne Lalonde said. His mother and her two sisters were victims of the ’60s Scoop, so they were separated and placed with different White families growing up; she ended up in Mortlach. Wolfe’s mother had him at 18 — he never met his biological father — but gave him up for adoption, so he lived with a foster family, Lalonde continued.

“The family that raised Nigel was an extremely strict family. There was some abuse in the home that he suffered,” she noted. “Also, as a child, when he would

have contact with his mother, at times, he would witness her as the victim of abuse in relationships that she was in — and that affected him deeply.”

Although he was never raised with his Aboriginal culture, Wolfe is exploring it because he believes it can help him, Lalonde said. Meanwhile, his daughter was born about 10 months ago while he was on remand; his girlfriend has visited him with their baby.

Wolfe has been on remand for a lengthy period because he hoped his time there would eventually land him in a provincial jail — instead of a federal one — so his girlfriend and child can visit, the Legal Aid lawyer added.

Meanwhile, he has completed his general education degree (GED) while on remand, and after his release, he wants to

join a trade.

Judge Patrick Koskie — who accepted the joint submission and waived the victim fine surcharge — noted that Wolfe had accumulated many weapons offences since 2014, which was concerning. However, he commended the man for acquiring his GED and for wanting to pursue college courses.

The judge also thought it would be good if the man included his daughter in his cultural activities since he wanted to raise her differently.

“Everybody has a different event (in life) that sort of is a … TSN Turning Point,” Judge Koskie added. “It appears to me that your daughter’s birth is that to you, so now you should seek help from others … .”

Moose Jaw

North

MLA

Tim McLeod

Saskatchewan’s 2024-25 Budget makes record new investments in classrooms, care and communities. The budget includes the largest-ever increase in school operating funding, the largest-ever increase in health funding and the largest-ever increase in municipal revenue sharing for Saskatchewan communities.

The budget is designed to ensure growth continues in our great province. Saskatchewan’s population continues to grow faster than it has in more than a century and will reach 1.25 million people this year. In addition to more people, the labour market continues to grow, with more jobs and a low unemployment rate that combine to help fuel the provincial economy.

Revenue is forecast at $19.9 billion, up $184.2 million from last year’s budget. There are no new taxes and

no tax increases in this year’s budget, helping keep life affordable for Saskatchewan residents.

The budget includes $2.0 billion in previously announced tax reductions and other affordability measures. When taxes, utilities and housing costs are combined, our province is the most affordable place to live in Canada for a family of four.

Our government will invest in what matters most to Saskatchewan people – classrooms, care and communities.

The 2024-25 Budget supports students and teachers through a record-level total education budget of $4.4 billion. This includes $3.3 billion for the Ministry of Education, up 8.1 per cent over last year’s budget. This is an increase of $247.8 million to support Prekindergarten to Grade 12 students, early learning, child care and libraries.

Saskatchewan’s 27 school divisions will receive $2.2 billion in school operating funding for the 2024-25 school year, a record increase of $180 million, or 8.8 per cent, over the previous year.

The budget includes a record $7.6 billion investment into the Ministry of Health and includes funding to expand patient care and increase access to services to meet the needs of our growing population.

For cities, towns, villages and municipalities throughout Saskatchewan, this budget provides a record increase of $42.4 million in municipal revenue sharing. This is an increase of 14.2 per cent from the year before,

and a total of $340.2 million in unconditional support for municipalities in the province.

Capital investment is expected to reach $14.2 billion this year, making Saskatchewan a leading contributor to economic growth in Canada. The budget helps further strengthen our strong and growing economy, focusing on expanding our presence in international markets while building a stronger Saskatchewan.

The budget invests a record $4.4 billion into the Saskatchewan Capital Plan to build schools, hospitals, highways, municipal and Crown infrastructure.

The 2024-25 Budget addresses many priorities for the people of Saskatchewan, with a clear focus on classrooms, care and communities. These areas impact everyone in our province – from the seniors who helped build our province into the great place it is today to our future leaders who are just making their way into the world, as well as everyone in between.

Thanks to the growth of our province, we have more people, more jobs and more opportunities for the people and families that call Saskatchewan home. The 2024-25 Budget meets the challenges of a growing province by re-investing the benefits of a growing province in classrooms, care and communities. To learn more about the 2024-25 Budget, please visit www.saskatchewan.ca/ budget. If you have any questions, please reach out to my constituency office at 306-692-8884 or mjnorthmla@ sasktel.net.

Pro-life banquet to feature speaker discussing drawbacks of MAID

With more Canadians ending their life with medical assistance in dying (MAID), Moose Jaw’s pro-life group hopes the featured speaker at its upcoming supper can offer a different message on end-of-life care.

Moose Jaw Right to Life’s (MJRTL) annual banquet occurs Friday, April 12 at Church of Our Lady on 566 Vaughan Street, with Charlotte’s Catering providing the food. Tickets are $25 each or $175 for a table of 8; doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner is at 6:30 p.m.

Anyone wanting tickets should call 306-694-4111.

The featured speaker is Angelina Ireland, the executive director of The Delta Hospice Society in Delta, British Columbia.

In 2013, Ireland became a client after being diagnosed with cancer. She later joined the board after her recovery, and in 2019, was elected president. On Feb. 1, 2024, she was named the executive director.

Besides focusing on palliative care, she will also discuss a documentary in which she appears, “The Story of Euthanasia.”

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

This organization was in the news several years ago because it refused to allow MAID — also known as euthanasia or assisted suicide — in the hospice building where it operated, prompting the Fraser Health Authority to terminate the contract and take control in 2021.

Euthanasia is such a prevalent issue that MJRTL thought it would be a beneficial topic to feature as part of its overall pro-life focus, explained Jean Landry, board president.

“We are choosing the other end of the spectrum for our banquet this year … ,” she remarked. “And I think it’s just good for people to hear some of the things she

ASSESSMENT NOTICE

RURAL MUNICIPALITY OF EYEBROW NO. 193

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Rural Municipality of Eyebrow No. 193 for the year 2024 has been prepared and is open to inspection in the office of the assessor from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., on the following days: Monday to Thursday, April 1, 2024 to May 1, 2024 except holidays.

A bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.

Any person who wishes to discuss the notice of assessment or potential appeal may contact the assessor at the RM of Eyebrow No. 193, Box 99, Eyebrow, SK S0H 1L0. A notice of appeal accompanied by a $100 appeal fee which will be returned if the appeal is successful must be filed with: the Secretary to the Board of Revision, Kristen Tokaryk, c/o. Western Municipal Consulting Box 149 Meota, Sask. S0M 1X0, by the 1st day of May, 2024.

Dated this 27th day of March, 2024.

Chris Bueckert, Assessor

has to say.”

Statistics Canada has tracked assisted suicide death statistics since 2016, with data showing:

· 2016: 1,015 deaths

· 2017: 2,833

· 2018: 4,467

· 2019: 5,631

· 2020: 7,595

· 2021: 10,064

· 2022: 13,241

· Total: 44,846

Ireland’s story is interesting because she experienced how the government forced assisted dying into a private care home, while she now focuses on giving people an opportunity to re-think such decisions, Landry said. Meanwhile, there has been a “huge push” by governments to force MAID into every care home and medical centre.

MAID is “very, very frightening” because there is more to it than people know, so MJRTL wants to educate residents about the other side because of how “glorified” it’s become, she continued.

The term “MAID” glosses over what’s happening — what occurs is assisted suicide — and, because it’s become so common, it makes the outcome sound less serious and more acceptable, she stated.

“There’s so many people — so many people — that are saying, ‘You know, this is the way to go. I want to control the end of my life,’” Landry said. “But it may not be as positive as they think.”

While some obituaries say people who chose MAID died peacefully, Ireland explains in the documentary that doctors first inject chemicals into people to paralyze their bodies, she continued. This prevents them from crying out if they are in pain or want to stop.

“We have no idea what’s going on in the person’s mind when this is happening … ,” Landry added. “Like (Ireland) says in her film, the death procedure is pretty terrifying.”

Ireland’s goals are to travel across Canada telling her story and promote a project called the “Guardian Angels Initiative,” which aims to help ill and vulnerable Canadians have a personal advocate on their side to ensure the health system doesn’t steer them towards euthanasia.

The big problem in society is people are lonely and living on their own, which drives them to consider assisted suicide, said Landry. Therefore, society needs to reach these people and remind them that they are not alone — and don’t need MAID.

Landry added that the board would discuss bringing the documentary to Moose Jaw for wider viewing.

Catholic division excited about upcoming talk by world-renowned educator

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Administration with Holy Trinity Catholic School Division is thrilled that a world-renowned educator from New Zealand is coming to Moose Jaw to discuss how to improve student learning through play.

Dr. Sarah Aiono, CEO of Longworth Education, will be in The Friendly City from April 22 to 24 and give three presentations to teachers, child-care workers, and parents.

“Holy Trinity is always actively exploring educational best practices and evolving pedagogy to help meet the needs of each of our students,” said education director Ward Strueby. “Our goal is to have our students actively engaged in their learning and excited to come to school.”

Laura Adrian, the division’s early years learning facilitator, has been engaged in play pedagogy for several years and has had the opportunity to discuss this approach with Aiono, Strueby continued. This connection is how the three-day workshop arose.

April 22 is a full-day workshop at the Events Centre where attendees will experience “the magic of play” through an introduction to play pedagogy. April 23 will feature two half-day talks: one about teaching the curriculum through play and a second about teachers’ roles in a

play-based curriculum.

“There is a great deal of excitement leading up to this event, and we have 170 participants attending from across the province,” said Strueby.

On April 24, Aiono will offer a free community-focused parent/caregiver session that will uncover how the human brain grows and develops when humans are engaged in learning through play, he added.

The former educator will share insights into why play is crucial for brain development and provide strategies to bridge the gaps for children as they grow and enter “an unpredictable and ever-changing world.”

The division is thrilled that Aiono is travelling from New Zealand to share her expertise and passion with people here, especially since play pedagogy has the potential to transform the way children experience their learning environment, said Adrian.

“Play fuels curiosity, sparks creativity and inspires a lifelong love of learning. In our province, many educators and professionals who work with children already practice elements of Play-Base Learning,” she continued.

HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL DIVISION

THE NEXT HOLY TRINITY BOARD MEETING IS MONDAY, APRIL 8.

“We feel honoured that Dr. Aiono recognizes our current efforts and is willing to guide us as we continue to develop our skills.”

As a practitioner and consultant, the former New Zealand educator’s knowledge and skill set will support Holy Trinity’s theoretical and practical knowledge in the areas where it works and learns alongside children, added Adrian. The division eagerly anticipated Aiono’s arrival and looked forward to learning more.

To register for the public presentation, visit https:// docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6gXXbPIegWj7wkHOeSp53IoUETuKmk8th-DYBxCpXuQVgPQ/ viewform.

Our Lady of Hope Elementary new name for Catholic half of joint-use school

Our Lady of Hope Catholic School is the new name for the Catholic half of the joint-use venue on South Hill, which the school division believes encapsulates its values and mission.

Administration with Holy Trinity Catholic School Division revealed the new moniker during the March 18 board meeting, which included displaying an artist’s rendition of the school with its name attached on a screen in the boardroom.

The board chose the name after thoughtful consideration, prayer and input from students and staff, while the decision reflects trustees’ commitment to creating hope by fostering learning and honouring diversity within a Catholic educational environment, Holy Trinity said in a news release.

The division’s vision is “Christ-centred, lifelong learning,” and as the Roman Catholic catechism states, “All that we believe about Mary is based on our faith in Christ.”

“This name choice aligns perfectly with our dedication to provide a nurturing Catholic environment that inspires and supports every student on their educational journey,” board chairwoman Joann Blazieko said.

The significance of the name “Our Lady of Hope” resonates deeply within the Catholic community because it honours the Virgin Mary’s appearance in Pontmain, France, in 1871 during the Franco-Prussian War, where she offered solace and protection to those in need, the di-

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

vision explained.

Furthermore, the story serves as a “powerful reminder of the importance of faith, prayer and perseverance,” values that Holy Trinity attempts to instill in its students. Moreover, this name holds great promise for the effect it is expected to have on pupils.

“It reinforces our message that no matter the challenges they may face, they can find strength, resilience and hope within our school community,” Blazieko said. “Our Lady of Hope will serve as a beacon guiding our

students towards a future filled with promise and possibility … .

“Together, we will continue to nurture an environment where every student can flourish academically, spiritually and personally.”

Archbishop Don Bolen, with the Archdiocese of Regina, said the new name was a wonderful choice.

“Our world presents so many challenges to students, and hope can be hard to find. But we need hope to live in joy, and Catholic schools should be artisans of fostering hope in our students,” he said.

“Our hope comes from God, whose loving face we see in Jesus. His mother, Mary, opened herself fully to the grace of God and is a beacon of hope,” the archbishop added. “May all future students, faculty and staff of Our Lady of Hope know that they are beloved of God, and may they draw strength from Mary’s example and follow her in being beacons of hope.”

This new joint-use school is being constructed in partnership with Prairie South School Division in the Westheath subdivision in southwest Moose Jaw. The new building will combine the four South Hill schools of Empire School, Sacred Heart School, St. Mary School and Westmount Elementary School.

The school is expected to open in September 2025.

The next Holy Trinity board meeting is Monday, April 8.

Catholic trustees hear ‘fascinating’ story behind new school’s namesake

After approving Our Lady of Hope as the new name for the Catholic side of the joint-use school, trustees with Holy Trinity School Division also learned the history behind the namesake.

During the March 18 board meeting, division chaplain Lisa Busta read the “fascinating” story about the Virgin Mary’s appearance 153 years ago in France. She also displayed a picture of the woman in a blue and yellow robe holding a maroon cross — as she was then seen — that the chaplain noted are also the colours of St. Mary and Sacred Heart schools.

“You can’t even make that up. That is just perfect, perfect,” Busta said.

On Jan. 17, 1871, the apparition appeared over Pontmain, France, a rural community with a strong Catholic heritage. A boy working with his father in the barn walked outside and gazed at the sky, where he noticed one area without stars.

Suddenly, he saw an apparition “of a beautiful woman smiling at him” while wearing a blue gown covered in golden stars and a black veil under a golden crown. While the boy’s parents couldn’t see anything, the younger brother could.

“Although she was puzzled because her boys were usually very truthful, (the mother) suggested that it might be the Blessed Virgin and that they should all say five Our Fathers and five Hail Marys in her honour,” Busta said.

The family then went inside for supper, and afterward, the boys went outside again and noticed the apparition’s continued presence. The schoolteacher came, but because she

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

couldn’t see anything, she went and brought three other children to see their reactions.

Those girls “expressed their delight at the apparition,” describing it as the boys had done. Meanwhile, the crowd had grown to 60 people — it included the priest — and the adults could still not see anything. However, the group said the rosary as the children described the changes they were seeing. A blue oval frame with four candles — two at the shoulders and two at the knees — was forming around the Virgin Mary while a short, red cross had appeared over her heart. The figure and the frame grew twice the size until the stars around her attached to her dress.

“So cool,” Busta whispered excitedly.

As another prayer was being recited, the children said a banner on which letters were appearing unrolled underneath the apparition’s feet. The phrase said, “But pray, my children. God will soon answer you. My son allows Himself to be moved (by compassion).”

“The children were beside themselves with joy at the beauty of the lady and her smile, but her expression then changed to one of extreme sadness,” Busta said, with a large red cross appearing before her and Jesus hanging on it in a darker shade of red.

One star then lit the four candles while the crucifix vanished. The children then reported that a white veil rose over the Virgin Mary and gradually covered her; she disappeared around 9 p.m.

The Roman Catholic Church held a canonical inquiry into the apparition in March 1871, while in May, the local bishop questioned the children. The inquiry was continued later in the year, with theologians asking questions and a doctor conducting a medical examination.

Satisfied with the investigations, the bishop declared in February 1872 — a year later — that what the children had said was true.

The Franco-Prussian war — which began in 1870 — ended on March 1, 1871, a few weeks after the appearance of the Blessed Virgin, with all of Pontmain’s soldiers coming home.

“She just said, ‘You got to have hope, you gotta pray and you gotta believe,’” Busta added. “And that’s a beautiful message still to this day.”

An artist’s rendition shows the Catholic side of the joint-use school, with the new name of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Elementary School. Photo courtesy Holy Trinity Catholic School Division

Rural residents want city to use new garbage-handling tech instead of building landfill

Some rural residents are excited that new technology allegedly exists that converts garbage into usable materials and want city hall to use it instead of building a new area landfill.

The Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw held a public hearing at the Events Centre on March 19 to discuss the discretionary use application that the City of Moose Jaw submitted to construct a solid waste management venue north of the city on 156 hectares (390 acres) of farmland.

The RM council received written and verbal submissions from ratepayers and government officials, while administrators from city hall explained the project and answered questions.

More than 60 people attended the event.

Gordon Knox, co-chairman of a rural ratepayers’ committee opposed to the location, said the proposed site has become “a contentious and very passionate issue” for ratepayers. However, he thought all parties should consider every alternative option to handle waste instead of continuing a 4,000-year-old practice of burying it.

