Time to service your furnace and get ready for air conditioning season!
As part of its year-round campaign to support individuals and families through local partnerships, the Salvation Army of Moose Jaw needs your help as it embarks on several charitable community projects this holiday season.
“The Salvation Army has always been out front in helping people and providing for families… in need,” announced Major Byron Kean, the corps officer for the Salvation Army in Moose Jaw.
“If individuals were to do it on their own, there’s a limited amount that they can do. When they donate to the Salvation Army, it enables us to have a broader spectrum of help… and it allows us the opportunity to meet a greater need in the community.”
Kettle Campaign
“The kettle campaign helps us provide Christmas help to families and individuals that are in need. It also provides us with the funds (needed) to operate programming throughout the year,” Major Kean announced.
Collection kettles will appear on Friday, Nov. 22, and the campaign concludes on the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec. 24. All proceeds stay local, Kean confirmed.
The six confirmed locations include Superstore, Sobey’s Liquor, the Town ‘N’ Country Mall, the Moose Jaw Co-op, Safeway, and South Hill Fine Foods. Walmart has yet to confirm its participation.
Volunteers are still needed for the campaign and anyone can volunteer by calling 306-692-5899 or 306-693-7540.
Adopt-A-Family
The Salvation Army supported around 20 local families in 2023 and Kean hopes to build on its success this fall. Any individual, business, or charitable organization can apply with a Friday, Dec. 6 deadline.
“We pair a family with the individual, business, or organization that’s adopting (them) and they’ll tell us what size of family they want (to sponsor), what age of children… (and they) would then provide us with the items that would go to the family,” Major Kean explained.
At minimum, sponsors are asked to match the Salvation Army’s own donation including a gift card for groceries and a Christmas present for each adopted child.
Donations will be accepted for the affiliated Christmas Hamper campaign from Monday, Nov. 18 until Friday, Dec. 6.
For more information, contact family service co-ordinator Tammi Pinay-Ross at 306-692-5899 or by email at Tammi.PinayRoss@SalvationArmy.ca. Donations can also be dropped off in person at the Salvation Army Thrift Store at 175 First Avenue Northeast.
Additional help
On Friday, Dec. 6, the Teddy Bear Toss will take place during the scheduled Moose Jaw Warriors hockey game, and from Dec. 5 to 7, the Salvation Army will support the toy drive held at Canadian Tire.
In partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Moose Jaw, the Salvation Army will support the Christmas Carol Festival scheduled for Monday, Dec. 9 and Tuesday, Dec. 10 at Zion United Church.
Residents from low income households can apply to the Christmas assistance program by contacting the Salvation Army until Friday, Dec. 6. Required documents
include proof of income, address, and identification for each member of the household.
The annual Stocking Campaign will kick off on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Look for further details — including donation envelopes — in the next edition of the Moose Jaw Express paper.
Major Kean concluded with a message of thanks for all those who help support the Salvation Army.
“It’s all about partnerships,” he said. “Yes, we’re the ones on the front lines doing it… but at the same time, we acknowledge that we would not be able to do what we do without the support of individuals, organizations, and businesses in Moose Jaw.”
The Salvation Army Thrift Store is located at 175 First Avenue Northeast and can be reached at 306-692-5899.
For more information visit SalvationArmyMooseJaw.ca or ‘The Salvation Army in Moose Jaw’ on Facebook.
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
Major Dan Broome (left) with volunteers Don (centre) and Dianne Lammle (right) at the Superstore launch of the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign in a previous year.
Photo by: File photo
Mayor-elect James Murdock defeated his closest rival by nearly 4K votes
James Murdock was elected Moose Jaw’s 42nd mayor during the Nov. 13 municipal election, defeating his next closest rival by almost 4,000 votes.
Murdock and his family appeared in council chambers toward the end of the evening as the final numbers came in. Once all five divisions had reported, the results — unofficially, until the city confirmed them on Nov. 15.
In second place was Coun. Crystal Froese, followed by third place incumbent Mayor Clive Tolley. In fourth place was Mike Simpkins, followed by Coun. Kim Robinson.
Tolley says goodbye
Tolley spoke first and acknowledged that these results meant he was finished as mayor. He thanked everyone who voted for him, those he worked with at city hall, and the councillors. He also congratulated Murdock and the candidates who ran.
“It’s a gutsy and important thing to have people run for an election,” Tolley continued. “And we had five people run
Mayor-elect James Murdock speaks to the media, family, friends, supporters and city administration after becoming Moose Jaw’s 42nd mayor during the 2024 mu-
for mayor and 24 people run for council, for a total of 29 people in our community (who) stepped up and said they want to be a part of the solution and serve the citizens of Moose Jaw.”
Tolley said he was proud of his three years as mayor, while he would miss his colleagues and serving residents. He noted that he had future plans but declined to elaborate.
The outgoing mayor encouraged the new council with its future duties, especially the 2025 budget discussions, a process that he jokingly said he was glad he didn’t have to do anymore or pass along tax increases.
Tolley added that the most rewarding aspect of his job was representing Moose Jaw at provincial and national meetings.
He noted that people usually inquired about “Canada’s Most Notorious City,” which made him feel good talking about the community.
Murdock says hello
Taking the podium, Murdock thanked the four mayoral candidates and the 24 councillor candidates, saying they showed that the community “was in good shape” with people who cared, were passionate and wanted the best for Moose Jaw.
“And of course, congratulations to the elected officials. I truly do look forward to working with all of you as this will be a team effort and I’m ready for that challenge,” he said.
When asked what he thought about being Moose Jaw’s 42nd mayor, Murdock said his mother was born in 1942, so he
Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com Officially Verified: Roughly 32.1 per cent of voters cast
took his appointment as “a good sign” since she inspires him.
“It will be truly an honour. I’m looking forward to this and I’m looking forward to representing the community with fresh ideas and thoughts and just being the voice for them,” he noted.
When asked what he wanted to see council accomplish in its first 100 days, the mayor-elect said he wanted to develop solid relationships with the councillors in his first 30 days and create a strong team with a similar vision.
As for 100 days, Murdock joked that maybe the city could save money on snow removal if the winter was mild. Being serious, he said it would take him a few days to realize he was mayor.
Asked what he thought about more people voting this year than in 2020, Murdock said that is likely because residents told him they wanted to be heard and thought he could carry their messages. He also thought the advance polls helped, along with good weather.
The media asked the mayor-elect whether he looked forward to having to levy a tax increase in the 2025 budget that might affect low-income residents. He replied that he would pay close attention and keep his ears open to potential challenges, while he thought the new council and city administration would do the best they could.
As for his overall vision for Moose Jaw, Murdock said he wanted to see the community move forward and rebuild its pride that seemed to be lacking.
“And I think that the community as a whole really wants to see people coming with the one vision for the betterment of the city,” he added.
this municipal election, data shows
Three new councillors joined three re-elected, along with final results of Public School trustees and Catholic School trustees Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com
Roughly 32 per cent of eligible voters — or about one in three people — turned out for this year’s municipal election in Moose Jaw, which is an increase of almost 10 per cent compared to 2020.
City hall released the official numbers for the 2024 municipal election on Nov. 15, which showed how many people voted for the mayor, six city councillors, five public school trustees and four Catholic school trustees.
The total number of ballots cast was 8,761, with 21 ballots blank voted and 134 ballots over voted, leaving 8,606 legitimate ballots. The municipality had estimated there were 27,264 eligible voters this year.
Therefore, based on the total number of ballots cast, 32.14 per cent of all eligible voters participated in the 2024 civic election.
According to data from city hall, this year’s voter turnout is the second lowest in the past five municipal elections.
In 2020, 22.4 per cent of the electorate voted; 41 per cent cast a ballot in 2016; 38 per cent voted in 2012; 39.6 per cent cast a ballot in 2009; and 42.5 per cent voted in 2006.
Advance polls
There were 3,061 voters who cast ballots during the advance polls that city hall held a week before the election. This is 987 more than in 2020 and 1,837 more
than in 2016.
Mayoral results
James Murdock was elected mayor with 5,437 votes, while Coun. Crystal Froese, incumbent Mayor Clive Tolley, Mike Simpkins and Coun. Kim Robinson followed in order of number of votes.
City council
The new councillors include incumbents Jamey Logan, Heather Eby and Dawn Luhning, former councillors Patrick Boyle and Chris Warren, and the only actual new councillor, Carla Delaurier.
Logan, a businessman who owns Strictly Fences received roughly 51 per cent.
Boyle, an executive director for the Water Security Agency, received roughly 42.6 per cent.
Warren, the director of roadways and transportation for the City of Regina, received 31 per cent.
Eby, a registered massage therapist, received 29.9 per cent.
Luhning, a financial consultant, received 29.4 per cent.
Delaurier, a volunteer on several community boards, received roughly 29.3 per cent.
The votes cast for the remaining candidates were:
Scott Montgomery
Coun. Doug Blanc
Ashlea Street
Carolyn Ross
Dave Stevenson
Michelle Christie
Sam Morrison
John Adams
Darrell Markin
Jamaal James
Godwin Ezizor
Obeyaa Ampofo-Hunstad
Tracy Zimmerman
Jana Horsnall
Steven White
Jeff Goodnough
Perry Haug
Zac Monchamp
Public school trustees
The number of votes cast for Moose Jaw-based trustees with Prairie South School Division included:
Mary Jukes
Boyle
Brett Hagan
Lew Young
Tenielle McLeod
McLeod is the only new Moose Jaw trustee, while the others were incumbents. Meanwhile, votes cast for the other candidates included:
Brian Martynook
Kursty Bansley
Ron Gorham
Abdul Alabi
Catholic school trustees
The number of votes cast for Moose Jaw-based trustees with Holy Trinity Catholic School Division included:
Christine Boyczuk
Derek Hassen
Joann Blazieko
Alison Bradish
Meanwhile, votes were cast for the other candidate, Lee Moyse and the other four candidates were incumbents.
The new city council was sworn in on Monday, Nov. 18, while its first meeting is Monday, Nov. 25.
nicipal election. Photo by Jason G. Antonio
Mayor Clive Tolley speaks after being defeated in the civic election. Photo by Jason G. Antonio
Hot Pressure Washers!!
15 Wing member honoured for participating in King’s coronation ceremony
A member of 15 Wing Air Base has been recognized for participating in the coronation ceremony of King Charles III that saw him march past the new monarch with other military prsonnel.
Cpl. Felix-Antoine Beaulieu, a Quebec City-born resident who works at the base as an aerospace control operator, received the King Charles III Coronation Medal during the military venue’s recent honours and awards ceremony. The award marks the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, which occurred on May 6, 2023.
While Canada is issuing its own medals, the one Beaulieu received is from the British government. The British and Canadian medals are both made of nickel silver and have identical ribbons. However, the two medal designs differ.
The British medal features effigies of the King and Queen, while the Canadian medal only features the King. On the reverse, the British medal has laurels, the royal cypher, and the Tudor Crown, whereas the Canadian medal displays the royal cypher with the Canadian Royal Crown over a sunburst design.
“That was a really nice boost for me because the honour of receiving the medal was so great to be able to represent Canada on the main (world) stage … ,” Beaulieu said.
The corporal attended the coronation ceremony with 45 other Canadian servicemen, who were part of a larger group of personnel from more than 50 countries in the British Commonwealth. That party, in turn, then marched with thousands of other members of the British military.
This was Beaulieu’s first time being in Europe, which
Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com
Two hours later, the King and Queen appeared in a golden royal coach pulled by horses, which prompted music to play, canons to boom and the military personnel to march back to the Palace.
“He was right behind us, so we were leading him,” said Beaulieu. “I personally did (see him) when he was in front of Buckingham Palace because we were all standing in front of him in the back gardens.
“So there were … thousands and thousands of soldiers. And then that’s when we gave the ‘Hip-hip, hooray! Hip-hip, hooray!’ … that was definitely the one I felt the most emotion in the moment.”
While taking in the emotionally charged moment, Beaulieu thought that it was historically significant to see Canada’s new monarch in the flesh and that he was thrilled to be there with the other Canadians.
meant it was also his first time visiting Buckingham Palace, the King’s London-based home. He thought visiting the United Kingdom was “a (nice) change of scenery” while he thought it was “the greatest honour” to participate in something historic.
All members of the Commonwealth party were stationed at a base in Birmingham for two weeks, where they trained daily for the ceremony. On Coronation Day, they took the Tube to London and then marched to Buckingham Palace, before trooping down the street to Westminster Abbey for the ceremony.
After the coronation, a bus drove the Canucks to Canada House, where the High Commission of Canada is based, and met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, High Commissioner Ralph Goodale and other dignitaries. The dignitaries gave several speeches in which they thanked the members for representing the country and conducting themselves with professionalism and respect.
A day after the coronation, Windsor Castle hosted a big concert for the Commonwealth members that featured singer Katy Perry. Normally that venue is closed to the public, but the Crown thought it would be appropriate to open it to thank the personnel.
“We were really, really well welcomed by the British and I really enjoyed working with them and I hope that I can work with them in the future also,” Beaulieu added.
15 Wing Air Base commander Col. Dan Coutts (left) and Wing Chief Warrant Officer Rachel Fox (right) present the King Charles III Coronation Medal to Cpl. Felix-Antoine Beaulieu during the base’s recent honours and awards ceremony. Photo submitted
JOAN RITCHIEMoose Jaw Express EDITOR
Editor’s Note
What’s going on in Moose Jaw? Well, things never slow down here in this community. As everyone has already heard, the provincial and the civic election are now history. At first glance with 29 candidates running for mayor and councillor positions in Moose Jaw, it looked like many wanted change from the status quo.
After the fact, not so much it seems, according to data from city hall. This year’s voter turnout is the second lowest in the past five municipal elections.
No matter what, civic decisions will be made in the balance ‘for or against’ - those who approve and those who disapprove. As we all know, we can’t make everyone happy all of the time when dealing with issues that affect a multitude of individuals. Everyone has their own ideas on how things should be; nevertheless, we remain optimistic! Change is a good sign in changing times.
Just on the horizon, I am sure everyone is aware that Christmas is coming. It’s supposed to be a happy time for special celebration and family gatherings and lots of fun. But for others, especially the misfortunate, it is a very stressful time.
Thanks to organizations like the Salvation Army and our local MJ & District Food Bank, they are doing everything in their power to make it better for as many as they can. Please be generous when you walk by a Salvation Army Christmas kettle…and give as much as you are able. Remember, giving is from the heart and should be in accordance to the abundance we have been blessed with.
There are so many other wonderful initiatives the Salvation Army has to assist those in need at this time of the year, from Christmas hampers to making a monetary donation to adopt-a-family…
Don’t forget, the Salvation Army is still looking for volunteers to help facilitate the Christmas kettles and helping out so if you have some spare time, time is a generous gift to give to those that have it.
I would be amiss if I didn’t include the Square One community in their endeavours to work on a solution to our local homeless population. For those who came out to support the Square One Empty Bowls Fundraiser, thanks for ‘giving to the least of these,’ as the Bible says.
Other initiatives like Samaritan’s Purse - Operation Christmas Child offer a global initiative to bring joy to kids around the world that certainly don’t have as much as we do in our North American materialistic society. Thanks to those in Moose Jaw who saw beyond themselves to make a child happy by filling a shoe-box with items that will bring them joy.
If you are looking for a Christmas tree, the Rotary Christmas Tree Sale is just around the corner at the corner of the downtown Co-op Food store. You can pick your tree of choice and at the same time be part of helping others in the community by supporting the Rotary Club’s endeavours.
Do you have someone special on your Christmas gift list? Your one-stop shop should be the Moostletoe artisan show that is being held this coming Saturday, November 23rd at the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery from 2-4pm. Please support our local artisans, as every piece they produce is special, hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind.
Read all of this and more in this edition of the Moose Jaw Express.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
Phone: 306.694.1322 Fax: 888.241.5291
468 High St. W., Moose Jaw SK S6H 1T3 www.mjvexpress.com
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Thank you to all the contributing writers, without your time and support, the paper would not look the same. Send your stories, events and pictures to: joan@moosejawexpress.com
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Operation Christmas Child packing party concludes another year at Twin Lakes Ranch
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw
Several residents united at the Twin Lakes Ranch Ministries late last week to participate in the annual Operation Christmas Child packing party where they filled shoeboxes with essential and heartwarming gift items for children in need.
Over four days from Nov. 13 to 17, around 28 volunteers packed shoeboxes with school supplies, toys, hygiene items, and stuffed animals.
These gift boxes are typically destined for thirdworld countries where they bring hope and joy to children and their families.
“It’s so important, because this is the only gift that some of these kids will ever get. They (may) only get one of these shoeboxes in their lifetime, because there are so many areas that Samaritan’s Purse (aims to help),” explained Mary Willis, the program’s Moose Jaw co-ordinator at the conclusion of last year’s packing party.