“This is the 21st century and there’s definite options to a landfill,” he said.

The current landfill sometimes re-

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

ceives 60,000 tonnes a year, or 160 tonnes per day, most of it commercial, Knox continued. Meanwhile, city officials allegedly told the committee during a meeting that they don’t know where all the garbage comes from and don’t question its source.

The committee co-chairman then introduced Randall Johnson, founder and president of Aspen Innovation Park Inc. and owner of TJ Disposal Ltd. in Shellbrook, as the entrepreneur had an “innovative proposal” to handle waste.

Johnson, who has hauled garbage for 16 years and sits on a Ministry of Environment advisory committee, explained that a year ago, he learned about a new Florida-based company called Carbotura, which wants to “untrash the planet.”

He secured a Canada-focused agreement to promote the business, which aims to convert 99.9 per cent of all solid and liquid wastes into saleable and useable materials. It also mines existing dumps for material and captures methane.

The only items the company doesn’t take are radioactive materials and explosive ammunition.

The market would mainly use this material — converted into carbon, graphite and graphene — to support green technologies such as electric vehicle batteries, he stated.

Johnson said he needs a 30-year guarantee from municipalities — free to them — to handle their waste, as this technology can manage a minimum of 300 tonnes a day. He would charge $100 per tonne, invoice quarterly, and offer a rebate in the fifth quarter; this would be $30,000 per day in costs.

The technology can handle 10,000 tonnes per day, while the company is

working on deals in India and the Far East, he noted.

“Before you all think this is too good to be true, it’s not. It’s just an advancement of technology,” said Johnson, pointing to the evolution of smartphones as an example.

His company is “very close” to signing a contract with Regina and could handle 1,500 tonnes a day of its garbage for $620 million in expenses during the 30 years. Meanwhile, his company can set up all the necessary infrastructure beside landfills to mine those venues for materials.

Johnson added that his company would share with the municipalities 20 per cent of all profits and put that money into a community development fund for projects.

Afterward, city manager Maryse Carmichael attempted to answer some concerns that attendees had raised during the meeting. One ratepayer interjected and asked if the city would meet with Johnson, considering his company would allegedly offer Moose Jaw roughly $12 million annually for its garbage.

“Absolutely. We can absolutely meet with him,” Carmichael replied.

City has done ‘poor’ job communicating about new landfill, rural residents allege

Rural resident Wilda Soper says there are many unanswered questions about the proposed landfill location and believes the current engagement process has failed ratepayers in the rural municipality.

Soper was one of more than 60 people who attended the Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw’s public hearing at the Events Centre on March 19, which will help the organization determine whether it should approve or reject the City of Moose Jaw’s discretionary use application for a solid waste management venue north of the city.

Soper — vehemently opposed to the location since it’s adjacent to her homestead — was fired up all evening, including during her presentation and when city officials spoke, where she interrupted them with additional questions.

RM Reeve Ron Brumwell was forced to silence Soper by saying the forum was not about debating the issue but about receiving information — including from city officials.

City manager Maryse Carmichael, operations director Bevan Harlton and an engineering consultant also spoke; their comments are in another article. During those presentations, many attendees could be heard muttering negatively about the answers they heard.

Unanswered questions

A rural ratepayers’ group has not received honest answers from city hall about the site since the group believes the municipality will eventually move more services — such as transit and public works — out there, Soper said.

She referred to several articles in the Moose Jaw Express with comments from Harlton about the site, comments she believes reveal city hall’s true intentions.

Furthermore, when the group met

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

with officials, Soper said she asked Harlton whether the city works complex could move to the new location. He said yes, while Carmichael said that “it was a possibility.”

During another encounter, Soper said she asked Harlton whether the city would move its bus garage there; he replied yes. However, during the city’s landfill-related open house on Feb. 22, he allegedly told her that he didn’t recall saying that.

“I think it’s only fair that if they are considering moving that (city complex) out, then our RM (and the Ministry of Highways) should know now … ,” Soper said.

A second question Soper had was about the city’s “Plan B” if the RM council rejected the application and whether it would expropriate or annex land.

Soper stated that while she isn’t an engineer, she is a farmer, mother and grandmother of future farmers.

“That is my dream. I think it’s a dream worth fighting for,” she said. “Common sense and logic say, you do not put a dump on prime, agricultural land … . We should

be fighting like hell to protect and preserve it.”

Since Soper thought the city had ignored and neglected rural residents’ rights, she wanted the RM to reject the “ridiculous proposal” and have the city choose a different site or approach to handling waste.

“We need to take care of the future today,” she added.

Soper later told the Express that from the site’s 390 acres, if each acre yielded 44 bushels, each could annually produce 1,404,000 loaves of bread or 294,840 kilograms (655,200 pounds) of pasta.

Not on my land

During his presentation, Cal Soper, Wilda’s son, read parts of the RM’s zoning bylaw and contrasted them with the proposed project. His main point was the latter failed to meet the criteria of the former. Moreover, he wondered how the RM council could approve the project when the city had only provided a draft design.

Meanwhile, he said there would be many health and safety risks, while farmers

would face delays moving their machines if Highway 2 was perpetually busy. It would also affect his kids’ ability to ride their bikes on grid roads, while it would generate additional noise and traffic.

The Sopers’ home quarter section is across from the proposed venue, and he wants to build a new home on that section, although that’s unlikely to happen now, while they likely can’t subdivide either, he said.

The rural resident listed his other concerns, including the fact that while the city will use a berm to block water from running through the site, that would flood area farmland. He also wondered who would collect the garbage from his property.

“They definitely will not be walking through my fields, tramping down my crops … . And (they) will not be driving through my land in the spring, fall or winter transferring diseases to my land,” Soper said.

The young farmer thought city hall had done a “poor” job of communicating or providing honest answers.

He also thought there had been no transparency, that this project did not provide good value for money, and that it would not sequester carbon or provide food — all criteria, he noted, that the city’s stilldraft Official Community Plan and zoning bylaw stipulate.

“It is my firm belief that there is no reason to approve this discretionary use application. We have been kept in the dark in this whole process, lied to, and information has been kept secret (from us) … ,” he said. “This whole project is full of lies and deception.”

Soper added that city hall had 12 years to put together a proposal, but the RM council and ratepayers were still waiting for.

Randall Johnson, with TJ Disposal Ltd. in Shellbrook, speaks about new technology that can allegedly turn all landfill waste into usable items.

Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Wilda Soper, a rural resident, expresses her concerns about the proposed site for the City of Moose Jaw’s new landfill.

Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Brian Swanson critiques landfill project using his 24 years of council experience

Brian Swanson spent about 24 years as a city councillor and received many reports about the landfill, including information about the provincial government letting Moose Jaw expand its current venue eastward.

Swanson used that knowledge in his presentation at the Events Centre on March 19, during the public hearing the Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw held about the City of Moose Jaw’s proposed solid waste management venue project application.

The RM council faces a tough decision considering the city has already completed 98 per cent of this process, he said. Although rural councillors may not feel good about voting on this, he thought they could pursue another option.

After being re-elected in 2003, Swanson remembered city administration saying the landfill had about two years remaining. Eleven years later, he was at a council planning session when the topic — a contentious issue across the province — again arose. Swanson asked administration for the consultant’s engineering report since this discussion had occurred for roughly three years.

He admitted that he never felt satisfied with the answers he received about the landfill. Furthermore, he thought his job was to critically analyze what infor-

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

mation he was receiving, what he wasn’t receiving, when he was receiving it and why he was receiving it.

One option city hall that has deemed impossible but that has existed for years is to expand the landfill east on city-owned lands, Swanson said.

Since landfill design has requirements that include liners and leachate control measures, the principles guiding the development of the new site can be applied to the existing location, he added. He wanted an engineering firm to create a report saying how the expansion could be

made environmentally compliant.

When Swanson retired in 2020, he threw out an inches-thick stack of reports about the landfill, a decision he regrets.

“(Those reports) consistently stated that … there was going to be expansion to the east, and the government was aware of this and had kind of agreed to it,” he said.

While the clay at the existing location may be insufficient, the city could bring in new material and install liners during the expansion, Swanson continued.

Furthermore, the cost would likely be comparable to the $6 million that city hall is paying for the 390 acres. Also, the city wouldn’t have to construct new infrastructure since the weigh scales and compactor are already present.

Swanson said he didn’t believe city administration’s claim that a new landfill would be less expensive over its 100-year lifespan than an expansion, which would last only a few decades. Further, none of the forum attendees would be alive in 40 years to verify those claims.

“And statements like that, I take with a grain of salt,” Swanson said. “(Furthermore), I always felt there was (a hidden) agenda with the landfill. And it’s my belief that … the city sees the landfill as a big money-maker.”

City administration has twice taken funds from the solid waste utility — a

standalone account responsible for its own revenues and expenses — in the past few years to offset capital or operational expenses, he continued. To him, those boundaries “become very fuzzy when necessary.”

With the current landfill sometimes taking in nearly three times as much area refuse as expected, the future dump could also be a money-maker, he added.

The city annexed RM land years ago to build the agri-food industrial park, with officials saying they would not spend one penny there until they sold lots, Swanson said. Seven years later, the city has invested millions and sold zero lots; SaskPower’s Great Plains Power Station is not part of the park since it’s an independent greenfield project.

“When city hall gets ideas about how much money they’re going to make from things, I have reservations,” he stated.

While rural residents fear the city could annex or expropriate “the best farmland in the world” if the application fails, Swanson said annexation “takes two” willing partners, while he doubted the province would support expropriation.

Swanson added that the City of Moose Jaw “makes really bad land deals” — prompting the crowd to laugh — and cautioned the RM council about entering into a similar agreement.

City officials answer concerns about new landfill despite heckling from crowd

City officials did their best to answer rural residents’ concerns about the proposed landfill during the Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw’s public forum on March 19, but not everyone was satisfied.

City manager Maryse Carmichael and operations director Bevan Harlton responded at the end of the meeting to some of the issues — mainly from Wilda Soper — that forum attendees raised. Carmichael indicated that anyone wanting further clarification could contact her office.

One concern was what the city’s “Plan B” would be if the RM rejected the discretionary use application.

Carmichael said she believed in co-operation and working to find solutions. However, it would be “back to the drawing table” in discussions with the RM since finding a new — and best possible — location for a solid waste management venue is a shared issue.

Soper then asked whether expropriation or annexation were options the city could use to acquire land.

“I’m saying everything is an option,” Carmichael said, prompting laughter from the crowd.

Soper, wanting a clearer answer, again asked whether the city would use either of those options.

“It’s a discussion with the RM on the

future steps in what we can do together to have a solution,” the city manager replied.

Carmichael also addressed concerns about possible fires at the future landfill, saying there have been blazes at the current venue, but all have been contained. Meanwhile, the new landfill would have proper measures to prevent fires from spreading.

Harlton then addressed the “confusion” he accidentally created while referencing a public works venue since some attendees thought he was talking about the city complex on High Street West.

He said city staff will still handle sol-

id waste management in the future as they do now. With the proposed venue, staff will separate materials into different areas before they either bury the items or store them. Therefore, that technically makes the new landfill a public works venue.

“I do want to clarify for everybody — including the RM — that there are no expansions beyond that considered in our discretionary use (application),” Harlton said. “It’s not something we’ve asked (consultant) GHD to design or consider. It’s not a report that we have brought to council or the RM for any future expansions.”

Soper then interrupted and asked whether it was a future possibility that the city would move its public works department and bus fleet there. She alleged that he had told her the buses would move there during a previous conversation.

“So, there’s no plans to move transit out to this location,” Harlton said.

Soper interjected again, asking, “Never, never, ever? You’re never, ever, ever (going to do that)?”

Ron Brumwell, RM reeve and meeting chair, jumped in and said the meeting wasn’t about having debates but about gathering information. He said if anyone wanted to discuss the issue further with city officials, that would be a different

meeting.

Harlton responded to Soper’s question, reiterating that moving the bus barns is not a conversation city administration is having “at this time,” while he couldn’t predict what would happen in the future.

This new venue will have space for 15 “cells” in which to bury garbage, with each lasting five years, he continued. However, he didn’t know whether the municipality would be using the same technology in 20 years.

The city purchased 159 hectares (390 acres) in total for the site but plans to use 128 hectares (320 acres) for the solid waste management venue. When asked about the remaining 28 hectares (70 acres), Harlton said it was part of the purchase and wouldn’t be subdivided for other purposes.

Mark Parker, a consultant with GHD, responded to concerns about the lack of a detailed design, saying the parties weren’t there yet on the timeline. Instead, the RM must first approve the application before GHD can start on the other steps and develop the design details; it would make that information public later.

Cal Soper, Wilda’s son, then asked how the timeline was developed. However, none of the three officials answered his question.

Fate of new landfill now in the hands of rural council

The fate of the proposed landfill is now in the hands of the Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw’s council, which will spend the next month or two deciding whether to approve the project.

Reeve Ron Brumwell spoke to the media following the RM’s recent public information forum about the City of Moose Jaw’s solid waste management venue project.

He thought the meeting featured good discussions, while the highlight for him was possible new landfill-related technology that “might solve all of our issues.” He hoped to meet with entrepreneur Randall Johnson, who spoke about new processes that turn waste into usable items.

“(That’s) something I’d never heard of before,” Brumwell said.

However, the reeve thought there were still “an awful lot of unanswered questions” with this project, which made it difficult for the RM council to approve since they weren’t fully sure what they were even approving. While city officials discussed how the waste management process works, that was “their side of it and not necessarily our side of it.”

One concern Brumwell had was the city hadn’t provided a traffic impact analysis of how Highway 2 would be affected by the increased traffic. The RM council has already met with the Ministry of Highways and learned the province thought

turning lanes would be sufficient, but that hasn’t been confirmed in writing.

Also, the RM hasn’t received a site suitability report from the Ministry of Environment, even though it requested one.

“So, till we get those, a lot of those questions that have been asked (during the forum) can’t be answered,” Brumwell said. “So … I don’t know what else council is going to come up with for comments or questions that need to be answered before we can call for a vote.”

Brumwell added that he and his councillors would discuss the issue during their April and May meetings and determine whether to approve or reject the discretionary use application.

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Brian Swanson, a former city councillor, speaks during the RM of Moose Jaw’s public forum on the proposed city landfill. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Bevan Harlton, operations direction at city hall (centre), answers concerns during the RM of Moose Jaw’s public hearing forum. At left is Mark Parker, a consultant with GHD, and at right is city manager Maryse Carmichael. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Ron Brumwell, reeve of the RM of Moose Jaw, chairs the public information meeting. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Visit for dental work wasn’t as unpleasant as expected TRADING THOUGHTS

A trip to the dentist is rarely pleasant.

Since Yours Truly was a small gaffer trips to the dentist have been dreaded and delayed, sometimes requiring more time in that chair than would have been needed.

I can’t stand anything in my mouth for any length of time. That may explain why I don’t chew my food a lot.

Not having been to my dentist since before the Covid-19 disaster, I was worried. After five years there were three or four sensitive spots on my pearlies.

Were they all cavities that needed filling? Or were some going to need those expensive crowns?

The night before my first appointment was spent tossing, turning and squirming.

First was the dread of a cleaning. Last time I went they were unable to take an X-ray. By the time the dental hygienist got to push the button I had gagged and spit out the X-ray material. Twice they tried to no avail.

The thought of someone poking and pulling with tiny tools in my teeth gave me the shivers.

The dreaded day came. My file contained a warning of my short gag reflex. I always go to the dentist on an

empty stomach, just in case.

To my surprise the X-ray was totally different. It was like an X-ray machine at the hospital. I stood in front and an X-ray device circled around my head twice. No gagging necessary.

The cleaning wasn’t as terrible an experience as I had expected either.

To prevent me from gagging so often a substance was placed on my gums. That stopped the gag reflex from happening too often.

The X-ray and check-up by Dr. Mike revealed no cavities, but one 20-year-old crown on a partial plate had “eroded” and needed re-building.

“Oh, no,” I thought. “Not that sticky plasticine stuff stuck in my mouth for what seemed an eternity to get an impression!”

Before I could say anything Dr. Mike informed me the process had changed radically. They take a scan of the tooth needing work and then make a new one to exact size with a 3-D printer, take out old and put in the new.

When I told my partner about the crown re-build she

By Ron Walter For Moose Jaw Express

said that was probably caused by my chewing chicken bones.

I love the tasty marrow. Guess I’ll have to dig out the nutcracker.

Thinking about my visits to the dentist made me grateful for the service provided. It must take a special type of person to work on people’s teeth all day and look into their mouths.

Now I’m waiting to find out how much my insurance will pay, or will I need another job?

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Wildlife Federation accepting unwanted antlers, firearms, outdoor equipment

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts with excess deer antlers, outdoor equipment, or unwanted firearms have an opportunity to do some spring cleaning while also supporting a good cause, thanks to the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation’s (SWF) Guns for Habitat and Antlers for Habitat programs.

“People that have firearms they no longer use, or (who have) antlers… they no longer wish to keep anymore can get a hold of us and they can donate them to the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation,” explained Darren Newberry, director of habitat lands.

“We sell (these items) and the proceeds… go into purchasing wildlife habitat throughout the province of Saskatchewan.”

The SWF is accepting all nature of hunting, fishing, and outdoor equipment as long as it’s in good condition and carries an economic value.

When it comes to firearms, the federation will only accept non-restricted firearms typically obtained with a standard PAL (Possession and Acquisition Licence) and will not accept prohibited or restricted weapons such as handguns.

“I’ll gladly come right to the individual’s house if they don’t wish to take them on their own,” Newberry added.

The SWF is neither encouraging the disposal of firearms nor the elimination of hunting and shooting sports. The federation is simply encouraging any individuals who wish to dispose of their firearms to do so in a responsible manner that supports Saskatchewan’s wildlife

resource for future generations.

All donated items will then be auctioned off in support of the SWF, and the program operates throughout the year so there’s no deadline to make your donation. Several of these items may also be purchased at the SWF’s yearly convention that’s typically held in February at a rotating venue.

Since the contribution is viewed as a charitable dona-

tion, all donors will receive a tax receipt once their item has sold at auction reflecting the amount it was sold for.

Both programs have raised over $300,000 since the program began in 1998 and the wildlife federation has complementary programs that match each year’s total amount to effectively double the impact of each donation.

The fundraising initiative helps support the SWF’s ongoing conservation projects through its Habitat Trust Fund, including a number of land parcels acquired within a 30-minute radius of Moose Jaw and the ongoing Hamilton Flats habitat project.

Proceeds also help support educational initiatives such as fishing schools, Pheasants in the Classroom programs, the annual youth and family ice fishing tournament in March, and the Fish in Schools (FinS) program currently in progress at École Ducharme in Moose Jaw.

“We value the generosity of past donors. Proceeds from item sales go toward securing crucial wildlife habitats for the benefit of Saskatchewan’s wildlife and future generations of outdoor enthusiasts,” Newberry stated.

The SWF has branches across the province and any rural residents can simply give the federation a call to arrange a pickup once a nearby member is available.

In Moose Jaw, any of these items can be dropped off at the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation’s central office located at 9 Lancaster Road.

For more information on either program or to learn more about the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, visit swf.sk.ca, call 306-692-8812, or email Sask.Wildlife@ swf.sk.ca.

Sacred Heart students thrilled to meet live falcons during one-time guest visit

Aaron

Students at Sacred Heart Elementary School had the experience of a lifetime this month when several students got to visit and interact with two live falcons during a presentation held in the school’s library.

The presentation took place on March 15 and came about as a one-time-only opportunity.

“One of my teachers, her father is Mr. Gillies (and) he was from the Saskatchewan Falconry Association,” explained Terry Marak, the principal at Sacred Heart Elementary School.

“He came in and did a presentation to our Grades 34 and 4 - 5 classrooms on falcons.”

Marak said the presentation matched up nicely with several of the school’s curriculum outcomes, and even though it wasn’t originally planned as part of the students’ lessons, the chance visit happened at just the right time and place.

Nairn Gillies brought in two live female falcons and discussed their natural habitat, some interesting facts on the birds of prey, and he explained to the students that these birds are now endangered and shared what that means for the species.

Sacred Heart’s students were quite thrilled to have the opportunity to see the falcons in person but were even more thrilled after learning that they could handle the birds as well.

The highlight of the presentation was when Mr. Gillies lent students a specialized falconry glove to prevent

their hands and arms from being scratched and several students got to experience what it’s like to have a live falcon perched on their forearm.

Following this, each student had the opportunity to have their picture taken with the birds as something to take home as a keepsake to mark the occasion.

Mrs. Buchanan teaches at Sacred Heart School and said her husband has been working with the Saskatchewan Falconry Association for around 30 years now. Part of his work includes monitoring the birds’ breeding habits in order to help save the endangered North American species.

Although the visit was a one-time event, Marak said he’s open to the idea of inviting Mr. Gillies back for future visits after seeing the positive feedback expressed by the students who attended the presentation.

“This was a great experience for kids to be able to see (this presentation) and have him come in and explain all about the falcons,” Marak said. “That was truly a great experience – something that the kids will remember for a long time.

“Now they’ll be on the lookout for falcons, hopefully when they see them out in the wild,” Marak added as a nod to the hopeful success of the work done by Mr. Gillies and other conservation workers throughout North America.

To learn more about the work done by the Saskatchewan Falconry Association, visit SaskFalconryAssociation.com.

In Moose Jaw, any of these items can be dropped off at the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation’s central office located at 9 Lancaster Road. Photo by: Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation

Students at Sacred Heart Community School attend Nairn Gillies’ March 15 falconry presentation in the school’s library. Photo by: Sacred Heart Community School

Sukanen Ship Museum Antiques and Collectibles Show

featured a little bit of everything

Annual fundraising event takes place at Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds with 60 vendors, 170 tables selling a huge variety of wares

For almost a half-century, the Sukanen Ship Museum Antiques and Collectibles Show annual show has become one of the must-see events of early spring, with hundreds of folks taking in the incredibly wide range of items up for perusal and sale at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds.

That’s no exception this time around, as things were already incredibly busy on Friday afternoon right from the moment the doors opened -- something that’s as positive a sign as could be for Garry Davis with the Sukanen board of directors.

“There’s lots of people out and we’re glad to see it,” Davis said as folks milled around the 60 vendors covering 170 tables. “We’ve been doing the show for more than 40 years and had a bit of a lull during COVID, but we’re back at it and really happy to see all the vendors out here and all the patrons… they were lined up halfway across the parking lot when we

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

opened the doors and that’s great to see.”

The show is essentially a much larger version of what Sukanen itself has to offer, with an amazing range of antique items ranging from glassware to model cars, coins and stamps to hand-knitted items and just about everything in between.

That’s one of the things that makes the annual show so popular -- just about anyone can find something that will tickle their interest.

“It’s a walk down memory lane, you look around and no matter what age you are you’ll see something your mom had or

your grandma had and it creates a memory for you,” Davis said. “And unlike the museum, you can take a lot of the stuff here home… people collect different things and have different passions and come here looking for different things and it’s really refreshing to see.”

The show is a major fundraiser for Sukanen leading into their season, with opening day slated for May 15th this year.

Other major events this summer will include the Show and Shine on June 1, Flea Market on June 22, Family Day on July 21 and the always-popular Threshing

Bee on Sept. 7 and 8.

“It’ll be another busy summer and hopefully we have lots of visitors out there again this year,” Davis said.

For more information on the Sukanen Ship Museum, be sure to visit www.sukanenshipmuseum.ca or give them a shout at (306) 693-7315.

Wildlife Federation’s fish fry fundraiser proved to be a wild success

The Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation’s annual fish fry fundraiser took place this past weekend, with two sittings each on the night of March 22 and then again on March 23 at the federation’s clubhouse. The event raised funds in support of the federation’s ongoing educational programs such as the Fish in Schools (FinS) program.

The supper was confirmed to be a wild success and sold out on both nights. Each sitting had room for 150 individuals and there were four total sittings, one beginning at 5 p.m. and a second at 7 p.m. on each respective night.

All said, a total of 600 seated guests were served along with approximately 100 takeout meals.

“The event was a huge success,” stated Todd Smith, president of the Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation.

Held at the transition point between ice and open water fishing seasons, the fish fry provides a shore lunch outing and serves as a reminder of the upcoming open water season with the resulting return of warmer weather.

The annual supper is one of the non-profit charitable conservation organization’s major yearly fundraising initiatives, and proceeds help support its ongoing educational initiatives in the community.

A few of these programs include fishing schools, Fish in the Classroom (FinS), Pheasants in the Classroom programs, and a number of outings such as the earlier youth and family ice fishing tournament held on March 9.

The exact amount raised during this year’s event will not be officially revealed until the conclusion of the next upcoming general meeting. By the start of the meeting, organizers will have had enough time to count all the tickets and calculate the event’s expenses.

Smith confirmed that next year’s fish

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

nary potential of Pike can be.”

The yearly fish fry fundraiser is held at the Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation building located behind the Town ‘N’ Country Mall at 1396 Third Avenue Northeast. To contact the wildlife federation, the number to call is 306-693-4047.

If you’re looking for additional ways to help support the Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation and its conservation and edu-

cational efforts, the federation is inviting you to its upcoming annual fundraiser on Saturday, April 27 at the Moose Jaw Exhibition grounds. More details will be provided in the weeks to come.

To learn more about the Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation and its conservation efforts, visit the federation’s Facebook page, ‘Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation,’ or its website at MJWildlife.ca.

fry fundraiser is scheduled to take place around the same time and date, and the menu will once again include Pike.

“We’ll continue with Pike, for sure. That’s been a running tradition and we’re not going to switch it up now,” he said.

Pike continues to be the mainstay dish because it’s available locally and all proceeds stay in the province. The fish is sourced exclusively from Denare Beach in Northern Saskatchewan.

“We support the local communities up there with their netting programs… and their fish plant, so we’re happy to do that,” Smith said.

“Hopefully we’ll see everybody out again to support our branch and our work within the community, and we look forward to seeing everybody there (in 2025).”

To answer the biggest question of the event, Smith revealed that the federation appeared to be successful in changing at least a few minds on the culinary value of Pike as a menu option.

“I think so,” he replied. “We had lots of people who didn’t even realize it was Pike. They were coming up and saying, ‘It’s really, really good. What is that stuff?’”

“I think there were a few that kind of got their eyes opened as to what the culi-

Sights and scenes from the Sukanen Ship Museum Antiques and Collectibles Show that took place this Friday and Saturday at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds.

This year’s annual fish fry supper proved to be wildly successful with over 600 meals sold. Photo by: Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation

By Patricia Hanbidge

Easter and Holiday Plants

During the special holidays we see throughout the year, we adorn our homes with beautiful living plants. What a wonderful way to help hasten spring and to ensure we enjoy some living colour in our lives that is unequaled by any other thing.

When we think about Easter – we also think about spring. Funny, how spring actually appears at a different time each year – as does Easter. The date that Easter falls follows the Jewish calendar, which is based on the lunar cycles, while our regular calendar is based on the sun. Easter can fall on a Sunday anytime between March 22nd and April 25th. The Passover full moon or Paschal full moon was determined by historical tables, and is the first

full moon after the vernal equinox otherwise known as the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This first full moon determines the date of Easter as the Sunday immediately following that first full moon is Easter Sunday.

I have lots of cool things blooming right now. The Easter Cactus (also called the Christmas Cactus) is a great houseplant that responds to a specific day length which initiates the bloom. We do not have to do anything to make this happen as this plant is an easy keeper that with a small amount of care will keep blooming for years to come. Water thoroughly when the service of the soil feels dry and keep it in bright light.

Any of the spring flowering bulbs are also available around Easter. Although they only bring colour for a week or two, they still remind us of spring and are welcome in these last cooler days prior to the outdoors coming alive. Crocus, tulips, daffodils, iris and hyacinths are all readily available and relatively economical if you are purchasing them. If you like to force bulbs for indoor bloom, simply place the bulbs in a cool environment – like the crisper of your fridge for 12 to 14 weeks and then bring them out into your home to enjoy a riot of colour. It is best to give

them this cold period when they are already in pots as we are mimicking Mother Nature and typical fall conditions.

Other good choices for blooming plants for Easter include gardenias, azaleas, mums and even gerbera daisies. They are all short-lived houseplants but if cared for properly will bring some colour to your home for a few weeks. After a long, cold winter, blooming plants bring a great deal of happiness to our homes.

Kalanchoe is another short-lived houseplant. It is actually a succulent with large, green leaves and clusters of small flowers that bloom for many weeks indoors. Again, this plant is relatively inexpensive which might allow you to enjoy a more varied explosion of blooms without causing financial distress!

Indoor hydrangeas as either a cut flower or a potted plant are always amazing. They are usually available in white, pink or blue and last well if they are potted. I am always thrilled by anything that is a blue flower and if it is the right kind of hydrangea and it is grown in an acidic environment, the blooms are a lovely blue, reminding me of the seashore areas of England.

The Easter Lily is deserving of having a column devoted to this striking plant alone. Watch for it next week!

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

Local Rotary clubs open upcoming conference to non-members

The Rotary Club of Moose Jaw Wakamow is opening its spring conference to the public after receiving inquiries from non-Rotarians interested in attending the event focused on “hope and mental wellness.”

The conference, set for Friday, May 10 and Saturday, May 11, at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company’s Convention Centre, will include local and international voices sharing stories of the effect of hope and mental wellness.

The Moose Jaw Wakamow Club is hosting the event in collaboration with the Moose Jaw and Assiniboia Rotary Clubs and Visit Moose Jaw.

For residents who want to attend, early bird registration rates are in effect until Sunday, March 31, with the choice of two-day registration for Friday and Saturday ($255) or a single full-day option ($170). Registration costs increase on Monday, April 1, to $305 for the twoday registration and $205 for a single-day attendance. Lunch and dinner are included with each option. Conference highlights on Friday, May 10, include:

· Opening ceremonies

· Keynote address: Della Ferguson, Journey to Hope,

By Moose Jaw Express staff

Mental wellness for individuals and community

· Presentation: Laura Hamilton, Moose Jaw artist, Hope and mental wellness through art

· Presentation: Dusti Hennenfent, acting director, Canadian Mental Health Association — Moose Jaw

· House of ImaginAction and silent auction

· Dinner and entertainment at the Western Development Museum Conference highlights on Saturday, May 11, include:

· Presentation: Lisa Franks, Paralympian gold medallist and world-record holder, Hope in the face of adversity

· Presentation: Judge Clifford Toth and Meagan Jasper, Saskatchewan’s Therapeutic and Drug Courts and

lived experience, Hope and mental wellness from addictions

· Keynote address: Maryse Carmichael, Snowbird commander/city manager, Hope and mental wellness in the community

· Presentation: Rotary Ripple Effect, Building hope in and with communities

· Presentation: Rotary Youth Exchange students, Hope for the future

· Dinner, District governor’s program and social To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/5550-Conference and check the category “Interested People” on the online form.

The District 5550 Conference will gather club members from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario for two days of fellowship and learning. Delegates are encouraged to come early and stay late to explore Moose Jaw’s attractions and amenities.

This will also be a good opportunity for the public to learn more about the initiatives that Rotary International supports locally and around the world.

A more detailed agenda will be shared as the conference approaches. Moose Jaw Wakamow Rotary Club encourages people to follow its Facebook page for further information and updates.

The Pioneer Lodge is hosting a Spring Market event at 1000 Albert St, Moose Jaw on May 4th. Twenty vendors have already signed up to share their wares with the residents and public. The event will take place indoors, so rain or shine, come down and spend your day there. The market will be open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

All monies being raised will be going to the recreation department to cover the cost of the senior’s outings, entertainment and so much more. The Recreation Department plays such an enormous role in the health and welfare of seniors. The benefits of social, physical, spiritual and mental interaction adds to the daily growth and happiness of the seniors. At times however, there are costs involved and the Recreation Department paves the way to finding innovative ways to cover these extra costs by holding social functions.

“We were looking for different ways of fundraising,” said Emma Watson, Activities Director.

The Spring Market is bringing together twenty local artists/marketeers to showcase their creative and inspiring works. There will also be a Penny Parade, as well as five baskets comprised of donations from the vendors to be drawn. Tickets for the baskets draw will be $5.00 each.

A beautiful garden stone has been graciously donated to the Pioneer Lodge to be raffled off at the event, too. Draw for this particular item will be at 4 pm with details available at the market.

For all those who may be interested in supporting this fundraiser, if you have any new spring/summer items that you may wish to donate to the fundraiser, please con-

tact the Recreation Department at 306-691-2271.

If you feel a little hungry, Taco-in-a-Bag with a soda will be available for $7.00 so bring your appetite and support the Pioneer Lodge. The benefits of purchasing a lunch goes far beyond temporary self-satisfaction but adds to the happiness and wellbeing of the residents. So, feed yourself and feed a fancy. It could be movie night, cards or a day trip out that your taco-in-a-bag will support in the days and months to come.

On May 4th, plan on attending the market to show your support for the amazing work the Pioneer Lodge Recreation Department facilitates in making the senior residence a happy place. For more information please call the Recreation Department at the Pioneer Lodge at 306-691-2271.

WARRIORS GO

GO WARRIORS 2024

From The Kitchen

By Joyce Walter - Moose Jaw Express

Weekend guests will be in awe of baked Easter ham

Baked ham and all the trimmings will be on many tables as families and friends gather in celebration of the Easter weekend.

Sandwiches made with the leftover ham, or a thick ham bone and bean soup will allow the ham to be enjoyed in several ways after the main meal has been served.

Easter-related recipes this week come from a favourite cookbook donated to my collection by a long-time friend.

Happy Easter to all.

• • • EASTER HAM

1 smoked, 10-12 lb. whole tenderized ham

1 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

2 tbsps. flour

1 tsp. dry mustard

3 tbsps. pineapple juice

2 tbsps. whole cloves

1 can round pineapple slices, drained maraschino cherries

Place ham on a rack, fat side up, in a roasting pan. Do not cover. Bake in a preheated 300 degrees F oven and bake for 25 minutes per pound.