Operation Christmas Child is organized by Samaritan’s Purse and each year the owners of Twin Lakes Ranch Ministries — who themselves are long-time supporters of the program — host the packing party voluntarily.
Volunteers are encouraged to pack the boxes “as God leads you,” ensuring that each one is filled to the brim with meaningful and high-quality items. If one of the boxes has space leftover, it gets sent back so some toy or practical item can fill the space.
“We don’t pack air,” Willis emphasized in an earlier statement.
The program’s ongoing success — especially with a new local record set last year — and the reaction of those who receive a gift highlights the impact of Operation Christmas Child and demonstrates why Willis has been a supporter for the past 16 years.
“(These) Kids are grown up now, and they got a box when they were two or three years old. They can still remember that when they’re 25 years old,” she reminisced earlier.
Last year’s Moose Jaw campaign concluded with a record setting number of donations — 1,700 boxes were
Express
packed with an additional 580 shoeboxes collected at the Alliance Church. It’s still too early to confirm any details on this year’s ongoing campaign, however.
Operation Christmas Child’s collection week continues to run from Nov. 18 until Sunday, Nov. 24.
The Moose Jaw Alliance Church at 14 Neslia Place and the Victory Church at 637 Main Street North are serving as this year’s drop-off locations and additional donations will be accepted until its final date.
Everyone’s also invited to fill a box virtually by visiting PackABox.ca.
For more information on Samaritan’s Purse, visit SamaritansPurse.ca.
Twin Lakes Ranch Ministries is located north of the Trans Canada Highway and approximately one kilometre east of the Battle Creek Adventure Park, or about 20 kilometres (15 minutes) east of Moose Jaw.
Police name suspect who caused fatal vehicle rollover on Main Street
By MooseJawToday.com
Following an extensive investigation, the Moose Jaw Police Service has charged 26-year-old Tyrel Cronan in relation to a single-vehicle rollover that occurred on Nov. 7.
On that day at approximately 11:42 p.m., the Moose Jaw Police Service received a report of a motorist driving erratically within Moose Jaw.
An MJPS officer observed the vehicle travelling northbound on Main Street North at a high rate of speed at 11:49 p.m. The vehicle then struck a meridian on the 1300 block of Main Street North, causing the vehicle to rollover.
As a result of the crash, a 31-year-old male passenger was pronounced deceased at the scene, while Cronan and another occupant of the vehicle were transported to hospital and treated for minor injuries.
Cronan has been charged with impaired driving caus-
ing death, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, and flight from police.
He has been remanded and made his first appearance in Moose Jaw Provincial Court on Nov. 12.
Due to police involvement before the collision, the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) was notified and is investigating the actions of the police during this incident.
SIRT has released additional details of their investigation, which can be found online.
The Moose Jaw Police Service is co-operating fully with SIRT and will have no further comment on the investigation.
Anyone with further information should contact CRIME STOPPERS at 1-800-222-8477 or the Moose Jaw Police Service at 306-694-7600.
A brief look at some of the clothing donated to Operation Christmas Child by generous residents this year. Photo by: Twin Lakes Ranch Ministries/Facebook
Shoeboxes filled with children’s Christmas presents await the next step as they make their way to deserving girls and boys. Photo by: Twin Lakes Ranch Ministries/Facebook
Volunteers help assemble children’s gifts during the Operation Christmas Child packing party at Twin Lakes Ranch Ministries on Nov. 12.
Photo by: Twin Lakes Ranch Ministries/Facebook
A look at some of the toys donated to Operation Christmas Child this year. Photo by: Twin Lakes Ranch Ministries/Facebook
Wakamow Rotary Club’s annual Christmas tree sale begins Nov. 22
It may not look like a winter wonderland just yet, but the Moose Jaw Wakamow Rotary Club is hoping to generate some festive cheer with its upcoming Christmas tree program.
The club will begin selling its everpopular trees on Friday, Nov. 22 at the Coop Food Store, with weekday hours from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m. It is bringing in 420 trees, including Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, and White Spruce.
Residents should purchase their trees quickly as the club usually runs out around Dec. 10 — which falls on a Tuesday this year.
“We hope to do so (sell out) again this year,” said Dave Bowler, program chairman, noting that 20 to 25 members will be supporting the initiative.
Last year the Wakamow Rotary Club raised roughly $10,000 from the sales, which it combined with the $20,000 it had raised from other projects and donated to several charities.
When residents buy a tree, they will also receive a list of projects the club has pursued this year and how well those initiatives went, said Bowler.
Locally, some projects include supporting the food bank, the health foundation and post-secondary
Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com
The Rotary Club of Moose Jaw Wakamow sets up a Christmas tree stand every year, with all proceeds going back to community projects. File photo
scholarships, while internationally, projects focus on supporting education and building classrooms in developing countries and helping eradicate polio.
“It’s a nice fundraiser because we’re providing people with a service and we feel we’re giving them a really good value,” said Bowler. “We sell quality trees and we try to keep the price reasonable.
“And we get to meet a lot of people during the time and they’re always in good spirits when they’re buying a tree.”
The Rotary volunteers will also offer
tree-care tips, including slicing off the final inch of the tree’s base — one of the most important parts of keeping a tree fresh for longer. The newly exposed base soaks up more water, while owners should give them as much water as they can handle.
Bowler encouraged families to purchase a tree on Saturday, Nov. 30, because the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus, will be on hand from 1 to 4 p.m. supporting the project and taking pictures with children young and old.
“He’s been there every year and it’s
been a popular time for families to buy their trees,” the program chairman said.
Bowler added that the people like the atmosphere of the tree farm, while new lighting means they can now shop more effectively in the evenings.
Other projects
Bowler provided an update about two projects the Moose Jaw Wakamow Rotary Club initiated this year: its Fly the Flag fundraiser and its pancake breakfasts in the summer.
The club was happy with how its flag project turned out, as it attracted 75 residents who allowed the club to erect Canadian flags on poles in their front yards.
“We hope to grow it next year,” he said.
Furthermore, on Saturday mornings during the Wakamow Farmers’ Markets in August, the club organized 80 to 100 pancake breakfasts that generated thousands of dollars in donations. One day was dedicated to supporting Square One Community Inc., with the club raising $692 for the organization.
Club members presented Square One with a cheque on Aug. 15 at the latter’s headquarters at William Milne Place — the Old Fire Hall — on Fairford Street East.
Police
The Moose Jaw Police Service has recorded fewer incidents of crimes against people and property this year compared to last year, but it has received 11 more reports about sexual assault.
The agency presented the most recent crime statistics during the Board of Police Commissioners’ November meeting, with the data showing that there were 51 reported sexual assaults between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31 of this year compared to 40 incidents during the same period last year — an increase of 27.5 per cent.
Meanwhile, all other assaults — common, with a weapon, aggravated and against police — together declined 10.8 per cent year-over-year, with 305 incidents recorded year-to-date (YTD) versus 342 YTD last year.
Police Chief Rick Bourassa pointed out that these 11 extra incidents of sexual assaults are occurrences that residents have reported to police, while the agency knows that this is one of the most under-reported categories, not just in Moose Jaw, but across Canada and throughout the world.
“So we can’t speak to whether there are more cases or whether more people are reporting,” he said.
While the chief couldn’t say why there were more reported cases of sexual assault, he noted that the police service has been working closely with the Regina Sexual Assault Centre, which may be encouraging some people to come forward to report who otherwise wouldn’t.
Police Chief Rick Bourassa isn’t seeing anything worrying with expenses in this year’s budget but knows there are unforeseen issues like overtime and retirement bonuses that could happen at any time.
During the Board of Police Commissioners’ November board meeting, Bourassa presented a budget update for the Moose Jaw Police Service (MJPS) with revenues and expenses to Sept. 30.
The report indicated that the police service had received 43.62 per cent of its expected revenues and had spent 77.91 per cent of its budgeted expenses.
Revenues
With revenues, the MJPS had received $22,703 more than budgeted for prisoner cost recovery and $1,521 more for unclaimed seized property sales. However, it had yet to receive $680,028 in funding from the province, nor had it received $250,000 in contractual revenues.
Expenses
With expenses, there were eight categories over budget:
• Subscriptions and publications were over by $3,443
• Computer software was over budget by $7,505
• Insurance was over by $10,026
• Supplies (janitorial) was over budget by $2,623
• Supplies (prisoner meals) was over budget by $703
• Contractual services (cleaning) was over by $1,229
• Telecommunications (radio) was over by $1,717
Police officers’ regular patrolling of Crescent Park in October helped them discover — and relocate — nearly 10 homeless people, including two who had erected a temporary shelter.
Residents raised concerns about the safety of Crescent Park and the people occupying that green space, so the Moose Jaw Police Service began a program where its members regularly checked the park day and night, senior leadership said during the recent Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting.
The focus was to search for people who didn’t have anywhere to stay and decided to live in the park or sleep there overnight.
During three weeks in October, officers encountered six people and helped them acquire the proper resources, senior leadership said. However, there were two people whom officers encountered more than once who constructed a shelter using tarps.
“And so our members worked with them, those structures were removed, and I believe the work is still ongoing with some other agencies to make sure these people have the proper supports,” Police Chief Rick Bourassa said. “So it was a relatively light number of people.”
Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com
“The fact that there are more reports tells us that … it’s an issue that’s (still) ongoing,” Bourassa added. “But if people are reporting, then at least we can start to become part of the (solution) to that and make sure people are (receiving) the proper support.”
Crimes against the person
Year-to-date data for crimes against people for 2024 versus 2023 show:
• Homicide: 0 / 0
• Attempted murder: 2 / 0
• Robbery: 10 / 8
• Total: 478 / 484; a decrease of 1.2 per cent
This decrease is “heartening” to see, even if it’s just a slight dip, while the police will work to continue reducing that even further, said Bourassa. One way it’s addressing this situation is by working with the area RCMP on a crime reduction team.
“Some of those (offences) are very challenging because a lot of it happens within people’s social networks and it’s really hard for us to be preventative on that,” he added.
Crimes against property
Year-to-date data for crimes against property for 2024 versus 2023 show:
Overall, as of Sept. 30, the police service’s net revenues and expenditures stood at 83.04 per cent of budget.
Chief’s comments
“We don’t see any red flags. We know we’re going to be close because we always are. We budget pretty tight,” Bourassa said after the meeting. “We don’t put a lot of flex into our budgets.”
Overtime has been an issue because of unexpected incidents that required additional officers, there have been retirements that have forced the organization to promote people, and the agency had to hire more employees for its 911 communications centre, he continued.
Overtime has been heavier than the MJPS would like, but it is implementing actions to reduce that where possible, the chief noted.
During the meeting, some commissioners were concerned that the MJPS may have potentially spent three-quarters of its budget even though there were several months left in the year. However, Bourassa said that many expenses — such as equipment reserve contributions and employment insurance — are front-loaded, so the agency pays them at the beginning of its fiscal year.
“And then what happens for us generally later in the year is the revenues come in, so things do tend to balance themselves,” he said. “And they will be coming, but of course, with the provincial election a lot of things slowed
Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com
The chief pointed out that people — regardless of who they are — are allowed to be in public places, but they are prohibited from constructing shelters since that is inappropriate. Meanwhile, police will continue to work with the City of Moose Jaw’s bylaw enforcement officers to ensure city property is maintained for the public.
Bourassa was unsure what happened to the six individuals, but suspected that other community agencies — such as social services or Willow Lodge — supported them so they had a place to stay.
“So there will be no structures built in public places. That just can’t happen. (But), if they do happen, we encourage everyone (to) … call us if you see these things so we can address them and get in front of it early,” he said.
“And really, what it is is people are just trying to cope. And we connect people with the proper resources so they can cope better.”
Board chairwoman Crystal Froese highlighted how there is no tent city in Crescent Park, contrary to rumours on social media that made the situation worse. She reiterated that this was a single tarp that a homeless resident had strung up, which police handled immediately.
“Our officers are out there and are looking to assist
• Theft under $5,000: 679 / 956
• Arson: 0 / 1
• Mischief under $5,000: 213 / 302
• Total: 1,471 / 1,959; a decrease of 24.9 per cent
The police service is “really happy” to see a decrease in this area, and while there are many factors that influenced this decline, one reason is because police have been more visible in the community, said Bourassa. Moreover, he believes an increase in staffing has also contributed to the decrease.
“Whether or not that’s a cause-and-effect, the experts still can’t say for sure, but we certainly see those two things coinciding,” he added.
Other data
Other year-to-date data for 2024 versus 2023 show:
• Impaired driving: 76 / 85
• Failing to comply with court orders: 743 / 377
• Threats: 16 / 51
• Domestic dispute: 41 / 54
• Provincial liquor infractions: 118 / 140
• Vehicles incidents over $1,000: 222 / 182; an increase of 22 per cent
• Calls for service: 17,433 / 16,760; an increase of four per cent
down.”
Bourassa added that the province must still pay nearly $800,000 in revenues, which should come toward the end of the year.
Board chairwoman Crystal Froese said the board was confident that the police service would remain within budget until next year — barring any unexpected incidents like having to search for missing people.
When asked why janitorial and cleaning expenses were over budget, Deputy Chief Rick Johns explained that the organization has a full-time maintenance supervisor who handles cleaning during regular hours. However, because the agency operates around the clock, it hires contractor cleaners — who may require extra supplies — to help when the supervisor is on days off or holidays.
Furthermore, due to the collective bargaining agreement, that employee’s holidays and time off grow the longer she works with the police service.
The MJPS has adjusted its 2025 budget to incorporate more money for janitorial services to ensure the building remains clean, which is important since if a prisoner in cells “has an event” at 3 a.m., that needs to be cleaned, Johns added.
“And we’ve had some pretty messy events,” chuckled Bourassa.
anybody in that way,” she added. “We don’t want anybody living outside in a tent and we certainly don’t want them in the parks at all.”
Trespassing program
Senior leadership provided an update about the Moose Jaw Police Service’s anti-trespassing initiative, saying that the program had now expanded city-wide and was no longer just focused on the downtown.
Leadership indicated that the program’s yellow triangular stickers that businesses and buildings can stick on their windows to show their participation have produced plenty of good feedback.
The board heard that some businesses and buildings had their stickers removed, which contributed to an increase in problems there. However, once new stickers were in place, the issues decreased.
The MJPS knows the stickers are having a positive effect and that they’re helping officers when targeting areas during their patrols, Froese said. The agency is also taking a more strategic approach with its patrols around the city since its members’ efforts allow it to track issues in an area.
Reflective Moments
By Joyce Walter - For Moose Jaw Express
During commercials between the scenes of our favourite Wednesday evening television shows, we in our household searched for results from the city’s civic election.
We muttered when the results weren’t instantly reported 10 minutes after the polls closed, perhaps an indication of how one loses one’s patience as age creeps up. Forty-five or 50 years ago we would not have been home watching television while the excitement of the election swirled through the corridors of city hall, where doors opened early and stayed open late to accommodate interested citizens and the candidates for council and mayor. And those doors had to be open so ballot boxes could be dropped off after results had been phoned to the city clerk’s office. Some election officials were more efficient than others, although they all had received the same intensive training. Those were the ones who counted quickly and accurately and then brought their box-
es to city hall before going home to rest, or horrors, going to bed and having to be called by an irate city clerk.
Yes, those were the days. I remember my first civic election where I was assigned to sit in a small room in city hall along with a contingent from CHAB Radio, the local television station and some tabulators who provided backup information on sheets prepared especially for the reporters.
I was in elite company and was looked after by Bob Wyatt, the accounting genius who verified the adding abilities of poll clerks and others who had called in the numbers. I started out copying his results in my notebook until he kindly told me the sheet he handed me was mine for the taking. What a relief. I did not want to make an adding error when reporting on my first election.
I didn’t know it until later but Bob was also responsible for the plates of
sandwiches and platters of doughnuts and pastries that kept us charged into the late evening/early morning hours.
In later years, I was asked by a different city clerk to work with him on a fancy new computer system with which I would post results on a screen in council chambers. I knew nothing about computers but I learned quickly: I had one key to push to update results every 15 minutes, and another key to go back to the previous results.
I managed to perform the duties to the best of my ability, and even managed to annoy a rather egotistical Regina television reporter who demanded I hold the results until her report from Moose Jaw.
“Oops: did I just hit the button too soon?” She complained to the clerk and he kindly but firmly told her she’d get her results at the same time as the local reporters.
Our reporting work, of course, was not done when the last ballot had been
PROVINCIAL COURT REPORT
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
counted. We had interviews to complete, candidates to track down, and then off to the newsroom to nibble on pizza and doughnuts until the city editor was satisfied the extra newspaper pages were filled with photos and stories and charts.
Yes, those were the days, my friends. We thought they’d never end — but home we sat last week, itching to learn the results, but not wanting to go out after dark to join other citizens at city hall.
So we searched various outlets until we found some results. And then what did we do? We went back to watching our Wednesday evening police and fire shows.
I betcha the late Bob Wyatt would be disappointed, especially when there was no sandwiches or doughnuts to keep up our strength.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net
Addict gets four months’ jail for thefts, break-in to
Resident Janna Elizabeth Wells will spend the next four months in jail for offences she committed during the past two years, most of which she did while addicted to drugs.
Wells, 34, appeared in Moose Jaw Provincial Court recently, where she pleaded guilty to 10 charges — mostly thefts, but also an assault and a break-in — that occurred between January 2023 and July 2024.
As part of a joint submission, Wells will spend 120 days in jail, which includes 90 days for the break-and-enter and 30 days concurrent for the other offences. She will then spend 12 months on probation after she is released. She must also provided a DNA sample.
Wells had been in custody for 18 days, so the court credited her with 27 enhanced days. This means she has 93 days left to serve.
The Crown stayed six other charges.
The most concerning offence Wells committed during her crime spree was the break-and-enter into a home, said Crown prosecutor Robbie Parker.
video footage showed Wells entering a homeowner’s backyard on Laurier Street, walking near the back door and storage area, and then removing the screen of a door and entering the residence, with the occupants asleep inside.
A few minutes later, Wells exited the home with a bowl, a spoon, a container of juice and a cell phone — the total value was roughly $1,000 — and left.
Meanwhile, in early July, a homeowner called police saying someone had entered his vehicle parked and took personal items, said Parker. Using video surveillance, officers determined that Wells had been walking in the area and had a backpack with the stolen items.
A week later, Wells entered the Moose Jaw Public Library and took an employee’s cell phone from the front desk and left. Also in July, police learned that the woman stole a 1.5-litre ice cream pail worth $10 from the Union Grocery and Confectionary.
On June 12, Wells entered the Shoppers Drug Mart on South Hill, placed cosmetics into her shopping cart and then
bag, Parker said. Despite staff telling her to pay, she ignored them and left with the products, which were worth $154.
In February, police learned that Wells had stolen $800 worth of miscellaneous items from a locker at the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa, he added. As she was leaving the changing room, she pushed an employee out of the way and left.
Legal Aid lawyer Suzanne Lalonde explained that Wells had been addicted to opiates for 10 years because of surgery she had, while she had been taking fentanyl during these offences. Her addiction had caused her to become homeless, while social services had taken her children.
Wells wants to take treatment to become well and plans to apply to a treatment centre to receive help after she is released, Lalonde continued. Meanwhile, she has become familiar with programs that Pine Grove Correctional Centre offers inmates and will participate “in anything and everything” during her time there.
“Janna is very much motivated by a desire to be reunited with her children and be an active parent in their lives. And that’s one of the reasons that she wants treatment,” the defence lawyer added. Judge David Chow accepted the joint submission and agreed to waive the victim fund surcharge.
By Patricia Hanbidge
For Moose Jaw Express
The Dirt on Composting –
Part I
Years ago, composting was a word that was relatively unknown. Today, as we make our salads or clean and prepare garden vegetables, we know that throwing out what is not edible is unacceptable! Composting behaviours by Canadians have been increasing. In 2019, 62% of Canadian households composted kitchen waste which works out to just over 3 in 5 households. Not only does composting prolong the life of current landfills but by composting greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by not having organic material decomposing in the landfill.
Compost is that dark, crumbly, sweet smelling material that is the product of aerobically decomposed organic material. In other words - rotted (or recycled) plant matter that turns into a great additive to your garden. It greatly improves the structure and the capacity to hold and provide nutrients to plants. Compost is made with any green waste such as leaves, shredded twigs, and kitchen scraps you get as a result of eating fresh healthy plants as part of your diet.
Composting is also a good way to recycle leaves and other yard waste that we may not be consumed as food. Instead of paying a company to haul away leaves, you can compost those leaves and return the nutrients to your garden and improve the tilth of your soil. Instead of buying peat moss, save money and make your own compost! It is not difficult to compost as the process involves only four main components: organic matter, moisture, oxygen, and bacteria. Organic materials used for compost should include a mixture of brown organic material (dead leaves, twigs) and green organic material (lawn clippings, fruit rinds, etc.). Brown materials supply carbon, while green materials supply nitrogen. The best ratio is 1-part green to 1-part brown material. Shredding, chopping or mowing these materials into smaller pieces will help speed the composting process by increasing the surface area of what is being composted.
In order for compost to be made, moisture is necessary. Compost should be comparable to the wetness of a wrung-out sponge. If you compost pile/bin is too dry, then it will not rot and the dry material will decompose
very slowly. Add water during dry periods or when adding large amounts of brown organic material. If the pile is too wet, turn the pile and mix the materials. Another option is to add dry, brown organic materials. Composting is an aerobic process - or a rotting process that happens in the presence of air. If your compost smells bad, then it may be that anaerobic rotting is occurring. Oxygen is needed to support the breakdown of plant material by the bacteria. To supply oxygen, you will need to turn the compost pile so that materials at the edges are brought to the center of the pile. Turning the pile is important for complete composting and for controlling odour.
Bacteria and other microorganisms are the real workers in the compost process. By supplying organic materials, water, and oxygen, the already present bacteria will break down the plant material into useful compost for the garden. As the bacteria decomposes the materials, they release heat, which is concentrated in the center of the pile. You may also add layers of soil or finished compost to supply more bacteria and speed the composting process. Commercial starters are available but are not necessary for compost piles that have a proper carbon to nitrogen ratio (1-part green organic material to 1-part brown organic material).
Watch next week for more about how to use compost and vermicomposting. Until then we hope that your compost will always be sweet and available in large quantities!
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?
Heartland Hospice and Bobby’s Place team up for trivia fundraiser
Jason G. Antonio - MooseJawToday.com
In which province does the world’s oldest basketball court reside? In which city does the world’s only perogy drive-thru occur? What nickname do Saskatchewan people give for hoodies?
You likely know the answer to some of these questions if you’re into Canadian trivia, and if you do enjoy the thrill of coming up with information and data that may be of little value, then an upcoming community fundraiser is for you.
Heartland Hospice is teaming up with Bobby’s Place Olde World Tavern to hold an inaugural fish and chips night with trivia fundraiser to support its ongoing efforts to construct a dedicated hospice space in Moose Jaw.
The event takes place on Monday, Nov. 25, starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 each, which enables attendees to enjoy some tasty food with the opportunity to participate in a fun game of trivia and win a prize. To purchase tickets, e-transfer the money to trivia@hhmj.ca with your name, phone number and email address.
Casino Moose Jaw has donated $10 vouchers to everyone who purchases a ticket. Meanwhile, 100 tickets have been made available for this event, while residents have so far purchased 30, which means there is still room to come and have an enjoyable evening.
“We’re pretty excited … that Moose Jaw is coming and helping us out,” said Michaela Sykora, Heartland Hospice’s public engagement and fundraising officer.
Heartland Hospice’s board developed the idea for a food and trivia night fundraiser because some members attend the tavern’s weekly trivia nights and thought it
would be interesting to hold something similar for the non-profit organization, she continued. Members also realized that trivia nights bring together many people, so they thought this activity was something to pursue.
Sykora added that the trivia questions would ask about general topics and not be specifically about Heartland Hospice.
Meanwhile, Sykora said the organization’s overall fundraising efforts to construct a dedicated hospice space are going well and members are excited about what has been happening with construction efforts at Pioneer Lodge.
“So we’re excited to keep holding events and get some funds rolling in for our project that we have going on,” she noted.
As part of the initiative, Heartland Hospice wants to construct three dedicated hospice palliative bedrooms, a family room, a sacred space, a serenity garden and a private entrance to the hospice wing at Pioneer Lodge. The organization’s goal is to create an end-of-life haven for individuals and their families that is supported by a circle of compassionate care.
Heartland Hospice wants to open the new venue — expected to cost roughly $1 million, with roughly $800,000 raised so far — next spring.
So, did you guess the answers to those trivia questions at the beginning? The answers are St. Stephen, New Brunswick in 1893, Baba’s Homestyle Perogies in Saskatoon, and bunny hugs.
Ron Walter trades thoughts on why Trump won presidency
Post-mortems of the U.S. election have established numerous reasons why Kamala Harris of the Democrats lost to former President Donald Trump.
To be clear, the Trump victory was close.
Besides the president, Republicans will hold the Senate and a slim majority in the House of Representatives giving them total control of legislation.
Among the main reasons Harris lost seems to be the economy. Voters don’t seem to care about the GDP, jobless rate or lower inflation. They care about struggling with post Covid-19 higher prices — 20 per cent for food and 45 per cent for housing.
A tv interview where Harris could not think of anything she would have done differently from Biden gave the Republicans ammunition.
Immigration and border crossings were another cited. A commercial showing Harris being soft on illegal immigrants was aired 30,000 times in the closing days of the campaign.
Harris’ focus on restoring abortion wasn’t the resonating issue, even though almost two-thirds of Americans seem to want abortions allowed.
Right wing media— Fox TV, X(Twitter), New York Post and online media didn’t help Harris.
A detailed analysis of the vote on election night by CNN and later by a newspaper showed exactly where Harris lost support.
In Republican rural county after county, Harris missed the support Biden had by two or so percentage points, allowing Trump to roll up the vote.
Two per cent in rural areas adds up across the country.
In urban counties, Harris did well, still often a few points short of Biden’s 2020 support.
Some analysts said Harris didn’t have enough time to campaign, only taking over from Biden in the summer. As vice-president she wasn’t that well-known, spending most of her first two years in Washington in case she had to break a tie vote in the Senate.
The traditional Democratic coalition of workers broke down.
As Senator Bernie Sanders said, the Democrats forgot about the working man. A prominent male Democrat said the day after the election that the Harris website was devoted mostly to women and black men.
It was said Harris lost support among black men, Latino men and men under 30. Black and Latino men come from a culture where males seem to be more dom-
By Ron Walter For
inant than females, even more so than in white America. Men under 30 may have sent a message revolting against the fight to end centuries old male dominance in the age of Me-too.
No one seems to want to talk about the elephant in the room –sexism.
As it seems, America wasn’t ready for Kamala Harris to be president.
Now it seems, a handful of billionaires could possibly control the country while the rest of the world worries about future relationships with the United States.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel
Classmate Productions company launches to showcase Moose Jaw’s Filipino talent
Moose Jaw’s Filipino community continues to grow and now, thanks to a new production company, Filipino artistic and comedic talent will have an outlet to host cultural productions in The Friendly City.
The first event hosted by Classmate Productions will be a stand-up comedy show featuring Filipino-based talent Kuya Jobert who will perform live at the Peacock Auditorium starting at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29.
“To be honest, this is the first show or event (we’ve hosted) that’s dedicated to the Filipino community,” announced Joanne Solero, an organizer with Classmate Productions in Moose Jaw.
“We do have basketball tournaments or parties organized by individuals, but this is the first big (show) that we’re doing and we invited a celebrity from the Philippines to join us,” she said. “We are also highlighting our local performers who will be there….”
Jobert is a well renowned comedian in the Philippines and this month he’ll be including a stop in Moose Jaw with his upcoming tour.
Classmate Productions was founded to address a lack of cultural outlets for the local Filipino community.
“In Saskatchewan, for example, most of the Filipino shows are happening in Saskatoon or Regina, but never in Moose Jaw which is (unfortunate) because there’s a large Filipino community here and in nearby areas,” Solero explained.
“So, we’re trying to change that and make Moose Jaw a possible venue for all these artists, especially (popular touring artists) from the Philippines,” she said.
Classmate Productions was founded
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
this October and opened with the initial goal of hosting Jobert’s upcoming comedy show. So far, Solero said she’s seen quite an outpouring of support from the community.
“We’re actually quite surprised,” she admitted. “We didn’t expect to have so much support from the local business com munity because… we didn’t know what to expect (when we made the first announce ment). We’re very happy and we feel very lucky that the local community is very sup portive.”
So far, Classmate Productions has re ceived support from Déjà vu Café, Dairy Queen Moose Jaw, Smitty’s and Bugsy’s Irish Pub at the Town ‘N’ Country Mall, Houston Pizza, and a growing list of others.
If the upcoming comedy show proves
to be successful, Solero said she hopes to see Classmate Productions continue to expand and — hopefully — start hosting a quarterly show featuring local and international Filipino talent.
At first her plan was to organize a routine stand-up comedy show, but, with the consideration of feedback from members of the Filipino community, a few changes have been included.
The show will now open with performances by three Filipino singers and two local Filipino bands including Overdrive and Basement Project.
Tickets for the upcoming show are available now and purchasing details can be found on the company’s Facebook page, ‘Classmate Productions.’
Tickets can also be purchased in person at participating Filipino stores including the Kabayan Sari-sari Store at 20 Fairford Street West, Alice Asian Superstore at 404 Lillooet Street West, and Houston Pizza at 117 Main Street North.
To learn more about comedian Kuya Jobert visit KuyaJobert.com.
The Peacock Auditorium is located at 145 Ross Street East.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
Moose Jaw Express
Paws for Pledges raises over $100K for the Moose Jaw Humane Society
The 12th annual Paws for Pledges Radiothon — and the Moose Jaw Humane Society’s largest annual fundraiser — just concluded with an outpouring of community support that was “paws-itively” heartwarming.
This year’s radiothon raised $106,789 and took place throughout the day on Nov. 8.
Prior to this year’s Paws for Pledges event, the Moose Jaw Humane Society’s executive director Dana Haukaas said the shelter’s staff agreed on a fundraising target of $95,000.
“We (thought we were) reaching for the stars at $95,000, just because everybody’s dollar seems to be going less far every year as inflation goes up. We weren’t really sure that we were going to reach it,” she said. “We were so overwhelmed by the number of people who… came out to the shelter that day.”
The shelter’s in-person donations were up more than $2,000 compared to last year and “our online donations went gangbusters.”
“The community stepped up and smashed that goal for us,” she declared.
These funds will now be used to support the non-profit shelter’s day-to-day operations.
“It’s just to help us with the animals,” Haukaas explained. “It (includes) vet care, spaying and neutering, and medication for the animals that are sick as well as any emergent care (they might require).”
To illustrate the value of Paws for Pledges, Haukaas cited the example of one pet — and former humane so-
ciety rescue animal — who stopped by with their family during the radiothon to show their appreciation once again for the work done by the shelter’s staff.
“Their cat was found in rough shape on the side of the road,” Haukaas began. “He’d been hit by a car, and we were contacted to come pick him up. We rushed him over to the clinic and he was able to receive the care he needed right away.
“Then, the next day, his family reached out to us wondering if we had their cat. They were able to come and take over his care at the clinic from there.”
Beyond raising funds, the radiothon is also a great way to raise awareness for all the pets still seeking out
their forever homes.
“We did also have four adoptions that day,” she announced. “We sent two baby bunnies and two cats home.”
One contributing factor to this year’s success was moving the radiothon to the Friday after Remembrance Day when students were out of school and many families were off work — a decision Haukaas plans to continue next year.
The Moose Jaw Humane Society wished to thank its phone bank volunteers including Artistique Acres Pet Resort, Canadian Tire, Spike Grooming, Prairie Auto Sales, the Moose Jaw Fire Department, the City of Moose Jaw, the Moose Jaw Police Service, Keon Garden Centre, the Moose Jaw Animal Clinic, and PetValu.
The shelter also wished to thank the team at Country 100 who hosted the radiothon and also Family Pizza, Tim Horton’s, and the Maple Leaf Bakery for providing food and refreshments throughout the day.
“I want to thank every person who came out to the shelter that day, and every person who donated through our mailout campaign or who… made their donations in person,” Haukaas said in her concluding remarks.
“We couldn’t help the animals the way we do without your support, and we are so grateful.”
The Moose Jaw Humane Society is located at 1755 Stadacona Street West and can be reached at 306-6921517. For more information visit MJHS.ca or follow ‘Moose Jaw Humane Society’ on Facebook.
After eight months of planning with other young people, Aria Swanson is delighted that a new youth-focused integrated community services program is officially opened in Moose Jaw.
Homebase is a provincially funded, $3.4-million initiative that co-ordinates, streamlines and builds on existing resources to provide youths, caregivers and families with free services.
The six core areas focus on mental health and addiction services, physical health services, education, employment and training supports, community and social services, peer supports, and cultural and traditional sup-
ports.
The John Howard Society of Saskatchewan (JHSS) provides operational and administrative support to the four communities in which Homebase now operates, while in Moose Jaw, it has contracted out the day-to-day work to the YMCA of Regina.