Forty-five minutes before ham is done, remove from oven and remove most of the rind except for a collar around the shank bone. Cut one inch diagonals across fat to form diamonds and place a clove in each cut intersection.

Combine flour, sugar and mustard. Drain pineapple, reserving juice. Make a paste of the dry ingredients and 3 tbsps. of the juice.

Layer 1 cup of the paste on the ham, 1/2 inch thick. Place slices of pineapple over the paste. Return to oven and baste frequently over the next 45 minutes.

Before the last 10 minutes, layer ham with the remaining paste, raise heat to 425 degrees F and bake until glazed and browned.

Remove from oven, let rest, then slice. Place a cherry in the centre of each pineapple ring and arrange decoratively on a large platter.

• • •

SWEET POTATO RING

12 small to medium sweet potatoes, boiled and mashed

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 1/2 cup butter, melted 1/4 cup walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped

Scrub potatoes and boil for 30-35 minutes in sufficient salted water to cover. Peel cooked potatoes and mash to a fine puree.

Grease a 6 cup mold. Pour in melted butter and tilt pan so bottom and sides are thoroughly covered. Add sugar evenly to the bottom then cover with chopped nuts.

Fill mold with mashed potatoes over the sugar and nuts. Place mold in a pan of hot water and bake in preheated 350 degrees F oven for 45 minutes.

To serve, turn out on a platter as for an upside-down cake so ring will be like caramel on top. Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel. net

Rob Hoskins will be hosting a free photo op with the Easter Bunny this March 30

Don’t miss the chance to take a free photograph with the Easter Bunny at the Town ‘N’ Country Mall this spring, thanks to Rob Hoskins Photography who will be running a temporary studio between 1 – 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 30 for one day only.

Rob Hoskins is the owner of Rob Hoskins Photography and also the Comic Book Guy Pop Culture Shop at the mall. He’s also a familiar name among local parents as his studio also hosts photos with Santa Claus when he visits from the North Pole and again during the spooky Halloween season.

“We got a big ‘ol Easter Bunny (and) we bought a brand-new background just for Easter,” Hoskins confirmed regarding the March 30 event.

There’s no intended age range for the photo opportunity, but younger children will probably derive the most joy from the occasion. This time around – unlike Santa’s yearly visit right before Christmas –there will be no charge for the privilege.

All photographs will be available in a digital format, and Hoskins said they can be readily accessed from a private and personal link provided on his Facebook page, ‘Rob Hoskins Photography,’ which is where he conducts most of his business correspondence.

When a picture has been taken, the link will also direct each participant to his online picture gallery that contains past

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express / MooseJawToday.com

examples of his work.

Hoskins has been organizing photos with Santa at the Town ‘N’ Country Mall for around ten years now and describes it

as one of his favourite ways to pass the time.

to (take) those pictures and they host the space for it,” he said. “They give me the space, and I bring in the talent,” he added in good humour.

The photo opportunity is being offered without charge as a way to give back to the community and to “let all those people who want to get pictures done for fun, for free.”

Hoskins has been a professional photographer since 1996, and in or around 2018 he decided to go independent with his own company, Rob Hoskins Photography.

In addition to his traditional mall photographs primarily intended for children, Hoskins said he covers almost every subject matter including graduations, weddings, family photos, and frequently photographs kids, dogs, and other family pets as well.

Guests can also look forward to a new Halloween backdrop that will be available for photo opportunities this fall, and following that, a new Christmas-themed backdrop has also been added for the upcoming Christmas holiday season.

“We wanted to just up the game a little bit,” he said regarding the new backdrops.

To have your photo taken with the Easter Bunny, all you have to do is stop by the Town ‘N’ Country Mall located at 1235 Main Street North on the afternoon

National quilting group does great work supporting veterans, volunteer says

Elizabeth (Beth) Andrews has volunteered with a national veteran-focused organization for five years and believes the work it does brings comfort to military personnel who feel forgotten by society.

Andrews is the Saskatchewan representative for Quilts of Valour Canada (QVC), which recognizes members of the Canadian Forces — injured and non-injured — for their service and commitment by providing them with quilts that volunteers from coast to coast have made.

“It’s just such an honour to be able to do this,” she said after a recent presentation at the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans (ANAVETS) Club 252, which included the club presenting a cheque of $500 to QVC.

Quilts of Valour began in 2006 when Edmonton quilter Lezley Zwaal learned that three soldiers had been injured in Afghanistan and one killed, Andrews explained. While the media focused on the member who died, Zwaal’s heart broke for the injured soldiers, who were recovering in hospital in the Alberta capital.

The Edmonton craftswoman gathered a few friends and they created quilts for the injured servicemen to thank them for their service. She was deeply affected after meeting the trio and learning first-hand of their injuries. That encounter made such an impression that she launched Quilts of Valour Canada.

“I’ve gotten to know her, and I know that whipping up (quilts) for her is very quick,” Andrews said, noting the program

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

— which originated in the United States — has spread to Britain and Australia.

Since launching 18 years ago, the Canadian program has distributed 22,051 quilts to veterans across the country, while there are 300 more veterans on a list waiting to receive one, she continued. Most expectant veterans live in Eastern Canada because that’s where most military bases are.

Quilts of Valour Canada is an all-volunteer organization, including its executive, so it relies on donations of fabric and money, Andrews said. The organization is fortunate because there is a quilting company that provides quilt batting at reduced rates, while another provides “O Canada fabrics” at low cost.

“So, it really helps us out a lot, but it still takes a lot of people to put this togeth-

er,” she remarked.

Andrews recalled a conversation she had at the beginning of the pandemic with a group of Saskatchewan quilters who told her they were worried about how they would produce items when they couldn’t gather.

So, they met by phone, determined the quilt they would create, ordered the pattern and fabric and then picked up the materials. One person cut out the patterns and dropped off the material at another member’s house, with that person then sewing.

Using that method helped the women overcome the challenges of the pandemic.

“And at the end of COVID, when we were actually able to get together again, they presented me with three beautiful quilts that they had done … ,” said Andrews. “So where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Each quilt has a label with the veteran’s name and an individual number that is entered into a national database.

Andrews said she had no military background when she joined the organization, although she knew her grandpa and uncle had served in the World Wars. Volunteering with Quilts of Valour

Canada became a good learning experience because she met many veterans and learned their stories and what happened to them.

That’s why presenting quilts to veterans is a pleasurable experience for her.

‘A hug from everybody in Canada’; Four veterans receive quilts from national program

Four veterans have received “a hug from everybody in Canada” after a community group partnered with a national organization to award the men colourful and decorative blankets.

Moose Jaw’s Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans (ANAVETS) Club No. 252 recently held an awards ceremony and handed out pins recognizing long-service memberships. It also honoured Ed Webb, Ed Land, Ron Johnson and Don McDonald with a Quilt of Valour, a national program that honours veterans’ service.

This was the first time the club had given out Quilts of Valour, while it chose these men because they were the most deserving or have been members for decades, said Ron Roy, sergeant-at-arms.

One veteran was pleased with the accolade.

“This is one of the greatest honours I’ve ever gotten in my life. I never expected to be nominated for this,” said McDonald.

McDonald, 73, has been with the Legion for more than 30 years, while he served in the military from 1969 to 1999 and did tours in Egypt, Cyprus, France and Germany.

He is also a member of the Moose Jaw United Nations NATO Veterans

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Group, which meets regularly, engages in community service and supports needy veterans.

That service is important because members are “old school” and believe it’s vital to “give back, give back, give back” to their communities since the latter supported them during their careers, McDonald said.

McDonald added that he loved his time in the military, especially since he attempted to climb a pyramid in Egypt.

“It’s hard, and if you don’t get too far (up), you get tired,” he chuckled.

One negative of military life is being away from family, and while that’s a “downfall” of the job, the upside is serving one’s country, McDonald continued. When members enlist, they “write a cheque (with) a value up to and including” their lives — and it’s redeemable at any time.

“You can always take the man out of the uniform … but you can never take the uniform out of the person,” he added. “And that’s the way I’ve lived my life.”

Elizabeth (Beth) Andrews, the Saskatchewan rep for Quilts of Valour Can-

ada, thought it was wonderful to present four blankets to deserving veterans since it’s similar to receiving “a hug from everybody in Canada.” She also appreciated the provincial volunteers who crafted the colourful items with interesting designs.

“There’s just so much need in the country … (so) it’s just nice that we’re able to do our little thing for somebody,” she said, noting she sends excess quilts from Saskatchewan to Eastern Canada be-

cause of the demand.

Andrews says she becomes emotional speaking with veterans and learning about their experiences. She recalled one discussion with one man who loved hockey but couldn’t attend games anymore because every time the puck hit the glass, he was on the floor — a reaction acquired during his service.

When Andrews began five years ago, she didn’t know how many quilts were required in Saskatchewan, while she assumed it was mostly veterans of the Second World War and Korean War who needed one. However, she soon realized many other veterans had served in places such as Bosnia and Afghanistan and had acquired post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Speaking with those veterans is special for Andrews because she now understands that many feel left out. So, she regularly contacts legions and veterans’ groups to identify possible quilt candidates.

Andrews usually distributes 20 to 30 quilts annually, and so far this year, she has given out 15, which she sees as positive since that shows the word is spreading about the Quilts of Valour initiative.

Pat Gabel (centre) receives a 40-year service pin from ANAVETS president Don Purington and sergeant-at-arms Ron Roy. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Don McDonald (second from left) receives a Quilt of Valour, while accompanied by Steve Kilgour, Marie McDonald, Elizabeth Andrews with Quilts of Valour Canada and ANAVETS sergeant-at-arms Ron Roy. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Ed Land (centre) receives a Quilt of Valour, while accompanied by his wife, Sherril, and Lorne Willits with the Moose Jaw United Nations NATO Veterans Group. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Ed Webb (second from left) receives a Quilt of Valour from Beth Andrews (second from right), the Saskatchewan rep for the national program, during a ceremony at the ANAVETS Club 252 venue. Also pictured are club president Don Purington (left) and sergeant-atarms Ron Roy (right). Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Elizabeth (Beth) Andrews, the Saskatchewan rep for Quilts of Valour Canada (centre), accepts a cheque of $500 from ANAVETS members Don Purington (president, left) and Ron Roy (sergeant-at-arms, right). Photo by Jason G. Antonio

Hot Pressure Washers!!

By Leon Retief

Moonflight

Gill Lewis, illustrations

by Pippa Curnick

David Fickling Books, 306 pages

Being a grandfather is in some ways a double-edged sword. On the one hand, old age has draped itself around my shoulders like a not-always-too-friendly cat, on the other hand I had the entirely unexpected opportunity to investigate a few aspects of children’s literature, and what a pleasure it turned out to be.

The book under review will soon be in our granddaughter’s hands, but before we sent it off, I hugely enjoyed reading it to make sure that it is suitable for 8-10-year-old children, and by golly, what a good yarn it is.

Rats, so it seems, aren’t just rats. The seventh-born rat of a seventh litter is destined for adventure, danger

and perhaps death, but timid little Tilbury Twitch-Whiskers, the seventh-born ratling of his mother’s seventh litter, living with his family among London’s Dockyard Rats, does not know it.

Or at least, not yet. Together with his sister Nimble-Quick he spends happy hours unsuccessfully trying to fashion a flying wing described two hundred years ago by a heroic rat called Bartholomew, revered by the Dockyard Rats. In spite of his curious mind, his mother has convinced him that his health is too precarious to leave his parental home for the outside world, as all young rats must do.

Fate soon catches up with him of course. He is not alone in his unexpected travels but is accompanied by his much more adventurous and strong-minded sister and soon by other rats, most of whom, were they human, I’d rather not invite over for a beer.

The reason for Tilbury’s daring exploits is the possession by the Dockyard Rats of a cursed black diamond, stolen two hundred years ago by Bartholomew who, realizing the implications of his theft, locked it in an impenetrable golden cage, together with instructions to return the gem to its rightful owners, whose identity of course only becomes clear at the end.

So far, so good, pretty standard fare for a kiddie’s book, I think – not that I am an expert on children’s (or any other) literature - but from here on the story gets really interesting, not only for the twists and turns in the plot line (which should keep kiddies on the edge of their seats with excitement), but underlying the thrilling adventures there are deeper messages which I hope my granddaughter will understand.

Tilbury, timid as he is, shows that a hero does not have to be strong and fearless – on the contrary, true heroes are those who defy dangers in spite of their fears.

The way Nimble-Quick and Rose are treated by, among others, Zekali (“There is nothing more trouble-

OPINION/COMMENTARY

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

Provincial Budgets – How They Work

By Richard Dowson - For Educational Purposes

On March 20, 2024, Saskatchewan Minister of Finance, Donna Harpauer, presented the Provincial Budget.

The news coverage was overpowering. It was like everyone and their dog was describing the sound of a tree falling in the forest.

What was really going on?

Just Think of the Province as a Family…

Consider a family of nine – two adults and 7 children, all living at home.

Mom controls all money coming into the house. Mom lets Dad assume he is in charge and distracts him by sending him off to meetings.

Of the 7 children, Child # 3 and Child # 4 have good jobs and make good money. Every pay day they give their Mom their paycheque and she sorts out how it is spent. There are the basics – groceries and housing. She then splits the rest.

Child # 1, the oldest, is a dreamer who works occasionally. He has grand ideas and needs money. He is the Mom’s favorite. She gives him money for his outlandish projects.

Child # 2 is finding himself. He is in a Rock Band and they are putting out a CD soon. He needs money for a new Drum Kit – and gets it. Since ‘Gigs’ are all over the province he also needs gas money and money for travel expenses. He gets it.

Child # 3 gets a small rebate and money to buy furniture.

Child # 4 gets some money too. She saves some and buys clothes.

Child # 3 and Child # 4 are important to the Mom. She needs their money and she needs to make them

happy so they don’t quit their jobs and move to Alberta. So she cooks their favorited meal from time to time and gives them rebates.

Child # 3 and Child # 4 are needed to co-sign a Bank Loan for Child #1 so he can build his crazy new project that in reality is stupid and returns little or nothing on investment.

Child # 5 wants to go to technical school and study ‘Gaming.’ He gets money for a faster computer so he can play computer games in the basement, where he lives, in his own room.

Child # 6 is still in high school and playing hockey. He is a goalie so needs expensive equipment and money for registration in the hockey league. He also needs money to fix a broken tooth.

Child # 7 is still in elementary school and needs money for crayons.

When the Mom checks how much money she has and how much she is spending, she has two choices. Either reduce the money she gives back the Golden Goose Kids, (#3 and #4) or borrow more. If she borrows more she can stash a chunk for her retirement. She can’t count on the kids in her old age. She borrows more.

The Dad? He’s still in meetings.

See! Simple! Right?

some than a clever she-rat with an idea”) sends a clear message about mysogyny and equality of the sexes; the Sand Rats’ rejection of the diamond neatly brings to the fore that material possessions aren’t everything.

Tilbury discovers Bartholomew’s past, which should help little readers realize that many great figures have feet of clay but may still be admirable.

Book Cover Image: Amazon.ca

For me, the most important idea the book brings home is to never blindly trust authority, partly as personified by the corrupt and self-indulgent Dockyard Rats Elders, but most of all when Tilbury realizes this: “The felinrats had ruled with fear… but the Golden Rats ruled with words. Maybe silencing someone’s voice was the most powerful weapon of all.”

There is death in the book, and although no gory details are given some parents may want to prepare their child for this.

If you want to foster a love of reading in a young child, give them this book.

NOTICE OF ASSESSMENT ROLL RESORT VILLAGE OF SUN VALLEY

Notice is hereby given that the assessment roll for the Resort Village of Sun Valley for the year 2024 has been prepared and is open to inspection from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, except holidays beginning April 4, 2024 until May 3, 2024.

A Bylaw pursuant to section 214 of The Municipalities Act has been passed and the assessment notices have been sent as required.

Any person who wishes to appeal against his or her assessment appeal is required to file a notice of appeal, accompanied by a $50.00 appeal fee, which will be returned if the appeal is successful, with: The Assessor, Resort Village of Sun Valley, #7 – 1410 Caribou St. West, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 7S9 on or before the 3rd day of May 2024.

Dated this 27th day of March 2024.

Melinda Huebner, Assessor

Leon Retief is a retired physician with clinical and research experience. He likes drinking wine, listening to music and reading.

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

Sask 1 takes commanding win over Sask 2 to open Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship

Defending champions take 11-1 win over rookie-filled foursome as event gets underway at Moose Jaw Curling Centre

It was back in late January that Team Saskatchewan put together their two rinks for the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship, knowing that the time would undoubtedly come that they’d have to face one another on the ice for real.

That time finally came on Sunday afternoon, and wouldn’t be much of a surprise to find out the defending champions had a better run of things in the opening draw at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre.

Team Canada competitor Gil Dash and his Saskatchewan 1 foursome rolled to an 11-1 victory over Rod Pederson and Saskatchewan 2 as the 11-team event got underway after months of preparation.