Homebase’s motto is “By Youth, For Youth,” since young people offered advice about the services they wanted. The program also meets people — between ages 12 and 25 — where they are in life and helps with their specific needs.
More than 30 people packed into Homebase’s new home at 52 High Street West on Nov. 14 for the grand opening. An arch of balloons was the backdrop for the ceremony, while dignitaries cut a red ribbon to officially launch the program.
Swanson, a graduate of A.E. Peacock Collegiate now in her second year at the University of Regina, was one of several local young people who sat on a youth impact committee.
The group gave advice about how Homebase should operate and how the spaces should look, right down to the colours, furniture choices, brochures, fidget toys and other “soothing tools for self-compassion.”
She also helped create promotional videos more than two years ago to acquire funding for the initiative.
“I’m so grateful for the space. I just think it’s so youth-friendly and can really just help kids feel comfortable and safe in this space,” Swanson said. “So, (it’s) very suitable for diverse youth.”
Swanson most appreciated the venue’s many multipurpose rooms because they were designed well with appropriate colours and paintings. Furthermore, she looked forward to the completion of a First Nation-focused room because artist Sadi-Rose Vaxvick was painting a mural.
Swanson said she would attempt to visit Homebase when she could, particularly during its movie nights and book clubs, because she wanted to make friends. She also thought the program would be important in building community.
“I think that the more the word comes out and that people hear about this space, the more that people will recognize this as a safe space for all youth,” she added. “And the more that we reach out … to the community members, I think that people will love this space and really take advantage of it.”
Pamela Reimer, JHSS’s director of integrated youth services, said adults think they know what’s best for young people, but that’s not always true. So, she was grateful that the youth impact committee challenged the adults to listen and consider changes to the program, aesthetics of rooms, and wording to materials.
Meanwhile, she appreciated the support that Moose Jaw’s many partners offered and how they rallied around the program. She thought it was heartwarming that the community wanted to ensure youths received the proper care.
Steve Compton, CEO of the YMCA, thanked his board for “taking a leap” of faith in supporting this initiative, because while he didn’t have all the answers when he pitched the idea, the positive intent to help youths was there. Moreover, he thanked other important people because it took “many hands” to develop Homebase.
“We are honoured to be the lead agency on this … ,” he said, noting The Y paused its youth-focused work in Moose Jaw several years ago but was now working to reintroduce programs. “We are very, very proud to be in the Moose Jaw community (again).”
For more information, visit www.homebasesask.ca.
This year’s radiothon raised $106,789 for the Moose Jaw Humane Society. Photo by: Moose Jaw Humane
Megan Patterson, MLA for Moose Jaw Wakamow (second from right), cuts a ribbon to officially open Homebase. Supporting her are, from left, Elder Anne Sangrey, YMCA CEO Steve Compton and university student Aria Swanson. Photo by Jason G. Antonio
Photo by Jason
From The Kitchen
By Joyce Walter - For Moose Jaw Express
Chicken is universally loved, says Betty Crocker book
According to Betty Crocker, the fictional queen of boxed cake and biscuit mixes, chicken is the universal crowd pleaser.
In a 2002 booklet, Weeknight Chicken, the author says chicken is a healthy meat, being high in protein and low in saturated fat and cholesterol. It is even healthier if the skin is removed.
This week’s recipes come from the Betty Crocker booklet, and of course, feature chicken as the main ingredient.
• • •
CHICKEN LO MEIN
8 oz. uncooked linguine, broken in half
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup stir-fry sauce
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1-16 oz. bag frozen broccoli, carrots and cauliflower Cook and drain linguine as directed on the package.
Spray a 10-inch skillet with cooking spray then warm using medium high heat.
Cut chicken breasts into thin strips. Stir-fry chicken for 2-3 minutes or until brown. Add stir-fry
sauce, chicken broth and red pepper to chicken and stir.
Heat to boiling then reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered about 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in centre and vegetables are tender. Serve chicken mixture over prepared linguine. Note: angel hair pasta may be substituted for the linguine. Cook according to package directions.
• • •
CHICKEN AND BEANS
1 lb. cut up boneless chicken breasts
1 envelope taco seasoning mix
1-15 oz, can black or pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1-11 oz. can whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained
1/4 cup water flour tortillas
Spray a 10 inch skillet with cooking spray. Cook chicken over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink in centre. Stir in seasoning mix, beans, corn and water. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently, until sauce is slightly thickened.
Scoop mixture into tortillas. Add sour cream,
salsa and chopped tomatoes. Serves 4. May be served warm or cold as a salad without tortillas.
• • •
CHICKEN AND RED ONION PIZZA
2 tsps. butter
1 large red onion, sliced
1 ready-to-serve 12-14 inch pizza crust
1 cup cubed cooked chicken
1 jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and sliced
3 tbsps. sliced, drained roasted red bell peppers
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese tomato sauce
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Melt butter in a small skillet and cook onion in the butter for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender. Brush a small amount of tomato sauce over pizza shell. Spread onion over pizza shell. Top with chicken, artichoke hearts, pepper and cheese.
Bake 8-10 minutes on a pizza pan or cookie sheet or until cheese is melted.
Slice with pizza cutter and serve while warm.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel. net
Sask. Polytech, Roughriders host business competition in Moose Jaw
More than 200 high school students from across the province were in Moose Jaw recently participating in a competition to develop ideas to help the Saskatchewan Roughriders attract new fans.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s business diploma program teamed up with the football club to host the second annual case competition on Nov. 12, with 216 students in 54 teams from 23 schools competing to win more than $35,000 in prizes.
Based on the scenario of how the football club can attract new immigrants to Riders’ games, events or the brand — to “bleed green” and become part of Rider Nation — students had two hours to generate an idea and then present it to three judges, with one adjudicator in each room from the sports organization.
Some criteria the judges used to evaluate the projects included innovation, creativity, students’ energy during the presentations, communication skills and the ideas’ feasibility.
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Stephen Kirzinger, the program head of the business diploma program (sport management specialty) in Moose Jaw, said there is no better way to reach a particular group than by hearing from the people in that community.
“So … with many high school students across Saskatchewan being newcomers to Canada, it’s a great way to collect their ideas of what might bring them out to a game or how they might interact with the brand … ,” he said, noting Sask. Polytech encouraged schools to send their best students regardless of whether they were Canadian or a new immigrant.
Hearing new ideas gives the Roughriders insight into attracting newcomers, while the organization can also use those concepts as a springboard to develop something of its own, Kirzinger continued. Moreover, the three personnel from upper management recorded the ideas and will report some possibilities to the team’s executive.
This case competition gives students the opportunity to work with industry and solve a real-world while building their resumés and experiencing what life is like in a Sask. Polytech classroom, he noted.
“It’s a wonderful event. We’re thrilled to welcome so many students from across our great province, and to partner with the Saskatchewan Roughriders is exceptionally meaningful,” Kirzinger added. “And I know it will be a meaningful day for (the team) too, hearing all these ideas from our great high school students … .”
Camden Husband, a Grade 11 student from Weyburn, said he participated because his brother took part years ago while he’s always been interested in business. So, when his teacher asked him to compete, he jumped at the opportunity.
Some lessons the youth learned during the competition included managing his nerves speaking in front of people, managing pressure, handling stress, un-
derstanding how businesses operate and learning about the capabilities that entrepreneurs possess.
Meanwhile, the idea his team developed encouraged the Riders to interact with schools more often and become involved in sports that immigrants like, such
as soccer or rugby.
“It was a great experience (and) it was really fun,” Husband said, adding he is now considering the business diploma program after high school.
Winners
Members of the first-place team — Regina’s F.W. Johnson Collegiate — each received a $2,500 scholarship to the business diploma program, will be hosted in a suite at a Roughriders’ game in 2025, will have dinner with team executives, will receive a $100 gift card for either tickets or merchandise and will acquire a dual credit course through the School of Business.
The second-place team — Saskatoon’s Holy Cross — received $2,000 scholarships, a dual credit course and $100 Riders’ gift cards.
The third-place team — Yorkton Regional — received $1,500 scholarships, a dual credit course and $100 Riders’ gift cards.
The fourth- and fifth-place teams — Saskatoon’s Centennial Collegiate and Regina’s Campbell Collegiate, respectively — received a dual credit course and a $100 Riders’ gift card.
Team 1 Regina’s F.W. Johnson Collegiate placed first during the competition. Photo by Jason G. Antonio
Jacqueline Hurlbert, director of marketing and fan engagement with the Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club Inc. and an adjudicator, speak to students. Photo by Jason G. Antonio
Camden Husband, a Grade 11 student from Weyburn, speaks about his experiences during the event. Photo by Jason G. Antonio
Moostletoe ’24: Meet Mariia Ablitsova, co-owner of Burn.Be Candles
The Moostletoe Artists Spotlight is fast approaching and eight local artists will showcase some of their creations, conduct live demonstrations, and early Christmas shoppers may benefit from a few unique, hand-made gift ideas.
Moostletoe runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Mariia Ablitsova is one of those artists and will be promoting her business, Burn.Be Candles, which was launched in October 2023. She’s also attending her first Moostletoe experience.
“The idea of the brand Burn.Be came to me when I moved to Canada from the Ukraine,” she said. “I was a huge workaholic… Then I met my boyfriend and he had… a very good tradition every evening
to light candles all around the apartment. It became our tradition to relax.
“I always wanted to have a business, so we just created from our routine.”
Moostletoe provides artists a platform to showcase their works ranging from paintings to pottery, jewelry, and photography. The event — which previously involved individual studio tours — will now take place at only two venues: artisaNGrounds and the nearby Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJMAG).
Ablitsova’s story began on a darker note with the invasion of her home country and then — unexpectedly but thankfully — everything started to look brighter.
“We are a… Ukrainian couple who, like many, were displaced by the war that Russia started against our home country,” she said. “After moving to Moose Jaw, we found not only a nice place, but also each other.”
Her soon-to-be husband, Eduard, moved to Moose Jaw from the Ukraine around three years ago and Ablitsova arrived roughly a year and a half ago.
“It was here that we met, fell in love, and started a new chapter in our lives — both personally and through our business.”
Eduard was born and raised in Kyiv and Ablitsova recently lived in Warsaw. After moving from much larger population centres, the new couple came to appreciate a much simpler life on the Canadian Prairies.
“We enjoy the calmness; it’s very quiet and we like it,” she said appreciatively. It was because of this welcomed con-
trast — and Eduard’s calming tradition — that Burn.Be Candles was born.
“Burn.Be was created for people who don’t ever stop; (it’s for) the people who are working, moving, and pushing forward… (Our candles remind)… people that you’re not here to work all your life. You’re here to enjoy your life, to understand… and to enjoy what you’re doing.”
After gladly accepting an invitation from the manager of the MJMAG’s gift shop, Xeing Senephimmachack, Ablitsova is excited to meet new people at Moostletoe and gain valuable feedback which she finds inspiring.
Ablitsova will showcase some of her products and hold live candle-making demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. While she won’t cover the full process — each candle takes five to six days to finish
— guests can experience one important step of the journey. Each candle and jar is handcrafted from natural, environmentally friendly materials. When the candle is depleted these jars can either be refilled or repurposed.
Burn.Be Candles doesn’t have its own storefront but products can be purchased at Jillian’s Design Elements, the MJMAG gift shop, and the Starlight Handmade Market at the Town ‘N’ Country Mall. You can also purchase her products online or learn more by visiting ‘Burn.Be Candles’ on Facebook or ‘@burn.be.candles’ on Instagram.
The artisaNGrounds studio is located at 262 Athabasca Street East and the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery is located at 461 Langdon Crescent.
The Moostletoe Artists Spotlight will arrive this coming weekend and residents can meet and learn from eight local artists as they showcase their work, demonstrate their techniques, and bring several unique Christmas gift ideas to two nearby venues. Moostletoe will take place at the artisaNGrounds studio and the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJMAG) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Dave Pelletier is one of those artists and will be returning for his second Moostletoe experience.
“I’ll probably bring a couple of my paintings that I completed, and then I’ll be doing another piece while I’m down there, probably more along the Turtle Island stuff… (or) a variation of that,” he announced, adding that he plans to do a demonstration explaining where his ideas come from.
His works have also been featured at the MJMAG including, most recently, “Wóknaga: He Tells His Own Story” which ran from May 31 to Sept. 1.
Pelletier’s artistic experience has been a lifelong journey.
“I started back when I was a young kid, back in the ‘50s — I’m dating myself somewhat — but I just started sketching
Superman and Batman and doing arts and crafts in grade school,” he said.
“Honestly, I never did much (art)… until my interest was piqued when I became executive director of the Friendship Centre back in the ‘70s and early ‘80s when I left the military.”
After completing a diploma program
in business at Sask. Polytech, Pelletier opened Moosgaw Arts and Gifts on Main Street back in 2003.
“From there I started thinking, ‘Well, you know, I really like some of the artwork. Maybe I would have to try it on my own,’” he recalled. “It kind of kick started my journey again, so to speak, and I began to sell a lot of Indigenous artwork and products.”
Pelletier closed Moosgaw Arts and Gifts for personal reasons around the time
of the pandemic and today he’s still independently painting with a preference for acrylics.
His inspiration comes from looking back at his own life’s journey, contemplating his deep knowledge of Indigenous culture, and he looks to artists like Norval Morrisseau for guidance.
Pelletier’s creative process is an organic journey that starts with a concept in his mind that evolves as he works. “I usually begin with a basic sketch and let it grow,” he explained. His colour choices are intuitive and often inspired by Indigenous themes like Turtle Island, where greens, browns, and reds dominate his palette.
“I don’t stick to rules — I just grab colours and see where they fit, spreading them out to keep balance.”
Influenced by Canadian artists and the bold hues of the Group of Seven, he embraces rich, vibrant colours believing “the brighter, the better.” For Pelletier, ideas simmer in the background and wait for the right moment to emerge. “When (the image is) ready to come out, it comes out,” he said, describing his art as a process of discovery and evolution.
Pelletier hopes his work inspires others to embrace their own creativity. “I don’t consider myself an expert,” he shared, adding that his pieces focus on artistic freedom and have no strict lines or rules as they blend organically to tell a story.
“Just keep doing what you do,” he said, “because waiting might mean missing a chance to bring out something meaningful within you.”
For Pelletier, art provides a way to capture the feelings and stories from his journey in life — stories he hopes will resonate with those who view his work at Moostletoe.
Pelletier doesn’t currently have a website but can be reached at ‘Dave Pelletier’ on Facebook.
The artisaNGrounds studio is located at 262 Athabasca Street East and the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery is located at 461 Langdon Crescent.
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
Mariia Ablitsova (left) and her husband Eduard (right). Photo by: Mariia Ablitsova (submitted)
A few Christmas-themed candles — and great gift ideas — locally handcrafted by Burn.Be Candles. Photo by: Mariia Ablitsova (submitted)
Ablitsova’s unique handcrafted candles range from simple to extraordinary.
Photo by: Mariia Ablitsova (submitted)
“A Horse” by Dave Pelletier, acrylic on canvas, as featured at the MJMAG this summer. Photo by: Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery/Facebook
Artist Dave Pelletier stands with some of his paintings at the Wóknaga exhibit at the MJMAG this summer. Photo by: Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery/Facebook
Moostletoe ’24: Meet Jude Radwanski, owner of Firefly Art Jewellery
The Moostletoe Artists Spotlight is coming this month and eight local artists will showcase a selection of their works — including unique Christmas gift ideas — demonstrate their technique, and answer any questions curious art appreciators might have for the people behind Moose Jaw’s artistic creations.
Moostletoe will take place at the artisaNGrounds studio and the nearby Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Jude Radwanski is one of those artists. She’s the owner of Firefly Art Jewellery and will showcase her latest project as she attends her fourth Moostletoe experience.
“(I look forward to presenting my) new medium of paper (and) just to show you what I’ve been doing,” she announced. “I love variety and I love learning, so this fits me perfectly to show… how something from a tree can be turned into something very personal, and (how) we can put it onto our bodies and celebrate our life.”
Radwanski describes herself as an artistic “late bloomer.” “I worked in design for my entire career, and then, at the age of 50, I went back to school to study jewelry design,” she said.
“I was looking for something that I could do with my hands and something that I was absolutely passionate about.”
Radwanski’s creativity was always
A look behind the scenes as Radwanski works on some of her jewelry at her home studio. Photo by: Jude Radwanski (submitted)
Jude Radwanski works on one of her jewelry creations at her home studio. Photo by: Jude Radwanski (submitted)
evident and continues to shine through in her work. For instance, she’s brought alternative materials including polymer clay, leather, rubber, and even parachute cord into her unconventional jewelry designs
Radwanski also loves to travel and finds it inspiring. After touring Europe during “the trip of a lifetime” this summer, she returned home with a renewed outlook and hit the studio.
“I was just shocked by how much garbage there is, and I just started thinking about using more recycled material in my work so that I’m not a contributor to the garbage in the world,” she said.
An example of Radwanski’s new line of earrings that incorporate recycled paper products alongside silver and other materials. Photo by: Jude Radwanski (submitted)
Location: 4 miles East of Hodgeville, Sk. on #363 Hwy., 1 mile South on Gravel Road (West Side) (GPS: N50.5.34; W106.52.29)
Prior viewing by appt. only. Call Dale at (306) 677-7759 or (306) 677-2338 to book an appt. There will be no attendance or loading sale day. This auction will be “Online Bidding Only”. Bidding will open on Nov. 27, 2024 and begin to close on Dec. 4, 2024 at 12 Noon. No bales will be released until paid in full. You will need to have a paid invoice to pickup your bales. Bales to be removed by Dec. 19, 2024. Go to switzerauction.ca to register for this auction. This auction will be a soft close on MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024. There will be a 3.5% Buyers Premium plus taxes added to your invoice.
After some brainstorming she found a way to incorporate recycled paper into her works.
“I took a lot of… hand textured and hand designed paper. I love colour and I love contrast, so I simply layer the paper, make it rigid with glue, and then I coat it with a water-resistant coating so that it’s durable. I add the silver, mount the beads, and also use ear wires.”
The result: really fun, lightweight earrings that’ll also be available for sale at Moostletoe.
Alongside her new paper and silver earrings and other jewelry, Radwanski is introducing small four-inch by four-inch inspirational books. “They’ve got a few pages in them, and (they contain) inspiring quotes and things that are good reminders — even to me — about living life mindfully.”
She’ll also participate in one of the hourly demonstrations and bring her hand tools to show how she assembles a pair of earrings.
No two pieces of her jewelry are the same and each one tells a story.
“I think each jewelry piece is a celebration of the person that’s wearing it, and that person shows their personally by how they present themselves to the world,” she said.
“So, to wear something that decorates the body shows honour and respect for us as individuals, and it’s also a way to be joyous and spread a little bit of happiness.
“When you’re looking at some of my work, I hope it brings a smile to people’s face and joy to their heart,” she concluded.
example of
and
To learn more visit FireflyArtJewellery. com or follow ‘Firefly Art Jewellery’ on Facebook or ‘@fireflyartjewellery’ on Instagram.
The artisaNGrounds studio is located at 262 Athabasca Street East and the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery is located at 461 Langdon Crescent.
516 ROUND BALES
An
Radwanski’s new line of earrings that incorporate recycled paper products alongside silver
other materials. Photo by: Jude Radwanski (submitted)
Square One’s third Empty Bowls fundraiser draws record attendance
The third annual Empty Bowls fundraiser hosted by Square One Community Inc. recently concluded at Zion United Church with the goal of bringing the community together to address the issues of hunger and homelessness in Moose Jaw.
The fundraiser took place on Nov. 15 and appears to have sold out all 175 tickets made available for the charitable event.
“It’s going wonderful,” announced Maxton Eckstein, the special projects co-ordinator for Square One during the event. “We’re having record numbers here today, which is really positive to see how many people are supporting the unhoused community right now. It really demonstrates the caring and loving community we have here in Moose Jaw.”
The aim of Empty Bowls is to bring awareness to the issue of homelessness in Moose Jaw and all proceeds go directly to the Square One Community Centre to support those individuals who are currently housing insecure.
The inaugural Empty Bowls fundraiser was held on Nov. 19, 2022, at the Timothy Eaton Gardens Social Hall and was followed by a second well-attended event on Nov. 17, 2023, at Zion United Church. In its second year, Empty Bowls sold at least 150 tickets.
“This is larger than last year,” Eck-
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stein confirmed “I think it’s also larger because people are recognizing that the problem in Moose Jaw is growing larger. But, if we all work together like we are today, we know we can bring a brighter future for our unhoused folks.”
This year’s event also received around 150 handcrafted ceramic bowls that guests could take home with them after their meal. Of these, at least 33 were individually handcrafted and donated by Janine Rivard alongside another 23 or more by Melanie McFarlane and Faithe Sovdi.
The soup was generously donated by Veroba’s Family Restaurant, The Mad Greek, Soltopia, the Kinsmen Café run by Moose Jaw Families for Change, Evolve Coffee, and The Canadian Brewhouse.
Earlier, Eckstein said that one key myth surrounding Moose Jaw’s unhoused community is that many of these individuals are brought in from other population centres. Rather, he claims, most of them have lived here their entire lives or were born here and later returned. He described this as “a local problem (that)… needs local solutions.”
“Everything here today is Moose Jaw-based,” he announced. “All the soups are from local restaurants here in town, and all the bowls are handcrafted by local artisans. So, this is truly a Moose Jaw event.”
All proceeds — the numbers of which haven’t yet been confirmed — will go directly toward Square One’s supportive housing project to be launched at William Milne Place in December, Eckstein said.
“(This project) will give us the opportunity to begin working one-on-one on
the front line with residents in the building that are at risk of immediate eviction,” he explained. “We’re looking forward to moving in that direction as well as raising money towards our phase two of supporting housing, which is to bring individuals directly out of the shelter (and) into housing.”
Empty Bowls was attended by several political leaders including Tim McLeod, Megan Patterson, Blaine McLeod, Heather Eby, and the newly elected mayor James Murdock.
“We’re also really excited that we have a slate of great new politicians here (and so we’re)… also excited about the future as well. Things are (looking) bright for Moose Jaw.”
The event included a silent auction, staycation raffle, and Eckstein closed his presentation with a sneak peak of the upcoming film, “A Home to Call My Own.” He followed with a recording of “Impossible” performed by Jim Cuddy.
“We’re just very grateful for everybody that contributed today and we thank you so much for partnering with us,” Eckstein concluded.
To learn more visit SquareOneHousingMooseJaw.com, follow ‘Square One Community Inc. Moose Jaw’ on Facebook, or email CommunitySquareOne@ gmail.com.
Zion United Church is located at 423 Main Street North.
Max Eckstein shares Rudy’s story of recovery at Empty Bowls fundraiser
To conclude the third annual Empty Bowls fundraiser held at Zion United Church and hosted by Square One Community Inc., Square One’s special projects co-ordinator, Maxton Eckstein, delivered a few closing remarks honouring a former client on Nov. 15.
“Today I’m going to share a little story about somebody I worked very closely with as his case manager, (a man named) Rudy,” Eckstein announced during his presentation.
Eckstein opened by drawing attention an unsettling statistic: both Indigenous individuals and veterans are “heavily over-represented in our houseless population.”
With Remembrance Day recently concluded, he asked a thoughtful question. “(We) pay close attention to our veterans on that day. But what comes after Remembrance Day?”
“Do we remember what they’re going through still? …Another group that is heavily over-represented in our houseless population is those who served so that we have the freedoms we have today.
“Now, Rudy fits into both of these categories,” Eckstein continued. “He was a proud Indigenous man and he was a veteran that served his country (for 15 years).”
Eckstein then referenced the recently conducted Point in Time count which stated that 74 distinct individuals are currently unhoused in Moose Jaw with another 44 “observed or unwilling or unable to participate,” for a total of “over 100 people” who don’t have a safe place to call home.
Rudy’s early life was marked by challenges. As an Indigenous child during the Sixties Scoop, he had been forcibly separated from his family. Fortunately, he was adopted by a loving family who helped him stay connected to his roots and taught him gratitude.
Motivated to give back, Rudy married, started a family, and enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces — sacrificing his Indigenous status to serve his country.
Rudy’s military career included deployments to the Balkans in the ‘90s where he witnessed the atrocities of war. Returning home, he faced a profound sense of loss: “The trials and the time away had caused his family to leave him
struggling with the PTSD he encountered while serving….”
Overwhelmed, Rudy turned to addiction and eventually became homeless.
Rudy died two years ago, but Eckstein said his story will be remembered as “one of recovery.”
“Rudy passed away in his own home, recovering from addictions, pursuing hobbies, and reconnecting with family. Rudy’s life was a success story,” Eckstein said.
Rudy’s life took a positive turn when he connected with a supportive housing program. With guidance and care, he rebuilt his life, restored his Indigenous status, and reconnected with his birth family and siblings.
On his journey of recovery, Rudy remained gracious about his past and felt a deep sense of gratitude for life’s blessings, Eckstein said. “He always reminded me to be thankful.”
For Eckstein, it was a privilege to walk alongside Rudy as he found hope and healing.
“It makes me wonder, when we pass by our friends on the street — who all we can maybe see is an unhoused person — were they one of the people that stood up strong and defended our country and fought for our freedoms?
“Were they a loving mother or father, sibling, family member, friend, or somebody that really made a difference in someone else’s life?
“Sometimes all we can see is the outside, but on the insider are some wonderful people that just need someone to come alongside them, support them, and walk on their journey of recovery with them.”
He described Square One’s supportive housing project as a way “to give change(s in life) to some of these wonderful individuals” and announced that phase one of the project is set to begin at William Milne Place in December.
To learn more visit SquareOneHousingMooseJaw.com, follow ‘Square One Community Inc. Moose Jaw’ on Facebook, or email the organization at CommunitySquareOne@gmail.com.
In case you missed the premiere of Square One’s newest film, “A Home to Call My Own,” it can be watched on YouTube at YouTube.com/watch?v=YjkH3TphZEU.
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
Maxton Eckstein (left, at podium) shares Rudy’s story during the Empty Bowls fundraiser at Zion United Church on Nov. 15. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Maxton Eckstein (left) stands with two kitchen volunteers during the third annual Empty Bowls event. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Eckstein estimates that the third annual Empty Bowls fundraiser has been the best attended to date. Photo by: Aaron Walker
A volunteer serves soup to one of the guests at the third annual Empty Bowls fundraiser on Nov. 15. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Maxton Eckstein (at podium) delivers his closing presentation on Nov. 15.
Photo by: Aaron Walker
Tourism Moose Jaw is accepting nominations for upcoming board election
Tourism Moose Jaw is inviting all community-minded individuals to help shape the future of the city’s tourism industry by considering a role on its board of directors in the upcoming board election.
Nominations opened on Nov. 15 and will remain open for one week concluding on Friday, Nov. 22 with seven spots available for consideration.
“So, start thinking about whether you’d like your name to stand (and if you want to) be part of an exciting new direction for Tourism Moose Jaw!” announced executive director Jacki L’Heureux-Mason in an official release.
“We’d love you to consider being part of this dynamic and engaged board.”
Board members play an integral role in guiding Tourism Moose Jaw’s strategic vision, supporting its var-
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
ious initiatives, and helping to foster local growth in the tourism sector.
To qualify for a spot on the board, all nominees must have a Moose Jaw address in good standing.
Ideally, applicants would have a desire to contribute to the city’s tourism industry. Whether you have a background in business, hospitality, event planning, or you simply have a passion for promoting Moose Jaw’s unique charm, your voice can help shape the city’s future as a top tourist destination.
“Have a great day, and we look forward to seeing your name on the ballot!”
Anyone wishing to apply can submit their nomination to L’Heureux-Mason via email at Director@TourismMooseJaw.com.
Tourism Moose Jaw is located at 450 Diefenbaker Drive and can be reached at 306-693-8097. For more information visit TourismMooseJaw.com or ‘Tourism Moose Jaw’ on Facebook.
Tourism Moose Jaw announces the return of its annual Twinkle Tours
To help spread a little Christmas spirit and showcase the hard work and creativity of residents who decorated their home for the holidays, Tourism Moose Jaw is once again hosting its annual Twinkle Tour with the first unofficial map already published.
The upcoming trolley tours will take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from Friday, Nov. 29 until Sunday, Dec. 22. On Friday and Saturday nights the tours will begin at 6 p.m., 7:15 p.m., and 8:30 p.m. On Sundays the tours will begin slightly earlier at 5 p.m., 6:15 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
The tour costs $15 per person for individuals 12 and over, $30 for a family package including two adults and two children, and $10 for each child under 12.
“We’re very happy (to announce) that we are going to be able to offer trolley Twinkle Tours again,” announced Everley Reid, the sales and creativity co-ordinator for Tourism Moose Jaw.
So far, 17 residents have confirmed their participation — although there’s still time to register.
“We’ve never put the call out before Dec. 1, so we expected not to have as many houses as we usually do (initially)… but we do have a decent amount (already),” she said.
Each year’s route differs slightly and is based on who applies.
New this year is a partnership with Wakamow Valley.
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Guests will receive $5 off the cost of a Valley of Lights tour after taking a trip with Tourism Moose Jaw and vice versa, Reid shared.
Twinkle Tours don’t include a competitive edge but are instead meant to be enjoyed alongside friends and family as everyone enjoys the magic of the season.
“It’s just so people can see and enjoy the decora-
tions,” Reid confirmed. “And it’s kind of a fun way to do it. We tell some Christmas stories and there’s Christmas music playing. You know, everybody’s usually in the Christmas spirit so it’s just a fun family activity.”
There’s no official guidelines to register and entries range from a few festive bulbs to elaborate displays with synchronized lights and sound.
To join, simply email Marketing@TourismMooseJaw.com and state your address before the Friday, Nov. 22 deadline. There’s no cost and everyone is asked to provide only their own home address as others may not wish to be listed.
“We’re hoping people come out and enjoy the tour,” Reid concluded. “We put a lot of work into it and we just want to spread some Christmas cheer.”
An up-to-date map is available through a link on Tourism Moose Jaw’s Facebook page with a final update expected to be published there on Friday, Nov. 29.
To purchase tickets, visit FareHarbor.com/Embeds/ Book/TourismMooseJaw. It’s advisable to book well in advance as tours typically sell out each year.
Each trolley tour departs from the Tourism Moose Jaw kiosk at 450 Diefenbaker Drive beside Mac the Moose. For more information visit TourismMooseJaw. com, call 306-693-8097, or visit ‘Tourism Moose Jaw’ on Facebook.
Moose Jaw Warriors add veteran defenceman Dowhaniuk from BCHL
Overage rearguard joins team from Vernon Vipers, fills 20-year-old spot opened by longterm injury to Schuurman
With overage forward Brayden Schuurman recovering from a serious lower body injury and listed as month-to-month in his recovery time, the Moose Jaw Warriors made a roster move to fill his overage spot on Thursday.
The Warriors announced that overage defenceman Keaton Dowhaniuk will join the club from the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL.
Dowhaniuk started the season on the roster of the Prince George Cougars but was released in September.
Marc Smith - Moose Jaw Warriors
“He was interested in returning to the Western Hockey League and we wanted to add a veteran defenceman with WHL experience to help the team moving forward,” Warriors general manager Jason Ripplinger said.
Dowhaniuk, the younger brother of former Warriors defenceman Logan Dowhaniuk, played four seasons with the Cougars, posting eight goals and 77 points in 228 career Western Hockey League games.
After being released by the Cougars
earlier this season, Dowhaniuk joined the BCHL’s Vipers where he put up one goal and five points in 11 games.
“He’ll bring character, he’ll bring grit and obviously plenty of WHL experience to our lineup,” added Ripplinger.
With the addition of Dowhaniuk, the Warriors now have four overage players on the team’s roster, including forwards Rilen Kovacevic and defenceman Kalem Parker. Due to Schuurman’s injury, the Warriors will continue to carry four overage players moving forward.
Moose Jaw Warriors acquire defenceman Ellis and draft picks from Lethbridge Hurricanes
Warriors send defenceman Port to Hurricanes as effort to recoup picks begins Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com
When the Moose Jaw Warriors went on their historic run to the Western Hockey League Championship last spring, it came at a cost.
In order to build the roster that would bring the Ed Chynoweth Cup to Moose Jaw for the very first time, general manager Jason Ripplinger made a host of trades that cut deep into the team’s reserve of WHL Prospects Draft Picks, leaving the team severely depleted in that area heading into the future.
The effort to restock and replenish took a step forward last Friday, with the team landing a quality blueline prospect at the same time.
The Warriors announced that the team has acquired 18-year-old defenceman Ryder Ellis and two draft picks from the Lethbridge Hurricanes in exchange for 19-year-old import defenceman Vojtech Port.
The deal comes on the heels of the team adding overage defenceman Keaton Dowhaniuk from the Prince George Cougars of the BCHL.
“Adding Dowhaniuk earlier today
on Friday afternoon.
and knowing that we could bring in an 18-year-old defenceman to our group, Vojtech became available, and we needed to add some draft picks back following last season’s championship run,” Ripplinger said.