“Our team was ready to go,” said Dash, who took the ice with third Marie Wright, second Moose Gibson and lead

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Sheryl Pederson. “The ice is different than what we’re used to, it’s a lot more keen and we adjusted to it fast. The front end made their shots in the first couple of ends so that was key to getting off to a good start.”

The experience difference between the two teams is vast, with Dash and Wright both having extensive international experience in addition to four previous Canadian titles under their belt. Gibson is a three-time Canadian champion, and Pederson is going for her first.

Over on Saskatchewan 2, Pederson is in his second season as skip, while third Pete Andrews, second Mark Kennedy, lead Zahra Ehsani and lead Tara-Lee Hess are all rookies.

Dash and crew wasted no time getting going, putting up a three-spot in the first end and scoring four more in the second for the quick 7-0 lead. Single points the next two ends made it 9-0, and after Pederson got one back in the fifth, Dash scored two more and the teams shook hands.

Needless to say, it was a bit of a strange situation for the two teams after they had practiced and improved together for so many months leading up to Cana-

dians. “It was different playing against them in a game that means more than practicing against them,” Dash said. “We needed to beat them, though, it’s a long week and we needed the win… it’s tough, every nationals and worlds, the top teams can be easy to pick off even if they’re at the top.”

Pederson had seen Sask 1 in action countless times in the past, and even he had to marvel at what they looked like in a real game.

“You have to be able to get your guards and go around, especially against Marie and Gil and those guys, they’re just awesome,” Pederson said. “They don’t miss, they’re like a couple robots, those two, and when you get behind the eight-ball in every end against those guys, you’re in trouble and that’s just how it is.”

The good thing is there are nine more round robin games to go over the next week, and Sask 2 will look to get back on track when they face B.C.’s Gerry Austgarden (1-0) during the 1:30 p.m. draw Monday.

“We got the bad one out of our system hopefully,” Pederson said. “There are other teams out there who are getting beat, too, so this was just a crappy game, but we’ll keep plugging away and see what happens.”

For Dash, it’ll be a matter of keeping their momentum going against Ontario 2’s Chris Rees (0-1) at 7 p.m. Monday.

Other scores from the lone draw Sunday saw Alberta 1’s Martin Pervis take an 11-6 win over New Brunswick’s Michael Fitzgerald, while Quebec’s Carl Marquis had a five-ender and points in five straight ends for a 15-2 win over Alberta 2’s Donald Kuchelyma. B.C.’s Austgarden took a 7-3 win over Ontario’s Rees and Newfoundland’s Doug Dean had a six-ender on his way to a 12-4 win over Ontario’s Doug Morris.

Action continues at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre all week and be sure to keep an eye on all the scores and standings at www.curling.ca.

Sask 2 second Mark Kennedy throws as Sask 2 lead Zahra Ehsani looks on.

Sask 2 third Pete Andrews delivers a shot in his first appearance at the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship.

Sask 1 skip Gil Dash delivers during action in the fourth end against Sask 2

Sask 1 skip Rod Pederson throws during their opening game against Sask 1.

Sask 2 lead Zahra Ehsani was one of four players on their rink making their wheelchair curling debut.

Sask 1 lead Sheryl Pederson in action during their opening draw against Sask 1.

Sask 1 third Marie Wright sends a shot down ice during their game against Sask 2.

Sask 1 second Moose Gibson in action during the opening draw of the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship.

Firkus puts up five point night to win WHL scoring race as Warriors hammer Pats

Moose Jaw rolls to 11-1 win as Seattle Kraken prospect caps campaign with 61 goals and 126 points to win Bobby Clarke Trophy Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Heading into their Western Hockey League regular-season finale with the Regina Pats on Saturday night, most of the Moose Jaw Warriors didn’t have a lot to play for.

In fact, it would have been easy for the team to largely take the night off, go through the motions and just get ready for the playoffs next weekend.

Instead, the Warriors rolled to one of their most commanding wins of the campaign as they hammered out an 11-1 victory in front of 4,747 fans, one of the largest crowds of the season at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.

And while the teams themselves didn’t have a lot to play for, one player did.

Heading into the contest, Warriors forward Jagger Firkus was tied for the WHL scoring lead with Prince George’s Zac Funk at 121 points. Funk went out and had a two-point game against the Kamloops Blazers, meaning Firkus would need at least three points to win the scoring title outright.

As the score would indicate, things went exceptionally well for the Seattle Kraken prospect, and thanks to his hat trick and five-point night, Firkus will soon have his name engraved on the Bobby Clarke Trophy as the WHL scoring champion.

All told, Firkus caps the campaign with 61 goals and 126 points while also finishing plus-31.

“Coming into the game I know I had to have a pretty good night, especially with Funk, he’s a great player as well. I’m just happy it all worked out,” Firkus said. “It means a lot to show that the hard work I’ve put in over the last couple of years has helped me grow as a player and I’m really happy about it.”

Thing is, when you put up 11 goals, a whole bunch of other guys are bound to have great nights as well, and that’s exactly what happened.

Brayden Yager played set-up man all game and capped the evening with five assists, finishing the regular season with 35 goals and 94 points to finish 15th in league scoring. Had he not had World Junior duties and played the full schedule, the Pittsburgh Penguins prospect would likely have easily finished in the top five in

scoring with a point total in the 112-range.

Matthew Savoie finished with a goal and four points, capping his Moose Jaw regular season with 19 goals and 47 points in 23 games as a Warrior as well as 30 goals and 71 points in a mere 34 games.

Martin Rysavy enjoyed one of his best all arond games of the season with a

hat trick and plus-six on the night while fellow overager Atley Calvert had a goal and an assist in their final regular season game. Voytech Port and Pavel McKenzie both had single markers.

Calvert caps his season with a career best 47 goals and 95 points, finishing 14th in WHL scoring.

One of the biggest goal celebrations of the night for the Warriors came with 7:56 gone in the first when defenceman Aiden Ziprick scored his first career WHL goal.

The Warriors’ offence certainly wasn’t hampered by Regina being utterly unable to stay out of the penalty box, with the Pats taking a head-shaking nine straight minors through the 10 minute mark of the third.

Considering the Warriors have the league’s best power play, that didn’t go well for Regina, and Moose Jaw was fivefor-nine with the man advantage.

Jackson Unger turned aside 17 shots for his league-best 34th win of the season, but his night ended with 7:08 to play in the game after getting into a scrap with Regina goaltender Kelton Pyne. Dmitri Fortin stopped all four shots he faced the rest of the way.

“I think coming into tonight’s game, they’re not where they wanted to be in the standings and we understood that and it was a bit of a chippy game,” Firkus said. “In the third period we did a good job of making sure our emotions stayed together, and even though we had a bit of a scuffle, that’s just part of hockey.”

Pyne had 36 saves for Regina, Ewan Huet finished things off with a pair of stops.

The Warriors now have the week of to prepare for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the first round of the WHL playoffs. That series kicks off at the Moose Jaw Events Centre on Friday and Saturday, with puck drop at 7 p.m. both nights.

KMS Construction take top spot in Original 16 Cash League

Mohns-skipped rink defeat BTN Chartered Accountants 9-2 in championship final

It was just prior to the 2023 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship last spring that Team Saskatchewan members Marie Wright and Gil Dash took the ice in the Original 16 Cash League final and went on to claim the championship with an impressive win.

A little over a week later, the duo would be wearing Canadian championship gold medals after an incredible week of success in the national tournament.

And now they’re taking the exact same path.

Wright and Dash joined forces with Braydan Mohns and Jason Gudereit on Wednesday night to win the second-straight Original 16 Cash League title for KMS Construction, defeating Penny Barker’s BTN Chartered Accountants foursome 9-2

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre.

The win caps off an undefeated run through the playoffs for Mohns and crew and was a mild upset, as KMS had put together a 12-6 in the regular season to finish in second place, while BTN had the top regular-season mark at 16-2.

Other results from the final night of Original 16 action saw Leeville Construction (Dustin Woloschuk) take a 9-5 win over John’s Music (Ryan Wenarchuk) in the B final, while Fountain Tire (Barry Silk) won the C final with a 10-5 win over Young and Young Automotive (Stan Barnsley), RK Sunview Farms (Dayne Heisler) defeated EMJ Marketing (Joe Gunnis) 6-5 in the D final and Ryder Helmeczi took a 9-8 win over Wade Gray to claim the E final.

WHL scoring champion Jagger Firkus and the Warriors celebrate after scoring one of their 11 goals on the night.

The Warriors gather for their customary team photos with graduating 20-year-olds Atley Calvert, Lucas Brenton and Martin Rysavy,.

The KMS Construction team of Braydan Mohns, third Marie Wright, second Gil Dash and lead Jason Gudereit won the Original 16 Cash League this past Wednesday.

Central uses late run to defeat Peacock and claim 4A boys provincial basketball gold

Cyclones outscore Toilers 19-10 in fourth quarter, go on to 85-69 win for fourth-straight championship

The Cyclones picked up their fourthstraight SHSAA 4A boys basketball championship on Saturday afternoon at Sask Polytechnic, battling to an 85-69 win over the Peacock Toilers in the one-game showdown for gold.

And even though the final score wasn’t overly close, it was a battle indeed.

After taking a 48-41 lead out of the opening half, the Cyclones suddenly saw Peacock go on a huge run, with the Toilers eventually taking a 53-51 lead at the six-minute mark of the third quarter.

So how did Central respond?

A quick time-out, a 21-8 run over the next 10 minutes for a comfortable late lead, and another provincial gold medal.

“When we called the timeout, the first thing I did was just calm them down because there were lots of swear words on the bench,” Cyclones head coach Barry

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

Seaborn said with a laugh. ”We just had to get back to playing tough defence and that’s what changed things around… they really rose to the challenge and it all paid off.”

Central was led in scoring by Grade 12

Mason Muchowski, who put up 27 points and joined his fellow seniors in winning their third-straight provincial title.

“It was amazing,” Muchowski said of the contest. “We worked so hard all year for this moment and this game was

on Saturday afternoon.

so hard, it was down to the wire for most of it and I’m just so happy to win it. There were so many ups and downs this week, we thought we wouldn’t even be playing this weekend. So to actually play and then win it, it means the most… I’m just so proud of everyone and the whole team.”

The Cyclones came into the game missing one of the top scorers in Grade 11 Gerritt Gulutzan, while Eli Juan played the entire game on a sprained ankle. Seeing his team work through that adversity was a source of pride for Seaborn.

“Everyone stepped up and played really well, it’s what we worked for all season and I’m really proud of the kids,” he said.

Max Simmons had 24 points for Central, while Chase Seaborn added 20.

Peacock head coach Troy Setter pointed to a bit of difficulty making shots at key moments as one of the factors in the loss on their end, but was still more than happy with his crew for getting to the gold medal game.

“All in all, I’m so proud of the boys and how they battled all year and just to be able to get out here and have this final game is really awesome,” he said. “Like i told the guys, it might take a couple days, but they should be proud of themselves. Silver medalists in the province is a great accomplishment and it shows how much work they put in to get to this game.”

Kai Houghton topped Peacock with 20 points, while Makungu Mutabazi scored 19 and Luke Andrews 14.

Toilers hold off late charge by Cyclones to claim 4A girls basketball bronze

Central gets to within 10 in final five minutes, but Peacock hold the fort for 63-51 victory

As time ran down in the fourth quarter of the SHSAA 4A girls basketball bronze medal game on Saturday afternoon at Sask Polytech, it all of a sudden looked like fans were going to be in for an interesting finish.

Despite trailing by 15 to 17 points much of the second half, the Central Cyclones had battled back to within 10 against the Peacock Toilers with 2:41 to play, meaning there was a lot of time for things to get very, very dramatic.

As it turns out, the Toilers were having none of it.

Peacock stiffened on defence and answered Central shot for shot the rest of the way, eventually going on to a 63-51 victory to take third place in the province.

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

It was an amazing finish for two teams that few would have expected to be in their position at the start of the season, but a steady run of improvement for both crews led to the one-game showdown for a provincial medal on Saturday.

“We worked really hard all season and we definitely went through some ups and downs, but in the end we wanted it more

and just put our heart into it,” said Peacock Grade 11 Devlynn McClung, who led all scorers with an impressive 31 points. “Every practice we were giving it our all and we just wanted to show that we deserved it, especially being a young team and only three of us returning. It’s big for us to get third place.”

Peacock led essentially from start to finish, taking a 13-9 lead out of the first quarter and holding a 28-22 edge at the half.

Seeing her troops try to make a game of it late despite trailing the whole contest was a source of pride for Central coach Tanya McLean, who also saw wholesale improvement from her club throughout the season.

“That’s the thing, we didn’t give up, we kept fighting and we got it back to 10 with three minutes left but just couldn’t quite finish it,” she said. “We were in foul trouble with (Addison Simpson) on the bench and defensively we weren’t quite where we needed to be, but that’s just how it happens. Peacock played well, too, they shot really well and did a great job.

“But I’m proud of the girls, they played hard and made it interesting, it was a good game.”

Interestingly enough, both teams find themselves in similar situations as they each lose only two seniors, meaning the majority of their crews will be back next season and could possibly end up in the exact same game -- or even one higher.

“This is our team next year, so the fact we did so well this year and have improved so much shows just how good we might be next year and it’s going to be a lot of fun,” McClung said.

Simpson was Central’s top scorer with 17 points, while Lucy McLean picked up nine. Taylor Craik added eight for Peacock.

Action from the SHSAA 4A boys basketball gold medal game between Central and Peacock

The Peacock Toilers are the SHSAA 4A girls bronze medalists after defeating Central on Saturday afternoon.

Vanier falls to Meadow Lake in 4A girls gold medal game in absolute barnburner

Spirits overcome 10-point half-time deficit and take late lead but fall 57-54 in championship game

With the way things were going for the Vanier Spirits early in their SHSAA 4A girls basketball provincial gold medal game, it would have been easy to just decide it wasn’t their night and let the chips fall where they may.

Despite playing in their own gym, the Spirits just couldn’t get shots to fall in the first half and had difficulty dealing with Meadow Lake’s aggressive defence, eventually finding themselves down 27-17 at the break.

But things suddenly changed in the third quarter, and Vanier started bringing the rain.

Long-range shots started to fall, and their defence held at the other end of the court. All of a sudden they were within a pair, and with 6:50 to play, they took a 45-44 lead, the first time they were up all game.

That set the stage for a tense five minutes of basketball, as Vanier held their two-point edge until 1:12 remained when Meadow Lake’s Sienna Andersen scored her 22nd point of the game to tie things 54-54. The Spartans then got a clutch basket from Callie Timmer with 35 seconds to play, and a free throw by Deena Rediron in the final seconds finished things off.

Final score, Meadow Lake 57, Vani-

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

er 54 in one of the best girls’ basketball games of the season.

“It was incredible and we wanted it so bad,” said Andersen, who just happens to be joining the Briercrest College Clippers out in Caronport next fall. “We’ve been to Hoopla a few times and just couldn’t pull

it off, so it was really exciting. Everyone really contributed today, we played well as a team and came away with it.” Spartans coach Kendra Paramchuk pointed to a season-long ability to grind through games and find wins as a key to their gold medal success.

“It was awesome, it was such a good game,” she said. “We went into the game talking about how if everyone plays really well today with heart and grit, it was our game. Everyone took their roles seriously today, too. They were cheering each other on even when we were up by 10 and down by four. Then our seniors stepped up when we needed them and we came out as provincial champions.”

Vanier senior Kate Waldenberger had the hottest hand of all in the second half, scoring 20 of her game-high 24 points in the final 20 minutes and putting down five threes in the process.

Waverley Demassi also hit double digits with 11 points.

Even with the loss, Spirits coach Christa Lapointe was almost beaming with pride at what her team nearly pulled off.

“It’s great to get to the gold medal game and I’m very proud of all the girls for putting it out there,” she asid. “They’ve been taught the last three years that as long as you can keep the game to 10-15, anything is possible. Our girls know that, so even though they’re down they never quit. Even though it didn’t work out, they left everything on the floor. That’s what you want from a provincial championship game.”

Osler VCA uses huge second quarter to win bronze medal over South Hill

Long-range shooting the key as Osler knocks down 16 three-pointers on way to 103-76 win

For the Osler VCA Lions in the SHSAA 4A boys provincial basketball championship bronze medal game against the Moose Jaw South Hill Royal Falcons on Saturday afternoon, that hot hand came early and lasted all game.

The Lions rained down no less than 16 three-pointers -- including eight from Grade 12 Jackson Beuckert -- as they went on to a 103-76 victory at Riverview.

“The shots were falling, we were getting the boards and we played great defence, especially in the second quarter and that really helped us get the lead and take control of the game,” said Bueckert, who finished the game with 30 points.

“It wasn’t the medal we wanted, we were hoping to go for gold but we’ll take what we can get and we’re really happy with how things turned out.”

South Hill got off to a rough start and trailed 14-2 early in the first quarter, but clawed their way back to 24-18 at the break. Then came the next 10 minutes, and Osler simply couldn’t miss, outscoring the Royals 34-15 and building a 25-point lead at half.