In addition to Ellis, the Warriors added a third round pick in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft and second round pick in the 2027 WHL Prospects Draft.
Ellis, a six-foot-six defenceman, from Meadow Lake has appeared in 15 games
with the Hurricanes this season, posting 17 penalty minutes and a minus-one rating.
Last season with the Battlefords Stars in the Saskatchewan Male AAA Hockey League, Ellis posted three goals and 10 points in 43 games, while piling up 105 penalty minutes.
“Ellis brings size, reach and grit for us, he’s a big defender and will help our team improve in the defensive zone,” Ripplinger said.
Port was acquired by the Warriors, along with Rilen Kovacevic, from the Edmonton Oil Kings last December and was a key part of the team’s first WHL Championship, finishing with four assists in 20 playoff games.
“We thank Vojtech for his contributions to the Warriors during last season’s championship run,” Ripplinger added.
The Warriors are off until next Thursday when they host the Saskatoon Blades at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
-- with files from Marc Smith / Moose Jaw Warriors
Moose Jaw Warriors trade defenceman Parker to Calgary for Gardiner, draft picks
Warriors continue to restock draft picks after WHL Championship run
The Moose Jaw Warriors have swung another major deal designed to help the team recoup draft picks lost to trades during their championship run last season.
The Warriors announced Sunday the acquisition of 2009-born forward Nathan Gardiner and three draft picks from the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for 2004born defenceman Kalem Parker.
“It wasn’t something I was shopping around, but Calgary came to the table with a strong offer, and we came to an agreement,” Warriors general manager Jason Ripplinger.
“There’s lots of things that went into it, starting with making sure that we got another 20-year-old defenceman at a minimal cost, which we did on Friday by adding [Keaton] Dowhaniuk.”
Parker was acquired by the Warriors last October, along with Brayden Schuurman from the Victoria Royals. The 20-year-old defenceman had nine goals and 54 points in 82 games with the Warriors. He added two goals and nine points in 20 playoff games during the team’s championship run.
Marc Smith - Moose Jaw Warriors
“Kalem meant a lot to last year and this year’s team, it’s not an easy trade to make, just his character on and off the ice was a big part of why we won last year,” Ripplinger said. In the trade, the Warriors add a sec-
ond-round pick in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, as well as third and seventh round picks in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft.
“It’s really important, we gave up a lot of picks last year to try to win a cham-
pionship, which worked out, but now it’s important to get some picks back to start building for the future.”
The Warriors also picked up Saskatchewan-born prospect in Gardiner. Originally selected in the sixth round of the 2024 WHL Prospect Draft, Gardiner is currently playing with the Regina Pat Canadians in the Saskatchewan Male Under-18 AAA Hockey League.
In 15 games this season, the 15-yearold forward has four goals and 10 points.
Last season with Estevan Bruins U15 AA team, Gardiner led his team in scoring with 19 goals and 61 points in 26 games during the regular season and then added two goals and five points in two playoff games.
“Since we were short picks last year and didn’t get as much skill as we had hoped in the draft, we were able to add Gardiner, who is a highly skilled player.”
The Warriors will return to game action coming up on Thursday when they host the Saskatoon Blades. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Dowhaniuk is expected to make his Warriors debut coming up on Thursday night against the Saskatoon Blades. The Moose Jaw Warriors added overage defenceman Keaton Dowhaniuk from the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL on Thursday.
The Moose Jaw Warriors swung a trade for Ryder Ellis from the Lethbridge Hurricanes
The Moose Jaw Warriors sent overage defenceman Kalem Parker to the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for a suite of draft picks and 2009-born forward Nathan Gardiner.
Hall of fame Game:
Warriors lose pair of nailbiters in overtime, shootout to Swift Current
Moose Jaw drops 4-3 decision in shootout on Tuesday, fall 5-4 in overtime in rematch Wednesday
In their two contests against the Swift Current Broncos this past week, the Warriors fell short in a back-and-forth battle at the Moose Jaw Events Centre on Tuesday night, dropping a 4-3 decision in a shootout, before rallying in the third period in the rematch in Swift Current one night later and falling 5-4 in overtime.
The two points saw the Warriors record improve to 4-13-3-1, but they remain in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, two points back of the Regina Pats. Swift Current 4, Moose Jaw 3 (SOL)
The Warriors threw everything they had at the Conference-leading Broncos but were unable to make any of their three leads in the contest stick.
Ethan Hughes opened scoring for the Warriors with the lone goal of the first period at the 12:59 mark, and that lead would hold until Grayson Burzynski tied things up with five minutes to play in the second.
The third period was as back-andforth as they come, with the Warriors twice taking the lead and the Broncos replying within minutes.
Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com
Moose Jaw Warriors forward Rilen Kovacevic leads the rush up ice during the contest between the Warriors and Swift Current Broncos on Tuesday night.
Warriors captain Brayden Yager made it a 2-1 game 21 seconds into the frame, but Carlin Dezainde replied 3:18 later. Aiden Ziprick then restored the Warriors’ lead at the 8:03 mark before Clarke Caswell again tied the game, this time 1:31 after the go-ahead goal. There things would stand through overtime and five rounds of the shootout, where the Broncos’ Brady Birnie scored
the lone goal to give Swift Current the win.
Warriors goaltender Jackson Unger was solid throughout and finished with 42 saves, Reid Dyck stopped 25 for the Broncos.
Swift Current 5, Moose Jaw (OT) Moose Jaw put together their biggest
comeback of the season to force overtime, as Ethan Semeniuk and Kalem Parker scored in the game’s final 10 minutes to overcome a 4-2 deficit heading into the final frame.
Rilen Kovacevic got things off to a good start for the Warriors, scoring shorthanded midway through the first, but Caswell and Parker Rondeau would reply for Swift Current before the period was out.
Lynden Lakovic tied things up 5:34 into the second, but the draw wouldn’t last long. Birnie restored the Broncos’ lead five minutes later, and Luke Mistelbacher made it 4-2 with 3:24 to play in the period.
That set the stage for the comeback, with Semeniuk scoring at 11:56 and Parker tying things up four minutes later.
Mistelbacher saw to it there wouldn’t be a storybook ending, though, going coast-to-coast and scoring with 34 seconds remaining in overtime.
Unger stopped 31 shots in the Warriors’ net, Joey Rocha turned aside 33.
The Warriors are back in action on Thursday night when the Saskatoon Blades are in town. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Moose Jaw Warriors receive Western Hockey League championship rings
Special design commemorates first WHL championship in franchise history
It’s one of the most anticipated days for a championship-winning team outside of claiming the title itself. The Moose Jaw Warriors had a special moment prior to practice on Friday morning as the team
KMS
Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com
was presented with their 2024 Western Hockey League championship rings.
General manager Jason Ripplinger did the honours, with each member of last season’s championship squad receiving their diamond-encrusted jewellery in a special glass-top box designed to display the ring and light up when opened.
And the rings aren’t just a memento with a simple design either -- with special details found throughout.
The front of the ring features the Warriors logo overlaid on a diamond-filled representation of the Ed Chynoweth Cup. Immediately under the front is a ring of numbers, one for each member of the
team, and just below that are 40 rubies, one for each season the Warriors have played in the WHL.
One side of the ring features the word ‘Champions’ above ‘2024’, with the 40th anniversary logo subbing in for the zero in the year. The other side features the player’s name, Warriors logo and player’s number filled in with diamonds.
The special design even carries into the interior of the ring, with the Warriors logo at the front with a single diamond in the middle, representing the team’s first WHL championship.
The Warriors are back in action Thursday night when the Saskatoon Blades are in town. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Construction moves into sole possession of second in Original 16 Cash League
Gamble foursome improve to 5-1 on campaign after win over Leeville Construction
In the Original 16 Cash League standings after the most recent round of competition last Wednesday night, the marquee match on the night was a second-place showdown between KMS Construction (Ben Gamble, 5-1) and Leeville Construction (Dustin Woloschuk, 4-2), with Gamble taking over sole possession with an 8-4 victory at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre. Gamble got off to a great start with three in the first end and followed up with a pair in the third before stealing another
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in the fourth for a quick 6-1 lead. Woloschuk got back into it with a pair in the fifth and steal in the sixth, but that’s as close as they’d get, as Gamble added a deuce in the seventh to bring the game to an early end. Fountain Tire (Chris Schon, 6-0) remained undefeated on the season thanks to a commanding 8-2 win over M & T Feedlot (Ryan Wenarchuk, 1-5). After the teams exchanged singles the first two ends, Schon picked up a pair in the third to take the lead for good. Single points for
each team in the fourth and fifth made it a 4-2 game, and Schon would bring things to an early end with a steal of four in the sixth.
R.K. Sunview Farms (Dayne Heisler, 3-4) had the highest-scoring win of the week, taking a 10-5 victory over Young and Young Automotive (Stan Barnsley, 1-6). Things were back-and-forth in the early going as the teams exchanged deuces through the first four ends and were tied 4-4. Heisler took control with a pair in the
fifth, though, and after Barnsley settled for one in the sixth, added another two in the seventh to go up 8-5. Heisler then wrapped things up with a steal of two in the eighth. The other game in Draw 7 saw BTN Chartered Accountants (Penny Barker, 4-2) defeat HK Henderson (Wade Gray, 3-3), with complete details from the match unavailable.
Action in the Original 16 Cash League takes place every Wednesday night at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre.
Lynden Lakovic and Brayden Yager show off their 2023-24 Western Hockey League Championship rings.
Cornerstone, Vanier bring home bronze medals from SHSAA volleyball provincials
Falcons finish third in 2A girls division, Spirits third in 4A girls class Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com
The Cornerstone Christian School Falcons and Vanier Spirits each won bronze at their respective Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association girls volleyball provincial championship this past weekend.
The Falcons finished third at the 2A girls’ tournament in Outlook, while the Spirits did the same at the 4A girls’ event in La Ronge.
Cornerstone got off to a great start in round-robin play, going undefeated through three games on Friday with a 2-1 (25-18, 24-26, 15-11) win over eventual champion Wakaw, 2-0 (25-23, 25-16) victory over Willkie and a 2-0 (25-21, 25-22) win against Wadena. The Falcons then
closed out pool play with a perfect 4-0 record by downing host LCBI 2-0 (25-19, 25-16) to open play Saturday.
That sent Cornerstone into the playoff round as the top seed, and they’d live up to that billing in the quarter-final with a 2-0 (25-19, 25-18) victory over Kinistino.
Things didn’t go as well for the Falcons in the provincial semifinal, where they’d drop a 2-1 (25-23, 17-25, 15-12) decision to Langham. They’d rebound in style, though, rolling to a 2-0 (25-18, 2518) victory over Gravelbourg to secure bronze.
Wakaw defeated Langham 2-0 (2514, 25-20) in the 2A girls gold medal game.
For Vanier, things were up and down on their first day of competition, as they found themselves in three barnburners early in the tournament.
The Spirits opened with a 2-1 (18-25, 25-14, 16-14) loss to Tisdale before hitting the win column with a 2-1 (18-25, 25-17, 15-11) win over Fort Qu’Appelle and falling 2-1 (25-23, 19-25, 15-10) to Nipawin.
That made their contest with Meadow Lake on Saturday morning a must-win to make the playoffs, and they’d get the job done with a 2-0 (25-20, 25-20) victory to finish second in the pool with a 2-2 record.
Things went well for Vanier in their first playoff game, with a 25-14, 25-21 win over Lumsden, but they’d run into the top seed in the province in their semifinal, North Battleford John Paul II. The Spirits put pressure on the Crusaders and had the lead late in the first set, but would go on to drop a 2-0 (25-23, 25-23) decision.
The bronze medal game was another hard-fought battle, and Vanier would prevail with a 2-1 (25-27, 25-21, 15-11) victory to finish third. John Paul II defeated Melfort 2-0 (25-13, 25-15) in the 4A girls gold medal game.
BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS: Vanier defeats Cornerstone to repeat as girls volleyball champions
Spirits take 25-18, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21 victory over Falcons in MJHSAA gold medal game
The Vanier Spirits expected to find themselves in a tough battle against the Cornerstone Christian School Falcons in the Moose Jaw High Schools Athletic Association city final on Wednesday night, and that’s exactly how things turned out.
But in the end, the Spirits had finished in first place in the regular season for a reason, and that winning pedigree shone through as the match progressed.
Cornerstone would find a way to make things close each set, but Vanier would take a 25-18, 22-25, 25-19, 25-21 victory to repeat as MJHSAA city champions in front of a raucous crowd at Sask Polytech.
“It was a good game, Cornerstone is a really, really good team,” said Spirits coach Aly Bell “We battled with them all season, they were our only loss this season, so coming in as confident as we were, I knew we had to play well and consistently and thankfully we did. So I’m super happy.”
While the Spirits were able to keep the Falcons out of the 20s in two of their sets, it was the second game that showed just how dangerous Cornerstone could be. Vanier was able to regroup quickly, though, and things largely went smooth for the champs from there.
“We just had to keep our energy up, it’s something we’ve been struggling with all year,” Bell said of the lost set. “So when we can get the girls pumped up and stay pumped up, we’re good to go.”
The contest was the final MJHSAA game for Grade 12 Waverley Demassi, and she played like it. The Spirits outside hitter was lethal all game and had a host of
Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com
big kills that helped snuff any momentum Cornerstone created.
“I thought it went well,” Demassi said as dozens of fans from both teams gathered to take pictures. “We were kind of bad on our serve receive, so we need to better there, and we have to make sure that we stay high and stay positive, and a lot of that is our mental game as well.
But I thought everyone did really good and I’m really proud of the girls.”
Demassi is also the lone Grade 12 on the team, making her one of the few repeat champions on the squad.
“It’s really cool, we won it last year so we were trying to go for the repeat and we did,” she said. “It means a lot because we did it for our coaches who put in so much time and effort to make us the team we are.”
And winning it all as a senior?
“It means so much, especially when you’re the only Grade 12,” Demassi said. “You don’t really expect to win it again, but we have so many good players on our team and it means a lot to me.”
Action from the Moose Jaw High Schools Athletic Directorate senior girls championship final on Wednesday night.
The Cornerstone Christian School Falcons won bronze at the SHSAA 2A girls provincial volleyball championship this past weekend. SHSAA Facebook
The Vanier Spirits won bronze at the SHSAA 4A girls volleyball provincials this past weekend. SHSAA Facebook
CHAMPS AGAIN: Central claims second straight Moose Jaw senior boys volleyball championship
Cyclones battle to four-set victory over Cornerstone Christian School in MJHSAA city final
Over the years, the Moose Jaw High Schools Athletic Association has seen its share of upsets in the city championship final.
And after the first set of the senior boys’ title game last Wednesday night at Sask Polytech, it looked as if it might be one of those nights.
The Vanier Vikings were giving the Central Cyclones fits with their serve game, and it seemed as if the Cyclones -- who had dropped five sets all season -might be on the wrong side of things by the end of the match.
But you don’t go undefeated in the regular season without knowing how to rally the troops, and that’s exactly what Central did on their way to a 17-25, 2522, 25-18, 25-22 victory and their second-straight senior boys city title.
“Vanier played a great game, they definitely played some great defence,” said Central assistant coach Shaelynn Constable. “I’m super impressed with our Grade 12s, which is what we always try and teach the guys. We never want to play safe when the game gets close and they did a great job of that.”
Central had defeated Vanier twice during the regular season, and that might have led to a bit of overconfidence heading into the game, combined with the Vikings themselves playing exceptionally well.
“You never want to underestimate
Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com
your opponent, so just because we won the other two games, you can’t discount them,” said head coach Madison Macfie.
“They came out super strong and played hard, and they were also pretty fearless, so it was definitely a battle and a close game.”
A major part of Vanier’s fast start was their service game. Both Jack and Dane Warren had long point runs that Central had a hard time stopping in the first set, and the Vikings were able to keep the Cyclones passing game off balance,
something team captain Riley Nancarrow pointed out in his assessment of the match.
“We had a bit of a slow start, it took a little bit to adjust and our passing was definitely off, but I think we did a great job of forcing energy and not getting too nervous,” the Grade 12 veteran said. “This was probably the loudest gym we’ve ever played in, but I think we did pretty solid.”
Once Central started to get things rolling, it felt like only a matter of time. Seniors Nancarrow, Max Simmons and Elijah Juan began to put the ball on the floor
with regularity, and even though Vanier had their moments in each set, there was little they could do to stem the tide.
“I felt like our hustle was great, and even when our passing wasn’t great, we were finding a way to get to it,” Nancarrow said. “I’m just proud of how our whole team played.”
the Central Cyclones and Vanier Vikings on Wednesday night.