Things went far better for South Hill

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

in the second half, and they’d even win the fourth quarter, but they were unable to get closer than 20 as things progressed.

“They shot the heck out of the ball today,” said South Hill coach Kalen Senecal. “(Bueckert) was an amazing player, he probably shot at least 6-for-10 from the three-point line and it’s tough to compete with that when they’re able to hit shots from farther and farther away… VCA is really well coached and we just didn’t quite have the shooting to keep up with them today.”

Troy Hofstra also had a solid game for Osler with 25 points. Drew Biette led South Hill with 26, while Cooper Gregor scored 17 and hit five threes of his own. Matt Artavia also had 17 points.

Of course, the over-reaching theme of the day is the fact there’s basketball happening at all, something that Senecal was naturally happy to see happen.

“We were so excited to be able to play in front of our own fans, there were a lot of people here today to watch us play and I’m so appreciative that we had this chance,” he said.

Champions: A quick look at all the medalists from the SHSAA provincial basketball championship

Total of 48 teams played 24 games for medals in Moose Jaw over the past weekend and here’s a look at how those contests played out Moose Jaw Express

1A Girls

Gold -- Wilkie 74, Asquith 40

Bronze -- Foam Lake 74, Coronach 61

2A Girls

Gold -- Preeceville 64, St. Brieux 45

Bronze -- Norquay 77, LCBI 44

3A Girls

Gold -- Lanigan 69, Wynyard 67

Bronze -- Regina Laval 58, Indian Head

50

4A Girls

Gold -- Meadow Lake 57, Moose Jaw

Vanier 54

Bronze -- Moose Jaw Peacock 63, Moose Jaw Central 51 5A Girls

Gold -- Regina LeBoldus 77, Regina Winston Knoll 69

Bronze -- Saskatoon Walter Murray 76, Swift Current 55

Consolation -- Regina Campbell 65, Saskatoon Holy Cross 59.

1A Boys

Gold -- Legacy Christian Academy 87,

Porcupine Plain 85

Bronze -- Hafford 92, Davidson 54 2A Boys

Gold -- St. Brieux 81, Saskatoon Christian 69

Bronze -- Norquay 80, Peeceville 67

3A Boys

Gold -- Regina Christian 82, Clavet 72

Bronze -- Osler VCA 103, Moose Jaw

South Hill 76

4A Boys

Gold -- Moose Jaw Central 78, Moose

Jaw Peacock 69

Bronze -- Regina Luther 70, Harvest City 50

5A Boys

Gold -- Saskatoon Walter Murray 79, Regina Riffel 71

Bronze -- Saskatoon Holy Cross 97, Regina O’Neill 63

Consolation -- North Battleford 106, Regina Campbell 105

Consolation -- Prince Albert Carlton 90, Lloydminster 71

Action from the SHSAA 4A girls gold medal game between the Vanier Spirits and Meadow Lake Spartans on Saturday night.

Action from the 3A boys bronze medal game between the South Hill Royal Falcons and Osler VCA.on Saturday afternoon

Hillcrest Golf Club open house gives in-depth look to massive changes proposed for course

Near complete redesign to offer large-scale improvements, create better flow of play, see return of driving range to local 18-hole valley layout

The Hillcrest Golf Club will have a very, very different look about half a decade from now if everything comes together with a planned series of wholesale improvements and renovations.

An open house meeting at Sask Polytechnic on Wednesday night gave members an up-close look at all the changes planned for the course and to say the least, the 2024 Master Plan is as expansive as it is ambitious.

Every hole will see some sort of improvement, with many being completely re-routed and adjusted, with the overall goal of creating a more modern layout with wide fairways and updated challenges, incuding new bunkers and water hazards throughout.

Randy Palmer - Moose Jaw Express

All told, the multi-phase plan will improve the flow of play, update the antiquated irrigation system, reduce maintenance and water costs, repair and improve problem areas and see the return of the driving range and practice facility.

“We had a meeting back in October, and there’s lots of planning that’s happened from then until today,” Hillcrest club president Chris Knoop said shortly after the presentation. “There’s been a lot of optimism and it’s good to hear what some of the concerns are and I feel pretty good about how things went today.”

The overarching theme of the project was to update the original 1986 Master Plan which had seen a handful of changes to the course in the years since. The new 2024 plan takes into account the evolution of the sport and was put together by Les Ferber and GDS Designs after touring the course and gathering the necessary information for such a huge plan.

While there might be some questions as to whether or not such a massive project is necessary, it’s all about looking toward the future, especially with some of the aging parts of the 18-hole valley layout.

“That was one of the concerns, people who are saying ‘hey we just want to play golf, leave it’,” Knoop said. “It might be okay for you, but we want it to be even better for our kids and our kids kids. We want to make it better so it doesn’t fall by the wayside, we have a lot of aging infrastructure as well and we just need to get that all updated. I think that’s definitely achievable.”

The plan will take place in multiple phases, with Phase I covering work on the first green, third back tee, 13th hole, 14th green and 18th green. Phase II would see work on the first tee and fairway, second

Hillcrest Golf Club president Chris Knoop goes over changes in the 2024 Master Plan during an open house meeting on Wednesday evening.

hole tees, installation of the driving range and redoing the 18th tees and fairway. Phase III work includes the sixth hole and seventh tee and further Phases will see the remainder of the work completed.

“I love it, it’s going to look awesome,” Knoop said of how the new layout will look. “We get some new bunkers where we don’t have many on the golf course right now, so that helps. Adding some length is

great, too, it adds a bit of challenge. We hosted the mixed provincials last year and the junior girls championship a few years ago and this will give us the opportunity to do some more of that stuff and bring some highly competitive golfers to our city.

“And it also makes it better for every day player as well… It’ll make it a bit easier, there will be nice and wide fairways, it’ll help with the pace of play and we won’t have six-hour rounds that frustrate everyone on Saturdays. It’ll just help improve a little bit of everything,”

Costs for the various phases have also been calculated, with Phase I coming in at $1.07 million, Phase II at $1.675 million, Phase 3 at $713,000, Phase IV at $94,000 and further Phases at around $875,000.

The plan is to see the work completed over a five-year span, with all construction done in the fall so as to not impact play during the season. Ideally the first shovels could be in the ground this fall if things all come together.

That leads to the most important next step: membership approval of the plan.

The 2024 Master Plan will be voted on at the Hillcrest Golf Club annual general meeting on Wednesday, Apr. 10. A positive reception there will then lead to approval by the City of Moose Jaw, followed by capital fundraising and construction.

“We would love to see it start this fall when we’re done for the season and maybe we get some surprise money, who knows,” Knoop said. “It might be next fall and I would hope we could get something prioritized by then, but there’s a lot to be done before anything happens.”

Be sure to keep an eye on the Hillcrest Golf Club social media pages and visit www.hillcrestgolf.ca

Play Ball - Molde Heading To Bismarck

On spring and summer days, 17 year old Grade Twelve Vanier Collegiate’s Haily Molde is happily busy striking out batters as a pitcher with the Moose Jaw Ice.

Molde is part of the Moose Jaw and District Girls Fastball League that has exploded in recent years.

Whether it’s as a pitching phenom or as an outfielder with a powerful arm she has made her mark.

But coming this fall Molde is hoping to ignite fastball south of the border. She has been recruited and selected to play Division Two fastball for Bismarck State College (BSC).

“It’s exciting. I’m a little nervous to leave as I’m a bit of a home body but I will get to go and experience what it’s like in the States and stuff,” Molde said.

Molde is the recipient of a partial Division 2 softball scholarship.

The scholarship covers food and housing and half of the tuition. She is responsible for the remainder.

While at (BSC) she is going to be taking criminal Justice with her ultimate plans being to return to Canada and become a police officer.

“I really am excited to go and see what it’s like living down in the States.”

BSC’s relatively closeness geographically was a big selling point for Molde as her parents helped her to explore scholarship opportunities south of the border.

“My dad said he is going to try and drive up there for every tournament but I don’t know how that will go,” Molde said.

By Robert Thomas

“I’m really excited I got this opportunity.”

It’s an opportunity Molde said they had to open the door to because girls’ fastball coaches only come out to look at potential players on a limited basis.

In regards to the quality of girls fastball that attracted college coaches to recruit in Canada, Molde said it was more of a matching of skills.

“Throughout Canada and the United States it’s not different ball but it is different skill levels. I think some of the coaches from the States find somebody at the skill level they are looking for and sometimes they’ll bring in someone super far (away) in Canada…if they have the skills they are looking for.”

Moose Jaw’s highly active girls fastball community is a great breeding ground to develop talent. Talent which catches post secondary coaches’ eyes, she said. Participation wise, the Moose Jaw girls fastball league is one of the largest sports leagues in the area.

“If they’re interested they’ll reach out to you,” Molde said.

“I’m really thankful to all of my coaches because they helped me become the player I am.”

Her dad’s help was instrumental in landing the scholarship at BSC.

“I’m also thankful for my dad reaching out to colleges. He just found the colleges that are right for us,” she said. “It just happened to be Bismarck.”

Molde said that her family and coaches were probably the biggest asset she had

to help her get the scholarship.

“I think support from my family was the biggest thing, also my coaches. I struggled with a lack of confidence a lot growing up. I use to get really nervous and stuff but my coaches would say you’re fine,” she said. “They just pushed me to where I am now. And they showed me all of the good stuff to play in the US.”

Winter is not a time off as the training moves indoors. Training is done in a small designated space at the Golden Ticket Centre.

Molde is also part of a travel team which travels to the States to play in the winter.

Playing with the Ice, Molde is a pitcher who sometimes patrols the outfield.

At Vanier Collegiate, Molde was part of the Spirits senior girls volleyball team. The team which came in third place in provincial competition.

She is a member of the Thunder Creek Volleyball Club program, once called the Moose Jaw High School Athletics Association.

Molde has gone twice to play fastball in California.

She said the move to Bismarck makes her a bit nervous but she feels she should be OK.

“It’s just different being on my own and stuff but I should be OK.”

https://www.mjindependent.com/

Haily Molde (center) commits to play fastball for Bismarck State College’s Mystics - submitted photo

Molde demonstrates her throwing armsubmitted photo

The original master plan for a potential redesign of the Hilllcrest Golf Course released in 1986.

The updated and new Master Plan for 2024 that will be brought to a vote at the Hillcrest Golf Club annual general meeting on Apr, 10.

A look at what the new yardages for the 18-hole valley layout will look like at the conclusion of the Master Plan course update.

Upcoming Events in Moose Jaw

If you would like your notice or event added to this list, contact us at: jritchie@moosejawtoday.

com

The Moose Jaw Art Guild Art Creation Time will be held on April 18, 1-4pm at the MJMAG

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air force, Regina band Detour Duo will perform at a special event being held Saturday, April 6 at Branch No. 59, Royal Canadian Legion in Moose Jaw. The evening will include a beef on a bun meal from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. followed by music from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Advance tickets will be $10, available at the Legion at 268 High St. W. Tickets at the door will be $15. The dinner-dance/concert is open to the community and is one of many events planned from April to November in celebration of the RCAF anniversary.

The Dr F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital Auxiliary Used Book & Jigsaw Puzzle Sale, including a Penny Parade and Raffle will be held from Monday, April 15, until Friday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Hospital Lobby. The proceeds will be used to purchase new hospital equipment. Books and Jigsaw puzzles in good shape may be dropped off at the Hospital Gift Shop or call the Gift Shop at 306-694-0355 to arrange pick-up. Thanks for your support.

Living Springs Community Event Sunday, March 24th at 10 am Your whole family is invited to join us for service. There will be a free lunch to follow and kids ministry available. Living Springs Church 303 Coteau Street W Moose Jaw livingsprings.life

N.A.F.R. (National Association of Federal Retirees) General Meeting on March 28 at 2 pm in the card room – T. Eaton Bldg, 510 Main St.N. Age-Friendly Moose Jaw will speak regarding their organization for people 55+. All Members are encouraged to attend. Those interested in joining N.A.F.R. are also welcome.

N.A.F.R. A.G.M ./ Recruitment Luncheon will be held on April 13 (Sat) at T. Eaton Bldg. This organization is comprised of retired former Fed Gov employees, Military, R.C.M.P., passport office staff for example. Please call afternoons for exact time and info to 306- 631-4236/306693-3848.

The Dr F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital Auxiliary Used Book & Jigsaw Puzzle Sale, including a Penny Parade and Raffle on Monday, April 15, until Friday, April 26, from 9am-4:30pm in the Hospital Lobby. Proceeds to purchase new hospital equipment. Books and Jigsaw puzzles in good shape may be dropped off at the Hospital Gift Shop or call the Gift Shop at 306-694-0355 to arrange pick-up. Thanks for your support.

St. Andrew’s “Looks like Spring” Quilt Show at St. Andrew’s United Church Sanctuary on Tuesday, April 23 from 1:30-4pm. There will be tea, coffee & goodies available. Silver collection for the Mission & Service Fund.

Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan Moose Jaw Branch UPCOMING Luncheon: Wed. May 15/24.

The Moose Jaw Art Guild Business Meeting will be held on May 16, 3pm at the MJMAG. Anyone interested in art is welcome to attend any of the meetings. For more information call 306-692-6667 or306-631-3148.

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. 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.

Nature Moose Jaw will hold their meetings on a once-a-month basis to take place on the third Friday of each month.

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 Town and Country Square Dance Association Winter 2024 dance program on Monday Nights at 7 pm to 9 pm at St. Mary’s School – 720 - 5th Ave SW. Dance in a Square with a Circle of Friends. For information contact: Valerie Wright 306-691-0579.

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. We meet Mondays 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. until April 8. Join any time. We meet at Moose Jaw Alliance Church. To register go to Griefshare.org/findagroup. For more information email Ralph Magnus at rjmagnus57@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 questionsCall or text Cory at 306-684-1464 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 inperson 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 or visit ASK@MOOSEJAWLIBRARY.CA

ote: Some library programs require registration by calling 306-692-8210 or emailing nsetter@ moosejawlibrary.ca

French Storytime Apr 5 - One Book, One Province - featuring a traditional reading and Q&A with Jennifer S. Wallace, author of the 2024 selection Miss G and Me

Adult Programming:

MAGIC THE GATHERING Saturdays, March 30 @2pm in the Reading Room for ages Ages 13 and up.

Children’s Programming:

LEGO WEEKENDS! Self-guided activity on Saturdays & Sundays during open hours in the Children›s Department for ages 4+.

Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery (MJMAG) – To register for any of the classes, visit mjmag.ca and select “Art Classes” under the “Learning” tab. If you prefer to visit the art gallery in person, everyone is welcome to stop by to register. Space is limited. All classes will be held in the Kinsmen Learning Centre, located on the Heritage Gallery level of the MJMAG at 461 Langdon Crescent. For more information, visit mjmag.ca.

CREATEabilities (sic) art classes on Thurs 7-8pm until March 28. Cost $25; materials supplied.

“CREATEabilities 2” on Thursdays from April 4 – 25; 7 – 8 p.m. Cost $25pp; materials supplied. Ukrainian Easter egg decorating class “Pysanky” on Tuesday, March 19 from 4 – 6 p.m. and on Saturday, April 6, from 1 – 3 p.m. Cost $25 for each individual class. Materials supplied. Paper flower making workshop on April 14 from 1:20-3:30pm. Cost $25pp. Materials provided but you will need to bring your own pair of wire cutters.

Beginner Watercolour Painting workshop will run from April 20 – 21 from 1-5 each day. . Cost $95pp.

Introduction to Printmaking for teens and adults on Saturday, April 27 – 28 from 1 – 4 p.m. “Hop into Art over Easter” for children aged 6 – 11 years from April 2-5 from 1:30-3:30pm. Online pre-registration is required.

FESTIVAL OF WORDS UPCOMING

EVENTS

Performer’s Café

March 28, Dustan Hlady will host “an exciting and entertaining night out.” Hlady is an established local songwriter, comedian storyteller, and filmmaker.

April 25, “Hot Toffee” will host a presentation that sheds light on a few ideas and perspectives from “a better man living a better life” Hot Toffee is a 29-year-old musician and recording artist from Moose Jaw, and draws inspiration from rap, R&B, soul, pop, and fusion genres.

May 30, Kate Spencer will be reading from her first published book, “Cradle and Spoon.” Spencer is originally from small town Saskatchewan.

2024 Festival of Words will take place July 18 – 21, and the 28th iteration of the annual event. Distinguished authors Sid Marty, a Canadian author, poet/musician, and freelance writer; Waubgeshig Rice, an Anishinaabe author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation on Georgian Bay; and, Victoria Koop, a Saskatchewan-based writer with a proud love of all things geeky are all confirmed to attend. More details about the 28th annual Saskatchewan Festival of Words are anticipated this April.

If you are looking to apply as a literary presenter, a copy of your book and personal bio can be submitted to operations co-ordinator Amanda Farnel at Amanda@FestivalOfWords.com For more information, visit FestivalOfWords. com.

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. For current listing of events online visit: Monthly Calendar | Royal Canadian Legion Branch 59- Moose Jaw (royalcanadianlegionbranch59moosejaw.ca) 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 1:30pm. Registration at 1pm. Cost $5; pre-register your team by calling 306.693.9688.

Drop-in Shuffleboard league every Friday at 7:00pm.

Chase the Ace/Meat Draw every Saturday. To see the total check out Facebook page on Wednesday and Fridays for the upcoming Saturdays numbers.

Moose Jaw and District Seniors: For more information Call: 306-694-4223 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 Mon-Fri, 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: 9:30am-Pickleball/1pm-Floor Shuffleboard/7pm-Camera Club – only on the 2nd Monday of the month

Tuesday: 9:30am-Jam Session/1pmPickleball/7pm-Friendship Bridge/7pmBeginners Only Pickleball

Wednesday: 8:30am-TOPS/8:30amPickleball/1pm-Floor Shuffleboard

Thursday: 10am-Line Dance/1pm-Pickleball

Friday: 9:00am-Beginner Pickleball/1pmRegular Pickleball

Atria Mulberry Estates Independent Senior’s Living 55+ – 220 Mulberry Lane, Moose Jaw.

Contact (306) 694-5020 Visit website at: https:// www.atriaretirement.ca/retirement-communities/ atria-canada-mulberry-estates-moose-jaw-sk Par-Tee! on Thursday, April 4th at 2pm. Swing by for a round of putt-putt as we compete for the title of Atria Open Champion! Tee up a tasty afternoon of refreshments inspired by the food served at famous Augusta National Golf Club. RSVP to Tricia at 306.694.5020 to save your spot!

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

COMMUNITY EVENTS

MONDAY EVENINGS: (to April, 2023): Drop in Cribbage – registration 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm – play starts at 7:00 pm. $2.00 per person – two person teams. Bring a partner or spare. Prizes depend on number of persons registered.

Everyone Welcome.

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS: (to April 2023)Drop in Darts – play starts at 7:00 pm – draw for partners. $2.00 per person, per night. Everyone Welcome

EVERY THURSDAY: Ladies Auxiliary “Meat Draw” – ticket sales start at 5:30 pm, draws start at 6:00 pm – Meat Draw, 50/50, “Chase the Ace”

EVERY SUNDAY: Aerie “Meat Draw” –ticket sales start at 2:30 pm – Meat Draw, 50/50, Mystery Draw, “Chase the Ace”

MONDAY THRU SATURDAY – DROP IN POOL – 1:00 pm to 1:30 start time. Singles and Doubles. Partners draw from those attending to play.

FIRST AND THIRD SUNDAY – Aerie meeting – 11:30 am

FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY – Ladies Auxiliary meeting - 7:00 pm

APRIL 6, 2024 – JEFF MERTICK – Playing in the Eagles Club Lounge at 8:30 pm to closing –Great music – come out and enjoy the evening!

APRIL 6 2024 – HALL SIDE – INDOOR

RUMMAGE SALE AND VENDOR/CRAFT

TABLES, Concession with hot and cold food items available – doors open at 10:00 am – close 6:00 pm.

April 27, 2024 – Fundraiser Steak night in support of our Aerie President, Robert Rusu and his wife Faye – more information will follow –Tickets $25.00 each –advance tickets will be available at the Eagles Club bar until closing on April 25, 2024

APRIL 27, 2024 – BADLANDS playing in the Eagles Club Lounge at 8:30 pm to 12:00 – Great Music, Great Times….Come out and enjoy!

APRIL 28, 2024 – Ladies Auxiliary “Last Sunday of the Month” Supper – Ham and Scalloped Potatoes, veggies, salad, roll and dessert - $15.00 – advance tickets available at the Eagles Club Bar April 1st, 2024.

MAY 25, 2024 - Rod Willier – “Trivia” Night in the Eagles club lounge – 7:00 pm - Come out and have a few laughs and enjoy an evening of fellowship.

Western Development Museum; 50 Diefenbaker Drive, Moose Jaw. For more information, visit the museum’s website at WDM.ca/Moose-Jaw. Call 306-693-5989 or email ajones@wdm.ca

· Celebrating 75 Years on Tuesday, April 2, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and admittance will be fixed at 75 cents per person for the day, with pre-school children, museum volunteers, and active members still enjoying free admittance. There will be a PowerPoint (presentation) going through the WDM history, and then specialty cupcakes at 2 p.m. There will also be a special 75th anniversary scavenger hunt for the younger museum patrons with prizes to be announced.

· Model train show (Partnered with Thunder Creek Model Train Show) on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24, from 9am-5pm each day. Standard Admission. Admission will cost the same standard rate, and the event runs from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on each consecutive day. Concession – cash only.

· Easter egg Scavenger Hunt until March 31 this year. Easter egg baskets will be hidden throughout the gallery and you will have to write down which artifact you found it on,” she said. All participants can enter a draw to be held at the end of the month to win a specialty keychain.

Virtual Coffee Club

· Thursday, April 18, Alexis Jones will present a timeline of the museum’s history spanning the past 75 years in Moose Jaw and will focus on a number of its major milestones.

· Thursday, May 23, the museum will be hosting guest speaker Dr. J.L. (Les) Henry, P.Ag., who will deliver a presentation on catalogue houses in the prairies including Eaton Mail Order Houses. This topic will focus on the Mail Order House business that thrived in the early 1900s.

Each coffee club presentation will take place on the Zoom app and begins at 10 a.m. To register, visit the museum’s website at WDM.ca/ CoffeeClub.

ACROSS

1. Awful

5. Perhaps

10. Assist illegally

14. Any minute

15. Deadly virus

16. Diversion

17. Funeral director

19. Europe’s highest volcano

20. Born, in bios

21. Desert watering holes

22. Inn

23. Difficulty

25. Flair

27. Poetic contraction

28. Spotted felines

31. Started

34. Move furtively

35. C

36. Asian nurse

37. Completely

38. Whimper

39. Poke fun at

40. Showery

41. Roman god of love

42. Heights

44. Mister

45. Insurrectionist

46. Depraved

50. Confuse

52. Old Persian coin

54. Grassland

55. Yawl

56. Slangily called “cancer sticks”

58. Sea eagle

59. Fatuous

60. Old flatboats

61. Fortune teller

62. Acquiesce

63. Bottom DOWN

1. Intimidate

2. Not outer

3. Cowboy sport

4. East northeast

5. Alloys

6. Degrade

7. Oxen’s harness

8. In a blessed manner

9. Hearing organ

10. Area around a nipple

11. Yellow flower

12. Slave

13. Blue-green

18. Large American thrush

22. Hoopla

24. Mormon state

26. Lacquered metalware

28. Kings of the jungle

29. Sandwich shop

30. Sow

31. Taverns

32. Broadcast

33. A firm durable fabric

34. Protection

37. Pottery

38. Contented cat sound

40. Bumpkin

41. Sorceress

43. Bank employee

44. Evening event

46. A tall mechanical lifting device

47. Extreme

48. Sneaks a look

49. Thigh armor

50. Dazzles

51. Challenge

53. Food thickener

56. US spy agency

57. Bar bill

WORDSEARCH

Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.

ABROAD, AFFORD, AGENT, ATTIC, BENT, BUILT, CHASSIS,

Moose Jaw Truck Shop

HOUSEHOLD

Like New Whirlpool Fridge, Stainless Steel, $700 for more info call 306-

692-4259

For Saleleather couch good shape. $450.00. Call 306-692- 0800.

WANTED

Seeking Born Again Christian Business partner with potential ownership in Second Hand and Flea- Market business. Male, Female or Family must be interested in Salvation, Healing and Deliverance Outreach Ministry. Serious enquiries only please. 306-684-1084, 5

Farmland

pm- 8pm ONLY (because of scam calls) SERVICES

Cleaner available, call for details 306-990-0348

Need work done? Contact Bill at 306-630-2268. Interior/exterior, renovations, formwork, framing, finishing, tiling, painting and all construction, roofing/ siding- no job too big or small. Reasonable rates, 30 years experience. Moving jobs done reasonably: appliances, furniture, dump runs. Call to do it all. $45.00 a load. 306-630-2268

Junk to the dump in and around Moose Jaw- $50. and up. Will pick up, move, haul and deliver any appliances and furniture anywhere in and around Moose Jaw-$45.00 and up,

45-gallon plastic barrels great for rainwater $20. each. Will pick up, move haul and deliver TV’S and BBQ’s $25. and up. Looking for body parts for 2017 F250. Call 306-681- 8749.

GARAGE SALES

Garage Sale- 286 Wellington Dr. Moose Jaw. Thursday April 4th, Friday April 5th, Saturday April 6th. Thursday & Friday 9am- 5pm, Saturday 9am2pm. Gun cabinet, stack on lock box, 300 pcs jewelry, several sports cards, household items, furniture, clothes, tools, toys, wild life pictures, knives, comics, farm wood toys, books of woodwork, hunt & guns, collector trucks, wildlife collector plates, Ironwood figures, 300 records, hunt & fish gear. All in an organized heated garage.

Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

Cultivated farmland continues as the investment that beats all other categories.

Saskatchewan’s cultivated farmland value has increased by more than half in the last five years says the Farm Credit Canada annual farmland price survey for 2023

In 2023 cultivated land in this province averaged a 15.7 per cent increase. That was highest of the 10 provinces, surpassing the national average of 11.5 per cent.

The rate of increase surprised some observers who had expected a small increase given pressure from lower commodity prices, higher input prices and a lack of moisture

The FCC report noted “there was a lack of arable farmland to meet demand” in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan’s unexpected price increase was fuelled by a 6.1 per cent increase in farm cash receipts, compared to a .4 per cent increase in Canada.

FCC analyst Corbin Chau says 2024 may be a pivotal year for farmland prices with tighter margins for grains, oilseeds and pulses.

Prices within Saskatchewan’s six regions for cultivated land varied from $1,500 an acre to $5,600.

Average prices in six regions varied from a low of

$2,500 an acre in the southwest to an average of $3,600 in the northeast.

The Moose Jaw region is in the southeast where land averaged $2,900 an acre with a high of $5,600 and a low of $1,400.

Irrigated farmland value increased by 3.2 per cent to an average $6,600 an acre. Irrigation land sold between $4,800 and $9,500 an acre.

Even with high cattle prices Saskatchewan pasture land values averaged a smaller increase than cultivated land with a 12.7 per cent hike.

Average pasture land price was $900 an acre in three regions. Low was $800 in the northeast.

Averaging $1,100 an acre were the west-central region and southeast regions including Moose Jaw.

Pasture in the Moose Jaw region sold for $600 to $1,700 an acre.

Within the six regions pasture sold for as low as $400 an acre in the northwest and as high as $2,100 in the west-central region

Second highest increase in cultivated land was in Quebec at 13.3 per cent.

Third was Manitoba at 11.1 per cent. Alberta farmland was up 6.6 per cent.

British Columbia was the only province where farmland fell in price by 3.2 per cent. B.C. pasture increased by 7.4 per cent.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net

Curtis

HARDOWA, SHIRLEY (nee Dombowsky)

1942 - 2024

It is with tremendous sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the death of Shirley Hardowa of Medicine Hat, Alberta, on Feb 26, 2024 at the Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary. She was cared for by a team of remarkable, passionate, and caring doctors, nurses, and staff who were as kind and as gentle in spirit as Shirley was.

Left to mourn is her cherished son Rob Hardowa, his wife Mary, and her treasured grandchildren Sarah and Luke. Shirley also leaves behind sisters Elaine Nieswandt and Rita Kraft, her sisters-in-law Ila Dombowsky, Sharon Hardowa, and Glenys Hudson, her dear aunt Teresa Chagun, and her loving nieces, nephews and cousins as well as her many devoted friends. Shirley was predeceased by her husband Gordon Hardowa, daughter Theresa Thomas, parents Vince and Beth Dombowsky, and her two brothers Conrad Dombowsky and Ricky Dombowsky.

Shirley was born in Avonlea, Saskatchewan on Dec 14, 1942 to proud parents Vince and Beth Dombowsky. She attended school in Salmon Arm, Claybank, Briercrest,and Radville. She graduated from Teachers College in Regina and spent all of her teaching career in Moose Jaw with the Catholic School Board. Students, parents, and teachers remember Shirley’s calm, warm, and encouraging manner, always making each student feel that they mattered and were loved. Shirley met Gord (Gordon) at the dairy bar in Moose Jaw before she started her teaching career. It wasn’t long before they married and started their family. She was devoted to her children Theresa and Rob, and provided them with meticulous love and concern. They loved their annual family trip to the cabins at Lac des Isles. Family and friends were often asked along for boat rides and fishing. Many wonderful fish frys were enjoyed, as well as countless other meals and card playing. Shirley made sure the tradition continued with Rob, Luke, and Sarah any year they were able to go until her passing.

Shirley had a talent for cooking, baking, sewing, quilting and volunteering. Most importantly, she had a passion for sharing her talents with her family and friends, her community and her church. In Moose Jaw, Swift Current, and Medicine Hat she was involved in various ministries in the Catholic Church which included taking communion to homebound parishioners and to seniors at Chinook Nursing Home in Medicine Hat. She was also involved with the CWL, Eucharist ministry, lectors, summer Bible school, children’s ministry, lay ministry, Miracle Quilting Group, and many more. Per Shirley’s wishes, a private service will be held at a later date. Memorial tributes may be made in Shirley’s name to The Heart and Stroke Foundation.

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.

Cockamamie

The other week Patti cleaned the oven inside and out and when she was finished noticed a streak down the glass front window as some liquid leaked into it. So, we took the door apart and cleaned the glass. Of course, when I loosened the screws on the door one of the glass panes crashed. It did not break the glass but bent a metal bracket holding the bottom side of the glass. By the time I bent it back and reassembled the door the metal bracket was scratched and scarred. I needed to buy some white touchup paint. I thought I would buy a spray can of Tremclad, so I could use it for other things. When I mentioned that to Patti, she said that it was a cockamamie idea. Could I spray that accurately so that no paint would get on the floor or other parts of the oven? I had to agree with her. Cockamamie means ridiculous and incredible. She told some amazing cockamamie story about snow mold and drunk chickadees. Cockamamie started to be popular in the English language only recently, in the 1960s. Cockamamie is believed to be an altered form of decalcomania of the mid-19th century. Decalcomania refers to the process of transferring pictures and designs from special paper to surfaces of glass or porcelain. The word decal developed as a shortening of decalcomania, referring to the picture or design itself. Decalcomania derives from the French word decalcomanie, formed from the verb decalquer, meaning to trace or to transfer by tracing. In the 1930s the painted strips of paper capable of being transferred to the skin were called decals, or in slang, cockamamies, as they were regarded as silly novelties. In 1962

this morphed into application for anything ridiculous.

Synonyms for cockamamie include absurd, farcical, ludicrous, and preposterous.

Absurd means unreasonable, unsound, or incongruous. The thought of going against centuries of tradition to reset the date for Easter to cater to those wanting a fixed date for a long weekend seems absurd to me.

Farcical implies laughably inept. The effort one must go through to get a refund from many corporations is a farcical procedure.

Ludicrous indicates amusing or laughable through obvious exaggeration. We were disappointed with the movie which was a ludicrous attempt at a romantic comedy.

Preposterous means contrary to nature, reason, or common sense. The resurfacing idea that Princess Diana was not killed in a car accident is a preposterous theory.

How words enter language is always interesting, at least to me. In 1962 there were several popular words or phrases that made an appearance along with cockamamie.

Yakitori, which came from Japanese, meant bitesized marinated pieces of beef, seafood, or chicken on a skewer. In Japanese yaki means fried, and tori means bird, and is still used in Japan for chicken on a stick, especially from street vendors

Bait and switch developed as a sales tactic in which a customer is attracted by the advertisement of a low-priced item but is then encouraged to buy a higher-priced one.

Win-win meant the arrangement is advantageous or satisfactory to all parties involved.

Buckle up was used to encourage one to fasten their seat belt, as they become more popular in most vehicles. It was not until the 1970s and 1980s that buckle up became mandatory in Canadian provinces.

Of all the cockamamie excuses I have ever heard for not handing in assignments, the best is still that the dog ate it. Enjoy April Fool’s Day coming up and see if you can develop some cockamamie story to fool someone.

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.

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

2024 Column 4 – The Art of Finding Work

Before Accepting a Job Offer, Know the Expectations

After not being “a fit,” employees are most often terminated for not meeting the expectations of their position. (READ: expected outcomes)

When offered a job, the cliche advice is to evaluate:

· Salary

· Benefits

· Working hours

· Commuting distance

· Opportunities for career advancement

These focus on you… wrong approach!

Your top priority should be knowing and evaluating the employer’s expectations against your skills, aptitude, and energy level. In other words, before focusing on whether the employer can meet your needs and wants, focus on whether you can meet the employer’s needs. Think of it as John F. Kennedy’s maxim when he said during his inaugural address on January 20, 1961, “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

Compensation, benefits, and career advancement are meaningless if you fail to meet expectations. Be honest about your capabilities, experience, professionalism, and capacity to handle stress from being held accountable. (READ: Don’t lie to yourself.) Taking on a job that exceeds your capabilities is a recipe for “brief employment.”