Moose Jaw WINMAR Warriors win three straight, likely lock down Circle K Classic berth
Moose Jaw solidly in third place with 12-2-1 record after wins over Notre Dame, Yorkton Randy Palmer - MooseJawToday.com
The Moose Jaw WINMAR Warriors weren’t leaving anything up to chance when it came to potentially locking down a spot in the Circle K Classic on Wednesday night.
Despite falling behind by a pair of goals in a high-scoring first period, the Warriors would go on a tear in the second frame and go on to a 9-6 victory over the Notre Dame Hounds in Sask Male AAA Hockey League action at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
The victory -- combined with back-toback 7-1 wins over the Yorkton Maulers on the weekend -- sees Moose Jaw improve to 12-2-1 on the campaign to sit in third place in both points (24) and second in winning percentage (.833). With the Circle K Classic -- the ultra elite showcase tournament held in Calgary over the Christmas holidays -- traditionally selecting the top four teams from the SMAAAHL as of the Nov. 15 deadline, odds are extremely high the Warriors will hear their name called when
Charlie Nameth and the Moose Jaw WINMAR Warriors picked up back-toback 7-1 wins over the Yorkton Maulers this past weekend.
the teams are announced soon.
Scores in the games: Moose Jaw 9, Notre Dame 6 Warriors 7, Yorkton 1 Warriors 7, Moose Jaw 1
The WINMAR Warriors are back in action on Saturday when they host the Regina Pat Canadians in a first-place showdown. Game time is 1:30 p.m. at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Action from the MJHSAA senior boys volleyball final between
Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards.
38. Abominable Snowman 39. Image format 40. Respond
41. Digital compression device 42. 11th 44. Distant
45. We chew with them 46. Employees 50. Strange 52. Not 1st or 2nd 54. By way of 55. Upper limbs
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18. Decree
22. “Oh dear!”
24. Deposited 26. Type of fruit
28. Midday meal
29. Assess
30. Majestic
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32. Bucket
33. Lifespans
34. Unsafe structure
37. Crooked
38. English royal house
40. Marsh plant
41. 52 in a deck
43. Against
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46. Broaden
47. All
48. Washer cycle
Satisfies
Side of a room
A Great Lake
Conceal
Possibilities
Bounder
Moose Jaw Truck Shop
205 WANTED
Seeking Born Again Christian Business partner with potential ownership in Second Hand and Flea- Market business. Male, Female or Family must be interested in Salvation, Healing and Deliverance Outreach Ministry . Serious enquiries only please. 306-684-1084, 5 pm- 8pm ONLY (because of scam calls)
WANTED - Will pay cash for your Gold and Silver coins. Call 306-527-7786.
210 SERVICES
Moving jobs done reasonably: appliances, furniture, dump runs. Call to do it all. $45.00 a load. 306-630-2268
Need work done? Contact Bill at 306-630-2268 . Interior/exterior, renovations, formwork, framing, finishing, tiling, painting and all construction, roofing/siding- no job too big or small.
Reasonable rates, 30 years experience. Cleaner with 20 years experience, professional and bondable, please call Rebecca at 306-9900387
Junk to the dump in and around Moose Jaw, $60 and up. Will pick up, move, haul, and deliver any appliances, tvs, furniture, or anything large in and around Moose Jaw, $45 and up. 45-gallon plastic barrels, great for rainwater, $20 each. 1000 Litre plastic totes - $60. Dry cut up firewood 10 - 14” lengths - Split wood - $50/ row, Not Split - $35/row, one row across truck box. 306-681-8749
160 MISCELLANEOUS
FOR SALE - Sunset Cemetery Last Supper Cremation Plot #212. Asking $1600, open to reasonable offers. Please call 306-693-2003.
110
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Get ready for winter! Four Cooper Weather Master tires on rims. 235/55 R18. Rims are from 2013 Taurus. Asking $300 for all 4. Please call 306-692-3282.
Set of 4 snow tires 225/50 R 17 mounted on aluminum wheels with sensors. From a 2019 Fusion. Less then 10,000 km’s. Also front and rear Ford Fusion custom rubber floors mats. All for $440. 306-692-5078.
Looking for running or rebuildable Volkswagon air cooled 1300, 1500, or 1600 engine, must have dual port heads. Please call 306-5260016
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135 TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
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I don’t mind going nowhere as long as it’s an interesting path.
-- Ronald Mabbitt
GREEFKES, Paul Petrus
It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the passing of our dad, friend, uncle, brother and husband, Paul Greefkes, at the age of 80. Paul passed away peacefully as he slept, on November 9th at the Regina General Hospital. A devoted husband, Paul leaves to mourn his wife of twenty-three years, Lori Greefkes (née Unrau); his children Mark Knight (Candace Epp), Marieke Knight, and Amanda Unrau (Mike Jamison) who chose him as “dad”. Paul leaves behind his grandchildren Avry Pattison (Leia Zulyniak), August Knight; and great grandchildren Thomas and Reese Pattison. Paul was a beloved uncle to Melissa Ringguth and is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and his older brother Johan.
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.
Foible
Paul was born in Hilversum, Holland on November 21, 1943, and while he immigrated to Canada in 1966 when he landed in Carnduff, SK, his love of Dutch cheese, delicacies, marzipan, chocolate, and “snoepjes” never left him. Paul’s intelligence was admired by many, and that trait made him a sought-after jack-of-all-trades. He was ever curious and by mid-1980 Paul had already mastered computer programming. Paul could build and fix almost anything from electronics to carpentry and his career was as diverse as his interests. Over his career he was a salesman, carpenter, lumberyard manager, and Catholic scholar attending the Edmonton Seminary College. Paul was always there to lend a hand when called upon by his friends and children and he doted on his wife with an open and generous heart.
Paul loved fiercely, laughed loudly, and forgave profoundly. He is loved and missed and will live on in the stories we share.
A celebration of Paul’s life will be held with close friends and family in Carnduff, Saskatchewan in May 2025.
In Loving Memory of
We have just gone through a flurry of elections these past few weeks. People who are willing to put their names forward to the electorate are to be commended. They are willing to submit to a variety of opinions regarding their views and character. Voters, and now citizens living under the elected leadership, must remember that no one is perfect. It is easy to sit back and criticize views and character. We need to rise above any form of aversion and constructively support those elected, despite their foibles, which we all have in our natures.
Foible means weakness in character or behaviour. Foible implies the minor flaws or shortcomings we all possess. The students admired the English teacher despite his foibles. Some believe that talent is always balanced by foible
Coming from French in the 1600s, foible originally referred to the weakest part of a fencing sword, the portion between the middle and the pointed tip. The French source of foible is the old French term feble, which gives us feeble. The modern French term is faible, meaning weak. It was not too long until foible morphed into not only weaknesses in blades of a fencing sword, but also to minor failings in character. Some people are more interested in passing comments to all on the personal foibles and
TRINITY UNITED CHURCH
conduct of celebrities than putting the best construction on everything. We have made an industry of gossiping about the foibles of people rather than promoting the positive values of their lives. The ancient church held certain people as saints for their pious work and character, despite their foibles. In fact, the Bible makes a point of sharing the foibles and even serious sins of the most revered figures of Scripture. This is to stress the need for all to come to the mercy of God.
Fault, failing, frailty, vice, and foible all mean an imperfection or weakness of character.
Fault implies a failure, not necessarily culpable, to reach some standard of perfection in personality, action or habit. She was admired for her many virtues and few faults.
Failing suggests a minor shortcoming in character. Always being late for things is a failing of many people. Frailty means a general or chronic proneness to yield to temptation. According to Biblical history, frailty is the common condition common of all people after the Fall into sin in the garden of Eden.
Vice can be a general term for any imperfection or weakness, but often suggests violation of a moral code or the giving of offense to the moral sensibilities of others. His compulsive gambling was a vice he had a hard time controlling.
Foible applies to a harmless or endearing weakness or idiosyncrasy. The new Matlock TV series continues the theory that eccentric foibles can disarm defenses that ultimately lead to the truth, similar to the original Matlock (starring Andy Griffith) and Columbo (starring Peter Falk).
There are some deep divisions among candidates for elected office in the areas of social issues, taxation, and the path to future growth. It is sad when foibles are used as an attack to discredit people, rather than a real debate of various issues. Sometimes the cited foibles are not even true.
It makes me wonder, whatever happened to the 8th commandment, ‘You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.’ I learned that commandment to mean, ‘We do not tell lies about our neighbour, betray, slander or hurt their reputation, but defend, speak well of them, and explain everything in the kindest way.’ Foibles are common to all humanity. Let’s give people a chance and the benefit of doubt.
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.
Central Butte Legion #213 2024 National Youth Remembrance Contest
Below is a list of all local winners. First
PRIMARY
Posters
Color 1st Lexi Mackow Central Butte
2nd Samantha Whithey Chaplin
B&W 1st Preston Miner Central Butte
2nd Kash Halverston Stone Chaplin
INTERMEDIATE
Poems 1st Cole Shafer Eyebrow
2nd Joshua Buck Eyebrow
Essays 1st Kamryn Fisher Chaplin
2nd Blake Shafer Eyebrow
Posters
Color 1st Alyvia Depper Central Butte
2nd Gemma Thurlow Grasdal Central Butte
B&W 1st Areya Mandyk Chaplin
Central Butte Legion #213 Annual Remembrance Day Service
The Central Butte Legion # 213 held their annual Remembrance Day Service in front of the Cenotaph. Members of the surrounding communities gathered to offer thanks to those who served their country in war and peaceful times; the ones who came back home and especially those who didn’t.
Following lunch, presentations were made, first, medals to past presidents of the branch, and pins to long standing members.
Past Presidents:
Tom Taylor
George Willard
Warren Nicholson
Long time Legion Members:
Stacy Wilson 10 years
Leona Buchanan 10 years
Ivar Holswich 13 years
Bonnie Irving 15 years
Elsa Watson 18 years
Frances Taylor 25 years
Leo Morden 32 years
2nd Courtney Bauck Chaplin
JUNIOR
Poems 1st Evan Stewart Central Butte
2nd Aurel Marten Eyebrow
Essays 1st Samuel Leaman Central Butte
2nd Skylar Hutton Central Butte
Posters
Color 1st Evan Stewart Central Butte
2nd Martha Loewen Central Butte
B&W 1st Mackenzie Marie Blackmore
Allen Central Butte
2nd Jillian Geraldoy Central Butte
SENIORS
Poems 1st Ciearra King Chaplin
2nd Jariz Renee Geraldoy Central Butte
Color 1st Lexi Mackow Central Butte
B&W 1st Preston Miner Central Butte
Poems 1st Evan Stewart Central Butte
Poems 1st Cole Shafer Eyebrow
B&W 1st Mackenzie Marie Blackmore Allen Central Butte
Color 1st Alyvia Depper Central Butte
Poems 1st Ciearra King Chaplin
Reg Stewart & Tom Taylor. Submitted photo.
Reg Stewart & Warren Nicholson. Submitted photo.
Reg Stewart & George Willard. Submitted photo.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN MOOSE JAW
If you would like your notice or event added to this list, contact us at: joan@ moosejawexpress.com
Moose Jaw Town and Singles Dance will be held on November 23 at Church of Our Lady Community Centre 566 Vaughan St. W. from 7:30 - 11pm. Band is Leon Ochs. Come on out for an evening of fun! Married couples welcome! Cost is $15pp. For more information call Marion at 306-630-1492.
Lawn Bowling is a sport for all levels of ability. During winter, Moose Jaw Lawn Bowling club invites everyone to try it on the turf at Yara Centre now at @10am - Instruction & play (at your pace) will be available Tues & Thurs mornings@ 10am. For more info phone or text 306-630-8160 or visit www. moosejawlawnbowling.com
The Moose Jaw Art Guild Annual Art Show has officially opened at the MJMAG and will run until the first week of January. For information call 306-631-3148 or 306-6926667.
Superannuated Teachers of Sask. Moose Jaw Branch Luncheon will be held on November 20 at the Masonic Temple Hall, 1755 Main St. N. S6J 1L6, Moose Jaw, Sask. NEW LUNCHEON FORMAT - 10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Chat -circulate and connect with past colleagues/11:00 – 11:30 Speaker or Entertainment/11:40 – 12:30 Dinner/12:35 -1:15 Meeting, for those of you who wish to stay. Program: STS Provincial President Sue Amundrud/Noon Luncheon: Turkey Dinner, Caterer: Charlotte’s Cost: $15 per STS member and spouse. $25 for nonmembers. Please RSVP to Rosalie by Sunday, Nov. 17/24, @ 306-691-0696, or email stsmoosejaw@gmail.com, or click on the link in your latest STSMJ Newsletter. (If you haven’t received your newsletter please check your junk/spam mail or, follow the directions on www.stsmoosejaw.com. ***Coming Soon: Info on our Christmas Social. LUNCHEON Meetings: Masonic Hall, Main Street @ 10:30 AM - Wed. Nov 20, 2024/Wed. Jan 15, 2025/Wed. March 19, 2025/Wed. May 21, 2025
CHRISTMAS SOCIAL on Wednesday Dec. 4 from 2-5PM @ the Masonic Hall Snacks, Christmas Trivia, Door Prize. Cost: Donation for the Salvation Army ChristmasFund. Please RSVP to Rosalie by Sunday, Nov. 27/24 @ 306-691-0696, or email stsmoosejaw@gmail.com, or click on the link in your latest STSMJ Newsletter. LUNCHEON Meetings to Come at the Masonic Hall, Main Street @ 10:30 AM: Wed. Jan 15, 2025/Wed. March 19, 2025/Wed. May 21, 2025
12th annual Moostletoe Artists Studio Tour where a number of local artists/artisans will be showcasing their crafts and art will take place on Saturday, November 23rd from 10am – 4pm at the MJMAG. The event is free to attend and a time to spread a little Christmas cheer and help early Christmas shoppers with a few unique gift ideas.
Christmas Sale will be held at Zion United Church on Main Street on Sat, Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Zion is collecting good quality used Christmas decorations and jigsaw puzzles for the sale. Items can be dropped off during office hours. There will also be a bake sale. The event has wheelchair access and no admission charge.
K of C Father Gilpin Council #9760 Ham & Turkey Bingo will take place on Dec. 1 at Church of our Lady Community Centre – 566 Vaughan St. Early Bird starts at 6:50pm. FAMILY FUN and concession.
The Heritage Singers Christmas Concert will be held on December 8th at 2pm at W.J. Jones Chapel. (474 Hochelaga St. W.). If you require more information contact Heather @306-692-4312
78TH ROTARY CAROL FESTIVAL—Monday and Tuesday, December 9 and 10th at 7 p.m. at Zion on Main. The Moose Jaw Rotary Club with assistance from the Salvation Army are asking those desiring to participate in this year’s event to register. Please use email at rmontgomery39@outlook.com before the deadline of November 15. Previous duos to choirs have brought joy to many. Let us work together to continue celebrating the season with song.
W.J.Jones & Son Funeral Home Mourning Star 2024-“Heartstrings” will be held on December 12 at 7-7:30pm Gathering Music and 7:30 Ceremony at 474 Hochelaga St. W. Mourning Star Ceremony for those experiencing Grief this Christmas in the serenity of the chapel, where we will gather with others who understand the challenge of saying “Merry” Christmas. Through music, message, mementos and the gentle afterglow of love’s light, we will gather to honor the ache in your heart and the fact that there is
an amplified sense of “missing” your precious loved one(s) this season. Joya Johnston will offer the gift of her musical talents to set the atmosphere of serenity. IF YOU NEED A RIDE, PLEASE CALL: 306-693-4644
BRIDGE LESSONS - It’s fun, social and a great game! Thursday evenings 7:00-9:00 pm until Nov. 28 (9 sessions for $45) For more information or to register call Anita (306) 6301256
Moose Jaw Parkinsons Support Group meet at 1:30 p.m. on the last Monday of the following months: November, January, February, March, April and May. Call or text 306 756 2819.
The Prairie Hearts Quilters Guild is held every 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 7 pm at St Andrews Church from September until May. Learning, comradery, fun challenges, quilting and Community Projects.
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
The Moose Jaw Stamp Club will resume meeting on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. The first meeting will be at 6:30pm, in Lindale School staff room, 1322 11th Avenue NW (north entrance). Phone 306-6935705 for information.
Moose Jaw Town N Country Square Dance Assoc. Winter 2024 Program on Monday nights from 7-9pm at St. Mary’s School, 720 – 5th Ave. SW. Dance in a square with family and friends. For information contact Valerie Wright at 306.691.0579. Beginners, singles or doubles welcome!
Scottish Country Dance Classes for all ages on Thursdays at 7pm at 510 Main St. N (T. Eaton Bldg). No partner required. Call Val @306.630.5790.
Nature Moose Jaw will hold their meetings on a once-a-month basis to take place on the third Friday of each month
Church of Our Lady Bingo takes place at the Church of Our Lady Community Centre, 566 Vaughan Street on Tuesday evenings. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Bingo begins at 7:00 p.m.
Are you struggling with addictions? Do you know someone who is? Or do you want to learn more about overcoming addiction to help others? Pastor Cory Havanka and his wife Brenda will be offering an in-person, small-group, course that will explore how to overcome addiction that is based on Biblical foundations. For questions - Call or text Cory at 306-684-1464 or email firmfoundationministries.inc@gmail.com Firm Foundation Ministries provides other services as well:-Bible study - Monday evenings at 630 p.m/Prayer meetings - Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m/Pastoral counselling. Check Facebook or Instagram for updates on services, events, bible study notes and words from the Lord. Nar-Anon Meetings every Monday 7—8pm (Moose Jaw Nar-Anon Family Group) is a twelve-step program for relatives and friends affected by someone else’s drug use and is in-person at Moose Jaw Alliance Church, 14 Neslia Place. Come in Main Doors – Meeting Rm 103. Your anonymity and what you say at meetings will be carefully guarded.
TOASTMASTERS organization provides communication and leadership skill training that fosters confidence building, personal and professional development in a supportive environment. Moose Jaw is home to 2 clubs: TAP and Big Country. TAP meets on line on Tuesdays@7. TAP club is transitioning to a resource for building environmental awareness. BIG COUNTRY meets Wednesdays@7 at Saskpolytech & on zoom(hybrid). Themes for Nov will be : Nov 13 Critiquing/Evaluation workshop, Nov 20 Ed Sullivan Show, Nov. 27 In the Neighborhood For information text 306-690-8739
TOPS SK 2149 Weight Loss Support Group meets on Wednesday evenings at the Alliance Church located on the corner of Thatcher Drive W. & 9th Ave.W. Please enter through the west facing door and turn right down the hallway. Weigh-in takes place from 6:30-7:00 pm. Half-hour meeting to follow. Are you looking for a weight loss support group and also to meet new friends? We are here for you and would love to have you join our group. Come try us out. Your first meeting is free. For more information: www.tops.org
Moose Jaw Public Library (MJPL), 461 Langdon Cres. Phone 306.692.2787. Visit their website at https://www.moosejawlibrary.ca or visit ASK@MOOSEJAWLIBRARY.CA Some library programs require registration by calling 306-692-8210 or emailing nsetter@
moosejawlibrary.ca
Veteran Banner Display at the Library - A Smaller version of this display can be found in the main stacks of the Adult Library.
ADULT PROGRAMMING:
DOCUMENTARY NIGHT Thursday, Nov 28 @6pm in MJPL Theatre for adults. Drop-in program Movie: Fire of Love TECH TIME Available by appointment during open yours in main library for adults by appointment only. Pls call Library at 306-6922787 to schedule an appointment.
MAGIC THE GATHERING Saturdays, Nov 23 & 30 @2pm in Reading Room for ages 13+. Drop-in program
MJ CHESS CLUB AT MJPL Sundays, November 24 from 1-4pm in South Meeting Room for all ages. Drop-in program NOIRVEMBER ON KANOPY A month-long film noir festival Explore the gripping world of film noir this Noirvember with our carefully curated collection on Kanopy. Uncover the shadowy tales of noir cinema while recognizing its influence on storytelling and culture.
YOUTH PROGRAMMING:
TEEN D&D: SPELL THIEVES Tuesdays OR Thursdays, until Dec 19 @6:30 pm in MJPL Theatre for ages 12-16 yrs. Registration required.
DIGITAL D&D Fridays from 4-6pm at MJPL Youth Discord Channel for ages 16-25yrs. Registration required Email youth@mjlibrary.ca to inquire.
TEEN ANIME+ CLUB Wednesday, Nov 27 @6:30 pm in MJPL Theatre for ages 12-19yrs. Drop-in program Feature: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.
TEEN ARTS & CRAFTS Wednesday, November 20 @6:30 pm in Herb Taylor Room for ages 12-19 Drop-in program Project: Friendship Bracelets
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING :
DAYCARE STORYTIME Thursdays Time: 10:30 am in Children’s Program Room for ages 2-5 and their care providers. Drop-in Program PRESCHOOL STORYTIME Wednesdays @10:30 am in Children’s Program Room for ages 2-5 and their care providers. Drop-in Program
LITERACY CALENDARS Download November Early Literacy Calendar for infants and pre-school children Download November Children’s Literacy Calendar for elementaryaged children
BABY STORYTIME Tuesdays @10:30 am in Children’s Program Room for ages 0-2 and caring adults. Drop-in Program
LEGO WEEKENDS! Saturdays & Sundays during open hours in Children’s Department for ages 4+; a self-guided activity.
MAKER SATURDAYS Saturdays, November 23 @2pm in Herb Taylor Room for ages 8-12yrs. Registration required. Nov 23: Origami CINNAMON-SCENTED SLIME! Saturday, November 16 @10:30 am in Children’s Program Room for ages 2+. Registration required.
SNOW GLOBES Saturday, November 30 @10:30 am in Children’s Program Room for ages 2+. Registration required. NEW COMICS FOR YOUNG READERS available on hoopla with your library card- Discover new arrivals from Scholastic, Disney, and more favourite comic titles on hoopla!
The Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 59 Moose Jaw, 268 High St W Moose Jaw Contact: 306-692-5453
Facebook @ ROYAL CANADIAN LEGIONBranch 59 Moose Jaw Instagram: @Royalcanadianlegion59 BINGO – Monday @ 6pm CRIBBAGE –Tuesday @ 1:30 pm - Please sign-in by 1pm
MEAT DRAW & CHASE THE ACE - Saturday @ 3pm - Everyone welcome Legion Money Raffle Draw – Final Draw Dec 21 @1:30pm 3 Early Bird Draws Oct 5 @1:30pm for $1000each. 200 tickets available @$20each. 19+ to purchase tickets. Total retail prize $23,000. Tickets available at Legion. Call office at 306.692.5453 or 306.693.9688 to pay Visa or Mastercard.
Mulberry Estates – 220 Mulberry Ln, Moose Jaw, SK S6J 1N1. Call Sales and Marketing
Tricia Oblander at (306) 694-5020
Moose Jaw and District Seniors: For more information Call: 306-694-4223 or Email: Email: mjsenior@shaw.ca . The centre is now open Mon-Thurs 8am – 8pm. Fitness Level & Indoor Walking Track open M-Thurs 8am-8pm and on Fri 8am-4pm Wood working area – Mon- Fri 8am – 4pm Timothy Eaton Cafe open Mon-Fri 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cinnamon Buns on Thursday’s. Tuesday is pie day. Everyone is welcomed.
Tuesday @ 9:30am; Hand & Foot Card Game for Beginners – Thursday @9:30 am.; Mah Jong – Wednesday @1 p.m. Beginners is Monday @1pm; 500 Cards – Thursdays @ 1 p.m; Spades – Tuesday and Fridays 1pm ON HOLD
Full Body work out – Monday’s 10am
Scrabble – Monday’s at 1pm Line Dancing – Tuesdays @ 10 a.m. Intro to Line Dancing – Wednesday’s @ 11am Art & Crafts – Monday, Tuesdays & Wednesdays @ 1 p.m.
Paper Tole – Tuesdays @ 1 p.m. Circle Dancing – Thursday 2:15pm Nickle Bingo – Fridays @ 1 p.m. Quilting – Every Friday 9am to 4pm Lounge – Friday’s from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jam Sessions – Friday’s 9 a.m.
Hold’em - Thursday @ 6:30pm
Curling – Wednesday and Fridays @1pm
Curling – Wednesday and Fridays @1pm Girls Night out – November 23 at 6pm. Door prize, cash bar, crafts and appetizers. Tickets available at the front desk. Limited Tickets!!!! Christmas Craft Fair – November 30 at 9am to 3:00pm New to the Centre is BINGO every Monday at 1:30pm
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
Moose Jaw ANAVETS: Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans Unit #252 – 279 High St. W, Moose Jaw. 306.692.4412 or anaf252@ sasktel.net
Every Wednesday, open 12-6 pm, Smear –Starts at 1 pm Every Thursday, open 12-7 pm, Smear – Starts at 1 pm, Crib starts Sept. 5th; registration at 1 pm; Crib starts at 1:30 pm. Bring a partner or sign up as a spare. Every Friday, open 1-10 pm, drop in shuffleboard. Register at 1 pm. Play starts at 1:30 pm. Bring a partner. Drop in pool and darts. Register by 6:30 pm. Play starts at 7 pm. Bring a partner.
Every Saturday, open 1-7 pm. Meat draw starts at 4:30 pm, 10 meat draws, 4 free draws, gift card and 50/50. Everyone welcome. Hall rentals available – book now! Available now! 6th Annual 50/50 Tickets. $10/ticket. Only 1000 tickets sold. Could win up to $5000 if all tickets are sold. Draw date will be in December. Celebration of Life for Bev Stark will be held on Nov. 15th from 2 – 4 pm at the Anavets.
FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES #3395
EVERY THURSDAY: Ladies Auxiliary “Meat Draw” – ticket sales start at 5:30 pm, draws start at 6:00 pm – Meat Draw, 50/50, “Chase the Ace”
EVERY SUNDAY: Aerie “Meat Draw” – ticket sales start at 2:30 pm – Meat Draw, 50/50, Mystery Draw, “Chase the Ace” MONDAY THRU SATURDAY – DROP IN POOL – 1:00 pm to 1:30 start time. Singles and Doubles. Partners draw from those attending to play.
FIRST AND THIRD SUNDAY – Aerie meeting – 11:30 am
FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY – Ladies Auxiliary meeting - 7:00 pm DROP IN DARTS - Every Wednesday evening -starts September 4, 2024– continues until April, 2025 - $2.00 per person, draw for partners, starts at 7:00 pm. DROP IN CRIBBAGE - Every Monday evening -starts September 9, 2024– continues until April, 2025 - $2.00 per person, registration between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm – play starts at 7:00 pm.
Saturday, November 30, 2024 - The Eagles club Lounge is pleased to have “Two Easy” playing – come out and dance the night away to some really great music. Sunday, December 1, 2024 – 10:00 am to 2:30 pm – Ladies Auxiliary Bake Sale in the Eagles Club Lounge
Sunday, December 1, 2024 – 4:30 to 6:00 pm – Ladies Auxiliary Roast Beef Supper - $15.00 – Advance tickets available at the Eagles Club Bar until Friday, November 29th. NEW YEARS EVE - Great Party time going on in the Eagles Club Lounge with Brandon & Company – bring in the new year right….. Watch for more details.
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
2
Meet Me in Mortlach: Original Darren Jones carving auctioning for food bank, Bohemian Market
The Meet Me in Mortlach initiative continues to develop and, with its first season drawing to a close for the winter, Mike Beaudoin, one of the organizers of the Bohemian Market in Mortlach, is hoping to conclude the inaugural season by auctioning off one of Darren Jones’ handmade tree carvings.
The sculpture now resides in Moose Jaw and an online auction with a starting bid of $4,500 will run from Nov. 15 until its conclusion on Dec. 30.
“His (Beaudoin’s) idea is that we’re going to auction it off to the highest bidder. He wants to raise money for the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank,” announced Jason Moore, the food bank’s executive director who is managing the auction.
Beaudoin hopes to gain the support of local businesses or organizations who wish to share in the charitable spirit this Christmas season. Half of the proceeds raised through the auction will be donated to the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank and half will support the ever-evolv-
ing Bohemian Market in Mortlach, Sask.
Beaudoin announced the launch of the auction earlier this year but, he opined, the somewhat remote location in Mortlach and gradually spreading awareness of the Meet Me in Mortlach initiative gave the campaign a slow start. Now, with greater visibility in Moose Jaw, he’s hoping to relaunch the campaign.
The carving is the handiwork of renowned chainsaw sculptor Darren Jones, who was also the artist behind the Don Cherry statue erected at the entrance to Mortlach earlier this year.
“Darren Jones is the artist, and it’s his passion,” Moore said. “He just likes to help people out. And, so, he has graciously donated this statue and (half of) the proceeds of the sale or auction to the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank.”
The auction officially started on Nov. 15 with a post
launched on the food bank’s Facebook page.
To participate, any individual, business, or organization wishing to support both the food bank — which helps around 800 families each month — and the Meet Me in Mortlach initiative behind the Bohemian Market — that aims to revive small town Saskatchewan and put Mortlach on the map as a permanent seasonal venue to showcase local artists, artisans, and entertainers — can simply visit the food bank’s Facebook page.
The auction will be through a bidding process in the comments section and each participant simply has to enter their current bidding price.
The sculpture also sits on a trailer and Beaudoin has agreed to transport it to the winning bidder — within reasonable distance, of course.
“We are incredibly grateful for this generosity from the Bohemian Marketplace in Mortlach,” Moore said. “It has done a few different things over the summer to raise funds for the food bank at their events, so this is just another way for them to, again, reach out and try to help our community. So, we appreciate it.”
For more information about sculptor Darren Jones visit ‘CabStudio’ on Facebook.
The sculpture can be viewed in the south parking lot of the Castle Building Center at 506 High Street West.
To participate, visit ‘Moose Jaw and District Food Bank’ on Facebook. For more information, visit MJFoodBank.org or call Jason Moore at 306-692-3855.
The Facebook auction will conclude at 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 30, with the winner announced on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.
The wood carving by artist Darren Jones can be viewed at Castle Building Centre at 506 High Street West. Photo by: Aaron Walker
A closer look at Darren Jones’ carving in support of the Bohemian Market and the Moose Jaw & District Food Bank. Photo by: Aaron Walker
We Will Remember Them: Remembrance Day 2024 in photos
To honour Canada’s military veterans on the National Day of Remembrance, the Moose Jaw Events Centre hosted the 106th Remembrance Day ceremony to a sizable crowd before retired, active, and future members of the Canadian Armed Forces — as well as others including police officers, firefighters, cadets, Girl Guides, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Nov. 11.
The ceremony began with Canada’s national anthem at 10:45 a.m. and the invocation conducted by Rev. Doug Shepherd at 10:47 a.m. Shepherd then read from scripture, shared a message of remembrance, and led prayers to follow. “The Last Post” was performed by Rick Elmer, CD, followed by two minutes of silence.
Michelle Gallagher played the “Lament” on pipes following the two minutes of silence and Elmer then played the “Rouse.”
Sixteen dignitaries then laid official wreaths on behalf of the following organizations:
• Recipients of the Memorial Cross
• The Government of Canada
• The Government of Saskatchewan
• City of Moose Jaw
• Canadian Armed Forces
Aaron Walker - Moose Jaw Express
• The Saskatchewan Dragoons
• 2 Canadian Forces Flying School
• Snowbirds 431 (AD) Squadron
• Veterans of Moose Jaw and district
• UN NATO Veterans • RCMP • Moose Jaw Police Service
• ANAVETS Sask. Provincial Command
• New Southern Plains Metis Local 160
• CAE Military Aviation Training
• The Moose Jaw Events Centre
The Royal Canadian Legion would like to thank the following for their support at this year’s ceremony:
• Vanier Collegiate Band and Choir directed by David Selensky
• Rick Elmer, CD, who played “The Last Post” and “Reveille”
• Piper Michelle Gallagher
• The Honour Guard courtesy of the Saskatchewan Dragoons including Commanding Officer Major Paul Park, CD, and Sergeant Major Tim Huckle, CD
• 15 Wing Moose Jaw including Commanding Officer Colonel Daniel Coutts, OMM, CD, and Wing Chief Warrant Officer Rachel Fox, CD
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
• The Moose Jaw Police Service
• Moose Jaw Army, Sea, Air, and Navy League cadets
• All 15 Wing and veteran volunteers
• All Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 59 volunteers and the colour party
• W.J. Jones & Son Funeral Home
We Will Remember Them.
Cadets from various elements join the march from the Events Centre to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 59 following the Remembrance Day ceremony. Photo by: Aaron Walker
The Moose Jaw Events Centre hosted the 106th Remembrance Day ceremony this Nov. 11. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Sergeant Major Tim Huckle, CD (left) and Commanding Officer Major Paul Park, CD (right) salute after laying a wreath on behalf of The Saskatchewan Dragoons. Photo by: Aaron Walker
One of Moose Jaw’s oldest surviving veterans lays a wreath on Nov. 11. Photo by: Aaron Walker
Michelle Gallagher plays “Lament” on the pipes following two minutes of silence.
Photo by: Aaron Walker
The Remembrance Day service was conducted by Rev. Doug Shepherd (at podium).
Photo by: Aaron Walker
Members of the Saskatchewan Dragoons prepare to march off the ceremony floor following the service on Nov. 11. Photo by: Aaron Walker