The best way to set yourself up for success at your new job and have fewer surprises is to know what’ll be expected of you.

By now, you’re probably aware of Brittany Pietsch, the 27-year-old Cloudflare account executive who infamously filmed herself being let go after three

by Nick Kossovan

and a half months due to not meeting expectations. (I’m taking Cloudfare’s HR words at face value.) It’s painful to watch as she tries to direct the conversation, attempting to orchestrate a “GOTCHA!” moment so she can gain Internet fame, clicks, and likes.

If you haven’t seen Brittany’s video, you can view it here: https://bit. ly/3HuHT0g

Brittany took on a sales role. Every sales role has one deciding metric: Number of sales. Brittany admits she had yet to make a sale. No sales = No value to the company. She goes on to say that she’s had “good meetings with my manager” and has been “working really hard.” In sales, these are not metrics of success.

The language of business is numbers! It’s critical to be clear about the expectations of the job you’re interviewing for, such as targets and goals and the timeframes you’re expected to achieve them within.

· Sales quota (weekly, monthly, quarterly)

· Net promoter score (NPS)

· Number of calls (outbound, inbound)

· Number of units produced

· Average handle time, average talk time, first-call resolution

· Order picking accuracy

· Customer satisfaction score (CSAT)

Number of new followers, clickthrough rate, ad clicks, cost per click, page likes.

· Days payable outstanding (DPO)

· Time to hire

There isn’t a job that doesn’t have, or can’t have, any success metrics attached to it. At any given time, you should know what your employer is measuring you against (key performance indicators, benchmarks) and your current

productivity stats.

Though I don’t know Cloudflare’s hiring process or how Brittany was onboarded, she took on a sales role that, like all sales roles, was 100% performance-metric-driven, which she shouldn’t have. Not everyone is cut out for sales. More and more job seekers, desperate to get hired, are accepting jobs without fully understanding what the job involves and what they’ll be held accountable for.

The next time you find yourself in an interview, make it a point to delve into the expectations of the job by asking the following questions:

· “How is success measured in this role? How often?” (You want numbers!)

· “What should be the immediate priorities for me in this role?”

· “What reports or dashboards will be available to me? Will I receive them daily, weekly or monthly?”

· “How often are performance reviews conducted?”

· “Can you provide me with an example of someone who wasn’t meeting expectations and got themselves back on track? What did they do?”

· My favourite: “Please walk me through your management style. How will you manage me?”

When formulating your expectation questions, think: How much? How high? How low? Increase by how much? Save by how much? Within what range?

Ask about benchmarks and KPIs. Know deadlines. (e.g., You must submit the company’s 450 employee payroll no later than 2:00 PM every Tuesday.)

Don’t rely solely on the job description, which most likely had vague expectations such as “meet monthly sales quota,” “or in-

‘Swing into Spring’ aims to be the springtime counterpart to Christmas in October

Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express

As a springtime response to the Christmas in October initiative, a new event has been trialled this month with a focus on promoting small local businesses by the name of ‘Swing into Spring’.

Swing into Spring took place on March 23, and operated around the existing business hours maintained by each separate business in Moose Jaw’s downtown shopping district.

The idea came about after Laurie Hysuick, the owner of Mitny Refillery, decided to initiate Swing into Spring as a way to celebrate businesses at the end of winter and to draw more shoppers into downtown Moose Jaw.

/ MooseJawToday.com

“We do so much for Christmas in October, but I think spring is great to get out and do your spring cleaning… and enjoy the nice weather again after a long winter,” she said, noting that this year’s “weird and long” winter gave her most of the inspiration for the idea.

To prepare for the inaugural event, Hysuick reached out to a number of downtown businesses in the past month or two to gauge the level of interest in the proposed undertaking. She said feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and more than 20 businesses participated this year.

“I reached out to the Downtown (Moose Jaw) Association… to put out a final reach-out to everyone that may be (interested),” she said. “It was just a way to get everybody working together and have something fun (to do).”

Despite being kept busy with the day-to-day operation of their businesses, Hysuick said everyone came together to make it work out.

Swing into Spring was organized in a manner similar to Christmas in October, and shoppers were able to go

crease social media engagement.” You want to know that your monthly sales quota, as a pharmaceutical rep for the territory you’d be assigned to, is $65K or as the company’s social media manager, the expectation is to increase social media engagement—you’ll also want to define how the company defines “engagement”—across all five of the company’s social media accounts by 25% before the year’s end.

It’s pointless to take on a job if you feel you will not be able to deliver. When asking my above-mentioned discovery questions, I keep reminding myself of the adage, “Forewarned is forearmed.” The last thing I want to say to my boss when discussing my performance is, “I didn’t know.”

As the global economy continues its surreal rollercoaster ride, understandably, companies are expecting more from their employees. Knowing and assessing the performance expectations of the job you’re interviewing for is essential to avoiding expectations mismatch.

Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers “unsweetened” job search advice. You can send Nick your questions to artoffindingwork@gmail.com.

The chief danger in life is that you may take too may precautions.

-- Alfred Adler --

from shop to shop among participating businesses to see what they have to offer.

Each participating business also contributed something from its normal range of products and services toward a combined gift basket, and with every purchase at each unique shop, patrons had their name entered to win the event’s grand prize.

Hysuick had suggested a $25 limit for each business to consider but said most businesses went over this limit with their donations.

The time and date for Swing into Spring was chosen so that business owners would not be inundated with shoppers as the season starts to open back up following the return of warmer weather.

If any business wasn’t able to participate this year, Hysuick said she doesn’t want anyone to have felt obligated to contribute to Swing into Spring and she understands the winter has been long and challenging for everyone.

These local businesses are owned by friends, families, and neighbours of Moose Jaw’s residents, and the effort aims to give back to the city’s entrepreneurial community as the spring season approaches.

“Our local businesses are really trying to work together to be better for our community.

“The goal that we’re thinking… is just to see everybody back out (shopping),” she said. “We love seeing our customers come back in, whether they’re shopping or just visiting or walking the loop and having a good time.”

If you own a downtown business and would like to participate in next year’s Swing into Spring event, contact Laurie Hysuick at 306-694-6330 or visit Mitny Refillery at 5 Manitoba Street East.

BASEBALL

Thursday

5:30 p.m. TSN MLB Baseball Chicago Cubs at Texas Rangers.

Friday

4:30 p.m. NET MLB Baseball Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays.

BASKETBALL

Thursday

7:30 p.m. WWJ 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Regional Semifinal: Teams TBA.

Friday

5 p.m. WWJ 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Regional Semifinal: Teams TBA.

7 p.m. TSN 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Regional Semifinal: Teams TBA.

7:30 p.m. WWJ 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tourna-

ment Regional Semifinal: Teams TBA.

Saturday

4 p.m. TSN 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Regional Final: Teams TBA.

Sunday

5 p.m. NET NBA Basketball Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs.

Monday

5:30 p.m. TSN 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Regional Final: Teams TBA.

7:30 p.m. TSN 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Regional Final: Teams TBA.

Tuesday

5 p.m. TSN NBA Basketball Los Angeles Lakers at Toronto Raptors.

Wednesday

6 p.m. TSN NBA Basketball Toronto Raptors at Minnesota Timberwolves.

HOCKEY

Thursday

6 p.m. NET NHL Hockey Calgary Flames at St. Louis Blues.

8:30 p.m. NET NHL Hockey Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers.

Saturday

5 p.m. CBKT NHL Hockey Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres.

8 p.m. CBKT NET NHL Hockey Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames.

Tuesday

7 p.m. NET NHL Hockey Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames.

TENNIS

Friday

5 p.m. TSN 2024 Miami Open Tennis ATP Semifinal.

29 ENCAV (6:50) <+++ Philadelphia ('93) Tom Hanks. The Spanish Princess The Spanish Princess

33 CMT The Office The Office The Office The Office Frasier Frasier Cheers Cheers

35 TLC (6:00) My 600-Lb. Life (N) My 600-Lb. Life "Carlton & Shantel's Stor y" My 600-Lb. Life

38 DISC Lego "Cut-Away" (N) (:15) Caught! (:45) Lego Masters Australia "Cut-Away NUMB3RS "Nine Wives"

41 COM Jim Jim How I Met How I Met How I Met How I Met Big Bang Big Bang

42 TCM (6:00) <+++ The Rat Race <+ Goodbye Charlie ('64) Tony Curtis. (P) < Pleasure of His Company

47 AMC (6:00) <+++ Unstoppable <+++ Moneyball ('11) Jonah Hill , Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brad Pitt

48 FSR (6:00) NHRA Pro Mod Series Gainesville (N)

55 CRV1 (5:20) < Harry Potter & the G Fantastic Bea Tokyo Vice (N) The Girls (N) (:50) Menudo

56 CRV2 (6:00) <++ Dog Days ('18) <++ Dog ('22) Channing Tatum. (:45) < Confidential Informant ('23)

57 CRV3 (:20) Transplant "Locked" CornerGas CornerGas The Chi "Showdown" Bosch (:50) < Flee

58 HBO (:20) < Peace by Chocolate ('21) Hatem Ali. < The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

9 CBKT <+++ Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle ('17) Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson The National (N)

11 WWJ Tracker "Chicago" (N)

Vegas "The Reaper" News (N) (:35) J. Osteen (:05) Joni: Tabl GameTime

12 WXYZ (6:00) American Idol (N) What Would You Do? (N) News (N) Bensinger Game Time The Rookie

13 CTYS American Idol "706 (Hollywood W eek -- Idol Arena )" (N) VeraCity (N) Food Guardians

19 TSN 2024 World Men's Curling Championship Canada vs. Scotland Jay Onrait (N) (Live)

20 NET (5:00) Basket Sportsnet (N) (Live) Blue Jays Misplays NHL's Best Triton Poker Madrid Part 8

25 EDACC Corner Gas Corner Gas <+++ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ('07) Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe.

26 W < An Easter Bloom ('24) Aimee Teegarden. The Heart (N) (SF) The Way Home (N) (SF)

29 ENCAV (:20) <++ Hop ('11) Russell Brand, James Marsden. <++ Peter Rabbit ('18) James Corden. (P) Movie

33 CMT The Office The Office King King King King Raymond Raymond

35 TLC (6:00) 90 Day Fiancé (N) 90 Day Fiancé (N) Love "Sayonara Ladies" (N) 90 Day Fiancé

38 DISC Naked and Afraid "Opposites Don't Attract" Timber Titans Afraid "Put Up or Shut Up"

41 COM Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends

42 TCM (6:00) <+++ Easter Parade <+++ King of Kings ('61) Siobhan Mc Kenna, Jeffrey Hunter Movie

47 AMC Dead (N) (SF) (:15) Parish "Pilot" (N) (P) (:10) Dead "The Last Time " (:20) Parish "Pilot"

48 FSR Grand Prix Grand Prix Grand Prix Grand Prix Grand Prix Grand Prix Grand Prix Bike World

55 CRV1 (:15) <++ Journey to Bethlehem ('23) Antonio Banderas. The Trades The Trades Mrs. Davis

56 CRV2 (5:55) < Jesus Revolution <++ Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore ('22) Movie

57 CRV3 (:15) <+++ Rocky Balboa ('06) Sylvester Stallone. < Something You Said Last Night ('22) Movie

58 HBO (:20) < Transhood ('20) The Regime (N) Enthusiasm (:40) How to

(:35) J. Kimmel (N) (:35) Nightline

13 CTYS American Idol Deal or No Deal Island (N) Brainfood Brainfood

19 TSN (5:30) NCAA NCAA Women Regional Final: Teams TBA (N) (Live) Sports (N) Jay Onrait (N) (Live)

20 NET (5:00) NHLHo Sportsnet (N) (Live) Sportsnet (N) (Live) MisplaysSportsnet (N) (Live)

25 EDACC Big Bang etalk (N) Magnum P.I. Battle of the Generations Criminal Minds

26 W (5:30) <++ Pitch Perfect 2 <++ Pitch Perfect 3 ('17) Anna Kendrick. <+++ Pitch Perfect ('12)

29 ENCAV (:05) <+++ Dumb & Dumber ('94) Jim Carrey <++ Bridget Jones's Baby ('16) Renée Zellweger.

33 CMT The Office The Office The Office The Office Frasier Frasier Cheers Cheers

35 TLC (:05) Seeking (N) (:05) 90 Day: Single Life (N) (:05) MILF Manor 90 Day: The Single Life

38 DISC Outback (N) (SP) Expedition X (N) (SP) NUMB3RS "Contenders NUMB3RS "One Hour

41 COM Jim Jim Sheldon Sheldon Sheldon Sheldon Big Bang Big Bang

42 TCM (6:00) <++++ Grand Hotel <++++ Mutiny on the Bounty ('35) Charles Lau ghton. (:15) < Gorgeous Hussy

47 AMC (6:00) <++ The Longest Yard ('05) <+++ Trading Places ('83) Eddie Murphy,Dan Aykroyd.

48 FSR (5:30) NASCAR L.A. 2023 Bike World Bike World Bike World Dangerous Drives

55 CRV1 (:05) <+++ At Eternity's Gate ('18) Willem Dafoe. < Class Action Park ('20) (:35) Robinson

56 CRV2 (6:40) < Benediction ('21) Peter Capaldi, Jack Lowden. The Traitors The Traitors

57 CRV3 (:20) Transplant CornerGas CornerGas The Chi "A Leg Up" The Staircase "911"

58 HBO Movie (:40) < Baby God ('20) The Synanon Fix (N) (P) Q:

42

47

48

55

(Live) Sportsnet (N) (Live) Sportsnet

25 EDACC Big Bang etalk (N) Cleaning "All of Me" (N) Criminal Minds Weakest Link (N)

26 W Will & Grace Will & Grace Superstore Superstore <+ Blended ('14) Drew Barr ymore,Adam Sandler

29 ENCAV <++ The A-Team ('10) Bradley Cooper, Liam Neeson. <++ Armageddon ('98) Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Willis.

33 CMT The Office The Office The Office The Office Frasier Frasier Cheers Cheers

35 TLC

Logic says the Climate in Saskatchewan is warming. If it was not, Moose Jaw would still be under about a Kilometre of Glacial Ice.

Glacial periods involve alternating cycles of cold and then warm interglacial periods, followed by another glacial period. This resulted in the expansion of massive ice sheets and then the melting of these ice sheets. Warming is slow because the ice reflects sunlight. Warming and cooling periods could occur about every 40,000 to 100,000 years.

It is estimated that the last Glaciation of what is now Saskatchewan peaked about 25,000 years ago and ended about 11,700 years ago.

tures. Another feature, the ‘sand dune’ like landscape near Besant. The flat land to the east of Moose Jaw was Glacial Lake Regina.

Geologic Time – A Guideline for Understanding

Geologic Time is divided into: ‘Eon’, ‘Era’, ‘Period’ and ‘Epoch’.

The last series of Major Ice Age ‘events’ in Saskatchewan began during the Cenozoic Era; the Quaternary Period, the Pleistocene Epoch, 2.5 million years ago. There were at least 4 glacial ‘events’ – a series of climate cooling, warming, cooling and warming – during the Pleistocene Epoch, also called the Quaternary Ice Age.

The last Pleistocene glacial ‘event’

Ice sheet movement had a profound impact on Saskatchewan’s landscape, leaving features, such as drumlins, eskers, moraines, and glacial stream channels.

Signal Hill in Weyburn is a Drumlin. The Qu’Appelle Valley is the remnant of a ‘stream’ channel.

The Dirt Hills and Cactus Hills south of Moose Jaw are ‘terminal’ glacial fea-

in Saskatchewan marked the end of the Pleistocene Epoch. Geologic time in Saskatchewan today is: Cenozoic Era, Quaternary Period, and the Holocene Epoch. (In case someone asks.)

Because of the cooling and warming cycles during the Quaternary Period, a person could argue that today Saskatchewan is in an ‘inter-glacial’ period. What-

ever the case, Saskatchewan is still warm ing.

Global Warming Today in Saskatchewan Global Warming is a regular geologic cycle. Check out Muilutin Milankovic, a Serbian Astro-physicist who researched the ‘earth wobble’ and its effect on climate.

Human Behavior Adding to the Warming Cycle

In previous Climate Cycles, organized human civilization was not a problem. Now Humankind is. People live in big bunches. Their vehicles, the main source of our pollution, spew choking amounts of carbon pollutants into the atmosphere daily. The largest polluters in Canada are the regions with the largest number of vehicles.

More vehicles drive through the Weston Road intersection on the 401 Highway in Toronto in one day than are registered in Saskatchewan. All spewing pollutants. That’s a big change from 10,000 years ago – or even 100 years ago.

Conclusion

Climate Change and Climate Warming are normal cycles in Geological Time. Humankind is now increasing the speed of the Warming Cycle.

Canada’s big polluters are: Southern Ontario, Southern Quebec, the B.C. Lower Mainland – and, in Alberta, the Edmonton-Calgary corridor.

MJ Story Climate Change 20240302 03 File

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